Better than Caffine

So, lately I have started taking naps.  I love how Mike can just fall asleep anywhere.  Not me.  I have to get into my nice cozy bed and take mine....and that is what I have been doing lately.  This past month I found myself extremely tired all the time.  I have not been sleeping well and I wake up anywhere between 3:00 and 4:00 am every morning regardless of what time I go to bed and then of course the alarm goes off at 5:15.  So, I realized that I just dont get enough sleep at night.  I have been so tempted to start drinking caffine sodas again but that is usually just a temporary fix and leaves me feeling anxious and wiped out in the long run.  So, I just started taking naps at about 3:00 pm every day this week and I cannot tell you how much better I feel.  I only sleep for about 20 mins and I get my second wind and I feel energetic again and I dont feel anxious or wiped out.  The best part about it is that Mike and I went and did a session at the temple at 8:00 on Tuesday night and I didn't fall asleep!! Yahoo!  That's a first in a long time for me!! I guess I'm getting old and I just have to admitt it but that's okay as long as I know what I can do to keep myself going.  I know that exercise helps too...but since I've started working I have yet to find the time to fit it in.  So, that is my next goal.  So, here's to taking naps....It's better than caffine!   

Memory Lane

"...therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters." (Ether 6:5)

And so
You can think of this journey
As a walk down Memory Lane
See the rough times
That lead you to the right times
That make it worth all the pain
You hear yourself start to pray at the end of everyday
And in your heart you feel a change

The wind still blows the strongest tree
The same wind will carry me
And when I set my fears aside
There's still a voice inside
When the storms are gone
The sun can find me

Sometimes
You're not sure where you're going
'Cause you're stuck in Memory Lane
If we could see the end so clear
We'd surely lose our fears
But when I'm still I feel Him near

The wind still blows the strongest tree
The same wind will carry me
And when I set my tears aside
There's still a voice inside
When the storms are gone
The sun can find me

Here
It's not far in the distance
Where you are and where you'll be
You're standing taller on your knees
He's hearing all your pleas
I guess this road is a two-way street

Now the wind still blows the strongest tree
The same wind will carry me
And when I set my fears aside
There's still a voice inside
When the storms are gone
The sun can find me

Pictures from the plays

CINDERELLA PICTURES

(Prince Charming)

I think Bryce had a good time playing Prince Charming in Cinderella.  Rebecca Hogge was so funny as one of the Evil Step sisters.  Bryce and Isabel had such a hard time learning to do this dance without laughing.  It was too cute!

Here's the Cinderella Cast!

Here they are again being goofy.  They were so much fun to work backstage with.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

(Gaston)

Poor Stephen, he just hated having these girls hanging all over him during the play!  Lol!  He had such a blast and the girls were fantastic....gooing and gaahing all over him.  There were too cute!

And David Jensen was a great side-kick to Stephen as LaFu.  It was very funny.

The kids had a blast and I we had a blast watching them.  I hope they want to do it again next year.  They were great!

There is something to be said...

There is something to be said about a man who can cook, cut hair, take care of the children and clean the house.  Okay, so he doesnt do all these things simultaneously all the time, but he does them.  Lately I have just not been feeling too great and he just takes care of business when it needs to be done.  Sometimes it goes without being done but when it comes right down to it he is there.  I think it is the way he grew up, being the oldest in the family and being expected to take care of his younger brothers, maybe it is just his sense of duty.  Whatever the reason, I know I married the right guy because he fills in the spaces that I sometimes cannot.  Just feeling lucky and grateful today for the man I married, for who he is and for all he does. 

Prayer

This is me in my first area on my mission praying at my bed.  We called this apartment (which was built above a home in Wilmette Ill.)"The Sacred Grove". It was named this because the entire place was covered in this green wall paper.  Anyway, my companion Sister Rich took this picture of me cant remember if it was early morning or late at night.  She developed it and had it blown up to 8x10 then she gave it to me.  It reminds me of so many things but mostly it reminds me that when it all comes down to it, it's between me and my Heavenly Father.  

