LOVE IT.....

In High School I had the opportunity to have a great friend get baptized into the church. She spent a lot of time at our house between volleyball, basketball, and track practices. She was a year younger than me in school, so when I graduated she still continued to come over for Sunday dinners and such with my family. After she graduated she attended college in Iowa and it became hard to attend her church meetings. She lived far away from the building, didn't have a car so tried to find rides. We kept in contact through phone and met up when we were both home for the Holidays. She then transferred to South Carolina for her last 2 years. She became inactive slowly and admitted to making some poor choices. Unfortunately we slowly lost contact. Out of the clear blue I was sitting in church and received a text. (I don't usually have my phone because I am ALWAYS on the YW to put them away) But... glanced down and read...
"Marlee, this is .......... I just wanted to let you know that I love you and appreciate all you have done for me. Thanks for setting such a great example for me. I went to church this Sunday for the first time in a couple of years."
Before I could reply (without anyone seeing) she continued...
"It was an amazing experience, similar to when I got baptized. I felt the Spirit so strong and can't believe I have let myself get so far away. Tell your family I love them!"
I was able to text back that I was in church and it was great to hear from her. Then that afternoon we were able to talk on the phone for and hour! It was so great to hear the excitement in her voice about the church. She is now living in Arizona and attending church. She broke up with her boyfriend and is ready to prepare for a temple marriage. I talked to her today again (week later) she is doing awesome! I LOVE how I could hear the change in her voice as she expresses her love for the church. She is making the correct changes in her life so she can be able to live with our Heavenly Father again. She said that!!! I am so stoked!! I Love it!! I am so thankful for missionary work and that we can all do it. It reminded me to continue to invite non members into our home and most importantly be a good example!!

Poor Baby...

Boomer has officially lost his man-hood!! He was a hit at the vet. They couldn't believe how calm and obedient he was. (some of you maybe laughing) They all had to come look at him to see what a good looking dog he was. He is recovering and seems to be doing great!!

I Love my In-Laws

I am so lucky to have such great in-laws that come visit! I am actually really lucky to have married into such a great family. This past weekend my sis-in-law planned a quick trip to Sierra Vista. My favorite part was there really was no reason they HAD to come visit, it was stictly to visit Spencer and I!!! My Mother-in-law came with her and brought my neice Kaitlyn and nephew Spencer. We had a fun time going on a bike ride, going to the store, going to Bisbee, playing spoons, and talking. The weekend went by so fast. Thanks for visiting! We LOVE it. next month we they are coming again, so is Spencer's brother and his family. YEAH!!!

Aww....

Aw... How cute is Spencer!!! Friday night Spencer and I are in bed discussing what we had to do on Saturday. We came up with a good list. As we are sitting eating breakfast Saturday morning, Spencer says, "I know we have a lot going on today but I want to take you out to lunch. Can you be ready to go at 11:00?"

To be honest I thought..... We have tons to do today and lots of leftovers!!!

Anyways, I gave in. As soon as we were done eating Spencer went outside and didn't come back inside until it was time to go. He spent the entire morning working on the Mustang so we could take it to Bisbee for lunch. We had a great time walking around all the little shops, looking at the museums, and ate lunch. We ate at the BEST Mexican food ever!!! Spencer is a little picky about his Mexican food but was AMAZED with this food. It was so good!! We recommend it to everyone!! The best Mexican food "Santiago's" in Bisbee. It's now our favorite Mexican restaurant we have ever ate at!

NEW YEARS...

Maybe the second try around will work!!! We had a wonderful New Years in Phoenix with the Forsberg Family! We left New Years Eve and went over to Russ and Katie's house for the big Party. We had fun playing games and eating food! The next day we had a fun adventure to the Lake!! Spencer and I LOVE to go to the lake. It is obviously a little cold to wake board so we just cruised in the boat and ate lunch. Always a good time. We got back to Phoenix just in time that afternoon to help prepare for the big Forsberg get together. It's always fun to get to catch up with family and play with all the nieces and nephews. The next morning we went on ANOTHER fun adventure to the Cabin!! It was so beautiful! There was lots of SNOW everywhere!!! It was a quick trip, next time I want to go sledding!! That after noon we had a fun time running errands and got to meet up with Kristal (one of my bestest friends) and her boyfriend for dinner. It was nice getting to meet him and see her. But... the party didn't end there. The next morning Spencer and I got to experience and bit of Heaven! WE got out first facials!! Thanks to my SIL Amy!! Thanks for the great Christmas gift! It felt Amazing!! Next was the BIG GAME!!! Spencer, Frank (dad), Russ, and Keith (bro) all got to go to the actual game! They had a blast and like always had lots of stories.

While the boys were at the game the girls all got to enjoy a pedicure!!! (Thanks Frank) Talk about a day at the spa for me! I got my facial, pedicure, my niece Mallory did my make-up, me other two nieces Kaitlyn and Reeslyn did my hair! I was feeling pretty good!! We ordered Pizza and when the boys got home we watched the movie Get Smart. It was a fun weekend with lots to do! We had a great time visiting everyone and glad we got to come visit!!

