God Knows.....

Satan has been working on me lately and I'm pretty sick of it.  I have had a little war going on inside of me....so many questions.  I don't understand why at this point in my life I even let him influence me but I do feel myself being pulled at times and honestly it ticks me off.  The other day I had a few "messages" hit me smack in the face.  One was this scripture: "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say but when ye do not what I say you have no promise."  I know that but it came at me like a bundle of bricks.

I love having the Spirit of the Lord with me.....it's my favorite feeling and pure happiness to my soul.  So why the distractions?  Then someone posted a picture with the Devil and an Angel.....(not this one, the other was scary & harsh).  That's when it all made sense to me.  Satan knows whats ahead for me and doesn't want me to have it...he wants me to be unworthy of Gods blessings.  I love knowing when Satan is behind something because it makes me stronger and I will fight and I will win!  (I hate him....I know that is harsh and I have been taught not to hate but I do hate him!)  He's mean, cunning, a liar, deceiving, and heartless.  He doesn't care about anyone and wants to see us all miserable like him....he's the biggest jerk of all time.  So, knowing and realizing that I feel much better.  I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for me.  Usually when I recognize Satan is behind something I know what's in store.....a temple marriage, and new baby...etc. This time I don't know and it doesn't matter......I will NOT let the big jerk win!  Oh and then I saw this quote today: "The Devil only has power when we give it to him!  James 4:7-8..."Resist the Devil and he will flee from you, draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." 

My favorite place to go when I am struggling is the Temple.  I love going there and feeling GOD's unconditional love for me. (I love Him drawing nigh to me) Today Larry and I went in the morning and did some initiatory and the very first  booth I was consumed with the Spirit and felt HIS love!  I love hearing the words: "and your sins are forgiven...."  I shed a few tears of joy.  I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven and for Jesus for loving me and being with me.  I am thankful for the Atonement.  The Atonement is for everything....even our dumb mistakes.  I feel bad for making dumb mistakes but I know that it is just part of this lives experience. (dang it)

Riding home I was just looking out towards the mountain but for some reason (I don't think it was a coincident) I turned my head and looked up just as we came to an overpass with red cups spelling out "Dawn Rocks".  It wasn't big but there it was.  I told Larry that was for me......again I shed a few silent tears.  I know the message wasn't put there for me by anyone that I know but I believe with all my heart that I was suppose to see it.  I thank God for His tender mercies!  I love HIM with all my heart.  I want to be like Jesus and over come Satan's temptations.  I know I can do it too because there are many Angels with me all the time.  I feel them and for that alone I am thankful for my struggles.  I use to believe that they would leave if you weren't perfect and doing everything right.  That is not the truth.....they are there during the hardest of times and probably even call on more help when needed. (when we feel unworthy)  I know I have been carried and protected many times the last little while.  I appreciate all the Angels watching over me. (both in Heaven and on Earth)

I know God knows us and He loves us and He will always be with us!

Boy Grands

I love having the grand babies come play.  Today was Zaden's day to come play.  It was also suppose to be  Piano for Kimleighel but I got a text from Natalie saying her and Mya were sick.  I told her that I would come and get Parker if she wanted and she took me up on the offer.  It was so much fun having both grandson's here together.  They play so well together and just really like each other.

Having them today brought back memories of my own little boys playing.  I loved having their cute faces smile at me throughout the day.  Oh....my heart smiled!

I worked on some Christmas gifts while they played.  It was a good day to get the gifts done.  Jaydan also enjoyed these two little cuties.  He is so good with the grands and they absolutely love him to pieces.

They even took turns controlling the Choo Choo Train that runs under our tree.  There wasn't any fighting at all today.  Zaden and Parker are buddies.  They are so good to each other.  I thought of the saying in my hall....."Grandma's is where cousins go to become friends".  So true and I am glad for that!  We even got to enjoy Ivy for awhile after her school.  Boy was that nice.....we hardly see Miss Ivy since she is in school.

