i LOVE you.

my dearest Grandpa Jack.

if she were here today.......

she would smile :)

and laugh.

She'd say "Happy Birthday my Jack-y Boy!
Your sure getting old.
Oh YUCK, that makes me even older!"

She'd want to make you dinner
maybe her special Spaghetti sauce
would join you for the occasion.

She may burn it just a little,
and the noodles may have been just a bit too soggy.

But no matter.

You would have eaten it all
and told her how wonderful it was.

She'd give you a special birthday card
that she picked out just for you.

She'd tell you silly stories about
the little boy you used to be....

Then you probably would have played a game
dominoes, or rummy cube, or maybe even cards.

If you beat her
she would have thought you cheated ;)
but she would laugh and smile too!

She would wish you happy birthday
and squeeze you oh so tight!

And tell you how she loved her son
and how he'd made her happy.

But today....

I know she's smiling down on you :)
and so is Grandpa too.

Their sending you the BEST Birthday wishes
you've ever had before!

They miss you, and they love you
your the best son they could have ever had.....

~


oh Grandpa
how i LOVE you so!
and how I wish that i were there with you

Today.

To wish you all the best of wishes,
to sing to you and smile :)

To give you a BaZillion kisses,
and A trillion great big hugs

To eat your birthday cake with you.
and don't forget the Breyers!

I would let you do my hair
since you are the very best at that :)

I'd take an evening walk with you
and even hold your hand.

Just like I did when I was little,
how I thought you were SO GrAnD!

Now your 66 and so many years have passed
but with each and every year
I have many memories to last.....

You've shown me many things dear Grandpa
so many, many times.

You've given me the strength and strife to rise above life's trials.

You given me my mother dear
and my sweetest Auntie Kerstin.

You've loved my dear sweet grandmother
with every waking hour.

You've given me a loving home
to come to anytime.

You've given me a straight stone path
in which I hope to follow.

And shown me how to live each day
with a never ending sMiLe :)

Grandpa,
I could go on for years and years
about how GRAND you are.

But Grandpa most of all I'd like for you to know,
you've given
Me
the GreaTest gift of all.....

You've given me
your
LOVE.

You've loved ME
with all your heart and soul and never held it back.

I've felt it in your strong and steady arms,
in your warm and cozy hugs.

I saw it in your very eyes
as you buried your sweet mother.

I've known it since I was a little, tiny girl....
and never has it ceased.

And so Dear Grandpa
i just want you to know

I
LOVE
YOU!
and i ALWAYS will :)

Happy Happy Birthday Grandpa!

May there be many many more.

xoxo
Selu

Oh the joy....

This morning I was
here...


but I found a place far from here....
somewhere that I have been missing for quite some time.

The peace and love I feel at the temple
is something I treasure with all my heart.

As I enter those doors
my every day cares and wants seem to vanish
and the love from my Father in Heaven
fills my heart once more....
After my visits here
I am
refreshed
strengthened
and anchored
in the arms of a loving savior
whom is ALWAYS there...
sometimes i just,
forget.

i SO looked forward to the day
I can enter those doors with family and friends...
to be sealed to that "man of my dreams"
for
Time and All Eternity!

* don't worry I still have much to do before I find him!
but if you see him, send him my way! ;)*

On the days that seem so hard, and endless, and frustrating
these thoughts keep me going and they forever will....

I LOVE to see the temple
I'm going there SOMEDAY!

Loves & Hugs
xoxo,
Selu

Bitter Sweetness.....

Do you ever have those moments
when you want to laugh, smile, jump up and down, cry, or just plain forget all together???
well i had one today....
just a few minutes ago actually.

My Dad brought home a few beds from her house...
and with these beds were the sheets, pillows, bedding, and all.

I held one of the pillows up to my face and soaked in THAT smell.
It was her smell.
It belonged to her.
It always did.
and i LOVED it......

i wanted to grab it!
to catch it in my hands and pull it all around me.
I wished it would stay forever and never leave my face....
but as i pulled it away, i knew it would

So many feelings washed over me.
Memories flooded my mind
both happy and sad

I miss her.

