Ahh, the Relief Society. Once a year, they show me how to be crafty. Then people come over to my house and see the crafty stuff and oooh and ahhhh and say how cool my crafty stuff is. I (ever so humbly, blushing just a little) tell them that yes, I made it myself. Truly a blessing.
I made some great stuff last night that I just love. (click on the picture to see all my craftiness even bigger)
On the left, it's The Living Christ, the testimony of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Beautifully written. I made the mat for the frame, all different Greg Olsen pictures of Jesus Christ's life. On the right, The Proclamation of the Family. I made the mat for that one too, from pictures of our family. In the middle, a crafty little Christmas decoration.
Martha Stewart, eat your heart out.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 39
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Weeks 33, 34, 35 and 36!
Oh, I am SO far behind in recording my blessings!! Shame, shame on me.
Dylan. So very blessed that all our prayers (and his medication) are paying off, and he has not had any seizures for about 6 months now. I am continually thankful that Dylan is able to lead a normal, happy life, when I know that most other children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex have it so much worse. I love him with all my heart, and then some.
Zack. He makes good choices. He has an incredibly quick wit. He knows how to choose his friends, and he does what is right. He is a great kid, and a wonderful older brother. What a blessing! I love every little bit of him.
Family. I love love love Matt's family. Correction - I should say MY family. We are blessed to live among many Madsen's and Snow's here in our area. It is fantastic to be able to get together for dinners, swimming, and fun. They are an exceptional group of people, and I am happy to be counted among them.
One of the many gatherings in Grami Snow's beautiful backyard
Friends. I have a fantastic group of friends, both near and far. Specifically speaking of my friends here, I am so happy that I have many friends who choose to live the gospel standards as I strive to do. It's a constant battle, but one I will gladly fight along with these fantastic women. It's hard for me to be far away from all my sisters that I love so much, so it is a great comfort for me to have such silly, smart, fun and kind girlfriends to help fill that void. They know who they are...love you ladies!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 32
Being able to serve is a blessing. Our church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) owns a vineyard here near us, and the 4 surrounding stakes are tasked with taking care of it. Every year, the call goes out for picking grapes, rolling grapes, etc. All the members come willingly to work hard and serve. (Most of the grapes are made into raisins and distributed to the needy worldwide.)
Matt and Zack went this year to the vineyard - this was Zack's first year going. They got up at the crack of dawn to leave, and came home tired and very dirty, but I can't think of a better way to teach about serving others than to have Zack participate in this area-wide service project. I have never seen Zack's hands this dirty...ever! 
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- - Mahatma Gandhi
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 31
Music.
I am blessed to be surrounded by music in almost every aspect of my life. We sing in Primary. I teach voice lessons to many students. I teach a charter high school choir class. I work for Fresno State Summer Arts, which is heavily involved in music. I am working with the Stake Youth Musical coming up for the 3rd year in a row now. It seems I am constantly singing, listening to someone sing, or teaching someone to sing. Heaven! Music has always been an important part of my life. More than anything , music brings the spirit, and I am eternally grateful for that.
I believe that the love and appreciation that both Matt and I have for music is being passed along to Zack and Dylan. The beat goes on.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 30
Now that summer is almost at an end, and the kidlets go back to school on Monday, I must pay homage to summer. We are blessed to live in an area with abundant sunshine, and we are even MORE blessed to have LOTS of friends and family with swimming pools! So many thanks to Grami Snow, Josh and Tiff, The Bogle's, Poulsen's, Garcia's, Morris', the other Morris', Lenny the guy across the street, the Parkin's, the Cranney's (is their jacuzzi close enough?) and anyone else that I might have missed. We love you and thank you for your pool generosity this summer!
Nothing better than lunch after a good swim.
The next Michael Phelps. Seriously. No, I mean it. Really.
Zackaroo the champion floater. Do they have an Olympic competition for that? Hmmmm....
There's nothing sadder than people-less noodles.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 29 and Happy Birthday Sarah
My sister Sarah has a birthday this week. I am blessed to have many (six!) sisters, and they are ALL blessings to me, but I will focus this week on the blessing that is SARAH. Sarah is one of a kind. She doesn't care what anyone thinks about what she says and does, she is abrupt and loud, and I just LOVE her. She's funny, kind, smart and devastatingly beautiful. I am blessed to know her. She is the one sister that could probably beat me (or at least keep up with me) in a war of words...and that's no small task :o)
LOVE this photo of her!
So...happy happy happy birthday later this week to my Lake Tahoe-living sister Sarah-Beara. Love you to pieces, sista!
