Choirs to perform at Temple Square

Tuesday on the November 30th some of the choirs from Westlake High School will be performing at Temple Square. I just thought if any of you were interested I'd post the times. I love to go to the square especially since the lights are on:) Darren's choir director is FANTASTIC. She is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has been putting on great concerts.
12 @ church office building
1 @ Joseph smith memorial building
5:30 @ Assembly hall
7 @ North visitor's center

I'm going to take Rebecca, Stephanie, and my sister in law Liz up in the late afternoon so we can watch.

Ronald McDonald House

I felt like I needed to post a separate post for this blessing... 16 years ago we spent Thanksgiving in the Ronald McDonald House. It had been a whirlwind month and we had found out the night before Thanksgiving that Darren was going to be finally moved from the peds intensive care unit in Primary Chidren's Hospital into rehabilitation. This was a very different year as we counted blessings one by one. A family came into the home and cooked a full meal for all of us families that were staying there. Ryan will still tell you it was the best tasting meal we have ever eaten. As we sat at the table with other families that were going through many of the same things we were we were amazed at the bountiful blessings we could name. After that experience we vowed that our three main charities would be the Church, Primarys, & Ronald Mcdonald homes. The weird thing is that this was 16 years ago and yet it still feels like yesterday. I could never repay the miracles that we were blessed with those many years ago. I hope that Heavenly Father feels like I have done by best when it comes to raising my children because I know I am not a perfect parent but I have tried to raise them in a home that values the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving 2010

I was sitting here reading some of the blogs that I have posted over the last few years...I can't believe how fast time has flown by and how much does (or doesn't) get accomplished in that amount of time.

My heart is so full of gratitude...First I have to say I'm so grateful for my immediate family, with that I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that with it I can be sealed to my family through eternity. Yesterday I took the opportunity to 'cuddle' and relax with some of my girls. Rebecca let me hold her like a baby for a long time and I was able to just relax and give her some good loving. I know it is hard on my kids for me to work and I wish I was able to stay home with them and always be here when they are here but that is not feasible right now. That being said I am thankful that I have a job. But that I also have a job that I get the same holidays that they do. I love having Rebecca and Stephanie at my school this year. On Tuesday as I was going inside for lunch Rebecca was playing basketball and she passed me the ball and I shot and made her a basket. It was a 30 second LOVELY moment.

I can't believe that my son is going to graduate from high school and go off to college this next year. He has become such a great young man and I love that he still comes in to talk to us and he says 'I love you' when he gets out of a car or calls me.

Kathryn is such a helpful daughter. I never could have gone back to school or teaching without her help. But she cuddled and read with me and helped me write grants yesterday. No she isn't a great help when it comes to cleaning but how much can you ask for as a 15 year old.

Jessica quietly goes about doing her thing. This year she has helped a lot with meals and picking up random things. She is so excited because she just made chamber choir and getting ready to audition for the dance team. I am really proud of her and the way she represents our family.

Stephanie has become a great help in my classroom. She helps me in the mornings get things ready for the day and is having an awesome time with the chimes choir. She is excited to turn 12 in January.

Ryan works so hard for our family. It never ceases to amaze me how loving and accepting of me that he is. When I look at me and all of my faults and imperfections he looks right through and reminds me of all of the good he sees. He is a fabulous dad. My kids love him so much and that is so important to me.

I'm thankful for my extended family...Yes I have lots of brothers and sisters and 'in laws' and nieces and nephews and I'm grateful for their examples and love. I'm excited to spend time with my family after Christmas.
But I'm also grateful for the house, heat, food, cars, electricity, INDOOR PLUMBING, etc.

Pirate Dance

Tonight Westlake is having a dance with a pirate theme. Darren and his friends Kati and Madison decided to go 'stag' together. They called our neighbors who just happened to dress up like pirates for Halloween and borrowed some gear. They looked really cool...Thanks Aaron and Catey. This group of kids have had fun in high school together, I'm grateful that Darren has had these girls to hang with. I can't believe that they are getting ready to graduate and go on to colleges.