What drives you? _ First published in 2008

In my search for happiness and and balance in my current situation, I have been repeatedly brought back to the thought of what drives me? What makes me try harder or sometimes what is lost when I quit trying? Is there a source of truth that when you rely on it you will be compelled to move forward and in ignorance move back?

Think about it? You have to have something or the person you are will always stay the same. I have been asking this questions in search to find that one thing that is universal for everyone. Although I think it is defined different it all comes back to one thing.

I have heard answers like my kids, my husband, love, my family, my career, my love of traveling, my husbands love for his horses (long story, don't ask), my favorite car to someday own, my financially security. All of these things are great examples of something that gets us out there to work. But if you ask those same people why, and keep asking why, the truth is revealed. Everything goes back to LOVE.
It is where your love is that drives you. Is your love centered in something of goodness or something manmade and can be taken from you in a heartbeat. It is your core beliefs.
Mine is a core belief that I have a Father in Heaven that has given me the opportunity to come to Earth, prove myself, and return to Him. I have a brother Jesus Christ that is my Redeemer, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost to help me reach to Heaven and use my talents to share the Love of God with others.

This Easter weekend, I ask you to look at what you LOVE and what drives you to be better? I ask that you make this a renewal weekend with the knowledge that Jesus died for us, and that He lives again. We are all here to be amazing and use our talents. This week can be a new beginning for us all and committ to share your love with others and refuse to hide your talents from others.

Another great week

This last week was filled with another bunch of successes. I was privileged to go to both Courtney and Cyrus' school for the awards ceremonies. They are both doing so great this year and I hope that showing them how excited and proud I am of them, will help them stay motivated.
Carmen won a race at school. She has been working so hard on her running so it was a great day. She is one determined girl and is doing fantastic in gymnastics. I will take pictures Tuesday of that to show you her skills!

Cera- that girl is one of a kind. I am really making it a point to spend some quality time with her. She LOVES running. So do I, so why not go for a run together everyday. This week, she almost beat me ( and no, I am not kidding) . Every time after that I asked her who put rockets in her shoes.

We are finally making the turn in health here and I am so excited. This week I will be meeting with a friend to make my own flour and come up with some gluten free recipes.
The kids are finally drinking my green smoothies and Cyrus reminds me so much of Ryan ( my brother) it is hilarious. Six pack is his goal this year.. :)

Toby is going for some training so it is major get things done time for me. I am starting a different blog for resource type things and hope to update this one with all my pictures.

We have been working hard with the church youth to earn the money for the Temple trip in a couple months so I hope to tell everyone about that as well.

Life is amazing, isn't it?

Kids are so smart these days

My youngest is still 3, but I have found out how smart they are at a very young age. I figured out months ago.. if Cera was smart enough to play on a computer, learn her alphabet and play on my Iphone or a Nintedo DS- She was smart enough to run a vacuum, dishwasher, or clean her room.

Sometimes we just underestimate them, you know.

We are potty trained!!

I say "WE" because it was more about me, than it was about Cera! I have struggled with this for the last 6 months because the timing never seemed "right". What I have come to find out is that the timing is never "right"- it is how you make it!

At the first of the year, Toby saw my frustration with that being one of my goals for last year and not having it completed. He decided to make it a big deal and I am soo thankful he did.

I know it is over the top, but really--- to me, it is worth it.

Toby made Cera a promise------ go in the potty and be a big girl, get an Itouch!

Yes, she is 3.. but guess how long it took her to figure that out.

Within the week she was potty trained and we no longer need diapers. It is a huge thing in our home and I am so thankful that I will never have to potty train again.

End to a chapter, new beginnings

This last week was super exciting because Toby took a test that is very important to his career and HE CRUSHED IT! I am so stoked about how awesome he did and super proud of him.

The test he took was the ASVAB. Normally it is only taken once for the entrance into the Army. He has been praying about his career for years now, and decided to finally do something about it. He has decided to put in his packet to be a Warrant Officer. This is a big deal for him and us as well. We have been talking about the choices and making decisions since he was deployed. This ASVAB score was something he had to get higher to be able to even qualify to put in a packet for this position.

He studied really hard, and with fasting, prayer and special family members and friends behind us.. the Lord allowed his mind to be open and know the material he had studied for the test.

We are so very thankful to everyone and their support. Have gratitude in our hearts for how Heavenly Father has taken a different role in our lives and we have learned to share our experiences with the One that knows us better than anyone else.

Our new Family Theme this year is " I will go where you want me to go, I will say what you want me to say, I will do the things that you want me to do, I will BE who you want me to BE"

With this change, it has jolted us into movement again and the conviction that the Lord needs us to be examples for all of those searching for happiness.

We are currently finishing up his packet and he changes jobs within the military this week. He is going back online ( means he will no longer be in an office, but working with soldiers.) We are excited for the change and are very focused on our blessings and what the Lord wants us to do.

For me- being super supporter to my husband and children is the focus. I am also changing our family nutrition, and dependency to processed foods, still work my vinyl business and finish more of my personal training certifications to be a better ME and be a better example for those struggling.

I love my life and am so thankful for the gift of free agency. Learning from mistakes, bad choice and consequences. Also the ability to reap the benefits of following my Savior Jesus Christ and the happiness I can obtain if I stay on the right path and hold strong to the iron rod.

Big Day

I will be celebrating the changes happening to our family starting this week. I will post later the results and all our new goals.. so check back in 24 hrs.. I will have pictures, results, and most of all inspiration that hard work and prayer pay off!