Hope 2011 is safe and happy and absolutely wonderful in every possible way.

This is crazy!

So I bought this candy from the dollar store for Ashley's stocking.
Toxic Waste extreme sour candy.
Yesterday she decided to enjoy a few pieces.

It made her mouth bleed!

Here's the cautionary message on the side, which we didn't notice til after the fact:

CAUTION!

Consuming more than one within

 a brief time may cause irritation

to mouth. Sensitive individuals

should not consume this product.

Who ever heard of a caution message on candy?

How many kids actually stop to check the back of the package for such a thing?

Crazy!

Merry Christmas!

May you experience the true gifts of the season.

Happy Birthday Brother Joseph

Ok, last one.
Here is our other favorite song from the cd I've been raving about lately.
I can't find it on youtube. Wish you could hear it. It's lovely.


LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

Written by Jason Deere

The morning was clear on the road from Nauvoo

A tear touched his eye as his home fell from view

The journey was silent and few words were said

As he leaned to his brother and quietly said



As a lamb to the slaughter I willingly go

And die for my Father, His strength fills my soul

I’ve lived for my Savior and I’ll die for Him too

And with humble heart I lay down my life a prophet of truth



Four humble men sang with the angels on high

“He asked if I for him would die

The flesh was weak, my blood ran chill

But my free spirit cried I will!”

For I know this day I shall see my Savior’s face



As a lamb to the slaughter I willingly go

And die for my Father, His strength fills my soul

I’ve lived for my Savior and I’ll die for Him too

And with humble heart I lay down my life a prophet of truth



A noise from the stairway, a shot through the door

The first martyr fell to the floor

Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, Oh my dear brother Hyrum

Today you’ll find peace

Oh Lord my God release my soul, set my spirit free



As a lamb to the slaughter I willingly go

And die for my Father, His strength fills my soul

I’ve lived for my Savior and I’ll die for Him too

And with humble heart I lay down my life a prophet of truth

And with humble heart I go to my grave a prophet of truth



Thank you Joseph for all you did to help bring about the restoration of the gospel. Thank you for your valiant service to the Lord, for your faith and courage and convictions. You were a great tool in the Lords hands to bring about change to this world. We love you.


Ok, I lied. One more  REALLY good one, check out this one. Also one of our favorites.

I love this!!! Thanks Barbara!

Another favorite...

This is perhaps my favorite song from the cd "Joseph-A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet".
Although, .... I have another one which I think is also my favorite...too hard to pick.
Anyway, to hear it, click here.
I blast this song in my car. Ashley loves it too. It's like our rock anthem in the mornings on the way to the busstop.
It just really helps me feel gratitude for Joseph Smith and his faith, and his courage to do the things he needed to do to help bring about the restoration of the gospel.

the lyrics:

THE RISING
Written by Jason Deere
I told my mother what troubled my heart

I saw the worry as she took me in her arms

I told the preacher, and he looked at me

And I saw the rising that never let me be



Oh the rising

(The boy, the faith, the prayers, the hate)

From weak things the great things

Are rising, rising

(The love, the fear, the fire, the tears)

The persecution, the spirit, the peace



The spirit of God like a fire it spread

Calling the nations put a price upon our heads

Running through darkness and running to light

Praying on our knees for one more day every night



Amid the rising

(The boy, the faith, the prayers, the hate)

From weak things the great things

Are rising, rising

(The love, the fear, the fire, the tears)

The persecution, the spirit, the peace



I don’t know all the answers but I do my best

To live up to the rising that won’t let me rest

Oh the rising…

WB Music Corp (ASCAP)


Again, I hope you listen to it, I think it's pretty awesome.

Just call me a copycat...

You probably all already know who this guy is. He teaches fourth grade and takes awesome photographs and blogs about it all. Pretty cool.
His "Moments with Joey" are so fun to read though, thought I'd share one of my favorites with you:
I copied it by the way, from his awesome blog.

