Adult skills

12 Years old and become more and more helpful.  Sim has willingly and capably been taking over some basic car maintenance.  He has been changing oil and now rotated a few tires.  So nice to have another man around the house.

And Ike got his learner's permit today. He is so excited to be driving.

He is 15!

Ike is such a fine young man.  He loves life.  He is confident and happy. He is talented and hardworking.  He loves exploring new things.  This past year has included training and selling a horse he bought himself, learning mountain biking and finishing in the top 10. He tried wrestling, waterskiing and loves to snowboard. He has always been a little girl crazy and enjoys flirting.  He is honest and good.

 Birthday celebrations included waffles for breakfast and Cincinnati chili for dinner.  Razmataz cake is always a birthday item and everyone loves it. He asked for his DI find boots to be resoled for his birthday and for tubes for his bike.  As the snow is beginning to melt he is heading up the mountain for some of that great trail riding.

He hopes the coming year will bring driving, buying a jeep or something cool like that.  I am hoping to see him achieve eagle scout and earn some of his own money.

balance and individual strength

Just watched this beautiful video on Facebook and really enjoyed the thoughts that came to my mind.

https://www.facebook.com/fitpl/videos/10153433490551586/

It reminds me of marriage.  A man and a woman connected through choice and covenants.  It is important that we stay connected. It is also important to honor each of our gifts.  A man is strong, stable. He provides the platform for his family to grow, for his wife to soar.  She also has her own strengths and does her best as she develops those strengths and also trusts him to be there, to do what is best for both of them.  As they each learn to honor their own strength and respect their partner then there is a beautiful symmetry that results in peace and harmony.  When a husband and wife find the balance then their whole family is blessed and taught.  That balance comes from accepting and celebrating our God given roles, of realizing that though different in their responsibilities they each are needed.  Each of us is given all that we need to do our part today. Tomorrow we will have what we need for that day. When we grow together with a common purpose, a common goal, a common destination then we are given additional help and strength. Each time we try, we are strengthened and in the trying we become closer to one another and to our Savior.

12 year olds are great

It happened. My baby boy is 12.  Twelve is big. Twelve is fun. Twelve is a young man and he is a good one.  

 We have the crazy tradition of having to decorate the kitchen for the birthday celebrating.  Sim wanted waffles with butter syrup and lucky for us Emily has been practicing the family recipe and Bryan is an excellent assistant.

 And yes, he is a Valentine boy.  Can I just express that he is one of the most thoughtful, loving kids I know.  He is sensitive, sweet and protective of others. He is especially good to me and his sister.

 Having said that he absolutely lit up when he got this pistol for his gift. He is tough, hard working, and oh so funny. He enjoys basketball, snow boarding, biking, reading, sewing, games with cousins, and shooting. His favorite color is dark green.

Birthday cake has been the same one for years.  He chooses razmataz cake that is yellow cake with a layer of cream cheese creaminess and then a layer of raspberry danish delight.  Always a hit with everyone.

 He was interviewed by the bishop and found worthy to receive the Aaronic priesthood.  We had the ordination in our home where he was literally surrounded by a few of the men of our family that also hold and honor their priesthood.  It brings hope and goodness to my world to see Godly men who love and serve their family.  He was ordained by my father.

 And as usual the ladies like to linger around the table discussing a variety of topics which included pregnancy and childbirth as we are so excited to be having a new baby on its way. It will make 8 grandchildren for me.  Kind of a special number as I have 8 children.

Winter fun in photos

 We started out the new year with a performance of Savior of theWorld. Still my absolute favorite. The kids all know I will cry and come away every time with a new idea about my Savior and how I can better understand what he did for me and how I can better receive that gift.

 Thomas and Jack and their snowman on a warmer winter day.

 Provo City Center temple open house was beautiful and fun to share with Natalie and kids on her way home from Equador.  He boys were sure glad to have her back.  She is a great mom.

 Dance party at Emily's with our favorite songs including songs from Frozen.

 Emily volunteered to be the doo for Do you wanna build a snowman?

 We got Sim the ski passport and had to go with. My very first time skiing since I was 17 years old.  May I say that, like riding a bike, I still know how but could use some practice to build those muscles and my confidence.

 We bribed Elise to come and take care of both of us newbies. She did great and we had so much fun together.

 Blanket Fort!  It's a big one with the tv and couch inside. We watched Courageous together inside - all 5 of us.

 This year included a visit to the Ice Castles in Midway.  It was amazing and beautiful. Glad to have shared it with David too.

