Free Tickets to Collin Raye

A few weeks ago Deric put our names in a drawing for a Valentine's concert special. Two days later I received a call saying that we won! I could hardly believe it! Actually I didn't believe it, I went online to check out the radio station to see if the man who called was who he said. It was legit! Her is a picture (not a very good one) of Deric and Me with Willie the radio man!!

The grand prize, which we won, included two tickets to see Collin Raye in concert as well as a 'meet and greet' before hand. He seems like a really nice guy. It was fun to meet him.

The prize also included...

A dozen roses, I couldn't believe how beautiful these are. I know flowers aren't practical but I really enjoy getting them!

...$40 dollars in chocolates from a specialty shop. This is the one thing I got a picture of. It was a caramel apple dipped in chocolate, yum! We also got chocolate dipped strawberries, white chocolate and coconut topped pinapple (which was my favoriet), and quite a few other treats!!

...also included was a one night stay at the Holiday Inn that we plan to use sometime in the future. And, a dinner for two at a yummy wings place. It was such a fun night! I feel so blessed to have been able to have the time with my husband at such a nice event!

34 Weeks!

I lost my camera battery and couldn't put this picture up right away. I was about 34 weeks when it was taken but I was measuring almost 42!!! Little Roy is definitely not so little! I am now almost 36 weeks and if you can believe it I am quite a bit bigger!!

Footprints on my soul

Being a mom is perhaps the hardest thing I will ever do in my life. It is challenging in ways that we cannot know until we become a parent. But it is, on the flip side, the most rewarding thing that I will ever do. I strive to be the best Mother I can be, to make my children happy, healthy, and to help them create a bond in our family and with our Father in Heaven. It is exhausting most of the time and I feel I often fall short of my goals. But I keep trying and as I do the children reward me in little ways that make it all worth it! The other day Nelson, Wally and I went out to the back yard in the early morning. Dew made our feet wet and I noticed these footprints after we went back inside. I couldn't help but take a picture. Here we are at different stages, me leading them. But they are the ones leaving footprints on my soul! ... and I cherish them!

I guess I do like running!

The other day (as you all know because of my husband's last post) I ran a half marathon. 13.2 miles of running really gives you a lot of time to think. As I started the race all I could think was how crazy I was for deciding to run. I had not trained at all, and it was cold enough that I could see my breath. But by mile three I was warmed up and really into it. Then I started to think about my life... how grateful I was to be able to run, how beautiful the area was, the family that I had at home that I love soooo much. A lot of reflection and concentration goes into that much running. I felt so strong this time, and grateful for the opportunity. I was asked the other day if I like to run, my initial response was NO... but while I was running I decided that I really must like running, otherwise why on earth would I be doing it!!! There is something so invigorating when hundreds or even thousands of people are all running together, and there is nothing like the feeling when you reach the finish line... I guess I really do like it!!

As a side note I wanted to share with you a joy of mine. I love to read, I have since I was little. Once I start a good book I can't put it down. I have been known to finish 300-400 page books in less than a day. I have tried to instill this love of reading to my children, and so far it is going well. We go to the library, read daily, and have a huge library of children's books. You can imagine my delight when I went to put the kids to be the other night and found this.....


Jess reading to Nelson... he is pointing out shapes and colors to her. (In his new bunk bed)

Sammy reading to Sarah and Carrie... "Just one more" I heard them ask! "OK" said Sam!
OK... this is a random shot of Wally but I wanted to include him. He is so cute, he likes to eat books right now!

Breastfeeding Awareness

Carrie, Sarah, Nelson, and I walked for Breastfeeding Awareness on October 15th. Here we are with some of the other women.