Things I've learned the past 5 months:

*It's always nice to receive any sort of 'pick me up' from someone :)

*I greatly empathize with single and working mothers...I don't know how they do what they do. May God Bless them.

*Never judge another 'til you've walked in their footsteps.

*Serving others always helps you feel better.

*Prayer...so simple, yet so powerful.

*When I ask someone how they are doing, I will sincerely try to listen to how they're doing and if I feel they need to talk, I will take the time to listen.

*God does not 'over-program' us--He only gives us what He knows we can handle...although he will definitely push us, challenge us, teach us, and humble us.

*Money...really is not the most important thing, although it does provide necessary services.

*"Let me know if you need any help"...a phrase I hope I never say to anyone.  If I feel to say those words, then I ought to REALLY help, think and find something I can do for them, and simply DO IT! Really help them, not just say I'm willing to.

Finding Strength

When in situations of stress we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed.

No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked. When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and, therefore, let us continue, but with a more determined discipleship. When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not

press upon us more than we can bear (D&C 50:40).

Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional Speech, October 10, 1978.  Meeting the Challenges of Today

Surviving...

We just dropped the van off at the car shop tonight--it needs a new transmission :/  
We're grateful it's lasted the past 9 years and decided to get it fixed and hope it will give us a few more good years, seeing how we really can't afford any other option...we can hardly afford the new transmission...such is life.  (We're grateful Grandma Blake is letting us borrow her car for a few days!)

Sam is doing well at his school...they've been going to to the park (across from his school) on some of the nice weather days...Sam really likes that.

Karissa is rather under the weather...allergies hit her pretty hard...at a busy time of year!

Kelsi is doing a  bake sale with her friend for a project at school to help children in Africa.

Jacob and I ended up at Lagoon last Saturday...for Nova Lagoon Day...we had heard that they weren't going to give them Nova Lagoon passes this year...then UNEXPECTEDLY, Jacob came home Fri. after school w/his Nova lagoon pass SO EXCITED!  I didn't have the heart to tell him we couldn't go...so we juggled things and figured it out.  Jacob and I had a great fun time...we both like the white roller coaster ride the best!

Bryan was transferred to a new part of the prison....not a promotion...just different position...but it will be a blessing because he is now with a captain who is L.D.S. and has clean language.

I'm surviving day by day...I feel like I'm driving home at the end of a long road trip...when the last 30 minutes are the hardest to stay awake...that's where I'm at....this last month feels like the hardest to stay "awake".

Time flies by...

Wow! We're already 3 months into 2012...time is just cruising by!  Since I started teaching more at Learning Dynamics life has been extra super busy!!  And as much as I am grateful for the opportunity to have the money to send Sam to New Hope Academy full time, I am also grateful that it will end in May.  It's been a bit crazy, but we're just taking life one day at a time.
Last night I went to the Young Women General Broadcast meeting with Karissa and Kelsi.  One thing really stands out that Pres. Monson said:  "Seek Heavenly guidance one day at a time.  Life by the yard is hard, by the inch it's a cinch."   So, onward I go...treasuring life one day at a time, seeking daily guidance from the Lord.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!

We received a great Christmas blessing over the break :)
My director from work (Learning Dynamics) called and offered me more hours at work.  One of the teachers at our school is temporarily quitting because of physical problems with her feet.  So, my director offered me her afternoon class, which means I will now have double the hours (and double the $) and will work all day on MWF.

This is a temporary increase in hours for me at work:  it will last January-May 2012.
But this is a huge blessing to our family and gives us an opportunity to send Sam to NHA full time...all of the money will go to Sam's school.  This feels like the right thing to do and we are grateful for the opportunity.

Also grateful that we started out part home school because that was a very worth while and knowledge gaining experience...amazing how the Lord sends us just what we need at the right time.

We had a HAPPY CHRISTMAS!  
Karissa got a Kindle  Touch. Kelsi got a do-nut pan and a do-nut maker and a violin tuner.  She's going to bake and play!  Jacob got some fun games:  Lego games and speed stackers.  And Sam got a webkinz horse, which he named 'Cocoa' and a giant lego set (Pharo's Scorpian Pyramid)  He spent all day building it...all by himself...he did a great job!

Grandma and Grandpa Blake and Grandma Taylor came up for a delicious Christmas dinner that Bryan fixed for all of us. We enjoyed everyone's company.  Later played games and watched movies. Fun Times!

On Christmas Eve we had a dinner and program and Grandma Taylor's house.  Delicious food and then we sat down and Uncle Bruce read scriptures and we sang Christmas songs about the the birth of Jesus Christ.

Later that Christmas Eve night we read special letters from Grandpa Blake.  Then I read a Christmas story to the kids.

Gingerbread Houses with Grandma Taylor

One of the kids' favorite Christmas traditions is making gingerbread houses with Grandma Taylor.  This year we made them with Gavin and Colin as well.

Loads of Fun! And some great looking gingerbread houses!

Blake Christmas Party!

We had a great time at the Blake Christmas party this year.

'Must be Santa' song, games, delicious pavlova (made by Aunt Julie), and opening presents, and of course, the kids dressing up and acting out the Nativity. Sam was Joseph this year and Jacob was a camel...Kelsi a wise man...and Karissa a shepherd.