CUTE

Just a cute picture and more summer fun talk to come maybe soon, maybe later, who knows when.

One bit of good news. I tried to get 3/4 or 1/2 time at work again, but no luck with that. Since I carry the insurance and would love to quit and can't I did talk Jas into having someone come and help with some cleaning!! Yeah I am so excited!! I feel kindof bad like I can't do it all, I wish I were super women, but I am not!! My #1 priority is my family and some things just get put on the back burner then I get a build up of stress that I can't do it all, so I think I will love having her come.

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

I have always liked the Hymn "Each Life That Touches ours For Good" But it always makes me cry and especially today as a friend has passed just yesterday and today is his 36th birthday. I am not good with words, so I cheat and steal how I feel from songs and other things:


When Such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our heards
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.


For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.


What would I do without the Gospel? I have no clue!! I am so greatful for the knowledge that I have that after this life it is not the end. When I found out the news I pictured Trav hugging tight to his Mom what a wonderful reunion that must have been. My heart hurts for his children and amazing wife Mandy, but with the gospel Eternity is a long time and this life will be like seconds when they meet again.

So many friends of all ages that I have came in contact with throughout my life from being a young girl, to a teenager , to my mission, and to those in wards that have touched my life and so many people whom continue to bless my life. I am so greatful for the amazing example people set for me whom make me want to be a better person. Travis was one of those people I have known since I was a teenager who would have sleepovers at my house because he was friends with my brother. One particular time I remember the night before my brother went on his mission he was one of the guys piled in my brothers king size bed that kept me up all night and right when I was about ready to fall asleep they came and doggie piled me when I thought I was going to finally be able to sleep. Ü My brother and his friends have always treated me like a friend and I appreciate that, they were great examples and friends to me. I have to think why the Lord takes the good people, but He needs those good people to help Him, and I am sure Travis will touch many more lives in his new adventure he is on.

I have to say that my life is sure not perfect, but I am so greatful for a husband who loves me for me and puts up with me and my annoying habits and imperfections. He is a great Dad and does so much to help. Thank You Jason I love you!!

SPRING FUN

I love spring the planting and tulips and working in the yard. I have two new treasures too, thanks to Grandpa Ray. Ok they are treasures to me even if others think they are junk. My old rusted out Wagon, YUP I LOVE IT!! It is the wagon Jason had as a kid too, so makes it more exciting for me to show off in my yard. I also got an old starting to rust out tin that I buried part into the ground and when I plant I will have flowers coming out. Jason's Dad use it years ago to wash and clean the dogs when they were kids. And Tanner loves hearing all the stories about all the dogs that they had as a kids, so good memories with both of my treasures I get to have in my yard. Also last Summer I did get an old rusty wheel barrel, no sentimental value, but it is a fun treasure for my porch that will be full of flowers soon too. Another thing me and the kids like to do in the summer is when we go camping we collect rocks, I have an old dutch oven on Grandma Shurtleffs old bench on the porch that we put our small rocks in and a part in the garden area we put other ones we find. I had an idea and last year I found three rocks that I think looks like our last name. I have it on the wood ladder Alex made, Jason says I am strechin' it, but I thought I was pretty creative so what do you think? I will have to do an update when all my treasures are full of beautiful flowers. HAPPY SPRING, please stay, I am ready to be done with the bad weather!!

Easter

I love Easter it is one of the big holidays for us and my family most of the family comes out and we have our annual egg hunt or should I say candy grab and we still have way too much candy. We have a turkey and all the fixing's and since no one else will do it I always make the Jello Eggs and it is always a hit for the kids. I also love having our yearly dinner and egg hunt with Jason's side of the family that is smaller, but very entertaining especially laughing as we watch Grandpa help hide eggs, we did it at our house inside because it was too cold, and we found an egg the next day even that was not found. The kids love that money in the eggs from Grandma and Grandpa. It is a lot of fun hangin' out with Jason's family and so much fun having his sister and her family now living closer to us. Tanner and Brylee are very different Tanner just dumped all his candy in the kitchen candy jar, but not my Brylee, she kept it in her basket and it is all hers. She is my little snacker that loves candy and treats.

