Finally time to breathe!

As you know it's been a long time since I've updated. I finally have a few minutes to sit down and catch everyone up on the happenings of the Popes.

First... Lauren and Adam are happily married. There was a beautiful spirit at their wedding ceremony (which was plain and simple)and it was obvious and comforting to me that those two love each other and need to be together. The reception turned out very nice and we had lots of support and help. Friends we havent' seen in ages were able to come and many people from Toquerville came. Adams family was wonderful and we found that all of our worries in meeting them were totally unfounded. They were very kind and down to earth. It's a relief to know that Lauren has loving and supportive family in Provo since I can't be near her all of the time!

Next... Morgan & Matt are doing well. She is in her second trimester and finally past the yucky stage of pregnancy. She sure felt miserable for awhile but was a trooper. We love getting the weekly updates that she sends about the growth and development of her baby. They should be able to find out if it's a boy or girl at theend of January.. that is... if it cooperates!

Jordan has moved back home.. so far so good. He is talking about joining the Army. I took him down to the recruiters office myself :-) and he started the paperwork. He has to wait until his legal stuff is done in March but hopefully will be able to get going on things then. ACTUALLY... what I really desire the most is for him to begin to feel the spirit again while he's at home and head back in the direction of a mission. I know it's not too late for him so everyones prayers would be appreciated. He has soo much to offer.

The other kids are doing well. There was a Pertussis outbreak in the schools here. I took Breanne and Kamrynn out of school for a week and a half because they haven't had the booster and the immunization they received before has worn off. They all started their Christmas break yesterday (if I could make a little crazy face like I did the happy face I would)! Bedrooms are finally getting cleaned in preparation for Grandma and Grandpa coming and because I refuse to bring anything new into the house until some of the old crap is out!

Davids work is slow. We're having a tough time just like most other people in the country. We constantly receive little blessing though so I know we'll be fine. I just hope that those we owe money to are as patient as we've been to those that owe us money!

I am so grateful to have this time of year to remind me of my testimony for and love of the Savior. I wish I was better at pondering this all year long... but can't help at least doing it right now! I have SO many blessings and each and every one of them are due to a loving God and a loving Brother.. Jesus Christ. As things get tougher in the world I get more and more eager for my Elder Brother to return to us! I am also so grateful to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It brings such peace to have the gospel in my life... especially when life in the world is getting more and more wicked!

Finally... I want to express my love and gratitude to all of you...my family and friends. You have loved me, supported me, taught me, given to me, been an example to me, advised me, served me, chastized me when I needed it, laughed with me (and probably AT me) ... I could go on and on. Thank you. I love you too.

Lauren & Adam

We are THRILLED to announce that our daughter Lauren is marrying her love... Adam Hart on December 12th. By the way... I think that 12/12 is a total cheater move... it's easy to remember! Oh, wait. I guess my anniversary of 6/6 could be accused of falling into that same category. Soo, I will change the "cheater move" to a "BRILLIANT move"!

Anyways, we love Adam and think he is a wonderful man. Lauren deserves true happiness and I believe that she and Adam can find that together.

A little side note... since Lauren was about 10 her way of saying "I love you" was "I heart you". Funny huh? Lauren Hart!!!

Any Ideas?

It's a week and a half before Halloween and I don't have a clue how my kids are going to dress up! They all think they know what they want to be.. but they all cost, so I need some CREATIVE ideas that I can do from home! Both older teenagers have parties to go to so they need costumes as well... and I think they are the harder ones to come up with something for. I've throw out my own little ideas that were great when they were little but somehow princesses aren't cool when you're 15 (unless you're talking about treating her like one).

Let's see...

Avrie wants to be a baby. That shouldn't be toooo hard, but I need to come up with a diaper that would fit her without having to buy a whole package of them.

Devyn hasn't said what she wants to be yet.

Arryn wants to be a punk rock pirate. Enough said.

Madison wants to be Pedro from Napoleon Dynomite. How do you dress a larger than the Napolean character girl, that happens to be white and has below chin length hair into a short hispanic boy with short hair brushed (greased) to the side? Ugh.

Breanne & Kamrynn... no clue!

Soooo, if for some reason hundreds of people start reading my blog and would like to throw some ideas out to me... I'd be thrilled!

My Calling

I've been thinking alot lately about my calling and exactly what it is that Heavenly Father needed me to learn/do.

I had a neat experience yesterday that I just wanted to share, but first.... I came into this calling with an absolute love for the YW of my ward and a strong desire to serve in Young Womens. I couldn't wait to start doing all of these great things with them and for them. I had a vision of the things that I thought would be good for them. The problem was... that I kept hearing "this is their program they need to run it." In my mind they were talking about TEENAGERS. How in the heck were they supposed to run the program? There are those that feel this means just turn it over to them and let it fall if that's what happens but they'll learn in the process. I felt like I would tell them how to do things and show them how to do things and they could learn by having experiences that impressed them enough that those messages would stick. Now I feel that both of those ways of thought are wrong.

