Fighting Depression

So the other day I was listening to this talk by Elder Holland and I felt so much peace.  I also felt the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  They care about me and about everyone on this earth and want us to be happy. Elder Holland talks of fighting depression.  He says it is as real as someone with high blood pressure and should not be looked on with any degree of distain.  

So I wanted to share the link to this talk.  I love it. I hope you will listen to it.

Like a Broken Vessel Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Saturday Afternoon, October 2013

I also thought of my fight with depression.  I thought of the things that have helped me through my tough times.  I have had a great support system, thankfully.  But I have learned that I can do things that help me too. 

So here they are.
1. Pray/Uplifting Moments - Prayer is always so good for me.  I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.  I also love to read a good uplifting article or listen to a great speaker like the one above.
2. Exercise - This is the one that I have had the best success with because I also have a great friend who walks with me and we have some good gabbing.  We like to take our kids with and they ride their bikes.  Sometimes we all ride bikes and this is fun.  It is good for all of us.  In the winter when it is bad weather I will get on the stationary bike or do other exercises.  So I always notice a big difference when I have been consistent with my exercising. 
3. Eat and Healthy Diet.  - When I eat good foods my body feels good and there for my mind feels good and Vise versa when I eat junk and a lot of sugar I feel sick both physically and emotionally. 
4. Do Something - When I really feel down and just want to hide and sleep or read, if I get up and do something that I know needs to be done then I feel better. I usually have to pray for strength to do this and I especially feel good if it is something that I really didn't want to do.  Then I usually can do more things and pretty soon I am facing the world like I would on a good day.
5. Take my Med's - I have always take the same med and the same dose and I know when I have missed too many days.  This medicine is a great blessing to me and many others and I'm so grateful to live in a time when we have so many medical advances.

I did not put these in an specific order.  Somedays one is more important and more helpful than another day.  But I know that these things have helped me and I hope that they can help others too.  If you struggle too, I want you to know that Heavenly Father and Christ LOVE you.  No Matter what they LOVE you.

I'M BACK

So I've been thinking for a long time that I want to start blogging again.  There are so many reasons that I want to.

Probably one of the biggest reasons is that we have so much negative in the world and I want to focus on the positive.

I have had some good examples of looking for the positive in my life and I'm so grateful for these people.  One of the biggest examples of this was my mother.  I think she had to work hard at this through her life and I'm so glad I was a recipient of so many positive comments.  I'm trying to do that with my own daughters especially with my oldest.  I love her so much and I want her to know that she is loved.

So I found this great quote on Pinterest today and I wanted to share it along with my own Goal to look for the Positive things in this world.

Credit for this quote art goes to Rebecca at Simple As That blog.  She has many more great and inspiring quotes.

Hope you all have a great day.

Trip to Calif.

This was a photo we took after we had just walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. When we were half way Katie says she needs a potty. We had just passed one and so I thought we would see another soon. Nope but she made it all the way and didn't have a accident. So I don't know what was bigger the bridge or no accident.

Where's My Water

I have been so bad for the past few months because of this my favorite game on my iphone.  Thanks to my great friend Amy I'm addicted to Where's my Water!  I love to get all the ducks, I love the collections, and the little scenes and you begin a new level.  I love the sound effects, and the way the gator will act shy when you touch the screen.  I even kept the free version and during Feb for Valentines they had a fun level the you got a new screen each day for about 14 days.  So now you all know what I've been wasting my time on and I hope to complete it all soon so I can work on what I need to do.

God Will LIft Us Up

I just loved this video. I helped me to see my suffering is so small and I can face life with Chirst by my side.

Sew vivor

We are Big Big fans of the show Survivor and so when I saw this Sew-vivor contest I had to post it.  I might even enter who knows.  I really have been having lots of fun sewing lately.  It reminds be of being young and my mom.  We sewed lots and lots.  Now I think of my sisters too when I sew.

There is a button on my sidebar if you want more info.

Eating with Grandpa

Saturday was Jared's Baptism so we were privliged to have lots of company and Grandpa stayed for a little longer.  So this morning after all the other kids and gone to school I couldn't resist a picture of Katie and Grandpa eating together.  I'm so glad for this picture and we hope to many more with Grandpa.

