"Anchor Down with the One You Love"

This is the theme for the whole house!  We have a wall dedicated with a sign that reads "Anchor Down with the One You Love" followed by pictures of the coast our favorite place to be!  We went to Oregon over Mid-winter break after the big snow storm!!!!

Juanita

This is our 82 year young friend Juanita!  We met Juanita about a year ago and we have grown to love her! Z has a very special bond with her and he will do just about anything for her from opening up car doors, holding her hand when she walks, visiting with her, and any chore she asks of him.  He loves listening to all of her stories and learning new information about history from her!  She is an amazing person and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!

And They Lived Happily Ever After!

The other day a friend was over visiting us.  We got on the subject of trials of faith and health that sometimes come into our lives and can effect our marriages.  Almost 18 years ago, I was a newlywed bride, and like many young brides I had visions of what my happily ever after looked like!  However, six months into our marriage big trials of health came into our lives.  At the time we both were attending school, and I had become very ill and was given a blessing by my loving husband and Bishop and was told, "Heavenly Father did not know when I would become well."  Those words have come to past several times through our almost 18 years of marriage, and at times are difficult to swallow.

I don't want to leave the impression with others that we have an unhappy marriage, but I do want to leave a realistic picture that trials of faith and health are very challenging on relationships.  During our 18 years of marriage I have had numerous health challenges, we have lost a baby, a parent, and I had a brain bleed that nearly left my husband alone to raise two young children and one with special needs.  When these trials came, there were days that were difficult and sometimes it was very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I carried around guilt of causing hardships to our young family while recognizing that some things are beyond our control.  My husband carried around the burden that he had to keep our family afloat by caring for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  During times of trial he would frequently come home from along day of work to a wife who was in despair and crying and did not know how much more she could take.  Followed by a son, who had very specific emotional and academic needs, and a young daughter who had her health challenges as well.  He would often say that he has to put on the blinders temporally so that he can focus on the now, and then have enough strength and energy to care for our needs.  I often ask myself why did my husband stay and did not run far away?  As I have reflected upon this question, for several years it has come to me it is because he is truly faithful to our eternal marriage, and he relies on our Savior to carry him in those dark moments. How many women can honestly say that they have a faithful husband?  How many women can honestly say that they have a husband who is committed and will several times sacrifice his own desires to care for his family and keep his marriage alive?  I have personally witnessed not many, and though we have had those trials our marriage has been strengthened.

I also reflect upon those words that were given to my husband several years ago by a loving Father in Heaven that said, "Heavenly Father did not know when I would become well."  How true those words have rang throughout our marriage.  It would be so very easy for us to throw in the towel and give up on our marriage.  However, over the years we have been schooled through our trials of health and we have chosen to make our marriage better rather then weaker.  I know personally my definition of what happily ever after looks like has drastically changed, but 18 years later I like my happily ever after now, and I would take those trials of health over and over again.

Kindness Matters

It seems like there has been a lot of  debating, bashing, and less tolerance on social media lately.  It seems like every time I choose to look at social media someone is offending someone else, and feelings are hurt.  I have read on several posts where people are unfriending and or unfollowing others to avoid the negativity of others.  There are also people who like myself, who are choosing not to look at social media frequently, but I'm also depriving myself of not being able to see all of the positive things my family and friends are up too.

Yesterday was my youngest uncle's birthday.  A year ago he suffered a stroke, that I know personally changes a person's life and their family's life forever.  As I got on Facebook, to wish him a Happy Birthday, my heart was filled with gratefulness that he was still living on this Earth to celebrate another birthday with family and friends!  However, as I was scrolling down through my feed I saw so many comments of hate, unfairness, people saying that they are unfriending or unfriended because they were offended by what someone had said or what they did to them, and many other unkind remarks.  Reading these comments caused my heart to hurt and I felt angry.  However, while I was in the car shuttling my kids around we were listening to the new Primary music CD that we were given the other day, and as we were listening to those songs I told my kids, "You know what I love these Primary songs because it simply reminds us that regardless of what is going on in the world kindness matters and we need to do our best to be Christlike whether we agree with others or not.  People matter more then events, and if we choose to be offended or if we are the offender then we need to seek forgiveness and move on."

A year ago when I almost lost my uncle and five years ago when I almost lost my own life taught me powerful lessons that I need to sometimes be reminded.  The lesson I learned was that life can be taken from anyone one of us on a moment's notice, and each of us face our personal challenges and we all need each other to help us on this journey of life so lets focus on the people who we love and matter most to us because in the end everything is going to be okay!

