Anna's Prayer...

As we all know I'm not a very consistent blogger, and this happened about 2 months ago, but have been meaning (for two months) to share it with ya'll because it really touched me.

I have this little girl in my class named Anna. She's a really cute, bright, polite, funny little girl who sometimes acts like she's 7 going on 12. I had her older brother as a student about two years ago and have gotten to be friends with her mother, who comes in to help in the classroom each Friday. When her mom comes in, she brings her little sister along (Jane) who is 3 but likes to pretend that she's 7-8 like the other kids. She has her own desk with her name on it, her own crayon box, etc. The kids really like it and for a three year old, she behaves amazingly! It's been a fun part of my week this year and will be sad when the "family" moves onto 3 grade next year, because they are lots of fun and really neat to interact with.

Well, about two months on a Friday morning (I think it was the first week in December) Anna came up to me and gave me a little slip of paper (literally the size of a business card) which I quickly decided was an invite to a piano recital to be held that evening. I looked at it and told her that I would try to come but didn't know if I could make it on such short notice. I had something planned for that night and felt like it would be pushing it to get to both the recital and my other commitment in the short amount of time I had. So mulled over it all day and decided at the end of the day that kids only have recitals so often and they rarely invite their school teacher to attend, so I better go, since she took the time to give me the invitation and such. I was a little embarrassed to go since I was in my grubby jeans and ratty looking school sweatshirt, (since I'd stayed late a work that day) but felt the need to go despite my lovely attire. So, I got in the car, rushed off to find the location and arrived about 5 min before things were to start.

I walked into the music store entrance and was met by Anna's mother, who was the host of the recital, since she was the piano teacher of the students performing in the recital. She smiled at me and told me how glad she was that I could come. She's always so kind, so I didn't think anything of it and made some comment on how I was embarrassed that I wasn't dressed appropriately, but wanted to come anyway. She the proceeded to tell me that right before their family had left the house they had all knelt down to say a prayer that each child would do well while performing their piano pieces. Anna had said in the prayer, "and please help Miss Ellison to be able to make it to my piano recital"... or something along those lines, and her mother had been worried that if I didn't come, Anna would be disappointed and worried about her prayer not being answered. It really caught me off guard, because I had really debated on whether or not I had time to come, but had felt a NEED to go. It just goes to show that the faith of a small child is amazing! I was VERY grateful that I had decided to "listen" to that little prompting that told me that I should be there for this simple and uneventful little piano recital. It may not have been a big deal to Anna, but it helped me remember that even simple prayers can be answered if we have enough faith... Something to think about...

It's that Time of Year Again...

Warning: tangent... So, I don't mean to sound depressing, but do you ever get tired with "life" and feel like you are constantly fighting the same battle OVER and OVER and OVER again... Like you are going in circles, doing the same thing, experiencing the same trials over and over again... and asking yourself, when will my life move onto something new? I'm thinking I'm there:) I seem to find myself here this time of year, every year... Lame!

So, if anyone out there has any suggestions - I'm game! I guess I'm not learning whatever it is the Lord's trying to teach me, so I should try to figure out what it is, so I can experience something new... preferably a less uncomfortable trial :) Just kidding, all things are for our good, right? Right!

Okay, onto something more uplifting!:)

Its the beginning of a new year (well kind of, it's now February - but those of you who really know me, know that I'm often a day late and a dollar short :) ), and I guess it's time to make some new goals... I'm struggling a little to pick just a FEW goals (I always tend do over do EVERYTHING in my life, including goal setting) and would like to really narrow things down to a few things that I REALLY want to accomplish this year - How do I simply my goals... maybe I'm really saying how do I simplify my life... (Maybe that should be a goal... one down? how many to go? How many is too many?... HELP!!!)

SO, friends and family... I'm ready for suggestions...

Are YOU Blogging???

SO, over the past few months I have noticed that there are some folks who have said they have been "reading" my blog, but I haven't seen THEIR blogs. I have also noticed that some people used to have "public" blogs, but now are "private!". I guess what I am trying to say, is if you are seeing this now, and either you are now private, or you haven't given me your blog address (if I have it, I have it linked on my blog page... so if you don't see it, I don't have it) I REALLY want to be "in" the loop! ... Send me your address or can I be invited to view your blog? (I guess you have to send me an email??? - I don't know about this kind of stuff to much...) Anyways, it's something that I need YOUR help with friends. :)

Thanksgiving with the Fam'

So I am more than a little behind on life, but thought I'd do my best to get a few entries in, since its a new year, and that means I should be trying harder... right? Well, whatever, here's my best efforts :)

This year, as has been the trend over the past few years, it was just my parents, grandparents, and my two single siblings. We all gathered at my parents house in American Fork for a little turkey, stuffing, and the works. We ate, chatted, got sick, "rested" from the hard work of eating, and then had Pie to top everything off. As always, I made the pies (You can have store bought pies... I mean really!!!) and Paige made the Rolls, while my Mom pretty much did almost everything else. We tried to help where possible, but I admit, I'm probably not the best of helpers in the world... especially on Thanksgiving morning... I tend to spend that morning at the gym, so I don't have to worry TOO much about what I eat that day.

Anyways, it was a really nice meal, and I throughly enjoyed having the day off from work, so as to enjoy and be thankful for the many blessings that i have been given in my life - one of them being that I have a profession which gives me holidays off, so I can always spend them with my family, even if we are "small" in numbers. Really, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I might be one of the most blessed people you've ever met - Yes, Really!



