Michelle's 37th Birthday

In a very fast simultaneous fashion, I woke up to my inspired sister Kimberly calling and wishing me Happy Birthday, a tray of breakfast food of raisin bran cereal/milk, yogurt and pineapple came to my bedroom and then having my front door open by the kiddos to find this! It was a fun and unexpected surprise from two of my dearest and creative friends and their families, Karen and Laurel, put together late the night before for me! Yep...just me! It was my day and I was QUEEN of hearts for just that day. Hmmm. Or was I? Would I find this day going my way or would I drudge through it thinking- "another year older...and nothing else?" It began with these hearts having all of the right compliments written on then to make me think I was special. A few of them made me feel SPECIAL...One heart read, "I like your versatile hair. You can wear it straight or curly." (really it's hidden under a hat 6 days of 7. I'd like to wear hats in church...but don't) Anyway, I had to laugh b/c of the funny stretch of a compliment and them digging for something to put on a heart. I still laugh. It seems that I may need to refine my SKILLS a bit more as a friend. All and all it made my morning go wonderfully and I truly appreciate all of their thoughtfulness!


My children had their last day of school. It was called a half day. They normally start at 7:50am and get out at 2:05pm. But today they got out at 10:45am. It was a short! Because of this, Maddy and her friend Sarah came home anxious to be productive. I was finalizing Scott's flight itinerary on the computer and didn't have the patience to be bothered. So, I told them to make a cake for me (since I had nothing planned for myself). They hopped onto that very quickly reading the back of the boxed cake and borrowing 3 eggs from Karen, melting butter and blending the batter in the mixer. I honestly didn't help to overlook anything. I called it my Amelia Bedilia (AB) cake when I walked into the kitchen and saw 2 sticks of melted butter being added to the bowl, I turned and walked out. The AB cake took a bit longer to bake and didn't 'boing' back like usual. Not a problem. We just flipped it over and heavily drizzled my homemade chocolate frosting all over. It looked like a volcano erupted over the sides of the decorative bundt cake design!

I'm sad to say that I have no pictures of it, but am proud to say that it was absolutely DELICIOUS! Thanks little girls.

DeAnn came and got Sarah. She looked at my messy kitchen and kicked in her high gear cleaning mode by doing my dishes, wiping down counters and sweeping my floor! She's amazing--I turned around and everything was sparkley clean! That girl can move! To top that off- she bounced in my house with a Birthday gift in hand. Pink flower dangle earrings which matched what I was wearing perfectly! I kept thinking, "this day it going great!"

I'll condense this story by saying Scott came home with flowers and a really thoughtful card. Okay an interesting one about some silent Catholic monks wishing me a Happy Birthday. I opened it up to a completely blank inside! He looked at me and said, "you can reuse this one!" Isn't that the goofiest? I didn't care though. Laughed and ran to get the Thai food I had ordered. We quickly kept our pace by dropping the kids at Karen's, ran to a couple of stores(got another BD gift from Scott -some Mountain Hardwear climbing!)

Last but certainly not least an awesome BD surprise from Tressa and family. Cake and ice-cream (pictured below) around 10pm that night (after the Laker's/Celtics Game)
Here is a picture of me with Corbin my nephew in my hands. I am trying to console him because moments prior to this picture I got upset with him for taking a chunk out of Evie's fingers. (no exaggeration.) Has anyone ever seen on youtube Charlie Bit My Finger?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he5fpsmH_2g

Hilarious! Evie quotes it ALL the time. Now we can substitute Charlie for Corbin. Corbin is a good little kid--it'll just be real nice when Evie and Corbin can use words instead of scratching (Evie) and biting (Corbin). They've gotten each other pretty good.
Okay, so this cake was Delicious as well. We have got Eden and a partial view of Tate (his elbow)
I am sporting the colorful necklace Eden made for me and the jacket Tressa had just returned to me. Lucky. Remember, I was ready for bed when they had come over? Tressa also gave me some yummy mint/chocolate lip gloss. Hmmmyah!

Waking up that morning I tried not to think of how the day would go--it seems when I do that disappointment unintentionally creeps in. But that day was perfect and I think I now know why I like Birthdays and why they are so important too me.... People remember you. (it's like a funeral but much much better!) I felt/feel so blessed to receive gifts, beautifully packaged and mailed decorated cookies from my sis-in-law (Jeni in Idaho), phone calls, cards, face-book well wishes, songs and even a text message!

Thank you to everyone for making that "turning another year older" day special in every way for me! Muah! oxoxo

We Believe In Christ

Just a few days ago, I was rushing to drop my 2 oldest children off at school, hurrying to make the assembly that would promptly start just as school began. As we approached the parking lot it was evident by the brake lights ahead of us that there would be some waiting time as parents were dropping slowly, but cautiously their own children off at school. Now there is a certain order to all things and dropping children off at school is not exempt from this order. For the safety of all kids, rules have been heavily enforced by the crossing guards and their principals to this process. One wrong move warrants a sharp warning voice of reprimand and to do it correctly the next time. I know, because it has embarrassingly happened too me before. But this morning I was willing to risk the embarrassment and encourage Tate to jump out of the car in an unmarked, but safe area, that he might be on time for the assembly. I sharply heard from behind me the voice of my oldest saying quickly and crossly “Mom, do you want to live with Jesus again?” My brief reply came “well, yes” and when those words barely finished coming from my mouth, Madison spoke with great force and a wonderful example too me. “Then act like you do!”

That was it. I drove the car to another spot and dropped off the kids. I thought about the goodness of children and what I try to instill in mine on a hourly basis it seems of how to improve and behave the way Jesus would want us too and was also learning from my 8 y/o daughter that my example wasn’t matching these teachings.

Then in my mind I began asking questions that helped me formulate this very talk. How can we live with Him again? How do we believe in Christ? Who is He in whom we believe?

From the Hymn “I Believe in Christ” came these words.

I believe in Christ; he is my King! With all my heart to him I’ll sing: I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy, in grand amens my tongue employ. I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son. On earth to dwell his soul did come. He healed the sick; The dead He raised. Good works were his; his name be praised.

This was the introduction for the talk I gave the other day in sacrament meeting about Jesus Christ. It was a missionary Sunday and the speakers focused on the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what we Believe. I focused on "The Living Christ" and primarily used it for the entire talk. It was nice to have memorized it a few years ago.

The Christ in whom we believe in is “the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world. He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing going good”(Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He is our Savior, and He will be our Judge. “He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.”

Through His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and by giving His life on the cross—that is, by performing the Atonement—Jesus Christ saves us from our sins as we follow Him. Through His Resurrection, Jesus Christ saves us from physical death. Because He overcame death, we will all be given the gift of resurrection.

To believe in Christ comes great faith and hope in His perfect example that we want to emulate in our own lives.

King Benjamin, a prophet in The Book of Mormon”, addresses his people and admonishes them to follow the Savior whom they had never met or at that time had not even been born upon the earth. His counsel to them in verse 10 of Mosiah 4 concludes with “and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.”

While serving a mission in Florida, I recalled my great Mission President reciting these words of King Benjamin to us “see that ye do them.” This left a simple impression upon my mind. What we do is the result of our beliefs and our convictions of the Savior and what role He is to us in our lives.

The primary song “If the Savior stood Beside Me” indicates what we teach our children at a very young age.

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

Our behaviors, actions, words and thoughts reflect the love we have for Him.

I am one of the Activity Day leaders overseeing young girls between 8-11y/o in our ward. The Activity Day Program is to help spiritually improve the lives of our young young ladies that includes passing off goals in their “Faith in God” books. Our activity this past week was to encourage the girls to stand up for their beliefs amongst the negative pressures of the world. We had 2 amazing YW guest speakers from our ward come to talk to us. I say amazing, because that’s just who they are. They spoke of peer pressure and opposition in their lives that would have compromised their standards had they allowed it. But because of their strength and love for the Gospel, the Savior and His teachings, they have not fallen to these pressures. They are truly looked up to by their friends, acquaintances, leaders, teachers and family members because of their examples!

They follow the song “If The Savior Stood Beside me” wonderfully and I am privileged to know them.

In the 13^th Article of Faith is says “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men…If there is anything virtuous lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

These things that we seek after are because of the firm foundation that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has set for us. It brings happiness, peace, love and great joy having this knowledge.

Quoting from “The Living Christ” the apostles leave their testimony “that Jesus is the Christ, The immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of the Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

(As I read this talk from my Word folder, I couldn't think of a part that I wanted to exclude. So, I just shared all of it--exception of the closing.)

But I will mention that I am grateful for the Savior, His Life and His Plan. It allows me to have an increase love and joy with my family, relationships with others and a more clear outlook on life's purpose.

I Do Believe in Christ.

Something funny

It was pretty late the other night and I was for some reason laying down in Evie's bed without Evie. Madison plopped in on the bed and began talking to me as I was going in and out of a comatose state of mind trying with much difficulty to reach a uninterrupted sleep cycle. She said that our neighbor and friend, Alexis, got 4 very important shots (immunizations for kindergarten) that day to prevent her from getting 6 different diseases and illness. I tried really hard to perk up as I knew this was going to be an interesting topic to remember. She said with concern in this very order the list of what these miracle shots prevented her from getting.

* Breast cancer
* Brain damage
* Cold
* Coughing
* Throwing up
* Dizziness

What kind of shots are these anyway?

Then she concluded with her story. "Isn't she lucky she got these shots today? She could have just died!"

I silently laughed to myself and hoped that I'd recall this conversation the next morning to tell Alexis's mother....and I did.

Reader's Digest

I am not sure why I'm even trying to post. I guess a good journal entry you could say. Since I just found my shelved journal and am hoping that it isn't my most recent one. The last dated entry is March 30, 2009. I sure hope I stumble across a more recent one, but I am afraid that it just won't be found.

Of course there is a lot to be said. I don't think anyone I know has a dull or boring life. Everyday is a day full of adventure, creativity, surprises, chaos, love, stress, happiness, and blessings!

This past month has gone by all to quickly.

*My mom visited for a couple of weeks in April and May. (love my MOM)
*Eden has turned 5 and graduated from Valley Christian Preschool (I'm glad to not pay that tuition every month).
*I ran a 5 k fun run for Tate and Madison's fund raiser. (was awesome)
* The girls stopped gymnastics lessons for the summer. (nice break)
*Tea party for Madion's 9th Birthday. (expensive, but fun party--over. yeah.)
*Ran my first 1/2 marathon. (finish accomplishment--and haven't been to the gym in over 1 week!)
*Scott's brother Steve came into town. Celebrated their 35th Birthdays. (fast visit)
*Had an outing with 4 other families and "yurted" at Beverly Beach State park over Memorial Day weekend on the Oregon Coast. (rain and all, we still had fun!)

That is such a reader's digest version of our lives. Now on to a new month!