My Cute Trick -or- Treaters

Here are my kids all ready for Halloween. We went to a Branch activity where we had a chili cook off and Trunk or Treat. We went and had a great time. The kids really enjoyed eating the different kinds of chili, and then going to a church parking lot FULL of cars. They got TONS of candy. Then we took them to our usual street behind this local grocery store. We go every year to this same street where there are retired teachers and dentists, and such, so the kids really make out great with pencils, pens, erasers, chap stick, and toothbrushes. Its a great place to go when you don't want to go too far, but yet let the kids get the old fashioned Halloween trick or treating.

Sabrina was so cute as Cleopatra. She really played the part by dancing around and walking like a queen and such. It was so fun to see her dressed up like that. She was so pretty.

Vanessa was Ariel from the little mermaid. She too pranced around like she owned the place, and was so pretty. She had glitter all over so that it made her look wet, like she just got out of the water. She was such a cutie.

Isaac was Wolverine from the X-men. He totally had that down pat. Running around, and using his claws on everything. But he looked so cute.

And then Will dressed up as a Death guy. His eyes lit up under the mask. It was really creepy and cool.

So here are the pics. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed dressing them up and helping them get ready. Hope you all had a great trick or treating experience.

Christmas Memories (Already???)

Yes you read it correctly...I am making Christmas memories already, and it's only OCTOBER!! How you may ask, it's easy...Sabrina, Vanessa and I have been asked to sing in Sacrament meeting for the Christmas program. It was announced yesterday by our Bishop that they needed people with singing and musical talents to come and volunteer to participate, or else we would be sought out, but they preferred volunteering first, and then he listed off a couple names and mine was the first one, all in front of the entire congregation...well, talk about you can't back out then. I took it as a compliment, so I went home, and was looking at songs. Sabrina came up to me and asked me if she could sing with me for the Christmas program...how could I say no to that, and then Vanessa wanted to as well. So there you have it. My girls asking if they could sing with me for the Christmas program. I didn't even think they were paying attention in Sacrament meeting. Sabrina has taken after me, and really has a great voice, and Vanessa does very well too when she isn't so shy. I think if I am up there with them, they will do ok. They helped me pick out the song and everything. SO here is the song. I will be singing all the verses alone, and then all three of us will be singing the chorus. It should go very well.

It is called Breath of Heaven. It is a song from Mary's perspective on carrying the Christ child. It's a really pretty song, and the piano is absolutely stunning. I'm excited to sing with my girls. Wish us luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vrSrEOqLiI

Um...Grandma and Grandpa....any chance of a visit around the second week in December? Just curious if you were planning anything.

Reflection...

After hearing the news about my cousins death, I took a selfish turn. I spent some time doing a lot of reflecting. As most of you know (and if you didn't, you do now) know that I fell away from the church and did a lot of terrible things i should have never done. One of those things was to participate in the illegal use of drugs. I had very little if any self esteem due to my weight issues, and Satan knew that. he knew just what to have my old druggie friends tell me to get me to use the heavy drugs that I am so glad I was able to stop. I thought about all the times I went to work high, or drove a car and put myself and others at risk of dying. At first the drugs were fun, and there were no consequences, but the further along it got, and the more I did the drugs, the harder it became to just up and quit. Most people looking in from the outside say its easy to quit, and you just don't want it bad enough to quit. How wrong you all are. Drugs do something to your free agency, and your choices. It takes that all away, and pretty soon you have no agency at all. You become a slave to the drugs. Unfortunately for my dear cousin she became that slave, and had no way of getting out before it totally overtook her and eventually took her life from her. I am so glad that she is now free from that bond. I can't describe the feeling you get when you are able to break free from that hard taskmaster, and finally see with your own eyes what you have become, and finally break free from the downward spiral. It was so hard to stop. I relapsed a few times, but was finally able to stop. Six years later I was able to fully repent of everything, and attend the temple to receive my endowments. Those six years were some of the most difficult in my life. Using drugs and drinking and sex were easy, those took no brains and no moral fortitude. Those took no courage to do. It was easy. The following six years were the roughest years of my life. Unfortunately because of those choices people have expressed very harsh and mis-concepted thoughts about those of us who used drugs or who were adopted. Being adopted didn't make me use drugs, being a fat person didn't make me use drugs. No one made me do anything. i chose to do it by using my free agency, and as one of the consequences that same free agency was taken away. You now may ask how I became selfish the other night after hearing such horrible and sad news. It was very easy. I was able to free myself before it was too late. I was able to learn from my mistakes, and was able to catch myself just in time to be able to continue my journey here on earth. I am so fortunate I was able to do so. Otherwise I wouldn't have my precious children or my wonderful husband. I am so thankful I was able to gather just enough strength to pick myself up and stop the cycle before it was too late. Unfortunately my cousin was not as lucky to do that here in this life, however she is now fully aware of herself, and is in a position where she can now learn and move on, and become the young lady she knew she should and could be. One day we will all get to see that beautiful young lady, and get to know her. She is now able to feel the "bands loosed" and know what it is like to be free. What a marvelous feeling it was to feel that, and how relieved I felt. I'm sure Becky is feeling that now. The relief and the happiness of having those chains loosened. May she know that she will always have a special place in my heart. From one former drug addict to another How wonderful it is now that we are able to see where we are going and where and who we want to be. Isn't it glorious to see the love that the Savior has for all his children. We are now both free from the harsh taskmaster, and both have the eternities to enjoy our family and our Savior. May you enjoy your Peace Becky and know that we had never stopped loving you and neither did your Heavenly Father. God be with you till we meet again.........

I'm now officially OLD and Breaking Down!!!

Oh my gosh, can we say OLD FOGEY! I mean I don't have a foot in the grave yet, and I stress the word YET, but Im getting there. I picked up my Orthopedic Shoes today, and had to switch from oil of olay to something stronger for my sagging and wrinkling skin. Man, when I was little I thought I'd never end up old like this...but here we are age 34 and really in bad shape.

I had to go into the DR. to have my back pains and numb feet looked at. Basically when I would exercise the entire front half of my foot goes completely numb, and no matter how I try to rotate my foot or reposition it, it still goes totally numb. So the Orthopedic Dr. looked at it and come to find out I walk on the outside of my feet, my knees are rotated funny, and my toes are starting to curl up, plus since my weight loss, my once crushing arch has now been able to go back to a high arch...so NO MORE cheap Payless Shoes, well sorta. So I have to have some Metatarsal Bars put on my shoes, and specially made and formed inserts. I feel like a freak with these. But hopefully when I go to test out my tennis shoes tonight at the gym, that I wont be scary on my feet with numb footsies.

Then as I was looking at my face, I realized that I can no longer wear liquid foundation. It melts into all my ever growing creases, and looks so bad. So I changed to powder foundation, and to a new neutrogena hydration and plumping skin rejuvenating crap. And I say Crap, because I'm sure that it wont work. But for a free trial, I am willing to try anything. I have used oil of olay for years now every morning on my clean face, and it just isn't keeping to stinking wrinkles at bay any longer.

May I really feel so old. Ive got old granny shoes, and old granny face lotions. man, when did I get so old...It just snuck up on me and bit me right on the face..feet, and all over!!!

Well here's to trying to fight old age, and slowing it down. It's not going to get me without a HUGE FIGHT!!!!