Well here it is another end to another year!!! I know I posted some of what I want to say on Facebook already but I wanted to put it here to journal it and hopefully remember it.  I read about a family who celebrates the coming of the new year by sitting together and reading scriptures together and then discuss what the Lord would have them do in the coming year.  They also play games, and when the new year comes in they say a prayer together.  I thought this might be a nice way to bring in the new year for me.  I don't have anyone to celebrate with, (this isn't a pity party, I really don't want to be out celebrating anyway so I really don't mind staying home especially with Millie) and I don't seem to stay awake when the  new years ball drops to bring in the new year.  So on that note I guess I should be asking: what would the Lord have me do this year?
           I know there are many many things I need to do, but what is the one thing I can do that will make the difference, make this year different than all the rest have been.  I need to really be bit more prayerful about this. I believe I will read my scriptures and maybe even watch a video on LDS.org to get me in the right spirit.  I know a few things I would like to do but what I really want to do this year is feel like I have accomplished something by the end of the year.  So I really want to work on this.  I will have to post what my goal is going to be on another day, I feel I really need to think about it and to really really make a decision about what I want to do and what plan I have to accomplish it.
             I really hope everyone has a great New Year, and I really hope that 2012 has a lot more positives in  it than negatives.
Happy New Year everyone,
Love always....

The Spirit of Giving and Receiving

I had an interesting Christmas time this year.  I made so many breads and cookies and bought some candy and gave out many of them.  In the past I have done secret Santa things and especially loved the feeling I got.  This year I was hoping for that same feeling.  I felt great giving out the first few, they were well received, but the last two it was not a good reception.  I was met with negativity and complaints.  Here I was hoping to bring a  little joy into their world and it seemed totally unnoticed or even wanted.  I will say that those who read this blog were not those people.  I wouldn't have wrote on this if it were. More importantly I am only writing this not to be critical of them but to make a point about what this meant to me.  It has made me realize that this was meant for my benefit to learn from.  They didn't need bread or cookies or candy from me... they needed a listening ear, they needed someone to probably show up more than once a year at Christmas time, perhaps they mistrusted my sincerity, perhaps I need to do more than visit once a year but maybe more often, perhaps I needed to know what their likes or interests are, perhaps I needed to be less concerned about how I was going to feel and more concerned with their feelings.  I have also learned I need to be more grateful when someone offers me something, such as bread, it seemed like a little thing to me, not really a big deal until I had the opportunity to make several batches of bread and learned how much work and effort went into it.  I have learned a lot about giving and receiving both this year and I am the better for it, I hope.
I also realize that many of the gifts the Savior offered were often not well received or wanted.  In fact His ultimate gift to us is often forgotten by many.  I wonder how I would rate in front of my Savior at this point in my life?  Have I done all that I was asked of by Him?  How am I doing at keeping all the commandments?  Reading my scriptures? Saying my prayers? Being of service to others?  There is much more I could say here but my point is what am I doing to show the Savior that I am grateful for His gift?  Have I received it well?  Just things I think I need to remember.  I do love the Savior and the Gospel, I am very grateful for the sacrifice that the Lord went through for me.  I know my Savior lives, I believe the Bible to be the word of God, and that the Book of Mormon is also the word of God and another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet , and that he is led by God to lead and guide this church, I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of God, I would like to leave you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Very special day....very nice!

My Mom

Today was great, got to spend the whole day at  Mom's making cranberry bread, and rum balls, (with rum extract, no alcohol used).  We were on our feet a lot today and boy do they hurt tonight!  We also were able to get some other kinds of candy so that boxes could be sent out to family members.  Got some more fun recipes to try, not too much more.  I want to make some more pumpkin bread to give out.  I am amazed at how hard it was to make the batter.  Cooking of any sort is hard work.  I think because of fast foods, and instant box type baked goods, it gets forgotten how much effort and heart goes into the making of food, especially if it is for family and/or friends.  Also I think the fun of working with someone, especially someone you love is the best part of the process.  So many things you can learn from them, so many memories you make, and much stronger relationships are built.

I also wanted to share something I felt today.  I was talking to mom about my primary class, how wonderful it is to be set apart to teach these children, because the spirit truly touches my heart and makes me feel a love and a desire to see them do well, a desire to see them catch the spirit, gain a testimony that will last them a lifetime.  My heart was filled with so much love for them, I love teaching, love being able to talk about the gospel, being able to open up the scriptures to them, hopefully helping them to gain a desire to read them and to use them in their daily lives.  It also prompts me to strive to do better to be a better example to them and to others.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for this opportunity to celebrate His birth, His life and to share His message with others.
God Bless Everyone!!!!  Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Whew!

WELL I AM WORE OUT!!!!!

I just made two batches of pumpkin bread.  I am having trouble figuring out how long to leave them in the oven, the recipe I have says for two large pans, I am using between 5 to 7 small pans per each batch... and the cooking time I figured would be shorter, I just haven't figured it out  yet.  Oh well I get back to you on what I figured out...I am going to google this dilemma.  Also very hot!!!!!

Christmas baking!

 

I am soooo excited, I am trying to clean and prepare for Christmas time baking...  LOVE IT!  
Don't know what I would do though if my mom weren't nearby or if I had no other family I could do this with, because half the fun of it is getting to do the baking with my mom or someone else to share memories with.  Best Christmas present really.  So I am grateful for my mom and this wonderful opportunity to do some baking with her.
The other thing I was thinking is how unbelievably high the amount of calories are in some of these cookies and breads I want to make.  Yes they are for others but I am sure I will be eating some too!  Anywhere from 80 calories to 400!!!!!!!! So sadly I think my attempt to lose weight during Christmas is going to be more like attempt to not gain.  So yes I will be doing all things in moderation!!!! ( I know you are thinking yeah right, just wait till the cookies and the ummmm pumpkin bread are in front of you!) :o)

Just curious what is your favorite Christmas pastime or  baking experience?

First Presidency Message

I wanted to share this message with all.  I just listened to the First Presidency Christmas message and the Spirit was very strong, the messages were beautiful and edifying.  I hope that all will listen to the message and will remember to put Christ first this season.
Here is the website, I can't seem to get the link to work, so hopefully this will

http://lds.org/broadcasts/watch/christmas-devotional/2011/12?lang=eng&vid=699805565001&pkey=AQ%2E%2E,AAAAD5C7cik%2E,NkEKrBzbuXJBcGJrgsDFjLEiJ-nXhUBl&pid=610705729001

Ok I tried it, it works, just click on the link and it will take you to the devotional...enjoy.

Man it has been a long long time!

I didn't realize that it has been almost a year and a half since I have blogged.  I enjoy reading others blogs, but I guess I sometimes forget about my own.  I wanted to at least post something within the 2011 year.  I think I will do a year long retrospective at the end of the year to go over my year.... how boring?  I hope not.  I am not sure what I will write about but I will be back to finish the year "write", :o)

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!!!!!

Millie and I wish you all a very Happy 4th of July, 

and we want to let you know we love you all lots and lots!!!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Happy 5th Birthday to Millie!

Millie was 5 months old, Mom is holding her.

Millie 6 mths old, beside a winnie the pooh slipper.

Millie and Mom in 2007, she was 2 years old.  Mom is ageless!

Millie and best friend Holly in 2009, neither wanted the bone!

4 years old

Millie 5yrs old and Missy 7yrs old, May 2005

Millie giving me the evil eye, really tired of me taking her picture!!! LOL

Princess Millie, 5 yrs old!  

Millie was born 5 years ago today, she weighed 3oz, and because of her deformed leg couldn't reach her mom, Fluffy. So after two weeks I fed her by bottle and she gained 3oz more by the end of the week. I think I've told you the story of how I came to have her in my life on last years post, if not let me know and I'll be happy to retell it.  Anyway I mostly wanted to post a few pictures from the beginning so you could see how small she was and how much she has grown.  I do love her, she is the highlight of my day, she makes me laugh, she comforts me, she listens to me, and most of all she loves me unconditionally!  How often I have thought I should be more like her when it comes to trusting people and loving people.  I hope you enjoy the photos, and I do want to tell Michelle Wahl, I know she reads this sometimes, how grateful I am for her bringing Millie into my life, I love you Michelle, thank you!

My car is back!!!!

My car is back!!!!  I am glad to have it back, it still has some kinks in it, but it is running and I don't really have too many places I have to go.  Also not having a car for a while has made me see that I don't always have to go somewhere.  The only problem is, is that my neighbor who let me borrow her car when I needed it, needs my help now.  So I have been driving her around for a few days.  I really don't mind, it just shows me that I need to do a better job at multi-tasking.  I am amazed at how one is constantly learning, how many obstacles seem to turn into a interesting look at how I handle it.  So here's to more fun experiences, um, look out here they come! 
I would like to share with you an experience I had today while at the lake:
I was reading the Book of Mormon today, I am in 3rd Nephi chapter's 8-10, I had a thought as I read how many of the people that were left after all the wicked cities and wicked people were destroyed before Christ came to the America's, they all were bemoaning the fact if they had been more righteous, if they had done this or that maybe their cities, or brothers or sisters wouldn't have been destroyed.  It occurred to me that I don't want to be one of those people left to say that in the end.  So I need to work on what I learned at Stake and General Conference... I need to get closer to Spirit, I need to have a better relationship with the Savior.  I read the Book of Mormon today by Indian Lake, and it was so peaceful.  It was like a different feeling came over me, one of peace, love and assurance.  I know that was the Spirit and I know it was helping me to realize what I need to do.  I don't want to be like the Nephites and forget the Lord so quickly.  I want to be a better daughter and servant for the Lord.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I am so happy that I have it to read and to know that Jesus Christ does exist, He lives and He loves me.  I am thankful for the church and for the priesthood, I know that we have a prophet of the Lord today and that is Thomas S. Monson, I want to share these things with you and I bear you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Blessings in Disquise

 Who knew that my car breaking down would be a blessing in disquise? Last week my car started making very loud noises, so loud that I thought I was driving a loud motorcycle.    I called my brother Ted, and he and his son Teddy and Teddy's girlfriend Gretchen came up from Troy to work on my car this past Saturday.  Come to find out, the belts on the alternator broke and the pulley on the crankshaft is loose, aka broken. There is a special tool to get it off with. Which now means that the car needs to be transported down to Troy.  My wonderful home teachers have found a vehicle to transport my car.  Then a few friends and family offered to let me use their car if I needed to.  I am very low on funds, because you see I just spent $270 on tires a week before my car fell apart. I had hoped if anything was going to go wrong with it, it would be after I got my next check.  But alas it didn't wait.  I think it happened for many reasons.  The biggest one I think is so that I could reconnect with my brother.  I can't explain how grateful I am for my brothers.  Both Brian and Ted have been there when I have needed help, and even my nephew stepping up to help also.  I am really glad to know they are there when I need them.  I am grateful to know they care about me.

Church members and friends.  Before I came here I didn't have good experiences with home teachers.  For the past year or so I have had the greatest blessing of  home teachers who actually come to visit me and who actually help me when I've needed it.  I have also had many church friends and neighbors offer me rides or offer me a car to use if needed.  Thankfully I don't have to go anywhere, but if I need to they are there.
I am grateful and thankful for church members and friends who have really shown me that they care about me. I love them very much.

My Mom.  No word can express how I feel about my Mom.  I don't always feel worthy of Heavenly Fathers' help.  In fact I believe a lot of the blessings I received came about because of a loving, faithful, prayerful Mother.  She has also been very supportive and given me a lot love and a lot of encouragement.  She is a perfect example of how a daughter of God should be.  I am thankful everyday for my Mom, I love you Mom always and forever!!!!

I still have a lot of things to do and figure out, but I am very grateful to Heavenly Father for all these blessings, and for all His love.  None of these things would have come about if it weren't for a loving Father, who knows what I need and when I need it.  I do have faith in that.

 I am grateful lastly for Millie, lately she has been very comforting and is always giving me lots of love and lots of fun.

Happy Mother's Day

I love my mom very much!!! I wish I find the words to describe or say how much she means to me or even how much I love her. She is the very example of what a Mother should be.  Loves me unconditionally, gives me lots of support, puts up with me, she gives Millie lots of love... I don't know what more to say about her.  Of all the mom's out there, I know my Mom is the best, the greatest and even the prettiest!!!

