Sweet Missionaries. Secret Service. Turkey Trot. Kid's journal update

Oh how I love these missionaries.

and

for

so many reasons.

Maybe it is because they give up 2 years of the prime of their life to serve our church-

(and then come to realize you give up nothing, but gain everything....)

OR

maybe it's because I see their sweet faces and can't help imagine that will be my son Austin in 7 and 1/2. (gulp! sad! excited)

OR

maybe because when they walked into our house you could feel their strong presence and feel a such a sweet spirit with them. (my kids LIT up when the Elders came...)

OR maybe it's because these boys are so willing, so capable, so loving to give their lives full-heartily to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

It's remarkable really.

and so inspiring.

We loved having the Elders over for dinner.

It reminded me so much of my parent's 3 year mission as mission President's. We met so wonderful missionaries! What an honor!

I signed up to have them come monthly.

We enjoyed it so much.

and what a great example for my boys to see!

Thanks for the sweet message you left my kids.

D&C 25/45. To chase darkness away. Don't just sit still, don't wait for "darkness to leave".... erase and chase any destruction, or evil that may lurk into your life.

Chase out the dark, and welcome the LIGHT always.

Oh I loved these Elders.

thanks for spending the evening with the Stott's!

We will do it again!

and you are welcome in the Stott home anytime!

Also this week, the kids all picked secret names

(Christmas FHE) and have begun their service.

They get so excited to do these little acts of service.

(and lately we have had quite a bit of bickering:)

SO as a mother, I am so happy that the kids love to serve one another.

They all left notes for their secret person around the house, beds have been made, and helping each other out with chores! Yay,

our manger is beginning to fill with STRAW!



And I just threw a pic on here for my blogging journal.

Ashlyn and I's first Thanksgiving race together.

It was great. AND cold. Oddly cold.

We have been in high 50's all week.

But on Thanksgiving morning it was 7 degrees.

We bundled up like Eskimo's (no fun!) and RAN our little hearts out.

Ry and the boys came and watched! It was great to have them there cheering us on! I finally have a few pics of a race! Our neighborhood (builders) hosted the entire event, so we could walk to our start line. It was nice. My course ran the route I do every day! UP the hills, around the lakes, and through the coyote country. I loved it. Though I was HOT and my ipod stopped at mile 3 and my bulky scarf kept falling! (ahhhh) it was fun! We still don't know the results yet. I am sure I did nothing but I think Ashlyn may have taken her age group! She has done so well lately.

And b/c this is my blogging journal I want to say a few things to remember time:

~Ashlyn and Austin both just won awards at their school for perfect 4.0! I was so proud of them. They work hard and always stay on top of their school work. I never have to get on them to do their work. (I have to thank their 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Casperson who taught my kids so many life lessons: working hard will earn you great rewards, living up to your potential, being all you can be....thanks Mrs. C!)

~Jake has been doing great! Jake found an amazing soccer team. He has a coach who played college ball and she is fabulous. Their team was undefeated and blew the competition out of the water!

RY and I feel that we were put on this team for a reason...it came unexpectedly and it has been such a blessing to Jake and to Ry and I. We have met a couple families who are amazing and in our same boat...great friends and a great team. Jake has some great buddies too! He is now joining with a few boys for upcoming basketball season. Jake is still the "life and light" of the family. His constant positive attitude and great smile lights up any one's life. He brings me so much joy everyday. I rarely see him down and if I do, it is usually over something competitiveness. Jake loves loves sports, and he likes to win. He always will give his coach 110% percent. always. He is a natural athlete and competitor.

Jake has done great in school. He knew ONE boy going into school this fall. (our neighborhood splits to 3 elementary!) I was so proud of him, he was so nervous, and I walked him to his classroom door for 3 weeks. He told me after 3 weeks, he no longer needed his mom to walk him to the door. His heart was good. Instantly Jake made friends, he always has. But his little heart needed time to start at a school that was 5 miles away, with 3 stories, and all new Friends and teachers. I was so proud of him. He had no siblings at the school and he did it! I would do anything for his happiness even if it meant me driving, parking and walking in every day to the door! But Jake did great! (next year, Mace will join him!)

