Life with the Brudfam

every girl's dream

I got to spend the day with my mom shopping and eating.  Does it really get any better than that?  We ate sushi at the Happy Sumo and shopped away at the Gateway!  I found a few really fun things with all my birthday money...and mom managed to find a few things of her own. 

Here we are in Z Galleries where I found all sorts of inspiration for decorating my house this Christmas. We had fun laughing and browsing and trying on clothes.  I would say that one of the best things about growing up is that your mom can truly be one of your best friends!  Thanks for a special day, Mom!  I love you!

**and one of these days I will start taking pictures with my good camera rather than my iPhone.  They are pretty low quality!

A Woman's Touch

My Mom and I spent the day at my brother's cleaning, organizing and decorating this week.  He is suddenly (or maybe not so suddenly) single again, and we thought his rental needed a woman's touch. It is a old house in Provo, with charming archways and curb appeal.  And some not-so-charming details too...like old peeling linoleum in the kitchen and walls that haven't been painted in a while.  So we kicked into gear and tried to freshen it up and make it a place where he will feel at home, and his kids too, on the weekends that he has them.

We had fun organizing his stuff, filling the bookcases, and just generally tidying up the place a bit, just in time for his weekend with his kids.  

My sister, Colette also came over to help.  She was the master paper organizer and got a good start on getting his filing system in order.  We had fun laughing and hanging out together.

We hope that this is a fresh new start for him.  We love him and admire his strength and courage in the midst of a difficult situation.  He has continually amazed me with his faith and determination.  Even though he is my little brother, I look up to him so much!

I came across this quote, from President Thomas S. Monson the other day, and it reminded me how blessed we are to have an eternal and loving Heavenly Father to turn to in times of trial...

"Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no balm in Gilead?” We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

--Thomas S. Monson

photo diary: a pretty great day

now I am off to do the dishes....

and I'll be thinking about this great broadcast last night 

(especially President Uchtdorf)

How to avoid folding laundry

For the last year, my life-long friend Katy and I have set several times to get together and go volunteer at the Humanitarian Center.  Without fail, some conflict would arise, and one of us would have to cancel. We went thru the entire school year setting and then canceling our service days.

So when our kids got started school, we committed to trying again.  Today was our day.  And I came oh so close to canceling again.  I was tired.  Blue Eyes had a cold and her voice was scratchy.  Perfect excuse to cancel.  Not that I didn't want to go, but it was just one more thing in a very busy week.  Plus, three loads of laundry have been sitting in my bedroom since Monday, accruing more wrinkles each day that they aren't folded and put away.  My den is a mess, and is rather impatiently calling my name each time I walk by..."clean me, please" it begs each time I pass by.  

But...Blue Eyes felt better once she got going this morning and had no problem going to school.

So my laundry is still unfolded.

My den is still messy.

I am still tired.

And Katy and I helped assemble a whole pallet of hygiene kits, ready to be sent out when the next natural disaster occurs.  With the recent horrible weather, the Humanitarian Center has sent out thousands upon thousands of pounds of relief aid to Haiti and Texas to help with the devastations.  We worked quickly assembling and inspecting ziplock bags that were filled with very basic hygiene kits:

Toothbrushes**Toothpaste**Soap**Combs**Hand towels

Our work wasn't much in the grand scheme of things.  But it did feel good to do something for someone else in need.  It made my problems feel so small.  And my heart fill with gratitude for all that I have.

So if you have a few hours to spare (or some laundry to avoid folding), head down to the Humanitarian Center and see what they need help with.  They'll be so happy to see you!

Happy Saturday

Sometimes I forget (silly me) how amazingly wonderful my life is.  

Like getting to spend all afternoon/evening with my extending family, celebrating the 70th birthday of my sweet Aunt Bonnie, who is one amazing woman.  Widowed by 40 with 11 children, she is a pillar of strength and faith and perseverance and kindness and love and long-suffering. Having lost both her husband and her daughter Nancy, she continues to press forward in the face of trials and adversity, putting her trust in the Lord.

Or how I got to spend yesterday watching my cousin Susan's four adorable children while she and her hubby Rob attended the temple with her mom (the afore-mentioned Aunt Bonnie) and her brothers and sisters.  We had so much fun together playing at the park, eating ice cream at Sonic and watching Nim's Island.

Or how the elders showed up on our doorstep this morning, catching me in my pajama's at 10 am (still in my pj's because I got to sleep in until 9:51), and came in for a lovely visit, looking for suggestions for people to share the gospel with.  And for feeling grateful that I already have that blessing in my life.

