Happy Birthday Tammy G

It's a good thing this girl had a birthday or I'd still be trying to get with her.  I have tried many times over the last month but it's been impossible to get time with Tammy.  I finally made her commit a few weeks ago to let me take her to lunch for her birthday today.  It was such a fun day.

We went to Idle Isle in Brigham and I was glad to drive there just so we could talk.  I wasn't sure how much time I was going to get with Tammy but we ended up having the entire day.  We caught up on each others lives.  We made silly video's where our faces were distorted and I laughed so hard my tummy muscles hurt.  We are pretty hilarious at times!  We talked about a lot of spiritual things which I always enjoy.  The time went fast and it was me that needed to get home.  I sure love this fun, crazy, in tune, loving, spiritual friend of mine.  I hope we get to celebrate many more birthdays together.  Tammy adds so much joy to my life!  We both believe in Angels...and she is one of mine for sure!

My Favorite Sunday

Easter is and always has been my favorite Sunday of the year!  I remember as a little girl feeling the difference of this day.  I loved getting a new dress, and having an Easter Basket, always with a chocolate bunny, but those things are not what made the difference.  The difference is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I love hearing the story of His resurrection.  I know that He lives!  The Celebration of  Easter is Celebrating The Greatest Miracle Ever!  I love knowing that we will all live again with our families and Heavenly Father.  I love how I feel every Easter Sunday!  I love when we can share our testimonies of Him on Easter....I did that again today.  (I share quite often because Heavenly Father wants me to)

I love all the fun things that go along with Easter.  I love our Family  Easter Traditions!  A few years ago we started sneaking up to the doors of our grands and helping the Easter Bunny out.  We leave bunny prints and a stuffed toy and sometimes another treat.  It's fun and this year Jared and Kimi came along and had a good time too.  Larry thought we should ring the door bell and run.  I think just leaving the items there for Sunday is best but this year we rang the door bells. 

Parker peeked out his window when he heard our car. (we were on the North Side of their house)  He saw us sneak everything up to the door.  He even saw us make bunny prints...he watched it all. ☺  I looked at his window because they had just turned the lights out when we got there but I didn't see him.  He jumped out of bed and ran for the door when he heard the door bell ring.  By the time the door was opened we were long gone and Parker was probably telling his family all about what he had seen out his window. haha (I later learned that he wasn't sure if it was us or some red van...we will have to be more careful next year)

I still put treats in the married kids buckets.  In fact, this year the married kids got a kids movie.  I didn't think of getting one for the three that aren't married and so even though they got more treats their buckets looked like they got less.

I got a cute text from Justin this Easter morning with my cute grands and their stuffed animals.  Cutest Smiles Ever!

 I love getting pictures of my kids whenever I get the chance.  They allow me to take them on special days like today.  The families change so quickly and I enjoy capturing the memories!

I love our Easter Egg Hunt Tradition.
This year the north lawn was for the babies 2 and under.  The eggs were all over the grass and the little ones had a great time putting them in their buckets.  They all got a lot of eggs.  The sand box was for the older grands and it was so much fun watching them run around.  Up the steps and down the slide.  Through the tires again and again.  They needed a little help reaching a few of the eggs that were on the roof and high on some of the playground equipment.  I love running around after everyone trying to get everyone's pictures.  It makes me laugh and smile all over.  Everyone gets to hunt in the front yard.  I love watching my big kids run around with cute buckets swinging from their hands trying to find the eggs.  Always such a fun day! They search high and low, and all around, and through every bush, and under every clump of grass.  It's fun to watch.  I count how many eggs we hide and we never find them all.  We do make sure all the money is accounted for though.

This is a picture with everyone except me and Kimleighel.  I was taking the picture and Kimi was still at church.

 Larry took this picture when Kimleighel got home...so this is our bunch!

I thought we'd try to get a picture of just the grands and this is the best I got.  I chopped Kamryn's head off and Zaden is being a goof, but Sadie hadn't crawled off yet and everyone is there so it is good.  I think these little people are so stinkin cute!  They make my heart smile.

We don't have a traditional dinner.   This year we had chicken roll ups, pink gravy, corn, deviled eggs, orange slices, orange salad, and a green salad.  I love having everyone over for dinner.  I really enjoy listening to everyone talk to each other.  I love seeing my family enjoy each other!

It was a wonderful day from start to finish.  I'm so thankful for the Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for my marvelous family.  We are truly Blessed!

My oh My

MY....what dirty hands and a big smile you have! ☺

Flushed My Troubles Down

I know that we are to trust Jesus Christ and His atonement.  I know that it's important to let go of our troubles and give them to Him since he has already paid the price.  I was having a hard time doing it or even knowing how and so today I wrote down a few of my troubles that I have absolutely no control over....things that are out of my hands....and I flushed them down the toilet.  I'm hoping that this will help me to remember that I let them go and that I'm not holding onto them any longer.  Being concerned is normal but letting those concerns pull you down and cause you to have health issues is ridiculous.  So hopefully this will help....bye bye things I have no control over.

Food 4 Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday! 

A little feast without the calories!! 

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! Go HERE to JOIN IN!!! 

