WELL, 12 YEARS AGO ON JUNE 21 JASON AND I WERE MARRIED AND SEALED FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY IN THE DALLAS TEXAS TEMPLE. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN 12 YEARS ALREADY. I CAN STILL REMEMBER THINKING THAT THE DAY WOULD NEVER ARRIVE AND HERE WE ARE 12 YEARS LATER. STILL IN LOVE. STILL HANGING ON TO EACH OTHER. I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM IN MY LIFE. HE HAS ALWAYS PUT ME AND THE KIDS FIRST, AND NEVER WAVERS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE NEXT 12 YEARS HAVE IN STORE FOR US.
ERIKA
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy......
Well, it has been crazy around here lately. Alot of projects going on all at once and still going. First, we have added on to the shop for the Paint Booth. The concrete is laid and the metal on the outside of the building has been taken down and replaced with a door and OSB. The framing should start tomorrow. A friend of ours that framed our building after the fire has offered to help us frame this addition and we are going to work on his mom's car, so the trade should work out great.
Next, we bought a auto lift when we were in Texas. We have installed the pillars in the shop and it fits perfectly. (When I say perfect I mean you could not fit a piece of paper between the lift and ceiling.) We still have some electrical to do on it, but it is in.
Then, we have been doing some remodeling on the house. We are going to have a lot of family here in August for Bennett's baptism and we would like to have some more house work finished. We will see how it goes. Anyways, we started with the dining room. We mudded the walls and left that plaster look and painted over it. I think that it turned out really well. We also came across some awesome bookcases and a new computer desk on Craigslist (LOVE CRAIGSLIST!!!) that go perfectly in there.
And, if that was not enough the kids are out of school. They are now 2nd and 5th graders. (Man I feel old.) Here in Missouri 5th graders are in the Middle School so I am really freaking out about that. But I will try not to think about it yet. They love being home and spend most of their time playing with their cousins and swimming, can't forget swimming. I think that they would never get out if I would let them.
So, we are very busy, but loving it. Jason basically took last week off to work on the addition. We didn't have much work so we figured it was a perfect time, but this week the work has really been coming so that means long hours for us so we can complete all of these projects. I will post some pics next time, but my camera bit the dust last week, so I have to get a new one.
On a side note, I wrote a post a month or so ago about our friend Harlan Reynolds. His wife was diagnosed with Liver Cancer and not given long to live. She passed away on Friday. We are going to her funeral tomorrow. What a blessing every single day is.
Love to all
Erika
Next, we bought a auto lift when we were in Texas. We have installed the pillars in the shop and it fits perfectly. (When I say perfect I mean you could not fit a piece of paper between the lift and ceiling.) We still have some electrical to do on it, but it is in.
Then, we have been doing some remodeling on the house. We are going to have a lot of family here in August for Bennett's baptism and we would like to have some more house work finished. We will see how it goes. Anyways, we started with the dining room. We mudded the walls and left that plaster look and painted over it. I think that it turned out really well. We also came across some awesome bookcases and a new computer desk on Craigslist (LOVE CRAIGSLIST!!!) that go perfectly in there.
And, if that was not enough the kids are out of school. They are now 2nd and 5th graders. (Man I feel old.) Here in Missouri 5th graders are in the Middle School so I am really freaking out about that. But I will try not to think about it yet. They love being home and spend most of their time playing with their cousins and swimming, can't forget swimming. I think that they would never get out if I would let them.
So, we are very busy, but loving it. Jason basically took last week off to work on the addition. We didn't have much work so we figured it was a perfect time, but this week the work has really been coming so that means long hours for us so we can complete all of these projects. I will post some pics next time, but my camera bit the dust last week, so I have to get a new one.
On a side note, I wrote a post a month or so ago about our friend Harlan Reynolds. His wife was diagnosed with Liver Cancer and not given long to live. She passed away on Friday. We are going to her funeral tomorrow. What a blessing every single day is.
Love to all
Erika
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Animals
DUCKSHENS
DADDY GOOSE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE NEXT PIC I TOOK
MAMA GOOSE LAYING ON HER 9 EGGS. WE WILL SEE HOW MANY GEESE WE END UP WITH.
TURKEY
THE FARM IS GROWING AND GROWING. BEN AND FAY GOT 4 MORE DUCKS AND A GOAT THIS WEEKEND. I WILL POST A GOAT PIC LATER, SHE IS CUTE. HOPEFULLY THE HENS WE BE LAYING IN THE NEXT 4-6 WEEKS.
PIG UPDATE: I DO NOT HAVE A NEW PICS OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL IN THE BARN. IF THE RAIN HOLDS OFF WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THEM BACK TO THEIR HOME WITHIN A WEEK, BUT WE ARE NOT HOLDING OUR BREATH. THEY ARE GETTING HUGE HOWEVER AND PROBABLY CAN NOT WAIT TO ROLL AROUND IN SOME REAL MUD.
