Counting my blessings

For those of you who haven't paid attention this whole month I have been posting a blessing a day. Since today is the last day of the month I am putting all of these blessings in a post so that I have them on record. I may do something similar for December because it really has given me a positive perspective during a very trying time in my life. I don't want to say much, but Kent and I are struggling through the refiners fire right now and it feels very hot. I know that the Lord will help us through this and as we are faithful and follow the promptings of the spirit we will be blessed. I love the Lord with all my heart and I can feel his hand in my life right now. Like the story says there is one set of footprints in the sand and that is only because I am being carried right now. I also have to thank Jason and Becca for all they did for Kent and I while they were here. I didn't realize at the time how much, but they helped us out immensely and I am so grateful for their love and service! Thank you from the bottom of Kent and my hearts! You truly have been an instrument in the Lord's hands. Thank you!

I am thankful for~

30~My faith in my savior Jesus Christ and the love that I can feel from him daily.
29~The peace of the temple to calm my troubled mind.
28~Food: Especially my favorite chicken broccoli casserole
27~Our little miracle Christmas tree
26~The good time we were able to have with Jason, Becca, Jocelyn, and Meili while they were here
25~Temple Square and the beautiful lights and music this time of year
24~Kent's family
23~4 pairs of pj's, 5 onsies, 3 pairs of pants, 4 long sleved shirts, a hat and gloves for Braxton all for $65 and I didn't have to wake up too early
22~All the help with making Thanksgiving dinner and mostly the help cleaning up
21~A clean house and the knowledge to make it that way (that would be thanks to my mom)
20~Friends who are there for the long haul
19~Good friends to spend time with and share your lives with
18~The opportunities for education we have here in this country
17~My mental health
16~time spent with my husband and son
15~my brothers and sisters and their families (as well as my parents obviously)
14~People who are willing to reach out to others
13~The Andy Griffith show and other clean oldies on TV.
12~all my freedoms
11~freedom of religion
10~Good friends
9~the blessings of paying tithing
8~financial challenges instead of challenges in my marriage or with my child.
7~Sleeping ALL night long. YEA!
6~My family's health: especially when my son wakes up sick. :(
5~Chocolate Milk. Because it tastes good of course and this doesn't have to always be such heavy gratitude!
4~Being sealed in the temple of God so I be with my family forever
3~My adorable fun-loving Braxton
2~A wonderful, loving husband who works hard
1~My testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ

Our Little Miracle Christmas Tree

~Last night was a wonderful night. Kent came home from work and we all played and laughed and just enjoyed each other. It was actually quite a romantic and magical feeling. We were all able to just enjoy being together. It must have been the Christmas music setting the mood. I asked Kent if we could go get a Christmas tree. I just wanted it to feel like Christmas wherever I looked. Plus I needed a Christmas tree this year when I didn't get one last year since we thought we would be moving into a twin home that fell through.

~We went to a little Christmas tree lot called Rick's Tree's. We walked in and a guy who worked there asked if we had any questions. We asked prices and were told the trees were sold by the foot. Eight dollars a foot for a Noble fir, ten for a grand noble, and six for a douglas fir. I asked where the douglas fir's were and the man told me that they only had a few and I really wouldn't want them because they do VERY poorly in the house and loose many needles. Kent and I thanked him and went looking at trees. As we walked we decided that we couldn't really afford these trees even if we bought a 4' tree. It was just too much for a couple who is used to buying a tag in Meadow and cutting down a forest tree for five dollars a tag.

~We walked around a minute and then walked out the entrance. As we were leaving the man caught up to us and asked if we had found one we liked. We hesitated a little and he said, "I'll tell you what. I'm Rick. How much did you want to spend on a tree?" I told him $15 to $20 and he asked what size. When we told him 4 to 5 feet he said, "You guys find a tree about that size you like and I will give it to you for twenty dollars." Considering we are tighter this time of year than we have been in the past this tree is priceless. Last night at family prayer Kent surprised me and thanked our Heavenly Father for the Christmas tree. I hope that this Christmas spirit will carry through to Christmas. Hopefully as I continue being grateful for what I do have it will.

My priceless Christmas tree!

The Joy of Sharing the Holidays with Friends

This week I have taken time off my blog because I have been spending time with Jason, Becca, Jocelyn, and Meili who were visiting from Arizona. It was such a great visit. They got here on Tuesday at 2:00 pm and my house wasn't quite finished with the good cleaning I was trying to give it. It was so nice to have friends who understood and didn't care if I wasn't the perfect house keeper. Becca jumped in and helped me fold laundry so the house could be finished up. That night Kent made delicious Navajo tacos for dinner after Becca and I returned from shopping for Thanksgiving dinner supplies. Becca and Jason were far more generous with helping out with the groceries than I had planned and while I wanted to pay for more myself I was very grateful for their generosity.

