Too Soon

My mom has days maybe hours left on this earth.

It is heart breaking.

I look at this photo and my heart breaks for Evie.

Oh Evie,  you have had so little time with your grandma.

I promise you will know her and know what an amazing grandma you have.

I know that your memories will be faint if you have any at all.

So we will tell you all about grandma, you will see photos,

you will here her silly joke about cannibal clowns and how she always told it wrong.

Your grandma is leaving this earthly body but she is not leaving us.

We are sealed as a family and she will be there when we need her.

I will make sure you know her, so that when she is close you will know that your grandma is near by.

That she is helping you through hard times and rejoicing with you during the good times.

We are lucky to have her.  We are lucky to be loved by her.

Come and Listen

It's that time again!

I am so excited to share an evening with my girl,

to feel the spirit and to talk about faith!

 These pics are from last March, Lauren's first time going with me to General Woman's Conference.

I love that they have changed the age.

Lauren is about to turn 12 in November and I have been think a lot about my little girl

starting a new chapter in her life and entering into Young Woman's.

I'm still in shock that she's that old. Crazy!

I pray that my girl will be true to her faith, that she'll stand up for what she believes and for those around her.

I hope that she'll always know her Father in Heaven and Savior.

That she'll rely on their love for her when hard times come.

She is golden and I pray she'll stay that way!

How lucky am I to be her mother and how lucky are we that we can go and share a

few hours surrounded by women of faith and to hear council tailored by church leaders for women.

Man the Lord loves us and is mindful of our needs.

As hard as life is with all its trails, what a lucky people we are.

We may have whirlwinds surround us,  hurt and heart ache,  bills may pile up and worry abounds,

but we have the gospel, we have a Prophet, we have the temple, the Holy Ghost is our companion 

and priesthood power.  Most of all we have a Father who love's us and a Savior who's

infinite atonement can save us all.  He has paid the price he has bought and paid for us all,

all we have to do is let him in, to rely on him, to use what he has so dearly given us.

We are a Lucky people!

Snack On

 School has been in for about a month and 

so that means a month of school lunch.

Lame!

I have been wanting to make some homemade snacks, that maybe I  could freeze

or that are most likely healthier then there premade copy cats from the store.

Thinking I'm not alone so why not share some that I'm wanting to try.

Fruit Snacks 

Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites

Granola Bars

Cheese Crackers

Graham Crackers

Banana Nutella Granola

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Brownie Roll-Ups

Fruit Role-Ups

Copycat Krispy Kreme Donuts

I think it would be fun to do a recipe swap or pinterest pig out on homemade snacks.

It would be great to taste them so you could tell what was worth making for your family and what would be a big old flop with your kids. 

Just click on the name and it'll take to the recipes.

Today

Today I am going to quickly clean and then spend the day with my mom.

She is off to Montana to visit family tonight and if we really only have a month

 then I don't want to waste this day.

Pixie! Why You Take So Long?

Right now I am thinking why can't I be like J Law and have money

and super witty powers and just buy my hair into a bob.

You know let my hair fake it until it makes it!

I'm not greedy and I know that I can't have super long hair yet.

I know that is in the far future.

(source)

I am needing some motivation in the adventure that I lovingly call

The Great Pixie Grow Out!

I really am a visual person so I search pinterest to kinda get a your hair might look like time line.

Start

2 Months

3 Months

5 Months

7 Months

12 Months

18 Months

Forever Away!!!!

All images from Pinterest, because where else?

What is Sealed

Yesterday the Ogden Temple was dedicated.

Instead of having our normal church services, we were able to participate in the dedication. 

Sitting and listening to the speakers talk about the Temple helped remind me of how blessed I am.

I am blessed that my family is sealed, we our bound here on earth and in heaven.

I am indebted to our Savior,

His atoning sacrifice has made it possible through the saving ordinances of the temple,

that when my mom leaves this earthly trail and is reunited with those who have gone on before

that one day when I am called home I will be reunited with her.

I am grateful for the knowledge that my babies are not lost, 

I am and will for all eternity be their mother and even if I may not be able to hold them now, one day I will.

That those perfect little souls will be their to greet their grandma when she steps through the veil.

It is like a part of me will be able to greet her and be with her.

Whether our loved ones are on this side of the veil or the other,

they are near and they are still very much a part of our lives.

I may only have a month left her on earth with my mother but I have an eternity to look forward too.