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Breakfast ~ Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them? I'd have to say that my parents were my hero's.  I didn't necessarily do things to be like them but I did do things so that they would be proud of me.  I worked hard at getting good grades.  I did my best in everything.  I tried hard to obey and honor them.  Even though I didn't consciously do things to be like them I am like them in many ways.  They each have qualities that I applied to my life.  Honesty, hard working, kind, gentle, happy and simple are qualities that I got from my parents.

Lunch ~ What do you think the most ultimate gift of the world is? Christ!  His birthday, atonement and resurrection are the ultimate gifts to the world.  I am so thankful that I have been taught to know and love Jesus Christ.

Dinner ~ If you were in the Miss America talent competition, what would your talent be? I think I'd have to just speak..I like to talk and I would share some of the things I have learned in this life.  I didn't think I had a talent since I don't sing, dance, or play an instrument (even though I use to) but I have learned that kindness and compassion are talents and I have those.

Midnight Snack ~ What's the best dinner you ever had? The first thought that came to me was my mom's chicken dinner and fried pork chops.  My mom was the best cook!  The only thing she cooked that gagged me was some fish one time....it was gross!  My dad smoked his fish after that.

Recipe for the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for the week?)  Opposition comes to us all but because of the opposition and trials we get we are strengthened and pushed to a higher level! So I guess it's okay to embrace the opposition in our life and know that it is truly for our good!

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Fun Friday

The kids had a day off from school for Easter today and so I got to see them.  Kimleighel had a dentist appointment this morning and so she brought the boys here a little before.  Zaden came running in and gave me a big hug.  There is something wonderful about the grands initiating the hugs that makes my day even better.  My grands are all so darling....man do I love them all to pieces.

The dentist was running way late and so me and the boys hung out in the waiting room for an hour and a half.  Behr ended up falling asleep.  Ivy called while we were still at the dentist and she was at my house already.  Thank goodness she is old enough to be by herself.  I had to keep reminding myself that my kids were tending their younger siblings at her age.  We hurried home when Kimi got done.  Me and Ivy played Five Crowns while Kimi kept score and Zaden watched mind craft stuff.  I love having the grands over.  After playing cards with Ivy I played the Wii with Zaden.  I don't play it enough and I am not good at it.  We were racing cars and I seemed to be stuck by a fence most of the time or I'm trying to find my way back to the track.  I ran into many cows if they were in my way.  I can barely watch the screen I am on but somehow Zaden has the ability to watch all the screens and knows everything that's going on.  He encourages me even though I stink.  At one time my arms were moving all over as if moving them would help my car go in the right direction....it's my thumb that has control..not my arms!  Anything for the grands! haha ☺

Carla and Roger invited Larry and I to dinner.  Carla is so thoughtful.  She knew Larry and I needed something since we are both experiencing more stress than usual.  We love hanging out with Roger and Carla.  They are some of the best people around.  We went to LaFerrovia because it's our favorite.  After driving through Freddy's for a frozen custard we went to Carla and Rogers and relaxed in their hot tub.  This time of year is the perfect time to enjoy a hot tub.  It was relaxing.  My body is so short that if I sat on the seats the water came up to my chin.  So I had my feet under me most of the time to keep me a little above the water.  I love our friends and do feel like some of the stored up concerns were released.

God Blesses us Through Others!  Sometimes it's easy to recognize!  I'm thankful for my friends!

Loss Of Sparkle

Today I spent a few hours with a dear friend of mine.  I smiled while we chatted.  I continually count my blessings and was trying to focus on all the good things happening around me.  There is so much good!  My friend looked into my eyes and said you seem stressed.  I quickly reviewed what I had been saying and wondered if I was talking louder and faster than I normally do.  While those thoughts were running through my head she said.....I know what it is.....You have lost Your Sparkle.  As if on cue my eyes filled with tears but I am strong and wouldn't allow them to flow....I blinked them back.  She then told me that for the first time ever she wasn't jealous of me having seven children.  We've talked multiple times what a blessing having seven children is.  But with everything there is opposition.  Since I do have seven children and four more added to them through marriage, and nine grands and two on the way there's a little more concern that fills me up. (I'm full)  I don't mean to worry it just happens.  I don't think I focus on the little concerns but my subconscious knows and reminds me every now and then that opposition happens, and it happens to everyone.  It's life and it's real.  I can smile all I want, and write down pages of blessings and listen and sing uplifting songs all day but deep down my soul and heart hurts sometimes.

As a wife and mom and just plain human being I want to be able to make everything right.  I want to help others to be happy and not experience trials or pain.  I plead constantly with Heavenly Father for those things.  I know His plan is best in the long run and He knows what trials we need to learn certain things.  Maybe I am being a slow learner right now.  Maybe my blood pressure medicine has crazy side effects that are not in sync with my life style and mind set.  I'm not sure what's happening or why but one thing I know for sure is I want my Sparkle Back!

I looked up the side effects of the bp medicine and they are:
cold or flu symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever;
dry cough; yep but just occationally 
muscle cramps; yep
pain in your legs or back; yep
stomach pain, diarrhea;
headache, dizziness; lightheaded
tired feeling; or sleep problems (insomnia). very tired
itching, hands, feet  everywhere
So I'm pretty sure much of my lack of sparkle is from my new medicine....not liking this at all.