LDS Temple

I wanted to take a minute and explain the title and top picture of my blog. Joy is one of the greatest gifts given to us from our Heavenly Father! In 2 Nephi 2: 25 we read, "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have Joy." A loving Heavenly Father created us and a plan that would allow us to come to earth, gain a body, be tested, have joy! Life is hard and as you can see from my favorite quote, jolts, bumps, bruises are all part of this journey. Life is hard for each of us in different ways and anyone who says that their life is perfect is lying. We all have problems!! But Joy is also part of God's plan. He wants us to be happy!! He knows that when we follow him and his commandments we have the greatest chance to feel Joy. Hence my title, Joy through faith, family, and friends. I know that my faith in Jesus Christ is one of the main reasons I have JOY! Everything else that brings me joy stems from this faith and the blessings from God. Those blessings come in many forms, even sometimes in the form of trials. My greatest blessings that bring me joy are my family and friends. My husband and I had the pleasure of living in the California area when the Newport Beach temple was built. We got to paint a small area in the temple. Going to the temple brings me great joy! The temple is the house of God and a place where families can be sealed together forever. Because of God's gift of temples, I have faith that I can enjoy my family here on earth and also in the next life. I thank my Heavenly Father that Joy can come to each of us through FAITH, FAMILY, and FRIENDS!! What brings you Joy??

Happy New Year 2014

I had pretty much given up the blogging world when I started using Facebook. It seemed many people followed me on Facebook and practically no one viewed my blog. However, for many reasons, top of the list being keeping a photo type journaling for my family, I have decided to start blogging again. Although, I am largely inadequate as a writer I found it helps my testimony of Jesus Christ and my gratitude for my blessings grow as I document our life. I hope that if you happen to read any of the posts on this blog your testimony of your Savior Jesus Christ will grow and your appreciation for all that is good in the world will grow along with mine!

Merry Christmas

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Dad's Surgery!

Thanks for a wonderful husband and many good friends, I was able to be there as my Dad had his surgery! I was so grateful that I was there and was able to spend some wonderful moments with him, mom, James and Katy and their kids, and Ashley and Michael. Words cannot express how much I love my family and how grateful I am that Dad made it through ok. Here we are 3 months later and he is going to have his 3rd round of aggressive Chemo today! The side effects are brutal! He and Mom continue to be such an inspiration to all of us!

Catching up--Jeff and Carly's Visit!

I was going through my pics and realized there was a bunch I didn't post about. I am going to try to print a blog book this year so I want to catch up!
I loved watching my brother help my son on the piano!! My brother is so talented on the piano and it was great to watch him with Tay!

Savannah was my helper in the kitchen!

Logan and Madi are only a few months apart and they love to play together! Sometime Madi gets jealous because Logan also loves to hang out with Taylor! We found them hanging out on the stairs together watching the I-pod!
We were so lucky to get to help celebrate Carly's birthday while they were here!

The kids loved the giant chocolate cookie sundae that they shared!

Bowling, Ringing in the New Year, and Eye Exams were some of the other activities we did together! When I oringially suggested that they come on their way to OK, I didn't realize that on the way meant an additional 9 hours out of their way!! It is 16 hours from our house to theirs! What a sacrifice my sweet brother and sister made on my behalf so that we could enjoy family for the holidays!! Thank you so much!!!

Folk Dance Concert!

Taylor and Emma love their folk dance group at school and I love that is helps them diversify their interests! Here are some pics from the latest concert.

Emma's Birthday

Emma's birthday started out with crepes of course! I took her subway lunch and met her at school and she had caramels for her class treat. That afternoon we had a few friends over for a party. We did flower arranging, something Emma is very good at and loves.

She requested chocolate rasberry cake for dessert. I had never made one of those before but thank to Grandma Pendleton's advice it turned out great!

She is always spoiled by all her Grandparents as many packages came in the mail. Also, Tim and Kathy, our adopted Grandparent, came for dessert and spoiled her as well! Emma, we love you so very much and are so grateful to have you in our family!!

Pinewood Derby

Taylor has lost every race in the Pinewood Derbies prior so he really wanted to do well this year since it was his last one! He worked hard on his car with Dad and they did well and even won a few races this yearThey also had a cake decorating contest! We used this as a Family Night activity and let each of the kids decorate a car. Our cake was sneaky cuz we made it out of rice krispy treats. We were all pleased with how it turned out:)!

Madelyn's Broken Arm

Our sweet Madelyn has lost 4 teeth in the last month and broke her arm. The teeth are expected, the arm not so much! We were on vacaction with family and while having tons of fun with cousins on a trampoline, she was bounced high and came down and landed funny on her arm. Thankfully we have Dr's in the family and she received great care until we could get home and get a hard cast. She is in a full arm cast for 3 weeks and then we will move to a short cast for about 3 as well. She is handling it like a champ and tries her best to write and do all she can in school. Of course it had to be her Right arm that is broke. The saddest part for her was no soccer this season! There is always next year though!!