Yes this is a strange picture to put onto our blog. But it tells such a wonderful story, I wanted to share.

In short. About a year ago we had some things happen in our family that threw our lives into turmoil. It was a very hard and trying year. We were financially and emotionally drained.

A few months ago we had to go to our Bishop and ask for help. For the cupboard you see in this picture was bare.

We have been faithful paying our tithing and praying for a miracle.

We were in such a bad position, we were facing even loosing our home. Up until a few days ago we thought it might come to that. But our prayers have been answered in more than one way.

Each year Jason gets a Christmas bonus from his employer. Its how we buy Christmas for the kids. During a family council we had the boys told us that they didn't want anything for Christmas they just wanted to keep the house if it was at all possible. What a sacrifice for three wonderful boys. Christmas has aways been a very big deal in our home. (as with most of us parents) We tend to go a little overboard. I prayed about what to do and Jason and I talked about this in great length. We decided it was best to make sure we had our 3 months food storage in case things got bad again or any number of things we are supposed to be ready for.

Then for Christmas one set of my parents bought us food storage! How wonderful! They followed the spirit and helped us prepare. I am SO Thankful for them! We used most of our bonus and purchased a 3 month supply. We have only a couple of more things we need to be fully prepared and will have them next week. What a difference a month and the blessings of the lord make!

“When obedience ceases to be an irritant and
becomes our quest, in that moment God Will
endow us with power” --Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

AMEN!

I have seen the heavens open and the blessings pour out and we have not enough room to receive them or to store them.

We have parents telling us not to worry about our kids they will be well taken care of and my wonderful sisters as well. How much does one person deserve. I can tell you I want nothing more this year for Christmas! I have a wonderful family, my children are all healthy and happy and I have not enough room to receive the blessings the lord has given me. So in return I am letting everyone I know, know how grateful I am and how thankful I am!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

May the Light of Christ Fill your Lives this Wonderful Season!

It has been crazy at our home the past few weeks. We Always put our Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving every year. This year we (meaning Dylan) put the tree up for Thanksgiving and put the lights on it. (fabulous job BTW) Our Christmas boxes have sat in our living room for the past hmm...... Almost 3 WEEKS! So today after church I decided it was time to get in the Christmas spirit and get the decor out!
Wow I am exhausted, and I just set up our village. The boys must have had 10 lbs of sugar each. They were bouncing off the walls. Finally we got the tree decorated, and I was told I could now make the necessary adjustments because I do every year after they go to bed. LOL how do they know. So we moved a few things around, only because the have not quite got the concept of spacing yet. They did a fabulous job!

Dylan, because he put the lights on this year got the honor of putting up the angel. The first time, as you can see from the picture was a little crooked. :-) So he made a few adjustments and now we have a lovely angel adorned at the top of our tree.
Then because they expended so much energy they were hungry. Surprised...I'm not these boys eat like they have not eaten in a week, and that's at every meal!
Cole loves to cook. So he made waffles, wow I didn't know kids could have so much fun cooking. I think the wound up on the ground wrestling more than standing and actually cooking. But it was nice not to have the worry of cooking tonight. Yeah!

What a crazy group we have here. But we love em!

This Cole & Dylan getting their 2nd class Scouting rank December 3rd 2008. Great Job guys!!

This was the same night Dylan led the Color Guard. This was his first court of honor that he led his fellow scouts. He did a fantastic job!

Gabriel received the rank of Tender Foot. Fantastic work Kid-O!!

How blessed I am to have such a great group of kids!

This is my Niece. She was in the Nutcracker this year. She was the cutest cookie Ever!!

Our little family is not so little any more. At 5'4 I am the shortest in the family. So we added another member so I would be a little taller. Meet Dobie...Our little Min Pin... He chases the cats around the house like a mad man. The poor cats. They are getting used to him more everyday. Now Kiki just sits and

growls and hisses at him. She has even swatted him a few times. She's letting him know who the queen of the castle is. LOL its been a week..I am told it will get better. Picaso is just skittish and hides; but at least he is coming out to eat. He has even sat on the other side of the couch opposite of Dobie while he sleeps. But as soon as he opens his eyes it sounds like world war 3 has just broken out in my house. Maybe he just has little dog syndrome and that's why he is picking on the cats..who knows just pray for us. We are attached to them all we can't give any of them up.

We decided to go for a ride today. We went to the Geode beds in the West desert. We brought the newest member of our family too, Dobie. (the cats really needed a break) We stopped at the pet cemetery and the Pony Express Monument on the way up and stretched our legs, 80 miles on a dirt road does a number on you.
We had a lot of fun and the boys loved it. Digging in the dirt collecting rocks. Sweet!

We are enjoying all the family time we can get out of our fast growing ever maturing teens. I am reminded almost weekly that Dylan will be 18 in a little over a year. He recently announced he was going on a mission. YES!!!!! We will continue to pray over the next two years that he will stay the course. He got his patriarchal blessing last Sunday; it was an amazing experience. I am grateful he shared it with us.

Home Coming 2008

This is Cole First dance. Home Coming 2008.











Cole humoring his mother with a very cheesy grin.
Ahslee and Cole getting ready to exchange corsage and boutonniere.

No blood lost here. Good job guys.



Posing for lost of pictures. Thanks!! Such good sports for the parents.

I never imagined I would Ever be in this position, mom of 3 teenagers. Seeing her kids grow older and go through the steps of growing up and moving on. I hope the moving on is still at least 5 years.


I am so blessed to have such great kids!