Girls Night Out

I just have to say I have the most beautiful friends. All these woman have added something special to my life. We went and saw a movie (time travelers wife) - careful it does have some nudity in it and it can be kinda sad... I would pick a different one for a girls night something more upbeat or funny, I love funny movies, humm maybe next month. Then we went to hang out, eat (welcome to Moe's) and chatted, girls can go from one conversation to another so easily and 2 hours have gone by in no time. :) Gotta Love Girls Nights!!!

LOVE THIS!!

O.k. So I had this can of scrubbing bubbles in my closet and had never tried it. My shower was soooo bad with soap scum, I thought for sure I was going to be in the shower all day scrubbing... NOPE! This stuff really does work, I just sprayed it and took a brush and rubbed over it and
ta-da soap scum gone.. My husband is going to think he is in the wrong house. It looks great! This is for sure my new shower cleaning product. There motto is "We work hard, So you don't have to" - Love it!

Ladies if you have any other great tips for cleaning house... please do share!!




Scrubbing Bubbles® is a disinfectant multi-surface bathroom cleaner that removes tough soap scum penetrating thoroughly and leaving behind a brilliant shine. It can be used on a variety of surfaces such as tubs, showers, basins, ceramic tile, stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, vinyl and porcelain surfaces. Scrubbing Bubbles kills odor-causing germs, staphylococcus (staph) and athlete’s foot fungus. It removes mold and mildew stains. It smells nice too! Scrubbing Bubbles is ideally suited for use in motels, hotel, and hospitals.

Our "Chunky Monkey" laughed for the first time today!

Our Family has so enjoyed these months with our little "chunky monkey", he laughed for the first time on Labor Day, just mommy and Henry where hanging out and he laughed when mommy gave him neck kisses. He turned 4 months old.. time is flying by, we want it to slow down... So many sweet moments with Henry.

Look at the size of this guy.. he is going to be a "gator linebacker".

Dining room makeover for FREE

O.k. So I was sitting and eating breakfast this morning and started looking around the dinning room.. my hubby said what are you looking at, I just smiled and he said oh no! I love to change my house around.. I have never changed the dining room so this will be fun. My decorative ideas got going.. (not that I have much, if any) so then I was off.. rearranging the dinning room, took a tree from the living room, moved furniture and lamps and ta-da... there is a new dinning room, it makes the room look larger. I love it! Lauren and Melissa inspired me to do it for FREE, thanks ladies.. whatcha think? The window treatments are a different story.. i'm still looking for the perfect ones.( any ideas)??????

Before...



After...

A Heavy Heart

The past couple of weeks my heart has been heavy with so many emotions. Sadness, compassion, love, and peace all wrapped up in one. A sweet friend of mine delivered her precious baby daughter at 7 months only to have to give her back to our Heavenly Father, her baby was perfect. As I talked with her and read her blog all of my emotions came back of the experience that Steve and I went thru with our daughter Haley 6 years ago. It is amazing to me how fresh and so close to the surface my feelings and emotions are even over the amount of time it has been. I felt so much love for my friend and I just cryed with her, mourned with her and I KNEW exactly how she felt. I remember a quote by Joseph Smith, that the bishop gave in his talk about stillborn babies... “The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth. It makes you feel better to know that baby is PERFECT but really all we want is her to be with us on the earth...

Which lead me to another talk that I have heard over and over and yet I get something different out of each time. "Five Scriptures that will help you get thru almost anything, by John Bytheway" In Alma 14:9-13 "Your work is not finished" Joseph smith quotes "No righteous man is ever taken before his time"

SO what is my work....

Boyd K. Packer gave a talk called "The Play the Plan" - first act is a previous pre-mortal existence with God, the second act is the, Trials, Temptations, Tests, and Tradegy of this mortal life, and the third act is a glorious future of eternity.

