Merry Christmas

           Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and chance to reflect on it's real meaning!
The Greatest Gift
           For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
           I have stood in awe at various times in my life as I held a newborn infant in my arms. Awe that my Father in Heaven love me enough that he gave up his only begotten son.
           How grateful I am for this gift in my life. For my Father in Heaven who gave up his son and my Savior who gave up his life so that I might live. The chance to live fully in this life through the effects of his atonement and the opportunity to live fully in the life to come.
           I am grateful for the Savior's perfect love and compassion which I have felt numerous times. At times when I haven't felt good enough, I have heard the quiet voice reminding me I am. I am good enough that he gave his life for me. I have felt his love with the many blessings I enjoy on a daily basis. They are little reminders that God loves and watches over me. I have felt the peace that comes from his forgiveness of my sins. He has given me hope and peace when times are hard.
           I feel his quiet push to be better. To try harder, to love more deeply, to serve more often, to worship more sincerely, to be more humble and to partake of the atonement more fully.
           Most importantly, I feel his gentle push to know more deeply his love for me personally... The imperfect me. Me...Shalae.

Finally a White Christmas!

           What's better than sitting there in the dark, with only the glow of the front room windows and Christmas lights shining on your kid's delighted, happy, smiling faces. Watching them as they are pulled, whipped and dragged around on the homemade sled. There is nothing like hearing their laughter and requests for "more!" and "faster" while dad is laughing as he whips them around in cookies. Really, isn't life really about the moments like this?

Small promptings

           A few weeks ago I was doing homework with Savannah. The assignment was to get a variety of colored beans and create a pattern with them. Of course once Isaac saw the beans he immediately grabbed the bag to dump them all over the floor and begin playing in them. At one point Mirian joined in and also came up later to ask for help in getting the bean she had stuck up her nose out. What?! Why do kids do this? I thought it was a little far fetched when the little boy on "One Fine Day" kept sticking things up his nose until I had children.
           We finished up, cleaned up the bean mess and later went to bed. Isaac had one rough night. He woke up a couple of times saying "Owie, Owie and crying." We thought maybe he had a sore throat since we've all had colds. Beau tried to help him wipe his nose and he wouldn't even let dad touch it, saying "Owie!"
           As Beau was putting him down for the second time, and after he mentioned that his nose must be raw, somewhere between drifting back to sleep and being awake I had the thought. "Maybe he stuck a bean up his nose as well like Mirian." I had no idea why I even thought of that. It had no relation to what I had been thinking, or dreaming about before I had awoken, it was just a thought that had come into my head. Maybe we should check his nose. But by then he had once again fallen asleep and we didn't want to wake him, so I ignored it and fell back asleep.
           The next morning he woke up and came and sat down on dad's lap and had a big sneeze, only to force a bean almost out of his nose. He did have one in there! It hadn't come out all the way so Beau had to push it out by running his finger along the outside of his nose, but he did have a bean. All night it had been in there hurting, and we had no idea, except for that small prompting that I honestly believe was from the Lord.
           Why is it so hard to follow those small promptings of the spirit sometimes. Especially when they are nothing big, nothing life changing, nothing obvious. Just enlightenment to our minds, small thoughts to help our life go smoother. This was nothing major wrong, Isaac wasn't in a life or death situation. But the Lord knew that we had no clue why he was waking up. We would have never known there was a bean in his nose. But if I had acted on that small simple prompting he could have been relieved of the pain and had a good night sleep. I know God is aware of even the little tiny aspects of our lives and is there to help if we just let him. We just have be sure to listen, but not only hear that small prompting but to act on it as well. It never does any good unless we act.

Lite and heavy thoughts

           (Be prepared this is a heavy one.)
           A few weeks ago I had the chance to get out and walk around town and take photos of some old buildings for a project. It's amazing the things you don't notice, until you go out looking for them

           I have not given up on my blessing posts. I have 4 more planned that I wanted to do. Life somehow got in the way. The inlaws showed up in town. I had a big project hanging over my head. All my kids got sick, and well... life happened. I'll still finish posting them here and there because they are things that I'm incredibly grateful for!           Somehow my kids have gotten sick with something that resembles pink eye but I'm not sure what it is exactly. It starts by their eyes getting red, swelling, then the white parts getting all blood shot, and goopiness. No other signs, till the next day when they get high fevers for a couple of days with no others signs. A day or so later, they have a cough. They are now over the fevers and the eye problems, but still have the cough, with runny noses and head colds. They got it one at a time, had it for 3 days before passing it onto the next kid. Weeks later we are still dealing with it.           It's times like this that you really need to have self discipline. After weeks of whining, grouchiness and clingyness I am finding myself short tempered, no patience, and whining myself. I am in such a need of a break and I am so ready for everyone to be better. It's hard because I know they don't feel well, and they are acting grouchy because mommy is too.

