A Good Man Lost

My dad called last week to tell of some very sad news. A family that we became close to when I was a child lost a second child on the 8th of Feburary, in Iraq fighting for the freedom of others and the continued freedom and safety of ours. His name is Timothy Martin. I knew him as Tim a quite child, but very smart and observant. My sister Carrie was one of the older daughters best friends before she passed away of Luekemia in 1990. Bryna was a very remarkable young women, she had the strength of her father and the sweetness of her mother. Tim and his other sister Alisa were very close and depended on each other very much. Growing up in the country does that to you in a way because there is really no one else to play with. Lucy and Tony were very quite and reserved people, but were always so kind and our family loved being around them. My fondest memory is going to their home and walking in and smelling the sweet smell of bread or fresh milk. Lucy's yard was full of rose bushes and I loved looking at the different flowers. After the passing of Bryna it was my Senior year in High School and I didn't see much of the family. My parents still kept in close contact with them. I hadn't heard much about them and didn't know who was doing what. So when my dad told me the news I was shocked. Tim was in my mind still a boy running around in the back yard. It triggers so many emotions at once and my heart goes to Tony and Lucy. I am proud of Tim and I know he is catching up with Bryna now. I am sorry for their loss from the pain of lossing another child. There are several articles about him in the news papers from home. He touched many lives and will always be remembered.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802210312
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802200339
http://www.recorderonline.com/news/martin_34780___article.html/sgt_church.html
http://www.recorderonline.com/news/martin_34805___article.html/sgt_life.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/411552.html#morephotos

Interesting

We have had some really interesting weather the last few days as you can see by the pictures. The ice is from Saturday and the sunsets with the windmills are from today. Absolutely gorgeous outside. Sunday was cold also.

This has been quite and eventful weekend. We had our Valentine's dinner/movie party on Saturday which was really nice. Matt brought me a card and No Reservations for Valentines, which is such a good movie. Cooking, kissing and a happy ending what more could you ask for. I gave him his gift a week ago, because I was so impatient and I had to give it to him. I just couldn't wait. I know silly but it was still fun. The kiddos got a special valentine's treat from their cousin Conner and Aunt Anna, Uncle Marcus, Bevo and Hemi. They about died from the sugar high, but you know they LOVED it. We also received calls from the Grandparents with Valentine's wishes too. It is sooo nice to have phones and internet today. It is so nice to be able to be in contact with them in an istant.

On Sunday Matt and I gave talks in church. My topic was gratitude and his was on tithing. I also had my class to teach and made them journals which turned out really cute thanks from ideas from splitcoast stampers website. Love that place. The kids really loved them. It is so nice having a class of 4! The opening NASCAR race at Daytona was also on Sunday. I watched the opening ceremonies and the first few laps then sleep deprevation kicked in and I had to go take a nap. Newman one and bet out Tony on the last lap (YEAH) I still haven't decided who I am going to cheer for this year since I have been banned from cheering for Denny Hamlin. I like both Jimmy Johnson, and Jeff Gordon, but those have been really over run in our families, so I was leaning more toward Casey Mears. He is from Bakersfield, CA near where I grew up and he is in the permitable cheering crew of Hendrick motorsports. We'll see. I will probably watch a few more races to decide.


And talking about races, I have my race in a couple of weeks which I am really nervous about. I am on week 5 of my training and boy is it tough. I will only be in the middle of week seven of training when it is suppose to happen so I am going to do the required part and walk the rest. They warned us not to go any faster in the program (like I could) so I am readily taking the advice. I have a couple more towards the end of summer that I will hopefully be more prepared for (and lighter). It is nice just to have the challange to keep me motivated.

The kids didn't have school today and so they played a lot outside and enjoyed sleeping in this morning. FHE was fun too. The lesson was on lying, big topic around our house. Everything is that someone else did it. But it will get better hopefully fingers crossed. We went to piano and both are doing well. The little boys so enjoy going there just to play. I have a few pictures of that too.