Wednesday morning we went to Ikea to eat breakfast and it was fun (and fairly good breakfast at a good price). I hadn't taken the time to go before so Jason and Becca felt I needed to experience Ikea. It was all right. I have to say I am not as in love as Becca is, but they did have some great deals there. After Ikea we all came home and had naps as Becca and I stayed up way too late talking the night before. That evening we went out to dinner at Johnny Carino's. It was good food and our service was really good. I really enjoyed the evening out. After dinner we went and got some movies. At home we got kids to bed as best we could. We tried putting Braxton and Meili in the same room to sleep and Tuesday night Braxton went down first and Meili woke him up when she went down and cried. Wednesday night we thought we had wised up by putting Meili down first but then Braxton went in and turned the lights on and woke her up because apparently he wasn't tired. Anyway the rest of that night was spent with Jason and Kent enjoying the movie, Ocean's Thirteen while Becca and I got things ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Our pies had all kinds of issues and weren't going to win any beauty contests, but they sure did taste good.



Thursday morning after breakfast we cooked up a storm in the kitchen. That afternoon our good high school friend Josh came over to see Becca and we all visited while we cooked. The dinner was very nice and simple compared to previous Thanksgivings. Turkey, stuffing, yams, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls, and cranberry sauce was about it for us. Of course there were the pies at dessert, but it was nice to have a simple dinner and not stuff ourselves as much as previous years with all the good additional salads everyone brings. I was grateful that everyone helped do something so that I wasn't left to do it all. After dinner Becca and I took the kids on a walk in the cold while Kent and Jason cleaned up. I really appreciated that. That evening we sat down and enjoyed watching the movie Shrek the Third. It was cute, but typical of a Shrek movie.


Friday we had talked about braving the early crowds for black Friday, but again Braxton and Meili had gotten to sleep late Thursday night and we didn't want to wake them. We ended up going to Shopko about 9:30-10:00 am and I got some great deals on clothes for Braxton. I got 3 pairs of pants, 4 pajamas, 3 long sleeved shirts, a light jacket, a pair of socks, 5 onsies, a winter hat and gloves and I spent $65. I felt really good about that. After that Becca got some cute clothes for Jocelyn at Old Navy. Once we were finished with shopping it was time for me to go to work. I worked six hours and had a difficult day at work because I really wanted to be at home spending time with my friends. Nothing too eventful happened after work since Jocelyn ended up sick that day.



Saturday was good. Becca and Jason had some family to visit and really enjoyed doing that. Kent and I went down to Leamington for his nephews baptism. It was nice to see his family, but I was sad that I felt less unity since Grandpa Kesler's death. We had a good dinner and enjoyed the surprise on every one's faces when we told them that Gordon and Holly would be able to make it. Even Kent's dad tried to correct us and tell us they weren't coming, but we knew different. HA! That night on the way home we stopped off at Cheryl's and Erik's and picked up some of our Christmas decorations from their basement. That evening culminated in a rousing game of Ticket to Ride. Jason and Becca have the American version and loved playing our German version. Even though the boys whopped on us. Sunday we had to play again with the group and then just Becca and I so we could play a little better.


Sunday was great. We had a wonderful lesson on service in Relief Society. Even the lesson in Sunday School on "pure religion" was done well. I was thankful for the scriptural reminder to be slow to anger. Sacrament meeting was great for me. I felt bad that Meili was crabby and Becca had to take her out because she would have loved the talks. The first talk was a brother in the stake who shared his testimony of the temple basically. He reminded me that I need to make it a higher priority in my life to make it to the temple weekly. The next speaker was a high counselor from our ward who spoke of an ancestor of his who traveled with the Willie and Martin handcart company to Utah. The high counselor went on trek with Kent and I and his story brought me to tears as I remembered the feelings I had there at trek. The meeting ended with the hymn, We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet. I could barely sing the words. Even they touched me. (The bold words below are the ones that really touched me.)


We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey they command.


When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us
And threaten out peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv'rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord or his goodness.
We've proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against zion
Will surely be smitten at last.


We'll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We'll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its lifegiving light.

Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.

I have always sung that song and thought about how thankful I am for a prophet. This time I recognized that the song is not only saying we are thankful for a prophet, but also for the gospel to help us find peace amidst turmoil and so forth. I also recognized that it says we are thankful for every blessing and that hit me as I thought about my gratitude for Braxton. I was especially thankful because as the song began he hopped up on my lap, placed the hymn book in his lap and started singing with the congregation. I am so thankful that my son loves music. That is one talent I strongly desire to share with my children. I am thankful for the spirits of these children that surround us. They come with so much light from their Heavenly Father. I am thankful for this whole entire month of gratitude. Heavenly Father knew that I needed to focus on that and it has made me so happy amidst my trials. I know that being grateful in conjunction with upping my temple attendance will protect me from the dangers Satan has in mind for me. I am grateful to the Lord for my knowledge.



