Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!

I love that song from White Christmas where Betty and Judy sing about how much they love and need each other but also how to make sure "you don't come between me and my man!". It's a favorite at my house and my sisters and I will sing it for fun sometimes.

I have two wonderful sisters by blood. Dana and Megan. One older and one younger. They have both taught me a lot and continue to remind me about learning and growth. I am grateful for both of them. We don't always see eye to eye on everything and we certainly have different beliefs and opinions in life. But when all is said and done I know that I have 2 pretty awesome ladies who have my back.

I'm grateful for the journey we've been able to take through childhood, the teen years and now into our 30's. We've all changed a lot over the years but there are some fundamental things that may never change. Like Dana being the bossy oldest, myself being the pot stirring middle child and Megan being the "baby". We all play a role in our family. Sometimes an appreciated role and other times we'd like to rip each others heads off. But that's what we do. It's the dance of our relationship. Ever gliding, turning, dipping, falling, and changing.

I see my Mom with her sisters and I see the relationships around me of my friends or relatives with their sisters. I see things I love and things I hope will never happen to us. I want to be close with my sisters for always. We are ever connected (whether we like it or not ha ha) and we are forever!

It's Dana's birthday today, Megan's tomorrow and then my Mom's on Thursday. Growing up, I felt like everyone had a birthday except me and I would sometimes have the "birthday blues". I don't feel like that anymore (haven't for quite some time). I enjoy being able to celebrate them and reflect on our relationships and look at pictures.

I love them all so much and I am so grateful for amazing women in my life to love me no matter what!

Happy Birthday to my January girls

It's a New Year 2015

Sometimes I make a goal and achieve it and other times I fail miserably. That's just life I suppose. I am an imperfect person as we all are because hey lets face it, we are still here!
I've made some mental goals for the new year and one of them was to do better with my journal writing. Much happened with our family last year but I did a terrible job of documenting those things. BUT, I am great with taking pictures so I took a million and one pictures so I guess I didn't fail miserably as I said before. Pictures = Journal :)
I am very blessed! I have so many blessings it is hard to count them all. I need to focus on them because it is easy (especially during dreary January) to feel down. So my goal is to try to blog more. Take time to recognize the good and enjoy the moments. Life is going by in a blur and I want to keep up.

Some of my goals for 2015:
-blog more
-update (hmm hmm or start) baby books for my kids
-organize my pictures
-paint, paint, paint (living room, hallway, etc...)
-read more books
-read my scriptures more often
-keep in better touch with friends I've lost touch with
-spend more outside time with my kids
-improve my physical, mental, spiritual, emotional self

We make goals because that is what this life is for, to learn, improve and grow!

I CAN DO IT!!!!!!
WE DO HARD THINGS!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!!!! (That's for you Chelsea ;) )

Photos from Sept 2015 Vanessa Lust Photography

LOVE xoxoxoxoxo

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails.

I am so grateful for my husband, children, extended family and many friends who I love and who love me back.

Happy Valentines Day to whoever reads this but also to my beautiful family!

I am also so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who sent me here to Earth at this time and who gives love unconditionally even when I make mistakes and falter.

Blessings - Friendship, Chocolate and FAMILY

This is for Sunday ;)

Yes I have 2 things I am grateful for and blessed with today. We received a dinner invite for today and it came at a really good time because I had no idea what to make (which basically means that we'd have pancakes) and I was feeling slightly ummm hormonal and irritable shall we say. Not only was the meal super yummy but the dessert was chocolatey and amazing! It was totally the craving I was wanting and I'm so grateful for a wonderful friend who invited my crazy family over but shared a delicious dessert too!

and today.....
Today is family day so naturally I am so blessed and thankful for my family. My little family, my Tyskerud Family and my Hobbs family. All of my extended family. I have so many people who I love and care about. It is wonderful that we have a holiday now to set aside a day (especially in February when it can be kind of blah out) to celebrate FAMILY!!!!

Feb 1/14 - My niece Elena's baptism

Aug 2013 - Tyskerud Family at Lindy's baptism

May 2013 - Hobbs family at Clarissa and Justin's wedding

Blessings - Laughter

Well, good intentions.... I had every intention of blogging a blessing everyday and since Tuesday I have done it once LOL. I have been mentally counting my blessing every day just not making it to the computer.

Wednesday - My Mom and Aunt for coming for a visit. I've had a bit of a down week and I really needed a Mom Hug and a visit with them. I found myself feeling a million times better after they left. It's easy sometimes to have a pity party when things aren't going well but it's also important to allow yourself to get back up and that's what that visit did for me. I am so blessed with a Mom and Aunt that care for me so much!

Thursday -  A husband who works so hard for me so I can replace things that get broken (that I deem very important for me). I went with my other Aunt to the Hair Supply store and got a new FLAT IRON. I know my 1st world problem is slightly ridiculous but I enjoy having the option to straighten my hair.

Friday - My helpful and beautiful Lindy girl. She stayed home from school yesterday and it was so nice. She offered to help with the little kids if I needed and it was nice to just have her around. She is my little Big girl and I am so grateful for a daughter like her!

Today  - Beautiful Sunshine on the crisp, snowy day. We still have snow on the ground from last Monday. It is kind of fun considering we don't often get snow here. The kids have had so much fun with it this week. But I am so grateful that the sun is out too because then it's not grey (blah). The sun warms me up and warms my heart!

Counting my Blessings - My Kids

I made a goal this next week to count my blessings, one thing every day for the next 7 days that I am grateful for.
Today I am grateful for my 4 beautiful children who make me laugh and smile. They bring so much joy to my life and even when we have a rough day, one of them can make me smile.

Things for me to remember...

“Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.”

(Margaret D. Nadauld “The Joy of Womanhood,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 15)

I love this quote. I remember hearing it back in 2000 and thinking "Wow, I need to remember that!". I want to be a woman of God. I want to be someone that people look at with with positive feelings, not negative thoughts. I want to become the best version of myself and I am so grateful for the people around me and all that I experience in life to learn from and grow.

I also really like this quote too. (A friend shared it with me yesterday and I want to remember it) It is so easy to jump on the crazy train but it is never a good idea. We will not grow, we will not improve. I need to decide who is toxic and who is nourishment for me in my relationships. AND IT"S OKAY to have limited relationships with people who I deem toxic for me. I am in charge of my life and my family. And I get to decided who I let in, I make the invitations. 

AND of course with a new year upon us I am making a couple of goals for myself...

1. Be a more kind, patient and compassionate person

2. Read my scriptures more (which won't be hard considering I hardly ever read them)

3. Exercise 3 times a week (walk, run, whatever I need to be more active)

4. Give all of my children enough hugs and kisses to sustain them through their days (this might be the hardest goal of all because for one in particular it never seems enough but I am going to try!)