Our first tornado!

I was enjoying the beautiful 72 degree weather in Oklahoma. I was running errands with Tyler and Lincoln. My grandma Risto called me in a panic to see if I was alright. I thought to myself, "how did she know that I was struggling with some problems in my life". No, she was concerned about the tornadoes in Oklahoma. I honestly had no clue. It was a bit windy, but it was beautiful and sunny. After assuring her that everything was just fine here, I went home a turned on the news. Sure enough, a large tornado had just stuck OK City. Well, that's OK, I live over two hours from there.
Later that night, I put the boys in the bath tub and turned on the TV to watch American Idol. Except for the only thing on every station was a big tornado warning with a map showing how it was headed right toward us! That's about the time the lights started flicking on and off. Well, I've been told that a bath tub was one of the safest places to be in a tornado, (because the pipes are anchored into the ground). Even so, I pulled my kids out of the bath and got them dressed in record time. I think that it was about then that the storm sirens started going off around town. We sat glued to the television and watched as the worst part of the storm passed right by us, about 3 miles to the west. We got some really angry rain and hail with a major lightning show and strong winds but there was no damage done here. Unfortunately, it hit the next town over. It touched down just 6 miles from our house in the town of Lone Grove. I was so worried. I have a lot of friends that live in that area. The news said that the tornado was 1/2 mile wide. The biggest and worst ever to hit in this area. Luckily no one that I care about was injured. But it made a big mess!

White and Red Christmas

We had a great time going to Utah for Christmas. The first two weeks, we spent in the Salt Lake area enjoying the snow.

Then we went to St George to see my mom and dad.

And to enjoy the red rocks.

Lincoln decided that he liked the snow.

Until it got in his boots.

My little snow angel, Andrew.

It was great to be back home in Huntsville.

Where it snows in October and sticks around until April.

Justin loved flying off the hill down to the river bottoms of Pineview reservoir. Just like I used to do, when I was his age.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, my kids didn't think that they were getting any presents from mom and dad. It was really fun to lay in bed and listen to them as they woke up and discovered the gifts under the tree. It went something like this. Andrew: "Justin, hurry, look, there are stockings under the tree!" Justin: "They're probably just decorations." Andrew: "But look! They have our names on them!" Andrew and Justin: Yeahhhhhhhhhh! Lincoln: "Candy!"

Wow, it's crazy how much the temperature and the
scenery changes when you drive South for 5 hours in Utah.
Snow Canyon in St. George.
Not much snow though.

Merry Christmas!

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!