The trip was rounded off with a trip down to temple square last night. We were so excited to see all the beautiful lights and Becca and I enjoyed the many concerts that were going on there. We wished our husbands would have been more interested in staying and listening. It was good that they weren't since we rode trax and we only had two hours to travel down and back and also enjoy temple square. I really enjoyed this last week and hope that our Christmas season is as good and pray that yours is as well.

Poor Braxton looks stiff as a board with all the gear we gave him to keep him warm. He may look asleep, but he wasn't.

Personal History Sunday (late due to visitors)

What is your favorite time of day?

When I was younger my favorite time of day was evening to night time. All the time before I had to go to sleep, but as an adult I can't really say that fully anymore. I really enjoy the evenings because that is when Kent, Braxton, and I are all together. However, I really enjoy the entire day that I get to spend with Braxton. I enjoy the mornings because Braxton is usually so happy then. I enjoy the time around noon because that is Braxton's nap and either my quiet time to do what I want or else it's the time I take to put my house in order. After nap would probably be my least favorite because there's so little time between the end of nap and dinner needing to be started so I don't get much done (plus I don't love cooking dinner I'll be honest).

Are you a “night owl” or an “early bird”? Describe some of these habits and routines.

I am a "night owl" who would love to be an "early bird." I love those days that I wake up early feeling refreshed and get a lot accomplished, but most often even when I go to sleep at 10:00 or 10:30 (which is a little early for me) I still don't wake up on my own an earlier than 7:30 am. In fact there are nights when Kent is dead tired at 9:00 pm and wants to go to bed, but I just can't bring my body to lay in bed that early with him. Kent is actually very much an "early bird." He wakes up at about 5 generally every morning. I would love to get up early and start my day off right with exercise, but again I really struggle with that. Who knows maybe I will try an make it a habit as the holidays start approaching. Then I won't have to worry as much about the weight I might gain. I'll let you know how that idea goes.

Education and Blessings

Today in Relief Society my good friend Lynlee (from the previous Stake Young Women's Presidency) talked about our brothers and sisters in Ghana, Africa. After listening to her today I know that at some point in my life I want to go to Africa. I have always had a desire to see Africa and Russia, but after today I feel a strong desire to feel of the spirit of the people of Africa. I may have mentioned before that a teacher I worked with previously is serving a mission in the Nigerian temple and the stories she has relayed to me just in the few months since she's been there have brought me to tears.

Today Lynlee told us about these people and how faithful they are. All over the place she said that these beautiful people show signs of their gratitude and their faith in God. I saw that in a book I read called, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza. Lynlee told of how people had come across literature about the church in the 1960's and begged for more literature from the first presidency, but they were told that the time was not right. They waited for years to join the church whose doctrines they were living. These people had faith that one day they would join. I can't even imagine how difficult I would be to want something so wonderful as the gospel of Jesus Christ and have to wait years to attain it.

These people in Ghana and Nigeria are so so poor. Val (in Nigeria) told of a woman named "Lydia who came to the temple with her son who had served a mission in Ghana. She wanted him to be sealed to her and her late husband. She and her husband live in a village 2 days away from the here [the temple]. They joined the church in 2000. Her husband was murdered by the Islamic uprising for being a Christian in the year 2004. She has to save money and it takes her 2 or 3 years to save enough to bring one of her children with her to have them sealed in the temple as a family. She said with tears streaming down her face that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so wonderful that it is worth dying for. Her husband was literally a martyr. She went to every session in the temple for the two days she was here."

Val also told of a woman named Katherine "who has not been able to have children. Her husband is angry with her because she cannot give him children. He is inactive because he is angry with God. She traveled two days on a crowded, dirty van to receive her endowments. I went through the session with her and then did sealings with her. This evening, I was worried about her and went downstairs to where the patrons stay and knocked on her door. I asked her what she had eaten since she left home and she said just rice, but I am so full spiritually. I took her some food to travel home with."

Today Lynlee was telling us of how it only costs a child the fee of a uniform $12 to go to school. Many families can only afford to scrape together enough money for one uniform so the children in those families take turns going to school each day and when they outgrow that uniform their education is finished. They don't have books, pencils, paper, or any of that so they go to school and sit all day listening in order to learn. Yet they are grateful for the opportunities to learn.

