My Love

29 doesn't seem like a big number. However, many great and important things have happened in 29 years. He has graduated Kindergarten. He had reconstructive surgery. He graduated high school. He earned the Priesthood. He went on a mission. He got married. He became a father. He earned a college degree. He works as an accountant. He is known by many names: Dad, Matthew, Son, Pookie. He is my love. Happy Birthday!!! And in honor of this momentous day, I have decided to reveal 29 little known facts about the birthday boy:

1. His favorite magazine is Western Horseman.

2. He has broken all four appendages, his nose twice and cracked some ribs.

3. He likes to cook - he had his own imaginary cooking show when he was younger.

4. His all-time favorite movie is Spaceballs.

5. He LOVES to hit the snooze button. He does it at least once a day.

6. He recognizes the value of hard work.

7. His favorite cartoon character is the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamilton)

8. He is very fashion conscious. I can't pick out his clothes for him.

9. His favorite childhood pet was Dizzy.

10. In high school, he hated math, but in college he became a whiz.

11. His favorite college subject was Cost Accounting.

12. If he had to choose our family vacation we would go to Moab or Disneyland.

13. His most embarassing moment was when Derek "pantsed" him at his mission farewell and he was exposed to all his ex and current girlfriends.

14. His favorite childhood memory was camping at fishlake and playing night games on the hillside.

15. He was 16 when he had his first kiss. The girl (Erin Wagstaff) had to put the moves on him.

16. One leg is 3/4 of an inch shorter than the other.

17. His most memorable and favorite halloween was when he was a hobo and his older brother left him on the curb crying.

18. He has lost count of how many times he has read "Where the Red Fern Grows."

19. He can count the number of girlfriends he has had on one hand.

20. He has never saved someone from a burning building.

21. He became an uncle when he was four years old.

22. He had a giant stuffed bear that went everywhere he did, and he defeated said bear in several trampoline wrestling matches.

23. He buzzed his hair off right before he was supposed to take his senior portraits.

24. He trained his own horse since he was a yearling.

25. He has never had his tonsils out, but he did try to drive home the day he had his wisdom teeth removed.

26. He has seen three separte bones sticking out from his body.

27. He wore a red blazer to the prom - very dashing.

28. He is an excellent dancer - he can waltz and swing.

29. He is the best father and husband a girl could ever hope fore.

I love you Pookie. I hope you had a great day. Thank you for being a great husband and leader for our family.

Month of Love Celebration #8

This weekend, we were able to attend the Draper Temple Open House.  So we headed up to Salt Lake, stopping to visit with Cory and Sharon before we ran some errands.  Once we arrived at the red church parking lot, we were escorted into the building to watch a movie about the temple.  It was one of those moments where I felt completely at ease.  I was content.  I looked next to me and saw my two beautiful children and my adoring husband and I was happy.  After the events of last week, the phrase eternal family means so much more to me.  After the video, they led us to the cultural hall to wait for a bus.  The kids kept themselves busy playing paper, rock, scissors.

Finally, after a LONG wait, we were on our way up to the temple.  Matt called the rest of the family and they were only a few minutes behind us, so we waited outside until they arrived.

Once everyone was together, we entered the House of the Lord.

Jeremy was the most excited for the Baptismal Font.  He asked all sorts of questions, and he was so excited when he learned that he could go to the temple to do Baptisms for the Dead when he turned 12.  By now, we had been on our feet for sometime and the little ones were getting a little tired.  The building was beautiful.
  
And even though it was a smaller temple, they paid every attention to detail to make it breath-taking.
  
Toward the end of the tour, they escort groups into the sealing rooms where they talk about eternal families and the reason we are here on earth.
  
Then we headed to dinner with the Morrills.  On the way home, Jeremy and Bailee could see the Draper Temple out the window and they began to sing "I Love to See the Temple."  As they were singing, Matt grabbed my hand and a smile crossed my lips.  I am grateful for the knowledge that I have an eternal family, and that we can go to temple and perform saving ordinances.   It truly is a reason to celebrate.

My Divine Role

Let me start off by saying that I am not a feminist.  I don't believe that women should be able to do everything that men do.  We each have our different responsibilities, both equally important.  That being said, this week I am suppose to give a lesson on Homemaking.  Growing up whenever I head the word Homemaker I thought of cooking, cleaning, laundry, wiping kids noses, and sewing.  As I read over that list, I realized that I do VERY little of any of that.  However, there is a difference between housekeeping and homemaking.  The church has a different idea of the duties of  a homemaker. 

Sister Spafford states:  "Homemaking takes into account the spiritual values: love, peace, tranquility, harmony among family members, security.  It makes a place of residence a spot to which family members can retire from a confused and troubled world and find understanding and rejuvenation.  Its character is quietness; it evidences good taste, culture, refinement.  Men, women, and children alike have their individual contributions to make a good home and family life, and each shares in its benefits."

Although I do not cook or do laundry, I consider myself a homemaker.  I strive and put all my efforts toward making my home a place where faith and testimonies can grow, a place that is welcoming and comfortable.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of my divine roles, and whenever I start to feel like I am not doing enough, I can look back and realize that I am taking care of the important things first, and the rest will work itself out one way or another.

Oh No!!!!!

Tragedy has befallen the Morrill household!  They're dead, gone, kaput.  The other day, I was feeling especially spunky and I reached for my "bite me" socks.  I knew it was going to be one of those days.  I started to put them on and I heard a rrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiipppppppppppp.  A HUGE hole in my sock.  It's not something that can be fixed.  They are dead.  Please join with me in mourning my favorite pair of socks.

"They were kind, loving socks that always kept my feet warm.  They never talked back or complained.  You could always count on them.  Now as we lay to rest the best socks ever.  Let us not dwell on the loss, but look to the future and keep your eyes out for another pair of "bite me" socks.  May they rest in peace." 
And seriously, call me if you find another pair. 

Month of Love Celebration #7

Since we had decided not to spend any money for our anniversary, I had to get a little creative this time around.  So I decided to make some chocolate covered strawberries and a coupon book to give to Matt.  The chocolate covered strawberries weren't easy to make.  I discovered that the strawberries have to be completely dry before you can dip them in chocolate and I also burned a couple of my fingers, but they turned out great.

After we put the kids to bed we watched a little TV eating our strawberries, then we headed upstairs and stayed up past midnight talking and listening to some Miles Davis.  Although we didn't go anywhere, it was a great anniversary.  I am glad that seven years ago, we chose to be together forever.