New favorite song.

Heavy Heart tonight

So I am down in Tampa as I type this. Bryan dropped me off at the airport where I meet with two co-workers who had a car ready for me to rent. One of my co-workers told me that another co-worker wouldn't be coming because of a personal family loss. I didn't take in the loss part. I said well I know Connie told me her boyfriend was having back surgery on Friday. Harley said ya he passed away during the surgery. I couldn't believe it. My heart sank. The day has not been the same since. I have thought so much about her and this new horrible situation she has been thrust into. Oh how my heart ached the whole drive down.

Losing a loved one is hard enough with gospel knowledge but what horror it must be like to not have that assurance. I just wanted to hug her and tell her it will be okay. I promise! The only thing for her that will make it better is time. The hurt isn't so sharp after a few years.

So hug your family extra tight tonight. Life is just to short!

Murphy vs. Roomba

So I have been thinking about getting a Roomba for many years. When they came out with the model that untangles itself I knew I needed one for sure. We have wood floors and with a dog we always have hair everywhere. If I swept once a day I might keep on top of it but lets face it who is going to sweep a whole house once a day while working full time. Ya not me. It was amazing when I had Erin come and clean my floors once a week. I wanted to cry when she left. I have gone to Costco and had that darn machine in my cart a 1000 times but I always put it back after talking myself out of it for one reason or other.

Yesterday I text Mike and said... I NEED A ROOMBA. He brought one home last night. So far I love it. I watched it go and it is pretty amazing. It went into all our rooms it could find it's way into. Including my bedroom. Murphy about had a fit following it and barking over and over again. Funny dog. I took a video of him.



Needless to say even thought I spent hours vacuuming/sweeping the floor YESTERDAY Roomba picked up even more. I think I am in LOVE!

New Years 2009

Well the end of 2009 is coming to a quick close. I'm not sure how I feel about that. As I get older I think time is speeding up. I think back to the yesterdays of 2009 and while there have been some bumps the good things have out weighted the bad by a huge margin.

Employment, homes, cars, food, have all maintained themselves this year. To which I say... THANKS! I love each of my sweet children. They are my hero's. Each and every one of them. Each so much alike yet different in so many ways. I say THANKS to each of them for being amazing children with testimonies that burn deep in their souls. I love my sweet husband who longs to see me happy in so many ways. We are closing in on our 28th wedding anniversary and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank Heavenly Father for sending him into my life 31 years ago. He is my rock and always chooses right. He is amazing and wonderful in all aspects of his life. Not quite perfect but very close! Although I hate the fact that he travels and is gone from my days and especially my nights. But we are thankful for the wonderful blessing of his job.

I have wonderful amazing friends! Thanks for always being there. 2009 has brought with it hard decisions and facing past monsters in the dark. I am going to take the plunge and go back to school. I am excited yet very scared. I have people who are cheering me on and pointing the direction I need to go. Thanks to Meg in the Admission dept at FSU. I will someday see graduations from another advantage point.

I have heard many times lately that you can't let past failures determine your future. After all the future is fresh with no marks in it.

So here is to 2010 and the adventures it will bring.

Christmas 2009

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

I found this quote and it pretty much says it all. Mike asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said - to have all my kids together again. He told me he had all ready arranged for that. I have always loved having my family close to me ever since I was a little kid. Mom use to say to "Annette is the happiest when everyone is home." Today that is no different.

Since about Thanksgiving my heart as ached a bit for the longing to see and hear my dear parents voices. I wish I could see them again. On Sunday as all my beautiful daughters sat in Relief Society with me and my amazing sons were in Priesthood (well ok Bryan was home sick but he would have been there) I for a moment felt a spirit touch from my mom. How sweet that was. I can only hope they will visit for Christmas eve or Christmas. This Christmas and every day of my life I am thankful for amazing parents. To them I say thank you.

So has your heart ever wanted to burst because it was so full? I have been so blessed in so many ways. It boggles my mind. As I have prayed in my life with so many heartfelt pleads asking for blessings in our lives or if He has something better to give I would welcome that as well. I have always received the something better. What a wonderful principal of the gospel I learned a few years ago about praying. Sheri Dew was talking about praying and how we often limit ourselves to blessings. When we desire or need something we often ask for that in blessings but there are times Heavenly Father stands waiting to bless us beyond our desires and needs so we can simply say "or something better". I am glad I have added those words to my prayers. After all my minds scope can be pretty narrow sometimes while Heavenly Father's isn't. I have been very blessed to say the least and I stand in humble awe of all Mike and I have been blessed with. Everything we are and have were giving to us by a Wonderful, Amazing, Loving and Kind Heavenly Father.

I love this Christmas season for so many reason. I love the cool weather and how my cheeks get cold. I love to wear layers of clothes (I'm already a marshmallow why not be even a bigger one!) as the cold air nips at us. I love the sights and sounds of this season. I know my family will be with me for at least 2 days. I love to reflect on my Savior Jesus Christ. Since having babies and being a mom myself I often reflect on Mary at this time as well. In the quite of the night as I nursed or held my babies close I often wondered what would be in store for them. I used those quite moments to love those little faces and to ask them all kinds of questions. Some were important like tell me what Heavenly Father looks like? Who did you see before you came here? But like all babies they kept those secrets to themselves. I am sure Mary did the same as she held the Savior of the World next to her. I am sure she understood what His mission would be but during those moments he was all hers. I love nativities since they remind me of why we celebrate Christmas but all my nativities have something in common (besides being nativities :-P) and that is Mary is holding her precious babe! While Christ bridged the gap and made it possible for us to go back home, Mary gave us that babe. So from a mom to a mom I say thank you Mary for bring into this world the Savior who would save us all.