When I hear of our brothers and sisters in Africa and many other countries how can I not be grateful for the wonderful opportunities I have been given because I live in this country. I wish that every American could live at least 6 months in a third world country. If we did maybe we would stop being entitled. Maybe we wouldn't buy into this consumerism idea that having more will make us happy. Perhaps Thanksgiving would take on a whole new meaning. We might truly be grateful and happy with the many wonderful things that we have been blessed with. I am so grateful for all that I have been blessed with and more than anything I am grateful for my change in perspective. Through writing what I am grateful for everyday for the last 18 days I realize I have so much that I really don't have anything to complain about. I may not be able to keep my cable, or my high speed internet, but I can afford to buy food. I can afford to buy soap and shampoo and clothing, and I was able to get an education. I am a smart woman and I can provide for my family if ever I need to. I am so blessed that it is worth staying up late to get my feelings out while they are fresh on my mind. More than anything I have been blessed with the love of a good family, a great husband, and a son who I couldn't love more. My life has been so blessed. My cup runneth over! I hope that this week you will realize your blessings and have the blessings that come from having gratitude, because it truly is a blessing to be grateful!

Personal History Sunday

What is your favorite restaurant? Why do you like to go there?


The answers to this question are very very sad to me. My favorite restaurant to this point in my life was called LaTerazza (I am not sure of the spelling). The sad part is that this restaurant no longer exists. The location is still there and today it is called The Epic dining (I haven't tried it out yet). The reason I liked LaTerazza is it was a VERY yummy Italian restaurant with great atmosphere and it wasn't always super busy (probably why it no longer exists). My favorite thing that I had there was a salmon salad with pine nuts and fine baby greens. It was topped with a wonderful rasberry vinagerette. I still long to go back and have that again.



Where is your favorite place to shop?

I can't really think of just one place to shop. For groceries I really like shopping at Macey's. For clothes I obviously enjoy Eddie Bauer, but if I didn't work there I would probably shop at Kohl's, JCpenny's, Sears or Mervyn's. If I had more money I would love to shop at Bath and Body Works. For bra's I LOVE Nordstrom's lingerie department, but I have to have money when I shop there. For Braxton's clothes I often shop at Babies R Us, Target, Walmart, or Shopko (for anyone who doesn't know if your kids wear out their clothes from Shopko before they outgrow them Shopko will allow you to return them. That's a good deal). That's about I can think about when it comes to shopping. I'm not really much of a shopper. I don't know if that is due to a lack of many funds or if I just am not much of a shopper. Hopefully some day I will have enough money to answer that question.

Misconceptions

Tonight Kent, Braxton and I went down to the gateway mall to shop for a Christmas present. We decided to make it a family outing and it was very nice. We rode trax down and enjoyed each others company. When we got off trax there was a large van with a bunch of kids pulled off to the side of the rode. Kent and I both noted that the kids looked like they were up to no good. No sooner had we said those words and I was corrected. A girl jumped out the side door and walked over to a man sitting on the ground with a homeless sign. The girl had what looked like leftovers from eating out and handed them to the man. He accepted the food and the girl walked back to the van. I realized how quickly we can jump to misconceptions.

I remember once hearing a teenager say how unfair it is that adults think just because they are a teenager they have nothing good to contribute to the world. Tonight, I myself, was corrected when a van full of teenagers who I thought were up to no good were up to more good than I was. Does that person I was shopping for need that gift? Not really. Does that man need food to eat? I don't know. It looked like it. I do know those kids will be blessed for their generosity.

Also along the lines of misconceptions why is it that I feel guilty when I don't give to those who do seem in need? On the way back from the gateway there was another man who seemed to hurry to sit on the grass and put up his sign for Kent and I. I had a lemonade that Kent had bought for Braxton and I and as I glanced at this man I chose to smile at him instead of ignore him. As I walked away he said something ornery sounding that I didn't catch. But it made me feel like he was making a judgement of me and my lack of giving. This time a misconception on this man's part.

I am a giving person. Just the other day a man asked me for some change because he said he had run out of gas. Considering he was carrying a gas can I felt safe giving him a little. While I am willing to give that doesn't mean that I have to give to each and every person that sits in my way. I will give to charities and I will give to the food bank very generously when I have a lot to give, but I usually don't give handouts to someone who may or may not be sleeping on the street. There are places for him to get help and if he really needs help he can go to those places.

The best part of the evening was the trax ride home. Kent and I were totally entertained by a couple of girls riding trax home from a state football game for Alta high. They were listening to an ipod and lip syncing as they danced in their seats. Kent laughed and noted that they must have seen the music video because they were doing the same little movements as they lip synced the songs. This was a time yet again to show that not all teenagers are up to no good. I know that there are a lot of horrible things going on in some of these kids lives, but not all of them are involved in these horrible things.

There was one last misconception on the way home. There was a man sitting across from Braxton who looked like a really nice guy. Braxton kept looking at him which sparked conversation. When conversation started we got an earful about how corrupt the government is and the conspiracy to rob us through high taxes and prescription drugs that make you sicker than you already are. While he did say some things I agreed with I didn't agree with his idea to stop paying taxes to the government. I was just really surprised that such a nice looking man was neglecting his civic duty to help our government run important things. Maybe I don't agree with all the government does, but I do agree with helping to pay for our schools, roads, public buildings, police protection, and so forth. It's interesting to look around at the world and take note of how often we all have misconceptions.

