366 Laughs- January 30, 2016

1/30/16

A really really good day.


Families are forever.
Tom's parents and one of his sisters in law were able to come to the temple with us, as well as many ward members and other friends.




We've been thinking about and looking forward to this day ever since we had Michael.



And this is where Benjamin gets it from.

366 Laughs- January 12th 2016

1/12/16

This guy needs eyebrows.

With the impending mission call on the way, I found these on ebay.  No redhead/blonde left, no sisters left, there were plenty of these little guys who can go preach the gospel to our Little People Princess Castle and other sets...

Love them.  I'll keep looking for a redhead, though.

365 Joys- December 6th 2015

12/6/15

Brother Michael is going with the Elder Bednar look again.  (check out Elder Bednar's tie from the Christmas Devotional... here's the link to his talk which was awesome, but we loved the tie as we looked over at Michael.)

365 Joys- November 22nd 2015

11/22/15

What does this look like to you?



Passport/missionary picture?  Yep.  That's what it is.

Michael's papers are allllll in.  I think as of this writing (December 8th) all that's left is the Stake submission.

 And in other news, Jules' hair is long enough for braids!

So proud of her skills here.


And Ginny has TWO pigtails.

Awww, the bald days are gone. Liberty for good measure.

All 3 of my sweet little girls in a row.  All ready for church.  With some complaints.
I'd get Emilie in there but I think she was still getting ready.

365 Joys- November 8th 2015

11/8/15

I am thankful for the scriptures.  I love the word of God.  We have followed a reading program where we are reading the New Testament and following a schedule where we cover most of the New Testament of the course of a year.  We've done this every Sunday night.  Last night was in 1st and 2nd Timothy.  Here is the chart to color as you read each week's chapters.  I can't believe how close we are to the end of the year!



Here's the link to where you can print your own!  Here's the Old Testament scripture challenge that we did last year.

365 Joys- September 23rd, 2015

9/23/15

We mourn the loss of another of our beloved Apostles today, but rejoice that he is with his wife again.
We just moved his picture around the corner... after all, isn't that what he's done?



We did make some really good pizza for dinner.






This one has our own pickled jalapeños on it.  YUM!

365 Joys- July 26th 2015

7/26/15

Some of the awesome missionaries who serve in our ward.

I help with the missionary meal calendar in our ward, and help keep them eating meals with members and investigators.  (no, not a calling, just something I seem to take over when no one is doing it.)

I've done this in many wards... I think when I started, I looked at all my little boys and thought, well, if I feed these boys, somebody will feed mine when they are serving the Lord on their missions.

Now I'm thinking even closer, as Michael gets older and making choices leading to his mission, friends have kids on missions, and my kids have friends on missions, I see how awesome it is to see the people in their missions share pictures and stories of their sons and daughters with the mothers and fathers and hope that will happen with our missionaries, too.

So I'm making more of an effort to take pictures of these great kids, and send those pictures home to families who want to see their missionaries.

Just be patient with me.  It's a long time from now that my youngest child will return from her mission, if she goes.  And NOT so long before my first will leave.  Lots of thoughts.

365 Joys- July 10th 2015

7/10/15

Today we sent off two missionaries... on two "Mini Missions" for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  They got to do everything the missionaries did, including wake up, study, teach, pray, everything, keeping the same schedule and staying with the missionaries for three days.  It was only going to be Michael but they opened it up to 15 year olds a few days before the dates.  Kudos to these two for rearranging works schedules and being willing to do this just hours before an early morning Youth Conference trip to Nauvoo!!!

The real thing will come soon enough.



 Michael went to Independence, Missouri.



Emilie went to New Mark, Missouri.  She actually went to church in our building and we saw her.

365 Joys- April 10th 2015

4/10/15

Tonight we had the privilege of bringing Nathanael to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead.  Benjamin was supposed to come with us but our babysitter fell through.  So Tom, Michael, Emilie, Nathanael, and I all went to the family priority time at our Kansas City temple and performed baptisms together.  It was a neat experience, and I hope we'll be able to go again soon.

Why baptisms for the dead?

365 Joys- February 16th 2015

2/16/15

We love having the missionaries come over for dinner and spend some time with us!!!

October 4th 2014- A Daily Valencic

10/4/14

My husband and 3 oldest sons going to Priesthood Session of General Conference (see more- http://www.lds.org) I am so proud of them!

General Conference weekend makes me so happy!  I love learning more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.