12 Years Ago Today...

You really did look like a Princess...

marrying her Prince

This is a fairly tale...

that will never end

Happy Anniversary

March 18 2000

I am the luckiest...

on a day that we talk about luck and being lucky

I can't help but feel like the luckiest person on earth

~

lucky because I had the honor of being your mom

lucky because you were such an amazing

daughter

sister

wife

mother

and yes today and always

I am the luckiest

~

wearing green or not

pinch me

Gone too soon....

This is Melynda...

I dont know Melynda..

but Natalie does

They went to high school together

in the same graduating class

They were in Choir together

Melynda passed away unexpectedly

Jan. 11

married...and a mother to 3 beautiful little girls

I came across her obituary in our newspaper

and wondered why this beautiful young woman

was gone too soon

All the feelings of Natalie's passing

rushed back to me like it was yesterday

I went to her blog melyndasstatus.blogspot.com

and read her story...

and my heart broke for her family

her parents

her sweet husband

her 3 beautiful little girls

I'm so very thankful that

Natalie ...knows her

she knew Melynda here...

she knows Melynda there..

And for me there is comfort in knowing

that these two beautiful young women

who are gone too soon....

are not far away...

and that

friendships and acquaintances

last beyond the veil...

in the words of Joseph Smith, that “the only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven [the spirit world] and eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it,

and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope.”

My heart goes out to Melynda's family

you are in my thoughts and prayers

A New Year...I'm Trying to be like Jesus...

The words to this song are perfect for a New Year's Resolution

"Im Trying to be like Jesus"

A child's song

It should be simple...right?

I'm going to "try" to live by these words

If I do...it will be a really good year

Happy New Year

Angel Wings...

These Angel Wings have become a very special Christmas tradition

at our house the last several years

~

I tried to think of something we could do

as a family to have Natalie be a part

of our Christmas Day celebrating

~

These Angel Wings are hidden

every Christmas season somewhere in the house

~

On Christmas Day...whomever finds them

recieves a small special gift....

the gift has to remind us of Natalie

~

The person that finds them

buys the gift the next year

and has the honor of hiding the Angel Wings

It's a Christmas tradition

that I look forward to every year

because...

I happen to know a Angel

that looks forward to it

as much as we do

~

It takes a Village...

I've never had a Christmas Village.

I never found one that I totally fell in love with

until now..

{it's not really a "village"

as much as it's a "square"}

Salt Lake City Temple Square

never had so much fun as setting it up and making it look "wintery"

There is something magical about a Christmas Village

or {square}

lit up at night with light coming

from the windows

to bring that "feeling" of Christmas

Here is hoping that it's feeling a lot like Christmas at your home!

Natalie means Christmas...

Natalie \n(a)-ta-lie\ as a girl's name is pronounced NAT-a-lee. It is of Latin origin, andthe meaning of Natalie is "birthday". Refers to the birthday of Christ, or Christmas. French form ofNatalya. Therewas a fourth-century Saint Natalia. The "h" is silent in the French form Nathalie; some American variants (like Nathalee) are phonetically spelled to retain the "h" sound.

I've alway's known that Natalie's name meant

"Christmas"

I love this time of year

when we celebrate the

birthday of Christ

Because of Him

we will be with

Natalie again

He gave the world

the best

gift

ever received

With His birth

He brought

joy

hope

peace..

all things I feel

every time I think of

Natalie...which means

"Christmas"

and that..just makes me smile