Filling my bucket

I am very thankful for Sunday's. I love that I can have that day to go to church and spend time with my friends and family.

Here are some things that I enjoyed today:

1. Making breakfast for the kids plus Taylor. I made bacon, had doughnuts for them, which is a treat and whatever else they wanted. I think the kids really enjoyed that.

2. We all arrived at church on time, not crying, and minus Chris with plus one kids. If my arm was long enough, I would pat myself on my back... ;)

3. The messages were great during sacrament meeting. I needed to hear what they had to say.

4. Debbie Carter and I were in sync, as always, but today, it was great! I even didn't TOTALLY embarrass myself on the piano, which is an added bonus.

5. I survived choir practice and when choir finished, we sounded better than when we started. So, that was progress.

Pinewood Derby and meetinghouse cleaning

We were assigned as a family to clean the meetinghouse this morning. We got a late start, but got there and I really enjoyed the opportunity to serve in that way. The kids even had fun too.

After cleaning the building, we went home and Chris and Lauklan made the final adjustments to Lauklan's Pinewood Derby car.

We loaded up and arrived at the church for the Derby at 3. Lauklan raced and won second place. I think he was okay with that but I had to talk to him on the way there and the days prior about how it was just for fun and it didn't matter if he won or lost. I can say that we did leave without any tears, so I was glad.

Chris wen to see a movie with some of his friends tonight and I took the kids home, fed them dinner and got them into bed. It was a busy, but nice family day. It was also good that we had the cleaning and derby to do because it rained all day and didn't get out of the mid 40's so it would not have been a good Disney day.

Date night with the Shaw's

We left with Carl and Stephanie and headed to The Cheesecake Factory for date night.

The food was delicious, as always, but the company was divine!

Neck

I tend to take my health for advantage until I start to feel bad in one way or another.

Well, my neck is killing me! I think that I am sleeping on it funny and I am very thankful right now for Motrin.

Thank goodness I have a massage scheduled for tomorrow and maybe I can find some relief there.

Do you have a gift?

The answer, is of course, yes! I know that we are all given 'gifts' or 'blessings' or whatever word you use to call some type of talent that you have.

I have been thinking lately about my 'gifts' and I thought that I might like to focus on them today since I am VERY good at beating myself up and focusing on the negative. So, here I go.

2 of my 'gifts':

1. Health - I have always been blessed to be healthy. I am not sick very often, which I am always thankful for. Now that I am getting 'older' I can see more clearly that being blessed with good health is truly an amazing thing.

2. Music - I think that I took this for granted for many years. I guess that I thought everyone was like me in the fact that they took lessons on multiple instruments, etc. However, in the last several years, I have come to realize that my love and aptitude for music has truly blessed my life. It continues to bless my life and I am so glad that I again, have the opportunity to use it and share it with others.

Swim Team

Kerstyn started with the Mount Dora Swim Team this week. She basically has practice every day during the week except Wednesday from 4:30 - 6. It is quite hard to get her there and pick her up with my gym schedule, but so far, I think we can work it out.

I always enjoyed swimming when I was her age and I am very glad that she has found something that she enjoys. However, given how much time it takes for practice, I reminded her that it will only happen if all of her grades stay up. We'll have to see how it goes.

Come Follow Me

The choir sang it today.

It was beautiful, powerful and perfect!

I was also blessed to be able to do sharing time today in Primary. I was asked to do a music one and I couldn't have been happier. Melody, music, primary... you get the idea, it is my 'happy' place.

It was a great Sabbath day!

Disney, here we come!

Our annual passes expired the end of January and I splurged, yes, really splurged, and bought them again.

I kind of tried to justify the expense saying that we were getting 15 months instead of 12 and saving $35.00 a ticket. You know, stuff like that.

Bottom line is they are very expensive. But we LOVE going there as a family. So, here we go...

You're going to see many more posts of Disney day trips and I am glad. (So are the kids.)

Temple date

Chris and I went to the temple tonight on our date. We hadn't been planning on going there, but I got the feeling that we needed to at lunch time. So, off we went around 5:15.

We were in the 6:30 session and we both had a wonderful, peaceful experience.

I'm so glad that we went.

We ate at Carrabba's after that and of course, it was quite tasty!

I think that I must really enjoy eating because I sure mention it a lot...

Busy week

We had the dog spayed while we were on the cruise. Well, ever since, it has been trouble!

She broke her collar which kept her from licking the incision and I had to take her back becuase when I came home from work one day last week, she was open and bleeding. GROSS!

