Boy's sleepover--really late! (with pictures fixed)

I started downloading the pictures for this post on Sunday, but haven't had any time to finish it since then.  I kept hoping I could finish it on the bus, but I've had a really hard time getting internet access on the bus this week.  But this afternon I finally was able to get it come up.  So I am hoping to get this done today on the bus on the way home from work.

We had our boy's sleepover last weekend and it was a little crazy, but really fun.  We actually have less boys than we do girls, but our boys are younger (we had two 2 year olds), so it was a little bit more work to keep them all happy.  But we sure loved having them all over. 

We did the same thing that we did at the girl's sleepover.   They each had heard about the journals they would be getting from their sisters, and were so excited to get them.  Thankfully, this time I had my published journals to show them (I still haven't done a post about that.  I will take a picture of how they turned out one of these days and post them on my blog).  I was able to show them how I had pictures of each of them in my journal, and they loved seeing them.  Then I read to them from my eight year old journal just like I did with their sisters, and then passed out their journals.  They had so much fun decorating them--they went to town on the stickers!  Here are some pictures (note: the second picture of them with their stickers somehow moved to the bottom of the post, and with my laptop tracker mouse, I can't get it to move back up.  So please scroll down to the end of the post to see the other picture, then come back here.  :)  UPDATE: I was able to move it up now--having a real mouse makes it so much easier!

We, of course, did the weighing and measuring just like we did with the girls.  Here are some pictures of that:

And here is my compilation of all the boys holding their journal. Aren't they cute?  (2nd Note: I did the compilation really fast the next morning, so I have Joshy and Brendan mixed up--Joshy is actually a month older...)  WAIT!  Where is my compilation?  It was just here a second ago!  I'm telling you, this is the hardest post I've ever done.  I'm going to have to put it on when I get home.   Okay, now I'm home, and here it is:

Our two year olds had a hard time about this point--little Camden, on the right, was missing his Mom, and kept crying every time he saw the door she went out.  Matthew kept wanting to watch "Green Tractor" on You Tube.  So I took them both back for about 1/2 hour and watched You Tube videos, which helped calm them down.  Here is a picture of them:

I did still manage to get some pictures of the cookie making.  We couldn't get all of our boys to line up on the counter like the girls did--some of them wanted to run around screaming instead of making cookies (they were playing with a bear we got for the Year 2000, which counts down and then laughs.  They were pretending it was a bomb, so would throw it down and go running.  I hope our downstairs neighbors forgive us for the pandelerium...)  But we did get some cookies made.

 Hmmm... I did have a picture of all of them decorating cookies, but it looks like it somehow got deleted.  That's the problem with doing a post on the bus.  I'm afraid if I don't finish it now it may never get done.  So I'll see if I can remember to come back and put the picture in later.  They sure had fun (eating more sprinkles and chocolate chips than they actually put in their cookies).

After the cookie making we watched Robin Hood, and then put out the wall to wall air mattresses and finally got them all to sleep.  They are generally easier to get to sleep than the girls, but this time it took them a little longer to go to sleep (we only had seven by this time--our two year olds went home).  Thankfully they all slept well--these pictures are some that Jan snapped when she woke up at midnight.  Aren't they just darling!

The next morning I made a double batch of waffles, and they had fun decorating them with whipped cream and sprinkles.  Jan got a few pictures, since I was busy making waffles.  Oh heavens.  There is something wrong with the internet on the bus.  It just put the second waffle picture at the bottom.  I think this is the most convoluted post I've ever done.  Well, have fun scroling down again.  (Update: I got it fixed, so it is here now).

After breakfast we cleaned up, and the boys watched our  traditional 32nd birthday video, starring all of their dads.  They just love it, and had to run all around, as usual, during the part where Jon is chasing Seth all over our house.  These are still video shots, so pretty blurry, but still show how cute it was.  Notice that a bunch of them are writing in their journals.  I'm so proud!

Well, that's about it for now.  We sure had a fun sleepover!  I'm so glad that they all live close, and that we can do this a few times a year. We are so blessed!

