The loss of one great woman

Today my family is in mourning.  One of my favorite aunts finished her mortal life and returned to live with our Heavenly Father.  It was very sudden.  It is very sad.  She was a remarkable woman.  One who gave selflessly of herself to her family and her callings.  She loved me and treated me as her own daughter. She opened her home to my family and made us feel welcomed and loved.  This is a sad day for me.  I know I will miss her very much.

However, my grief is only a selfish one.  I know where she is.  I know that she will be with her family again.  She is rejoicing right now and I should be happy for her.  She was valiant.  She endured to the end. She is a wonderful example to me of a woman of service.  She is a faithful daughter and angels are rejoicing in her honorable return home.

Aunt Connie, I love you.  I'm blessed to have known you.  To call you Aunt.  Thank you for your wonderful example of pure love to me and my family.  I know that I will see you again.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

Today was a wonderful day.  I love my family and am so blessed to have so many of my family members live close by.  Mike and I decided to stay at home this year for dinner and had invited 2 of Mike's sisters and their families over for dinner.  There was a cousin for each of my kids to play with and us adults had a great time.  Dinner was good.  Friendship was better.  I'm thankful that they all took time away from other members of their families to have dinner here with us!

To rewind a tad...  Yesterday was the first quarter awards assembly for St. Luke.  I knew that Adrie would be awarded with an MVP (most valuable panther) award, so I was ready.  I also knew that Conner and Alia would be awarded for achieving Honor Roll for the first quarter of the school year.  I also knew that both Conner and Alia would be recognized for playing soccer and volleyball for the fall season.  What I didn't know was that Alia would receive the award for the Most Improved Player on her team.  I was so proud of her and her willingness to work hard and continue to improve.  She had a great season and I'm excited to watch her play again next year.

I also didn't know the Conner would be given the award of the Most Valuable Player for his soccer team.  His coach, when talking about him, kept mentioning that the MVP would play hard where ever he was needed, even if it wasn't a position he wanted to play.  I thought it sounded a lot like Conner, ya know, to complain about not wanting to do something...  But she was very complimentary to him and it made me so happy for him.  he had an awesome season and it's nice to have hard work recognized in a public way.  Way to go kids!!!

This is all you get to see from Conner.  That kid WON'T take a picture!!!

Thankful Pot #7

Today I am so thankful for 5 amazing kids!  They are all so different and unique.  It definitely keeps me on my toes!

Conner:  Conner is very athletic.  I have enjoyed so much being able to watch him learn and compete in sports.  Tonight was his first wrestling meet.  It was VERY long!  Out of the 3 hours we were there, he wrestled a total of 4 minutes.  He did however win both matches :)  He pinned the guy in the first match and won 12-3 in the second.  I'm very proud of him.  Oh, and he was bumped up a weight group, so he was against boys that were about 10 pounds heavier than he is.

Alia:  Alia is my spit fire.  She wears her heart on her sleeve.  You don't ever have to wonder where you sit with her!  She is an amazing helper with the younger kids, even if she doesn't want to be.  She is very creative and loves to cook and do anything involving arts.  She is a great story writer and artist.  She also loves to sing.

Ann-Elise:  Leise is your typical middle child.  Quiet and obeying.  She just goes with the flow.  She has a pretty even temperament and is a huge help to me with the little girls.  She is a great student and a really good athlete, although spending time with friends determines which sport she is wanting to participate in.  So she hasn't really found anything permanent yet.  She's tried softball, basketball, swim and, currently, tap dance.  She's fun to watch and is great at whatever she is doing at the moment.

Adrie:  Adrie is a little dolly.  She is happy and bubbly.  She loves school and LOVES to tell you stories.  I don't think she knows how to tell a short one.  Hmmm, not sure where she gets that!  She is great in school and just adores her teacher and her friends.  She also can turn on a dime.  If things don't go the way she wants them to, you can count on a big blow up.  Luckily she gets over it quickly and is easy to talk.

Caile:  Hmmm, what do I say about this lively one?  She is a tyrant.  A drama queen.  A stubborn elephant.  But she is also a beautiful princess with a tender heart.  She has grown up so much the past few months.  It is amazing to see her develop into a warm and friendly girl.  Oh, don't get me wrong, she is still not one to let others take advantage of her.  I guess that's one thing she's learned from being the youngest.  She can sure get her voice heard!  But she is a love and I am so glad she's part of my family.

So there you go.  My amazing kiddo's in a nutshell.

Thankful post #6

Mike's work is having some sort of party tonight.  It doesn't happen often and I really like to go when it does.  I've known about it for a couple weeks.  For the past few days I've been trying to work out the schedule for the kids so I can be gone for 5 or so hours tonight.  Here's what I've got...

*Drop kids off at school in the morning.
*Visiting teaching at 11.
*Bank run at some point.
*Clean kitchen/house.
*Pick up Conner, Adrie and Caile from school, along with a wrestling pal of Conner's.
*Drop the boys off at NM for wrestling practice
*Ann-Elise goes home with Ali to get a ride to Activity Days
*Alia has basketball, so she gets a ride to basketball with a friend.
*I leave at 4:15, so neighbor girl comes over to watch Adrie and Caile until Conner gets home at 5:15.
*Conner gets a ride with a wrestling buddy and home at 5:15
*Alia gets a ride home with a neighbor from basketball and home by 5:45.
*Ann-Elise (after 7 phones calls trying to find someone) gets a ride with a neighbor and at home at 5:45
*Conner and Alia get picked up for mutual at 6:50
*Ann-Elise, Adrie and Caile run over to the neighbors when the big kids leave
*neighbor has to run to pick up her daughter (the one's who's supposed to babysit) at 7:30
*Conner and Alia get home from mutual at 8:45
*Little girls come home from neighbors and everyone gets ready for bed.
*I'm home by 9:30

However, I just got a phone call saying that Alia's basketball game is now at 5:10 instead of 4:00, which leaves me needing to:
*find a new ride for Alia straight from basketball to the church for mutual
*find a new ride for Conner to Mutual because he won't go with the lady who's supposed to pick him up by himself
*Call and let Didi know that I only need her to bring the kids home tonight, not pick them up

AND, I still have to work on my carpool for tonight.  Although, at this point, I may just say forget it and drive myself.  Who cares if it's 15.00 in gas to get there!

whew.  I'd better win the big raffle prize!

So, today, I'm very grateful for NEIGHBORS!  Those who selfishly serve others (me).  I'm so blessed to live in a place and be surrounded by a community who truly cares for others and serves willingly and selflessly.

In the midst of this chaos, I see many blessings.  Thank you!

Thankful post #5

I'm thankful...

For the Beauty of the Earth

I LOVE that song!

But I am truly thankful for the beauty of the earth.  I was blessed to spend the past weekend at Lake Tahoe.  Wow.  What an amazing place.  It was cold, as it's the start of the snow season, but clear and gorgeous.  I'm so thankful for the changing leaves, the falling pinecones, the clear blue sky.  How much we must be loved by our Heavenly Father to know he gave these things to us.  

Thankful post #4

So, I'm a little behind... again.

It happens.  Let's get over it.

I've been out of town, and I (gasp) didn't take my computer with me :)  It was SO nice to spend time with my amazing husband and not feel tied to my computer.  And this brings me to my post #4.

I'm thankful, grateful and deeply blessed by the love of the most amazing man I know.  16 years ago, last Friday, I said "I do" to my wonderful husband and my best friend.  He has loved me through thick (waist line) and thin (not waist line).  Through hard times and easy times.  Through 0 kids and through 5 kids.  Through no money and (still no) money.  Though we're working on that :).  He is my rock.  My mountain.  My life water.  My sunshine.  My comfort blanket.  My kleenex.  My shoulder to cry on.  My self esteem booster.  My everything.

How blessed I am to be loved by such a strong and supportive man.  He makes me such a better person.  He loves me through all of my quirks and mess-ups.  He supports me when I'm needing it and let's me know when I am wrong, but never in a condescending or abusive way.  Just through his love and support.

I hope some day I feel worthy of his love.  Until then, I'll just enjoy him and work on being a better person everyday.

I love you Michael Lader.

Thank you for the past 16 years of my life.  I'm looking forward to an eternity more!

Thankful post #3

Today I'm grateful for the sun.  What a beautiful day we had today.  The temps were't very high, but the beautiful sun was out.  Sometimes, just seeing that big bright thing in the sky makes everything better.  I hope it's memory lasts as we have only rain in the forecast...

Thankful post #2

I'm a day late, already...  Oh well!  Today (yesterday) I'm thankful for a wonderful extended family.  My mother-in-law is in town and staying with us for a couple days.  We went out and met Mike at his work for lunch.  We shared great food and great company.  I don't get to see her all that often, but I'm so thankful for her willingness to serve our family and share herself with us.  I see so many of the wonderful qualities that I love in my husband in his mom.  I'm grateful that she has a desire to spend time with us :)  I love you mom #2!

A Thankful Post- Day 1

I'm going to try to post something I'm thankful for every day this month.  We'll see how far I get ;)

Today, as every day, I am grateful for my redeeming Savior, Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for my knowledge of him and his love for me.  Through him, I have a purpose.  A reason to be better.  To do better.  To love more and judge less.  To think of the eternal perspective, not just the day to day trials.

What a wonderful blessing it is in my life and to my family to know of a loving Heavenly Father.  To know of his plan and my place in it.  How blessed we are to have the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  To serve others.  To strive to become more like him.

I'm thankful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Yes.  I am a Christian.  I am thankful for an eternal family.  For the ability to live throughout eternity with my family and chosen sweetheart.  How much my Heavenly Father must love me to provide such abundant blessings for me.

I know I'm not perfect and I have quite a way to go until I am.  But at least I have direction.  And not just on Sundays.  I strive to live a life that mirrors that of Christ everyday.  Does the advisory win?  Sometimes.  But at least I can repent and try again.

What an amazing blessing.

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