Happy Thanksgiving!

I know this is a couple days early but the boys are in bed and I don't know the next time I will have a few moments of Quiet to sit down and collect my thoughts before Thanksgiving. I wanted to write a few things I am thankful for. 1. My Family- I am thankful for my eternal companion and the love and friendship we share. I am thankful we can laugh, cry and be mad with each other but still love each other to the moon and back. I am thankful for my kids I am not the most patient mom and I get impatient with them but I love them very much and I am thankful to be their mother. I am thankful for Jonah and for him picking me to be his mom. I only hope I am worthy of him someday. I am thankful for my siblings and parents we are about the most dysfunctional family you will meet but I love them dearly. I am thankful for my In law family I could not ask for better in laws I am thankful for the relationship and friendship I have with both of them I love hanging out with my mother in law our little shopping adventures and the time we get to spend together. I love my Father in Law dearly and I know we were kindred spirits in the Pre- existence.. 2. Friends- I am thankful for the friends I have and the friendships I am building. I am who I am today because of you. I love our girls night out, late movies and dinner, chats on the phone, you name it, I love spending time with you. 3. I am thankful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am thankful for the peace the gospel brings. I am Thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who I know lives, knows each of us our wants our desires, and loves us despite our faults and weaknesses, further more I know he indeed does carry us through our times of trial. I have personally felt him. I am thankful for my Eternal Family and that Tim and I chose a Temple marriage so that some day we will be with Jonah again. 3. I am thankful for my calling in the Relief Society and the love I have for my sisters. 4. I am thankful for trials I know you think I am crazy! I am the person I am today for the trials and tribulations I have personally been through. I have grown in leaps and bounds spiritually through Logan's car accident and losing Jonah. It has strengthened my testimony and taught me of the strengths I never thought I had. It has also helped me to lean on my Heavenly Father more.When I have given all I can and can give no more I can then draw from him for the strength I lack. I am glad he never turns me down either he is always there to lift me up when I fall down. I love that! 5. I am thankful to live in this beautiful city and to be able to raise my children with good values and morals. And that their friends come from great families who beleive as we do. These are just a few of the things I am thankful for I could go on for hours.I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take the time in the next couple of days to reflect upon some of the things that our Heavenly Father has blessed you with and that you share some of the things you are thankful for with others. Love, Des

I've Been Tagged!!!!

This is me meeting Jonah in the NICU for the first time. Such a tender moment. I was so scared and he was hooked to so many tubes and wires I didn't know where to touch him. I wanted so badly to pick him up and hold him but all I could do was stroke his perfect little face the only part of him not attached to something. Your Turn- Here are the rules: *Open your first photo folder. *Scroll down to the 10th picture. (if you dont have 10 in that one, then go to the next folder that does). *Post that photo and the story behind that photo on your blog. *Tag 5 friends to do the same. Brandy Christi Michelle Lex Tina

New Business Launch!!!

Hey fellow bloggers- Tim has started a part time job selling emergency preparedenss and food storage for a company called Prepare Then Share. If you know anyone who is looking to purchase food storage would you send them our way. There are some really great deals that are very affordable going on right now. I would greatly appreciate it. I am trying to get the word out there to help Tim launch his business. Visit the link in my blog buddies for more information. Love ya all. Des

It's a Happy Day!

Jonah- A day unlike all others; a sacred time had come- a dawning for One Perfect Child; to some a setting sun. Yet, with our understanding of eternity- true faith in Christ, this day is not and ending, but a step towards Eternal Life. As angels gathered round him to complete our Father's plan his tiny reach rose upward to the hollow of our Father's hand. His test was o'er, his mission done; through tears of joy they lullabied Sweet Jonah from his earthly home. And then a loving Father turned to ease our mortal pain, encircling those arms and hearts where Jonah still remained. And through His love He comforted, while whispering, " Tis not the end; We're here preparing ---faithfully return.... Until we meet again." By: Merrillyn Bradford Butterfield This poem was written by my aunt as Jonah left this earthly life. I want to thank you Aunt Merrillyn for your talent and for sharing it with us. For being truly inspired to write this there are hidden things in it that no one knows but Tim and I that she would not have known if she was not inspired to write this. The powers of Heaven are greater than we know. This poem is proof and has brought us much tears and happiness as we read it often. So thank you Aunt Merrillyn. It has very special meaning to us and I wanted to post it on this special day. It marks 3 years since Jonah came into our lives for such a short time. As I sit here and reflect on this day and miss him like crazy, wonder what he is doing, is he proud of us his family (not always I am sure) but what a blessing he was and is to our little family. I know that we will one day be with him again. That Tim and I will raise him as if here on earth only better he will be free of scoliosis, free of the clubbed hand and feet, no tubes, no wires, no machines giving him life, just Jonah! I look forward to that day I get to hold his perfect little body in my arms and kiss his cute face. Happy Birthday my angel boy. Give Nana & Papa big big hugs and let them know I miss them greatly. I thought of Pops yesterday on his Birthday and wondered what you all are doing to celebrate together. Hope you know we love you more than words can say. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you, your brothers love you so much too. Keep watch over us, help us return to you. Look for the balloons today they'll be coming you way hope you catch them. You have earned your crown my angel boy. Until We meet again, you are forever in our thoughts and our prayers. Love Mom, Dad, Drew & Logan. in Loving Memory Jonah Robert Abelhouzen 08/28/06-01/04/07

