Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Fathers

Being Father's Day, my weekly blessing is naturally on fathers. There are many fathers in my life that I am truly grateful for. First is the father of of my three wonderful children. My husband is such a fantastic father to our three kids. He plays with the kids, he teaches them responsibility, he also teaches them the gospel both by word and by example. He is kind and loving. He is fun and and hard-working. He is the most wonderful man I know. I love you Brad!

Another Father whom I am grateful for is my own Dad. Through his example he taught me to not just love the gospel but to live it. By his example of a loving husband and father, I knew what to look for as a young adult in the man I chose to marry.

I am grateful for Brad's Father and what he has taught Brad. I am also grateful at how he has accepted me into the family.

I also really appreciate the love and support of Brad's step-father.

Last, but definitely not least. I am truly grateful for a loving Father in Heaven. He has blessed me greatly through out my life. He has given me the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has guided my life both in spiritual and temporal matters. I can go to Him in prayer and He is always there for me.

Thank-you all for being wonderful fathers!!!

Weekly Blessing catch-up - Brad's Helpfulness & Girl's Nights

I missed two Sundays of weekly blessings. So today and throughout the rest of the week I'm going to try to catch-up on this and everything else that has been going on.

I'm extremely grateful that my husband is always willing to lend a hand in whatever I'm doing. On the third of this month I had a Book of Mormon party for my Valiant 11 class. It was a good-bye party for a couple of the girls in my class. One of them had moved out of the ward earlier this year and one is moving away next month. My husband helped me clean the house, prepare meals while I prepared for the party, and he watched our children, keeping them out of the way during the party. You probably get, from reading different blog entries, that my husband's a pretty awesome guy, eh?

This invitation was inspired by my friend Mary Ann. She had a Book of Mormon party when her family finished reading the Book of Mormon. It was a fun party and a wonderful family tradition that I also plan to start in my family whenever we finish the Book of Mormon.

My class had a great time playing games & eating junk. We played a combo game of LDS pictionary, charades and sculptionary, we also played 1-100 Dice, and then the kids went on a scripture treasure hunt to find their party favors.


Another thing I am grateful for is Girls Nights Out. I have enjoyed quite a few get togethers with friends lately and I sure have needed them. My children don't quite give my mind enough stimulation each day, so it's great when I have the chance to visit with women.

I went to a headband party (which will be bogged about in my SPT) on the first of May. Then on the third I went to Kerstin's shower for her baby. Kerstin is well known for making the most amazing food, so we got these cute party favours of Kerstin's favorite recipes to take home. I'm so excited to make these! Actually, I'm more excited to eat what I make, then the making it process.

The crafty clique got together again on the seventh and we made these chunky rings. I made Seija and me matching ones.

Then on the ninth and tenth Brad took the boys to the stake Father & Sons Camp-out. Since It was just Seija and I at home we decided to have a party in the evening on the ninth! It was planned very (VERY) last minute. I invited as many of the Mothers and daughters who were left behind as I could, and we had a great time visiting, eating strawberry shortcake, and letting the kids play. Thanks for coming everyone!

I have a very bad habit of forgetting to take pictures and that night was no different. I finally remembered when it was 11pm and there was only a few of us left...

Here we are still having fun. Even more surprising is that the children were still happy and playing great at 11pm.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Mothers

I thought it was fitting, being Mother's Day, to have this weeks blessing on my gratitude for mothers.

My Mom & Me

I am grateful to my Mom for helping me be the person I am today. The way she lived her life, her testimony of the gospel, and all that she has taught me through the years has shaped who I am. I don't recall my Mom ever yelling at or talking down to me. She is an easygoing person. Growing up she let us kids be kids. We could get dirty, we could have pet bugs in the house, we could run around our home and make noise. I loved my childhood. Thank you Mom for a wonderful childhood. Thank you for helping me see what a mother should be. Thank you for loving Dad and showing me what a marriage should be. Thank you for your continued love, support and help. I love you!!!

My beautiful mother

I am also grateful for my mother-in-law. She has raised Brad to be a kind and gentle person. She has taught him to be hardworking. She helped him gain talents, skills and knowledge. Most importantly she has taught him to love and serve the Lord. Thank you helping Brad to be the wonderful husband and father that he is. Thank you for loving me and accepting me as a daughter. Thank you for being so supportive of us and generous to us. I love you!

