April Mantel

Do not condemn me for my inability to backspace and delete the missing n in condemn. I have felt the need, since I wrote it two years ago, to sand the board, repaint and rewrite the final two lines. However, I find the lesson in this ... just as the Amish, when making a quilt, purposely turn one of their quilt blocks upside down to represent their humility and being mortal, ... I look at my missing n as the same lesson for me. It reminds me of humility and that I am mortal. I need to use the atonement to overcome my mistakes and repent.
I should not condemn myself because of my shortcomings.

The final week of our Savior shown in the pictures below.
The nests of eggs in the hurricanes represent the
true meaning of Easter - new life!
A gift, given by a loving Father in Heaven
through His Son Jesus Christ,
who made the ultimate sacrifice for EACH of us.

I live for the Savior, alive who was dead.
By His loving favor our guilt can be shed.
Oh, please believe with me,
Believe His sweet plan.
Our Savior, more than man.

-Allen Smythe

Ammon's First Pinewood Derby

Ammon loves being a Cub Scout. He has been looking forward to making his pinewood derby car and racing it. He and Fred designed a pick up truck, painted it green and lovingly named it Pepay (Ammon insisted it be spelled that way) after our own beloved red Ford Ranger Pepe. (More on the history of the real Pepe later).
He won one race but the greatest thing for Ammon was...

"I had so much FUN!!"

Way to go Ammon!!!

Haleigh and Steph in NYC!

WOW!! What a weekend. Last year Fred took a trip with each of the kids and suggested I do the same this year. SO ... Haleigh and I spent Thursday night, Friday and Saturday in New York, New York. We flew home Sunday morning. It was FUN to have some one on one with my FAVORITE daughter.
Here are a few of the things we did.The view from our hotel room on the 38th floor!


Times Square as we exited our hotel, the Marriot Marqis, and look to the right.

The view from the top of the Empire State Building.

The sculpture that stood in front of the World Trade Center and survived with a few "wounds".

Haleigh and I in front of the Statue of Liberty.


We took a tour of NBC studios and saw the studio for NBC news and Saturday Night Live.
We ate breakfast overlooking Rockerfeller Center.


Haleigh with Matt Lauer('s lifesize cut out)!!!




We ended our trip with the musical "The Little Mermaid". It was AMAZING!!!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

So often we catch ourselves saying
"I'm so lucky my car didn't get hit by that mac truck." OR
"I'm so lucky to have great kids." "I'm so lucky to be alive."
I have come to know, it's not about LUCK , it's about being BLESSED.
I have changed my thinking to "I was blessed not to be hit by that mac truck." "What a blessing to have great kids." and "I am BLESSED to be alive."

Our moral for this fun green day: "When you think you're LUCKY count your BLESSINGS."



I loved these white porcelain balls with varying green patterns.

School is In

School was NOT cancelled today and after a morning of black ice, white knuckle driving I kind of wish it would have been. During the night the standing water on the roads froze and created frightening driving conditions this morning. I am glad I am home safe and sound. Happy MONDAY y'all!

SNOW in North Georgia!

It snowed today while we were in church. We came out to a parking lot covered in white. The ride home was beautiful with a dusting of powder on trees and grass. Unfortunately by the time we got home, only a 5 mile drive, the snow had soaked in to the wet left from morning rain.
It was BEAUTIFUL while it lasted.
The kids are hoping for no school tomorrow. We'll see!

March Mantel

After many requests from Fred "When do I get a turn to do the mantel?". I decided to let him participate. The THEME - Are you a TEAM player -
in honor of March Madness basketball.
I was willing to sacrifice our regularly scheduled March mantel,
"When you think you're LUCKY count your blessings", for the team.
No worries, the regularly scheduled mantel has been
moved to the sideboard.

Our focus, as a family,this month is to make sure
we are each doing our part.
No one player should carry the load of the team alone.
We will discuss: knowing your team mates, cheering each other on, and
understanding home maintenance responsibilities.















All scriptures and accessories were chosen and arranged by Fred!
He did a GREAT job!
See if you can find the stories that go with the scripture references
"They could not hit him"
"Ye did run well and did hastily catch him"
"It came to pass"
"Serve well thy enemies"