Draper Temple Open House

Mom & Dad planned this day for our family. We first started off in Brigham City at Hammer's Photography and had our big group family pictures taken. Then we all headed down to Draper to go see the open house to the Draper Temple. I hadn't been to a temple open house for over 10 years so it was fun to walk through it and see it with the family, and especially with the kids. They thought it was neat that they were able to go inside the temple. We had a really great time. Thanks mom & dad for planning this day for us.

Happy 10th anniversary!

A little walk down memory lane, these pictures are from our honeymoon and wedding.

I can't believe how fast time flies. Shawn & I celebrated our 10th anniversary on December 30, 08. I can't believe it's been 10 years. We've had a great 10 years together so far, and I'm looking foward to many more. Shawn is such a wonderful husband and father. I couldn't ask for a better husband. He is also my best friend. It's truly a blessing to spend my life and eternity with such a wonderful man. I am so thankful for the many blessings that I have in my life. May we all remember to love a little more, say thank you a little more and be appreciative of what we've been blessed with. (Even our trials that we all must go through - they make us stronger and we build more faith. Sometimes it just takes time and forgiveness to see that.)

I gave Shawn a nice watch and a picture DVD of the last 10 years together. I wrote a small poem that went with the watch, and I wanted to share it(just don't laugh, I wrote this poem rather quickly and it's not one of my best, but it worked for what I needed it to.)

Time -what is time?

Time goes by way too fast,

especially as we look back on the past.

Precious memories we hold in our heart

time spent together - not apart.

Family fun we spend together,

whether it be sun, snow or any weather.

I cherish the time we've had

through the good times and the bad.

I love you so much sweetheart!! Happy 10th anniversary!! Thanks for making me the happiest girl on earth!!!

PS. I haven't forgot about Keeg's b-day and Christmas. I'll post pics soon. I just haven't had time to upload the pics to my computer.

Goodbye for now to our brother!!

August 16, 1981 - December 24, 2008

This post is really hard to write. I guess you have to be careful what you ask for. My previous post, I had expressed how hard it had been this year to feel the Christmas spirit, but I was trying. Well, our family had an experience this Christmas that we will never forget. My dad called a little after 5 am on Christmas Eve morning to inform me that my brother-in-law, Zeb McDougal, had passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. As I got off the phone with my dad, I lay there in shock and numb. My heart went out to my sister, Joni and her two little children, Jozelan, age 2 and Daxten, age 10 months. Zeb was too young to die and leave this earth, but how joyous the reunion must have been on the other side when he was met by his father, who had died when Zeb was 13 yrs. old. I hope Joni knows that although Zeb is not with her physically, that he will always be watching over her and the kids. He will be waiting for her and getting things ready for her. Joni, you are not alone in this. Your family is with you every step of the way, and not just now but always!!! We love you, Zeb, and the kids so much!!! Christmas day was hard for our family. One side of me was feeling joy as I watched my own kids experience the fun of Chrismas morning, but the other side of me ached as I thought of my sister and the heartache she is going through. I wish I could help take some of the hurt away. I know the reason it hurts so much was because she loves him so much. Maybe we could all learn from this tragedy. May we always be quick to tell those around us that we love them, may we always be kind to one another, may we be more Christlike and be prepared for his 2nd coming, may we not judge others, don't take our family for granted; enjoy every moment of every day that we have with them in this life. May we always remember those precious memories that we hold dear in our hearts. I found this song on my Jenny Jordan Frogley CD and I really liked the words: ( I altered the first line)
Christmas time - a time for reconnecting, tying up the years
Never expecting it would be a week of tears
Paradise, a picture one could not suppose
That a place so beautiful was chosen as the door
That one tiny moment unseen by human eyes
Could take a life so young and perfect and alter all of our lives
The day you went away
I found myself believing in everything they say
And I know you have journeyed on to such a better place
And though it will seem like forever
I Know we'll be together someday
I can feel you standin' there just like you did before
I can see this smiling man so innocent and pure
Time will travel forward, roll just like a train
Bringing peace and understanding through the emptiness and pain
Oh bittersweet - that this is what is meant to be
Oh separation - yet the promise of a joyous reunion
Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Lord
Savior of our tiny world
Thank you, Jesus, thank you Lord
We will live forevermore
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord
We are bound forevermore

So as I reflected on Christmas night, I found a whole new different level of Christmas spirit in my heart. One I hadn't put into total perspective. I am so thankful for our Savior, that he was born onto this earth. That he died for us so that we have the opportunity to be together forever as families again someday. We not only celebrate his birth on this day, but we celebrate Christ, his life, his ministry, his teachings, the atonement, our faith, and our knowledge.
Goodbye for now Zeb, we love you and we will miss you, but we will never forget you. Thanks for loving my sister so deeply and being a great husband and father. Thanks for the beautiful niece and nephew. Till we meet again!!!!

