Step 2: Save the Date cards!

Well, now that the date has been picked (June 28) & the Gitt has been reserved, it's time to order the Save the Date cards. I know, I know. WE didn't do that. Well, it's a NEW day people. Get with the times. (giggle.)Anyway, we needed a picture for the cards. I picked out this pic & made some fun adjustments to it. Angelia actually liked my choice!! I was so happy because I LOVE this picture of them. How cute is it?? This picture was actually taken at the Especially for Youth conference in June. You can almost see their sweet spirits in the photo (or is that a mom thing?)

Play tag!

Okay Maren, you asked for it. I'm playing along in your game of tag. My first time too. It motivated Angelia to get her own blog. Oh no......I'm frightened. She wants everyone to have her link: http://iloveangelia.blogspot.com
Here goes:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I had just joined the church & gotten married a few months prior.













2. What was I doing 5 years ago?
Just became a Sales Director with Mary Kay & won my first FREE car! I picked up the car the same weekend we moved to this house.







3. What was I doing 1 year ago today?
My son had just turned eight & was getting baptized. AND my husband baptized him. This was one of the greatest moments in my entire life.













4. What was I doing yesterday?
Running wild transporting kids everywhere, going to my sister's for dinner, & sadly contemplating the upcoming departure of the foster children.











5. What are 5 snacks I enjoy eating?
~my sister's chocolate chip cookies
~chocolate Reisens
~chocolate cake with peanut butter icing
~grapes & that yummy pink fruit dip
~Suzy Qs

6. What I would do with $100 million ?
cry a whole lot & then share it

7. What are 5 bad habits that I have?
~over blogging
~using language of a truck driver when I am extremely mad
~not eating & giving myself a headache
~being late
~beating up on myself for my every shortcoming

8. 5 things I like to do?
~spend time with my family
~go to the Temple or church
~spend time with friends & Mary Kay girlfriends
~go to the beach
~study my scriptures & write in my journal

9. 5 TV shows that I watch?
~BYU TV
~Grey's Anatomy
~Extreme Home Makeover
~Desperate Housewives
~Joyce Meyer

10. 5 biggest joys right now?
~watching Josh with the baby
~planning Leah's wedding
~always my husband
~becoming an aunt soon!
~homeschooling
~my new calling in Relief Society

I tag: DOTTIE, LEAH, & JESSICA

They come.........they go

My entire life my parents took care of foster children. It had very direct implications on my feelings of compassion & empathy towards other people. It was a HUGE reminder to APPRECIATE what I had because not everyone was so fortunate. I actually remember going to bed at night as a child & crying because I was so happy & loved my family so much. My mom was such an amazing mother, & I dare say it would be one of my biggest dreams on Earth to be as good a mother as she was (and still is).

I preface my posting today with this because Lonnie & I have started fostering again. We have been approved for quite some time, but have not received any placements this whole time. Last week we had a 7-year-old little boy who was Hispanic. He was precious. Oh my. I wish my "fall-in-love" time period wasn't so short. It virtually takes me just minutes to fall in love.














He & Josh had such a good time together.
He came on Friday left on Sunday. I cried that night as I said to the Lord, "I could feel the Spirit so much as we took care of one of your children. Please tell me if this is what you want me to do with my life." Anyway, a few days later we got a call for a teenage mom & her 5 month old son. Boy, God answered quickly. I said I wasn't taking teenagers. God said, "This one you are."




I quickly learned why they were different. They went to church with us on Sunday. I learned that day that this special young woman had never prayed. My heart filled with tears. If she only learns one thing in the short time she will be with us it will be to know how to speak with her Heavenly Father. She will know He loves her. We had the missionaries over for dinner last night & they spent some time with her. When they left she said she was glad they had come & talked about how to pray. She said, "Ever since we went to church on Sunday, I've been praying every night. " It was all I could do to hold back my tears. In a few days her & the baby will be going home. Needless to say, this will be more difficult because we have fallen in love with them. I hope Josh is okay because he has fallen head over heels for this baby. Totally. This is why I feel like my mom was amazing. She had DOZENS of children. How did her heart manage so much? As the tears run down my cheeks, I write to say it is VERY HARD on your heart to fall in love with people who you will in all probability never see again. Talk about setting yourself up for heartbreak. But if this is what Heavenly Father wants us to do then we will do it. Just pray it doesn't hurt so much when they leave. You know what you're getting into when you do this. Your job is to love other people's children & then give them back. Why do I want this job?

Josh & his bike!

