Neccessities of Life

Well, guess what? I'm teaching my children how to cook. I have a salter, a chopper, and an opener. With each of them doing their specified job, we had a great dinner of chicken, squash, and peas. Guess what else? Because they cooked it, they ate it! I never got the step by step instruction on cooking when I was young, so I'm starting them out early. So far so good! We are now going to play Disney Scene-it. Dylon always wins, but I'm hard core tonight! Look out, Mickey, here I come! I actually got a picture of them doing the dishes. Oh yeah, I'm teaching them to clean up the dinner too. Neccessities of life, I'm kinda likin' it!
Dylon had his first soccer game of the season and he scored two goals; he's my soccer-stud! The girls are so girly! I love it!
Best of all, we love God with everything we have. I am truly blessed.

What have we not done? Let me check my Calendar

The title is all in fun, but seriously! I'm now relaxing at home, taking a much needed break from our over-scheduled lives. Over the last few weeks we have accomplished so many things. Our house is now officially on the market. We have to keep it spic and span to show almost on a daily basis. With three kids, ha, it's been interesting! My kids have been great. Our house has been on the market for 3 weeks and we've shown it 10 times. Yeah! I hope it sells soon. I've also completed half a semester of college. I have a 98 in my Media & Technology class, a 98 in Psych, and a 100 in Foundations of Education. So far, so good! It's been amazing. I'm learning alot and finding time to do everything else. Last Friday we hosted a "PINC" conference for girls. We had a special guest come and speak to our girls ages 12-21. Purity, Idenity, health and fitness, being a lady, and we had a police officer come and do a powerpoint on internet safety. We started Friday night at 7:30pm and went 'til 11:00am, Saturday. Yes, I stayed up all night....We played strobe light tag, sardines (hide and seek in the dark), and I taught all the girls a danced I choreographed for the mission field a couple of years ago.. They loved it and so did I!!! We had around 50 girls attend. Oh yeah, I'm still married to the greatest guy in the planet! Sorry ladies, I know you thought you were married to the greatest guy, but nope, I got him!!!! Anyway, he's doing great. He's skiing at Wolf Creek right now. He's so crazy. He skied the bowl today, he is pumped. I'd pass out before I ever got there. Dylon and Brooklyn are starting soccer. Addyson is very satisfied just watching. Nate is coaching Dylon's team.
Well, now that you understand my title, I'll gladly let you know that I'm relaxing now. We did go swimming on Tues. at the YMCA, and we will go bowling tomorrow..but that is way easy for me..I love my life. Guess what? We've even made time to go on a few dates!!!! hehe! How do I make time? You should see my calendar!!! When Brooklyn was in the hospital Nate knew exactly who was doing what, when, and where!! It was all on the calendar!! If you don't have one, get one, it works!!
Until later,
The Picture is of Dylon and Brooklyn's musical they were in: Captain Noah's Zoo Cruise for Twos. Dylon was Shem-Noah's son. He had a main part, a singing solo, and I didn't even know it until I got there, that little rascal!
Love ya!

When Life Slaps You Around, Slap it Back!

Okay, so maybe that isn't the "in" thing to do "in a sense." However, sometimes we have to have a change of mindset. I heard a great bit of advice one day this week. The woman told me to have a change in attitude. To do this, we have to change our perspectives. She said this, "a college student wrote a letter to her parents. She apologized for not keeping in touch, but since her arrival in college, she had experienced severe migraines from jumping out of her dorm window. Her dorm had caught on fire and she jumped from a second story window, hit her head, and got a concussion. A nearby neighbor saw her jump out of the window, came to her rescue, and invited her to live in his basement due to the dorm damage. Well, they fell in love and planned on getting married, after the baby's born, of course. And by the way, she had contracted a STD from him that was being treated with medication. Then the college student told the parents that she loved them and couldn't wait to talk to them. Then, she added that she really didn't jump out of her dorm window, no fire, no boyfriend, no wedding, no pregnancy, no disease....She is having a great year, except that she is failing history and science!" Sometimes all we need is a change of perspective, right? Hope your having a great day! Look on the bright side, whatever your going through, it could be a lot worse! Love ya,
Jolie

Success

Have you ever read something that made a big impact on your life? Sometimes we get discouraged by this or that, but then, something comes along to "wake you up," so to speak. I read a really great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Yeah, Iknow. I'm one of those kind of people who really loves to read. Here is the quote. I hope that it touches you like it did me.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

I pray that I find and emulate this kind of success. If I've helped just one person, it's all worth while.