Happy New Year, I think...

Have you ever pondered where life is going to take you? If you've chosen the right path and direction? How do you decide if you've gone the wrong way? How do you choose to go a different way despite the damage that's left behind? Can you tell I'm at a crossroads?

Paranormal

Like paranormal stuff? Check out this blog!

My brothers and I have been filming our own style of paranormal investigation. We've got the intro done and a couple episodes in the works. It'll be entertaining for sure! Follow our blog and FB page for updates!

Gone too soon...

This is my friend Echo... She left this life on November 2, 2011. We have been friends since Jr. High school and went through many bad times together and a lot of good times together. Our lives were separated after high school for a while and then we reconnected on Facebook a few years back. We talked often and got together a couple times and when her younger sister Amber sent me the news telling me my "sister" had died I was in complete shock. She was just 33 like me... Such a short life. A few days before she passed she started posting spiritual thoughts on her Facebook page, which looking back makes me think that her subconscious knew what was coming.
Her sister asked me to read something at her funeral which is tomorrow, Nov. 12th, and I was very honored to be asked. The family wants me to read one of the posts she put up which I love.

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
Mary Stevenson

I love you Echo and will never forget all we went through.

Words of Wisdon

This should be posted in every school or kid's bedroom. Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about eleven (11) things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.
Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss
Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: They called it opportunity.
Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were: So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.. Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. *This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. *Do that on your own time. Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one..

Have a happy day!!

Wisdom Removed

A week ago Marc had his wisdom teeth removed and here's the aftermath. He is still having pain but to my astonishment he didn't have any swelling or bruising. I would have taken the progression of photos like my mom did when I had mine removed as a teenager for your viewing pleasure but alas, it won't be happening.

School Time!

Where has time gone and where did my babies go? I can't believe how amazingly beautiful my children are. I'm so proud of them and all they do each day. I have learned so much from them and the privilege of being their mother.

Here's Hannah and Jaidyn on their first day of 2nd and 1st grade.

Daddy Daughter Project

Hannah is one of the most creative little girls I know. She's always wanting to invent things like new toys, tools, etc.. So at church on Sunday she found a rear spoiler that had broken off of a car from a previous ward that day and she said she wanted to invent a new car to play with. Well, as soon as we were home Marc and Hannah were planning what to do. She found my jewels I use for crafts and Marc took apart a toy car to use the under parts. Here's a few pictures to show their progress!

The Very Late Update!

Where have I been you ask? I've been here and there but mainly not typing an entry on the good old blog. I've been reading other posts and always thought I better now type one on mine but never did it obviously. So, here I am typing a much needed update for you all.

Jaidyn finally lost his first tooth this June, he was quite excited since he lost it while on our vacation in St. George. Then he lost his second on Father's day while at the family dinner in the park. He was so proud of himself for pulling them both out. He sounds funny when he talks since he has no bottom front teeth. He's loving summer but is already ready for school. He's excited to start first grade and start learning spanish like Hannah has been.

Hannah is very ready for school to start. Her teacher gave her tons of math homework to do over the summer and she's been vigilant doing it. She LOVES math and is so good at it. I'm proud of her and the amazing woman she's becoming. She's quite the force to handle at times, she's just like me, very stubborn. It's been a very good learning experience for me.

We also went to Lagoon this summer and the kids were tall enough to ride all the rides with the exception of the over 50" rides which only excluded about 5 which they didn't notice. They rode the Wicked, Colossus aka Fire Dragon, the old White Roller Coaster and couldn't get enough. I was so proud of how brave they were to go on such huge, scary rides. It was fun to play with the kids and enjoy their first time at Lagoon.

Hope you are doing well!

Another Chapter

So, I've finished a year of preschool teaching and said goodbye to the new generation of kindergarteners and now it's on to summer for us. I've been so happy in my job it's amazing! I hardly missed any days and that was because I was genuinely sick or had important things going with my children. I love how the journey has been working in the Granite School District preschool program has been. It's amazing how much is taught while having fun. I'm lucky I got to go to work and "play" and get paid for it.

Hannah and Jaidyn are almost done with their school year and will be moving on. It's crazy to think about how fast time has flown. I still see them as babies in my eyes, but alas I have big kids now. They are so smart and blow me away by what they've accomplished! Hannah reads on a 3rd grade level and is already doing 2nd grade math while Jaidyn is excelling in his reading skills as well as comprehension of what he's reading. I'm looking forward to a fun summer with them full of swimming and being out doors. We love summer!

We're currently looking to buy a home which is really exciting! Marc is also job hunting now that he's GRADUATED from UVU with his bachelors degree in Business. It took 8 years but we finally did it. It took massive sacrifice from both of us to get it done and over. He's taking a break for a bit before he goes back for his masters degree. I'm so proud of him and all his hard work.

There's more to write about but that's just a taste of what's going on in our neck of the woods!

Spilling my guts...

I have sat down so many times to write and nothing seems to come out that's worth sharing. April and May are typically a reflection time for me regarding my past. I find myself writing about this year after year in journals and here on the blog.

Just this past Monday a special little man turned 15. I can still see his little face just after he was born. He was so handsome and very sweet natured. He hardly cried and the hospital staff let him stay with me the full 48 hours I was in the hospital after he was born. He should have been under the billy ruben lights but I guess it wasn't bad enough so he could wait. I loved snuggling with him, talking to him telling him how much I love him and why I was doing what I was doing. I hoped that what I said was written on his heart and prayed that Heavenly Father would comfort him when he needed it. I like to think that babies are born with memories from the pre-existence to help them cope with the extreme change in their surroundings. I believe that the older they get the less they remember. This gave me comfort when thinking of him going to his new parents so quickly after we met. Today he's an amazing young man. He plays all kinds of sports, plays the drums and is quite the looker. He looks a lot like his birth father but you can see some of him in me. I keep in touch with the adoptive parents via letters every year and they are so kind to tell me what's going on in their lives. I know I made the right choice so long ago... It still hurts though. A piece of my heart went with him when I said goodbye. That part of my heart still hurts and aches although time has lessened the pain. I love you Kaden! God be with you till we meet again.

I Can Only Imagine ~ MercyMe w/ London Symphony Orchestra

I hope you feel the power behind this song! I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior!

Update... of sorts

The marathon post never happened due to my getting sick and taking care of myself. I have no voice currently and Jaidyn has a double ear infection. Funny story for that, I'm allergic to penicillin and Jaidyn asked for chewable tablets which was fine with me but after handling them twice I have begun to develop huge welts on my hands, up my arms and one on my lower jaw. Haha! Who knew that just touching the dang things would lead to such fun for me? I knew to take the allergy seriously since it really got me when I was younger but now I know I can't even touch the pill form. I was fine with the liquid for the years leading to now. There's a lot more to say but for now that's what I can do.

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Eat lot's of corned beef cooked in garlic, beef broth and BEER, it's delicious and makes the fat fall right off the meat as well as giving it an excellent flavor. So much so that I don't use the spice packet provided, I just toss it with the wrapper.

HERE I AM!

I'm still here, I promise. My life has been interesting and busy since I started working again. I LOVE my job! I think I've found my calling in life to be an educator. I currently work with 3-5 year olds in Granite School District's preschool services and I couldn't be happier. Thus, I haven't been posting at all for quite some time and I'm sorry to those who enjoyed reading! I haven't forgotten you and obviously about my blog. Tomorrow I'll do some marathon posting while the kids are at school and it's my day off.

Look forward to reading tomorrow!

My "theme" song... HAHA!