Dinner with the Grandparents

We had my grandparents over for dinner on Wednesday night. We were planning to have them the previous week, but the stomach flu nixed that idea! We had a great time, we talked about trips long past and adventures thru the years in the great state of Az from before they were parents until now. I hope that anyone who still has the awesome privilege of having their grandparents and/or grandparents still with them acknowledges that blessing daily. How much more blessed are we that have believing parents and grandparents, I am so thankful for the faith and wisdom that has been passed onto me by my mom and my grandpa and grandma.

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord!

What's important.......family :)

Wow, I cannot believe we are already halfway through the month of November! This has been a crazy busy school year so far with all the different activities going on. Braeden is in basketball (and doing great!), Chantelle is in choir and student council, and Alec......well Alec is in Junior High so he ALWAYS has something going on!!! Sometimes I feel like all I do is drive and then drive some more. With everything so busy, I decided this last week that I needed to do some slowing down and deciding what was really important. I had to realize that having two jobs was not benefiting me or my family, and that I needed to focus on my marriage and getting my kids safely through these often tough childhood years (can we say pre-teen and teen challenges). So, I decided to put two weeks notice in to the home health care agency I work for, and I will no longer be doing respite or hab care. I knew it was the right choice, and I have such a peace about it. I realized that if my heart wasn't in the work, I wasn't going to be doing the best job I could be and that wasn't fair to anyone. I'm not sure exactly financially how things will all work out, but we have survived on ALOT less before! God is always faithful to carry us through no matter what. Oh yeah, one more thing.......in less than a month I will be the parent of a teenager.........

Enjoying the beginning of Fall.

I am loving being on Fall Break!!! It has been a very challenging last few months due to the unfortunate breakdown of personal relationships, and the stress of juggling two jobs (one which I love, the other which is beginning to wear on me), and this break is much needed. I have learned alot about me in the last months though, and I am starting to come out on the other side of heartbreak with a new perspective. I am not defined by what others say, or choose to think about me. I am defined solely by my Heavenly Father and that is as His loved and forgiven child. I can only forgive and move forward, I cannot control the actions of others and I have realized that I wouldn't even want that job. We as humans can only be responsible for what we do and say, seek amends when we need to and then be willing to do as the Lord does for us on a daily basis and put the offenses where they will not be remembered again. Its not been easy for me, as I know that I have long tried to be a controller of my circumstances and it has taken alot of time and patience to realize that I have no control over anything, the Lord is in that position and I wouldn't want it any other way. I am just me, take it or leave it that's your choice. Am I perfect....YES (just kidding).....of course not, and I never will be. So if you want perfection, look somewhere else. I am just a child of the King who has to be on her knees daily at the foot of the cross (the only place I would ever want to be found).

Goodbye Mazey

So today was kind of hard, I went with my mom for support as she had one of her doggies (Mazey) put to sleep. She was getting older and sicker, and it was just her time. I'm so sorry for your loss mom, I know how hard it is to say goodbye to a beloved pet. You made the right choice, and no one could have been better to her than you. From the moment you rescued her from the pound she adored you, and you gave her the best home to spend her last years. We all loved you sweet girl, and we will miss you.

I am sooo glad I found my camera!!! And happy that I learned how to post pictures. These are random shots of the animals, an apple pie I made today and one of Alec and Channy mugging for the camera.

More Pictures Yay!!!

It was the day for pictures around here....and we had the best time celebrating Braedens birthday.

i couldn't fit them all in :)

Here are the rest of the pictures....