Back to where I served a mission!

Door to the Indpendence Visitor Center. Visited there on Monday the 16th just before heading back to Utah. It has changed since I was on a mission. The history rooms downstairs are technology updated. I loved the Eternal Family rooms and made me miss my family and ready to get back home to see them.
As I got off the plane in Missouri all the feelings I felt as a missionary came flooding back. Here I was with a companion in the place I served. There were times on this trip I felt like I need to go and GQ someone at the gas station when we would stop to get gas. Miles and I both felt like we had to stick by each other and not be seperated. There were times when I found myself asking Serena and Damion about their neighbors as if I was going to go tract their neighborhood.

After the visitor center we went to the mission office next to the visitor center to see if we could get info on a few members to see if they are still active and missionaries that served in Independence in 1998. No luck.

Me at Adam-ondi-ahman. This rock has special meaning as this is where Rock proposed to me in 2006! He was sent to Kansas City for summer sales and I was going to Kansas City to see a lady I taught and was baptized her son get baptized. Rock and I had talked about getting married before I got there to Missouri and I thought he would propose when he got home. Nope he bought a ring in Missouri and proposed. Poor guy, it took about 2 minutes to say yes but I am so grateful I did! We went and visited Adam-ondi-Ahman on Sunday after church. I love this place and I feel the spirit there every time I go.

THE NEW KANSAS CITY, MO TEMPLE

It is so exciting to see a temple in the stake where I use to serve as a missionary. I love it! The new Liberty Stake Center is right next to the temple. I love how the wards have grown. My first area of Kearney,MO had only one ward while I was a missionary and now it as 2 family wards and a single's ward. What once was fields of the Shoal Creek area is full of houses and a temple!! I got to visit with Pam from Kearney. I taught her until I was transferred but she got baptized and I have kept in contact with her over the years. I was so excited to see her. She is active, been through the temple, and is doing awesome. She was a scout leader and now she serves in Relief Society!~ What joy to my soul!

This is a satue at Winter Quarter in the pioneer cemetary. The cemetary is located just above the temple.

The reason for my trip! The Buddemeyer family got SEALED!! I am so grateful that they invited me and one of my companions to be apart of this! It is amazing and feels my heart with joy to see how much they have grown in the gospel, how happy they are and how the gospel has blessed their lives! I haven't seen them in 9 years and yet it was like we hadn't seen each other in months not years.

I was serving in North Kansas City and met Serena ( a less active member) and her two kids Darrion and Desiree. Damion her husband was not yet a member, had been taught by a lots of missionaries and was nice to Sister Miles and I but was not interested in taking the discussions again.

Miles and I was trying to get Serena to come back to church and she did a couple of times. I was at a meeting at the mission home when I had an impression to go show the video "Finding Faith in Christ" for a FHE lesson to the family. After the video was shown Damion turned to us and said "What do I got to do to be baptized?" HUH, HUH, Sister Miles looked at me and said what do we do. She was a new missionary and I had been out over a year. What a blessing. He was baptized April 2003!

Now the last 8 years have been rough, but Miles has been there when Damion recieved the priesthood and when Serena went to the temple. And now they are Together Forever!

They were sealed in the Omaha Nebraska Temple.

Statue in front of the Winter Quarter's Visitor Center.

Our visit back to Liberty Jail!

Oh how I love this place. It hadn't changed much, the smell, the tour, the feeling of the spirit. So many wonderful memories came flooding back as a walked through the doors. I was so excited to go back. Memories of tours I took there, youth groups singing Praise to the Man, a family asking to see for the missionary after visiting there, baring my testimony to a group of young adults at ministry conference at William Jewel College, etc. And just remembering the lessons I learned from teaching others about Joseph Smith's experience here. A Place Where Faith was Tested but Found Sufficent! I needed that reminder! The sister missionary who took us on tour Miles and I to bear our testimony after the tour was done and to be up there again where I bore my testimony so many times was wonderful!

I am so grateful I served a mission and was called to where I served. So many times I was told I was not a real missionary because I served at a visitor center and I don't understand this. I didn't call my self to Liberty Jail and from what I understand the Lord and prophets have inspiration on where you serve so if you don't think I am a missionary take it up with Lord. I testify there is missionary work that goes on at any Church History Site or Visitor Center.