Lately I've had the word 'consecration' on my mind a lot. It all started with reading the scripture weeks ago. (2 Nephi 32:9) Then I read an amazing talk on it. That talk has had me thinking all week about if I'm really consecrating all that I have to the Lord. Do I have other things that are taking up more time and devotion than him, making me not really keeping the the 1st commandment. Am I really giving ALL of me and not just part. My time, my talents, my thoughts, desires, hopes.
           I tend to think I'm not. I tend to think that I like my time too much to keep for myself. I'm beginning to think that I spend too much time on things that "don't matter" in the long haul and are really just keeping me from doing what he needs me to do.
           I'm realizing that when I get up in the morning my thoughts are "What am I going to do today, what is on my agenda, what am I going to do with my time." When in reality, it's not my time, it's not my day. It should be his. He has specific things he needs me to do, that he wants me to do, and I'm not even giving him a chance to let me know what it is.
           I'm beginning to realize how different I would spend my time and energy if I woke up and said a hearfelt prayer asking him "what he needs me to do today." And then really go out and do it. Am I really dedicated to him, his gospel. Am I giving him my all.           A while ago I was studying the Old Testament and was fascinated by the word "Handmaiden." Specifically when it mentioned "a handmaid of the Lord." Mary describes herself as this to Gabrielle when he comes to announce that she is carrying and will deliver the Christ Child. What does it mean?
           A handmaid in those days was a servant of the women. Specifically we hear of Rachel and Leah's handmaids, who they offered up to bear children when they were found barren. They could not bear children and wanted a posterity. In those days everything the handmaid was, had or did was literally her masters. It was not hers. Nothing was hers. Nothing. That was why when Rachel gave her handmaid over to bear her children since she couldn't it was as if her handmaid was literally bearing her children, since nothing was the handmaids. It would literally become and be seen as Rachel's child.
           I find it interesting then that Mary declares herself a handmaid of the Lord. Here she is showing her upmost submission to the God of Heaven, is saying that everything that she is or would do would be His. She was His, to do as He would like. Complete submission willingly. This term "hand maid of the Lord" is not used very much, only sparingly throughout the scriptures. But Hannah also declares herself one. She gave her all too. She gave up her only child to the Lord to work in the temple. In modern scripture in D&C for those that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Lord calls Emma his handmaiden. We know all that she gave up.
           The other most interesting one that is mentioned is in the prophesy in Acts 2:18,of the last days before the second coming when he declares "And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"
           We are in those last days and he declares that there will be handmaidens. Women of the world who will be good, who will submit their wills, their time, their energy to him and his work. And He shall pour His spirit out among them.
           So lately my question would be if I am committed enough, have I submitted my will completely that the Lord could call me HIS handmaiden, or am I still too caught up in the world, too caught up in myself, to busy for others, to busy to do His work, or to busy to listen to what He really needs me to do. Am I give my all or am I holding back a part?

Happenings

           I'm supposed to be working on layouts for a product. Instead I'd rather get updated on this thing.
           She's growing like mad, and has figured out how to get up on all fours - trying to move herself. She can scoot and roll herself all over the room, but is trying desperately to figure out how to move those back legs!
           Isn't she just too cute with those glasses on.
           My kids crack me up! Yes we painted our walls bright green I love it. You can't tell much from this picture, and yes the couches DO NOT match. We are working on that. We've got to find slipcovers or see how good of a seamstress I am! The green wall is so fun with Christmas decorations right now. I'll get pictures up once I actually finish painting all the trim white!
           My little boy turned 2 yesterday! He was so excited about getting in the bathtub with the little people boat he could have cared less about blowing out candles and eating cake. (Ironic since 5 minutes earlier he was throwing a tantrum because I wouldn't let him have any! :)
           Where did the time go? I just ran across some pictures from the Christmas year he was born and my kid seemed so little then. Life is flying by way too fast for my liking!

Great thought

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
- Albert Schweitzer
Who has continually lit the flame within me?

• My childhood friend Kristin Fielding
• My mother
• My brother in law Nic Delgado
• My husband
• Mandy Steward
• A religion professor Gerald Hansen

           Special moments when the Lord has rekindled it through promptings of the spirit or the scriptures.
           Various random people throughout my life that said or did one thing that change my perspective, showed me an incredible example, or made me want to change.
           Thank you. I am who I am because of you.
           (Thanks Mindy for sharing this quote - made me really think.)

