What Matters Most

This short clip goes along with my focus theme of the year. This is so touching from our prophet President Monson. Never assume someone knows how important they are to you, be sure to tell them!

A New Year....

This year started with my heart breaking. I think I could be found in bed with tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes as the year changed from 2010 to 2011. My sweet friend Christy passed away on Dec 30..and I hope to blog more about my feelings later..but it is still too hard. However, upon being asked to speak at her funeral (totally overwhelming and scary for me) I spent the week prior pouring over her life preparing for the tribute. I have known her my whole life and in reflection that week....I began to change. The words that keep ringing through my mind are

'Of things that matter most'.

I have reflected on this thought all month. President Uchtdorf spoke on this exact topic last general conference. His talk is worth reading again. This year I am determined to focus on what matters most. President Uchtdorf breaks it down into 4 easy steps:

1. Focus on your relationship with God: 'As we seek Him, as we learn of his Son, Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, our lives become more stable and secure. We experience greater peace, joy and fulfillment as we give our best to live according to God's eternal plan and keep his commandments.'

2. Focus on your relationship with your family: 'No other success can compensate for failure here', we must place high priority on our families.

3. Focus on your relationship with your fellowman: We build these relationships one person at a time by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them and giving of our time and talents.

4. Focus on your relationship with yourself: May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God's creations, ponder truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you--as His precious daughter or son with divine potential.

This month Paige turns 8. We have talked at length about the importance of baptism and how it is the first step home to her Heavenly Father. I love the innocence of Paige in this picture. If only I had a way of protecting her from all that the world wants to throw at her. I want to lock her up and keep her small and innocent. Knowing I cant lock her up, I will focus on things that matter most and hopefully arm her with the tools she will need. My heart has been broken, but it has also been changed. I am quietly determined to refocus on my relationship with God, my family, my fellowmen and myself.

http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng

Of special note: I used a lot of things that Christy had written in her blog as part of the tribute to her. I loved using her words. I loved reading through her blog. I am also redetermined to get back to blogging and using it as my journal. I will be making my blog private in the next few weeks..if you are interested in dropping by..please send me your email.

The Power of a Christmas Carol

Christmas Carolling

Last night I took my 5 sweet activity day girls carolling. We packaged up some goodies and printed off a few favorite Christmas Carols and headed out. We left with a list of some families that we wanted to sing to, our goodies packaged up and a song list in our hands.

This Christmas Season has not been like others for me. I feel myself going thru the motions, putting up the tree, decorating the home, going to the concerts, planning the meals, organizing gifts and doing Christmas Baking. But inside I feel numb. Last night, however, for a brief moment, I felt joy. Watching these sweet girls sing their hearts out, watching the reaction of the recipients at the doorway with tears in their eyes, listening to the sweet words declaring our Saviour is born, for a moment I felt joy. I wish we could carol every night. We had a planned out list...but our list didn't go as planned. Some houses we think we had the wrong address, some houses we were asked to go to from the previous recipient. I felt we were guided to each home last night. At each home we felt the spirit and felt the joy of the carols we were singing. Watching the reaction of the people we were singing to was so enduring. I am so thankful for this moment. I hope I can find a few more moments of joy this christmas season, if just briefly.

I love pink...sigh

I was browsing blogs the other day and clicked on one of Christine's links and came across this totally cute purse!! I fell immediately in love! It is about the cutest bag I have ever seen! However, I always swore I would never buy an expensive purse, for me, it is a total disaster waiting to happen. I would wreck it or lose it for sure. $40 is about the max I will spend on a purse and then I dont have to worry about losing it or spilling on it or having one of my kids destroy it. But this one .....I could almost be tempted if it wasnt a limited edition coach bag. Dang. Can someone please design me a knock off of this???

Sweet Whimsey is her name...

HAWAII

Just a quick note...until I finish my Hawaii posts..I will be posting them all in order under Spring Break.  So blogging backwards so they are in order. So you may have to scroll to the end to see new posts.  Sorry..just want it to print that way in the book.

L :)

Spring Break in Hawaii!!

Ko'olina (West side of Oahu)

Our First Stop!

Our first few nights we stayed in Ko'olina on the west side of Oahu. After a long (but direct 8 hour) flight, we were ready to get the party started! Our vacation started out with the Alamo rental bus taking off with Emily and Stephanie and half of our luggage! Travelling with 4 kids is no easy feat when you account for all the luggage, carry on's, stroller, car seat and surfboard that must travel as well. We found the bus that was to take us to our rental car and Mike directed Emily and Stephanie onto the bus and began loading the luggage. Meanwhile I was trying to navigate the rest of the luggage and remaining kids to the bus. I finally got to the bus and just as we were starting to load more luggage, the bus LEFT! With Emily and Stephanie! We pounded on the door to get the driver to stop..but he did not stop. We were trying to catch a cab or bus or anything to follow the bus...but we couldnt get anything! Meanwhile, Emily borrowed a phone and called us in tears! We quickly caught the next bus and were reunited with 2 very frightened and sad girls! Oh the tears! It took a lot of hugs to stop the tears from flowing! But we were together and all was fine. The rest of the vacation was a breeze and we managed to not lose any more kids!