Everything about her.
I miss visiting her home.
It was the only place I have been able to go since as far back as I can remember
her home has been a part of my childhood...
somewhere so filled with memories
it would burst if it were a balloon.

But although her scent will fade from that pillow over time
her love filled memories will forever be vivid in my mind........

Her Spaghetti sauce that worsened over the years.
(but i still loved, because it was hers)

Her Hugs that sent tingles of warmth up my spine each and every time we embraced.

Her smile which could light up a room no matter how dark it was.

Her marble, domino, checker, and many card games that filled out nights together with laughter and love....

And even more so never will I forget the lives she has brought to pass

Her Son.
My dear Grandpa Jack.
Who has blessed my life in more ways than I could ever count.
He married the most beautiful woman in the world my Angel Grandma So-So,
and brought my sweet and most wonderfully amazing mother into this world.

How I will forever be grateful to her
and NEVER will i forget her.

And someday.............
I will see her again!

But until then
this smell on her pillow
is something
Bitter.
yet Sweet.

and if I had ONE wish,
I'd wish for it
to stay
FOREVER!

Don't You Ever Wonder?....

Don't you ever wonder
why stars come out at night?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
why little kids are SO DARN cute?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
where your "Special Someone" is?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
why Winter seems so long, and Summer seems so short?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
what color you would be if you were a Crayon?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
what your life will be like ten years from now?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
if you will be a cute little grandma, who smiles and waves at every passerby?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
why snow is white? instead of blue or pink or purple?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
why you are so very blessed?
i do.

Don't you ever wonder
if God laughs when you trip in public then look around to make sure no one saw you?
i do.
(i'm Pretty Darn Sure he does)

Don't you ever WONDER???
well, i do.

HIP HIP HOORAY!

Well my dear friends............
I am going to be an AUNTIE!
YES i know you are all so very jealous :)
i would be too if i were you.
My dearest friend in the world
and
my older sister
Jacqueline
is GOING TO HAVE A BABY!
i am so very excited i can hardly contain it!!!!!
(not that you can tell or anything)
This dear little baby
what ever it may be.
WiLL Be the most spoiled baby in the entire world!
i will see to it personally ;)
i mean honestly,
how many kids are born into this world with 16 aunts and uncles?!?!?
SIXTEEN!
and not including great aunts and uncles
just plain aunts and uncles!
not to mention this little baby will most likely come out of the womb
at 4 feet 9 inches
haha ok maybe not that big
but PRETTY DARN close.
I am so very happily overjoyed for my dear sister and her husband Benjamin!
They both have loved me more than words can say
and I look forward to the day that their little bundle of joy arrives!

so....
CONGRATULATIONS
to ME!
OH, and of course to my Dearest Sister Jacqueline :)
you will be the sweetest mother in the world to this baby!
and don't forget that if its a girl
Selu
is always a good name.

xoxo
~
Selu Marie Fotu

i am so HoRRiBle at updating.
i do promise i will get better though!

So much seems to happen in such a little amount of time...
It's crazy how sometimes you think life can't get much worse, and then it does.
But even more crazy how happy you are one moment and you don't think it can get any better,
And then IT DOES!
in short God is Great and i never cease to feel his LOVE.

my last post was "supposed" to lead to this one, and i guess it still will...
im just a wittle
WATE. ;)

Over the last few months life has seemed to take dramatic changes.
Changes
for
the better.

The last two years....

well lets just say they were very much a learning experience for me.

While in High School i had so many things i wanted to do
i was commited to play golf for BYU
but deep down in my heart i knew it wasn't what i truly wanted...

Ever since i was a little girl i dreamed of becoming a professional golfer.
i never enjoyed school.
my High School joy was simply having wonderful friends
and playing golf EVERYDAY.
Half way through my senior year I (me, myself, and I) no one else
decided that i didn't want to go to college.
I was going to fulfill my life long dream of becoming a professional golfer!
School became nothing more than
well NOTHING to be quite honest.
Now some may say my parents should have MADE me go to school
But if you know me and you know my parents...
that's just not how our relationship has ever been
They asked me to pray and seek my Heavenly Fathers help,
i did.
But i think he knew my mind was already set...
NO MORE SCHOOL FOR ME!
(i know, looking back now i laugh and can see how silly i was)

but NEVER once did my parents ever tell me
you couldn't
you shouldn't
you won't
or you can't
They have always been right beside me every step of the way
carrying me at times when i could no longer stand
down a path that seemed to lead nowhere.