So on to my experience yesterday. Our new Beehive class presidency was being set apart. I was listening to the words that were being said to these girls as they were being set apart as LEADERS of the Beehive class. Things started flashing through my mind of what I learned a leader was and what she was to do while I was in the RS presidency. All of the sudden it came to me that my job is to train these Young Women to be the leaders of the church some day... of their own families, of their Relief Society, of their own wards Young Womens! I realized that I don't need to just turn everything over to them and let it fall (like the other oppinion), or that I shouldn't be doing it FOR them... but that I needed to use them and instruct them and show them. A flood of ideas came to me on how I can teach the president her responsibilities, the counselors theirs and the secretary hers. I want the secretary to realize that she's not the "last" in the presidency but a vital part that can make or break a presidency. I suddenly became more excited about helping these girls learn how to fulfill their own callings than I was for me putting on "great activities"!

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father is patient and has waited for me to finally get this! I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to serve WITH these incredible young women. Each one of them is so different and each one of them has so much to offer. I have truly been blessed in this calling.

To the right, to the right

I guess that says it all! Yup... I'm gonna be a grandma! I tossed around the idea of having the baby call me "Aunt Kim" in the hopes that it may fool people about my age... but the gray hair and crows feet already gave that away. Soooo, I guess I'll just take joy in this new phase of my life. I am beyond thrilled about the grandbaby... I just have to figure out how to deal with getting old!

Memories

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (either with just me, or anyone else in my family). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Love Notes 2

Okay... I complained for a minute so now I feel compelled to count my blessings. I truly do have so much to be grateful for. When it comes to my kids... when one is having problems there are always 8 more to remind me of why I love being a mom.

Here's a neat little love note. I have struggled and struggled with scripture reading. I do well, it becomes a habit, I love it and then for some strange reason I slack off and it all becomes difficult again. Lately... through all of my praying I keep hearing "read your scriptures." I get blessings and I'm told "read your scriptures". I go to church on Sunday and get moved by a lesson... that happens to say "read your scriptures." You'd think I would get the hint a little sooner than this... but not me. I'm the one that's a little thick in the skull at times right? Anyways, out of the blue one of my online friends posts a scripture reading chart that is very doable and will help me read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. For some reason this got to me more than anything has and it did the trick! It finally got me reading my scriptures again. I love those moments that Heavenly Father really speaks to me... plain and clear... and it actually sinks in and I get it! I KNOW that daily scripture reading will do nothing more than bless my life and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father never gives up! He keeps pushing me until I get it and act on it... so now, in addition to the regular Love Notes I get every day... I will now be blessed for reading my scriptures!

Another one... I ran out of gas today which was weird. It was weird because my van said I still had over a quarter of a tank so it should have been fine. The Love Note? I ran out at my daughters work (with two teenagers and a 4 year old) where I could wait in an air conditioned office. My sister happened to be driving by within a few minutes and happened to own a gas can. How awesome was it that I wasn't stranded on the side of the freeway in near 100 degree temps... by myself with a 4 year old?!

Okay.... one more... I promise. I am blessed with good parents. They are there for me in a million ways and I am so grateful for that. They set a wonderful example of righteous living and of unconditional love. They admit to imperfections and constantly strive to better themselves. What an easy path to follow! How on earth... does a girl get so lucky?

Teenagers

They exhaust me. Does that say enough? Maybe I should move on to another "Love Notes" section but right now I just want to say that while I love every single one of my kids... they sure can break your heart. Really... "they exhaust me" pretty well sums it up. Enough said.

THIS is why I feel like an old mommy!

Avrie is the only child at home during the day and she is bored stiff! She kept asking "when am I going to school" and I would say "when you're 5." But then... she discovered that her 4 year old friends were going to school.. so my answer wasn't good enough any more. I knew the library had story time.... but I thought it was only one day a week. It turns out, much to my pleasure, that they hold it 4 days a week for an hour each day! YAY!!! So now we have Avries "school" 4 days a week and she has a blast! They read stories, sing songs and do crafts.

Here lies the problem. The other mommies are these adorable size 2 young chicks and I feel like I look like Avires Grandmother! What makes me sad is that I realized.. I am the "old mother"! My poor daughter is going to go to school and the kids will say "how old is your mom" and the answers will be "24 or 26 or maybe even 34" but then the kids will hear a quiet little "44". ACK! Poor Avrie... she has to deal with an overweight AND old mom! Oh well... I guess I just better figure out how to be the awesome fun mom that the other kids will love despite the size and age differences with their own moms!

Love Notes

Here it is... one of the sections I wanted to start. It may not remain here... but it will exist from this point forward.

