Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Jared's mom's birthday! I love this picture her and her husband in front of the Denver temple because it captures them and what their lives center around...the gospel of Jesus Christ and their marriage and family. It brings tears to my eyes as I think about the sacrifices that they have made throughout their lives for those two things. Despite much opposition from family and friends, Mitch and Caroline chose to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a young married couple because they knew it was true. They have dedicated themselves to studying the gospel, living the commandments, and serving the Lord ever since. They are true examples of disciples of Christ.

In order to give their children a better life, they have given up everything they own three times to move to a new country. They have started over again each time keeping their family strong despite many difficult challenges. I look at mom and the things that she sacrificed and did for her children while dad worked hard to provide for them and I only hope that I can live up to the high standard that she has set. She has loved them, cared for them, and raised them with a sure knowledge of their Savior and of the purpose of life. This picture was taken at the wedding of their fifth and youngest child. All five were married in the temple and are striving to do right as they succeed in their lives in their corner of the country (we are spread throughout the US). They have accepted those of us who are lucky enough to join their family through marriage with open hearts and they now have 11 grandchildren! What a legacy that have created. We love them so much! Happy Birthday Mom.

What have you done?

Rules: Anything you have done has to be in colored, bold, and/or underlined. How much have you done? It only takes about 5 minutes…Just do it..it's fun!
The things I've done are in Blue
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
7. Been to Disneyland!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched an amazing lightning storm - I LOVE crazy weather and SO enjoy watching it!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing & cake decorating - with advice from family and friends of course!)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (with Jared's help...well he did most of the work :) )
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (NEVER!)
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - someday! I really want to!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - I know Japanese, but I definitely didn't teach myself! I had help from my dad and teachers as well as help from above.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - highly disliked it and will probably never do it again!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa - best trip EVER. Everyone should go!
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing - Jared has several times. I stay home and watch the kids and go shopping!
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - Couldn't convince Jared to go :(
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - with Jared
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - my Strawberry Shortcake can where I kept all of my "treasures". I have SO enjoyed looking at the silly things that were my childhood treasures!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle -10 mph was too fast for me!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Jared won't even let me watch...not that I want to.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Elder Holland (I got to sit next to him through my commencement exercises at Dixie College because we both spoke) and Steve Young (at my cousin's wedding. She married his brother, Tom Young)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy - someday I will get to travel the world! :)
I scored a 42 how about you?

The Easter Story...Brielle's version

FHE Last Night:

Opening Song: "I Lived in Heaven" -- 3 times (Brielle's new favorite song thanks to primary)

Opening Prayer: Brielle

Lesson about Easter: Mom and Dad

Review of Lesson: Brielle (video)

Treat: Rice Krispie treats (Brielle originally said she wanted marshmallows for dessert. A couple of hours later she asked what we were going to make with the marshmallows. When I suggested we just have marshmallows she said "I want what we had when Brian and Shell came over and candy popcorn. (both things we make with marshmallows)" Last time Brian and Michelle came we made rice krispie treats for the first time! I love how good her memory is! She settled for just doing one of her two suggestions.)

Activity: Watching video and playing horsey

Closing Prayer: Nathan

I LOVE FHE! It is so rewarding to plan with Brielle now that she is old enough and to see her learn and gain confidence presenting and being in charge. I am seeing that the blessings of FHE are not only spiritual, though I am definitely very grateful for that aspect as well.

Wonderful Weekend

We had a great time this weekend with family. My parents drove up (thanks dad for making the time to come up despite the taxes that were calling and thanks mom for driving!) and we celebrated my dad's birthday on Friday night and had a baby shower for Michelle on Saturday. FUN! My dad chose to (are you sitting down?) go shopping for his birthday! Can you believe it? Me neither. Brian and Michelle drove down and we all met at Mr. Mac's where my dad bought 2 suits for the price of one. Great sale! Then mom and dad treated us all to Indian food at the Bombay House! Delish! Then we all came here for pie and present opening. It was so much fun. The next morning Gpa Ken and daddy took the kids to go watch some falconry and mom and I drove to Salt Lake where we had a baby shower for Michelle. It was so much fun to see all of the people who drove long distances to celebrate with Michelle. She and Brian are very loved people. It was a fabulous day! I love family.

Happy Birthday Cheryl

Today is Cheryl's birthday! Cheryl is Jared's sister, the sibling just younger than him. I remember when I first learned of Cheryl. Jared and I had gone on a couple of dates and were starting to hang out together quite often when his sister decided to move to Provo to go to BYU. She was going to be living in our ward and Jared couldn't wait. He told me all about his amazing sister, what a wonderful relationship the two of them had, and how much fun she was. He was so excited to have her living so close. All of the things he said proved to be true. It was so fun to get to know her while we were dating and I will never forget the sweet note she wrote me welcoming me into the family when Jared and I got engaged. It meant so much to me. We are so grateful to have such a loving, kind sister in our family. We love you Cheryl! Happy Birthday!