15th Anniversary

We spent the night at the phone store getting new Toys (and we love them) and then we went to the USU Aggie game.   Thanks to some great friends for the tickets.  It  was a fun night.  Jas took this pic with his new phone.

From the life of a three year old.

Yesterday I was making cards for the upcoming Haslem fundraiser with a neighbor Amy G and Katie. Katie kept talking about what shows she wanted and then she wanted us to play a song. I thought she was still talking about shows. "Mommy can you go put on the police naughty dog?" Police naughty dogs what show is that? no it's a song. After a few minutes Amy says "Feliz Navidad". Katie just smiled and said Yeah.  Amy said I'm glad that we figured it out.  Kaite said no I figured it out. I think I laughed for about five minutes. Thanks Amy for your deciphering. When we play Mad Gab next I want you on my team.

So Merry Christmas and Police Naughty Dog to all.

Temple Square Lights

This last weekend we went to Salt Lake to see the lights on Temple Square.

This was a awesome pic Jason took by the reflection pool.

We went with our great friends the Fluckiger Family.

It has been seven years since they moved away and as always it was so fun to see them again. 
Right before they had moved away we had gone to see the lights with them and it was quite the weekend. I was so glad to go with them again.  Michelle and Kesley are great buddies.  :Michelle wanted her pic in front of the "fake man." This was during our warm up and bathroom break in the visitor center.  There is a neat model of the SLC temple in there that the kids could look at and see what it's like inside.

Now Jared is the age that Dillon was.  Dillon was so great with Jared.  They were buddies.  I think Dillon carried Jared on his back for most of the night.  Thanks Dillon, I'm so glad that You are a great example for Jared. Look at how Jared is just watching Dillon in this pic.



It was fun to take pictures with the different settings on my camera although I still don't know what it all means I liked experimenting. These were crazy ones all to get the "orange" tree.

And thanks to the Fluckiger's friend tammy we got a pic with all of us.

 Jared is doing some wrestling pose and Katie is hanging on for dear life. Fun times.

 I'm so so thankful for my cute family, great friends and all the stuff.  Tis the Season.

Snow Fun

This first day it snowed this year the kids went down to the basement and got all their winter gear out.  I soon hear Katie squealing because all the older kids were telling her she could not were the snowsuit.  I was laughing so hard that I could hardly take some pictures.

I finally convinced her that it was toooo small and that she could wear some other snowclothes.

 Now we lovingly call her the green marshmellow.

A few days later we got about 6 inches of snow and the kids just wanted to play in it all day long. As I was calling them in I realized that I hadn't gotten out and taken any snow pictures for several years. So I hurried and grabbed the camera and a coat and took some pictures. It is fun to see Katie enjoy the snow so much this year.

They decided to make a snow fort so out were all the snow shovel's, Jason's orange construction buckets, some ice cream buckets and anything else that they thought was useful.

My Christmas Crafts

These are some fun projects I made last year for Christmas Decor. Now I'm getting excited for that season and I can't wait to get them out again.

I looked loong and hard for a cartridge for my cricut (Winter Wonderland) to find the right reindeer for these frames.  Now I'm thinking I might change it a bit this year and add a sleigh and take out one of the reindeer.  I just cut black vynal and stuck it to the glass.  No backs so when I was hanging it was a bit tricky, but not too bad.  I liked the over all look.

I just love, love, love  this tree.  I also stuck the vynal to the glass but put the green cardstock in the frame and so if I ever decide to  change the background, Easy Peasy!  This came from the Cricut cartridge Lyrical Letters.  It is one of my favs cuz it has a great variety of fonts and images for all seasons and occasions.

I had some other fun things but apparently I didn't get pictures so I'll catch them after I decorate for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Later Alligator

Haslam Fundraiser

This is a great family in my area that needs lots of support.  If anyone has thing they would like to donate for this fundraiser it would be greatly appreciated.  See flier for details.

Spread the word if you can and help this great family.

Katie's new look

This morning after all the other kids had gone to school Katie came out of the bathroom and said don't I look so pretty. She has been working on her own hair do's lately which always consists of the water spray bottle and combing her bangs to her left. Then she will always say "don't I look so pretty Mommy". Of course I think she looks so pretty. Well a few minutes after that she had picked us some play glasses and I look at her and this is what I see.

