QUOTE OF THE WEEK--Lightbulb Moment For Me

"Have you ever noticed that nearly all of Satan's attacks are directed at your body? Pornography, immodesty, tattoos, immorality, drug abuse, and addictions are all efforts to take possession of this precious gift. This was a gift that was denied Satan."

--Elaine S. Dalton

1st Counselor, Young Women General Presidency

Because of my calling as Stake Camp Leader for the Young Women's Program, the YW President wanted me to watch the broadcast for the girls. Last night my mom and I watched it via TiVo while Richard was home teaching.

I have heard Sister Dalton speak before. I enjoy her talks for many reasons: She seems so personable and is easy to listen to, she seems to be an outdoors-loving type and speaks about her marathons and backpacking trips, and she provides a-ha or lightening bulb moments for me everytime. This time was no different.

She was just as personable in her sunny, yellow outfit, she talked about running a marathon, and she made this statement. The moment it left her lips, I was struck! It was very profound for me and I have been thinking about it all day now. Like Sister Dalton, I am hardpressed to find many things Satan does to bring us down that aren't related to our bodies. Sister Dalton listed some things, however, the list is not even complete. Obviously Satan has realized that it is really great to possess a body and he must be jealous and regret not being able to receive one...EVER.

Wouldn't it stink to be him and to have to see what wonderful things he's missing out on everyday for eternity?

This statement made me really think I better do all I can to cherish and protect this body. If Satan wants one so badly, I need to be thankful for the body I do have. Now there's not much I can do to make up for some of the traps I have fallen into in the past (tattoo anyone?! to name only one) however I do have the agency to make sure he can't grab hold of me by using my body in the future.

WANTED: Baby Translator

If anybody out there can figure out what she is saying, we would love to know. She talks constantly these days. It's adorable, just like everything else she does.

A Little Late

She'll be 4 months on Sunday but here are some of her 3 month pictures.

I heart them!Cindy took them when we were home in Boise. If you live in Boise, are visiting there, or want to know if Cindy will ever be in your neck of the woods let me know---she's a TERRIFIC photographer and does an amazing job.

 I also included pictures she took of my nieces Sirri and Meg, and my nephew Connor. They're too cute as well.  

Great, Greats

Sarah Jane had the privilege of meeting all of her living Great Grandparents on a trip she and I took to Boise during the middle of March. What a wonderful experience it was to spend time with my daughter and some of my favorite people.

On our first evening in Boise she met Papa and Grandma Weldon. We even had the privilege of staying the night there with Great Grandma while Papa had a sleep apnea test done. It was wonderful to see my grandma care for her in the same way I am certain she cared for me. She definitely hasn't lost her touch as Sarah was very content while we were there. Grandma kept kissing her in the crook of her neck; just as I knew she would.

The next day we went to Great Grandma Bigelow's house. It was a bitter-sweet experience for me because just a few months ago Grandpa passed away and I so wanted him to meet her. I have so many fun memories with him and wanted my children to eat ice cream, go for walks, and receive Pony Girl rides from him. It was wonderful however for her to get to spend time with Great Grandma, who is one of the greatest grandmas around. Whenever my sister takes her kids there Grandma has toys and books lined up for them to play with. Well when Sarah and I arrived she had brought up her rocking chair so that she could rock Sarah Jane. So sweet! Grandma also kept saying, "I am just cross that you live so far away. The next time I see her she won't know me. I am just cross." I love that.

On our way home rather than fly all the way to Los Angeles, we flew to Las Vegas where Richard was waiting for us. He drove down so that we could go meet his Grandpa, Sarah's Great Grandpa Ernie Atchley. He is 93 years old and it was wonderful to spend the afternoon with him. It was well worth the drive back to Los Angeles, rather than a short flight, and Richard thought it was worth the 8 hour day-trip.

How lucky Sarah is to have so many grandparents. I hope she fosters wonderful relationships with them like I have. They have so much to teach her and lots of love to give. Sarah in total has 4 living Great Grandparents and 4 living Grandparents...she's just as lucky as I was, except that I lived near all of mine. Sadly, she doesn't live near any of hers, but has received many visits, and I show her lots of pictures. Don't worry Great Grandma Bigelow, she WILL know you too!!

Grandparents are GREAT!

Sarah Jane Atchley, 3 months with her Great Grandma, Marcella Weldon. How I didn't manage to get a picture with Papa as well, I am not certain, but I do know I am mad that I didn't!!!

Sarah Jane with Great Grandma, Marjorie Bigelow.

Sarah Jane Atchley and her Great Grandpa, Ernest (Ernie) Atchley. Richard's middle name is Ernest after his grandfather.

4 Generations...Ron happened to be in town while we were there so Sarah was able to have a photo op with 3 very important men!

The Second

Richard and I received an email from his sister Suzanne this week. Her daughter Jessica is interested in family history and so Ron sent all the information he had completed about his family to them. This is what the email said...

"Dad just sent me his family history. Did you know that your Sarah Jane Atchley has a great-great-great-great aunt named Sarah Jane Atchley? She was born about 1862 in Tennessee. She was baptized in 2001 in the Las Vegas temple. She is George Washington Atchley’s sister. That’s all the information Dad has. Jessica now calls your daughter Sarah Jane Atchley the second."

