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.

My TODDEROO, it is your day!

I am so excited, my family gave me a copier/scanner/printer for my birthday and it is great because I can actually post pictures of my older kids. Yeah!!!


Today is my son, Todd's 18th birthday. I can't believe it. Todd is so awesome. This picture is one of my favorite pictures of him. Isn't he adorable???

This is one of his baby pictures. He was such a delight as a baby and still is.

Here is a picture of Todd last year. He has grown up so much. Todd can do anything. I remember when he was in sixth grade and they presented him with the Hope of America award, I was so proud I could just burst. Todd, is great because he treats everyone the same. He believes in being nice to everyone.

I would never believe it now but when Todd was in first grade, he would cry because he didn't want to go to school. Now he has just graduated from high school and he already has his Associates at the college and is going on as a Junior. He just got his first job and is working at Pizza factory. Todd is one of my best friends. I remember when he was a baby thinking he was so beautiful that he must be a girl, because he was such a beautiful baby.

I am SO thankful that I am lucky to be his mom. As Todd always says," Mom, I know I made a good choice in my best friend." I love you Todd, I just wish you weren't so grown up so fast. Have a super day, you deserve it.

I Wish

This year has been quite the adventure. SO many things going on and I am not being very good to write or update any of it. I must say part of that is because it has been a year of hard trials for me, but I won't go into that because it really doesn't matter.

I finally graduated, Todd graduated from high school, my baby got her driver's license. My husband just bought his first real fun toy for him since we have been married, a Spyder motorcycle. I had braces put on my teeth. We just got a new kitchen a couple of months ago and we got to go on one of the funnest vacations of all. We went to Disney World for ten days. It was so fun.

Among all of the main events that have happened in our lives, it has been a hard year. I have struggled with so many things. Some of them very personal and other ones just stupid. It has been hard on me to see all of my kids grow up. I will be sad when they all move away. They are my life, what I have worked for my entire life and my love. Along with this trial, there have been many others along the way but I won't even start into them. I have learned a lot from all of these. I have learned to trust in my Heavenly Father and that things aren't going to be easy at all but that he is there to help me along the way. I have learned how important real friends and close family is and that we are here for a reason. I have learned how hard it is to see your kids struggle with life and their many trials that they have to be put through.

I love my life, but I have learned that this year has been a testing time for me and I am sure it is not over. Can I meet up or do I give in? I know my answer. I hope you have gained new ambition in your life and in your trials, because I have also learned that everyone have trials and they may look harder or easier than our own but they are just as hard to that person.

I have also learned how much I cherish the perfect day!!! and how in a small way the imperfect day are important too but just not cherished as nearly as much.

I also feel like I am in this body that doesn't feel this old but is starting to look this old and how did I get to this point, because I still feel like I should be 25 or 28. I am so excited for all I have learned and for each new day and for the time I have to spend with those I love.

I know this has been a big blog of rambling, but this blog is for me to be as a journal and sometimes you have to figure no one really cares but these are things that I need to write. Thanks to all of you who do REALLY care, it means a lot.

I bet you can't top that ONE!!!

In May, my Todd graduated from Cedar High School. I just can't believe it. If you don't know Todd, you should because he is amazing!!! Todd has worked so hard in school. He graduated with an Associates at Southern Utah University before he graduated from high school. He graduated with a 3.9 GPA. He was also the computer Sterling Scholar for Cedar High. Todd was in the Honors Society for all years and also went to Success Academy every day for four years. Todd was also on the Cross Country Team and he was involved in seminary. Yes, and he is a great son and friend. We were so proud of him. His graduation was another special day for us this year.

Can you see all of the stuff he has hanging on him. I know that is because of his hard work.

Todd with his two sisters. They just adore him.

THis is a picture of Todd with his Grandma and Grandpa Covington who were able to come down for his graduation. We felt so happy they were able to make it and help us celebrate Todd.

Have you ever given a gift and hoped that the person would love it. Well, we gave Todd Leatherby's ice cream with Leatherby's carmel for his birthday and you can't get it here in Cedar city so we had to have it delivered by my parents. Todd has been saying all I want is Leatherby's ice cream but all the time just kidding.

Well you can tell how thrilled he was to get ice cream. I think it was worth the effort.

Here is another reaction to Leatherby's ice cream and carmel. Todd we love you and you made it all worth it. You are so awesome and will really make a big difference in this world.

Better Late than Never

This year has been filled with many many eventful days. I would have to say one of the highlights of our year is back the end of April when I graduated with my bachelors in Elementary Education and was able to graduate with two of my children. Todd and Karrilyn both received their Associates degree the same day. We were able to walk together when we graduated. It was awesome. Todd graduated from college before he even graduated from high school, which is another great even for this year.

I have been so much of a slacker, this year has been hard and I felt like I needed to try to get at least some of the most important things blogged about.

This day was so exciting for me. I never thought I would actually go back to school and graduate with my bachelors and I DID IT. I have always had the dream to be a teacher. I hope that now I can find a job as a teacher.

This picture is of Karrilyn(my oldest daughter), Todd( my 17 old son), and I am in the middle. It was such a beautiful day. I couldn't have asked for more.

Karrilyn on graduation day. She is so happy, which you can tell by this picture.

This is of Todd on graduation day. He is such a cutie. I am so proud of both of them. They have worked SO hard.

Here is a picture of me with my two sisters, Kami and Kristi and my two kids that graduated with me. This day was very special. My mom and dad came down for the graduation and Mike's parents did also. We also had my two sisters come down and Kami actually brought her two kids too and then Mike's sister and brother in law( Anna and Fuzzy) came down too. It was a day I will never forget.

The Pickle Jar

I know this post is a little long but it impressed me and I wanted to share. This reminded me of the impact that my parents have made on me by their many ways of teaching me through the years. This story totally sounds like something my own dad would do. He was all about teaching us about life and helping us along the way. I love you mom and dad.


The Pickle Jar

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom.
When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar.
They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.
I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.
When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.
Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.
Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.
Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully.
'Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son.
You're going to do better than me.
This old mill town's not going to hold you back.'
Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. These are for my son's college fund.
He'll never work at the mill all his life like me.'
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone.
I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla.
When the clerk at the ice cream parlour handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm.
'When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar.
As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.
'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,' he said. But you'll get there; I'll see to that.'
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.
To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me 'When you finish college, Son,' he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to.'
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town.
Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed.
A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood.
My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith.
The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy.
In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.
Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms.
'She probably needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room.
'Look,' she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins.
I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins.
With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar.
I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room.
Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt.
Neither one of us could speak. This truly touched my heart.
Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.

Some days I wonder, why can't life be a little easier!!!

I wonder why...

Why do mother's hearts ache for their children when they know they are doing what is right?

Why do children grow up so fast and not want to snuggle like they once used to?

Why can't a parent when they have given everything to show their love for their children still feel like the child doesn't see it?

Why do boys have to leave for a wonderful mission to still have their mother long each and every day to hold her son again?

Why can't we see the whole picture and know how it will all play out?

Why do we have to have our closest friends move away or us move away when they have so deeply touched our soul and we miss them always?

Why can't we understand that we each are trying to help each other and never would on purpose hurt others?

Why when we pray does it seem like that usually we don't get the answer to prayers that we want?

Why can't we express our deepest love in a way that is best understandable?

I sometimes wonder, why can't life just be easier, even though I know the reasons.

WHY?????