He IS Risen!

I've been so consumed with all the changes going on in my life, dance recitals and too many other concerns. But I certainly don't want to forget the reason we celebrate Easter or why it's so special to me.

As with all holidays I love the decor, the food and the family get together's.

But today, I am especially grateful for a Savior. For the knowledge that He lives. That He is mindful of me. That He carries me often.

I love Him. I am grateful for Him. And for all I learn from Him.

I am encouraged to know that I can actually become like Him. I strive for that daily.

I also fail daily.

I am grateful for His atonement - so when I fail, I can start over. And learn from my mistakes and hopefully, not repeat them.

I have faltered a little more this week than I would have liked. I forgot these words, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." D&C 6:36

I need to remember these words more often.

And these.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philipians 4:13

He IS risen. He lives! He loves each of us.

I Love Him.

The Only Thing You Can Count On . . .

is change. Seriously, just think about it for a minute and you will agree!

14 years ago we were split from our ward (Crosspoint) and put in a new ward (Adobe). It was painful and very hard.

Hillary had just turned 12. Heather was soon to be 8. And I felt like I had lost half my family. I didn't know ANYONE in our new ward, except the fellow ward members that were part of the change.

Within the week, the primary president showed up at our house with a treat to welcome my primary aged kids. The Young Women came and welcomed our sweet New Beehive, Hillary. I felt loved. But it still took a little time to find our place. It happened though and it turned out to be the best thing to happen to our family.

Our girls thrived in this ward. We were loved and accepted unconditionally. I have made friends and so many memories. I have grown personally and spiritually in ways that I don't think I would have otherwise.

Today. It happened again.

Adobe Ward was dissolved today. A new ward was created. Four wards were completely realigned.

We are now in the Val Vista ward. Some of our friends that we left 14 years ago are in this new Val Vista ward. It will be fun to get reacquainted.

But for today I am sad. Some of my very best friends are no longer going to be there each Sunday. Relief Society will not be the same. Today, my heart is broken. I feel like I lost something very precious.

We all know - know matter how much you intend to stay in touch - life happens. This is really hard. And I don't like it.

But - I know in a few weeks, the dust will settle. In a few months it won't be so awkward. And in a few years everything will be just as it should be. Comfortable again.

And then it will happen. Change.

Another Ward? Maybe this time a new Stake? And we'll survive.

Easter Decor

I'm loving spring! It can't decide whether to get warm or stay cool. But I love the cool days!

Keeping with tradition I put up my Easter decorations. I actually, kept it simpler this year. I've been working on some "home improvements" so that has taken my attention. But I love the spring feel in my house!

Here are some pictures for memory sake!

I planted wheat grass this year. It looks pretty cute with a fresh "hair" cut! I don't think I'll do this again though. It's too much work keeping it watered and trimmed!


Vintage Easter cards, cherry blossoms and branches with Easter eggs hanging from them.

I love my little nest sitting on the cake plate. (I made the cake plate with a thrift store purchase of a glass plate and candle stick holder)

I started collecting candy jars from thrift stores and yard sales. I put Easter eggs in them this year! Pretty simple!

Here's a sneak peak some of my home improvement I'm working on! Not the best picture, but you get the idea! I re-did my family room wall. I added aqua in with my red! It's been a fun change of pace!

Easter Egg Garland

Easter is coming very late this year. Which is a good thing for me, 'cause right now I'm in the middle of "updating" the decor in my kitchen/family room. Part of me doesn't really want to decorate for Easter, but the creative me does.

So I got an idea from Nap Time Journal blog for an Easter Egg garland and I decided I needed to do a little crafting! It was really fun and quite simple!

I used my awesome baker's twine that I got from the Twinery!
I strung plastic eggs and peeps on the twine. Between the eggs I tied tulle. I think it turned out pretty cute.

If you want to make one there are TWO things I learned.


1. Peeps are easier to use if they are not fresh. I opened the packages and let them sit out over night. Better yet, I used a package from last year that were rock hard! LOL! (no judging as to why I still had them!)

2. When stringing peeps do not string them in the "middle" because they won't hang right. It is better if you string through the ears, right above the head of the bunnies. And the chicks closer to the top of the tail. Again - this is why it's better if they are hard! (they are not strung right in the picture! I had the choice to either do the whole thing over or "fix" them - so they have been jimmy-rigged!)

Oh, and I used a quilting needle to do the stringing! Hillary made one too! Fortunately for her I had already learned all of my mistakes! LOL!