Brad's beautiful mother

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Nature Parks

I've lived in big cities all my life. With all the hustle and bustle of the city it's nice to be able to retreat into the woodlands.

We fortunately don't have to go far to get away. I love all the nature parks and trails in and around San Antonio. We try to go hiking at least once a month in different parks around town.

This last Saturday we enjoyed a picnic and hike at Friedrich Park with some friends, Bob & Becky and their children came with us.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - My Hands to Create

I enjoy doing all kinds of crafts. Lately I've been working on cards / paper crafts and cake decorating. Because of all this creative fun I've been having, I've realized how grateful I am for my hands that are able to do what I want to do.

These are peppermint patty duos. Two York mints fit in each box. I did these for the card swap in the surprise / anything category.

This is for a young girl's birthday, I made for the card swap in the birthday category.

The bags with tags I made for the spring category.

Three of the children in my primary class had birthdays last week so I made each of them the above card and the whole class got treats last Sunday (below - one of each)

Last Wednesday was our Crafty Clique night. We had Lindsay teach us cake decorating. Lindsay put so much work into it. She was amazing! She made about 30 cakes and all the icing to go with it, planned two different cake designs / techniques to teach us, she bought all the supplies, did all the setting up & cleaning up, and taught a fabulous class. We all had so much fun. I learned so many useful decorating tips.

Working on the flower cake

Working on the dot cake

The finished products

My work of art!

What do you like to create with your hands?

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Fasting

I enjoy fasting, not the starving - stomach growling bit, but for the way that I feel on the days I fast. I know that I am fasting for a few very good reasons, 1. I fast for a need / cause, 2. I give the money saved (from the two meals in which I fasted from) to charity, to those who need it more than I do, and 3. for my own spiritual uplift. These are the three reasons I am grateful for the law of the fast.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Christ's Resurrection

I thought it was fitting this Easter to remember that Jesus Christ was resurrected. He lives! He overcame death so that we can have that great gift also. I am grateful for this part of His atoning sacrifice!

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Health & the San Antonio Temple

Yes, I know it's Tuesday, but I have two to do. Better late than never. It seems to be my thing to post two days to three weeks later. My first blessing is 9 days late, but my second is only 2 days late :)

First, now that we aren't sick anymore, I'm really grateful to be healthy. I enjoy using all five of my senses (I can breathe well and smell again). I am able to use my limbs and extremities (no more aches all over and the need to lay down all day). I have energy and feel great (no more fever, chills and sweats). I'm enjoying the outdoors again (no more being quarantined in our own home). I love it! I love being healthy. I am grateful I have health of body and mind and all the opportunities that go along with that. The talents I can gain, skills I can learn, knowledge I can attain, sports I can play, activities I can do, service I can perform, etc. I now have the health to get out and enjoy using our Chariot again (below) for walking and cycling.

The second blessing I'm grateful to have is a temple so close by. I'm really grateful that the San Antonio Temple was built and operational just before we moved here. Brad and I were able to enjoy going to the temple last Friday. It is so wonderful to be there, to feel the warmth of the spirit that resides there. Because we have a temple minutes from our home we are able to go together often. We attend the temple at least once each month. When we move from here, we won't be so lucky. The nearest temple will be four hours from our new city (if it is operating by then). We try to take advantage of the opportunity and blessing we have here.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Breathing & Modern Medicine

As I have two and a half weeks of blogging to catch up on, I am listing two blessings this week. The first is the blessing of being able to breathe. I am really grateful I can breathe! I really like breathing!!!

"Mosiah 2:21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."

I've always liked the scripture above, because it teaches how much we need God. We need Him everyday to give us breath, along with everything else. At any moment the ability to breathe could be taken away from us. They say 'you don't know what you've got until it's gone'. Being asthmatic I've never taken for granted the ability to breathe, because there's been too many times that breathing has been a challenge. These last two weeks is a prime example.

After Brad and I got home from Vegas (more on that to come), the influenza infection hit our family with a vengeance (vengeance from what, I know not). I had trouble just getting out of bed, let alone trying to put a couple coherent thoughts together for a blog post (which is why this post hasn't happened until now). This flu came with many symptoms. I had a fever that fluctuated between 39C (aka 102.2F) and 41C (aka 105.8F) for over three days. I had the chills, sweats, achy body, an insanely runny nose, head aches, back aches, a terrible cough and major breathing difficulties.

