January, here we go again.~

I do believe there is a season for all things and that includes change and hard times. It is weird how January seemed to start things a new. Our family has been so blessed with date nights and time together. However abbreviated, we have and still continue to see see glimpses of joy, progress and strengthened ties in our family as we endure adversity.

We will miss our dear beloved Prophet President Monson. He was such a living example of how to be kind to others and to be Christlike. I am pleased with and sustain our new Prophet, President Nelson.

A change with our little family was Celia went to Sly Park. A science camp overnight for a school week! She hiked all around, saw a deer, and looked at the starts. She was in the rain a lot too. I can't believe she did so well and came back so grown up. I was a little worried when she couldn't carry her own luggage on the way in and it was expected of the scholars to be independent. She came home carrying it on her own and with drama free memories.

I wanted a getaway too. It had been so gloomy and ambiguity loomed over our household. I wanted to see the sun. I looked at my weather app, I thought Oakland would be a great Saturday trip. The girls and I headed to the Oakland temple. Sacramento's temple was closed and I had a great desire to do some family names. I thoroughly enjoyed this temple and the girls did a wonderful job watching videos and waiting for me in the visitor's center. We then went to lunch. I looked up a place and we found quite the paradox where we ended up. It was an upscale waterfront walk, but your could only get there through passing through tents cities and signs of homelessness under the freeway. We did feel the sun and had a lovely time, but I couldn't help feel for those who are so unfortunate. Through more experiences, I became more aware of the poor person's plight. I feel it is so important to see others to care and comfort the lonely and depressed, the sick and afflicted.

 Our doodle has been through some medical and behavioral challenges. We want peace and comfort for him so much. I am glad for the support and love of the family for him. Especially; Brian, Emmy and both sets of grandparents.

Life can definitely be ugly and rough, but there is beauty in it. In our backyard, we had a regal and beautiful hawk visit. I was memorized by him. He then started taking apart a lizard for lunch and it was so hard to stomach. Life is like that sometimes. We can recognize and focus on the blessings and the beauty though and still feel so grateful for our opportunities to experience it all.

Water is so comforting me. I got to go hiking/walking by the American River with the kids sans Spencer. We saw several deer and were blessed with a great time together. Hoping for many more relaxing and memory times with these cuties in the future.

December 2017

The past month has been so busy. Some highlights were Emmy coming home from school for the semester with no problem, and hearing Brian talk on the Book of Mormon in Church. My folks watched Spence, which was no easy task and Brian's parents even got to come and hear him. He did a great job. It was inspirational, well presented and on point. He is such a great and intelligent man and I am grateful to have his love and support.  Things have been challenging with Spence, but we are doping all we can and hoping for the best.  I was able to go to the temple on my own and with Brian. It really does help me to have an eternal perspective.

On Christmas Eve, Rah Rah and Papa came over with dinner and we had a lovely time with them. We were blessed again with my folks having us over for Christmas day dinner. I feel like we tried to have the Christmas spirit and overall it worked. So much goes on during the holidays and so many need comfort. I'm grateful for the Angels in my life.

November changes and opportunities to party

It was fun to Host Thanksgiving at our home. My folks and Brian's folks came. I invited more extended family via a fb page.:) Willow, Jeremiah, and Uncle Scott made it. It was so nice. Emmy was in town, our New Adult. I can't believe she is 21 now. She still went and shopped Black Friday with me and when she is home it is just like usual and like she never left. We did have some challenges/adjustments this month. Joe and Caroline broke up and we had some issues with identity theft and purchases. We are pretty resilient though and still felt grateful through this Thanksgiving season. I had our Bunco party for Christmas early on November 30th at my house. It was a fun time and my friends left at midnight after yummy food, a favorite items gift exchange and a whole lot of chatting. Thanksgiving pack meeting went well as also. We collected items for the homeless and put up a thankful tree. It was a neat opportunity to serve in the community. I also was interviewed for our family being the spotlight profile in the West Roseville news. I was nervous, but happy with the end result. I suppose the socializing will continue in December with the KJ Christmas party as well as the packer party and the  ward Christmas party to start.

Whirlwind before Winter

October has been pretty busy. It felt a little bit like a December rather than a October.  We hung out with the grandparents quite a bit. We saw Tanya and Kieran in Tahoe. We had dinner at a quaint Mexican restaurant, Maria's. We braved the cooler temps and I even got a Zoltar fortune telling. Celia Joseph and I got to spend the night at the Ridge and ride around Tahoe seeing King's Beach, Emerald Bay, and Inspiration Point. It truly was beautiful and it was nice to get out of the Smokey weather from the fires that were all around our city, but not in it.  We had a ward trunk or treat and I went to Halloween Bunko. Spence had a few Dr. Appointments and we had changes in our respite worker.  Joe has been giving me grey hairs with his teenage way, but we keep on plugging along.

Grandmas birthday at McCormick's and Smick's was so yummy and we enjoyed walking around the fountains afterward.  We went to the pumpkin farm and carved a doggy Jack O Lantern in honor of our new dog, Tokki. She has been a good dog and we are all adjusting well so far. We need to teach Celia to be firm with her as Tokki sees her as a playmate and gets really rambunctious.  The month has been full of family, we even had Spaghetti and bread brought over by Rah Rah and Celia saw Holly and borrowed a poodle skirt to dress up for the Dance a thon this month. I dressed up in fifties wear and volunteered at the school. It was a great time and overall a great month. We have much to be grateful for.