Veterans Day

In honor of Utah celebrating veterans day today I wanted to share this video off of You tube by a fifteen-year-old girl. I also want to share my thoughts. I have overwhelming gratitude for these men and women who are sacrificing so much for my freedom. There are really not words adequate enough for my thoughts on the service rendered by these men and women. I just want to say thank you to any of you who are, and have, and will serve this country so that I can choose the way that I will live each day. You are my heroes and I hope that I will never contribute to the group of people who seem to belittle you because of your selfless service. Thank you!

Braxton Update

I just thought I would give you an update on Braxton's words. Tonight Braxton brought over a book about dump trucks for me to read. I started reading the first page and read the words "the mighty dump truck," and almost as soon as I read it Braxton blurted out dum tuk. Kent and I made such a big deal out of it that he would repeat it every time we said dump truck. We had to call grandma and grandpa Kunz and let them hear. It was so fun. Now the trick is getting it on video. It's such a fitting phrase for a little boy who LOVES trucks and has a daddy that operates heavy construction equipment all day long.

Personal History Sunday

Today I am going to answer two questions from my personal history jar...

*What things do you enjoy doing?

I would have to say that I enjoy doing all kinds of things.
~One of my favorite dates since I have been married is to go down to the gateway mall in downtown Salt Lake City and just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
~I enjoy hiking, but it has been a very long time since I have done it.
~I love camping and miss it since I haven't seen in two summers!
~I enjoy many things creative. That includes: Sewing, scrap booking, painting, and decorating.
~I like to bake cookies, bread, and many other goodies.
~I enjoy reading when it is a good book.
~I love to enjoy the beauty of nature all around me.
~I like to visit with people and get to know about others and their life stories.
~I love to dance.
~I like to go to movies as well as rent them and cuddle up and watch them.
~I have only been a few times, but I do enjoy water skiing.
~I love to play the piano and sing along. I especially enjoy and miss singing Christmas carols with my mom's family. My mom's brothers have the most beautiful voices.
~The things I enjoy the most involve being surrounded by friends and family.



*What kind of games do you enjoy playing?

I enjoy all kinds of games, but just as most of you the games I like the best are the ones that I win. As I said in an earlier post I love the board game called "Ticket to Ride." I think more than anything I enjoy playing board games or social group games. Some of my other favorite games are Apples to Apples (Group Card Game), Settlers of Catan (Board Game), Uno Attack (Card Game), Skip Bo (Card Game), Phase Ten (Card Game), Personalitease (Group Game), Sequence Board Game), Family Feud (Group DVD game), Catch Phrase (electronic hot potato type group game), and The Mexican Train Domino's game.

Testimonies 1

I have some things that I need to write about for me today. First I have to acknowledge my gratitude to the Lord for the blessings he's given me for my faith to pay my tithing. A week and a half ago I made a truck payment that I neglected to write in my check registry. I wrote out my first round of bills and we were thinking that we were really doing well financially and would be able to get back on top of a few bills we were getting a little behind on.

As I tried to balance out the check book I realized that I had forgotten to write down the truck payment. That small mistake put us in the hole over three hundred dollars. I called Kent and just cried in frustration. As many of you know living on a single (well almost single, my paychecks aren't THAT large) paycheck doesn't leave you with much extra cash unless you have some in savings. We have tried to tuck some in saving, but the bills and a harder year financially have left us with little in savings.

Amazingly we were able to find money through my Mary Kay sales, Kent's extra change in a jar, Kent picking up barrels from a guy who pays him to haul them off, and our little bit in savings. We found enough money to cover ourselves by $4.33 without overdraft charges and without asking for money from family as we thought we would have to do. I don't usually like to be so open with my finances, but I wanted to remember for myself how particular the Lord is in his blessings. I know that we were blessed for paying our tithing and praying for help.

Before we started paying bills Kent was unsure if he'd feel ok about paying tithing because he was feeling so overwhelmed with bills. I knew that I could not feel good about not paying tithing and finally Kent remembered that he'd have a little extra so we'd be ok. I am so thankful that Kent was able to feel good about paying tithing. I know if we hadn't paid tithing we would have been short at least one hundred dollars. I was amazed that we had that much money in so many different places, but I am so grateful. I know that as we pay our small portion to the Lord he blesses us with so many blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it. I feel this is what he has done for my family. I am truly grateful for His help.

Testimonies 2

Today I succumbed to watching the Oprah show. I know, I know, just after I complained of how she is the devil. I only watched it for one reason. I watched it because the Osmonds were on it. Now like most of you I wouldn't have normally been swayed so easily by the Osmonds, but I did have a reason to be interested. A few years ago I actually went on a date with Alan Osmonds third son Nathan Osmond. They said that it was going to be all of the descendants of George Osmond so I had to see if he would be on with kids and a wife. He was on, but I don't know about any kids or a wife.

