Ward Choir

When we moved into our home, I decided it was time to start attending ward choir again. I was a dedicated attendee in my teenage years (when Brandon was the choir pianist), but having kids put my love of choir on hold for a while.

Then, when our Bishop wisely called Brother Martin to be the choir director, I resolved to start attending again. In the two years since he has been the director, we have sung so many wonderful songs. I love the peaceful feeling that comes into my heart when I attend ward choir.

This past Sunday we preformed this lovely rendition of A Child's Prayer. We had only been practicing it for a few weeks, yet the performance turned out perfect (although we had our doubts just 30 minutes before Sacrament meeting).

Part of the words in this song say:

He is there
He is listening
His love surrounds you

I haven't been able to get these words out of my head. They are such a tender reminder to me that God and Jesus Christ love me. At times, I feel like nobody loves me (ridiculous, I know) and these words confirm to my soul that I am loved.

A week or so ago my Mother-in-law shared this quote by President Benson with me. He said;

“Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us".

I think we will feel the same way when we meet Christ again. I am anxious for that day.

V day at our house

At the beginning of February I received a coupon in the mail for JCPenny. I decided we should use it to buy Brandon's v-day present. That way we could get something a little more expensive, and it would still be within our budget for the holiday ($25 this year). So a week or so ago we went and managed to find him some measuring cups. He has wanted the kind that you can see the measurement just by looking straight down into the cup. Anyway, it's a bit confusing, but he was so excited to get them. I'm excited to have him start using them.

We hand delivered his present to him at work the morning of Valentine's day. He had no idea we were coming, so it was quite a surprise. It was fun to spend some time with him at work. It was also nice to visit his wonderful co-workers and wish them a wonderful day too.

The day before I and my good friend Alicia, spent the morning together making homemade snickers for our husbands. We had so much fun while our three kiddos played happily together. We only had one major disaster, and it didn't take too long for the smoke to clear out of the kitchen. We decided that we make a great team in the kitchen.

Every year for V-day dinner Brandon wants to get KFC chicken. We did it once when Peter was a baby, but we haven't done it since (it makes me feel like a slacker if I don't have a fancy homemade meal on this night). Well, this year I conceded and we bought a bunch of KFC food and came home and ate it. Brandon loved the chicken, Peter loved to mashed potatoes, I loved the biscuits, and Luke loved it all. I think this meal will be our annual tradition from now on.

Being the sweetie that he is, Brandon bought me a box of chocolates and this very soft teddy bear. This is Mr. Teddy #3. He gave me Teddy #1 on the night we were engaged and Teddy #2 when the first one got nasty and old. Anyway, both the boys and I love him. I was especially greatful that Brandon was able to stay within budget for my presents this year. We (I) am really trying hard to cut back on frivolous expenditures this year.

This last picture is just a funny one that happens because I have a house full of boys. Luke did this and it amazes me that he was even able to reach this shelf in the fridge. What a silly boy.

Going on a date

Brandon and I got to go on a "real" double date today with our favorite people to hang out with. We went bowling at BYU, ate lunch at Chick-fil-A, and finished of the date with icecream at Macey's. We had a glorious time, and our kids had a delightful time at their friend Connor's house. Thank you Steve and Vashti for the amazing day. Thank you Alicia for watching our picky eater, Luke, and video game fanatic, Peter.

Doing homeschool

Some of you may know that I'm planning on homeschooling my kiddos. In order to start Peter preparing for kindergarten, I bought a cheap workbook from a local store and we've been doing sheets out of it every day. Today was a delightful day with him. He loves to do "homeschool" and today he even wanted to do two pages.

Every day when he decides he is ready, we go and get the book and cozy up on my bed. Then he sorts through the pages and decides which one he wants to do. Since I'm not worried about structure at this point, I let him pick whatever he wants. Today he picked this one. I proceeded to tell him what the instructions wanted us to do. However, I could see that it was beyond his level. So, I told him that we would work together to find out what number was and then we would have him underline it. After that, we would copy the letters exactly as they were written. He loved doing it!

If it was a letter he was unfamiliar with he would ask me to draw dots that he could trace over. After doing that for a while he decided that he wanted to figure out how to draw the letter v. As you can see, he did quite a bit of practicing. It was thrilling as a mother to see him so excited about writing. I loved it so much. While he was at it, he also learned how to draw the letter A, h, and n. I hope that he will continue to enjoy it. It's days like today that make me so thankful I was homeschooled. I'm also getting so excited to homeschool Peter. I know we are going to have so much fun.

A lot of fun with Burlap

Back in October I bought a few yards of burlap from the fabric store to make a bag for onions. Well, the other day I decided to use it to make some fun V-Day decorations. I've had a blast making these things and I hope they will be sturdy enough to use for a few years, at least.

To those I admire most

My cousin posted this thought earlier this week on Facebook:  

Sometimes the people we respect the most, turn out to be the people that have gone through the hottest fires.