Christmas.. in a Nut Shell

We REALLY enjoyed the Holiday Season this year.

Here it all is... Lots of Pictures and Explaining.

Christmas Eve: We (47 of us) ate our traditional HUGE Mexician feast at Aunt DelAnn's House and had our Chirstmas Program. After the fun family Party, we delivered gifts, then went back to my Mom and Dad's house where all of us kids slept. It's always more fun to wake up and have kids there to enjoy the excitement!

Jordan (Wisemen), Hallie (Mary), Taylor (Joseph), Karlie and Rylee (Angels) Cooper and Hunter (Shepards)

HO! HO! Good Sport Garet!! He delieved our gifts that we gave to families!

Momma (Grandma) and her Grand-daughters (Karlie, Paige, Halie, Jaycie)

The Nephews (Taylor, Teagen and Kade)

Christmas: We all got up extra early to see what Santa brought everyone. It's always a surprise! We ate yummy pull-apart as we all took turns opening presents. Soon after all the presents were opened we got to talk to JARED!!! It was so fun to hear his voice and WOW he is doing amazing!That afternoon all 47 of us enjoyed our BIG Christmas Dinner at my Mom's House!! Santa brought Spencer 2 New Suits!!!

Santa surprised me with a New Camera!!

It was fun listening to Spencer and Jared in Spanish!

We are so lucky to have Family around to share the Christmas Memories with! I love Christmas. I love the spirit the holidays bring!!!Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! I hoped to have the New Years pictures up but I am having technical difficulties. They will be up soon. We were lucky to go spend time in Phoenix with the Forsberg Family.

What I really LOVE...

I absolutly LOVE this time of year like most people. What I really love about this time of year is..
1. Christmas Cards= I LOVE getting Christmas cards!! It is so fun to read what friends and family have been up to. I love looking at all the pictures too!!!

2. Family!! I love getting to spend time with family!!
3. Christmas Music= Not only do I LOVE listening to Christmas music but I LOVE singing Christmas Music!!! I can remember Thanksgiving afternoon, we would bust out the Christmas music, decorate Gingerbread Houses and sing as loud as we could!! (I'll never forget when my Mom and Aunts danced on the table singing) I also really enjoy singing for different Christmas Party's and Church Activities!!!

4. Gingerbread Houses= Every year we make them!! It's so fun to get together with the kids and let them decorate, then the older girls get there turn to decorate!! It is SOOO fun to have Amanda here to join us again!!
4. Christmas Lights!! Spencer and I have a date night of drinking hot cocoa and driving around looking at all the lights!! The best ones I have seen are the 2 houses on 51st Ave. and Olive in Glendale. (this is a picture of our house)
5. Christmas Trees- Spencer surprised me with our tree this year! It is Beautiful!
6. Traditions= I could probably go on forever about traditions. Spencer says, "I never knew a family could have so many traditions." I will mention a few:

• Christmas Caroling at the Life Care Center (We do it every FHE before Christmas, yep that's tomorrow night)


• Secret Santas, we draw names at the FHE 2 weeks before Chirstmas and serve that family member, ex: make a bed, leave a little note. Then we reveal it the night we go caroling. (it's not as fun with just Spencer and Myself, can't wait to have a family!)


• We have a special FHE anytime during December and my Mom gives us all a Christmas Tree ornament of something we accomplished that year. She goes all out making many and is very creative! (Spencer and I have continued to carry on that tradition: He went to NY with his Dad and Bro this year so he got the Statue of Liberty)


• Reading Christmas stories every morning during breakfast!! Growing up my Mom or Dad made us breakfast every morning. During December she would read us a Christmas story.


• Christmas Eve: I LOVE Christmas EVE! It has been fun being married and sharing different Christmas Eve traditions. Both Families act out the manger scene, which can be entertaining with little kids! No matter which side of the family we have a great time!


• Matching PJ's. Since I was little we always had matching pj's with all the cousins that were there!! The girls matched and the boys. Then the couples had matching pj's too.


• Christmas Goodies= We LOVE eating goodies and handing out goodie plates!


• Santa= Spencer still laughs at my family!! We all still believe! We still don't know what Santa has gotten us until we get up EARLY Christmas morning. Christmas Morning= We get up really early look what Santa brought, eat Cinnamon rolls and Pull-Apart. Drink Hot Cocoa and fresh Orange juice!

• Christmas Parade! I Love the Christmas parades! I hope to be able to make it to the light parade in Phoenix when we have kids (its awesome). I also love the Sierra Vista small town Parades. (this is part of our group waiting for the parade to start: Sierra Vista's first light parade)
• We also have a Manger that is empty and whenever we serve somebody we get to put a piece of yarn in it to fill the manger. It is fun to see how full we can get it before Christmas.
• Like I said we could go on forever with traditions but one Spencer and I have started this year to collect small Christmas gifts and give to a family. Thanks to the help of my in-laws, we were able to put together a great Christmas morning for this family.

Okay now if you read this entire Novel I am impressed! I had to write it all down for journal purposes! I Love the Christmas Season and ALWAYS miss it when it's over. The good thing is that it comes again! Love you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas!