Joy, love, squeals

Tonight closes one of the most amazing years of my life. Beginning with my marriage to the most incredible man I've ever known. (I'll post more about him in about a week) Heavenly Father truly has poured out more blessings on me than I could ever have imagined possible. So often my heart is so full of joy I feel like I could just squeal! The happiness I feel is all tied to two things: My love and gratitude for my Savior and my love and gratitude for my family...all of my family. The three beautiful children I gave birth to, the five beautiful children I did not give birth to, but who have graciously accepted me into their family, our fourteen precious grandbabies who touch my heart and tickle my funny bone, my lovely mother-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law...all of whom give new meaning to LOL! Yes, 2011 brought an abundance of love and joy and happiness to me. May your 2012 be so full of joy that you squeal like a stuck pig!

SIMPLIFY: My new mantra!

I love Marjorie Pay Hinckley. What a sweet lady, so full of wit and wisdom. This is going to be my number one New Year's resolution for 2012...to Simplify....

 

...right after I take down Christmas and deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms. Make a slush for 200, create centerpieces for ten tables, wrap a shower gift, collect framed photographs and ten white tablecloths for round tables, make a food list, order a sheet cake, find a videographer, arrange for music, and set up grandma & grandpa's anniversary party. Then I'd like to sign birthday cards for everyone this year and stamp them so they can be mailed on time, put the finishing touches on get-away plans with friends in February, buy baby gifts for our new three grandbabies due this year, see our next grandbaby get blessed in Arizona, get caught up on dentist and doctor appt.'s, fly to Utah to help my daughter when she has baby #4, start the paperwork for our mission, fly back to Utah to see our oldest grand daughter get baptized, our newest grandbaby get blessed and celebrate Hudson's 2nd birthday. Intersperse with visit teaching, primary activity day's and temple attendance, that will take me through June. Hey, I think I can simplify!

CUDDLE: v. to fondle in the arms; hug tenderly.

I'm holding Janae's baby Daniel. I tell ya,
this little guy is so cuddly and sweet...
I could just sniff the smell right off

  his little head, mmm! I think if someone
could bottle this scent they would

make a fortune! I don't know if you
can see how long his eyelashes are,

 but they are amazing. Put them together
with his cherub cheeks and rosebud lips 

and he is a perfect little package!

A Post-Christmas Check-list:

• Christmas morning sticky-rolls devoured...Yum-O.
• Sacrament mtng. with beautiful music, including an incredible solo by my ever-so-talented step-son (really, he sounded like an angel)....heavenly.
• opening gifts, skyping with grandchildren, and texting others...delightful.
• Dinner of ham, potatoes, brocolli (yes brocolli) bum rolls (yes, I said bum rolls) & chocolate brownie trifle for dessert...satisfying.
• Seeing the expression on Abuela's face when she opened our gift, then learning from Erin we'll be getting grandbaby #17 in July....priceless!

Mele Kalikimaka

me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou !

Funnest calling ever!

Activity Day Girls

I took my sweet little primary girls carolling

and to deliver some treats to some ladies in the ward

who are taking chemo treatments. I love that they are so

willing to give service to others with such a happy attitude!