Bye Bye Houston!

Today my brother, Elder Kolby Brown, is officially finished with his mission!  He has been faithfully serving in the Houston, TX area for 2 years now!  I am so happy!  I just got off of the phone with him!  He sounds great! I can't wait to give him the biggest hug!  My parents and my brother Jordan drove the 1500 miles to pick him up so that they could visit my other brother Chris, and his family in Bedford, TX on their way to and from!  I am overcome with emotion when I think of all that he has done while he was there!  I am so lucky to be his sister!  I know that my kids are anxiously awaiting his arrival...all because of various personal reasons, but in all they just love him!  I think of the many people who have been changed by his willingness to serve.  I being one of them!  I know that it has not been easy for him, but he has inspired me time and time again through each and every challenge he has overcome!  I do love him!  I am thankful that he has shared his life with my family!  I have had an interesting day.  I know that I am capable of doing hard things...even with a good attitude, but I am flogging myself currently for what I have not accomplished that I should have.  I am struggling with a balance of anything in my life currently.  I was touched by a testimony that was given on Sunday.  This person said that if you are questioning anything in your life, then turn to the scriptures.  This is an area I could definately improve on!  I have managed to add in excercising daily, now I need to fill the spiritual void every day as well.  I know that I can do this!  I have to self talk a lot!  Please forgive me for running on, but I need to remind myself every day that I can.  I CAN!!  Not just I think I can, but I KNOW I can!  I wish that I could have seen Houston for myself, but photo's will have to do.  1500 miles is exactly 1400 more miles than I think I could bear with the kids!  Well...I guess it is time to say goodnight!  Tomorrow will hopefully have more sunshine!  Man do I ever need a little of that!  What a "delight" that would be!

Friends are wonderful!

I am so blessed!  My friends make such a difference in my life!  I am surrounded by people who truly inspire me on a daily basis!  I have enjoyed getting connected to old friends who I have missed so much!  I love having friends near by that remind me that everything I do is for a purpose!  I am thankful for my family!  I love them so much! My heart is full of joy because of the things I have felt today!  I know that we were sent to this earth at the same time for a reason!  People, not things, are my greatest treasures!  I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the friends I do!  Thank you to each and every one of you that blesses my life!  May you receive the blessings you are in need of because of your kindness!  I recognized the hand of the Lord today!  I know that he is ever present in my life!  Thank you my dear sweet friends! :)

Single Mother seeks return of Father!

I am 1 day away from getting my husband back!  How do you say relief?  Greggory take me away!  I have been grumpier than ever due to the stress involved in taking care of the kiddos alone!  As our family size increases, my ability to handle them on my own decreases!  Each and every time he has to leave out of town I find myself falling apart!  I guess I need Him more than I thought I did!  I am so grateful for marriage.  I know that it is ordained of God.  I know that we are designed to compliment one another!  I love my husband!  He is the light in my life!  There aren't very many days that I don't complain to Him, one way or another, and He just tells me that it will all work out!  How can a person think that all of the time?  I thought that I was truly a positive person until I had to handle hardships that were what I felt "unbearable!"  I know that I am a very capable parent, and wife, but it is the days like this last week and a half that remind me that I need him!  I am so blessed!  I look forward to seeing his smiling face at the airport!  What a reunion it will be!  Last night I was watching "The Bachelor" online and I was inspired by something that Tenley said.  She talked about what she would do differently with her husband now and she replied that she would never take a moment forgranted!  I do this a lot!  I want to be better!  I will be better!  Each moment that passes will have to pass by me first!  I didn't even realize they were happening without me!  Anyway...my advice to myself is:  Never let my husband or my chidren doubt that I love them more than life itself!  Have a great night!  I will get pictures posted as soon as I unload my CF card to DVD's.  Thanks for listening!

Brigham is walking! Hooray!

Last night Brigham walked!  It was so neat!  He is very mobile, but he would barely take one step away from what he was holding on to.  He was playing with a balloon sword that Gregg and I had made with all of the kids.  They were all crazy!  They were throwing the swords in the air and yelling "surprise!"  He thought it would be fun to try and hit Haley with the sword!  He walked 4 steps, then he continued.  He walked 6, then 10, then 12, then even turned to the side to switch directions.  I was sooo happy!  He is nearly 14 months old, and all the other kids walked before they were a year old.  I loved watching his face when we would cheer for him!  He loves to be the guy in the limelight!  I tried to take pictures, but every time the flash would go he would pause and turn to pose for the camera!  How stinking cute is that! I am so happy for him!  The hardest part of the night was all of the kids were calling his name from this way and that, trying to get him to walk to them!  I had to tell them to be quieter because he didn't know which way to go!  He is such a light in our house!  I can not imagine my life without him!

It's a boy!

I have mixed feelings today.  I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has sent us another sweet spirit, but I thought for sure it was a girl.  So...I am obviously not as intuitive as I believed I was.  I had a hard day yesterday because I worry about raising a son to be able to grow up and take care of he and his own family.  I guess I don't quite understand the will of the Lord.  I am grateful that the baby is growing and healthy.  Dr. Healy says that he is going to stick with our first date, meaning the 4th of July!  What a day to celebrate!  I am happy that the little one is able to sit in the womb for a while yet.  I am not ready to have another little person to care for.  I must sound pretty rediculous, but I will get over all of it.  Let me clarify: I am not unhappy to have another son, I am just unhappy that I was so wrong.  So...I guess we will confirm in 4 weeks.  I hope that I can be a better mother when I see the ultrasound the next time.  Argh!  I hate when I do things that I certainly regret.  When all of the mothers out there who can not bear children wish they could have one son, I am sorry that I complained about having another!  I will have a better attitude today I promise! Now to find a name!  WOW!  That will be a chore!  Sending lots of love to all who read this!  Have a wonderful day!

The Lord Loves Us!

I felt the spirit today at church. I am appreciative of the tender mercies of the Lord. I know that He knows what I need. As I sat in sacrament meeting frantically looking for what song we should sing for our next choir performance, I was reminded of President Monson's talk about "Have I Done Any Good." I knew the moment I read the title of the song in the index that it was what we needed to sing. After the choir performed the song "More Holiness Give Me," we returned to our seats. The High Counselor, Brother Brown, began his talk. He said that today he would be speaking about Pres. Monson's talk in conference. This is the same talk that had previously inspired me. I was touched by the spirit, and I smiled. I couldn't remove the smile from my face for I knew then, and I know now that Heavenly Father knows me, and he loves each and every one of us! I know that it is because of His thoughtfulness that I am who I am today!

Welcome To Our New Blog!

I have shed many tears of happiness in the past as I have read remarkable posts by my friends. I was so inspired on many occasions! I truly had a desire each and every time to "try a little harder to be a little better!" I have decided that maybe I might help someone out just like you have helped me! Welcome to our new blog! I am so blessed in my life! I look forward to days ahead with so much joy! I want to write about all of it! I have never been a journal writer. I love to write though, which probably doesn't make any sense. I love to talk about my beautiful family, and all the great things they teach me. I am excited that I can share all of this with you!
Please come often, and know that we love each and every one of you!