the BIG year

It is the 1st day of the New Year.
It has been a 2 week vacation away from school & our regular schedule.
We were up late last night ringing in EVE2013 at the Marriott downtown SLC.
Dani, Lander & I have just watched the first episode of Dance Mom's, my favorite trashy reality show.
I know I am nuts about my kids sports lives, but these ladies, including the teacher are crazy, & I love it, & I love watching their amazing daughters dance.
I am tired, I am frustrated with my lack of patience with Jacky earlier tonight (not a great way to start my resolution of the meek mikki) & my irritation that get's the best of me when my pauly b rears that ugly little head of his. (love the man, hate the behavior,love the man, hate the behavior)
I leave for San Antonio in two days & I need to put away Christmas, get the toilet downstairs that overflowed into the main room fixed, wash the 10 towels that we used to mop up the pee water, get the fireplace going, fill the wonderful cabinets, that I love in the garage with all our crap, put away laundry, and on on on I could go with the complaints.( I am so grateful that I have all this stuff to do that is ours)
BUT, aside from me wanting to curl up in my bed, without brushing my teeth, I am going to post on the first day of 2013.
and I am going to be better about recording every, well almost all the
CRAZY
WONDERFUL
DISAPPOINTING
INSPIRING
INSIGHTFUL
FRUSTRATING
BEAUTIFUL things that are part of my extraordinarily blessed life.

THIS IS THE BIG YEAR!
inspired by the movie, The Big Year, about bird watchers who try to set the record as the one who spotted the most birds in one year.
I want this to be the BIG year to change my perspective to how I am going to lead my family of where I want us to be when this whole big test is finished.
I AM A DAUGHTER of my Heavenly Father who loves me,
and I love him.
I WILL "STAND"  as a witness at all times, and in all things, and in all places

Time to be more

FAITHFUL

PATIENT

MEEK

DISCIPLINED

PREPARED

LOVING

HONEST

VIRTUOUS

PRAYERFUL

Time to step up.  or as Brady Ewell said, "Man Up!"
Read this years ago in an institute manual, & most days it haunts me,
but occasionally it softly reminds me;
"you can not pull people up to where you want them to be, if you are not already there yourself."

Day 1 of the BIG year.
wow, I already need to pray for forgiveness & strength.
Thank goodness He is always there.
Goodnight.

It is my Duty

Today I was reading a book at my parent's house that has rekindled the duty that I have to my posterity to write down my life, their life, our life.  It is a pretty dang good life and to be honest, as much as I would like to think that I can remember it all, it is inevitable that I will become old & forgetful even more than I am now.
So, instead of rehashing this past year, well 10 years, I will go from here and maybe I will be able to recall some really good stuff in the past.

Day 1 of the rest of my life, or something like that.

I was walking with Dani & Sadie (our dog) & she was going on about things & I was stating my opinion and she told me that we just do not think alike. hmmmm.  Someday I know she will realize how much we are alike and she will be ok with that.  for now, she just wants to be like her dad.  hmmmmm, again. In my opinion, she is the better version of both of us.

We traveled to Idaho this weekend for my nephew Kai's farewell talk in church.  He was very sweet and the spirit was very strong as he spoke of the gratitude he felt in his heart about being called to the Honolulu, Hawaii mission.  It has made him feel closer to Kuku Kane & he is hopeful that he will be able to teach the gospel to our family in Hawaii.  The first Kane grandchild to serve a mission, what an example & what a strong young man.  My prayers go to him, as well as to Matt & Hallie.  I know they will miss him terribly, yet I know they will be blessed & watched over. Thank you Kai for your sweet spirit, I felt it very strong & the talks given today gave me renewed courage and strength to continue to have hope for my family.

Kealani was baptized on Sept . 1 last Saturday.
I was taken back at the strong spirit that was in the room that day.  I knew it was radiating from Dean & his family.  It was very pure & very peaceful.  Hallie and Lana both gave very good talks and I felt very good that day coming from that church in Syracuse, UT.  I am so grateful that I was baptized & that my children are baptized.  I look forward to the day when Paul joins us, as well.  It has been a journey I tell you.  Holding strong.  At least when I get to have experiences like today.  Thank you Kealani.  Thank you Heavenly Father.

Here's Hoping CeCe

FEBRUARY 17, 2012
Sierra is finally here to live with us.
She has come to graduate from high school.
She has come to hopefully secure a better future for herself.

