Easter

We had such a nice, laid back Easter weekend. We had a yummy big breakfast Saturday morning with everyone's favourites....sausage for Calum, whipped cream for Armin and hash browns for Emry!!! Calum blessed the food and asked that the Easter bunny be safe and that he would be able to find our house!!!! We talked about the true meaning of Easter while we ate and what the atonement means to us!!!!  Because Emry, Myrna and I would be going into the church to watch the Women's Braodcast we had an early dinner...barbecue hamburgers!!!!! Sooooooo yummy!!!!! Jared hand shaped the patties and barbecued them.  I got all the fixings together and we made up our best version of the ideal burger!!!! Jared is really into goat cheese on burgers so he and Myrna had those, I really like haavarti cheese!!!! Despite our differences in taste we all really enjoyed our homemade burgers!!!!!

The women's broadcast was so good, very much about service and what we can do to serve others!!! I liked how it was said that a simple smile or hello in passing is service to others. One of my favourite speakers spoke to us, President Eyring. I just love listening to him, he's such a man of inspiration. 

Sunday was a beautiful sacrament meeting, the talks focused on the atonement and resurrection of our saviour.  We came home and Jared barbecued steaks. Again, such a yummy meal.  We watched a movie and just enjoyed being in each other's company!!!

Monday we spent the afternoon with my mom and my sisters family. The kids had a great time riding the quads, taking pictures for a scavenger hunt and building forts in the trees!!! The adults had fun visiting and lots of laughs were had!!!! The meal again was yummy!! I had made a vanilla and brownie layered cake and it was super yummy!!!!!

I am thankful for the sacrifice our Savior made for each of us.  The atonement is something I cannot fully comprehend, but I like how my sister in law wrote about it in her blog....she said "The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for me is truly awing.  I know the mistakes I make and that I put him through that pain is distressing to me.  But because of Him I can try again, and be a better person tomorrow.  This is always a humbling thought to me, I love my Saviour very much." I feel the same way, I just didn't know how to put it into words. Without the Savior in my life I truly would be so lost. I just want others to know the joy the gospel brings to my life, I want them to feel the peace I feel when life gets overwhelming. I want them to know that there is always hope even in the darkest times. And this is all because of the Atonement.

Happiness is a Harley

Jared has wanted a cruiser bike for quite some time now. He is always researching and looking online at what's new. Well I think he has finally found the one that makes his heart happy!!!! And never in a million years would I have guessed it would be a Harley Davidson!!! The day we went to pick up our new couch he insisted that we go to the Harley Davidson dealer and at least look and see if they had the bike he wants.  They did, and in the color he likes too!!!! Uh oh!!!!! He sat on it, had me take a picture of him on it and has been talking non stop about it ever since!!!! I think after we sell the last of the steers he is going to put a down payment on one!!! Honestly he does deserve one, his old 550 doesn't run great and his TL1000S is too sporty to just jump on and go, plus it's terrible on the gravel. So as impractical as it might be, everyone needs to find a little happiness once in awhile!!!! 

34 Years Old

I wasn't sure what to write about for my 34th Birthday.  I like doing the list of things I'm thankful for but it doesn't change from year to year, I only add to it!!! I thought that would be too repetitive and boring for others to read, then I thought repitition is the key to learning ;) so in keeping with tradition, here is my list revised to suit this year and added to!!!

1. The Gospel.  I am so happy I made the decision to be baptized into such a wonderful religion.  I have witnessed many blessings in my life because of my faith!

2. Jared!  He truly is a wonderful man, so caring and compassionate.  He is very supportive of my many crazy ideas and helps bring me back to earth when my ideas really truly will not work!

3. Our three crazy kids!  I love each one of them more than words can express.  They each have a unique personality and I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be their mom!

4. My home.  It truly is a beautiful home, I love the fact that Jared built it and together we have made it a house full of lots of love and laughter!

5. Books!  I LOVE to read!

6. Chocolate!  Milk chocolate...Right now it's mini eggs, I can't get enough of them!!!!

7. This year I am really into hoodies!!!! They are so comfy and warm, and camoflaughe the enormous amount of weight I've gained :( 

8. The mountains!  I love being able to see them off in the distance, snow covered and majestic!

9. The flat prairies!  I love looking out any one of our windows and being able to see for miles on end.

10.  Durum Wheat!  I think this is my absolute favourite grain crop!  I love the brown hues on the bearded wheat.  I love it when the wind is gently blowing through the crop making it look like waves in the water.

11. My family...my mom, my dad and my sisters!  I am so thankful for them in my life, for all they have taught me and continue to teach me.  I am thankful for their love and support and for words of advice in time of need.

12. My extended family!!!  I am so thankful for the Puzey family and for the way they have accepted me with open arms of love.  They are always there when I am in need, showing support and encouragement.  I am so thankful to have married a man from such a kind, loving, caring and compassionate family!

13. Broccoli!  I am not supposed to eat too much of it because it has so much potassium, which can thin out my blood too much!  But I really do love it...it is so yummy!

