Angels among us

This past week has been a testimony to me that the Lord does hear and answer prayers and sends His Angels to comfort, uplift, assist, or make up where your lacking. I've been feeling sooooooo sick, almost to the point where I was in bed for 5 days straight, feeling like I was quickly spiraling downward physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Doug and I were so excited to find out we we're pregnant and literally the next morning it felt like the morning sickness turned up from 5 to 10 overnight. Survival mode sets in as all I could focus on was trying to force feed myself and not throw up. WHY!!! Why does something so beautiful have to be soooooooooooo awful! We'll last Sunday night I really felt like I needed some form of relief. So after listening to President Monson's talk from conferenced titled, "Be of Good Cheer", and another heart spilling prayer, slowly but surely that relief that I had been craving started to occur.

The next day was my birthday and Doug had to go back to school (luckily he had the previous week off). Meaning here I go taking care of myself and the kids and not an ounce sure how I was going to do either of that. My goal was to enjoy my kiddies and make sure they made it to 5 o'clock without injuries. If they got feed, that would be a bonus, but not life threatening for a day right (just kidding, they are capable of feeding themselves as anyother almost 2 and 3 year old would be in desperate situations, the after math is bit much to handle, but hey their independent =). So here's how the Lord wished me a happy birthday:

1. Kate Johnson comes over at 9am, does 75 loads of laundry (I know I'm exaggerating, but it was endless). She even folded it. Helps feed the boys a morning snack and helps clean up my living room. (She then comes over Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to assist with the boys, housecleaning, and feedings....what an ANGEL!!!)
2. Yolanda Ulibarri calls to say Happy Birthday and informs me she's going to bring me a fruit tray and her yummy dip.
3. Amy Godfrey calls to say congrats on the pregnancy and to see what she can do to help. Later brings me flowers and scrubs my kitchen floor.
4. Kim Walker calls and then comes over to make me lunch and feed my kids. She also helps clean my kitchen.
5. Melanie Danes comes over to visit, helps me take my mind of the nausea, and helps put away folded laundry and keeps an eye on all the kiddies.
6. Tiffany Stowe drops by to give me a birthday present and offers to take my kids anytime.
7. Abby Johnson calls to say happy birthday and then later brings me flowers.
8. Lydia McAllister brings us dinner and cupcakes.
9. Amy Godfrey brings us more food to eat the next night.
10. Liz Olsen brings me cookies and flowers.

Other blessings:
1. The boys took long afternoon naps.
2. Doug made me homemade bread.
3. Jax sang Happy Birthday to me and helped blow out the candle.
4. Talon didn't throw any fits and Katie changed his only poopie diaper.
5. At the end of the day Jax says to me, "Mommy, I like being with you."
6. Many friends and family wished me happy birthday via phone, text message, facebook, email.
7. I didn't throw up until the next day.

I just felt an outpouring of love and support from so many heaven sent Angels. To all of you who helped make my day so wonderful, I say "THANK YOU!!!" Thank you for being intune with the spirit and following through with whatever promptings you received. Your motivation to do a little something was seen as BIG help in my life. Thanks for letting me feel the love of the Lord through your selfless service and love.

Without a doubt, I know the Lord loves us and will help us get through hard times. I know that His love is shown through other people and when you're serving someone, you are serving God. I know that we go through hard things in life to humble ourselves and rely on the power of the Atonement of Christ, for with that power, all things are posible. I truly belive that.

Killdeer's First Day Out Shooting

Well I finally was able to get out and try out the muzzle loader. I shot it the first night it was done but only twice and I could barely see the sights cuz it was getting dark. So this weekend I am down visiting my parents with the boys. Grandma watched the boys during nap time and Grandpa (Dad) and I went ou to try out the new muzzleloader.

It is awesome!!!!! So much fun to shoot. Great sound, feeling and pretty straight shooting. There is something amazing about using something that was created by you and to have it work great. I love this gun!

Here are two videos we took while shooting.

In Honor of Amber...Thank you!

So many of you that read our blog know me and Amber and some of our hobbies and such. Well as most of you know I love guns and knives! When I met Marvin Wotring last September I was soooo excited to be able to learn knife and gun making from a pro. After talking to him at the Buckwheat Festival he invited me out to his shop to learn how to make Damascus steel and custom muzzleloaders. Soooooo.....
For the last few months I have been going out to his shop outside of Morgantown once or sometimes twice (or three) times a week to work on projects and learn from a master. This opportunity has been amazing. Not only is Marvin so knowledgable he also is very kind and patient.
But most importantly Amber has been an understanding angel. Even though she does not share my love of guns and knives, she has been totally understanding and even helping in so many ways by letting me spend so much time away from her and the boys. She is great and I hope she knows that I am sooo grateful for her trying to understand and be supportive.
So tonight is that landmark. I finally finished my muzzleloader. I hade finished several knives along the way, but the muzzleloader has been the big project. Without Marvin it would not have been possible. Without Amber it would ot have been possible and I thank her so much! See for yourselves the final product. I think you can click on each picture to get a bigger view or control and click.