Friday, January 7, 2011
Thank you.....and how it changed a man's life..... and hopefully mine!
So I decided I would try to say thank you more often. It started at work with a beautiful 7 yr. old girl who was terrified of the dentist. It took a couple of appointments to get her through what should have taken 1 appointment. However, with some patience and love she finally did it. I sent her a simple thank you note. One week later her mother called and said that she took the note to school for show-and-tell because she was so proud of it. I was in shock! How could a simple thank you note mean so much to someone? Then I sat down on a recent lunch break to read the latest issue of Readers Digest. In the back was a touching story about how those same words....Thank You, changed his life! You should read the story if you have a moment, it's beautiful. But those 2 words helped him see the blessings in his life, when there were so many problems that he was dealing with. And so it is a new year, and a special challenge has been set upon my heart......to find the opportunities to say THANK YOU!
Because I have been truly blessed in my life. I want to say THANK YOU to my Heavenly Father for each and every blessing that he has blessed me with. I will find the opportunities to say Thank You whenever possible this year, and hopefully it will change my life also!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Grandfather remembered, a Grandmother treasured!
Our grandfather passed away this last week, and I just want to share a few thoughts about him as I remember the man that he was. I met him almost 16 years ago shortly after I met Matthew. One of the first things that I remember about him was the GREAT love that he had for grandma. He loved her so much and did so many kind and loving things to show her that love everyday. After we met he showed those same kindnesses and love to me. I was pregnant with Ashley at the time, and had purchased a crib for $10.00 at a yard sale. You could barely call it a crib for it didn't look like much more then a pile of wood. MY grandfather took that "pile of wood" home and created a BEAUTIFUL masterpiece for Ashley. I loved that crib so much, and marveled at how he made it out of so little. Yet it seemed that he could do that with everything that he touched. He was the hardest working man I have ever met. He had the same touch with people, especially with children, and with the most important person to him, my grandmother. My prayer is that Matt and I might someday have the love that these wonderful grandparents have had toward each other!
We have been blessed by their unconditional love for each one of our children. I have marveled in the fact that in their eye's our children could do no wrong. Grandpa would stare at our children for hours watching their every move, or laugh, and wiping their tears away. He is gone for a time, but his memory is engraved in our hearts!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
OVERWHELMED
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Dayton and Andrew's 4th Birthday
Dayton and Andrews 4th Birthday Party!
Dayton and Andrews 4th Birthday Party!
Dayton and Andrews 4th Birthday Party!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Happy 9th Birthday Kelsey
Happy 9th Birthday to our sweet little angel Kelsey! She almost always has a smile on her face and is so excited about her everyday life!
Kelsey can light up a room with her warm attitude and her cheery disposition!
I have to admit that Kelsey is my most loving child, she loves attention, and she loves to give lots of hugs and kisses!
Love dare Day 6
Accept the challenge for Day 5............
Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. Then ask yourself these questions...
How did you handle hearing it?
What do you plan to do to improve these areas?
Listen to this thought....
Love will lead you to forgive instead of holding a grudge. To be grateful instead of greedy. To be content rather than rushing into more debt. Love encourages you to be happy when someone else succeeds rather than lying awake at night in envy. Love says "share the inheritance"rather than "fight with your relatives." It reminds you to prioritize your family rather than sacrifice them for a promotion at work. In each decision, love ultimately lowers your stress and helps you release the venom that can build up inside. It then sets up your heart to respond to your spouse with patience and encouragement rather than anger and exasperation.
The Love Dare by Stephen and Alex Kendrick
Monday, February 1, 2010
The love Dare
Day 1---Love is patient
Today I will be completely patient in all things, and I will be completely successful because I am strong!
I have not told Matt that I am doing this challenge over the next 40 days, as I am hopeful that he will see a change in me on his own. I love him with all of my heart and I want to be the best wife to him. I may post a few of the challenges and my thoughts over the next 40 days, and maybe you too will be inspired to improve the relationships in your life. Oh, and by the way... I am hoping that I can incorporate these challenges to be a better mom also. Thus the Monday start! Wish me luck and prayers, because I need it!! Here's to a great 40 days to a better me on the inside!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Jackpot!!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
New year, some old memories!
One of my favorite memories from 2009 would have to be the trip I took to Disneyland with my daughters this past summer. I will always treasure that time with them and the memories we made with Uncle James. I can still smell the sweet smells, and the summer air as I write this. I love to sit in Disneyland and eat the freshest caramel apples with nuts in the warm sun. I loved seeing the joy on my daughters faces at every new adventure, and with every character in Disneyland. I could go there on vacation every year, and be perfectly happy doing it! Ashley turned 13 while we were there, and she is turning into a beautiful butterfly. She still has so much to learn, but she is amazing to me!
This past summer we sent Ashley and Kelsey to Montana for 2 weeks to be with their grandparents. Matt's parents renewed their wedding vows, and Matt and I thought it was so beautiful to see that ceremony. The love that they have for each other is so beautiful! Kelsey was very homesick, but she did have a blast. Uncle James helped her out a lot though. And as we reunited with him, it blessed all of our lives! He is the best gift that we received this last year!
We were also able to go to Salt lake City this past summer and have a Quigley reunion. It was so awsome to see all of our family, and spend cherished time with them. I am so very thankful for each one of them, for they are all a big blessing in my life!
My little brother Blake got married this past year. That was very special to me, to see him so happy with his new wife Mishelle! For I had prayed many times that he would find someone that would truly make him happy, and that prayer was answered. They are a wonderful couple, and we are so happy for them!!
