HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!

I hope you have a truly great day!!  Thanks for being my Dad!!  I am so glad I get to share my birthday with you!!!  

Love you more!!!

Today is History

As I watch the TV today, I am so thankful for this nation in which I live.  I have been so blessed to be born in the "Land of the Free".  I can vividly remember watching my Grandfather's face as the flag was carried past his house on the Riverdale parade route.  I remember the impact that had on me.  We need to raise our children to be patriotic again.  I believe our children should be raised to love this country and to stand behind our leaders.  

Today is such a significant day in history.  Today, our first African-American president is being sworn in.  I wonder, do we realize the impact on our nation, our world.  Not too many years ago - our outgoing president and our new president couldn't sit at a counter and have a cup of coffee together.  This is progress.  

I hope this is the beginning of a world of true racial equality.  I hope this is the start of true change.  I watch my children and just hope for the best for them.  I want them to be good honest people who look at people's minds & hearts - not the color of their skin.  

I hope we as a nation can band together - work together.  This nation is amazing, anything can happen here - and anything does happen here.  I hope we can band together - regardless of our political position and be the greatest nation.  We all have to work and believe in America.

I am so proud to be an American.  I can't imagine raising my children in any other nation.  I look to my children's future with hope.

Christmas

Brenna at the end of the day.  She was wiped out!!

This is the scene that greeted us after opening presents with all of the older kids.  It snowed and snowed and snowed.  Gaylen & Patrick had to go help Nate after he got stuck on Hwy 89.

Brenna with one of her favorite gifts - a Tinkerbell game for her DS.  She loves Tinkerbell!  Thanks Auntie Teresa!!  :D

Wyatt & Patrick both got awesome hats from Kathy!!  Both my boys LOVE hats!  Thanks Kathy!

Oops - I forgot to fix the red eye.... 

This year we had probably one of the best Christmases ever!  We spent the day at home - in our PJs for most of the day.  The kids were able to play with their new games & toys.  We were able to watch movies and just hang out.  All of Gaylen's older kids visited us too - most came for dinner!  It was a great day all together.  After opening presents with the older kids downstairs - we came up to A LOT of snow!  It was snowing so hard!   The boys all helped clear the driveway & sidewalks then, they headed home!  Patrick & Gaylen ended up having to go out to try and help Nate on Hwy 89 so it was after midnight by the time they got home.  Brenna fell asleep on the floor waiting for them to get home.  It was a perfect day!

I had some time to reflect on Christmas, too.  I often think about Mary & Joseph.  I wonder if they had any idea of the impact Jesus would have on the entire world.  I am so grateful for my Savior.  I am afraid that sometimes in the craziness that is the Christmas season - we lose sight of the true meaning.