 Isaac was feeling a little left out so we took him out of school and up to a real ski resort with Sim. They caught on quickly and had a beautiful time as we drove out of the inversion to the sun and blue sky. They both came home a little sunburned

 Then the next day the whole group went to our regular (and much more economical) snow boarding hill and had a great time.

 We have great youth that heart attacked us and brough cookies as part of their date dance. Thanks Mary, Allison, and Jill for thinking of us. We love it.

And speaking of love, we started a new tradition of an adult dinner with the family for Valentine's celebrating  We had fun with those that could come and shared how we met and our proposal stories.

Then a very special Valentine was left on our doorstep during dinner with some big news!

Roses are red

Violets are blue

This

Valentine's Day

We have some 

Big news

for you!

 Number 8 grandchild is on its way.  Can't wait to meet this little sweetheart!

I am beautiful

I am BEAUTIFUL inside and out. I went to my first Reiki session yesterday with a very wonderful woman. I didn't know what to expect but I have been learning about energy, emotions, and some of the many ways we can improve our lives and bless others.  That is what my session of Reiki did for me. It was a willingness to let someone else see inside of me.

taking a selfie is a huge step for me.

I have been working on positive affirmations. I am learning about foot zoning, essential oils, and even the Emotion Code.  Mostly I have just dabbled but I do want to take advantage of every good thing.  I know all good things are from Christ and I pray about the things I am learning and exposed to asking that I might recognize right and truth.  So, my affirmations have been fine but I was getting sloppy about them and putting very little energy into them.  The Reiki seemed to help me let go of the old, false sayings in my head. The ones that continually pop up and discount the good I am working on.  I talked, I cried, I shared.  She told me that I was courageous and that it was okay to let my emotions show.  I know that but it meant so much to be given permission.  I can still be strong and weepy.  I can be tired and good. I can be real and still beautiful. I can give up the shell I have been hiding in and let my true and better and growing and healing self shine out.

I have done a lot of good things in my life with a constant doubt that I am doing it "right" or good enough.  Whether it is relationships with family or friends, accomplishments, parenting, responsibilities, callings, I hold to the idea that I am just almost getting by. That somehow everyone else has an easier time being successful and that most people would do a better job than I am doing. In fact, they are probably all thinking of better ways to do this or that.  It is a false idea that my best is not good enough.  I am letting go of those old ideas that hold down the good in me.

I am beautiful! inside and out.  That is a new idea to me.  I try to be a good person and I take care of myself but I feel very average.  I am recognizing that Heavenly Father is telling me that I am beautiful and he is using others to verify that fact.  Giving compliments is not common in my family or in my marriage but last week my husband told me that I was beautiful.  I think that is the 2nd time in 31 years.  At least that I remember.  I know he loves me. He will say Hey you look nice, or Is that a new shirt? but not straight out "beautiful". I was surprised but I liked it. I have had nice people tell me that I have a beautiful spirit. That is easy to discount but not any more.  I am going to receive the good and let it become who I am.  I do want to be beautiful inside and out.  I want my intentions to be pure and good. I want the light of Christ to shine through me and make me beautiful on the outside too.

I came out of the session smiling. I had let go of a whole bunch of the negative guck that has been holding me back. I felt lighter, happier and filled with hope.  Hope that good things are ahead for me. Hope that life is getting better. Hope that the little 3 year old that I have wished I could be is safe and fine and I can grow up and take care of myself. I can do things and they are good.

Kung Fu Panda

Last night our family went to see Kung Fu Panda 3.  I was a little skeptical that a 3rd in a series wouldn'y be any good but I really enjoyed it. We have been listening to talks and learning about increasing connection with God, consecration from stake conference, being a front row teenager from Hank Smith and lots of different little ideas that just keep showing up in our experiences. We also enjoyed the new video for the youth theme this year.  So much of what I am depends on my willingness to be the real me, to put forth effort to become better and to recognize each person is on their own journey to greatness.

Some of the lessons I learned from the movie were
1. "If you only do what you can do, you'll never be better than what you are." (Shifu)
2. You need to figure out who you are.
3. We each have our own greatness.  Things work out best when we honor the gifts we have by improving them.
4.It is the little things that matter, build relationships, strengthen community. Tradition
5. Always taking does not work.  It is often in giving our all that we receive all that we need.
6. Namiste.  May the divine in me honor the divine in you.  That was the thought I had by the end of the movie.
7. Each step we take, we learn and then we should teach.  We should share with each other.

I would definitely recommend the movie. In fact I think we will have a Kung Fu Panda marathon and watch  the first 2.  I have discovered VidAngel.com and am enjoying movies for $1. Great idea. Great company.