WoooooHoooooo

WoooooHoooo, Congratulations, Way to go, So happy for you, Well Done....oh hi...sorry I was just practicing how I will congratulate the winner of the contest. What contest you ask.......

I am having a really fun contest over at my other blog Cricket's Cafe. Go on over and see what you can win!!! It will make you smile....no really it will!!! I promise!!! Click here to see

Happy Birthday Brittany

Happy Birthday to our beautiful daughter Brittany!
We hope your day is as sweet as you are!
Love ya bunches,
Dad and Cricket

Punmpkins, Witches, Cupcakes and more......

I have a love hate relationship with the month of October. We get soooo crazy busy at work that by the end of the month I am sooo tired and worn out that I kind of hate it, but on the other hand it is just the beginning of the holiday season. And how can anyone resist all the cute little ghost and goblins that go along with it...and the not to mention all the Witches....I just love the Witches!

My Bff Tammy and her sweet daughter Maycee joined myself, my daughter Nicole and my granddaughter Paige for an afternoon of Halloween cupcake making!!

They are both so stinking cute!

Baked the cupcakes and gathered all the goodies...now time to decorate!

The little girls had fun....

And so did the big girls!

My Halloween table...

My good friend Regina wearing my centerpiece...

Our daughter Brittany wearing my centerpiece...LOL

Since everyone wanted to wear my centerpiece I had to make a new one!
I love Fall and all that goes with it.....it is just the beginning to a season of holidays, family fun and spiritual growth.
Happy Fall Ya'll

My Other Blog

There is a fun contest on my other bog Crickets Cafe. Make sure to go over there and check it out.

The Halloween Fairy

Have you ever seen a Halloween Fairy...well me neither until now!

I was thinking I needed to get out all my Fall and Halloween decorations and give the house a little make over. I got them all together, left them all on the counters in the kitchen and went to work. And when I came home my house was Spookyfantabulous!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooooo what do you thin the Halloween fairy looks like.....

This.......or maybe....

or how about.......

THIS....Yep...this is what the Halloween Fairy Looks like.
This is my BFF Tammy. She has the heart of an angel
And the decorating skills of an HGTV Super Star!!
Not sure what I would do without her in my life.
We are so alike in so many ways, it is SPOOKY!
Thanks Tam, the house looks fantastic.
Love ya bunches!!

Forgotten Blessings

For my friends not of my faith, this is Thomas S. Monson. Living Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which I am a converted member.

This weekend is General Conference weekend. A time when we get to hear the words of our Lord through our beloved Prophet and the other church leaders. A time to reflect, learn, and grow. A time to be closer to the Lord and remember the covenants we have made with him.

Today as our President Monson talked about blessings and how many time we seem to dwell on the lack of things in our lives instead of all the the blessing we have...I knew he was talking to me.

The last few months have been rough, no doubt about that. But the blessings have been pouring in and I want to share with you what I realized today.

My husband lost his job, and we were very scared. Savings was going fast.

Blessing: After only a few months with the help of a wonderful friend, neighbor and ward member my husband got another job.

 Added Blessing: It is one with a wonderful working environment and wonderful co-workers. Something he didn't have before.

I got my hand caught in a hand mixer and broke one finger and really hurt the one next to it.

Blessing: Even though the doctor was sure he was going to have to amputate it...he didn't! He said he couldn't believe how well I healed. He was so certain I was going to lose it that he had already cleared his schedule so he could do the surgery. But to his surprise when he unwrapped my finger a week after the accident, it was pink and thriving.

Added Blessing: If this would have happened a few months earlier while Scott was out of work, we would not have had insurance. And I was able to have one of the best hand surgeons in Utah as my doctor!

I found out I had a fast growing very invasive form of skin cancer. I was even misdiagnosed by the first doctor I saw, and told it was probably a bug bite or spider bite.

Blessing: A daughter who listened to her inner voice and made me get a second opinion. My regular doctor (was overbooked when I saw the other one) took one look and said it was cancer. He had me in the office of one of the best skin doctors in Utah within 24 hours and after taking just one look he also knew it was cancer....heck...even my dentist after looking at it knew it was skin cancer!
It was removed and sent to a pathologist to get tested.
Caught in time!!!!

I have a scar down the side of my face.

Blessing: I have a lots of hair to cover it.

I have to use this Chemo cream that burns and eats the skin away.

Blessing: I have many friends email me that they went through something similar and that though it does burn and makes things uncomfortable it will pass and in time the scar will just be a thin line that is not even noticeable.

I have struggled this past year with the true meaning of friendship. What it means to be a friend, and who truly shows up for me in my life.

Blessing: After prayers, tears, heart and soul searching I now know who my true friends really are. I desire to be the best friend I can be to all those who are dear to me, and will do all I can to show up for them when they need me. One friend really has been such a blessing. We have known each other for 18 years. But had lost touch for a few years, life does that sometimes. We have found each other again and realized just how much we have missed each other. We are so much alike, laugh at the same things, have the same hobbies, like to do the same things, and in general are just really happy when we are together. Thank you Tammy...you are the best!

After Scott losing his job we worried about our home. Would we lose it, would we have to sell in this horrible market and only make a small profit just to save our credit.

Blessing: Two angels called Sharon and Wendy Starling  (some of those true friends I was talking about) came to the rescue. They knew just what we needed to do and help us take care of it. I am not kidding...I think they both really do have wings.

After hurting my hand I was out of work for a month. I was scared about how much time I would be away and how that would reflect on my position as manager.

Blessing: I have the most loving and kind friend/ boss in the world. Tara not only made sure I was OK everyday by checking on me, bringing me a diet cook, taking me for a pedicure, or ice cream but she also made sure I had anything and everything else I needed. She assured me that my job was not in jeopardy and would be waiting for me when I was able t come back. This also resulted in another blessing. She saw the need for an assistant manager. That takes some of the daily duties off of me and has given another wonderful friend April the chance to have a few more hours and a raise. She too has wings, but then again she is sister to Wendy and daughter to Sharon so wings just run in the family.

Last month I lost a dear childhood friend. We had been friends since birth. She fought cancer for 11 years. She lost her battle with cancer but she had an amazing life.

Blessing: I know she was surrounded by people that loved her and were there for her. She knew God and Jesus and knew of all the blessings she was given along with the agony of living with cancer. She was always upbeat and encourage all of us to be the same. She taught me to fight like a girl when it comes to something or someone that you love. She taught me forgiveness and how to let go of the garbage that weighs us down. Rest with the angels my sweet friend Tira.

I could go on and on...my blessings just seem to keep coming. I was reminded today that when we look at our lives we have our own filter through which we see things. Sometimes that filter needs to be changed, or cleaned up a bit. Yes, we will ALWAYS have trials....it's what we were put here for. But the blessings are all around us if we just take the time to look.

And the blessings just keep coming:

I have a wonderful loving husband who works so hard for this family. He does his very best to honor the priesthood which he has been given. He treats me like a lady and show his love and respect for me each and everyday.

I have 6 children who I love very much. They have all been a blessing to me. I have two son-in-laws, six grandchildren and one great grandchild whom I love and adore. I am so proud of the choice in spouses my children have made.

I could go on and on, but will close for now.
I thank my Heavenly Father for all that I have. He has blessed me with so much. I know I will have trials and things will sometimes feel crazy and out of control but I also know I have many who love me and will stand by me and help me in any way they can.

I know my Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ will always be there for me, and will always love me.

Count your many blessing, count them one by one!
Count your many blessing, see what God hath done!