Well it's that time again that I have realized (again) that I am extremely behind in my posts... This however does not mean that I am going to put everything in one post. I am going to work on it as I can, especially like tonight when I can't sleep. I do want this as our family journal, so I'm going to pick out the high lights from our summer and probably our year. I was going to go in order, but I'm not promising anything... lol  :)

The first and biggest update that I need to post is
  OUR ADOPTION DAY!!

I can't believe that I haven't posted this yet, I know that it's been a busy time around here but I feel really badly that I haven't posted about our day yet. I did post a lot on Facebook about it, but really it's not quite the same.

I really want to get my blog caught up and kept up!! For me and my family...

It was such a beautiful and happy day for our family!!!

Thank you to all those that have been there, with and for us, during our journey!! 

We are VERY BLESSED with wonderful people in our lives!!

Well here it is 4:15 in the morning and I haven't been to sleep yet and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to. 

Chad is leaving tomorrow~well today now~ for work in TX. This was a very tough decision for us, but one that we feel strongly is the right one for us. It is going to in the long run bless our family, even though the next few months will probably be tough ones. We have never had Chad gone for work since we got the boys, not like before when it was just the two of us. I know that we can do it and I know the Lord will bless us. The boys are doing good because we have had time to prepare for him leaving but the past couple of days they have expressed how sad they are and that they are going to miss him so much. They understand that it is a decision we all made together as a family and they understand why we made it. They show such strength and character I'm so proud of them. I love all of my boys (Big and Small) and know together with the Lord, our family and friends we will make it successfully through this next stage of our lives. 

So as I was sitting here thinking about what I wanted to post next… I have so many that I would like to do and want to do. So in all my reflecting I decided that since I have done a tribute to Mom and my Sisters that it would be fitting to finish one that I started in April for my Dad.

This was taken just weeks before Dad passed

On the morning of April 9, 1975 our Father kissed us good bye, promised me a ride the next time he went out, and left for the airstrip. He never returned. You see he promised me the ride because I was suppose to go with him that morning he was flying a group to a meeting and at the last minute they had an addition the their group and there was no room for me any longer. I was really upset that he wasn’t going to take me, I was use to going everywhere with Dad. I was upset for a minute until I realized that I was going to get a trip just the two of us. This was the third miracle in my life, the first was the day that Mom and Dad took me home from the hospital and the second the day they took me to the Temple to be sealed to them and a member of this most complex and WONDERFUL family. That was the last time that we were with Dad, the plane crashed and all of our lives changed forever. It was a really hard time for ours and the other families along with loosing our loved ones it took them 2 ½ months to find the wreck site, only then did the closure have a chance to start, and many years latter (for some) for the healing to begin. My sisters have a hard time because they can’t remember; I have a hard time because I do.

Our Dad was an amazing man and for the short 4 years and 11 months that he was a Father he was amazing in that roll too. He left a lifetime impression on all of us and then went on to finish his life’s mission on the other side. We were all blessed to have him and his example in our lives no matter the length of time.

My wish and hope is that I can and will be the daughter, sister, wife, and woman he would have wanted me to be.

This was taken of us three girls just after Dad passed

This is one of mine and my sister Kristel’s favorite pictures it reminds us of the three of us when our father past. How old (well close) and innocent we were at that time.

One of the posts that I have wanted to do for quite some time now is this one….

I love my siblings very much, and there is something that can be said about the bond that SISTERS share. I wanted to dedicate this post to my Sisters… I hope that they don’t mind sharing it with my “other sisters” as well.
I am a very lucky person to first have two sisters that mean the world to me. We have been through a lot together, both good and not so good. I LOVE them both so much!! They are two of my best friends. I want nothing but the best for both of them!! And true happiness!!

I am also very lucky to be surrounded by people that really care about me. How amazing it is to have people like this in my life. I know that both of my sisters also have these kinds of “Sisters” in their lives. I think, -no- I know that we are all BLESSED to be able to share our lives with such people. It’s also refreshing and reassuring since all three of us live apart from each other, to know there is someone out there that is caring for your sister the way you would if you were there and could do it yourself. In every way these are OUR Sisters sharing our lives with us!!

So this is for all of OUR SISTERS out there… for all that you do and are to each of us!!

To a Special Sister
Author: unknown

A sister is one of the nicest things
that can happen to anyone.
She is someone to laugh with and share with,
to work with and join in the fun with.
She is someone who helps in the rough times,
and knows when you need a warm smile.
She is someone who will quietly listen,
when you just want to talk for a while.
A sister is dear to you always,
for she is someone who is always a part
of all the favorite memories
that you keep very close to your heart.

