Welcome home

I know before long all 5 kids will be in school. Next year it will just be me and Elise. To be honest I never thought these days would be coming, but they are coming quicker then I ever imagined.

It makes me sad to think about.  

Around 4pm we go and greet the big kids off the bus. Its always such a happy reunion with hugs and kisses and " I missed you"

These are some of the moments I never want to forget.

"Joy in the Journey"

Awhile ago I posted on my IG account that I wanted this print by Salvador Alvarez.

It reminds me of London and I just love it.

My parents have a large print of it hanging in their home and every time Elise see's it she says, "London its you"

I love the painting,but I also love the talk that it came from by Deiter F. Uchtdorf (see link below)

A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose

Its very near and dear to my heart. 

For Christmas a dear friend gave me a framed copy of it. When she handed it over I gasped and then I hugged her tight. It was a very thoughtful gift and she knew from my IG that I wanted it. Im sure she didn't even know how much it would mean to me. And I am sure she didn't even know of the day, week, month that I was having. 

"Never postpone a prompting"

Thomas S. Monson

Thank you, Friend!

Faith and Family

I don't know why I have always been shy about sharing my faith with people. Its never been because I am ashamed of it or that I question my faith. In fact recently my faith has only gotten stronger. 

I think for me I just don't want to come off too strong or not answer the questions people may have right, I guess I'm just human. I DO want people to know that I do believe in HIM with every fiber of my being. I don't know all the answers and I make lots of mistake along the way, but I have hope and faith that all will work out if we continue on HIS path. The world is a very scary place. Satan is out to destroy families like mine and I am not naive to that. I only have a very short time with my kids before they go off into this world and make their own choices. I pray that they will have the foundation they need to handle it. I do know that raising 5 kids without faith would be hard. Im holding on tight to mine. 

If you want learn more about what I believe see link below

https://www.mormon.org

With the New Year I have set some faith related goals, here are a few...

Study More

Pray more

Listen more

Encourage more

Be offended less

Work harder

Be happy

Be kind

Judge less

Have more grace 

And to remember it's between me and God nobody else.

Happy New Year!

Raised in a barn

Okay so technically our kids are not being raised in a barn, but we do live on a farm :)

Our farm story started over 6 plus years ago( its a long story on how we ended up here)

So far farm life is all that our kids have known or remember. We have had lots of different animals throughout the years (pigs, goats, chickens, dogs, cows, horses, lizards etc) but we currently only have 1 bunny and a cat. We have tried to simplify life this year and focusing on the kids first-Its working! 

There isn't a day that goes by that we are not grateful for this experience because we know it may not last forever.

Sometimes I think my kids wish that they had more neighbor kids to play with, but I think in time they will be so grateful for this experience. It forces them to rely on each other and be there for each other.

In fact someone recently told me a story on how he pulled up to our farmhouse and saw all 5 of our kids outside sitting on a blanket together. They were laughing and playing all together. He told us that we were, "doing something right". That story warmed my heart because the kids really do so well together- not to say we don't have our moments. ;)

I know that my siblings are some of my very best friends and I hope the same for our kids. Fingers crossed.

Chris was raised in a suburb outside of Seattle WA, but he has fallen in love with our farm life. We are his biggest priority and we feel it

.

I was born on a dairy farm and raised by a cowboy father from AZ and a Mom from North Hollywood, CA

It was the perfect mix. 

"You can have what you want, or you can have something better"

Jeffery R. Holland   

Us

 Everett 8 (The easy One)

Weston 7 (The tender heart)

 Lucy 5 (the competitive one)

 London 10 (the oldest one)

 Lizzy & Chris (us)

Elise 2 (the diva)

I know you are not suppose to label your children blah blah but....

It's kind of hard not to.

These people right here give me purpose. I love them so much it hurts.

And I love them all equally, but differently.

We will never claim to be perfect or have it all together. We cry, we fight, but at the end of the day this is all that matters to me. Them

"You have not failed until you quit trying"

Gordon B. Hinckley

Fresh Start 2017

I am welcoming 2017 with big open arms, and a with a new blog. 

I got all caught up with our other blog (printing wise) and now I feel like I want to start fresh with a new blog. So here it is...

 I was raised in a barn

2016 was a rough year for me for a lot of different reasons, but it's behind me now and I am focusing 

on the future. What I post is not a false representation of life because there is so much joy and happiness even in the mess. That's what I am choosing to focus on... the good stuff.

2017 is going to be a good year

You Can Change

You can be a little better.

You can stand a little taller.

You can love a little deeper.

You can pick a different path.

you can walk a different walk.

you can find forgiveness. And joy.

You can become your best you.

Because He gave us life,

You can change yours

LDS.ORG