Passover Dinner

We have been doing a Christ Centered Easter. We started Sunday. And have gone through the last week of Christ's Life leading up to Easter Sunday. Tonight was Passover. We talked about the night Jesus shared the Sacrament with his disciples and had the last supper with them, how he served them by washing their feet, how he went into the Garden of Gethsemane and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Tonight I made a Jewish Feast. We had Pot Roast (because we don't eat little sheep) Parsley dipped in salt water (the bitter herb) given Jesus. Boiled Eggs (the tomb) Grape Juice in Wine Goblets ( his blood shed for us) Flat bread (His Body), all food symbolic of Easter and it was so wonderful to sit around the table and talk with our boys about the real meaning of Easter and what our Savior has done for each of us. They really enjoyed it and it was so peaceful and calm. I am thankful to my Savior and older brother for taking upon himself my sins and weaknesses and thankful that I can repent of my sins and be washed clean, I am thankful for him completing all that our Father asked of him so that we may return and live with him again and with that we are promised Eternal Life. That we may once again be with Jonah and be an Eternal Family. I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Peace and Happiness it brings in my life. I am thankful for my struggles and trials for they have mad me the daughter of God I am today. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and have time to reflect this Easter Season on what we are really celebrating. Love Des.

My First 5K!

I walked/Ran my first ever 5 k today and it was so much fun. It was a bit chilly this morning at 7:30am when we got there but it soon warmed up. I did the ALS 5 K with my two best girls. Our other best girl Christi was in charge of the whole thing and I am so glad I went and could support her cause. She lost her Grandpa to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and they did a fundraiser 5 k to raise money. Thanks Christi for inviting us. I even won a prize at the raffle drawing a runners ID Bracelet Gift Certificate. So cool! I never win. Andi and I finished 48:42:49 yeah for us. I am just glad I went and finished! Sara did 36 minutes she ran most of it though. Good job girls love ya. Thanks for the memories. I have to blog about our dinner last night as well I wish I had photos dang it. Sara and I kidnapped our visiting teachers and took them to Don Pedro's a Mexican restaurant for their Birthdays. Julie's was yesterday and Kasey's today. I had such a good time we talked and laughed so much it was a great night. Happy Birthday Girls. We love you! Hope you have a great day. I am off to tackle the garage before Logan's Soccer Game at 3:00 pm. Hope you all have a wonderful day, it is beautiful outside the sun is shining and I am going out to enjoy it. Love Des

When Daddy is away the family will play!!!!