We stayed at the JW Marriott and the girls were so excited because they got to stay in a girls room with just cousins! What fun that was for the kids! Apparently their daily maid service was not impressed, but they had a ball! We could see into their room from our balcony and they were having a party! So fun for them!

The girls remembered well from last year the breakfast buffets! It was truly a hilight and they can talk for hours about all the delicious food! Once again we were spoiled with a daily breakfast buffet! It was hilarious to watch all the kids and their food choices!

Stephanie and her pancake sundae! Yummy! My favorite was the mini waffles with coconut syrup, fresh strawberries, a dollop of whipped cream and shredded coconut on top! A perfect breakfast in paradise!!

After breakfast it was always straight to the beach. We love the lagoons at Ko'olina because they are perfect for swimming, splashing and snorkelling!


This cove is called secret beach and there was amazing snorkelling here. Complete with sea turtles! It was amazing to swim with them.

Rock climbing and exploring for sea creatures was popular..but you had to be so careful..that rock is sharp!

Playing in the sand and designing castles and swimming holes also entertained for hours. We bought a bunch of sand toys to entertain James, but the other kids took them and would send him away if he came near. Apparently he was more into the destroying rather than creating!


Poppa and Nonna out for a snorkel with the turtles at secret beach!


James was a pure delight to have along! He is the most easy going traveller and enjoyed every moment! He loved the beach and running from the waves! I could watch him play and explore for hours. Everything is such an adventure and delight for him!

I love watching Mike with James! Always having fun together!

A family photo shoot in Hawaii

Family pictures in Ko'olina

Ko'olina is on the west side of the island of Oahu, and here is where we decided to do a family photo shoot. It was incredibly windy with on and off rain sprinkles but when we showed up to the beach we had sunshine and a spectacular sunset. These are not the photographers pictures, just my amateur pictures taken while the photographer was doing other things. The kids were so good and we had a fun few hours!

The girls couldnt stop giggling in this picture. They were watching James in the background.

Sweet Stephanie

Sweet (crazy) Paige...(she was usually goofing around!)

Sweet Emily

Mary also had her family done and they looked SOOO great in hues of blues! I loved this picture on the beach..they are looking at the photographer but thought Id grab a shot!

Mike had a dinosaur on his head to get James attention!

At the end of the shoot, the kids were able to let loose and get wet!

North Shore of Oahu

Next stop was the North Shore of Oahu! Things are really laid back here and it is known for its great surfing spots! Our favorite little town is here...Hale'iwa.  Great places to eat, cute surf shops and great shave ice! We came here every day we were on the north shore.

We went to Hale'iwa beach park where the little girls wanted to take some surf lessons...

So we signed up Hallie, Zoe, Sophia and Paige. After a bit of dry land training..they hit the water...

Hallie & Sophia take their first ride...

Zoe is up and looking great....

Paige is up and has the videographer right next to her. This guy catches the wave and then videos the kids....so amazing! It was a great little system they had going. The girls got a toe pull (yes towed by some guys toes) out, then a push to catch the wave! They caught almost every one! It was such fun to watch them.

Back on the beach everyone else was enjoying the sand and sun!

We thought it was such a find back on Ko'olina to swim with the turtles. On this beach they were everywhere. Laying in the sand, swimming by the shore and swimming out where the girls were surfing.  The kids could feed them moss right near the shoreline.  Great entertainment.

For more great surfing pictures click here:

Mary's Blog

Waimea Bay Beach

Waimea Bay Beach

Waimea Bay is one of our favorite beaches on the north shore. The water is so beautiful and the waves are so fun to play in! One day we stayed a full 8 hours on this beach! What a fantastic day...tho some were sporting sun burns after 8 hours in the Hawaiian sun! Oh it is so fun!

The water is soo soo nice. We played for hours and hours in the waves. It is amazing how the waves change...there will be a nice lull and then a series of huge huge waves! We laughed and laughed. I think it will take me months to get the sand out of my ears and hair! So fun

Emily on Waimea Beach

Zoe and Stephanie

The camp...

Paige on Waimea

Cute cousins catching some sun rays!

James living the life...watching the action..sipping a soda! Life is great when you are 2!!

Hallie and Paige shared millions of giggles! Id love to be a crab in the sand listening to these 2 all day long! So fun!

Katie and Stephanie heading out for more wave fun!

Somebody getting washed up in the waves! After a wave we would have to count heads and make sure everyone came up!

Alex trying out some boogie boarding!