The lost art of writing love Letters

On Saturday September 26th, 2009, my friend Pat, Tyler's girfriend Jen, and I had the fun opportunity to attend a "love letter writing class" that my work sponsored in Sandy. Yes....I was entrigued when I saw that they were going to offer this class....I have always been one to love to send and receive hand written letters, but with the craziness in life, this art seems to be a thing of the past. Cell phones and email have been major contributors to this, but I also think we are just so strapped for time that we don't take enough to tell those who we really care about our feelings. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote my children letters on 9/11 and it was so fun to see how much they loved something so personal from mom. In fact the instructor of this class we atteneded said that a 16 year old had inspired her to create such a class...He was struggling with his relationship with his mom and dad and just having a hard time....when he came back after Christmas break, she was amazed when he told her that his favorite gift was simply a letter his mom had written him tell him how much she loved and appreciated him.

It was a 2 hour class, and I thought what am I going to write for 2 hours....but in the output.....I wrote a 7 page letter to my husband. I'm so excited to give it to him! I remember when we were first dating...we would write each other a letter every day! Now he and I are lucky if we get any words written in our birthday cards! :) so if you ever have a spare moment....sit and think about why you love your spouse or kids or parents or whoever is special to you and write a letter to them!!! You will be amazed on how theraputic it is!!!!

Book of Miracles

Today in Ward Council we talked about miracles that happen all around us everyday. It reminded me of an idea Tyler got on his mission. The mission president's wife gave all the missionaries "book of miracles" notebooks and challenged them to write down the daily miracles that they experienced. It was amazing on what he told me....things that maybe we don't stop and think about as miracles! I have wanted to start of "book of miracles" ever since, but of course have procrastinated.....until now when it was brought up again! I'm really going to make an effort to think about the things that happen around me and record them in a book....I truly believe that God is a God of miracles. I'm so grateful for the miracles that I have in my life daily. I want to write a few down that I was thinking about over the weekend.
1. my car lost it's alternator last night about 2 miles from my sister's home. ....it was late at night and I was able to turn off my lights for a minute to gain power here and there to make it to her driveway.....
2. We all woke up with great health, and the sun came up! That is a daily miracle to me!!!
3. The girls and I had an enjoyable time at Lagoon, and the rain poured about a minute after the last ride of the night....we also got on the last rocket ride before they shut it down before lightning.
4. There is a miracle growing in my daughter-in-law in the form of my grandbaby!!!
5. I was able to get away with my sis for a wonderful uplifting women's retreat....that just doesn't happen a lot for us, so just to get away together alone was awesome!

I know there were a lot more, but those are the ones that came to my mind! I have had such a bad attitude lately at work, and I hope this helps me to really be grateful that I have a job in the first place......I apologize to any of you who has had to deal with my bad attitude! I'm on a mission to do better! I always feel so much better when I'm happy!!!!

I' grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who grants me daily miracles!!!!!

Honoring those who lost by thanking those we love!

I came upon a website that had people posing things they were going to do on September 11 to honor those who's lives were lost that day. I kept thinking what I could do....then the thought came to me! I wanted to write to my kids and tell them why I loved them and to thank them for being in my life! So I got up early on 9/11 and started the letter writing.....the words just flowed as I wrote to each of my kids at home. It was amazing the spirit I felt in doing so! Computers are great, but I really miss getting hand written letters! My dad would always send me hadwritten cards for every holiday....and I mean every holiday like st. Patricks day! So as I was writing to the people who mean the most to me in my life, tears flowed freely from my eyes. I really felt the gratitude from our Father in Heaven at what He has given me! 6 wonderful children and a daughter in law and a soon to be grandbaby!!! I could not ask for more! As I was thinking of 9/11, I thought what could be better to honor the families who lost so much that day to thank the people who mean the most to me in my life! I think we all take too much for granted in this life! Life is too short, so my challenge to all of you this week.....Go and write a letter to a loved one....your kids, moms, dads.....whoever you want to thank. It will make your day and theirs!!!! I so wish I could write a letter to my father....sometimes I go to email him still, and it has been 9 years since he passed away....Enjoy life as it is happening!! Enjoy today and list what you are thankful for! You'll be amazed!!!!

A weekend with the family!!!!!

I always look forward to a holiday weekend because I know that I will get to sleep in an extra day and spend time with the fam! This weekend was AWESOME!!!!! It started with Friday night...I left from work and went straight to Michael and Bunny's place to help them clean and pack up as they have bought a place in Vernon. We were so grateful for Landon my nephew and his friend who came and helped Michael move the big things out....It is amazing on how many things they have collected in the short 10 months they have lived there!!!

Saturday we went with the whole fam to Lagoon...They had a special for the weekend for $22 so we took advantage and spent the day there.....WE thought it would be way crowded since it was Labor day weekend...we were wrong thank goodness....it was perfect! The weather was perfect also!!!! I realized what my mom meant when she would go with us when we were young....she would say that she loved just watching us have fun! Well I still love to go on the rides, but I really couldn't go on many of the "big" rides because of the kiddies, but I had soooooo much fun riding with them and watching them laugh and watch their amazement at the animals on the train ride!!! I did get to "get in" my fav ride....the rocket re-entry....I love that ride!!!!! There was one scare though.....after last month losing Jackson, I have been soooo careful, well this time it was Holland we "lost" for a couple of minutes. We had just got them off the little boat ride....she ran ahead of Thad who was in front of me...when I got up to him she wasn't in front of him anymore!!! I asked where she was....he said he thought she was with me!!! I FREAKED out again and started yelling her name and looking all around me....again...parents were asking what she looked like, what she was wearing....it was like being in the twilight zone of last month when Jackson went missing in the mall!!! We found her watching a dance performance!! Whew!!!!! But other than that! We had a blast!!!!

Monday we spent most of the day with Michael and Bunny at their new place in Vernon.....We still can't figure out why they don't have cold water!!!! They can get the hot water, but just a trickle of cold water!!! So the guys spent the day looking at that, and I tried to rally kiddies and help Bunny unpack her kitchen. ...We tried a reall good restaurant by Rush Valley....called Penny's.....yummy homemade burgers and fries!!! Tyler was sad that Jenn had to go back to school today, but it was fun to have her spend time with us for the weekend!...Now I just dread going back to work!!!!!! sigh......