Or how me and my little peeps are having a girl's night together, right this very moment, watching Willy Wonka and eating popcorn in our pj's.  And how Jeff just got home and has joined us on the couch. We miss Chloe, who is having a sleepover with her cousins in P-town (aka Provo, Happy Valley, home of the UCLA-slaughtering BYU Cougars).

Or how we get to sleep in an extra hour tomorrow, thanks to Stake Conference. And I how I don't have to prepare a lesson, or set up chairs, or attend any meetings.  Just show up and listen. 

Or how I don't have to cook Sunday dinner tomorrow--we are heading back down to P-town to have dinner at my parents.  Hooray!

oh, what a night

I have a group of beloved & dear friends that has been getting together for 11 years.  

It started as Bunco, then we gave it up about 9 years ago.  

It turned into bookclub.  

Then we took turns hosting dinner each month.  

One year, we helped each other with projects around the house, i.e. painting, decorating, manual labor.  

The older we get (and our kids get), the harder it is to get together each month.  

But we still try.  

And the amazing thing about these friends is that we all lift each other up.  

Support eachother.  

Listen to each other.  

And they make ME want to be a BETTER person.  

What more can you ask for?  

Plus, we laugh an awful lot together.  

Another common ground?  

We adore our husbands.  

In fact, we sometimes invite our husbands to join us. 

Like at our annual summer BBQ.

Usually, the ladies sit around chatting and the guys shoot hoops and hang out.  

But this year was different.  

This year...

and the guys sat around "chatting" and watching the girls play basketball!  

(Missing this year--Carol & Kelli, who both recently delivered sweet babies.  Congrats!) 

Welcome to the world, Baby Boy

This is the latest addition to the Williams Family...and isn't he beautiful?  

He was born on Wednesday to Marci & Daniel, and is the baby brother to Calvin & Greta.  Just wish I was in Mississippi so I could kiss those cheeks and see that dark hair.   Little Jonas**, we love you!

**No, he is NOT named after the Jonas Brothers (or is he?).  

Belated Birthday wishes...

Blue Eyes, moi, Drama Queen, Grandpa B, Kobi, Kristi, The Guy, Freckles & Josi

The Guy & his dad share the same birthday, June 30.  We we celebrated The Guy's 39th and Wilford's 90th (can you believe that?) birthdays in style at Bonsai.  Kristi, Josi, and Kobi joined us for a little Japanese Tepanyaki.  

Happy Birthday to the love of my life & to his papa who made it all possible!

Birthday Celebration

My father-in-law is turning 90 years old tomorrow (the same day that The Guy turns 39--they are exactly 51 years apart!)!  We held a celebration for him last weekend and I was asked to design the invitations.  Just thought i would share...

Isn't he a handsome guy?  Love all the old pictures that I sorted thru to find these great ones.  

Happy Mother's Day

Today we celebrate our mothers. I celebrated with my sweet little family who made me breakfast in bed {german pancakes, fresh sliced strawberries, yogurt and a diet coke}, and made me homemade cards and gifts. I am spoiled. And I am grateful. For these 3 sweet little girls who are growing up too fast. Who took pride in coming in and taking my order in bed. Who picked tulips and put them in a vase. And made cards, and a clock and a notebook for me. Who insisted I stop getting ready for church and get back in my pjs so I could eat their breakfast IN BED. Who sang sweet songs in sacrament meeting. And I am so grateful to the man who made this all possible. Who was the short-order chef today. Who made the beds today. Who wrote me the most beautiful note. Who took me shopping yesterday. Who loves me with passion. Who adores our three little girls. Who devotes his life to us. Who loves the Lord. My cup runneth o'er.

And I am grateful to have a sweet mother who has been such an example to me. Of love. Sacrifice. Commitment to the Lord. Commitment to her husband. Of service--at church and in the community. Of tender caretaking. Of getting dressed and putting on your make-up and looking your best everyday. Of learning. Of reading. Of taking care of your body. Of having family dinner every day. And one of my all time favorite memories--seeing my mother on her knees, every morning, praying. What gifts she's given me.

And now that I am a mother, I hope I am teaching my daughters these same lessons. Things that they will remember when they are struggling. Or when they are faced with decisions. Or when they are mom's one day too. Or when they are counting their blessings.

Happy Mothers Day!

For a great entry on "Mother's Who Know" visit NieNie.