I do have to say for having a prior disdain towards the Osmonds and my perceptions of their arrogance and tendency to be very fake I was surprised. Maybe it was the spirit of their humble father guiding them or maybe it was the sorrow of losing someone they loved, but I saw a different side to them. I was very impressed with Marie as she boldly yet humbly bore her testimony of the truth of eternal families and then testified of the feelings of the spirit of God. At that point I no longer saw a woman of arrogance and show biz but rather a sister in the gospel using her talents to spread the gospel message.

I think back to the time when I asked Nathan to a institute dance and how I had made a big deal about dating an Osmond and all the implications that would come if a second and third date were to come. As I watched the family I realized that when you take away the show business all you have left is an eternal family. There are women (many of them) who have come into that family and these women have come to know these stars as Uncle Donny, Aunt Marie, Uncle Merrill, Uncle Jay and so on. It's very nice to see that when you strip us all down to the core we are all left as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all, from Saddam Hussein to Barbara Walters to Carrie Underwood, knew that sweet and simple truth. I am grateful to realize that when it is all said and done that we are all just human beings trying to make our way in this life's test, and our ultimate goal whether we remember it or not is to gain a physical body and make it back to live with our gentle loving Heavenly Father.

Reasons for the name change?

Well... first of all I was inspired by my sisters clever way of making she and her husbands names into a unique title. Also I was watching the news tonight and it was talking about some site that this family posted updates of their child on and then a woman started stealing the words from this families blog. While that has nothing to do with me I got thinking while watching the teasers if it was really a good idea to have my last name so visible to the public. I decided first names are the only necessities. So KaMeRa Box: K for Kent obviously; M for Marlies; R for our last name; and B on the box for Braxton. I hope that you enjoy it because knowing me I am sure I will change it in a few months. ha ha ha. I am also sorry but it won't let me make those other letters lowercase, so sorry!

Is the Devil taking the form of a black female talk show host these days?

So I wrote a blog and never posted it until I got this email today. Oprah Petition:
On September 25, 2007 Oprah aired a show entitled "237 Reasons to have Sex" which featured "experts" who advocated casual sex with friends, pornography, and having affairs as ways to improve relationships and marriage. (Click on the link to sign the petition please.) Today I posted that blog. If I could link you back to October 5, 2007 I would, but that is where that blog is located if you'd like some fired up writing by me.

I am absolutely appalled! I just can't help but answer my former question as yes Oprah is the Devil, or at least she's employed by him! Who is she to tell our children that it is OK and even better for their lives to be involved in casual sex and pornography as well as adultery. Does she know who she is working for and is she OK with that? I had about one shred of dignity I was allowing her, but now I see her as having NO dignity, and I have NO respect for her. I am completely outraged and don't know how to deal with it other than attacking her at which point I become in the wrong. I am finished!

While we are on the topic of celebrities I do want to say that there is one celebrity that I have gained more respect for in the past few days. The title I saw online was "Roberts dreams of being stay-at-home mom." A few years back I read an article in the Reader's Digest where Julia said that she likes doing housework and even does her own laundry. In this underlined article she says that ultimately she would like to be a stay-at-home mom who grows her own food and eats it. I just think that when a highly known actress is willing to live a normal life it is really amazing. How can you not admire her for her courage to be unlike the rest of Hollywood. Now I realize that doesn't make her perfect. She's got her own sorted past, but I do applaud her for making a great life for herself and centering that on family not fame and corruption!

Apparently I have been tagged!

The rules:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Here goes:

1. Many of you may know this, but I hate loose hair to the point that it is almost a phobia. The other day I saw a hair in the bathroom sink (my hair) and it almost made me puke. I try to not let hair bother me, but some days I seem to have no control.

2. I talk things to death according to my husband. I can go on and on for quite a while about the same topic and it drives him nuts. He sometimes makes me mad by telling me to drop it, and I hate that because I feel that I have only scratched the surface of the subject. (This is why you need girlfriends)

3. I stick to boring old plain white athletic crew socks. I only own about four pairs of colored socks and I rarely wear them. I don't know if this makes me predictable, boring, or both.

4. I drink drinks with caffeine so infrequently that when I even have a sip of a highly caffeinated drink like coke or mountain dew I get a little bit of a headache. That makes me sad because I like to enjoy an occasional Dr. Pepper and I can't drink very much without paying a price.

5. My dream is to one day live in a smaller town in a house with horse property out my window so I can watch Kent and the kids work with the horses when I do my dishes.

6. When I was a preschooler/kindergartner my dad made up a computer game for me to learn my address and phone number. When I typed it in right the box around the text would flash a couple of times. It was very simple and it helped me learn my information, but why I could be entertained for so long on that simple game I will never know.

