Celebrating a Few of My Kids!

I love celebrating my kids birthdays!  I love thinking about them on their birthdays.  I have such great memories of each one of my kids....they are each my favorite.  This weekend we celebrated with Trichelle and TJ and Kevin and Julie.  We take each of our kids out for dinner on or around their birthday.  It's a special time to visit and spoil each child individually....that is until they get married and then we celebrate their spouse with them.

On Friday we took Trichelle and TJ out and had a great time with them.  I love the individual time and always look forward to it.  I marvel at my kids and how wonderful they are.  They teach me so much and I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey with them.  The difficult times were few and well worth going through. (I need to remember that right now with Kimi & Jared...it will be worth it...it will be worth it)

Saturday we enjoyed being at the Temple with Whitney Winter and her great family to witness her marriage in the SLC Temple.  What a day of reward for the Winter's.  We have always loved each of their kids and love seeing them grow and succeed.  Not many were invited to witness the sealing and so we felt very blessed to be there.  Larry was a witness which was really special.  Whitney has always loved Larry.  When she was a toddler and Alan was the Bishop, little Whitney would find Larry and come sit on his lap. ☺  Larry had the privileged of being Whitney's Bishop when she had some struggles.  Those times are priceless.  It was so much fun celebrating with them.  We even went to the Wedding luncheon which was a little too good....and we ate a little too much.  Needless to say we weren't very hungry when we took Kevin and Julie out for their birthdays that evening.

I thought I would be able to fake being full and at least eat a salad and some soup.  Nope....I couldn't even eat my salad. The luncheon filled me beyond full and I didn't have any desire to eat anything else. It didn't really matter though.  Kevin and Julie enjoyed their meals and we had a great time visiting with them.  Kevin and Julie had realized that Saturday was exactly in the middle of both their birthdays and so it was the perfect day to celebrate them.  They told us that the papers are being started for Kevin to adopt Kamryn.  We are so happy about that.  Kamryn is Kevin's and should legally have his last name.

Larry found a few cute little wood plague's with perfect sayings for these birthday kids.  Trichelle's said: Mom is a title just above Queen, and Kevin's said: We interrupt this marriage to bring you the Football Season.  I thought it was cute that Larry saw those plagues and thought of the kids...it doesn't happen all the time.          9/9/13                                                                          

I Am Who I Am

Last night I was talking to a friend.  Some how the conversation turned so that I was admitting to
being rebellious.  I'm really not rebellious it's just that "I am who I am".  I was told when Larry was made Bishop that people would be watching me and expect more.  That's not fair!  Because of that awareness I purposely started drinking drinks with caffeine.  I guess I thought if I put it right out there for others to see that I am just a normal person they wouldn't feel like they needed to look deeper for my weaknesses.  I think it worked.  I believe I have been accepted for just being me.  The reason I wanted to write about this is because everyday I do try to be better.  I am always trying to improve who I am and my actions but it is not because I am a Bishop's wife, or my parents child, or my children's mom.....it is because I am a daughter of God! (all the other reasons help and do influence my choices too)  My life is between me and the Lord and it is what he thinks about me that matters.  He knew why I chose caffeine and he accepted and loved me anyway.  He also looked past the caffeine but instead of looking for my weaknesses He saw my strengths and showed them to me so I could strengthen them even more.  I am a better person than I was five years ago. Each of us should be because we are all children of God!

I have learned a lot about who I am.  I am a daughter of Heavenly Father who loves me.  I am a mother to seven wonderful children who also love me.  I am the wife to a great man who strengthens me and loves me.  I am a true friend and I care about everyone.  I am human and will always make mistakes and have weaknesses.....that's reality!

Scattering Sunshine

Recently I thought about making little treat bags to "scatter sunshine".  I put a cute quotes on a few treats and put them in a bag.  My thought is to give these to others while I am out and about with my friends.  I made one up today and took it to Carla.  So Carla is the first to receive a "Scatter Sunshine" treat bag.  I made it simple...no ribbons or frills....I want it to be simple so that hopefully it will get copied in some form or another.

I decided to take one to Carla because I am not able to make the baby shower for her cute daughter, Sara.  I feel bad.  I missed Sara's wedding too because it was on my birthday last year and I spent the evening with my family.  I didn't want to miss Sara this time or just drop off a gift.  I messaged Carla last night to make sure they would be home today.  It was fun visiting with Carla and her darling girls. They were decorating for the shower and so I was able to see how cute it will be.  I would like to be there but we will be at Whitney's Wedding which is wonderful and great and where we need to be.

I'm excited for Sara to be a mommy.  I'm excited for Carla to be a grandma.  I'm excited to make more "Scatter Sunshine" bags!

