Not Quite Halloween

It was a good thing that Lanycia is in Kindergarten and that I had LV reserved for Daycare that Friday because by the time Saturday rolled around 2 out of 4 of us were SICK!! So NO Trunk' or Treat chili cook off at the church.


Princess Tiana and Spiderman


LV picked out a Bumblebee Transformer costume, but he could not wear the mask to daycare, LUCKILY I had JUST bout him these PJ's


The Princess


Yes that's a TAD BIT of make up! As I put it on I thought, OH MY GOODNESS YOU ARE TOO BEAUTIFUL!!! NO MAKE UP FOR YOU!! (said like the soup nazi)


Wednesday of that week Lanycia's K class had "cowboy" day!! ;)

LV Is Three!!!!!

Oh my goodness I CAN NOT believe that my little man is Three!! If you want to know the amount of denial, LV was born on Oct 20, 2007 and LAST NIGHT Nov 4 2010, was the first time that I have held a tiny baby SINCE LV!!!!!!!!!!

HERE!! Enjoy my sadness ;D


ON HIS THIRD BDAY, REMOTE CONTROL "MONSTER TRUCK" WAS WHAT HE PICKED OUT!!


WE TOOK HIM TO CHUCK E CHEESE

Do You Know What That Makes Him?

Lany: Mom, Daddy is sneaky.

Me: Why? Why do you say that? (I'm thinking that's shes gonna fill me in on DQ dirt since I was at a RS activity all night ;D)

Lany: Because he sneaks stuff!

Me: (tiny closed mouth giggle) Like What?

Lany: Like cookies,(2 second pause) cupcakes, (2 second pause, ... and then with MUCH enthusiasm) AND ICECREAM!!

Me: (HAHAHAHA I already know this, any given morning very yummy evidence can be found on his night stand, that is, if you catch him before he gets up LOL) Yes baby he does!!

Lany: Do you know what that makes him?

Me: (another quiet giggle) No baby, what?

Lany: a sneaky, sneaky, eater!! (All said while wearing her "glasses" [pic and story to follow] and a very serious face!!)

HI CHELA!! ;D

Dear Grandma's

On the first day of Kindergarten, the children had to draw self portraits. Here is Lanycia with LONG curly hair, flowers and butterflies :)



P.S. She has chosen to go by LANYCIA ;D

I googled

I image googled my name;
Annie Hinkle..
Annie Taylor..
Annie Delight..

This is what I found ...



This one is the coolest! Desiring to secure her later years financially, she decided she would be the first person to ride Niagara Falls in a barrel. Taylor used a custom-made barrel for her trip, constructed of oak and iron and padded with a mattress. Several delays occurred in the launching of the barrel, particularly because no one wanted to be part of a potential suicide. Two days before Taylor's own attempt, a domestic cat was sent over the Horseshoe Falls in her barrel to test its strength. Contrary to rumors at the time, the cat survived the plunge unharmed and later was posed with Taylor in photographs. On October 24, 1901, her 63rd birthday, the barrel was put over the side of a rowboat, and Taylor climbed in, along with her lucky heart-shaped pillow. After screwing down the lid, friends used a bicycle tire pump to compress the air in the barrel. The hole used for this was plugged with a cork, and Taylor was set adrift near the American shore, south of Goat Island. The Niagara River currents carried the barrel toward the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, which has since been the site for all daredevil stunting at Niagara Falls. Rescuers reached her barrel shortly after the plunge. Taylor was discovered to be alive and relatively uninjured, save for a small gash on her head. The trip itself took less than twenty minutes, but it was some time before the barrel was actually opened. After the journey, Annie Taylor told the press:

“ If it was with my dying breath, I would caution anyone against attempting the feat... I would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing it was going to blow me to pieces than make another trip over the Fall. "

A Tribute Speech

I had to deliver my first speech last night in class. The assignment was to write a manuscript tribute speech. We could pay tribute to any person, place, thing, event.... Here is mine. I received a 49 out of 50! Why the one point you ask! Because I spelled IF instead of IT! Sadness! (Please note if you are a grammar getter, the speech is written for how it would have been SAID not READ! Thank you ;D

Warning! The contents of this speech are true and have a strong possibility of inducing tears!!

