TOFW

I LOVE going to Time Out For Women.  LOVE IT.  But things were getting too much......life was throwing some fast balls at me and I wasn't wearing a mitt.  I then decided I wasn't going to go to TOFW.  I wasn't in the mood.  But I did decide I would go ahead and go.  I am very glad I did.  It was AMAZING.  The speakers were great but the music....OH MY...I love HILARY WEEKS.  Love her....love love love.  When I listen to her music I feel the spirit...I want to do better....be better.  I hope she knows how her music affects so many.  I remember when we lived in Virginia and Don was in Iraq.  I was having a really bad mommy evening.  I was feeling guilty.  Thankfully I was able to skype Don and we talked.  He sent me two songs to listen to and both were from Hilary Weeks.  They totally made me cry...but not only that...they helped me.  While in Iraq Don was also having some very dark days.  I can imagine.  He downloaded some of her songs and they helped him immensely.   When I die I really really hope Hilary will be a neighbor to me....so I can just sit there and close my eyes and listen to her amazing voice.  AHHH she has such a gift of being able to write her songs and sing them.

I am thankful for the pick me up that TOFW gave me.  I LOVED the inspirational speakers and just the enthusiasm of it all.  I want to go back....like NOW. 

Easter 2012

You know how you have something grand in your mind how something is going to turn out? How it will be just perfect? That is how today was supposed to go. I had matching purple ties for the boys. The girls each had a new ($4) Easter dress. I started early getting the girls ready. I curled Rachel's hair since she was taking part in singing in Sacrament meeting with four other girls. Her hair was so cute. Mayah was all ready and adorable. I was getting so excited to get everyone ready so we could get pictures. I planned to get similar pictures that we took in Virginia at Easter. I LOVE that picture and wanted to have the kids stand in the same places with the same poses to see how they have grown. I wanted to dye easter eggs with the kids and hide them. That didn't get done. Best mom award here. I'm known for that award quite often.

Caleb didn't want to wear the light colored pants I got him. One kid was having difficulties and refused to get dressed all together. He also refused to go to church. Wondering if we are dealing with ADHD or something else is a constant in our life. SO NO FAMILY PICTURES.

Sometimes things just don't turn out the way we want or expect. And I was bummed earlier. But now I realize that life is sometimes like that. But how we handle the sitation is what really matters. AND normally I don't handle things so well. I'm working on it. Does that count?

There is one thing I do KNOW. I know that the Savior lives. I know that He is real and that He loves me. I know He died for us. He is the reason we are even here and the reason for everything. I am so thankful He is so forgiving and so kind. He needs to be with me. Easter is such a special time to remember why we celebrate. It's a wonderful time to reflect on the Savior and His sacrifice for us. I am atleast thankful my kids know that. Last night my mom put together an activity that was a great reminder of our Savior. She filled 12 eggs with an item that represented Him. We took turns opening an egg and reading about the item and how it had to do with Christ. The last egg was empty representing the empty tomb. He LIVES.

This is a picture of Easter 2011 (well really it was taken a month or two later but we use it as our Easter pic)


This is my FAVORITE...Easter 2010...


And these next three...well this is all we got for our Easter 2012


Rachels hair before I curled it.