the year of new things and adventures

Kas spent a month in Utah by herself with family! never done that before!

I received a calling in RS....I think I had another RS calling for a few months years ago. I my adult life I have spent very little time in sunday RS meetings.

A few months later, I recieved a new calling..where my others will go away...Seminary Teacher. I have been wanting to teach Seminary. But, I don't like getting up early. I have been anti getting up before 8 pretty much my whole life. Now, I will have to get up earrrllly! I know it is possible, cause I did in the mission. But...scary! I am such a night person. BUT...I am soo excited. I love to study the gospel and don't do it nearly enough on my own. I am going to become one of those wise women who seem to know all the answers! ;) hehe. I can hope. :) Kaleb will be in my class and I will have 3, 4 maybe 5 other kids. realistically, probably 2. ;)

Jeremy is on his way to Paramedic School this winter! He's been working on making this happen for a few years now. And, amazingly it is all coming together! He will be able to keep his job, which is awesome. He will go during constructions slow time. So, hopefully we can keep that going as well. Everything is finally falling into place for it to work. It seems amazing. He will go to Boise for a 3 month intense course and then do his clinicals back here.
I love how everything is falling into place. :) blessings

This year Kaleb turns 16. 10th grade. Big things in the LDS life...becoming a priest, dating, driving. BUT. He also did very well for 9th grade. He made the honor roll...3.5-4.0! We were amazed. Kaleb doesn't really like school. and has always struggled with his grades! I was proud!

I also got the boys to read the Hunger Game series. that is a miracle. :)

Elijah is starting football this week. this is not a new adventure...but still pretty exciting. We know he will do well and are excited to watch him in action.

He got home yesterday...YAH!!!!

Kaleb had his first jiu jitzu match tonight. He said it was awesome. We weren't able to make it, since it was in Bellingham. But, can't wait to see the tape.

Anyways, lots of new and exciting stuff. maybe more to come. we will keep you posted. I still have to post my Bellingham trip. someday. :)

All is well. All is well.

...gird up your loins,

fresh courage take....

our God will never us forsake.

And soon we'll have this tale to tell....

All is well...

All is well.

We sang the song in church a few weeks ago...and I don't know why I really heard those distinct words this time. But they hit me.
We are all going to have experiences in our lives...similar to the pioneers. We won't have to walk the plains. But sometimes we will have to see those we love pass on, or struggle through financially hard times. We might have to do without for a spell.

Or feel betrayed,

or ridiculed,

or harassed.

We might have to work harder than we ever have and than we think we can.

Our lives might turn out very different than we ever imagined.

Well, I think our lives WILL turn out different than we ever imagined.

BUT

when God is on our side...or when We are on HIS side....

all is well.

and then each experience will be a badge we wear...

a story to tell...

an entry to write...

a memory to reflect upon.

Because we survived.

We did the impossible...

the unlikely.

the improbable.

...and it is amazing.

One time years ago...when I was going through an especially difficult time in my life, I was given a blessing. And in the blessing I heard....all is well....all is well.

It was very touching, because even though life didn't feel 'well' at the time, I knew it could be. Hope is an amazing thing.

But what was even more amazing is that things started opening up for me.

Things I really never could have imagined.

But things the Lord knew were in my future.

All was well. I just needed to wait a bit to see it all unfold.

In my mission we had so many amazing things happen all the time. Sometimes they were really good amazing, but many times they were crazy, freaky, 'you will never believe what happened to us' amazing. We started having contests with some of the other missionaries over who had the craziest experience each week. There were some weeks we just KNEW we were going to win...but sometimes a set of Elders would come up with something even more unbelievable...It was so crazy. And it seemed like for a time we had a great story EVERY week!

This time in my life was also what I thought of...when I was singing...

and soon we'll have this tale to tell....

While we were going through some really hard things...either my comp or I would mention...we're going to win for sure this week! and all of a sudden we were relishing our crazy experience. :)

I know easy entertainment...what can I say.

but, it gave us a totally different perspective! We couldn't wait to brag our 'story'!

Wouldn't it be great if we could do that with all trials...'just wait til soandso hears about this!' instead of the standard pitty party! :)

Some of my most challenging experiences have become some of my most cherished memories.

learning how to lean on the Lord

feeling peace amid the storms

experiencing the plan of salvation first hand as loved ones takes the leap into their next estate and KNOWING they are still with us

overcoming weaknesses

All is well...All is well!