When the family looks their best.

Every Sunday, as we rush out the door to church, I think now would be the perfect time to take a little family photo. It usually doesn't happen on account that we want to be on time for church. This particular Sunday a few weeks ago, we were actually ahead of schedule and took advantage of the opportunity to get a much needed family shot. Happily, soon after that our friends took more pictures of us that will be posted soon!(Can you tell the sun was bright that day?)

I came across a poem I'd like to share.

The Scriptures and the T.V. Guide
The dilemma of not having enough time to
study the scriptures reminds me of this poem:
On the table side by side,
The scriptures and the T.V. Guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
Not the scriptures, but the T.V. Guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide,
Nope, not the scriptures, but the T.V. Guide.
As pages are turned what shall they see,
Oh, what does it matter— turn on the T.V.
The word of God is seldom read,
Perhaps a verse before they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy, tired as can be,
Not from the scriptures, but from watching T.V.
So back to the table side by side,
There sit the scriptures and the T.V. Guide.
The Plan of Salvation is for you and for me,
But it’s found in the scriptures, not on T.V.

Although I don't own a T.V. Guide. It puts in perspective where our priorities should lie.

Do you like it?

So these are some pictures of my new hair color, I've been getting some requests. I love the change, but I think next time I want to go darker. I never knew how much fun darker hair could be.

I'm thankful to have a healthy body. I can exercize and keep up with my kids. I have recovered quickly from pregnancies. And I don't get sick very often. I'm also grateful for a clean mind that hasn't been exposed to too much junk. And these things combined help me to have a positive outlook on life.

Giving thanks

So I'm posting something that I'm thankful for on facebook everyday from now until Thanksgiving. I decided to post it here too so those who aren't on facebook (like my husband) can read it too if they want.
November 11th: I'm thankful to have two of the most beautiful girls in the world and get to spend almost every waking moment with them. They are my JOY!

November 12th: I'm thankful to have a wonderful, loving husband who stayed home with the girls the past three nights in a row so I could go to the temple, see "This is it" with my mom, and have fun with Faith. Plus he cleaned and did the dishes. Does it get any better then that? (Chris commented: "Sounds like he deserves a weekend golf trip.")

What-Matters-Most

What-Matters-Most
Please watch this short You tube clip because I think it says best what my blog is all about. And what I believe life is all about.

Family Time

Last night, just before bed, I asked Marc if we could have a day with no TV on Sunday. (Unless it was a movie about Jesus or along those lines.) He agreed. What followed was a wonderful day as a family. After church, everyone napped and I was able to contemplate what I could do this month to help serve others around me. Then we had dinner together. After dinner Natalie asked if she could watch a movie and here came the real test, sticking to my goal for the day. I told her if she wanted to watch something we could watch a DVD called Finding Faith in Christ. For those who haven't seen it, it basically shows the life and ministry of the Savior. Throughout the movie I explained things to Natalie that were happening and took some concepts down to her level. I love teaching my children, especially about their Savior and how we can live like Him to get back to Him someday. I love the way their faces light up when they learn something new.Or when they point something out that I think is way beyond their years of understanding. One of the parts of the movie that touched me is when Jesus said, "...become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." It is through having children of my own that I have realized the power yet simplicity of this message. Children have a bright light in them, an innocence that we can only strive to emulate. If you guide them and teach them, they develop strong testimonies of their Savior. That he loves them as he loves each one of us. I believe that to be true with all my heart. I am so blessed to be a mother. To have the responsibility to teach and protect my children in such a troubled age in society. I don't know where I would be without the strong foundation my family helped me to build. And the strong testimony that I have kept since my ages of childhood simplicity. I believe what has been said that the family is central to the creator's plan. We must protect it and guard it with our lives. I hope to keep this goal of not watching TV on Sunday(besides such movies) and look forward to the blessings that can be ours and we strengthen each other in our family.

Natalie's Birthday party

This is Natalie's birthday party with her friends. First I have to say thank you to Terica for the amazing cupcakes and cake balls. You did such a good job and relieved me of a lot of stress. They turned out so pretty. Secondly thanks to Faith for helping me decorate and keep my cool when I was stressing for no reason really. And last but not least to everyone else who came and played with Natalie and gave her fun gifts. She really loves them and had a blast. This was a dressup party cause that is all Natalie likes to do these days. I swear she is never in regular cloths except when I make her. You can see she traded dresses with her cousin Jadeyn and when it came time to give it back she was so sad. But besides that the party was a success. I think I'm going to be sad when the dressup and princess phase are over. But for me it's still going on just on a different level. Love you Natalie. Don't grow up too fast okay? By the way, I made the bow. It's supposed to be Rapunzel with brown hair like Natalie. She thinks she is Rapunzel and that's why we can't cut her hair, she wants it to keep growing.

My baby is 4! Party with Maddox's

Grandma Maddox always spoils my girls and they love it. She got Natalie a dressup that Natalie calls Rapunzel, paints, a sleeping beauty barbie, and a cute brown dress and puma socks. She loved it all of course. We also gave our gifts that night and she got a Yo Gaba Gaba video (Julia was excited about this too, and Marc had some other motives in buying it so he could show Jack Black to his brothers on there.) And she got a sleeping beauty video game which is hard for her, but Marc likes to play it so that's ok. Anyway, then we had cake which had red and pink sprinkles on it which happened to match the dresses the girls were wearing that night. Needless to say she had so much fun and wants her next birthday to come a lot sooner then I do.

So the coolest, unexpected thing happened to us. A lady in my ward called one day and asked if she could bring over a gift for Natalie. She said it would be her daughter's 4th birthday that day and they try to remember it every year by giving a gift to someone else. She gave her probably the cutest jacket I've ever seen and a coloring book. It was sooo nice and I'm so grateful. The cool thing too was that she wrapped it in yellow which is Natalie's favorite color. Sweet huh?