Gift # 8 Today

I know this sounds kinda lame, but let me explain myself. Today was a wild day! It seemed like all of us were going in different directions. We had Saturday chores, Ron had to work, we had more shopping, we had kids running in and out of the house all day long, and we have Ellie running all day long. Tonight while we were at the dinner table Ellie announced at 6:00 that she was tired and wanted to go to bed and therefore put herself to bed. For those of you who don't know Ellie, she is a pistol! She does not stop ever! Because of this she wares me out! So for her to choose to go to bed without a fight is a dream. Because of this Gift # 8 is Today!

Gift # 7 Tara

Most of you know Tara. She is my older sister by 18 months, because of this we have always been close. All through growing up her and I played together. We mostly played house and school. Even though Tara insisted on being the Teacher or the Mom all the time, I have wonderful memories of the fun times we had then. In high school we each had our own friends, but my friends were her friends and vice versa. In fact I just ran into one of my friends from MHS, Scott, and he asked how Tara was and then said she was like the big sister he never had.

When I went away to college Tara always came to visit me. When Ron and I started dating she was there listening to me when I needed a sounding board. When Ron and I lived in Morenci, Tara was the only one we could get to visit us there. For a while Tara moved to Colorado and then to Utah and I really missed her, but then she got wise and moved back.

Tara now lives only 5 minutes away from me and I love it. I always say I am so lucky my kids have 2 moms. My kids love Tara also. She is their confidant. She can get them to open up and talk to her when they are closed mouthed around me. Tara is always willing to come over and help me out with my kids when I am in a bind. On Tuesdays Ron has meetings, Bryn and Porter have YW and YM, and Torie and Kymber have gymnastics. For a while there I had to take all the girls (Torie on down) with me to gym and not get home till 8:30. It was a nightmare. Tara found out about this and offered to come every Tuesday and watch my 3 younger girls and put them to bed. Tara gives my kids piano lessons at my house and is willing to work around our schedule. Every Sunday after her meetings are over Tara comes to my ward and takes Taralee to my house and puts her to bed. While she sleeps, Tara finishes up the dinner that I have prepd and when we come home from church we have dinner on the table. What a blessing Tara is. She is a wonderful sister, aunt, and friend! Gift #7 Tara. Everyone needs a Tara! We love you and you can stop crying now! :o}

Gift # 6 To Be Able To Breathe

I have a horrible cold today! Need I say more? Gift #6 to be able to breathe! :o}

Gift # 5 Good Books

I bet you thought I was going to be a slacker today and not post. But I am proving you wrong. It is 11:14 pm (way past my bedtime!) and I am still up. Porter went with Tara to the Sun's game tonight so I stayed up finishing a book while I waited for him. I love to read a good book. To be perfectly honest, I didn't read a book on purpose (I read books all the time for school, but I didn't enjoy it probably because I had to read it. I don't like being told what to do.) until I was bed-ridden while I was pregnant with Bryndee. I got so tired of TV that I picked up the book Anne Of Green Gables and loved it. That was the start of my love of reading. I tend to be fond of series. Yes I have read the Twilight series, but I have to say I didn't love it. Before you all gasp in disgust, let me explain. I loved the first book, I could not put it down. My house was a pit for 2 days. I was so excited to read the 2nd book. When it came out I read it right away. I liked it but I didn't love it. When the 3rd book came out I read it but not right away. I was so done with this story that when I heard there was a 4th book coming I was kinda irritated. I wanted it to be done with the 3rd book. So here it is months after Breaking Dawn was published and I can't make myself read it. I know crazy. Anyway back to some of my favorites...Goose Girl by Shanon Hale-love it! These Is My Words series by Nancy E. Turner-LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austin-Love It! In fact any story related to Pride and Prejudice I love! There are many many more good series and books but these are a few of my favorites. Gift #5 Good Books! If any one has one to recommend please let me know Thanks!

Gift # 4 Mom's Rolls

Gift # 4 is my Mom's Rolls. My Mom is known for her rolls. They are light, they are golden, and they are delicious. It does not matter how many times I try to make my Mom's rolls they never taste like hers. Today I spent the afternoon making rolls as a trial run for Christmas Dinner and guess what? They are in no way like the rolls I had for Thanksgiving Dinner that my Mom made. They are good, but they are not wonderful. So my Gift #4 is my Mom's Rolls.

Mom making her rolls for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Gift # 3 Sunday

I went to bed last night with a different gift in mind, but when I woke up I thought of a different gift that I felt was perfect for today. My gift #3 is today, Sunday. What? You may ask? I have not always viewed Sunday as a gift, in fact there are some Sundays that I view as a trial. I learned to like Sundays when Ron was serving as Bishop. I think it was because inorder to survive, we had to come up with something quick! When Ron was called I had 4 kids and was due any day with Abby, my 5th. My oldest, Bryndee, was 8 years old. My thoughts, as well as many others I am sure, were how in the world am I going to do Sundays? We learned to rely on each other, and enjoy the day.