I am tagging: Cheryl, Laura, Courtney, Stacey, Daphne, Janessa

Sick? or just playing hookie?

This morning I woke up to Braxton coughing and then crying at 6 am. I went in gave him his pacifier and went back to sleep. Then about a half hour later I heard the same thing and decided to look and see what was going on. My discovery was a sick little boy. I washed the blankets and the bedding and threw Braxton in the bath. Then after the bath he was running around the house like he had all the energy in the world. So a few hours later I decided to feed him breakfast. We'll again he got sick and couldn't hold it down. Then again at lunch.

I feel horrible feeding him and having him throw up, but he seems so fine the rest of the day. Even his yucky diapers don't seem to bother him. So is he sick or what? I remember when I was a little girl I couldn't get myself off the couch except to expel whatever was bothering my tummy, but Braxton is all over the house as though he were just fine. So I am just wondering is that just my kid or are there other kids like that who get sick and still don't need you? I mean at least if I have to deal with a sick kid can't he need me to cuddle with him or something?

Please take note!

This is a quick note to remind you to take a look at my everyday entries of the things I am grateful for. Also if you would like to read a good talk on service read the talk by President Hinckley on my links list. One GREAT quote from that talk is,

"If you are complaining about life, it is because you are thinking only of yourself. There was for many years a sign on the wall of a shoe repair shop I patronized. It read, "I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet." The most effective medicine for the sickness of self-pity is to lose oneself in the service of others."

It really uplifted me to work harder to do more good. One of these days I am going to do some thing great, but I haven't figured out what that is yet (aside from being a mom which is GREAT)!

Personal History Sunday

What kind of music do you like?



I enjoy all kinds of music. I love sacred (or religious music) as well as country, rock, pop, some hip hop, a little rap (very little), some punk or grunge, techno, etc. In addition I also enjoy many classical pieces as well as new age music and almost everything there is with the exception of hard rock and explicit lyrics type music. There are many songs that have memories attached to them. One of those songs is Rachmaninoff: Concert no. 2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The song was on a movie entitled "Somewhere in Time." My parents owned the soundtrack on vinyl record. Whenever my mom would play that record I would dance around the house singing the words "somewhere in time" over and over again as if they were the words to the song. As far as I knew, being a little girl, they were the words to the song.

Another song with some attachment to it was a song entitled, "Don't take the Girl" by Tim McGraw. I used to hate country music until my about my sophomore year when my sisters friend Sherry played this song in the car and that one song converted me over to country. I have really liked country ever since and I enjoy it even more now that I am married to a country boy. In fact Kent's and my song is "I cross my heart," by George Strait. As for other popular country music I am sure that I could tell story after story about the songs, but that should be saved for another day.

There are a few songs that really mean something to me and have for a long time. These songs are religious songs. The first song I have loved and felt the spirit of since I was a little girl. The song is, "Families Can be Together Forever." I have always felt a deep desire to be with my family forever and so that song touches me often. Another song that touches me is, "Because I have Been Given Much." I truly have been given much and so that makes me want to give to others. I love all the powerful songs that talk of Christ such as, "I believe in Christ," "I Know that my Redeemer Lives," "I Stand All Amazed," and so on.

Music has always been a part of my life and I am so grateful for that. I have a deep love for music. One of my favorite things to do is sing and play the piano. I developed a love of singing as well as developed confidence in my voice when I was in choir all through high school. My senior year of high school I was in the Chamber Choir which was an all girl's choir and it was the highest group you could be in while in choir. I was very surprised and honored when I made it into that choir. I think weekly probably of things that I learned from being in choir and I treasure those times from my high school experience.

I always desired to play the piano. At Grandma Holdaway's house I was always playing the piano. When I was in about fifth grade grandma got her new baby grand and gave my mom her upright. Once we had a piano I was dying to take piano lessons. I took for about two years from Rosalee Petersen and loved it. We decided we wanted her to teach us when we heard her play a beautiful piano piece in church one Sunday just after she had moved into the ward. When we moved to Oregon I felt that I was able to sight read well enough that we didn't need to spend money on piano lessons anymore. While I still love playing the piano I wish I took more time to do so. It's a skill I need to keep up.

Braxton Update

I just wanted to give an update of how smart Braxton is getting. Tonight I told him to get books so Kent could read to him and he got books and chose me to read. After reading we usually have prayer and Braxton has really caught on to prayer time. He crosses his arms and tries to close his eyes and mumbles while we pray. At the in the name of Jesus Christ part he realizes we are about done and he releases his hands. Kent and I are amazed at how well he's taken to it and learned quickly. He even knows that after prayer it's time to get the pacifier from it's place (no we haven't taken it away yet) and get to bed. He's just getting so smart. It's amazing to me. It makes me realize how important our routines are to children. Now we have to get in the habit of scripture reading so that will be an easy routine too.

Braxton saw the neighbor kids on their computer and decided he wanted to play too.

