Taylor and Hayden celebrate their birthdays

Happy Birthday to my two January girls! Hayden turned 9 on the 16th and Taylor turned 11 on the 26th. For Hayden we were at the coast so we celebrated there with a birthday breakfast. They came and sang happy birthday to her and gave her a balloon. She was so surprised. We went shopping and she picked out a complete outfit and then also bought some things from bath and body works. She claims that is her favorite store! It was a great day shopping with her. For Taylor we went to the movies and she waited until evening to open her gifts. We had our family party on Sunday and everyone came for dinner. It was fantastic! The children were all so happy and it was fun to get to talk to all of them and have cake and ice cream. My little girls are getting so grown-up. I am so excited for the year ahead and all the fun things they get to experience as a 9 and 11 year old! Love you girls, Happy Birthday!

Breakfast conversation with Autumn

David had an interesting conversation yesterday morning at breakfast with this little one.

Autumn: "Dad, why aren't you a millionaire? Dad, how can you become a millionaire?"

David: "Well, Autumn, I would have to be smarter, work harder and be gone all the time. In fact, you kids would never see me."

Without missing a beat -

Autumn: "That's OK dad, we have pictures of you!"

David did all he could do to keep from choking on his cereal. After a few minutes he asked her,

David: "If I was never home how would I get the money to all of you?"

Again, without missing a beat -

Autumn: "We have mail!

I just started laughing when I heard this conversation. How does a six year old be so witty and make everything seem so simple?

I learned a new word...

I learned a new word today.

ameliorate: verb, to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory;improve.

I have been thinking a lot about my word for the year. I have had it on my mind for a couple of months and thought I knew what I wanted it to be this year. I have also been thinking about goals and setting some new ones. But today as I was cleaning and putting Christmas away I really did not want to make new goals or resolutions.

President Brigham Young said that the Lord “gives a little to his humble followers today, and if they improve upon it, tomorrow he will give them a little more, and the next day a little more. He does not add to that which they do not improve upon” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 90)

I just love that quote! My thoughts of the past couple of months of my new word have gone right out the window. I will save that one for another time. What I want to do this year is IMPROVE or AMELIORATE! I want the Lord to add to what I have. How can I ask for more when I have not done what I have been asked to do in the first place? Interesting how my prayer of late has been "to please show me how to follow Him better" and this word comes into my life today- ameliorate. I find this quote today. I understand more today. I think in my study today I IMPROVED a little more by keeping His thoughts in my thoughts.

So this year no list of new goals, no New Year's resolutions that go by the wayside in a few weeks anyway, no new added things to my list that is already so long that there is no way I could ever get anything new done. I am going to IMPROVE on what I already have, IMPROVE on what I already know, IMPROVE on my studies, prayers, church worship, temple attendance, and being a good friend, wife and mother!
If you have not guessed by now my word for the year -IMPROVE (ameliorate)