Little Moments...

Blake and Ashley love to play together. They both have great imaginations. Well, I walked into their room and found Ashley in this...she says they are playing "toilet," and she is the toilet.

Okay.

My kids have loved watching "UP" lately. Anyway, Ashley came with me to Sunday School today because she has a cough. Some visitors were introducing themselves and one guy's name was Russell. Ashley was so excited and really loud said, "His name is Russell, he is Russell!" That just made her day!

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

Blake's cute indian hat he made in pre-school

Blake made pie and a pilgrim hat in pre-school today.

Blake and Ashley playing in the sprinkle of snow we got a few days ago.

My divorce was finalized last monday, I love the quote that says, "every ending is just a new beginning." That is how I feel. We have a lot to be grateful for. We are counting our blessings.

Perspective

I love people. I love talking with people and really listening to them. People are genuinely good, I think it's people's choices that can make or break their lives.

I have so much appreciated the kindness that I have been shown while going through the hardest trial of my life, thus far. I have seen how genuinely people care and how sweet they are. A few months ago I had a sweet widow sister in my ward come talk to me. She was a lifesaver. Her perspective and wisdom was so what I needed at the time. I love older people, they are so wise, warm and kind. I know the Lord puts people in our lives for a reason.

I think for a portion of my life I was nervous of people. Not to sound weird, but I cared more than I should have what people thought of me, now I realize it all doesn't matter. I know the deepest joy and the greatest sadness comes from our relationships, not what we have or don't have.

I have talked with women who have gone through heart wrenching experiences and they are SO amazing. I have learned that when people really open up they have so much to offer and I learn so much. In whatever trial we are going through, you can be certain that someone is going through the same thing. Reach out to them, they will bless your life.

Catching Up

This is the neighbor's wonderful dog, Chico. We get all the perks of having a dog without the poopy part and expenses!

I'm not really a dog person, but I love this dog. He barks all the time at people in the neighborhood, but if he is out when I come back from a run, he will run to me. It is too cute.

Blake and his buddy, Bryton wrestling. They absolutely love it and play so well together.

Ashley playing dress up.

Blake and Ashley home from the dentist with NO CAVITIES! Woot! Woot!

Our "Put on the Armor of God" FHE. My Dad has all his mountain biking gear on. The kids absolutely loved it.

Blake with Grandpa's helmet on.

The annual Soup and Scoop! We carved the pumpkins in my parents garage.

Ashley and her FAVORITE person, Jordan. Look how excited and nervous she looks! :)

Blake's pumpkin.

Ashley and Blake's pumpkins.

Go Cougars!

Blake getting ready to go to his pre-school Halloween Party. He was an indian.

Ashley using mascara for nail polish. Ugh!

Come to find out Blake did this! Ashley said she wanted to "fweak you out." I think I freaked the wrong way.

Ashley came to me the other day and said her baby was sick. I asked her what was wrong, and she said her piggy had kissed her baby and now her baby has swine flu! I really think my 2 year old is a genius.

Cooking

I am not a good cook. I don't like to cook and I don't think I am very good at it. Now that I don't have another adult to cook for I really am a short order cook.

Well, last night my family had our annual "Soup and Scoop". This is a halloween party where everyone brings soup and then we carve pumpkins. Well, I made potato soup. This was my first attempt at making home made soup. I thought it turned out pretty tasty and so did those that tried it. Anyway, for lunch I had some of the left overs and Blake walked over to me and said very worried, "Mom, why are you eating barf!"

Family Pictures 2009

Thanks to my sister Micki. As you can see the kids had a hard time looking at the camera! :)

Endurance

Today I did something that was very hard for me to do. For a few months I have been working on running this hill (almost a mile of hill) that has frustrated me because I haven't been able to finish it without stopping to walk. Well, today I told it who was boss! It felt great. Even though everything physical in my body was screaming at me to stop, I persevered and did it. As I was doing this I thought of all the emotional and down right hard hills in my life right now. I don't want to sound like I am complaining, but life is NOT easy, nor perfect. A friend of mine asked me how to increase spiritual endurance and I thought just like in physical running in order to increase your endurance you have to do hills, just like in life we are all going to face our emotional and spiritual "hills". Sometimes I find myself when I look at other people's blogs I think,"Wow, they seem to have the perfect life," or "I wish I had that." But I have really come to realize that blogs are really what the author wants them to be. We will all have our struggles in life. It is part of life, but the key is how we CHOOSE to deal with them. Life is really all about choices and self mastery. I can honestly say that the experiences that I have gone through and still face have broken my heart, but they haven't broken me. I am so grateful! It really is true, "that which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger." But it is still a choice!