Finally somewhere he looks little still!

Thanksgiving and Christmas together as one

So now that Halloween is over there will be those overzealous people who start listening to Christmas music and driving us crazy, right? We'll I used think that was awful. I'd say come on lets not totally skip over Thanksgiving and head straight for Christmas. Then one day I had a co-worker that said she thought the two holidays were synonymous so what's the big deal. At first I didn't understand, but I think I finally get it and I want to explain what it is I feel.

I would never want to skip over Thanksgiving just to be clear. I think it is one of the most important holidays there is. In fact it really bothers me when we go to Kent's families for Thanksgiving because we hurry and eat (at almost exactly the time dinner was supposed to be served) as if we have a time limit and must finish dinner in that time. After it seems most are finished with dinner you hurry and get everything cleaned up (when you get up from the table to take care of a baby you WILL lose your meal) and then you sit around talking or else go out shooting with the men. No time for being grateful just hurry and eat so we can get it all over with and get to the next part.

In my family for years we would sit down just before dinner and everyone would say just one thing they were thankful for, and then we would eat and visit all through dinner. Then we would all be sitting and talking and no one would be eating. At that point someone would say let's get this cleaned up. To me thanksgiving dinner is great, but more important is the idea that we take inventory of what we are grateful for. That is why I am so excited to have Becca and Jason and their girls coming for dinner this year.

Ok now that I am done with that I would like to say that I have really been thankful lately and as I become more and more thankful I realize just how much I have. When you look at what you have and not what you don't have you find you are very rich and not poor. Here's the Christmas part. If you are very rich then you have so much to give. When you give something you have but don't need to someone who does need it you feel like the richest person on earth. Sometimes that excess is money and sometimes it is things. For example somehow my sister ended up with two of the same pictures of Christ. It was a large painting and she decided to give it to her friend. She told me that when she gave that picture she felt like she was SO rich (this was a time in her life when she was struggling financially). Interestingly enough this same recipient gave me a discount in lieu of the picture when I took her Bradley birthing class.

See how it works. As you go into this holiday season try and remember that you truly do have a lot even if it isn't money or things. Sometimes we are blessed with the love of family and friends where others have none. For some it's a blessing just to be alive and healthy. Whatever it is you do have something that someone else does not have. When you realize what it is you are thankful for celebrate it and then don't forget to freely share what it is you do have to give. So celebrate Christmas in November if you'd like, but if you do don't forget to celebrate Thanksgiving when it's over too!

Very Happy Halloween

OK Here he is! Braxton the Dwarf Dopey! We have had a good couple of days. I'll tell you all about it after you take a look at the pictures.Unfortunately his ears look like dog ears, but if they were standing right they would look like Dopey's big ears. Wow who is that woman?! Are we really seeing pictures of Marlies on here? Only because I made Kent take the picture. I am tired of always being the one behind the camera! Besides I deserve the credit for the costume that I made! You can get a little glimpse of his left ear, but funny how he hated the costume a few days ago.
Now you've got a look at the cute patches on the arms. See the picture of Dopey below and you will see I did my best to put in all the detail. Even Disney itself didn't do as well. (Please let me take pride in my work ok)
This is the picture that I used to get ideas from. This is a game I came up with for the kids to play at the ward party. It is actually quite fun because of the difficulty. Put it together yourself if you have some empty canning bottles and wiffle golf balls. You'll see it's not as easy as it looks.

Our Pumpkin won scariest pumpkin at the ward party.

Here is the scoop. The ward party went well with a few exceptions. First we didn't get the chili on soon enough (my fault) and so we had about thirty minutes of trying to entertain people while we got the chili heated up. It worked out ok though. Second we didn't get prizes out for costumes and pumpkin carving early enough and so some of the winners had left. Other than that and Kent having to go to Layton to get our five dozen free doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (all the Salt Lake locations closed and I am really annoyed) we had the party turn out ok.

Last night was very fun too. Kent, Braxton and I went to McDonald's for dinner. Braxton had the whole play area to his self almost. After that it was off to the mall to exchange some pants at Eddie Bauer and show off Braxton's costume. Once we were there and saw the crowds Kent and I had no desire to hang out with the mall trick-or-treaters. After that we went to our friends house and Kent hung out with them (party poo per) while I taught Braxton how to trick-or-treat. Braxton wasn't so sure, but after two houses of knocking on the door and getting candy he was all about this game. He loved it. Everyone told him he was cute and gave him candy and that was great fun. We ended up trick-or-treating eight houses when I had only intended on going to three. Had we not already had too much candy at home I would have gone to more.

Today Braxton already got mad at me because after two candies and a sucker before breakfast I won't let him have more candy right away. Poor kid with a mean mom. Anyway we had a great holiday and I am really looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Maybe tomorrow I will share my new ideas about the two holidays as one great holiday.