The day has finally arrived. Josh decided he was going to learn to ride his bike. I've been trying to get him to do this for YEARS, & he would have no part of it. On Sept 11, he decided that was the day. As he struggled & continued to think he couldn't do it I said, "Josh, Tucker's been riding a bike for years. He was flying around his yard like a dart since I don't even know when. I know you can do this." (Thanks Angie for having such a great bike rider example!) Anyway, by the next day it was all I could do to get him off that bike. He came in the house & said, "Mom, I AM ADDICTED. We need to finish school. I have to get back out there." Praise the Lord. We have arrived.

All about traditions

I'm still catching up on the activities from Labor Day if you can believe it. It was such a jam-packed weekend. I love having family traditions although I am NOT one of THOSE people who will never do ANYTHING new for fear of HAVING A GOOD TIME!! (Wooh, just had to get that out) So anyway, every year on Labor Day we go to our church picnic held at the park in Littlestown behind the pool. It is one of Josh's favorite days because he has so much FUN!! The people at church are truly like family to us. I can't even imagine life without them.


The other tradition is that Lonnie ALWAYS golfs on Memorial Day, 4th of July & Labor Day + many other weekends between, but specifically in tournaments on those days. And Leah usually takes Josh to the pool the last day of the season. Her & Brent went to the pool as well with us this year, but they left before I had a chance to take their pics. And we also started a new family tradition this year. Check the pics for that one!

my new title............

Well, I must say I do not feel old enough to be doing this. I do not feel like the title "Mother of the Bride" could possibly be mine, but it is because Angelia & Brent have announced their official wedding date: June 28, 2008. Oh my...... I just cannot believe it. I cannot believe my daughter is getting married. I knew it was coming, but now that dates are made & things are being reserved I realize this is all real. I am especially excited because Angelia asked to wear my wedding dress. I was so honored. We had so much fun trying it on. Yes, we. She wanted to see if it still fit me, (okay, so did I). It still does. Yeah!! Anyway, we went up to the attic & got out all of my old wedding things. It was a very special moment. The picture below shows my veil & my purse. These were two very special items to me because my friend Dottie made the purse for me, & the veil was purchased by my friend Cathy. I even found the card that Cathy had given me with the veil . It means as much now as it did 10 years ago. Thanks Cathy & Dottie! You are both still so special to me. These kids are so special to me as well. I know they love each other dearly. I prayed many years ago that Angelia would find her eternal companion early in life. I am so glad that Heavenly Father answered my prayer. I think Brent is one of the best things that ever happened to my daughter.

Penn Mar

We love going places with my parents. They are just some of the funniest people I know. You are GUARANTEED a good time & GUARANTEED a lot of laughing. There's a park they like to go to that they have wanted us to see for a long time. It's just a nice family-friendly park with a beautiful view! Finally on Labor Day weekend we went with them.

My sister's baby shower!

My sister, Amy, is due to have her 1st baby in October so my mom & I threw her a baby shower. It was such a special day. My sister was so blessed to receive so many wonderful things for baby TJ. Dad to be, Matt, was excited by all the goodies! WE LOVE YOU MATT, AMY & TJ !!!

Isn't she wonderful??

I haven't fallen off the Earth, just trying hard not to fall off of it because it feels like it's spinning so fast. Things have been totally crazy since we got back from vacation. I feel so behind in my blogging. Irrrr.......

One of the highlights of the week I came back from vacation was that, Rita, the consultant in my unit who had earned a free car, held her car party because her new car came in!! Boy is that exciting...picking up a free car!! My family has earned 3 free cars, but seeing one of my consultants take one home was honestly a dream come true for me!

Her free PONTIAC G6. It even has free On-Star!!








How many husbands could get excited about this???











Rita was so excited!!









Josh picked out these pink roses for Rita. Mary Kay is really a family business for us. Josh loves the consultants because they are part of the family to him.







He loves to sit in the free cars & pretend "he's the man!" He totally cracks up the consultants.











Lonnie even gets in to check out all the bells & whistles! He's hilarious. He really watches over the consultants & even washes their cars for them as a prize. They LOVE that prize.








The dealership had it parked right in the middle of the showroom. She got to drive it out!!









Rita & I back at her house for the party!







Of course, I had to bring chocolate. A party would not be a party without the required chocolate!! Congrats Rita!!









My mom & I held my sisters baby shower last Saturday, & our family went to two picnics that weekend, and went swimming for several hours before the pool closed for the season. While at the pool I had the brilliant idea of starting a new family tradition of watching the sunset while toasting marshmallows on Labor Day......the day that seems like the last real day of summer to me. There wasn't much to be said for the sunset, but the company was nice. That wouldn't have seemed so much if we weren't also starting to homeschool the same week. Oh my was it crazy!! To top it off it was also the end of the month which is always a busy time with my job. I feel like one of those what are they called.....bobbleheads???I'll post some more pics later. I just wanted to post them in order.