An Amazing Day

SO.... I know I brag about this amazing family A LOT! But, seriously, how blessed am I?

They're all beautiful, inside and out. But today they were exceptionally beautiful. Kurt and Zack have been working in Blanding, Utah, since about March. They do come home occasionally for a couple days at a time, and we've all been to Blanding a few times this summer, but our family has not been all together in church for months. Well, today was the last Sunday before Zack goes to college in Ephraim, Utah. He moves next Saturday. So, when we all arrived at the church this morning for Sacrament meeting, it meant a lot to me to have us all there.. together. And then...there were no Priests sitting at the Sacrament table. Our ward has threePriests at a time, all of them preparing the bread and two of them offering the blessings on the Sacrament. Well, my husband, Kurt, is the 1st counselor in the Young Mens' Presidency and Zack and Tyler were the only Priests at the meeting today, so the three of them went up to the Sacrament table. Oh WOW!! I looked up to the front of the chapel and saw all of the men in my family sitting there together to bless the Sacrament and I was absolutely overwhelmed. With love and pride and just a sense of peace and security that I am surrounded by this Priesthood power in my home. That all of the men under my roof are worthy to sit together and perform a Priesthood ordinance is amazing, humbling, awe-inspiring. I just can't put it into words. I'm proud of them for so many things, but this is probably the top of the list. I have the life I always dreamed of. Wow. I love these guys...

The first fish Tyler ever caught.. probably about 1997.

Kurt could have made more money working somewhere else all these years, but it was important to us that he have free time to coach the kids in sports and be there for the important events in their lives. We wouldn't trade it for anything.

I love that Kurt works with the Young Men in the Church, so our boys can see him honor his Priesthood and look to him for guidance throughout their lives.

How lucky am I to live with these guys?

But.. I'm going to miss Zack SO MUCH! Just the other day, we were praying that he'd live through the night in the NICU and now he's off to college! I'm so proud of him and the man he is.

And so honored that I get to be the woman in their lives, atleast for now:)

Sayonara 2009!!!

This pretty much sums up the year for me.... a bloody mess!

This was probably THE most stressful year I've had for a while, and I'm not at all sorry to see it end...lower credit scores, higher interest rates, job loss, weight gain... UGH! My Grandma passed away on Thanksgiving Day and I think I'd like to skip November forever!!!! I cannot WAIT to turn the page to a new year and a new decade and begin the next phase of life.

There were some good moments, though, and I'll sum up the highlights~

I became an EMT-Intermediate (Thus the photo above. I did NOT start that IV!) even though I never wanted the responsibility. It was challenging and difficult, but I'm glad I did it. I'm now the Juab County EMS Coordinator, and I LOVE my job!

Kurt and I spent a lot of time together this year and I love him more all the time. Even when things are challenging, we somehow manage to work through it as a team. He's most definitely my best friend. We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2009 and did some traveling to both coasts this year. We enjoy the same things and have tons of common interests and I love the time I spend with my husband :)

Tyler

My baby got his driver's license and became a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. He was just baptized the other day, wasn't he? And now he can baptize others. Where did the years go? He's even got a girlfriend! Our Bishop called us "empty nesters" on Sunday, and he is so right! Just a couple of years and we'll be on our own. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

Zack is a Senior in high school and attended Boys' State at Weber State this year. He was a member of the first Juab High School region championship team (golf) since moving up to 3A. He plans to go to Weber after his mission and pursue a degree in education. Zack will be a GREAT teacher. That's not the field we EVER thought he'd go into, but he relates so well to people. Kids will LOVE having him as a teacher.

And of course, Ashli got married. We love her husband and we're so thrilled that he is a part of our family, but I'm still kind of a mess without my little girl living here. Christmas was just not the same. I miss her all the time, even though she lives right here in town. I don't know if you're ever ready for your firstborn to marry and move out, particularly when she happens to be a girl.

So there it is... we close the door on 2009 and look forward to the future. I have the same "resolutions" I always have.. physical fitness, financial fitness and spiritual fitness. But above all, I want to be more Christlike in everything I do. I want to treat others with more love, respect and dignity and cherish the time I spend with the people I love.