Yesterday Andrew wanted to sale his toys to make some money so he went through all of his toys he no longer plays with and made a poster everything was $.10. After he had sold all his toys he wanted to sale punch and cookies so I made homemade chocolate chip cookies and kool aid. His best Friend and his little brother came down as well and sold some of their toys. Andrew gave his friend $1.25 just to be nice. He is such a sweet boy. I had the whole neighborhood literally) at my house 8 little neighbor kids so I had to get them anxiously engaged or they would all be in my house! I got them playing yard games not a one had ever heard of the Easter Egg Game. What up? We played freeze tag, and Pump again did not know what this game was. These must be White City Games. We had a blast. Than when I had had enough I sent all the little kiddos home and took my boys and Miah to see Race to Witch Mountain it is a great Family show! Tim has been in Vegas at a Convention since Sunday and should be home tonight. I am also babysitting my niece for 10 days while Tim's sister and her husband are in Washington D.C. He is trying to get into John Hopkins Medical School and they went to check out the campus and local area. They are also visiting all the historical sights. They had lunch at the Pentagon yesterday how cool is that? They are staying with a friend from the military who lives in Washington D.C. It has been so fun having Miah here she is so cute and such an easy child. I was a little worried of how she would sleep but she does good for naps and bedtime. It has also been fun having a baby around that is Jonahs age(Miah and Jonah are only 30 days apart). To see how Andrew & Logan would have been as big brother. They are so cute with her. Logan gets her up every morning and changes her diaper and gets her dressed. Sunday morning she comes walking into our bedroom and if you have ever seen When a Man loves a Woman and she has all these clips and hair pretties in her hairs and says my hair hurts. That was Miah. Logan had taken every clip, barrette and hair thing she had in her bag and put it in her hair. Miah was saying owiee! He just dotes on her and is always asking her what she wants it is so heart warming and a tender mercy. I wish Jonah was here and could be a part of our earthly lives. But I know we will get to one day be with him and it will be better than anything we ever could of imagined here. So after the movie we came home and Logan and I both came down with the stomach flu after dinner. And let me tell you how hard that was. I can't stomach that stuff at all bodily fluids! Tim is so much better at the clean up than I. But with him being gone it is all me. So there is Logan sick and me right there next to him. He says to me "wow mom you throwed up alot more than me that time" I had to laugh it was so cute. We have had so much sickness since January I lysoled the whole house today. Every door knob, every room, I changed all the air filters and washed all our sheets in hot water. Hopefully now we will be OK. I'll post pictures when I feel better and can download them.

Getting Organized -March

So I have a sick little boy and while he soaks in a hot bath what better to do at 1:30 am than blog so here is March's Organization and Food Storage checklist. " The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to the prophet and stored at least 1 year supply of survival food.- President Benson Basic Storage: Grains(corn meal, oats, rice etc.) Beyond Basic: Canned Fruit, dried fruit, Juice, Cereal Non Food: axe, hatchet, hoe, fire & smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher. Provident Living: Learn how to grind wheat and make bread, check all fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. FHE Idea: Fire & Emergency Drill. How to use your fire extinguisher. GETTING ORGANIZED: 1. organize menus, recipe cards & cookbooks. 2.Revise master menu 3.vacuum drapes/curtains/blinds 4.vacuum all heater and intake vents 5.scrub entry and laundry floors 6.wash bedroom windows 7.clean laundry cupboards/shelves 8.clean out bedroom drawers 9.vacuum bedroom closet floors 10.clean piano keys 11.change furnace filters Good Luck!!

Tagged Again!

RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. Comment - Continue Reading Write a comment... 1. I am the mother of 3 boys (1 whom is deceased) 2. I am the best damn wife in the world! 3. I enjoy scrapbooking 4. I enjoy finding my ancestors 5. I love to read 6. I enjoy camping 7. My favorite color is purple 8. My favorite food is pizza 9. My favorite movie is: When a man loves a woman 10. I like to play games all kinds(card, board, wii etc.) 11. I love spending time with family mine or Tim's 12. My 3 top favorite tv shows are Jon & Kate plus 8, Dog the Bounty Hunter, & Dr. Phil 13. My favorite child hood memory is camping in the Uintahs with Grandma & Grandpa every summer. 14. I have been married for 11 years (12 this Sept) 15. I was a nanny for 7 years 16. I was a Nanny for Ewan Mcgregor (Obi one Kanobi) 17. I am an emotional person (my Relief Society class will attest to this) 18. I am religious 19. I experimented with drugs & alchohol in the 60's ( ok I was not alive in the 60's) in the 90's. 20. I am easy to please, it does not take much. 21. My favorite snack is kraft singles with mustard YUMMY!!!! 22. I love to color in coloring books 23. I love to soak in hot bathes 24. My next goal is to go to Hawaii with Tim 25. I am a face book addict. I tag everyone who reads this and wants to participate.

Pay it Forward

Rules: 1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!. 2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway! 3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count! 4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER... it is good... :) Pass it forward. GOOD LUCK!

Tagged:

Instructions: Go to your picture file, go to the 6th folder and post the 6th picture and explain. Funny story, Dumb Picture. My sister is at herr nail ladies house last night and says do you still have your nails done the way you had them for our family portraits I say yeah why? She wanted to match them so she says text me a picture. I do and it never comes, so she says email it to my naily lady, her nail lady texts me some outrageous email so I go ahead and send it she never gets it so I text again. Needless to say she did not get her nails done to match mine because apparantly I am electronically challenged and could never to get it go through. So here you go sis! Love ya.

I DID IT!!!!

I got all my kitchen cupboards and drawers vacuumed out, washed and everything put back and organized and it looks great. Now if we can only keep them neat and organized my guess not but it still felt good to cross one more thing off my list Yeah to me! Tomorrow I tackle the food pantry ugh, not looking forward to that one. I'll let you know how it goes.

