Grace BIG 5th Birthday

It's hard to believe that Grace is now 5 years old. I remember questioning my sister at the dinner table telling her I thought she was pregnant. Upon my questioning, she began to wonder herself. Out we went to purchased a pregnancy test, and sure enough Grace was on her way.

It wasn't the best of timing since Lori was focusing so hard on getting her State Farm Agency. Nevertheless, she was clearly a blessing to all of us. I went with Lori to all of her Dr apt, ultra sounds, hospital stays etc. (since her husband lived out of town at the time). I felt very motherly towards her before she was even born, and it only continued to get stronger when she was born. I've baby sat her for all 5 years of her life. It seems impossible that she could already be 5.

Her birthday was especially special because that is my mom's birthday too.. It's fun for "Nana" to have a grand baby born on her birthday.

My brothers and their kids came and we all went together to Lakeland to celebrate this big milestone in Grace's life. Which entailed going to Pizza Hut, me searching all over Lakeland for a "CARVEL" ice cream cake (my sister is insistent), and our last stop was at this place that has LARGE bounce houses, slides, mazes.. It was tons of fun, and even better that I was surrounded by all the babies that I love the most (my nieces and nephews). As well as a few of my siblings. I'm so blessed to have such sweet nephews and nieces. Little Clayton made my day when he yelled "MOMMY AUNT WEEBA IS HERE!!" and had a huge smile on his face and came running to me. It warmed my heart to say the least. Yes, he calls me "Weeba" :) I'm not really sure how he came up with that, but I think it's adorable! I jumped with Cody in my arms and he just thought that was the most hysterical thing ever! SO CUTE!! His laugh is SO CONTAGIOUS!!! I'll have to post some pictures of our fun at "Backyard Adventures" I think Rusty and I had just as much fun as the kids did. We would hide begind stuff, whip them back and knock the kids over.. We may never grow up! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND GRACIE!!

A Light Unto My Path ...

I don't want to get too personal on the world wide web, but I set some spiritual goals this year to help me improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I can't describe the difference these past couple of weeks have made in my life. I've made it a point to pray before I read my scriptures, and ask what the Lord would have me know. Everyday I'm amazed, at how the pages fall to exactly the right chapter I need to read, and not only does it give me comfort, but also courage to go forward knowing I'm not walking forward aimlessly. I've been overwhelmed with receiving the knowledge that I'm not just a numbered child. He knows not only my name, but my needs, my heart's desire, and all my struggles, and most of all is there, cheering me on every step of the way. How could anyone deny that God truly does live?

How grateful I am for parents who raised me in the way that I should go. They showed me it was the Lord who I should model my life after. To seek a relationship with him, and I would be successful in all I do. It is through loving the Lord that I've learned to love myself. I don't think anyone can truly love the Lord and not love themselves, because if we truly have a relationship with the Lord and understand him in the slightest, he will overwhelmingly testify to us personally of his love for us. I know God lives, and I know that he has placed special people in our paths to help guide us to him. I'm grateful for the peace and love that I feel from him in learning about him through the scriptures and prayer. For truly his word is a lamp unto my feet.

Funny things kids say...

I spend lots of time with my nieces, and I really enjoy the humor they bring to my life. Anyone who knows me at all knows that pretty much anyone in my family is a dedicated Florida State Fan (Seminoles).. It has been chilly in Florida these past couple of days, so I had to put a hoodie on Grace for school. It was a Seminoles hoodie, and around this part of Florida we are surrounded by the Florida Gator fans (which is a HUGE rival). Grace comes home from school and says "Mary Margaret says Seminoles Suck that makes me very upset. I'm going to school tomorrow and telling her she has the ugliest panties I've ever seen." haha Then Kayla chips in.. "Why would anyone want to be a Gator? They're gay!" hahaha Oh my goodness.. I'm affriad she has heard me speak of them one too many times.

Grace is also majorly into "stories" currently.. Lori (Her mommy) was laying in bed trying to get her to sleep, and she told her the classic story of the Princess kissing the frog and turning him into a prince. Grace got all excited and said it was her turn to tell the story. I'm sure she was inspired by the recent disney movie because of the way her story unfolded.. She said "The princess kissed the frog, and then she turned into a frog she said to him WHAT THE HELL did you do that for??" hahahhaha. Her Mom was quite shocked to say the least. I've got to start recording these moments because between Kayla and Grace they have me rolling.

