Friends Visit

It's a wonderful sunny but chili day and I'm waiting for Lydia's bus to drop her off from school, as the bus approaches I see for a brief second two people running towards me.  Lydia runs swiftly from the bus to me with her usual smiling happy face then from behind we are attacked by Jason and Kaitlyn.  What a wonderful surprise.  There were hugs and and chatter and more hugs.  We chat there on the corner for a while but then walk home together because it's cold.  Immediately Lydia asks them to play a game with her and they agree.  I watch as they play grateful for Emily's friends that they would stop and play a game with a friend's sister 11 years younger then them.   Grateful that they would chat with a mom that's been missing her own college girls and thankful that they have been here many times before and played games and eaten food and laughed and chatted and danced and played. Ibe too has been here this Christmas season and has brought these feelings of gratitude and love so much that I have been overcome with emotion.    I think sometimes there's a bond that develops over time and when you leave and then come back you long for that same feeling so you go back to the same place hoping to find it.  For me today I felt that feeling that my girls were home maybe it was the sound of Kaitlyn and Jason that brought back the sound of Emily's and Jessy's voice it filled me with peace and a sense of calm that they are okay.  Okay because I felt them as I hugged, talked to and saw their friends.  Thanks so much for your visit today and for all the other visits before. We are connected.  

Breakfast, Lunches, Coupons, and Money

 Today as I'm fixing scrambled eggs with summer sausage and cheese, it dawned on me that the Lord is helping us in small financial to ways get ready to send out a missionary.  Over the last few months I have started getting up in the mornings and making eggs for Bill and the boys before they leave for work and school.  Bill has been added to the children as those who take cold lunch.  And for the first time in my life I actually study store adds and clip coupons and look for deals.  It's amazing that making these small changes can help in big ways.  Plus I am grateful for being able to spend time in the morning with Bill at breakfast and for the challenge of finding the best deals around the area.

PS.  If anyone in the Manassas area doesn't use the Sunday coupons I would love to pick them up from you.

New Year, New Goals and Old Goals

This past few weeks have had time for some serious reflection about this past year, but it has also made me in-vision what the next 12 months will look like.  I want a better me, better relationships with people and with my Heavenly Father.

As I watched the video above I thought that this blog could help me as a way to share and a reason for me to look for how the hand of God reaches out to touch me and my family.  Because I am sure that Heavenly Father has some personal messages he will want to send to me to guide my life and my family.  I think this will help me to bring more meaning to my blog rather than just talk about what happened during the day, though it may contain some day to day experiences.  This is Goal #1 for the new year.
   ( I did write a little over 200 entries in 2012. Not a perfect record but much of the past year is recorded)

My Simple Stories about My Simple Life will be the title of my personal history.  I have been wondering what is the most valuable thing I can do in the area of my family history?  I feel it would be to write about my life.  The other day I heard a song called "I Was Here"    As the artist sang,  pictures of  people in different situations, ages and places panned on huge screens.  As I viewed this I saw in my mind the people who had touched my life and who's life I had touched.  It was so inspiring.  I need to let others know I was here by telling the little stories that make up my life, the ordinary, my fears, my joys, my silliness,  The things, the places and happenings that will let others know I was here.

Me Jan 2012

Me Dec 2012

At the beginning of 2012 this is how I looked.  I can see that I have changed and I am stronger and healthier so I choose to continue on with this goal.   In 2012 I moved from being extremely obese into only overweight.  In 2013 I want to move from the overweight category to the healthy range.

I have one more goal that will make me stretch so far beyond where I am comfortable that I am not sure that I can share it without feeling embarrassed that I have taken so long to decide to change in this area.  I am going to learn how to be more social.  I am not comfortable in social situations.  I much prefer to be home,  But I have this feeling that I am taking the easy road.  That I have more to learn from others and that I need to be able to carry on conversations with those I may not know.  I struggle so much with this that I have written very specific things to do, but I do not list them here.  I may share some of my accomplishments here, but they will be personal triumphs no matter how small they may seem to others.   This goal is to help me feel more comfortable in social situations no matter how big or small the crowd, or who is at the gathering.

Well there you have it!  My 2013 will be Exciting, Joyful and Full of Growth,  Stay tuned to see how the Lord touches my life daily.

