My light did not go out

Post written December 29th 2017

Don't let someone take your light and blow it out, leaving darkness.

My faith, hope and who I was - lost in that darkness.

Break free, leave it and move from it.

Re-light your light with hope, help from others, family, faith and God - God's strength.

Through all that and His strength I've been able to re-light my light shining brighter and brighter each day.

Finding me again along the way, re-discovering who I'am - my likes, dislikes, passions, connections with lost friendships, and exploring new relationships.

My light is shining brighter!
Renewed and refreshed, shining bright and brighter with each day!

My light will shine on......

(taking a moment to get caught up with things I've written but not shared yet, I think its important to continue to share my journey as things have started to wrap up from the last two years and move forward in a healthy and positive way  now, so thankful and so blessed)

I can't help but think of the little song that we teach our children and I once knew by heart so well too.  I hope it sticks in your head and plays over and over!  :)

A little bit of January

I'm really feeling good about myself and feeling me again.  I'm happy and gaining confidence again.  Its been such a journey these last couple of years but I feel it and know it that this year will be different.

Ben and I went to a friend's son's 4th birthday party a few weeks ago.  We had fun bowling.

lol this is Sara and Marlee "playing" with extra goody bags we brought back from the 4 year old's birthday party.  It doesn't take much to entertain these silly teen age girls.  Whose being the little kid now.....

Ben and I relaxing before we went to a party for New's Years.

Ben and I at the party.  We had a nice time.  We left to go home when everyone else was leaving to go watch the giant pinecone drop. 

Ben and I brought in the new year together.

Kyle's bumper.  Yes its off of the truck....all in one day we experienced the ups and downs of life.  He had a job interview at Walmart, was hired and then a few hours later he calls me and says "mom I'm sorry, I tried to stop" he hit another car from behind.  All I could do was laugh.....

With some of my gift card money on Amazon I bought this air fryer.  These fries are the first things I tried in it.  They were so yummy and simple and quick!  No oil at all!  Since then I've done, bacon, french toast, chicken wings and pork chops.  I'm loving my new air fryer!!

Karlee has been quite the adventurer,  her friends, Abby and Payson all went to Horsebend for the day and took some amazing pictures.  They had a picnic and enjoyed the afternoon.  I love seeing Karlee explore life!

Okay it did it again.....it actually snowed again!  This time leaving a little more down but not for very long.

As quick as it came it went.  Started with rain then went to snow, at least we got some moisture.  Thankful for that and the many little things of life, even the ups and downs.

Christmas Time

I'm a little behind on posting, I've written in a notebook lately and just haven't gotten to post lately so they next few postings will be to catch up on things.

I wrote this on December 22, 2017

Christmas--

growing up was always a happy time

Over the years I always did my best no matter what

was or wasn't going on at the time, a little or a lot --

always tried to make sure Christmas time

was a happy time for my kids.

Over the last couple of years my kids have made 

sure it was a happy time for me.  It's funny how things can switch for a moment or two.

Its a time of bringing us together as a family.

Sharing moments together to make happy

memories for the season.

Christmas happiness

short, needed, begin again

until the next Christmas.

Anyways those were some thoughts that were in my head while I was sitting at work on a slow afternoon prior to Christmas, just thought I'd share.

The next one that will post is a reflection of 2017.

December, Christmas Eve & Christmas

We have not had our first snow yet here in Flagstaff AZ, its a little disappointing actually! The picture above shows a brief light sprinkle of snow from a couple of weeks ago.  We didn't have a white Christmas.  Things are so dry around here that we really do need some moisture, but so far snow doesn't seem in our near future yet.

Ben thought it would be fun to take a picture of me just out of the shower and with my Christmas Leggings from Lu La Roe.  He thought they were funny looking, but thought I looked cute in them.

This was taken of us before we walked out the door on Christmas Eve to go to his mom's church for their Christmas Eve Service.  I enjoyed going with him.

Every Christmas Eve we all open one present and we all know it will be new jammies!  This year we not only did all plaid pj bottoms but Karlee added Christmas socks this time!  Fun, fun fun!

We all enjoyed Christmas Eve together playing games, laughing and munching on yummy snacks.  It was a fun night!  We stayed up way to late......

Christmas Day was enjoyed!  We opened presents and enjoyed a meal together.  We were all tired from the night before but our family time was well spent and moments to cherish.

Now we await the new year and maybe some snow eventually......

Sara 15 years old

Last Friday, Dec 8th was her birthday.  She is now 15!  My baby is 15!

We all went out to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate.

Karlee came over afterward so that we could decorate our Christmas tree.  The girls will not do it unless its all three of us together.

Friday night was a nice family night spent together.

Saturday was centered around Sara and her friends that she had over to celebrate her birthday.  In between of taking them to Dutch Bros, the movies, I managed to do a few things around the apartment and wrap some gifts.  I took her and her friends to the movies, that was fun.

I think Sara had a great weekend turning 15.

I enjoyed it.

I love the beautiful young woman she is going into, she is so much fun and very thoughtful and loving.

Thanksgiving Day 2017

Started with mimosas and cinnamon rolls!

Our lovely host was Karlee.  We had it had her apartment, her roommates were out of town.

Yes that is really Karlee in the kitchen....her kitchen lol so I guess that is the difference than when I wanted her to get in the kitchen at home.  She is making green bean casserole. 

My sweet and funny mommy and I!

Ben & I.  He makes me so happy!

The men watching football!

The girls playing apples to apples.  It has become one of my favorite games!

My mom and Larry, they are so cute!  We played Heads up, it was so much fun!

The day was filled with great moments to cherish.

The day was perfect!  Very thankful that we could all come together to spend time making memories!

Quick November Update

Kids sports at school has ended for the season.

I continue to enjoy my growing relationship with Ben.

I still can't wrap my head around that I have a senior in the house and that he is graduating from high school this year....

I'm really enjoying my new job!

My mom and Larry will be here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.

This is the time of year that time seems to go by fast with hustle and bustle after Thanksgiving and then Christmas and New Years and then it slows down again.  My goal is to keep things simple and to enjoy time with family and friends making memories to cherish and not worry about spending so much time, energy and money on gifts, instead just being present in each moment.

I will touch in again soon and talk more about my new job.  But for now I hope everyone out there enjoys their Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Live and Cherish