Lava Lamps, Chocolate, and A Cute Baby

 This last weekend I took care of my cousin's children while they were away.  They have five children ranging from 12 to almost 1.  I was so excited to go as, well they are children and they are AWESOME!!!  We made lava lamps, ate pizza, did chocolate fondue, watched the Muppets, painted my fingernails, ate cereal, played on my computer, and just goofed around.  I haven't been around their baby a lot so we were a bit nervous about how she would respond.  Before my cousin and his wife left, she crawled over to me and sat in my lap.  She was so fun to be around and such a good baby.  The experience was wonderful and I can not wait to go back up to see them.  They make my life complete.  I love them and am so thankful that I got to be with them this weekend!

Cute Baby Brynlee

Me and the Baby

After breakfast!  Yes that is candy in his mouth at like 9 in the morning. He is sneeky.

The girls with their lava lamps

Hero

Who is your hero?  First we must know what a hero is to be able to answer this question.  I asked my cousin's little girl this weekend and she told me a hero is someone you look up to.  Someone who is a good influence on the world and someone you want to be like when you grow up.  I have never thought of myself as a hero, but have thought a lot about who my personal heros.  So has my cousin's children.  At school they were asked to write about their hero.  The older children of this family picked Henry Ford and Jim Henson, people who I would classify as a hero.  But this is what the oldest daughter wrote: My hero is my aunt Jody because she is so nice.  I lover her so much.  She takes time to do fun things with me.  Her mother said she tried to get her to choose her grandmother's or an aunt but she wouldn't have it because her favorite hero is me.  I was so touched.  Just when you feel insignificant, someone makes sure you know you are her hero!

For Experience!

No, I am not talking about for the experience of life lessons.  I am talking about Experience Folger, one of my relatives.  Yes her name was Experience and her sisters name was Bathsheba.  And yesterday these two sisters along with four other siblings were sealed to their parents.  I have been doing family history lately.  Yesterday I went to the temple with a friend and we completed my whole stack of names that needed to be sealed.  It was beautiful.  Some of these relatives have waited many, many years for their temple work to be finished.  And many more are still waiting.  So I will continue to find those that need it done.  And I will continue to be the Lord's servant by going to the temple to finish the work.
P.S. If anyone reads this and would like to help, I have names that need to be done!

My favorite Christmas Present

While I was student teaching this last year, I didn't have a job.  It was just too much for me to balance.  So I have been short on money lately.  Thanks to my amazing family I am still eating and living under a solid roof.  Gas is the hardest thing to pay.  I find I am always running on close to empty before I put a few more dollars in the tank.  On Christmas Eve I had many errands to run.  I had some money but I was headed to Idaho soon after the holiday's and needed to save every bit so that if something came up on the trip I would be okay.  I was forced to go to the gas station and knew that what would happen would happen.  As I pulled in their was a whole lot of people standing around.  It was snowing so I figured they were pumping gas so you didn't have to get out of your car.  Imagine my surprise when they asked if I wanted free gas.  I started crying and finally realized that they were pumping gas and my car was still on.  Soon I was given a donut and hot chocolate while I waited for my tank to be filled.  I cannot express my gratitude to those lovely people.  That is Christmas and it is Christ's way of life.  Thank you kind strangers.  Your gift to me was my favorite!

The 13th Day of Christmas

I just finished reading the sweetest Christmas book.  I know, I am a little behind. I was given the book by a dear friend and have been reading it slowly.  I finished on Friday with tears in my eyes.  I am not going to tell you all the story because I think everyone should read this book.  It has changed how I look at Christmas.  Next year will be so different!

Snow, Blows!

When I say snow, blows I mean that it isn't very fun!  We have had a pretty substantial winter here in Utah.  For most of January there was not blue skies to be seen just yucky grey and lots of snow.  I have been fine with it though deciding to be happy that we were getting moisture.  But last Wednesday made me rethink this happy part.  I was driving to another sub job, this time at my mom's school.  I had been on the freeway for maybe a minute when I hit a patch of black ice and slush.  It was blizzarding so I was only going about 40 miles an hour.  Once I hit the ice I spun across several lanes on the freeway.  Blessed beyond words I didn't hit anything.  I came to a stop by the edge of the road and knew I needed to move fast.  But before I could even have the thought to move, a car hit my right passenger side door.  Blessed once again, the girl that hit me wasn't hurt and neither was her car.  I was rattled but not injured.  I don't have the words to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for protecting us both.  My car is in the hospital but I am not.  It was scary but I know that my Savior was with me the whole time.
So even though the snow blows, it will soon all go away and spring will come!  I can't wait!