Getting Organized-January

Tim's mom gave me this huge Binder full of ideas to get organized and get caught up on your food storage so I thought I would share them with all of you. I realize January is almost over but for those of you who can do this in the next 3 days good Luck! I have included February's also. January "I am suggesting that the time has come to get your houses in order" Pres Gordon B.Hinckley 1. prepare yearly calendar 2. organize birthday cards 3. organize special occasion cards 4. check fire extinguishers 5.clean kitchen cupboards 6. clean out kitchen drawers 7.clean kitchen and laundry appliances 8.scrub kitchen counter's 9. clean wastebaskets 10. organize kids toys Food storage Provident Living:Take inventory of food storage, decide amount needed per each family member. FHE Idea:Preparedness, how it leads to self reliance freedom and spirituality. Basic Storage: 1/2 wheat Beyond Basic Storage: multi vitamins baking soda baking powder yeast spices Non Food: wheat grinder wheat containers February 1. vacuum smoke detectors 2.move furniture & vacuum 3.clean out hall closets 4.clean wall fixtures and plugs 5.polish wooden furniture 6.clean & oil bikes 7.Clean shower doors and curtains 8.check vehicle batteries/oil/air filters etc. Food storage "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because if the absence of expense they have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew ad they save money. They avoid installments, buying and making purchases only after enough to pay cash thus avoiding interest charges." Pres. James E Faust Basic Storage: 1/2 wheat Beyond Basic Storage: canned vegetables dried vegetables condiments Non Food: Bedding pick and shovel can opener Provident Living: Get a food storage rotation sytem ready and working obtain additional rx, eye glasses or contacts FHE Idea: eat one whole day only from your food storage I will do the Month of March and April at the end of February, Good Luck! I hope we can get our homes in order, heaven knows I need to.

Great Ward Conference!

I just have to blog the feelings I am having so I don't forget how I felt today. Today was ward conference and what little I got to hear of Bishop Cooper's talk in Sacrament because of unruly children, gave me a renewed sense of hope. When he said we can find peace even as we sin and than to go into the Atonement and what the Savior has done for us. A light bulb went off and I had one of those a ha moments. What the Savior really did for me personally and the spirit testified to me that when I sin and do not use the atonement and ask for forgiveness it is a big slap in Jesus' face.He died for me and took on all my sins and feelings of discouragement at not being a more patient mom and anger when Tim is down and can't function and I am left to be a single parent, when I fall short of what I know I should do and do just what the Bishop said and do it my way instead of his. All these thoughts were going through my head and I felt a great burden lifted off of me that I don't have to feel this way I can give it to the Lord he has already taken all of this on for me. I know I am a little slow most of you have already figured this out. Than in Releif Society the Stake did a lesson from Elder Wirthlin's talk and I bawled all the way through it. It was on overcoming our hardships and the blessing that come from them. I thought about what a blessing the loss of Jonah has been in my life and my families lives. I am just thankful for the Gospel in my life and for the "peace" it has brought me as I have struggled with the loss of Jonah and other obstacles I am facing now. At the time they are hard but how much Heavenly Father blesses me. In the lesson today she read the scripture D&C 121:7-8 and that started the flood gates, Section 121 is when Joseph Smith was feeling forsaken and asks God where art thou? I remember one of the last times in Salt Lake we extubated Jonah if not the last time. And how he went so long on his own like 30 something hours with out the machines breathing for him the longest he had ever gone, and I though this is it this is when he is going to show us all the miracle we have been praying for. And than all of a sudden his lung collapsed and he went lifeless and that horrible gray color and I thought ok this is it I am going to lose him right here and now. I felt our Father literally put his arms around me and I felt so calm and at peace. They brought Jonah back and he looked at me with his big brown eyes and pleaded with me, enough I am done heer and ready to go home Mom. I will never forget that day and how thin the veil was. I went back to the motor home sobbing that night and I called Tim in St George and told him enough it was time to turn Jonah back we have done all we can do for him. I knelt in prayer and prayed like I never have before. I pleaded with Heavenly Father to take him home and make him whole again. After I got up from my prayer these scriptures came to me D&C 121:7-8 "My daughter, peace be unto thy soul: thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high: thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." I knew at that moment Jonah was to perfect for this place and I asked for a blessing from my homeward Bishop in Sandy and in the blessing he told me Jonah had earned himself a place in the Celestial Kingdom. He would amaze us and live 2 more months. So to days lesson hit very close to home. And now 2 years later I look back and think man at the time we were going through that, I thought I will never survive this losing him, and it was but a small moment and how blessed we are to have him as part of our family and he truly is my hero, to accept his broken body to come fulfill his Fathers Plan he is a spiritual giant in my eyes and I can't wait to gather him in my arms again. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with my 3 boys and I am grateful for the chance to be a mother even though I am so undeserving of it. I love my Savior and am thankful to him. I am thankful for my eternal companion and love him with all my heart. I'll close with a quote I have on my desk "When God takes something from your grasp, he's not punishng you but merely opening your hands to receive something better." Happy Sunday to you all.