So the holidays are here, and they are soon to pass. It's Christmas day, but our family Christmas won't be until the 30th. When you are from a big family, and many of the siblings have families of their own it gets harder and harder to have Christmas on the actual date. I learned early on Christmas is whenever you make it.

December is an emotional month for me. It is my time to take personal inventory. I evaluate what my goals are, what my hopes and dreams are for the coming year, and what I've made of myself in the current year. I think about loved ones that have gone on, and wonder if they would be proud of me and the choices I've made. Which always leads to the bigger questions.. Have I been all that my father in heaven wants me to be? How can I improve? What more can I learn? What can I help other people learn? the list goes on and on.

2009 Has been a year of assessment for me. I've never been the type to go forward aimlessly without a goal, but rather one that thinks through things, plans them out in my head, and then whole heartily goes forward.

I'm very fortunate to have the family that I do. My family is always there supporting me, catching my back when I fall, and loving me when I need love. I was involved in my first auto

accident this year. Which was pretty scary for me given the severely of the accident. My brother, Rusty and my sister Lori were there in a matter of minutes to help get me to the hospital and deal with things at the scene. I was overcome with the love I felt from my siblings. It was then I understood why Satan is trying so hard to rip families apart. Family is constantly giving us love that the savior would give us if he were with us, and helping us understand our divine potential. I mean how many brothers do you know that would take their sister to the hospital and due to a broken arm help button her pants and learn all about her menstrual cycle?! Then when I finally got to a mirror I realized I had mascara running down my face. I asked him why he didn't tell me I looked like a joker, and he responded "Why you so serious" bringing humor into the situation is always a plus!

I don't want to focus on the negative things, but I notice them because they are what help mold us into who we need to be. Trials really stink, but they are what helps us become what god intends us to be. I've been a very blessed and fortunate young lady, and am reminded constantly that the Lord is by my side, and wants me to succeed in whatever challenge he puts in front of me. No matter how challenged we feel, we must know that the Lord never sent us here to fail. When we feel that the Lord is tearing us apart, just know he is creating you. He will always be here for us, and I've found that over and over again in my life.

I hope we will always remember why we celebrate Christmas, and it is not about that fancy computer we wish for, that amazing camera that takes 8 pics in one second flat. It truly is about our savior Jesus Christ. I hope when we are all gathered with our families we will remember him, and his love for all of us.

No matter what 2010 has in store for us, may we all go forward with faith in him, and praise to him for our never ending blessings.

Much love to you and yours this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

What a weekend to remember!!

Weekend of October 24th My dad and brother, Adam came down to do a Canoe race at a local festival called "Pioneer Days". To anyone else this looks stupid that someone would travel all the way from Indiana to come be in a canoe race. So here is the behind the screen info.. My dad has ALWAYS loved canoeing, rowing, white water rafting.. Anything like that. Last year, just 2 weeks after he found out he was cancer free (after having stage 4 cancer), he was in the canoe race with my brother, Rusty and they were 10 seconds from first place. It has been his goal to become stronger and healthier, and organize a team to win it the following year. I'm happy to report, I was among his team, and we proudly brought home the first place trophy. :) It was an incredible weekend. Friday night I swung from the "skycoaster" in Orlando with Mike and Boots it is 350ft high (tallest one of its kind) and they pull you all the way up there, and I pulled the cord to drop us.. It was quite exciting!! Since they were only here the weekend, we all went to Sea World on Sunday, and It was one of my most memorable visits yet. It was my dad's first time post chemo to get on a roller coaster, and I think we bought every picture on every ride just because we wanted to capture that day, and remember it for years to come. My dad is a trooper, and very much my hero. In spite of all the opposition he has faced with his health over these past couple years, he has remained positive, and continues to have a desire to live a long healthy life, and be the best "Pappy" (Grandpa) that the kids could ever ask for. He makes me smile, and tear up too at his amazing zest and zeal for life. I'm so proud to call him my dad!

We sat in the "Splash Zone" at the Shamu show.. They were not kidding about the splash!

