A suggestion for world peace!

I have come up with the best solution for world peace. Everyone needs Chris Holyoak for a neighbor. If they can't have Chris, perhaps they could just talk to Chris every day (okay that really may not work--Chris just can't talk to everyone). Well, now I think I have a better understanding of why our neighborhood works so well. Chris is in the center! It makes me realize that the saying "Christ is the center of our home" is really a profound thought. Chris tries to follow the Savior and our neighborhood (and her family) is blessed. I really am making a short story long, but the bottom line is that Chris makes herself available for people. Tierra wanted a new skirt for Easter. I am not a seamstress, nor do I have any patterns, so off we headed to Chris' house. She set us up with a pattern and directions. About every half hour later we were off to Chris' house to ask another question or to make sure what we were doing was right. Later that night Tierra has a new skirt that she sewed herself, a big smile on her face and twinkles in her eyes. This all happened because Chris Holyoak is my neighbor!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Yesterday, Jimmy and I celebrated 19 years of marriage. I think that the most amazing thing is that it really seems like yesterday that we were married. I still love his kisses. I think he has the best smile. I love it when he holds my hand and looks into my eyes. His eyes are the prettiest blue I have ever seen and he hides them behind glasses:( He is thoughtful, wise, sensitive, cuddly, warm, and sexy. Jimmy is an amazing father, an awesome provider, a near perfect husband (I would say perfect, but I think we are going to a soccer game on our anniversary trip this weekend!) and honors his priesthood. He can hike 20 miles with his scouts and still take on the soccer team (perhaps with a limp) He knows me better than anyone else and still loves me! He is my best friend and the person who makes me happiest in the world. I am so glad that he chose me to be his eternal companion!

DEBATE STATE CHAMPS!!! 4TH YEAR IN A ROW

Yes, debate took state again this year by one point! Athena competed in impromtu and took 2nd! We are very pleased with this young lady! No pictures, but it is tradition at our school to ride the fire truck into town escorted by cars following along tooting their horns. Athena was so excited! Anyway, we are happy for her.

Soccer season has hit! Jimmy is helping coach the high school team and Derek is a starting player. So far the scores have been 12-0, 7-0. Derek plays defense and their goal is to have a year with total shut outs! So far so good!! Jameson and Arthur are also playing soccer and loving every minute ! Tierra was involved in the spring volleyball tournaments and loved it (until it became too competitive)! So for the most part we have been pretty busy!

This is so True!

This is a long read, but well worth it! (think Dr. Seuss)


LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME NOW!
YOU COULD DO WHAT I DO IF YOU ONLY KNEW HOW.
I STUDY THE SCRIPTURES ONE HOUR EACH DAY;
I BAKE, I UPHOLSTER, I SCRUB AND I PRAY
I ALWAYS KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS COMPLETELY;
I SPEAK TO MY LITTLE ONES GENTLY AND SWEETLY.
I HELP IN THEIR CLASSROOMS! I SEW ALL THEY WEAR!
I DRIVE THEM TO PRACTIVE! I CUT ALL THEIR HAIR!
I MEMORIZE NAMES OF THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES;
I FOCUS ON THINGS TO BE DONE BY PRIORITIES
I PLAY THE PIANO! I BLESS WITH MY TALENTS!
MY TOILETS ALL SPARKLE! MY CHECKBOOKS ALL BALANCE!
EACH WEEK EVERY CHILD GETS A ONE-ON-ONE DATE;
I ATTEND ALL MY MEETINGS (ON TIME! NEVER LATE!)
I'M TAKING A CLASS ON THE TEACHINGS OF PAUL,
BUT THAT IS NOT ALL! OH, NO, THAT IS NOT ALL.
I TRACK MY BAD HABITS 'TIL EACH IS ABOLISHED;
OUR T-SHIRTS ARE IRONED! MY TOENAILS ARE POLISHED!
OUR FAMILY HOME EVENINGS ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTFUL;
THE LESSONS I GIVE ARE BOTH FUN AND INSIGHTFUL.
I DO GENEALOGY FAITHFULLY, TOO. IT'S EASY TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT I DO!
I RISE EACH DAY EARLY, REFRESHED AND AWAKE;
I KNOW ALL THE NAMES OF EACH YOUTH IN MY STAKE!
I READ TO MY CHILDREN! I HELP ALL MY NEIGHBORS!
I BLESS THE COMMUNITY, TOO, WITH MY LABORS.
I EXERCISE AND I COOK MENUS GOURMET;
MY VISITING TEACHING IS DONE THE FIRST DAY!
(I ALSO GO DO IT FOR SOMEONE WHO MISSED HERS.
IT'S THE LEAST I CAN DO FOR MY CHERISHED WARD SISTERS.)
I CHART RESOLUTIONS AND CHECK OFF EACH GOAL;
I SEEK EACH 'LOST LAMB' ON MY PRIMARY ROLL.
I CAN HOME-GROWN PRODUCE EACH SUMMER AND FALL
BUT THAT IS NOT ALL! OH, NO. THAT IS NOT ALL.
I WRITE IN MY JOURNAL! I SING IN THE CHOIR!
EACH DAY, I WRITE 'THANK YOU'S TO THOSE I ADMIRE.
MY SONS WERE ALL EAGLES WHEN THEY WERE FOURTEEN!
MY KIDS GET STRAIGHT A'S! AND THEIR BEDROOMS ARE CLEAN!
I HAVE A HOME BUSINESS TO HELP MAKE SOME MONEY;
I ALWAYS LOOK BEAUTIFULLY GROOMED FOR MY HONEY.
I GO TO THE TEMPLE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK;
I CHANGE THE CAR'S TIRES! I FIX THE SINK'S LEAK!
I GRIND MY OWN WHEAT AND I BAKE ALL OUR BREAD;
I HAVE ALL OUR MEALS PLANNED OUT SIX MONTHS AHEAD.
I MAKE SURE I ROTATE OUR TWO-YEAR' SUPPLY;
MY SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS IS DONE BY JULY!
THESE THINGS ARE NOT HARD; 'TIS GOOD IF YOU DO THEM
YOU CAN IF YOU TRY! JUST SET GOALS AND PERSUE THEM!
IT'S EASY TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT I DO!
IF YOU PLAN AND WORK SMART, YOU CAN DO THEM ALL, TOO!*


*IT'S EASY! SHE SAID AND THEN SHE DROPPED DEAD!



I've been feeling a little frustrated that I can't seem to do it all! This poem helped to put things into perspective!

We love thy house, O Lord.

Last weekend we took a trip to SLC to attend the DRAPER TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE! We got to go with my sister's family (Katrina) and my mom and dad. Too much fun! We encourage everyone to go--there is still time. My sister's blog had a picture of her family in front of the picture of Christ. We copied her (as we often seem to do). We loved the open house; I think that my boys favorite part was the cookies at the end! I'm glad that we could go with our family!

A new call

I recently was called to the Stake Primary presidency (as the secretary). I am excited for this new challenge and really excited to be working with some awesome ladies (Cindy Bleggi, Jill Tatton, Kim Shafer, Cindy Erekson, and Ninarose Harmison). Jimmy thinks it will be more play than anything. So be it! I am sad about being released from Webelos. After the initial shock of being called to webelos leader, I actually became quite attached to the boys and all the fun. I think that I was just having too much fun! I officially give my permission to put me right back into Webelos after this stint in the stake.

Easter or Valentines??

Valentines was fun this year. Jimmy gave the girls (me included) a chocolate rose and the boys a kit kat with instructions to find more candy. He thought that they would look for them leisurely throughout the day (like when the opened the fridge for a glass of milk, etc.) oh no! These kids hunted high and low until every chocolate was found. It was a lot of fun to see them scramble around. I didn't realize that the game included me and I found my chocolates leisurely throughout the day. What a surprise to find chocolate in my purse, in the microwave, and in the shower. What a fun guy!