Blessed #3

           I had no idea what I was getting myself into 3 years ago when I applied at ScrapGirls to be a designer. I was just looking for an option for a creative outlet, and yet help out a little while Beau was going to school while things were a little tight. I thought it would be a great way to be home with my kids, still do my art and bring in a little extra.
           I was not prepared for the incredible friendships I would make with people all over the world. I was not prepared for the amazing creative feast it is for me to work with my fellow designers. They are so amazingly talented and push me so much in my own creative work. They are good, amazing, wonderful caring people. They are wonderful friends. One of the things that I missed the most when I graduated from college was the creative environment I had on a daily basis with other artists. I missed it more than I thought, and working with these amazing ladies has filled a huge void there. It has been so wonderful!

           I never knew the wonderful people that I would meet and get to know through the boards, our customers, our layout team, our welcoming team etc. These ladies are incredible. It's so fun to work with people of different backgrounds, different faiths, who all love each other, care for each other and enjoy each other so much.
           I never knew when I applied how lucky I would be to work with Ro (the owner) and Valerie (the Partner) and their management team... brandie, angie, and other behind the scenes people... Heidi, Laurel. The dedication that these ladies have to not only making an incredible site, but to create an incredible place to be, and a wonderful community to be a part of is humbling. It was so amazing to attend convention this October. To meet people literally all over the world, people from all walks of life who love and are so accepting of each other. You feel like you are just old friends., but really just meeting for the first time. It's an amazing experience.
           I'm so blessed to be able to work with them all online, and yet get to hang out with them and meet up with them at least once or twice a year. I get to help our family out financially with the extra money and what a huge blessing that is. These last three years I have been able to grow so much in my own artistic abilities which has amazed me.
           Right now I am SO grateful for this little purple place and all the people that are a part of it.

Little Brother

           I ran across this layout I did last month for club and thought it was fitting for this gratitude week as well.
           Here's the journaling: With 3 sisters I am very grateful to have you, my only brother. A person who naturally thinks different and behaves differently just because he is a boy. You have been one that always had a carefree attitude. You were positive and have one of the biggest hearts that I know of. You would do anything for anyone. You were always helping the widow up the street. You could always talk to a complete stranger and make them feel totally comfortable. Even though I am the oldest and you are the youngest I am grateful for the way that you have always been there for mom and dad. You have helped with the business when things were tough and you are home helping them with projects when they need it. You have always been there for them. I have not always been around or lived close enough to go home regularly to help. For that I am grateful for your huge heart, your willing hands and your positive attitude. I am especially grateful that you are my brother.

I am blessed #2

           I tend to think we don't fully realize the amount of influence our spouse will have on us when we get married. We are in love, we never want to be apart and we want to experience life with them. We know that at points it will be tough and hard, but I also don't think we have even a clue how good life will be with them. Amazingly good. Today I am so grateful for this man.

           I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for sending him into my life. I had no idea how much I was missing before I met him. He completes and compliments me in every way. There are times when he has been away on a trip, when I catch a small glimpse of what my life would be like without him. I would miss him terribly. I would miss talking to him, laughing and teasing him. I would miss his support, his love, his little quirks and habits. All these little things that I take for granted in my daily life.
           I am so grateful that he is a hard worker, that he pushes himself and doesn't let things stop him. He plugs on when it is hard and never gives up. I am so grateful that he chooses to be a father, and chooses to be an active one. I'm so grateful that he as a desire to be good, to follow God, to help others. I am amazed at how much he supports me in my endeavors, goals and talents. He never stops me or holds me back, but tells me to go for it. I am amazed at how much I've grown artistically since I married him.
           I'm grateful for his love of people. He is always the one out there talking to people, meeting people, and helping people. I'm so blessed to be married to someone who is willing to help and serve anyone. He'll never say no. He's one who is full of charity. (Now don't get me wrong he's not perfect either. :) He's still working on his charity towards stupid drivers.) But I love him. More than I ever thought possible.
           Today I am so blessed to have you.

ABC Fun

           This is definitely a sign of my life lately. :) I created this new kit in September. In time for the new school year. I finally got it in the store and activated today... November... Thanksgiving... almost Christmas. Oh well. That's my life. Crazy busy. Crazy good. I had so much fun making this collection. It's the first collection where I actually included some of my own illustrations. I also love the bright fun, colors. It reminds me of my days teaching elementary art.

           This layout is my favorite one from the matching brushset. I love this picture of Savannah. It is so her. And she is so me. I always wondered if I would raise another creative artist. Well here she is.

           (I am also going to be lazy,since I'm typing this on my laptop. It takes me forever to add links, so if you'd like a list of the supplies used to make this collection, click on the layout and you'll find the supplies listed in the description.)

I am blessed #1

           I received a reminder today to stop, sit down and realize how blessed I am. Lately it's been really busy around here and even though I realize how good life has been to us lately, I've forgotten to sit down and really internalize it. I realize I need to do it more regularly. So I decided that it was a perfect week to sit down and every day count some of my blessings.

