Healthy!

Well we made it through the flu. I don't really remember a time with my kids being so sick. I guess with Brookie's kidney infections she was that sick, but those never last 6 days straight. She ran a consistent 104 fever for 6 days. Her poor body was drugged up on Motrin and Tylenol for that entire time, which can't be good. BUT, we all survived! So far the rest of us are safe from the virus. Max and Brookie had it at the same time, but seemed to recover faster and the fevers didn't rise over 102, whew! We are now back to the grind stone making up for lost time and thankful for our healthy bodies!

Flu

In all the years of having kids we have never had the flu. Of course since I told someone this last week, we would get it! Brookie Max and Reagan all at the same time. Brookie seems to have it the worst. Hopefully we are coming to the down hill part of it. Or if the internet is true about it lasting a week or two then we are still at the beginning. Long nights, we are all a little tired around here. Thank goodness I have nothing going on! Ha! Of course it's a very busy week. That is okay though. I'm so thankful that no one is in the hospital because of this virus, so I think we are making out pretty good. Knock on wood, Seriously!

Running a Cold

It's no secret that it has been cold here in Arizona! I woke up this morning hoping the freezing cold temperatures had passed so that I could go for a run outside. 35 degrees is the lowest I will run in, so the 22 that is said on the weather channel on my phone was not going to get it done. I had run outside all last week even though I was feeling a bit run down. I think breathing the cold air and getting exercise helped to keep my sickness at bay. Saturday morning I braved the cold with Kylie going to pictures at 6:45 in the morning and then to her soccer game at 8. We were bundled up and Kylie kept telling me she looked like a marshmallow. Well, regardless we were still so cold! By Sunday morning I felt miserable. I did get a nap that afternoon and felt pretty good after... till night. I woke up Monday morning doing much better. This morning I took on the run on my treadmill not wanting to bare the cold or get sick again. I am grateful to be able to run everyday, it helps to keep me sane.I love having my time to just think about all that is going on in my life and in the lives of others. I think of what I can do better and where I am slacking as a person. I am grateful to be a Relief Society teacher and  to study the lessons each month. It forces me to think of the gospel at a deeper level and helps me to focus more on how to be Christ like in my life. My mother in law was telling me of a book that she is reading that talks about having a Christ like Character. Elder Bednar wrote the book and talks about experiences that he has had with those who do have a Christ like character. I hope that I can find ways to exemplify that in my life. I will never be perfect, but I can do my best to be more like Christ and I think if we are always striving for that then we can't go wrong.

Sold

Ethan got the bright idea to sell his beautiful lifted diesel truck. I hoped that it would take a while to sell or that maybe he would change his mind. I was amazed that with in an hour people were fighting over buying it. One guy wanted to fly down from Ohio today to buy it and drive it back. Needless to say, Ethan sold it to a really nice LDS man that was excited to buy it and had been looking for a truck just like this for a while. Ethan seems to be fine with the sell, especially since he bought a true work truck with the tool boxes all over the back. It is not what I would ever picture Ethan in. I've always known him to drive a BIG truck! He's a big guy so it has always fit him. This truck was bought shortly after we had Kamber. We took many road trips in this truck when our family would fit. Back when we had 3 kids. I remember like it was yesterday looking in the back seat and watching Kamber sing to the music, play with toys, laugh with her sisters, and watch Dora movies answering all the questions. The kids have always preferred riding in daddy's big truck. Anytime we had to take 2 cars the kids fought over who got to ride with dad. I have to say that I have some mixed emotions about the sell of it. Yesterday I thought I was going to burst into tears. Mostly because of the sentiment of the truck. It is one of the last tangible things we have that has memories of Kamber. Now only to be a "Remember when we had that big silver truck and Kamber..." I know we will move on. Life seems to carry on no matter how we feel. I'm glad Ethan is happy with his new little purchase even though it is not a looker. I was trying to find a picture of it, but my computer is acting up. Pictures will have to come later.

Holidays

The holidays came like a whirlwind this year! I can't believe it all came and went so very, very fast. My head just wasn't in the game this year. This year Christmas was a lot harder. There have been some true Grinch's, yes plural. At times it made it hard to feel the true meaning of Christmas. We also had true earth angels in our life. Christmas wouldn't have happened without them! My heart went from hurting to swelling with love beyond my imagination! Even as I type it brings tears to my eyes. I have to say that I am grateful for my new calling in my ward. I have been asked to be a Relief Society teacher. I really don't picture myself as a teacher of any sort. I am a very simple person with very simply words. I don't really feel I have the capacity to teach those older than me that know so much more about life and the gospel. It's a very humbling calling. I have had to dig deep into my heart and soul and have prayed more often than I have in a long time. Even with the drama going on around me, I have prayed more for others and it is amazing how it actually ends up helping yourself!:) I'm not trying to gloat, I've just had some Ah-ha moments. We truly have been blessed and it has been wonderful to see Heavenly Fathers hand in our lives. His hand has been very obvious and it has been such a comfort to me. Things were still a blurr and I was still so forgetful as I always am. I still wrote wrong addresses on Christmas cards, realized after Christmas that I missed so many people on my Christmas list to send cards to, I was still late for family get togethers, barley got my Christmas jelly out in time along with cards, lost my temper at times,but I was amazed at the patience I did have. I was grateful for the simple holidays and getting to be with my kids and husband! Here are some pictures of what we did from November to December.

One of my New Year's Resolution is to blog more. Hopefully I can do once a week! That's my goal!