This is for you Momma! : )

So I just got an e-mail from my wonderful Momma telling me that I haven't posted much this year! LOL She is right. It hasn't been a bad year, it has just been a very busy one! Alecia graduated and is now in college. She truly is having a great time and I am adjusting to having my wonderful daughter gone most of the time! I really miss her a lot when she is at school but am so excited when she comes home. Saturday we went to get her from NSU and when we got home the kids had put up a welcome home sign for her. It was so precious. Jessica is having a few problems with her big sister being gone but overall I think she is even handling it pretty good. I will bringing her back up to school today since David has a little stomach bug! I am going to enjoy the ride up but I won't like the ride back much!
     My life is very hectic! I am in full school mode! I volunteer with the ASH Band Parents so every Friday night when their is a home game I can be found in the concession stand helping to earn money for our Band. I also help to get the food for the concession. A lot of work but it is very rewarding to know that I am helping in some way! Brame is going to start having their football games soon and I signed up to be a band parent there too. Thank goodness that only involves going to the games and sitting with the band.  Kady has a new Choir teacher at ASH and I will probably be going on some activities as a chaperone with that too! I watch my wonderful nephew, Rayden, while Ryan is off shore and Lauren is at school! He is such a little cutie and I love every minute of it! I love being involved, sometimes I complain but I would never have it any other way! I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for the opportunity to be a mother to my 7 beautiful children and that I am able to do things with them! My life is blessed in many ways! I am truly very happy with my life! : )

Wondering Thoughts

Over the years, I have been known as Tess, Tessie, Tessa, Tressa, Ray's little sister, Ron's big sister, Sandy's big sister, Ryan's big sister, Teresa, Ray and Shirley's daughter, David's wife; Alecia, Brandon, Katie, Krystal, Bethany, Jared or Jessica's mom. It is interesting how often we are identified by the relationships we have. A while back I saw a little child at Wal-mart who asked if I was Jared and Jessica's Mom. Some my say that it is demoralizing. I say it is a blessing. I am known by those around me as someone who loves my family. I am associated with great people. My family is the most important aspect of my life. So when I am defined by them, I am happy to know that the world knows who I love!

My life is just going by too quickly. I love my life but I wish it would slow down a little so I can enjoy it more fully.  My precious daughter Alecia will be going off to college before I know it! She is so excited and so ready to be there. She can't wait to have her own room and to experience the life of a college student. She is in for a fun time.  She will love the atmosphere of learning and growing. I know she will be in heaven in her English classes. She will one day be a wonderful author of a book that will be read by many! I know this because she is so determined. She makes a goal and she accomplishes it.  She will reach all her dreams. This past year she decided to do her senior project on literacy.  She had to do something so she decided hey why not build a library in Africa.  She found a web site that made this possible.  She didn't just build one library. Nope she wouldn't do that She built two. One will be in a primary school in Botswana and the other in a primary school in Swaziland.  I am so very proud of my enterprising young daughter.

18 Years

David and I have been married for 18 years today! I love him so much! I am thankful for all the time that we have been able to spend together! He is my best friend, my confidant, my sweet heart, my everything. Thank you David for all the awesome times! I love you infinity times infinity plus one more than you can say : ) LOL

Alecia goes to Prom!!!!

Alecia went to prom with a friend today. I have such a hard time believing that she is old enough to be going off to prom. Where did all the time go, It seems like it was only yesterday that I was telling her to fold her socks because that was how you where them. Now she is a beautiful young woman. I am so proud of you Alecia!

We found the perfect dress after the temple trip last Saturday but the perfect dress was strapless so we had to have it altered to make it modest! I think it turned out awesome! Of course any perfect dress needs perfect shoes and jewlery so we had to go off and find the perfect pair. I think we did it! Rene and Alecia looked so cute! Theresa drove an hour up and an hour back just so she could help Alecia get ready!!! She is an awesome aunt! We love you bunches Re!

Sunday Musings

Today was a very nice day! There seemed to be a theme of service that resonated throughout the talks and lessons today. Oh how I love the gospel. As I listened to the talks, gave one lesson, and listened to another I thought of how much I need to step up my efforts of service. Life is too short to complain about some serving and I have to admit that I have fallen into a very bad rut of complaining about some of the service that I have rendered. Not all of it but just some I wish that I had never done it and now I need to repent and never do it again. So this is my confession of wrong doing and I will strive even harder to give service from my heart because I truly do love the people I serve. I just was being selfish and concerned about all the things I already have on my plate and that is not the Lord's way. So I am very thankful for such a wonderful opportunity to renew my commmentment to the Lord!

Mardis Gras King Cakes!

I had a great time last week making king cakes with Donna and my brother Ray!

I made 4 of these on Wednesday with Donna we made 2 strawberry cream cheese and 2 cherry cream cheese. The ones I made on Thursday with Ray were just cream cheese but we colored the cheese purple in honor of Mardi gras. You can see the cream cheese in this one before we frosted it. They were yummy delish!!!! Here are two of them frosted. We used a cream cheese glaze that was completely awesome!