Good news!

Linzi called today to say the baby's head is now facing down. I'm so grateful for answered prayers. Now we're just praying that he (yes, I am referring to the baby as "he", just because I can) stays that way. No more gymnastics for you, kiddo!!

Happiest of birthdays Angie!!!

Happy 24th Angie!

We are grateful to have Angie in our family. She has been so good for Craig! She inspired him to go back to school and get his degree, and supported him the entire time. I know I used this on Friday about Sister Monson, but the saying really is true that behind 'every good man, there is a good woman.' Angie is Craig's good woman. :)

Angie is a wonderful wife, mom, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. She is always willing to go the extra mile, and often does.
Things I love about Angie:
She is compassionate.
She is giving.
She loves her family (and ours).
She is a hard worker.
She makes us feel welcome.
She loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and is dedicated to living the gospel principles.
She has a good sense of humor.
But mostly, what I love about Angie is that she loves Craig, Lucas and Darci with all her heart. And that she does a wonderful job taking care of them.

We love you Angie! Happy Birthday!!

United prayer

On Sunday a friend of ours commented in RS that one of the things she loves about facebook is how it connects you with family. She then told about how their extended family has heard about her health issues, and the many messages about how they are praying for her and putting her name on various temple rolls. She was comforted in knowing that she was being prayed for by hundreds of people. I'm not going to lie, I was a little jealous that she has extended family that are active in the church. Unfortunately we don't have that blessing in our lives. What we do have, for which I am very grateful for, is our family that is active, close, and truly care about each other. The reason I bring this up is that Sam and Linzi's baby is transverse, which means that he/she is laying sideways. Linzi texted us last night, asking for our prayers. I'm grateful that she knows that she can count on all of us to do that for them. I am praying that all goes well and baby Dell decides that tumbling is fun, and adjust him/herself accordingly.

Frances Monson

"Behind every good man, is a good woman."

Our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson knows that quote to be true from very personal experience. This morning he lost the love of his life, for a time. How grateful I am to her, and to the other prophet's wives, who have stood by their side, and often behind them, giving their support, encouragement, and love along the way. Frances Monson was a wonderful example to us of how we should be: faithful, loyal, loving, etc., to all of their family members. She was also Swedish, which endears her to me even more. She was never in the spotlight, and she seemed to be happy where she was.

Thank you, Sister Monson, for all that you did, all that you were, and all that you are. We love and appreciate you.

An article from Deseret News:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765629849/Frances-Monson-wife-of-President-Thomas-S-Monson-dies.html

The nature of blessings

This morning I woke up early with a thought about blessings which was prompted by an experience I had years ago. When our children were living in Utah and Idaho I had a thought that stuck with me, and remains with me today whenever I am 'tempted' to do something I shouldn't. (by tempted I mean that the thought comes into my mind, not that I am going to act upon it) We were driving through Nevada frequently. If you know anything about Nevada you know that it is legal to gamble there; pretty much in any fashion. You discover, on a drive through that state, that slot machines are pretty much everywhere. Everywhere. For example if you go into a gas station, they are there. Sometimes those "in your face" temptations put thoughts into your head, like, "it's not a big deal to gamble...you might even win some money to help your kids out, or your mom, or even pay down your mortgage", etc, etc.

I can say that I did not succumb, though I was tempted. The thought that came to me at that time was kind of interesting considering it was the thought of more money that was driving this temptation. The thought was, "What blessings would you be robbing yourself of if you were to gamble, and even to win?" Robbing. Hmm. Now, I know that I am a reasonably intelligent person, but can honestly say that I am not that intelligent. That  thought came directly from the Spirit, to help me, and others in my life, to not succumb to temptations. It continues to work to help me.

Now, onto the thought I had this morning. What if blessings were measured in monetary value? What if when we did something right we received money. Say we chose to be kind to someone when we were tempted not to, and by doing so money magically appeared in our checking account? Or we decided not to smoke, drink or do drugs; and then money was deposited into our account. Supposing it went something like this:

Obeyed word of wisdom when choice was put there not to: +$1,000
Paid tithing, even though it was a hardship: +$2000
Served in calling; did home or visiting teaching for month: +$2,000
Served in temple (baptism, initiatories, sealing, endowment, or as temple worker): +$5,000
Played with children: +$5,000

Can you hear the cha-ching? I can! Well, you get the idea. I wonder how many people in the world would choose to do the right then?

Then, on the flip side, I thought, what if we chose not to do the right and money was deducted from our checking account? This is what that might look like:

Told a lie: -$1000 - 10,000 (depending on severity)
Disobeyed word of wisdom, and got someone else to: -$10,000
Gambled: - $5,000
Yelled at a family member: -$15,000

Again, you get the idea. I'm just kind of throwing out numbers, but think of the things that you do in your life. Are you robbing yourself of any of the blessings that you want you or your family to have? We lose so much when we choose to do the wrong, that is why I evaluated the monetary part high on those choices.

Anyway, that is the thought I had this morning that I thought I would share with the few of you that read my blog. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me throughout the years. I truly am grateful for the blessings I have in my life. Some of them are monetary, for which I am grateful; but the blessings that are eternal, those are priceless.

Happy 32nd Brad!

Happy 32nd Birthday Brad-ly! aka B-Austin!

Brad joined our family nearly nine years ago, officially. He actually became a member of our family almost a full year before that! Once he saw Amy he was smitten - heart and soul. When they began dating he became a permanent fixture around our house. He was here when he wasn't sleeping or working; and sometimes he was even here when he was sleeping! We actually started setting a place at dinner for him nearly every night! Yep, he joined our family long before they were married!

I am grateful for Brad, for the man that he is, and the man that he is striving to become. I know his heart is in the right place. I know he does his best to provide for his family, and to teach those little boys, the mister's (or rascals, however you want to perceive them) what is right, and what is good, and what is honorable. He loves them and treats them accordingly.

I am grateful that he loves our Amers; that he is good for her, and they are happy together. That means the world to me. There is something different about trusting your daughter to a son-in-law than there is in trusting your son to a daughter-in-law. Not that you don't care deeply about both, but letting go of your little girl, who needs to be cared for and loved differently than your son does, is hard. You want the best for all of your children, for them to be happy; and you need to trust that their spouses will be that person that helps bring them the happiness they are deserving of.

So, yes, I am grateful that Brad is that person for Amy. He takes care of her and gives her the love and support that she needs. They are good for one another, and that makes me happy.

Happy Birthday Brad! We truly are grateful to have you as part of our eternal family. :)

Cool mornings

We are in that summer phase, where going out in the afternoons is not fun. It's just too hot! We are also now, well, I am, in the phase of getting up earlier than usual so that I can get things done before it gets too hot out. I'm okay with that. I actually like getting up early...just not too early! I prefer that to sleeping in, it's just how I roll.

This morning I was able to get up and exercise, get ready for the day, and then run errands. I'm not going to say it was cool out, since I had the AC on when I was driving home from Costco at 10:30ish. By then it was already in the mid to upper 70's.

While I am not looking forward to the ridiculously hot summer we are bound to have, I am grateful that I can get up early and get moving on my day, and get all my chores done before it's too hot. That is a plus.