           Today I am grateful for our little place. Our little tiny home where we can spend time together as a family. I'm grateful for the opporutunity it gives us to work together as a family fixing it up. Cleaning, painting and these last couple of weeks raking the yard. We've always wanted to have trees around our house, and in this house we have a huge one up front. It's been amazing how deep the leaves get in the front yard. A week ago, the kids and I were at home by ourselves and they were getting bored. I suggested we go jump in the leaves. They didn't even know what I meant. So we all bundled up and went out side to rake the leaves, jump in them and bury each other. It was gorgeous day and one of those moments where you need to just set things aside and take advantage of the moment. This was my great view of my family after the girls buried me alive. What a great time together!

           Not only does God bless us with beautiful trees to look at and shade our home, but to also run, play and laugh as a family.

Helping Out

           Yesterday when we came home from church Savannah ran in the house and told us we couldn't come in because she was doing something special for us. She locked us out for about 10 minutes. When she returned she beckoned us in with her huge grin exclaiming "look!" She had set the table for dinner. In her excitedness she declared "I wanted to help you out mommy because you have so much to do! I wanted to set the table for you so you wouldn't have to do all of it by yourself."
           On the table was this little pink construction paper heart that they had received in primary. She had about 6 of them. One for every day of the week, so they could do something nice for someone else, and leave a little love afterwards. I gave her a huge hug, thanked her for her help and for thinking of me. It was so fun to see her face a glow, bouncing with happiness and excitement that she had set the table all by herself for me. It was rewarding for me as well to know she had gone to church, learned about serving and helping others and actually internalized it enough that she came home and set my table for me. I love it when little things like this happen in your day. Times when you see your child grow up and have joy from serving others.

My Thoughts Lately

           For the last couple of months I've been thinking about a lot of things. A lot of deeper, personal, faith oriented things. They just keep piling up, needing and wanting to get out. I contemplate putting them on the blog but because of limited hours on the computer and timing, I never seem to have the time at the moment to sit down and write it all out. Which has been bothering me. Especially because I really want this blog to be more. More about my heart, my feelings, my experiences, my faith. But how does a person go about doing that. I guess I just need to start.

           Oh but where to begin. I have so many things I want to say. I guess I'll just start somewhere.

           These last couple of days my dad has been having some health problems. Nothing too serious, but seeing the probability of it in the future has really been working it's way throughout my mind. My dad has had various health issues through his life. He's battled cancer twice, has high blood pressure and other issues that stems from not taking the best care of his body. He knows it's an issue, but isn't too concerned about it because he has no fear of death. He's at peace with his life, he knows that greater things lie past this earth life and has no fear of going whenever his time comes. That's fine.
           The rest of the family though, especially mom wishes he would realize that despite the fact that he isn't too concerned we are. We need him in better health, not because we wouldn't survive if he did go, but because there are worse things than death. There is more physical problems, and health issues that could make life much harder. Especially since he runs his own business, and is the sole worker. He has no one else that can really do his job. If he can't go to work, there is no business. That in itself is a scary position. Luckily this last week when he did wind up in the hospital my brother was home and able to run the truck for him. That will not always be the case. I'm beginning to realize my parents are getting old. I'm worrying more about what they are going to do with this business and how they are going to run it as the get older. Especially if dad's health get's worse.

           We also try to stress to him that we need him to take care of himself so that we can have him around longer. So his grandkids can know and have a relationship with their grandfather. When he was around my age, and when I was only 3, his father passed away unexpectadly. I grew up without him in my life. What did I miss out on? What could I have learned from him. What kind of a relationship could I have had with him. I want my kids to have what I didn't have. A grandpa.
           But seeing what he's going through, has also made me realize how much I need to take better care of my own health. How I need to watch what I eat and be careful and aware of becoming diabetic. Loose this extra weight, which is a mental and physical battle daily. To make sure that physically I am the best mom my kids could have. Why is this such a battle? A daily battle. One that I want to win, but end up getting so discouraged some days when it looks impossible.
           But in reality I know it's possible, because I did it once before. This time will be harder... because I've got 5 other people depending on me, needing me every moment, and cutting into my time... but it is still possible. I just have to keep telling myself that.
           In reality we've been so blessed with these amazing, incredible, wonderful bodies. Our Father's greatest creation. We needed them in order to become like him. Satan can and never will have a body like us, and so he's in a full fledge war to ruin ours. Why do we let him. Why do we succumb to him with addictions to achohol, drugs, food, sugar and other substances that aren't the best for it. That make it so we no longer have control over it. Why do we treat it so cheaply in this world, with low morals and values of modesty, immorality, pornography or filling our minds with filth. Why do we deface it, covet it, and cheapen it? Why don't we see it for what it is and take care of it, treating it with respect. Realizing the gift we've been given. Lately I've been realizing how Satan is getting at mine? Is he getting at yours?

