"You just wait....."

Ever since I became a mom there have been people in my life who have said..." Oh, just wait until all those kids are teenagers....." And they say it with a somewhat negative or cautionary tone. Almost like they think it will be torture. Some of these people had teenagers, some never even had kids, some had kids the same age as mine. I heard it so many times I began to dread the 'teenage years'. But here I am...the mother of 2 teenagers and 1 tween and 2 kids aged 7 & 6. I have to say the 'teenage' years hit me a lot faster than I would have wished for. It seems like I blinked my eyes and CS (Pineapple Princess) is almost 15!!! Well, let me tell you something about the 'teenage' years.....it is and can be a GOLDEN time in your life. Is it easy? NO..but nothing WORTH it is easy. Is it stressful? YES. Do you worry every single day that your kiddos will make right decisions? YES. Is it the most fun you will have in your life? YES. Is it a time to nourish the relationship you have been developing? YES. Kalani and I have tried really hard to create a balance in the lives of our children. A balance that allows them to have and exercise their free agency but still adhere to the rules and expectations of our family. I have been pleasantly surprised at how fun this time in our life has been. One of our favorite things to do is to just sit and talk, to laugh, to LISTEN to these wonderful kids. Usually after our sunday dinner Kalani, me and the 3 older kids just sit and hang out. What fun!!! These kids have fun personalities, they are passionate about what they beleive in. They share things they have learned, they say things like..."hey, mom remember the time...." and I think to myself as they talk about the memory, YES I do remember. They ask for blessings from their dad who honors his priesthood. They are involved with their church group, scouts, student council, sports, dance, they attend Seminary, they memorize scriptures, they help with little siblings. They are funny. They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make me grateful to be their mother. They make me count my blessings everyday. They make me humble. They are not perfect. We have had some issues, some big-some small. I am sure as time goes on we will have bigger issues to deal with it. But I am convinced the foundation we are laying now will help us create a bond that will help us deal with the issues yet to come. I know that we are given each of our children for a specific reason. I know that for whatever reason I had to be the mother of the 6 beautiful spirits that I have been given stewardship over. I recognize they aren't "mine" they are children of our Heavenly Father--just as I am. I have been given the task and responsibility to care for them, to teach them, to set an example for them, to LOVE them. It can be a daunting task in this day and age. There are often times that I fall short and feel I am failing my Father in Heaven. But then something wonderful happens, one of my kids will walk into a room and come up to me and whisper in my ear.."I love you, Mom" or 'thanks, Mom'. Or a million other sweet phrases. It is worth it. It is the greatest time in our lives. It is fun. It is sweet and tender at times. It is like a hurricane sometimes. It is like Satan is living right in our living room sometimes. It is busy and chaotic at times. It is tearful at times. It is laughter. But even through all of these 'times' it is LOVE always. So, I say to all of you who have teenagers or will someday...."You just wait....You are going to love it!!!"

GUESS WHAT????

We are moving back to Idaho!!!The above picture is of 'our' river in Star, Id. Isn't is lovely???

We will be back on the mainland on Dec. 10, probably spend Christmas in Vegas with my mom and sister, then be back after Christmas. We are SOOOOOOO excited. We have no home, no job, hardly anything to furnish a house once we find one....but we are coming home!!! Only 82 more days...We are excited like you cannot believe. Our love to all.

Grow old with me the 'Best' is yet to be

I will hardly EVER post pictures of myself on my blog...I can't take a good picture to save my life. However...I have been in deep thought lately about my life. I have been truly humbled to realize that I had the greatest of blessings...I grew up with the love of my life, my eternal companion, my best friend. I would be remorseful if I didn't take a few moments to pay tribute to this sweet (he will hate that I used that word to describe him) guy. The title I used for this post is actually the title of our 'theme' song. I wanted to post a picture of us in our younger years and older years to show that we actually have grown old...together. I love that we are together. I love sharing my life with Kalani...my heaven. I love that we lay in bed and talk every night, sometimes late into the night. I love that he knows what I am going to say before I say it. I love that he knows all my weaknesses and loves me anyway. I cannot even begin to convey my great love for him. I truly admire him. He works. He goes to school. He does homework--a lot. He studies. He does daddy things. He does 'honey do' things. He gets up at 4:30 a.m. to get our daughter up and ready for Seminary--and then takes her--everyday. When he is over-the-top tired he still listens to me ramble on and on about whatever I am ramblin' about. He is the definition of loving your family unconditionally. He does acts of kindness for me everyday. I used to give him a hard time because he rarely gets me flowers, and I really wanted him to. But after awhile of constantly nagging him about not getting me flowers...I realized he gives me dozens of roses EVERYDAY. His acts of kindness are flowers. My life is a garden. One of my cherished memories of him and his acts of kindness is when we just had our 2nd daughter, Kawehi. I was still in the hospital and recovering from a C-section. I was sitting in the bed, kind of miserable. I wasn't feeling well, I couldn't sleep and I needed to take a shower. If I can wash my hair, I am ok. Just gotta have clean hair. So, knowing I wasn't supposed to shower yet, but knowing I really needed to wash my hair...he rigged a way to dunk my head into the sink and my sweet hubby....washed my hair. I was sitting in a chair and leaning backwards over the sink. I have to admit it kind of hurt....but to be sitting there and have my love's hands gently caress my hair and head, rinsing and washing my hair was the most wonderful feeling. He was so gentle and loving. I still think of that day in the hospital. That is the day that I really realized he would do anything for me and my happiness. I am humbled. I love this man. I love him. I love him. We have been through so much together. We have grown up--together. We have traveled this road called life--together. I wouldn't trade one thing we have shared or traveled through for all the money in the world. I will never make the Top 100 Richest Women list, but I can tell you I am without a doubt the RICHEST WOMAN in the world. So, Kalani, here is to you...to us....to growing old....TOGETHER. I hope the Best is yet to be.....

My hubby agrees.... I am a DORK........

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! I am going to show my age now...But I grew up with Donny Osmond being my 'heartthrob' and I have to admit he is still one of my favorite entertainers. I am, sad to admit, that I am in his fan club..(stop laughing Sami). I get updates every month as to his whereabouts, etc. I get happy when I see him on Entertainment Tonight...told ya I am a dork. So, can you imagine my level of excitement to hear that he is going to be on my FAVORITE show...Dancing with the Stars. Reason #2 I am a dork!!! I totally LOVE that show. And Donny is paired up with one of my favorite dancers, Kym Johnson. Much to my hubby's dismay I will be perched on my bed every Monday and Tuesday night mesmerized by the glorious costumes, the great music and the entertainers trying to dance. (but I will have all my laundry done and I will be using this time to fold...I cannot get over the guilt of just doing nothing in front of the T.V.) I am in awe at how hard they practice and work to learn the steps. I hope my "Donny" lasts through most of the season..or do I dare to dream he will come away the winner!!! Good luck, Donny. I rarely pick up the phone to vote on these shows..but you can bet his # will be set on redial and speed dial.