GARDEN!!!!
THE WHOLE GARDEN
ONIONS AND PEPPERS
POTATOES
TOMATOES
ONIONS AND PEPPERS
POTATOES
TOMATOES
Well there it is. We are really excited about it. Ben and Fay have planted something in this spot for the last five years or so. Usually Corn, but not even the corn has done this well. So far there is no disease and no animals getting in it. So we will see how it goes.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thankful!!!!
Well, I just feel really strongly that I should put some of my feelings into writing.
Yesterday, a good friend of ours came by the house with some really bad news. Before I tell the bad news I want to tell you a little bit about this friend. His name is Harlan Reynolds. He lives just down the road and has been a wonderful friend. After the fire, he was one of the first people to come by and see how we were doing and asking what he could do for us. He organized a group of people to come over on Friday and Saturday to help with the clean-up and building. He is always willing to help Jason with mechanical car issues ( at which he is a genuis). We have tried to help him out whenever we can but at this point I think all we can do is send him our love and prayers and be there when he needs to talk. So, on to the bad news. His wife of 40 years was diagnosed with Liver Cancer on Friday. It is extremely far along and so far all the doctors say it is not treatable. He is crushed, he does not know how he can make it through it or why this is happening. Now, Harlan and his family are very religious but when Jason was talking to him yesterday we were both grateful for some beliefs that we have as a part of our church that differ from him.
One, the power of the Priesthood and Priesthood Blessings. I have a very strong testimony of the Priesthood and the power of Priesthood blessings. They can bring you peace even in the hardest of circumstances. I have received many and I can not imagine my life without that gift. Prayer is powerful but with the priesthood it is even more.
Second, eternal familes. I know that my family will be together FOREVER. Not jsut that there is a heaven after this life but that we will be together and what comfort that gives me.
I just want to express my thanks to my heavenly father for these beliefs and thank my parents for teaching them to me. I love my family so much and especially my husband and kids. I am extremely blessed with a loving husband who puts me and our family first. Who is always there when I need him and who honors his priesthood. I am thankful for our health and all the blessing that the Lord has give to us. May we be good stewards of those blessings.
Love ya All
Yesterday, a good friend of ours came by the house with some really bad news. Before I tell the bad news I want to tell you a little bit about this friend. His name is Harlan Reynolds. He lives just down the road and has been a wonderful friend. After the fire, he was one of the first people to come by and see how we were doing and asking what he could do for us. He organized a group of people to come over on Friday and Saturday to help with the clean-up and building. He is always willing to help Jason with mechanical car issues ( at which he is a genuis). We have tried to help him out whenever we can but at this point I think all we can do is send him our love and prayers and be there when he needs to talk. So, on to the bad news. His wife of 40 years was diagnosed with Liver Cancer on Friday. It is extremely far along and so far all the doctors say it is not treatable. He is crushed, he does not know how he can make it through it or why this is happening. Now, Harlan and his family are very religious but when Jason was talking to him yesterday we were both grateful for some beliefs that we have as a part of our church that differ from him.
One, the power of the Priesthood and Priesthood Blessings. I have a very strong testimony of the Priesthood and the power of Priesthood blessings. They can bring you peace even in the hardest of circumstances. I have received many and I can not imagine my life without that gift. Prayer is powerful but with the priesthood it is even more.
Second, eternal familes. I know that my family will be together FOREVER. Not jsut that there is a heaven after this life but that we will be together and what comfort that gives me.
I just want to express my thanks to my heavenly father for these beliefs and thank my parents for teaching them to me. I love my family so much and especially my husband and kids. I am extremely blessed with a loving husband who puts me and our family first. Who is always there when I need him and who honors his priesthood. I am thankful for our health and all the blessing that the Lord has give to us. May we be good stewards of those blessings.
Love ya All
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
BOOKWORM!!
So, in the part year or so I have really begun to have a real interest in reading. I have always enjoyed reading but when you have small children at home it is really hard to carve out time for a bath let alone a book. Now that the kids are growing up and take alot less of my time I have really discovered that joy again. In the last year I have only read a couple of books, but they were all GREAT, so I thought I would share.
First, was Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover". If you don't have it you NEED to get it. It is a really good book that is easy to read. You can read a couple chapters, put it down for a couple weeks and then pick it up again with no problems. The concepts he teaches and the way he lays them out in the book make so much sense. Even if you have listened to his radio show the book is a must read.
Second, is "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. It is a fiction book based loosely on actual events. It is a relatively short book, but I must warn you that when you start it you will not want to put it down. It makes you laugh and cry(I mean like a baby). It has an awesome message that really spoke to me.