Here is the link to Zeb's obituary: http://obit.nelsonfuneralhome.com/obitdisplay.html?id=616175&listing=Current

Where are you Christmas?

I figured that 'where are you Christmas' was a good title for this post. I've had a hard time this year feeling that Christmas is near. Last week when we got snow, that seemed to help it feel a little more like Christmas, but still. To me, it doesn't feel like Christmas Eve should be tomorrow. Maybe it's cause I feel this year just flew by. I wonder if I'm taking time to enjoy life or if I am slowly letting it slip away. As I think back over the year, I know we did a lot of fun things together as a family. I know I accomplished things, but still-am I savoring what really is important. A couple weeks ago, I read a few Christmas books by Richard Paul Evans. That helped me feel the Christmas spirit, but I feel it is still lacking. I hope as I reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and feel the overwhelming joy in my heart as I ponder on Jesus' birth and his life that then I will feel the Christmas spirit. May everyone have a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas!!

Thurl Bailey fireside

Last night Shawn & I were able to attend a fireside here in town with Thurl Bailey speaking. I've seen him speak on tv, but never in person. He was so awesome to listen to. He started out by singing a song that he had written. He has a beautiful voice, and when he was done singing you could have heard a pin drop. It was so quiet and peaceful. Then he went into his talk. He is a very good speaker. He kept us laughing, but yet the Spirit was also strong. He has quite a story to tell, and I am so glad that he shares his story, especially with the youth. They need as many positive role models as they can find!! I can't believe how tall he is in person. He had to duck under the doorway just to enter the chapel. The stake president had to lift the podium and I have never seen it that high. It's good to know that it goes that high. Afterwards, Thurl signed autographs and shook hands, so we were able to get his autograph and shake hands with him. One of the girls in my mutual class took this picture with her cell phone and sent it to me because I had forgot my phone, so thanks!! It was an awesome night, and I'm glad we were able to go.

Attention anyone with little girls!!!

I just wanted to have everyone check out a website, especially if you have little girls. I sew dance costumes etc. for Gloria Rudd and she has started a new website called http://www.girlsclothes.com/ Here you can find dress-up clothes for your little princesses, and dancewear. She has been doing this business for a really long time. You'll have to read about her on the website. Anyway, she has lots of cute ideas and fun stuff for little girls to dress up in, so check it out and tell your friends about it!!!

Pictures with Santa

We had our Sparks' Christmas party on November 15, 08. It too was a fun day. It was mom's turn to be in charge this year so we had it at her church. We had a really yummy dinner and played a game or two. Santa came to this party too. I guess he's checking his list twice!! We had a fun day and it was good to visit with family and to see them. I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner. This past year has went by fast!

Pinata time!!

We had our annual Christmas party with dad's side of the family, The Hidalgo's on November 8, 08. Yes, it does sound a little early for Christmas, but we've done it this early now for quite a few years and it has worked out good. We usually don't have any bad weather to deal with, and we usually get everyone there. It seems the closer we get to Christmas then everyone gets busier, so it works out nice this way. Mom was in charge this year so we had it at the fire station. We ate a really yummy Thanksgiving type dinner, then we had Santa come. The kids always love that. My kids were prepared and had written a list to give to Santa the night before. We also had the annual pinata for the kids. This is a tradition that we've been doing for a long time. I remember doing this at every Christmas party when I was young. It's still just as fun!! We had a good time and it was good to visit and see family. I am so thankful to still have my grandparents here and that they are so good to come to family events!! Thanks everyone who came!!

Playing catch-up!!

I haven't had much time lately to post, so I'm a little behind. I'll try to catch up the past month or so, but I'm going to do it according to the date so you might have to scroll down to see some of the newer posts!!

Halloween 2008

Another year of Halloween has come and gone! We're all still on our candy highs!! Shawntae dressed up as Cinderella. Keegan dressed up as Optimus Prime, and Brooklyn dressed up like a kitty. (The one picture Brooklyn is dressed up as a pumpkin bear). We weren't sure if she would be able to be a kitty because we didn't think she'd keep on her makeup whiskers. We were right as you'll notice on the bottom two pictures. We put her whiskers on twice and then finally gave up. The kids had a fun night and they got way too much candy. The nice thing about going trick or treating out where we live is they usually get big candybars and such. I guess out in the country the people don't get as many trick or treaters so they are able to buy the bigger treats. The kids love it!!