Sunsets

Ok, I know that just a couple of entries ago I wrote about sunsets, however, I am finding the sunsets getting better and better and didn't want anyone to miss out on them. Bear with me, I guess I have a thing about sunsets. In the last couple of weeks driving home at night, I have seen the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen. The vibrancy and colors are just jaw dropping. I sometimes will pull off the side of the road so that I can enjoy. I think often that heavenly father has just painted the sky for me. Next time its around 6:00 ish, take a look at the sky and appreciate the beauty found there.

A Miracle of Miracles

Sometimes when there are so many trials and heartache in our life, Heavenly Father seems to know how much we can take and insert Miracles. My niece passed away 6 months ago along with my nephew and my brother in law. My niece had her dog with her on their vacation. Her name is Hannah and she is a little Scotty Dog. At the time of the accident they also had the other 2 dogs with them. My 10 year old nephew who survived the accident swore that all three dogs were at the crash site and were fine. Somehow, Hannah disappeared. We all assumed that Heavenly Father allowed Alissa to bring Hannah with her to heaven. The other day my sister recieved a call from Price, Utah Pound stating that they had Hannah in their custody. She is fine and excited to be home. Apparently a cowboy from Price had her at his farm and not sure how she got there. I think it is a miracle and one cannot have enough of those.

Happy New Year!

Well I will be the first one to say, thank heavens it's a New Year. I must say that 2008 was one of the toughest years I have ever had. It was one of sorrow and health scares. I found that through all of the trials that have come into my life, I have never been more grateful to be alive, miracles that happen daily, and for my heavenly father. He just seems to know what I need in my life at just the right moments. Starting a new year is cleansing some how and that to me is like a renewing of the spirt, mind and body!

Forgiveness

I don't know why I feel I should write on this subject, however it is something that is close to my heart and I feel that I need to share my experiences with forgiveness. Without sharing really personal moments, I believe that sometimes we are given trials and objects in our life that seem insurmountable to mold us into the people we will become, yet Heavenly Father has given us the amazing gift called Forgiveness. Without forgiveness in our life, we cannot move on or become the person we are to be. There will be that small part of your heart that will ache. Ache that you can deal with family issues, a friend that has wronged you, or a life that should have been great and was wrapped up in issues. As I look at my life, I am grateful for my trials, for my ability to forgive and forget and move on with my life while including those in my life that I thought I could never forgive.

Forgivness is tough, I had to forgive someone that had been in my life for many years and treated me horribly for most of my life. I am grateful in this instance that I had a father and grandmother to help me go through life with love and taught me how to forgive and move on. I knew that I could not carry the anger, pure hate, and non-forgiving attitude for the rest of my life and it wasn't until my grandma sat me down and explained that I cannot carry this grudge because I deserve to go through the forgiveness process and learn. I prayed for an opportunity to forgive this person and get the ball rolling. After many emotions, I found out that she had been treated the same way as a child and that was all she knew. Although I realized that she could have broken the cycle, and to have someone elses child to raise due to the death of the childs mother at a young age should have been a blessing, she could not break that cycle. Through the forgiveness process, I realized that there was a huge weight I didn't I had been carrying for 20 something years was lifted. I could become the person I should and by forgiving, my testimony of the gospel soared to different levels. I was able to know that we are all held accountable for our lives and we don't want to miss a day without forgiving because it may be too late and the rest of your earthly life will be filled with sorrow and regret.

Thanks for bearing with me on this subject. As I started writing I was unsure what to say and thought I would just write a short blurb however it came out longer. I am sure I was meant to share my experience, with who I am unsure.

Sunsets

I don't know about you guys, but I am thinking we have been having the most amazing, inspiring sunsets lately. As I drive home I just want to sit and take the pictures of it. The problem is I don't have my camera with me as often as I would like and my cell phone just does not do it justice. This is one picture that I happened to take with my camera. I have promised that I will carry my camera with me at all times so that I can share these amazing sunsets. Next time you are driving home at sunset, make sure you take a gander. It will really help you appreciate our heavens.

Bowling

So Dale and I are avid bowlers in the winter time. It is an indoor sport and good excercise. We usually go bowling every Friday as a family thing with Dale, Dan and I. This Friday my goal was to beat Dale and Dan in at least 2 games. Yep, with my determination I blasted them twice and I beat the pants off of dale in the third game. Bowling to me is to get out my frustrations and I picture the pins something I am smashing. Wow! That sounded pretty harsh, however sometimes I do. I have a few pictures to share from bowling.

Yea I just got my second strike!

It's Christmas?

I have been meaning to sit down and catch up however, things just seem to get in the way. It's Christmas time already and we have no snow. I just am having a hard time with Christmas this year. With the loss of our family members, I am having a really hard time. I still have the spirit of giving, I just don't feel like decorating. I have this 3 foot santa that is my favorite gift from Dad and Sue. I told Dale and Dan that santa was going to be our Christmas Tree this year and I will set all the presents around him. Dale was ok with that. We are going to be going to St. George for Christmas so we won't miss opening too many presents without a tree. Dan is staying here and we will open more when we get home. I feel so grateful for the blessings I have in my life and know that this life is just a brief glimpse in eternity. Sometimes these trials in our life become larger than life until you get re-focused. I know Tyler and Alissa are up there watching over us, its just really hard to bear that they won't be here this Christmas. My family is having a really hard time with it however I am thankful for the knowlege and affirmations I have had concerning being with my family forever. There is nothing more wonderful then that knowledge. Ok, this is the saddest, most miserable entry, I just wanted to get my real feelings out there to share. I think sometimes we learn from others and their trials. I know they make us stronger and I am grateful for that.