When our meetings permit, we all take naps! I love Sunday naps. Those of my kids that do not want to nap just take time in their rooms and read, play legos, color, or whatever they can find that is quiet. When we are not napping my kids are playing, together! On every other day we have to compete with TV and friends. On Sundays we don't have either. I also look forward to a wonderful Sunday Dinner. Tara comes over while we are at church, and with our combined efforts (my prep time before church and her getting everything together while we are at church) we come home to a meal sitting on the table ready to be eaten. While Ron was the Bishop we didn't get to sit by him for 5 years, but we did get to see him every Sunday. He was sitting on the stand always smiling down at us. Sometimes shaking his head at us, and sometimes giving a certain child the look. Now with his new calling we don't get to see him during church very often. But because he is the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency and the 1st counselor is also in our ward, when they both visit at the same time Ron gets to sit with us as a family. We love this. My kids ask every week if he will be attending our ward. He usually has 2 kids on his lap and another one leaning on him. I love it because I get to listen and enjoy the meeting. Like I said not every Sunday is view as a gift, but for the most part they are. Gift #3 Sundays! Happy Sunday Everyone!

Gift # 2 My Family

Wow! I don't realize how large my family is until I see us all in a picture! There are alot of people in this picture!


This is my family! I think they are a wonderful gift that I have been blessed with! Let's start with my dear husband, Ron. He is an amazing blessing in my life. He is my best friend and the person I want to spend eternity with! Bryndee has jumped head first into the teenage years, and I am really enjoying them with her. She is a perfect example for her younger brother and sisters. She is a huge help to me with the 2 younger girls. Being my only boy, I have always considered Porter my bonus child. He is alot of fun to be around. When he smiles, his whole face lights up. He is such a good boy and is always trying to do what is right. Torie is my happy child. Her smile is so contagious you can't help but smile with her. Kymber is my artistic child. She has been drawing since she was 3 years old. I can't wait to see this talent develop more. Abby is my sweetheart. So kind and such a peacemaker. Ellie is my spunky, feisty girl. She is definitely the boss of our family, but we all seem to be ok with that. Taralee is my baby girl. I kinda feel sorry for her because she will always be known as our baby. I have really enjoyed having her and her easy going attitude. It is amazing you would think being the 7th child we wouldn't be too interested in her "firsts", but that couldn't be further from the truth. It is like she is the only baby we have had in our house. Well there you have it my gift #2 MY FAMILY!

My Gifts

Lately I have been kinda in a funk if you will call it. There have been so many things going on around me that have affected me personally or my family that I have had a hard time just being happy, which had added to my funk. This is supposed to be the happiest season of the year. We have just completed Thanksgiving and I have so many things to be thankful for, and we are just starting into the Christmas Season which is wonderful. So I have been trying to think of something that will help me be happy again. I got a wonderful idea from a friend I have just reconnected with. Erin was challenged to list and describe 1 "gift" everyday for the month of December. Reading her "Gifts" made me realize this might be just what I needed to remove my funk. I hope Erin doesn't mind me taking on this challenge as well. So here we go and in no particular order...

Gift #1

Shelley Conway

After a short courageous battle with cancer, Shelley Marie Conway, 47, was called home on November 26, 2008. A native to Arizona, Shelley was born May 15, 1961 and was named Shelley M. Shelley and nicknamed “Shelley Squared”. She married and raised 8 children and one husband! Even though a full time mother, she always made time to help and be involved with serving others in church, school, sports, politics and scouting. She knew by serving others she was serving God which fulfilled her life in every way. Shelley is survived by her husband and best friend Michael, first daughter Britney; sons, Taylor, Gannon, Colter, Lincoln, Prescott, Briggs and her last daughter Zaida Coleen; father, Eldon (Bobbie) Shelley; siblings, Robert Shelley, Richard (Debbie) Shelley, Lyn (Allen) Bracken and Eldona (Jim) Stevens; over 150 nephews, nieces and brothers and sisters-in-law not counting her many aunts, uncles and cousins. Preceded in death by her mother, Zaida Marian Shelley and brother, Asael Reed Shelley. Visitation will be held 6-8:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

Shelley was the mother of my Porter's best friend. Shelley was a wonderful mother to her 8 kids. She was very supportive of each of her kids. I never knew how she did it, but she was at every event her kids had. Porter spent alot of time at the Conway home. With 6 boys in their family we liked Porter to be around other boys so he could see how boys really act and function. Porter was treated as though he belonged in their family. We felt the same way about Prescott.

When I got word of Shelley's illness (2 months before her passing, and just weeks after news of my Dad's diagnosis of cancer) I became physically ill. I questioned how this could happen to someone so wonderful. I had the opportunity to visit Shelley in the hospital a couple of times and never was there a word of complaint from her. In fact she always asked how I was, or how Porter was doing. I always came away from our visits feeling better.

Shelley's funeral was beautiful! I was not surprised to see the amount of people there to celebrate her life. The entire stake center was packed to the back of the gym. Her dear husband, Michael, choose to speak and invited his kids to share with everyone what they loved about their mom. Talk about a tear jerker! But what a lovely tribute to their wonderful mom. I truly think of Shelley as a gift in my life and am so thankful for the wisdom she shared with me and the wonderful example she was to so many people.