Act 2 has been in full force for my family, I look back at my life... and really I have been blessed, yes I have gone thru a TON of CRAP!! But on the other hand I have been able to "just keep swimming", and do you know what I see? I see that I'm able to help someone that is going thru a divorce because I have been divorced, I have layed my baby girl to rest in her pure white dress and a white wood box, not in a girly pink crib, just like my dear friend, I have been to the Doctor over and over and they told me the cancer is still there you will need to do radiation, no you can't get pregnant, you must wait, when all I wanted was another baby... I can look back and see how the lord has walked beside me thru it all. He does have a plan, now 3 yrs later I have been able to hold my new baby in my arms, go to a doctor and they say yes your cancer has shrunk, 7yrs of marriage... I have been blessed to have another husband so loving and caring, his love is so special and comforting, he is my best friend. I feel the peace of my savior and father in heaven that I will have my dear baby girl again, and that is what I have to hold on to and envision.

I asked the question why so many times and I have come to realize why was the wrong question it should have been WHAT??? What can I learn from this and what can I do?? I feel the lord is so patient with me, it has taken a LONG time for me to get to this point... to know he wants me to serve, hold the hand of those that are going thru the trials I have gone thru... have compassion on others and help them the way the lord has helped me, comforted me and loved me. He prepares us "to feed his sheep".

I love this talk by Jeffrey L Holland: It is about the time that Joseph Smith had in Jail - I have felt this way many times..so helpless and alone.
Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry, “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us.

When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow (see Luke 18:1–8; see also Luke 11:5–10). Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child.

When what has to be has been and when what lessons to be learned have been learned, it will be for us as it was for the Prophet Joseph. Just at the time he felt most alone and distant from heaven’s ear was the very time he received the wonderful ministration of the Spirit and the glorious answers that came from his Father in Heaven:

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes” (D&C 121:7–8).

After this past week and seeing my sweet friend struggle with the passing of her baby it has really made me miss my little girl. It was so fresh in my mind and heart and I asked myself am I missing her enough, does she know we love her? She was real, she was ours, she came to our family, she is perfect, and so missed and loved more than words can explain. As tears come out of my eyes, they are wiped away with a peaceful feeling that I know that she is just fine "her work was done" she is with her Papa and loved ones... she is taken care of.

I smile and even laugh sometimes of the crazy things I have been thru, I still smile thinking about Haley... the way she kicked me and moved when I played her teddy bear music to her. Then when I did radiation, I glowed green, at least that was the joke of the girls, when they dropped and ran after leaving something special and sweet on my door. Those friends changed my life and I will always be touched by there love and kindness. The lord has blessed me after each trial and I can see them. My trials have also allowed others to serve me, this makes the lord smile. His plan is working.... :)

Thanks for listening and letting me clear my heart and mind... I can't wait for the third act... the glorious future of eternity.

Bisquick.... Pot Pie and Cookies... loved them!

O.k. So if you know me.. I'm all about quick, easy and yummy meals... Trying to find new and creative different meals can be hard so I find I make the same old stuff. Having a 4 month old and a 4 yr old, spending lots of time in the kitchen is just not an option (unless of course Hunter is making the cookies with me - :) I came across these recipes from Bisquick and they turned out good.

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2c. Butter
1c. Brown Sugar
1 Egg
2c. Bisquick
1/2c. nuts (optional)
1c. choc. chips






















POT PIE
3 to 4 c. cooked chicken, turkey or beef
1 1/2 c. frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 c. chicken (or beef) broth
1 1/2 c. Bisquick
1 1/2 c. milk

Butter 9 x 13 inch pan. Cut chicken (or beef) and place in pan. Add vegetables. Pour (or spread) soup over vegetables. Cut butter into pats and lay on top of soup. Pour broth over all. In separate bowl, mix Bisquick and milk. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until browned. NOTE: This looks like a mess, but it will work.

So complete....