Mom

Mom came out to see the boys in their plays and boy am I glad she did!  She has been such a huge help to me!  Plus, look how cute she is.  Going on 75, she looks pretty good and keeps herself young and healthy.  This morning we were all crouchy and cranky....I think the weekend finally caught up with us.  She's a trooper.  I love her dearly and am so thankful for her help and support.  She has always been there for me when I need her most.  Thanks Mom, you're the greatest! I love you!

Gearing up and a sneak preview

Drove Stephen and 2 friends to Davis this week for a baseball game. Here are 2 of the boys as we made our traditional stop at the Am/Pm for gatorade.(Stephen in front looking down at his phone...texting some girl I'm sure)

But Stephen has also been seen in this t-shirt this week at school as he is gearing up to appear as "Gaston" in EGMTC's performance of Beauty and the Beast next week!

Here's the back...do you see his name? 

And this is what he will be seen in next.  I wish I could say that I made the boys costumes, but actually Ann Campbell made this and did a fabulous job!   The full costume he'll be seen in soon....Cant Wait!!

  I took Bryce to  Celebrating Smedberg (the Middle School he will be attending next school year) on Wednesday night.  He really wanted to get a pie in the face, so he and his friends had a blast doing this.  Not Connor (in the background)of course, he just watched.(smart boy if you ask me:)

But Bryce has also been seen in this t-shirt gearing up for his part in EGMTC's performance as "The Prince" in Cinderella! 

Do you see Bryce's name? Cant wait...but I'll be watching from backstage, which is really alot of fun and worth every minute as I get to enjoy all full performances of  Beauty and the Beast from the audience without any duties!

And this is what Bryce will be seen in next!  Thanks to Ashlee Newbold for making this one, she did a great job!  So, stay tuned next week to see some fun pictures of the boys fully dressed and in their stage makeup and all.  Break a leg boys!!

Oldies but Goodies

You're listening to one of my very favorite songs when I was a teenager! ("You're the biggest part of me" by Ambrosia..on my playlist) I loved this song and could not get enough of it.  The following 2 or 3 songs were also some of my favorites by Billy Joel.  It's fun to reminisce sometimes don't ya think?

1981

First temple trip for these 12 year olds!

Kellen, Rebecca, Bryce, Connor, and Colt

Last night these 5 entered the temple doors to do baptism's for the dead for the first time.  It was a wonderful experience to see these cute kids doing such a sacred ordinance. 

I remember not too many years ago while serving as primary president, these little ones were in our nursery at that time!  Look at them now....all grown up!  What a great night we had last night!

Okay, and I know this is NOT a flattering picture of me but, I dont care, because it's the only picture I have of my Brycie and me in front of the temple last night right before we entered. 

It was a great way to spend a Tuesday night and a very special date!

April 6th

okay, correction....it was only 7 years ago that I was primary pres in the ward and these guys were 5...so they must have been Star's in Jr. Primary.  All but one of them were in the nursery together when we first moved into the ward which was 10 years ago.  Still that was a while ago and now they are almost teenagers!  Yikes!

Quotes from General Conference

This is some of the counsel given a General Conference that most affected me.....We are so blessed to have such great Leaders who love us and teach us...Enjoy!


"The Priesthood will lose great power if the sister's are neglected."
---Boyd K. Packard

" We know the Lord is pleased when we feel the spirit working thru us."
---Julie Beck

"Our duty is to seek to do good in this world"
---Keith McMullin

"Without faith there can be no hope.  Hope comes as a result of faith.  We must build our faith to have hope....Faith is developed by obedience"
--Wilford W. Anderson

"The women of the church should not be led by the world, instead it is for you to lead the women of the world."