I think all of us are so incredibly blessed... and don't even always notice it. I call those little things that happen to us each day, that make us smile "Love Notes." I have decided that it would do me good to start appreciating Heavenly Father's Love Notes to me and to publicly thank Him for all that I have. I would like to keep a record for myself... so that I can look back on this and be inspired... as often as possible. I have so much... and do you know what? So do you. So please, feel free to add your own "Love Notes" in the comments section. If I can, I'll copy it onto my blog so that all can be uplifted from your expressions of gratitude.

Today... I realized that getting older is okay. For right now I feel peace about where I'm at in life. That is HUGE for me. I have an ongoing struggle about this different phase in my life... but for a little while... I am content. I also woke up to a clean kitchen. I still don't know who did it, but I am grateful. My kitchen is the one place I want to be clean the most and to have someone else take care of it means that they know its important to me and that sent a sweet message to me. I feel very loved and appreciated because of my birthday yesterday. No one had money and so they all thought out of the box and still found a way to make me feel loved and appreciated. We have had some serious financial stresses in the last while. Today, while we did get a check, it did not begin to cover what we needed. But for some reason... I woke up feeling peaceful about it. We've been broke before, we don't know how we'll make it.. and then we do. This peaceful feeling I woke up with tells me that yes... all will be okay and once again... we'll make it. I have so much. I have a comfortable home, I have a loving husband, I have a working vehicle, I have 9 beautiful children and an awesome son in law, I have good friends who set good examples, I have parents who love me and lead me, I have a calling and 6 Beehives that I adore, I have a healthy body in spite of myself, I have online "Women of Destiny" friends that support me... advise me... laugh with me (or is that AT me).. play games with me (and I think let me win sometimes to make me feel good), give good ideas to me, and allow me to sorrow and celebrate with them. I also belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.... with all of those blessings... what else could a person possibly dream of wanting? I don't even know how Heavenly Father can be so creative in sending me new Love Notes every day.... after all... I have SOOOO much! Yet... He does. He loves me and He shows it.

Blogs

I'm trying to figure all of this technical stuff out. I just plain old don't get some of it. For instance... I want to start a section called "Love Notes" that always stays to the right with it's own entries. And another one called "Personal Progress". I have no clue how to do any of that! Another thing I want to do is to keep my first post at the top... because it has a description of my family members. Is there another place I can put that so that it's always visible? If there are any blogging geniouses out there... please comment. OH YEA! That leads me to another "how to". I noticed that the "comments" section at the bottom of each post is in white and not even noticeable. How in the heck do I change that?!

Okay. I'm done ranting. I suppose I'll just have to fiddle around to figure it out like the rest of the awesome bloggers out there!

Our Newest Addition!

So. The first entry was about my 9 children... but what I didn't tell you is that since Avrie, we've added one more child to our family. Another son.

His name is Matt Winder and married our daughter Morgan in the Las Vegas Temple on April 19, 2008. He has been an incredible blessing to our family. He loves and appreciates our daughter and even though he was raised in an all boy home... he somehow knows how to handle her.... eh hem... femaleness - those ever too familiar monthly moods that she has inherited from her mother. He has a strong testimony of the gospel and I know he will lead his family in righteousness. And.... to top it all off, he's pretty darn good looking so I know I will get the most beautiful and handsome grandbabies!

The Beginning

Well... we'll see if I can keep up with this! I'm excited for the opportunity to keep a journal that family and friends are welcome to peek in on.


