New Year's Resolutions

I love the new year. I am one that is a little OCD and needs to have a clear beginning, so a new year is refreshing to me. This year, like every year, Durke and I and the kids had a family home evening where we all set some goals for the year. Here are my 2014 goals/resolutions: 1. Compete in a 10k. 2. Lose 25 pounds by June. 3. Work on Personal Progress. 4. Go on a trip in the Fall with Durke. 5. Simplify 6. Not yell so much. 7. Blog again. I haven't kept up on my blog since 2012 and I really regret it. Especially, since a lot of really great things have happened in our lives. I am really trying to keep an accurate record or journal of our family and I think a blog is a great way to do it. So... wish me luck.

Some of my favorites...

I was organizing some pictures on my computer the other day and thought I would post some that made me smile.


I am so happy they have eachother!


Hard at work on Daddy's motorcycle!


I just think this picture is hilarious!

One of the best....

This week has been a rough one for me. A very good friend of mine lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, and it has really hit me hard. She was such an amazing, beautiful person. I am not sure why Heavenly Father always seems to take those
ones, but it happens more often then we would like.

Amberly touched so many lives in her short time on Earth. She was so talented, sweet, kind, and just all around fun to be around. She had such a beautiful smile and was so real. I admired that so much in her. She was the type of person you could sit and talk for hours with. We had so much in common and I loved to talk to her about gardening, scrapbooking, our kids, and gripe to eachother about the woes of being self-employed.

She has four adorable little boys and an amazing husband. He is such an example of strength and faith. As Durke and I visited with him yesterday, he was so strong and seemed at peace. He has a rough road ahead of him and I know he will embrace it and make the most of what he has been dealt. Both Amberly and Jason have so much faith. Amberly never let go of hope that she would be ok. She knew there was a plan for her.

I have had so many thoughts this past week. I have resolved to be a better wife and mother. We never know how much time we have and we need to really do our best. We need to fully love and show that love to the ones we care about. I just want to hold my kids and never let go. Each day truly is a gift and we can't waste it.

I've also struggled with feeling so negative about the world. It seems like nothing good is happening. Natural disasters, divorce, death. I am so scared for the future of my children. What kind of a world are they going to live in? The future is looking pretty grim. But just like Amberly, I need to remember that Heavenly Father has a plan, and we need to be faithful and happy and in the end it will all be worth it.

I am so glad that I know that Amberly still lives, and that she is pain free and happy. I feel so blessed to have known her and to have been able to call her my friend.

I really like this song by Randy Houser, it seems to sum up what I have been trying to say.

In God's Time

In God's time
A million years might only be a single day
And everything He does gets done His own way
In God's time

Oh, but no one knows
Not you or me
It might be tomorrow or it might never be
Oh, but don't lose faith
Put it in His hands
'Cause it might be that He might have a bigger plan
Than you had in mind
Miracles happen
In God's time

And in God's time
You'll finally get the chance to hold your baby girl
And all the sudden everything'll make sense in this crazy world
In God's time

And In God's time
You go to sleep and wake up with wings and learn to fly
And you finally meet your loved ones on the other side
In God's time





Amberly, I love you and you will be missed by many.

Hunger Games Cast

I loved the Hunger Games series and I was so thrilled to hear they were going to make a movie. They just released the leads...what do you think?

Katniss- Jennifer Lawrence


Peeta- Josh Hutcherson


Gale- Liam Hemsworth





I thought they did a pretty good job, now if they can act!

Easter

Easter was fun as usual. We have all been looking forward to Easter, and weren't let down. The weather could have been a little better, but oh well. We have a long-standing tradition of celebrating Easter with the Gordons. This year we had dinner at the farm and then all the parents hid candy and eggs in the orchard. This is one of my favorite parts of Easter. Then Grandma and Grandpa had put together a treasure hunt for the kids. It was way fun and the treasure was money eggs in the barn. We all got $3. Yea!



Louk thought hunting for candy was the the greatest thing to ever happen to him!




On Sunday, I had to remind the girls and Louk to look for their baskets. Goofy kids. They got some clothes, flip-flops, candy and Tangled. After church we had a little egg-coloring party and watched Tangled.



Louk had to put all of his new stuff on over his pajamas. He especially liked his new rainboots.






These were our votes for the best eggs!

It was another fun holiday, and now we are definitely ready for Spring.

Just thought I would share...

Durke and I really enjoy reading together. We read on our own too, well I do anyway, but we really like to read together. Right now we are the 3rd volume of the Kingdom and the Crown series by Gerald Lund.




I don't know if any of you have read this series but it is amazing. It is set in Jerusalem and surrounding villages during Christ's life. I have been reading the New Testament along with the books and I have learned so much. These books have taught me a lot and helped me to understand the scriptures and the culture of this time in history a little more. Plus, it sparks some really great conversations for Durke and me. So, if you looking for a way to spend quality time with your hubby read together!

How do you eat your Oreo?

Oreo cookies are a staple at our house! They are one thing that I have to be sure to never run out of or I get in big trouble! Everyday after lunch Durke divies out the Oreo's, it is such a special time... just kidding. Anyway, Louk has caught on to this tradition and definitely enjoys his cookies. He's a dunker just like his dad, I don't enjoy it so much because then I have to clean him up, and he is usually pretty messy. I had to take a picture of him today though, because he was so dang cute and made me laugh.