This is what happens when mommy leaves the room... poor
henry.
I never knew I could feel so complete in my life, to have that feeling when you look around the room at your family and just smile with happiness, that you are so blessed to have the family you have. In a blessing I was given it said that "my greatest joy would be in my children". I find that is coming true and so real. I'm so thankful for the children I have been able to carry, to feel them move and have the bond of pregnancy with them, to love them so much.

Hunter is my sunshine, and oh yes he can be my storm cloud some days to :). I love the conversations I can have with him, to see his little mind in motion, to see how creative he can be with drawings, building blocks and I just adore how he whispers in my ear and tells me he loves me. Playing I-spy in the car is the best..He is such a sweet little boy, so full of life and energy, very competitive (some times that can be bad) but in soccer it will be great some day. LOL The most of all he just loves on his baby brother, so protective, so sweet.

Henry is almost 4 months old this week, it is crazy how the time has gone by. I find myself just wanting to hold him all the time, snuggle up to him, talk to him and I so smile when I walk in the room and he hears my voice and turns his head to see me. Henry loves the water.. and has so much fun splashing with those chunky legs and tiny toes on his feet..I treasure the mornings when I can pick him up out of his crib and he smiles when I talk to him. He is my little man! So perfect in every way.

I'm so grateful for my little guys in my life and I am so excited to raise these adorable children, see them learn, grow and mature... I know I will have my hands full with 2 boys, yet I so look forward to the adventure of life ahead. These little guys have completed my life...I'm SO EXCITED for the future ahead!!!

A Natural High

~A Natural High~
What else could bring you so much joy
As the arrival of your baby boy!
His snuggly charms now capture you;
He's in your thoughts in all you do.
Nothing can fill you so full of glee
As bouncing your little boy on your knee.
His precious antics please mom and dad;
He's a bundle of blessings, this little lad!
His boyish grin enchants everyone;
He's just what you wanted--your boy, your son.
A baby boy is a natural high,
So have lots of fun with your little guy.


>

Our little Preschooler...

Hunter started VPK (preschool) on Monday! It was a big exciting day for Hunter. He had his dinosaur shirt and lunch box and he was set. Steve surprised him and met him at the school. Alicia asked Hunter if has ready to go and he pushed her in front of him and said no you have to go first. He was a little nervious but did great once we found a seat by his buddies, Joseph and Enoch.

Mommy got to run errands, work out and get lots done while Hunter was in school. When I picked him up he told me all about his day and Oh he made sure he told me that Ms. Tiffany had to move him cause he wouldn't stop TALKING... nice.. in trouble the first day. :) ( the teacher didn't say anything to me so it must not have been that big of a deal)

Visiting Gladys, Shannon and the Fam..in Orlando

Alicia, Hunter and Henry had one more fun road trip to Orlando to spend the night with Gladys Waters Family, Visit Shannon Sotto and also her Brothers family. We had a great time. One day we went to the park and let the kids play and then off to Shannon's cute house for some more girl talk, it was much cooler inside. I miss Shannon and our talks since she has moved after they graduated and Jason started up a new Dentist Office. Congrats to them for so much success.. all there hard work is paying off. Shannon is so wonderful as a friend and I admire and respect her. I love to watch her be a mom so genuine and sweet you can see what a great job she does by the way her kids shine. I'm so glad I was able to visit with her. Then it was back at Gladys house the kids got to dress up in Daddy's (Mr Paul's) shirts and dance around to the Wiggles, they also played cars, and made tents. It was cute. Ireally enjoyed just being with the Water's family. They are such a sweet and caring family. The kids are great and Paul and Gladys are so cute as a married couple. You can just see how much they love each other and respect each other..... I think the end to a great visit was Paul's yummy chocolate chip cookies.. I think I ate the about half the batch. Gladys is such an amazing mom, hard working, so nurturing, patient and loving. I'm greatful for our friendship.e next day me and the boys went to my brothers house were we got to visit with some college friends that came into town, go out to lunch with Auntie Jacqueline and Hutner and Jackson had a blast playing. They really enjoyed swimming and playing dinosaurs.It was a perfect couple of days away to end the summer.

