He asks, "Why do people think that?"

I have posted several times about how great Jim is. Other people see it too.  For our whole married life people have made comments to Jim that one day he will be a bishop or be in the bishopric. Jim asks, "Why do they think that? I'm just an ordinary person!" 

Just over a week ago Jim and I came home from church and were discussing our callings and other callings in the ward. Jim mentioned that he feels his time in the Young Men may be over. (He feels he won't be called to Young Men's again.) He has loved being in the Young Men. He was the Young Men's Pres. here in Hyrum before we moved to Carson. Then he was the Young Men's Pres. when we were in Carson City. He still tries to keep up with the boys he has had. A few are on missions right now. And recently we attended the home coming of one.

Jim has been the ward mission leader for the past several months. He has done a good job working with the missionaries. We have loved having them show up at our home even if it is 9 at night!

That same Sunday that we were discussing callings, Jim received a phone call asking him and I to meet with the Stake Pres. No surprise to me!! I knew Jim was going to get tagged pretty soon. Of course many different callings that he could be called to came to mind. We joked about different callings and as the appointment to meet with the Stake Pres. neared, we both got anxious.

I don't know much about our Stake President, but I do know that I like him. He has a comfortable spirit around him. He called us into his office and asked Jim to be the 1st counselor in the Bishopric. The Bishop was staying the same and had asked if Jim would be his counselor.  Jim was sustained and set apart this last Sunday.  I went to say good-bye to him after church and he was already in the middle of doing Bishopric stuff. He has been in a bishopric before, so he knew what he was doing and was able to just jump in and do what needed to be done.

I keep thinking about the last time he was in a Bishopric. We experienced one of our hardest trials...Lexie being born at 30 weeks. I just hope we don't have to go through something like that again with this time around. I also realized that "OUR" bench in church that we started sitting on 6 years ago that we recently moved out of because it wasn't fitting our family anymore, will fit us again!!

Yes, Jim, you are ordinary....but a good ordinary. You have a testimony of the gospel and of the atonement. You respect others and are non confrontational. You are willing to serve and help others. You make others feel good about themselves. You honor your priesthood. You are an example to many.

Good Times....

I wish these pictures weren't so blurry! I have just been reminiscing about my friends in Carson. I have been blessed to have each of the ladies in these pictures in my life....along with many others that are not pictured. I miss them all dearly.  I'm looking forward to the day that I can join them again for a girls' night out and laugh or cry til late into the night.

Also as I look at the ladies in these pics, I am reminded that 2 of them have moved to Utah! Time to catch up! 

Of course I read this Article....

I found an article on Ksl.com that I wanted to share....well atleast #7. That's the one that hit me most....and not the exercise part because I know that already....It was the self-esteem part. Jim is always saying to me "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you!" So, I just had to share. Just in time for Valentines (WINK, WINK!)


Question:
The spark has gone from our marriage and there is growing resentment between us. I love my wife and I want to make our relationship better. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:
You can reignite the love in your relationship, but it is going to require some work, commitment and effort on both sides. Here are some suggestions that can get you started:
1) Get some professional help. Repairing this relationship would be easier if you involve a professional who knows exactly how to do it. If your car breaks down, you go to a mechanic; You need someone who can help make this repair faster. 

2) Give more than you get. Most couples who come for coaching both say the same thing, “My spouse doesn’t make me feel loved.” The man usually feels unwanted and the woman usually feels unappreciated. The solution is making it your number one goal, every day, to make sure your spouse feels adored, admired, appreciated, loved and wanted. You must be committed to this behavior because it is the kind of person you have decided to be. It must be your policy and procedure all the time.

3) You must forgive each other for being less than perfect. Remember that you are not perfect either. You may not have made the same mistakes your spouse has made, but have made plenty of other ones. You are both works in progress (students in the classroom of life). You must give your spouse permission to be an imperfect, struggling, scared, divine, amazing human being in process, just like you.
4) Show your spouse more respect. Make amends for past wrongs, include your spouse in decisions, and never compare them with anyone else.
5) Listen more. Ask more questions and do more listening than talking. Ask permission before saying what you think, or giving advice. Validate, honor and respect your spouse’s right to think and feel the way they do, even if you don’t agree.
6) Show more appreciation. Let your actions speak louder than words. Do unexpected acts of service. Tell your spouse "thank you" every time they do anything right, or even when they made an effort. Drown them in gratitude.

7) Work on yourself. Put some effort into exercise and looking your best, but even more important, work on your self-esteem. Confidence is super attractive, insecurity isn’t. Don’t make it your spouse’s job to make you feel good, it’s your job to feel good about you. People who are constantly improving themselves usually have good marriages.

8) Be a happy, fun person. It should be fun to be married to you. Find some common interests and do fun activities together often. Make sure there is laughter in your home and it’s a fun place to be.
9) Talk about your relationship regularly and ask your spouse how you can do better. Your relationship is a living thing and must be tended to and developed. You should read marriage books together, attend classes or get some coaching. Make this relationship a priority.
10) Get intentional about intimacy. Intimacy must be an expression of love for your spouse, not a way to get what you want or need. This must start with flirting and affection outside the bedroom. Then you should make time to be alone together.