~WE love our ward. WE couldn't be happier. The transition from leaving Utah to Colorado seemed terrifying. To start over, all alone, I was nervous. I will not lie! I had to put on a good face for the kids and me! But, I can't even tell you how much we love our ward and neighbors. Wow. Who knew. People are amazing out here. We have met some life long friends. I have learned so much about life from these people. WE feel so grateful!

~Austin played soccer and did great. He met 5 new boys in our neighborhood from the team. I as a mom was thrilled because he had met the least amount of friends and (left the most!). I am so thrilled! He hangs with these boys often. They love to fish at the lake, ride their bikes to the 7-11, go play hoops at our Rec Center, jump on the tramp...etc! Austin is doing so great here. He is a silent leader. A bit quiet, but underneath, he has so much strength, and determination. I love my first born! He is a great example to Jake and Mason. He helps me the most around the house (without asking), he will always complete his school work (with top grades) and I will find him silently reading his scriptures in his bed. He loves to go to church (yay!) and enjoys learning about our gospel. I feel so grateful for him!

~Ashlyn is doing well. With MUCH much thought, concern, heart ache, she has chosen to stop swim team for now. For so many reasons (mainly how faraway her club team was...24 mile roundtrip a day 5 times a week! She never got home till almost 8:00 P.M every night! no fun)

But she has NOT stopped sports! oh no! Basketball season starts January and she is going to do track/ cross country. In fact, she just won the entire Junior High (6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade) in the mile. Her time 6 min. 15 sec! way to go Ashlyn. She also just won an award for a mini triathlon the school did. She beat all the girls and boys in 6th and 7th grade. She got called out on the intercom in front of the school. She said she was embarrased but it felt a little good. (with a big smile). Hopefully Ashlyn can figure out what she wants to play. She is athletic and can probably choose any sport and do great. (and swim again maybe!)

She still loves to read! (constantly!) and loves animals with all of her heart. She has found a great group of girls out here. She does not always need friends around, but she has a solid group that loves and accepts her!

~Mace is doing great. He LOVES his preschool class and I cannot believe he will be in kindergarten NEXT year! I still see him as the "baby of the family" Even though he doesn't act anything like it! Oh no, Mace is very passionate, strong, single minded and determined. He is bold and loves to be his own little person. His personality is funny because he is not afraid of anyone and in a group, he takes charge. but if he is in the spotlight, it all changes, he stops and he looks out in the crowd and he won't "perform!" He won't play sports even though he is a lefty (left-handed is so great for sports!!) and he can kick the ball with the strength of a 7 year old! He is so good but he chooses not to play! That is fine by me because frankly there is no time for Mace to do anything yet! I am running the other kids around! ahhh. But I love Mace, I love my youngest. Something about a mother's last, makes a mama cry when you know they are growing up.

And lastly, Ry and I! I think I need my own post to say all that I feel about our life. In a nutshell, we are doing great. Fabulous. We are so blessed. Ry is doing so great and has loved his new position. One that gives him so much self-fulfillment and rewards. He is so competitive and is driven to always succeed. I am so grateful for his hard work. This job is everything he has been working for . He has been at Fidelity Investments for 13 years. He has earned his position! We have been through so much together and I feel so blessed for all of our trials and and of our rewards. We have a wonderful life and I couldn't be happier.

In the end, what's most important to us is our family, our kids. Nothing is more important than raising a family and helping the children to learn, grow and succeed in their lives. I love my job more than anything else.! I am so lucky to be able to stay home and raise them. I know I have said this many times. BUT I do believe with all my heart, there is NO greater place for a woman to be, but home, with her kids. A homemaker. I love that word, so often now made fun of or the world thinks being a "mom" is not good enough. Well I couldn't disagree more. I am so proud to say that my full time job is a mama! I love it! Would NEVER change it for anything. Ever. I am blessed!

~ and congrats to my nephew, Brendan, who got called to the South Korea Mission. He leaves Dec 22!

~and congrats to my niece, Maddie, who plays club volleyball and is being "looked at" by BYU and U of U!

~congrats to Brayden for being the only one fof two to make the Alta Highschool team.

~Ali, Marissa, and Brendan all attend BYU (gou cougs!) and are doing so well! I have the greatest nieces and nephews:)

Blogging Journal. December 2010

xo!