LIFE

I have been so bad this year about blogging. It has been an extremely hard year for me. I have had some hard trials, but I am finally to the point where I can say things are good. I am so glad to be alive. I have the greatest family a girl could have. My kids are extremely great!!! AJ( Elder Glad) has almost been gone a full year, but it has seemed longer than that. Todd is doing great. He is going to college and working at Pizza factory. Karrilyn is also going to college and helping out every chance she can. Angela is actually going on her first date this weekend. My kids teach me something each and every day. We have so much fun together.

Even though this year has been real tough for me, I have learned so much from it all and I am a better person. Todd just received his Eagle Award and I need to blog about it. I know. We have some great pictures about it. I also got a new kitchen and just love it. I have my braces still and can't wait until they come off, if that will ever happen. This year we went to Disney World again and it was so fun, just like a fairy tale. Mike is in the middle of many transitions in his life and we don't know what will happen at this time, but we are along for some bumpy roads.

I was just released from my two callings and called to be the Primary President of our ward. I was thrilled. I love Primary and especially the kids. I hope I can make a difference in their lives. I have the best counselors and secretary and I already just love them to pieces. This calling came at a time when I really needed it. I am so thankful. I have been subbing in many schools and I still just really enjoy it. The kids are SO fun and I just love it when they run up to me in the hall and give me a big hug. Yes it is worth it. More than anything I have learned to live each day to the fullest. I have tried to do this. I love my kids and wonderful husband so much. It is so nice to know that I can be with my family for eternity. We are a team and together we can make it back to heaven.

We all have missed our Elder Glad but he is doing SO good that I just want to scream from the housetops. Thank you thank you, for watching over my Elder. I love him so much and long for the day to get my BEAR hug from my AJ Bear. I sure love being a mom, I can't imagine my life without my kids and my hubby that is my biggest chearleader. He has been beside me this whole year as I have dealt with LIFE.

I am so thankful for who I am and how I have come to be ME.

A little different Christmas last year

Our Christmas was a little crazy this year and real different. For the weeks before Christmas we were trying to get AJ ready for his mission to Columbus. We spent a lot of time shopping, playing, preparing etc. Here is one of AJ's pictures in the MTC with his great friend Craig that just happened to be in the MTC when he was.

Yes, AJ was in the MTC during Christmas so we had to celebrate his Christmas before he left. His report date was Dec 16.

This is a picture of AJ helping to decorate the tree. For some reason there is always the tongue.

During that month, Mike and I took AJ to Salt Lake to shop for missionary clothes and to also take him to a couple of temples. We went to the new Draper Temple and the Salt Lake Temple. It was great. This picture is of Mike and AJ at Leatherbys. You just have to go to Leatherbys if you have the chance.

My kids, ever since they were little, usually get a Christmas outfit during the first part of December. This is a picture of them all with their new Christmas outfits. They know that time is running short and they are all going to miss their brother.

We had many friends and family come down for the missionary farewell. We were so overwhelmed with the love and support that we felt. AJ did a great job. SO many people commented that he spoke like a return missionary instead of one just going out. Of course we had to have great food to celebrate. We had a brunch with muffins, fruit, breakfast casserole and other great yummy food.

We did have a special day for AJ's Christmas. He is such a cutie. His Christmas wasn't that exciting, because how exciting can ties and shirts be but we still had fun.

We have the greatest bishop in the world. Anyway, this is a picture of AJ on the night he was set apart as a missionary. We invited our bishop to come too. AJ and Bishop Wilson have a great relationship.

The day that AJ went to the MTC we woke everyone up early and headed to Dennys for breakfast. It was early but well worth it. We had a great time but it was real hard when the kids had to say good bye.

This is a picture of AJ and I at the MTC when we dropped him off. I am trying to look happy but this is definitely a bitter sweet moment.

A picture of Mike and AJ the day that we took him to the MTC. As you can tell it was a hard day. AJ will be a fabulous missionary.

Christmas morning, Angela doesn't look too awake.

Todd is so excited about his external drive and really knows how to show it. He must be from my side of the family.

Christmas morning with Karrilyn is always a blast. She is always so happy about what she gets even though she is my oldest. My kids definitely love Christmas. Wonder who they got that from.

Christmas Eve checking out where Santa has been on the computer. We have to make sure we are to bed on time. Haha.

Christmas morning, my kids are so cute. It was definitely different without AJ for Christmas but we tried to make the most of it. This picture is of Angela, Todd, and Karrilyn. Merry Christmas.

Christmas tree, you always have to have a picture of the Christmas tree. New Year here we come.

It takes me too long

While I am in the process of trying to get caught up with my blog, life continues to go on and on. I substitued in fourth grade at Enoch Elementary today. I think this will be my life for quite a while, not knowing when I will be working and when I will be home. The kids are great and yes I still want to teach.
I don 't know how many of you even care but if you ask how are you doing???? The last six weeks has been very hard for me. The last three weeks while AJ has actually been in Ohio has been a little easier but still hard.
Here is a picture of my boy right before he left.

I just get thinking that I am doing good and then I have a day when I REALLY miss him. I just can't describe how hard it is to have your son leave and not know every day how he is doing. AJ is one of my best friends and that makes it even harder. When he was home he always wanted to know how I was doing and always tried to cheer me up or make me laugh if I had a bummer of a day. That is just my AJ. I miss him SO much and I have so long to go. Having a missionary leave is such a sacrifice. It is so good for them but it is really hard. I just can't imagine life without him for two years. That is a long time. I hope I can hang in there, because today I wonder.

AJ's endowments

It is finally time I get busy and try to catch up for so many great events in our lives that I haven't written about. AJ received his mission call to Columbus, Ohio in October and then in November he went through the St. George temple to get his endowments. That same weekend on Sunday, Mike was made a high priest in our church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. It was a great weekend.

This is a picture of Mike and his dad and my dad the day that he was made a high priest.

The same weekend on Saturday, AJ went through the temple. It was a wonderful experience and we really felt blessed. In this picture is some of our greatest friends that made the trip down for the day. We also had Mike's sister, Anna and her family, my parents, Mike's parents and our friends the Plunketts. It was a great and memorable day and weekend.

This picture is of AJ and his great friend Craig that made it down for his endowments. They are like cousins because they have known each other since babies. They are both serving on their mission at the same time and before they left their friendship became stronger and stronger.

This is a picture of my great family on the day of AJ's endowments. We took so many great pictures of family and friends but I have so many pictures to upload and so much I need to catch up on that I didn't add all of them to this post. We are so blessed to have so much support during this great time in our lives. We are so excited for AJ and his decision to serve.