Visiting Friends...

 After all of the Christmas fun was over and Kierra and Riley had to head back to Colorado, we decided it was the perfect time to visit some old friends while we still had the break from school...so, we 1st visited my friend Natalie Christensen and her family in their new home that they just moved into 3 months ago!

All of our boys are friends and so everyone had fun playing together for a bit...their home was lovely and it was so good to sit and catch up and still feel that same spirit in their home even though the walls are different...Natalie is like a sister to me and will be forever and ever!

 After our visit with the Christensen's in Clinton, we drove to Peterson (which is by Morgan) to visit our friends the Penrods! They are yet another family that is LIKE family to us! We have stayed in a beach house together, and each of our children have become friends...but my Lisa...she's like a sweet sister to me too! We have known each other for almost 20 years, and although we hardly get to see each other, it's the kind of friendship where when you finally do get together, it feels like not a day has gone by...I LOVE it! 

They even took us to see the new miniature horse they are getting!!! It is so cute and they are going to have so much fun with it! Kesslyn kept saying, "I wanna wide it!" ~And so they invited us to come back in the spring just so Kesslyn can "wide it!" :)

 And although THIS particular friend visit didn't happen until LAST NIGHT...it was one of our favorites of the Holiday! Carew's girlfriend Kate came to see us and even brought us gifts from Mexico! (That is where her family spent their Christmas this year! :) Kate came bringing laughter and her beautiful smile. :)

 All the kids were so happy to see her and so was I!!! :) She is a ray of sunshine and makes everyone feel so loved. She has a very special spirit about her and we just couldn't get enough of her...there is something about having her around too that makes us feel a little closer to Carew which is a bonus for us! ;)

 Kesslyn climbed up on Kate's lap and let me take a picture of them together...but not without kissing FLAT Carew!!! She loves her brother that's for sure! :)

 After a while of just visiting with Kate, I headed upstairs to make dinner for everyone and the kids had a ball playing with Kate!

 Even though we got to spend more time with her than we thought we would, it STILL wasn't enough! Kambriella begged to have her say the night...:)...I'm glad everyone LOVES Kate! :)

 After we all ate dinner and the boys headed off to Young Men's together, Kate, Kesslyn, Kambriella, and I all sat at the kitchen table together and painted fingernails. :) Kesslyn had Kate paint about 20 layers of EVERY color that she could find, and Kambriella had me "decorate" each of her fingernails with designs...It was fun sitting and talking while we painted, but "decorating fingernails" is NOT my strong point!!! Where is Kierra when we need her???;)

 By the time we finished up painting and visiting the boys were getting home and we realized that homework still needed to be done, so we said goodbye to Kate and wrapped up the night. It was so good to be with her and to hear of all of the good things that she is doing, and how much she still admires Carew....probably even more than before if that's possible...;)

Family and friends are some of our greatest gifts and blessings and it was so good to be able to spend time with some of them over the holidays! The most important things in life are not "things" at all, but the people we meet and the relationships that we build all along the way throughout this journey called life...

It was a happy holiday season and one that we won't ever forget!

A Gift For Riley...A Snowmobile Ride!

Do you see these big, bright smiles???

THIS was what we gave Riley and Kierra for Christmas!!! A day up at Daniel's Summit riding snowmobiles!!! :)  :)  :)

I told Kierra a while ago that I knew what I wanted to give Riley for Christmas...when I told her about the idea of a snowmobile ride, she said, "Mom!!! If you give that to Riley you will be the best mother-in-law ever!!! Riley has never ridden snowmobiles but has ALWAYS wanted to!!!"

 So that made it easy for me! I planned it, reserved it, and on the day after Christmas, (which was also the day before they had to head back to Colorado) we went for our ride!!!

 I was SO happy that there was enough snow because we haven't hardly had ANY snow this year, and just the week before, they had to turn people away because there wasn't enough snow. I prayed for it, and was so grateful that it came! :)

 We arrived at Daniel's Summit a little before 2, and got dressed up warm and headed out! It was Me, Clint, Kierra, Riley, Tiffany, Colby, and Maicen that went...

 We drove the 30 mile loop half way, played in the open field where we had to turn around, and then drove the rest of the loop back. We stopped at the summit for pictures together...it was beautiful and sunny. 

