Pages 3-14: Whirlwind anyone?

Pages 3-5: On this Friday, Dustin returned from 4 days away at work. We rushed down to LaVerkin that night to be there for Dustin's Grandpa's funeral the next day. The ride down was so peaceful and filled with love. We really enjoyed each other's company. Thankfully we were able to borrow our friend's vehicle to make the trip! On Saturday we went to the funeral services in Virgin, UT. Grandpa Al was loved by so many and will be missed by all. It did get me thinking though,  how sad it is to come from such a huge family. Most everyone doesn't know each other, because there are so many to count. I mean how lame is it to have so many family members that are actually strangers? I too have this issue with my family. My grandparents also had a bagillion kids, lol ok exaggeration, but the point is, we are just another face in the crowd, so sad really, to feel so alone in such a mass amount of family members. Moving onto Sunday we headed back home to go to the 2nd service for Grandpa Al.  I'm grateful this man lived a life that led to so many people's lives being created. I'm grateful we got to celebrate him and learn more about the man who contributed to my husband's and children's lives. We all shared an ice cream in his honor, since he loved eating ice cream.

Unfortunately we had to leave early from the 2nd service to get Kylie to the airport for her trip back to AZ.

Pages 6-10: I started homeschooling Landyn!! He's loving it so far and so am I. I feel more confident knowing exactly where he is at educationally, than if I send him off to someone else to do it. The K12 program is so perfect and set up so great. On Friday we got to go sledding, unfortunately it didn't last long because Axzona's poor asthma kicked in again:( I'm still getting into the habit of remembering her inhaler.
Pages 11-14: On Saturday I got to take the kids out for free ice skating lessons, they absolutely loved it. I'm hoping to get it so we can put Kaden in lessons soon. He is so talented at all sports, it's been so difficult to put him in anything due to finances. It's finally nice to be able to actually afford putting him into something to grow his skills. Dustin came home on Sunday from being away again for 5 days, it's so difficult. We all miss him so much and sponge every second of his time up. He was able to be home for FHE and so we all went ice skating as a family. I personally am so scared of falling when I skate, I don't really go too fast or stay on the ice for too long. Either way, I'm grateful for the time we got to spend as a family.
Today I woke up at 4:30am to send Dustin off to work again. I'm missing him so much:( It was weird to be on a Marriage mentoring call without my other half. I'm grateful I was on it to take notes and then relay the message to him. I've been strongly considering cutting my hair like this....what do you think?

Page 2: You are Loved

I felt the need to deep clean our fridge and kitchen today. It feels so good to release the old with the new year, still so much more de cluttering and cleaning to do, but I'm taking it one victory at a time.

So I came to realize something powerful today.
My 2 year is 2 and so she has little meltdowns when things don't go her way, or when she can't fully express what's frustrating her. With my eldest daughter I was a much less patient Mom, granted I had an insurmountable amount of stuff on my plate at that time, but it doesn't make it alright. Now that I've been doing this Mom thing for some years, I've picked up a lot of valuable tools and tricks of the trade.
What I realized today was that the following words I tell my little 2 year old daughter during her tough times can be given to all of my children and even me.
Instead of jumping to anger or counting to 10 to "calm",  I've found these words work for everyone. They work to comfort, they work to bring peace and calm, they work to balance and I'm grateful for these words:

I am loved and I am safe.

My mommy loves me.

My daddy loves me.

(own name) loves me.

Heavenly father loves me.

my brother(s) love me.

My sister(s) love me.

I am loved

I am enough

and I am safe.

The sweet thing about the above is it can be modified for whomever is saying it. 
I have my children repeat after me and it literally shifts it every time.

So to you, yes you the reader....see how it works for yourself

You are loved and you are safe

Your mommy loves you

Tour daddy loves you

You love you.

Heavenly Father loves you

Your siblings love you

Your family loves you

Your friends love you

You are loved

You are enough 

and you are safe.

Page 1 of 365

Inspired by the picture on the left, I will be writing my 365 page book in my blog. Something I haven't done for 2 years, yes, 2 years!!
Enjoy:) 
Last night was so much fun, even though Dustin was away at work. The kids and I got to celebrate at the Kaysville City NYEve Party. A big shout out to all the volunteers and entertainment for providing a FREE family oriented event. We truly had a blast, especially enjoyed the Magic Show, Mike literally had me stumped and in awe. Once we finished up celebrating New years with the New Yorkers and fellow Kaysvillians, the kids and I headed home for our own fun. We flipped on the telly and hooted and hollered while the ball dropped at midnight. The room was covered in confetti and thoroughly filled with love and fun. 

