As I reflect on the year 2008, its hard to put into words the entire year in just a few lines. But as a family, we have had good times, even great times!! Heartache, even heart break, but we still and forever will have each other.
BRAD has worked and worked (hundreds of hours of overtime, yes they are very short handed). He has served us - his family, his neighbors, co-workers, strangers and most importantly the Lord in his calling, by being obedient and faithful.
I have been a wife and mother, which is the greatest thing in the world. I also have tried to serve others, mostly my family. I have conquered some fears, one was to return to school and started to work (well a little). As I look back, its hard not foresee what is to come, which will be big changes.
The kids are growing up so fast, if I could freeze time I would right now.
STOCKTON has realized what good friends are - and their importance when they make you feel included. He has been taught humility and success in friends, sports and school. As a mother, I am happy with who he is and the choices he seems to be making (knock on wood, so far).
GRACE has had a great year. She seems to be happy and finding success in things. Then before you know it - she seems to be sad and adjusting to other things. She has had friends move away - which is very hard, friends move back into the area and find your not as close as you once were.
SARA, she has had a changing year also..being baptized, becoming accountable for choices she makes. She, too has had success in getting 8 back handsprings in a row and then feeling sad when she can't yet read on grade level. (She is still working hard to get it.)
As you can tell its been a year of ups and downs, but hopefully we have more hills than valleys. We can rely on each other, and try to get through this thing called LIFE. As a mother I am only as happy as my saddest child, which at any given time it ranges from despair to jubilant. I pray daily to be there and be as helpful as I possibly can. I pray for guidance from Heavenly Father, to say the right thing and do the right thing in each situation. Through our trials we receive blessing and strength. Hopefully I can be an example of this to my children.
When I look back through the blog I usually post the FUN times, the GOOD times, but I wanted to add this post, to remind myself of the 'some' of the hard times, these are the things we truly learn from - they shape who we are and teach us how to handle things that are to come. Hopefully we can learn from things and go in the right direction that will lead us to happiness.
December 31, 2008
New Years Eve Celebration
Guess where the party was??? Yep, the Jardine's. They do have a great house to have a party. All the kids were invited and we played some games and ate breakfast. We always have fun. The Jardine's, Garrett's, Adams, Call's, Vest's and us. Stockton didn't go with us, he went with some friends to the Snow's. He had a great time they played games, ate and had fireworks. But we missed him.
December 30, 2008
Good Times Great Friends
Well, this year I had my 20 year class reunion. I helped plan it with some fun classmates and we decided that we were going to stay in touch better and that we would get together at Christmas time. So we did. Cathy was the planner - and we love Dancing with the Stars and they were on tour on Dec 30th. So we met for dinner, and went to see the show. It was so fun. It is good to be with good friends and reconnect with them. We celebrated some fun things, Angie is PREGNANT, and we also talked about our heartaches and worries for our children. It is good to know I am not alone with these things. These girls will be friends for LIFE even if I don't see or talk to them on a regular basis. Angie, Jennifer, Tammy, Cathy, Suzie, me, and Jodi.
Ice Skating with Activity Days Girls
For the last activity of the year we went ice skating at the Bountiful Ice Rink. The girls are so quick at learning new things. Most had never been before and by the time we left, they were pretty good. Well, I went but....I suck. I had been once and Brad had to pull me around the rink.. well too bad Brad wasn't there this time because I never even got around... I got to the penalty box and stayed...then went back the same way I came (about 1/4 of the rink). Sara went with Lori a few times, then Heather took her, and by the time we left she was in the middle with the other grils (I told you she doesn't like to try new things and she would have just stayed by me but the other great leaders made her go and try it). And of course Grace, she did great, well until she fell on her knee and got a huge bruise! We had fun and it was a great way to end the year.
Sledding
The day after Christmas we called the Adams and the Anderson's to go sledding. We found a hill in East Layton. "ITS ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT!" And of course, Stockton was the one who got hurt. He was playing on Brock's snowboard and went off a jump and landed funny on his knee (he already has osgood slaughter). I thought he needed to go to the doctor but I just took him home to get warm, then iced his knee, he is fine. But I left quickly. But before that we had fun. It was very cold but the kids don't seem to mind. As you will see Brad is not in any pictures, because he didn't go :(. He was at a scout overnighter at Crystal Hot Springs. What a good guy! So although we were cold for an hour and half, Brad was cold for a DAY AND A HALF!! I feel blessed to have fun people around, who also love to have fun with their kids!!!
December 26, 2008
MORE PARTIES....Christmas Night
On Christmas night after all the hub bub. The Larsen family gets together, we exchange small gifts and eat and spend time visiting. Brian and Karen come to town so it is everyone together. This is the only time of the year we are ALL together. Bronson unfortunately left early for a tournament unexpectedly so Cathy was sad. It was a great evening. Thanks to Bracken and Cathy for a great dinner and evening. I love all those Larsen boys. The girls are the minority. Its good to get some pictures of them together.
Breakfast for Everyone!!
Here is the breakfast tradition. Everyone comes and we eat and this is when the kids open the presents from Grandma and Grandpa A.
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