Come What May and Love It

Here we are a few days before Christmas. All the excitement is at a high. The children are more excited about what their gifts they are giving than what they are getting. I call that a mom's pay day. D commented the other day, "I have no Idea what I am getting because I can't remember anything I asked for." H is all excited about what he picked out for his sisters. L has a job of her own this year and is able to purchase the gifts with her own hard earned money. She has definatly given her gift giving a lot more thought. Me ... I am just greatful to have my husband, my heart, home for the holidays this year. Beyond having him home I do not need or want anything else. I hope this holiday season is full of memories.

So My newly wed dream of a Christmas tree was to have a different sets of colored decorations, so each year I could decide what color do I want this year? A blue tree or a red tree or a white ... you get the Idea. My Mom's tree was always a little country modge podge of different ornaments and I always wanted the store front tree. Then kids came along. little paper and pipe cleaner ornaments so my dream was to have a tree downstairs that they could decorate with their stuff, and one upstairs so it could be my perfectly coordinated color tree. Last night I finally realized, (yes I am a little slow, or thick headed, you pick)it is not about the color of the tree, but about the memories that have built around the tree. Through the years we have gotten ornaments that meant a lot to me. The first year Leif and I were married we got a special first year ornament. It has been on our tree for 19 years, from the little charlie brown tree in our first apartment to our 7 1/2 foot or taller tr

With Thanksgiving coming up I decided to show you what I am most thankful for. Aside from my family I am most thankful for the simple things. I couldn't forget that I am thankful for my camera so I can capture all that I hold dear!

So one of my favorite past times is photography. I love taking pictures of people places and things. I spend time day and night trying to figure out the best angle, lighting or dimensions are best for the photo. I even find myself daydreaming of photo's. Some of the things I have thought up worked out, others ... not so much. I went down to the river in Idaho Falls and tryed to take a photo at night with the temple reflecting on the water. That night, the water was like glass. If I would have known what I was doing, It would have turned out great. I did not know what I was doing and here is the outcome: I got on the internet the next day and studied how to make it work. I am so proud of me for finding the answers. The next night I went to the Rexburg temple and took more pictures. This is the result: However I still was not happy with it because of all the cars in the parking lot. So trip 3 on a sunday night, last night before the moon came out and before the first snow fall, here

So I got a calling as the Mia Maid advisor. I have not been in young women's since I was one myself. Today's lesson was a particular challanging topic. I would have liked to get to know the girls a little better before going to the topic of chastity. I hope they took it well. They seemed to react well and did not seemed to put off by the subject. Now I just hope they will live their lives for their future not for the present. Leif was gone for 3 weeks and got back two days ago and now he left again and will be gone for 3 more days. While he was gone, he got in a wreck. the military vehicle he was in rolled. I count my blessings that he is okay. he called right after it happened and I did not really think too much about it. It was not till I saw this picture that it hit me that wow he was in a wreck. so from our challenges blessings will come.

I decided after the county fair to enter some in the state fair. I got a ribbon for D's and H's photo's.

The girls and I entered some photo's in the county fair. These are L's These are D's These are mine.

Well our trip home starts today. It has been a good week. We have done a lot this week. We went whale watching, eating, rock hounding, eating, beach combing, eating, rock hounding, and oh yah did I mention eating? The kids really like eating fresh seafood on the coast.A little sad looking at LaReesa and knowing that she is moving on in life. I hope we can continue family trips and have her a part of it. Who knows maybe our family trips will be to where ever she is.

We went to the Yaquina head and Yaquina bay light houses today. While we were there we saw a cute little Amish couple having their first experience at the beach. She stood there and let the wave go over her feet and just giggled.

saw a whale today. two of these are whales one is not.

So it has been a difficult two weeks that are now behind us. We were suppose to leave friday at 6:00 on Wednesday Leif said lets leave tomorrow. So we left a day and a half early. It was needed I can't wait to see the beaches.

Wow it has been a long time since I posted on here. A lot has happened the last 6 months. L is in her last few months of her senior year. We have spent some time going out and getting some beautiful senior photo's of her. I love doing photography. They are not quite the professional quality. I just hope she is happy with them. Here are my two favorite ones. I think the pictures are beautiful because she is beautiful. I think her senior year is turning out to be her favorite year. Grades are good and so are friends. * D has had lots of fun with Ball room this year. She is a natural at it. It is fun to see this side of her. At a competition in December she won 3 ribbons. 1st in Waltz 3rd in samba and 6th in Cha cha. She is 14 going on 21. She is growing up too fast. She is in drivers ed and chomping at the bit to start driving right now. I tell her to go ahead and drive and then I will let the cops know where to find her. They will then prevent her from driving till she is 18. I woul