Kelsey turned 8 this past year, and was baptized by Matt. My Grandpa Quigley came up, along with several family members. It was so neat to see my beautiful girl be baptized. This past year she has grown so much. She is the best sister to Ashley, Dayton, and Andrew. She is always finding ways to love those around her. She plays with Andrew and Dayton all of the time, and she is always so happy! She loves art and is always drawing and writing sweet little notes for everyone. She also started dance this year, and she loves it!! She brings so much happiness to our family!
With Andrew and Dayton my favorite memory has to be the words, POTTY TRAINED! That was a complete joy for me to be done with changing diapers all of the time! I still am thankful that my prayer was answered, and that they potty trained so quickly. They have been so fun to watch grow up this year. They turned 3, and they are double trouble, but oh so much fun! They don't dress alike at all anymore, and it is so cute to watch them pick out clothes every day. Andrew has this shirt that is orange with a m&m face on it. He wants to wear it all of the time, and when he puts it on, he flies away saying, "I'm m&m boy". Apparently it's a new super hero that you haven't met before, until you meet Andrew wearing his shirt. And Dayton likes to wear stripes all of the time now, because if it has stripes, then it is a Star Wars shirt. They have a name for almost all of their clothes, and they know who's is who's, when I don't even know. They are such a joy, except when it is time to go to sleep. They move all of the time, yet still can't exhaust themselves enough to sleep! I love them so much though!
I saved my favorite for last. This has been the year that I have truly been grateful for my husband! I have always loved him, and been grateful for him, but this year I have tried to accept the things that I cannot change about him. And it has made a world of difference after almost 14 years of marriage. I love him so much, and I'm so grateful for all of the things he brings to my life!! Even those things that I cannot change, but have learned to accept. He is the best cook, and he is always trying to make all of us happy. He loves me, and most days I don't feel I can love him the way he loves all of us. I have been blessed for every year that he has been part of my life, and I love him so very much!!
We have been blessed all year with wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father poured upon our hearts and souls! I love him and our Savior, Jesus Christ with all that I have. For without them, I would have nothing. I have a family that I love with all of my heart, and I'm so thankful to be a wife and mother! Every year I set a resolution to become a better wife and mother, and it's not because I never grow in that area. I just know what a sacred responsibility that I bear, and I always want to be better, or more Christ like, not only to my own family, but all of those around me! It has been a great year, and here's to the new one!
Christmas 2009
I was so excited to give this gift to Ashley! I started this quilt when she was 5 yrs. old and never finished it. This is the quilt where I sent off a piece to family members to decorate, and they sent it back to add to the quilt. There are several family members who added to this quilt that have passed away or divorced. But none the less this is a family quilt that she will have for a lifetime. I love this quilt, and I am so thankful for those of you who contributed to it, for I know that Ashley truly treasures it!
Matt and Ashley kept riding the new scooters around the house! We kept telling Matt that there was a weight limit! Ha Ha! You see those pans in the background? We got them for Christmas, and I have already burned both meals that I tried to cook in them! Matt wasn't happy about that, and told me I wasn't allowed to cook with them, which is just fine with me!!
This is Ashley in her new dress from Uncle James. I think she looks like a lady in it! I found that it is extremely difficult to find modest dresses these days!
This is Ashley opening her new dress.
Kelsey was so excited for every single little gift and so were the boys! Christmas this year was so fun. I took more videos of the boys then pictures, and as soon as I figure out my camera, I will post them! I loved the holiday spirit that was everywhere this year! Andrew and Dayton loved the lights, I loved the music, the girls loved everything! And Matt, well he can be a grinch at times, but he tried so very hard this year! I felt as though all month we were happy and trying to enjoy that Christ like attitude! It truly was a great Christmas season!
Christmas 2009
I finally got my marshmellow shooter that I had been asking for, for 3 years. Ashley drew my name this year, and I guess finally decided that she wanted to get it for me! I was so excited about this gift, and I still am!
I guess the boys were excited about it also, because thay kept trying to steal it!
Christmas 2009
This was a house of Christmas lights that we found next to a house that looks like the next picture. We thought it was funny!
On the news the owner of this house says his bill in January is $1500.00 dollars and 3 months of work every year! But the sight is beautiful!
Christmas 2009
The girls had friends come over and make yummy treats that we shared with friends.
Andrew and Dayton weren't as creative as everyone else. But what can you expect from 3 yr. olds. Andrew did give a lot more hugs though!
I had Kelsey, and I tried to do some fun things like paint candy cane nails! They turned out so cute! Andrew decided this year that he doesn't like red and white candy canes, so he kept telling Kelsey to wash her hands! I also tried to make Kelsey feel special by spending a lot of time with her. I did her dishes a lot, gave her special treats, and wrote cute little notes for her!
This was a picture after visiting Santa Claus at the mall, they do make great little elf's! Ashley is too big of course to wear these corny hats. Note: Andrew and Dayton have fought all winter long about their coats that you see here, and why the other one won't share his, or if today he will. Now when you see twins wearing matching clothes, just know that maybe the mom just wants to avoid fighting over who wears what. Next year they will be the same without question!
We actually stood in line for 30 min. before seeing Santa fighting about you guessed it, coats!
This is our visit with Santa this year. Much better then last year! Andrew wasn't willing to sit on his lap, and Dayton was fine as long as Kelsey was holding on to him. The boys both asked for Transformers, Kelsey asked for art supplies, and Ashley asked for Clothes!