Spring Break 2011

It's time for Spring Break! We won't be going to Disney Land, Sea World or Knotts Berry Farm. But instead of being SAD - We are going to be glad! (just a little Pollyanna quote!)

The most important thing I want to happen is to not waste a single minute of this precious week. I really want to make some fun memories and do some fun and simple things! I've missed being able to travel as a family - but we can still make it fun right?

Monday - Day 1
We got up, quickly cleaned the house and started laundry. I worked on some paperwork and bill paying! (I really function better in a "house of order")

Our plan for today was to get pedicures or manicures!

Then we treated ourselves to frozen yogurt from our favorite yogurt shop Mesa Frozen Yogurt! We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Moore's for a visit and picked some yummy veggies from their garden!

What a fun and happy day!

Tuesday - Day 2

The girls went hiking with their Dad! They had loads of fun and came home happy but tired! I hear they took pictures, but I haven't seen them yet!

While they were hiking I went to the LDS Store house and bought cans so I could continue working on our food storage room that we started organizing on Saturday!

That night we went to the Drive In Theater in Scottsdale. Some of our kids have never been to a drive in. I failed at taking pictures, but picture Vaughan and I sitting in the back of our van with the seat removed. The three girls snuggled up on the removed seat and Heather sitting in a camping chair - all under blankets eating popcorn and enjoying "Mars Needs Moms" and second, "I Am Number 4" Both movies were "interesting". I enjoyed them, but I enjoyed being with my family more, the great weather and watching my girls giggle and enjoy each others company!

Wednesday - Day 3

Again, the girls got up early. This time to go do baptisms with their Dad. I really intended to get Hope and meet them on the Temple grounds and take some pictures, but again I failed! I ended up sleeping in a little and working AGAIN on the food storage room!

After the girls got home we ate lunch and had our BBC movie day! We watched Pride and Prejudice! It was SO fun and fun to watch with my cute girls who enjoyed watching Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy once again figure it all out and end up together! There is hope in this world after all! ;)

Thursday - Day 4

Heidi and Holli got up and went to dance. Hope and I enjoyed sleeping a little more than they got to! We had planned to have a craft day, but one thing led to another and it didn't happen. We ended up just hanging around the house and relaxing!

Friday - Day 5

I ended up working on the food storage room and cleaning the patio. I finished the food storage room. It looks so nice - and it feels so good to KNOW everything we have and what else we need to work on.

Here is a picture of our room. You probably can't appreciate that it is much more organized because you don't have a before picture, but trust me this is "beautiful".

We had the BEST and most enjoyable Spring Break. I think the secret was in the planning. I also think deciding not to make it a work week for my girls helped! Ha ha ha ha! I just hope they have good memories of our 2011 Spring Break!

Preparedness - the journey continues.

I'm SO excited! We have been talking about buying a Sun oven for a few months now. I've been asking questions, looking online at the different solar ovens and saving our money. I figured around April/May we would be able to purchase one.

Well, the Lord's tender mercies abound.

Vaughan had some scrap wire he needed to turn in, and surprisingly enough it was more than enough to buy our oven! When Vaughan asked, what do you think we should do with this money, I said PREPAREDNESS!!!! And so we made plans to buy an oven. Meanwhile, my Mom, not knowing any of this, forwarded an email she received about a Sun Oven class and demo.

The class was today!

I'm so glad I know this was NO coincidence! The Lord really does bless us in our efforts to do what he asks!

I couldn't attend the class, so Vaughan went. Another blessing! Now Vaughan is excited as I am to learn how to use this oven. We also bought cookware and when it gets delivered in about two weeks I am going to be ready and willing to start learning how to use it!!

I'm SO very excited! What a neat way to learn how to cook and save money on electricity! I'm going to have the coolest house in AZ this summer!! tee hee hee, well at least at dinner time!

Here's a link if you are interested.

Decisions!

So - we need to replace our sad semi dead trees in the front yard...

We've been trying to decide what to replace them with.

Do we go with shade trees? They would be much appreciated in the heat of summer when the western sun is hitting the front of our house at 115 degrees!

But it kills me to spend money on water for the shade trees when we could spend our money on watering fruit trees and then reap the benefits of having something to eat!

If we go with fruit trees then we have to decide on what kind!

We've narrowed that decision down to citrus/navel OR apple trees.

Oh, the dilemma!

It's Shade trees OR Fruit bearing trees!

What to do?

Any thoughts???