A Gift

Stores put them on the shelves early - thinking only of the sales they'll receive.
They come in every shape, size and color.
For the young and not so young.

Games - to play together.
Dolls - to hold and love, to pretend to be the mommy or daddy.
There's the fad toys - the new "in" thing.
The useful, fun, will help learn, "oh how I need it" electronics.

We all want to give a gift that the receiver will love and enjoy.

So we get them the game, the doll, the fad or electronic just to see the smile on their face - the joy that infuses them.

Playing the games make fond memories, but pieces get lost or broken and soon they no longer can be played.
Dolls are loved and loved until we grow out of wanting to play with them.
The fads come and go.
With the electronics it's always something newer and better.

What's the gift that will never break, go out of style, be outgrown or be replaced by something newer and better?

A gift from the heart.
The gift of story....
...of love, patience, worth, grief, healing... written by those we love or even by us.

To be reminded of our worth, especially by those we love the most -
that is a gift!

~recj

Guess the Story

So I thought of an idea to help others realize the importance of telling their stories -
I will post pics, but not tell the story. It's up to you to guess the story (in the comments).

Exciting Heritage Makers News!

It's been a week or so since I got home from my Heritage Makers Reunion in Vegas...oh what a time I had with my Heritage Makers family! I'll post pictures later.
I also came home with some very exciting new product info and also new website info to share. Swatch books, jewlery, DVD/book template set, board books...if you would like to learn more, just click on the link to my website to the right.
Please check it out and let me know what you think. Please sign up for a FREE account if you don't already have one. If you do have an account already and haven't logged in in a while please take a look around and get re motivated to preserve your stories.

I look forward to helping you publish your stories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irdqtq7mF6Y

Here's a video to help you learn more about Heritage Makers.

Here's the Update

The last couple weeks have been filled with fun and frustrating moments...but I will only focus on the fun for now. Most of the frustrating is me being so ready for school to start again...kids not listening and what not.

Last week we had fun at Atlantis park with our mom's group doing crafts together, unfortunately I didn't get any pictures that day.
A couple days before that Princess AJ (along with the boys) had her first soccer practice, which I am helping to coach. There are 5 girls on the team all under 5. They are so cute and are fast becoming friends. This week they got their jersey's neon green with lots of little dark green squares on it...now we just need to come up with a name, I mean they do (with our help of course). Also on that same day Princess AJ helped me make a cake because I signed up to bring dessert to our Relief Society Spa Night (with dinner). We ended up watching a whole movie from the spa. It was so relaxing !
Last Sat we went to another super fun and super yummy birthday party at the Splash Pad. There was also supposed to be a ward Beach Party that night, which I ended up getting us a ride to, then it was canceled due to overcrowding at the Beach. Our ride had us all buckled into her van when she got the call, so she decided to treat us all to Golden Spoon (kids first time having frozen yogurt). It was so nice of the Wheeler family, I know my kids had so much fun with them. Princess AJ got to see her primary teacher at work (she loves her). GameBoy ended up losing a tooth & we all blamed it on the cold, hard gummy bear topping.
This week we had some more Splash Pad fun & more soccer practice.
Baby J. and I went to Disneyland to sign in Uncle Phillip, Aunt Vanessa and a couple of their friends. Princess AJ wanted to go, but alas all the kids have gotten to go with Mommy to do sign-in's before they were ticket age, so she had to stay home with JimDaddy. We went on a couple rides with them , helped them save on a purchase that would help to cool them off throughout the day, then slowly walked out, stopping just outside the castle and at the stores. We also had to get some water, cause it was hot and we had not packed well. I ended up coming home with a Disney trivia Wii game for the kids (even the biggest kid of them all).
Thursday was a bit crazy -mostly emotional stuff- but because of that stuff and my mood we didn't make it to Chuck E. Cheeses with the mom's group, like the kids thought we were going to do. JimDaddy even went so far as to take the TV out of the living room for a while. I finally did get the shopping done and my mood was brightened.
Today ---probably tomorrow too- was laundry. I had planned on Monday to do some Heritage Makers mini workshops, but didn't plan enough and one of my favorite quotes is "When you fail to plan , You plan to fail."
I still have time tomorrow for some mini workshops-just call or drop me a message- My goal is to help you publish your stories and have that magic moment of the book in hand , the life touched.
Of course there wasn't only laundry today...I did some Wii fit. I hadn't had a shower yet and thought why not get a little more sweaty before I take one. Lunch, nap,lots of cleaning spilled granola.
Finally at the tail end of the day we found out some exciting news - another little one coming to our extended family. The kids were being wild and crazy all the while of course, but having fun together!

