A Righteous Influence

"To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home--which is society's basic and most noble institutuion. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife."

-Spencer W. Kimball-

Football "Fan"atic

Here are the top 4 reasons why I am a Football Fan.

1. My husband is "the coach", and has been for the past five years. How could I ever miss an opportunity to see Coach Larsen standing on the sidelines screaming his guts out in excitement for this game he loves soooooo much. He especially enjoys the boys he gets to work with. Even more important than winning every game (and believe me that's pretty important) is his philosophy of building better boys. Each year he wants them to come away feeling like they have grown and been a part of something great.

2. Caleb my 16 year old has made football his sport of choice from age 11 on up. He now gets to play on the High School team, which is so much more intense and exciting. His position is hawk or outside linebacker. When you hear the helmets crack you know the boys have now all grown up into full size men.

Here he is #40 in our local newspaper after playing one of our biggest rivals Bingham High School and winning. Last year Alta High took State and with a record of 5-1 so far this year they just might do it again!

3. My 14 year old son Colton is finishing his last year of little league. He plays tailback, quarterback and linebacker. He's lightning fast and knows how to read the plays. Watch the video footage below from his game last week against Grantsville to see why I don't even like to miss watching a practice during the season, Colton is #11. He made two TD's and we pulled off a win.

4. There is really so much about this sport that I love, the 3 guys above are the biggest reasons. But as each year rolls around I truly look forward to August when I can mingle with all the other football parents and our extended family who come to support us. I love watching each practice, scrimmage and game cheering for my kids and our beloved team. I even love sitting outside and enjoying the changing season (except for a game a couple of years back, just ask my Mother-in-Law about the bucketfuls of rain that poured off our umbrella and down the back of our pants each time we 'd get excited and clap). Sometimes it's very cold and wet but our spirit and love of the game of football still has not been dampened. Go Hawks!!!!!

Projects in Progress

As you can see on my sidebar I've now added a little feature called Projects in Progress. This is a fun way to update people on the latest things I'm working on. It's also a great motivator for me to finish the projects I start.... Once complete I'll update the picture and then post it!

Family Notebook

This idea for a family notebook came from my sister Diane. I have used this system for the past 3 or 4 years and swear by it. It's a great way to keep you organized and all of your family info. in one place. You can also customize it to suit the needs of your own busy family. I bought a 3 ring binder which is always in the same drawer in our kitchen. Mine contains the following: a print out of local phone numbers we call frequently (our ward directory), Emergency information for babysitters, our family schedule and my cleaning schedule. These are all kept in clear page protectors to keep them from tearing. I then purchased some clear colored pockets that have a place for labeling subjects or categories. These contain info. for School, Sports, Church, Meal Planning and Mom's Misc. The clear pockets inside the front and back cover of my binder hold temporary items such as an insurance card it we are going out of town or anything else that needs my attention right away. I love the fact that anyone in the family can immediately find their information and it's portable enough to grab and take to a doctors appointment or school meetings. Sanity saver indeed. Thanks DeDe!!!

Yes, I am a "Fly Lady" Fan

I love to read something that motivates me to stretch a little higher and do something a little better. So here is my book recommendation for home organization, "Sink Reflections" by Marla Cilley aka the "fly lady". In my quest to organize the chaos that we sometimes have in our happy little home...I decided to try something new. I began reading Marla's website http://www.flylady.net/a couple of years ago and went out and bought her book. I got a little side tracked however by trying to do everything all at once. I forgot to read the part where she talks about taking babysteps when it comes to tackling housework. I love her writing style. It is refreshingly lighthearted and fun. Her approach to maintaining an organized home is simple and effective. Starting with keeping your kitchen sink clean and shiny. She also helps you to stop criticizing yourself through expecting perfection and instead adopting the mantra, "housework done incorrectly still blesses your home." I have now developed my little morning and evening routines and have been following them faithfully for the last 30 days or so and I am so happy with my progress. My little mountains of clutter are slowly put surely shrinking. A few Sunday's ago I hosted a family dinner and didn't even have to panic about cleaning the house because it already looked tidy, hooray! My attitude about housework is changing from one of feeling sorry for all that I have to do in a day to realizing what a blessing it is to take care of my home and sweet little famiy. I love this book!!!

Engineers

I saw this today on my sister's friends blog and I couldn't resist posting it on my own. Anyone who knows our little Miguel will get a real chuckle out of this one. Thanks for sharing Angie!

Sweet Dreams

I'm not afraid to admit it or even fight it...I am a big fan of "the nap". It rejuvinates me and gives me the added energy boost I need to complete my day, as well as the added bonus of making me a much more pleasant person to be around. A nap to me on a Sunday afternoon is somewhat of a luxury. Especially if it's rainy or cold outside. To tuck myself under a blanket and totally relax with no deadlines to meet is pure bliss. Even on weekdays I love it when I can fit in an hour or so of relaxation time just for me. At our house it usually begins as I go to my room and the kids to theirs for what we call quiet time. I try to put aside all of my work so that I can read or write something which just naturally leads to my favorite past time..."a nap". Ahhhh pure heaven!

Sharing our Abundunce

"To live a pure unselfish life, one must

count nothing as one's own

in the midst of abundance."

-Buddha-

In the Book of Mormon King Benjamin gives a beautiful discourse on giving to those in need. He says, "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold and for silver and for all the riches which we have of every kind...Oh then how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another". (Mosiah 4:19,21) I hope that I can always keep this in mind as we have been so very blessed. May our hearts respond to those who have greater needs than our own.

Our little friends Gabby and Emmy

Then and Now-

Emily (almost 8)

Gabby( almost 10) with her mom Maria.

The Foster Care Foundation is an organization that is dear to our hearts. A few years ago our family had the opportunity to serve as a foster family. We loved doing this. Every child who came to us was lovable and had a great deal to teach us. We especially love the fact that fostering is about giving families second chances to make a fresh start, it was rewarding to see parents who loved their children so much, work hard to create a better life for them.
Gabby and Emmy lived with us for a short time five years ago. We have been so blessed that they have wanted to keep in touch. On Sunday they came to dinner with their mother Maria and brother Rudy. We love catching up on all their latest happenings. And we look forward to many more successes in their lives yet to come.

Back to School Memory

My favorite subject in school was English/Literature. I remember my Elementary School teachers reading to me. "The Boxcar Children" and "A Wrinkle in Time" were favorites. I loved how these books would carry me away to a whole different place in my imagination. Later in High School, I loved learning about some of the great writers of our time. I also love to write-but mostly about life, ideas and people who inspire me. I have volumes of journals I have kept since my very first little diary complete with lock and key given to me when I was 8. If I live to be a hundred years old I still won't have lived long enough to read all that I'd like to. What was your favorite subject in school?