HALLOWEEN!!

So let's just start off by saying that Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays! -Mainly because my LOVE for dressing up. I have many baskets dedicated to my halloween costumes, so I figure that whenever the day comes for me to get married I'll have to have a closet dedicated to my dress-up clothes haha... I went to a couple of YSA (Young Single Adult) dances for my church dressed up as Michelle Obama.. Let me just tell you, it is some hard work dressing up as a black woman! It took me 30 min each time to "get my black on" (no offense). I'll provide some pictures...

Then Halloween came, and my brother Chris and his wife had a really fun Halloween party. It was lots of fun to see all the nieces and nephews dressed up in their costumes too. It was Cody and Chloe's first halloween, so it was cute to be there. At the party their were 4 State Farm agents, so I went dressed as a gecko (the mascot for Gieco, a huge competitor for SF).. Craig (my brother) had a fantastic costume! He went as a guy off the hangover (movie), and did such a GREAT JOB imitating him perfectly. He has always been amazing at that. We all had some funny costumes, and it was just great being with my other siblings sharing laughs and hanging out with some other mutual friends. Lori and I had made homemade cookies from scratch to bring to the party so the kids could decorate them, but by the time they went trick or treating they were BEAT!

I'm so blessed to have such a fun family to do so many fun things with! :)

These Are The Days Worth Living!

I will openly admit that I'm not so good at blogging, but I like the idea; therefore, I'll continue to try my best. September was such a GREAT month for me, and also for my family.

On the 12th of September little Chloe (Rusty's Daughter) was blessed into our church by Rusty and those Priesthood holders in my family all joined him (My dad, Adam, and Matt Brandt) it was especially moving because it was Rusty's first official blessing at church. Then an hour later we had Kayla's (Lori's daughter) baptism. Two of my very favorite girls looked beautiful all dressed in white, and my family all surrounded the building. It was quite a moving experience, and note worthy to say the least. I was asked by Kayla to give a talk on the Holy Ghost as well as sing. On the Monday before her baptism we all attended the FSU vs. Miami game in Tallahassee, and the game was back and forth the whole time and consequently, I ended up loosing my voice. I drank lots of herbal teas along with honey to help coat my throat. Kayla informed me I couldn't back out now (what a compassionate little one). I ended up singing, and luckily we pulled in a third person (Rachel Brandt) to help get the focus off of my voice which sounded much like a 13 year old boy going through puberty :) It turned out quite lovely as Cortney, Rachel and I all sang "Walk Tall You're a Daughter of God"

It was at the moment I was singing and the words that I was singing were sinking in.. I realized the high hopes I have for Kayla. I have lived with my sister and her 3 children since Kayla was 3 years old. As a result I feel very motherly towards all of her kids. I remember well the day Kayla was born. I heard her first cry, I was there the first day of school, I was there the first day she lost her tooth.. And now I looked at her all dressed in white, making such good decisions before our God. Kayla has always been a very spiritual young lady. She is always asking me questions about what it must be like to walk and talk with Jesus. She mentioned to me one day "You know Lydia, even if I didn't know what Jesus looked like, I would still miss him." How neat it is that even as a little child she can sense the divinity, and the withdraws of being out of our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ's presence. I hope I will be able to be a source of goodness for my nieces and nephews, and they will be able to look to me to be a good example in their lives. I love my family so much, and am thankful to call them my own.

I'll leave the lyrics to the song we sang for her baptism.. Such a touching song that speaks to the heart.

Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart, A prayer for each of you there

is a special part. That you remember who you are and him who lives above.

Please seek for him and live his way; You'll feel his love.

(chorus) Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God, Be strong and remember

who you are, Try to understand, you're part of his great plan. He's closer than

you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

Long before the time you can remember, Our Father held you in his arms so

tender. Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth. He said,

"My child, I love you. Don't forget your great worth."

(chorus) Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God, Be strong and remember

who you are, Try to understand, you're part of his great plan. He's closer than

you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

This life on earth we knew would not be easy. At times we lose our way his path

we may not see. But remember always that you are not alone. He'll take your

hand, He loves you! He will guide you home.

(chorus) Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God, Be strong and remember

who you are, Try to understand, you're part of his great plan. He's closer than

you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.