Service

My son is in the mission field.  This week he sent me a few pictures to show what's been going on in his life.  This week has been full of service.  Show below are a few pictures of before and after their project this week.

He said it took them a long time.  I bet it did!  Right before he left on his mission we had some flooding here in our home town.  My husband is in the fire department so he got to go help.  They needed more volunteers so I went and I kind of drug Jordan along with me.  He wasn't too thrilled to be going.  I ended up leaving a little early to go home and take care of my younger kids.  Jordan decided that he wanted to stay and finish helping.  We joked that it was preparing him for his mission.  Little did we know that is what he would mostly do in his first area.  He learned the benefits of service at home and is reaping the rewards in the mission field.

Mail

There are many things that bring absolutely joy to my heart.  Mail to and from my missionary son are some of them.  We just love to make our letters to him have personality in them.  I hope it makes it a little more fun for him.  Honestly though, the letters I get back from him are priceless.  Each time I get one I am so excited!  Sure enough I cry as I read each of them but I love them.  The hardest thing for me with him being gone is that I don't get our nightly talks.  He use to come into our room each night as he got home from whatever activity he was involved in.  We would talk about all kinds of stuff.  I miss that part terribly so these letters help fill that hole.

Flourball

Today I finally received some pictures of my son from his mission.  A group of missionaries got together on their p-day to play a game of Flourball.  I guess they go to an old abandoned water park with a bunch of pantyhose filled with flour that are tied off at the end.  Then you basically play capture the flag using the pantyhose balls to hit the other team instead of tagging them.  Obviously they had a great time!  

Back to School

Oh my gosh!  I can't believe that it's time for school to start again!  It's a little bit crazy!  We took our traditional back to school morning pictures, however it was strange not to have Jordan there this year.

Here are my three crazy fun-loving kids!  Aren't they just adorable? 

My two girls, Kenzi and Sheridan, have really grown close together since Jordan left on his mission.  They actually like being together now which is so nice for Brian and I.  We decided it's great to have kids that actually like each other.

Bryson is in 5th grade, Kenzi in 11th and Sheridan in 9th.

Last the best of all the game right?  Well it's true for this picture.   I love it!!  It shows my girls fun loving attitudes and look at Bryson's face. He pretends he hates it but he really loves his sisters!

Finished Product

We have been working on building and finishing a room at our cabin.  I knew I didn't want a typical cabin room (although I am not really sure what that is).  Anyway I found some cute fabric and made a quilt for this room.  Then when paint was on sale at buy one gallon get one free, I guessed on the colors to match and bought it.    Above is a picture of my quilt when I finished it and below is it in my cabin room.

It's paradise!  Well at least for us it is.  Now we have bed to sleep in at the mountain retreat that we love.  Happy camping!

A Little Bit Goofy

Ok this envelope is a little goofy but my daughter loved it.  She wanted to send something to her brother and asked if she could use one of my crazy envelopes.  Of course I said yes!  It's so fun to see my kids get excited about sending mail.  We only hope that Jordan enjoys receiving.  We also hope it brightens his day or at the very least maybe a postal workers day.  Here's to being a little bit goofy! 

Being a mom

I love being a mom! It's definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done but it's so great!  Today my youngest son came down to visit me at work.  I know the pictures not great but I just had to share.  Today was a big day for him because he got his Webelos Badge tonight.  It's hard to know that he is my youngest and he is growing up quickly.  I really enjoy it when he still thinks I am pretty cool and will sit on my lap for a few minutes here and there.  I know it won't last long.

  

We also got a letter in the mail from my oldest son.  It was so heart warming.  I opened it at the post office and cried through the whole letter.  Then took it home and my husband and daughter cried as they read it.  Maybe this growing up thing isn't so terrible.  He is finally starting to appreciate his family again.  I think it takes a little time away to get that appreciation.  It really made for a great day.  I love my kids with all my heart!  They bring such great joy into my life!

Another Project

I found a cute project on Pinterest that I just had to try. Isn't the family sign so cute.  I just didn't know for sure where I would put mine until we built a room at the cabin and I knew that's where it needed to go.  So I kind of guessed on the sizes I needed. Then cut them out of plywood.

The sizes were:

F = 10 x 10

A = 6 X 12

M = 11 X 9

I = 6 X 12

L = 6 X 11

Y = 8 X 12

After cutting them I spray painted the outside and the edges.  Then I modge podged some scrapbook paper on each piece and added some ribbon to make them a little cuter.

Here they are on my floor already to go up.  So when I go up the mountain this weekend I will hang it up and show you a picture of how cute it looks on the wall.  

It might not be quite as cute as the original idea but I don't care.  I love it just the way it is.

Front Door Make Over

There comes a time in you life that you need to change things up a little bit.  A few years ago my talented dad made me this new front door.  I didn't change much except to put it up then.  But something was still lacking and I wasn't quite sure what it was.  This  year I decided I would repaint the trim around the door and see if that helped. 

Yep that was what it needed.  I loved my door before but now I love the whole new look.  It's amazing what a little paint can to to improve the look of things.  I am so thankful for a talented dad that is willing to share that talent with me.  I am also so thankful for a loving husband who pretty much lets me do what I want with the house.  

Derby time

Our family went to the Richfield Demolition Derby, even Kenzi and her date.  We all sat in the main grandstands right next to each other.  I can't say that I enjoyed the derby because I didn't.  However I loved spending time with my family.  It's the best.  We laughed and joked and had a really good time together.  We enjoyed just watching people.  You can learn a lot by watching others. I hope that my kids learn to respect others and be considerate of those around them.  I hope they choose to always be kind.  I hope they know who are they and value that without mistreating others.  I pray that they will choose to be Christ-like in all that they do.  I hope that when I am having a bad day I remember those things also.  May we all remember to treat others kindly.

Mail Art

Well I decided I want to add a little fun to the mail I send to my son.  So rather than send just a plain envelope I am going to decorate them a little bit.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to his face and bring a little happiness to his day.  I am not an artist nor am I very creative but I know how to search the internet for ideas.  That being said I didn't come up with this idea but I still think it's pretty cute.  My challenge to you would be the next time you mail a letter add a little spunk to it.  Make it fun!