JUST A FEW MORE DAYS!!

WE ARE DOWN TO THE COUNT DOWN OF DAYS BEFORE, WE MARRY OFF OUR FIRST CHILD, I TOLD MARTY THE OTHER DAY, "I DON'T THINK OF IT AS LOSING A CHILD, I THINK WE ARE GAINING ONE, A BIG CUDDLY TEDDY BEAR!" I JUST WANT TO REVIEW A LITTLE OF CONTESSA'S LIFE BEFORE SHE STARTS A NEW ONE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW EXCITED WE WERE WHEN WE FOUND OUT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY, I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN MARTY SMILE SO BIG, HE WAS NERVOUS, BUT EXCITED. THE PREGANCY WASN'T TO BAD, A LITTLE MORNING SICKNESS AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT MADE ME SICK, BUT I GOT PRETTY BIG FAST!! WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR YOU TO COME INTO THIS WORLD, YOU DIDN'T QUITE KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO, SO THE DOCTOR HAD TO HELP YOU A LITTLE(C-SECTION), THEN YOU CAME OUT JUST A SQUALLING, THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER IS YOUR HAIR, YOU HAD GOBS OF IT AND IT WAS JUST AS BLACK AS COULD BE!! YOU CAME INTO THIS WORLD A WHOPPING 9LBS. 5OZ. AND WAS 20IN. LONG. WE WERE SO PROUD TO BE PARENTS, FROM DAY ONE YOU WERE SPOILED!! GRANDMA CAMPBELL WOULD COO AND GOO AT YOU FOR HOURS AND ALWAYS WANTED YOU TO BE BY HER, I AM NOT SURE IF THAT WAS BECAUSE SHE HAD TO MAKE SURE IF I WAS MOMMING RIGHT OR WHAT!!! YOUR TODDLER YEARS WERE FUN, WE DRESSED YOU TO THE T, RIBBONS AND BOWS, MATCHING SHOES, CLOTHES. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT ONE, WE WENT TO THE MALL WITH GRANDMA AND YOU SAW THIS UGLY BIRD IN THE TOY STORE, YOU THREW THE BIGGEST FIT, WHICH UP TIL THEN YOU NEVER HAD REALLY THROWN A FIT, SO I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO DO. GRANDMA OF COURSE BOUGHT YOU THE BIRD AND IT IS NOW KNOWN AS,"BIRDIE BIRD," AT OUR HOUSE, I THINK IT STILL CHIRPS. YOUR"SUCKIE" HAD TO BE IN YOUR MOUTH AT ALL TIMES, AND IT HAD TO BE UPSIDE DOWN AT ALL TIMES. YOU HAD A WAY OF TURNING IT AROUND WITH YOUR TONGUE, IT WAS FUNNY TO WATCH. YOUR GRADE SCHOOL YEARS WERE FUN, YOUR TEACHERS WERE ALWAYS SAYING WHAT A GOOD GIRL YOU WERE AND ALWAYS WANTED TO PLEASE THEM. YOUR KINDERGARTEN TEACHER EVEN ASKED IF SHE COULD ADOPT YOU MORE THAN ONCE. YOU WERE A GOOD STUDENT AND LOVED TO COLOR AND READ, THEN CAME YOUR JR. HIGH YEARS, AND YOU TURNED INTO A SASSY LITTLE PRISS, YOU STILL GOT GOOD GRADES AND IT WAS FUN WATCHING YOU CHANGE INTO A TEEN-AGER. YOU LOVED TO FLUFF YOUR HAIR AND GO SHOPPING, BUT STILL BE A LITTLE GIRL AT TIMES. I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD EVER GIVE UP BARBIE'S AND PET SHOPS. YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS WERE A LITTLE ROUGH, WITH THE MOVE AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS STILL FUN TO WATCH YOU WITH YOUR FIRST BOYFRIEND AND FIRST KISS AND SUCH. THE FRILLY DRESSES AND CRAZY OUTFITS YOU WORE AT TIMES MADE ME SHUTTER, BUT I REALIZED YOU WERE JUST EXPRESSING YOURSELF. I HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES OF GOOD AND SOME BAD TIMES, BUT I AM EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PHASE INTO YOUR LIFE, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT LORIN WILL TREAT YOU WITH LOVE AND RESPECT, LIKE YOUR FATHER HAS TAUGHT ME. I WISH YOU MUCH LOVE AND LAUGHTER IN YOUR MARRIAGE LIFE AND OF COURSE A FEW TEARS AND TOUGH TIMES, BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT BUILDS YOUR STRENGTH AND CHARACTER. I HOPE FOR LOTS OF GRANDBABIES AND FOR YOU JUST TO TRULY BE HAPPY, IT HAS BEEN A JOY WATCHING YOU AS MY DAUGHTER, GROWING AND LEARNING AND FINDING THAT LIFE IS GOOD!! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL THAT I AM, LOVE, MOM

THANK-FUL THINGS IN MY LIFE

SINCE IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON OF BLESSINGS AND PONDERING WHAT YOU LOVE THE MOST IN LIFE, I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A FEW OF THOSE THINGS!!