Friday, July 18, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 28
Savannah Lea Cooper, my baby sis. (pictured with Z and D)
Simply put, Savy rocks. I am often mistaken for her mom, but that's ok by me. I love her to death, and it has been a blast having her here staying with us. I really like having sisters that are so much younger than me...it keeps me young in a way, too!
Savy is SUCH a blessing to us all - Zack, Dylan, Matt and I love her tons and we could REALLY get used to her being here all the time. I want a teenage daughter just like her for my very own!
Love you, Savannah Banana!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Independence Day - Kanab Style (Also my 52 Blessings Project Week # 27)
It's been a few years since we've been in Kanab for the 4th of July - we got to go this year since it was my 20 year reunion. I love Kanab on the 4th! It's the BEST place to be, and Kanab is why the 4th of July is my all-time favorite holiday. Small town pride at its best. I am so blessed to have spent my Middle School and High School years in a great place like Kanab!
We started the day at the parade - I cannot remember ever seeing SO many people attending the parade before. It was great! I kind of enjoyed listening to someone ELSE sing the National Anthem to start it all off (but then again, I secretly missed doing it myself, just a little bit...)
My beautiful sisters, Savannah, Ali and Sarah
Sadie and her cute fireworks-style hair. I love it!
My sis Emily and Mia enjoying the parade
Later that night - right out the my parents back yard for the fireworks. They have a PERFECT view of all the action. It was like our own personal fireworks show! (I even think Matt was a teeny bit impressed. Not bad for a small town!) I didn't get any pics of the BIG fireworks, because I was inside with Dylan watching them from a window (*sigh*). He still hates the noise. I am ready for him to grow out of this phase!! I did get some great pictures of the kids with their sparklers, though. Sparklers are always a ball!
Katelyn, Zack and Ivy having a "sparkler duel"
Kelly having fun
Sammy loved it, too!
My brother DJ was busy handing out the sparklers. Grandma Cooper in the background!
Happy Birthday, America!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The 52 Blessing Project: Week 26
My "manny" is a blessing!
Everyone should have one. I am working full time in the months of June and July, and the boys are home, not with a nanny, but a manny. He's awesome. They play, they swim, they go to the movies. They shop, they laugh, they do school work so their brains don't go soft over the summer. He loves them like I do. What more could I ask for?
Have you met my manny? Here he is, pictured with Zack.
I love him!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Weeks 23 and 24
I am falling behind in my blessings!
Week 23: I truly am grateful for my calling as the Primary Prez in our ward. I am new at this, and it is FULL of challenges, but I am finding that it makes me see myself in a different way - a way that I like a lot. I like what I am learning in Primary, and hopefully the children are learning a little bit, too. I love thinking about the kids in our Primary and trying to come up with fun ways to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love seeing their faces and talking with them. I love their hugs and high-fives. I get to be with 130 kids for two whole hours every Sunday, and I get to think about them and pray for them every day. A great blessing.
Week 24: I am also VERY thankful for my awesome counselors, Sue, Karen, and Kristi. (Yes! Huge ward! I get THREE counselors!) and our secretary Debbie. These are incredible women who are full of excitement and love. I am blessed to know them and work with them. I am sure I would be MUCH more overwhelmed if they were not standing right beside me, and doing their jobs so darn well. I love them!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 22
ba·by·sit: to care for children usually during a short absence of the parents; to give care.
We are fortunate to live in an area where we have an ABUNDANCE of fantastic, fun, friendly babysitters. What a blessing! There are numerous sitters that I can call when Matt and I go out for the evening - we don't have to worry for even a second about the safety of Zack and Dylan. I DO realize how lucky we are to have them! So...Chelsea, Christine, Breann, Jessie, Samantha, Blake, Taylor, Miranda, Megan, and Ali, we love and appreciate you!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 21 and a Birthday Shout Out to Val
My great friend Valerie is a blessing! I met her when I was 12 years old, just after my family moved to Kanab. We were friends immediately, and became "best friends" about a year later. She was the All-American girl...cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, dated the Quarterback, nice to everyone...we all loved Val and wanted to be like her. She had a strong testimony and stood up for what was right, which I always admired and appreciated.
Memories with Val: Cruising main with either The Outfield or Marie Osmond playing, meeting at the corner (we lived on the same block), walking to Frostop for fries with ranch and a coke, later working together at Frostop, crying together over stupid boys, skipping Sunday School (bad!) and going to get a coke at Stage Stop, being there for her wedding, AND the day her first son was born...many, many more...
Now, 20 years after high school graduation Val is a fantastic mom of 6 kids. (She always said she wanted 6 - it amazes me that she knew that way back when!) Valerie and I could go years without seeing each other or talking, but the minute we get together it's just like we were never apart. I feel very blessed to have a few friends in my life like that. Now that blogging has come into my life, it has been wonderful to be able to talk with Val through blogging and keep up on her goings-on. It makes me feel closer to her and appreciate her all that much more.
So - Happy Birthday Val - you are the best!
Surprisingly, I don't have very many pictures of Val and me together. Here we are, going to the Sadie Hawkins Dance our Senior year. She's with Richard Skaggs, I am with Kim Jones. Note my HUGE hair and white face, and Val's open mouth (sorry, Val!) and slicked sides of her hair. We are true 80's girls, right down to our rolled t-shirt sleeves, mini-skirts and tan legs, baby.
I lifted this photo off her blog - this is Valerie with her youngest, Jake. I love this photo!
Here she is with her hubby Damon.
Love ya, Valerie!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 20
Dylan has grown by leaps and bounds this year, and I am so very thankful to Mrs. Lambert and all the other teachers out there who go the extra mile to help our children. I know that any other teacher that Dylan has in the future has some really big shoes to fill. We have been blessed to have her in our lives.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 18
I love all my sisters - they are beautiful, talented, smart and VERY funny. We always have a good time together. We are fiercely loyal to one another, and heaven help you if you hurt one of us...the other 6 will come after you with a vengeance.
BUT, I have been thinking about Jess lately. Jess is the sister closest to my age, 5 years younger. I am told that I was such a rotten baby that my parents thought that perhaps I was the last one (and then for some reason later decided not to have just one or two more, but SEVEN more). Most of my childhood memories include her.
MEMORIES: I remember the year we dressed up as Princess Leah and R2D2 for Halloween. When mom put her hair in a ponytail on top of her head and then and cut it OFF and I laughed at her and chased her around the house. When she rode her bike straight into a brick building because dad forgot to tell her how to use the brakes. Running down the halls in our condo building in Colorado, terrorizing the residents. Playing catch with Jess and dad outside. Watching her play basketball like a maniac - she was awesome and SO natural.
Jess is a terrific mother, an amazing mom, a great friend and sister, and just an all around cool chick. It's been fun to watch her grow from a kid to a wife to a mom...I love her and she is a blessing in my life.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 17
Books, books, books, I love books. I love to read to my children, I love to listen to them read, I love to read in bed at night. Books are DEFINITELY a blessing!
Dylan's favorite book lately is the Cat in the Hat. I have read this every time I have put him to bed for the past week. The kid has a bookcase literally STUFFED with tons of books and this is the one he wants every night right now. He is also reading every sign he sees on the road lately. I love this stage in a child's life...when they figure out that every sign actually SAYS something. It's like a whole new world out there!
Zack's series of books he is enjoying right now is the Charlie Bone book series. It is a lot like Harry Potter - kids with special abilities away at a boarding school...he loves it. Occasionally he askes me if it is ok if he keeps reading after his obligatory 30 minutes a day is over. I tell him of COURSE he can keep reading! That is one thing he NEVER needs permission to do.
Matt is reading The Talisman by Stephen King right now. I noticed it on his nightstand. He actually has a few books on his nightstand - he is a bit of a surfer when it comes to reading - he reads whatever strikes him at the moment. Me? I am a get-the-entire-book-read-before-starting-another-one kind of gal. To each his own.
I am reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes. It's the last book of a series by Diana Gabaldon. I started the first book about 9 years ago after discovering it in the Kanab library. Historical fiction with a bit of time traveling (Scotland Highlanders! British monarchy!) thrown in for good measure. A fun read.
I am so happy that my boys have inherited mine and Matt's love of books. I know their love of reading will only do them good as they grow.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 16
My only brother DJ is a blessing. I have been thinking about him a lot lately. Can you just imaging being the ONLY boy in a family of VERY vocal girls?
He is SO smart, kind, gentle and extremely tolerant of his 7 sisters. He is a good dad. He is a sweet brother. I just love him.
You rock, Deej the Weej.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 15
Modern technology is such a blessing. Specifically, our DVR. It is lovely to be able to spend time with kids, unpack boxes, sleep, whatever...and still be able to record the shows I like and watch them with my hubby (or not) when I feel like it. If you don't have a DVR or TiVo, I highly recommend that you get it! (Yes, it's a shameless plug. If only someone would pay me for it!)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 14
Hey - I just realized that my teachers names are Sara and Angie, and one of my SISTERS (the biological kind) is named Sarah Angie! Ooooooh, that's weird!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The 52 Blessings Project: Week 13
"He is Risen"
Simply put:
"[Jesus Christ] concluded His mortal ministry with the single most compassionate and significant service in the history of the world: the Atonement."
--Elder Russell M. Ballard; Ensign, November 1994, page 65.
The greatest blessing of all. Happy Easter, everyone!
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