updates updates updates updates

I finally took an afternoon to update the blog.  I didn't realize that I was nearly six months behind!  Even now, I haven't updated January, but this update will finish up 2015.  It was a good year, but a hard year in some respects.  Brian, becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his job, decided that a change was in order.  We didn't know if this would take us out of Flagstaff, away from this community we love, or where we would go.  It was stressful in many respects because I wanted Brian to be happy, but I also wanted to stay in Flagstaff.  Thankfully, Brian was offered a new job here in Flagstaff and loves it, and so we are here to stay.  We feel so incredibly blessed!

I have kept busy helping in James' and Lizzy's classrooms an hour or two each class a week.  I also volunteer at the library six hours a week.  As the cub master and webelos den leader in my ward, I host cub scouts most Tuesday afternoons in my home.  I've also enjoyed lunches with friends, dates with Brian (now that Daniel is old enough to babysit, it's a whole new world!!), and taking care of my home and family.  Life is beautiful.

In this update ~

my favorite room
December!
cub couts
so much to be thankful for
November
October round up
fun run
pumphouse wash

the blog is updated!

At last I have the blog completely updated!  I thought that I would have more time when all my kids are in school, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  I am as busy as ever.  I think that is the nature of life.  If we are trying to live fulfilling lives, we will always be busy with worthwhile activities.  Besides volunteering in my kids' classes (James and Lizzy), and getting started at volunteering at my library, working hard in my cub scout calling, I have also gotten into family history.  I have had such a fun time working on familysearch.  Being meticulous in looking up records and getting everything cleaned up and in order appeals to my sense of organization.  It has been a wonderful investment of my time, and something that I'll be working on today as I am home with a recovering Jimmy (a little bit of a tummy bug yesterday, so he's staying home from church today to get all better).

It's been wonderful to catch up on this blog as it is my family history, my personal history.  At least, one aspect of my history.  

In this update ~

cub scouts
projects, projects, projects!
back to school!
sixth grade in 2015

after a long absence from the blog

Last month I was diagnosed with tennis elbow - essentially tendonitis in both forearms.  It was due to a variety of things, I think, from crocheting to raking to using a pick axe to dig a trench (more on that in a future post).  The pain started at the end of May, but I thought that if I took it 'easy' that it would heal and get better.  Instead, things just got worse to the point where I would wake up in the night with aching arms.  I am seeing a physical therapist for ultrasound treatment and massage and to learn exercises and stretches that will facilitate healing.  I also wear elbow braces all the time now, which seem to help (the braces apply pressure on the arm muscle, which helps rest the tendons).  I still overdo it, unfortunately.  You don't realize how much you use your arms until you can't, or at least in my situation, shouldn't.  I had to stop my weight training, so since I was relegated to just cardio, I canceled my gym membership (I can walk in my neighborhood for free).  Even with cutting back, I still find myself aching after something I shouldn't have done.  Most recently, the thing I shouldn't have done was replace the drawer slides on my bathroom vanity drawers.  The twisting and pulling and tension of doing the work did a number on my arms.  Updating my blog today probably isn't the wisest thing, either, as typing seems to aggravate.  But, at least I have functional vanity drawers now and at least my blog is slightly caught up.  I'll have future posts on all the home improvement projects I've done (I'm quite the handylady now, from fixing toilets to painting furniture and rooms), how cub scouts is going (I'm the cub master for my ward's cub scout pack), and back to school updates.

It was a busy summer.  I didn't read nearly as much as I thought I would.  But, I spent a lot of time with my kids and all the fun activities that we participated in.  School started a month ago (early August), and we weren't quite ready for it.  The kids have been doing great, though, and while I still can't figure out where all my time goes every day (even with the kids back in school), life is pretty good.

In this update:

May roundup
June
the library!!
July wrap-up

updated!

Finally got the blog updated!  Whew!

happenin' times

yes, I'm still here

It's hard to find the time to update the blog, but since it's the most I really do these days to journal my life, I am going to try to keep with it!

In this update ~

what is this white stuff?
I took two photos for January
these boots are made for walkin'
STEAM night - 2nd grade
Daniel is 11!

what a year it's been!

Polar Express
projects, projects, projects, oh my!
Christmas
2014 year in review

grateful for blessings

We've been a little busy lately.  Between Brian's work and ecclesiastical responsibilities, he's been gone more evenings than he's been home the past few weeks.  Add in the stress of buying a home and all the documents, all the inspections, all the work that goes into just moving, and we're a little tired.  

We are truly blessed, though.  Not only are we blessed to find a house that we love and will make our home, but we have replacement tenants (since we are breaking our lease) so that stress is removed.  Things have come together, and I know it's because the way has been opened for us.  

The week that we were contemplating buying this house, I went to the Snowflake temple.  I was a ball of emotions and stress and anxiety.  But, as I prayerfully studied the decisions in front of our family in my mind, I felt this overwhelming sensation of peace and calm.  

I'm sick today with a bad cold.  Brian spoke in church (the entire bishopric spoke!) and I'm so sorry that I missed it.  Daniel is under the weather, too.  So, the kids and I stayed home today.  I always feel off when I can't make it to church.  But, I decided to take this time to catch up on my blog and remember all the ways that the Lord has blessed me.  At the end of the day, what matters most is my precious family.  We love each other.  We are happy.  We have the gospel in our home.  What is more important than that?  

fun run
when we're helping we're happy
origami
birthday boy
happy Halloween!
baptism day
we're buying a house!