In the book of Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 IF says, ‘Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’. In the past I had a hard time understanding what this meant. Why do we need to be like children? Doesn’t our growth, knowledge and test of trials help us along this journey? Over the past couple of years I have been blessed to have a shining example of how to gain child like faith. That example is my five year old daughter Lanycia.
When she was 2 years old she offered her first personal prayer. My husband was away with work, and my brother who is in the Navy surprised me with a visit. As my brother prepared to leave I became very emotional. As I talked with my brother I began to cry. Lanycia asked, “What’s wrong mommy”? Tearfully I told her that I was sad that Uncle had to leave. With wisdom beyond her years she replied, “Say a prayer”. Without hesitation she closed her eyes, bowed her little head and said, “Father, bless Mommy for to see Daddy. Amen”. I am amazed by the faith she instinctively had. That through prayer I would be comforted.

Every night my family gathers together for scripture and family prayer. Lanycia is always enthusiastic and willing to share her understanding and thoughts on what we have read. She also asks if she can say the prayer every single night. Without hesitation she will offer a beautiful blessing for our family.
Over the summer I took my daughters to Savannah for a girl’s day out. Of all the fancy places we could have had lunch, my girls chose Mc Donald’s. After our food was ordered and we had found a seat Lanycia quickly asked, “Who will bless the food”? Of course without hesitation it was her who offered the prayer. I am so proud that Lanycia is not ashamed to express her faith. When she started kindergarten I asked her if she was going to bless her food at lunch time. In the cafeteria. In front of all her friends. She said, “Yes! You always have to bless your food”!!
My favorite example of Lanycia's faith came just a couple weeks ago. Before bed time I had been helping my younger children clean there room. Under Lanycia’s bed I found a glue stick. First off she is not supposed to have any of the art stuff in her room, and second I had not bought this glue stick. I asked, “Where did this come from”? Lanycia said, “From church”. I said, “You stole this from church”? I don’t think she had intended to bring the glue stick home.
But when the word stole came out of my mouth she automatically knew it was wrong and that she was probably in trouble. She started to cry and say that she was sorry. Explaining to me that it was an accident.
When I left the room and walked down the hall I heard Lanycia offer a prayer of repentance. Lanycia was crying and asking for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” is what she cried out. Tearful “please forgive me’s”, followed. After a short time I went in to comfort my sweet little girl. I asked her if she felt the Lord had forgiven her. Without hesitation she said, “Yes. He said its ok, to calm down and go to sleep”.
Although I am the parent and must set the example of righteousness, Lanycia has an amazing light in which she has always been willing to share. How can I not gain a testimony when the greatest act of faith is right in front of me? I am so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to be a mother! He has blessed me with Lanycia!! And who could ask for anything more!!

Something To Share

This was sent to me in an email, after a much needed talk with a fellow Christian sister!!

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Matthew 16:24 (NIV)


Devotion:
Yesterday we were driving back from the joy called the beach vacation. All total we logged over 20 hours in the car. It was family bonding at its finest.

So, this is what I hear from the backseat:

Ashley: "Mom, Brooke just licked my hash brown! Ewwwwww!"

Me: "Brooke, why would you lick your sister's hash brown for heaven's sake?"

Brooke: "Because my arm hurts."

Me: "Oh. Well that just makes complete sense."

There may have been 127 other instances where the soundtrack of my life was, "Mom...she poked me and she is on my side and she just spilled her drink and she took my book."

My kids were getting on the last good nerve I had and I could feel an emotional eruption bubbling to the surface.

Do you ever struggle with the mean mom trying to come out? Or the mean girl? Or the mean sister? Or the mean wife?

How is it I can be marching along to the sweetest tune and then veer off so suddenly into a bad attitude?

I wish there was one simple fix-it plan where if we follow three steps all tendencies toward emotional eruptions would vanish. But that's not reality. If all we needed to follow was a plan, we'd have no need to follow Jesus.

And ultimately isn't that what life is supposed to show us - that we need to follow Jesus? So what does Jesus say about this? He says we must do three things. But these aren't three easy steps. They are three attitude shifts of the heart.

