THE ONLY THING THAT IS CONSTANT IN LIFE IS CHANGE

I am asking myself what lies ahead in the new year. 
I am comfortable with my life and happy to begin each new day. 
I am grateful to be married to a man who is honourable and has integrity.  He is wonderful in reminding me that he loves me and he is more tolerant of my imperfections than I am of his; for he never complains and ashamedly, I do.  I love him too!
     It's a crime that I did not make a list of the ways I would like to
    improve this year when writing out my goals.  I once again made
    a 'to do' list, not a 'to be' one. 
I am grateful to be a mother.  Whether near or far, my children are my treasures and my heart is happy when they are happy and sad when they are sad.  I love each of them so much!
I am grateful to be a grandmother.  My grandchildren remind me of the importance of living each day, loving each moment, and laughing as often as possible.
I am grateful for my parents and my brother and sisters.  I am grateful for their examples and love.
I am grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The gospel has given me direction and purpose in life, with wonderful hopes and dreams of returning home to our Father in Heaven one day.  Like Alma in the Book of Mormon, "I swear unto you, that insasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land."  Alma 36:1
Every year, every season, every month, week and day gives us a new beginning.  Everything passes with time, the good and the bad.  The hard and the easy.  I hope this year, I can be more positive and enjoy the good while it lasts, endure the bad with faith, hope and charity and press forward with love and encouragement for all I meet! 

Happy New Year!

It's Been a Wonderful Year!

I like ending the year with holiday celebrations.  We have many reasons to celebrate. 
Our family is growing and we have been able to visit everyone a little bit here and a little bit there throughout the year!  I am so grateful to be a part of my children's lives.  Their joys are still my joys and their sorrows are still my sorrows.  They may all be bigger than me, but I can still see them growing in so many ways.  I guess by my grey hairs, they can see me changing too...
Life is wonderful, not always easy - but wonderful!
What a comfort to know that through covenants made and kept we will always be together! 
I look forward to the day when peace will fill the whole earth and everyone will feel what I feel and know what I know about our Savior, Jesus Christ.  His love is real.  He lived and died following Heavenly Father's plan so that we could all return home to God again someday.  He has shown us the path and is ever near to help us on our daily journey, if we but ask!
Everyone should be as happy as me!
Merry Christmas!

Holiday pressure!

The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! 

I am not ready yet!  Should I be? 

No pressure here!

I have projects started and shopping lists all over the house.  Will I be ready in time? 

I keep changing my mind.  Rewriting lists.  Will I be ready in time?

I wanted to be done early, so I wouldn't feel the holiday pressure - but the pressure just started early!

I don't think this is the way it was meant to be!  Maybe I will be ready to face this next week, when there will be less pressure!  I'll try again Monday.

We all travel through time!

We got a chance to make one of our whirlwind trips to see family this month!  It amazes me how fast time flies...  how much children have grown...  how much people have changed...  how easily we all catch up with one another and how well we still seem to get along together!  So much is different and so much feels the same!  Time is usually my enemy, but time can also be a friend!  What good memories we have to share!
My biggest frustration is my ability to use a camera.  Either it's not in my hand at the right time, or the delay on it feels like 'forever' and I cannot get the shot I want!  So please continue to share your photos with me, because very few of mine will ever be share worthy!
I keep reminding myself that I do not make road trips for photography's sake!  I go to let the people I love, know that I care! 
Thanks for making us feel welcome!  Long distance hugs all around!

Busy like a bee?

I said something to Karyn this month about living a balanced life...  she called me on it!  I am always working on family history...  ALWAYS!!!  Mike used to say, 'You love dead people more than me...' 
'NOT TRUE!'  But they need me more than you do! 
My children are all grown up!  They are so awesome!  I love them to pieces!  ... but I seem to have a strong need to be needed.  My children do not need me like they used to.  This is good, right?
Or am I just making excuses? 
I really love searching and sourcing and adding to my genealogy.  Most of it has been handed down to me.  Very little of it came with documentation and I want to pass it to the next generation documented to the best of my ability. 
People I have never known in life, have become important to me.  I firmly believe that as I learn about them, they take an interest in me and my family.  Are these the angels who watch over my loved ones...  maybe I am doing this for selfish reasons??? 
So I guess I have to admit, I am unbalanced.  That doesn't sound right...
I believe in living a balanced life, but I have a passion.  Take in that my children are grown, my husband works long hours, I still read, sleep, eat, exercise and knit or crochet and serve at church.  So, I have given myself permission to indulge in family history.  It is the right time in my life to do so!  I do not think my balance is wrong, just different than most!  I fill my spare time with research and believe me, I have a lot of spare time!
If you are worried that all work and no play, make me a dull girl - give me a call - we'll go do something fun!  In the meantime I will continue to indulge.
 - I hope that someday, you will also have the blessing of indulging yourself!

Monsoon's Have Arrived!

The air outside now smells like rain most of the time!  I miss the clear blue sky and the stars at night.  When the storms hit, I am glad to be indoors!  I don't keep up with how many inches fall or whether we need more or less!  I am amazed at the wonders of the world and the natural course of each year! 
I am grateful for the blessings of peace of mind and the love in my life. I know that when the storms hit - they can do some damage, but they all come to an end.  It amazes me that when they are over, I can usually look back and see what blessings came with them!  A good storm is sometimes the only way to clean the air!  I know that God can make something good out of the worst situation!  It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"If our lives and our faith are centered upon

Jesus Christ and His restored gospel,

nothing can ever go permanently wrong.

On the other hand,

If our lives are not centered on the Savior and His teachings,

No other success can ever be permanently right."

Howard W. Hunter

June is almost over!

As you can see by the date, I am just not keeping up with life.  Which is really silly, since I don't work full time or have children at my heels anymore.  Today, I am fighting one of my stupid headaches and as always; once the medicine kicks in my mind is racing.  Might as well seize the moment and catch up on a few things!

My first thought was to email all of my children and tell them how much I love being their mom!  I was sure this kind of gush would make them roll their eyes, so once again I hestitated.  Maybe I should just accept the embarrassment and let them know!  I have learned so much from my family.  I am so amazed at the love we have in our family.  We have pushed past some really hard experiences and it has made us stronger.  What has pulled so many families apart has sometimes broken our hearts and shaken us to the very core!  But, I have seen forgiveness and love in action!  I am truly amazed at their accomplishments!  I am not talking about the accomplishments of what they do, but accomplishments at who they are!  Everyone of my children has a giving, loving, generous heart!  I am most grateful to know that whenever they get off track, I know that they will find their way back on!  They are is my most valuable gems!

My other brainstorm this morning, was the idea to post my favorite photographs on this blog!  Since most of my belongings are packed away, I need a place to see my favorite photos!  So I am hoping to figure a way to border my blog with pictures of my family.  They always bring me good memories and cheer me up!  Wish I could figure out how to post them all!

Here goes!