Kelly and Joe: January 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Going for Walks and Holding Hands

Dad's Deployment

So this is how Grant and Joe talk. Joe sings to Grant and Grant loves to look at his Papa. It is really sweet!

January!

My little man is 18 months!

He climbs in the basket with all the toys!

Sitting in his Drum!

Grant's Yankee's shirt. It was once his uncle Marks.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Daddy Deployment Doll

Joe sent Grant this cute deployment doll. Grant loves to wrestle the doll. It will be great when he can wrestle his dad for real.

Grant and Joe watching TV

Just playing!

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Years was pretty low key for us. I loved it! We watched a movie Apollo 18, my idea. Kinda lame just like every other movie I have ever picked. Some of you reading this (Jill, Joe, Paul) know that happens to me a lot. I always need to check rotten tomatoes before a choose a movie.

This year I have a wide variety of resolutions. Some health ones, some spiritual ones, and few creative ones. But something that I thought was important this year was to set realistic goals! Things I can really do. Here's to a year of success!

One last thing. I love this message from the Prophet Thomas S. Monson. Lets all start this year with good attitudes. Lets have abundant lives this year!

Living the Abundant Life:

At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

Have a Positive Attitude A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”

1So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”

2We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.

Believe in Yourself B is for believe—in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.Be honest with yourself, with others, and with your Heavenly Father. One who was not honest with God until it was too late was Cardinal Wolsey who, according to Shakespeare, spent a long life in service to three sovereigns and enjoyed wealth and power. Finally, he was shorn of his power and possessions by an impatient king. Cardinal Wolsey cried:Had I but served my God with half the zealI served my king, He would not in mine ageHave left me naked to mine enemies.

3Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th century, penned this truth: “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”

4Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

Face Challenges with Courage C is for courage. Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.Said the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

5There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”May we remember these ABCs as we begin our journey into the new year, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.

I'm 27

Can you believe it ... I can't. I am 27. It seems like I get a little closer to 30 every year... that is probably because I do. I had a good day. I ate Chinese food (haven't had it in months) I had an ice cream cake and some of my dear friends were in town and came and spent the evening chatting! It was nice. Joe also sent me some beautiful Roses. I love that boy!

Christmas 2011

So this year Grant and I spent Christmas at Nana Leelee's and Bopba's. Joe spent his in Africa. We really enjoyed the whole day and was glad it stayed really busy. We woke up at 8 so we could have a yummy breakfast followed by us opening our stalkings. We had Church at 10am only sacrament meeting. We came home and talked to David on Skype (my brother who is serving a two year mission in Argentina.) It was so nice to see him. He looks really good. While we talked to David Grant took a nap. When we were done we woke Grant up and opened gifts. Joe called on Skype and got to see our gifts. We had dinner at about 7pm. It was a busy day! It went by fast.

Nana Leelee got a bike!