Cub Scout Stuff

This year at the Pinewood Derby, Jacob got an award for "The Scariest" car! We were especially proud this year that he designed and made his car (aka: the"Black Widow")all by himself...98% anyway(mom helped a little with the drill and weights.) Good job Jacob!

There were many awards for our boys at this year's Blue and Gold Banquet.

As always, our boys enjoyed the spotlight. They performed a couple of skits all by themselves.

The big news of our night was that Jacob completed his Bear badge, and now gets to join ranks with his buddy Carson in Webolos! Look out Ashlee: these boys just might change your life! :-)

Another birthday....

I couldn't have asked for more this birthday....I didn't have to do ANY cooking! My sweet, sweet girls made BREAKFAST for me, and it was such a heartwarming surprise. Then, for dinner, my sister and sister-in-law took over! (We are still talking about that AWESOME salad!!!) Top it all off with chocolate almond ice cream, German chocolate cake and people I love to share it with, and my day was complete! Thank you SOOOO much guys! And an added thanks to my extra-special friends who did very sweet things to totally make me feel loved this birthday: Patti, Katie, RaDawn and Judy and Sandy! Your thoughtfulness means so much to me.

(And an added blessing to this birthday is: I'm NOT 40 yet!!!!)

Just call me "Bruiser"

Red, yellow, green and purple!
The many colors of "ouch!"
This was taken quite a few days after Levi biffed it on a ledge...the pictures don't do the owie justice... He barely kept from cracking his nut wide open, and he sported a king-sized knot for days! Even now, weeks later, he still has a small horizontal bump and slight bruise! He certainly wins our family "Biggest Goose-Egg" Award. Poor, sweet (tough) baby!

Classy Occasion

(Click on picture to enlarge)

What a CLASSY occasion the Cleveland Chiropractic College Winter Formal was this year. Everyone looked so nice. Everything looked so nice...even dinner was beautiful. We went with and hung out mostly with our friends from our"Villa" family: the Sheffer's, Dunlap's, Peyton's, Wilstead's, and Potter's! Shortly after the dancing started, we all realized how grown up and mature we really are when the DJ played song after song that was way too fast and loud for our taste (Not ONE country two-step for me!) Regardless, the classy table settings, the classy food, and the very classy friends all made the Forred's last Winter Formal the BEST ever.

Her Happy Place

The Hair. The Dress. The Shoes. The Neck Ribbon (which gave her some trouble.) All chosen carefully and donned with creative imagination. Katie is growing so fast; the Tinker Bell dress will soon need to move on to a younger friend. All too soon, she will be tending to all her fashion needs and wants--- all by herself ---all the time. (She would NOW if she had her own money!) I've discovered that this perch on the bathroom toilet is one of Katie's more frequent hang-outs lately (...I wonder where she'd go if I moved that mirror?) She loves to preen and "gock" at herself to achieve the "perfect" look she has in mind; the vanity issue may need to be addressed some day. But, for now, I love to peek in and watch her being so expressive. So creative. So proud of another one of her creations. Her happy place.

Las Vegas Contrasts

Joe and I recently got to go to LAS VEGAS----thanks to Joe's dad and step-mom!!!

The Parker Seminar was informative and uplifting.

Joe made some potential business contacts, too.

"The Strip" was very entertaining.

BRIGHT LIGHTS~BIG CITY.

We also attended their sealing at the Las Vegas Temple.

It was a peaceful, happy occasion.

SERENITY. TRANQUILITY.

What a contrast.

Note to Self

"I ain't down...I ain't down. And if I was, you'd sure never know it from me" ~Molly Brown

I want to be like "Molly Brown". Unsinkable.
Yep~life is hard. Sometimes unbearable. Weak and pathetic. That's me. Ugh. Often I forget important lessons that I thought I learned. I take my eyes off the TRUTH. I flounder, I fall, I sink. What's up with that?! I need strength, courage, and often, a swift kick in the pants. It's good for me. It's vital, actually.

My dear, friend reminded me the other night of the importance of reading and studying the Scriptures. I desperately needed to be reminded. I also turned to my journal, where I have scribbled a few notes here and there, that seemed pertinent at the time. It was there where I was reminded of a talk I heard from Sis. Sharon Larsen at Time Out for Women last year. The talk was entitled something like, "My Dreams May Be Broken, But I'm Not." She reminded me of these truths:

* "When the Lord blesses us with a banquet, why do we mess with the pottage?"
*HIS way is easier than our way.
*The Lord says to keep the commandents and He will take care of our worries.
*The test of our faith is how heavy our burden is! We are not strong. HE IS. We can choose how to handle the burden. We can forgive unconditionally. Then healing can continue without layers of anger and revenge.
*We shouldn't be LTBO (looking to be offended). Remember Proverbs 3:5-6?!
*Our experiences allow us to identify with what the Lord has done for us.
*Be useful to the Lord because of our struggles.
*Accept His GRACE. Lay the burden down and take up our salvation.

I know what I need to do to solve my problems. Heavenly Father would never leave me to my own finite devices to figure out my problems. He's always there. I know I can turn to Him for peace. For everything. Why do I forget?!! It has to do with my FAITH...yes. And COURAGE to do things that fill me up, not wear me out. Remember Hebrews 11:1? (That scripture secures my future.) Remember Pres. Gordan B. Hinckley's unfailing optimism? I, too, can put on a genuine smile and dish out genuine love. I know that the joy of the Lord is my STRENGTH. Sometimes, I just need reminded.

I choose to be happy.

REMEMBER.