7 Favorite Things

So one of my bestest buddies, Erin, over at Inky Smiles, tagged me for a Kreativ Blogger Award! I am really excited about this. Although I have not posted much in the way of creative stuff lately, Erin knows better.

So, in honor of this award I will post a few things i have been working on along with my 7 favorite things...

* My Family


* My Friends


* My Camera (Rebel xTi) Yes, I occasionally let the little people touch it!


* My Scrapbook Supplies - no, this is not all of them!


* Stuff I've Made - which is usually given away




* Peace and Quiet


* The Funny Things My Children Say
"but, I need gum in my life!" - Gabe, after being grounded from gum.
"What the..!" - Jonathan, when ever anything happens!
"More like a BUTT Cracker!" - Kate, referring to farts and fire crackers!


I nominate the following, not for just being the crafty people they are but for being an inspiration to me, too!
Jessalee, Janeen, Michelle Zindorf, Jen del Muro, The Pioneer Woman- cause, dadgum if she ain't amaizin'!, Inky Smiles, too (you don't have to do this again if you don't want to! :), I can't think of anyone else at the moment but there are lots of amazing people out there that inspire me! Thank you all!!

Now all you have to do is...list your 7 fav's on your blog and go tag some bloggers... You can click on the award graphic to save a larger size one for your blog.

Is It Spring Yet?

Did a little bit of cleaning yesterday in hopes of finding a very important piece of plastic... Didn't find the plastic but I did get a little organizing done. My little Scrap Shack was needing some serious help! Here's a lovely photo of one corner of my scrappiness. Don't look at the parts that are messy! LOL!!



Now if I could just get the rest of the house cleaned out!

This Just In!!

Gabe made the news! All because the meanest mommy in the world made him go to some crazy scout thing Saturday morning.

To hear Gabe, click on the 2nd arrow and turn your volume up!

From Sheridan Media.com January 19, 2009:

BOY SCOUTS PARTICIPATE IN IMPORTANT PATRIOTIC EVENT - On Saturday at Sheridan's City Hall, Boy Scout Troop 117 took part in an event to honor one of our Nation's flags, after it had lived out its purpose. The worn and tired flag that was previously flying above City Hall was retired by members of the Troop by burning it with dignity next to the building. Scout Master John Stopka explains why these ceremonies are important for the Troop.The old flag was replaced with a new one, which is now ready to live out its purpose, just like the one before it. Boy Scout Tim Lowman and Cub Scout Gabriel Briggs describe how the experience was for them.This was the first flag burning for most of the troop, but Stopka says there are still some flags that will need to be retired at the Scouts' summer camps this year.

I didn't take my camera, which means I didn't get any good pictures. The one on the website is all I have. So, here is a picture of Gabe pinning me when he earned his Wolf badge Last January.



I know, I need more photos of scouting stuff!! I'm so proud that Gabe enjoyed it and thought it was cool. Jonathan came too, but I think it was a little beyond him as he kept asking when it was "going to be over?" and "could we go home now?".

Resolution.. A Little Late, But Better Than Never!

I love the scriptures! They have so many wonderful exmples of the Savior's love for us. I especially love the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has the complete Gospel as Jesus taught it when he lived on the earth. The Book of Mormon, Another testament of Jesus Christ.

Last night, the kids and I (Robert had a late meeting)sat down and read a couple of chapters of the Book of Mormon as scripture study. We read about Nephi being born of good parents who taught him the things he needed to know both spiritual and temporal. Then, about the Vision his father Lehi had concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the cycle of life- if you choose to obey the comandments you will be blessed, but if you do not follow the comandments you will be cursed. It is all so simple, really!

So the kids and I were sitting together reading and I noticed how well they read. they are smart kids, of course. But they did not stumble on any of the words, and there are a lotof difficult words in the scriptures, i.e. abominations, whithersoever, etc. I also noticed later how peaceful the rest of the night was. The kids didn't complain about going to bed. I didn't get upset at them for little annoing things. And when I went in to tuck the boys in bed, they had the most loving smiles on their faces for me. It made my heart leap!