I guess I'll just start off with the basics. My first child Morgan, was born to me on August 29th, 1984. This beautiful surprise changed my life and I will eternally be grateful for the change in the direction of my life that it took me. Morgan was an example to me from the second she was born and continues to set an example each day she lives ... I'm sure she has a soul that is much older and wiser than mine! I married David on June 6th 1987. We have had a marriage with all of the ups and downs that most of us have had... but 21 years later we're still hanging in there. The next little "bundle of joy" that we were surprised with was our feisty little Lauren. She came into this world on January 17, 1988 with fire and continues to live her life full of .... fire! As much as I love the independence and oomph and humor that her personality has... I'm also beginning to see some softness and maturity settle in... and it's an incredible and beautiful metamorphosis to witness! On September 11, 1989 our one and only little man came to us. He is funny, impulsive, loyal, loving, a free spirit, sensitive (most of the time), talented, intelligent and very handsome. I am so grateful for his patience in living in a house of hormones and for the tenderness he shows me. He will certainly make a wonderful husband... that is very aware of female needs... when he gets through this tumultuous time in his life. I guess there are those of us that feel the need to make our own mistakes and "taste" life before we make our decisions rather than making the decisions first. He is definately a kindred spirit to his mother! I suffered several miscarriages between Jordan and our next child... so when Breanne was born to us we were ecstatic! She was born on December 10th 1992 quickly and without a lot of pain for me. I thought it was because of the losses we had suffered that we felt so happy... it turns out it was because of her sweet, yet tough personality. She was my first baby that didn't cry much, she was my first baby to sleep through the night from 3 weeks on, and she was my first baby that seemed truly "content" from the minute she arrived. To this day she seems to be able to bounce back from trials with a smile on her face and a forgiving heart. Our beautiful and loveable "Kammy T" was born to us on November 16th, 1994. Little Kamrynn was gifted with the most beautiful big brown eyes and head full of curly hair. She has lived her life thus far in complete obedience both to her parents and to the gospel. She is trusting and forgiving and kind. I feel sad for her lack of confidence and want to help her see what a gift she is... but I think it's going to take experience for her to finally discover that. Our next blessing came to us on September 12th, 1996... only 10 hours after her cousin (who was able to be there at her birth). Madison was another gentle and sweet baby. We discovered early on that she had a lot of fears and had a tender heart that is hurt easily. She is quiet and it would horrify her to know that she had ever caused difficulties for anyone (she really hasn't though). She has taken on the role of the child that would rather glide through life unnoticed than to ever make waves. Some day I would like to see her laugh with sheer joy... or act silly... or defend herself without fear. She has an incredible sense of humor and for some reason... with all of her fears... is not the slightest bit afraid to be on a stage performing. I think she's going to be our little star! The next baby we had turned out to be a miracle baby. Arryn was born on November 17, 1998... against all odds. When I was 14 weeks pregnant with her I was in a head on car accident (with 5 of the other children) and critically injured. They just knew the baby wouldn't make it and ended up life flighting me to LDS hospital. They did daily ultrasounds to watch her progression and told me that until we had a healthy baby in our arms... there were no promises. I went through X-rays, CAT Scans, had Morphine and Demerol as well as many other medications... on top of all of the physical trauma to my body. To our surprise... I carried her full term and she came to us tiny... but perfect. One "perfection" (as I like to call it) that she had was that her 2nd and 3rd toes were crossed on her right foot... exactly the way that mine are permanently stuck from the accident. That's just a little bond that she and I have reminding me of the miracle that her life is. She does have to deal with dyslexia... which may or may not be related to the trauma she experienced in-utero... but she deals with it well. She is turning out to be a confident little tiny turkey! Devyn is my next child. We were sooo thrilled to have her join our family on January 6th, 2002 and had no clue what surprised she would bring to us! She is smart, determined and strong! At 2 years old she found her way to the medicine cupboard and got the child proof lid open on a bottle of blood pressure medicine. She took the whole bottle... which we think was around 22 pills. All of that happened in a split second and almost right in front of me (I was folding laundry 10 feet away from her). In a very few minutes we found her unconscious on the floor and quickly turning pale. Arryn (who was only 5 and could not read) somehow knew exactly what pills she had taken and told me that I should be concerned. Up until that point I thought that Devyn was only sleeping. To make a long story short.... on the way to the hospital Devyn's heart stopped and her breathing stopped. They did CPR the whole way and ended up putting her in an induced coma and on life support. The doctors specifically said that she probably would not make it. Our bishop (Neil Cottom) rushed to the ER as soon as he heard the news and gave her a beautiful blessing. The instant he laid his hands on her head he told her to begin to heal. The Spirit was unbelievably strong in the room and I felt an instant peace. He went on to say that Devyn had come into this world full of determination and strength and that we would all be blessed to watch her grow up with those same characteristics. That has certainly proven to be true! After her life flight to Primary Children's hospital (where the doctors still didn't believe she'd make it) she miraculously began to recover. Within 24 hours we were on our way home again to begin a life full of laughs, frustrations and awe filled moments as we watch her continue to live full of "determination & strength." Our last little blessing was Avrie Jayne Pope. I was so sad to know that it would be my last pregnancy so I enjoyed every minute of it. I relished the labor and I actually found satisfaction in a more painful and difficult than usual (for me) delivery. Avrie was born on June 16, 2004. She is happy, content, sweet and confident. She is already into style and appearance (scary) and loves the attention that she gets as the "baby" of the family. I hope that I don't become a mother that spoils her because she's my last! I find myself not being bugged as easily and just like I did with the pregnancy and delivery... I enjoy each moment... even the frustrating ones. I don't want time to fly. I want to always have little children in my home. I adore my adult children, I feel a strong bond to my teen children, and I cherish my young children. I hope that Heaven is full of children of all ages... I hope that we get to raise our spirit children from infants to adults. I hope that we get to be pregnant and experience the thrill of the first touch and smell of a child... of the first look into their tiny eyes... and of the first bond that we feel with them, knowing that they are truly a gift to bless our lives through both challenges and JOY! Thus... the name of my blog... Joy"full"home!