1. MY HUSBAND, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HIM AND HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO HAVE HIM AS MY BEST FRIEND, LOVER, AND HUBBY. HE TRULY IS ONE OF HEAVENLY FATHER'S GREATEST CREATIONS!! I LOVE YOU MARTY!!
2. MY CHILDREN, THEY EACH BRING SUCH A SPECIAL SPIRIT TO MY LIFE, CONTESSA IS MY CONSIDERATE CHILD, SHE IS ALWAYS AWARE OF OTHERS AND THEIR FEELINGS, SHE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE TO GIVE A HUG OR SAY SHE CARES. CHEROKEE IS MY LITTLE COMPASSIONATE CHILD, SHE HATES TO UPSET ANYONE, AND ALWAYS TRIES TO PLEASE YOU AND LET'S YOU KNOW THAT SHE LOVES YOU. CHEVY IS MY LITTLE TEASE, BUT HE DOES IT IN A NICE WAY, HE ALWAYS TELLS ME I SMELL GOOD, AND LOOKS FOR WAYS TO HELP OUT WITHOUT ME KNOWING. CASH IS JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE, HE JUST BRINGS JOY T0 ALL THAT ARE AROUND HIM.
THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I AM NOT GRATEFUL FOR MY CHILDREN, AND THAT I TRY TO LET HEAVENLY FATHER KNOW THAT I AM GRATEFUL.
3.MY EXTENDED FAMILY, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THEM, I LOVE THE MOMENTS THAT WE SHARE ON THE PHONE, E-MAIL, AND THE CHANCES THAT WE DO GET TO BE TOGETHER, THOSE TIMES ME SO MUCH TO ME AND I CHERISH THEM IN MY HEART.
4. MY PARENTS, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM, I MISS THEM SO MUCH, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM THEM AND BY WATCHING THEM. I WOULDN'T TRADE THOSE MEMORIES OF THEM FOR ANYTHING, AND I TREASURE THE PICTURES AND STORIES I HAVE OF THEM.
5.THE GOSPEL, IT IS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, EVEN WHEN I SCREW UP, I KNOW I CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON IT TO TEACH ME AND LEAD MY FAMILY TO WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE.
6.MY SAVIOR AND MY LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, MAN I AM SO THANK-FUL FOR THE ATONMENT AND THE PART IT PLAYS IN MY LIFE, I AM THANK-FUL THAT I CAN KNOW FOR MYSELF THAT THEY LOVE ME NO MATTER WHAT AND THAT I CAN GO TO THEM FOR ANYTHING AND THEY WILL HELP ME, I HAVE SUCH PEACE IN THAT KNOWLEDGE AND I LOVE THEM BOTH VERY MUCH.
7.I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE FREEDOM'S THAT I HAVE, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS MYSELF WITH NO LIMITATIONS AND KNOW THAT I CAN CHOOSE FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WITH NO LIMITATIONS. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES SO THAT I CAN HAVE FREEDOM AND FOR THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR THAT FREEDOM EVERYDAY, MAY GOD BLESS THEM AND THIS COUNTRY.
8.I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIESTHOOD THAT MY HUSBAND HOLDS AND FOR THE GROWTH WE LEARN FROM IT WHEN MARTY EXERCISES IT IN OUR HOME, WE CAN LEARN SO MUCH FROM THOSE BLESSINGS.
9.I AM GRATEFUL FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOME AND THE WARMTH IT GIVES TO ME AND MY FAMILY, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEACE AND SAFETY IN IT. I AM SO GLAD WE HAVE PROVISIONS AND A STABLE JOB, THANKS MARTY FOR WORKING SO HARD FOR US.
10.I AM THANKFUL FOR GOOD FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, BOOKS, MUSIC, THE CHANGING OF SEASONS AND ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GO UNOTICED, UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED, THANKS BE TO ALL OF THEM.
11.THANK-YOU LIFE FOR BRINGING SUCH JOY, HAPPINESS, SADDNESS, AND LEARNING TO ME AND MY LOVED ONES.

MAY WE ALL BE THANK-FUL IN OUR HEARTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR SOMETHING AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS US ALL WITH LOVE AND HIS SWEET COMPASSION. LOVE, C

A BIG DECISION IN OUR LIVES

MARTY AND ME HAVE RECENTLY MADE A BIG DECISION IN OUR LIVES, WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ALOT SINCE OUR LITTLE CASH CAME INTO OUR HOME, AND WE BOTH DECIDED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO GROW UP ALONE, SO WE ARE ADOPTING THRU FOSTER CARE. WE ARE TAKING CLASSES RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO DO THIS, I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE HARD AT TIMES, BUT I ALSO NOW THAT IT WILL BE REWARDING. WE START HAVING ADOPTING KIDS IN OUR HOME STARTING AT THE END OF JANUARY, THEY WILL MOSTLY BE TODDLERS UNLESS IT IS A FAMILY GROUP AND THEN WE WILL JUST DEAL WITH IT THEN. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PHASE IN OUR LIVES AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED. SO WISH US LOTS OF LUCK, LOVE YA, C

THE BIG FORTY!!

WOW, HAS TIME GONE BY, I AM NOT REALLY SAD OR ANYTHING ABOUT TURNING 40, I THINK I AM JUST OVERWHELMED TO HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR IN LIFE AND BE SO BLESSED! I USE TO THINK THAT AS YOU GOT OLDER LIFE SETTLED DOWN, BUT I AM MORE BUSY IN LIFE NOW THEN I HAVE EVER BEEN, I AM TRULY HAPPY WITH THE LIFE I LIVE AND THE PERSON THAT I AM. I WOULD OF COURSE LOVE TO IMPROVE UPON THINGS, BUT I JUST DO A LITTLE AT A TIME, IF I COULD MAKE ONE WISH THIS BIRTHDAY, IT WOULD BE TO LIVE ANOTHER 40 YEARS WITH MARTY AND OUR KIDS. MARTY IS SUCH A WONDERFUL HUSBAND, HE ALWAYS MAKES SURE THAT I KNOW THAT HE LOVES ME, HE GOT ME SOME NEW AND BIG SCRIPTURES FOR MY BIRTHDAY, I HAVE NOT HAD NEW SCRIPTURES SINCE THE 9TH GRADE, SO I AM PRETTY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM. HE ALSO TOOK ME OUT TO MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT, "THE OLIVE GARDEN," KIM AND MARY WENT WITH US, IT WAS NICE TO TALK AND JUST RELAX. THE KIDS DECORATED THE HOUSE ALL UP WITH BLACK BALLOONS AND STREAMERS, IT WAS FUN, CONTESSA AND LORIN GAVE ME SOME NAIL POLISH AND BATH BUBBLY. CHEROKEE GAVE ME SOME MONEY TO GO SEE TWILIGHT WITH HER OF COURSE!! WE ARE EXCITED FOR THAT ONE!! I HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I THANK ALL MY FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. LOVE YA, C

