Ate lunch w Bella today. Conversation w a boy in her class: "Bella's mom, your girl is the nicest girl in our class." Made my day.

BIRTHDAY!!!

Today was my birthday and I've had such a great birthday weekend that I wanted to write it all down. I am so blessed. I have received so many good gifts that were meaningful. I woke up this morning to breakfast in bed by Cali and balloons on the floor from the girls. I slept in until 10:30 which is absolutely unheard of! We had an enjoyable day working on some church stuff and going to a Trunk or Treat activity tonight at Shannon and Jared's ward. I also celebrated yesterday with my friend, David and Shannon and Jared. So much fun. Earlier this week I had a birthday lunch with one of my best friend's, Suzanne and one of my favorite places to eat, Chuy's. There have been too many great gifts to list but among them my dad and Robin gave me a new saw for my business and that makes me SO happy. Now I don't have to play roulette at Lowes as to whether or not their saw is working and if I will get a straight cut.

Tonight the two girls who were still awake when all the madness calmed down celebrated with me by having some homemade brownies (which were a gift) and Blue Bell ice cream. It was the perfect way to end a great 33rd birthday!

I feel so overwhelmed by all the love shown to me. My phone has been blowing up all day with Facebook notifications and from all the love being shown there. This may have been my best birthday yet. Yay for 33.

But I Shall Not Know Any Better Then

I came across this quote this  morning and loved it:

Speaking of Jesus Christ...

"I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way." -Bruce R. McConkie

I couldn't agree more that "I shall not know any better then than I know now" of his divinity as the Savior of all. I am so thankful for my relationship with Him.

A Bad Day, Not Today.

Today has been exceptional! Nothing out of the normal really but just a great day all day long. I woke up with that amazing feeling that today would be great. Lots of energy and good sleep. Here are a few things that helped me see it was indeed a good day:

I needed 8 white furniture tacks for two boards I really wanted to finish today. There were exactly EIGHT white tacks left.

I needed to not make any mistakes on those eight holes to put the tacks into. I didn't make any mistakes on them.

I brought the boards into the house to work on the very last detail before they were complete. One of those tacks slipped and almost fell in between the washer and dryer and eventually into 'under the dryer oblivion'- you remember how I said I only had the exact amount left to begin with??? I caught the white tack before it fell.

I said out loud on all the above "That wouldn't have happened on a bad day." ;)

This afternoon I had this grand idea for my hair. I grabbed a cute barrette and put it in and when I had the thought to put a second- matching- barrette in I went to look in the drawer. At first I found a twin but quickly realized it didn't have a clip to hold it in so I was sad then I looked again and... I found a twin! Never happens. Never. "That wouldn't have happened on a bad day!"

See all my blessings today. All the things that could have (usually do) gone wrong didn't. So thankful for this good day.

I told the girls I should go do something since my luck is so awesome today. They asked what it would be and I couldn't think of anything so I guess I will stay home and work! :D

good. better. best.

I find myself always struggling to find a balance with everything on my plate. There is always so much I need to be doing. I need to take time for myself and read my scriptures and pray and exercise. I need to take care of my babies and our home. I need to run the business and I need to gain experience with photography. I need to sleep (I wish I didn't need this). I always have over a hundred things I could be doing so it's always a matter of prioritizing. It's always a matter of good, better, best. Exercise is good but it's not what's best right now. To fit that in my day I've learned I will need to get up before six and right now that's not happening! ha

Monday I was overwhelmed. It was the day titled "This day sucks!" on the post a couple before this one. I knew at some point I needed to make a trip to Lowe's to get supplies and it was also FHE that night (Family Home Evening where we are encouraged to meet with our family and do an activity or thought and just spend time together). I was inspired I tell ya' to combine our FHE and my shopping trip into one. I made a "Mission Possible" game, gave the spiritual thought on being good examples to those around us and we were off. The girls were on two teams and they were off to find certain items in Lowes while I shopped. They were to take pictures in front of the items they found and when they were done they were to bring them back to me. I thought 8 would keep them busy for awhile bc I had quite a lot of supplies to get. My first item to buy was wood and since my stinking saw broke two weeks ago I now have to wait upon the saw guy to make his way back to me (dread). So, while I was thus waiting so patiently both teams made it back to me with their completed lists...wanting more! haha They finished before I got the first thing done. I sent them back off to re-do the lists with diff items and that made them happy. After our hunt/mandatory supply shopping we went for frozen yogurt. I had gotten a refund back on something and it paid for our outing. It made us so happy to go somewhere we hadn't tried before and we ate our yummy snack and I think I counted each girl saying multiple times "thanks momma, this is so fun". I knew that this inspired activity that allowed me to do two important things was not only good, it was best. I will never forget this night.

Here are two pics from Secret Agents Braelyn & Cali, Kensi's darn phone won't send the pics to me. I will work on it so I can upload some of Ken & Bella. 

The item was to find something for a family

The item was to find an "x"

A Surprise in Sacrament Meeting

The first hour of our block of church meetings is called Sacrament. We all sit together for that 70 minute block of time. This past Sunday Bentley was snacking on some Lucky Charms and eventually got my inhaler out to play with. I keep the medicine to it in my bag but he plays with the yellow shell. At one point Cali was playing with it and she pretended to inhale and to her surprise Bentley had put a Lucky Charm inside it and she inhaled it just right to cause her to choke. Probably because she wasn't prepared for that but regardless she came to me holding her throat unable to talk and faaaa-reaked me out. I grabbed her and we walked out fast and once we jiggled her she got it to go down. Crazy girl went out with bare feet and all. Darn that cereal in the inhaler- wasn't so lucky after all. We were so thankful she was safe and ok. Perhaps a blessing of being where we were supposed to be in the first place.

As a side note Cali serves as a Safety Patrol at school everyday. She does it in the am and after school. The teacher who is over these kids told me two days ago that she loves Cali and that she is so MIGHTY in a tiny body. I've always said that to describe her! She packs a punch! Believe me. And now my Mighty Cali Llama is going to play the fiddle! haha I learned tonight at a very long meeting that a fiddle is the same as a violin. Cali is joining the orchestra. Upon fitting her for the instrument we learned that even the smallest violin they had there was too big for her. She's the cutest!

Today Sucked! There, I feel better.

It's ok for me to say that. I did receive many blessings but overall it's just been a dumper of a day. Guess I have to feel this way so when it's good, it's really good. Thank goodness for sleep and fresh starts.