When Lifes Got You Down

Wow things are so busy over here!

(Pictures from our trip up to Bear Lake)

BJ's in school and work all day from about 8am-7pm. But this was expected! And he is doing so fabulously well with staying on track and getting all of his homework done and going the extra mile at work!

I am so proud of him.

I am holding down the fort at the house! We are almost all the way moved in, still waiting on some new furniture for the living room!

HURRAY!!!!

If you knew what my furniture looked like before, you will be excited too!

It seems my list of things to do each day just gets longer not shorter! I keep telling myself once we get moved in things will slow down....

But I think I need to adjust my expectations so that I am good with busy! Busy can be fun, busy can be fufilling!

We have already made some new friends in the neighborhood AND my visiting teachers are coming today so there is a few other new friends! The boys have found LOTS of little boys across the street to play with! And our yard is like a magnet because of the trampoline! I LOOOVE it!

When we have 4 or 5 kids over my boys are so nice! All the kids play together and just get creative and explore and pretend! ITS SO GREAT!

I am busy at work on my website for Beautiful Blooms! I have been doing some tutorials on home decor! Its been super fun! I am still learning the art of doing a tutorial!

But it seems that among all this craziness the simple moments when the kids and I go hunting for leaves or all of us go for a drive up the canyon and go exploring are the MOST REWARDING! I love how this new crazy life is teaching me to appreicate the small things we get to do together. And to say to myself and others I CAN DO WHAT I CAN DO!

I have had lots of opportunities to serve in this new ward and ...

It feels so good! It helps me get outside my to-do list and remember relationships, serving the Lord and helping his children, THATS what counts!

I am so grateful for this new chapter!

Some BIG Changes

So onto brighter changes!

Pictures are just from the last few months and have nothing to do with the post.... hehehe

This is Spenc, Coop and my sis Jenise playing on Easter Sunday

WE MOVED!

BJ was accepted to University of Utah's Masters of Social Work program. It was a hefty decision but in the end BJ decided he was ready to get his masters. SO far he is loving it! He actually enjoys going to class!!!! and has TONS and TONS of reading... and a great practium at an alternitive high school

Spencer at his Preschool Graduation!

We BOUGHT a home!!

This was another big decision but we are so excited! I am still moving in and so once things get settled I will get some pictures up! But ITS BEAUTIFUL! I am in love with it!

Here we are in Zion after hiking the river walk! We were able to go up to Zion a handful of times before the move, it is the best way to spend time together!

I am starting my own business!!

Because BJ is so busy with school and his practicum we decided now would be a great time for me to finally start my own flower studio! I am getting it started out of the house to save on costs and be closer to the kids!

I am calling it Beautiful Blooms Floral Event Studio. (very official I know) I have a website up and running and am getting all the fun things going like business cards, signs and adds up! SO take a look at the website and become a follower!

Beautifulbloomsfloral.blogspot.com

The camera is in the repair shop so pics will be slim for a while! BUT I AM BACK!

The boys are getting so big and are having more and more fun playing together (about 2 minutes later those drum sticks turned into weapons :)

We spent lots of time in St George before the move with BJ's fam this was a trip we took where we found this great stream around some red rocks! We all loved cooling off and relaxing!

I am excited to get back to blogging! I really love having a place to express myself and share with friends!

All Rain NO Mud

I have been afraid of this... afraid of how to sum up the feelings and experiences I have been going through over the last few months! Afraid of how to express it on this blog I have grown to love!

BUT ENOUGH OF THAT, I DONT NEED TO BE AFRAID!
Because over the last few months I have been hurt, I have seen how I have hurt others I care about and I have CHOSEN to learn from the BOMB that has gone off in my life instead of lay down and go off with it!

I feel so much! I feel pain, an ache deep inside me some days I can be distracted but other days the aching it grows and swells and the memories and questions and anger fester and TRY to take over
BUT
the joy of what I have learned is that I dont have to fight off this hurt all by myself!

I have known for so long that Jesus Christ, my loving Brother, is there to help carry my burden! I have relied on his help before, but facing this catastrophe challenged me to either cling to his help or suffer alone!

During my sleepless nights and hours of consuming sadness HE showed me how to not only survive but flourish!

I have NEVER understood the people who would get up on fast sunday and and say they were THANKFUL for their trials! BUT I understand it now! HEavenly Father allows us to experience these life changing storms so that we can learn to be better, we can gain the strength to change ourselves and become the person HE knows we can be! We can, if we choose, grow closer to Him then we could if we had not experienced that deep sadness!

I have learned NO ONE and I mean NO ONE can make me happy! I have the power to effect my day, my attitude and to DO the things that make me happy! The choices others make dont decide my happiness! I dont have to REACT to the others around me I act in a way that will make me happy and that way it doesnt matter what the people around me choose to do!

I have simplified my life and everyday if I all I do is read a book or my scriptures, pray and listen to hymns when the waves of doubt and sadness come and play with my kids; I WILL BE HAPPY!

I have learned to be grateful and positive about the small things in my life I can influence! To look for the delightful in the everyday!

I have learned that it is FAMILY, even with all their flaws and crazy quirks, that is TRULEY there for you when the storm hits! THEY LOVE ME and truley have my happiness as thier priority!

Its because of these things that I can say I am grateful for this trial. I am grateful to be growing and changing and unbelievably grateful to have My Savior as a companion to walk this road with me!