Well before I forget last week I was tagged by one of my friends (thanks Mindy) to share my middle name and words that start with the letters that describe me so here it goes:
Shereen

S-Social Butterfly-I love talking to people and it is fun finding all kinds of neat stuff out about people
H-Happy-It is so much better to be happy.
E-Entertaining-just ask my bunko buddies, who I miss very much.
R-Reader-I love reading books
E-Energetic-I can be this most of the time especially if I am doing something fun.
E-Enough with the E's already
N-Naps- I so much enjoy my Sunday cat naps! I know that contradicts the energetic, but my body has to catch up some time.

So to tag someone else it would have to be my sister-in-law Anna! Go for it!






Well I am tired!!! So off to bed.

Valentines Day

Well today is definatly an interesting one. Matt was gone by 4:30 this morning, mind you he came home at 12:30 last night. Erik started throwing up around 1:30. I am trying to finish my talk for Sunday, planning the Valentine's Ward Party Dinner/Movie,Lesson for Sunday school and Missionaries coming on Friday and Matt leaving for 2 weeks on Monday to Arkansas :(. Thank heavens I have really good help with the Valentine's party. And everything else will fall into place. Erin and I went to the doctor yesterday in OKC and totally got lost!! I haven't told Matt, but we took the loop around OKC and finally called and got directions. But it went well and we went to Hobby Lobby afterwards (such a candy store for me, oh I could spend sooooo much money there) It was fun hanging out with Erin. The kids all made hand made valentine's for their classmates and we finished those last night. We started them on Monday at FHE and went to Ms. Mary's to cut out the die's for it from sizzix's design's. (Yeah one more thing I want to get from Hobby Lobby) I took Erik's into school for him (he was so sad to miss the party) Michael's class did a cool thing instead of having a party for the class they went to the nursing home and had valentine's with them. They go once a month to read with them, but they decided to do it a week early and celebrate! Matt and I will celebrate on Saturday (hopefully) at the dinner. We had our first date on Saturday last week with Nick and Kendra. Oh they were so much fun! We had a really good time at dinner. The movie was horrible!!! But we still had a great time. Well I have to get some things done, can't be on the computer all day.

Saturday is a special day!!!

Yeah I finally got to sleep in!!! Saturday's are awsome. Well I got up and did my routine and the others got up here and there. We had some friends of Erik and Erin stay the night after a busy day yesterday. LaTitia came over and helped me with some of the candy making for the Valentines dinner/movie night next Saturday. Michelle and I took a trip to walli world till midnight and got all of the stuff for the centerpieces, we are having to be quite creative. I will post pictures of them after the dinner. I still have to put together the temple slide show and those attending still have to vote on the movie to watch. I can't wait. We are having BBQ!!! Yumm.

The weather here has been nice and the kids have been playing outside the last couple of days and Danny came in yesterday and was covered in dirt from head to toe and it was caked on his feet. LOL it was so cute. Even the dirt on his nose and hands took forever to clean off. He is such a boy! Mike, Erik and Erin are doing really good in school and having fun with all of their activities. Erik also got a new recorder from school and absolutely loves it (driving me nuts though the ears can only handle so much) But it is nice to hear him want to practice.

Another thing going on is some one thought of reading the BOM in 97 days in honor of President Hinckley who passed away 2 weeks ago. It started Feb 4 and is ending in May. I took the challange and if anyone else does here is the link http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/index.php?newUser=true. Another thing is a story about the song that was sung at his funeral. It was quite moving and I really enjoy hearing the story behind the music, it makes it so much more meaningful. Here is the link to it if you would like to read it. http://68.142.200.12/us.f350.mail.yahoo.com/ya/securedownload?mid=1_1094_AM9Ev9EAAQBQR6xyJwBlS2rO3oU&fid=Inbox&pid=2.1&tnef=&clean=0&redirectURL=http%3A%2F%2Fus.mg1.mail.yahoo.com%2Fdc%2Fvirusresults.html%3Ffrom%3Ddownload_response%26ui%3Diframe%26YY%3D1202585416155%26&cred=tbTfngt9SMwObp.JkXIasi0l.mAQsVe7u0grjUVsTh7hf7JTLiSOWuO60R4qYuIbsZw8yOyPLVTPZtyJ6LwIeoSdj1LbrzwBeco.ONOSQbZNfZA-&ts=1202585419&partner=ymail&sig=AHlylmfWmtgGFplgmF9IyQ--

