The year Kent didn't blow out his candles in January 2025

Kent's Birthday Candle

Blow Out hack

We taped the balloons up to decorate. We had no idea how helpful 

they would be in blowing out the candles. lol

The story!

It may not look pretty, but I'm certain Kent would be disappointed 

if there was no homemade carrot cake for his birthday!

Glad we didn't disappoint!

Life in January

Top photos: Cort wanted to go to the gymnastics meet with me. It was pretty disappointing when our whole row was gone.😢 Bottom Photos: For school that week, we were challenged to come up with something to drink from, and it couldn't be a cup. I chose a spray bottle and a seashell. lol Right Side Photos: I was happily surprised when I saw a heart in the mirror after my shower. I thought Kent had surprised me. Nope, it was Marshal with an I love you message! Also, Cort brought home this cute magnetic butterfly!

Top Left: I found a great drink at Costco! So tasty! Top Middle Left: Now that we have the cute painting of my family from Brayden's wedding I have decided to retire my family portrait from Marshal's preschool days. lol Top Middle Right & Bottom Middle: Kent enjoyed some soccer. Top Right: For the first time in forever the boys had cavities...turns out those are really expensive. No bueno! Middle Left Side: I have enjoyed making throw pillow covers for the different holidays! Bottom Left: Cool designs left from freezing grapes! Bottom Right: Melanie and Kim Turner are building a garage and transforming their old garage into a family room. While I am happy for them I'm sad to see my view changing. Oh well! 

Well, it's time for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to go...

...from the looks of it, there are not too many who will miss them! 😂😂😂

BeReal

Beautiful January

Beautiful scenes from 2024

"Every Dollar I don't needlessly spend is a tool 

that can go somewhere else to bless someone else."

-Gail Miller

"Are we careful stewards of what we have - 

growing it, nurturing it, blessing others with it?"

-Gail Miller

"Go about doing good until there is too much good in the world."

-Gail Miller

2025 is starting off just as beautiful! 

"Love without service isn't love at all. 

It might be admiration, but it's not love."

-Gail Miller

"We might be quick to react negatively to things we disagree with or would do differently. We're quick to compare and judge others against ourselves. We're so willing to compare one imperfect person - them - to another imperfect person - us. That's like picking up two equally dirty dishes out of the sink and choosing which you'd rather use. Dirty is dirty. We all need service of one kind or another at various times in our lives."

-Gail Miller

"I've observed time and time again that the cost to associate with people who can bring something good to our lives is worth the effort, while the cost to associate with those who tear us down is definitely not worth the price. Good begets good, and as we look for those people, we spiritually gravitate towards them."

-Gail Miller

"When the new person in the neighborhood or the newly elected chair of the homeowners' association doesn't seem to care for us, we can wilt and pull our petals up over our faces and say, "I'm not going to go out in the world anymore." Or, we can respond with resolve to be better. "Okay. Maybe I can try harder on my end, or maybe I can move toward other people I have more in common with.""

-Gail Miller

"A friend who requires you to be someone other than who you are isn't 

interested in a friendship at all. What that person wants is a performance."

-Gail Miller

"If you want, you could find a million reasons to hate life and be angry at the world. Or if you want, you could find a million reasons to love life and be happy. Choose wisely."

-Cari Welsh

"If you feel something calling you to dance or write or paint or sing, 

please refuse to worry about whether you're good enough. Just do it."

-Glennon Doyle

"Recently I've been working on a commission to address the homelessness crisis...we can serve them with all our hearts...and if we can't give anything but a smile and a prayer on their behalf, we shouldn't feel guilty for our efforts. The Lord always accepts our sincere offering."

-Gail Miller