Lauana's funeral

This was a very emotional weekend. We buried William's mother Lauana Rogers Payne.  

She was an amazing woman. We have been praying for a while now that Heavenly Father would take her home. She has suffered with Alzheimer's disease for at least 12 years now. I didn't think I would cry much because we have all accepted the fact that she would pass away soon. However, after my sisters in law and I finished dressing her for her burial, I got a little teary-eyed. I started to think of all the years of grand mothering she has missed out on and all the years of being close to her I missed out on. She was very good to me and I wish I could have had more years of getting to know her and have her at all the family events. She has missed out on all the milestones in our family and knowing the woman she was if she was able that would never have been ok. This is a disease that affects everyone. It robs everyone of cherished memories that could have been.

However, the comfort I received is in believing in the plan of salvation and the atonement of our Savior. We have been sealed in the temple as eternal families. That blessing will be mine if I can be the kind of woman she was. I want to be selfless. I want to have hobbies that bless the lives of everyone around me. I want to give to others even when I have little of my own to give. I was to give of time to my family with no thought of me time. I want to love my husband unconditionally no matter how hard that may be at times. She was this kind of example. She was truly a righteous woman and I am proud to be her daughter in law. 

Vacation over already?

Wow! It seems like I just got here and it's time to go home already. We even stayed an extra day because we ran out of time to see everyone. Last night we were able to visit Liberty and Mason's kindergarten teacher. Her daughter is one of Amy's bff's. So after Makenna got her drivers license I took the kids to see the movie Rise of the Guardians. It was awesome! I cant wait to own that one and the one we went to see today, Wreck it Ralph. I almost cried at the end of that one. I am looking forward to getting home and settle back into a regular routine again. I have had too much running around. Once again no rest for the weary. The news said snow for tomorrow. Here's hoping it waits until we are safely home.

Darn Facebook

It's been forever since I have added anything to my blog and for that I mostly blame Facebook. Since Facebook came along I post little short bits there and have completely neglected my blog. Darn Facebook! I have been thinking a lot about the reason I blogged in the first place. One of the best reasons is to have a photo journal handy of my life and family. Another is so that family and friends from out of town can see how we are doing and see pictures of the kids. I don't keep a journal like I should. And this used to be my way of journaling. So, my goal for 2013 is to start blogging again. I'm committing to at least one post per month for my own sake. Life has been insanely busy for me so I need to be realistic. I think this is a realistic goal. Haha! So, let's get started!

February 2010

One month down and eight more to go. Since I have vowed to catch up and keep up with my blog posts I am going to have to keep them short and to the point. I will post photos with some journaling but too much more will just make it take longer to catch up. So enjoy a short look at February 2010. Amy and Liberty getting goofy at Grandma's house.

Mason has a field trip to the Phoenix Children's Museum and got to meet the Tooth Fairy!

Her name is SarahBelle!Amy and Mason both has class Valentine parties in which I just had to take pictures. This month I officially re-launched my Heritage Makers business here in Arizona. I am doing well and my team is growing.

Emily had her 8th birthday party. Tons of friends came and she had a blast. It was an ART party!

Liberty is a goofball. She loves to be silly for the camera. In this case she had help from Makenna.

Don't have a heart attack...

I am finally posting on my family blog. I know it has been almots a year since I last posted here and so much has happened. I decided that is is time to start blogging again since my blog is the main ource for journaling when I create my family yearbook at the end of the year. So, unless I want to have no stories to go with all my pictures I better start blogging again.

Let's start with some fun pictures from January. Not a lot happened in January. We finally landscaped our front yard and I took some fun pictures of Liberty. She makes the craziest faces!

Some events that happened this month and went un-photographed were...Makenna made it into the disctrict Spelling Bee and we made sock monkeys as a young women activity. That was Makenna's idea but guess who ended up having to teach it and prepare it?

William and I still teach the 16 & 17 year olds Gospel Doctine class. And this month I was asked to also teach Relief Society. So how come I get double duty?

Christmas update...

Well, it isn't a family picture but that isn't too far in the future. I had some taken at the temple in early December but I just haven't found the time to sit and look through them. This is a picture I took back in October and I just love it so I thought I would get it posted and show just how old my kids are getting.

Makenna stands just short of 5'8" tall and wears a size 8 shoe. She wears a size 5 jeans and has the cutest figure. The scary thing is that she now has a womans body and not a little girl anymore. She turned 13 in November and is even more grown up than ever. She still plays her violin occasionally and is getting really good at playing the piano, in spite of the fact that she has never even had a piano lesson. I guess being smart and able to read music is a great thing. She loves to sing and is in the school choir this year. She is excited for the upcoming school musical, School House Rock.

