He Knows Us By Name

I remember the last time I blogged I vowed to blog more often. I lied! We have been super busy with just the coming and going of the average American family. (I'd like to think that we are above average...but then again I am kind of bias) I was looking at Arica's blog and she wrote down her super busy schedule. WHEW! Where does she find the time? I am so glad that is not my schedule. So, I started thinking...(that is scary I know)...still thinking....okay. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who really does know us...by name. He knows our inner most thoughts and feelings. He knows of our struggles, challenges, limits...our joys, triumphs and celebrations. HE KNOWS US...each one of us. I have been struggling a little bit...here and there, nothing big...just you know, everyday things. I think I had that light bulb moment when the Holy Ghost just confirms and reconfirms the unmeasurable amount of love that Heavenly Father has for us. I can't say that I am just loving life's challenges and heartaches...but you know what?...They are mine. I become stronger...a better person...more Christlike. Thank you to all of you who help me along my journey and stick with me even when the road gets a little rocky. You are the BEST!!!

Rainy Days and Fridays....I am in a DAZE!

Hi everyone! Remember me? I haven't blogged in forever. My kids miss it. I feel loved. I don't even remember the last time I wrote.

Let's see. What's going on ? Seems like the DAYS are just passing by. It is so hard to believe that it is the last few DAYS of September. Where has this year gone?

So to stick with the title I will catch you up on my DAYS.

Work Days:
Most of you know that I work full time. I have been super busy since July. We have had some turn over in the hearing department so I have been a one woman show for a little bit. We actually hired a part time audiologist. She comes in on Tues. and Thurs. It is good to have all the pressure off of me but it is difficult to get to know her and for our patients to get to know her. I am sure it will all work out. So...my work days seem to get longer and longer and I find myself working close to 45-50 hours a week. I try to not come in on Fridays...but it seems like that is the only day I can catch up from the week. I miss hanging out with my Kevy on Fridays. I will try to plan better and be more productive to I can have play DAYS.

Sunday Days:
Church for us starts at 1 pm. Last Sunday I had a full DAY of meetings starting at 9:45 am. It was a really great Sunday. I met with the missionaries and was able to help them as they go about spreading the great news of the Gospel. I went home and threw together lunch for the Sister missionaries and added some extra food for the Elders as well...went back to church for our regular 3 hour block. It was really good. The Sister's had invited me to go see a few investigators so I went with them and then we headed to my house for Sunday dinner. After a yummy, filling dinner, we(the sisters, kev and I ) went to see another investigator who needed a blessing. Kevin and Spencer Shaw gave the blessing and we chatted with her for a while. It was so nice seeing someone so excited about the Gospel. So...Sunday was a great DAY.

Weight Watcher Days...
Every DAY is weight watcher DAY. I have lost 55 pounds....I am kind of at a stand still. I am trying to jump start my way out of it. We will see tomorrow if it worked. I am still loving the program and excited about getting down to a healthier weight. I went shopping for new clothes and had way too much fun. I don't want to get too much at this size because I hope to be at least one size less than I am right now. Thank you to all who have encouraged me and helped me get to where I am right now. You are the best!

Mom Days...
Seems like more and more the kids are needing me less and less. I love spending time with them. I miss them when we are apart. Ashleigh is busy with her Nanny job and friends, Arica is in Idaho getting educated....Arin and Andrew are busy with school, friends and church activities. Where does a mom fit in? I love it when we all come together in the evenings and laugh and joke and just love. I have been so blessed with such wonderful kids. The only thing I wanted to be when I grew up was a MOM. Thanks kids for making my dream job so much fun! And thanks Kevy for being so supportive. You make being the mother of your children worth it.

DAZE days
I am not sure why but lately I just feel like I am in a daze. I just kind of float through the day and get the important things done and let the little things slide. I need to snap out of it. I know it is the winter months that are coming upon us...I hate winter. I know there are some many of you out there that love the cold freezing temps. I don't. I love sunny happy DAYS. So, I guess that is the reason for my DAZE. I had better decide to get happy and just be sunny inside or it will be a long fall and winter. Okay...I am better.

GOOD DAY!
I hope that you all have happy sunny DAYS no matter what your weather is like. Thanks for reading.