I didn't want to go on a mission. I didn't want to be a Visitor Center Sister, but the Lord knew me and what I needed. I am so grateful I did and as I look back on my life now I understand more fully why I had to serve a mission. Things got resolved that I probably never would have resolved had I not gone on a mission. Serving a mission has helped me prepare for marriage, kids, life in general.

The sisters I got to serve with at Liberty Jail were awesome. All obedient hard working missionaries and the senior couples also! I was very lucky!

Thank you to my mom, sister and husband for taking such good care of my kids. I have a great family and am so grateful for there willingness to help. A big thanks to Miles and your parents! I am so glad we got to serve together as companions and that we got to go back together!

Happy New Year!

I am looking forward to a new year and after 2 hard years I have decided to change my attitude, have more faith and trust the Lord more that he will take care of my family as long as I am striving to keep the commandments and do my part. Strive to look more at the positive attributes of people instead of the negative and not get discouraged with the pride, greed, and disloyalty of people. Also look more for the joy in life!
My goals: to appreciate my husband more, be grateful for the things I have and not dwell on the things I don't have. The home I live in now will probably be my home for the next 10+ years although I only thought we would live her 2 maybe 3 years. In the world's eye's it is small, old, not fashionable with old furniture, paint, etc, but I am grateful for the house that has helped us stay out of too much debt and given us shelter. I love the ward and the neighborhood. It truly is a blessing!
(Oh man I just lost all of what I have written; here we go again trying to regather my thoughts.)
To appreciate my kids more and realize that the Lord wants me to be a stay at home mom most of the time, although I work a few days a week. This has been a struggle for me since Mack was born. I love to work, to get up, be busy, have some where to go, but when I was pregnant with Mack I prayed and felt I need to stay home with my kids until they are in school or when ever felt right for our family. I am still learning to trust the Lord that we will be taken care of financially and he will make his possible and I have seen miracles which I am thankful for. Yes, if I did work we would probably live in our own home, have a newer car, be able to take our family to Disneyland, have better furniture, but I know these things don't matter more than a loving home.

So in a nut shell my goal is to trust in the Lord more and be more grateful.

My little sis got married on Jan 12th to Steve Miner. We are excited for her and her wedding was so laid back and fun!

I went to Kansas City over Martin Luther King weekend and my next post I will share that with you all.

Hope you all have a NEW YEAR full of Happiness and JOY!

December

Gunnar spent the whole party at the air hockey table! The whole night!

Temple Square seeing the lights. Boys were great!

Our family at our Christmas Eve Party!

Mack with his gingerbread house he made at our neighborhood play group!

Our Family Christmas afternoon after talking to Sister Gillman in Indiana.

Opening more Christmas presents.

Mack's birthday party with Gavin, Carson, Tege, and George

Boys taking a picture with Mater!

My mom and dad with all the grandkids Christmas afternoon

Mack with Chuck E Cheese for his birthday!

This has been the hardest most emotional, stressful, overwhelming, frustrating, financially hard Christmas, Holiday Season of my life. I'm not going to go into details of all that has happened and the frustrations I am feeling, I am just glad a new year is about to come upon us and I hope and pray that this year will be better than the last two years of my little family life.
So for the sake of my journal writing I am going to share some of the fun parties and Christmas events we have had so my kids will remember and I will hopefully look back on this year with some fondness.
On Sat Dec. 10th was the Walker Christmas Party and the Orem Institute Building where my mom works. We ate dinner and played Christmas games. It seems like each year the Christmas party has fewer and fewer people attending. That morning Rock and the boys went to Lehi Trafalga for some cousins birthday. I opted to stay home and was glad I did. I needed a break from the boys for a couple of hours.

Monday the 12th of Dec we went with my mom and dad to Temple Square to see the lights. The boys were good for the most part and we saw a sister missionary that served with my sister in Indiana. It was nice to talk to her.