Tomorrow we hope to go to the Angels game and get some cool backpacks and we also need to prepare a talk for Princess AJ.

One of my favorite songs which expresses just exactly how I feel and sometimes what I need to remember is Martina McBride "Blessed." It's on my playlist.

Party for Baby J.

My Baby J. is nearly 2...I can't believe it. We had his birthday party today though, because the place where I wanted to have it has free train rides on the 3rd Sat. of the month, which happened to be today.
I asked a friend from church to do his cake, because she has this talent to make really cool cakes. She said she was going out of town, but she could make cupcake toppers - which is what she did- they turned out really cute! My favorite was the railroad tracks with the little pine trees by it.
I baked the cupcakes last night then let them cool overnight. I was up early to frost them and put the toppers on. I even made more cake because I was getting nervous I wouldn't have enough. (We had plenty).
After a trip to Wal-mart...Butterfly Gram-ma picked up me, 3 of the kids and all the stuff. JimDaddy had worked late so I let him and Baby J. Sleep. They met us at the train place.
We had family and friends there - it was a relaxing, low maintenance party.
Baby J. thoroughly enjoyed himself....
On the train,
hanging out ,
eating his cupcake,
opening presents, &
riding his new scooter.

Thanks to all the family and friends that made the day so wonderful for Baby J.

Start Preserving = A Free gift

I am so excited to teach more people about Heritage Makers this month.
---All of you out there who have been reluctant to try, now's the perfect time...for being a host- there are some fabulous host rewards special to this month and next month. Hosting is you, me and a few friends and/ or family members. Don't live near me, not a problem. There is the option of online workshops.
....for guests-just for attending a workshop and making your first purchase you'll get a free gift.

All this to help you learn how and preserve your stories!

Whenever I get in the groove of showing someone how to preserve their stories, I remember just why I got into this business...I love the feeling I get when helping someone with their pictures and stories!

Click on the link to my website on the right to contact me.

A flower garden journey.

My(our) little flower garden journey started when I got some beautiful Daisies a few days after my birthday & SuperDashMan got some seeds from church. The Daisies were beautiful , bright and cheery. SuperDashMan's were planted from scratch.
Then the process began....new blooms grew...some died...then they weren't looking so cheery anymore.
I learned I needed to take out all the bad, for good new ones to grow. So I did.
We (the fam) watered and waited.
All the while SuperDashMan's Morning Glory's sprouted and grew and grew and grew...then finally on Monday I noticed he had a flower - so exciting!
2 of the Daisies grew more green leaves, then just this week I notice a new bloom. So exciting again!

So fun to watch things grow -- Kids and flowers ;)

Busy week, then Weekend at Butterfly Gram-ma's

So I am up so early of course due to children...and I thought hey I'll blog.

