Blessings

This morning I had the blessing of being able to take someone from my church to the Bishop's Storehouse. You can click on the link to learn a bit more about the Bishop's storehouse, it basically is a place set up like a little grocery store. It is payed for by fast offerings from the members of the LDS church. When I got the call yesterday to see if I would be able to take this sister to the storehouse I said sure, but I was also thinking, what am I going to say to this sister on the drive to and from the storehouse ( I am shy, not as bad as I use to be, but still shy). Before I left this morning I had a little prayer so that everything would go well, I would know what to say to her and I wouldn't make her feel uncomfortable. I picked her up from her home and we drove to the Bishop's storehouse, I didn't have a hard time talking to her, she was very sweet. I walked into the storehouse with her, I was a bit excited to see what it was like, I have never been to one before. It was set up like a tiny grocery store and they also have a section where there is clothing and some fabric and yarn (there was some cute fabrics too) :) I asked the lady at the front if there was anything I could do to help while I was waiting, she thought for a minute, but couldn't think of anything, so I went out and brought my crochet bag in and sat and crocheted while I waited for the sweet lady I brought to get her things. I wasn't expecting some of the feelings I had while I was there, I had to hold back tears part of the time. It was kindof a busy place, filled with people from all walks of life, probably out of jobs because of this economy, or just needing some extra help. I've been on the receiving end of service before, and it isn't easy to admit when you need help. There has been times, especially when it was just Kinsley and I and my meager earnings that my Mom would take me to the grocery store and buy a cart of groceries for me. My parents even bought a place for Kinsley and I to live after I got divorced and charged me next to nothing for rent. There have even been times while Casey and I have been married that we have needed help, and it has always been there even though I didn't like to admit we needed it.

Little did I know that this simple service of driving someone to get some things they needed would make such an impact on me. My heart is full today, and I am in amazement of the service work my church does and I am so happy to be able to contribute to it.

Just wanted to share :)

Jade's Baptism

Jade was baptized a member of our church at the beginning of July and I forgot to post pictures.

She was so excited, the couple of weeks leading up to her baptism she would periodically tell me how excited she was to be baptized, it was the cutest.

Papa and Nana bought her a nice set of scriptures with her name on it, and I made her a scripture bag for them. I am so proud of Jade for making the decision to be baptized. We had a lovely day with family, we had dinner in our backyard after the baptism and it was perfect weather.

There was even flowers in her favorite colors on each table to celebrate the special day which Jade loved.

Jade, I'm so proud to be your Mom!

Cute Girls

We had a lovely Easter, the sun was shining, we spent time with Family, just a lovely day.

Today I am not feeling the same way. I am sitting here in my breakfast nook that needs a new roof because it's leaking, it keeps finding different spots to leak at, DARN ROOF!
I will tell you, this blog is a very small window into my life, and I like to focus on the positive things here. It helps me get through the hard things.
But, the past couple months have been a serious struggle. We have been without part of our income since January, partly because of circumstances beyond our control. We will soon be having that income again, but it's put a huge strain on us financially. At the same time, it's also made me realize how much I can actually live without, which I think is good. It's also made me realize that I need to actually sit down and make a budget, and that I want to have a good deal amount of money saved which I have never been good at. Even though it's been a struggle as of lately, I know that everything is going to be okay, we pay our tithing which I believe is such a blessing for our family, I feel like it is insurance. We may only have a small amount of money left after paying bills, but as long as we pay our tithing we have what we need.

I have sat here a few times writing different posts about what has been happening to our family, and then haven't posted them, I don't feel like I am the best writer and I can never truly convey what I am thinking or feeling. I still am not sure if this post does. Just so this post isn't all sad I wanted to share things that I am grateful for today: (in no particular order)

* I am grateful that my husbands paycheck was deposited today
* I am grateful that we have a bit of money to hopefully fix the stupid leaking roof
* I am grateful that it is not the whole roof that needs fixed, just part of it.
* That our mortgage payment is less than what most people even pay for rent.
* We had a good amount of food storage that has gotten us through these past couple months
* I am grateful that we have had the money for things that have come up like fixing both of our vehicles.
* I'm grateful that we are healthy
*That both of our cars are payed for
* I am grateful that I have a hobby that also brings in extra income
* I am grateful that I have what seems like one million shows coming up to help us get out of this financial hole, even though that is stressing me out too.
* I am grateful that my youngest daughter Sage gives me random hugs all day when it's just me and her.
* I am grateful for my husband
* I am grateful for my three beautiful girls
* I am grateful for all the love that is in our home.
* I am grateful for the random "I love you Mom" that I receive throughout the day from all three of my girls.
* I am grateful that I have a testimony of the gospel.
* I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that knows what lessons I need to learn
* I am grateful for Family
* I am grateful for prayer
* I am grateful for laughter

I LOVE THIS

Tea (read: punch) Party

My calling at church involves planning spiritual, fun, learning experiences, for 8 to 11 year old girls. Last Friday we had a punch party with their mothers, it was a very informal, just fun party. The girls brought things that they have been making or doing to share with everyone, they even planned an impromptu performance for us mothers while we were doing cleanup.

I especially had fun with the decorating, I was able to use some of my fun vintage collections, and it was all just mixy- matchy. And the girls made tissue paper flowers for the centerpieces.

Some of the girls dressed as princesses. Kinsley didn't want to, she says that she hates dresses and skirts except for church, but she had to wear a shirt that had sparkles on it and a crown.

She felt like a princess, she sat up straight and tall while at the table and put her napkin on her lap while eating her plateful of cookies and lemonade. (which was sortof her dinner, as we had not had time to eat much before) What does it hurt to have cookies for dinner ? :)

I still am in amazement that I have an 8 year old daughter.

I enjoy being a Mom of older kids, I love that I can have conversations with all of them, that I get a full night of sleep, and it is just too fun to watch their personalities grow and develop.

It's fun too because every one of my children are very different and very much their own person with their own ideas of the world around them.

Modest clothing

Modest clothing out of newspaper, this is what my morning consisted of. I had the girls I'm in charge of for church to my house today and we talked about modesty and then made modest newspaper clothing, what a fun time it turned out to be. Then of course my two oldest children needed a dress! WOW was there newspaper everywhere!

A proud and special day

My 8 year old was baptized a member of our church on saturday. I was so proud of her, I still can't quite believe that I have an 8 year old. All last week it was so cute, all three of my girls were counting down how many days until K's baptism. The day before, K woke up and said Mom I am so excited to get baptized tommorow. She was also excited that she recieved her very own set of scriptures with her name on them from her Nana and Papa and I made her a scripture bag out of her favorite color, blue.