Dear Bloggers and Fellow Stalkers

Indeed it is true.  Life is oh so terribly busy.  My neighbors frequently tell me the only thing they see of me are my tail lights as I pull in and out of my garage day in and day out going to school, picking up from school, going to the gym, going to soccer, going to scouts, going to church, dropping off meals and going to meetings.  Does this sound like you? I'm sure it does.  I enjoy blogging my life on the computer for all to read and love even more reading all the posts you post.  What's that you say?  You didn't know that i read your blogs too?  Well I do.  I have just stopped leaving comments.  This saves me time of having to scribble that funky word blurp in order for your comment to be submitted or to just plain sign in.  For those that i have to enter my email, password, dob, blood type, and hair color... I still check, but not as often due to the time it takes to get in there.  So continue to stalk me because I'm stalking you and looking at your pictures and googling over your sweet children, laughing at your funny jokes, and streaking tears when your stories touch me.  I love you all and thanks for reading! 

My sweet Lucas turned 8 in August.  I remember that day so well.  My world has never been the same for the better.  I remember not sleeping for days after he was born (literally) because I was so worried I would miss something in his life.  I was an emotional wreck.  I was terrified to leave the hospital or go to the store with him in fear that someone would try and take him from me.  The name Lucas has a very sweet meaning behind it.  Before Joe left for his mission he went to live with a family that touched his heart forever.  This family lost their son to a tragic accident a few years before Joe came to live with him.  His name was Lucas.  When we were trying to come up with a name for our little baby boy, one day Joe said to me.... What about Lucas?  I instantly loved the name and we knew we wanted it.  Joe called his adopted family and asked if they would mind.  They agreed, and even traveled out for lucas' baby blessing in Iowa.  When Lucas was born and they came to visit the mother shared with me that the name Lucas meant "bringer of light"... No words could better describe this sweet spirit.  He truly a boy that has brought light to our home and to all he meets. 

(For those who are not of the same faith, this is just a short explanation of what baptism is in our church)

We believe that when a child turns 8, they become old enuf to begin to understand the difference between right and wrong and then become responsible for the actions they make.  It's almost as if the first 8 years prior are the pregame show to learn and try out these skills that they are taught.  Once they are baptised they become and official member of the church and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost is a constant companion to each of us that helps us to make the right decision. (Kind of like Jiminey Cricket in Pinocchio) As long as we do the things we should and make good decisions the Holy Ghost is our content guide or compass to help us along our way.  However, we all make wrong decisions.  So it's our responsibility that when we do this that we make amends for the wrong we did and try to live better.  This is a daily occurrence as none of us are perfect.  In our church we take the sacrament once a week to "renew" our baptism covenants we have made.  Essentially, each Sunday when we take the bread and water that has been blessed it's as if we have been baptized all over again and we are made "clean" again.  Here are some pictures of that day and the slide show we made at his baptism for everyone to watch.  The song I picked was "child of light".... this song could not be more perfect for our sweet Lucas.---nevermind... i couldn't get it to load... too bad... it would've made you cry too!

LOVE YOU LUCAS!

Pioneer Day

Rarely do i speak of my faith on my blog.  It's personal to me and something I hold very close to my heart.  I am always willing to talk to others about it if they have questions and to dispell many things others think to be true...(which is a long list indeed).  But otherwise, I tend to be more quiet.

But I got a forward sent to me this week that I enjoyed.  Something that I'd like to share with you, my readers.  Tomorrow, Saturday July 24th.  We celebrate as our PIONEER DAY.  It's a fun celebration and i think this article written by Ryan Cleveland helps explain this day and what it means to those of us that belong to THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.  =)

For this boy growing up in Utah, July was one of my favorite months. We got to light fireworks twice! Independence Day, of course, and Pioneer Day, as it is known, was marked by parades, fireworks, rodeos, and festivals. July 24th, 1847 was the day the Mormon pioneers entered the dry, treeless Salt Lake Valley after being exiled from one state to another. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is known for singing patriotic songs. It’s most noted song might just be “Come Come, Ye Saints”. A verse:



"We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

Far away in the West,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the Saints will be blessed."