Girl's Sleepover

We had another sleepover with our darling nieces again this weekend, and so I thought I would break my blog silence to do a post about it.  I really do need to blog more often--hopefully this will be a long enough post to make up for not doing many posts this year.

I just love our sleepovers!  It is so fun to have all of our little ones here, to be able to spend time with each of them, do little activities with them, and have so much energy at our house.  I hope our neighbors will forgive us though.  It can get quite loud with so many little ones.  But they were all so good and so cute.  I just feel so grateful to have an abundance of nieces and nephews who all live so close to me.

We always try to do a fun activity to start our sleepovers (after pizza for dinner).  For this time, I found a really cute idea in The Friend magazine to help kids do a journal.  And, since I am such a journaler, I thought this would be a great time to get my little kiddies excited about doing journals.  My mom gave me a journal when I was about 7 1/2 years old.  It was just a notebook, but it got me in the habit of writing things down.  The notebook pages have long since come out, but I still have a few of them, and have them in sheet protectors in my Book of Remembrance.  So for our journal activity, I showed the girl's my journal I started when I was 7 1/2 (between Kate and Jenni's age).  I read them a few of the entries, and they liked hearing about their daddys, (although Jenni wanted to know why her mom, Michelle, wasn't in my journal.  I told her it was because Michelle wasn't born yet).  Here are some pictures of me telling them about my journal:

 

And, I thought it would be fun to put a page from my 7 year old journal in this blog post.  I didn't read this one to them, but I think it is so funny to read now:

It says,

"Jan 7, 1979, Sun" (My Dad's birthday, actually)

"Sometimes I think about what to write in my journal, and sometimes I wonder who I am going to mary and if I am going to get maryd" (then pictures of the Book of Mormon and the Bible).

I guess I've been wondering about that question for about 32 years now.  :)

Anyway, after I showed them my young journal, I showed them my 2007 journal in a binder (since I don't have my journals back yet that I am getting published--hopefully this week!)  Then I told them that we wanted to get each of them their own journals so that they could start writing.  I went to Wal-Mart and found 10 pink binders, and made a cover for each one, and then put the journal page from The Friend in the front.  The girls were so excited, and we had fun helping them to fill out their pages.  Here are some pictures of them with their journals:

Part of the page from The Friend asked about their weight and height, so we took some pictures of measuring and weighing them.  (FYI--Matthew wasn't really at the sleepover, but Ems stayed for a few minutes to help with the journal part since there are so many little girls that can't write yet). 

After they finished their front journal page, I took them each over for my traditional picture by the tree, holding their journals.  Rather than put all those pictures in here,  I put a compilation I made that night.  (I made a two page compilation of sleepover pictures which I printed out the next morning for each girl to put in their journals)

One cute thing about the journals--one of the pages I showed them from my journal was a page where I was praticing writing my numbers.  Janice said later, "Did you notice that a lot of the girls wrote numbers on their pages just like you?"  I thought that was so cute.  And, it was so fun to see what each of the girls wrote about their families and their favorite things.  Cute Holly, who is almost 12, wrote the sweetest things, and wrote an entry the next morning in her journal.  She was really excited about it.  Again, I hope this will help our girls (and our boys next week) get excited about keeping journals!

After the journal activity, we made cookies together.  I always love the pictures of all of them sitting on the counter (except Holly, who is too old--but she was invaluable to help us with all the little ones).  Here are some pictures of the cookie making: 

The last two pictures are of the girls decorating their cookies with an assortment of sprinkles and chocolate chips.  I don't know how Jan keeps them all straight, but somehow she does.  They usually eat one cookie that night, and she saves one for them in a baggie for the next day.

Finally we got them all on wall-to-wall air mattresses (with Holly on the couch), and put on Alladin.  After the movie, Jan and I laid down by them and told them stories and sang to them.  They actually did really well at falling asleep this time--and it was cute to hear their little voices singing Primary songs with us.  Here is a picture of them all getting ready to go to sleep (we had all but the littlest one, Mieka, sleep over, so had 9 girls plus Jan and I):

The next morning we had waffles (I ended up having to make three batches, so didn't get any pictures of the waffle eating), and them tried to sort out 9 different sleeping bags and clothes.  Then we watched the traditional birthday video their dad's made for us, and then their parents picked them up.  Again, I just feel so grateful that we get to have these sleepovers.  The girls seem to really love them, and Jan and I love getting to spend time with our sweet little girls.  We are so blessed to have so many little ones who love us. 

Well, as I said, this was a long post.  Watch for another one next week after our nephews sleepover!

Letter from my Grandpa

I'm on the bus on the way to work (which I almost didn't make today, because I somehow turned off my alarm, so I woke up about 15 minutes before I had to leave for the bus stop.  So if you see me today, you'll see what I look like with only 15 minutes to get ready.  Hopefully it's not too bad! :)  Anyway, I could have driven today, but I hate driving, and I love being able to take the bus and get things done.  So I'm really glad I made the bus this morning.

This morning I've been working on formatting my 2007 journals.  I have already printed out January through May, but had never finished June through December.  So, since I love the place that I took my other journals to so much, I decided to have the last half of 2007 printed and bound.  These are much easier because they are all done, but I just need to format them for printing.  But I'm hoping to get them formatted in time so that when I go to pick up my other printed journals, I can drop my 2007 ones off.  (I have to drive in order to go to the printing place.  I really do hate driving to work, and so I do all I can to minimize driving time).

After that long explanation, I thought I would get to my actual post.  My parents 40th anniversary was in November of 2007, and as part of their celebration, I read out a letter I'd found that my Grandpa wrote years before.  I read it again this morning, and was so touched by it that I wanted to post it.  My Grandpa Spendlove was the most amazing man.  I've read many of his letters, and he just had such a way of writing sweet things to help promote faith and to show his love.  So, here is the letter.  It was written when my parents were pregnant with Emilee (their 8th child), and I'm sure were nervous about how they would pay for another baby, and were struggling with raising lots of little kids:

Dear Corilee and Joseph,

Before I begin what I want to say, I want to remind both of you that you are covenant children of God, the eternal Father, our Lord and our God.

You have been endowed with covenants and promises which the Father cannot break, which only you can break. You have the power in you to come forth in the morning of the fist resurrection clothed with glory, immortality and eternal lives. You have been given the right to preside over your posterity which may increase til they are as numerous as the sands on the seashore.

However, you, like every candidate for this sublime and glorious blessing, must be tried and proven in the fiery furnace of tribulation which refines and purifies—where the gold is gathered but the dross is cast into the darkness.

I hope you are able to weather the storms of adversity. No one ever said it would be easy—but nothing good or worthwhile ever came easy to anyone.

What I have pointed out you already know but sometimes we lose sight of these eternal verities and we need to be reminded.

I know how desperate the situation sometimes seems. But please let your father assure you that our Father is mindful of you. He is fully aware of all your challenges (I like that word better than problems), and he loves you with a Godly love. Let me quote you a short poem:

<

Must Jesus bear the cross alone?

And all the world go free?

No there’s a cross for everyone!

And there’s a cross for me.

Be faithful, have courage. If you are faithful over the stewardship you have been assigned, you will receive the wonderful promise from the Saviour, “Ye have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many.”

As I have pointed out to you many times—depression, discouragement, doubting, unhappiness, resentment, murmurings—all these are directly and emphatically from the adversary. If he possibly can, he will destroy you. Determine in your minds that he will not find lodging in your heart. Make certain that all of your thoughts will be lofty and uplifting. Thank the Lord, we can control our thoughts. Remember that every good thought comes from the Lord. He never ever inspired anyone with a bad thought.

Lucifer, on the other hand, will do all in his power to give you negative thoughts. He will do his best to undermine your faith and thwart your onward progress to the Celestial Kingdom.

Having children is in compliance to the very first commandment ever given by the Lord to “multiply and replenish the earth.” God will most assuredly honor and bless those who keep his commandments, and as he lives, I testify in deep solemnity that he will open the way for you both financially and spiritually that this baby will have all the advantages of this wonderful life.