SCENE 1, INTERIOR. MORNING, FIFTH GRADE CLASSROOM. The teacher has just taken two Tylenol for a migraine. He is rubbing his temples at the back table with his eyes closed. When he opens his eyes, a ten year-old boy is standing in front of him.
JOEY: Are you okay, Mr. Z?
TEACHER: I just have a headache, that’s all.
[The boy nods].
JOEY: Yeah, me too...
TEACHER: They’re not very much fun, are they?
JOEY: Nope. [Pause]. Mr. Z? Would you ever push me off a cliff?
TEACHER: Now why in the world would I ever do something like that?
JOEY: I don't know, maybe because it's fun? [pause]. Princesses are mean. [pause]. Girls are mean, too. They always get what they want in fairy tales.
TEACHER: What does that have to do with anything, Joey?
[The boy shrugs and continues to stand there, after a second, he takes a small step closer to his teacher].
TEACHER: Wow, I can't believe it, my headache just got worse.
[The boy takes a step backward].
TEACHER: Wow, now that suddenly feels better. [pause]. Isn't that interesting? The closer you get, the worse my headache seems to get. When you move away the pain goes away, too.
[The boy grins].
JOEY: So, I give you headaches, Mr. Z?
TEACHER: You said it, not me…
[Fade to black].
~~~~~~~~~
I love it.
Anyway, go check him out if you haven't already.

What I hope for my boys...

There is this beautiful cd I have.

Joseph a Nashville Tribute to the Prophet

I've had it for a couple years now, but I've listened to it in my car constantly over the past few weeks. I adore it. The music is beautiful and insired and so touching. Maybe because Joseph Smith's birthday is this month--I don't know why, but I just can't get enough of it. I'll probably share a few of my favorites from it this week.
On it is this particular song: Brother I'll FollowYou  (click to hear it)
It makes me ponder the love Joseph and Hyrum Smith shared for each other. It makes me wonder if any two brothers have ever loved each other as these two did. And I hope that my sweet little boys can share this kind of love for each other as well.

The lyrics:

BROTHER I'LL FOLLOW YOU

Written by Jason Deere

From the first time you told me about

Everything you had seen

We were just boys, but there was no doubt

That in my heart I believed

That brother I’d follow you

Into a hailstorm of an angry town

With words like jagged knives

Every stone was meant to bring you down

Something you’d know all your life

And brother I’ll follow you

Rain or shine…fire and ice

With faith like iron

You walk right on through

And brother I’ll follow you

Into Ohio, a new northern town

Not knowing just what lies in store

Hearts were changing the Saints we grew

As our hands built the House Of Our Lord

And brother I’ll follow you

Into a cold night our children cried

Driven further west

And out of a swamp our hands built up Navuoo

And we prayed in the Lord we’d find rest

And brother we followed you

Rain or shine…fire and ice

With faith like iron

You walked right on through

And brother I’ll follow you

Into a building of sand, stone and steel

With faith like a rock you walked in

And at the end yours eyes looked into mine

With the love of a life-long friend

And yes, brother, I’ll follow you

Rain or shine…fire and ice

With faith like iron

You walked right on through

And brother I’ll follow you

I hope you'll listen to it, I really love it.

I really hate texting.

And do you want to know why?
I just don't know when to stop!
And I don't mean I text a lot.
I mean, here's a typical text convo for me:

me: hey, can you come in to work tonight. So and so called out.
them: oh no sorry, I'm busy.
me: Ok thanks anyway
them: sure thing, sorry.
me: no problem.
them: thanks again
me:  your welcome
and by this point I'm just gritting my teeth thinking "please, don't thank me again. Don't say good-bye. Just be done already!!"
It's probably all the same things you would say in a speaking conversation, but for some reason, when texting it's just such a pain in the kiester! And I'm usually debating whether or not there's someting else I should add. Like goodbye;  but then they'll text goodbye back, or "see ya' later", and then I have to reply.
WHERE DOES IT END????

StUDent of the MonTH and RAinbow HeAd

I'm so proud of my Haley.

She was nominated Student of the week, two weeks ago.

And this week, she was awarded Student of the Month!!

 She got to have lunch with the principal! Pizza. Yum!

She got a cool certificate, and some coupons for food. (my favorite--in n out!)

 And a cool little necklace.

Way to go Haley!! You rock girlfriend!!!

In other news.

Ashley rocks the world of rainbow colored hair.

 She does this herself with food color. Silly girl. I actually think it looks pretty.

However, she is dwindling my supply of food color.

Maybe I should get her to do my hair.