This is the three of us two years ago, one of my favorites.

I love my Friend Debi’s last post; she got all her Holiday break in one post, so I’m going to copy her idea. Here is our December all wrapped up in a pretty bow (I hope).

We started out by chilling.

Chris got these books for his Birthday and he Loves them!

Kind of a long story, but we did try and get lights up before it snowed and here is the proof. We ended up with lights on the bushes around the house instead. It was too hard to get it finished after it snowed. There’s always next year :). Thanks Mom for the extra lights so that we have enough to go up!!

December 2nd was Mom’s Birthday and we went to Colorado to surprise her for her Birthday.
It was a quick trip, but a GREAT one!

The boys were so excited to go and surprise Grandma at the restaurant. They were giggling most of the trip there.
The thought still makes me smile.

Our newest addition to the Family, Sassy.
Grizz thinks that she is “her” Toy… lol

The Ward Christmas Dinner. The boys were AWESOME!!
and we really enjoyed ourselves.

The boys got to see one Santa’s helpers.

Joy School Christmas Program for their Families.

Each of the kids got a certificate for giving different kinds of service to their friends during the month.

Spending some special time together with friends.
We went to a neighbor’s house together. Each year they set up a huge Christmas Village upstairs and downstairs a huge display of nativities. It was amazing and all the kids were great and really enjoyed themselves.

Community Service with the Activity Girls at the Food Bank.
We stuffed about 650 stockings for the children of the families that were picking up food the week of Christmas.
(They are in the boxes behind us)

We had our first snow since October!
The boys LOVE the snow!!

Chris has to make a snow angel any time he can!!

The whole group got into the fun!

My purple tree :)
(but of course)

I finally unpacked my Christmas China after 3 years.

Christmas Eve Jammies!

Poor Jimmy has the flu :(
Treats were left for Santa and the Reindeer.
Santa left a note in return :) (He’s gone “high tech” now days)
Christmas morning smiles!!

Time to play and explore!!
How cool to be 4 and have your own laptop!!
Thank you Grandma!!
A new Photographer in the family!!

Thank you Grandma!!
Christmas Dinner!! Yummy!!
(a request for a repeat of Thanksgiving)
New Years morning with friends.

So that is December in a nut shell, just to name a few of the things that it was made up of…
Now it’s just been 3 days back to “normal” and I already remember how much I loved being on break with no “real” schedule, no taxi driving, no homework, no evening rush for dinner, bath, and bedtime; just time spent together as a family.
I guess that’s what it’s all about though, and why we have to remember, and try to make the “season” last all year long. That is one of my goals this year.

Why do we wait till the Holidays to tell others how we feel about them, to share a piece of ourselves with others, to go the “extra mile” to make sure that we spend time with family and see loved ones that we only see once a year? Is that really what God intended for us to do? I don’t think so. I believe that he intends for us to do these things regularly, the saying that we loose ourselves in the service of others is so true. Aren’t our lives better enriched once we learn this ever so important lesson? We keep so busy that we forget what really matters, including our own families. I hope to remember this everyday, and not take for granite any time I have with my family and to share myself with others. Time is too short and precious. Thank goodness that we do have this special time of year to “remember”. What a wise and loving Father to give us this opportunity every year to re-connect with our loved ones as well as the opportunity to “give” of ourselves to others, without it, think how empty our lives would be. Not having the opportunity to “re-fill the well”.

Thank you to all of you that have given to me and my family not only over the holidays but the entire year. Thank you for the special Christmas Angels that gave so willingly to our family. It will be “paid forward” I promise!! We have been shown so much love and tenderness from so many this year. Thank you for being our family and friends. Thank you for being a great example of CHRIST'S LOVE.

I have one more very special post. On Wednesday October 1, 2008 I was having a really hard day. I had two close friends that took time out of their very busy and crazy days to listen to a friend and help her out. I want to thank you for your time and listening ears. Thanks Cyrene, and Debi for our hallway talks, it’s really nice to know that your not alone and not going crazy… that there is someone (many of us I imagine) out there that feels the same and has the same/similar fears. That day just really stood out to me and I guess I really needed to have a friend’s shoulder that day, and they came to the rescue.

I must say that I have had many friends and family that have come to me and given me extra care and love, sometimes without even knowing that they were doing it, and I want to say THANK YOU... TO ALL OF YOU!!...

I hope that I can do the same for you as well. That is what friendship and family is all about, helping and being there for each other. Thanks for the phone call Kristi… You always know :).

Kristi and Tammy August 2007