Husband Tag

1.Where did you meet your husband?He is my brothers friend one of the "fab five" 2. How long did you date?He proposed on our 1 year Anniversary of Dating (April 17Th) and we were married Sept 27Th. 3. How long have you been married?12 years in Sept 4. What does he do that surprises you?He is a rock. He made it through the death of our son and fights everyday with health issues and still manages to take care of us. 5. What is your favorite feature of his?He still makes me laugh and we are still very much in love after all this time. 6.What is his best quality?He is a very hard worker. He provides a wonderful life for me and the boys. 7.Does he have a nickname for you?Des 8.What is his favorite food?Mexican 9.What is his favorite sport?Loves to watch football and play basketball 10.When & Where was your first kiss?On our first date (we wasted no time) in my brothers bedroom. (we were friends 5 years before dating so we knew each other well!) 11.What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?go out alone no kids 12.Do you have children?3 boys Andrew 8, Logan 6 and Jonah who would have been 2. 13. Does he have hidden talents?he is good at everything he does. He is a perfectionist. He is very handy and can fix everything. 14.How old is he? 37 15.Who said I love you first?probably him he knew on our first date I was the one he was going to marry. 16.His favorite kind of music?a Little of everything he mostly listens to the BYU channel and sports radio 17.What do you admire about him?He is the best husband and father in the world 18.What is his favorite color?Red (not silver and black) 19.Will he read this?no he thinks blogging is "gay" 20.Who do you tag? everyone who reads my blog!

Face Book Addict

So Tuesday Night I get an invite to join face book from a good friend. This is not the first invite but one of many,I have ignored all others. Being Internet challenged (I just got comfortable with my blog spot) I am like OK what is this face book stuff I hear everyone talking about it and go to see what all the hoopla is I can't access anything without creating a Face Book account of course, so I do so and I must confess I am now a Face Book addict and it has become a full time job, My cell phone is going off constantly. This friend wants to add me, this friend posted to my wall etc etc. So this morning I had to change the amount of texts I am getting and now maybe I will not be so obsessed. Although it has been wonderful talking to friends I have not talked to since graduation 17 years ago. Yes I feel old!It has been fun adding more and more people to my list of friends I feel loved AHHH! So to all you FB addicts meetings will begin Wednesday Nights at my house 7:00 pm. J/K. Have a great Saturday and to all you St Georgians enjoy the rain!

I Lost the Camera!

I have been beside myself. Fortunately for me all Jonah's Pictures are in my computer so I could blog his Graduation day tribute so I found it yahoo. I f I could just be more organized New Year's Resolution !!!!! I have the pictures from our Couples Christmas Party so enjoy. Thanks to all who could make it and hopefully next year we will have those that missed out we had a blast!!!! Here are some of the gift exchange loot. Some of the great gifts were * The Butt Face Towel * Homemade Maxi Slippers * A Beautiful Picture of Brett and Sara from their Tarzan & Jane Days * A lovely record album of love songs from the 60's and * an over sized shell that will make a great centerpiece on my next dinner party table sure to be the talk of the party. Thanks again it was a lot of fun. We look forward to next years party.

Happy Graduation Day Jonah!!!!

Today marks 2 years since our angel earned his wings. I just want to express my gratitude to all our friends and family who have supported us your thoughts and prayers have been felt. I want to thank my Heavenly Father for blessing our family with this little miracle and thank him for allowing us the time we had with him to be able to make memories to cherish until we are with you both again. Thank you for sending the comforter to heal our hearts,the hope to move on, for the gospel and the knowledge we have gained of eternal families. To my angel boy: I love you. You are my hero! I miss you I will do my best to live worthy of you so that someday soon I can hold you in my arms again and look into your big brown eyes and behold your cute little fat face again. I dream of the day. I know until than you are on the Lord's errand, touching lives as you did here in your earthly life. Give hugs to nanna and pappa, I know you are with them. Ps Thank you for the pennies!