If you're a bird ...

Love this line from the Notebook ...

"If you're a bird, I'm a bird."

So romantic...

Quotes: Why they matter ...

Quotes are so powerful. They are like a little package of goodness - put together in a short, simple way and their impact can be life changing! I love the direct simpleness of a quote.

I often read quotes before I go to sleep. I especially enjoy the positive, motivating ones. I find them calming and reassuring.

Nothing like drifting off to dream with a little Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis, Tony Robbins, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, or Jane Austen.

Fill your mind with goodness at night, wake up with goodness in the morning! Our minds are so powerful - what we choose to focus on shows up in our day to day events.

I especially love the words and image above ... don't we all have broken pieces floating around inside?

Go ahead, give someone a hug, or receive one! You never know how healing it can be or the mending it will provide :)

Cheers to quotes, hugs and little moments that matter!

He taught us how to fish ...

The Lichfield Family - 2004

with my Mom and Dad

 Daddy Daughter Dance - 1984 (ish) ...

1970s ...

 We are family!

Fish on!

Family photo moment in mom and dad's backyard

Go Bombers - my dad and mom never missed a meet.

Dear Dad,

Just a little note for you on Father's Day.

Thanks for being one of my heroes! You taught us all how to work hard, how to pray, how to love, how to be kind, how to fish, how to be patient, how to trust in God, and how to live by faith.

I am so thankful to you and mom for the legacy you have left and the way you have made our family the most important thing in your life!

You never missed cheering for us at cross country meets, you never missed having family prayer, you never missed an opportunity to teach us about the gospel and the love of the Savior.

I love you dearly! So glad I get to call YOU Dad.

Love,
Wendy

PS: Fish on!

Happy birthday!

Birthdays matter!
I like to think of them as a reset day ... great time to reflect, refresh and reassess.
(It's also a good time to celebrate!)

Happy birthday to my husband, Tory, we celebrated with some southern food in Waitsburg, WA
A wiggle like a fish show in Walla Walla
and a trip to the bird aviary ...

Cheers to new years, new adventures and GREAT things ahead!

PS: I love you. 

Are you here to help me?

Every Monday, we receive an email from our son who is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We love Monday and look forward to hearing about his week. Below is an excerpt from this week's update -

There has been lots of flooding in Texas and the Missionaries were able to participate in helping with the clean up of trees and houses and such -

 "Some people were assigned to house demolition where people lost everything in the floods and their house was destroyed. That would be rough. But we got done with one house then drove up the road to see if the group next to us needed the bobcat. They did but when we got out of the car this lady was standing there and asked us... "Are you here to help me?"

 We weren't but we helped her anyways and she bought us lunch and when we were all standing there when we were done she said ..."I was just praying that someone would come and help me."
 

It was sweet. So many opportunities to help others if we just look outside ourselves."

My Singing Superman!

Wendy and Tory Christensen - singing around the campfire

Tory Christensen, AKA The Singing Superman

Tory and Wiggles ... Wiggle Like a Fish

:)

My husband, who I like to call the Singing Superman, has an incredible singing voice! Over the years, we have enjoyed singing together - mostly at home, in the car or at a select few venues. I get nervous singing in front of a crowd - he does not!

Several years ago, we started a little group called - Wiggle Like a Fish

My husband wrote all the songs and we embarked on a very amazing journey to share the positive music with kids and families everywhere! I became the Booking Agent and PR Director.

He has performed in Children's Hospitals, The Seattle Science Center, Public Libraries, Preschools, Parks, Festivals, Farmer's Markets, and even opened for The Nickelodeon Live show ...

We started this adventure when our kids were little - they are big now! Big enough to take a turn playing, Wiggles, our dancing fish. 

We are thankful for all the ways we have been able to make a difference with the music and for all the people who have and continue to support us along the way! 

You can read more about Wiggle Like a Fish HERE.

Upcoming Events -

June 19th, Walla Walla Public Library
10 AM

July 4th River of Fire Festival
Kids Zone: Shows at 2 and 4 PM

Rainbows: Evidence of God's love

Rainbows above our house ...

A rainbow in Afton, Wyoming ...

Double rainbows for Kade ...

Rainbows are evidence of God's love. I have seen His hand in my life by these beautiful beacons of color and light shining through the 'stormy days' ... Below are 3 examples of 'Rainbow Miracles' from the past year -

Double rainbows for Kade -

On the day our son, Kade, received his mission call to serve a 2 year mission (away from home), there were double rainbows in the sky! A loving Heavenly Father let us know He was there and that our son would be watched over.