He says we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).

Deny myself...

I have to look beyond the emotions begging to erupt and use self-control. I have to deny myself the momentary satisfaction of the quick comeback, the rude response, and the full out yelling.

Deny myself. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

Then I must take up my cross...

My cross. Stop the blaming and finger pointing and wishing everyone else would change...and see my sinful reaction as a negative contribution to the problem at hand. I must take my issues to His cross and see my sin for what it is - sin. And I must be disgusted enough by my sin to truly want to do something about it.

Take up my cross. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

Finally, I must follow Him...

Really follow Him. Follow who He is and how He is. I must close my mouth, pause long enough to let Him interrupt my eruption, and let His Spirit redirect me. Yes, my children need to be corrected but I can let the consequences scream so I don't have to. Only a calm mama can think of rational, reasonable consequences that instruct.

Follow who He is and how He is. It's hard. But it is the way with Jesus.

It's amazing how quickly my mean mom vanishes when I deny myself, admit my sin, and choose to let Jesus interrupt me.

Just don't be messin' with my hash brown if your arm starts hurting. Okay? I have to draw the line somewhere you know.

Dear Lord, please interrupt my natural flesh pattern today. I desire to change. I need to change. I realize and admit that I need You, Lord. Help me to stop the blaming and finger pointing once and for all. Help me to follow in Your footsteps today. I want to seek You with all of my heart. For I know that those who seek You will find You. Thank You for this promise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Check out Proverbs 31 Ministries!

Could Not Resist

I Made It

Well folks, I made it out of my first ON CAMPUS term of college! I aced my religion course! I loved it!! I plan on returning to the same instructor for both New and Old Testament courses!
AANNNNNDDDD.... amazingly I received a B in my intermediate algebra course!! I am very proud of myself, but mostly the B helps give comfort because I still need the actual ALGEBRA class :)
Espanol was a little more difficult than I had expected, and I was only a couple points away from a B which was a little bitter sweet! I tried really hard but taking the course on line was not a good option!

A new term has already come around. I am now taking Public Speaking and Stars and Galaxies!! I am very excited for the Science course!!
At this rate I will be graduating with my associates in APRIL!!!!!!!!!

Lanycia's First Day Of Kindergarten

To Blessed To Be Stressed...

I have more to blog about. More life stories to share, but at this moment I am a little stressed. Dom and Kayla are here for the summer. I am taking an online Espanol class, and starting next Tuesday I will be taking a class mon-thurs afternoons and another on tues and thurs nights.

HOW will life be?
HOW will I cope?
HOW will I maintain my sanity??

One was has already begun to manifest...
lets just say, there is a reason for this...

CallingS

Yes that is emphasis on the "ingzzzzzzz"!!

I am now the 1st counselor in the...
RELIEF SOCIETY!!!!

It has only been about a month, but I LOVE IT!!! This calling is so detailed and so rewarding!! I feel the blessings on a daily basis!! The calling has helped with my involvement in the ward AND in my personal study of the scriptures and lessons. Its more intense than when I was the 2nd Sunday teacher. Because NOW when I read the lesson, I have to prepare to teach ANY lesson at a minutes notice!!! (Which by the way I had to do last week! ALL week I felt the spirit PROMPTING me to study the lesson and prepare... but I didn't. Sunday morning I was like "I HAVE TO READ THIS LESSON!!!!!" And after Sacrament I was informed that the teacher was not there, and I said, "No problem". Just wish I really was better prepared!!!) I am def looking forward to what else/more this calling will bring!

AND...

Yoshigo has been called as the Secretary in the Young Men's!!!!!!! This is such an amazing calling for him!! The new Pres is a former MP, and the Brother as been very friendly to Yoshigo. The 1st counselor was baptised a week before Yoshigo, and is also black! Which is amazing for one ward! The best of all is that since Yoshigo will be going to the activities, SO CAN DOMINIQUE!!!!!!! YAY!!! This is the perfect timing since we will have the kids for the summer!!!

Over all we are just feeling SO blessed!!! I cant even express to you how strongly blessed we/I feel!!!!