Ramblings of a tired working Mom...

I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since my last post. Time really passes by. I am still in shock that it is the middle of August. The kids will be going back to school next week. I hate school. Now, I know as a mother that is not the thing to say...but I really do hate the fact that these kids have to be exposed to so much junk. The only good thing about school starting is that Seminary starts as well. For all you young families out there, you will learn to love getting up early with your high school kids and helping them put on "spiritual armor" every morning. It is amazing how well protected they are as they dive into the scriptures every morning before the world creeps in. I am so glad that my older girls set such a good example for Arin and Andrew about attending seminary. Ashleigh and Arica both got up almost every school day and got ready without complaining. They both loved seminary. Arin gets up soooo early. She like to take her time getting ready so she is up sometimes as early as 4 am. She is so crazy. I am so happy that she is keeping the example going for Andrew. My kids amaze me.

I am packing tonight for a conference at the beach. It will be a fun trip since I am going with a good friend,Pam. She was the very first Audiologist I worked with and who inspired me to get my dispensing license. I am really excited to spend some time with her since she is up in Winston-Salem. It will be a little mini vacation with a lot of eduction mixed in. (see, I am not against learning) The only thing about this trip is that my family will be left behind. I am not the best traveler when it comes to going without my kids or Kevy. They will all be fine and will have great stories to tell me when I get home. When the kids were little Kevin would encourage me to get away with a girlfriend here or there and he would take off work and make memories with the kids. I think some of the kids fondest memories were when I would leave and Dad would do things so different from Mom. So, as it is...I am heading out tomorrow and Kevin will hold down the fort and get the last minute school supplies, drop kids off at various activities and there will be laughter and stories for me to look forward to.

I have pictures to share...someday. We have had a busy few days but I will have to leave that for another post. I must get to bed. I have to see a few patients before heading off tomorrow.

Good Night!

Picture Page's

Introducing.....

Sir Bobby Flay Page...he is sooo cute!

ChiChi our loyal mutt.

Our shadows in the sand.

I really don't like my picture taken...but I figured I had to have at least one of me up here.

One of my favorite pictures...Fort Fisher, NC

This is my Kevy looking out at the vast ocean.

US!

Research and Developement

I had an amazing evening tonight. Andrew had a court of honor. He earned 4 new merit badges and is very close to getting his Life rank. So proud! It was a fun night after a crazy day at work. I love gathering together with friends and ward family. I especially love chatting with the younger kids. I had a great conversation with Matthew Daines. He is so adorable and so fun to talk to. We compared fun things we like to do...and some scary things that I don't like to do. (being in high places) He loves the zip lines...I can live without them. He loves adventure...I do too...to a degree. Must be the 34 year age difference. I told him about Slippery Rock, NC. I think it is a must see place for him to go. He seemed very interested in the whole "natural water slide" and the very cold water at the end. He is very brave. He just got stitches out of his chin and I told him of my stitches in chin story. We have a lot in common now. HEHEEH.
I also had an amazing conversation with Bishop Shaw. I love getting into spiritual and uplifting conversations with him. I get to give the Relief Society Presidency Message this Sunday and had no clue what I would talk about. Just talking to the Bishop I was able to feel the spirit and discuss things that would help all of us sisters with our personal "research and development". I am so excited about my topic that I cannot wait for Sunday to get here. I hope it sounds as good Sunday as it did when Bishop and I were talking. I will try to post some of my thoughts after church.

Bobby Flay Page(our adorable bassett) is fitting right in with our family. Him and ChiChi(our faithful mutt) get along better than I could have dreamed. We love Bobby and feel like he has always been apart of our family. It is so weird to think we finally have our BoB DoG. We have wanted a bassett for years.

Oh...I almost forgot to give you my weight watchers update. I have lost....*drum roll here*....

49.8 pounds!