Busy with Life.

           We are at that wonderful time of year of holidays, family and preparations for celebrating all of it.  I love these last three months of the year and yet these three months seem to fly by the fastest!  How do we make them slow down!  I'm trying to get a little bit ahead on the christmas ideas and presents I'd like to make. Hopefully I can find a way to balance my time to get them all done.

           This last weekend we were able to enjoy having my parents here for a few days and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. The kids always have so much fun with them.  

           I got my kitchen painted last week! Yeah!  I have a few touch ups, some curtains to sew, pictures to hang and then we'll show off the before and after photos. It's bright and cheerful, and it feels so good to have it done. It's amazing how just painting your walls can make your house start to feel more like your own home, and less like your still living in a rental.  So between working on a new room every month as money permits, hopefully we'll have this house feeling more like ours here in a few months.

           Caitlyn is getting to that really fun age, of being more interactive. She's rolling all over the place, and trying so hard to sit up on her own. She is such a cutie and is so cuddly.  She's keeps reminding me why I love kids and why we enjoy having so many of them.  Isaac has hit the terrible two stage, he is still a great kid, but can definitely have his moments. Savannah is learning like crazy and loving school.  Mirian has been doing so much better lately in controlling her temper and not throwing fits. Yeah. She is such the sweetest little girl when she doesn't let her passionate side take over.

Helping one another.

           Last week I had a sister from our church (we call the women in our church sisters, because we believe they are our spiritual sisters) call me up. She told me she was going to be starting a group with a bunch of other women from our church and circle of friends and wanted to invite me. I have to admit I always get nervous when I hear this. I begin to think... what kind of group?  I start feeling the pressure of feeling like I have to join them.
           She went on to explain what we would be doing.  Each week we would go to one of the women's home and help her out on a project.  I admit my first reaction was "I don't want everyone coming here and cleaning my house! How embarrassing."  But then she went on to explain herself that we are all so busy, most of us have young children at home.  We own homes and have all these projects or things we'd like to do, every women has a list of projects.  None of us have time to do all of them. Our husbands have this huge long list as well and he can't get around to it either.  

           So her solution to this was get 6-8 women together. Bring all the kids and let them play (or fight) while we all help one of the women finish up or work on one of her big projects that she has going on and can never seem to get done. By the time she was finished telling me her idea, I started catching a glimpse of it and thought Wow! That is an AWESOME idea.

           So today was our first day. We went to her house at 9am. (It's only supposed to last about 2 hours) There were about 7 of us.  She wanted to finally finish painting her bedroom. So we all went to work and finished it in an hour and half.  It's now done. Who knows how long it would have taken her to do it on her own with all her young children.  Next week we'll go to someone else's house.

           The more I've thought about it the more I realize how wonderful this really is.  I have been wanting to paint some walls since I've moved in. Months later it still hasn't gotten it done with all my kids. What a relief to know that every two months, no matter what happens between those times, I'm guarateed to get one of these projects finished!  What a relief, how fun and exciting!  In two weeks it's my turn and my kid's bedrooms will get painted! Yeah!  It doesn't have to be painting. It can be anything. Next week we are going to another sister's house to help her clean her mudroom from top to bottom.  Another sister wants all her cabinet doors painted.  You could clean people's carpets. I want some canning done that I can't seem to get done with the kids. So they'll eventually help me peel and cut veggies and prepare a bunch of stew mix I want canned.  

           In this day and age we are too busy! We don't have enough time to do everything we would like to do. So it gets us down, it frustrates us, and we never see an end to all these projects.  For some reason we would never dare ask someone to help. We assume it's up to us to do it all.  It's not! Imagine how much more would get done if we all helped each other.  Not only that.  Imagine the kind of friends that would come from it.  I loved hanging out with these ladies this morning. We were able to talk about our kids, our families, our ideas for decorating our own homes. We shared tips, and ideas.  We were serving each other. How could we not all become good friends after serving and helping each other every week.
           Are you busy? Have you got too many projects that are never getting done?  You don't have to do it by yourself. There are tons of other women out there in the exact same boat, and you could all benefit from helping each other.  Just go ask them if they want to join you...:)

Such a cool idea!

           Is this not the coolest picture you've seen!  I found it on flickr taken by Rene Eharhardt.  It's painted on the side of some outer wall of a House. Old Town, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.  Amazing isn't it?  Lots of things have been inspiring me lately.  