There is a beautiful song by Kelly Price called

Mary's Song

Before time my life was chosen
for this miracle performed,
that through me would come a baby
who would one day be my Lord.

But right now he's just a baby
and the world is not so sure,
cause while some bow down to worship
there are some who laugh and scorn.

But there's a will
and there's a purpose
that I know He must fulfill
and the reason why you chose me
very soon will be revealed.

But for now can I just hold Him
and keep him in my arms
and for now can I just hold Him
and keep Him safe from harm
Lord, I'll give Him back to you

Little ordinary Mary
little Baby Jesus boy
He's divine in all your planning
but for me he's pride and joy.

But in Him there is a story
that the prophets have foretold,
there is honor, there is glory
there's redemption for us all.

But there's a will
and there's a purpose
that I know He must fulfill
and the reason why you chose me
very soon will be revealed.

But for now can I just hold Him
and keep him in my arms
and for now can I just hold Him
and keep Him safe from harm
Lord, I'll give Him back to you

Can't even think about Him crucified.
Can't even think that He was born to die.
Innocent baby my heart says why?
Cause he's just a little child.
He is my baby, baby, oh yes he is.

Thanksgiving thanks!

The time has come to write about being thankful. I am thankful everyday for everything in my life. I am truly blessed everyday. I love the world that I live in. It has so many wonderful things to see and do. That is one thing Mike and I have been blessed with is the opportunity to see some of those things. There have been times that my breath has been taken away because of the beauty and majesty of what I am seeing. We live in such an incredible world and I love looking at it.

I am so very blessed with my amazing family. I have the best husband in the world. Heavenly Father knew just who would be best for me and helped us meet 31 years ago. How we met and came to be friends could only be a series of promptings we each followed and because we followed we found each other. I often look at him and wonder what I did to be blessed with such a great man in my life and I get to spend eternity with him. He truly is my heart! Wow, is all I can say! I love the moments we spend together and long to be with him when we are apart. I love exploring this wonderful world with him. We have 4 wonderful children. They are the light of my life. I find my world is complete when they are all with us and we are together as a family. They make me laugh on so many occasions and yet I have shed some sweet tears as well. I have learned since they have all become adults that my greatest tool to help them in life is prayer. I can't live their life and work through their trials but I can pray for them and get up and know the Lord will guide them along their way. Along with my children have come two wonderful daughters in law. I couldn't ask for better women for my boys. They seem to be exactly who they both need and wanted. How can life be any better? Oh, I know... 2 amazing men for my girls. I know they will come when the time is right. It will be fun to finally meet them.

How could I forget 2 amazing parents. As I have become a parent I see just how wonderful my parents were. They weren't perfect people but they were perfect parents for me. I think about them often and long to hear their voices. There are times I wish I could pick up the phone and just chat. But that isn't the case so I send them messages through Heavenly Father. I do miss their presence in my life. Although I know they are close by it would be amazing to see into their eyes and feel their arms around me and hear them say in my ear, I love you, once again. Mom and Dad oh how I miss you yet I am happy you get to rest from the cares of this life! I love you both very much.

I love my siblings. They make me smile. I love each of them and they probably don't know how much I miss them each day. I get busy in life and when I finally get to talk to them things just seem to pick right back up again where we left off. I love how I can laugh until my sides hurt or cry and feel their love. I know when the chips are down they will stand with me giving me added strength.

I have great friends. They are great listeners and are always there! Thanks for loving me all the time. You listen yet don't judge. You are the very definition of what all friends should be, thank you!

And last but not least is the Savior Jesus Christ. He is my everything! He has never left me alone in the adventures in this life. He gives me strength in all I do. I love the tender mercies He send me daily. I often talk to him throughout the day and give thanks for all I have. I know he lives. I know he cares about me. He is amazing and I do look forward to the day I get to see his face and feel his arms around me. Until then I hope I can live my life in a way so that he doesn't have to wait until I die to know my love for him. How truly blessed I am to have a relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ.

So for Thanksgiving 2009 I give thanks for so many things that it boggles my mind, why is it all mine? I can hardly believe it all! It would take years for me to write down everything I am thankful for so please... just accept for now, Thank You!

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the cool air that replaces the heat and humidity. I love to sleep with my windows open but always manage to keep an eye open just in case some crazy person decides they want to climb in. Things in life just seem to go better. Exercising for sure is easier in cooler weather. The smell of wood burning in the air is wonderful. I love wearing clothes that keep me warm. I get to put socks on my feet again and not worry about my toe nail polish color. I love when my nose is cold, yet everything else is warm.

So many great things about this time of the year. Things seem to feel a bit more "beefy." Not in the food sense but like life has more substance to it. I love the thought that Thanksgiving is close and then on to Christmas. I wish fall stayed around longer but it seems to be ushered out all to soon by old man winter. I love fall!