Okay...please don't think I am bragging. I just really can't believe it. My mom(she has lost 45) and I started this journey in January.....I wasn't all that certain that weight watchers would really help me...I had no will power. I have learned that it isn't will power that gets you to your goal...it is WANT power. I have also learned to enjoy the journey. I still have a way to go to my goal weight...but the cool thing is, is that I have less to loose then I already have lost. (did that make sense?) And the coolest thing is that if I can do it...anyone can do it. *I am not saying that any of you need to, only if you WANT to...just wanted to be clear on that*

One last thing. Arica and I have the opportunity to ride to and from work together M-Th. We work together all summer. We also have the opportunity to solve the world's problems and have deep doctrinal conversations. Today we listened to Beauty and the Beast soundtrack to and from work. It brought back so many memories of the kids growing up. We must have had every Disney cassette tape out...yes, I said cassette tape. Remember...I am old...older. Anyway, we were talking about how the Beast would have never transformed back into a hunky prince if he hadn't had a change of heart. He was willing to give up his life for the woman he loved. And ultimately it was her love that saved him. It really parallels the gospel in that we must be willing to have a mighty change of heart and humble ourselves and give of our lives for the building up of the kingdom here on earth. I am so thankful for an eternal perspective, for the beautiful perfect plan of happiness that Heavenly Father desires for us all. It truly gives me cause for my own research and development. Thanks to all of you who have changed me for the better. I love you!

Celebrations

Hi! It has been way too long since I have posted anything. I will spare you the updates and just jump to the good parts.

We celebrated 4th of July...INDEPENDENCE DAY, by going to the Knights game. They are a Triple A baseball team here in Charlotte. We had a blast and I have some great pics that I will post soon. It was so awesome to stay after the game and see the fireworks. Amazing! I am so proud and honored to live in this country. I am so blessed to know freedom. I honor all who have served in the military and have fought to preserve these freedoms. I know first hand the sacrifices that military families go through. I am eternally grateful for your service. A personal thank you to my hubby...Thanks Kevy for the 12 years of serving in the Air Force. You did your country proud!

Kevin and I also celebrated our 24th ANNIVERSARY. Time really flies. I don't feel old enough to have been married 24 years...but it has happened. We had a blast at the beach. It was a much needed get away and so much fun spending time with each other and laughing at our craziness. I will post a few pics of the beach.

We celebrated being together as a FAMILY. Sunday night as Kevin and I returned from the beach and had to give the kids a minute by minute account of all the silly things we did while we were away. It was so fun to reconnect and laugh and catch up with everyone. I love my family...they are the best part of my life.

We are trying to celebrate a NEW ADDITION to our family...but Bobby hasn't arrived yet. He is a cute Bassett that we are trying to adopt. We are hoping to be celebrating this weekend.

We celebrated with our good friend Threasa on buying her FIRST HOME. We are so happy for her.

I am celebrating that I actually found the TIME to get on and blog. I feel so much better. So...until later keep celebrating LIFE!

Random Thoughts

This week was kind of boring. I had a promotion at work and it didn't go over so well. I was able to meet a lot of nice people and we sold some hearing aids but it just didn't seem busy enough. Usually when we have a good promotion we will get about 50-60 appointments (we maybe had 10 appointments total this time around). I love keeping busy at work and helping people hear better. (don't worry, I won't rant about hearing) Oh well...I guess our timing wasn't right. You can never predict how marketing strategies will work out.

The house was even more quiet last night with Andrew at camp and Arin at Youth Conference. Kevin and Ashleigh were able to sneak out for a Daddy/Daughter date and Arica hung out with her one of her good friends from High School. It seems that when I am home surrounded by all the activities I crave a little slice of quite "me" time but then when I have that chunk of "me" time...it isn't all that much fun and I want the noise and laughter back as quickly as possible. I guess that is human nature...we all want the opposite of what we have instead of being thankful for the moment we are in. Hummm...I will have to remember this.

We are re-decorating Andrew's room while he is out in the "Wilderness". We are doing a Red Sox theme. All the walls will be white expect for the one accent wall it will be RED...Red Sox RED! We are going to put Red Sox Nation in vinyl lettering. I am hoping that we will have this project done before Andrew gets home. Ash is working very hard on it while Arica and I work...Arin has been a little helpful and then left for Youth Conference until Saturday. We will all have to really step it up tonight so that we can do the unveiling tomorrow at noon...when Andrew gets home. I will try to post a picture. I should have done a before and after...but it is already after. Too late.

Well...so much for this random post. I like having a better focused title. Hope you are still awake after reading this.