This past week brought getting a ton of laundry done, going to the Splash Pad late & missing our friends, getting out my rollerblades after not using them for 7 years, my most awesome game of Bunco ever, rollerblading to Walmart pushing a stroller with 2 kids riding scooters and 2 kids walking, watching our favorite Summer show Wipeout, taking JimDaddy to work (a rare occasion of him working early) so we could go to the fair & meet up with friends there, finishing Breaking Dawn, Princess AJ going with JimDaddy to her friends b-day party (cause I needed to stay home with the babysitting kids) and having a super fun time! After all that JimDaddy was getting ready for another day (5 days actually) of super late nights at work and I had a thought- why don't we go to Butterfly Gram-ma's this weekend? I knew JimDaddy would either be at work, sleeping or getting ready for work the whole weekend - this way he could get the rest he needed without us bugging him to get up. So I got it all set up with my mom and then realized 2 of my kids had talk and scripture at church Sunday- Jim told me to just call the Primary Pres. and let her know what was going on. I hate letting people down, so it was hard, but I called.
I left a message on her phone, then on fb. I finally talked to her last night and she was fine with it. Said the kids could do it next week - I felt better.
Yesterday we just hung out at Gram-ma's playing in the water and watching the Angels come from behind yet again to whoop on a team. Of course there were kids playing computer and horsing around and playing with her dog too. In the evening we went to her stakes Pioneer Day celebration. (In the evening here, cause the daytime is way too hot!) It was a picnic and potluck dessert. YUMMY! Some of the games they had were Tug of Wards , sack races and stick pull. My camera battery died before the games so I didn't get any pictures of thoses. We helped out my mom's ward in the Tug of Wards & won. SuperDashMan wanted to do the stick pull so he and I did it first. He liked it so we got GameBoy and Princess AJ to join. I had fun teaching them that it was the game Joseph Smith used to play all the time.
Baby J and the rest of the kids also had fun playing on the playground at this awesome park. Final note of the night- I went to change Baby J's diaper before we left cause I notice it was getting droopy and so I unsnap him and - Ta da - he is already bare butt. My mom had been watching him at the playground and said she saw a diaper over there. I had GameBoy go make sure it was thrown away - and it was. Crazy Baby J. has had this fascination lately with taking off his diaper, even some how with his clothes still snapped. Some of the kids got blamed for doing it earlier in the week before I realized how tricky he is.
We had a fun night , but I still did miss seeing familiar faces.
-recj
I'll post pics at a later date.

Pictures

I haven't put any pics with my posts lately, so I thought I would go back and put some pics in.

Been doing fun Summer stuff lately...movies, Mother's Beach, meeting up with an old friend, Splash pad birthday party for my cute neice, Splash Pad again.

Happy Summer!

Blessed

Kids asleep, Daddy at work.
I think I am blessed.
Family visiting, yet more spread out afar.
Family always here right where we are.
I think I am blessed.
Friends in abundance, friends who who help me to dare.
I must show I also for them care.
I think I am blessed.
Health, strength & a testimony I do possess.
I know I am blessed.

-recj

Baseball Fun with Mom

Tuesday evening my mom called and invited me to go with her to the Angels game yesterday. She works at CVS and a customer of hers had given her a couple of season tickets that she couldn't use. JimDaddy was off so he watched the kids (thanks great daddy!)
We got there plenty early so I wanted to go to the Team Store - I got an Angels gift card for my b-day. I saw some cute necklaces and stuff in the glass case as we were walking out that I was thinking about getting, then we went and watched a great game! They won of course 11-3. Another cool note was that they also had 11 hits, it's not all the time that you see a run for every hit. We also saw one of SuperDashMan's baseball coaches and his family there. It was good to see them because we hadn't seen them in quite a few days.
After the game I wanted to go back to the store and use my gift card. I got a necklace and a leather keychain- still with $ left on my card. I guess after the game they make you exit the store at the front door which takes you outside the stadium.
We were walking out, I was getting my necklace out to put on and I glance up and see someone I recognize from Angels broadcasting. I am not going to say his name because I want to see how many people know it. Mom mom and I said hi and told him how long we've been watching Angels games and watching him announcing the games. Then he continued to walk to his car and my mom tells me "get your camera lets get a picture with him." So then I am chasing him down with my camera calling out his name with my mom following. I am sure if there were many people around it would have been quite the sight. We finally caught up to him at his car and he was very kind and agreed to take a picture with us. I wanted to be in the pic too so I did the "take your own picture" thing. Even though he's just an announcer it was pretty exciting. It was a super fun time!

In a nut Shell!

