Changes

Change.  This word can make you feel so many emotions.  When I begin to see the leaves change colors I feel so much excitement of my favorite season coming.  I love the fall time.  I love the weather, I love the holidays in the fall, I love the fall scents of apples, spice, cinnamon, pumpkin, and just the way it smells outside.  Yes, when I think of fall, I think of change, and I think Hmm, it doesn't sound like such a bad word.

Sometimes though change is hard, and that is what I feel now.  Even though in retrospect, it is really a good thing, but it still is hard.  Not long ago, our ward was split.  Only a few families were taken from us and though we miss them, it seemed OK. Then we found out that our stake was splitting.  Now, that actually was very exciting news.  There has been one stake here in Huntsville and at last there are now going to be two.  This bring us to the hard part.  Our ward was then on Sunday split for the second time.  147 people are leaving and are now in Madison 2nd.  OHHH!  What a shock!  Our family is part of that 147.  Now, I have been in a few different wards and each holds dear to me.  The friendships I have made through them have been wonderful.  This ward has been fantastic!  I have grown to love so many!  They have been fun to serve around and I will truly miss continuing to serve with them.  Yes, friendships can't change, but with all of our busy lives, it sometimes can be hard to keep those friendships alive.  Gosh, I do sound sappy, don't I.

Of course change is exciting.  The Lord's work is going forth here in the South and here in our area, we can see it grow everyday.  It is truly exciting.  We will miss Madison 1st ward very much.  You have all been wonderful to serve around.  What an awesome thing to happen and Madison 2nd ward will be an exciting new adventure.  I can't wait to serve with those families again that split before us and to meet a whole new group of people.  Those that stay back in Madison 1st, remember, I love to go to lunch, the movies are fun, and ice cream taste good.  I am up for anything.  Don't forget!!  

Along comes Mr. Alligator....SNAP!

When Joanna got here to good old Alabama, Jeremy decided her first day out, she needed some good Cajun food. He had been here before, but wanted us to go as well. We left the kids at home and went to lunch. So, Jeremy decided to be adventuresome and ordered Fried Alligator. (I think he was just showing off) Now the meat is taken from the tail. Now, can you believe it? I tried it. Me, little Ms. Picky. I don't think I liked it very much. It tasted a little too fishy for me. Jeremy and Joanna both thought it tasted like pork from the swamp. They both decided that they liked it. I think next time, I will just stick with the chicken.

Joanna and I drove down to Florence, AL and visited the birthplace and home of Helen Keller. I learned some things I didn't know before. She accomplished a lot with the disability she had. She learned how to overcome her weaknesses and made them strengths. I also found the lady that was her teacher. She started teaching Helen at age 2o and stayed with her for 49 years until she died.

Here Joanna at the water pump where Helen learned that letters made up words and meant something. The first word she learned was water. It clicked for her that day and she learned 30 more words that day and 300 more words that week.

These falls were in a park that was down the street from the Keller House. We thought they were very pretty and stopped to take a picture. Here I am with Joanna.

We all can create

So, my friend in Virginia had this video clip on her blog. It was a talk that was done by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. They made it into this nice inspiring video clip. I would like to thank her for putting it on her blog. What a great message and what wonderful inspiring words that they were. This was one of my favorite talks given by Elder Uchtodorf from our last Women's Conference. It really does make me think and feel about creation. We all have the ability to create. I myself always feel pride in things that I can create. For example, I love to play the piano. (Though, I am not always good at the piano, but I still love to play) I got this new piece of music to play. A song that I just love. When I started, I thought no way, I am never going to learn it, but I persisted and now I think, how could I have thought that. Now, I didn't create the song, but I created the process in which I learned the song. Other things I like to create might be, a letter to a friend or family member, blogs, a craft for super Saturday (though usually I steal those ideas), lessons for church, a new way in teaching something to help my children learn, friendships, jokes I might share with my husband, time with my children, and even a new skill every once in a great while. We all have the ability to create something. What can you create? If you don't think you can, sit down, and think. I bet you have creations every minute of the day. (you might have to pause my playlist music, so you can hear the clip)

Oh No, Not Snow

Early this morning, Emilee came into my room, woke us up and screamed, Mom, Dad, it snowed, it snowed. You would think she never saw snow before. I mean she did live in No. Virginia. Well, she opened the curtains, I looked out the window, and what do you think I saw? I groaned, Oh No, Not Snow. Well, it is not much, but it is enough that it means it is cold outside. YUCK! I was hoping we were on our way to nice spring weather. I am so ready for that. Usually, it is not to cold here. A little like Las Vegas and definitely not as cold is Virginia. But this winter we have had a lot of cold, dark, rainy, dreary days. I am ready for spring. Aren't you? Especially those that live in the snowy weather.

American Idol

Well, we have made it through Hollywood week. Yet again, the judges have disappointed me. I can't imagine what they are thinking. It happens every year. They always put a couple through that you can tell they really don't like, but are curious of the outcome. Then they are astonished when they do not perform very well . Tatiana Del Toro and Nathaniel Marshall are those couple that made it through and shouldn't have. I am not sure I can take either one for long. Others are so much better and not annoying in the least. On a better note I have 3 favorites right now. I really like Matt Giraud and Danny Gokey. I predict they will both make it far. The third one I really like, didn't do so hot in the Hollywood week, but I like her anyway, and that is Joanna Pacitti. I hope she does well and we see a lot of growth in her. So here we come to another beginning of American Idol. I am excited, as always to see the outcome. What are some of your opinions?

Last Post of the Year

Well, the year is almost over. It is time to start a new year. When I was younger, a year seemed to go on forever. Now, the years seem to come and go quickly. I sometimes wonder what changed. The last few years of my life seem to really have gone quickly. It seemed like just yesterday, I was living in Las Vegas, teaching preschool out of my house, and enjoying my family so close to home. I often think of those preschool kids now growing so fast. I keep up with some of them and I am always amazed how much they have changed. Since then, I have moved across the country to Northern Virginia and now to the south in Huntsville, Alabama. How much has changed in just a couple of years. Isn't it funny how we reflect on these things when starting a new year? Well I thought I would post a couple of pictures that ends our year.

For Christmas, Santa brought the kids a trampoline. The kids are loving it. Here, Grandma Bunny is jumping with them. Who knew, she would actually get on the trampoline. You go Grandma! Hunter got a tent and a sleeping bag from his aunt and uncle. He says he wants to put it up on the trampoline and sleep in it on the tramp at night. I don't know about that. We will have to try it out in the playroom instead.
The kid's Aunt Sherri went to China this last year with her daughter. She must have brought these pajamas back with her for the kids. She sent them to us for Christmas. Don't my little Chinese kids look great?

Well, I hope that all of you had a fantastic 2008. This is the time we reflect on our year and what we can do to make the next year better. I have set many goals for myself for the next year. I am going to do my best to achieve them all. I hope that you will do the same. Please have a tremendous Happy New Year. See ya in 2009.