You have such a wonderful family. All of your children are so cheerful and happy. You are certainly to be commended for the way you are teaching them. I have never seen a more happy, optimistic person than little Jonathan; nor a more intelligent, sincere person than Joseph David. Your two lovely daughters are so sweet and cute—and the younger lads are following the example set by their older brothers and sisters. It’s perfectly obvious to me why our Heavenly Father wants more spirits to come to your family in such a spiritual environment. As one who has had his share of trials and sorrow, I can sympathize with you, but I also thank God that you are having them because growth and development of the soul can come in no other way.

You two are very special spirits, and you are very special to me. Oliver Wendell Holmes writes these lines which mean a lot to me—“Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,” and Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” The work of raising children is building more stately mansions for you.

God bless you, and may he “guard the furrows where the precious grain is sown.” Continue to look up. Be not cast down. God lives! The gospel is true! Your family loves you—and especially your father—I would do anything that is possible for me to do to help you. You are not alone.

Hang in there! Weather the storm. God’s mercy knows no bounds. Behind the clouds “ye so much dread,” lies a smiling providence. I pray for you daily and I know everything is going to work out alright for you. 

Isn't that great? (Of course, when I read it out to the family on my parent's anniversary, Jon teased that he was only cheerful and optimstic, while Dave was intelligent and sincere.  Trust my brothers to make jokes)

As I said, I was just so touched again this morning when I read this letter, and I'm so grateful for what my Grandpa wrote, which continues to help me in my life now.  I'm grateful for the legacy of faith that I have recieved from my parents and grandparents.

Well, we are almost to my stop, so I'd better get this posted

It worked!

I've been really busy again, but wanted to do a quick post to update my situation with my journals.  I redid them all in pdf using a Word pdf converter, and they worked so much better.  They only took a few minutes each, and were much smaller files.  I did find out that Word will only print pictures at a certain resolution, but did find a way to stop compressing my pictures as much as they had been, and they printed out nicely on my pirnter.  With a little bit of trepidatiuon, I took my files back into the printing and bookbinding place, and they worked perfectly!  He was able to put all my files together in about 10 minutes, and show me a layout of each of my books.  I was so grateful to see them finally on the computer and know it would all work out. 

Then he sat down with me and went through different options for printing and binding to make it look as nice as possible.  Since I was printing so many pages, and had decided to print it all in color (which would be a little pricey--but I'd gone to so much work, I want this to look nice!) he gave me all kinds of discounts--half off the setup fee, upgrading to leather covers for free, a huge discount on the color printing, etc.  The thing that impressed me the most was that after I had given him the check, he said, "I just feel bad this is so expensive.  Are you sure you don't want to print some of it in black and white?"  We talked about it, but I could tell it wouldn't look as nice, and I told him I had planned on it being a little bit expensive--but I have put so much work into it, that it makes it worth it to me.  But  I am just so impressed by this place--I should give a plug for it.  It is called Family Heritage Publishers, and their website is here:  http://familyheritagepublishers.com/.  If you need anything printed and bound, this is the place to go.  He gave me such personalized service, and seemed to really care about my project.  He aso said my books should be done by the end of next week, or at the latest early the week after.  So I will post pictures when I I get them back. 

I guess all my work and perserverance paid off!

The Sound of Silence. . . .

I thought the above title is appropropriate since I have gone a month and a half without updating my blog.  I really am still here and all is well.  I've just been so busy that I haven't had time to hardly even read blogs, let alone post. 

The thing that has been keeping me so busy is that I've been working on is preparing my daily journal for publishing.  Every night before I go to bed, I write a journal entry. I've been doing it since 2001, and so I can't stand to go to bed without writing (and that is why I don't blog as often as others might, because I am already doing so much journaling).  My journals have become very precious to me.  Sometimes it is so easy for me to get caught up in the moment, and to wonder why things are sometimes so hard.  But as I read back on things that have happened in the past, I can clearly see the way Heavenly Father has worked in my life, and it helps so much to strengthen my faith that things will work out for me now.  I also have had a digital camera for years, and so haven't developed pictures for a long time.  So I put my favorite pictures in my journal, and then at least have them printed somewhere.  Up until a few years ago, I would print my entry each night after I wrote and put it in a binder.

