Thankful Message

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! May it be the best you've ever had! I want to say that I am thankful for all of my family. When I was serving my mission what I missed the most was just being with my family, especially during the holidays. I think because that is when we would all gather together. Even those that were married. The last year or maybe 2 now we have not had our annual Christmas party and I really miss it. Weather we do, or don't ever have them again I want my family to know I love them. I do have hopes of starting them again, but don't know if others either feel we can, or don't have the time anymore. It is difficult to get all together. Especially when there are so many of us.

This is a Comment I Added to Kim's Post About Her Similar Calling In Another Ward

I feel the desire to post this so that others can understand how blessed I feel to have this calling. I taught in Relief Society in another ward before when I was engaged to be married. I really liked it then and had hoped I would have another opportunity to do so. It was not for very long that I was able to do it, because I got married and moved away.
It is interesting to me that you too are the 2nd Sunday Relief Society teacher. I have just recently been called to this and have really loved doing it. We as the teacher learn so much more, because we study it out, are prayerful about what needs to be taught, and how to most effectively do so. Sometimes things are not as ideal as we would like them to be, and the Lord seems to step in and help. I have had times when I have apologized and pleaded with the Lord to help me with a calling especially when I haven't done what I should and basically not wanted those I am teaching to lose out because of my faults. They still need to feel the spirit. Heavenly Father has really come through when not only I needed him, but others do as well. I love that feeling when I teach and find that I am saying something I didn't really think about before, but know it is right and needs to be said. It is kind of that ah hah experience and, reminds me who really is in charge or teaching through me. We are only his instruments, the spirit is what truly teaches the heart. I would love to hear you teach! It all reconfirms to me the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and strengthens my personnel testimony. It feels good to hear from others I am doing a good job, and helps me know I am doing what Heavenly Father wants me to. It is truly wonderful to be able to touch the lives of others through the spirit.
I have looked through next years manual a little bit and find it interesting that it is the Gospel Principles manual revised. I taught Gospel Principles as a ward missionary for about 3-4 years and truly enjoyed it. One of the things I have noticed is many of the chapters are smaller and more simplified. I am happy about that, because I do find it difficult to pick and choose the more important things that need to be heard and taught. I tend to want to share it all. There simply is not time to do so. I tend to rattle on at times and find it hard to know when to stop. In Primary they bought a timer to help me know when to wrap things up. So I brought my timer last time, and didn't end up using it. Although I did better at ending in a more timely manner.

Shopping Sheryl - One of My Old Toys

This was one of my favorite old toys from when I was a child. My grandmother got it for me to help me learn math addition. There are price tags on the groceries and you write the amounts and add them. Then she pays with her money. I saved it so my children could play with it, but they have already torn the grocery sacks from over stuffing them. So I thought I would wait a little more.

Baylee Playing Computer Games

Talk about kicking back. She is one funny girl.

Altered Letters for Brandon and Baylee's Rooms

I am so excited that I can now put pictures with my posts. I had to reupload the disc for it to work again. This was a really fun project. I tried to make Brandon's letter match his plaid curtain in his room. I did the weave with the colors of his curtain. I think what is really fun is personalizing the letters.

Brandon's Star Wars Ship Creation

Brandon is very creative and in fact spends many hours building various things with his legos. I would love to take him to Legoland someday.

Difficulty loading pictures from my camera

Hello I have been very frustrated lately, because I have many pictures I would like to load and use for my blogging, but have had difficulty getting anything and I don't understand why it does not seem to be working.I am starting to think I may need to re-upload my camera program. I would love to post about the Halloween. Baylee's class field trips and classroom party. Brandon's birthday as well.

New Calling - RS Teacher

Yes, I have been given a new calling already, and am happy to do it. I have been called to teach the 2nd Sunday Relief Society lessons. I am excited about teaching about Joseph Smith. He was truly an incredible prophet. I really love to teach because I learn so much, and the Lord has given me an opportunity to teach others through the tool of the Holy Ghost delivering his messages. I love too feel the Holy Ghost, teaching me how to teach others. I am merely a mouthpiece. I know the truth of the teachings can be confirmed in the hearts of those that are listening, and ready to hear the messages. It is truly the Holy Ghost that delivers the message to our hearts. It reconfirms in my heart that this is God's church and kingdom upon the earth, and we are his servants. I am grateful for this opportunity. There is so much I have yet to learn, and am looking forward to it.