I do feel the need to write about what's been going on here, but it is late (usually when I have big chunks of quiet time) and I am tired....so
in a nut shell--

family here,hanging out.
schools done for everyone.
All-star baseball (3 games worth)
daddy's working late-1 car dilema
Who saves the day, Grandpa & Grandma.
Happy Fathers Day (breakfast in the grass at church).
Scout activity to the Wetlands....kids working on their chores
to Wal-Mart, keys misplaced, walk home with a tired face.
Late night again for dad, what a weekend he has had.
Lots of bubble fun, just wait till you see the pictures.
A no rush morning, to Disneyland to hug a friend and get her and her husband in.
(Tower of Terror was my fate).
Home again to get the kids-off to chuck e. cheese to play with friends.
Done a playin' now they're tired, Daddy's resting so we join him.
keeping in touch and making a book= mommy relaxing, oooh quiet time.
All-star practice here we come, then to Wal-Mart-my keys are found
cheeseburgers & fries all around.
Doing chores with my little girl, making kids get clean.
All in bed-phew-what a day
It's movie time He say's.
Yeah for Mommy and Daddy movie time and now my body is saying
go to bed .

UP

We all went this morning to a free movie screening of the Disney/Pixar movie "UP". They didn't give out tickets so we had to go early (9am showing for Disney employees) and wait in line outside the theater. It was worth getting there early cause it was a great movie!
I love movies that bring out good emotions like love, trust and friendship-that make me feel what the characters are feeling. In essence make me leave the movie wanting to be a better person and do the best I can at pursuing my goals and passions.
In the movie one of the characters has a book of her life called
"My Book of Adventures."
It has pictures, momentos, hopes & dreams and goes through all the stages of her life. For those of you who haven't seen it, I don't want to give any more details of the movie, but let me ask you this-
Who is keeping track of your life adventures?
Will you have a "My Book of Adventures" to show the people in your life how much they are valued by you and others?
To show them what you value by lovingly keeping your memories safe to share, to always remember.

One of the things I wanted for my b-day was Daisy's to put by my front door.
So on Thursday JimDaddy let me go pick some out. When we got home Princess AJ helped me plant it was fun.
Now I have these beautiful flowers that cheer me up every time I leave or come home. I also had fun taking pictures of them with my spiffy camera. Also on Thursday Game Boy and SuperDashMan had dentist appointments. Look what a cool prize they got for going.
Friday we went to park day with our mom's group from church. Baby J. went and went and went on the dragon slide. I think he only went on it one other time before this (grudgingly). He kept going up to the top and sitting there, then he finally started going and he couldn't get enough.

Princess AJ went on with him a little too (a long with other park kids that were there).
Yesterday SuperDashMan had his first all-star games for baseball...he was so excited he kept asking me all morning about putting his uniform on and his game wasn't even until 2:30. It's so fun watching him as enthusiastic (and into it) as he is.
That was most of the stuff from this weekend so far tomorrow it's off to celebrate a friends birthday...the kids get to have fun at Disneyland too with an Aunt.

What a Happy Birthday....

Today my happy birthday included a trip to Disneyland with only one child
, then a friend,
then my birthday friend.








We visited JimDaddy at his new restaurant and he got me a birthday brownie. Baby J and I shared. Before that we had breakfast outside at Riverbelle and had fun watching all the birdies fly around while we ate.
When my friend called to wish me Happy Birthday she asked where I was....I said she could come join us (she has a pass). My favorite ride is Space Mountain, so she watched Baby J while I went on. Since we both had limited time the Disney cast member at the Space Mountain line let me use a baby switch pass as a fast pass, so fun getting special treatment on your b-day.
We finally got to meet up with my b-day friend and her family so we could at least take a couple pictures. I love my friends!











In the evening I got to go out with JimDaddy...
I chose to go to the H.B. Pier-
we ate at Ruby's Diner. We got to sit in the upstairs seating it was so busy.









Here's the view from our booth.
It was sure windy and chilly. We saw some friends there, had super yummy food! While walking back to the car (we were parked on a residential street) I stepped in some mud and nearly slipped on my butt. I got mud on my sandal and my toe, but I am sure glad I was holding my best friend's, My love's hand at the time....otherwise I would have been on my butt in the mud.
I had a fantastic day!