Halloween 2009

Good Lesson

While I was in California (see next post), I had a nice conversation with my Uncle Ernie. He is my mom's younger brother and has always been like a father to me. I love him with all my heart. As we sat on the couch early this morning before anyone else was awake, he told me about a class he teaches for people struggling with addictions. One of the stories he told me taught me a lesson and I share it in hopes that it might help someone else.

In the scriptures we read that when we pay our tithing, "the windows of heaven will pour down blessings that there won't be room enough to receive them". A gentleman in this class commented that he would pay his tithing then wait for a check to come in the mail, a bank error, or some other windfall of money that would be just the right amount of money that he needed. He was looking for a miracle of money.

After struggling with this for a long time, the gentleman said he finally reread that scripture and focused on the word "window". He realized that money does not come through windows when they are open. What does come through open windows is light and warmth. He said he learned that when he paid his tithing, Heavenly Father wasn't promising to give him that money back in another form (yes, that stuff does happen sometimes, but that isn't my point) but rather when he paid his tithing, Heavenly Father promises to give him light and knowledge and warmth. He promises to strengthen our testimonies.

As we all continue to struggle financially, I hope this helps someone else like it has me. I need to focus my attention on blessings that are not as tangible as cash such as the light of the gosple, peace in my heart and an increased desire to do good.

Wedding and beach weekend

I'm too sexy for my short...

I Love the Beach!!

Insert Bay Watch theme music here.

Ash after a long night of partying

Me and my cousin Michelle

Beach Beauty

Run! Run! As fast as you can!

Bro's

This is what happens when you give two 6 yr olds the camera

My cousins Dave and Kathy Horner, Mom, Uncle Ernie (Father of the Bride)

My cousin Jackie got married this weekend in California. My mom and I took Aspen and Ash with us on the trip and had a GREAT time. Jackie and her siblings have always been some of my favorite people in the entire world to be with- extremely fun and happy. Now that we are all grown up and live all over the country we don't get to see each other like we used to, making weddings an even more special occasion because we get to reconnect with one another. My children met my cousin Stephanie's boys and they were instant friends. It was like they had known each other their entire lives!

Sunday morning we hit the beach for a couple hours before heading home and the weather, sand, water and amount of people couldn't have been better if we had planned it. Absolutely GEORGEOUS!!! It was me that was whining when it was time to go home, not the boys.

I am glad to be home now though. I missed the rest of my family and nothing beats walking in the door and having your kids run up to you and give you hugs. I hope they never get too big to do that.

3 month catch up

I went to Bahama Bucks last night with some friends and one of them is a big time blogger. She inspired me to catch up with my blogging and to do better at following other people's blogs. (Step A-WAY from Facebook, Wendy!) It has been three months since I last blogged so here is a short recap of what has happened in my life over that time. Fair warning- it isn't all that exciting. Try to stay awake.

Started school. LOVE IT! I am using my brain and getting out of the house. Just got my midterm exams back and got a B in a 300+ level Democracy class essay exam. Can you believe it? ME! Look out Palin- here I come! Japanese history is going good as is math and Culture Diversity.

Kids are all in school and extra curricular activities. This is what I spend every afternoon/evening running around to. The boys are all on different baseball teams (games 2 nights a week and practices two times a week), Alexis is in the town play, Willy Wonka, Amanda is in YW, Aiden is in scouts, Alexis goes to Achievement Days.

I got put in the Relief Society presidency. It is great to be out of primary but I worry that I am not doing a good job in RS. It seems like what I do matters a lot more there than it did as music leader in primary. Meeting new women and visiting with them is a lot of fun though and I am glad to be serving where I am serving.

Found two baby sulcata tortoises in our front yard. The kids have named them Tut and Tina and we love them!

Halloween is coming up. Dallas and I are going as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Alexis is going as the Queen of Hearts, Aiden is going as a belly dancer (Yes, you read that right), Aspen is going as a toilet, Ash is going as the Shaggy Dog and I don't know what Amanda is going as. I am looking forward to it!

That's about sums the past three months up- school, kids and home. That's my life and I LOVE every minute of it.