A rainbow in Afton, Wyoming -

This particular place is very dear to me and to my entire family. It is the homestead of my Grandma and Grandpa Call and I spent many summer days there in my childhood. My older brother, Travis, is buried in Afton and I often think of him and the impact he had on my life.

This rainbow reminds me that a loving Heavenly Father is mindful of the loss in our lives and of the desires of our hearts.  He heals, He lifts, He helps us overcome. And mostly, He loves us through all the storms - HIS love enables us to keep moving forward with hope, faith and joy!

A rainbow at our house - 

Last night, our family said good-bye to my sister and her family. They lived here for the past couple of months and good-byes are not my thing. I avoid them at all costs ... so this good-bye was particularly challenging. Yes, I cried. The flood gates were open ... I let the tears flow!

We drove home and received a photo of our house with the rainbow from our kind neighbor. He took the photo on Sunday from his front porch. He included a little text that said: In case you missed the rainbow ...

This was further evidence that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us and that His plan is bigger than the one we can dream up or comprehend on our own. He is aware of the painful goodbye of the uncertainties in life and every heart that breaks and still He reaches out to lift us up and help us along our way.

I am thankful for the rainbows in my life. They show up at the most needed times and fill my heart with love and light.

Everything denotes there is a God.

I see Him everywhere ... especially in the people who are the most beautiful 'rainbows' of all.

How does GOD show up in your life?

Succeed Gloriously.

I love this quote ... It's a great reminder that we all have a purpose for being here on the earth. Our lives matter and we were not placed here to fail!

There are so many people searching for the way to succeed. Are you looking for a way to be better? For peace in your life? For meaning to your life?

If so, I encourage you to get on your knees and say a  prayer - ask with a sincere heart about the Lord's love for you and the desire He has for you to return to Him.

Then listen. You will feel his answers in your mind and your heart.

The above quote came from a talk given by Richard G. Scott - (click and listen to his entire message)

Please know you are loved and that our Heavenly Father is ever mindful of you.

Happy birthday wishes ...

19 years ago today, my husband and I became parents! It was one of the most incredible days of our lives. We had a new member join our family and we grew from 2 to 3 ...

Happy birthday Kade - I love your artsy style, your kind heart and your desire to do what's right.

I love you and hope the people in Texas know how blessed they are to have you :)

Mom 

Missionary Monday - God is Good!

Our son is on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he's serving in San Antonio, Texas.

As a Missionary, he has a Preparation Day (P-Day) once a week and is is able to email us! Monday is his P-Day so we hear from him on Mondays.

I especially enjoyed the letter we received today ... and the above accompanying photo!

Yes, I agree - God is real! God is good!

Happy Monday -
Hope your day is filled with God's love.

The color of butterfly wings ...

I had a very sweet experience today ... It involves a song, a missionary son (who is far away) and the tender mercy of the Lord.

I thought about my son all week - he was on my mind. I prayed for him and hoped that all was well. This is the first week I did not receive a letter via the mailbox - so I knew he must have been really busy.

last night, I felt impressed to blog about one of my favorite songs! It's a song I sang as a child at church and I often sang it to my children (when they were young - before they went to sleep).

I always liked the line in the song about the butterfly wings! :) (He did too!)
It brought back some fun memories of 'putting our kids to bed' and the nighttime songs ...

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him rev'rently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.

I sent my Missionary son an email this morning and felt impressed to share the lyrics above as part of the letter.

Here is the response I received from him this morning -

I was singing that song last night before bed! It is such a sweet song. I have honestly thought a lot about you too mom over the course of this journey. I think I just needed to leave before I could truly appreciate all that you do for me and all that you are. Thanks for being such an awesome mom. 

So sweet - it made me cry ... :)

Happy Monday - I hope you too, will see the hand of the Lord in your life today!
Our little moments matter ... especially to HIM.

Lyrics for I Know My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Whenever I hear the song of a bird -

This is one of my all time favorite songs. I used to sing this to my kids before they went to sleep :)
I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and this beautiful world we have to live in! Yes, I know he loves me!

I Know My Heavenly Father Loves Me ...

