Looky What I Found! . . . . and . . . Girls' Day Out . . . . .

I finally found my black camera!  it was under the driver's seat in the van . . . I have no idea why!  This picture of Garrett was the only one on it.  he was pulling the branch down to make it easier for me to saw through it.  All I can think is that I put down in the van while I finished pruning the tree and just plain ole' forgot it was there!













Yes, I have apologized to Lincoln, but in my defense, I have fished a lot of stuff out of the trash the last few months!!


Then on to our "Girls' Day Out, No Boys Allowed!" outing.    On Christmas Day, I announced that we girls needed to figure out a day that we could all go and take care of a problem that we all seemed to have right now . . .  we all needed a little "lift" in our lives, if you get my drift.   Sounded like a great excuse to go and get what we all needed since we all shop at the same store and then go out for lunch.  It was great, even though we are all exhausted!  Where there's a will there's a will . . and we usually can come up with a will.  So Merry Christmas girls!!  Now to help papa put a "camp out" together for all the boys, where no girls will be allowed!

All the girls came, no matter how young.  One of the girls asked the clerk if they had something in her size . .  . too cute, isn't it amazing how we are ALL on such a hurry to grow up?   If we only knew at that age, what we discover when we do hit adulthood.  Maybe that is one of life's important lessons.

Some were faster shoppers than others, So Mariah and Brianna took the little girls down to the play area and waited until the pokies in the group were done.

Arianna is ever the little extrovert and made a new friend . . . . . .

 . . . . . .while Tati did her own little thing.

Finally, Sarah made it on down to the rest of us and it was time to go  . . . 

and give the little ones a lesson in finding just the right little items for pampering oneself at Bath and Body Works.  Lynneah gave us a couple of such big smiles but I was slow to get my camera out so all we got was this cute little one.

By this time we were all starved so we hit the Greek restaurant right next to the mall.  It sure has a good food.  The little ones got these chicken nugget type meals and those have to be the best ones that I have ever tasted!!  Might just have to do something about that one of these days!!

And so our year is drawing to a close.  What better way than with good friends and family.  I am so grateful that we have the time, means and freedom to travel about and gather at these special times of celebration.

Now I am making a dress for our little Lynneah to be blessed in on Sunday.  I am so grateful that she has been so blessed and is still with us.  I am grateful that the men in our family hold the Lord's  priesthood and can bless our lives as they perform these ordinances in His behalf.  Until I married Jon, I had limited exposure to just what this blessing would be like in my life.  What a wonderful way it was for me to learn all about it.  

What a wonderful gift the Savior was from a loving Heavenly Father.  What a wonderful life we can have through His life and atonement.  I learned much about this from my mother.  I realize that her understanding was not the most comprehensive, but her faith was unwavering and simple like a child's.  It is a lot of the reason that I miss her so much sometimes.  When I am struggling, I wish I could just sit and lean against her, talking and weeping on her shoulder.  I wish I could draw from her strength.  Then I remember that she gave me something even better, she gave me a strong foundation, and understanding that the door is before me, that He is waiting for me to "knock" so that He may open it.  Through her, I inherited strength to go on, to keep trying.  To learn from the past and to move forward, ever forward.  To see my glass as half full and appreciate the blessings that I enjoy in my life.  That the simple pleasures of life are usually the most lasting ones.

I am grateful.