At some point I got out of the habit of printing my journal every day--mostly because the binders were so big and cumbersome, and I wanted to find a better option.  I haven't printed my journals since 2008, so I decided this year that I would look for a way to have my 2008 amd 2009 journals printed and bound.  Since I spend so much time doing my journals, I wanted to have them really preserved.  I found a great place in Salt Lake that makes beautifully bound books at a really good price.  So, for the last month and a half, I have been editing my journals, putting in more pictures, and making it to the specifications needed for printing.  It has been a huge project, and I have been spending most of my extra time on it (including brining my laptop on the bus, and doing it on the bus).  I also decided to take all of the pictures and blog posts that I've put in my journal in 2009 and make a compilation for Mom for her birthday.  Here are some screen shots of what I've done:

So, after all of this work, I finally got it all done this last weekend.  I had to convert all of my files to pdf so that they could be printed.  For some reason, this process took forever--some of my files took 2-3 hours to convert,  But I figured it was just because I had such large files.  After some really late nights (2:00 in the morning, etc), I finally finished them yesterday.  I don't know why I've felt so driven to get this done, but I have.  Well, yesterday afternoon when I took my files in to be printed, it turned out that there is something wrong with all of the pdf's that I made.  Even though I converted them the correct way, they are much bigger than they should be, and yet the picture quality is really low.  Because they are so big, they won't work for him to print.  I worked with the guy for an hour to see what the problem might be, but we could not figure it out. 

So, needless to say, I am pretty disappointed.  But I decided yesterday evening that I could either choose to be really upset about all of the wasted time I spent getting it ready to print, or I could choose to have a good attitude about it.  I am still very anxious to get these printed, but I am taking a step back and searching for options to see why it is not converting correctly from Word.  I know I'll find some way to work this out.  I loved the samples the guy had at the printing place, and so I know these books will be really nice once I finally have them done.  I'll make sure to post pictures of the finished books once I finally figure out what the problem is and am able to get them bound. 

To summarize, this morning I happened to read a scripture that seemed to really fit my situation (and other situations where I might be discouraged because things aren't working out the way I had planned):  I'll end my post with it:

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  (Galatians 6:9)

Happy New Year!

Since it is 12:07 p.m. right now, it is officially New Year's Eve, and I should be in bed (especially since I am going to the temple tomorrow morning and will be up late tomorrow night).  But I wanted to end the year with one of my favorite quotes about the new year.  I found it years ago, and have loved it ever since.  I think it is something good for me to ponder on as a new year comes, with new challenges and opportunities.  I hope it speaks to you as it speaks to me:

Each year closes its volume of history and experience, leaving memories of some joyous days; of some success; of some achievement. Also of some sorrowful, anxious days; days of fear and misgiving and doubt.

As we look back we see that much of our worry was needless, caused by fear of what might happen. We crossed bridges which existed only in imagination. We suffered in anticipation of troubles which did not come. Therefore, our unhappiness was of our own making. Fear made us falter and worry made us weak. As we remember our doubts, fears, and weaknesses we hear Him again say, "O ye of little faith." (Matthew 6:30.)

In our individual and family lives during the past year we were confronted by problems, some of them grave and serious. We met reverses and some sorrow, but by His grace, our strength was sufficient.

May all members of the Church meet the new year with love in their hearts for all men, guided by the Holy Spirit, and accompanied by three companions: faith, hope, and courage.

We need stout hearts to meet the future, a future pregnant with unborn events and big with possibilities. Fear and apprehension will but unfit us for the fray. They conjure up unrealities, magnify and distort the possible future fact until it looms so large that we see no escape and cringingly await the crack of doom.

The evil of tomorrow loses much of its size as we approach it. Our eyes are not fitted with telescopic lenses so we must await a close-up for a proper focus, and then we shall find ourselves equal to the task. Persistent climbing levels the hills and gives added strength to travel on.

Looking back we see that the pattern of our lives, which sometimes seemed so baffling, has taken shape and meaning. We needed only faith to try, hope to inspire, and courage to endure.