Do you ever ask yourself....Did I really sign up for this !?!??!

Sometimes I ask myself did I really sign up for all the crazy life experiences I have gone through and continue to go through?! Sure we bring some of it on our selves by just living and making certain choices, but really alot of life is out of our control. I look over my life in the past 6 years and I have experienced, death of a child, stress, trying to be that perfect mom, cancer and loss of a job, struggle after stuggle. There have been so many hours of crying and just wondering about life. I feel like my life is like this song "The Climb", we are always tring to climb this mountain. And THEN... do you have those moments when you feel like the Lord is talking directly to YOU..The past couple weeks I have come to understand that I can't do it on my own and that the lord wants me to come to him, it is like he is standing at my door just wanting to come in. It is interesting how the talks at church have been on FAITH and I have learned so much about faith in the lord it is so much deeper than just "believing in something you can't see" (which I always thought it is just that simple. I truely have been humbled by learning and feeling the lords love for me. When I heard this song I just thought this is soooooo my life and the way I feel. I know some battles in life we loose but what we walk away with is the key. What did I learn from this experence and how did it help me? I read an article from Thomas S. Monson the Prophet for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. that talked about his faith. There were three scriptures in the article that stuck out to me.. 1. D&C 64:29 Be on the Lords Errand, 2. 1 Cor. 9:24 - Run the race of life to obtain the prize, 3. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith! I'm greatful that even thou this life is full of ups and downs, loss and life, disappointments and happiness, he provides a way for us to understand, feel his love, ways to get through that time. So many tools to give us peace and joy.

No matter how hard my trials, it could ALWAYS be worse, but over all i'm greatful that I had the opportunity to study up on this and be taught it in church. I hope when I'm standing in front of my Father in Heaven I can say the same to him... I have kept the faith! I have noticed as I learn more about Faith in the lord I also notice my BLESSINGS. I'm so blessed and thankyou all for being that example to me in keeping the faith, thru your actions and love to the lord. I pray as you all climb the mountain of life as I have you will feel your "Faith" grow.

"The Climb"
I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep your faith
[ Miley Cyrus Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]

>

Hunter's fun filled BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!!

Hunter had a week full of FUN for his 4th Birthday. He wanted a Dinosaur party so mommy made 2 dinosaur cakes.. one was cupcakes a dino land and the other a dinosaur shaped cake. We celebrated on Sunday with his Uncle Randy, Aunt Ashlea and cousins Grace, Gavin and Perian. Then some friends came over the DaCosta's, and his Grandma and Papa Tom came for cake and ice cream. Monday the Tower's family showed up at the door singing Happy Birthday and gave him his favorite dessert a BIG CUPCAKE! Saturday we had a dinosaur themed pool party with Joseph (star wars theme) and another little boy Drake. It was so much fun and he got lots of toys. Hunter had a great 4th birthday with friends and family.

gainesville singles ward reunion

Friends, Fun and Food makes for a perfect reunion. It was great seeing all of our friends that we went to school and church with. It has been about 6 yrs or longer since we have seen some of these friends. We were able to catch up, meet some of there kids and spouses for the first time. We all had a great time.

My Little Hunter Turns 4!

Steve and I can't belive that it has been 4 yrs already. I still remember the day we brought him home from the hospital. Steve was such a proud daddy...Steve has had a new nick names for Hunter almost each year! - Zattada, chachi, cojo... i'm sure I have forgotten some of them, his daddy loves nick names... :)

Hunter is our sunshine on a cloudy day! His smile brightens any room. We love to see him grow and see how he enjoys life. Hunter is our little "stallion". He has such a strong personality and love for life. Mommy and daddy just need to "Tame" him a little, he sure keeps us on our toes... (anyone with a 4 yr old knows what I mean) Hunter loves to ride his 4-wheeler, doing fun outdoor things with his daddy, ride the tractor, basically we are raising a good ol redneck country boy - :). He is creative with building blocks, painting & coloring. Hunter is fisty and yet so loving and kind. We love his spunky personality and it makes us laugh alot.