Life as a home owner

           Well we've experienced the life of the homeowner's curse. Once one thing breaks down, it all goes! Last week it got cold enough to turn on the furnace only to find out that it was no longer working. It worked great earlier this year when we needed it, but suddenly it doesn't work now. The furnace was ancient, as old as the house is and we were lucky it even got a green sticker. Well when they came to check out what the problem was and see if it was possible to fix, they walked in, took a look at it and said "we're not even bothering to check, that thing needs to go!" So while I was at the ScrapGirls convention, we got a new furnace installed, which was half the size of the first one.
           This morning we were eating breakfast while Beau was in the shower when I suddenly heard really loud strange electrical noises and zapping coming from our pantry where the furnace, water heater, washer and dryer are located. I rushed in and smelled something burnt and ran to tell Beau that something blew in the pantry. He asked if I could tell what it was, and before I could even make it back to check he starts hollering and getting as close to swearing as the guy gets. He suddenly was getting spewed dark, sooting, nasty, black burnt water in his shower. It went in his mouth, up his nose and he was covered in it.... hmmm good guess that it was the water heater. He had to turn of his hot water and hollor while he froze in the ice cold water trying to rinse that nasty burnt stuff out of his hair, body and mouth.
           Soon he came to check it out since we weren't quite sure what had happened. To be safe since the water heater seemed to be gone, he went to turn the gas line off to it, and while turning the valve touched the dryer at the same time, giving him a good electrical shock. What in the world? Well we had no idea what was going on. There is no electrical wires or anything running to the water heater, and yet I was positive that what I had heard was electricity. How do you get a zap from a water heater that is not hooked up to anything electrical.
           Well we closed the door, to keep everyone out till we could get someone out to fix it. He started getting on his bike to take off when I heard it again, only this time it was worse. I glanced in to now see water spraying from the pipes leading to the water heater, and the smell of burned materials was even stronger now. He rushed in to see water spraying, and since the house is so old there is not a turn off valve for the water to the water heater, so he had to run outside and turn off the water to the house.
           So today we got to find out why we've been storing emergency water... not for natural disasters of any kind or famine. It's for times like this when you have a house full of kids 5 and under and no water anywhere in the house. You need things to wash your hands with after changing diapers, you need something to flush the toilet with and something to drink. You have no way to wash any type of dishes and clean up any messes. It's been a rather exciting day. Luckily we are leaving town for the weekend and can have water at the motel and a shower which I'm really wanting about now.
           In the process of trying to get this whole problem fixed, the people we're going through called up to let us know that when the man fixed the furnace he also got zapped by electricity. Since that happened, there is some electrical problem which requires fixing before they will replace the water heater. They can't work on it because it's a danger zone. Yeah no kidding. (We knew this old house would need rewiring at some point, because we can't even run the microwave and the toaster at the same time without flipping the breaker.) So tomorrow an electrician is coming out with the furnace man to see if they can figure out something with the electrical problem, so they can get us some water again and a new water heater.
           Poor Beau got quite the shower, was late for class this morning between the exciting happenings, didn't do so hot on his test, found out his lab wasn't working like it should (which was due), and now BYU is losing the football game. As he words it "The perfect end to a perfect day."
           (Really despite how awful all this homeowner stuff sounds it has really been a HUGE blessing with perfect timing.)

That time of year!

           Savannah had a field trip yesterday to pumpkinland. She was so excited! Ever since she got back she's been asking if we could carve her pumpkin. So today she drew her face, they cleaned it out, and I carved it. I forgot how much fun it is. Hopefully soon the whole family will get to go get our own and have a night of fun. I love this time of year!

Consider the Lilies

           I thought I'd share my designer life from the ScrapGirls Newsletter.

During high school, I had the hopes of going on to study art at a prestigious art school. I knew my family couldn’t afford it and so my only chance was to receive a full ride scholarship at the state art competition my senior year. For four years I had been preparing for that competition. There would first be a preliminary judging within our school to determine who would compete on the state level.

           I found out right before the preliminary competition that the big senior trip to the temple for the youth of my church was scheduled for the same dates as the state art competition. I was so bummed. I had been looking forward to having this faith building experience with my friends and classmates. I did not want to have to choose between the two.

I thought I could decide after the preliminary judging to see if I even qualified for the state competition. When my art teacher informed me that I had to make a decision before the preliminary competition I was furious.

           I remember going home mad, frustrated, and discouraged. I wanted each of the trips so badly and knew I couldn’t have them both. I had to choose. Although I had been working toward the state competition for four years, internally I knew I should put God first in my life. As I stayed up crying that night, I read my scriptures and prayed, hoping for some answers. How will I pay for school if I don’t have a scholarship? How will I be able to pursue art? I know I should put God first. Isn’t this an exception where He’ll understand? It was then that some particular verses of scripture jumped out at me.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet, I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more cloth you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...

