Some New Music

Ava is really into all of our electronics. She always grabs our phones and starts pushing buttons, takes the camera and tries to take pictures or stands on her tippy toes and types on our computers.


Here she is with Scott using his head-phones to listen to music. She loves doing something that we're doing.

Giving Thanks Daily

Scott and I were asked to speak in church the weekend before Thanksgiving. Our topic was Giving Thanks Daily. I spoke before Scott and I mainly talked about some of the lessons I've learned in life.


I talked about my parent's closet growing up and how my sister and I use to play dare by running into the closet and touching a scary mask. How the closet held a lot of special things like my parents fancy clothes, the bullet taken from my dad's leg during the Korean War and his dog tags, our family pictures and a family Bible handed down from many generations. The Bible was very old and worn but not worn from use but worn from time.

1. I'm grateful that I have my own Bible and Book of Mormon scripture that I can read daily and that they are worn out by use and not just time. I'm grateful that I have a growing understanding of their value and that they are not stored way on a shelf in a closet.


I talked about my time at BYU and how my freshman year we had church early and I usually didn't want to get up and go. I usually tried to sleep in. I told how one Sunday the Bishop came over to the dorm and got all of us slackers out of bed and gave us a 'talk'. I remember the feelings I had more than his words. I began to be taught and understand the value of not only knowing the truth but learning to live it.
I also remember that same year climbing the fence to the tennis courts on a Sunday, so I could play tennis. No school or anybody else for that matter was going to tell me what I could and could not do on Sunday. I'll show them, I'll just climb the locked fence and play.

I have not always in the past had the same desire that is in my heart today to know and understand and do the Lords will.

2. I'm grateful for guidelines and/or standards that help me progress as well as wonderful leaders that are not scared to give needed council or nudges to get me back on track. 2 years later I was called as first counselor in the Relief Society Presidency.


I showed a fancy hanger I have. It came from the first outfit I bought when our little Caroline came to live with us. I spoke on how perishes things are treated differently. I spoke on feeling the Spirit and the pursuit of happiness.

3. I am grateful to serve now as the Relief Society President. That I have an opportunity to be surrounded by wonderful leaders and hear and learn so much by my current calling. That I am learning how important it is to seek opportunities to feel the spirit and by feeling the spirit you will want to be feel it again and again and again.


And though I didn't speak of this during my talk - I am so grateful for my husband and my wonderful girls! My life is full of so much joy because of them. I put this group of pictures here because some things that are so frustrating can be so cute at the same time and I know will be so fleeting.

It is very hard to do the dishes when Ava is around. She is tall enough and confident enough now to climb up and explore. As soon as you open the dishwasher door, Ava comes running over and starts grabbing. I've now started doing the bottom section first and always put a couple of items in first that she can take, like plastic plates. She takes them and runs away leaving me a few minutes to try and load what I have ready. Then she comes back and starts climbing to see what's on top. It is really cute but also very madding at the same time. Doing the dishes is not something I want to stretch out but something I know I'll miss when she has grown past it.

4. I'm grateful daily for my life, my body, my health, that I am able to enjoy the love that surrounds me, My Love, My Heart and My LIFE - My Husband and My Girls.

A Turkey Design

Ameya brought home an outline of a turkey from school right before the holiday week. Each child was suppose to decorate it and then bring it back to school for display.


Scott helped Ameya create hers by using all natural items from our garden and pantry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDY

Wishing you a great day and a wonderful year ahead!
Love Scott, Janice, Ameya and Ava

Updates of Wonder

I know I am so behind on blogging. I, like Carly use my blog as part of my journaling of daily life so I won't forget. I have one more week of class and then I'm hoping to have some free time and will try to get caught up....just in time for Christmas.

Yes, I'm still the Relief Society President and I love my calling. Every few months I have the opportunity to teach the sisters. I feel a great weight in teaching and always hope that I can say something worthwhile and something that Heavenly Father would want me to teach.

This last month my lesson was on the Scriptures and loving them. How much just reading them can guide us, strengthen us, comfort us, teach us....and on and on. I study so much more the Book Of Mormon and forget sometimes the great lessons and stories that are in the Bible.

I choose two stories from the Old Testament and used them for the base of my lesson - Faith and Miracles.
The first story I spoke on was the story of Noah. What faith and courage Noah had to do what the Lord asked. That people laughed at him but he continued on anyway even when there was no evidence of rain. But when the rain did come, Noah was prepared because he listened to the Lord - When the Lord asks us to do something, even when it is not the popular thing to do or even when people will make fun of us, or even when we do not understand the logic behind what is being asked, in the end, like Noah, we will be found on the right side...we just need faith to follow Heavenly Father and after our faith we will see the miracles in our lives.

The second story I spoke on was the story of Moses. Again Moses had great faith but I focused on the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. Who would have ever thought in those circumstances or any circumstances, that the sea would part. Our lives are like that. We can not always see the path that will open up for us but Heavenly Father knows us and knows what path we need to be on. We will have experience with joys and sorrows but Heavenly Father is with us and like Moses, he will part the Red Sea for us.

If anyone would have told me a little over a year ago that our little baby Ava was coming, I would have faulted in my belief. And if they told me the manner in how she was coming and that we would be picked from all the wonderful waiting families in Colorado Springs, I would have faulted.
But it is true - Heavenly Father heard so many prayers on our behalf and knew of our desire and then when the time was right, he parted the Red Sea for us and our little miracle Ava came into our lives.

The picture at the top is of Brother Owens from our Stake. He is one of the two police officers that found Ava that day. He went to the hospital with her and watched over her. At one point, he found himself alone with her and felt prompted to give her a blessing. I don't know all that Brother Owens was able to bless Ava with but I believe she is with us today because of that blessing.

Thank you Brother Owens for taking care of our little Ava and loving her! We are so grateful for you, for the priesthood you hold and the opportunity to know you!