To Mothers..."do your actions match what you say?"
---M. Russell Ballard

"Strengthen children while they are young so they dont need rescuing when they are teenagers."
---Henry B. Eyring

"Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually."
---Hallstrom

"we are the angels that Heavenly Father has sent to bless his children."
---Cheryl C. Lant

"Spiritually go to Higher Ground"

"Seek the refuge and eternal protection of  the temple."
---Quentin L. Cook

"Death is conqured, man is free, Christ has won the Victory."
---Thomas S. Monson

"Mother, Father....Are you there?"
---Robert D. Hales

"No greater good than Motherhood"

"Parents must continue to go back and rescue their children."

"A Mother's Love typifies the Love of the Savior."
---Bradley D. Foster

"What a pitcher!"

"Adversity....opositon in all things....not when but HOW will we face it?"

"We may never know in this life why we face what we do.  Trials are real and require us to humble ourselves before our Father in Heaven."

"A small amount of pain now, will protect our children from more pain later."

"Learn not to murmur instead ask, what am I to do, what can I learn, what can I gain?"

"Seek greater help from God as we face challenges.  Often answers do not remove but strengthen us.  Let us not become bitter, but more sincere, more faithful."

"Learn to serve while in our trials.  We must repent, then serve and help remove the pain or discomfort of others.  Lose ourselves in service of others and help save their lives."

"Forgive others, dont pass blame"

"Have joy even in our trials"
--- James B. Martino

"Learn to use good judgment"

"Put your own standards in alignment with the Gospel of Jesus Christ"
---Gregory A. Schwitzer

"We hold in our arms the rising generation"

"Tell me the stories of Jesus...I love to hear"

"Each needs his or her own conversion"

"Do our children think about the Savior's life when they seek what to do in their own lives?"

"Be not afraid, only believe"

"Speak more frequently of Jesus Christ"
---Francisco J. Vinas

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Father in Law

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, good looking, sweet, and loving father in law William B. Nelson!

This is his mission picture( I believe).  He was called to serve in the Northern California Mission which included Sacramento of course. Thanks to Mom, we have a whole volume of pictures and stories about Dad and his life growing up.

And here is the latest picture I have of Dad and Mom with Bryce when they were here for Bryce's ordination.

Today he is 81 years old and I love him dearly!  Thanks Dad for being who you are, for being so loving and kind, for being such a valiant man of God, for taking care of us and always being there for us whenever we have needed you, for setting such a great example to all of us, for never wavering in your faith, and devotion to your Father in Heaven.  Thank you for being a great Patriarch of a great family, the family I was lucky enough to marry into....the family I always dreamed of being part of.  Thank you for loving me unconditionally for who I am.  Thank you for being a builder of homes, the best kind of homes there ever were......Homes of  Strength, Honor, Faith and Love!

Happy Birthday.....We Love you Tons!!!

Seriously

First of all,  here is our kitty cat "snowtip" or as I like to call him "ki ki poo poo head".  I know I know you wish you had thought up such a brilliant nickname ....LOL!  We have had this cat for about 9 years now.  He is pretty but that is about it.  He isn't much of a people person.  He doesn't like to be bothered too much except once  in a while to lay on top of me so that I will pet him.  Anyway, dont know how long he will be around.  Mike and I are getting tired of waking up in the morning to a pee stained bathroom rug.  Okay, I know, too much for  6:50 in the morning, but I just had to share his picture since he may not be around too much longer... are we mean?  i just cant handle any kind of evidence of animal  residue in my home.  He used to be no trouble at all.  I mean we have the cat box and we keep it cleaned out and that has always worked fine, so why now all of the sudden does he do this peeing thing on the bathroom rugs? Luckily we can wash them and he isn't peeing anywhere else. I just don't want to wait 'til it gets worse.    (don't be alarmed all you cat lovers....just giving him away.)

Secondly, work is going well so far.  I have my routine down.  Get up, walk or jog(when motivated), get kids off, go to work, come home, cook, clean, drive kids around, baseball, play practice, scouts, etc...family scriptures, get ready for bed....get up the next morning and do it all again....I need more women in my life....I mean Seriously!!