Overwhelmed...You could say that!

This last Sunday I was called to be the Young Women's President in our Ward...hence the overwhelmed part! I'm SO excited and completely humbled to be trusted with the young women. I know how your teenage years can change everything in your life, and how the right person can have a huge impact on those years. I also know how much the girls loved the past Presidency and I hope they will love us as much. Over the summer I was able to go to Girls Camp as the assistant camp director. I loved every second of our week we were able to spend together!! I had a feeling then I was being prepared for YW's but I was not willing to admit it since I was put in the Relief Society six months prior. I just kept thinking I would be back at camp next year and that was all, yet my heart kept telling me different. It's amazing how the Heavenly Father works and prepares us for different adventures in our lives. So when the Bishop asked me, I was not at all expecting to be called as the President!! That calling seemed way above my capabilities!! I never ever imagined ME in this calling. But like I said before I have felt like I was being prepared months before (I just never imagined in this capacity). I'm really excited to get to know the amazing Young Women in our ward. I know we are going to have tons of fun and hopefully learn some things too ;-) I am lucky enough to have the greatest women serving with me. I know I could not do it without any of them. I was sad to leave RS but honestly, my heart has been in the Young Women since Girls Camp. Once again, our Father in Heaven is control of everything!!! 

I hope Ben is ready to have lots of one on one time on Tuesday nights with the kids at home. I know he's probably just as overwhelmed if not more than I am for this next chapter in our lives. But luckily I am married to THE greatest man in whole world and he can handle anything!!! One thought keeps coming to my mind over and over again since I was asked to do this and that thought has been....

I hope I can be the type of leader that I want Cass to have. But I also know I have the greatest support system here on this earth and in Heaven!! So with that as my motivation I know.... 

I can do hard things!!!

It's great...Cassidy turns 8!!

HOLY SMOKES!! We can hardly believe our little girl is 8 and Baptized. She was very lucky and was able to be baptized on her birthday!! It was an awesome day with lots of family and friends with us. Even Great-Grandpa and Grandma Stoddard made the trip from Coeur d'Alene to be with us.

 We are so blessed to have such a loving and supportive family. My kids are also pretty lucky to have 7 Great-Grandparent!! I know that doesn't happen that often but we love it. It can get kind of confusing as to which grandparent we are talking about sometimes. ;)  

Thanks again for all of those who came and shared in Cassidy's special day and for all of those who called or sent a gift...You're all so kind!!! 

So stinkin cute!

Happy Christmas, New Year, Birthday, Anniversary, Valentines and everything in between!!!

Yep I'm that far behind!!
                       
              So here are some of the highlights-




Visiting Santa 

We had a great Christmas and were all very spoiled!!!

Kreston loved getting a Boise State sweatshirt like his big  brother!

Cassidy was the most excited!! She got the only thing she asked for!

 *********

Happy Birthday to me! Ok really its just another day in my ordinary life, but its the last year of my 20's.... No big deal!! I'm not afraid to hit the big 30!! So my skin may be getting a few more wrinkles, my hair may be falling out a little more each day, and I may never be able to lose that last 10 lbs but oh well, 

I'm a HAPPY GIRL!!!

~Well 11 years has come and gone so fast I can hardly believe it!! I love that he still looks at me the same way he did the day we were married. I never thought I could love him more than I did then, but I find that everyday I can. I'm so lucky to be his for eternity!

*We can't leave out Basketball Season*

Kaiden did great and had a lot of fun. We're all glad its over though...now maybe we can sleep in a little on Saturday mornings?!?!?!

~SURPRISE PARTY~

 MOM turned the big 5-0 on Valentine's Day and we pulled off the big surprise party two days before!! 

It was so much fun!! Thanks to everyone who made it such a fantastic day for my Mom! 

   

She is 50 and Fabulous!!!

 Mandy made this awesome video for her birthday click here to watch it.

My cute sisters

Had to throw these in because they are just so cute!

 I just can't get enough of this cute face, but do you blame me?

 

This one's just for you Grandma.....see we've had a little bit of snow!!! ;)

"Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened" -Dr. Suess

That is how I feel today. In fact that is how I feel most days. I tell myself that a lot too. Don't be sad, its only a short time in reality that you will see your brothers. I don't like to feel sad, I really am a happy person. The other day I was looking back through my journal and came to the entry about Todd. It is still so unreal. I am so glad I took the opportunity to write it down though. Here is a portion..

January 5, 2009
I'm not sure how to even start this entry. I have been kindof dreading this. It has been exactly one month ago today (Dec 5th) that we got the tragic news that my little brother Todd had died. I can't even describe the feelings I had then or even some I have now. We were sitting down eating dinner when I got a phone call from Mandy saying to come to Mom & Dad's right now. Something is wrong! We loaded up the kids and bolted over there. I knew something was terribly wrong. I ran in the door and Amy grabbed me and said, "It's Todd, he's dead!" I almost couldn't believe it. "Not Todd!" I said, "No, not Todd!" I don't know how to say or even describe what has happened. All I know is that I had a moment of shock and had to gather myself up again and do everything I could to ease my parents pain & burden. We had a lot of difficult phone calls to make. It was a long and painful night. I couldn't believe I lost another brother, and again to suicide.... Todd was not just an awesome Uncle, Brother, Son & Friend, he was so much more. I wish I could've shown him while he was still here how much he meant to me. I really don't know how much some hearts can take. All I know is that my parents have hearts of steel or something. I was just beginning to get use to the fact that Shawn wasn't around anymore. Now the process is starting over again except this time it seems to be a little harder. Todd was always around or close by to help if we ever needed. Now I don't know who to call. I truly miss him and feel like my heart is broken. I know I will see him again and hope they will both wrap their big arms around me and hug me like they use to.

It's amazing to me that 2 years later I can read that and still feel every emotion just like it happened yesterday. But at the same time it feels like 10 years since I have seen them. My heart has begun to heal. I no longer feel broken. I have realized how much I have changed since that terrible day though. I won't get into a lot of it, but have went on my own journey to "feel" again. I am grateful now for every challenge that my Father in Heaven has blessed my with. To love, grow, and strengthen the person I have become today. I know every experience I have had in the last 4 years has been a building block to the person I am today. I also know there are going to be many, many more building block pieces to be added to complete me. I just hope those experiences will spread out some. ;)

So once again as we come to a difficult time of the year for my family. One of Thanksgiving and also the last time we saw Todd. I am Thankful more than words can express for my little brother, my older brother, and also my brother and Savior Jesus Christ. My heart and eyes are full, not just of sadness or hurt but more of gratitude and love than anything. I am so blessed!

So here is to you Todd!! *Mandy did a great job once again* Kreston watches this almost everyday. He is such a mini Todd and I know he feels a connection to Todd and I hope it never goes away, cause I feel like I have a little part of Todd with me everyday through him.

Don't forget to pause the music player at the bottom :)

We Wish You a Spooky Evening and a night filled with Fear...

I love this time of year! Bwahahaha, (insert evil laugh) I also love that my husband loves to dress up as much as I do and makes it a whole family event.

Grandpa even stopped by with his bucket of Eyeballs! Good job DAD, now you know where I get my love for Halloween from ;)

This year I took the kids and some friends to the Corn Maze and we had a BLAST!!

I'm not sure who had more fun, me or them...next year the whole family is going for sure.

Terrible or Terrific 2's??? I'll let you be the judge ;)

I can't believe I forgot to post Kreston's big #2 Birthday!!! Slacker Mom!

He had a great birthday and was way too spoiled. Love that boy!!!