           It hit me. I felt Him telling me this personally. “Shalae, do not worry about it. Do not worry about how you will pay for school, do not worry about your art. I am in control. I know that you need these things. Seek Me first, do My will and I will take care of you.” I have never forgotten that moment and I’ve never forgotten how I felt. I felt peace. It would be OK.

I returned the next day and told my teacher I would not be competing. I went on my youth trip and had a wonderful experience.

           Now did it work out? Did He take care of me? Yes, in more ways than I could have ever dreamed of. I went through five years of college with school paid for in art scholarships and other means that I never had considered or anticipated. I have seen His hand numerous times. Since I have been married, we have seen these same blessings when we have had trying times and tried to do His will, instead of worrying about the money. We have had checks just arrive in the mail from anonymous sources. We have had opportunities here and there to earn a little money on the side. We’ve been able to sell vehicles or land that we owned when money was tight. We found Scrap Girls. We’ve made it through another five years of school, four kids and have had all of our needs taken care of.

           He keeps His promises. In this world of competition, of financial stresses, and of overworking, all for the money to “take care of our needs and wants,” He promises us the same. Do not worry. I’m in control. I know what you need. Seek Me instead and you’ll be taken care of.

           Those scriptures and the song “Consider the Lilies” always reassure me when life and money get tight, when things get stressful and we aren’t sure how we are going to make it another semester or have another child. He comes along and brings us miracles. I know He can bring you miracles too, if you let Him.

Luau Time

           This weekend we celebrated Savannah's 5th birthday. Five Years old. How did that happen. She starts kindergarten this upcoming tuesday. I can't believe how fast time has flown by. She is such a little girl now and not my baby or my toddler.
           To celebrate we decided to do a beach party/luau. (Mom was princessed out. You just have to convince them how cool it would be to do another kind of party or I might be forced to decorate princess cakes for the rest of my life!)

           We made paper lanterns out of construction paper and strung them across the back yard, with balloons and put up our beach umbrella.

           I made a palm tree birthday cake. It was super easy - made from just two round cakes. Anyone could do it. We had yummy fruit slush that was served with pop and little umbrellas in the in the cup.

           We had everyone arrive in their swimming suits and we had paper grass skirts made from brown paper bags, and a little baggie for them to make their own leis. (Muffin cups, straws and yarn.)

           It was 105 degrees outside and we were cooking! So we didn't play many games. Just made leis, opened presents, had cake and then cooled off in the sprinklers!

           We had a great time! It was fun to hang out with friends and have a reason to celebrate. Happy Birthday Savannah! We love you!

A Healthier Me.

           I've been wanting to get healthier and more fit, loose this extra weight, and just start developing better habits, and more healthy habits. My female cousins and aunts have started a blog where we've encouraged each other, had challenges and reported on how we've done with our weightloss goals. It has been great. We recently found an awesome site sparkpeople.com which is devoted to help you get healthier. You can set up teams like my cousins and I have been doing to motivate and encourage each other, you can track your exercise, your eating habits, have an exercise and diet tailored to your goals etc. It's awesome. I can see how this can really help out in motivating each other, sharing success and hardships and encouraging one another to be healthier. The best part it is free. It doesn't cost to use it! If you do join, I'd love to connect with you in a team or as a friend to encourage you and to get encouragement myself. Just leave me your username in the comments section, or feel free to add me as your friend... satippetts.

Now I'm Ready

           This fall I've been invited to be one of the presenters for the ScrapGirls Convention held in Salt Lake City. I'm supposed to teach a class, a unique class, something special, and something I'm good at. Talk about pressure! They at first suggested that I teach something about digital scrapbooking brushes since I have my Mastering Brushes Ebook about how to use brushes in digital scrapbooking. That made me cringe as I have gotten burned out of brushes from writing the books and teaching the class. I begged them to let me do anything else... so they left it up to me. I've been stewing over it for months now, wracking my brain as to what unique thing I have that I can teach that anyone would even care to learn. I've come up empty.
           Finally after asking other designers for some ideas we came up with one direction that would be fairly easy. A technique that I'm asked about all the time from members on the boards, but I've been trying to figure out how to do it differently since I've written similar tutorials about the topic. I've been struggling this last week writing the class and it hasn't been happening. Talk about FRUSTRATING! Being a teacher I really believe to have to know and love your materials to really be able to teach it. I was not feeling this at all.