The perfect day for a ride!

 And although it was a trail that we had to stay on and follow, I still think Riley had the time of his life! :) He said that his favorite part of the week home was this fun day out riding! 

I was so glad that he enjoyed himself!

 Now at least he can say he's been, but next time we will have to find a place where we can ride off trail and go exploring...THAT would be FUN!!!

 The lucky people who rode on the back got a lot more bumpy of a ride, ;) but I know they still enjoyed being out there...(I was one of those lucky riders too. ;) ...

 Until, I kicked Clint off the front and took over driving for myself! THAT was when I got to go REALLY FAST!!! THAT was FUN!!!

 This sweet man of mine is my favorite person in the whole wide world and I have so much fun doing things with him no matter WHAT it is that we do! I LOVE that he enjoys so much being with me, pampering me, spoiling me, and basically letting me get what I want...;) That may sound a little bratty of me, and I don't mean for it to...it's just the plain truth! This sweet boy LIVES for making me happy and goes right along with whatever crazy thing I may have up my sleeve...including snowmobile rides on the day after Christmas!!! :)

 It also made my heart so happy to see Kierra and Riley doing so well together being married! I know that they were meant for each other and that they are more in love today than they were the day they got married...which is the way it should be!!! And their relationship will only keep growing and getting stronger because of their commitment to each other and to the Lord. They can see their path very clearly and they know EXACTLY what they want, and how to get it. I will continue to stand back and watch them learn and grow together and be their biggest cheerleader and their biggest fan! :)

 After we finished up our snowmobile ride, we headed back to the lodge where we went to their restaurant and had a nice little dinner cozied up by the fireplace. I truly enjoyed the day that we spent together. Our last day of their Christmas week here will also be one that I will never forget!

Thanks you two for your happy and generous spirits that you share with us! You are a JOY to me and our family, and it was such a sweet gift to have you here for the week! I can't wait to see where the rest of life continues to take you...hopefully it will be as fun (and not so bumpy;) as our snowmobile ride!!!

Whatever it may be...HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER AND ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

I love you both!

It was a VERY Merry Christmas!!! ;)

Christmas Day 2017

 I think it was around 1 a.m.that I finally retired to bed on Christmas Eve...for me it is a night of peace, comfort, and quiet anticipation for the joyful squeals of laughter and delight that will come in the morning...

It is a night where everyone is happy resting in their beds, all the work and preparation for a "perfect" Christmas day is finally coming to an end, and I can sit in the stillness of the night admiring the feelings of happiness, contentment, gratitude, awe, and wonder in the receipt of the REAL gift of Christmas. 

I could really stay up all night on Christmas Eve and bask in this peace...(but I know I would pay for it the next day...;)

 I love reflecting on all of my blessings, and all of the many ways that I continually see the hand of the Lord in my life...not just at Christmas time, but every other day of the year! Having the gospel of Jesus Christ makes this just the way life is...you receive gifts and feel of His love daily, and you do your part to do what is right, keep the commandments of God, and then give back in any small way that you can. It's what makes life so joyful...and THAT is exactly what Christmas is to me...the gospel of Jesus Christ and His love all throughout the year!

So...when we all woke up in the morning, the children were all giddy and READY to see what was inside of the beautifully wrapped packages...but of course this mama had to be sure that PERSPECTIVE was understood. So, we sat as a family and talked about the true reason for this awesome celebration, had a family prayer, and watched the video of Christ's birth. I just feel like putting Him first in everything, will keep our priorities in line, even if that means we talk of Him BEFORE we open presents. :)

We also talked about our missionary Carew and how much we love and appreciate his sacrifices for everyone especially at this time of year when it's probably pretty hard to be away from family...We were all so excited to get to talk to him! It was the only present I wanted that day. :)

 Dallin and Gavin kept Flat Carew with them while they opened their gifts...

 The 2 little sisters cuddled together...

 ...and Kierra and Riley enjoyed being together watching the kids see what Santa had brought...

 FAMILY is one of the greatest gifts to me!!!

 First everyone opened their stockings...