Pie anyone? Yes, it's actually quite fabulous!




Yes, these are the "6-packs" we got from going to the gym that morning... or maybe just the fat roles that came after we ate... ;)



The "usual" Paige and Tricia pose...

New Calling...

Jared... this post is for you to have something to read while at work... I'll try to post more soon...

So, my sister and I moved from our place in Murray to a new joint in Sandy last summer... in July we attended a singles ward, which as they usually are, was "interesting". We attended the student ward for our area a few weeks too and then were out of town for a few weeks on our "trip". We came back and somehow ended up back at "interesting" singles ward. So at about the end of August/ beginning of September we found our way to where we are "supposed" to be I guess.

Well, basically I didn't have a calling from about July until about October - yes not even visiting teaching... So, we got into this ward, and they told me and my sister that they would get us callings soon. I was told that I would be put on a committee... And then after a few months (the end of October) I was called to serve in the Relief Society Presidency. It's funny how we end up in the right place at the right time. I don't know more than a handful of the sisters in my ward, and I don't always understand the in's and out's of this funny little ward, but I am learning to love and see people as the Lord sees them. Its been a great learning experience for me already!

Just thought I'd share a little of what is taking up so much of my time! I love that I can learn from serving others and can really see the work of the Lord in my life and in the life of others as I do so!

Halloween & Another Visit!

At the end of October my favorite older sister and my favorite nieces came to see us again! Steve was in Florida at some kind of doctor convention or whatever - so the girls, not wanted to stay at home alone decided to come trick or treating in Utah!

They came to see us right before Halloween so we were able to enjoy the opportunity to dress these lovely toddlers up as "princess ballet dancers" and I even brought them to school for a little bit of fun! (okay maybe the fun was for me and not the kids...) I invited Jamie to bring the girls up for a little Halloween "craft" project and treats. Then the next day they came for my school costume parade (which literally goes down main street in Sandy... but only about a block). I dressed up as a "mad scientist" and marched with a little lady at my right - whom everyone thought was "so CUTE!". I know that I enjoyed it, but I think the girls really liked the trick or treating the next night. On Halloween my parents and sister took the girls trick or treating, while I got things ready for a wedding order that I had to get done. Yes, I spent the evening working - the joys of having a small business! But it turned out to be quite beautiful in my opinion - too bad I don't have a good camera to show what things REALLY look like in person - but soon I'll have a website to see what the photographer can do... (I'm trying to collect professional photo's from friends weddings that I have done in the past... it's a long process)




The Saturday before they had to go home, we decided to head up the canyon for a little picnic lunch and short walk. It was actually quite enjoyable and as usual, brought out the strangeness in all of us - see below... and don't judge me - I'm around kids all day 5 days a week and my best friend acts like he's a kid... and sometimes I get sucked into it too... I know Adam, "I have a lot of growing up to do" - but enjoy anyway!

It's FAMILY TIME!

So after all of the excitement of MY summer travels, it was time for my favorite far away family (my sister, brother-in-law & two beautiful nieces, which are featured in the picture on my blog) to come and visit ME! Okay, so it's not really all about ME, but I like to pretend it is once in a while... The really came to participate in a family reunion on my brother-in-law's side of the family - but whatever:).



On their first evening home we decided to all go to the driving range (since Steve is eventually going to have to learn how to play golf - he's going to be a doctor for heaven sakes!) and that turned out to be an adventure.





We were all out on the range when it started to sprinkle a little bit. "Grandma" quickly took both of the girls and started for the car, not wanting them to get all wet. She had almost gotten to the club house when it started to POUR!!! It was awesome! The rain started coming down and we all grabbed out things and also headed for the club house which was about 100 yards away. By the time we got there we were all DRENCHED! After another few min we decided that it would be more fun to go play in the puddles than stand under the building covering - so we did! Within min. the rain stopped and we decided that we should head for home - due to the fact that we looked like we had just stepped out of the shower with our clothes on. Though it was a wet evening it was a FUN one!






While they were here we had a good time! We visited the farm country over at Thanksgiving point one afternoon and Allie thought she had died and gone to heaven when she got to ride on the little pony's a few times. She also went on a little wagon ride, which seemed to be a hit.





On their last nights with our family, we decided to head up to Strawberry to do a little fishing and cook tin-foil dinners. YUM! It was delicious!



It was a very low key evening, but lots of fun. I kinda got a little crazy with the camera... So here are some pictures.

This is a picture Allie after she face planted it into the ground! She had a little fat lip for an hour before the swelling finally went down. But though it was sad, it was kinda funny too... she was fine after a few min.



The next two are of Lindsay being her silly self... I was trying to get her to make a cheesy grin and boy did it work well for the first picture. The second one is just cute!





These are just some fun pictures of the girls...




Toward the end of the evening, I started "daring" the family to take "mushy pictures"... didn't take much encouraging - aren't they so adorable!





I know... Paige and Adam won't touch too much... boring!



Since Me and Spencer are foot loose and fancy free in that department, we had to barrow a cuddly partner for a bit... :)





I was happy to have them here and was really bummed to see them go! It's nice to have kids around and I wish that they lived much closer! But not to worry the girls are coming out to visit in just a few weeks! (Sorry Steve) And we'll have more new and exciting adventures together!