           This morning I had an idea. I tried it out. It worked and I'm completely excited about it. Ironically it still has to do with brushes, but I've switched my mentality about it to the brushes that really excite me! So now I'm back to first base... rewriting the class materials... but now I'm on a roll. It's part of my passion which my former art teacher used to tell me, "If you love it and your passionate about it, then it's easy to teach it." Now I'm ready. I'll see you all in October. I hope your ready to get messy!

6 years

           Yesterday I celebrated 6 of the most amazing years of my life with Beau. Years of laughter, joy, hardships, trials, growth, fun, happiness, tears and love. I couldn't have married a more wonderful man.
           You're everything I could have ever imagined honey. You take such good care of me and our family. You make life so enjoyable. You love me despite all my weaknesses. You are my love and my life! I can't wait to see what exciting things await us this upcoming year!

Missing For A Reason

Why are we missing?

• My mother had a bike accident, which resulted in 13 screws and a plate inside her arm from her shoulder to her elbow. She's been out of commission and so we went home for a week to see if we could help her out.

• We blessed Caitlyn this weekend at church, along with her cousin who was born less than a week a before her.

• We enjoyed cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

• I enjoyed the cooler weather and the amazing clouds that can be seen in Wyoming. You never see them here.
• I enjoyed my mom's garden as we picked her raspberries and peas.

• I watched my little boy and his cousin spend an hour having the time of their life throwing all these water bottles onto the grass, and then throwing them back into the cooler. They were soaked by the end of it.
• Beau worked on building sheds for both sets of grandparents and hauled hay.
• Beau and I took a couple of motorbike rides up the canyon and around the valley. I love going for rides with him. There is nothing like holding him tight, speeding down the road with the wind blowing through your hair.

• We spent an evening up to the lake with the kids eating hotdogs and smores over a fire. The kids were all excited to go for a ride in the boat. They put on their life jackets and hopped in all excited. As soon as dad pushed the boat into the water a couple of inches and the boat started to tip the screaming started. Hysterical, panicked screaming. They kept looking at the water with the realization they could fall into the lake, with terror in their eyes and voices they wanted to get out right then. Beau kept trying to calm them down, but everytime he pushed it in a little farther the more escalated and panicked the screams became. He finally was able to sit down and they all huddled around his legs, screaming. After having them sit next to him and stand in front of him, he calmed them down enough to slowly paddle them around the lake a little to watch the fish jump. When they returned Mirian delcared she was DONE! When grandpa asked her later if she wanted to go back out later to fish she declared "I am done! I'm done." She was not getting back into that boat.

• Savannah went back out with grandpa to go fishing. She got back and declared "They didn't catch ANY fish."

• There's nothing like seeing your kids wiped out after an exhausting day of just being kids and having fun.

           It was a good time, it gave me a much needed break. I couldn't work on anything so I was forced to relax. I came home rejuvenated, ready for school to start, pumped full of energy to be productive, organized and to just enjoy life.

Grocery Money

           Trying to feed a family of 6 now on a limited budget has it's challenges sometimes. I try to cut back on extra spending on food and we don't eat out much at all, but then it seems like sometimes we go over too. I can't decide if we are just spending too much, or if our budget for food is just not feasible for a family this size and if I need to increase it.
           Which gets me wondering what do most people spend for food a month? Would you mind telling me. I set up a poll on the side for anonymous answers. But I'd really like to see the average. I had a friend who had food stamps and I asked her what the government saw as the amount of money a family of 5 would spend on food, and it was quite a bit more than what we have budgeted. She felt like they could eat for less than what they give you, but that had me thinking maybe I'm just being unrealistic in our budget, but then the tightwad part of me thinks it's completely possible too if I had a little more self control sometimes! :)
           So are you willing to share? How much do you spend for groceries a month on your family.

We are getting close

To finishing these things:
- unpacking
- my BIG Scrapgirls project (which has taken any extra time I have lately)
- laying carpet so Isaac has his own room
- summer (which I'm not ready to finish up yet.)
- 2 books I'm in the middle of
- Caitlyn's Jaundice
School
           Is it already that time. Savannah starts Kindergarten here in about 3 weeks, and we are in need of doing some school shopping and having lots of one on one fun time before I let her go... sigh. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. Beau luckily doesn't start till the first of September, yeah!
My silly kids
           Mirian loves to wear this witch hat around all the time. She loves it for the long hair. Flipping it over her shoulders and putting it in pigtails and buns. She's just so cute. Yesterday we went to the thrift store and they had a toy lawnmower, shopping cart and stroller for a $1. They kids were in heaven and have been playing with them ever since. Mirian keeps referring to it as the "mow lawner" though, and with her little accent it's just too cute!

Pioneer Day
           Today is pioneer day so for a few hours we'll be hanging out at the local park checking out the pioneer museum, pioneer town, making free crafts and eating cotton candy. (And roasting to death in this horrible heat!)