LOVE

Lanycia

CALL FROM THE SCHOOL:

-Hello?

Yes Mrs. Taylor

-Yes
This is Ms. Harper, from Lanycia's class room. Is Lany suppose to be eating breakfast at the cafeteria?

-Well, NO I feed her RIGHT before she gets on the bus.

Oh well, she has been getting off the bus and going down to the cafeteria by herself. I couldn't remember if we had discussed breakfast when you enrolled. Usually we ask a parent to send a note.

-Oh no, Ive been feeding her!!

OK, shes been ducking Ms.Trina and going down there. She needs to come straight to our hall way. Could you talk to her about it. And we will try to keep a better eye out for her in the morning!

-OK, thank you!

.... UM WHAT!!!! I almost felt like I couldn't get mad, because my FOUR YEAR OLD, was brave enough to walk down to the cafeteria, stand in line, eat and then walk the FIVE halls back BY HER SELF!!! She is so smart and brave!!! So we talked to her, and Daddy told her that if she was still hungry that she needed to tell someone. SO... the next morning... breakfast has been dune for 10 minutes. We are about to walk out the door and she says, "Um, momma. Daddy said that if I was still hungry that I needed to tell someone".
... Snack pack bag of chips in the car as we wait for the bus!! OY!!

CALL FROM THE SCHOOL:

-Hello?

Mrs. Taylor, this is MRS. Bufkin. I have Lany here in the nurses office. She is OK but she has split the corner of her eye open.

-OK...

I cant believe it but I actually SAW what had happened. She was being picked up by another student who I have already warned her about to not play with, and the student dropped her and she hit the corner of her eye on the table. The nurse put a bandage on it.

-OK.

When she gets home I'm sure you will say, "Oh its not that bad". But I just wanted you to know.

OY!!!



Can I just say that Lany goes to school for 2 hours a day... she is not even in REAL school yet and I have gotten TWO phone calls and a warning on the bus for not staying in her seat!!! OY!!!

The AMAZING fro!!! Love this pic!!!



Here are some pics Lany drew :) Bunnies, and Yoshigo and I as Mermaids!!





Lany wanted to do her own hair for church...

Giggle At The Baptism

The jump suit was SSSSSOOOOOOOOO tight on Yoshigo that it looked like if he inhailed that it would BUST!!! The were holes at the waste and... in the crochal... bwahahahahahahaha he looked REDICULOUS!!!!!
But beautiful!!!!!

The Baptism!!!

I know you have been waiting... Here, I'll post the pics first :)









YES!!!!! Lany said the opening prayer!!!!! It was the BEST prayer I have EVER heard!!! She walked to the front of the room on her own, said the prayer nice a loud, and said the perfect things!! She even said, "Thank you for Daddies baptism"!!!!! There was almost a gasp of surprise in the room when it was LANY that got up to say the prayer ;D
She does such a great job during our family prayers that I asked if she wanted to. I also reminded her that it would be in front of ALL the people, and she simply smiled and said, "I know".
ANOTHER amazing thing is that Lany has ALWAYS said to me, Momma, I don't want to be baptised". This of course wrenched at my heart when I thought of where we would be in the future when it came time for her to actually do it! But once Yoshigo said he was going to be baptised she was all for it!! :)

Yoshigo had said that he wanted to take the missionary discussions, so he did on April the 17th. That day he set a date for NEXT SATURDAY!! We called Papa and Rachel that afternoon, and by Monday they were ready to roll out!! Papa, Rachel, and Bill drove across the country so that Papa could baptise Yoshigo!!! It was amazing!!

The next day at church he was confirmed and ordained into the priesthood!!! The weekend was very calm and spiritual!! We felt so blessed to have family there with us!! It would not have been the same with out them!!

Since then... Our house has been completely different! The spirit is evermore within our home!! There is so much more unity and peace!! I am so thankful and happy, and I think maybe a little bit still in shock!!! A week after he was baptised he took part in the blessing of the sacrament. I sat there thinking, "I cant believe that is MY husband".

