Happy New Year!

Well, I'm off to a slow start this year keeping up on the 'ole blog.  I've had quite a lot on my mind, but none of it's ready to share here, so I've just been keeping quiet.  

We did have an awesome New Year celebration though.  There is so much I could say if this were not my public journal.  I can say that this coming together was not even a possibility 1 year ago.  Life can change dramatically in the course of just 1 year.  Actually in 1 moment that leads to lots of small moments strung together that change your life- if you will let Heavenly Father guide you.  It's takes a truck load of humility and trust to accomplish such a feat, but it is amazing to behold what the Lord can do if only you let him.  

This last year taught me that I don't have everything figured out and that's ok.  I have recently read a couple of amazing books by amazing men that are opening my eyes as to how to seek truth and the difference between wisdom and knowledge and how to live as a disciple of Christ- because it is hard to figure out.  I have to stop myself from getting jealous over the opportunities that I was not given to be raised and brought up among the great leaders of the church.  I wasn't placed in the preverbal petri dish of spiritual awesomeness to be nourished and shaped into greatness.  I sometimes wish that I could just stand in the shadow or touch the sleeve of some of my favorite apostles and a little bit of their spiritual maturity would rub off on me.  Kinda like the lady who touched the garment of Christ.  

For all my wishing about living in shadows, I read another great book about David and Goliath that has helped me to see what I really do have.  You see, I have been given a spiritual petri dish to be nourished in.  I just didn't see the gift for what it was.  I am lucky to be surrounded by "ordinarily" great people.  I have several people in my life whom I admire greatly.  Every opportunity I've been given has strengthened me.  I get to be a big fish in a little pond in my part of the vineyard instead of being a little fish in a big pond living among so many righteous people (don't get me wrong -  there are plenty of unrighteous among the righteous).   

I've always preferred the mission field because I tried out living in a big pond for awhile and didn't do very well- it brought out the rebel in me :0)   Reading those books about great men had me yearning for a more perceived perfect environment which I now know I don't need, because if I did, the Lord would get me there.  So, long story short - I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be….until I'm not ;0)

I had to include all the pics we took because Ethan and Bridger were crack ups.  

There's nothing you can't accomplish with the Lord on your side.  Our family goal this year or more accurately put- family motto- is "the year of miracles" and "in all things increase our faith"

Happy New Year!