People of my faith consider it a beloved hymn because it encapsulates the harrowing plight of thousands of fellow Saints, or followers of Christ, who were scattered, exiled, hunted down. Many of their wives and daughters were raped and their homes pillaged, yet they kept their faith in God and in a nation that was yet to accept them. From New York, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, to Ohio; to Missouri where its Governor signed an extermination order authorizing the murder of Mormons and then to Illinois where the Church’s founder was murdered alongside his brother by a mob.

They set out across the frontier and then to the Rockies. They settled in a barren place that not even the Ute Indians considered hospitable. My ancestors came West later, along with the waves of thousands of English and Scandinavians who left their homes in Europe to settle communities in Utah and Idaho. Oh, and Las Vegas. Yes, Vegas. This pioneer stock has tamed the desert; produced patriots, statesmen, scientists, celebrities, athletes and yes, a few rogues here and there.

On July 24th, 1849, the first official celebration was held. These people, rich and poor, consisted of children of Revolutionary and Civil War patriots, farmers, doctors, educators, merchants and musicians. They were mothers and fathers – many of whom buried children and spouses along the way. All were still faithful to their God and loyal to their country. That first celebration was an ironic if not heroic gesture to the God and country which had forsaken them, considering the overwhelming evidence.

Everything they owned came across a thousand miles of desert by handcart or covered wagon. Possessing only the barest of materials they built a pavilion and a flagpole 104 feet tall. They made an enormous national flag 65 feet long and unfurled it at the top of this “liberty pole”. And they danced and sang. Why? How? If you can understand this, you will understand the power of the teachings of Christ to change the very nature of man.

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Have a Great Weekend Everyone....-HUGS-!!!

HERE'S TO A NEW YEAR!!

I realize to those who i only know via the blogging world that I don't post much. That's because I tend to only use my facebook now. I can update pics immediately from my phone and put short little captions/posts while sitting in the car at a red light... Blogging tends to me much more time consuming, but it is more in depth. So if you have a facebook account but we aren't friends.. give me ur info so i can add you!!

With that said... I was recently released from Primary where I have spent the last 8 of my 9 married years. Six of which were in a Primary Presidency... That means SIX primary programs, 24 primary activities, and 312 Crazy sundays of finding last minute teachers, sharing times, singing times and wild children. I guess you could say that the primary wing was my home away from home. I understand the program, how it runs and what is expected. When we built our new home we moved from one ward where i was the primary president to the 2nd ward where I was called as the 1st counselor (primary)... But recently our primary presidents husband was called to the bishopric so we got the heads up that we would probably be released soon. I will admit, the thought was a bit exciting to me, just because you feel like you run out of ideas and the children would perhaps enjoy a new face to look at! So when the Bishop called me out of primary on Sunday I wasn't too surprised, expecting the release.... but what i wasn't entirely prepared for was a call to Young Womens... the president of young womens... WHAT?!?!?!? I am at a loss... I have three boys i don't know anything about girls, except for the fact that i am one... but like i have time to worry or think about that while I am on the floor playing firemen, dump truck, and monster truck rally!!! But all joking aside, I am very excited, but feel very unprepared for what lays ahead of me... TO ANY OF YOU LADIES THAT HAVE ADVICE AND WEBSITES TO PASS ALONG.... PLEASE DO... I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!

I am ready to begin a new year! I have lots planned for myself this year. It's going to be a good year... I CAN FEEL IT!

Last Monday Night while we were having FHE (family home evening) we spoke about responsibility and the jobs/role of different members of our family. One point in the conversation went a little something like this:
Amanda: What is dad's job to do?
Carter: He makes bucks(that's what carter calls money) for our family.
Amanda: So why does dad need to make bucks for our family?
Lucas: So he can pay taxes!

Lucas is learning economics at a young age! It was a very funny moment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE...!!!