Graduation came and I BARELY,
and when i mean barely
i mean we didn't even know if i was walking on the very morning of Graduation
BUT
i did it and i truly thought it was the end of my education FOREVER!
(HA little did i know... God had something else in mind)

That summer after High School
memories were made
friendships strengthened
and then goodbyes were given.

Each of my friends went off to conquer the world
and I was off to become a LPGA tour professional!
or so i thought....

To make a long story short
I can honestly say now, that it simply wasn't the RIGHT time.
Growing up i was always told that we have a time table for things
and God has a time table for things
He.
ALWAYS.
WINS.

end of story.

So.....
over the last two years I have been everywhere it seems.

After graduation I spent the first few months golfing everyday
trying my best to reach what i thought was what i was supposed to be doing.
For a little while things went well
I got closer and closer to my goal and loved the thought of it.
But each and every time I went to the BIG tournament it was as if
i blanked.
i would forget how to play golf in its entirety
and At the time I didn't want to tell myself this

but i knew this was not where i was supposed to be ...
it wasn't My time yet.
BUT
i kept pushing.
And honestly after a while
i lost.
i lost the love of the game.
i lost my heart to something i knew wasnt right.
and in the end
i lost
MYSELF.

Just after this time my parents made huge transitions in their life long business that changed
our families lifestyle dramatically.

I knew HOME was where i needed to be

and that is where i have learned more than i ever have in my entire life.

I learned that;
money isn't everything.

that
family will ALWAYS be there.

that
God knows what's best.
and always will.

that
you are NEVER alone.

that
a child's smile is sometimes all you need to get you through the day.

that
you don't simply lead through words
but by example.

that
prayers are answered.
in Gods way.

that
a mothers love never ceases amid trial and tribulation.
it only increases.
immensely.

that
the heart and love of a family can be found through adversity and struggle.

that
never is there enough time....

and that
there is ALWAYS sunshine after the storm.

I learned things from my family that will always and forever remain in my heart...
they taught me how to love myself and love all those around me

I saw love given
even when it wasn't at all deserved.

I saw sacrifices made,
that many others seemed to over look.

I saw a family come together
in Christ
in Heavenly Father
and in their love for us.

I never would have imagined myself living at home for as long as i have....
I never would have guessed that i would be a second Mom to each of my siblings....
I never would have seen that Garrett and i would become best of friends....
I never would have thought that i would pretty much plan a wedding for my sister....
I never thought that I would watch my parents sacrifice what they have for our family....
I never would have guess that the birth of a new child could bring such joy to a family....
And never would i have imagined that
ME.
I.
Selu Marie Fotu
would be SO LUCKY
so unbelievably, inconceivably LUCKY to watch each person in my family
become what they are today.

and although I may have lost time.
in the end
i
Found
myself.

They say that once we find ourselves
we find what God wants for us...
well i learned that for myself this last month.

My parents business is on its way back to what it once was
and as it heads that way
I have found myself wondering what's next?
where am i to go now?
But as the Lord has always brought me to the next stop on my path,
he has once again shown his grace and love to me in a way i never imagined.

Over Christmas break i stumbled across a
Junior College in Oklahoma
called Redlands Comunnity College
they have won numerous National Championships in the last few years and
SoMeThInG urged me to send their Coach my information
what the heck i thought?
i have nothing to lose.
So i filled out their golf application and sent him an email
wanting to know more about their program.
Within days he called and wanted me to come visit.
So....
The last weekend of January I flew out there to visit the campus.
AND
to say the least i fell in love with this little town of El Reno, Oklahoma :)
i love the school
the team
the coach
and everything about this place.
Even more so i felt my Heavenly Father presence all through out my stay there.
I felt it as i watched each girl on the team talk about their experience at this school.
I felt it as I called my mom the first night i was there.
and i felt him as i knelt to pray each and every night.

