First video of pics....

I hope this works.. this is the first one I ever created.  Hopefully will get better with more practice!!
The quality isn't as good as full screen on windows media player...but hope you enjoy:)

Just scroll down to bottom of blog to pause music so you can hear the video...

New Family Pictures!

A good friend took our pictures last weekend... we had fun for sure! We were blessed because Brayden didn't get a nap in and fell asleep from the time we left home to just a couple minutes where we were to get pictures.

We had a great time!  Thanks!

Our true Identity video by Dieter F Uchtdorf.

https://beta.lds.org/youth/mormon-messages/video/our-true-identity?locale=eng

I felt like I should share this and encourage all, especially myself to watch this often to remind us when we are doubting our worth and beauty.  I know not everyone struggles with this.. but it is a good reminder once in a while.

Pumpkin grape? And more..

Ok.... so you are probably wondering why we called this a pumpkin grape!  WEll... because it looks like a pumpkin that is a grape.. lol! The kids just loved it

and so Jerry wanted to show his dad and get a picture before it was eaten.

Not quite sure who got to eat it.. but I bet it was yummy!

Jerry turned 13 just over 2 weeks ago! I still am in denial that I am old enough to have a teenager!  Just doesn't seem possible!  But he is such a great young man!  So polite and serving.. I am so blessed!

This is what happens when your gallbladder decides to just about give up.. and on your son's birthday nonetheless!  Yep, just put some fangs on me and I could pass as a vampire!  Pretty brave or stupid for posting this one as you can see how pale I was that day.

Raelene had a lot of fun decorating her cake for Activity Day's.  They were so kind to let her come back one more time after turning 12.  She had a great time and we are so thankful!

Hard to come, easy to go!

All my life I have struggled with weight.. gain that is.  I have been on the other end of the scale.. trying desperately hard to gain.  If I miss a couple meals, I lose about 5 pounds, if I miss 4 or 5 days worth I have lost up to 20 in that time frame.  This is not something that is easy for me to talk about... unless there is someone who shares this same emotional, physical struggle as I.  If I share it with those who have the opposite challenge, they have a hard time understanding why I am so frustrated, disappointed and worried about it.  But it is still an emotional/physical struggle/ challenge nonetheless. It makes you weak when you lose too much weight or are too thin.  And then if you get an illness, that really takes a toll on your health and body.   You begin to value your outer beauty on how much you weigh or don't weigh.  Then others come up and say you look too thin...so you think to yourself( I am ugly then.)  Why do we do these things to ourselves?  Why must the weight we are determine our self worth?  Can't I be just as happy with myself when I weigh 130 vs 135 or 140? 

As women we have the disadvantage of what the world's opinion of beauty is.  There is so much pressure put on us to be the perfect model... I beg to differ with that popular view.  Inner beauty lasts so much longer than outer.  And yes, it is possible to have both.  All my family and friends are that way.  Both inner and outer beauty.

I say it is time for me to throw out the scale and just go by how I feel physically and mentally about myself.  Its not healthy for anyone to lose too much weight and I do know that we need to be aware of where we are, but maybe in a different way or not as often as the usual way.  Our Heavenly Father looks at us differently than we do.  We need to see our worth thru His eyes.  And like my husband has always told me.. if you feel beautiful then you act that way and it makes your husband feel good because you finally start to see what he has seen all along.  I love him so much and so thankful that he sees me as my Heavenly Father does and of course in a right and different way:) It is time I start to believe both of them.  ANd that is very hard for us women to do.  But may all the wonderful ladies in my life know that I believe that you are so beautiful on the inside as well as the outside and let your light and beauty shine!

Lemon crazy!

I love lemon flavored anything.. well.. almost anything.  I have always loved the flavor and smell of lemon.  Ever since I can remember... my grandma made me the most scrumptious Lemon Meringue Pie in the whole world!!  Sooo yummy!  I love lemon cookies, lemon pie, lemonade...then you put together Strawberries and Lemonade and you get something wonderful!!!

So... You could call me a lemon head and it wouldn't hurt my feelings any.. in fact I would take it as a complement!