I've been thinking a lot about this quote and I've come to the realization that Heavenly Father loves me a whole lot since he has allowed me to admire so many amazing people. The top of my list starts with Christ and then I could fill pages and pages of the people whom I admire. It just reminds me that God knows who I can best learn from, and he guides me to become a part of life when I need them the most.

So, if you are reading this post, know that you are included on that list because you are on my "hero" list. I salute you for all the fires you've had to endure and for the example you are to me.

Luke turns 3

This past week Luke turned three and we were all so thrilled. Brandon was able to take the day off work (I'm so thankful he has a job where he can do that), and we all have a marvelous day. Luke opened his presents first thing in the morning and he was thrilled with all of them. I was thankful because we really struggled with what to get him for his birthday this year.

Later that night Grandpa and Grandma Thomas came over to give him their presents and all he wanted to do was show Grandpa how awesome a Superman he was. This is a picture of him trying to show Grandpa what Superman does.

In my journal I wrote down some of his favorite things:

Breakfast every morning is 2 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwitches (with the crust cut off)
His favorite dinner is Pizza or Chicken Tetrazzini
Loves piggy back rides
Learning how to use sizzors
Gettering better at coloring
Loves to play with kids - especially Connor and Blake
Loves to ride his tigger airplane
Enjoys super heros
Talks, talks, talks, all the time
Getting better at the potty every day
Eats pepporoni as a snack
Double dips when eating peanut butter out of the jar
Loves to drink water and often wakes in the middle of the night wanting more
Loves to wrestle Peter
Still sleeps with Mickey Mouse blankie every night
Loves to eat chips
Is obsessed with dinosours and animals
Loves to take a bath
Stopped taking consistent naps in September

I look forward to a fun filled year with this mischievous little kid. I hope that he will gain more dexterity with a crayon and that he'll be better at recognizing his colors. I am also nervous/excited to see how he responds once I start our homeschooling adventures with Peter. I hope he'll be just as excited as Peter to jump in and learn....but in reality I don't know if he will be able to sit that long. He is an energetic little cutie.

It's amazing to remember what a scared and nervous mommy I was the days following his birth. He had to be in the NICU for two days and I was a wreck about it. He has been such a trooper ever since that day and I'm very grateful that we haven't had any more medical problems.

Grandma Brady

Grandpa Brady was so in love with Brandon's sweet Grandma. He loved his Mary with all his heart and when she passed away this past October he was lost without her. I'm so glad that didn't have to wait too long to be reunited. I can only imagine all the enjoyable things they are now doing together.


Mary Matilda Hafen Brady 1921 ~ 2013 Mary Matilda Hafen Brady, 91, beloved mother and wife, passed away Thursday morning, October 17, 2013. She went from the arms of her loving family into the arms of her parents. She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah on December 10, 1921 to Willis Jay and Ruby Larsen Hafen. She was the oldest of three children and the only girl. Her brothers are Bill (Norma) Hafen, Orem, Utah; and David (Carolyn) Hafen, Walla Walla, Washington. She attended Hamilton Elementary School and North Sanpete High where she was loved for her beautiful soprano voice. She also attended Snow College and BYU. She loved plays and operettas until her death and often sang the melodies from days gone by. She married her high school sweetheart, Stanley Jay Brady, on June 4, 1947 in the Manti Temple. She was a homemaker who loved to cook and sew for her family. She was a gentle soul who loved all those she met and associated with. She was an active member of the LDS church and served in many positions. She served as Relief Society President in the Provo 10th Ward and in the Stake Relief Society Presidency in the Provo Utah Stake. She was a visiting teacher for over 60 years. She served an LDS mission with her husband, Stanley Jay, to Sri Lanka and the Hawaiian Islands. She was a Provo Temple ordinance worker for 21 years. She is survived by her loving husband, Stanley Jay Brady, and five children; Kathryn (Richard) Elliott, Corvallis, Oregon; Ruth (Cornell) Porter, West Valley, Utah; Patricia (John) Higley, Mesquite, Nevada; Naomi (David) Thomas, Orem, Utah; and Stan (Kay) Brady, Mt Pleasant, Utah. She had 21 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. Our family wishes to express our gratitude to Freedom Home Health and Hospice and Our House of Provo Assisted Living Center for the loving care and support they provided us these last two months. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Provost LDS Chapel, 715 South Utah Avenue, Provo, Utah (East of Provost Elementary School). Friends may call at the church Saturday from 9-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at approximately 3:00 p.m. in the upper Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Utah.

Saying good bye to a hero

We had the funeral for Brandon's Grandfather a few days ago. It was sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful man. I've never met anyone who loved his family more then Grandpa Brady did. He loved all of us so much and would send us each b-day cards (even my kids got them), anniversary cards, Christmas cards, and even a little holiday cash each year. He was amazing and he will be missed. I will miss his yearly peaches for me to can, I will miss his hugs, I will miss seeing him wave goodbye, I will miss having him call Brandon with his computer problems. I really do think that heaven lucked out when he got called back. I'm honored to have known such a wonderful grandpa.

