the Jesus tree

I was contemplating our family prayers lately..you know the ones with lines like:

" help us to be more like our savior", or "help us to remember the teachings of our savior", OR "help us to act as the Savior would act SO we can be more like our savior Jesus Christ"

I wondered how much my children understood those lines...I mean when they get in a sticky situation do the actually think " hmmmm, what would Jesus do?"

Obviously, Mike and I try to teach them about their Savior, but do they KNOW him well enough to use the knowledge in all the moments they need it?

I decided probably not, since most of the time I wonder if I even kind of understand it well enough to totally apply his teachings in my daily life. I mean, knowing stories of some ones Life is different then understanding who they are, and how and why they choose the path and choices they did.

Since it is fall I couldn't help but think of cute sparkly fall leaves ( in my world every thing sparkles!) so I talked with ranner about building a paper tree for my hallway, where my kids would be able to write the things they learn about Jesus on leaves and decorate the tree. I am hoping for real lessons to be learned, I don't just want a recap of stories. I want the whys and hows here...which means I need to be a good enough mom to teach those lessons. BUT Ranner thinks bigger then me...

SO, we made a vinyl tree, I can decorate and redecorate it with the seasons and all the lessons we learn. We did it all from hand, the cost total was 7.50. I am hoping the lessons learned are price less.... we dubbed the tree the " Jesus tree" since that's the first set of lessons I want to teach the kids....its not decorated yet, but I thought I would share our hard work...I think it turned out pretty good. Maybe the Lord helps with a project when the objective it right?=) I think so, because I am no artist and this tree just happened..

For the first time...

Today I helped out at the school, just like I do every other Thursday and Friday, but today was different. I went to the " work room" , cut out and laminated letters for the teacher and met other ladies working and volunteering at the school. We talked about the school , our kids and Scentsy. It was SO much fun!! For the first time since we moved here I was " part of it" again, I felt happy and content in that area of my life...it was nice...

and we run...

Since yaya loves soccer and she is getting older and much more competitive, we thought it would be fun to start running together. In my head I figured my skill level and hers were about the same, so I can get in shape and we can help push each other to run harder! =) I couldn't resist taking a FEW pictures! she was SO SO happy running with mom. (she tells jack very chance she gets its " just a mommy/ daughter thing") It was cute. =)

the challenge

The challenge, for a dollar, was made in front of, and 3/4 a tsp listerine was measured out by, Brigette (aka mom), as a witness and document-or.

WHO will last the longest?

It's a close one, it getting intense...but....WAIT.....is Jack Already out of the race??yep, didn't even tilt his head back! LOL

But yaya is going strong even with NO competition!!

AND THE VICTOR IS.......................................YAYA!!!!

and No she never got her $1.00, bad deal jack....bad deal...

a conversation with my new friend " OLD"

A conversation I had with my new friend "old today"

" well , old, its official we have become friends, don't worry yourself, I'll post it later on facebook to make it REALLY official.

The thing is, I am not sure I am ready to enter into this friends ship. You see, hanging out with you, means I have to slowly leave my dear friend Young behind.

Young and I are close. We have had some really good times and even though I don't usually see young any more, we still like to get together once in a while when your not looking. We dance and sing, we look in the mirror and tell each other that young and me and still tight as ever...but then you sneak into the room and remind me and young that we are lying to our self's, your always like that, ruining Young's fun. WHY old??

I mean when young and I were best friends, I thought you were so cooool. Thats over. the back ach I woke up with reminded me of that fact. Old, do you have any up sides? tired body, worried heart and mind, slow to remember dates and names, new things are harder to catch on to. always tired, always. Seriously can you help me out here? Because I know that I have to let Young go, and Young can only visit when the moment is correct, AND I know I get to hang out with you for the rest of my existence. so give me some positives, I will believe you, I will, its better then telling myself your as good as it gets.

WHAT? I am going to like you at times?still a possibility of wisdom, knowledge, grand kids, freedom? boredom? when I get REALLY old? what?

Well I am not sure I believe you Old. These are the very things that made me think you were so cool,when I was hanging out with Young all the time, but so far, well, we see how our friend ship has started. I guess I will trust you Old, what choice do I have? Because my aching foot and back ach are shouting out arguments with you Old.

O.k I think after talking with you, I am ready make this work...but..... just once in a while...can Young still come play?

Satan's in the scorpians

For those of you whom I love but had to move aways from, you all know what my number 2 fear was Scorpions. Literally, I had nightmares over the creepy things. I had to pray about it, about my intense fear of them. I realized moving forward with faith was pretty much the only choice I had, I mean the other option??? Would be to not move because of a fear that I was ASSURED by multiple sources would never come to fruition. Let me tell you how that's panned out for me:

Day one, moving in day. Mike and I pray together thank our Father in Heaven for our MANY blessings, as we move in, Mike steps on something, making a huge crunching noise...the victim? a HUGE scorpion!!! I am talking movie size people.

Week two, I am helping devers move into her new home. I am feeling on top of the world, spiritually and emotionally. Stronger then ever, notice something out of the corner of my eye.... scorpion. My sweet niece is running around with her shoes off, so I kill it. I try not to freak out the rest of the day. ( we also accidentally killed a lizard in her house that same day (still SO sorry little guy)

Month two, after overcoming a few emotional trials through turning to My Father in Heaven, I wake up feeling ready to go and conquer my challenges, notice what LOOKS LIKE (sorry if this grosses you out) a large booger on my wall. I get close enough to realize its not a very gross booger BUT a baby scorpion..AHH! kill it. Feel itchy for a week. still shaking all my clothes and towels out....

TWO days ago. Mike has been traveling a lot, after a week by myself I can feel my self growing spiritually in some really awesome ways! loving it! I am ready to get up and make a difference in the world, oh yes...you know what comes next.... Olivia spots a LARGE scorpion, IN MY BEDROOM.

After some contemplating I have decided there is just no way around it. Satan is in My scorpion's. Each time I feel a big rush of spiritual happiness, I am greeted the next morning by one of my biggest fears. hmmmm. Coincidence? I don't know???It's almost like a message to not forget the opposition.

But let me tell you what. Lucky for me, the Lord knew all along what I can handle. I am finding that while I am constantly facing this stupid fear, I am learning what my real trials and fears were after all, and best of all, I am learning that I can conquer them. It may not be pretty( really its NOT pretty), it may take longer then I would like, but I can face the scariest things in my life, and even with some dignity. Or at least I would like to think I can.

But the bottom line in all this jumbled mess is a lesson I seem to be learning over and over ( thank you to book club for THE HIDING PLACE BY CORI TEN BOOM) its not how I face them, BUT, if I do it by my self or if I face my hardships with the Lord trusting in his knowledge grace and power. When I try my self I fail...every time, then I feel like junk. When I face my sorrows and fears and struggles by prayer and turning them over to the Lord, well, I might have to kill a few scorpions, but I make it through, and I feel stronger and more couragous then I knew was ever possible.

So now that I have had confession hour, Check my face book status in the morning( haha), I bet ya I might just be killing my worst fear....

Olivia,

Sassy,

"Little mommy"

in charge

shy

goofy

athletic

hard working

loves to read

loves the Lord

pretty much amazing!

Today is yaya's 8th birthday, its been 8 years of laughter, tears and bit of stubborn back and forth, and the best 8 years of our lives. The house feels empty when she is gone and who else would spoil Joey they way olivia does? She wants to make every one around her proud to be associated with her, she works hard and fights for what she wants. she is strong. I can't believe she is 8, such a big age in so many ways. She is still so innocent, I love the way she expects to world to hand her every dream she can imagine, and yet if it takes work she is not scared of it. she thinks big! she's our yaya and we couldn't be more proud!

LOVE YOU YAYA!! Happy Birthday!