Feeling the Love

I have definitely felt a lot of Love in the last couple of days!

From a friend, that brought over a warm homemade loaf of bread that has made a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

From my brother and his wife, who have sacrificed another one of their Saturdays, to help us pack up and clean our house.

From five guys, who also sacrificed their Saturday and helped load our truck,

From a good friends, who helped me clean and load.

From an amazing Sacrament meeting, that we almost didn't attend but are so glad we did, we were able to hear two AMAZING talks that we definitely needed to hear and I also got to hear my husband bear his testimony, Bishop called him up at the last minute and totally caught him off guard but was one of the sweetest testimonies I've ever heard him bear, man I LOVE that man!

From all the sweet ward families, that wished us luck and gave us some tear jerking goodbyes, I LOVE our ward family!!

From our neighbors, who have sent over beautiful cards and going away presents for my girls!

From my husband, who told me he bought me the best present of all this Valentines Day, a beautiful new house!

And most of all the Lord, who has blessed my life more than I ever could have imagined!!

Goodbye Minnesota

I can't believe this day has finally arrived, we are closing on our home in Omaha today and I couldn't be more relieved! As I am finishing packing the finally boxes I can't help but get a little teary eyed! Minnesota has been good for our family we will carry with us a lot of good memories! We have had great friends here, some that have moved before us and some that we're leaving behind. We have grown so much as a family here in every possible way.

We have had great examples here. Great primary, young women and seminary teachers that have helped teach my girls the gospel. Great friends in the church that have helped our testimonies grow.

We have not only grown in size here in Minnesota, but also grown so much closer as a family.

We'll miss my brother and his family, but also look forward to seeing them as often as we can.

We'll miss the beautiful summer days at the lake, minutes from our house.

As exciting as I am to get to Omaha, I am as equally sad for my girls that they have to leave all their good friends behind!

Ashley's friends gave her this capsule to open on graduation day, since she won't be there with them, it is filled with letters and some other fun things.

*Reminder to self*
I hope that Omaha is our last move,(at least until all the kids are grown) it was hard to pack up our house by myself, but it was even harder being away from Mike for 2 1/2 months it is something that I don't want to do again!!

Dear Maddy,

I can't believe that you are 12 years old, really where does the time go? Turning 12 is a big milestone, you're leaving Primary and entering Young Women's, you get to start wearing a little bit of make-up, and you get to start sitting in the front seat..AAAAH!!
I really have enjoyed watching you blossom into the wonderful young woman you've become, you're beautiful on the inside and out, you've always been a easy child, never giving us any grief and I know you will continue that into your teenage years. I love your eagerness to learn new things, the sweet smile that is always on your face, your willingness to help out, your sweet spirit and your ability to make everyone around you feel loved. You are one of my greatest examples and I can't wait to see the great woman that you will be!

Love,
Mom
Happy Birthday Madisyn!!

New Years Resolution

While attending my brother's ward sacrament meeting one Sunday, I heard a fabulous talk. In this talk a woman spoke about a time where she considered herself a "mean girl" how she would always try to point out all the faults of people that she didn't like or people that she barely knew. One day she and her friend were sitting at church when another young woman walked past them and her friend leaned over to her and said, "Wow look how short her skirt is!" and instead of focusing on the hundreds of good things about this young woman they focused on the one "bad" thing they could find, and for some reasons it struck this woman that she really was just a "mean girl" instead of looking for the good in people she was always looking for the bad in people, and decided from that day on that instead of looking for the bad she was going to look for the good.

Now I wouldn't consider myself a "Negative Nelly", but I know that at times with certain people in my life instead of finding all the wonderfully good things in them I definitely have focused on the negative things about them, as to almost warrant how I was feeling about them, but in the end left me feeling like a "mean girl" at times.

So instead of the "cliche" New Years resolutions like losing x amount of pounds, exercising daily, or getting organized. This years New Years resolution is to focus on finding the good in mankind, and by doing so, I'll be a happier ME!!

A Christmas Story

We had a great Christmas holiday, we spent Christmas Eve with my brother's family, and spent Christmas day lounging around, and later in the day had our friends Melissa and Justin join us for Christmas dinner and games.



A few of their favorite things:

Clothes, hair clips, movies and shoes!

Maddy's iTouch

Emily's iTouch

Hannah's baby alive, moon dough, ds games!

Mason's Handy Mandy tool box, sports balls, and Toy Story books!

ChRiStMas FuN

Even with record breaking snow totals we were still able to fit in some of our favorite Christmas activities! Christmas cookies, craft projects, Christmas movies, shopping in a winter wonderland, siblings gift exchange,ward Christmas party and a Christmas dance recital.

12 days till Christmas

I was reminded today that there are only 12 days till Christmas, which means I have a lot of fun traditions that I still need to squeeze in, I need to go out and get the 12 day of Christmas countdown presents, lots of Christmas baking to be done, gingerbread houses to decorate, secret Santa shopping to do, some fun Christmas crafts and maybe just maybe getting some of my Christmas bought would be a good idea too!

I just don't know where the time is going I feel so behind this year, but it was a good reminder this morning that I need to get my butt in to gear!