Its strange and new but OH SO WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Thank's To You

Nana said, "I married a non-member and if I had to do it all over again I WOULDN'T"!!! (Youth Fireside 2000)

Lulu said, "As long as you are living your life worthily, the promises of your patriarcal blessing will be bestowed"! (That's ALWAYS stayed with me)

Gpa said, "Next it will be you! It will happen"! (Chela's wedding)

The talk to Chrissy in the down stairs bathroom at Nana's house!

The many talks with Shannon!!! (I love you)

Chela changing her life, holding to the rod, and PROVING that dreams... fairy tales dreams even, DO and CAN come true!!! (Thank you for that! You are such an amazing example)

To the prayers said.

To the well wishes. (Thank you Abby!! That email meant SO much!!)

To the unfailing faith from many of you, when MY worldly emotions clouded my sight!!

To my Mom, who has always supported me, and been honest :)!! (I love you Ma!!)

To MY Rachel and Papa... words will NEVER be enough!!! Many calls, Many talks, Many tears, Many hugs!! Always love and faith!!!

Ro will be baptized this coming Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BAPTIZED!!!!!!!

6 DAYS FROM NOW!!!!!!

So amazing...

BUT...

ONLY THE BEGINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

SLEEPY!!

I was looking for a picture that could SHOW you how I was feeling today...



And that at one point today I looked like this...



And... If I COULD HIDE from bus stops at 7:20AM, library deliveries, lunch times, children's, messy house, and dirty kitchen, cooking dinner, and just plan NEEDING to be around to supervise :) I would SURLY be like this...



And in the search for the perfect picture OF FEELING SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SLEEPY, I found this...



And I was TOO SLEEPY to laugh!

March 30th, First Day Of Pre-K

FINALLY!!!

Lanycia started Preschool! I drove her to the school, and she didn't even say good-bye once we got into the class room!!





She goes to school from 8am till 1030am. THOSE are the best 3 hours of my day! I know that sounds HORRIBLE but IT is SO much easier with ONE child!!! Yoshigo was still home for her first day so when LV woke up, Lany was already gone. He was sad for about half a second before he realized what that meant!! Mommy ALL to his self!!! So... we made pancakes :)



At 1015 Daddy, Mommy, and LV all left the house, walked up to the school to pick Lany up from the BUS after her first day!! As she got to the last step LV RAN to her and gave her the biggest hug I have ever seen <3

As we walked back, we asked the VERY BIG Preschooler how her first day went and she responded loud and clear,
"It wasn't boring at all"!!

Our Family And The Spirit

I never feel 100% complete without THE SIX OF US being all together! This past week we have finally had the chance to fully be reunited! Dom and Kayla are here for spring break.

We have always had a hard time when it came to having the big kids in our home. Many different problems from Yoshigo taking the kids side over mine, Yoshigo and I not being on the same page, and Yoshigo and I getting attitudes because the kids had attitudes! It was difficult and sometimes made us feel it would be better to not have them visit.

BUT...

With the amazing changes that both Yoshigo and I have made this past year, the growth we have made spiritually, and mostly together we had a different out look for this visit! We were determined to be on a united front. To not let the children's attitudes affect ours. To lay some law straight away. To continue the family prayer and scripture that we've been having every night. And most of all to have fun!!

A couple days into our spring break visit I was telling my Sis Chela that THIS visit has been different than ANY other visit! No one has attitudes! I am less controlling! (Yes I admit, I'm bit of a control freak... kinda. And when ever the big kids came to visit I would freak out that everything wasn't on MY schedule or the way I WANTED it done!) And so far we are all having a GREAT time!

Last night as my amazing Hubby was saying the family prayer I finally realized what was REALLY making this visit different!!

The spirit is in our home!
Love is in our home!
Kindness is in our home!
Understanding is in our home!
Friendship (between Yoshigo and I, and from us to the kids)
Scriptures are open in our home!
Prayer is continually said in our home!
Faith is in our home!

THIS is the first time that I have been proud to be a home maker! I have had a great part in welcoming, and KEEPING the spirit in our home! I am so PROUD!! This makes me want to change my plans and not leave my home! I want to continue the focus on my family! On the love we grow here!

* P.S. Families i.e. Gmas and Gpas, pics will be delivered soon!!








*Easter Sunday 2010