Dani is getting the sister she always wanted.

We are getting our fifth child in our home.

I am so hopeful for this to work out for her.

Her is what I am hoping for:

she stays

she is happy

she works hard

she succeeds

she enjoys herself

she looks to the future

she loves us

she can be herself

she can find something new about herself

she will take risks

she gives me a hug on her own

she can ask me anything

she can see her potential & worth

she is patient with us

I pray this works out for her, not matter what happens.

I am grateful for the opportunity to help her.

I do It for YOU!

Park City Stake Conference March 2012

Brother Tate gave this scripture reference ( 1 Nephi 19: 22-23) 

with the reading challenge to read the Book of Mormon 3 times.

First time: Look for how God deals with his children.

Second time: Look for reference to the Atonement.

Third time: Liken the scriptures unto ourselves.

I am on my 6th day, May Day and I just read 2 Nephi 22.
Powerful Stuff.
Isaiah says what  will be said on that great Millennial Day

And in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee;  though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedest me.  Behold, God is my salvation; i will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.  Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.  And in that day shall ye say:  Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.  Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.  Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

I am pretty sure I am not going to be around on that great day, but my hope is that one or many of my posterity will be.  I pray that I can be the mother that I am supposed to be for these children that He has entrusted me.  When they ask me why I make them do this or that and I am going to say,
 "So on that day you or someone you love dearly will exclaim 2 Nephi 22"
AND
so we can live forever in heaven with God and Jesus.
I love the Lord, I love his words and I know that his hand is stretched out still and will be forever until he has gathered as many of God's children as he can.

This Woman's Work

I love the very last blessing of the initiatory in the temple.

It makes me ponder about the things I am here to do,

am I even close to doing them.

I know I was sent here to be a mother.

I am fortunate to have been taught to bring them up in the gospel.

I know if I do my part, with all my heart, might & strength,

He will make up the difference.

I need to be stronger, more disciplined, more loyal.

I can do hard things.

It will be worth it.

I still wonder, am I doing what I was sent here to do?

I can always do better.

Until I have finished my work on the earth.

Love it.

As the song goes by Kate Bush.

Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.

I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.

Thank U Little Erin

It is winter break in Park City. In perfect fashion, it is snowing & to make it even better, I came upon the perfect recipe for a day such as this. I had every good intention to snuggle in with my fav hot drink in my cute cup from big erin, with the Jade Dragon Box, but life caught up with me. I stuffed it in, gulped it down, left the book (kindle) & headed out into the blustery day. (Oh I love winnie the pooh, reminds me of the Jackson days in the car his first year). At least I was energized to battle the storm & have something to look forward to on my return. It really is the little things in life that I need to make a little more time for.

cheers little erin for sharing this scrumpdidilyicious treat. xoxo

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes

Individual Worth

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. (to choose) And you know what you know.

And YOU are the gal who'll decide where to go.

I know that I do have my own divine mission and I am striving to fulfill it.

I am off, to get my young women's medallion. If I got one as a teeny bopper, I have no memory of it and no necklace. I do have my value bracelet, so I did pass off something, possibly at girl's camp.

Anywhooo, Here I Go! Today is the Day!

Value Experience #1:

The following scriptures teach me that I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who knows me, loves me and is mindful of me:

Psalm 8:4-6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him?...

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee... I knew thee....I sanctified thee......I ordained thee.....

John 13:34 ....love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

D&C 18:10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

Abraham 3: 22-23...the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was;......thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

JS History 1:1-20 .....I was destined to prove a disturbe and an annoyer of his (satan's) kindom...

He knew me before I was born, and I knew Him. I chose to follow His plan. I chose to follow His son. I accepted the call to come to this earth, in this family, with God given gifts that I am to use to benefit as many people as I can. Now that I am here, He wants me to do all I can do to return to Him, through obedience to his commandments, having faith, believing His Son and believing that he will follow through with His promises. He loves me because I am His daughter, He provided a Way back to Him, "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of (me); for he loveth (me), even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw (me) unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation."( 2 Nephi 26:24), he also gave the gift of the Holy Ghost to be with me on my journey back to Him AND He promises that I can be like Him.

Hopefully I can be an influence for others to come along as well.

What a LOVING, MAGNIFICENT & BRILLIANT (english accent) PLAN!

Oh the Place that I Can Go!

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!