We had no idea when we named her but think that's pretty special. Thanks for doing the work Suzanne and Jessica...without you we would have never known!

Over the Hill...

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Richard,

Happy Birthday to you.

We love you we do,

We love you we do,

We love you dear Richard,

We love you we do!

You look like a monkey and you smell like one too.

It's Richard's 40th Birthday today, however noone really believes me when I tell them that he's THAT OLD. They all think he looks much younger than that. Or maybe it's that they think he acts much younger! :) Who knows people may think I look older than he does. I have questioned doing this post as I didn't want to embarrass my private husband, but decided I would so that our posterity can read about what a terrific husband and father he is.

40 REASONS WHY I AM HAPPY YOU'RE MY GUY...

1) Taking the trash and recycling out every Sunday even though you despise doing it

2) Sorting through the recycling when I just toss it all in without any kind of order

3) Humor…you’re always good for a laugh

4) You enjoy mountain biking…if I could only get you to love road biking then we’d really be the perfect pair

5) You love ice cream more than I do—Grandpa Bigelow’s probably smiling down when you eat those triple scoops faster than I can eat a single scoop.

6) Your love for Sarah Jane

7) You dislike pets as much as I do—we will be on the same page when we tell our children “No, you may not have a dog for your birthday!”

8) The “huh-huh” noise you make when we have our picture taken

9) You don’t poke fun of my ditziness or silly comments: For example when I told you about the lottery billboard and I thought they were advertising that you could win $9. I thought that seemed crazy to pay for a billboard for such a little prize and then I realized it was $9, ooo, ooo! You just laughed and said, “I don’t know that you should have shared that.”

10) You go to work everyday without complaint so that I can stay home and mommy Sarah Jane. There are days I think I would like to work, but most days I am grateful for this gift you give Sarah and me…our days are wonderful!

11) You always disapprove when I talk negatively about myself in anyway.

12) Simple

13) You tell me you love me everyday; more than once!

14) Serve in the temple, even after a long day at the office

15) Never complain about my cooking (or lack thereof lately)

16) You are a real handyman—you enjoy taking things apart and can fix just about anything!

17) You clean up your beard/gotee at least “every other day” because you know I like it that way.

18) Don’t care what other people think

19) When we are going out you make sure to change it up a bit and put on something different than you wear everyday since you know I get tired of the same old thing.

20) You would rather hang out with us than anyone else. When I want couple friends, you are willing to go out with others, but don’t need to because you are quite content with just us.

21) Offer to watch Sarah so I can do things by myself

22) You encourage me to continue doing things I enjoy

23) You help me understand the Book of Mormon. When we read together you always explain what is or has taken place.

24) On Sunday mornings you feed, burp, bathe, cloth, and play with Sarah so that I can take as long of a shower as I would like, shave my legs, eat breakfast, and try on every dress in my closet before opting for the same one I wear every week because it’s the one that fits the best right now.

25) After I try on every dress you don’t mind that all the others are all over the bed and floor and you then tell me I look lovely in that same old dress. You must be sick of it by now.

26) You help me prepare my Sunday School lessons

27) You let me sleep in the car—as if you have a choice

28) Your smile makes me happy!!!

29) You opt to spend your Christmas money on your daughter instead of yourself

30) You give thoughtful gifts

31) You’re frugal so I don’t have to be (as much)

32) You’re slow to anger

33) You apologize when you are in the wrong

34) You give good hugs

35) You eat breakfast with Sarah Jane so I can exercise

36) You have learned to ask all the right questions so that when you come home with information/a story about someone, you can tell me all the details I will want to know.

37) You make the bed?!?!

38) Your black leather couch is in the den and not the front room

39) You are honest in all your dealings

40) You honor the Covenants you have made

Love, Your girls

Borrowed, But I Just Had To

In January Lisa-Marie and Cindy came to visit and meet Sarah Jane for the first time. Lisa wrote both an adorable pre-trip as well as a post-trip song and I just had to have them!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane
Well, here is a recap of my FABULOUS trip to L.A. I apologize it is another little ditty but I've had this song in my head since leaving and it needs to get out. So without further adieu...

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.

Sung to the tune of...you guessed it, I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.

All my bags are packed, not so ready to go

I'm standin' here outside the car door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But my kids I'm missin', I can't believe
The plane is waitin', it's ready to leave

Please don't grow up without me, I could die

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many things we did for fun

Great pedicures to name just one

A great shopping trip to top the list

Hangin' with my sisters is always funny

Loved napping with you on my tummy

Please know that immensely you will be missed

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you

I'm so blessed to have met you

I dream that we will live near by one day

I Dream about the days to come

I'm sorry March is so far from

Until we meet again I'll have to say...

kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I LOVE YOU SO!

Posted by Lisa-Marie
Wednesday, January 9, 2008

I'm Off to See the Baby...

Sung to the tune of: Follow the Yellow Brick Road(Hint: when singing L.A., sing as LA, as in la la la la. It flows better!)

Follow the right concourse signs, follow the right concourse signs.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the right concourse signs.

I'm off to see the babythe beautiful baby of LA

You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.

If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because

because, because, because, because, because,

just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!

Wish me luck, I'm a little nervous about:

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

I'm off to see the baby the beautiful baby of LA

You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.

If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because

because, because, because, because, because,

just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!

Posted by Lisa-Marie
Tuesday, January 8, 2008