The Transformation

I have been thinking a lot about transformation and what it all entails. Last night I read an entire book again and learned that five years later these are still my favorite quotes from this author who battled many hardships in her life, and that I need to continue to learn from each of these quotes. The book is called "Running with Angels" and it is an excellent read! I love the many angels my Father in Heaven puts in my path here on earth and beyond the veil.

"Drawing on our life's experiences helps us have more compassion for others."
"Finding time for ourselves does not automatically mean that we are neglecting or taking time away from others."
"Smaller, incremental steps will lead you steadily toward your ultimate goal."
"Change takes place one step at a time."
"Embracing love and support from others will help us in whichever life race we run."
"Prepare for Success"

We are Back!

After much time off we decided to get back to writing on our blog!  There will be updates about our family and sometimes stuff that we are doing and learning about.

Go Seahawks!! Z is the biggest fan of all!!!!

Singing in the Rain

Sunday morning all of the sudden we here singing low and behold we open up the front door and their is Isabella with an umbrella singing her heart out!

The enjoyment of reading!

Zach captured Isabella reading "Chalotte's Web"  She has watched Z read so now she wants to read!

Happy Early Halloween!!!!

Here are photos of our cute Trick or Treaters!  Isabella was Ana from "Frozen" and Z man was a Transformer!!!!

Great Quote

Isabella's future hats for spring

Isabella will be getting these hats for spring.  She'll have to wait until Easter to get them.  My friend also made these so cute!!!!

My talented friend

So during Church my friend brought over this adorable hat and sweater that she made for another gift.  They're so pretty I have to show her work off.  She'll be moving in the spring so I have also had her knit more things for Isabella.  I love giving handmade gifts to people!!!!

School!

Isabella loves to share her art work at school. I love the blue lips!

Z has had a career change he is loving football now!

Two cute girls checking out Zach's sea glass collection!

Go Seahawks!!!!

So Z one day this year told me he did not feel well so he stayed home and we made a Seahawk board for his room!!!  Next to cars he loves The Seahawks!

Thank you PBS!!!!

Kirk has been applying for a new position at work, and as part of the interview process he has to give a 30 minute training on an animal.  Guess what animal he is giving a presentation on?  Z's favorite the Cheetah!!!  Needless to say, thanks to the show "Wild Kratts"  on PBS these two can give you any fact about the big cats and they are 100% accurate too.  Today they informed me that if a tiger and lion breed together they create a liger.  I looked that up and sure enough it exists.  These two are walking and talking encyclopedias about cats.  They basically have given Kirk all of the information he needs for his presentation on Thursday.  By the way we don't have a dog that is Grandpa Walker's dog who got well loved and cared for in Washington!

Called to Serve

Many of you know that Kirk was asked to be Young Men's President at our Church.  He is over at least 100 boys ages 12 to 18.  Yesterday when I was standing in the hall an older gentleman walked up to me and said, "What do you think of your husband serving as Young Men's President?"  I replied, "It is a humbling yet a honor to share my husband with all of these young men."  I'm going to be honest it will be a sacrifice for me and the kids to share our husband and daddy.  He will be away from us going on five day hiking and camping trips, attending meetings, teaching them twice a week, and not to mention visiting with them in their homes.  All of these boys come from all kinds of walks of life, and I understand that my husband will fulfill a father role for some of them.  It is a huge undertaking but that is what our Father in Heaven has asked us to do right now.

 It has only been a week and yes we have already made sacrifices, but during this past week our Father in Heaven has blessed us beyond measure.  Yesterday we heard about the parable of the Good Samaritan when we got home both Kirk and I had a discussion about the brain bleed and what an incredibly challenging time it was for our family, yet like in the Good Samaritan we had some people pass us by such as the loss of a friendship for reasons beyond my understanding, but we also had consistent loving friends.  Friends who mothered and fathered our children, friends who cooked and brought in dinner on a regular bases, friends who invited us to their homes on holidays, friends who prayed and fasted for our family, friends who offered words of encouragement, and friends who acted as an instrument for our Father in Heaven.

With all of that being said it is tremendously humbling that our Father in Heaven has entrusted these young Spirits to Kirk and his counselors.  It is a tremendous opportunity for the kids and I to support him in this service.  Along with our family these young men will grow and learn to love their Father in Heaven and their Savior even more.  They will learn that they are sons of God and are loved by him, their families, and their leaders, and if they choose they will someday grow into fine men and raise a family who loves our Savior and Father in Heaven.

I love it!!!!

I have a friend who crochets beautifully she made this cute hat for Isabella and she crocheted a dollie for us to give as a gift!!!!  I love both of them!