Family or Presents?

My children have been such great troopers in the last few years. They have been moved around a lot. Lived in another country. Suffered though home schooling with me. And had two crazy, non-traditional Christmases in a row. So this year, we asked them what they wanted for Christmas, they said that they wanted to go back to Utah to be with family. Ty and I told them that money is tight this year and we didn't think that we should make the trip. Well, my darling boys told us that we should not buy them any presents this year but use the money to drive to Utah instead. I am grateful for their good example to me. People are more important than possessions. They haven't wavered in their decision at all. They haven't been asking for gifts or anything. (Although they did count how many grandma had under the tree for them). We are blessed to have so many people that love us. I am thankful to be in Utah and spend time with some of them! (For those of you that are concerned, we did smuggle some gifts into grandma's closet that we'll surprise them with ;).
Merry Christmas Everyone! We love you!

Celebrating 7 years!!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

We know how to celebrate a birthday in December. ;)

Wordless Wednesday

Andrew's Christmas Song

Andrew learned this song in primary today. It was too cute to not share.

Hot Chocolate

I haven't had many of my own deep thoughts lately, but I read this and was touched by it. I thought that I'd share.


A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand,the professor shared his thoughts.
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup . . . but you consciously went for the best cups. And soon, you began to eye one another’s cups. Now friends, please consider this . . .

Life is the hot chocolate . . .your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup,we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. Always remember this . . . . . . . . . . God brews the hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup. The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have!!

Live simply . . . Love generously . . . Care deeply . . .Speak kindly . . .

Leave the rest to God.~ and remember ~ The richest person is not the one who has the most,but the one who needs the least."

Enjoy your Hot Chocolate!

Wordless Wednesday

Tag, you're it!

A tag for my blogger buddies

Because I'm easily influenced & I let my friends push me around here is a tag from Amanda's blog. The catch is that if you are reading this and have a blog consider yourself tagged!
Should you chose to post please leave a comment and let me know!

10 years ago I was:

1. Still a newly wed and trying to figure out how to live (in harmony) with Ty.
2. Totally freaked about buying our first home. (Half the price of my current house, wish I could trade payments now!)
3. Trying to/thinking about getting pregnant with Justin. That worked out nice. :)
4. Working at Arnold Machinery and fighting with Susan.
5. Learning how to cook and be domestic.

5 Things on Today’s To Do List:

1. clean (always)
2. shop for new dishwasher. The old one makes the dishes dirtier.
3. watch Justin's school class Christmas program
4. dinner (leftovers)
5. family home evening

5 Snacks I enjoy:

1. french fries
2. peppermint tea
3. cookies
4. bread (any kind)
5. Andes mints

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. pay off my house
2. put aside money for my kid's school and missions
3. bring Joane and her family to the US
4. Pay off my mom's house and debts so that she can retire
5. Set up a scholarship program for my friends and family

5 Places I have lived:

1. Huntsville, UT
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Highland, UT
4. Belize
5. Ardmore, OK

5 jobs I have had:

1. The Lost Texan! Those were the days.
2. Sales Coordinator @Arnold Machinery
3. Purchasing @ Wagner Packaging
4. Book keeping for Stone Source
5. Mom :)

Okay so everyone that just read this, get your lists together I look forward to reading them.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm stealing an idea from a friend. Every Wednesday, post a picture with no words. (Thanks Amanda) :)

Happy Birthday

Grandma

Risto!!!!!

Gratitude

I have always found gratitude to be an important concept. I find that the more grateful I am, the happier I am. When we are counting our blessings and feeling grateful for all that we have, we realize that we have enough. Then we are not "waiting for life to get better". We are not feeling unsatisfied and discontent. It is a mindset. It is choosing to have a positive outlook. We are in control of our thoughts and in so doing, we control our moods. Choose to be grateful, and you are choosing to be happy. The Lord blesses us abundantly. He wants us to be happy and, he wants to bless us more.

He has always been very generous with me. I more fully realized this when we moved to Belize. I have traveled through poverty stricken areas before. I had seen homeless people on the street. It was not until I lived around impoverished people that it truly had an effect on me. I became friends with women who struggled to buy rice and beans to feed their children for breakfast. Who saved up their pennies to buy 5 spoons for their kitchen. While I was there, I did my best to help where I could. Financially, I gave as much as Ty would let me. I gave service, I gave friendship and I shared my testimony. As I did, my gratitude grew. Never again will I feel poor.

My friend Joanne is a great example to me. She lives in a small wooden shack that her husband built. It is small, maybe 20' x 20', and her family of five squish in together. They have to use a shallow outhouse. (They can't dig too deep because they live on rock). I could go on and on about the hardships that she faces every day but the point is, she is grateful. I never hear her complain. Her faith in Christ is strong and she has a great love for others. She tells me all the time how grateful she is for her life, for her family, for her little home. Joanne is happy.

I am happy too. I am grateful.

I am grateful for:

My Savior, Jesus Christ. My knowledge of the gospel. My health. Tyler. Justin. Andrew. Lincoln. My parents. Ty's parents. My brothers and sisters. (Especially you Amy!) Ty's brothers and sisters (especially Melanie). Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. I am thankful for my home. To be out of debt. Food storage. The USA. FRIENDS!. Charlie (My dog, [bring him home Tyler!]) My computer. Cellphones. Lots of warm blankets and sweaters. Savings. Belize. My animals in Belize. Joanne. Airplanes. To be in the Young Women. President Monson. My camera. Washer and Dryer. My children's school and teachers. Yoga class. Vacations. Clean laundry. My car. Nap time, (Lincoln's). Trees. Smiles.

And I'm greatful for YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving

too slow!

"How

do

we

speed

this

ride

up?"

Wild Rollins Tribe vs. The Zoo

Their Monkey

My Monkey

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Tomorrow, November 13th, is Tyler's birthday. I am sure glad that he was born!

(Thank you Joan and Kenn.) He is in Belize right now so we can't celebrate with him. So if you are reading this Ty, we wanted to wish you a very happy birthday!



Isn't he So Cute!

He has always loved adventure!

Is there really any wonder that he wanted to live in Belize?

And, he's raising our boys to be just like him.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Yesterday, Justin and Andrew had a patriotic assembly at their school to celebrate Veterans day. The children talked about America and the freedoms that we have here. They talked about our founding fathers, and their great love of this country. They sang "God Bless America". And they honored all military veterans. Many of the children had the privilege of bringing a family member, who has served in the military, to honor them. It was a wonderful experience. I have to admit, I got a little teared up with love of America. We are truly blessed to live in this great country. I am thankful to all of those who have served and fought for our freedoms. It is my prayer that the citizens of this great nation will continue to fight for it and for what our founding fathers intended it to be.

God Bless America!

Happy Veterans Day!

Smiles

So the last few weeks have been pretty stressful, leading up to the election. And, well, you all know how that ends. My house is a mess. Ty went to Belize. The list goes on.

But look at the happy smiles on my boy's faces today. :)

Smiling is infectious, You can catch it like the flu, Someone smiled at me today, And I started smiling too.

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year. Justin was a ghost (no,that's not him in the background), Andrew was Anakin Skywalker and Lincoln was (of course) a frog. The nice thing about having three boys is I get to use my favorite froggy suit three times! The ward had a great party on Wedneday, with trunk or treating and the works. I went to Andrew's class party on Friday. Andrew got so happy when I came to his class. He kept giving me hugs. I loved it! Later that night, I couldn't believe how many trick-or-treaters that we had at our house. Apparently we are surrounded by many farming communities and they all come into "the city" for trick-or treating. We went through 15 bags of candy!

Spooky Stuff

My House

Flood!

We are not in Belize right now but our friend sent us these pictures. It has been raining there nonstop for like three months. There are two main rivers in the area that we live and they are both overflowing. This bridge is usually 10 feet above the water level.

This picture is down town San Ignacio. Right across from the market where I buy all of our fruits and vegetables.

This is on my farm. The trees right in front are some of our coconuts. These trees are like 20 feet tall! Don't worry, our house is on higher ground.

Family Scout Camp

It is fun to have a cub scout in the family!

Now we have an excuse to go camping!

Lincoln was in heaven. There were so many of us to snuggle with in the tent. He spent the whole night crawling around and kissing us all. It got a little cold. I think that the temperature dropped down to about 58 before morning. Good thing we were prepared (like all good scouts should be).

Tyler is so pleased that his boys are following in his footsteps. First football and now shooting. What more could a dad ask for?

All dressed up

Justin got a new suit for his birthday

(birthday suit! he, he, he)

and we couldn't resist taking a picture in all of our Sunday finery.

*

Oh, and for those of you who tried to post a comment on our blog and weren't able to: I have fixed the problem so comment away. (But be nice) ;)

The local pumpkin patch.

The weather was perfect last Saturday so we called our friends, the Ebberts, and went out to play. Here are three of my favorite pictures.

Justin is having a great time playing flag football in Oklahoma. His dad is the coach and the quarterback! The team is doing well with only two losses and three wins. Justin even scored the winning touchdown in their second game!

Justin's Birthday

Happy Birthday Justin!!!!

I can't believe that you are 9.

Oklahoma

Our tribe has moved to Oklahoma!

We have decided to try somthing new. Tyler is starting a new business venture and Sarah wants a home in the US. The boys are just happy to have thier own rooms!

Belize

We had fun skipping the winter blues in tropical Belize.

Our boys are raised with a good helping of adventure.