Stanley Jay Brady

January 19, 2014 12:00 am

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Stanley Jay Brady
1923 2014
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Stanley Jay Brady quietly left this world Wednesday night, January 15, 2014, after suffering complications following surgery. He was surrounded by his family as they sang his favorite hymns and family songs.

He was born in his grandparents farm home in Fairview, Utah on May 21, 1923 to Niels Stanley and Coquella Jones Brady. He was the oldest of six children, followed by Maurine (Keith) Allred, Logan, Utah; Bryant (Gladys) Brady, Orem, Utah; Milton (Oneda) Brady, Springville, Utah; Carolyn (Gerald) Olson, Logan, Utah; and Paul (Vera) Brady, St. Paul, Minnesota. He loved and honored his parents and his greatest desire was to have them be pleased with him.

He attended elementary and junior high school in Fairview and he attended North Sanpete High in Mt. Pleasant. He excelled in academic, athletics, and music. It was there that he met his wife, as they both played leading roles in an operetta. He graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts in 1948 and a Master in Arts in 1951.

Staff Sergeant Stanley Jay was inducted into the Army in 1942. During World War II, he was part of the 101st Airborne Division, Glider Infantry.

Stanley was employed by Provo School district and taught music, history and economics until 1984, when he retired after 35 years.

Stanley loved the LDS Church where he served in many positions: including Patriarch, Counselor in the Stake Presidency, and Bishop of the Provo 10th Ward. He and his wife Mary served missions for the Church in Sri Lanka and in the Hawaiian Islands. He was an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple for 25 years.

Stanley married his sweetheart, Mary Hafen, on June 4, 1947 in the Manti Temple. They were married for 66 years. He selflessly and tenderly cared for her for 14 years after she suffered a stroke and a heart attack. He loved his family and was always an example of integrity. His motto was: Our capacity to work will never be obsolete.

He is survived by his children: Kathryn (Richard) Elliott, Corvallis, Oregon; Ruth (Cornell) Porter, West Valley, Utah; Patricia (John) Higley, Mesquite, Nevada; Naomi (David) Thomas, Orem, Utah and Stan (Kay) Brady, Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He has 21 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his parents, and his sister, Maurine Allred.

The bad and the good

This week I had a little bit of "woe is me" syndrome. Oddly, it just happens that the step we covered tonight in the 12 Step Family Support class was about writing your moral inventory (basically writing in a journal about your past). Anyway, in the midst of my mini melt down, I wrote in my journal about all the things I hate about my life right now. This is the list I made:

I hate being overweight
I hate having car problems
I hate our debt (house, car, student loan)
I hate being in charge of weekly playgroup
I hate not having any clothes
I hate not being able to buy all the crafty stuff I want
I hate having a brother in the mental hospital
I hate having a dead brother
I hate having a sister that isn't able to have kids
I hate that I'm not close to my cousins anymore
I hate that our proch stucco is leaking
I hate that I can't remember living with God
I hate myself for eating fattening food and treats
I hate having a sister who lives so far away
I hate having kids that wake up before 5am
I hate how the kids both such their thumb so much
I hate myself for not keeping my house deep-down clean
I hate worrying about money
I hate being the VTing companion that always pushes to get it done
I hate how noisy my kids are during church
I hate the expectations I set for myself

 So....after I let all my hatred out I felt much better. In fact, this morning I felt so much better about things that I took all these hateful statements and turned them around into thankful statements. Here is that list:

I'm thankful for enough food to eat
I'm thankful for my car
I'm thankful Brandon is done with school
I'm thankful I've made such good friends with the playgroup moms
I still do hate not having any clothes
I'm thankful I'm a crafty person
I'm thankful my brother isn't cold and homeless
I'm thankful Alex will be waiting for me when I die
I'm thankful my sisters loves my kids as much as she would her own
I'm thankful for a happy childhood spent with amazing cousins
I'm thankful for a warm and beautiful home
I'm thankful that one day I will be with God and Jesus Christ
I still hate how yummy treats take control of my self mastery
I'm thankful Lisa and Brent have a beautiful home in Missouri
I'm thankful for kids who can wake up and take care of themselves
I'm thankful for kids who have thumbs
I'm thankful I can keep my house tidy most of the time
I'm thankful I have money to worry about
I'm thankful for the VTing sisters I visit and the companion I do have
I'm thankful my kids can communicate
I'm thankful for the growth that comes because of expectations

It seems whenever I sit and write my feeling out things don't seem as bad as I originally thought. My life is full and happy and I'm thankful for these things and so many others. I'm also thankful for honesty and that I don't feel ashamed to admit the weaknesses I have. I know that with the help of God and Jesus Christ I and (and hopefully will) make my weak things become my strengths.