I love the display of lemons in my home... I love the smell of them on my hands.... there is just something refreshing about lemons!  Plus they are great at disinfecting!

Not your typical birthday!

So.. things didn't go as planned for Jerry's birthday or my birthday.

Everyone asked me if I had big plans for my birthday.. little did I know what that really meant!!

We were getting ready to take Jerry to dinner and a movie for his 13th birthday on Friday when all of a sudden I felt very sick and then excrutiating pain followed.  I took some nausea medicine and a couple of pain meds in hopes that I could hold off long enough to celebrate our son's special day.  After no avail, Ross decided enough was enough and he took me to the Hospital in Meridian.  They tried 5 different times to get my pain under control and nothing would work.  They admitted me and I spent the night without my kids, and that was the first time they had stayed by themselves over night at home.  The next day I was scheduled for Gall bladder surgery.  I am so grateful to Ross' sister Tammy for taking our kids in for the weekend and making them feel welcomed and at home.  I am thankful for all the birthday wishes on that day, for it sure didn't feel like my birthday!!  I was nervous, scared, anxious, hopeful, all in the same day.  We met with the Surgeon for the first time and felt like this was the right thing to do.  It took just under an hour and I did good considering.  I never do great when I wake up.. my vitals always drop after surgery due to the pain meds.  I couldn't wait to see Ross.  I am a NUT after I have surgery... you  might as well not call, or stop by as long as I am on pain meds if you want me to remember!! My poor husband kept saying yes dear, you asked me that 5 times!! Or you told me that or talked to so and so.... he deserves something special for putting up with me!!  I fall asleep in the middle of eating, talking to someone.... I am severely itchy, irritable, emotional, nice... and annoying when on medication from having surgery.  Memory loss... oh yeah memory loss!!!

I want to say thank you to everyone who called, visited, took care of my children, fed us, gave us cards, sent us their love... you all mean so much to me!!! I couldn't have done it without any of you!!  Tammy for taking care of our children and including them in your Easter celebration, My Mom and Step dad for being there for surgery and staying a while, All the birthday calls and concerned calls,( Corrine, Shane, Christine, Tammy, and all my friends and family...)  Becky and Gomer for bringing dinner on Sunday and visiting, Carla for surprising me with dinner and a visit on Sunday, My visiting Teacher and her husband for offering to clean our home on Monday and making dinner, Shaha for taking Brayden Monday and tuesday and for dinner on Monday, Angie for taking Brayden on Wed and bringing dinner on Tues, Gina for bringing dinner on Wed and picking up prescription, Mom and Dad for stopping  by to see how I was doing and bringing milk, eggs and wonderful homemade bread, phone calls from family and friends this week to see how I and the family are doing, Sondra for offering meal and to want to come by, my dear children for helping with the house, Brayden, for helping me and dad, for putting up with me! My sister for offering to take Brayden and for calling me each day to see how I am.  ANd for my dear, sweet husband... who has stood by me thru all of this.. I know that this is very hard on him.  He has served me more than I could ever repay him.  He has stayed by my side thru more sickness than I have had health, put up with my body, emotions and me.  Loved me unconditionally better than anyone could or would.  I know he has suffered and he deserves so much more.  I love him with all my heart.  I pray that I can serve him and love him better each day.

This was the last thing they could take out of me.  Things will be different in my diet from now on they say.  I am thankful that I have the pain from surgery to heal from for that will go away!!  I am grateful for my body and to be alive.  I am so thankful for all my sweet family and friends.  Now my x rays will look a little different from now on.. our bodies are truly amazing!!

It's official.. I now have a Teenager!!

Happy Birthday Jerry!!  You are now 13!!!  Not sure where the time went but it went by too fast for my liking!!  Only 5 more years before you graduate and 6 before you leave on a mission... hmmm..

We are so blessed to have you in our home as our Son.  You will do many great things in life and always remember who you are and whose you are.  You are a special Son of God with great gifts and talents to share.  Thank you for choosing us as your Parents.  We love you more than words can express.

Happy 13th Birthday!!!