I wanted to add this quote from Thomas S. Monson, "Behold Thy Mother," Ensign, Apr 1998, pg2:

"One cannot forget mother and remember God,
One cannot remember mother and forget God.
Why? Because these two sacred persons,
God and mother, partners in creation, in love,
in sacrifice, in service, are as one."

I dedicate this to my Mom!

Love you lots and lots, Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!!!!!!

Chris and Millie

Farmers Market Day!!!!

This was from last year, but this is our market, to find it you can go to this website: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M1442

Or you can google "farmers market bellefontaine ohio" to find more sites and/or to get more information. 

I went this morning and got some honey from Rushsylvania, and got some asparagus.

There were mostly plants and baked goods being sold and I really didn't want to get plants till after the last frost, and I don't want to buy baked goods for many reasons, but the biggest one is I don't need them.

I was really hoping to find tomato's but they're not out yet. Oh well.  Ok I hope to see you all tomorrow at church, so good night.

My Family

Some of you were wondering what my brother Ted looks like, well thanks to one of my nieces, I can show you. Now normally I don't like photos of myself, but I figured you all know what I look like so what does it matter.





Me(Chris), Ted, Mom(Charlet), Molly, and Brian, this is also the order of our birth, except for Mom of course.

If you can't see it well enough, just put the cursor over the picture and click on it and it will take you to the whole picture.

What do you think?

Hi all, I tried to put these photos on facebook and can't figure out how to do it correctly, but I do know how to do it on my blog. I spent a quite a bit of time outside today, took a couple of walks with Millie and we took a long ride, her with her head out the window letting the wind blow her hair. She enjoys life so much, she is such a good example to me. So it was really cool when I saw the first cloud, which to me looked like a dog chasing a ball, and then I saw another, and I could see a variety of shapes in it. I got some very interesting interpretations on facebook, so I thought I'd share the pictures with the blog world. One of these days I will figure out how to put the photos correctly onto facebook. anyway...

What do you think?

My Baptism

I wanted to also share that it is the 30 year anniversary of my baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by Elders Knowles and Flemming. What a wonderful blessing to belong to the church whose foundation is Jesus Christ. How I do love the Savior, and I am grateful for all the blessings He has given me throughout the years. I have a learned a lot about His gospel, one of the greatest is to know that I am a child of God, the next is that I know that my redeemer lives!, next that the priesthood is restored and on the earth today, which leads me to the next blessing, that families can be sealed together forever. I am so glad I had this opportunity to reflect and share a part of my testimony with you, I hope you know that for those of you who follow my blog, that I love you, and I know God loves you, thankyou for your love and friendship....I say these things in the name of our beloved Savior Jesus Christ.

Spring is Here!!!!!

Yeah, the weather is getting warmer and the sun is shining longer. I am sooo excited for spring, and especially so because I can't wait to start my garden. I have a few ideas of what I want to plant but I am hoping I have enough room for everything on my patio. As you can tell I have my computer up and running now so I can be more up to date on my blog, and I will definitely keep you all updated on my gardening adventure. By the way I hope you noticed I used butterflies for this blog, I love butterflies and wanted to share my joy of spring and the beauty of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!

Millie and I just wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!!, love ya all lots!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish all those who follow my blog a happy Thanksgiving and a great family week. I won't be able to post like I have before because my computer is down and I am using my Mom's once in a while and don't want to take up too much time there. Anyway have a good one and I will begin posting again soon, I hope.
Chris and Millie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!

October 8, 1939, in Ft. Wayne Indiana a beautiful little girl was born to two very happy parents. If you think the weather is bad now, Grandma said that it was warm the day she went into the hospital to have mom and it was snowing when she left the hospital with mom. Of course they had longer stays in the hospitals back then. She grew up to be a very classy looking woman and has always been. She not only has the look, she has style, personality, and the attitude.

more to come...

And here it is:

I wanted to add that she has been my biggest supporter, the best example of a Christlike person, and my greatest friend. I love her sooo much and wish I could do so much more for her, to give back to her all that she has given to me. I really hope that she feels all the love that everyone has for her on this her special day. I also hope it will be a start of a great year for her.

Millie has few things to say also: grrrrr, arrrffffff, translation: I really love my grandma and I am sending all kinds of kisses.......

I love you Mom, always!!!!!

Chris and Millie