I am trying to figure out how to add the pdf file of the music. But the song is called What Is This Thing That Men Call Death. So if any one who reads my blogs knows how to do this let me know. Thanks

Cold blowing Snow

Last week on Thursday about 5 am and we started to hear the wind start to really pick up and it kinda woke us up, but of course we stayed in bed. By 6 it was howling, still staying in bed! At 7 we got up finally and looked out side and it was kind of like a fog with all of the snow blowing everywhere. I got a couple of cool pictures when the kids took off to school. One is split up into two pictures. The first is facing east and the other facing west. As I was taking a picture of the kids leaving a down burst of wind hit blowing the snow off of the road and to describe it would be like a helicopter landing. The edges blew in a circular motion and it totally cleared the road. I didn't catch the circles, sorry but I did get a picture of the clearing. It still looks cool.

On another subject we did go down to Texas and were able to stay the whole weekend. It was so much fun. We went to Michele's baptism and it was absolutely beautiful. Michele asked me to say the closing prayer. The funny thing is her whole name is Julie Michele, but she goes by Michele because of Grandma, but they kept calling her Julie. But it was ok she knew what they meant, (school personnel do the same thing). We then went out side and took pictures. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. We are so proud of her. We then went to their house and had Chicken Alfredo and Salad, with chocolate brownie cake, mmmm. Of course Matt said the cake was to done (not doughy enough in the center), I knew I married him for a reason. We had a lot of fun. Erin and Erik stayed the night at their cousins and we took the little boys home to G & G's and went to bed.

Sunday we watched the funeral of the Prophet and got ready for church. It was a great testimony meeting. Michele, Erin, and Erik all bore their sweet testimonies. We also heard several others that we so spiritual and motivating. Marcy bore hers also, but towards the end. I really enjoyed it. Our old ward has such wonderful people. We miss them and are so glad that we are able to visit often. R.S. was nice too, got to sit next to Sue. The lesson was on Strengthening Families, and Kathy gave it. She did a really good job and I learned a lot from her. I can't wait to read the article she used. After the lesson we were privileged to hear 3 more wonderful sisters bare their testimonies about the gospel and their love for their family and our beloved Prophet who passed away. We then were able to visit after with a few friends. It was so neat to catch up on some things.

We went back to G & G's and had some lunch and sat down to enjoy the evening of SuperBowl. What a game (even though we didn't like either team) We ended up cheering for the NY Giants but only because we really didn't want the Patriots, who cheated and got caught and really honestly got away with doing it, because they were only fined...whooptie doo. They should have been disqualified for the year. And the record of 18-1 definitely needs to have an asterisks beside it, with the statement in BOLD lettering, Cheated to obtain this record of a perfect season. But I guess justice has a way of playing out...right what comes around goes around. I mean it sure is quite the class act when the coach of the losing team walks of the field before the game is over as the refs are trying to clear the field so the last second of the game could be played. I think the neatest thing about it is how Payton was cheering on his younger brother, and I mean cheering, not just clapping, but yelling and whoopin and hollering for him. Even if the Giants hadn't won, that will always stick with me. True love of brothers. What a legacy too, Payton won the SB last year and Eli won it this year. Congratulations to them both and their family. Mannings have such a rich history and quite a story to carry on.

We left shortly after the game and dropped and picked some stuff up at family and friends homes and headed back to home. We pulled in at 4 this morning and slept in. So the kids stayed home from school today. It is fun to have them around. They are outside playing basketball and having a great time. It is so nice today, so different from 4 days ago. Any ways I am off to do some laundry. Have a great day.