Celebrating Jaydan

Our cute Jaydan is our Valentine Baby and so he doesn't like going out to dinner on his birthday.  He decided that tonight would be a good night to go and beat the weekend rush. Jaydan wanted to go to Sizzler...we like Sizzler!  Jaydan is such a great kid and we enjoy him so much.  This weekend he is moving out and I'm excited for him.  I can see the excitement in his face and that makes me happy.  Julie's brother Mike just bought a town house and wanted Jaydan to be his roomie.  They have talked about it for some time and the time has come.  The next step in this boys life.  I enjoy watching my kids grow up and move on to the next chapter of their lives because it reminds me of when I was that age. Jaydan is a good boy.  He is such a fun kid and usually so happy.  I seldom see him unhappy and it's kind of weird when I do.  He's always been a joy to have around.  It's going to be strange not having him around since the last year he's been home a lot.  He likes being home but I know he is going to love his new "bachelor pad".

I like when Jaydan (or any of the kids) open up and talk to me.  We've had a few good talks lately.  Jaydan has a heart of gold and is going to be a blessing to someone else some day.  This "Love" baby makes my heart smile and I'm so blessed to be his mommy!  I really enjoy our birthday dinners with our kids.  It's fun having them one on one.

I just want to point out....it's freezing outside and my son wears shorts and a t-shirt.  He is a hairy little guy and tells me not to worry because he stays warm from his "rug-or-fur".  He's always been like that...got an electric razor in 8th grade because he needed it.  I think he must have lost his razors...it's the in thing right now to have facial hair and he is loving that!  I love this kid!

Doing Good Things

I got up early and went to the temple again this morning.  Lisea Allen invited me to go with her and her group that has been going together for years.  They go and do Sealings every Wednesday morning.  I decided that I couldn't be doing anything better and so I'm going to plan on going with them every Wednesday.  I drove myself today though since I had made arrangements to go visiting teaching.  It worked out perfect.  I was able to help with Sealings twice and after my second turn it was time for me to leave.  I loved how I felt as I drove home...very peaceful and content!

I really love the sisters I visit.  I get to go to Crystal Miles and Linda Lamb.  Larry and I together visit with the Mark family.  Crystal and Linda are pretty easy to get appointments with.  I just have to watch the clock when I'm at their houses because sometimes our visits get carried away and I don't want them to ever cringe about me coming.  I have a partner but she is very involved with her kids and grands and has a hard time committing. (she picked today)  Oh a funny that happened when I was setting up appointments...I accidentally text a different Linda (Love) to see if I could come visit teach.  She replied back with...I don't think you're my visiting teacher. ☺  That made me laugh out loud as I'm sure it did her. (she lives in Roy) I love visiting teaching and getting to know the sisters better.  I have a strong testimony of it's importance.   I have become really good friends over the years with the sisters I have got to teach and visit.  

Doing the work of the Lord is very satisfying!

Tuesday with Larry

Before Larry got off work today I worked on a free book that I had an offer for.  It was just a 20 page book from Shutterfly.  I had the pictures ready for the most part and thought I'd be able to whip it out in no time.  Stuff like this takes time though. I had to redo a few pages a few times and I know I spent more than an hour on this little book.  I told Larry that I hope someone besides me enjoys them someday.  I really love picture books....I think they are fun and neat.

I was chatting with Jaydan when Larry came home.  Jaydan is going to move out with Mike Dunkley soon.  Mike bought his brother, Ricks, house and wants a roomie and a little help with the payment.  Jaydan is really good with his money and thinks he will be able to afford it.  Jaydan told me that for his birthday he wanted me to start donating plasma because he would get $$$ back for me doing it.  The kid is clever about bringing in more $$$.  I told him he should maybe consider substitute teaching.  I think after Kevin telling him the same thing that he will go apply to substitute.  He'd be a good substitute because he's good with kids.

Larry drove his cute truck today to the temple.  It's funny watching the guys that we drive by watch it.  A construction flagger even made us stop so he could talk to Larry.  ☺  I'm glad this old truck makes Larry happy.

The missionaries were at the Temple today. It was neat having them in our session.  I love the spirit the missionaries have.  I really enjoyed being there today with them.  I love going to the Temple every week with Larry.  I really have enjoyed going in the afternoon.  Larry only has about a month left before he won't get  half of a day off.  Then we'll be back to attending at night.

When we got home I had a nice surprise on my bed.  I knew when I saw it that my cute friend Ashley had been by.  I helped her out for her lesson Sunday by simply sharing a little bit about being Happy.  (like maybe 2-3 minutes)  Ashley is a very talented, creative soul.  Her thoughtfulness made my day even better!  I need to do something nice for someone soon!  Kindness really is contagious.