Listen, then, to the voice of the angel of hope as she whispers, "The night passes; morning breaks, the day is dawning; it can be done; carry on!"

We look forward with calm assurance as we remember the Savior's oft-repeated admonitions: "Fear not" (see Luke 5:10, 12:7, 32; John 12:15); "Be not troubled" (see Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; John 14:1, 27); "Peace be still" (see Mark 4:39). Faith made His calmness majestic, courage made Him Master of all. He never lost hope, for He knew God's love. He now bids us take His yoke upon us with a promise that our burdens will be light.

His guidebook for the pilgrim was the simple "Follow me."

May faith inspire hope and courage, and may love encompass all. With these companions, and with the help which He has promised, we will be greater than anything that can happen to us. (Hugh B. Brown, The Abundant Life, pg. 124)

I pray that I can face the new year with hope and faith, and that I can have complete trust in God that He will help me with any challenge or problem that might arise.  And, I pray that I can continually trust that good things are in store for me as well as challenges.  God is always faithful, and truly, His grace is sufficient!  May your 2010 be wonderful!  Happy New Year!

A hopeful quote and scriptures

Someone once told me that my blog is basically pictures of my nieces and nephews and quotes that I like.  I guess they're right. But I love my nieces and nephews, and I love to share things that speak to my soul.  So, I guess if you want to read my blog, that is what you get.  :)

Today I've been feeling a little bit discouraged.  It's always a little bit hard for me after the holidays, when I am facing another year of being single and wondering if I will ever get married and have children.  I have so many blessings, and my life is so full.  Heavenly Father has blessed me so that I don't hardly ever struggle with being single any more--but there is a little ache in my heart for my husband and children that never really goes away, and every once in awhile I feel it more than usual.  So I am grateful for things that help me remember that God has a perfect plan for my life, for reminders that he loves me more than I can imagine, and for assurances that He is bringing things about in the best possible way for my happiness--even though I can't see it sometimes. 

A few years ago on the way back from a business trip, I picked up a book in the airport that I have loved ever since, called, Follow the Star.  It is a Christmas book by a Christian minister, and has so many good messages in it.  Here is one of my favorites:

…From the beginning, before time ever was, God had a plan … And He has a plan for you—an intricate, personal, perfectly timed, well-oiled plan so dripping with goodness that it would blow your mind if you really understood it….

The infinite eyes of God roam the earth choosing friends for you, finding jobs for you, connecting you with opportunities to discover and express your passions and your gifts. If you are single, He is keeping tabs on the husband or wife He is holding just for you until the moment is perfect for two to become one. He is teaching you today the lessons you will need tomorrow. He orders your steps, making sure you are in the right place at the right time to accomplish what is in His heart for you….

Whatever the crisis that seems uniquely designed to produce your downfall, God has a plan. Your challenge is to remember—no matter what happens—that God has a plan. And God is as good as His Word, which says this about you: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). I have known of my share of struggle and of heartbreak. Sometimes it has been hard to see God’s plan through the pain, but He has never failed. Not once….

I can say to you with authority that comes from personal experience that out of your disappointments will come divine appointments. Out of your most costly mistakes will come your most priceless gems of wisdom. Out of your bruised and bleeding places will come your greatest strength. Out of your haunting fears will come a holy faith—if you will determine to believe that God has a plan for you, that He wants to give you a good future, filled with hope, and that He will bring His purposes to pass in your life in ways that are likely to astound you.  (T.D. Jakes, Follow the Star,Pages 164-168.)

Isn't that a great quote?  There is so much truth in it.

And now, to be more scripural, here are some of my favorite quotes about God's love and plan for us from the scriptures:

"He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him." (2 Nephi 26:24)

"I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." (Words of Mormon 1:7)

"All things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." (2 Nephi 2: 24)

"Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord... 
"And there is hope in thine end..." (Jeremiah 31:16-17)

"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
"And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:16-17)

When I read things like this, I wonder that I can even doubt God's plan and timing.  I know that He wants only what is eternally best for me, and that someday I will look back and see how everything He did was calculated to bring me the best happiness.  I'm grateful for comforting quotes and scriptures!