Silent Night

Along with Christmas comes the singing of Christmas songs. I die for Christmas music! One of my favorite Christmas songs is “SILENT NIGHT” I was asked to sing this song the other day. I get emotional every time I sing this song. I find myself thinking about the night Christ was born. Can you imagine how amazing it must have been? Well, things were no different this time. In the first verse I start to lose it, but somehow pulled it together for the rest of the song. Whew!

" Silent night, holy night

Son of God, Love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

The best part about the Christmas season, are the fun events leading up to the BIG DAY!

 Fun in the Snow 

 

Service

The glow of a Christmas Tree

Santa!

Lights at the Temple

 School Christmas Programs 

 

I love it All

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

(Yes, Winnter is singing in this picture)

When I look back on my childhood Christmases, it’s not the gifts I remember. It’s all of the memories made with friends and family. I love family traditions. What are some family Christmas traditions you are passing on to your children? Perhaps you have created your own family Traditions?



Here are a few of our Christmas traditions.


1: Every Christmas season we load the kids in the car, get hot chocolate, drive around and count all of the nativities we can find.

2: The kids get New Pajamas the day before Christmas left by little elf’s on the front porch. (Aspen the Elf or Nolan the Elf)

3: The kids get reindeer food (Glitter mixed with bird feed) and sprinkle it allover the yard on Christmas Eve.

4: We go and See the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

5: Santa gives the kids a new Christmas bell every year. (This is to make sure they still
believe)

6: We Read the story of Christ Birth on Christmas Eve.

7: Day after Thanksgiving we get out all of the Christmas movies and watch them.

8: Make Gingerbread houses

9: Every Family night for the Month of December we take the kids and do a service project. (This is my Favorite) This year we are taking the kids to a homeless shelter to Meet with kids their own age.



These are just a few of the things we love to do. It’s amazing how the Children look forward to each and every tradition.

I HEART SEQUIN!

Growing up on stage, my Mother always said: "You  need a little sparkle!" It's true. A skirt, some earrings and a few bracelets, with a little sparkle can make all the difference. I remember my Mom staying up late (Many times) to glue sequins on my performance costumes. This was long before the Bedazzler! Most times, the clothing I wore was made for me by the show I was asked to sing for. As a little girl, I thought it was so cool to get out of school for a fitting.

Here is the problem with loving anything that Bedazzles. You need to know when it is appropriate to wear such beautiful, shinning bright clothing.



1. It is NOT appropriate to wear sequin to Target while shopping with the children. (However, anything goes in Wal-mart)

2. Wearing Sequin to a fabulous party is great! (Christmas parties are perfect)

3. An all sequin dress should NOT be worn to church.

4. No sequin clothing on your Dog. Please!

5. Limit your Shine! A sequin dress, with sequin shoes and a sequin purse. This will make those around you temporarily unable to see.

6. Remember to enjoy your bedazzled clothing!!! Have fun and shine on (:

  

GIVING THANKS!

Every Year during the month of November, we get out

"THE THANKFUL JAR"

Whenever we think of something or someone we are thankful for, we write it down and place it in the jar.
It is so much fun at the end of the month to see what everyone is thankful for. My favorites are the little notes written by the kids, and the cute pictures they draw!



Here are just a few things I am thankful for.


1. An INCREDIBLE husband who is truly AMAZING (He should be cloned) it's true!

2. My car. Every morning I drive past the bus stop and see people waiting in the freezing cold. (I secretly want to pullover and tell them to hop on in)

3. My fluffy purple bathrobe (:


4. My little boy who has a HEART of GOLD! He reminds me to slowdown, and to have a little more patience. (Aren’t kids wise?)

5. Hershey's chocolate!!!!!!!!

6. I am thankful for my Parents, for their years of service. They have NEVER waivered in what
they believe! (I get a little teary-eyed just thinking about it)

7. For my little girl who tells me everyday “I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HEART” (Thanks Winn)

8. Humor!

9. My family! My siblings are wonderful people, who would do anything for anyone. Not to mention they all have a fabulous sense of humor (:

10. For friends who inspire me daily. Some who have opened their heart to adoption, others who are willing to share their story! I love you!!

11. The opportunity to share what I love with others. For the gift of Music!

12. For a Father in Heaven who knows me, and loves me, despite my shortcomings.

The list could go ON and ON……

What are you thankful for???

LOVE NOTES

Get ready to CRY!!!!!!!! We can all learn a lesson form little Elena. Tell the people you care about how much you love them and give thanks! Love is a powerful word,  a powerful asset.

http://www.notesleftbehind.com/book/


When 6-year-old Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer, she began hiding hundreds of little love notes around the house for her parents to find after she was gone. Here’s the story:

Just before her sixth birthday, Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer and given 135 days to live. She lived 255 days, passing away in 2007. After her death, Elena’s parents, Brooke and Keith, found hundreds of notes from Elena hidden around the house — in between CD cases, between bookshelves, in dresser drawers, in backpacks….

"It just felt like a little hug from her, like she was telling us she was looking over us"

Elena’s parents, Brooke and Keith Desserich, have now published these notes in a book called Notes Left Behind to fund a non-profit organization The Cure Starts Now dedicated to fighting pediatric brain cancer.

Happy Halloween

PHOTO SHOOT!