Short Recap

I haven't been that faithful in posting in my blog and I am trying to be better. I thought I would do a short recap of what has been happening.

1. I had a sleep apnea finger test. I have to go in to have the in office sleep test. Not happy about it, however if it helps me feel not so tired then... yippee!
2. I got a new bowling ball... its beautiful and when I get a picture of it I will post it.
3. I have to have surgery.. where you ask? On my thumb. Yea I will leave you in supense until I post a blog on it.
4. I have won a bet that Dale and I made, so he has to watch some chick flick with me. I keep informing him if he does not watch it, he may have to go to High School Musical the sing along version and he would have to sing. LOL!!!
5. I have applied for the lead position on our team. The interview will be great experience of whether I get it or not.
6. Dale was so excited that our family was chosen to participate in the Nielsen ratings for TV. It was a lot of work to record every single show we watched for the week, hey an experience. I watched enough of the Hills, Big World Little people and Jon and Kate plus 8. I think they will continue. LOL!!
7. I bought a surprise gift for our family. I can't tell right now because my husband may read and it is a really surprise. Its all wrapped and waiting for the tree to slide under.
8. I made reservations for Dale to go with his army buddies to the Harley Davidson Ride to Laughlin Nevada. He was going to pull a trailer and this is his first office ride, so I found a cheap hotel for him.
9. I got my flu shot. Everyone should.
10. Hum...I found this great hair product! I know I am grasping at straws...heheheh.

Honoring My Veteran

I couldn't end this day without entering a little post about Veteran's Day. My husband is one of my many heros. He has been in the Army for almost 20 years. He has spent a year and a half in Iraq fighting for our freedom and would do it again until the job is done. He is an amazing husband and soldier and I am so proud of him. I have enclosed some pictures of him in Iraq above as a constant reminder of our Men and Women fighting all over the world to protect our freedom. I found this poem in my notebook. It's perfect for today.

Peace

Our men are fighting

fighting for our freedom,

so many are lost

so many are gone

when will this madness end

when will freedom ring.

men fighting for ...freedom...honor..for me!

This is too funny... rock on Disco!!

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Happy Birthday Alissa!

Alissa, Grandma, Erin

I don't have a updated picture of Alissa scanned yet and my scanner is broke so I found this from a couple of years back. In the picture with Alissa is her favorite cousin Erin and my grandmother who has since passed and I am sure is with Alis during this time. Alissa would have turned 8 this year. I just wanted to do a small post to remember her. She was totally a little girly girl and could rough it with the boys. I remember when ever she talked she would put her hands on her hips and give it to me. We always danced and played when ever we were together. She was a little princess and I miss her terribly every day. I know that she is here among us and I can't wait until I see her again. I wanted to share a dream my brother in law had of Alis. He said that he saw Alis standing there and he asked what she was doing. Alis said that she was fixing rainbows. Paul asked, what kind of rainbows? Do you mean prisms? Alis stated that her job was to make sure all the little rainbows had the right colors. I can really see Heavenly Father giving Alis the job to make sure little rainbows are correct. She would be really good at that. As much as I and my family misses her, it is really nice to know that she is with heavenly father and our family that has since past. Love you Alis and looking forward until we can dance again in heaven.

Vegas Baby!

Dale and I have free trip to Vegas in a couple of weeks. Looking at the economy it may be the last trip we take for a while. I decided I wanted to get to Vegas by Jet Blue airline so we would not have the wear and tear on our truck and easier for us. I also wanted to stay a night early to make the most of our vacation. I called the Ventian and because of AAA and Military discount I got us a 411.00 room for 79.00. I am just so excited. We have to sit through an 1 hour presentation on timeshares, but I am thinking, a free trip, 3 nights, whats an hour out of my time. It's been a long time since Dale and I have taken a trip with just us. I will be sure to take tons of pictures and make sure I blog everything.

Whew...it's October already

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone, although I must say that I am pretty much done for the year. I have never felt so at lost, so much sorrow, gratitude, depressed, and grateful for my life and family. It's going to be Christmas soon and the economy so bad, I will be glad to just be done with the year and start anew or as new as possible. WOW! What a depressing entry! I found a poem that I had written a few years ago that pretty much sums up about the months that have past. Remember that I am not a poem writer, however the words just seemed to flow and I had to write the words.

People
So much pain and sorrow in the world today.
How can one find their way.
Through the darkness I roam
with my heart a breaking

When the tears start to flow
and the sun beaming down
I can see my way through
knowing that this was just
a test, to learn to take risks.

Nothing in life is easy
and it was meant to be
this way.

The people we meet in our lifetime
are our gift to us
Some will bring us heartache
and there will be those that
we spend the rest of our life thanking
god above,
for the joy that they bring.