Wednesday Dec. 14th was girls nights and some ladies from my ward got together for a cookie exchange. It was so fun and nice to be with ladies and visiting. I realized that they are going through some of the same struggles I am. I didn't leave the cookie exchange until 10:30. Rock was a little worried if I would even be coming home.

The next night the 15th my grandparents took Rock and I to dinner. Rock and my grandpa have a bet going each year on who's MLB team has the best winning record. The one that wins get to be treated to dinner. Rock's Braves had a better record then my grandpa's dodgers. It was a nice quiet night out to dinner. After dinner we went and saw the lights in Spanish Fork.

The week before Christmas was in sane. Something every night.
Sunday Dec. 18th-Jessica Miles (a companion from the mission) came to dinner. In my next post I will tell you all about why she came.
Monday 19th - I had to work at Legacy Center, & grocery shopping at 8pm with two tired onerey boys.

Tuesday 20th-Mack's 4th birthday. He had a friends party in the morning. Tege, Preston, Carson, Gavin and George came over for some games, breakfast, and decorating hot choc. mugs.
I can't believe Mack is four. The whole day I thought about the time he was born and how I would love to turn back to time to that day when he was born. Life was good and so full of promises. Mack went to an allergist the week before and everything they tested him for came back negative so we have no idea if he is really allergic to pastachios or not.

That night I had YW. That night a special gift call came from Jessica Miles about our trip to Missouri. (*See next post)

Wednesday Dec. 21st- We have a ward play group every Wednesday at the church. For today's play group we made gingerbread houses. Amber my neighbor glued 30 + gingerbread to gether and we all came to decorate. It was fun. Gunnar's gingerbread lasted from the church to home. He broke his on the way inside our house.

My mom came and got the boys for an hour and them to the Bean Museum at BYU and ice cream. Perfect timing because it allowed me to get some wrapping done.
That night we went to Chucky Cheese's for Mack birthday. That is all he has wanted to do. We go once a year on his birthday! After wards on the Macey's for ice cream!

Thurs. Dec. 22nd- Grandma Day for Mack. My mom is amazing. I think I have explained Grandma Day before. Once a month Mack gets to go with his cousins and my mom's friend's grandkids to do something fun. Today they went to get yogurt, drew names, went to the dollar store and bought something for the person they drew and then exchanged gifts at the Smart Cookie.That night we went to see the lights in Spanish Fork. They boys loved them.
Friday Dec. 23rd- My niece Dykell's birthday so we went to here house to celebrate.
Sat. Dec 24th (Christmas Eve) Our annual Carter Christmas party. I love this party and we have held a Christmas Eve party ever since I was born so for over 30 years this has been going on! We eat good food, play games, and give presents to my Grandma and Grandpa! This year we had a four square tournament and played basketball.
CHRISTMAS DAY-Santa left a note telling the boys that they needed to go to church and then there presents would be there when they got back. Our church was at 9 am and my boys woke up at 8 so I didn't want to rush through the gifts. I am wondering why we even tried to go to church. They were out of control. They didn't want to be there and just wanted to come home and open presents.
Came home from church opened presents, had a nap and headed out to my mom's for lunch and to talk to my sister Cally on a mission. We stayed there until 10pm, eating way too much, opening presents, wedding planning, and talking to Cally.
Monday the 26th was my dad's side of the family Christmas party. Again we ate more food and open more presents. We don't get to see this family much so it was great to see them and catch up.
Thursday the 29th Rock's parents came into town. On Friday 30th, we went to the temple with them to do temple work for Rock's brother and brother in law who passed away in 2010. It was a very spiritual experience. I love going to the temple with family! That night we went to a ROOK card playing party. It is so fun with about 30 other people. More good food, company and fun!
New Years Eve was spent in Nephi at Rock's uncle's house. Food, games, and fun again! It was a long drive but so worth it. My kids stayed up until 11:45pm and then they just couldn't hang on any longer.

Thanksgiving/First Weekend in December...

Been meaning to update my blog for some time now, so now it is an overload of pictures trying to catch up. I have to stay caught up as we have many exciting things coming up in anticipation for Christmas. First picture I would like to share because it doesn't happen very often. Two boys not fighting but sitting on the couch watching TV and actually being nice to each other. These two can be the best of friends at times and the worst enemy's at time. But I love when I see this.

