Remembering the Reason for Easter

As we head into the Easter season, I want to share the true meaning of Easter!

Spring!

I was so excited to see these babies open this morning.  I think spring has finally arrived in South East Idaho!  (even if I heard that it may snow tonight)

I caved!

I decided that I really did want to have a birthday cake.  Joe doesn't even like cake, and he especially doesn't like chocolate cake.  I LOVE chocolate cake, so I decided to make me some cupcakes.

It's my Birthday!

37 years young!  I am going to go to lunch with some friends today to celebrate!  I have decided not to make a cake since Joe can't have it and it doesn't seem fair to eat sweets in front of him.

Health Issues

Joe has been having some health issues for a few months now, he get really dizzy and has blacked out a couple of times, one time was while he was sitting in his computer class at school, so over his spring break I took him into the doctor to see if we could figure out what is going on with him.  They ran a bunch of blood work on him, one of the test was to see if he was diabetic.  The doctor told us that if all of the test came back normal then the next step was to come in for an Insulin Resistance test.  The first round of tests only showed that he was Vitamin D deficient, so they put him on some meds for that, and then we had to go back and do the 3 hour Insulin Resistance test.  We found out yesterday that he is in fact Insulin Resistant, so he is now on meds for that and we have to do a life style change and change our diet.  We are now learning how to balance carbs and proteins, which is really hard work!  Hopefully with the medication and learning to balance the carbs and proteins we will get him healthy again.

On a positive note, He is doing really well at school!  He did awesome on all of his mid terms.  Only a few more weeks and another semester is over and he is one step closer to graduating with an Electrical Engineer degree!

San Diego

Joshua was able to go with the High School Band to San Diego over spring break.
They left from the High School Wednesday morning at 6:30 am and traveled to Cedar City Utah, where they attended a clinic at Southern Utah University.  Thursday morning they boarded the bus and headed for San Diego.  Thursday evening they went to an outdoor mall the cool thing that happened on Thursday evening was that his Uncle Rex and his family were also in San Diego on spring break so he was able to meet up with them at the mall. (Rex lives in Utah, when he texted to tell me that they found Josh, I told him that it was pretty sad that they all had to go to San Diego to see each other)
Friday they went to the beach and also preformed at the Festival, they also went to Old Town San Diego.  Saturday they went and did a tour of the USS Midway, and then went to Sea World.  The band won a 2nd Silver award for their performance at the festival.

Here are a few pictures from his trip!

Here is when he met up with his Uncle, Aunt and Cousins!

before the Festival Performance.

 Pictures from the USS Midway tour

Sea World

He said that he had he a really good time, despite that they were supposed to arrive home by 1 pm on Sunday, but they didn't get home until almost 6 pm because the bus driver got lost around 4:30 Sunday morning.

It's Official

Jacey really is a Burger!  She has bad eyesight just like everyone else in the house!  I think she looks super cute in her glasses though!  Luckily she only has to wear them when she is doing school work.

17 Reasons I love my Husband Day 6

16.  I love that you listen to everything I have to say, even when it is late at night and you want to sleep.

17.  I love that you love me for me.


I love you Joe.  Happy Anniversary.  It has been 17 wonderful years.

17 Reasons I love my husband Day 5

14. I love that you honor your priesthood.
15. I love that you love the outdoors

17 Reasons I love my Husband Day 4

12.I love that you have a love of learning.  (he is currently sitting at the kitchen table studying for mid-terms)

13. I love that you are a good example to everyone around you, whether it be us at home, your siblings, or your co workers.

17 Reasons I Love my Husband Day 3

Day Three

7. I love that you can fix almost anything.

8. I love your smile

9. I love that your Mom raised you with good manners.

10.I love that you love your family (siblings) unconditionally.  Quirks and all!

11. I love that you love my family (siblings) unconditionally, quirks and all!

17 Reasons I love my Husband Day 2

Joe I love that:
 You are a hard worker, in work and in school.  You are always working very hard to provide for our family.

2.I love that you are kind and compassionate.

3. I love that you have integrity.

4. I love that you  like to spend time with us, and that you make it a priority.

5. I love that you are smart and that you can help the kids with math homework!

6. I love that you are willing to do service for others.

17 reasons that I love my Husband Day 1

I guess I really should have started this post 17 days before our 17th wedding anniversary, but I just thought about it today 5 days before our anniversary!


So here it goes!

Day 1

1. Joe I love you because you are dedicated in everything that you do!  Whether it be work, school, or family.

Happy PI day!

To celebrate PI day, I made two pies for the math lovers in my home.  I hope they enjoy them!

 Chocolate Pudding pie for Josh who wanted something Chocolate

And Cheesecake for Joe and Jake.

Some inspirational thoughts that I have been reading the last few days!

"Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before.

This should be our purpose—to persevere and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow. Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life."
 President Thomas S. Monson


Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has encouraged us to pray for opportunities to serve: “In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day … looking for someone to help” (“Be Anxiously Engaged,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 31)

Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time. You, as His son or daughter, were chosen by Him to come to earth at this precise time, to be a leader in His great work on earth. You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others. 
Russell M. Nelson


“[Heavenly Father] didn’t send you on this journey only to wander aimlessly on your own. He wants you to come home to Him. He has given you loving parents and faithful Church leaders, along with a map that describes the terrain and identifies the dangers; the map shows you where peace and happiness can be found and will help you plot your course back home. …

“This map is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news, and the joyful way of a disciple of Christ. It is the commandments and example given to us by our Advocate and Mentor, who knows the way because He is the way.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” Ensign, May 2013, 127.


" The Lord wants us to develop the faith that will help us rely upon Him in solving our problems and trust Him. Then we can feel His love more constantly, more powerfully, more clearly, and more personally. We become united with Him, and we can become like Him. For us to be like Him is His goal. In fact, it is His glory as well as His work (see Moses 1:39)." Elder Terence M Vinson


"We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask. We have the promise: “Pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.”
Difficult as it may at times be, it is for us, as well, to trust our Heavenly Father to know best how and when and in what manner to provide the help we seek."
President Thomas S. Monson


There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things [see D&C 88:11–13]. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “The Hope of God’s Light,” Ensign, May 2013, 75.