THE CLIMB

After every storm in our lives, there is always a rainbow...

As I've been able to look back and ponder over the past years, I'm amazed at how the Lord works in our lives.  He has helped me climb many mountains and see the beauty in my life at each step of the way.  Sometimes it's been harder to see, but He's been there and I know that He will always be!  He's helped us through so much heartache and struggles, but it's in those moments when it hurts the most that's when we also grow the most.  I've had to learn to trust in Him and in His timing and know that things will be okay.  

 I've found that every time I read my scriptures, I learn something knew even though I've read them countless times before. He is constantly teaching me and truly reaching down as I'm reaching up to Him.  I've seen those tender mercies the Lord promises us as He's been able to work through others.  How blessed we are and how grateful I am for all those who've listened to those promptings and come to our aide even though they might not realize how much of an answer to prayer they were.  I know the Lord has something great in store for us and my little family and hope that I can hear and respond to the times when He needs me as His hands to help someone else.  I know "where much is given, much is required." and I have much to give.  

So today, I am grateful for the climb that I've been able to make and am now looking out and see what beautiful blessings and view I have right now, but the climb is far from over.  I'm reminded of a song that I've heard the last few years and it helps me keep perspective on my progress and my attitude.  May we all keep moving up and enjoying the climb through each day no matter the struggle because in the end, what a view we will have!  Here are the words:

"The Climb"
(by Miley Cyrus)

I can almost see it.
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shakin'
But I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep the faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith...

We're BACK!

Well, I'm back!  Surprised?  Me too!!

The divorce was finally over as of Dec. 2nd and it's amazing the weight that was lifted off my shoulders and the forgiveness that has come since then!  The hard times of parenting with Brett are not over yet, but I hope it will get better as time wears on!  I have been able to see some of the Lord's time table reasoning behind the time it took for the divorce to be over.  I've been dating a wonderful and amazing man and I'm excited about what the future will bring!  My kids and my family love him and it's fun to see him interact with them!     
 I am now a graduate of Utah State University and it feels great to be done!  The kids are excited for me not to have school or homework to do too, even though I tried to keep everything at a minimum when they were awake!  My sis.-in-law asked Tepaynga if she was excited for me to be able to play with her now, and she looked at her like, what are you talking about she plays with us everyday!  That was good to hear that they haven't felt neglected throughout this process!  I recently interviewed for a job at Blanding Elementary School, not thinking beforehand that I would have a chance, but nailed it and I now have a job too!  Now it's on to figuring out what I am doing for the summer...

The kids are growing up fast and keep me on my toes!  This school year is nearly over and I've seen my girls grow so much this year.  They have really excelled in their classes and have become my little bookworms, especially Mekayla!  They both qualified for the school AR field trip for this year shortly after Christmas break, which is amazing!  Their report cards show straight A's and out-standings and I couldn't be more proud of them!  Dallin and Kaydan have had a great time going to a variety of friends houses to play while I did my student teaching this last semester.  They are now missing their friends from their social life, even though they are really glad to have mom home!  I am in the potty training stage with Kaydan and Dallin is learning to read.  Kaydan is talking like you wouldn't believe and carries on grown up conversations with you.  He picks up all too well on things that you say or things he hears, we have to be really careful with what we say and do and the kids know if they've slipped because he reminds them what they said! 

The Lord has blessed us so much this year and we have really felt his hand in our lives everyday!  It's such a great feeling to be on this side of all of our huge trials we've faced in the last few years!  I know that we've grown closer as a family and have really learned to rely on each other...I hope we are always close and can communicate well in the years to come!  Our counselor has been impressed by the improvements she's seen as well and we are getting better everyday-the kids still have some setbacks occasionally, but have found new ways to deal with things.  We've had a lot of great help from people willing to babysit to finding our utility bills have been paid and more.  The community has been amazing!  My kids have been able to get to know my grandparents by being here.  I'm so grateful too because 2 of them have passed since we've moved here 3 years ago.  They are so good for my grandma who is tied down at home because of her levels of oxygen that she has to have now.  It's so fun to see them together and know the woman that I have grown up loving!  I hope they've found some great heroes in these great people and in my own parents who I could not have done without!

The following is just a few ideas of what we've been up to the last few months we've been away...enjoy! :)

I'll try to keep better updated, but once again, I make no promises because things are always changing at our house!  Thanks for being patient with me getting back on! :)