I know he works in mysterious ways,
but for me it was just what i needed.
~
I signed my Official Letter of Intent on the 4th of this month
and i will
be heading out there towards the end of July.
I guess in short
i feel my Heavenly Father guiding me all through this crazy little life of mine.
He knows what i need.
where i will go.
and what will happen all along the way

What took me some time to realize
was that
its simply my choice whether or not i will be submissive
and follow him with all my heart.

I do believe with everything inside me
that he LOVES me
and he surely loves YOU.

just find yourself
and by doing so, you will find Him!

much LoVe, Selu

change. happens. FAST.

CHANGE
what is that word???
sometimes i feel like i have no explanation for it.
or maybe its just that there are
SO MANY
different ways to explain it...
so....
i looked it up :)
and......................................
JUST AS I THOUGHT!
what an interCHANGEable word it is.

change

1.	to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.

For ME it means becoming someone different,
going somewhere new,
believing in something great,
looking through anothers eyes,
feeling someone elses pain,
realizing you ARE wrong,
making it right,
and Knowing that EVERY DAY you WILL change....

you may feel you don't know how to change,
or maybe you don't even want to.
But i know that CHANGE
can be
GOOD :)
no i didn't say easy!
because most times it is SO VERY HARD.
I said GOOD!

now although it took me some time to realize this,
i do feel as though
i've known it all along!

Change for some may mean

pain.sorrow.loss.guilt.hunger.embarrassment.hurt.confusion. & heartache...

the list could go on FoReVeR it seems!

BUT
i have found another list.
one that can only be found AFTER and never before the previous list.
now i have asked and pleaded, pondered and prayed
as to why it must be in this order....
For me there is only one answer.
CHANGE.

upon experiencing the first list above we must learn to change
change how we think.
change how we see.
change how look, and feel and act.
Truly, we must change who we really are
and know that through this change we will become better!

I too have experienced the first list above.
Not like anyone of you have i'm sure
but to my own degree and knowledge.
I know many have gone through much more than i ever have or probably ever will
and some may think my lot is heavy...
But for each of us I do know that if we simply continue on
we will find this second list of Change!

Change is peace.
Change is strength.
Change is hope.
Change is passion.
Change is kind.
Change is good.
Change is LOVE!

Love from a kind and oh so perfect
Father in Heaven
who knows our every pain.
Knows our very hearts and loves us so much
he gives us ways to Change each and every day!

I am just beginning to taste of this second list,
but i do know the more i continue to change and grow.
The more i feel of his Love for me!

You can feel of it to.....
It's simple, just CHANGE :)

The year of 2009! Oh yes it was FiNe :)

So to start this little blog of mine off right,

I figured it would be a good IdEa to just capture the Ups and (yes) Downs of 2009.
This year has definitely been
a most different one for me...........
I've come to truly find myself and know the person deep down in that wild heart of mine.
Changes and Hardships have come
seemingly more than any year I can recall.
BUT
The blessings and tender mercies from a gracious and always loving Heavenly Father
have yet to cease!
And the gifts and opportunities I've been given this year are more than
I could have ever asked for.


My 2009 in a bundle:

* In February I was able to attend The Draper, UT temple open house
HONESTLY
It was one of THE most indescribable, wonderful experiences I've ever had in my life thus far.

(this picture was taken a few months later on my birthday)
*Me, Connor, and Spenc*

As I entered the temple the peace I felt
was almost overwhelming

And the feelings of warmth and strength were something I will forever remember.
Walking into the Brides Room I imagined myself dressed in white on my own wedding day....

*Don't worry family :) I haven't found that SpEcIaL someone just yet*

BUT as I gazed into that unbelievably gorgeous mirror that cast my image FOREVER
I couldn't help but picture that perfect day on which I can be there again!

Even more so as I entered the Celestial Room
a feeling like nothing I have ever felt in this life, came over me.
Although it was something I surely know I have never felt here on this earth,
I felt as though I was..... HOME.
Not my earthly home, but a home above that had seemed so far away until that moment in time. These feelings of peace, reassurance, and love have touched my heart forever
and I know my Heavenly Father is patiently waiting for my return.
(So much more patiently than me, I must admit!)

So..... In short

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE :) and yes I"M GOING THERE SOMEDAY!

