[personal progress]

okay girls, watch for my old school yw necklace on me each week at church...

if i'm not wearing it, go ahead and please harass me so i'll remember to put it on!

last night i had the great opportunity to attend the young women auxiliary leadership training meeting

at the conference center tuesday night with our young women's presidency.

i would just like to say that sister elaine dalton is just so delightful!

her enthusiasm and beaming spirit emanated as she spoke to us about 

being an example of faith and purity, and the importance of personal progress, activities and the gospel in our lives.  

her counsel rang true and strong to me, inspiring me to be a better leader.

what an uplifting and motivational meeting! 

i love the girls of our ward so much - they are just incredible and so, so good.  

i hope to be a good example and help them in any way possible!

  Sister Dalton invited us leaders to "ask the youth they lead to do hard things." As you do this, youth will "grow and rise. They will become confident." 

She relates the experience of one ward where the young women were strengthened as they set out to accomplish the "seemingly impossible." 

"These young women were not only told that they were great, but they were given the opportunity to BE great, to ACT great, and to DO great things."

                                                                                                                                  - taken from lds.org

i have a strong testimony that the young women's program is divinely inspired from God.  it is such a source of strength! 

i would like to thank all of my yw leaders for all they taught me; for all the fun activities they planned, and just how much they loved and cared about me!  

i knew and still know that i am a daughter of God.

i also want to thank my mom for all the help she gave me with my personal progress.  

mothers and fathers are the key and such a great influence to completing all the requirements!  

in this meeting they told a story about how one ward's bishop decided to work on personal progress and how he had the young women sign off his requirements.  

i just loved that!  how cool is that?

  

this necklace brings back so many fond memories for me.  

it reminds me of the strength i had, for the good service, studying, and even preparation for marriage and motherhood personal progress gave me.  

it's not just about having these beautiful golden charms, but what a treasure this necklace is to me!  

i pray all the young women in our ward will seek after all the wonderful blessings we are promised as they complete their personal progress.

love you!

this is good!  take a minute to watch :)

[one hour?]

have you been to this blog?

i just love her tips and can't wait to try some of her recipes.

i am very tempted to sign up for her menu/newsletters.  are any of you subscribers?  how do you like it?

for all of those photography/social art lovers out there, i just posted a video clip on my photo blog you must see

[meet sparkles]

eewwww!  look at that water!

yesterday breenie reminded me that it was time to clean the fish bowl.

we call her the fish whisperer

she carefully whisks up this little creature with her bare hands and lovingly replaces her to her new home.

several months ago while my girls were at my parents with their little cousins, my mom ever so bravely took them to the pet store.  all the kids really wanted little frogs or turtles, but the closest they got were beta fish.

my mom happily bought the kids their own little swimmer.

after they came home and surprised mommy with their famous prize, my mom told me that breenie sat and cried at the store because she was worried i'd be mad and wouldn't let them keep 'em.

she kept telling marmie (the name her grandkids call her), "we better not."

she's such a little tender heart.

my mom convinced her that i would be fine with the fish and not to worry.

well, i was fine for a little while...

one didn't live for more than a week, i think they killed it when trying to put sharp dirty rocks on the bottom of the bowl :(

i warned them!

now i'm ready to give this little thing up for adoption!

i had no idea she would live this long!

we tried to pawn it off on our neighbors after they babysat her while we were on vacation, 

but they brought her back (after like 2 weeks - i kept forgetting to go get her - out of sight out of mind i guess lol - sorry ariane)

sparkles is a good girl... she's pretty easy i guess.

the girls just really want a dog now and that won't be anytime soon!  

i keep telling them that their new little brother will be their new pet :)

we really need to jazz up this fish bowl.  

poor little thing is probably bored to tears! can fish cry?

have a great weekend!

[love notes]

this morning when i was making my bed after lulu left for school, i discovered this little note she left for me on my nightstand.  

what a way to start the morning! 

it always feels good to be loved & appreciated :)

 i needed this little booster.

after glancing at it again, it looks like i sat her down and had her write over and over again (envisioning the teacher & the blackboard scene) i love you and you are the best mom LOL

i sure teach 'em right!

now how do i get sam to write me one?  he's in need of some major points! [pouty lips]

i've been trying to keep myself busy and it's not very hard.

while sam has been working around the clock lately on their new software release, i've been taking care of everything around here.  gosh!

i have a whole new appreciation for single mothers & women who's husbands work out of town.

the best thing i've found is to not even plan on him being here or seeing him.  it's sad, but it makes it easier.

hopefully after next week i'll have him back!

really, i'm just grateful he has a job & i'm so grateful for all he does to support our family.

he wants to be here.  he feels bad.  we understand.

i truly am blessed to be a stay at home mom; 

although, like oprah says, it is the hardest job in the world!

sometimes rewarding j/k

candles have been my friends and motivation these days.  their spicy aroma somehow motivates me...

they excite me with their holiday smell & glow.  yesterday after laying around all morning feeling unproductive and exhausted, i lit my favorite candle and turned on some Christmas music.  

i somehow transformed and began buzzing through the whole house cleaning every surface. 

i highly recommend it!

there's nothing like a clean and clutter free home, is there?

i will enjoy it today and try to keep it up.  it usually doesn't last very long with children!  or shall i say my children?

gotta love all the pen marks all over this little ceramic pumpkin :)

i wish that was the only object in our house attacked by my little artists...

my walls sure need some good magic eraser action!  that was one of several things i didn't get done yesterday.  maybe today.

you must watch this clip!

my friend's husband michael ethington is an amazing pianist!  his believe album is one of our favorites!


h a p p y   t h u r s d a y !

[isn't it interesting]

i've been thinking a lot lately about change and

the way my attitude and outlook on different subjects morph and transform.

like for instance, breastfeeding.

before i had babies, i thought it was weird, strange and kind of gross.

when my first little babe came along i decided to try it out and see how it went; knowing it was the best for her.

i did not enjoy it. 

it was awkward, frustrating and not beautiful whatsoever.

it didn't last long.

the second time i attempted, it was a little easier, but it still didn't come natural & bottles were once again my best friend.

sadly, the third time was not the charm either.

i couldn't keep my milk.

i've always been a bit envious of those women who can successfully nurse and love it.

so, for whatever reason, i am anxious to try again with my fourth.  i'm feeling confident today.

the older i have grown (seasoned maybe?), the more beautiful & amazing it has become to me. 

i cant' wait!

today we were able to take another peek at our little boy inside and i am crazy over the moon in love.

they took a couple 3-d pictures for us and he's soooooooooo cute!

so please, if you have any secret tips, tricks, or good advice for me, please share!