To Comment or not to Comment...

Okay I'm posting this to comment, that NO one likes to comment!

It's not so much that I

need the recognition...because I am doing this for 2 REASONS.

1. For my MOM...because I know she reads it regularly and really loves to know what we are doing. And since we live so far away, it gives us a great opportunity to stay in touch in a way we've never been able to before.

2. For me, Ron and my kids...I'm hoping that as I write these stories down, we won't forget all the GREAT blessings God has given us and that my children and Ron will always know of my enduring and endearing LOVE for them.

And since no one posts comments,

I'm going to clean up my READING list to only those who are READING my blog.

So if you would like to stay a READER,

please respond within the next 30 days.

All other names will be removed so I can ADD other readers.

Stripling Warrior Worthy

Written on September 11, 2009

Dear Christopher,

This morning as you left for school...I knew something was wrong.

And when I had the "feeling" that

Ron and I needed to meet you for lunch at school.

I'm glad I didn't ignore that "feeling".

You were feeling down.

You thought you hadn't played well in your game the night before...and you wanted to quit.

Your teacher had told you just moments before,

some not so GREAT news.

And as we were talking at lunch...I knew that you needed to know something.

You needed to know how your Mother thinks you are

STRIPLING WARRIOR WORTHY!

Do you know the story in the scriptures?

The one where the Young soldiers not much older than you...who went to battle with the FAITH and COURAGE of MEN?

Who not one of those 2,000 Stripling Warriors were killed in battle?

Who went with FAITH in the things their Mother's had taught them?

You ARE one of those Stripling Warriors of the Modern day!

I believed it when I saw you ready and WORTHY to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.

I believed it when I saw you confirmed as the First Counselor in your Deacon's Quorum.

I believed it when I saw you push your friend in his wheelchair to pass the Sacrament so he could perform his own priesthood duties.

I believed it when I saw everyone's face that day who saw you push his wheelchair.

I believed it when you put on your white shirt and tie and were worthy to go to the temple and perform Baptisms for the Dead.

I believed it when I saw you return from Scout Camp with 10 merit badges...the most out of any Scout at Scout camp.

I believed it when you told the story of how you "took down" the BIG talking Priest who thought he could beat a little ole' Deacon at archery...but you had the strength and courage to prevail and you helped your team to victory.

I believed it the day you bore your testimony...just a few months ago. I think everyone believed it that day.

And when you walked out of my house

to fulfill your Priesthood responsibility to teach your Home Teaching families...

I believed it.

You are and will always be...

STRIPLING WARRIOR WORTHY.

And if you ever doubt that your mother didn't know...

Read this!

Lovingly,

Your Mother

Non-verbal GIFTED...

Rachel is in the GIFTED program for school.

For something called,

NON-VERBAL gifted.

I had never heard of it...before she was put into the program.

It has something to do with being CREATIVE,

liking to build things, thinking outside the box, etc.

When she came home with her SOLAR SYSTEM from school...

and brought this home,

I knew what it meant.

You definitely HAVE it girl!

One of those moments...

I walked into the room tonight to find this:

and this:

It is ONE of those MOMENTS

as a parent that makes your heart melt.

And when you ask Jacob how he got so SMART or how he learned something...

he always says,

"Katie taught it to me!"

I'm a believer NOW!

Never underestimate the LITTLE one...

Now that school is back in session,

I am posting some of the stories of 2009 that have yet to be told.

This one is a classic...

a true Cinderella story,

okay maybe not quite that dramatic...

but I seriously do some great impressions about this one!

Every school year at Cortina,

the kids have an annual JOG-A-THON.

I love this event.

The kids have the opportunity to raise money for their school by asking DONORS

to pay money per each lap run.

But most importantly,

it provides school PRIDE and PRIDE in themselves for a job well done!

Rachel was the FIRST runner of the day.

She was my cute BALLERINA runner.

She could do the best twists, turns, kicks and exerted more energy

playing SILLY with all of her friends.

Go RACHEL Go!!

This girl does not LACK for friends!!

Total Laps....11!

WhooHOO! Awesome Rachel!

Next in line...CHRISTOPHER!

He played it cool...

This is his YEAR to grow...I just know it!

Some of these kids are HUGE!

Keeping a steady pace...my middle of the pack kind of kid!

Total laps....13!

GREAT JOB...CHRISTOPHER!

Jacob wants to celebrate with you!

That leaves us to end the day with the little one of the family...

KATIE!

She stops to take a POSE for the camera!

She was NOT happy!

She did NOT want to stop for anything...

not even when they had to make a mark after each lap...

or to get a drink of water...

She was determined that NOTHING was going to STOP her!

Not even when her side started hurting!

So how MANY laps did this VERY determined little GIRL get?

14!

Only one 2nd GRADE little boy did better...he got 15!

Never underestimate my little KATIE...she is as strong as they come!

Congratulations to ALL my cute kids...you guys are AWESOME!

Love, MOM

Grandma Steph...

Have you ever had one of those weeks...

where you feel like you are JUST spinning your wheels?

I've had one of those weeks!

Much to Ron's chagrin...

I searched

SIX

different Target Stores,

just to find the right size shorts for Rachel.

Went to

THREE

different Wal-Mart stores to find Raspberry flavoring for some special FUN drinks I was trying to make with the kids.

Tried to RETURN items to people that we have had WAY too long,

just to forget half and have to turn around and start over!

Seriously,

I just needed someone to GIVE me a break!

That's when Grandma Steph stepped in!

We started to get to know Grandma Steph a couple of months ago...she has lived right next door for 2 years.

Jacob started playing with her grandson...and they've become best friends EVER since.

This lady has had some tough times in RECENT years,

but she is a SAINT through and through.

And when Ron and I had to be at court this morning,

long before the kids had to be AWAKE, much less be ready for school...she

gladly came to my rescue.

Not everyone gets the name GRANDMA...

but our SAINTLY neighbor Steph does!

We love you Stephanie!!!

A Lazy SUNDAY afternoon...

When I first heard it announced that church would begin every Sunday in 2009 at

8 a.m....

I was estatic. And I'm not at ALL a morning person.

But I knew it would be so nice to enjoy the quiet of an EARLY Sunday morning.

I can actually feel a slight, faint coolness in the air,

even if the day does turn out to be 108 degrees!

And I love being able to EAT all 3 meals including 2 breakfasts!

(One at 6 a.m. is a small bowl of cereal...but it gets you by til 11 a.m. when I make Eggs, Bacon, Hashbrowns and Toast!)

We are a breakfast eating family so WE love taking advantage of two breakfasts in one day!

But best of all,

is ENJOYING all that comes from having a

LAZY SUNDAY afternoon.

Like we were able to do this Sunday...and we still got to ENJOY a nap when we were through!

We enjoyed making SUGAR cookies!

And decorating them to our hearts content!

Jacob taking the time to wash his hands!! (thank goodness!)

Showing off our confections!