Released from Calling

I was released from my primary teaching calling of the 11-12 year old class. I was a teacher for 4 years in the primary. I really enjoy teaching. I have decided that I would like to learn more about genealogy, so I am taking that class now. My mother works at the local genealogy library. As I begin this I at times find myself frustrated because I feel clueless. I have tried to maintain as much as I can about current info. like new marriages, births, deaths, etc. I am confused about when to add info. and not repeat stuff that is already done.

Pre-Field Day for the Pre K's

They did a practice field day the day before for the pre k kids. Then gave us the option of coming the next day. I decided not to. We went later and helped the teacher clean out her room afterward on friday. This was back in May or June.

Finished Bathroom & Bedroom with Trim

I think the trim really makes a difference in the finishing touch.

The Collapsing Dinner Table

Our kitchen table was needing a refinishing so I began to do so. It started in the house and then my hubby made me take it outside and we brought the old fold out camping table. It was there for about 3 weeks. During the time of using the camping table we were sitting at it eating dinner one night and Baylee bumped the lock and down it came. I know it is a mess, but for some crazy reason I couldn't help but laugh. I told my family there will come a day when they too will look back at this and laugh. We tried to get the kids to stand up quickly, but that didn't happen. Baylee was upset,and crying, and I felt bad about that, but the mess that was created made me laugh. Who knows maybe no one else will think this was very funny. It was a good motivator for getting the table done quickly. I forgot at first I made a table out of boxes and a round piece of wood. In the last picture you can see the green seat of the table.

Scout Day Camp in Boulder City

This was a ton of fun and only part of what was done. I really enjoyed seeing Brandon interact with the boys. We went on a 2-3 mile hike through the tunnels by the dam. He never complained on the way back from the hike to the Alan Bible visitors center. This was only a week following his surgery, so I really did not know what to expect. They did some great things that were a lot of fun. The last day we were there we were supposed to be at the pavilion in the park by the YMCA, and it rained and hailed on us like crazy. We ended up back at the church. They even had a swim party one night. We had a couple of very hot days at the Veterans Memorial Park and the theme was Cub Scout Castaways. The boys learned about building a shelter/tents out of sticks, ropes, and sheets. They made boats with what ever they thought might work that was available, and raced them in the pool of water. After all, when you're a castaway there is not always a whole lot available. They also made walking sticks, and a pocket type of thing for putting their stuff in that attached to the stick. They had a scavenger hunt. They also had dinner with their families and did skits the last night, and received on awards. I truly enjoyed spending this time with him. Even if we did have car problems that week. It was so satisfying to spend time with him, and not have to worry about what I needed to do at home. I really feel like I get to caught up in other things, and find it hard to spend the kind of time I would like to with him. So this was very refreshing, and enjoyable.

More Magnet Board's

This one is mine. If you look at the colors it makes it pretty obvious. I really like purple, green, and reds.

Magnet Boards

I learned how to make these really cool magnet boards in Homemaking. I liked them so much I made 2 for myself, one for my niece Linda, 1 for mom, and 1 for my sister Carol. My niece Aubrey wanted to learn how to do one and came over and she did her own it turned out beautifully. She has not sent me a picture of the totally finished product, but what she finished of it looked great. The family home evening one is incomplete in this, I can't seem to fine the one that is, and have had problems uploading pictures lately.

Grandma Party

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Brandon After His Surgery

He did amazingly well. We gave him Lego's to entertain him while there. He only had to stay one night.

Toe Painting Fun

This is one of the many joys of having a girl. We can be girly together. Baylee loves the foot bath and painting of toes.

Corey- Kim's man at the b-day party

I love how kick back he is in this picture.

Harry Potter Fans I Want To Know What You Think of the New Movie.

I know some of you will be there at the late show tonight. How was it? Were you pleased, or disappointed with the way they did the movie? I can't wait to see it, but must at least a few days. I want to see it with my hubby. The last time I got so anxious I didn't wait. I know how rude of me, so I am repenting.

Just a few random pictures

Merik putting his new shed up and the kids playing on the trampoline after cooling off in the sprinklers

More of Grandma TJ's 98th

Grandma's Birthday

Okay this is late, much later than I wanted to post it. I have been incredibly busy though, and having some computer problems. So I hope to do a better post on this later.