The kids were challenged by their Primary presidency to read the scriptures daily, either on their own or as a family. I am working on a 'degree' through Relief Society that challenges myself to read the scriptures daily plus study them 3 times a week, or something like that. So, I am combining our challenges and we are doing it together. It has been a long time sisnce I have really studied and read the scriptures with any regularity. I hope these challenges help me to be a better person, mother, wife and friend. I hope they help my children learn to love the scriptures and have more peace in our home.

ALL Things Paper

My dear friend Erin Grotegut (of Inky Smiles and Stamper Storage) sent me a beautiful handmade bracelet for Christmas. I don't have a picture of it yet, but you can look here to see an example of the amazing craftyness! Yes, the bracelet is made by rolling paper into beads and embossing them!! SOO COOOL!!

Someday!!!

Thanx EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Jesus Christ Is the Light, Life, and Hope of the World

Merry Christmas everyone!!

So I got my visiting teaching done by the middle of the month instead of the end!!! I have to say I have the best, sweetest companion! Sheri, you know who you are!

I really loved this month's message because it kind of sums up our lives for the past year!

There have been so many tragedies for and in our family. My brother-in-law is still recovering from his latest trip to Iraq with his 30th surgery yesterday. My Aunt passed away from lung cancer. My Mother-in-law passed away after a 2 year battle with ovarian cancer. My husband is having health issues that are still unknown. We have been stuck in a little 3 bedroom townhouse that we outgrew when we moved into it four and a half years ago. And our best friends moved to Colorado a few weeks ago leaving a huge hole in our hearts and more time to ourselves than we know what to do with. Yes, we spent a lot of time together.

With all these problems that made for a really bad year one person commented to me earlier and said "Your family has a dark cloud following you everywhere! I don't understand how you get through each day." My first response was "well, I suppose we could just give up and quit". But the propper response has always been to take things one day at a time and trust that Heavenly Father will get us through those hard times.

This year was more than just hardship and pain. We made many wonderful memories. Robert was able to visit his brother in NC in February and we all got to spend quality time with Robert's mom before she passed away. I was able to bring my family to Moccasin and enjoy some time with my extended family before my Aunt passed away, and after. We all were able to attend my favorite cousin's wedding before my Aunt died and hung out with lots of cousins and family we hadn't seen in a while. Robert got a new truck - his brother was kind enough to give us his old 4runner after the accident that destroyed the purple beast (thinking twice befor the kids get to take driver's ed.-- Robert got hit twice, in two different vehicles, by two different high school girls!). Dan was not supposed to drive a stick anymore so, of course, he drove it from NC to WY on their way to take care of their mom as she passed away. Robert and I made a trip to UT and spent some quality time together trying to get some diagnosis on whatever it is that he has. Again we were blessed to see family. The kids got to see their Grandpa Briggs out of the deal too.

Robert's brother and sister-in-law were finally able to bless their marriage. We all went to NC to celebrate. It was the most relaxing and stress free vacation I had in a while. Robert went skydiving. The kids got their first rifle (which was left in NC) and got to go shooting with their Uncle, dad and a few other new friends. We made lots of new friends while we were out there!

We enjoyed the company of our best friends for Thanksgiving, a tradition that was started when we moved to Sheridan. Six families and a lot of food and a lot of fun!!!

We really have had more blessings than sadness this year. The following quote from this month's Visiting Teaching Lesson sums up this year very well:



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Beauty is what it's all about!

I know it's been a while since I've been here and posted. Life gets in the way sometimes for a very long time. Between our trip to NC, Thanksgiving and helping my best friend move- and coming to grips with that!- I've been rather occupied! Oh yeah and Christmas!!

I was brousing around on family blogs and came across this video. I've seen it before but it has been a while. What is more important? To be loved because you are beautiful on the to the world with every feature perfect? Something I think we all would like to have-maybe a little bit, anyway. Or to be loved because of your true beauty. The things the world cannot see. Humility. True friendship. Virtue. Love for self and others. Love of God.



That is True Beauty?