14. Walking.  I don't do it nearly enough, but I really do enjoy going outside for a walk.

15. Making cards!

16. Being able to have a calling in such a wonderful Church!! My calling now is the assistant enrichment leader in Relief Society, and I'm still the secretary in the Stake Primary!!!

17. Cupcakes.  I really enjoy making new cupcakes.  I haven't made one yet that I don't like!

18. Baking in general!  I love trying new recipes!  I find it absolutely fascinating to mix flavours and seeing the way things come together from a liquid type form into something so moist and fluffy!

19. Cats.  I have liked them better outside in more recent years but I love the way they like to curl up on my lap and purr.  The sound of their purring is so soothing!

20. Dogs!!  I love how loyal dogs are. I feel safe having Gibson keeping watch outside.  When he barks it lets me know that either a strange car has come in the yard or there is a coyote out in the field.  I like how strangers are leery of him even though he really is harmless!  He has a very intimidating bark! And now we have a huge monster of a dog to keep Gibson company!! I absolutely love Fender and how he looks so ferocious but is really a big cuddly fur ball!!

21. Bread!  Especially now with my new Bosch!!!! I hope I never have gluten intolerances because I don't think I could give up bread!  And for my mother in law bringing us fresh loaves every so often!!!

22. Lego!  I love how the kids LOVE to play with it and will play for hours using their imaginations building things for all their mini figures!

23. Trees.  Though we don't have a lot where we live I love how every single tree is different, how they can be planted right beside each other but they grow in such different ways.

24. Autumn.  I love the colours of fall.  How the leaves change colours at different times and create a menagerie of tones and textures!

25. Cookies!  Any cookie really!  I love baking cookies and eating cookies.  My family calls me The Cookie Monster!  They can be homemade or store bought, it really doesn't matter!

26. The idea of gardening!!  I want to love gardening, I love having fresh vegetables but I don't like weeding it and thinning out the rows.

27. Decorating our house to suit the season or holiday!

28. Movies!  There really isn't a movie I haven't liked.  I always seem to find something I like about it.

29.  Cuddling on the couch with Jared.  Though he describes it more as leaning against him!  I love that time in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed when we can just sit together and watch t.v.!!

30. Music!  I particularly love the Disney music from the most recent movies, but I really love all types of music (except rap!!).  I love playing it loud while cleaning the house.  I love how all our kids sing along and dance.

31. Visiting Teaching!  I am not always very diligent about getting it done but I love going and I also love having Visiting Teachers come see me!  I love the common bond we share in the gospel, raising our families and generally trying to do our best!

32. My country!  I am proud to be Canadian and would not want to live anywhere else in the world!

33. For my blog! I love writing and it allows me to release all these crazy thoughts in my head!!!!

34. For Emry turning 12 this year and moving up to Young Women's. I'm excited for this change in her life and I look forward to what the year has to offer. And finally for Calum turning 8 and being able to be baptized!!

It was a great year, I look forward to what this year has to offer and all the memories we will make!!! I'm in a better place mentally this year and I'm happy about that!!! This will be a good year.... I can feel it!!!!

Comings and Goings

Our house has stayed clean for a whole entire week!!!! Laundry is sort of caught up, but I think that is going to be an ongoing battle!!!! 

Calum went to the zoo last Monday with his Grade 1/2 class and had such a great time!! They got to do a treasure hunt around the zoo, the clues took them to certain animals!!!

Tuesday Calum woke up not feeling well, I thought maybe he was just over tired from his trip to the zoo, but when I got a call from the school I did go pick him up. He stayed home Wednesday and Thursday too, and he just seemed to get progressively worse.  His symptoms were a high fever, headache and really runny nose.  By Saturday he was coughing quite badly.  Sunday he seemed to finally be over it so he went to school today...I got another call so in I went to see how he really was, I was sure he was faking it!!! I found him with really rosy cheeks and his forehead quite warm!! Poor little dude :( so he gets to hang out with me again!!!!

Last Wednesday while Calum was sick he came to the cattle auction with me!!! We were selling some steers and heifers!!! They did pretty good, averaging over $2.00/lb!!! We have a few more steers to sell, we are just waiting for them to totally become steers :)

Friday, Calum was back at school so it was just Armin and I!!! We headed into Okotoks to pick up a dresser I got from a friend of mine!!! She restores old furniture by painting them!!!! I love what she comes up with!!! I needed something for our entryway, it is my least favourite room in our house...until now!!!! I love that our shoes aren't visible anymore and the dresser has a mirror so we can check our appearance on our way out the door.  I put a dish out for our keys, which I like so much better than the key hook!!!!

Saturday we had friends over for dinner! It was so much fun, I made chicken cordon bleu!! So yummy!! Meagan brought dessert! It was so good, and so rich!!! It was a snicker cheesecake cake!!!! The topping was snicker bars melted with butter and icing sugar!!!! Oh I wish I took a picture of it!!!! So yummy!!!!!!