It was an enjoyable day and I was tired when the kids left.  I rested for a bit and then went in and made cookies.  I love days like today!  I love my grands!

Didn't we just do this?

It's that time of year again to decorate Gingerbread House and when Larry heard us talking about it he said: "didn't we just do this?"  Ummmm.....yes dear like a year ago.  This year really has gone by fast.....a little too fast for all of us I guess.  I'm  not sure if the kids really even enjoy this anymore but they seem to have a good time and I know that the grands like it.

Kevin and Julie brought their "Plantation" to decorate.  Kevin had built it around Thanksgiving but they hadn't got around to decorating it.  The thing was huge and even kept Kamryn busy!

I had to laugh when I pulled out the camera.  All the older girls said that they left their make up on and wore clothes other than pj's because they knew I would be taking pictures.  Yep....they got that right!

I like taking pictures.  I like looking back in my books and looking at the pictures from previous years.  I am glad they just go along with me and let me do it.  I have great kids!

The parents of my grands are good about letting their little ones help.  The house are creative and the little's are so proud.  I am proud of them!

It's another time I like watching my kids interact and work together.  I love watching these people I helped create.  They are all pretty darn cool!

 The finished Houses were great!  The grands were so proud of each of their houses.  I bought pre-assembled  houses this year and it was much faster and easier and well worth the extra money.

 I think building and decorating Gingerbread Houses is a fun tradition.  I like it.....I like it a lot!

Waldo....the Wild Cat

I love this crazy cat and the crazy kid inside!  I don't go to many games at Weber State but when Braxton asked me if we wanted to go I decided we had better.  I love supporting my kids but will admit that I don't always know what they are doing or when and so I miss a lot.  Tonight worked out and we were able to go watch a basketball game.

Braxton got us four tickets so Kimi and Jared could go too.  It was fun.  I have no idea who was playing ball because that isn't the reason I went.  I went to watch the mascot and that's what I did.

Braxton is cool and fearless and just good.  I like this new waldo suit.....I have heard others say he looks mean but I think he looks tough.  The old waldo had such a huge head he looked dumb.  I think Braxton can move around in this suit better.  He did make a pass on the floor tonight doing some back hand springs.  This  mamma's heart smiled and so did my face.  I am so proud of all my kids.....I have great kids!

The fans love Waldo.....well not all the fans do.  The guy in the red hat gets freaked out with mascots and that is exactly why his friends called Waldo over.  I laughed so hard watching this interaction.

Waldo gets around.....I bet he is exhausted at the end of the game.  I think the only time he rested was when he was waiting for the other team to get fouled so he could hang upside down over the rail with a sign.  It took a while and the kids loved having Waldo sit by them.

Waldo kind of does what ever he wants.  He has learned not to ask permission and waits to be told if he does something he shouldn't.  I bet he learned that as a cub.....pretty darn sure.

Good thing cats have nine lives.  He's crazy and brave.  Heck I remember when Brax use to jump out of his bedroom window over the garage.  He landed on a little blanket is all and never hurt himself.  Braxton has always made us laugh.....good thing because he also makes us crazy at times.  He knows all he has to do now though to settle me down is to smile.  I love Braxton's smile!

 Before the game ended Waldo made his way over to us so we could get a picture with him.  I am so happy do be the mom of my kids.  I love them all and they do make my life so much better.

I look tired and was but I am so glad for these moments with my family.  I love the picture of Larry....he doesn't look stressed like he has been.  I think he needed this out tonight away from all worries.  I love this guy!