It has been WAY more expensive than it was supposed to be. Of course! I had to have her stiched back up and put on antibiotics, not to mention all of the extra trips to the vet's office.

Over it!

On top of that, the office is crazy, the kids are busy, and I am stressed.

Grace

Grace and I attended Hudson Elementary, Hudson Middle and Hudson High school together. We were in band and classes together every year from middle school on. We even rode the bus together in middle and high school until I started driving.

To say she is a dear friend would be a very accurate statement.

Above is Grace, Lillian (her 10 month old daughter), and me.

Grace and I.

Grace now lives in Seattle, Washington so for me to be able to see her was quite a treat. She and her family was in Treasure Island, which is near St. Petersburg for the week so I took advantage of her being close and went over for a visit.

To sum up our visit, it was just like old times. That makes me happy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chris stayed with me today to help me at church with the kids instead of going to Belleview. I really appreciated that. He helped get the kids to primary on time and to get them fed after church.

We were visited around 3 p.m. today by two youth and a leader that were acting as home teachers during youth conference that was held this weekend. Home teaching is kind of like Family Home Evening as far as kid behavior if you get my drift. However, we all survived.

After the visit, I got in the car and headed to Mom and Dad's to spend the night.

Tomorrow, I go to Treasure Island to visit with Grace. A friend of mine since 3rd grade.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Date

Chris and I went out tonight after a full morning.

Chris headed to an East Lake County Chamber of Commerce meeting while I went to cycle class.

After my cycle class, I took Kerstyn, Lauklan, Greyson and Aislinn to Noelle's birthday party. Aislinn was the only one invited, however, I paid to get the other kids in and they played while Aislinn did her thing.

After the party, we went back home. Chris was already out to his second meeting of the day.

This afternoon, around 4:15, Melissa arrived to babysit and Chris and I left on our date.

We ate at Chili's.

We stopped at Wal-Mart.

We watched a movie.

Then home.

What a nice date in my mind. However, a nice date to me is just having time for Chris and I, and that, we did have.

Girl's Night Out

I went over to Stephanie Shaw's tonight for some girl fun.

We ate, smelled candels, ate, and played one round of Catch Phrase. Then, I think we ate some more! ;)

It was nice to visit with her, her mom and her sister and also with some of her other friends from the Apopka Ward.

Carl, Stephanie's husband, went to our house to hang out with Chris and the kids while the girls did our thing.

I had a good time and was appreciative of the invitation.

Activity Day's for Girls' Recognition Night

Kerstyn sang Did Jesus Really Come Again? tonight to show one of her talents. She is a really good singer. Each of the girls were to prepare something to share that they did the past year as they worked on their Faith In God program.

I played the piano while Kerstyn sang just beautifully. I am so proud of her!

Flattery

I was loading my purchases from Target in my trunk this morning when a man stopped right behind me in his car and rolled down his window.

I turned to look at him to see what he wanted and he said, "You go home and tell your husband that some man was checking you out today and that you are hot!"

Wow, I feel good!

We don't need to mention that he was probably in his 50's now do we?

I'll take what I can get. :)

Happy 43rd Chris!

Today is Chris's birthday!

It was kind of a stressful morning since we were not wanting to get up after our super relaxing cruise vacation.

However, we got the kids off and headed to work.

The office took Chris our for lunch and then Chris and I went out for dinner.

Happy Birthday Chris! I love you!

Choir

Today, I was told that I was 'butchering' someone's favorite hymn.

I just can't seem to win!

Oh well, I pray about what I do then go forward. That is the best I can do.

Day at sea

We couldn't dock at Castaway Cay today because the winds were too high, so we ended up spending the day at sea. That was super relaxing too.

Thursday night, Chris and I had a couples massage at 7.

Friday, Chris, Mom (Nancy), and I got off the ship just for a few hours to walk around Nassau. The kids stayed on the ship at their activities. We got back in time for Chris and Mom to hang around the pool and the kids to play while I went for a facial and had my hair washed and blown dry. I forgot my flat iron at home, so I was in need of some 'sprucing' up. Dinner was for Chris and I tonight at Palo which is for 18 and up and was just delicious! We had an amazing time. Apparently Grandma and the kids were having fun too because we couldn't find them for hours afterward.

Chris even commented that he underestimated how relaxing it would be. We are having the time of our lives!

Disney Cruise

The BEST vacation ever!

Not kidding!

Relaxing is an understatement.

We are already planning our next trip.