Christmas

Willy's Christmas Quilt

Austin's Christmas Quilt

Lydia's Christmas Quilt

 I think this Christmas was the first one that found Bill and me wide awake at 6:30 am and all the children asleep in their beds.  We had the strange opportunity to awaken the children from rest.  With eyes not so bright but without a complaint we went to the living room to see what did await.
 There were three new quilts made by mother's two hands.  Two levi quilts, one each for Austin and Willy.  A butterfly quilt done in bright green, blues, and oranges for Lydia.
The smiles on each face as the gifts we open let us know that they loved what was given and received.
We enjoyed talking to Jessica and Emily who were spending time with grandma and grandpa Harrison in Burley.  I missed getting a picture of the quilt I made Emily and the afghan I crochet Jessica.  I am happy that they received at least one of the boxes I sent.

 We had a wonderful Christmas day!  The gifts were delightful thoughtful and kind.  The food was delicious Ham, sweet potatoes and pie. The best part was family both near and far!  We are thankful for a wonderful day to celebrate the birth of Christ!

Smelling good was a theme with the men.
 All different types of Axe they received

Lydia loved her princess barbies, Cinderella, Belle and Ariel.

Austin was happy with his super Mario game.  

Willy loved the hat Austin gave him.  He wore it all day!

Austin's Birthday

I think of all my children I have learned the most from Austin.  He has helped me grow and learn lessons I never dreamed I would have to learn.  Because of how much work he has had to do to make small accomplishments his victories are that much more sweet.  I have come to realize that as he was small we fought and struggled with so many things but now you see him at almost 6 feet tall on honor roll, and happy. You would never know of all the small victories he has had in order for him to stand as the 13 year old you see today. Today I celebrate his 13 victories one for each year.

1. Austin can hear and see.  He spent his first 3 years of life hearing as if he was always underwater.  He wore glasses to correct his sight in kindergarten.  I am grateful for preschool screenings that helped us help him.
2. Austin can speak!  Now you would never know the hours spent in speech therapy. 
3. Austin can read.   Through all the meetings with teachers and education specialist Austin's progress has been great.  He has been on the honor roll in middle school and reads above the reading level for his grade.
4. Austin can feel and share love.  As a small child Austin was angry and hated about everyone, now you see him with a smile on his face and many friends.
5. Austin has a wonderful sense of humor.  I love when 7 years old get into knock knock jokes and they just keep repeating them over and over again.  Austin did that forever but now has moved on and has developed a keen way with word meanings that makes you say that was funny.
6. Austin likes to wear jeans.  After years of only wearing pants with elastic waist he will now wear jeans. Its much easier to find jeans that fit.
7. Austin likes to cook.  He is a good cook with simple and not so simple foods.  This includes complete dinners not just cookies.
8. Austin likes to do his priesthood duties by passing the sacrament and helping the widows.
9. Austin is great at tech things.   Whenever I can't figure out something about our new car or the computer I just ask Austin he already knows the answer and he shows me how its done.
10. Austin is a hard worker.  He sticks to doing the dishes even if it takes him an hour.
11. Austin stands up for what he thinks is right!
12. Austin is helpful.  He likes to help Lydia and Willy
13. Austin made it to 13 without being killed of maimed by his brother because at times they get along very well.

Clothing Drive

Today at church we were asked to collect up items to send to New York for those affected by the storm.  Monday our house, because of the central location, became the collection site of the items for our ward.  We gathered up coats and sleeping bags and hoodies and anything warm we could find around our home.  It's a good feeling to do something to send something to help others experiencing devastation.  It was heart warming to see the giving, the desire to help from the members in our ward.  One sister told Willy of how she went to the second hand shops and bought the coats, took them home washed them and then donated them.  Another donated the coat right off her back.  The donations of gift cards and clothes were more than the transportation that had been arranged.  So Willy called around and found someone to take the second car load of stuff to Oakton to be distributed in New York.    I hope all the things that were given will be used  by those that need them.

Road Construction

The Kids went back to school today and the city of Manassas is getting back to normal

Today they began road refinishing on our street.  The electricity is on for almost every one in the 

area.  As I hear more and see more on the news about the devastation north of us I feel blessed

But concerned for others effected by this storm. 

The repaving of our front road begins 2 days after Hurricane Sandy
passes.  The black top is being removed. 

The big trucks move in and spend the day, taking the neighborhood
from silent to loud for an entire day.

I don't know what this machine is called but it is huge.
It grinds op the blacktop and puts it into a dump truck.

On Friday they paved the road.  It was cool to see the
steam rise off the road.  It's crazy to see how many people it takes
to pave the road.