Celebrating My Mom's Birthday

My mom will be 79 tomorrow and so I went and celebrated "her" today.  I knew that Tuesday would be busy and by going a day earlier I had her to myself.  I brought lunch and it was yummy.  I stopped at Zuppa's and got us each a Triple Cheese Panini and some Tomato Basil Soup.  I also stopped and got my mom her favorite pie which is Lemon Meringue.  She was thrilled that I brought lunch.  She even had enough left over for dinner or another lunch.  It was fun spending a few hours with my mom.

She wanted me to make a chocolate sheet cake for her to take to school tomorrow to share with the class that she volunteers in.  I was happy to do that for her.  While the cake was baking I cleaned her bathroom for her which I know she really appreciates.  We visited for a bit while the cake cooled but once I had it frosted I knew it was time to go.  My mom was telling me about a great Aunt of hers who had told my mom when you get older you just get tired easier....(I paid attention)

I love my mom.  She's a good lady with a caring heart.  She's fun and upbeat too.  She gets a lot accomplished and has many talents.  She seems content and happy this birthday!  I hope we get to celebrate her for many more years!  She's pretty darn healthy so I could see her living for many years to come....I sure hope so!

Super Bowl Sunday

This really is how I feel about the Super Bowl!  The reason I do like Super Bowl Sunday is that our family is together.  Some of us enjoy visiting and watching the commercials and half time best.  However we do have plenty biting their nails and care about what's happening on the field.

I was impressed with Lady Gaga when she sang the National Anthem.  I've never seen her look so nice and she did look nice.  She's a unique human being that has her own crazy story.  I think she's done okay with the little I know about her.

I stopped playing games with my grands and Natalie to watch the Half Time.  I like watching the Half Time Performance.  So much time and work goes into making them spectacular.  I thought this years was pretty great.  I think they try to make the half time family friendly. I watch my grands and how they react.  Mya wasn't impressed at all with Beyonce.  I'm pretty sure Mya was disgusted from the look on her face.  Actually I wasn't impressed with Beyonce either....she shouldn't have been on the stage. (she did cause a lot of controversy) 

Braxton and Kelsi made it home this morning and so we were able to enjoy having them here as well as Justin's family.  It was our off week for the other kids and Jaydan went to a party with his friends.  I think the Bronco's won ☺  Actually I did pay attention to the score every now and then only because Kelsi and Kimi are Bronco fans...no one else cared!  So for Kelsi and Kimleighel  I am glad the Bronco's won!  Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  Oh and by the way our toilet bowls did not clean themselves.

A Blessed Saturday

Attending Mya's Baptism was the best way to start a Saturday.  I loved feeling the Spirit and it was felt first thing.  It was fun being with our family and Natalie's family.  My kids have married in to awesome families.

Sadie was great all day and was showing off her cute smile before she went to bed.  Her little face makes me smile.  She is so expressive and cute.  I have really enjoyed having Sadie for the week.  I loved all the snuggling we got and waking up to her cute face.  Sadie is a good baby...such a blessing.

Larry and I went to dinner with Alan and Sue.  I didn't bring my phone or camera and so I found their picture on Sue's Face Book.  I love Alan and Sue.  They are such good, down to earth people.  They do so much for others.  They are always serving their friends from the Islands.  They work hard and play hard and tonight when we went to pick them up a few of their married kids were there with their families.  One family was ice skating on the rink out back that Alan and Sue put up.  The others were in the house with the babies playing with them.  I love the Winter family and always enjoy seeing any of them.

We went to Sizzler and enjoyed a good meal and had some really great conversation.  We always have great conversations with the Winters.  We can talk to them about anything and usually do.  It's fun sharing our thoughts and lives with people on the "same page".  We just understand each other really well.  We talked about vacationing together in November.  We each had something in mind and I think Larry and I might change our plans of going to Disneyland and go to Hawaii with with Winters in November instead.  I think we were planning on going to Hawaii in February and so maybe we will just flip our trips.  I love going on vacation with Alan and Sue.

It was a great day!  Filled with the Spirit, Family and Friends!  It was complete!

Mya's Baptism

Everyone's prayers for Mya to be better for her baptism were answered.  She has been so excited to get baptized and didn't want to post pone if for being sick.  I was so glad that everything went as planned.  I love baptisms!  I always feel the spirit and it started right off for me today.  We got there about 20 minutes early and as people were coming in and filling up that Relief Society room I could feel the spirit so strong and my eyes leaked a little from it.

When the program started I struggled to hold back my tears.  I was thinking how grateful I was to be giving the closing prayer because I was a mess.  It didn't matter that I was the closing prayer.  I still cried and had a hard time getting my words out.

Mya is a spiritual giant!  She already has such a strong testimony of prayer and priesthood blessings.  She knows right from wrong and  doesn't like seeing immodest clothing on anyone.  She is just so pure and sweet!  Oh how I love Mya.....Oh how everyone loves Mya!  The primary president joked about having Parkers baptism at the Aquatic Center so there would be room for everyone.

I know that Mya understands her choice and decision to be Baptized!  She is a sweetheart and really does try to follow Jesus.  Mya is such a great example to us all!