SNAP

The summer is over and the kids are back in school and special needs mutual has started a gain.  I have missed these gals and I was excited to see them again last night.  I love seeing their smiling faces and even their grumpy faces.  We get to see both.  I think they were excited to start again.  It seems like we had a few more than when we stopped.

Our first activity was getting to know that leaders better. It was quick and fun and I think the girls enjoyed it.  I enjoyed getting to know the leaders better.  What a blessing it is for me to serve in this wonderful calling.  I feel the spirit serving these cute gals.  I know we are all children of our Heavenly Father and I know He loves each and every one of us.

Book Club

Our Book Club is changing.  Suzie had to go to work and Susan went on a mission.  Loretta and her hubby have also been called to serve a mission and so soon we will be down to three of us for a year or so.  We also decided that eating out was less stressful and cheaper than preparing a lunch for everyone so our book club will be mobile for now on.  I like that idea....I always worried when it was my turn to host.  However hosting was good for me since every time I got compliments on the meals I prepared and I now claim that I can cook.

I checked out a few good books from the others to read.  I like having the opportunity to read books that others have already read.  I decide from their "book reports" if I want to read it or not.  I love our book club and the women I get to share my thoughts with about the books I read.  I'm smarter from being in this club.

Sista's

Davaleen needed some moral support today and so she planned a lunch at the Olive Garden.  I was glad I was able to make it.  Everyone that came today were also the one's that came when I needed moral support concerning Jared.  That day Kathy planned the lunch but I was that one that ended up needing the advice and support of my "sista's".  Very quickly before I left, I made Davaleen an "I Care Package" with some chocolate.  I think chocolate makes every day better and brighter and she needed it.

I also snuck a Violet Crumble (like a Crunch bar but a bit bigger) in Jodi's purse.  Me and Jodi love them and I had just got an order and felt like sharing.  I usually share my treats with others....if I like something and it makes me happy I feel it just might make someone else happy as well.  It makes me happy to share my "special treats".

I enjoy these ladies and I'm so glad they are part of my life....they enrich it so much!  I'm always "filled" while with them. It's nice to be around others that fill your bucket instead of draining it.  Mine is overflowing.....I can't remember the last time it was drained!  I'm blessed....heck we all are!

Labor Day Weekend....at Brownie Lake

It's a tradition for Natalie's family to go to Brownie Lake every Labor Day Weekend...this year our family went with them.  I love the mountains and the fresh air and quietness of the outdoors.  I love camping and we haven't done it for years.  Thank goodness for the trailer...now we will go. (which is more my kind of camping...I love showers and potties)  I love the close quarters in the trailer or a tent where you have to enjoy your family if you want to have fun.  I love not having to do anything really so I have time to just play games and visit with my family.  This weekend was very relaxing and nice.

We took our kayaks with us and many enjoyed them.  I'm glad we have them since they really are fun! I was glad that Braxton and Jaydan went with us.  Kevin and Julie went camping with Julie's family but not for as long.  Apparently they showed up at our house for Sunday Dinner to find it dark and empty. I thought they knew we were camping but obviously they didn't. oops!  Trichelle only knew because Ivy told her and so I need to be sure to get the word out on things like this even if I think everyone knows or not.....there is usually one that doesn't and it always makes me feel bad.

Sunday was a day that the whole group spent more time together.  We had a big breakfast that the Wayments organized.  They made french toast and cooked bacon and sausage and the rest of us brought something to go with it.  It was fun visiting with everyone and seeing everyone interact.  I love each of my kids in-laws....they are all wonderful.  Larry took me for a ride after breakfast and we went down "memory lane".  He showed me where Jared could have been while he was lost...it made me sick inside and I had a headache from holding back the tears.  He was blessed and prayers were answered and being out there made that even more obvious.  Then Larry took me over to Spirit Lake and that walk down "memory lane" was a lot nicer.  I remember camping there with my family a few times and staying in the cabins and skipping up and down the road to the lodge where some cute boys worked. We even rode horses back in the day....it was a great memory.

I loved watching my grands play with their cousins.  Mya and Parker love camping and were so good about always letting their parents know where they were.  I loved getting hugs and kisses from these two cuties every day.  I loved watching them enjoy being kids along with their cousins.  I got a kick out of Mr Parker who insisted on peeing in "his house"....the kids little fort.  He even went one more time before we left which didn't thrill his cousin who was playing there.  I laughed!

We found a mouse where the big electrical cord goes but he was stuck to our sticky trap.  It doesn't bother me to see that because I don't like mice in my stuff.  If they are running around in the open I'm okay with that but get in my stuff and it all changes....I despise mice!

I could have stayed longer.  I never look forward to going home because that always means a bunch of work and lots of laundry.  Getting ready to leave is stressful  and returning is also...but in between those times is wonderful!

I hope this becomes a tradition for the Ropelato Family too!   I love Traditions!