The Temple gives me hope!

Mi!o & Evie

Yesterday when Milo got home from school, I did the typical mom questions.

How was school?  Do you have anything I need to see? Who did you play with? Did you learn lots?

Obviously these thing have come to bug my kindergartner already, 

because he responded with an eye role and "come on mom, just barge into my backpack"

and then threw his backpack in my direction.

Thanks Milo, I can feel the love.

  

While walking Evie to a friends house a crow was cawing.

Evie cawed back, then the crow caw again.

I told Evie "look the bird is talking to you"

She responded with "yeah, that because I talk bird."

Then she cawed some more.

Remember Lot's Wife

The other day I listened to this talk while I cleaned my house.

My house really needed to be cleaned and I really need this talk,

so a win win.

Don't look back like Lot's wife.

Don't look to the world to solve your problems.

Look forward and upward!

The Lord will see you through, and he has never ever let you down

and he never will.

When days are hard and I'm at the end of my rope, that's what I tell myself!

"The Lord has never and will never let you down, so keep going."

Keep moving forward, don't look back.

Thanks Elder Holland for the reminder.

Ugly Crying

I just got home from watching "The Fault in our Stars".

I cried in the movie like a girl.

Nothing major, just a brush away a tear here and there.

I cried not for the love story but for those who would be left behind,

like I will be left behind when my mom goes.

I know that those who go before leave this world for one

of peace, one without pain, without worry and heartache.

They enter love, the love that the Savior gives.

They go onto brighter days and they don't go far.

After the movie as we sat and talk for a moment, my friend

brought up the question "if cancer was always here and we are just better at finding it"

I think our world has always know the hurt of cancer even if we didn't know what it was.

I also think that Cancer and Mental Illness are the great plagues.

With this statement my heart broke, because we are dealing with both in our family right now.

And I ugly cried for all to see and try as I might to stop I couldn't.

Suck.

You know what I hate about mental illness?

You can't speak openly, you can't gather support like you could if

it was cancer or diabetes or any other health issue.

Have we come further then we where in the resent past.

Heck yes, but it's not far enough.

I hate that I can't be open about who in my family is suffering and with what kinda of issues.

That I have to keep them safe from idiots in the world.

I think it hurts everyone, how much knowledge could be shared?

How many life's could be better or even saved?

If only we could talk about it as openly as you would if it was cancer.

Luckily we don't need a big old support group to love them, 

to pray for them, to treat them like any other person.

Cancer and mental illness both suck eggs!

Justin's latest

Justin just finished his latest painting.

I love it, but I did put my foot down when he wanted it to go in our room.

Not really the vibe I'm going for in our master and it's great by the computer.

Notice how all the kids are playing where they shouldn't be?

It shows lose of innocents to soon, 

while the parents are off in planes and not watching out for their little ones.

Northern Lights and What Not

Guess what? 

Tonight you can see the northern lights.

I have always want to see them but not enough to go to Alaska.

I can hardly stand winter in Utah, why would I want to double it.

I also want to see fire flies,  I don't see them migrating my way.

I've been to Oklahoma but sadly didn't see any.

Are there fire flies in Oklahoma?

Anyway's back to topic.

Here's a map to see if your in a spot of the country to see them.

Sorry Oklahoma no northern lights for you.

And now for your viewing pleasure a bunch of super rad pictures

of wolfs and the northern lights, oh and a cat or 2.

I like to keep it classy.

Some of these I really like, some I think are hilarious.
I'll let you decided which.

Remember

Let us look backwards for a moment to remember this day, to honor it and those we lost. Let us look back and pray for them and their families. Let us pray for our country. Let us look back and be thankful to those out in the world who stood by us. but always look forward, "the future is as bright as your faith". Look inward, we are children of God and we are strong through him. Look upward, the Lord will guide us through the darkest of times. September 11 2001 is proof enough of that.

Rainy Day? Chicken Noddle Soup?

It's raining, fall is coming!

While I love rainy days and fall weather,

I think winter should last only the month of December.

I love the warmth of summer.

Nothing better then the feel of the sun on my face

and sand between my toes.

I would take the beach over snow any day.

On the bright side, I love fall/winter food.

Today I'm thinking this Chicken Noddle Soup recipe I found on pinterest

sounds perfect.

It's from Favorite Recipe.  The rosemary adds a nice brightness.