The other day Hunter put a play snake under his shirt to his nipple and we asked him what he was doing and he said.... i'm feeding it, it is hungry. (like mommy feeds Henry) We laughed so hard.

Hunter loves to cook with mommy and adores his baby brother. He is very competative in EVERYTHING!!! Loves to race, run, ride his bike and eager to learn. We are excited to see him grow this year when he starts VPK (preschool). He loves to sound out words and read books. His interests are spider webs (spiderman), dinosaurs, playing I spy in the car, watching movies, singing church songs, & playing with his friends. It is funny to hear him ask for playdates... he is growing up so much, Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!

Angel Sent...(Heidi and Celeste)

If you have ever been loved so much by a friend that you feel they where sent from heaven as an angel in your life you will understand exactly what i'm talking about...my sweet friends Heidi and Celeste have walked the journey of life with me for many years. I have known Celeste for almost 9 years and Heidi for about 6 yrs maybe even longer.. We have laughed, cryed, had many girls nights and Heidi and I even had babies the same time. These amazing woman have held my hand during my cancer treatments and gave me peace and comforting words when I needed it. I feel the lord knew he couldn't be here to walk with me so he sent amazing woman like Celeste and Heidi to be his hands. Heidi is such a soft, loveing mother, so humble and geniune. I learned how to dress cute from her and she inspires me to be a great hostess and mother. Celeste is so sweet, genuine, kind and would do anything for you. Her children reflect her amazing mothering skills, so patient and loving. Celeste has the cutest decorating tips also. Both of them are so beautiful inside and out, not to mention amazing cooks!!! I just LOVE THEM!!!! If you ever get a chance to be part of there lives your life will change forever. You will walk away wanting be a better person and learning so much from them. I just love these ladies, it meant so much when they can to visist me and see my new little man Henry. Thanks ladies for taking the time to show you care and love us so much. Lunch was great and I loved the flowers and gifts.


WE'RE BLESSED IN THIS LIFE,
WITH FRIENDS PRECIOUS AND FEW,
BUT IN A TIME OF NEED,
THE GOOD LORD SENT ME YOU.

TO LEND ME A SHOULDER,
WHEN I FELT I COULD CRY,
TO GIVE ME SOME HOPE,
AND NEVER ASK WHY.

YOU SAT THERE AND LISTENED,
LIKE A GOOD FRIEND WOULD,
YOU OFFERED ME COMFORT,
IN ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD.

YOU LENT ME A SMILE,
WHEN I'D LOST MY OWN,
AND NOW WHEN I'M LONELY,
I'M NEVER ALONE.

FOR YOU SHARE YOUR WISDOM,
WITH SUCH WARMTH AND CHEER,
AND I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW,
HOW I LOVE YOU MY DEAR.

THERE'S A PLACE IN MY HEART,
AND YOUR ALWAYS THERE,
THIS FRIENDSHIP OF OURS,
IN A LIFETIME IS RARE.

YES, FRIENDS IN MY LIFE,
HAVE BEEN PRECIOUS AND FEW,
SO I THANK GOD FOR SENDING,
AN ANGEL LIKE YOU.

Mom's Keeping Cool in the Pool..

It's been fun this summer getting the moms and kids together. The conversations are so funny and never a dull moment for the kids. I feel like I learn something from these sweet woman each time we get together. They are wonderful mothers,loving, nurting and so giving. We have such an amazing group of ladies. Fun Summer Times!

SOOO SORRY Melissa, you got cut out of the picture... Thanks for Hosting the playgroup.

Our fun filled week with Cousin Grace