New Begginings

It finally hit me!!! Alison will turn 12 this year and she is going to the Young Women Organization! Troy and I were sitting in Sacrament Meeting and a member of the Bishopric announced New Beginnings and Troy asked me if Alison was supposed to go to it this year. That's when it hit me hard because up until now it was all surreal.

My parents came to visit in January and unfortunately they arrived the 17th of January and they missed Alison's beautiful performance for Sacrament Meeting. We had fun with them, unfortunately we did not have time to go out and do snowshoeing or have fun in the snow because the weather was gorgeous and all the snow turned into slush. I could not believe, we had 50 degree weather while they were here. They left on Wednesday the 21st and Alison had New Beginnings that evening.

Gina did a highlight on Alison and some of the things Alison told her were:

• Her favorite vacation was to go to the Rexburg Temple Open House.
• She is looking forward to the opportunity to go to the Temple to do Baptism for the Dead.
• Her favorite book was the Tennis shoes among the Nephite series.

I can't remember all the answers she gave Gina but I thought she sounded so mature and responsible... My little girl is growing up so fast it scares me.

Alison also had an 6th grade orchestra and choir presentation on the 22 nd. She did fabulous and I am so glad we were able to go to it. Troy saw some of his colleges from work there because they also have kids that go to the same school. Every time they asked Troy to point out his daughter, all he had to say was: "She is the one with the pink violin". She definitely stood out because of it.

We have had a busy January and I really don't know what happened to it. Troy has been very busy putting bids together for work.

Oh! We went to the Temple on the 17th with some friends of ours and it felt so good to be in the House of the Lord. It had been a while since we had gone last. I guess we got caught up in other things, at first they were good excuses, than the lame excuses came, and we got to a point that we did not even think about it anymore until our recommend expired. I thought, we really need to plan it and go through with it rain, snow or shine! We did and it was amazing...

We have gone snow shoeing quite a bit. We went to Palisade Falls on the 25th, WOW! It was an awesome hike, we had to park a bit far away from the parking lot, and the hike became 2 miles each way, but worth it every step. The falls were frozen and so beautiful. We saw some guys ice climbing, and my boys were enthralled. Eric kept his eyes very focused on the lead guy. When he put in the second pin, Eric yelled out... "Good Job!!!", the guy started laughing and said thank you. The hike back was faster, but a bit harder specially for me because of the movement we had to do with our feet.

Karen came the following week and stayed with us for almost a week. Time flies by so quickly lately. We enjoyed her company and had tons of fun. We went snow shoeing again on that Saturday and this time we went into the woods, I 'm sure there is a trail there somewhere during the summer but we couldn't tell where it was exactly. We had a picnic in the middle of it all and it was so cool. Troy and the kids played tag in the snow and Troy was exhausted within 5 minutes. The snow was really deep and because he weighs more that the kids he sunk faster. Eric lost his hat at the very beginning but we didn't notice it until we had to exchange hats for a picture. (Karen put these little activities for the kids to do in envelopes and that was one of them) I was quite upset, we couldn't find the hat anywhere. Oh well, the hat was getting too small anyway... We found it in his bedroom when we got home... I know that he took it with him because we have pictures as proof of it, I have no clue how it got back home.

Eric had an awful ear infection this last week and Tyler had a concussion in school. My friend was hospitalized and no one knew what was wrong with her, she is out now and I am so very thankful she is feeling better. My grandmother is still in the hospital with leukemia and no one knows if she will get out now, these might be her last days on this earth. My mom went to Brazil to see her, I hope she is prepared for the worse and that she is strong and understands the perfect plan of Salvation so that she will be able to cope with the loss of her precious mother, if it comes at this time.

We went to the Temple again yesterday and we had quite a bit of fun. We went on our own, the kids stayed here again and they also had fun. I am so glad we are keeping our goal to go monthly.

Troy and I spoke in Church today. We were quite nervous about it but it turned out OK. Now we just need to prepare our musical number for March... That will be FUN!!! Not like it!

Today my prayer was heard and answered. It is amazing that my Heavenly Father loves me to the point of answering a prayer about balancing my check book!!! I was trying really hard to fix a few numbers and was having a really hard time because I could not make it balance and match with any of the other numbers. Finally I said a prayer and 5 minutes later I found the problem. I know that I would not have been able to do it on my own that fast. It was so well hidden. I am grateful for the gospel in my life and for the power of prayer. I am grateful for my beautiful children and for my wonderful husband.

Sorry the news are so chopped up and long but I haven't had time to write lately.

Congratulations to Fernando - He is getting Married in April!!!

Congratulations to Flavio and kim - They are having their 3rd baby in June!!! I am so excited, I'll be an aunt again!!!

Love you all!!!