~

* This year God gave me THE most adorable, lovable, cuddleable
(yes i made up that word, so don't even worry about it)
Birthday present/Brother
in the ENTIRE WORLD!
and my most favorite of ALL years past most definitely!!!!

TYLER JENSEN FOTU

was born on April 6th, 2009
and has brought to a close The Fotu Family DOZEN.
The warmth in his eyes, and chubby little arms
bring all who hold him, a special feeling of LoVe sent straight from Heaven, and a feeling of Joy you will never know until
you hold him in your arms for your self!
It was a gift I will forever remember as one that I truly needed more than anything.
This little bundle of joy has brought me, personally
feelings that only a Father in Heaven
would ever know I needed.
To think that I was special enough to have this little angel as a brother
brings warmth to my heart and tears to my eyes
and I know without a doubt he has blessed
My Life
i Love You TyTy :)

~

Well summers in the Fotu Family household are

CRAZY BUSY

to say the very least!

The Fotu Household could very well be classified as a " Sports Oriented Family"

Indeed! We do LOVE sports, and many of our evening conversations highlight the latest and greatest Sports Highlights.....

BUT

i personally do not feel that is the right description!

I would more so call us a Happy, Funny, sometimes Odd, Goofy, Gorgeous, CRAZY, overwhelming at times, yet always loving oriented Family!

Our summers are filled with long, tedious days on the golf course

Crazy Road Trips, Picnics, Barbeques, Sliding Rock, Long Walks, Many Laughs, and just plain FUN!

I am so very grateful for the AMAZINGLY wonderful family God has blessed me with..... I sometimes wonder what I ever did to deserve such a blessing.

He must just Love me more than I ever thought possible :)

Connor & i @ his FaVoriTe place to visit, The Temple :)

Spenc, Connor, & Livi at our trip to the Farm.....

Livi, Connor, Spenc, Jared, And I :)

Mommy & TyTy in Hawaii!

Since I'm such a wonderful daughter and sister ;) Mom, Dad, & Baby Tyler
got to go to Hawaii for a WHOLE WEEK!
and YES! you guessed it, I was mommy for a whole entire week....
Don't ask the kids, But i think i did i pretty good job.
Nothing compared to the mother my sweet Mom is, but hey the house was still standing
and all the children were still alive!
But in all HoNeStY......
I truly am so grateful for such a wonderful mother who has more patience than
ANYONE in the world!
My only wish is to someday be half the mother she is to my own children.
Love you Mommy!

~


THE MAIN EVENT of The Fotu Family Summer!

in January Benjamin Loser proposed to our oldest sister Jacqueline.
and on August 1st 2009

they were sealed for time and all Eternity

in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.


The ENTIRE Fotu Family

(from left to right)
Isaac, Garrett, Olivia, Connor, Kerstin, Mom, Benjamin Loser, Jared,
Spencer, Jacqueline, Dad, Tyler, ME, Lennon, Jacob

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

A Fotu Family Moment caught on camera ;)

The B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L Bridesmaids

The Whole Crew :)

The Beautiful Bride & i

This year I was blessed with not One but TWO new brothers!

When I was a little girl I always wanted a Big, ok wait take it back OLDER brother :)

because as i'm told i already have "bigger brothers"

But in all honesty I could not have asked for a more wonderful and loving older brother.....

The lord has blessed me and my family with the addition of Benj to our family.

And He has taught us things that will be in our hearts forever,

the example he sets for each of us continues to strengthen our family each and everyday!

And I know without a doubt our Father in Heaven sent him here just for us!!!

......................

As I sat in their wedding luncheon the shock of realizing

MY sister

was married finally sunk in...

I thought back to the days we played house and she ALWAYS won the part of the Mom

mainly because I was to scared to fight her...

The days when we would talk about all the cute boys at school

And laugh because they were all too scared of Dad to even day hello to us!

But most of all I thought about all the special moments, the times she showed her love for me without ever having to say a word.

I looked at her and her new husband with tears in my eyes...

tears of joy, tears of love, and tears that seemed to express the many moments we have shared ToGeThEr!

Jack you have always been and always will be my Best Friend!

I love you more than you will ever know xoxo

....................

