Jim

OK, I just have to brag for a minute about my family. I have to admit that I really married a great man. I love Jim so much. I am so thankful for all of his hard work for our family. Jim is now doing work on his own again and I have to admit that I was so scared at first. I thought not this again. He works so hard, and times right now are just plain scary. He is always helping who ever needs help. In fact all of Jim's family are that way. I am so thankful for all of the help that they have given us over the years. I am in denial that Kami is turning 16 in 25 days! I can't believe that she pulled off another great report card. The kid got a perfect 4.0! WOW I am so proud. Hanna did great also, she got all A's and one little B. They are both way harder on themselves than we are on them. We have so many fun things to look forward to now. I can't believe that dating will be one of them for Kam. I thought that I was still young. Don't ya just love those reality slaps upside the head! I think that is such a shocker when you walk through a store and you catch guys staring at your girls. I want to just hide them and run away!

Kimmys geography bee

Kimmy has been studying so hard for her class geography bee. So it came down to the day that it was between her and 4 other kids in her class. They slowly got one out at a time and then it was down to just two. Here came that last question for her. "Name the city in China where the Olympics were held?" she said mom I had no idea what it was, so I said to my teacher... "I am just going to throw this one out there...."Beijing"? her teacher about died. "Kimmy you got it right!" she couldn't believe it. Neither could I ! Later Kim said to me "Who knew that I was so good at geography?" oh my gosh she is so funny! she just makes me laugh all the time. Well since she won in her class, she had to compete with the rest of the school last Wednesday. Jim and I both went over there to watch her. Lets just say that we studied so hard for a solid 5 days. She went over and over the questions. It was fun because the whole family learned what she was studying. (We are not smarter than a forth grader around here.) They had the stage lined up with chairs all across it, and after the first round of questions all but three were out. She was out. At first she looked upset and we just kept on smiling at her and mouthed good job. Then she relaxed and smiled back. I am so proud of her I cant even believe how much she has grown up and loves to learn this year. She does have the worlds BEST teacher though I will say. This last move was so hard on the girls, but I know that we were meant to move here for some reason, and I know that Kim needed to have Mrs. Rusk for a teacher. I cant thank her enough for all of the wonderful support and encouragement that she has given Kim.

So much has happened since the last time that I blogged. Lets see I think that I forgot to tell you that on December 28, 2008 I actually taught Relief Society. Can you believe it ? I know I always swore that I would never do that. When I was asked to give the lesson I said, "you don't know what you are asking of me. This is one of the biggest fears of my adult life." LOL!! I know that sounds silly, but I just don't have what it takes to do it. I asked what the lesson was on and it was "Come what may and Love it." When I heard this talk in conference it was one that really stuck out to me for some reason. All through his talk he gave examples of how we should react to life's challenges. We need to learn to LAUGH more. I thought to myself maybe I could give this lesson. I LOVE to laugh! he went on to say that we need to trust in the lord and find the good in all challenges that we might be facing. I couldn't believe that the lord wanted me to give this lesson. With all that has happened in the last year I thought to myself I CAN DO THIS. Maybe we had to go through some of the hardships so that I would push myself out of my comfort zone.I am so thankful for the challenges that the Lord has blessed me with. I can say that it has truly made me a better person. I gave the lesson and was seriously shaking in my boots (no joke I was really wearing boots LOL!) I am so glad that I can say, you know what I did it. I needed to do this to prove to myself that I am capable of facing one of my fears and doing my best. I don't know how great the lesson was, but I am so glad that I did it. I have never had my testimony grow more than preparing for that lesson. I said a prayer and in five minutes well not even that long my prayer was answered. I couldn't believe that the Lord answered me that fast. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he hears and truly does answer our prayers. I have never had that happen to me before. I know that he has answered my prayers in the past, but this was different. I had that answer come right in my head just like that. It was so humbling to me that it is still hard to talk about. I am so thankful for that wonderful opportunity to have that happen. I probably would have missed out on that one if I would have said no to that calling. I am just so glad that it is something that I don't have to do on a regular basis LOL ! I love being in nursery! I love to hang with my peeps!

Happy New Year! I cant believe that it is 2009. I am so excited to see what is in store for all of us this year. I hope and pray for us all to have peace and an abundance of love all around us. Once again I am so thankful for the beautiful Christmas season that has just passed. I was so busy with the video that I made for my family that I never even got a chance to write down my feelings. Thank you Geri if you read this. You made it possible for me. I dont know what I would have done without you! I love ya! We had a small but meaningful Christmas this year. I know by far our smallest ever. I think that it is good though from time to time that the kids go without some things that they want. It teaches them to be more thankful for what they do get. We had a lot of wonderful family dinners and were totally spoiled with love for the season. How blessed we are that we live in this beautiful FREE land. We have every opportunity just waiting for us. I am so thankful to those that have passed on before me for the sacrifices made so we could live with all that we have. How wonderful that all are healthy and well.

More Pictures!!