Donating....

I have been thinking about organ donation a lot lately. I feel strongly that being an organ donor is the right thing for me to do, and have even considered being a live donor and donating a kidney. There is much research to be done on being a live donor, but I have seen the difference that organ donation means in the lives of those who are the recipient. It is very literally giving the gift of life. Sooooo.... I just wanted to encourage you to have a conversation with your loved ones about organ donation and what each family members wishes are. It is important to make those decisions beforehand- since there is a small window of opportunity for transplanting viable organs. I know that this is not always a comforable subject to think about or discuss... however, the only solace in losing a life may be helping to save another.

Moving On!

No matter how badly last year treated you,

just walk tall with your head high. This is a brand new year, baby!

Top Ten-

Top Ten things I learned from 2009....


1. Don’t let other people rent space in my head for free. People will hurt others for their own gain and some people will never look beyond their own desires to see the bigger picture. There are people who do and say things just to be hurtful. There are people who don’t care about me and won’t ever care about me. If that is the case; there is no reason for me to let them occupy my heart, thoughts, or time!
2. Life is traumatic. We are all on our own journey and we all have our own sorrow. No one will be exempt from trials.
3. Life is great! There is so much good in the world. Focus on it and give as little attention as possible to the rest!
4. If I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. ‘Nuff said.
5. Remember that EVERY soul’s worth is great in the sight of God- mine, yours, even those who have hurt me- all His children are precious to Him. This is why it is important that I learn to forgive.
6. NEVER, EVER let anything take away from the most important thing in life… my family. Anything that distracts my energy from being the best mom I can be just isn’t worth it the cost.
7. Give my best to the world. Sometimes my best won’t be good enough, but at least gave all I had to give at the time.
8. Cherish the friends who make you a better person. Truly be grateful for those who help you through the hard times and build you up to be all you can be. Be that kind of friend!
9. Breathe fresh air and exercise hard enough to sweat every day!
10. There is always One who is there for me. He understands everything. He knows what is in my heart -and that is all that matters.

Happy New Year 2010....

I am looking forward to a great year this year. I know that with each year I grow personally and we grow as a family. It is hard to believe that so many new years have passed and how quickly my children are growing up!
Every year I make resolutions... I think is a great opportunity to think about how we can improve and where we would like to be in the future. Although some of my goals are more personal, some of them include daily family prayer and scripture study, continuing with the lifestyle changes I have made in diet and exersize, reading the entire Book of Mormon and the Old Testament(since that is what we are studying this year and what I am teaching my super fun teenagers in Sunday School), working towards being more focused on what is most important in my life and being Brilliant at the Basics, organizing my home, making sure that the ones I love know how much I love them, and recognizing the positive in others and the positive in life's daily situations and struggles. I am looking forward to looking back next year and hopefully seeing the progress I have made on these goals!

Here are some fun pics of the last few weeks of 2009. I truly enjoyed our vacation and the time spent with our families. We made some great memories and spent fun times together. I was not ready to hop back in to school and work and the usual "routine", but press forward we must, and make the most of each moment!