~

Well in September to recover from the SHOCK of my wedding, OOPS i mean my sisters wedding ;)

(it really felt like mine at times except for a few major moments!)

I took a well deserved, if you ask me, VACATION.

to..........

SAN DIEGO!

My Aunt Kerstin whom now lives on Maui

(and whom I NEVER get to see, Kerst make sure Mikey reads this)

and I flew into San Diego on the same day and spent some time with

Grandma So-So and Grandpa Jack.

Not only do i

LALALALALALALALOVE San Diego.

But my favorite place in THE ENTIRE WORLD to visit is Grandmas House.

As a little girl I remember climbing into Grandmas bed at night and running my tiny hands over her beautiful finger nails....

I loved the feeling of safety and warmth I felt there and It has truly never left me!

My grandparents have been a major part of my life since i was a little girl

and the Love I have for them is almost impossible to put into words....

But simply put my Grandma So-So is the special Angel God sent here to earth for me.

And my grandpa Jack brings strength to my heart each time i look into his eyes.

I love them with all my Heart and I now see where my own mother was taught how to love

Can't tell which one is mine can you?!? ;)

I am SO lucky to have been blessed with wonderful parents and siblings!
But my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
have touched my life in more ways than I can count.
I am eternally grateful for 2 sets of grandparents who raised amazingly wonderful children
who have become my parents and my heroes......
The blessings I have received because of their choices have always boggled
my mind and I truly hope and pray that one day I too can carry on this love and strength.

Growing up my Aunt Kerstin was like a sister to me.
and to this day her children seem more like my neices and nephews than cousins.
As a little girl i always wanted to be EXACTLY like her, looks, dress, speech, you name it!
I admired her in so many ways and have looked to her example throughout my life.
Her love and light brighten my life every day and I hope to be a sweet mother like her someday.

As I spent the week with her in San Diego at my grandparents house
REALIZATION
hit me and I suddenly realized I wasn't that 5 yr. old little girl anymore..........
SO much time has passed yet the love I feel for my family has only become stronger.
I TRULY TRULY TRULY am the luckiest girl in the world!
and never will I forget it.


~
I'm ALMOST done i PROMISE! as you can tell this year has been full of blessings and love

In November Garret (17) officially signed his National Letter of Intent
to play Golf for the Univeristy of Minnesota!


My mother tells me I'm biased but honestly, how can i not be???
I have grown up in the most wonderful family in the world!
My little brothers have helped me become what I am today and truly they are
THE BEST out there!
Golfers and Brothers :)

To be quite honest, growing up Garrett and I were never close.
He got along really well with Jacqueline, while Jake and I were inseparable.

We fought constantly and I can recall vividly a night when my parents had simply had enough...
I had snapped at him for something silly, and ridiculous
and in return he was fed up with me!
Our parents called both of us into their bedroom, and being the stubborn person that I am
I was a few minutes delayed....
But as I entered my parents bedroom that night I found a sight I will never forget.
Garrett was crouched in my Moms lap crying,
not just crying but
BAWLING.
I had never seen him cry for any reason except for a few times that included stitches and blood,
but THIS was different...
the hurt I felt at that moment hurts my heart to think about even now.
I had been ruthless
I nagged him with little things that I thought didn't matter
but had meant the world to him.
He and I were different yes, but at this moment in time I would have done anything to take it all
BACK......
I sat down as he continued to sob.

No one spoke, we all just sat.

My mind raced with thoughts of everything I had ever said to him
and I truly ached with everything in me to make it better.
He didn't have to say anything, and neither did my parents. His tears and heartache said
enough

Well to say the least, much has changed.
As the years have passed he has truly become my best friend.
Actually i take that back.
He has ALWAYS been my best friend, i just never knew it!

After golf tournaments that hadn't ended so well.... he always made Dad's long lectures bearable.

He wiped my tears when the frustration was just too much for me.

He carried my bag to the driving Range when my arms just wouldn't make it.

He hit half my golf balls when he knew I wouldn't finish in time to go home with Dad.

He pushed me to become what I am today, on the course and off.

He listened to my each and every problem, and beat up anyone who bothered to mess with me.

