All About the Argyles

I had the pleasure of spendinf a blissful couple of hours today with these cuties while their moms went to Institute. We had fun turning this into this..... This sweet lil gal was pretty proud of her creation. and so was he. This bug guy enjoyed eating his snowman.  Can you tell? We colored some beautiful pictures and played with toys.  This is my big helper.  She's a QT. huh?  And sweet little "A" that doesnt want to leave my side the whole time.  We finished the party off with cookie decorating.     Doesn't that look delicious?

A pretty good sign that you are overscheduled is when it is December 11th and you are doing a post to sum up the last month.  I set a goal to post more in 2013 and I have done that!  I am going to cut myself a little slack that the busy winter months have forced me to put the ole blog on the back burner.  Oh well.   Kiki had a birthday and turned the big 13.  The Raineys brought over homemade brownies for her and she decided not to share.  She put them in the microwave with this note.  Sometimes her charity faileth.  What can I say?  I have tasted the Rainey's brownies and I don't blame her one bit.  Those things are good!  Basketball season is starting up and Brent is coaching again.  Brady is over the moon with excitement.  I love how enthusiastic he is about everything!  He came to me saying that he had outgrown his basketball shoes from last year.  So, in keeping with our house policy- we told hi...

This talk was mentioned a few weeks ago in institute and it was...well...just what I needed.  I have studied it this week and plan to use it for a spiritual thought for a meeting I am going to tomorrow.  It is a talk from so long ago that I had forgotten about it.  It is so good to remember these principles.   My dear brothers and sisters, because it was not appropriate for me to commence my Church service until I had concluded my judicial duties in state government, I did not speak at the April conference where I was sustained. Consequently, this semiannual conference is my first opportunity to speak to the general membership of the Church, to express acceptance of my calling to the Council of the Twelve. I am thrilled with this calling. Having been “called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority” ( A of F 1:5 ), I have gladly forsaken my professional activities to spend the rest of my days in the service of the L...

Holy Cow this book is fantastic. I found out about it from one of my favorite bloggers/singers/TOFW Presenters Mrs. Hillary Weeks. She recommended it on facebook so I downloaded it immediately to my kindle, started reading it later that afternoon, and couldn't put it down. One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful second divorce; he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer; he was 40 pounds overweight; his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams--including hopes of upholding idealistic legal principles and of becoming a judge--seemed to have slipped beyond his reach. Then, during a desperate walk in the hills on New Year's Day, John was struck by the belief that h...

If I am being completely honest, my most recent church assignment has been the most frustrating one I've ever experienced.  There have been times I wanted to throw my hands in the air and quit.  I have never felt that way about any other calling in my 24 adult years.  I started the day off resentful and bitter about it.  Many times I spend 20 plus hours a week planning trek.  I feel like the things I love to do and the people I desire to serve most are paying the price. Its been an exercise in futility in more ways than I care to detail here.  That is how I started the day. Then I went to institute.  As I drove there, I prayed that Heavenly Father would soften my heart and help me learn what it was I was supposed to be learning and be able to work productively with some of the individuals I have to work with.  I prayed that He would help me carry out His work for his youth and that I might be able to feel His approval, which is all th...

A week ago, McKinley's best friend, Caty, texted me and asked if she could throw McKinley a surprise birthday party on her birthday.  The girls had been challenged by their Young Women leaders to do a 10 hour project for Individual Worth and she thought it would make a great project to plan a fun party for her! She invited 14 fun friends to join in on the surprise. I wish I would have taken the time to take a picture of the cute chocolate fountain and home made cupcakes she made.  She had blown up about 20 balloons and when McKinley walked in to the house they jumped out and showered her with shredded paper. Then they went swimming.  Yes, in November and NO, they had not heated the pool. kiki and  Lexie   with Emily  and Molly  and Mallory  and Kylie H.  and Kaly   the Lloyd twins and Abbey  Megan  Kaylie W.  Michaela  and Kylie P who ...