Day 132, 5-12-09 Why I'm not LOVIN the toddler bed

little {B}'s room WAS clean when I put her down for her nap.

When I went to check on her a little later it seriously looked like a tornado hit.

She also decided to tear the wall paper off the wall. At least it tuckered her out. Good thing she's so darn cute and melts my heart big time!

Day 131, 5-11-09 Tender Mercy

In January I started a Tender Mercy Journal where I jot down at least one tender mercy everyday. Well today's Tender Mercy is just so exciting I had to post it on the blog.

{R} and I have been working really hard on getting out of debt. We have not had a car payment in over 6 years, and have no credit cards. It feels good but we are still working on our Mortgage and Student Loans. A while back Tawnya did a post on her blog about the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover, and I was intrigued and knew I had to look into it. We bought the book and have stuck to it. It is incredible and just makes sense. It has been so fun to see our student loans get smaller and saving get bigger.

I was so excited when I opened our mail and read this letter.

It's crazy because with the economy the way it is you would think there is no way a company would do that. Even though we paid a ton of money and had hardly any left, I felt an overwhelming feeling of Love from my Heavenly Father and know that he is rewarding us for our efforts to be obedient and trying our best to get out of debt and paying an honest tithe.
The Scripture D&C 82:10 kept coming to my mind: I, the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
We have always paid an honest tithe and I know that this is just one of the MANY ways he has blessed us. I have no doubt that is why we had our remaining student loan balance was taken away and so tonight I am feeling an extra big dose of gratitude for sure!

Day 130, 5-10-09 To all the women in my life!

And this,

is

my joy!

We mothers without a doubt have the best, hardest most important job in the world! The world may not appreciate our work or pay us for it, and they may even mock the importance we place on it...but COME ON!!! Who's got a better job than me? I get to hang out all day everyday with the people I love most in this world. I don't have to get up in the morning and get showered and dressed as fast as I can to make it out the door in time. I get to concentrate on what I feel like having for breakfast and make sure my "colleaugues" are well feed as well. I get to play and laugh and be silly in my own office space as I want. I have the the freedom to do what I want to do with the (all be it small) amount of free time I have in the day, and I am my own boss! I get to decide what is important enough to do and what's just not even worth bothering with. Now my job may have many more challenges than most but I'm more invested in my job than you can be with any other job.
I hope all of youwere appreciated and loved and pampered this Mothers Day! You deserve every flower, or present, or compliment or meal that was recieved. Pat yourselves on the back and forgive yourselves for loosing you cool or whatever because this is hard stuff we're doing here.

MOM, you are Awesome! There is no one I admire or value the opinion of more. Christy and I were talking the other day about how we had such a happy fun childhood and there is not one thing we would change about it. You made it incredible! You always made time for me and continue to do so today and are always giving of your time and love, often leaving little time for yourself. I do appreciate all that you do for us.


and to my mother in laws who have accepted me as a daughter, I give you a HUGE shout out of thank you as well for creating a son that respects women and knows the value of hard work and does such a good job providing for all our needs, temporal, spiritual and emotional. He is the best and I know it's because of the way you raised him. We love you!

and what would I be without all of my sisters (and SIL's) and AMAZING friends? You laugh and cry with me, you give me great advice and mean the world to me. I love hearing about how your raising your sweet kids and struggling, and laughing and working your little hearts out. You give me the strength and support and example to try harder.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Mothers Day

Over the past years that Debbie and I have been married, I have learned not to ignore or disagree with her instinct. I have learned this the hard way which should not come as a surprise to any of you that know my hard headed ways. One night I was called and asked to come home from work for a sick child. When I got home, {B} was sound asleep and I couldn't see a problem. But relying on her mother's instinct, Debbie was positive something was wrong with her breathing and convinced me to take her to the hospital. Of course Debbie was right and {B} was taken care of because of her mother and not her father.

Debbie's last post is about my job. Let me explain that I would not have that job and be doing something that I enjoy if it was not for her. She is willing to put up with my insane schedule, support not only the kids when they are in need, but myself as well. As my time at home started to slowly disappear with the needs of my job, some of the family responsibilities that were mine started to be neglected. Debbie unselfishly assumed those responsibilities as well.

Even though your are sometimes "MOODY", I just wanted to say thank you for
being the perfect mother to our children and know that I love you so much!

Day 129, 05-09-09 A dream come true

Ever since {R} was a little boy he has dreamed of being a cop.

When we first got married we looked into it a little but they just don't pay good in Utah and offered zero benefits and it just never felt right. Well after 9/11 {R} got laid off and we found ourselves frantically looking for a job. My brother in law was able to get {R} an interview with his company in Arizona so {R} went and was offered the job and next thing we knew we were moving out of state that week. I remember having such a whirlwind of emotions, excitement, fear, sadness for the ones we were leaving behind and stress. After a year of working for the new company {R} decided to look into Law Enforcement here. They paid triple what Utah did plus an additional 10 bucks an hour for being bilingual and tons and tons of off duty opportunities that are a minimum of $35/hr. and the medical Benefits are incredible. Although they pay much much better, it still seems like so little for putting their life on the line EVERYDAY!!! {anyway} He applied and they snatched him up right away. One of his Academy instructors commented that it's in his blood and he comes by it naturally. I have thought about that comment several times over the years and it is so very true. It is crazy to believe that just 4 short years ago {R} graduated from the Academy. It feels like he has been a cop a lot longer than that. He truely loves his job and his buddies at work. The Academy was quite intense but {R} loved every minute of it. (Well maybe not the pepper spray part). hee hee.

{K} was so proud of his brave Daddy, we all loved seeing him in his uniform with his new shiney badge. {R}'s Dad and brother Sean came down to support him at Graduation along with The Griffits, Patricks and Clements. Since his Dad use to be a cop he was allowed to present him his badge. That was so cool and meant the world to us.

{R} has been asked several times to speak at schools, church and scouts. He is always so willing and is so cute with the kids and they are always excited to see him,

especially when he has his patrol car.

Since it's your 4 year anniversary I just wanted to tell you how proud of you I am.

Although your job terrifies me at times I am so grateful you are in a profession that you love, and I LOVE, LOVE to tell people I am a Police Officers Wife! You have such a great passion for your job and I admire that about you. Thanks for not only keeping me and the kids safe but our community as well. Please stay safe and alert. We LOVE YOU!!!!

Day 128, 05--8-09 And the answer is...

POPCORN!!!

That's right, "POP-POCK" means popcorn and {B} is constantly asking for it. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES it. It is her very favorite snack. I really love listening to her sing Popcorn popping on the aprotcot tree. It is the cutest thing ever!

An AWESOME group of girls

Four years ago today I was called to serve as Young Womens President over this awesome group of girls. This is a pic. of our very first activity I was in charge of. We went camping in Payson. It wasn't girls camp with certifications and skits and stuff, just fun silly girl talk, hiking and swimming. We sure had fun together and I learned over the years to love and admire each and every one of my girls. They each have so much to offer and will do great things through out their lives.

Today I recieved the third graduation announcement from my origianl beehives. I can not believe they are graduating! Man I'm getting old. The announcements are so GORGEOUS. They all have turned into such beautiful girls and I am so proud of them. I'm grateful that their not "too cool" to text and keep in touch with me and especially Kiersten for always asking for new silly embarresing stories. Glad my goof ups still keep her entertained. :)