Tender Mercies...

During the testimony meeting yesterday at Eli's baby blessing, a guy bore his testimony about a tender mercy of the Lord. This phrase has really stuck with me over the last couple months as I have heard it often - random comments made by family and friends, in a RS lesson (which I seldom get to attend), and during GC talks. This strangers testimony, along with the remembrance of a GC talk ( I think it was by Eyring) - that talked about keeping a spiritual journal - has inspired me to start looking for those "tender mercies" that take place in my life each and every day! This could be quite the challenge, as I seem to be finding the negatives instead of the positives lately.

So, this is my quest - I will take this fun little journal that my mom gave me last month and put it to work. Each day I will find one tender mercy {or more :)}, make note of it in this book, and hopefully begin to "accentuate the positive" in my crazy little world. And I just might share from time to time...



As for today, my darling Miss Adilynn{#1} the trampoline {#2} and my mother{#3} (who gifted us said trampoline) all had a hand in my tender mercy.

I was determined to get my house cleaned, laundry done, halloween decorations put away, Thanksgiving decorations up, and Paislee's clothes organized. This decision meant that there would be no shower until it was done ( I never get my bathrooms cleaned if I am dressed) After picking up carpool in my pajama's (Adi was a bit embarrassed) and making lunch, Adi offered to feed Paislee while I showered (was that a hint?) but no need, there was still too much to be done, including both bathrooms! As I was cleaning lunch up, Adi came to tell me that she "had put Paislee on the tramp and was going to hold Luke's hand so that he could get on the tramp so they could all play together, and didn't that make me happy cuz I didn't even have to ask?"

Sooo happy! She and the trampoline kept all kids occupied and happy for over an hour and I got the WHOLE house vacuumed, a bathroom cleaned, and some laundry done all before nap time! At which time I was able to finish it all up and get a shower before they woke up! Yay! (thanks Ads)

BE - the leaf!

Ads is dancing at a new studio this year, and we have been super impressed! For Halloween the parents were invited to come to class and watch. During this time they did a whole ballet warm-up, their own "improv" dance and then performed a Monster Mash dance they had been working on - soo fun!

This is Adi's "leaf" dance - the teacher (in orange) was the wind, she got to blow the little "leaves" (dancers) off of the branch. The wind took a few seconds to get to Adi so be patient - it will be well worth it! (love that she played it up for the camera)

Costumes and updates

I thought it might be fun to throw in a few tidbits of info about the fam as I post the pics of our 2007 costumes! I am usually not the best at the whole dress-up stuff but I think we did pretty good this year! {happiest about Mike}

Paislee {Tinkerbell} loved holding her bucket and the wand and neither could be pried from her hands. This is a constant thing at our house - she is not happy when something is taken from her hands...She has also developed a love for Whoppers over the past few weeks (which I find disgusting) she has been know to get dad to bypass the dinner and go straight for the Whoppers a couple times! (sucker)

Lukey {gladiator} had to have a costume with a sword so this is what we came up with...He is also learning lots of new phrases, everything is "way" cool, or "way" fun, or he just wants it "way"bad. He also tell everyone "bye, see ya soon!" whether it be on the phone or as you leave the house - its pretty cute!

Ads {scary witch} favorite part of her costume was her broom and the fact that her 2 best friends were also witches (minus the broom) but she decided they could ALL 3 ride hers, she would share. Adi is also learning to read and spell at school - she has gotten really excited about this lately, some of the words she can spell are *I *see*like *can *and *go and her favorite, she just learned today...{dah, dah. dah, dah!} Del Taco! Yep, she can't wait for dad to get home to spell it for him! LOL

Miley {bumble bee} well, she did steal the trick-or-treating show when she pooped all over Mike before we even got to the first house! (poor tick-or-treaters who might have stepped in it) But the kids are warming up to her, Adi loves taking care of her, Paislee loves to get her rilled up by sticking her fingers in her cage and Luke now eats his morning PopTart with her {aww, sweet} and she pretty much ruins my nightly DVR watching with her horrendous gas! {silent but deadly, yuck!}

Mikey {Nacho Libre} has got it all! I love this and think he looked great even though he was a bit bashful while wearing it. I'm not sure his mother approved and positive his brother, David, didn't! (they thought this picture was a fake but he really did go to the Pickle's party like this and he won best costume, I might add!)

Update on Mike, well, tomorrow will be his last Friday working for J&K as he is venturing out to start his own tax/accounting practice in the upcoming weeks. He will be partnering up with A Plus a bit and is excited be working around his brothers again. This is a little scary for me but I know he will work hard and do awesome! (just leave a comment with any referrals you might have! :)

And last, here is the happy family together (I was Nacho's girlfriend, you know, sister Carn...something or other) and best of all Jeremy, Chad and the Pickles joined us for dinner and trick-or-treating! Fun, fun, fun! So, until FALL 2008 we are completely through with the "BOO" festivities!

Bring on the merry, the happy and the jolly!