He has been there all along the way,
and without him......
I simply wouldn't have made it.... and I wouldn't be who I am today!
I love you Garret and I am so very proud of you.
Never stop being the wonderful, caring, smiling, person that you are!
i love you m0re than words can say
xoxo Selu
As stated earlier, I do have a big brother :)


We sure are gonna miss him :(
...........................
~


This year was Jacquelines LAST year playing volleyball!
And her only wish was to have the ENTIRE family out to see her play her last home game!
Come to find out her senior night was to be held the nigth before Thanksgiving.
So........
You guessed it ;)
ALL THIRTEEN of us piled into a 15 passenger van and set out on
The Adventure of a Lifetime!
With Dad at the wheel our journey began and what was SUPPOSED to be 18 hours turned into 27
yes you read right!
TWENTY SEVEN HOURS

Now imagine this 11 children all crammed in a tiny space, no stopping for 27 hours straight!
little to say it WAS GREAT :)
I personally did not tear anyones head off and Olivia and Tyler hardly cried at all.

We arrived in Oklahoma more than a DAY since our car ride began
and never have I seen my siblings more excited to sleep in a bed!

The Wonderful and Amazing Tucker Family
lent us their Home.
Not to mention all inclusive 4-wheelers, HUGE yard, and wonderful food!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
As some of you may attest to it is not the best feeling to have to be in a hotel over the Holidays,
and ESPECIALLY with a family of 13.
Our family soon fell in LoVe with the town of Oklahoma
and to be quite honest when the time came to leave I think deep down we all wanted to stay.


About half way through the trip, and we are Still Smiling :)


We are still Alive!
Olivia, Kerstin, and I on OU campus.....

A few of Us, walking around Norman!

sMiLe :) :) :)
Lennon, Garrett, Tyler, Kerstin, Benj, Jax, ME, Isaac, Livi, Jakers in front of the OU Library.....

The Old Architecture makes me SMILE from the inside out :)
and again, sMiLe :)

Jake and Livia
Isaac! notice another BeAuTiFuL building ( smile :) )

OU Library (supposedly it's "HAUNTED") but it really reminded me of the Great Hall in Harry Potter movies :)

A classic "Lennon Moment"

And yet Another!

Cutest little Munchkins you'll ever see! They really are BFF's

Lennon, Dad, Tyler, and Jake
My Bubba Boy!

One big Boomer Sooner Family!

Sisters, Best Friends

the VERY proud parents!

and the precious couple :)

We had the most wonderful time in Oklahoma and to top it all off
The Wonderfully gracious and loving Freudenrich Family
hosted us to and Oklahoma Thanksgiving Dinner at the Oklahoma City Country Club.
We truly felt an outpouring of love from so many!
And our entire year, including our Oklahoma Thanksgiving was TRULY much to be thankful for!

............................................................................................................


Well this could probably pass as THE longest post EVER recorded BUT,
if you hung in there I sure hope you enjoyed the recap of my year....
As I said in the beginning this year was full of soooo many wonderful blessings
from a kind and loving
Heavenly Father!
Although there have been many times over the year that I wanted to just sit down and cry.
There have been MANY, MANY more in which I have wanted to stay in FoReVeR!
He has blessed me with more than anyone could ever need and more,
and somehow he continues to do so.
I love him with all my heart and know that he is by my side each and every day.
He knows my heart,
as he does yours!
I hope that through this little blog of mine you can feel of that love too....

Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you've enjoyed the ride!

And So We Begin :)

YES I finally joined the blogging world!
Recently I have followed some UnBeLiEvAbLe blogs and have truly been touched by the words these wonderful people have shared with others.
Now, I surely cannot promise that my words will touch your heart or even your mind.
For they are simply my own thoughts and feelings about,
LiFe in general.
BUT..... I do hope that I can provide a place where others feel welcome to share their thoughts.
I aBsOlUtElY LOVE words!
Although I am not the best at speaking them aloud, (as my family will attest to;)
I believe anyone, any day, any home, any family, and every heart
can be touched with words if they are the right ones!
So PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!
leave comments, quotes, questions, or even just simple hellos!
And I'll do my best to keep you smiling :)
I would love to hear from those far away
as well as those near by.
And even if you don't have anything at all to say, keep coming back & Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo