We have our very first.....

{TOOTH!}

Monday I was sitting in the chair rocking Graham and he grabbed my finger and shoved it into his mouth and not expecting it, it hurt!  I pulled my finger out and looked at my cuticle and it was bleeding.  So I felt into his mouth, and sure enough, there was the cutest little tooth ever!  He is growing up too fast.  He is on the verge of crawling which makes me sad.  My last baby.  It seems crazy!  I sure love this little guy.

Our Foundation

{Family Home Evening}



We had a fun and successful Family Home Evening using an article from the Friend about Building a Spiritual Foundation.  As we built our house from graham crackers and frosting we talked about each part of the house and what they represented.  The kids love to make things, so this was our lesson,activity,and treat in one!  I love using the Friend magazine.  There are so many fun things and ways to teach and learn the gospel with our children.  Family Home Evening has been a blessing in our home.  Not always perfect, or easy. But we have been richly blessed by consistently following the council to hold them.

"We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest.”              -President Thomas S. Monson

Temple Night

{Our Date Night}

Last night Jeremy and I went to the temple for our weekly trip.  J.J. offered to keep the kids for us.  They love when he comes.  He has been going with us to our ward for the last month in a half or so.  I have really enjoyed it.  Jeremy and I performed initiatory work.  It was so wonderful to sit after a very stressful week {with so many sick kids} and hear those beautiful promises.  It helps you regain your eternal perspective so you can return home and start all over again with your family.  We are so very blessed to have a temple 5 minutes away.  I can still remember the day that we found out they had announced a temple for the Gila Valley.  Jeremy and I have just finished a session at the Mesa Temple, and were across the street at Deseret Book.  Jeremy's mom called him out in the car and said that President Bryce had sent his dad an email that told the announcement.  He came into the store and told me.  When I heard the words I just got such a warm feeling through my whole body.  I was overjoyed.  Watching the whole process was an amazing experience.  Such a blessing in our lives and our young children's lives.  Once day we were coming home from the store and we by chance were able to pull over and watch Moroni being lifted and put on the top of the spire.  I can't even imagine how the early saints must have felt as they were building these sacred temples with their own hands.  And now knowing that at any given minute I can drive 5 minutes and walk into those temple doors if I am in need of comfort, guidance, love, or peace.  The Love of my Heavenly Father and His peace is 5 minutes away.  To me, it is a miracle and a Tender Mercy from a loving Father in Heaven.

Sickness and Life

So all the family is still sick.  Hunter did go back to school today though.  He hasn't been all week.  Fisher and Savanna are still fighting fevers today.  It has been pretty crazy with all this sickness for the past 4 weeks.  I am ready to get out of here and go somewhere!

Last year we had some exciting things happen to our family, one of which Jeremy was promoted to a Senior Engineer.  I am so proud of him and his hard work.  He loves his job and is very good at what he does.  He has been very blessed with all the economic problems this world is facing.  But I keep telling him the Lord has things in store for us to do!

Last weekend we went to the store and stocked back up our Food Shelves.  It felt so good to know that we have a variety of things on hand.  To know that we wouldn't have to rush to the store if something happened brings me a lot of peace.  Just following the PROPHET even if nothing does happen brings me peace.  I love how we never have to fear if we follow the Prophet.  He will always guide us along the path.

The kids are so excited this week for their Valentine Parties at school.  Carlee made IPods of of a box of candy hearts, strings for the cord to the Reece's peanut butter cup ear buds.  They are so cute! Loralie and Hunter picked out Fun Dip Valentines for their friends.  I can remember how fun school parties were.   I loved school as a young child.  So many fun memories.

We have been busily working on the Book of Mormon with the kids for the Primary project.  I love the spirit we feel in the home as we are listening or reading from the Book of Mormon.  So many blessings are promised by reading from it's words daily.

I am really getting excited for the weather to warm up.  Spring is my favorite season.  We have some really fun things planned as a family this year.  We are planning a trip to Utah to see temples and friends and go to Salt Lake City and see the Church stuff their.  I have never been to my remembrance.  Jeremy also has some free fly er miles from his trip to Africa and we are planning on going to New York City.  I am super excited about that!  I think we are planning on that for our Anniversary trip. I would love to go in the fall!  I heard it is beautiful then.

Life for our family is GOOD.  The Lord is watching over us and blessing us abundantly.  I know he truly does know and love us individually.

Counsel from a Wise & Loving Husband

So, lately I have been having quit the pity party with myself.  I have been sick on and off for 2 weeks, all the family has been sick, My wonderful friend moved which was a hard change for me, so I have been feeling pretty sorry for myself.  So my poor husband has had to listen to all my woes very patiently might I add.  Well, last night I was entertaining again at my pity party and I was complaining cause one of my friends is having a hard time with some depression and how she isn't really up for much.  He looks at me with his sweet kind face and says, "Maybe SHE needs YOU to be HER friend instead."  Well, that completely slapped me in the face!  How could I be so blind and selfish??  I love how the Lord loves us enough to give us a loving companion to help us along our journey in this life.  Jeremy has always been my best friend.  And these days, I couldn't do what has to been done without his love and support.  I love that he loves me enough to listen to me, and loves me enough to encourage me.  He takes the time to be my {best friend}.

Daisies

{For my Dear Sweet Mother-in-Law Linda}

Jeremy's mother loved Daisies.  Jeremy decided he wanted to plant some in her plot.  They are going to be beautiful.  We took all the kids to help.  They enjoyed looking at all the headstones from other Saline relatives.  It is really hard to believe that it has almost been a year since her death.  Time is passing so fast these days.  We love and miss her very much.  Our family is so grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His plan for His children on the earth.  We are working hard to be able to be together again as an Eternal Family with her.  Although she is missing things going on in our lives I feel her presence with us at the most important events we have going on in our family.  She loved her family.  She loved to feed them, talk with them, and play with them.  She was a wonderful example of the mother I am trying to become.

Happenings

{Potty Training}

I am so proud of Fisher!  He has been in underwear for almost 2 weeks and he is doing fantastic.  We still have a couple accidents during the week, but mostly due to my fault if I don't pay close enough attention when he is asking to go.  He is loving his Toy Story & Diego underpants.  It seems sad to me I only have one more in diapers and then that phase in our lives is over!  But I am excited about the upcoming years!  I am loving these kids more and more each day as we continue this journey together.  Life is changing, but I am enjoying the changes we are experiencing.