Happy Halloween!

 I'll get you my pretty!

My Husband AKA - Johnny Cash

June Carter and Johnny Cash ... We walk the line!

Cat Woman ...

 Groovy!

Cute beyond words ...

Spiderman, Superwoman. Basketball player.

Witchy Woman ..

Happy Halloween ... From our family to yours!

As you wish ...

We dress up every year for Halloween! Last night, we chaperoned a youth church dance and went as Princess Buttercup and the Dread Pirate Roberts from the 'Princess Bride'.

Good times!

The best view ...

The best view comes after the hardest climb.

Have you ever thought about why that is? ...

I have. The view is better because you worked so hard to get there. You didn't quit. You persevered. You believed. You learned, you became.

Keep going.

It's worth it.

Did you think to ...

PRAY?

Never underestimate the power of prayer.
You can say one anytime, anywhere.

I know for sure that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

Invite Him in.

Pray.

I promise, it's one of the most important things you can do every day!

Look again ...

At first glance it may appear too hard.
Look again.
Always look again ...

Amazing how challenges (such as loss, disappointment, struggles and so on) can make us feel weak and like we want to quit. When I feel like things seem 'too hard', I say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help me see the challenge with new eyes.

He always helps me look again and see things with a better perspective.

Look. Look again.

Don't quit. Believe and move forward with faith!

A little reminder ...

Hey, you matter.

Remember that.

Be you.

Be happy.

:)

me.

Congratulations!

Photo Moment: Kade's Seminary Graduation

My husband, Tory Christensen, was awarded the Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year Award.

We are so proud of him and all the ways he makes a difference.

Congratulations!
We love you - Wendy, Kade, Kaleb and Lauren

News Release from the Richland School District

Making a difference ...

I am always in awe at the ability we each have to make a difference! We can make a difference every moment - if we choose. It's the little things that add up over time ... Our choice to smile, to say a kind word, to lift another and to always be our best. Day in and day out - these things matter and contribute to making society better as a whole.

It reminds me of the the starfish poem -

One day an old man was walking down the beach just before dawn.  In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.  As the old man approached the young man, he asked, "Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"  The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.  The old man exclaimed, "But there must be thousands of starfish.  How can your efforts make any difference?"  The young man looked down at the starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said," It makes a difference to this one!"
At times in our lives, we are all the old man, the young man, or the starfish.  Sometimes, as the old man, we don't see the purpose to actions.  Sometimes, as the young man, we persevere and make a difference.  And sometimes, we are the starfish who just need a little help.

Today, slow down and lift another with your kindness!

Love ...

If your love doesn’t bring you closer to God, it’s not love. If it doesn’t yield the fruits of the spirit – peace, joy, charity, and all those other good things, it’s not love. I believe love is the greatest gift God has given us, and we can’t possess it without Him. Not the kind that lasts, anyway.

~ Jeffrey R. Holland

Read the entire article here.

Find the blessing in everything ...

Train yourself to find the blessing in everything. I like how this quote uses the word 'train' ...
If we want to see the blessings, we need to look for them. And when we look, we find them!

The blessings are everywhere.
Slow down.
See them.
Appreciate them.

Train yourself to always find them.

Avoiding the 'Poison Apples' ...

“I’m working on not letting people with dark energy consume any of my minutes on this earth. . . . What I know for sure is that
 how you spend your time defines who you are.”

~ Oprah Winfrey

Inspiring. I'm working on this too ...
PS: The dark energy is like poison.

Why?

One of my all-time favorite quotes (and movies) ...

Why? Have you ever asked that question?

I believe we all have. Sometimes we find the answers sometimes we don't.

But, we can always learn to pick ourselves up and continue to move forward.

Why?

Because life is too short, beautiful and wonderful to spend it down and defeated.

Up. It matters.

When it rains ...

It's raining this morning. Makes me want to curl up with a book, a big blanket and a mug of hot chocolate.

When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars.

Great advice - Reminds me that even during 'stormy' times, we can always choose to focus and find the good around us.

Happy Wednesday .... slow down and listen to the rhythm of the falling rain.

Beautiful. Refreshing. Romantic.

007 Family Photo ...

It was a spontaneous moment. Captured another side of us :)

Cheers to the moments that matter and family photos.

Slow down a little ...

One of my all-time favorite speakers is - Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He is a person full of light. Whenever he speaks, I feel peace, love, guidance and inspiration. I am so thankful for the wonderful people in the world who lift us with their lives filled with service, kindness and light!

Today, slow down a little - and see the things that matter most.

When you bump into a wall

Mental strength ... it matters.

Don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it. Go through it. Or work around it.

Great reminders!

Go and DO.

Wednesday Wisdom: Trust God

Trust God and believe in His plan for your life.

It is the best decision.

Period.

Wisdom from Albert Einstein

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again

and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

Today, try something new. Break out of your everyday routine and change things up.

Warning: New doors might await you.

Enter. Enjoy.

'Aliens' in the Desert -

A desert bloom - in pink.

 A hint of yellow ...

 The sun turned us into Aliens ...

The West and it's authentic beauty!

There are days when I wish I lived near more trees. I love trees. Especially pine trees and evergreens.
Alas, we don't live by trees! We live by tumbleweeds, dirt, sagebrush, snakes and creepy desert bugs.

If I focus on all the things that are wrong, I make myself extremely miserable.
(Note to Self: Life is too short and amazing for negativity!)

So I don't focus on what's wrong and/or missing.

Instead, I appreciate the beauty that surrounds me.

Like the blue skies, the nearby farms, the 'desert blooms' and the evening walks I share with my husband. Just last night, we discovered our 'alien forms' and laughed as we imagined ourselves on a Spielberg alien movie scene!
(Note to Self: Enjoy the little moments like these - this is where happiness is!)

Cheers to focus and the things we choose to see and appreciate in life!

Keep calm and sparkle...

Today ... Let your inner Princess shine!

Hello October!

It's a new month.
It's a new day.
It's a new season ...

ENJOY!