Easter

This Easter we had a treat, we went to the stake center and got to listen to a general authority.  Elder Teh spoke to us and it was amazing.  We had two tag-a-longs with us.  The missionaries hitched a ride. We really enjoyed our visit with them.

We went to a park with a picnic lunch right after.

Sure we had ham...sandwiches.  But the beautiful weather and nice company made it a fun Easter.

Then the kids...young adults enjoyed a spin on the merry-go-round.

Who knew late teens and early twenties still like to play in the park!

It was a great day.  One we ended with walking puppies around at Beyers Woods Park.  It was gorgeous and we sure spent our fair share of it outside.

Goals

It seems for the past ten years I have been dabbling in college of some sort or another.  Working from preschool teacher to administrator.  I have three degrees and six licenses now, guess you could say I am well rounded (I have the figure to prove it, ha!).

I have just a handful of assignments to finish my final license to be a principal.  I am excited, I feel on the cusp of change.  It seems like the next chapter in life is beginning to unfold its delicate blossoms.  I get to make decisions with Kyle to better our lives and fulfill some of the dreams we've concocted along the way.

Tonight I go to a job interview at a school district I have never taught in.  One where they only know me by paper.  I get to put on my best clothes and wow them with the knowledge I have gained in the trenches of the school district I grew up in.  I get to tell of my best ideas and how they have changed learning.  I get to tell of how I learned from mistakes made.  I get to sell what I know.

I hope it is good enough for I sure have done my part.  I have sacrificed time with family as I went to school.  I have worked tireless hours and learned many things about raising children.  But, most importantly I have learned to rely on my Heavenly Father to help with all of these things.  And the second most important thing I have learned is that my wonderful husband made a lot of sacrifices with and for me to be able to do this.

Wish me luck.  If not this one, then maybe another will come to pass.  But this is the year, I know it!

Pretty as a Princess

Modest prom is an event that our church puts on for our youth.  Kayla got a trial run with her dress.  I think it turned out great.

Foto Friday: breakfast for dinner

Yep, fresh fruit and cereal.  (Doesn't it look awesome.). Can you believe that that is what I am feeding the missionaries?  Well, they did get to pick their favorite cereal, and maybe we added some sausage patties to the mix.  But , I'm most excited about the fruit.

Crazy things we do around here that I hope my kids liked enough that they will do them with their families one day.

Phases

It's that time of year again.  You know the time where one of the children is about to make a change.  My little girl has come from this cute little stage of saying things like "Yeah, that's right." and melting Kyle's heart.

 To Senior...and when you get to be a senior, then you get to graduate.

 

(Sigh), I can't believe it is that time.  We have a lot of graduation plans to get together.  We are going to do it over spring break next week.  So what are Kayla's plans?  To go to dog training school.  She will learn to obedience train, seeing-eye dog training, and police dog training.  Then she wants to get married and have a family of her own.  (By 23, she says, but sooner is better.)  I can't believe we are old enough to be having these conversations, but it sure is fun dreaming with her.  6 more weeks, then my job as mother of school children is coming to a close.  Adult children and the joys of starting new lives is what we are looking at now.  Phew!  I hope I'm ready, cause ready or not, here it comes.

More like Him: Atonement

It seems that some topics in life never get old.  There is always a bit more to learn and a new bit of information that gets the old mind into thinking.  I know that Jesus Christ atoned for all mankind, that through this act of sacrifice and kindness, that all of mankind may be come whole.  What I never thought of before was that Christ can not only heal us from the mistakes that we have made personally, but he can heal us from the heartache that is caused when people we love make choices that hurt our hearts.  He can heal these wounds too.  When we tap into the atoning power we can see our situation through spiritual eyes.  Then we can love those we are hurting for the same way the Savior loves us.  It is hard to put away our earthly feelings of pride in being right, if they only listened then they would have to experience this pain.  But the Savior takes us where we are like in the story of the prodigal son.  Not only does he welcome us back, he has a party with the best food and gives us new clothes and makes us feel welcome.  I am learning to love like this.  It is not easy as I am human and sometimes wants answers, but when I forget those answers and just love it feels right.

"Not as the world gives, but as I do". . . I know this to be true.