Tanner got a suit this year and of course Brylee had a princess dress. I forgot in primary to do my Easter lesson the week before conference and I am so glad I did because I did it last Sunday and it was so refreshing to have the lesson after all the worldly Easter Celebration and to reflect and teach my 7-8 year olds about what we do really celebrate. It is amazing how smart they are and it is so fun to teach them each week. We chat before we start the lesson and it is fun to hear what exciting stuff they have to tell that has gone on for the week. Last week Carters dog got hit by a car, didn't get too badly hurt thank goodness, so that started them all telling about pets they have had that had died. Which then it fit right in to talk about the Savior dying for us and talking about how we celebrate his death, but more important we celebrate his life and Resurrection that he lives again and we will too live again. Wow I am so thankful for the Gospel! How sad is it for those who just think after we die their is nothing. I don't know how people do it that don't believe in something of a Greater Power. I couldn't get through life if I didn't know what I do know and believe. God does live, He is our Loving Heavenly Father and we have an older Brother Our Savior Jesus Christ who Our Heavenly Father sent down to die for us so we can live again someday. Life is not easy and we all have our lives and different things we are all going through and gosh when I think of what others go through I think how I will keep my trials as hard as I think they seem at times. I know that Our Savior suffered for us and he knows all the pains, sorrows, heartaches, and hurts we feel, so he is always there for us and will never leave us alone. Thanks Mom and Dad for raising me with the Gospel. I know I am far from perfect that is for sure, but I hope when it is my time to go that I will be ready and not afraid and can say I have done all I can, I have fought the fight, and done all I could to be the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. That's my blabbin' preachin' for a bit!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Yes we are alive, it has just been busy crazy and not going to slow down anytime soon. I am so lucky to work from home, even though the kids still have to go to daycare, but this week I moved into the office as we are converting into a new computer system. Hopefully I will be back home at the end of the month. I have to be in Clearfield at 6am, so early to bed early to rise for us.

We have done some fun things too, Dinner with friend while Heidi was in town. Jazz Game with our best friends the Wards. Superbowl party at the Wards, then over to the Rays! Traditional frosting cookies for Valentines Day! Fun with making hair flowers and bead braclet/necklaces with the kids. Sledding fun for Bodies Birthday.

I just got called as the RS Leader in our Ward. I am excited to be more involved in RS. I am still teaching the CTR class that are turning 8 this year and I am so glad to be doing both, I would miss my 12 kids in my class if they were to release me. If time I will have to share some of the things we are doing. This month for the RS Birthday we are doing An Enchanted Night of Dresses. We are collecting dresses of all sized to donate to people who need them in the local area. I am pretty excited and reading the book The Hundred Dresses as well and it is so good. I am going to make a Dress Cake too, so that will be fun.

Jason had a court of honor last week and I made a Flag cake, it turned out pretty cute. It was cute Tanner came in and said, "I love the flag cake Mom, but the Stars are white, not yellow in the real flag!" opps!! Well even if it were not exact it was cute & I thought it was cute he noticed that. Bry is cute as ever and she is having two baby girl friends from Marci having a baby girl and Jami having a baby girl too. She is excited to have babys to play with. The other day her nursery leader told me that she told her she was going to have a sister. I laughed and said "Well I may look prego, but NOPE! I am not, she is having two baby girl friend cousins, but not going to have a baby girl friend sister." We are training her to say cousins now rather then baby girl friend. We are done having kids as far as we know. Maybe I better start exercising to lose weight instead of gain weight!! hee hee

Another thing of shock, a friend, Gumey, I used to work with when I worked with at the Roy office passed away last week. He had a ear infection and then got a fever of over 107 and when rushed to the hospital he had a couple of seizers and had so much brain damage and passed away the next morning. He was one of the nicest peole I know, I don't know anyone that knew him that didn't like him, he always knew how to make a person smile & laugh. Wow you never know when it is going to be your time, really gives you a reality check of what really is important in life.

What is important to me? I would have to say my family. Not that I have the patients like I should, but they are most important to me, I can't imagine not having my cute kiddos. The Gospel is so important to me my friend who passed away was not a member of the church and I really don't know how people get through life or even day to day without the gospel, because it is everything to me, even with the simplest things I rely on my best friend, older brother, and Savior Jesus Christ. And knowing that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and has a plan of happiness, and even a plan for me!! God lives, Jesus is the Christ, I am so greatful to be a member of the restored church, and we are so lucky to have a living prophet on the earth today to help us through. Gospel is true-the people are not perfect-including me, but the gospel is perfect!!

My Baby Girl is 3

I can hardly believe my baby girl is 3, but she sure is and she is so much fun!! These are a few moments of her third year and some words when we think of her!!

We celebrated her birthday as a family then had cake and icecream on the weekend with family and of course I made her cake and it turned out very cute she loved it. When Tanner got out of school we got on frontrunner and took the kids to SL and Brylee got to build an animal at Build a Bear, she decided on a very cute horse. We then ate at the Sky Box Sports Grill and let them play the games and headed back home and open her presents, it was a fun family day. We are so greatful to have Brylee as a part of our family, it would not be compete without her!!