A few months back I scheduled a Photo Shoot with the AMAZING Abbie Warnock. http://www.abbiewarnock.com/ I was in need of some new promotional photos. We met at the salt flats first, but the wind proved to be much more than we were looking for, so we got some shots out there and scheduled another shoot date at a closer location.

I had to post a picture of Uncle Rico's classic Photo Shoot!

If you noticed in one of the pictures my car door is open. I used the backseat as my dressing room.

I have to say that Abbie is wonderful to work with and the Photo Shoot was a Success. She is an Amazing photographer. Her work speaks to me. Her photography is BOLD and CREATIVE. Her lens is her paintbrush and she simply creates. I love watching people do what they were born to do! So inspiring!!!!
She takes all types of pictures from weddings to promotional photos, and she is completely affordable.

Thanks Abbie for an amazing Photo Shoot!

Wise Words

The other day my friend posted a quote on Facebook, and I thought it was so beautifully written.

"The secret to a happy marriage, happy children, fulfilling relationships, and a joy filled life is not a secret at all. It is unselfishness. The contrary is true as well. Unhappy children are the result of selfish parents; an unhappy marriage is the result of selfishness and so on. Everything associated with happiness and love involves thinking and caring about others before ourselves."     Eric Yardley



Thanks Eric, for your wise and Truthful words!

NEARER

http://deseretbook.com/item/5023337/Nearer_A_New_Collection_of_Favorite_Hymns

Last Sunday a friend of mine gave me this CD (NEARER) Not only am I in LOVE with this album, I am a little obsessed. I have been listening to it all week. My kids love it as well. Many of you have expressed your desire to find inspirational music that has a little different sound other than the AIRY BREATHY sound we have all come accustom to. Well.......It's here! Scott Wiley produced this album and did a INCREDIBLE job! Checkout samples of the songs on the link above. Track #2 I love and track #8 is my FAVORITE!!!! It moves me to tears each time I listen.. ENJOY!

IT'S AUTUMN TIME!!!

I grew up in a home where each and every season was celebrated and enjoyed. I remember coming home from school on a cold October day only to find bread baking in the oven and to see that my Mother had gotten all of the fall/Halloween decorations out.I can still remember the feelings of excitement I felt. Not much has changed after all these years. I still get little butterflies of excitement in my tummy as an upcoming holiday is approaching.

I now get to see that same excitement in my children. About a month ago (Middle of August) My little Winnter Grace came to me and said......

Winnter: Mom I think it's time we get the Fall decorations out.

Me: Well I think we can wait a few more weeks.

Winnter: I found a few changing leaves today mom.

Me: Where?

Winnter: Right here....She takes me to the backyard and shows me one little leaf that was starting to change. In her mind, this meant that Fall was here.

Next thing I know she has all of the Holiday boxes out.

It's worth taking the time to get boxes of decorations out and place little reminders of Halloween, Christmas, and Easter around the house. I hope to creat lifelong memories.

Thanks to my Mother who instilled in me a love for the seasons!!!!!
Love you MOM!

On my mind

The other day I came across this article in a magazine. "Contrary to popular belief, real power is not about money or status. (Or an eight-bedroom house or gym-toned tush-no matter how many people may kiss it.) No, the power that changes your life isn't about Fancy external trappings. It's accessible to anyone, because it comes from within-and there are as many ways of defining it as there are people who embody it."



I think for many of us it takes having the "EXTERNAL TRAPPINGS" mentioned above to realize of their unimportance. Over the last week I have found myself asking this question.............."WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST POWERFUL?"


For me, I feel most powerful when I am serving others. when I am listening.....(REALLY LISTENING) to someone share their hopes, dreams and heartaches. Ultimately, I feel the most powerful when my spirit and body are aligned. When I am keeping the promises I have made. It's then, and ONLY then that I can truly understand my worth and my divinity.

DREAMING

I love Fall time!!! All of the different smells, the beautiful colors, but most of all....... the FALL WARDROBE!!! I can't stop DREAMING about these little BEAUTIES!!








J Brand '912 Stretch Jeans

Metropolitan Suede ankle boot

Regalia Sweater Jacket

Faux Fur Vest!!!

I always think to myself, (Is this something I could wear on stage while performing?)

OK, maybe the boots, but can you imagine wearing a Faux Fur vest on stage !?!?!? UMMMM........... NO!!!! A girl can DREAM right?

July 24th in Mayberry

OK, So its not Mayberry, but it sure is close! I grew up in a small town where it truly felt like I was living in Mayberry. Everyone knows your name, and Friday night football is a BIG DEAL! Dragging main is fun, and going to the local gas station is a highlight. Ahhh....... the simple life :) . Every year we take our kids to "Mayberry" for the 24th of July, where the population triples. The 24th is a BIG DEAL PEOPLE! First thing in the morning you wake up to the sound of big bombs going off. The windows shake, and if you didn't know better, you would think you were in a war zone. It sounds crazy, but it's a fun tradition. At 9:00 o'clock it's the big parade, followed by footraces(where the winner gets 50cents) and games at the park. It's as if you have been transported back in time. There is lunch at the park, horse races, and don't forget the rodeo and fireworks. It has become a fun tradition for my little family. The kids LOVE IT!

Winnter Grace and Jess

Go Kamas!

After a fun, but long day. We were pooped!!!

My cute Daddy!

Kamas & Winnter