So, go to this here website… the Shabby Shop Blog.  It’s official!  I am a Shabby Artist!  SO EXCITED!  I will be posting at least two blog posts a month along with making a whole bunch of scrapbook pages to help with new kits, template challenges, and the other artists’ blog posts.  :0)

Christopher came to me this afternoon, and said, “I want to show you someping”.  It was SOOOO cute, I had to take a video of it to share!

LOVE. THIS. KID!

My cute little Christopher turned 4 today.  I can’t believe it!  FOUR!  *sigh*

We were in Murray last night and today because Ivon had a class, and we decided to stay overnight, so he wouldn’t have to drive all the way home, and then return early in the morning.  (Ivon tends to start falling asleep when he drives.)  So, Christopher got to open his presents in our hotel room.  He was SO excited!

He got the Thomas the Train “packageges” that he so desperately wanted!  :0)

And some more Thomas the Train tracks with Colin!  Oh, yeah.

Four?  Really?  Why do they have to grow up?!  (He’s SO cute!)

Then, since we were in Murray, Andrea and Brian met us at the Murray Park!  The kids were SO excited to see their cousins!  I was SO excited to see my sister!  (Oh, and her husband, too, of course!  ;0)  )

Emily really was excited, I just didn’t catch a good expression!  And, cute Ciara, I couldn’t really get a good picture of the front of her.  Come to think of it, I don’t think I got a picture of Joey from the front, either.  They wouldn’t hold still!

:0)

Lily liked to push Mallie around in her stroller.  She’d also go up to Mallie and smile and say, “Hi, Baby!”

Playin’ in the sand.

LOVE.  THIS.  PICTURE!

Soon, it was time to go pick Ivon up from his class, and then go home.  I had cupcakes to make!  Emily and Hannah frosted them for me.  They’re so sweet!

See Mallie?  :0)

Christopher had a great birthday!  We’ve also got another party tomorrow for the Van Duren side of the family!  That will be TONS of fun!

Happy Birthday, Christopher!  We love you!  :0)

So, a couple weeks ago, (yeah, I’m behind…), Hannah came in from outside to talk to me.  She said, “Um, Christopher says he needs to go to the bathroom…”

I said, “Tell him to come inside.”

She replied, “Um, that’s the thing.  Robby just dug a hole in the backyard, for a toilet he said, and Christopher wants to use it.”

“Ahh!”  You can imagine my dismay….  I ran outside, and this is what I found:

Yeah, he even got toilet paper.  Rest assured, there’s nothing beneath the paper except dirt- (the “toilet” had yet to be used!)  :0)  I had to laugh, though.  He was trying to be a good Boy Scout…

One of my favorite talks today in General Conference was given my Sister Ann M. Dibb.  She talked about how important it is to be confident in your Church membership, just like the apostle Paul who said, “…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. …”

When I was in Young Women’s, I had no problem just telling anyone that I am a Mormon.  And now that I am older, I am finding more opportunities out in the world to let others get to know me.  I’ve never been a full-time missionary, and I suppose it is somewhat daunting to know how to go about teaching others of the true gospel.

So, right now, I, too, want to say,  “I’m a Mormon.  I know it.  I live it.  I LOVE it!”

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church on this earth today.  It was organized under the direction of our Heavenly Father, and has the same principles and ordinances that existed in Christ’s church when He was on the earth.  The Priesthood has been restored!  And through this holy power, I have seen many miracles brought about- the most recent being my amazing Dad.  I love my family, and I am SO thankful to know that families are forever!  I am very thankful for Temples, because of the covenants and blessings made and given therein.  I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and knows me!  I am thankful for the atonement.  I know that without my Savior, Jesus Christ, I would be lost.  But, because He died for me, I can change my ways and repent of my sins and return to live with my Heavenly Father.  I am thankful for the knowledge I have, and the opportunity to learn more!  And, I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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