We had lots of leaves to rack up on our yard this year, as in every year so the boys decided to rack the leaves by their slide and slide down into a pile of leaves!


A few days later, getting dressed to go outside to play in the first snow fall of the year. Sat. Nov. 19th, 2011.

For thanksgiving we headed to Island Park, ID to visit Rock's parents and have thanksgivng with them. Island Park had about a foot of snow already. We left Wednesday night, woke up and it was Thanksgiving. In the Ellison family they make a southern dish (Rock's dad is from South Carolina) called Ambrosia. It is a bunch of fruit, sugar, cocunut, pecans, and fruit cocktail mixed together. Not a huge fan, but the Ellison boys love it. Mack was helping peel the oranges to go in the ambrosia.

To bad Mack couldn't have any since it had pecans in it. A week before Thanksgiving Mack ate some pastachios with his dad and had an allergic reactions to them. His tongue swell up and had a fever for the rest of the night. I took him to the doctor and we now have to visit and allergist to see what exactly he is allergic to, how bad, etc. So no nuts until we visit the allergist. Because of thanksgiving week and them being booked we haven't made it there yet. I hope it is not too serious.

Before we had the big meal on Thursday we went outside and went sledding. Here is Gunnar.

And Mack running in the snow.

All the Ellison cousin together. Been about a year or so since they have all been together.

Mack and Gunnar decided to take off their shirts to eat the Thanksgiving dinner.

The Friday after Thanksgiving Rock and I went to the Rexburg Temple (45 minutes from Island Park) in the morning and then took the kids to a resort club house to swim and Rock and I played raquetball. It was fun and fun to win my husband at raquetball. Rock's brother's family left Friday morning because they were sick and we ended up leaving Sat. morning. We woke up to -5 degrees and I was not about to spend the whole day inside a cabin. So we headed home.


Mack and Gunnar reading a Christmas story together.

After our 5 hour drive to Island Park the week of Thanksgiving we decided to take another trip the next weekend to St. George. My family, Rock and I and some friends where playing in a Toys for Tots Christmas Softball Tournament. So glad the boys slept most of the way down to St. George.

Mack and Gunnar at the ball field Sat. morning. They sat so still and watched us play two games that morning.

Rock and I before playing our third game. We won 2 and lost 2 but we did much better than last year. I love the game of softball and makes it all the better to play with your sisters, dad, husband, and brother in law. Oh and future brother in law. Had to check out is softball skills before we gave to go ahead for him to marry my sister in Jan. He did great so the wedding is still on. He caught great fly balls in right field and got a base most of the time. What a fun weekend! Oh and of course my mom was right there to support us!

Our little family stayed with some good friends Mary and Brent while in St. George. They are more like family to us. While Rock and Brent were hangin out we took the boys to a carosel on Main street.

They loved it and we had a great time in St. George.

Week of Halloween...

Gunnar a sad green monster and Mack a tiger.
The week before Halloween is always very busy for our family and this year was no exception. It really is probably one of the busiest weeks all year. On top of Halloween festivities my sister Lyndee is getting married so my other sister Katye and I were planning her a bridal shower before the holidays because she works at Costco and it's crazy there and for her to get a Sat. off is impossible until after the New Year and she is getting married on Jan 12th.

Tuesday the 25th was our ward party. They got to play games, eat and go through a small haunted stage.

Thursday was Mack's preschool program. He had to say "oh hose, there's a spider on my nose."

Wednesday Thursday and Friday I worked at the Legacy Center helping set up and run to annual Lehi City Halloween Extravaganza. It takes a lot of work and prep and we have close to 3000 or more people come on Friday night.

Thursday between work I went with my sister to get her bridal pictures done.
I am now watching two neighbor boys 2 day a week. They get along great with my boys and it was an answer to prayers.

Here we are frosting cup cakes.

During all our running around I got Mack singing I am a Child of God in the car.

Monday-Halloween we went to Rock's brothers for dinner and do a little trick or treating with cousins in their neighborhood, then it was off to our neighborhood to do some more trick or treating. It was a fun night and glad that Rock was home to share it with us.