 Kesslyn had a ball opening her gifts! She was so dainty and careful while unwrapping the packages. :)

 Each child gets to draw a name for Christmas, and Gavin had Kesslyn. He bought her a Barbie. :)

 Kambriella gave Gavin STAR WARS LEGOS :)

 Dallin was "adopted" into Anson Bagley's family! (One of Dallin's best friends;)

 The amount of hugging and loving that was going on everywhere was a measure of gratitude that I think everyone was feeling too...;)

 ...which seriously makes this mama sooo happy!

 Clint and I gave the kids a Nintendo Switch!

 It was their main gift and I don't think they were expecting it at all...:)

 ...and it only seemed fitting to get Kierra and Riley new electric toothbrushes since he IS going to be a dentist you know...;)

 And after opening all of the gifts it was finally time to talk to Carew!!! The minute the connection was made and his cute face appeared on the screen we all cheered out loud and shouted for JOY!!! I cannot put into words just how amazing it felt to actually see his face and HEAR his voice! It was seriously the best part of Christmas..my heart was so full and yet it was still so conflicted because part of me was feeling selfish and wanted him home with us, but the sensible part of me was just so happy and proud and humbled at his optimism in sacrifice...he has taught me a lot without even knowing it... 

 We had each written down questions that we wanted to ask him, and the 45 minutes that we were allowed to spend talking felt like it was only 20...

 We asked him to say something to us in Italian, and so he began to share his testimony of Joseph Smith in Italian...it was beautiful and he sounded so fluent, and although I didn't know exactly what he was saying, I felt the spirit so strong and knew that what he was saying was true. THAT is the feeling that I know that people he teaches will feel when they decide to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was such an amazing gift on Christmas! I just hope and pray that him seeing us was as sweet of a gift for him...I love that boy with all of my heart and am so proud of him!

 We took a family picture together and then took turns saying good bye individually...Clint may or may not have had something in his eye right at that moment...;)

I personally don't even remember what I said to him, I just remember praying that he could feel my love all the way through the screen! I wanted SO BAD to just reach right through and hug that boy!!!

What a special day it made on Christmas!

 Here is my sweet Gavin with his gifts that he received...

 Kierra and Riley with their gifts...

 Kambriella and her gifts...

 ...and Kesslyn and her gifts!

 Dallin with his gifts...and his BEST one...his Brother...:)

 After a while we all took some of the presents and headed to the church! Gavin took his new basketball and wore his new shoes, Kambriella brought her roller skates, and Kesslyn brought her scooter...Dallin brought his Hover Surf board, and we all had fun playing together for a bit...Kierra and I talked too and watched all the boys play basketball together, and then Kierra and Riley left for a bit to go visit some of Riley's family...

We ended the night by sitting down and having dinner together, then the kids played games, and just like that Christmas was past! I cannot believe how quickly time flies...especially when you are having FUN!!!

It was such a happy Christmas and I am still carrying those happy feelings with me everywhere I go...

It's kind of what I like to do...carry my "memory and blessings bank" with me so that I will always remember how much I am loved and how truly blessed I am!

Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of my sweet family, and for the most priceless gift of all...

Your Best Son!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2017

 Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year which was such a treat for me...it took me back to a humble quiet night thousands of years ago to that sacred moment when the Christ child was born. Although I was not there on the night He was born, I like to think that the reverence of a Christmas Eve Sabbath day and the spirit that was felt deep in my heart reflected the same kind of reverence I may have felt in my heart if I could have had the opportunity to kneel at His side there in the stable...I know it's a far thought...but it's really where my heart went during that sacred Sabbath Christmas Eve service in our humble little church surrounded by my loved ones and friends...It was a beautiful meeting full of the Spirit, worshipful music, and a tangible blanket of LOVE. It was the PERFECT way to welcome Christmas...at least for me. :)

 After church was over we stayed dressed in our Sunday best and drove to Bountiful to Tiffany and Colby's house for a formal Christmas Eve dinner! Ham potatoes, salads, rolls...all of the fixin's and all of the family...at least the ones that could come. :)

 My mom, Kierra and Riley, and Maicen back from college in Wisconsin were the ones that were the most fun to have since they all live far away and we don't get to see them as often...but of course everyone that was there brought a smile to my face! FAMILY is the BEST Gift of all!!!

It was a Happy Christmas Eve!!!

P.S. I have NEVER seen my children hurry off to bed so quick in my life either!!! The minute we got home they were all in a hurry to get there...it was FUN!!! ;)