Welcome Home Elder Brock

After months of anticipation, the day finally arrived that we were able to welcome Elder Brian Carson Brock home from his two years of service in the Salt Lake City mission. We are all so proud of him and it was truely a joyful and tearful reunion. Brian has always been an exceptional guy, but his time in the service of the Lord has made him extraordinary. He has grown so much and returns with a testimony and personal witness that radiates in his countenance and thoughts expressed.

I am sure that the Lord has great things in store for him and I feel blessed to know him. Carson and Cassidy look up to him like a brother and they admire his example. Weeks before him coming home, we began working on a banner for him and good thing we started early for it took some time. The message is simple yet poignant. The tarheel feet start off small and grow as the pictures of Brian grow, stating, Born to Serve, Growing to Serve, Called to Serve and Returning with Honor. Isn't that what we are all here to do is serve and as I put the photos together for the banner, Brian's life just seemed like a glimpse from birth to now. So much growth and memories in between but my how it has flown. Such is our journey here, we all have a work and service to perform and in the eternal picture, our time here is but a glimpse of our eternal life, the time really is flying. I am grateful for the gospel and the knowledge of the grand plan that it gives me and my children. As I saw him come through the door of the airport, I felt very strongly the importance of the Lord's work and choosing the right. The spirit confirmed to my heart that all we do as mother's to teach and prepare our children through the gospel, is of great worth and importance and that in a world falling apart, it is a sure foundation.

The gospel is the Armour of God that our children will need in these latter days, and I am thankful for it.

How to be an Entrepreneur in these tough times!

Sell something YUMMY and be CUTE while doing it.



That seems to be the secret to financial success on a very muggy, humid, hot southern summer morning. You can sure rake in the quarters for a refreshing cup of lemonade.


Another dream come true. Carson and Cassidy have been wanting to do a lemonade stand for two years and our previous and current neighborhood just have not been ideal for such a charming business. So over the weekend we helped some friends hold a yard sale to prepare for their upcoming move and Carson and Cassidy decided they would make a go of it. They painted their own table, made their own signs and had their little business set up in 5 minutes flat. It was a good experience for them and I am proud of their persistence when I so quickly dismiss the idea.


Okay, so they didn't make a fortune, but the work ethic is there so who knows what the future holds if they stick together.


One more thought; a family friend at the yard sale commented that she had "once been told that if you want to be happy always buy lemonade from a child's lemonade stand." Words to live by, how can we go wrong if we live life through a child's vision once in a while, after all "such is the kingdom of God."

Just Thinking........

I came across this song some time back called "In My Arms" (on my playlist) and pondered the words. The song is written for a child by their mother and the loving, concerning thoughts that we all have for our children, are in the essence of this song. What causes me to reflect on it more is that I feel strongly this is how our Heavenly Father feels about his children. Like the lyrics in the song say, storms will come and our fairytale versions of our lives may not always have a happy ever after, but we are never alone for we are safe in his arms.

I know there is no length I would not go to in order to protect my children from harm, danger and hurt, and it feels for these few small years as I raise them that at least I can keep them safe in my arms once in a while and comfort their aches. My love as a mother for these two precious spirits is so deep, genuine and eternal in my mere mortal existence, how much greater must be the love of our Father in Heaven in his eternal sphere, where He knows all things and what we can become and what is best for us. Being a mother is such a divine blessing and gift, I savor it everyday and thank my Heavenly Father for this beloved journey, being Carson and Cassidy's mom is my fairytale. If only my arms could protect them always and forever. I am thankful to know that when my arms aren't enough, the Savior's are!

Happy Birthday Daddy

In loving thoughtfulness and sweet memories of my Dad. He would have celebrated his 71st birthday July 17th. His spirit lives on through the legacy of his children and grandchildren and those who knew him in mortality have eternally been touched by one of Christ's true Disciples. I know that my Dad knew the Savior while he walked his mortal journey and I know that he abides with the Savior now and continues to follow and serve him. He is missed far beyond what words can express and he lives in the hearts and memories of those who he left behind, just as he lives now in the Spirit world awaiting our Savior's return and eternal family reunion. Though my children have never met him on this earth, I know they are well aquainted with him. He lives in all of our conversations as I share memories of him and tell them of his character, compassion, infectious personality, his example, spirituality and humility.

Carson and Cassidy were born on December 20th, 2000, beginning to make their entrance into this world around 8:30 that night, my dad passed away on December 20th, 1996, beginning to make his entrance into the spirit world around 8:30on that night. Coincidence? I don't think so. It is very symbolic to me. I know they were with one another, and feel confidant that my dad cradled them and conversed with them, giving them sweet words of wisdom before departing their heavenly home. How much I yearn for his sweet words of wisdom these days, his presence, his example, the joy he brought that would light up my children lives. You are missed Daddy, every minute of everyday.

Dream a little Dream......

