Finding Joy in the Journey

Sorry it has been a little while since my last post. I have so many pictures to post and so little time! We have been doing well. I am wrapping up yet another quarter of school, and Addi is rounding the corner on her 2nd birthday. She is growing, learning and changing everyday.

The past few months haven't been the easiest for me and I recently took comfort in this talk and I wanted to share it with all of you, hoping that it will find a way to enrich your lives. At the last conference, President Thomas S Monson gave a talk on Finding Joy in the Journey. He stated that nothing is as constant as change, and that the things we will regret in life are the little things that we overlook. This is my favorite quote:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we
live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and
then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in
this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between
what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most
important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent
future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy
in the journey—now."

Here is the link to the rest of the talk if you'd like to read it:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=92764bb52a73d110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

I wanted to take some time before thanksgiving to express how thankful I am for my life now. I am more thankful for Addi than any other blessing in my life. She has truly been my saving grace and I love her more than I have words to express. I know I am suppose to be her teacher and I am suppose to be her support system, but I think she is mine. She is the reason that I live each day, she is my heart and there really aren't words to express the love between a mother and a child.

I love my family, and am so thankful for their support. Being a single mom is probably the most challenging thing I have experienced. There are days when I have never felt more alone. But I know that my mom, stepdad, and sister are always here to help me or just "be" by my side. Addi loves my mom and sister so much and I can't imagine raising her without their love in her life. I am also so thankful for my friends and their constant unconditional love that they have for me. I am thankful for the gospel and the amazing gift of the atonement. I am thankful that I have been given a chance to change my life and return to church. I have amazing friends in my ward and I love my calling in Primary and Nursery. The children are truly so close to our Heavenly Father and being around them makes me feel the closeness of the spirit.

Though this year has thrown me many challenges, I have never felt more grateful for my life and the people around me. I hope you all know how much I love you and appreciate your constant love and support. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for all you do.

Sunday Fun!

A lot of you know my family, so these pictures won't be too suprising! My parents rented Journey to the Center of the Earth last weekend and loved it! Well, they heard that there is a 3-D version, (which should only be cool to a five year old right?) NO! WAL-MART was visited and this is what happened on sunday:

My stepdad also decided that he needed to finish fixing the bicycle he bought Addi at a garage sale a year ago, so while he was at walmart he got a new tire, and she got to test drive her bike on Sunday. Until Aunt Katie took over and Addi decided to push her around!

Another wonderful thing about Sundays (as the holidays get closer) is that my step dad gets the newspaper and I savagely look through all the ads hoping for deals! I went into the other room for a few minutes and when I came back I found Addi, laying on top of a pillow, reading the target toy book! GOOD GIRL HONEY! YOU LEARN HOW TO SHOP AND LOVE IT AND WE'LL GET A LONG FINE! :)

Needless to say, we're weirdos! But, you know, we have a great time! (And yes, I sure put on some 3D glasses and joined them!) And I'm very proud that I've addicted Addi to shopping at an early age and she is officially afraid of spiders! Watch out daddy, she might be becoming a Mommy's girl! :)

HALLOWEEN 2008!

This year Halloween was so much fun! We got to pick up my cousin Natalie from the airport in the morning and go to lunch with her and her husband, Cody in Long Beach.

Then we headed over to my cousin Mike and Kim's house for Halloween, like last year. Addi loves her cousin Tyler, and she was very excited to see him! We spent the day playing with them...

and then of course we went trick-or-treating. Kim's neighborhood goes OVERBOARD with decorations and it was a BLAST! Addi had a great time, she even got to see a few neighborhood puppies! A couple guys in masks scared her accidently, but for the most part she was very content running around getting free candy! I'm so glad I get to have these fun memories with her!

She's such an angel... and not too mention- SO BEAUTIFUL! It was a great time!

Halloween Crafts

Throughout the month I had little projects for Addi to do! We painted masks and little Halloween houses, and also decided we better make a good looking Elmo pumpkin! Here's a few pics of the fun we had!

Halloween Parties!

We went to our Ward Halloween party again this year. It was a lot of fun! Addi loves her nursery class, and had fun trick-or-treating and doing a Halloween parade with them!

We also had a little Halloween potluck at Addi's school this year. This is her preschool class and her preschool teacher, Cheryl.

Carving Our First Pumpkin

Addi and I (with help from Grandma) carved our first pumpkin this year. It was not a success. It was suppose to be Elmo, but it clearly is not... in fact, it is a sorry excuse for anything. I'm completely blaming it on Addi! In my defense, Addi knows what it is, she calls it "mo-mo umpkin" Even though it isn't beautiful, it was fun to pull the guts out, carve and paint with Addi. She was pretty excited about the candle inside too! I guess we have 17 more years of pumpkin carving to perfect the process! :)