What matters most?

I was recently blog hopping and came across this quote. It really resonates with me, especially this time of year as I am thinking of all the things I am grateful for. What matters most to me? I have had a lot of little life lessons this past year and the one thing that I have learned and that stands out the most to me could not be said any better than how Mr. Max Lucado stated it:

  "When you are in the final days of your life, what will you want? Will you hug that college degree in the walnut frame? Will you ask to be carried to the garage so you can sit in your car? Will you find comfort in rereading your financial statement? Of course not. What will matter then will be people. If relationships will matter most then, shouldn’t they matter most now?" – Max Lucado

I want my husband and my children to know they matter most. I also want them to know that I have a relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. Without the Savior as a foundation for me my relationships with my family would have no eternal value. I will be with them forever and throughout eternity because of what our Savior did for all of us. In the end nothing else really matters except for how I treated others. I can obtain all the knowledge in the world and have all the things that the world says are valuable but if I have not shown the ones I love the most that I love them the most then what do all those other things matter in the end? I have made lots of mistakes and I am growing and learning in my relationships. I am very grateful for children who have loved me despite my shortcomings. My husband has been the most patient as I have learned to let him love me and shown me he is my best friend! I have been thinking so much about my children lately. It is a funny season of life for me. While most of my children are grown and out of the house and the ones who are home are not so dependent upon me, I have been trying to find my place in their lives. I want to continue the relationships we had when they were little but their needs are different and where I fit into their lives is different. I love them so much and treasure the moments when we are together. Despite all the differences we have I feel my love for them is stronger now more than ever. This month I will work on being more "intentional" in my relationships with my children and husband.

I love this picture of Taylor and Chloe. It tells really a story of how all my children are with one another. They love and support and come together when we go through hard things. There have been many times I am amazed at how they just do what is needed for each other - at times it comes at a great sacrifice - but they love each other so much.

Even though a couple of kids are not in the background of this picture I love how it shows our story of how we are together David and I but we have this legacy behind us that will only continue to grow!

 

This mother will always be grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who trusted her so much to send eleven of His choicest spirits to her to raise and teach and love!

 

Noah

I have been missing this #3 son a lot lately. I did not think I would miss so much all the lively taunting this boy seemed to constantly be the author of. But I do. Here he stands with his new bike ready to teach the fine folks of Indiana about Jesus Christ. He has been gone now for three months. It seems so much longer. I am glad that he has taken his cute sense of humor with him and even though he seems more serious he still makes us laugh and believe it or not still can taunt the girls! He is special that way:) I wonder though if he knows how much of an example he is to all of us. I wonder if he knows that because he chose to serve the Lord for two years that lives will be changed and he will have a hand in it. I know that what he is doing is important and that in the end he will learn so much more than had he not chosen to serve his mission. I love the power of his testimony right now.  I had such a powerful experience about this young man and know without a doubt that the Lord has him where he can do the most good for the people and for himself. To quote Noah himself "My mindset is that the next person I talk has been prepared to hear this message of the restored gospel. That's why it is crucial to talk to everyone, to be bold, and to do it with a smile on your face. That's why I'm here, sacrificing two years of my life, so why not do it with a good attitude!!" I love him so much and I am glad that I can share him with the good people of Indiana!

Chelsea's surpise wedding

A couple of weeks ago my daughter Chelsea, who had planned an engagement party, surprised everyone by getting married! Of course, I knew about it and so did her father and a couple of her sisters. But for the most part it was a surprise to everyone! It turned out beautiful and was just like she had dreamed it to be. You can check out her video that Nick (Ashleigh's husband) put together for them here: http://vimeo.com/107013988

I made her bouquet. She wanted it out of vintage broaches and so with only a couple of months to find them I went to work putting it together. We had some from Dan's family and some from a few of Chelsea's friends and the rest we found or purchased.  I wanted it different than anything I had seen on pinterest.  I used a vintage hand mirror as the base and glued the foam onto the mirror part. Covered it with purple lace and then added the pins like they were flowers with flower picks. If she wants she can use any of the broaches. I think it turned out more beautiful than even she imagined. Here Taylor is holding it.

I can't believe that I have three daughters married now. It seems like it has taken forever for these weddings to happen. I think there might be a couple more coming in the next year or two...

Has it really been a year?

Wow! I cannot believe it has been nearly a year since I have written anything on my blog. It was an incredibly hard year and I fully anticipated getting caught up each week. Funny how fast time goes by. It is the beginning of a new school year and it seems so weird only having three children enrolled in school. They are all older and very independent. They help out tons around the house and are involved in lots of extra activities. I feel at a calm place in my life right now. Like I said the past year was full of lots of unexpected turns and trials but I feel like I came out on top every time something came up. My mom has moved back to California to live with my brother Brian. Her life has changed as well. I am glad that I was able to help her out as much as I could even though it was very hard at times to understand why things were going the way they were. Chad and Paige are in a good place right now. Noah is out on his mission! Chelsea is going to be getting married! Toshia had her third baby this last year! Ashleigh and Nick are saving for a new house! Chloe is in Portland now and working hard. Seth is using his talents in art to create many beautiful things! Taylor, Hayden and Autumn are working hard in school and seem to be very happy! Life is good. David and I are working hard to improve things around our home and serving in our callings. I am so happy that I have chosen not to let the events of the past year pull me down to despair. There is always someone worse off than me...I have so much and need to keep things in perspective. I honestly would not have gotten as close to my Heavenly Father as I have were not for all the events and trials of this past year. Did I say already it was a hard year? I have goals to keep on blogging and get back to my journal keeping here on my blog. My sister and I are working on starting a new online business and I will be sharing that as it gets some more traction.

{Just a little side note, the work with my sister has been so wonderful as we prepare to start this little business adventure that it has helped me in more ways than I can count. Heavenly Father knows how to bring joy in my life as I see the beauty in old things made new again.}

I have a new camera and need to learn how to download the pictures and get things up and running again. I have been making lots of things and want to share. I am trying to organize my life in such a way that I make time for all that I want and need to do. My word for this year 2014 has been "intentional". It has been a wonderful word to have on my mind as I reflect back on all that is important to me and how I want to prioritize things. I want my Savior to come first in my life and as I do that I feel all other things will fall in line. I've been working on more "intentional" prayers and Sabbath Day worship. I have been weekly going to the temple and working hard on our genealogy to do family names while I am there. Just this last week I found a whole new family and I'm so excited that the girls will be able to take names to the temple in November when they go with the youth. Last June we did about 54 names and had a very special time in the temple as we went with Toshia, Chad, Noah, Taylor and Hayden. It was so sweet to have so many of the children there with us as we did family baptisms. It was fun to have Noah be on the Priesthood side of things. From his letters he is having a great time on his mission and loving it even though at times it is hard. 

Lots to get caught up on, lots of pictures to share and hopefully family and friends will trust that I will be a more regular writer on this blog. Happy Monday to everyone!