Close your eyes...now listen

We have has our first HUGE snow for the year. If you know me well, you know I HATE SNOW!!! I have lived here for 15 years now and still I do not like the snow... so I thought. After school today Alex immediately offered to shovel the snow for me. I usually do it since David is usually at work so I just go out and get it down, but not today Alex wanted to help me out. I guess it was his way of saying, "Thanks Mom, for helping out at school, today."

Well, anyway Alex spent what I thought was forever just shoveling away. David called and told me he was going to be a little late with all of the roads so bad. So I thought I would help Alex out especially since we had the garage built, just seems to be a lot more work to do when it come to the snow. While we shoveled it was quiet. That quiet that makes you stop and listen. I closed my eyes and stood there feeling the peace that surrounded me and the crisp air against my face oddly enough brought comfort. It was wonderful.

I hope you have the chance to just stop, close your eyes and listen to the fall of the snow. I think I will do that again.....soon.

Starting Something.

I have finally bitten the bullet. I am going to give this a go. I am starting to do wedding invitation, Christmas cards and much more. I am hoping that you will allow me to do something for you and your family. You can click on this button and it will send you to my designs. I hope you like them and will be able to see what I can do for you. Thanks for your support and confidence. I will be adding more designs over time.

Click Here

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!

Wow, what a year!!! It has gone by so fast, yet it has been a WONDERFUL year. Rest assure, we are grateful for that. So let’s tell you what each of us has been doing throughout the year.

The beginning of the year started with a great wedding. David's brother, Stewart, married his sweetheart Tess, in the Logan Temple. It was a beautiful snowy day. They looked so happy and we had a great time.

Later on David's sister, Melissa and her husband Ryan, had a baby girl, They named her Mylee Jane. Nakia likes to call her "Miss Mylee Jane." She is such a pretty baby.

In April Nakia and David had decided that it was getting about that time for Nakia to be a full-time mom and wife. After losing our baby the previous June and seeing how much the boys needed and missed their mom, it was a no brainer. So to make sure that we really took advantage of our benefit with Delta before she left, we took one last free trip to Nakia's most favorite place, Carlsbad, California. We walked the beach, tooked the boys to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm and the best...we drove up and down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). It was great!!

After returning from Cali., we had a chance to spend some time with Aiden's birthfamily. Aiden had a chance to see his birthmother, cousins, and auntie for the first time. We were nervous. We didn't know how he would react or how the birthfamily would. Needless to say, we worried for no reason. It was a great reunion. Aiden talked with and hug his birthmother. I am so grateful for her and her family. They love him so much and we love them just the same.

In May, David had the opportunity to go to Pepperdine University to attend the Cambridge College of Banking or Business or something like that, for a week of certification. He of course was successful. He is CSOP certified now and this has been such a blessing for us.

When June came, we hada great treat. Nakia's nephew Ashanti, from North Carolina, came to visit for 3-weeks. It was full of excitement. David took a week off and we got to be tourist in our backyard. It was fun.


During that time, Nakia had the greatest experience ever. Nakia sang with the Genesis Choir and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This was for the celebration of the 30 year anniversary of the Proclamation of the Priesthood. It was awe inspiring.

Later in the summer, we held a little party at our home for David's youngest brother, Spencer. He was called to serve a mission in Guatemala. To see pics from that click here Stewart and Tess Riding.

This year Alex turned 12. Our young man. We can hardly believe it. So for his birthday David took him on a trip with his boss and bunch of other people to Colorado. They had a great time, roughin' it, four-wheeling and what not. We later celebrated in our home with David's family. Alex received the Priesthood. We have two worthy priesthood holders in our home. It is still hard to believe.


Two weeks later we celebrated Aiden's 4th day. Aiden wanted to make his own cake, so we did. The following weekend we had a tie-dye party with his friends. It was so fun to watch those little boys be so creative.

This year one of the things we focused on was family, so we created time for togetherness. We took one Sunday and spent it at Cascade Springs. It was beautiful and so peaceful. And the boys loved exploring nature and having a picnic dinner in the mountains.



Right before the close of the year came harvest time. We had a garden for the first time in about 6 years. And it was a great success. Our food storage coffers are replenished. Nakia learned a lot with the help and advice of David's cousin, Margaret and her husband Sam. They are such master gardeners. Nakia was completely impressed by them. We traded jobs. David helped them with tiling and they help us with our garden.

We canned so much and it was fun, all of us in the kitchen with the radio BLASTED, just dancing, singing, stirring and sealing. Can hardly wait for next year!

Here's some of what we made and canned:
Peaches, Peach Preserve, Tomato Juice, Stewed Tomatoes, Marinara Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Zucchini Relish, Salsa and Zucchini Marmalade.










Now we come to the end of the year. We are a happy family. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord before us. We have our struggles, yet we know that in order for us to truly appreciate the joy we must have the bitter. We love all of our time together, whether it's working in the garden, riding horses, taking in nature, or just sitting together and watching a game. There is great peace and joy knowing we are a family forever, full of some "F" words that have allowed us to learn and grow. Family, Faith, and Fun.

Our wish for you this upcoming year is continued

good health, prosperity, and love.

What are Friends for Anyway??

I have a great friend who lives around the corner from me and we have known each other for a few years now. We first met at an adoption class I was teaching with my husband just about 4 years ago.

Anyway, she and I were talking late into the night as we usually do when ever I go to her house and visit and she was telling me how she was needing some more sessions.

You see, Kim, my friend is a BRILLIANT photographer and her work is just stunning. I love it and her. And I wanted as many people out there to see and experience her great eye.

So because she is my friend and I want to see her succeed, I want to invite each of you to take a look at her work and if you are so inclined drop her a line at kimsueellen@gmail.com and set up an appointment. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.


Click on this button to go to her blog.