Today while I was getting ready to go into the school to read with the Grade 3/4's I was putting my contacts in my eyes when I dropped the container and it rolled under the sink cabinet into the great abyss...so sad to say and to no avail I wasn't able to wear my contacts :( I was trying to reach them and even got a long stick to try and get the case only to push it further back lodging it behind the plumbing tube!!!! Thankfully that pair needed to be changed a long time ago, but the case was brand new :( oh how I'd love to get laser eye surgery!!!! I hate glasses more than I hate contacts!!!! Maybe one day!!!!!

So, that is what has been happening in my exciting life.....

My Sister

My wonderful sister came over this morning to help me clean my house!!!! I had called her last week and very reluctantly asked her if she'd be willing to come over some time to help me get my house in order. Without any hesitation she said of course she would!!!!!

I'm so grateful for such a great sister and best friend!!! I wouldn't know what to do without her in my life! She is always only a phone call away and when I need a pick me up or an ear to vent to she's always available!!!! I really appreciated all her help today, she is such an example to me! She not only keeps her house in order, she is raising a wonderful family with very polite kids and helps on the farm in every capacity!! She also is very handy and creative and is always working on some kind of beautiful project!!!!

Thanks Arren for all you do for me, but mostly for today...it meant so much to me!!!!

400th Blog Post

Wow!!!! I can't believe I've gotten to 400 posts!!!!! Much thanks to my dad for making sure I update regularly!!!!!! I love how Lalainia does a giveaway when her blog reaches a milestone so I'd like to borrow her idea!!!!! For everyone that comments either here or on Facebook regarding this post I will put your name in a draw to win a dozen cupcakes of your choice!!!! Now on to my 400th post!!!!

I've thought and thought about what I'd like to write for this post, something remarkable since its a big one, but there's nothing really remarkable about me to write.  I've been struggling for quite some time with feeling rather blue.  My house is really suffering from it, I can't seem to get laundry caught up and the sweeping, mopping and vacuuming are not even happening.  Cleaning the bathrooms is a rare occurrence and making beds is not even a thought. I often wonder why I fall into these ruts, why is it so hard to pull myself out and put things back together? I have a wonderful husband, who I know suffers because of my down days. But he is so helpful and supportive of me despite the mood I'm in. And our children, despite being loud and a little messy, are healthy and happy. They do bring me such joy when I look at all they can do and the way they can get along with each other. And yet here I sit typing about why me? 

I have come across a couple of quotes that have really spoke to me, one by Linda K. Burton, our Relief Society General President. She says, "The Holy Ghost can do for us physically, emotionally, mentally and intellectually what no man-made remedy can begin to duplicate." This quote spoke to me because I know just how true this is...I'm not saying some medications can't help us, because I know first hand that they do and I wouldn't be where I am without them, but they can only take us so far. Having the power of the Holy Ghost constantly with us can totally change our outlook. When I struggle to be consistent with saying my prayers I notice my mood starts to darken, as soon as I start and merely just thank my Heavenly Father for all I have been blessed with I start to feel a weight lift off my shoulders and my outlook brightens.  A lot of times I like to just talk with my Heavenly Father instead of asking for things and my mind begins to be at peace.

Another quote that really spoke to me is from President Uchtdorf, one of my very favourite General Authorities of our church. He said, "Start where you are.  God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you.  All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord." This is actually the wallpaper on my phone, so I can be reminded each time I feel like I have failed. Which sometimes feels like that's everyday.  Being an adult is harder than I ever imagined it would be. I wanted it so badly when I was a teenager, little did I know all the responsibility that was involved.  There are definitely things I would like to have changed because I don't feel like I am the same girl I started out to be as an adult...and then I go back to this quote and realize that it doesn't matter what experiences we have had to shape who we are as long as we use them to become the best possible version of ourselves we can be.

So I try not to sit and think why me?...but what can I do?  I want to make life full of purpose for our children, I want them to know that our Heavenly Father is always there for them, even when they feel like they have failed. As I look out the window and see the sun shine through the grey clouds I want that to be me...I want the Son to shine through me so that others can feel the Light of Christ. And now as I write this I feel a sense of purpose, I feel lighter and my mood has brightened.  

Maybe being caught up on house work is minor in the grand scheme of things...being happy and a loving teaching parent is more of a priority right now.  And when I have those things under control the house work will fall into place. My children have clean clothes, they may not have been folded before they were put on, and most days they have a good home cooked meal, but more than anything I want them to know I love them and that I truly am happy to be their mother. I want my husband to know that I have found the love of my life, and my closest, truest friend. And I want my Heavenly Father to know that I am truly grateful to be a daughter of God, to have the gospel so fully in my life.  Writing this has helped me see the divine potential in my life and to know which path I should be on.  Maybe my life is remarkable after all, I am surrounded by those I love with all my heart and have knowledge of who I am and why I'm here!!!

Good luck to the few who read my blog and be thinking about what kind of cupcakes you'd like when you win!!!!!!!!!!!