Motherhood...Changes Everything!

As I was trying to do jumping jacks to get some sort of workout in I realized my body is NOT the same as it was say 5 years ago. Not only is my chest drooper, my hips bigger, but my bladder is no longer the same either. I can no longer jump rope, jump on the tramp or do jumping jacks with out some sort of protection to keep me from linking.
Exhaustion is another daily battle with my body. Gone are the days of waking up feeling nice and rereshed, well rested. Even though my kids sleep through the night for the most part, I still am up 2 or three times a night checking on them, when my husband gets up to go to the restroom, when I get up to go to the rest room. As I lay down for a nap once in a blue moon I am always worried that if I fall fast asleep my kids will sneek out of the house and be playing in the road. So let's just say it has been and will be a long time before I have a good night's sleep.
Oh and gone are the days staying up past 10, really I can go to bed at 7:30 if I was given the opportunity.
They say to nap when your kids nap...right, I have tried but as I lay down my mind is plaqued with things I could get accomplished while my little one's sleep. I can mow the lawn in half the time then if I did when they were awake. You know you start a project and you have to stop three or four times to check on your kids and get what they need from you.
Exercising is a whole new ball game. In high school and college I could run and run, work out for long hours, now I am spent after an hour. My body gets sore easier and longer to recover.
So now the goal is too still try and exercise and eat right but learn to love my body for what it is now..the mom bod!

On Oct. 12th (wednesday) the boys and I visited our local firestation for their annual safety fair. Mack absolutely loves fire trucks and firemen and says often that when he gets bigger he wants to be a fire fighter. He loved it. He was so excited to go.
They got to sit in a fire truck, and an ambulance,
Gunnar and his firehat!

Mack loved watching the firemen put out the big fire.

Gunnar and Mack got to spray the fire hose with water.

We had to do this about 5 times.

Mack in front of the fire truck


The weekend was full of fun for the boys. Friday 14th of Oct. Mack got to go with his preschool class to a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin and play on the hay and playground. He loves preschool. Later that night Mack and Gunnar got to spend the night at Grandma Gillman's. It was Rock and I's 5 year anniversary. We had planned on going to Salt Lake and staying over in a hotel a weekend earlier but both got sick so we ended up going to dinner. We were going to go see a movie, but we were too tired. Rock has been working 60 hour weeks and he was exhausted at 9:30. So we headed home to bed. I didn't complain as I was tired also. I love Rock so much. He is such a good father, tells me daily that I am beautiful and that he loves me, works very hard to provide for our family.
Saturday Mack got to go to Grandma Day. Grandma day is where my mom and her friend Linda take their grandkids (those that are potty trained) to an activity once a month. This month they went hiking up AF canyon at Mutual Dell. The kids also brought a halloween gift to share with the others. Last month (Sept.) Mack has Grandpa day instead. He got to help Grandpa Gillman feed the animals, ride the four wheeler, and go to Cabela's. Mack loves to help my dad with all his projects he has on his little farm.
Sat. Oct. 15th was Gunnar's 2nd birthday. Rock had to work so it was him and I hanging out the whole day. We went on a bike ride and decorated our house with balloons for the party later that night.
Gunnar opening presents.

His new "motorcycle" as he calls it.


Blowing out his candles. After he got done blowing them out he took a huge bite out of his cake.

More presents. We have such a wonderful family to come and celebrate his birthday.

Gunnar and his buddy Hunter. Hunter is 14 but loves to play with my kids and they love him!

For family home evening we went and saw the "UP' house. It is decorated just like the house in the movie "UP".


Adventure Book

The mail box

It was a cute home and the living room was decorated just like the movie with the chairs and pictures of Carl and Ellie.

Oh and we had to draw number for the world series. This has been a tradition in our family for years and years. We draw numbers 0-9 for each game and what ever the score is at the end, like 5 to 3 equals 8. Who ever drew the number 8 for that game gets a prize. Prizes are shoes, dinner, ice cream, gift card, new hat, etc. I tried to get a free disneyland trip this year but no luck. Love this tradtion in our family! My dad has been a huge cardinals fan so go cardinals!