My Kiddos!

DSC05352A few weeks before Emily left on her mission the kids were all out on the west lawn doing gymnastics and having fun. All of my children took gymnastics lessons for a period of time in their life. It is so fun to watch them playing and having so much fun together. They each took turns seeing how many back hand springs they could do in a row. Then they decided to have a hand walking contest. That’s when my darlin’ had to join in. I love time together with my family. What a wonderful experience to be a parent. I know I am so blessed to me Mama to these 4 people. I am so grateful for the love, lessons, experiences and time together for all the years we raised them. I love them so much!!

Family is a circle of friends who love you. -unknown

Multiple Personalities and These Girls of Mine

I have multiple personalities.

Only two.

What does this have to do with these beautiful and darling girls?

Well, all of my life I have struggled with these two sides to me. My two personalities.

First of all, I am silly, fun, happy, energetic, and I giggle at inappropriate times. In fact, I laugh a lot more than your average person.

Second, I am very serious, ready to learn, responsible, and I love to be alone.

At certain times my serious side gets so frustrated with my silly and fun side. I have thoughts come to my mind like, “Why do you do that? You’re so annoying!” after I just had a blast and maybe had a little too much fun (like that’s possible). Then my silly side gets after my serious side, with thoughts like, “You need to lighten up! You take things way too serious!” It was a constant battle; that is, until I figured it out.

Now I just smile and love all of me. It’s ok to have two sides to yourself.

The girls are both so much like me, except that Kelsey is like my serious side and Emily is like my silly side. (Or at least as of the moment that I’m writing this post.) Which means that Kelsey is always getting after Emily for being too silly. And Emily is annoyed at Kelsey for being too serious.

Now we mostly just laugh about it! Both personalities are needed in this world of ours.

They are both beautiful, loving, wonderful, responsible, happy and amazing girls, and I feel so blessed to have them in my life. I am so grateful for the things I learn from them.

We’re All Together!

Life really is awesome! Yes, there are ups and downs, but it really is awesome!

Falling asleep the other night I thought to myself,”My whole family is here right now.” We haven’t been together for 2 1/2 years.

Riley joined the army and left for boot camp for 5 months. Alex left on his mission and was gone for two years. Kelsey left on her mission and was gone for a year and a half. She returned this past Thursday.

I am so happy to have my whole family together. I’m not sure I have the words to express the gratitude I feel, but after that thought came to my mind the other night, I said a prayer thanking Father in Heaven for the gift of family, and for my children and their safe return. To be all together Dad, Mom, and all the kids is such a great place to be. I am so grateful for the love we share.

…..Family…..

I love them!

Best Mother’s Day!

I’ve always struggled a little bit on Mother’s Day.

It’s a combination of feeling like I don’t cut it as a mom, and that my children don’t appreciate me. I know, that sounds pathetic. But I do have a desire to be a good mom, and no one likes it when they are constantly taking care of people, and they don’t get a “Thank you” on Mother’s Day.

When my children were young, I always got the token hand print and poem which I loved and still have, but now my children are grown up. I really don’t expect much. I hope for it, but I don’t expect it.

This year one of the biggest things that I was planning on for Mother’s Day was talking to my two children serving LDS missions. I have only talked to them on Christmas and Mother’s Day, and they have both been gone over a year. I miss them, but I know they are doing great things. I was able to talk to both of them on Sunday (Mother’s Day) morning. They both sounded so great and my button’s were bustin’, I am so proud. They will both be home in 2-4 months. So wonderful!!

Next, for the first time in my motherhood, my children here at home and my son’s girlfriend were all competing to see who could write the best Mother’s Day card. How fun! It was so perfect. Riley, wrote a nice note about how he has learned the lesson’s I tried to teach him, he just has to push my button’s. Janet wrote about how I have made her feel loved and she loves me. And Emily wrote a nice card and filled it with coupons, one of which has already happened. It said, “Coupon for 4 amazing kids, 1 amazing husband and one darling grandbaby, and Janny :).” Then she put “paid” all over it. So cute! Then she heart attacked the sliding glass door. Here’s a picture of it.

My favorite part was this note that said,

“If you would like to take credit for a part of this magnificent gift. please sign below…”

What a cute daughter! It was a wonderful day and loved it!

I think the key is to not expect anything, then you will be surprised and amazed when something does happen.

I hope all mother’s and those who mother, had a great Mother’s Day.

I am so grateful for my Mama! She is a women that get’s life, what where here for and how to do it. She is busy, using her time serving others and Heavenly Father. She is smart and understands people. She has taught me so much. Thank you, Mama!

Time!

Time is:

Too slow for those who wait,

Too swift for those who fear, 

Too long for those who grieve,

Too short for those who rejoice;

But for those who love, 

Time is Eternal.

-Henry Van Dyke

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Today it has been one year since Kelsey left on her mission. I am so proud of her. I am so proud of me. I used to think I wouldn’t survive without my children close by. But now I know that even though two of them are miles away. They are always in my heart. They are doing amazing things with their time and loving their fellow men.

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“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 13:35

Collecting Pins!

Years ago our family had an awesome opportunity.

We were able to go to, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D. C.

We had so much fun! It really was a once in a lifetime trip.

My in-laws were serving an LDS mission in Boston, so we were able to stay with them and we were able to stay with other relatives along the way. We packed as light as we could, and we were on a budget. So when we talked to the children about souvenirs, we told them we would have to be very careful in buying souvenirs.

#1 We had limited space to bring them home, and

#2 We had limited money to buy them.

One thing we did for the kids before the trip was, we bought each of them a baseball cap to wear while we traveled to protect them from the sun and to help us spot them easily.

I had a great idea come to me. We could buy pins at all of the places we visit and the kids could put them on their hats. Pins were never more then $4 at any of the places we went and that meant we could get all of our kids something at each of the places we visited. They came home with a hat full of souvenirs! I think this worked out well. It was fun to see the children’s hats have more and more pins as we traveled. The kids seemed to be really happy with their pins. We were able to travel to some amazing places, and historical places. The kids learned a lot about the is history of our great country. They had fun seeing things that they had only heard about before. Now, when they look at their pins, all of these memories will come back to them.