The Six of Us

Here is the 2017 story that you won't get on facebook or the Christmas letter.  2017 totally rocked me to my core. Mormonism is still a hard thing for me.  If people want to know what I believe I will gladly tell them but nobody ever asks and I never volunteer. Raising preteens can be tough.  Raising a three year old who struggles with people is overwhelming. I spend much of the year wondering if I am doing it all right. News flash I am not. People died, my heart was broken for those left behind.  Relationships came to a breaking point and I am not sure if they will ever go back together. Marriage can be so hard.  Our marriage has been pulled and pushed to the brink of breaking. But I am more confident and more at peace then I have been in a while.  I know I am on the right path for me at the moment. We have always had enough for our needs and some of our wants.  We were able to buy a new van that I have wanted for a while.  We were able to take some really nice

We have a child who happens to be the oldest.  Who is a know it all and bossy and stubborn and emotional.  He hates losing and hates going last.  He is always right.  Don't get me wrong he is a pretty amazing kid but just like everybody else he has his weaknesses.  The last three days I have seen only a little bit of that side of my child.  He has been compassionate and kind.  He has been respectful.  He has done his chores.  He hasn't talked back.  These are the days I love.  When the kids all get along (mostly).  Where we have no where to be.  Where I can spend all day home with the kids.  It was fantastic.  We played board games and we played in the snow.  We played more board games and Legos.  We read books. We just breathed and the only thing missing was Lee.  I had the expectation that today would be difficult.  The day after Christmas often is for children in general and sometimes adults.  You spend months to put on this "perfect" show for Christmas.  The

Today was nearly perfect.  Words can't express the overwhelmingly peace I feel right now.  The kids  were great.  The morning we opened gifts and then headed to my mom's.  Dinner was great we exchanged some gifts and played a silly game.  My sister and family were missing from the family gathering and their presence was missed.  We then came home and kids played with their new gifts while Lee and I took a short nap 😴. We ended the night with a new game sent by Lees sister's family. I know so many people are suffering emotionally and physically.  It is hard to watch but for this moment live is fabulous.  Come what may. Tomorrow the magic ends and real live starts  again both Lee and I work and there is cleaning and cooking to do.

What a busy week coming up.  We have something every single night.  I work tomorrow until 11:00.  Tuesday is the Christmas band concert Wednesday is scouts and Lee is probably working late Thursday is an orchestra concert Friday I work and a Christmas party at a friends home without the kids Saturday is a basket ball clinic for Jake and Victoria's 5k and my work party (kids invited) Christmas is finally coming together and I think we are almost done shopping for the kids.  We bought for Lee's family and I still need to shop for my family.  Plus I still need to complete Christmas cards.  I ran out of stamps so only a few went out.  Not sure I am going to do them next year.  So much work and I don't love doing them the way I use to.  But I do like updating people on our lives.  There are moments where I am becoming really stressed and there are moments where I am loving life. Last night we went to "A night in Bethlehem" at our friend's Christian C