1. 1. Whenever I hear the song of a bird
   Or look at the blue, blue sky,
   Whenever I feel the rain on my face
   Or the wind as it rushes by,
   Whenever I touch a velvet rose
   Or walk by our lilac tree,
   I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
   Heav'nly Father created for me.
2. 2. He gave me my eyes that I might see
   The color of butterfly wings.
   He gave me my ears that I might hear
   The magical sound of things.
   He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
   I thank him rev'rently
   For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
   Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.
   
   Words and music: Clara W. McMaster, 1904-1997

No one is too old for fairy tales ...

My little Neighbors invited me for a Princess tea party on Monday ... It was so fun! We wore princess gowns and pink lipstick and sipped pink lemonade and talked about happy things.

Don't we all need days with a little fairy tale magic?

Thanks Sophie, Paige and Jenn ...

Princess,
Wendy

Every day.

A few little things from my day so far ...

Driving to Prosser and seeing Mt. Adams - gorgeous day, clear view, filled me with renewal!
(I love mountains)

Shopping for outdoor yard flowers at the Home Depot - flowers are so amazing! Pure joy.

Waving at my neighbor and her 4 adorable kids - they add so much happiness to our neighborhood.

Thinking about where to plant the beautiful flowers in the yard ...

And the list goes on!

Enjoying the little stuff makes the day so much better and happy :)

What little things are going on in you life?!

It was a very happy birthday!

From my sweet neice - Avery :)

Another little card from my niece, Lilly ...

I woke up to flowers and cards and an "I Love You" balloon
My husband made me breakfast! 

Spent some time with my sister ... 

My son got his braces off!

We had a youth talent show for our church youth group ...
The Bishopric performed a country rendition of
"Book of Mormon Stories"

I took some time yesterday to reflect on the blessings that are so abundant in my life.
I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, of humility and LOVE.

I thank Heavenly Father everyday for the gift of life and the journey
we are all on to learn, grow and become!

It's the people that matter.
It's the love we share that makes life happy and good!
It's the light of Christ that guides us through ...

Hello new year - let's do this!
me.

Hello, pink ...

These flowers are beautiful ... just wanted to share a little happiness and joy today!
And if you get the chance, stop and smell the roses.

Happy Monday -

Wendy
:)

Everyday is a brand new day -

To wake up is a gift.
To breathe, to live, to laugh, to learn to LOVE ...

Today matters - enjoy all it has to offer.
And all that you have to give!

After all, it is a loving Heavenly Father who lends us life each day.

What will you do with the gift of this day?!

Happy 44th birthday – Travis!

It wasn't the digital era - I only have a few, precious photos of my brother ... However, I have a million memories locked in my mind (I visit them often) and I smile and remember a life that will always touch mine! Happy birthday big brother - I love you! ‪#‎Lich‬

Today is my brother’s birthday. He died when I was 15, it was the summer before my sophomore year. He was 17 – just about to enter his senior year of high school.

I’ll never forget the day he died. Time stood still. My world changed forever. I won’t lie and say that it was an easy time getting through the rest of my high school years. In fact, it was very challenging. I can attribute four things to pulling me through that time – the cross country team, my friends & family and a loving Heavenly Father who gave me hope and patience and a desire to keep ‘running’.

It’s been 28 years since he passed away. I find myself reflecting today, on his birthday, full of gratitude and love for the journey it’s been. I’m a different person today because of his life and death. I am stronger. I am filled with more faith. I have more love to share. I have empathy, understanding and a desire to live every single day with joy, enthusiasm and with a loving heart. I know the Lord has his purposes in all things.

My brother’s life was short but wonderful. His race was not long … but important.

We all have a race to run.

I thank Heavenly Father every day for blessing me with a big brother who made me laugh, try, reach and believe! 

And today I celebrate his life and the wonderful memories we shared!

Happy birthday Travis!

My black socks are on. I’m still ‘running’ forward and think of you often.

I love you,

Little Lich

Light.

On my bucket list of dreams ... I'd like to visit all the lighthouses in America! Big dream, I know ...
Last week, I had the opportunity to hike up to the above pictured lighthouse - Cape Disappointment.

It's a beautiful hike and the view from the top is breathtaking. Ocean for miles!

I love knowing that the light is there to serve the sailors in the dark - who are trying to find their way home or to the shore.

The light stands there steady and strong - guiding all who may be lost at sea.

Today, be the light in someone's darkness!

Stand tall and immovable - Hold your light high!