My Beautiful, Amazing Friends

We spent the morning setting new year's resolutions.  Surely the excitement to start anew and become better is from God.

Chill'n

We are just chilling with the family during Christmas break.  Having everyone home is heaven on earth.

Christmas Break

I love having the kids home. I'm so blessed these amazing souls to hang out with! Heavenly Father knew I needed their love, fun, and examples.

Christmas Bath

On Sunday evening we listened to a beautiful Christmas concert by the Tabernacle Choir & Sissel. I gave Adelynn a bath in the kitchen sink with the lights dimmed & the sacred music playing in the background. I felt so blessed to be able to take care of my sweet baby and contemplate the Savior's birth at the same time. I'm so blessed! I love my sweet family!

Poems

I wrote these a while back. Even though they are very amateur I'm grateful Heavenly Father allows us to make creative attempts. Someday far into eternity we will be able to create like He does. I'm so grateful for this promise.

For You

Goin' to die tomorrow

Don't have time to decorate

Not a moment to accumulate

Only have time

For You!

Ancestors

Watching me

Hoping

Praying

Prompting me

Patiently waiting

Names on a screen

And a reflection

Kneeling

Finding direction

Searching

Whispering

Names carved in stone

Turning my heart

Temple clothes

All in white

Mirrors

Forever in sight.

Budgeting Hard

After we pay hospital and doctor bills for Adelynn and I we will be down to no savings. We spent all of our $40,000 of savings in a year. Yikes!!! We need to get serious! No dining out! Only homemade bread! No gifts! Notes or calls instead! Grow a bigger, better garden! Earn more money! Eat less! Sell a van! No more vacations, except camping ones. Maybe no more violin lessons. Or maybe Jessica can get a little job and pay for them herself. So many options!

Our rent went up $100 a month. We are looking to lease a lot of land in River Heights for our garden. We will just have to tighten our belts. That's healthier anyway! I'm so excited!! Most people don't like cutting back and budgeting! I love it! I love the feeling of control and empowerment it gives! I love meeting goals!

Somehow we are going to not only save, but bring in more money. So this is going to be a really exciting winter! We are going to come out on top! My unrealistic goal is to save $70,000 this year! Jaremy doesn't even earn that in a year, so it's probably just a pipe dream. But maybe if we plan, work like crazy, and are blessed with miracles we can do it! I'm so excited!! I have no idea how we are going to pull it off, but we are going to!!! I pray Heavenly Father will help us be self-disciplined and self-reliant.