So here is the great hair do and Glasses on top. If any one knows me they know where she got the look of the glasses on the head. Isn't that where your sunglasses go when you aren't out in the sun. So I took some pictures and I had to share my littlest's

munchkin's morning.

Bring Him Home

I found the Song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Think that the name is Bring Him Home.

Hopefully you can link to hear in it.

Dear Santa Song

Today while we were working on the basement a song came on the radio with a little girl singing to Santa. She sings Dear Santa can you bring my daddy home for christmas. It was the sweetest song I heard all day. I thought immediately of my friends who have had Christmas without their daddy's and husbands. I'm so grateful to spend this holiday season with my whole family. I am also grateful for the men and women who spend time away from their families to serve our country.

I hope to find out more about the song and Jason said we needed a new Christmas album so I think that will have to be on it.

Happy Holidays

My Christmas Projects

I had so much fun this past month making some new decor. Thanks to all the ideas I copies from amazing blogs and friends.

Winter is Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really was hoping to have the snow wait till after Thanksgiving. We now have almost 6 inches and a blizzard is coming tonight. I don't know when I've ever been so nervous about the weather. I'm not even going to make Jared and April go to school today. Michelle is already gone and she gets out at 12:55 so we'll be okay.

Katie is being so funny lately. Jason said I needed to record all the funny things she has been saying lately so here goes.

Katie: Daddy Guess what?
Daddy: What
Katie: Marrow's wensday (no matter what day of the week it is.)

Jason has taken to teasing her and saying "Katie guess what"
Katie: What
Jason: "Tomorrow's Tuesday (or what ever it really is)"
Katie: "No marrow's wensday"

She used to do the same thing but say "I come home marrow" or "Daddy come home marrow" after the guess what.

She also loves to come and brush her hair and my hair. Then she say "I comb my hair so pitty." She will bring me the mirror when she is brushing my hair and and say "look at you Mommy".

These are the fun things of this age and I love it.

Growing up

Holy Cow!!! I'm getting old. My Michelle just went to her first official babysitting job. She has been babysitting for me for awhile but now she is on to the big jobs. I hope she has fun.

So after 6 months this is what I post I'm sure you all have been wondering if I was going to blog again. I wonder too. I decided to do it when I have the time. So if you see a post a month I think I'll be doing good. Maybe I'll get more time now the kids are in school again. I'm glad to be back anyway!!!!!!!!!!

Updates

So I just wanted to let you al know my status on the cell phone thing. I was so adament and determined to not even talk when I'm driving my car. IT IS SO HARD TO DO. I can't even count how many times I've grabbed my phone to call someone and then remember my resolve. I have tried to keep to my commitement but just so you all know I haven't been perfect.

Better things now

Katie is changing so much these days. She had become such a talker. She is always repeating the last word I say to her when we are talking to each other. It is also fun to go shopping with her. (Well fun sometimes). We will walk down an isle and she will see something and say the word. Probably the funniest thing she says right now is about bodily functions. When she poops or pees or even toots. She will say "Mommy I poot" or "I pee". She will also tell anyone else that "You Poot" if she hears us pass gas. I'm usually laughing so hard that she is probably learning bad habits but I'm hoping that she will potty train earlier that my other kids since she knows what's going on. I don't know how to get her to like panties though, which is not usually a problem with girls. Maybe I'll have to take her shopping for new ones and then she'll get excited.

Jared is still so busy but so tender hearted. Love that boy.

April had been informed on many things that I was hoping would come in a year or two, because

Michelle had the maturation seminar at school and I'm such a bad mommy I forgot to go even after I wrote in on my calendar and thought about it everyday. I'll never forget her comming home from school. She came upstairs to me and said "Mom you forgot". She didn't need to say anything else I knew what she was talking about immediately. So I'm a bad Mommy.

Hopefully I can overcome that label soon. I'm also enjoying my time with the YW as the Laurel advisor. I'm learning way more than they are I'm sure and I'm so glad for the opportunity to learn and remember what it was like as a teenager. Lots of Fun times.