So, Cassidy recently enlightened me that it has been her dream all of her life to stick her face in a cake or a pie. It only seemed fitting and appropriate, since mommy's waistline is becoming equivelent to her age, it seemed very reasonable to make this dream come true with one of the two cakes specially made for mommy's birthday. Though delicious, mommy definitely did not need to finish them both off. So we ventured to live out this ambitious dream, and as twins go, Carson followed close behind. Cassidy has waited her "whole life" to do this, and at 8 years old she has lived one of her dreams. Ahhhhhh, what dreams may come, for this precious bundle of energy and creativity, the future is wide open!

The Big "40"

Well, it's official, I have been on planet earth now for four full decades. Wow what a ride. Though I feel like my youth has passed me by and left me out to pasture, I would not trade the wisdom, knowledge and faith that comes with aging. You can't get it any other way.

Today my children, as always, made my day. I awoke to various gifts, some purchased, others recycled from their toys, nevertheless, of more worth than diamonds to me. Carson and Cassidy are always so sweet, thoughtful and excited on my birthday. Last year, they are the only reason I even remembered it was coming, for you really do start to loose track after a certain age. Not sure what that age is, just know that after 28 they just start running together. Anyway the gifts were priceless to me.

The cakes which they both made by themselves were beautiful and delicious. Question though; if one almost catches themself on fire while attempting to light 40 candles is that a sign that this year will be on fire in a good way, full of passion, sparks fun and good things? Yeah, I am going to go with that, this past year has had enough walking through fire, so I will go with that, not saying that I almost set my shirt on fire by dropping the match before burning my finger, just wondering is all........Anyway on with the day, Carson and Cassidy blew up 40 balloons for this special occasion, Henry, our siamese cat, popped one to which Cassidy with much authority said, "well, I guess that makes you 39", I say I can live with that. There is just something about going over the border of the 30's it does something to my mental well being, let's just not go there right now.

So then we proceed to take in a flick at the dollar theatre, that is what our finances afford. We make a unanomous decision to go with anything that would not be appealing to mom on her birthday, let's just say Hannah Montanna, need I say more. Anyway it was quality time with my babies, so $6 well spent. We top the night off with a lovely dinner at Cracker Barrell with Grandma Brock, we love her and love being with her and making memories. One memory tonight being that while many people sat rocking on the chairs on the front porch of cracker barrell, I proceeded to put the car in park, while doing so my lovely black walking boot pressed the brake and the gas simultaneously, seeming as though we were going to rocket through the front window of the restaurant, all the while people watching with humor and awe as to what could be my problem. To which I stepped out of the car, head held high, and limped to the back to get Grandma Brock's walker so that we could go enjoy our evening, slowly strolling past the onlookers. It has been a full day for the 40 year lady old who lives in a black walking boot.

Now though I am obsessed about starting my blog, so the day doesn't really seem official until I have made this post. So Yippy,I Say to turning 40 and entering a new decade of my journey on the earth, I do pray that the Lord will bless me with as much life to live ahead as I have been able live up till now. Even with all the ups and downs, at the end of the day, I look at my two beautiful children and know that all of the details, good and bad, in between all the years have brought me to this point to be their mom, what more could I ask for, that is all I have ever wanted. My life really didn't begin until they came into it, so really I am much younger than my age shows, but I will take the wisdom that comes with the age. Happy Birthday to me!

Blah, Blah, Blog

Okay, and away we go. Finally my journey begins in the world of blogging. I have been wanting to start my own blog for sometime. I am trying to come to the realization that though my life to the world may seem uneventful and not very entertaining, it is in fact my life and the very blessing alone that I am a Mother makes it entertaining, eventful and of great significance. So it is with the very best intent of my heart to begin to chronicle my joys of motherhood, the lives and milestones of my beautiful children, and my own life that I am trying to define at the moment. Hence the present title of my blog page, "When life gives you lemons, make raspberry lemonade", followed by my own fact that, "a blessing can be found in everything".

I preface my thoughts with this, because by nature I am not a very optimistic person, but by another nature I am a very visual person, which blesses me with the desire to create and design things in my little world to be visually appealing, pleasant and have the perfect final touch. Hence my thoughts on the whole life giving you lemons thing, why not make raspberry lemonade and take it up a notch, make it tastier, sweeter and more appealing to the eyes and the tastebuds. It's helped me over the past few years anyway. Life didn't exactly fall into place in the plan I had prepared, it has changed quite a bit and been reaaranged, really turned upside down, but I am learning that even with all the downs me and my babies have come through, life on the other side can be sweeter and more appealing when things begin to become more eternally clear. Lemonade in and of itself is delicious but it can always be made better with a special touch, like raspberries perhaps. I kinda see that in my life over the past 17 years, I was content with the "lemonade" life I had but I believe the Lord has a special touch that will one day make our lives so much sweeter. Blessings really can be found in everything, yes even adversity, maybe in adversity more than anything else, for that is where we find ourselves and what we are made of, and even more importantly that is where we truely find the Lord and what He is made of .