He's a Keeper!!

How can I complain, be blue, or upset with life when I have this man in my life!

He pulls me through so many things. So grateful for his hugs and kisses everyday when he gets home from work. So thankful for his willingness to finish/fix dinner after he has been to work all day. Thankful that he is willing to run to the store late at night to get those little things that we don't need....but they may make someone feel a little better. Don't know what I did to deserve him, but I am so so happy that I have him!

A Calling....

Who knew having some kind of responsibility (outside of the home) could make me feel accomplished and fulfilled!

We have been back in our Hyrum ward for just over a year. Since that time I have had 3 different callings that have required some responsibility. These callings have gotten me involved with other people. Two of the three have gotten me out of the house on days other than Sunday. I love feeling the responsibility. I Love actually being able to use my mind and my talents. I Love being involved!

While we lived in Carson City I had two callings that didn't require much, but I did try to do more. I remember people saying that they didn't want to bother me with a calling because my husband was gone all the time and I had 4 kids. I probably couldn't handle anything else. I seriously wished I had a calling that kept me busy at that time.

I remember getting back from girls camp this last summer with the Hyrum girls and feeling so good. I felt a part of something and that I was needed. I LOVED that feeling.

My first calling back in the Hyrum ward was the Primary Chorister. MY MOST FAVORITE CALLING! The funny thing is, they called me to that before our records had even come back to Hyrum. After 4 months in Primary I was called as the 2nd Counselor in Young Woman's. Yes, I did get to go to Girls' Camp and do a lot of other fun activites with the Beehives (and Brindley)! But that calling was short lived too. After 6 months in Young Woman's, I was called back to the Primary as the 1st Counselor. I am still adjusting to this new calling since the only thing I have done in Primary before is Chorister (3 times) and teaching sharing time twice a month. I was in the Nursery in Carson and LOVED that, but I have never been a teacher or in the Primary Pres. before til now. 

Who knew a calling could make you feel of worth....and make my responsibilities at home more worth while.

2012 is gone....

So where do I begin about a year like this last year......
I am really glad to see it go.
2012 was a Great year for our family, but a really hard year for me personally.
Our family experienced such joy and excitement as we got back into our home that we bought almost 6 years ago. All of the girls have been happier than I have ever seen them. I didn't realize how much stress Brindley and Karissa were experiencing in the previous couple years until I saw how happy they were to be back in Hyrum. Back with their friends. Also to have their Dad home every night and relieved of the stress that came to our whole family with Jim's past job. We laugh so much sitting around the dinner table. I LOVE sitting there with our whole family and the fun we have.

I have been blessed to do some daycare since the beginning of 2012. I honestly mean it when I say BLESSED. In the past I have struggled watching other peoples kids. I haven't had the patience with them and just didn't like it. Before we even moved back to Hyrum, I felt a change in me. I knew I was going to be able to do it and I wanted to do it. Still to this day I want to do it and I have the patience that I need! I know Heavenly Father has blessed me with the desire and the patience because we need the income. And this way I am still home everyday when my girls get home from school. I also have been blessed to not have any daycare kids on Fridays. So I use Friday's as Sam's day! We go shopping and to lunch but not before we spend time cuddling in bed! One of the things I find ironic about the kids that come to my house is that they are all boys until recently, I do have a 9 month old girl. Other than her, there are 4 boys that come. It totally makes me smile. These boys have been awesome to watch. One of them has become Sam's new best friend.

This last year I have also really enjoyed being a mom. I have found joy in it. I cry thinking about it because I am so lucky to have the girls I have! I Love each of them for different things because they are all so different. I think our previous years in Carson helped my girls and I become friends because we needed each other. This last year I have been able to watch my girls find joy in things they are doing and it brings overwhelming joy to me. I have felt a love for them that has been so different than before. How did I get so lucky?

My personal struggles have really put a damper on 2012 for me. If it wasn't for my girls and Jim I have no clue where I would be. I had a few things happen to me in 2012 that really knocked me down with my self-esteem. I have never been so hurt in my whole life. Obviously I am still struggling with stuff because I am sharing my feelings about it. I used to think that I thought about things to much before, now I REALLY think about things and what they could mean. From people's gestures towards me or anything that is said to me by others. I internalize EVERYTHING! I hate that. I hate that I can't let things go. I hate that I can't move on after being cut. I hate that I am not the outgoing carefree person I was when I graduated high school. Now I am scared to say anything because I worry what others will think. I'm perfectly fine "hiding" out at home and not going to any gatherings of any kind. I know at home I have the Love and Support from my kiddos and Jim. And to me, they are the #1 thing in my life. They are what I should be concerned about and not what others think.....Wish I could just make myself do that now.

So here's to leaving parts of 2012 in the past and celebrating 2013. Here's to being who I am and accepting myself for who I am and being ok with it! Here's to counting my blessings and being grateful for what I have been blessed with. Here's to making 2013 GREAT!

Click here to see Karissa's Wellsville Mile!
Click here to see Back Home!
Click here to see She's 12!