Book Club Christmas Party

Dang.....I belong to a great book club.  I love these women and I love reading.  We teach each other all the time and just have a great time.  Our Christmas party is one of my favorite.....well it is my favorite.  We have a nice luncheon like always but then we exchange gifts and trade "white elephants".  I always look forward to the "white elephant" exchange.  This year I was proud of myself for the gift I came up with.  It was a Redneck Wine Glass (canning jar on candle stick) and beans in a bag for a Redneck "bubble bath".  It was a hit!  The first gift opened cracked me right up though.  Shanna got a picture of Larry and I dancing.  So funny!!! Lorretta got a picture of us last year and used our faces to make a new one this year.  I had to have it and so I traded Shanna my gift for it! (my want to be body...right there)

The bottom of the picture said: In a desperate attempt to impress a local Book Club, Hooper resident Dawn Ropelato persuaded her husband, Bishop Larry Ropelato, also of Hooper, to audition for the 2013 premier opening of the sensational new sure-to-be-a-hit answer to "Dancing With the Stars", "Dancing With the Clergy".  Prior to the audition, (pictured above) Mr Ropelato was overheard saying: "If I had to shave my chest the least you could have done was shave your arm pits.""

I laughed so hard today my face was sore when I got home.   My head hurt too from trying not to cry too much earlier and then laughing so hard.  While I was taking a teeny break before our Ward Christmas Party Kimleighel came in and laughed at me for having a hair stick straight up.  She took care of me by licking her finger and smoothing it down!  Oh my crud......We both laughed so hard again!  I love laughing even if it does make my head hurt!

Joni.....

I do NOT like Cancer......it Stinks!!!  My sweet friend Joni passed away this week after fighting cancer for four years.  I love Joni!  Joni was a great example of living and loving.  I know Joni from bowling and she is one of the reasons I liked to go bowling.  It's the women I have met and became friends with that make bowling fun for me.  It's not about rolling a ball down a lane to hit some pins, even though that is fun when you actually hit them.  Joni was a great bowler.  She "glided" down the lane.  I loved watching her approach....it was unique and cool.  Joni was funny and always had a smile on her cute face.  Joni liked me and knowing that was wonderful.  

I sat by more "bowling friends" today at Joni's funeral.  I love the support and love we feel for each other.  I love the tribute of Joni's life given by one of her friends.  I knew Joni was fun and talented but learned she is even more so than I knew.  Joni is amazing and a true gift to others.  I am glad I got to know her and rub shoulders with her and knock some pins down together.  What a blessing this one has been to me!  I am glad she doesn't have to fight any more......she wins!  Another Angel Among Us!!!

Sylvia told me this saying today and I loved it....."Joni didn't die of Cancer.....She lived with it"  

a M of M that I REGRET!!!

Have you ever done anything that you truly regret and wish you could go back and redo?  There are many things but one in particular that I would redo if I could.  It happened on Christmas Eve many years ago....I can't remember that  but I do know the Trichelle and Justin were still young enough that they liked sneaking down and peaking at the tree and seeing if Santa brought them anything.

I being "clever" and thinking it would be "funny" talked Larry into sleeping in the hall outside our bedroom door so the kids would have to climb over us.  The kids all sleep upstairs over the garage and our room is at the bottom of the stairs. I was looking forward to seeing how "clever" the kids would be to get around us.  I wondered if they would just tippy toe around us or climb over us walking on the walls.  Neither happened.

I heard them very quietly coming down the stairs.  They saw us blocking their way to the room that Santa had visited and instead of trying to get around us they went back up stairs and to my knowledge never came down early again.  That didn't go quite like I had planned and I have regretted that decision ever since.

Justin was telling Mya the other night how him and Trichelle use to come down and sleep by the tree....that is until the "hall" incident.  That is something I will never forget and I will forever regret.  However....on a happier note I remember Braxton and Jaydan as teenagers trying to catch Santa.  They would hide behind decorations and wait.  Not sure they ever caught Santa because I usually caught them hiding before Santa came.

I hope my kids have happy memories of Christmas.  I love it but have realized I love preparing for Christmas more than I love the actual day of Christmas.  Preparing is so fun and the actual day can be a let down and even disappointing if a child is unhappy.  My kids don't ask or expect too much and so for the most part I think they have always been happy.

I love putting out the same decorations year after year and the memories of those who gave them to me.  Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and I love it!