Amy is turning into a great little baby sitter and helper around the house. I think this Summer I need to get Amy into a baby sitting class cause she is anxious to start. She turns 10 in May. She has decided that reading is really fun. Sh eis reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series right now and mom loves how much quieter the house is with two book worms in the family now.

Emily is going to be 8 in February and is excited about her baptism. She already has her dress and can't wait to wear it. She is still my most girly child ever. I think her picture is next to Diva in the dictionary. She still loves make-up, hair-do's, dress-up, new clothes, anything that glitters, and is strangely back into playing baby dolls with Liberty. Oh and I love how well they are getting along now. Emily's temper has really cooled this year.

Mason is finally being a good boy at school. He comes home on green almost every day now. I think the month of November was our hardest with only about 3 green days all month. He loves school and his teacher and doesn't want to stay home for Christmas break. He still loves anything Super Hero. Comic books are a new found joy. He also loves to sit still and do anything artistic. I can give him a coloring book and crayons or a simple pad of paper and it kees him busy and quiet for hours. That is IF his sisters don't bother him.

Liberty is so excited to have day care kids here finally. TJ is only a couple of days younger than she is and they get along great. He also lives a few streets away so they should get to ride the school bus together when they finally get to start at 6 years old. Until then, they are enjoying the preschool activities I prepare for them three days a week.

William is enjoying his job enough to stay there forever or until something greater and worth changing comes along. He likes his hours even though he hates getting out of bed so early. He doesn't have to fight the freeway traffic. Yeah!

As always, I am having the hardest time with our move. Although I am near friends and family I just can't seem to get out of this blah feeling like I don't belong here. Don't worry though, each time I have moved it has taken me about a year to adjust. I just wish we could better afford to invite people over for dinner or parties or get out and do things with friends. That seemed to help in my last two states.

Our family has been very blessed this year with some very tough trials that have strengthened our testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel. We love him and love this time of year when we tend to express our gratitude more freely. Thank you to all our family and friends who and loved, helped and supported us through the most difficult year our family has endured. We love and appreciate you all!

Happy Halloween!

William commented to me the other day, "Did you realize it has been two months since you have updated your blog?" Yikes! Time got away from me again. Here are some fun pictures from Halloween for now and I will post some updates later about what has happened in our neck of the woods during the last couple of months.
First a picture of Mason dressed as Wolverine. He was Superman for the ward trunk or treat since he couldn't wear the mask. But the claw was what made him go as Wolverine for Halloween night. He sure loves his heroes!

Emily wanted so bad to wear fake teeth this year. So she decided to be a vampire. Thanks to Tammi for letting us borrow the cape. It went very well with her black dress! Of course Makenna had to get her blood done just right and when I came home with black hairspray Emily had to do that too!

Amy just wanted to look normal and "pretty" again this year. She went as a sorceress on Halloween night but for the trunk or treat she wore a yogurt cup. It was hard walking in though so that is why she opted for last years costume for the big night! Doesn't she look so pretty in make-up? We never realize how long her lashes are since they are blonde. Wow! Davis eyes!

Liberty went as Fancy Nancy and got a prize for the most dazzling costume at our trunk or treat ward party. She was really loving being so fancy. Thanks Tammi for the idea. Everyone loved the costume. I made the skirt and tutu on Tuesday for Tammi's toddler party and Tammi pitched in some great accessories! You rock girl!

And last of all the costume that William and Makenna wore. Napolean and Deb. I was supposed to be Deb and I put on my shirt. Uh! I got fatter in my arms I guess. It just didn't fit. I couldn't hardly move my arms. So I had Makenna wear it. She made the best Deb. And William is funny as ever as ND.

Ok Here is the story behind Amy's Yougurt costume. First I have to say that Makenna drew it and Amy and I colored it. It was a school assignment for their vocabulary parade on Friday. They had to pick a spelling word and dress up in something that represented it. Her word was NONFAT. So for $1 she made a costume that tons of parents at the parade were raving over. And in class and at the ward trunk or treat she won a prize for the most creative costume. Yeah Amy! Way to draw Makenna! You rock too!

You Are Never Alone

I just came across this You tube clip tonight on LDS.org. It is short and sweet and very motivating. This is something I always need constant reminders of my Savior's Love for me and that he is always with me. I hope you like it as much as I did. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrGKB5nRKE