Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time

The past year I thought to myself that everything would be great if Owen could just get a job. I have learned that this is not the way I thought it would be. We still have so much adversity. I have learned through the past year of unemployment that I had to do my best and when my best wasn't enough, then I had to put my trust in the Lord and leave the rest to him. I have found myself at a point of despair over and over again. When things get better and I think we are on our way to great things, something always happens. We have had such a hard time getting back on our feet. We are still searching for jobs that pay more so we can make it month to month. Jobs are so hard to come by. I get sad and scared just thinking about the future which isn't normal, but it's my normal. I so want to look to the future with excitement and happiness, but when your not sure if you can make it and still have the same car, fill it with gas or even keep your house it makes it really hard to have those emotions. I read this message that's called Come what may and love it. The message is just as I stated before, learn to be happy, give your all and do your best, then trust in the Lord to do the rest. I have learned that this doesn't mean that you will be able to keep your house, but he will give you the strength to get through the trials and adversity that have been placed before you. On the days that I want to just stay in bed and give up, he gives me the strength to get up and try again. I know that this life is a test. We all have trials that we have to go through and what may be hard for me might not be hard for you. The Lord understands us. He knows us even by name. He knows what you need even before you need it. Have you ever heard the saying What doesn't kill you will make you stronger? I believe that. I know that we are tested by our faith to make the right decisions when we are in the mist of our trials and that they can be so hard and so terrible that you just want to give up. That's the test to ask for help from the Lord and let him do the rest. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have. My testimony of the Savior and the love he has for me and my family. I need him and I need him everyday. I know that when I have a day that I feel as if I'm in despair, all I have to do is pray. The Lord will listen and he will help me in every way I need him. I am so grateful for my life even with the trials in it. I hope that I can be an example of strength to my kids, for most of the adversity we are going through right now they are in the mist of it. I want them to learn to NEVER GIVE IN and NEVER GIVE UP. Stay STRONG and have COURAGE. The Lord will always be here for you and when you can no longer bare your burden he will do the rest. JUST TRUST IN HIM.

LDS.org - Liahona Article - Come What May, and Love It

Running on empty

It goes like this... Kids, Owen, Work, homework, school, house, church... How does that look to you? Do you see taking care of myself anywhere? Nope me either... I started working at my job about 5 1/2 months ago and for the last 5 months I have just been really sick back and for to the Doctor on antibiotic after antibiotic, pain pills, cough medication with codeine so I can sleep... Now I am on a new antibiotic for the next month to see if that will work and more testing to see what else is going on... I threw school into the mix and WOW talk about running on empty... I feel as if I have nothing left!!! To this day am still worried about everyone else and everything else except myself... Things have come to the point where I have to start making changes that will help me... I have a lot of praying to do to figure things out. I know that if I leave things to the Lord he will put me in the right place... Do you see what else is wrong with the order of my life? Yes church is last on the list... Now with that, how could things possibly get better for me? When I started my job I had every other Sunday off then it went to every forth Sunday and now it's every sixth Sunday... I feel as if I have lost myself in the mist of everyday life... My soul is wanting so badly to be nourished, but nothing... Why? Because I NEVER go to church... This part of my life is not helping... I know better and I know without the Lord in my life I can't get to where I need to be... It's not just me, but my kids also... I can feel the change in my home since Owen and I have been gone on Sundays... It has become a day just like any other day and that is NOT what I want... I feel I am missing out on the most important part of life and that is the Gospel... I need to be strengthened each week to help me get through the everyday challenges that just seem to just appear... I am putting myself into the Lords hands tonight to help me make the decisions I need to... That's not the hard part for me because I do this all the time... It's change that's hard for me... Fear of the unknown... I need not fear if I am being lead by the Lord... He is the only one that truly knows me and my every need... I can't tell you how thankful I am to have a relationship with the Lord... To know that he really knows me and loves me... I have a lot of changes to make in my life before my tank will begin to fill, but that's the best part of life here on earth... We have the chance to change and better ourselves... The Lord is always waiting to hear from us we just have to ask... Take it from me you are important so take care of yourself... Don't let your tank run on empty...

Prince and Princess 2011

Mitchell and Kelcie were voted Prince and Princess 2011 for the Middle School on Friday. I took these picture before the dance and Kelcie's Mom went and took pictures at the dance so I need to get a copy of those :) Mitchell was taught how to dance by Kelcie's older brothers that are in high school before they went to the dance. They got to walk the red carpet and dance to The Taylor Swift song Love Story in front of the whole school :) CONGRATS to you guys!!! Mitchell I think you are growing up to be a very handsome young man... I love you!!!

Taking The Challenge

So I just went back and started college for the first time in 14 years... Not sure I was ready for the first night I went... I had to laugh because my instructor said to take out the syllabus that we were supposed to print off the blackboard so we could go over it??? What??? What the heck is a syllabus??? What the heck is the blackboard??? Boy was I in for a treat :) I decided I was from the stone age and needed to get my butt in gear and figure out what the heck I needed to be doing. WOW RIGHT... I really enjoy my social work classes and think I'm really going to LOVE this profession!!! I know the world is in need of people who want to help others and put themselves out in the public... Our house has changed a lot with me going back to school and working... Poor Mitchell has to do a lot for his young age while I am gone for the two nights of school... Trying to do homework with kids is another story... We took from Owens unemployment for that whole year to work our butts off and get where we really want to be in this life... We also learned that it really doesn't matter how big your house is or what kind of car you drive to be a successful person at all... It's doing what you love and loving what you do... Owen is the happiest person in the world being a chef and I will be the happiest person in the world being a social worker and helping others in my community... We may never be rich with money but we will be rich with HAPPINESS... I really learned what matters in life throughout the year... We had quit a while to ponder the things of importance to us as individuals and as a family... We may have a tough few years ahead of us right now but it will sure be worth it at the end of the long road... I know that I have lots to learn in this life and boy am I ever ready for the challenge... So take it from me that it's NEVER to late to change the person you are into the person YOU WANT TO BE... It's NEVER to late to get your college education and have that profession you have always wanted... If you are in question about what you want to be when you grow up just take the leap and go for it... It will be the BEST DECISION you HAVE EVER MADE!!! He NEVER said it wold be EASY he said it WOULD BE WORTH IT!!!