I bleed blue

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge BYU fan.
I have a flag on my front door, and last weekend i spent a rainy afternoon with the youth of our ward at a football game and loved every minute of it.

Everyone knows that BYU's football team is struggling this year - just in case you wanted to ask

NO I will not take down the flag if they lose and

YES I will always bleed Cougar blue.

GO COUGARS!!!

just sayin...

How does He talk to you?

2 years ago my family spent two weeks on a life changing trip, but in actuality the journey began 6 years previously.

One morning I called my husband at work and told him that I had been feeling really strongly that we needed to take our family on a church history trip.  I knew that it needed to happen in the summer of 2008 and we needed to begin saving for it immediately.  I called a local tour company and set the trip in motion. I invited my family to join us but one by one they let us know it was out of the question financially.

I began saving in any way I possibly could - knowing at that point it would cost around 900 per person.  I had come really close to that goal when I found out in March of 2008 that the company I had planned on using were not going to be doing the full trip.  Frantically I began praying and searching for another company.  The very next day both my husband and I were led to the same company independently.  Things fell into place quickly except for the fact that it was going to cost more than twice the amount per person than I had budgeted.  By some miracles that happened we left in July of 2008 for one of the most amazing experiences of a lifetime.

It is now almost a month later and I need to finish this. I will tell you more about the trip later but I want to go back to my original question - "How does He talk to you?"  Last night my daughter Halli asked me how she could know she was receiving an answer from her Heavenly Father.  We talked about the  Spirit and the ways it manifests itself to us.  The reason I told you what i did about our trip is that I believe that trip is what started many of my children on their journey to learning how to communicate with God.  They felt the Holy Ghost so many times as we walked where the Prophet Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ, as we traveled where pioneers had traveled, sacrificed and many gave their lives, where Joseph and Hyrum gave their lives for what they believed in, and many other sacred sites.

I will be forever grateful to a Heavenly Father and Savior who directed me to take my family on the journey of a lifetime one beautiful summer.

bobby vinton my special angel

Today is my grandpa's birthday.  I wish my scanner worked, I would put a picture of him on here.  He was my hero for as long as I can remember.

Grandpa descended from sheepherders and polygamists.  He was as humble as they come.  He met my grandma Beatrice on his mission - he was released and got permission to go on a date with  her while he was still in Canada (Apparently they could do that back then). He asked her to marry him on their second date and she agreed.  He went back to Fountain Green Utah where he was promptly called as Bishop so grandma took the train to America and they were married.

She was killed in a car accident when my dad (who was the oldest child) was 8.  A year later my grandfather married her sister Lucy, who is the only grandma I have ever known here but my relationship with Beatrice is one I cherish.  Don't ask - long story.

Anyway from the time my memory starts my grandfather called me His Special Angel.  I still to this day don't know why. I don't know the history behind it but I cherish it.  All of my life I wanted to find the sheet music to the song above, and sing it for my grandpa.  I never got the chance.  I used to feel guilty and hoped that none of my brothers or sisters or cousins thought Grandpa loved them any less because he didn't call them his special angel. 

He taught me to love BYU.  For years he was one of the official scorekeepers at BYU football and basketball games.  He built the original electronic scoreboard that hung in the Smith Fieldhouse.  That was where they played before the Marriott Center was built. I remember as a little girl when Danny Ainge, Steve Trumbo, Fred Roberts et al played in the NCAA. I still remember crying when they lost because I knew they would be sad.  So I wrote them a little note telling them I loved them and thought they were the best team ever.  My sweet grandpa took that note to their coach and they posted it in the locker room.  I felt famous forever. :)

My grandpa died in 2006.  A small piece of me died with him.  I am glad he is with grandma Beatrice again but I miss him alot.  Happy Birthday Grandpa - I love you forever!!

Halloween fun

I know I posted already today but I have to share some fun halloween jokes I got from friends today......