SO I AM NOT REALLY INTO THIS BLOG THING

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS LATELY, I AM NOT INTO BLOGGING OR REALLY ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER!! I THINK I AM JUST BURNED OUT ON LIFE IN GENERAL, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOME KINDA HELL, AND I AM TRAPPED IN THE PART WHERE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WETHER TO GO BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS. I THINK I AM JUST NUTS!!! ANYWAY, WOW WHAT A FAST MONTH OCTOBER WAS, IT WAS WHAT YOU CALL AN INDIAN SUMMER, EXCEPT FOR ONE DAY, IT SNOWED REALLY GOOD, BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY BEAUTIFUL, THE DAYS HAVE BEEN AROUND 60 AND THE NIGHTS AROUND 40, THE LEAVES AND THE CHANGING OF EVERYTHING FROM SUMMER TO FALL HAS BEEN VERY PRETTY TO WATCH, I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE CRUNCHY LEAVES, THE SMELLS, I LOVE TO SMELL DAMP EARTH AND BURNING LEAVES!! IT HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH FOR OUR FAMILY, MARTY AND ME WRAPPED UP THE PAINTING THIS MONTH, UNTIL WE GET MORE MONEY AND TIME TO START DOWNSTAIRS, IT HAS BEEN KINDA NICE TO NOT HAVE TO TAPE AND PAINT, IT SURE LOOKS GOOD THOUGH. THE KIDS HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH ACTIVITIES THIS MONTH, CHEVY HAS BEEN EARNING HIS SCOUT BADGES AND IS GETTING SO CLOSE TO HIS EAGLE AWARD, I AM SO PROUD OF HIM FOR STICKING WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PAIN IN THE HINY!! HE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT GETTING HIS HOMEWORK DONE AND KEEPING HIS GRADES UP, FOR THIS I AM ALSO VERY THANK-FUL!! CHEROKEE, WELL WHAT CAN I SAY, SHE HAS HAD A VERY BUSY MONTH, SHE WENT TO THE HARVEST DANCE WITH TRAVIS, THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER, SHE REALLY LIKES HIM, AND HE TREATS HER SO GOOD. SHE ALSO WENT TO BURLEY FOR TWO DAYS AND PLACED IN STATE, THEN THE NEXT WEEK SHE WENT TO INDIANA FOR A WHOLE WEEK, SHE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND HAD SOME VERY GOOD EXPERIENCES. SHE HAS BEEN CATCHING UP ON SLEEP AND HOMEWORK, PLUS WORKING LOTS, I AM ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE YOUNG WOMEN SHE IS AND HER BELIEF TO STAND UP FOR WHAT SHE HAS BEEN TAUGHT AND KNOWS TO BE TRUE. CONTESSA HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET HER WEDDING ALL TOGETHER AND WORK LOTS, I TRULY HOPE SHE WILL REALIZE THAT LIFE IS GOOD, BUT CAN ONLY BE GREAT IF SHE IS DOING WHAT HER FATHER IN HEAVEN WANTS HER TO DO, I KNOW SHE WILL COME AROUND BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN TAUGHT WHAT IS RIGHT AND HER PARENTS PRACTICE THIS FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS TRUE. CASH IS JUST SO DANG CUTE, HE IS TALKING A LOT NOW AND FOLLOWS ME AROUND AND ASKS ME, "MOMMA, WHAT'S THAT?" HE IS SO FUN AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE MIRACLE OF HIS SWEET LIFE. MARTY HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO HELP ME THIS PAST MONTH, I NEVER HAVE TO DOUBT HIS LOVE OR COMMITMENT TO ME, I KNOW HE LOVES ME AND FOR THAT I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR, HE IS SUCH A HARDWORKER, I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE HE WORKS WITH WORK HARD, BUT HE IS ALWAYS GIVING MORE THAN 100%, HE STAYS LATE, GOES IN EARLY AND ALWAYS TRIES TO FINISH UP WHAT HE HAS STARTED, I WISH PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE HOW LUCKY THEY ARE TO HAVE HIM IN THEIR LIVES, HE IS THE BEST. HE STRUGGLES A LOT WITH HIS FAMILY, HE MISSES HIS DAD SO MUCH, AND I KNOW HE WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO JUST BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM FOR 5MIN., THIS IS SUCH A HARD LESSON TO LEARN IN LIFE, WE CAN NEVER GO BACK, I TOLD HIM THAT HIS DAD WOULD BE SO PROUD OF THE MAN THAT HE IS AND THAT HE RESPECTS HIS RELIGION AND THE WAY HE LEADS HIS FAMILY, I KNOW THAT ALEX IS WATCHING OVER MARTY, I HAVE FELT HIS PRESENCE IN MARTY'S LIFE AND IN THE WAY HE LIVES. I TRULY AM BLESSED, WE ALSO HAD FUN CARVING OUR PUMPKINS, CHEVY HELPED ME PICK THEM OUT, HE WAS SO CUTE, HE HAS A VERY TENDER HEART, WE SAW A PUMPKIN THAT WAS QUITE DEFORMED AND I TOLD HIM TO PICK ANOTHER ONE, AND HE JUST GRINNED AT ME AND SAID, " NO MOM, I THINK I WILL GET THIS ONE, I DON'T WANT IT TO GET LEFT OUT." THIS IS COMING FROM A 13 YEAR OLD, HE HAS A TENDER HEART LIKE HIS DADDY!! ON HALLOWEEN DAY, MARTY AND ME TOOK CASH TO A HUGE TRUNK OR TREAT THAT THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS HAD, WE HAD FUN JUST THE THREE OF US, CASH DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT LOVED WATCHING ALL THE OTHER KIDS. THEN WE HAD FRIED CHICKEN AND MASHED SPUDS FOR DINNER, THEN WENT TO OUR WARD TRUNK AND TREAT, AFTER THAT WE WENT HOME AND WATCHED A SCAREY MOVIE WITH CHEVY. IT WAS GREAT FUN BEING WITH MY BOYS!! OH, I GOT A NEW CALLING IN THE WARD, I AM THE NEW SERVICE AND COMPASSION LEADER, IT WILL HELP ME TO GET TO KNOW THE LADIES IN OUR WARD, SO THAT WILL BE FUN!! I AM SO HAPPY THAT I LISTEN TO THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS GUIDING LIGHT TO HELP ME KNOW THIS IS WHERE I AM SUPPOSE TO BE RIGHT NOW IN MY LIFE, IT IS VERY TOUGH AT TIMES, BUT I AM TRYING VERY HARD TO STAY CLOSE TO MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND I KNOW HE WILL GUIDE ME. WELL FOR NOW THAT'S ALL, SEE YA, C