fun to be had...

So I can not keep putting off telling you about our trip just because I can not post the pics. That's on me. So I will just let you know how much fun it was.
We told the kids we were running some errands and ended up at the airport. The didn't think anything of it. Mom works for an airline. So they didn't think anything. We let them know I had to run some passes inside and told them they could come in. You should have seem their faces when I asked them if they would help carry some bags. It took a second and then clicked. Then we said we were all flying to CA and they all went crazy. If you were one of the people waiting for the bus to take us to the airport you would have thought that we were all bonkers. The kids would just start jumping up and down for no reason and laugh.
Any way, that was maybe the best surprise I have ever given. The ride to and from was great of course. The plane was wonderful. If you have never flown on jetblue you may need to try it.
The hotels were wonderful. We had planned on going out Fri morning but went Thur night so we ended up hotel hopping just a little. SO much fun. It is always nicer to get to jump on the beds at two hotel verses one.
The aquarium was beautiful and full of fun thing to see and touch.
I think the highlight of the trip was going up to see family Fri night. Spending time with Ryan and Jen and the kids was the best part for me.
We took our time this trip. We had very fluid plans so we were in no hurry to get anywhere. That is what I would suggest for any trip.
Needless to say it was wonderful. I love being able to spend time like that with my family.

Shh don't tell

Today is the day. We are taking the kids to California for a surprise trip. Only Haybear knows we are going. Everyone else will just have a great surprise when we go to run errands and end up at the airport. I will make sure to take lots of pics and let you all know about all the fun we have :)

Happy Anniversary 15 wonderful years

I can't believe it has been 15 years. The time has gone so fast. On the other had It also feels like we have been together all our lives. Maybe because the very best part of my life has been spent with my wonderful eternal best friend.
So I thought I would tell you 15 thing I love about my honey!
1-He make hot breakfast's that are truly the best.
2-He plays with the kids all the time, They know he loves them SO much.
3-He gave me the four best kids ever.
4-He always wants to learn something new. He makes learning a priority in our home.
5-His hand fits mine just right. Not to big, not to small. Just right!
6-He rubs me feet just to make me feel better.
7-He serves his Heavenly Father faithfully.
8-He stick up for me when the kids don't like what I have to say. He is the best team mate.
9-He runs triathlons with the kids. Just to show them they can do it.
10-He kisses me good buy every day.
11-He calls me when he is out of town just to say goodnight.
12-He holds my heart with gentle hands.
13-He always brings home a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie for me when he goes to subway.
14-He always kisses me goodnight.
15-He loves me with his whole heart, faults and all.

So besides those few thing there are so many more things he does that make me more grateful every day to have him. He does not just hold my heart. He is my heart. I love him more and more everyday, And thank my Heavenly Father every day that he sent him to me.
It just keeps getting better.

Insist on excellence

Refuse to accept anything less than excellence from yourself. You know that you're capable of the very best, so make sure you fulfill your greatest possibilities.
Hold yourself accountable to your highest vision. Support and encourage your own unique greatness.

There is so very much value that you have to contribute to life. The sweet taste of true fulfillment comes from giving the best that you have.

There will be countless temptations to take shortcuts and to compromise your most treasured principles. But keep in mind that you will gain nothing of real value by doing so.

Instead, insist on excellence from yourself in every endeavor. Do what you know is best, and you'll achieve what you long to achieve.

-- Ralph Marston

Spring?

For me , after Christmas and New Year it is time to think about spring. To start planing my garden and flower beds. I know that there are still two plus month of really cold gray and snowy days ahead, but I try to look past that to a brighter, warmer future. To the day when the bulbs start to come up and the cold goes away.

Don't laugh. I know it was less then a month ago that I was trying to embrace winter. However, in my perfect world winter would be those few weeks before Christmas and then two months of snow only in the mountains, and Warm in the valleys.

I like warm winds and the smell of flowers when you open the door. I like my window open when I wash the dishes and hearing the leaves resell on the wind. And I love warm tomato's right out of the garden.

I think that may be what I long for the most. My garden. There are so many great rewards from a garden. Fresh veggies that I don't have to pay for at the store. More then you can eat so you send them to friends, hoping they love their veggies.
Warm dirt on your hands as you work the earth. The work you put into it is what you get out of it.

I guess what I am saying is Bring on spring. In the mean time I will start planning my garden.

Into action

When you don't feel like doing what you know you must, that's the best time to go ahead and do it anyway. That's when you can break through your old habit patterns to a new level of focus, performance and achievement.
That first step will require you to go against your natural tendency to put it off until later and to stay comfortably where you are. So how do you get beyond that?

Use your power of visualization to do two things. First, use your thoughts to make it even more uncomfortable, even more painful for you not to take action.

Next, visualize in great detail all the positive and desirable rewards you'll create by going ahead and getting it done. In your mind, make it so compelling to take action that you cannot avoid doing so.

Many times in the past, you've successfully avoided action by telling yourself why you can't or why you won't. Now, choose to use that same power to tell yourself why you can and why you will.

You control the awesome power of your thoughts. And with your thoughts you can successfully visualize yourself into action every time.

-- Ralph Marston

Christmas Spirit

Due to the very cold weather and of course the snow. I feel the Christmas spirit coming on. More then the gifts and the crazy running around like a headless chicken. I feel the spirit of Christmas. The Christ part of Christmas.
I see his hand working in my life in so many ways. I see it in the smile on my great kids faces. I see it in the warmth and wonder of the love my sweet heart gives me. And I feel it in the tender blessing small and large I see poured out upon me every day.
Funny that we need a Holiday to see the lords hand in our lives. Wouldn't it be something if I were able to point out the goodness all around us everyday, and not just when the giving spirit of Christmas is upon us.
I think I may make that my New Year resolution. "To see more fully all of the blessings in my life, All of them. Big and small."
So from my house to yours, Merry Christmas! I pray that yours is filled with Joy and wonder. The way it was for you when you were a child. I pray that you and I both see all the bounty of blessings is our lives. Everyday, and That were become ever more grateful for them.