This flu is also the reason for the second blessing of modern medication. Using all my inhalers to help me breathe better just wasn't cutting it for this flu. So I am extremely grateful for strong prescription drugs that helped me begin breathing better right away, and for the strong prescriptions that helped me through the long haul of this viral infection.

These and other medicines have been lifesavers (literally).

Sunday's Weekly Blessing (on Tuesday) - Friends

I am really grateful for all the friends I have made, where ever I have moved. You have made me feel welcomed. You have helped me through many tough situations. We have laughed together. We have had fun. I feel loved and blessed to have each of you in my life.

I was out of town this weekend, which is why this post is late. Me being out of town is also the reason I picked "Friends" for my blessing post this week. I had a bunch of friends pull together to watch my children while my husband and I were in Las Vegas (a lot more on that wonderful weekend is coming!).

While we were gone we needed someone to watch our children. As I was thinking of who could watch the children I decided to call Jill to see who she had gotten. While we were talking, she offered to watch my children. So nice, hey!?! I took her up on that offer, and rested easy knowing our children would have a blast and would be well taken care of. I rested easy, that is, until she called me on the day of my trip to tell me of her daughter's emergency surgery, and that she could no longer watch my children the whole time. STRESSED!!! So last minute, we found some other wonderful friends to help out. Jill watched them Friday afternoon - Sunday afternoon. Than we got Beth to watch them Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon. And we got Derek & Amy to watch them Monday afternoon until we got home late that night. Thank-you, Thank-you for helping us out!!!!!!!! You are all awesome!

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Prophets

My weekly blessings have just fallen into place each week thus far and this one is no different. Today at Stake Conference we were able to sustain Thomas S Monson as the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love him for the all the service he has given in the Lord's church and for all that he will give. I am really grateful that God loves us, in these times, as much as he loved those in Bible times, and has given us prophets to guide each and everyone of us.

President Eyring (1st counselor), President Monson (President), and President Uchtdorf (2nd counselor)

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Long Time Friends

This week I have caught up with some long-time friends I hadn't talked to in awhile. It was so nice to communicate with them. It's been way too long between contacts. I really appreciate all the friends I had during my youth and the many friends I continue to make along my life' s journey. You guys are awesome! You all have been and are a blessing in my life!

Stephen, Cynthia, and Nadia

The three friends I was able to converse with this week. Sorry for the unflattering picture, but it was the only one I had of all three of you. Thanks for calling and emailing! It's so nice to catch up and reminisce. Anyone else who wants to catch up by calling or emailing, please do!!!

Thought I'd include an old picture of Brad and me, taken back in 1997

We look young, eh?

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - President Gordon B Hinckley

Our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away tonight at around 7pm MST. He was president and a prophet of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, since 1995. He passed away at age 97. He has been a great blessing in my life in so many ways, so I decided to make my weekly blessing about him and some of the things he has done for the church.

One of the many things I am grateful for is "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" which can be found at: http://www.lds.org/pa/library/0,17905,5021-1,00.html
This document explains our beliefs on marriage and family.

President Hinckley has also brought forth the building of many temples around the world, which has directly affected me. When he first became President of the church there were 47 temples operating now (about 13 years later) there are 124 operating temples with 10 more under construction and a few more announced. When we moved to Edmonton in 2001 there was a new temple (dedicated Dec. 1999) within 5 minutes from our home. Then when we moved to San Antonio in 2006, we were pleased to find a new temple (dedicated May 2005) only 20 minutes from our home. We have been so greatly blessed to have temples so close by and to be able to attend frequently.

Thank you for your love and example to us all. Thank you for your tireless effort in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We love you President Hinckley! We will miss you.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Baptism by Immersion

Today I've been thinking a lot about baptism. The missionaries have been teaching great boy (Antonio), who is in my primary class. He and his older brother decided to get baptized. Antonio is a very bright, mature young man who loves learning the gospel. I'm so excited that he made this decision!

Me & Antonio

Antonio got baptized today at 6:30. I was pleased to be there and support him, and also to be a part of their special day by giving a talk.

Missionaries, Geneva (their Grandma), Richard & Antonio

I am grateful for the decision I made as a young child to be baptized and that I have the fullness of the gospel to direct my life.