The last book I read was "The Survivor's Club" by Ben Sherwood. It is a really good book about the Secrets and Science of Survivor's. The book tells a bunch of stories about all different kinds of Survivor's. It is extremely fascinating. It is a rather long book but the book really goes chapter by chapter and you could take your time reading it, but I will say that the stories he tells about people who have survived extraordinary circumstances are very fascinating and it is hard to not keep reading about more people.
Well, those are the books I have read lately and I am getting ready to start a new book tonight. It is called " The Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell. He was a Navy Seal who's team was ambushed in Afghanistan while on a mission and he was the only one that survived. It should be really good.
On a very side note, something very funny happened with the pigs the other day. We had to move the pigs to the barn beacuse even the extended fence they made was flooding. Well, there was an old 50 Gallon Barrel they they used for feed when we had horses and cows. They had cut a small hole in the top so they could scoop out the feed. Well, there was some feed left in the barrel and the pigs wanted it, so one of the girls managed to squeeze herself in the Barrel but could not squeeze herself out so Jason had to take his Saw down there and cut the top of the barrel off so she could get out. Needless to say she was not a happy camper. FUNNY!!! Always something going on around here.
First, was Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover". If you don't have it you NEED to get it. It is a really good book that is easy to read. You can read a couple chapters, put it down for a couple weeks and then pick it up again with no problems. The concepts he teaches and the way he lays them out in the book make so much sense. Even if you have listened to his radio show the book is a must read.
Second, is "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. It is a fiction book based loosely on actual events. It is a relatively short book, but I must warn you that when you start it you will not want to put it down. It makes you laugh and cry(I mean like a baby). It has an awesome message that really spoke to me.
The last book I read was "The Survivor's Club" by Ben Sherwood. It is a really good book about the Secrets and Science of Survivor's. The book tells a bunch of stories about all different kinds of Survivor's. It is extremely fascinating. It is a rather long book but the book really goes chapter by chapter and you could take your time reading it, but I will say that the stories he tells about people who have survived extraordinary circumstances are very fascinating and it is hard to not keep reading about more people.
Well, those are the books I have read lately and I am getting ready to start a new book tonight. It is called " The Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell. He was a Navy Seal who's team was ambushed in Afghanistan while on a mission and he was the only one that survived. It should be really good.
On a very side note, something very funny happened with the pigs the other day. We had to move the pigs to the barn beacuse even the extended fence they made was flooding. Well, there was an old 50 Gallon Barrel they they used for feed when we had horses and cows. They had cut a small hole in the top so they could scoop out the feed. Well, there was some feed left in the barrel and the pigs wanted it, so one of the girls managed to squeeze herself in the Barrel but could not squeeze herself out so Jason had to take his Saw down there and cut the top of the barrel off so she could get out. Needless to say she was not a happy camper. FUNNY!!! Always something going on around here.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Is it May 21 yet?
So, I am really looking forward to May 21. We are heading down to Texas to spend some great quality time with my family. I am so excited and so ready for a semi-vacation.
Things have been picking up at Ballard Paint and Body. We are still having a hard time selling vehicles but the call volume for them are picking up so hopefully something will sell soon, but our customer work has been GREAT!!!! so we will take what we can get and try to conform. On thing that is hurting us with the car sells is that in the last week we have learned the most of the banks around here have decided to only loan 85% of TRADE-IN Value on the car. It makes it really hard to sell a car when the people can not get the whole car financed, but we will jsut have to figure out a way to make it work.
Also, Shelby and Bennett's last day of school is May 29 and I can tell that it is almost summer time because our Bennett has been getting in trouble at school. This happened about this time last year, but we are keeping on him to do well with his behavior at school and so far he is responding and doing well at school.
And, on a side note, I will post a new pig picture soon because last weekend Jason had to expand the pig pen beacuse with all the rain we recently got (and are still getting) they were about to drown. They are too good at rooting in the ground are packing it so tight that he holds water very well.
I hope that everyone is well and ya'll have a great weekend.
Things have been picking up at Ballard Paint and Body. We are still having a hard time selling vehicles but the call volume for them are picking up so hopefully something will sell soon, but our customer work has been GREAT!!!! so we will take what we can get and try to conform. On thing that is hurting us with the car sells is that in the last week we have learned the most of the banks around here have decided to only loan 85% of TRADE-IN Value on the car. It makes it really hard to sell a car when the people can not get the whole car financed, but we will jsut have to figure out a way to make it work.
Also, Shelby and Bennett's last day of school is May 29 and I can tell that it is almost summer time because our Bennett has been getting in trouble at school. This happened about this time last year, but we are keeping on him to do well with his behavior at school and so far he is responding and doing well at school.
And, on a side note, I will post a new pig picture soon because last weekend Jason had to expand the pig pen beacuse with all the rain we recently got (and are still getting) they were about to drown. They are too good at rooting in the ground are packing it so tight that he holds water very well.
I hope that everyone is well and ya'll have a great weekend.
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