Song Request

A few weeks ago it was requested by Grandma Valynn that I record Makelle singing the Rain Rain Go Away song. So here is at least one version of it.



She was playing with the flowers at the time and insisted on having them.

Journal Entry

I went to a Stake RS retreat last weekend and we had a journal workshop. I got excited to write in my journal again and started keeping one online. It was brought up that sometimes when we share thoughts or experiences it might help someone else. I felt impressed to share a little from my first entry. I learn everyday about someone new who looks at my blog so here are my thoughts to all of you friends and family.

It has been forever since I have written in a journal, I have just been lazy, but here it goes.

I have too many blessings and life is too wonderful to not make record of it. I love living here in nowhere Indiana. I know we were led here and I know that we are here to make a difference in the lives of others and to bless our own family. My testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been strengthened so much in just this short six months. The happiness that comes from the gospel is so amazing. I love my little tiny branch, I never realized the importance of calling each other brother and sister. They truly are my family. Missionary work here is so awesome, what a great responsibility and opportunity. I am out of my comfort zone most of the time, but it is great.

John is almost done with his first semester of dental school. It hasn't been bad at all. He does most of his studying before school, so he can spend the evenings with us. Some things have been more challenging than other things. He has found that if he puts the Lord first, the Lord will bless him in all aspects of his life. He is the first counselor in the Elders Quorum and he has already grown. What a leader he is. I am always humbled by that man. He truly is my best friend. He loves me now matter what and he always make me want to be better. I become better because of him. He is an example to me of so many Christlike attributes. I am so grateful to be married to such an amazing man. He lives his testimony, honors his priesthood, and is a great dad. What did I do to deserve this guy and to call him my Husband? Our journey together is amazing and is the most wonderful thing in my life.

Zak, my little boy is already so grown up, where has all the time gone? I remember when it was just me and him. He has been such a joy in my life. I am so privileged to have him as my son. He has been special from day one. He has such a desire to learn new things. Already at such a young age he has a testimony. He knows what is right and wrong. He wants to be obedient because he knows that is how he can be happy. He helps John and I to stay on track. If he sees any hypocrisy in us he is quick to point it out. He is such a great big brother always serving his brother and sister. He has made a lot of new friends since our move and is really growing. Only one more year and my big boy will be gone to school. Am I really ready for that?

Makelle, what a beautiful girl. She is one of a kind. She has been strong willed and independent from day one. What do I do with such a cute and stubborn girl. How do I teach her how beautiful she is and guide her to make good choices. The future scares me. I like to tease John that he spoils her rotten, but I think I am just as to blame as he is. What a cutie, but she is definately teaching me patience.

Lantz is almost nine months old. He is not much of a baby anymore. He crawls all over the place and loves to be in his high chair eating. He pretty much is done with baby food and wants all the real stuff. He climbs up to things but hasn't really started to walk around the furniture. What a great boy he has been. He is so easy going and happy. Sometimes I feel like I don't give him the attention he deserves because he is so content.

I love being a mom. What a blessing to stay home with these little angels all day. I know I am lucky to be a mother and especially to such special children. Some times I feel overwhelmed. How do I be everything to everyone? I feel like I don't give any of them the time or attention they need, so why even try. Then I get encouragement from my Heavenly Father, John, my family and my friends.

I just got called last week to be the Young Women's president in our branch. What a responsibility, but what an opportunity. i have great counselors and I look forward to serving these young women. How do I help them to have testimonies that will sustain them through their early adult lives?


I have grown a greater appreciation for all of my family. How blessed I am to have such love and support from both sides of our family. Most of all I miss the hugs from my sisters and their families. Even though we are far away, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of them and pray for all of them. What a blessing they are to me. I try to be better because of them.

Friends, a tender mercy form my Heavenly Father, I have come to realize now how many I left behind, and how much I love having friends here. What a great thing it is to surround myself with others who have goals just like me. I am thankful that I friends to fill the void of my family.

Halloween

Here are the kiddos in their Halloween costumes. Today we had storytime and a parade around the library. Tomorrow we have a trunk or treat with some friends and branch members and then we are done. We have Stake Conference all weekend so we get to be done a day early, and I won't have to avoid giving out candy on Halloween! Wahooo!




All of my kids love that I let them eat their candy so we can be done with it. Lantz is loving Halloween.
So this isn't Halloween, but it is my Grand Finale from my cake classes. I did all those roses isn't it a little bit impressive?
We had our Halloween party. Zak wanted to invite fifteen of his friends. He really wanted his cousins that came last year, but he figured friends would be fine this time. Well, I wouldn't let him invite that many because that is insane and our house is small. So we cut it in half and only invited seven friends. Well then everyone was sick and we only had two friends, but we had a great time still. I got in trouble for not letting him invite all of them since only two came, so our next party might be a little HUGE!




We have all had sickness this past week but luckily we are all doing better except for Lantz. He was up all night with a fever, the poor guy . I was only sick for a few days so that was lucky because sickness around here has been crazy.
I have been the YW president for almost two weeks now and I love it!! I feel a huge weight of helping these young women realize their worth, gain testimonies, and be able to withstand temptation. I just need them to realize that no sacrifice is to great for staying worthy to enter the temple. We had our Evening in Excellence Pageant of Values this week and it was incredible. It was a lot of effort, but the paybacks were so worth it. The girls were beautiful and it really felt like a pageant it was amazing. I was in charge of the evening and I was the one to interview the girls and speak at the end, so I was up front a lot. Well, as I was getting dressed for the evening I put a hanger in my mouth to look at a dress in the mirror, and my front porcelain tooth cracked! What a night to have that happen, so I had a fanged tooth for the evening and still do until I get an appointment somewhere. I was hoping to not have expensive dental work for the next four years but I guess that won't be the case. Makelle has been complaining of her tooth hurting when she eats or drinks hot or cold things. We thought she just had sensitive teeth, but no her tooth is starting to turn gray. She goes to the dentist Monday. She will probably either not have a front tooth for four years or have a gray one for four years. Poor girl, she has such a pretty smile.

That is about all the excitement for now! Life is great for this little family in nowhere Indiana!

What We've Been Up To!

It's been a while, I know so enjoy the next gazillion pictures as I get you up to date!!


Like all of my kids Lantz likes to play with bowls and kitchen stuff. John kinda likes it too, don't the hats look good?
Makelle wanted to join in too.
Lantz was feeling so proud that he could stand up on his own in the bathtub.
Lantz getting a cushy ride in the clothes basket.
Cruiser around in his own car. Does he look like a ladys man or what?!

Zak getting a lift from Lantz.
Makelle hanging out in her own car.

Zak in his police gear ready to fight of crime.

Makelle with her bling bling earrings ad purse! She is a true girl. We had a girls day out and spent the day shopping together. John was out of school for Fall Break so he hung out with Zak at home. Makelle and I had a great time out looking around. She wanted everything from shoes, clothes, jewelry, to purses, you name it she wanted it. I was able to avoid all of it by telling her to ask Grandma Valynn to buy it for her when she comes to visit. It worked every time.
We finally got our pumpkins done! This year it was great because the kids were old enough to clean them all by themselves. Zak still didn't like touching it with his hands so he used a spoon most of the time. They did a great job getting all of the guts out.
Makelle didn't have a problem getting her hands dirty, she could have played with the guts all day.

We spent yesterday at the zoo for John's last day with us. We had a great time. The weather was cool, but the animals were doing all sorts of fun stuff. They had all of their Halloween stuff out so Makelle and Zak got to dress up.


John loves to tickle Lantz and laughs and laughs. Poor Guy!
My three boys takin it easy.
We love the park! We played for a long time enjoying the not too cold weather.







Lantz was getting very hungry and he just wanted a little of Makelle's cookie. He tried and tried to get some for himself.
We finally had to give him his own to enjoy. Much better.


Makelle got too tired and fell asleep by the hippo. Just kidding but she is good at acting isn't she?!
The kids love to play in an old van that they have at the zoo.
Whoops they crashed into Lantz and Dad, oh well!
Would you say it was a long day?

The final result with the pumpkins. They designed them all by themselves.
It doesn't get much better than that!

I wish I would have taken pictures of us during General Conference. Our whole house was rearranged so that we could have the computer in the front room. It was definitely different to watch it on the Internet, at first it was soooo slow and very irritating but we were persistent and it paid off. Zak told us Saturday morning as we were getting dressed that we needed to wear our church clothes so we would think about listening instead of wearing play clothes and thinking about playing during conference. He told us that one of his church teachers had told him this. We tried to talk him into wearing church clothes for the Sunday sessions, but nope we got to dress up at home for both. What an amazing kid. He teaches me everyday. What an example about listening and then obeying.