Why can't skeletons play music in church?
They don't have any organs.

What is a ghosts favorite ride?
A rollerghoster!

What do witches put on their hair?

Scare spray!

Why are mummies so tense?
Because they are all wound up!

And my personal favorite......
What happened to the man who didn't pay his exorcist?

HE WAS REPOSSESSED!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHA  Just thought I would brighten your day.

:)

Blonde Jokes

A brunette, a redhead and a blonde were applying for a position as secretary.
The brunette filled out the form in 5 minutes.  The interviewer asked her how many d's were in Indiana Jones - she said 1 and was told they would call her later.
The redhead filled out the form in 10 minutes and the interviewer asked her the same question and her response was the same.  She was also told that she would be called soon.
The blonde took 30 minutes to fill out her form because she was busy talking.  The interviewer asked her the same question and she started counting on her fingers 365 was her answer.  The interviewer asked her if that was her final answer.  She recounted on her fingers and said yes.  He asked her if she was sure
Well of course she said and started singing "Dun Dun Dun Dun dun dun dun.......

Ok ok so I know it would help if we had audio here but just start singing the theme song in your head alright?!!

So, this was my dinner hour the other night.  My 12 year old son and my 16 year old son spent the entire dinner telling blonde jokes.  Since my 12 year old is blonde I asked him if he wasn't just a little insulted - "No mom they are funny." was  his reply.  I couldn't argue with that.

Anyway i guess they were better than the "yo momma" jokes they are usually telling.

Motherhood

I'm a mother - you already know that.  Well the past few weeks I have discovered that I am not really a very good one.   

Small children were busy, fun and exhausting.  However when they went to bed there was peace in the home and a respite for mom.  I could read or watch movies with my husband.   I could even get some cleaning done that I had not been able to do earlier. I worried about them when they were awake but when they slept I knew they were safe.

Teenagers never sleep.  So if you don't have any yet just prepare yourself.  You want to watch a movie with your husband - ha good luck.  Every evening on the weekend all TVs are confiscated to play video games with friends or watch movies themselves.  Or - and this is always fun - stick in a romantic movie and instantly they gravitate to the room you are in and watch it with you.  So much for romance.  :)  I worried about them when they were out but once everyone returned and the doors were locked, the peace returned and I knew they were safely home again.

What I have discovered just recently is that I have a hard time with one of the major steadfast rules of being a good parent.  A good parent can let go.  A good parent steps back and lets their children make their own mistakes and learn from the consequences.  College is rough on me.  I stress because I see my college student is up all night (I can thank facebook for that information). I know she is making mistakes because she has the freedom to do so.  It about kills me.  I don't sleep well anymore, and I feel sick to my stomach all of the time.  Do you see my problem?  I think it all boils down to the fact that one of my precious children isn't home safe every night.  I have no control and no way to protect her. 

Funny thing is I trust her.  This child has come a long way in her life and I am so proud of her.  She will make mistakes and learn from them.  I just hope they don't cost me too much - lol just kidding.  That will be the first lesson learned for her.  I am hoping that as time passes so will my control freakiness. (Is that a real term?)  Well it fits.

Small World

Tonight was a small trip down memory lane.  A couple of weeks ago  my husband - who is the Stake Clerk - told me that Stake Conference was coming up and a General Authority was visiting.  We usually have a dinner with the Stake Presidency before the Adult evening session and this dinner would include this General Authority and would I please make a trifle because this GA just happened to be British. 

What does that happen to do with me?  Well just in case you didn't know, I served an LDS mission to Manchester England.  The above picture was in one of my areas- I lived just around the corner.  Anyway this worried me (the whole making of trifle thing) because it is one thing to make it for Americans who have never had it before and quite another to make it for someone who is used to authentic trifle.  I stewed about it and ended up making two of them just to be safe.

So tonight I walked into the Stake Center and Elder Munday approached me, shook my hand and all he could talk about was how he couldn't wait to eat the trifle, he hadn't had any in ages.  In fact he loved it so much I gave him the extra one to take to his kids at the hotel.

Such a wonderful evening.  Elder Munday's brother served with me in my mission (although I never met him), and Elder Munday was mission president over a part of England where my ex fiance served as Branch President.  He and his family are amazing people. I loved their spirit and listening to him speak took me back 20 years to a place I loved.  I spent the evening listening to his wonderful message about family, and getting lost in the words, accent, and experiences of 18 months of my life that changed everything.

Did anyone not see "You've Got Mail"?  There is a scene where Meg Ryan is emailing a message about Pride and Prejudice and she says she gets lost in the words such as thither and mischance.  That scene kept running through my mind as I listened to Elder Munday use phrases like - drive you crackers - car park- shilling - and watching him eat with his fork and knife the way that only the British do well.  Then listening to him bear his testimony and feeling the same feelings I feel.  Isn't it wonderful how the gospel, testimonies and the Spirit are completely universal.  Something missionaries in all parts of the world learn quickly.

It is a small world.

Hello!

Well this is all new for me.  Sometimes I feel stuck in the 80's so writing this blog is a huge leap.  I have written all of my life.  For those of you who know me, you know my father is an author of LDS books.  People ask me all the time if I write books like him.  I just laugh.  I guess I don't have a long attention span because my talents lie in other directions.  I write poetry, compose songs and have written the odd short story.  So we shall see how this goes...

You may wonder why I chose this particular title.  Besides the fact that I love this poem, I feel like it describes my life.  I haven't always picked the easy road and I have tried to follow my Heavenly Father's direction throughout my life.  That road has taken me and David and me to many interesting, trying, and wonderful places.  In later posts I will talk about this journey.

I think I would like to tell you a little about us. We have five children who are amazing, crazy and mostly fun to be around.

Jessa - 18

She is a freshman at CEU (College of Eastern Utah), studying cosmetology.  She is absolutely loving it.  She has been cutting hair ever since she was 3 so her choice is appropriate.  I love to see how much she is growing into an adult.  She is one of my best friends and I miss her alot.

Mitch - 16

This is Mitch with his date Harley - both of them at their first school dance and it is Homecoming.  Mitch is an athlete - he runs cross country and lettered in soccer and academics last year. But mostly what I love about this young man is his heart.  He cares about people and wants to change the world and make it better for everyone.  He is struggling with some medical issues right now so he can't run but we are hoping to get that resolved soon.  He honors his priesthood and is just paperwork away from his Eagle Scout.

                                                                      Halli-14

Halli, like Jessa, is an amazing dancer.  This year she made the top dance team in town - Senior Prestige.  It involves ballet, hip hop and jazz.  She is also running cross country and in her two last meets she has shaved 4 minutes off of her time.  I love being around this child, she makes me smile and I love the joy she radiates.  She is a straight A student and loves loves loves reading - I think this tells me for sure that she is my child :)

                                                               Andrew - 12

Andrew just turned 12 and was ordained a deacon.  He is about 4ft nothing but that doesn't stop this kid.  He plays every sport he can possible try but his favorite is soccer.  I love his smile, he is just a happy kid and mostly its when he is with friends, playing soccer or being in the outdoors.  Andrew can't hold still and drives his older brother crazy when he bounces on his chair.  Everything Andrew does he puts his whole heart into.

                                                       Christopher -9

Ok I had to find a picture that adequately shows Chris's personality.  He is my comedian and the biggest ham I have ever seen.  Jessa's look here about sums it up.  He makes me laugh on a regular basis.  He loves music and is planning on starting a band with his friends.  He plays soccer but he really prefers wrestling.  I guess he got that gene from his dad.  He is super smart and doesn't have a lot of patience with me or Dave when we try to help him.  He fits the description "walks to the beat of different drummer" perfectly.

Ok sorry this has been so long. Now you know us a little better.