My first day of the year was spent cleaning house, nothing overly extravagant, but very fulfilling. I got the Christmas tree and decor taken down. The house is beginning to feel lighter again and clean! I'm so grateful for days when I can enjoy a clean home, even if it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. 
I'm grateful I got to talk to Dustin today.
I'm grateful for my Dad and the person he is for my children. He is so loved by them and me.
I'm grateful for my children, they really light up my world. I'm excited to create a 2014 Jar, filled with our most valued memories from this year:)

May your 2014 Jar be filled to the brim with many blessings!

January 2k12

Welcome to 2012!!
I decided to put my blog on hold during the holiday season and now I'm grateful to be back. However, I won't be doing my blog on a daily basis, rather a monthly gratitude blog. I have so much on my plate and get to manage my time responsibly.
I'm so grateful this month for the days my body functions healthily, for seeing KYLIE, and for my new spiritual journey.
It's been an interesting year already; just 9 days in I had a mini-stroke or had signs of a stroke, the doctors are still trying to figure out exactly what's going on with me. As I have woken up nearly every morning with that same feeling, eh. Then on Friday the 13th, I was reunited with my bonus daughter, Kylie, after 2 long, learning, and at times painful years. I'm so grateful for the lessons I learned, for the person it's made me, and for Kylie's unconditional love. She just loved and welcomed me with such open arms, I'm grateful the Lord protected her.
I've been on a lovely journey in my spiritual growth as well. I've been attending church weekly, reading my scriptures/praying daily, and connecting with people in my life. I feel so blessed for the love and support I receive from those around me and from Heavenly Father.

This month I also started a new organization where we as a body of people can have huge effects on our lives, our loved ones lives and even complete strangers. The Butterfly effect is all about doing an inspiring act for another, to change the future. I'm really hoping it takes and people will be inspired to participate and share their experiences.
Check out the site and like it:) https://www.facebook.com/TheButterflyEffect12
~Service to our fellow man is a crucial part to our spiritual journey.~

Love your Light for you=~

The Winner Is!

Talk about falling off the ban wagon....sheesh, I was doing my blog without fail every day.
Holidays and birthdays and all that jazz really throws things, but I'm back and I'm excited to announce the winner of the 100th Day Giveaway today!!

I appreciate everyone who participated in the event and I'm excited for the next time I can do a giveaway!
I'm even more excited that my blog is a book!!
Today I'm grateful for my tradition with my kids; I take them out to a movie the day before their bday, so it's the last movie they at that age....it's really cool. I'm grateful for snuggle time with my snuggle bug, Axzona. I'm grateful for my Dad and Mama, they surprised us with MORE presents for Christmas, how blessed are my kids! I'm grateful for my sis sending me an xmas card, it's so beautiful. I love this time of year.....so excited for tomorrow, it's Axzonas bday!!

Okie dokie and the WINNER is Lili Rhodes!! Congratulations girl and when I get it completed, I'll be mailing it off your way!!

What are you grateful for? Please do share!

Christmas feels lovely

Today has been lovely. I feel so accomplished and we had a fun day.
I moved our living room around and it's given our entire home the shift it needed. I just love the feeling of Christmas in our home. It's really lovely sitting together as a family watching Christmas movies together by the light of our Christmas tree. I'm at such peace.
Grateful for being super silly and fun with Dustin today, we laughed ALOT, hehe. It was lovely.

What's Best

Today I am grateful for my friend bringing over the cutest clippies flower arrangement for the girls. So creative and sweet, I'm grateful she was so thoughtful, to think of me. I felt special hehe.
I'm also grateful for being an honest friend, it took a lot of courage. I didn't just sit back and let this person do something mean and cruel without saying something to stop the choice. This  cost me a friendship, but if that's the type of person they want to be then that's their choice. I then choose not to be friends with that type of character. I'm sad of course because I love this person but enough is enough and this is what's best. I wish you well on your way my friend and hope you find the happiness you so long for.