Freezing Purgatory

Every year we spent a weekend skiing with dear friends.  This year was super great.  One evening we went to the second hand store and picked out outfits for each other.  Here are the posing boys sporting outfits handpicked by the boys.  See that kitty?  That was my ingenious accessory, we left it for the waitress.

 We spent two full days in the Rocky Mountains skiing and soaking up the love from each other and God.  I did feel a special closeness to both Him and him as I made my way up and down the majestic mountain side.  Austin and I reconnected on so many levels.  We were fun.  We used energy to laugh and joke and play.  I love him.  I am so glad he's mine.

Trim

I gave Molly her first haircut.  Although she rocked her mullet, it was time.  

She's just so big!

Meg is gone quite a bit these days.  But, she doesn't miss a moment to grabs the little ones to kiss and love.

 Eddie's evening selfie.

 I made this lumbar pillow for our bed using materials ; I really quite like it.

 Ryan earned six gummy bears after dinner with which he skewered them and put them in the sugar mold for a nice decoration.

 The javelinas destroyed our winter greens.  A huge one ran out of our garage yesterday!

Big Baby Molly

Molly is my big baby that is weaned.  She no longer begs or giggles when she's in my lap.  Instead, she brings me books and says, "BUH!  BUH!"  I read to her often and kiss her like crazy.  She kisses me back and we've come to an understanding that we are both growing up.  (I always think weaning my babies is harder on me than on them. I really hate it.)

She also gets herself caught in bins and baskets and buckets.  I found her trying to fit into the wet wipes container and a suitcase.  It's really funny.

Free Fliers

I'm still going strong as the Webelos leader.

My winter wreaths are back up.

Maddie's evening selfie.

We spend a lot of time making ball runs.

I spent most of my down time on the floor.  My children love to "fly" on my feet.  Meg has become an expert pilot as well, balancing two of her little friends at once.

Maddie and Nick sang with their choir for a school board meeting.  I always LOVE a great choir concert.

Ryan and I (plus Molly) decided that we would go to the library once a week for books, songs and crafts.  Ryan is really great at gluing and creating.

I curled Molly's hair with a 1/2 inch curling iron -- she was darling.

These are Maisie's goals; she is a good girl.

Humbling Realization

So, it's rare that I actually have something thought provoking to blog about. Mostly, this blog has been the avenue in which I can post the best pictures of the week, single out the good things my children accomplish, and a way that we can look at the past and know that we are heading towards a grand future together.  With that in mind. I had a harsh realization last night during FHE.

Austin gave the lesson about making goals.  He gave us five areas to improve ourselves, and then we wrote down our individual goals. During the writing time, I helped Eddie and Ryan prepare their lists all the while Molly was rolling all over us.  When it was time to turn in our lists, I didn't have one.  That's when I really learned about being a mother.

I can't make "big" goals that my children and Austin can.  But, I can spend my time and use my talents to help the nine other members of my family achieve theirs.  I've found that if I make grand goals or long to-do lists, I forget the people all around me.  I'm too consumed on accomplishing my wants, that I forget all their needs.

Just these pasts months I've changed my to-do list into a list where I list the name of all the members in my family and then write one way in which I can help them that day -- whether that be creating a book report, jumping on the tramp, sitting to read or simply stopping to look them in their eyes.  It seems to make a difference in my world in much greater ways than my lists of endless chores.

I suppose that I have lost myself in the service of others, so I'm hoping that I will recognize my efforts while in the service of Christ.  When I reach the judgement bar, I want to have used up all my nurturing talents, all my charity skills, and my song voice.  I don't want to be a beautiful body, I want to be a beautiful soul.  I want to live with Him again -- that is my goal.  And each day I do work towards it.  I am trying.  That's what counts.

Jesus Wants Ryan for a Sunbeam!

Ryan-boy goes to primary now!  Eddie was really proud of him -- we all are! He's been talking all about his advancement since the beginning of December when we began counting down the Sundays.  He was very reverent, and he knew just how to belt the chorus of "I Am A Child of God" during song time.  His voice was heard above the rest of the primary.  Ryan is very big and very good.

Utah 2017

I drove the 560 miles to Utah without Austin on my 37th birthday.  I guess proves that I'm very old and very capable.  Once arriving there, we opened presents and ate a delicious dinner.

 My song was quite loud and very cheerful with all these happy people singing to me.  I loved it!

 I managed a little selfie with these peeps, because any picture with a heavy filter is quite welcome these days.

 Later that evening Kimmie, Mom and I sewed a bit in her laundry room.  We chatted and laughed and cried together.  It's so easy to be loved by them.

 Saturday was our annual girls' day.  We stared at the temple at 5:30 am, then headed to Ashley's for our gift exchange and then to breakfast.  Girls that are 12 years or older are invited.

 That night we celebrated the new year with a dance party in Mom's great room.  We danced, sang, counted down, and felt the burdens of last year fly away with a chance to improve and become better than we were before.

 Sunday we worshiped at church and headed to the cemetery for a few pictures.  Daddy has been in the spirit world for almost two years now, and I guess I've learned to live with the loss and sadness that comes with losing him.  I am so proud to have my name on his headstone/bench, and I even purchased my burial plot right next to him (right where Maddie and Andy are standing).

 Many evenings we ate and played games together.  Mother has 41 living grandchildren now.  When we're all gathered together it is quite a massive event, yet so personal.

 I wanted to take a picture of this pillow so that I can recreate it for my bed.  Mom didn't know she was in the picture, but I couldn't cut her out, especially since those three hearts represent my love for her.  Ok, I would need an infinite amount of hearts to represent that.  My love for her keeps growing and growing.  Why was I so blessed to come to her?  Heavenly Father must really love me an infinite amount of hearts to make that miracle happen.

 Mother has a dog, named Dolly.  She is a good-nice pup with very lovely manners.  She found my legs as the perfect spot the one evening Mom and I actually sat and watched an entire movie.

 These cousins were all the same ages.  Ashley's is pregnant again, but I don't have a baby to match hers this time.  I'm sad by that., but these kids don't seem to mind!