Second Week in January

I am back! January is looking like a crazy busy month.  Joshua turns 7 and I am getting everything ready for his star wars themed birthday party! My little Jedi will be having his birthday party at Home Depot.  They hold these birthday parties where the kids get to build an item and paint it.  Joshua loves that kind of activity, but I'm not sure he really understands it.  He probably was wanting a party at Chucky-Cheese but he has me for a mother.  That place is the pits and I wouldn't pay to go there if I had a choice.  Yuck!

Last month I also received a Christmas present from the state of Colorado! A summons for jury duty! Wahoo! Lucky me.  It's my first time ever getting one of those.  My biggest concern is what to do about my kiddos.  They have paid childcare for me, if I get selected but I can't in good conscious leave them to strangers for 8 hours. I am curious though to see how this process is done.  Either way, I'm praying my number doesn't get called and I get to enjoy the rest of the year without having to worry about my kiddos being watched at a day care.

I am still in YW as the mia-maid advisor and I love it.  I wasn't sure I would because YW has always scared me.  But it is fun. And I have LOVED getting to know the girls.  They are so sweet and individually unique.  Each one brings strength to the class and I miss them when they are gone.  I don't want them to move on to Laurels and will be gritting my teeth when they go.

Being in YW has also made me work more diligently on my spirituality.  I teach every week, minus fast sundays and it takes a lot of work to get a lesson prepared for each week.  But I have grown and am more confident in my teaching.

I forgot to mention that we bought a new car! For Christmas we bought one of my dreams cars, a Nissan Armada.  It's perfect. I have always loved cars and this fulfills my dreams overtime I drive it.  We decided it would be a "happy" everything gift this year.  Happy Birthday, Valentine's, Mother's day gift for the year of 2016.

How am I doing as far as my 2016 resolutions? Not so well.  But I am trying.  I know I need to do better and I am, just not where I need to be.  So here is to another week of trying to think less about shopping and more on activities that develop my spirituality.

Party favors I made for Joshua's birthday.  Star wars Jedi shirts with a 'J' on the sleeve.

I quote I found on IG.  I really like this because I sometimes feel like a masterpiece but then two seconds laters I'm back to being a work in progress.  But it is comforting to think that you can be both at the same time and that it's okay.  

My precious little Ben.  Playing Harry Potter.  He makes me so happy.  A true angel sent from heaven.  

Life Goals...

Priorities. 

A New Years Resolutin I can keep. 

JANUARY 2016

I have been terrible at keeping this blog up to date.  My IG account is much more on par with my life.  But this year I would really like to keep this blog going.  It is much easier than writing my thoughts down in a physical journal.

I revisited one of my favorite talks today by Elder Scott, Finding Joy in Life.  I wanted to write down a few of my favorite parts and thoughts.

      "Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be?

       How long has it been since you watched the sun set? ...

       "Simple, rejuvenating experiences surround us. They can be safety valves to     keep the tension down and the spirit up. Don’t concentrate on what you don’t have or have lost. The Lord promised the obedient to share all that He possesses with them. You may temporarily lack here, but in the next life, if you prove yourself worthy by living valiantly, a fulness will be your blessing.

Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him. ^"

I really want to work on that.  Finding the compensatory blessing in my life this year.  Our Bishop also challenged us this year to read the Book of Mormon and then to see the daily miracles in my life.  So I will use this blog to try and keep up with that challenge.

Last year our Bishop challenged us to memorize the Living Christ.  An insurmountable task for this lazy soggy brain.  But I took the challenged and finished!!!! That was a great accomplishment! And one I know that my Heavenly Father is proud of.  It strengthen my testimony about Jesus Christ and helped me to better understand His doctrine.
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This year will bring some big events for us.  The first, being that Benjamin is now potty trained! It will also be the year we mark our 10th wedding anniversary! This year all my boys will be in school. It will be our second year in Colorado. We have made a smooth transition here and have felt greatly blessed to be where we are.

My goals this year is to spend less time shopping and more time in meaningful activities.

Activities that will replace my shopping addiction...

     PIANO
     BLOGGING
     READING
     PAINTING

I really feel like these activities will help me more grow much more than shopping.  So here it goes.  One year without my obsession and more on working on developing the kind of woman I know my Heavenly Father wants me to be.
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Here are some pictures of our Christmas celebration and moments of this year that I found perfect!

My perfect moment from January 1st.  Benjamin falling asleep in my arms.  Perfection nailed! 

The boys on Christmas Eve. 

These two are like twins.  Samuel and Ben are the best of friends.

Joshua is my little artist.  He loves star wars and loves to paint.  

At the Denver temple during our Christmas break. Trying to remember the true meaning of Christmas while freezing to take this picture.

I made this picture after some pondering on the year.  This year was full of ups and downs but it made me grow.  And this growth led to more happiness and understanding.  Which is why I thought the temple would make a great background for this quote.  It's a place I can always count on for strength and guidance when everything else falls apart. 

During Thanksgiving we went and saw the lights on temple square.  We went the first night and it was bitter cold.  But it was worth it.  The boys were frozen but seemed to be really fascinated with these temple doors.  They couldn't understand why they had these doors if they didn't open.  I love these old pioneer temples.  I can't believe the beauty that they showcase.