This is one of my favorite pictures taken at Sean and Lisa's wedding...all the Mackrory girls (except Ann...we missed you!). Back row (left to right): Mom, Kristen, KaraLynne, and Cheryl and, of course, the bride, Lisa, is front and center.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

March 16th is my dad's birthday...I know an awful time for a CPA to have a birthday! :) I hope that he is able to find some relief from the stress to celebrate the birth of one of the greatest men on earth. I love and respect my father with all of my heart. I am grateful for his love and sacrifice for me! When I was in 6th grade my dad saw in me the potential to become a good runner and he encouraged me to develop that talent. He would get me out of bed at 6 am 3 mornings a week and we would go running together. That time spent together is a treasure to me and always will be. We developed a strong relationship that continues to this day as we talked and ran. He always showed such an interest in me and my life and helped me through difficult times (both on the track and off). When I would run in meets he was always there cheering me on. Usually he was on the back side of the track where no one else was there to cheer. He would call out my time and how close I was to the splits that we determined I should be at at each point in the race and then he would encourage me to do my best. He still does that for me even though I'm no longer running track. He cheers me on, supports and loves me, guides me when I ask for it, and makes me feel like I am doing a great job at whatever I am engaging in. Thank you dad for giving me strength to do my best and for setting an example that I can safely follow as I try to be the best parent I can and to return to our Heavenly Father. I love you!

Tag - Verbage

My friend Jana did this on her blog. I so enjoyed learning about her and thought it would be an enlightening experience to do it myself.
1. I love my family.
2. I fear the loss of someone close to me. I always have.
3. I crave peace, quiet, a clean and orderly home, and yummy food.
4. I dislike gossip. There are many times that I just wish that we could live in a society where we only speak well of each other. I wish I could better live up to that standard myself.
5. I honor wonderful parents, like mine and Jared’s.
6. I discontinue speaking ill of others (#4 reminded me that I want to do better at that). My sisters are the epitome of seeing the positive in those around them and focusing on that.
7. I require sleep, exercise, and regular spiritual and physical nourishment.
8. I refuse to go to bed at night without doing my bedtime routine (although I have learned to do it a lot faster than I did before I got married):

• Bathroom things (brush and floss, contacts out, wash face etc.),
• Check on the kids and make sure the doors are locked,
• Write in all 3 journals: mine, Brielle’s and Nathan’s,
• Read the scriptures (if I haven’t already),
• Pray,
• And read and pray with Jared.

9. I think it is important to continually be trying to improve oneself, whether through education or improving one’s character.
10. I perceive beauty in the little things around me: flowers, mountains, my children’s eyes, and relationships.
11. I disengage when someone starts getting too pushy. I leave them to their own way of thinking and I remain true to mine.
12. I enjoy learning about our Founding Fathers and about how this great country was established. I am grateful to be an American citizen.
13. I loathe how so often good is portrayed as bad and bad is portrayed as good.
14. I worry about raising my children in a world with declining moral values.
15. I enjoy a quiet walk with Jared, an engaging game of racquetball, and going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant (especially the few times when we have splurged and gotten an appetizer, main course, and dessert!).
16. I contemplate how life would be without the gospel. I am grateful for the meaning, strength, and guidance I receive from a knowledge of my Father, His Son, and Their plan for us.
17. I cherish relationships with my family and close friends. My connection with others brings me joy and fulfillment. A heartfelt and enlightening conversation with someone I love makes my day meaningful. As do comments on my blog! :)
18. I pray that I will be able to be a good wife and mother. I pray that my relationship with Jared will always strengthen. I pray that I will be able to raise my children to be strong, righteous people who will make a difference.
19. I value great deals! I LOVE it when I get a pound of strawberries for a dollar or a cute shirt for under $5. I have had to keep myself from spending too much time searching out the great deals.
20. I instigate family dinner, scripture study, and prayer.
21. I mock…I don’t know. I try not to unless it is in good-humored jest with Jared.
22. I regard strengthening home and family as my most important role.
23. I struggle balancing my life.
24. I respect those who act with courtesy, kindness, and respect to all those around them, as well as people who confidently do what is right.
25. I wonder where my family will all end up. We are all heading off to various parts of the country for education and experience and I wonder if we will have the privilege of living close to each other again.
26. I obsess about details: catching every idea or detail in a book, writing careful lesson plans for Brielle's preschool, or measuring everything perfectly in a recipe.
27. I look forward to moving to Wisconsin this summer. I am excited for the challenge, to live in the mission field, and to live vacation-style (we will only be there for 3 months so we want to see all that there is to see in that area of the country—FUN!).
28. I treasure the early morning hours (when I have gone to bed early enough to enjoy them).
I would love to learn more about you if you feel up to doing the same exercise! Here is the list:
1. I love
2. I fear
3. I crave
4. I dislike
5. I honor
6. I discontinue
7. I require
8. I refuse
9. I think
10. I perceive
11. I disengage
12. I reject
13. I loathe
14. I worry
15. I enjoy
16. I contemplate
17. I cherish
18. I pray
19. I value
20. I instigate
21. I mock
22. I regard
23. I struggle
24. I respect
25. I wonder
26. I look forward to
27. I treasure