My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, From my heavenly home above,
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, As my Father said to do,
For I can't count the blessings or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away the tear,
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I bought this at a craft show right after we lost our little Cameron and I just bawl every time I read it. I pulled this out of our holiday bucket and although it's not his first Christmas in Heaven, I know there are many out there who have lost loved ones this year.

To the Hansen Family, I know you probably don't know me very well,and you may never read this, but I frequent your blogs and you have brought me to tears with your expression of love and gratitude for your dad. You have such strength and tremendous testimonies of our Heavenly Father's plan. I can't imagine not knowing that plan and never knowing whether we are going to see our loved ones again. Isn't it just so nice to JUST KNOW!!! I love that!

This time of year makes me remember my many blessings, and the people that mean most to me.

- I am grateful Shiloh and I come from such wonderful families. We have been blessed to come from families that embrace the gospel and they have taught us very well.

- I am grateful for my home. It may be small, but it is my home and I love it.

- I am grateful for my 4 wheel drive.

- I am grateful for my calling in the church, first counselor in the Primary. I love those kids.

- I am grateful for such wonderful friends who let me vent to them as often as it is needed. ( Which really is not that often, and I am grateful for that too!!!)

- And last of all, I am grateful for my Husband and my son and my two girls.
Shiloh is constantly a light in my world. He is so helpful and kind and easy going. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I am so EXTREMELY grateful that he holds the priesthood. We were able to bless Nevaeh last week and is was such a powerful blessing and I know that Nevaeh and Hannah will receive those blessings and they will be tremendous help to them in this world.
I love that even though I don't get to raise my boy here on this earth...I WILL!!! And that day will be simply amazing. He has a job to do and even if it is to keep me on the right path, he is doing a great job. I know he is waiting for us and that is enough to make me want to be worthy to hold him and raise him.
I love my two girls with all of my heart. They are so much fun and full of life. Hannah is extremely talented and can make us laugh and say " Did she really just say that", and she does on a daily basis. She is so brilliant and beautiful.
Nevaeh is growing up so fast and I am very grateful for her good health. I worried about that my whole pregnancy and I can see that I didn't need to worry about it so much...she is perfect. We are starting to see her personality shining through and I just can't wait to see what she blossoms in to. But for now, I love the baby stage and I am embracing every second of it.
And as for me, I am grateful that I am who I am, and that I don't feel the need to pretend I am someone else. I love my life and the person that I have become. That doesn't mean I am anywhere near perfect, but I am trying and I think that is all our Father asks of us. I love that I am healthy and happy. I have a testimony that is continually tried and strengthened. I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior love me so much and I know that my family loves me and that is all I need, that is enough! I love my life and I love my cute family, what more could a girl possibly ask for!

My Girls

Just wanted to share some cute pictures of my girls! There are some from Halloween...Hannah was Mermaid and Nevaeh was a pea pod, pretty cute if you ask me. The others are from our Halloween photo shoot in our house...I made the girls matching tutus, I think they turned out pretty good. And the last ones are just of a beautiful fall day with daddy mowing the lawn. I love fall. I don't want winter to come for a while.

Just an update on my girls-

Hannah - As usual she is extremely stubborn and can drives Shiloh and me crazy, and succeeds at doing so most every day. On the other hand she is so stinkin smart and she knows it. She gets more beautiful everyday. She likes to tell me about fashion and if I look good or not. The other day she informed me that I looked goofy without makeup and she thought I needed to get it on quickly...she really doesn't like the makeup free mom. That's okay, neither do I. We love this little girl but she continues to push our buttons daily, but we sure do love her.

Nevaeh - This girl is getting fun. She is starting to coo and smile. I love it!!! She is getting really chubby and is definitely well fed. She wakes up about every 2-3 hours and I don't really sleep much these days but amazingly, I stay awake during the day.

We are loving life right now, it isn't what we had planned but we can't complain, after all, we have been blessed with wonderful families and two beauties. I also have to say that I have a great husband. He is working hard these days trying to provide for our family and I am so grateful that he allows me to stay at home with the girls. LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Come check out our new blog. We have decided to start a little craft blog. Like everything else, we are starting out small and really hope to see it grow and be a success. Visit us at sassyfrassdesigns.blogspot.com ENJOY!

Just another cute picture!

Introducing.....Nevaeh Jo Armstrong

This slideshow design generated with Smilebox

So Cute!!

I watched this today and it made me smile and cry and feel about every emotion you can think of! It is so cute and makes you really appreciate those men and women who are willing to leave their families to serve us and our country!

Temple and Family Pictures

Well, I have been wanting a temple picture in my house ever since I have been married and so far I have yet to get one. I found this website http://poppyseedprojects.com/Temples.html, and they do temple pictures for $47.00. They are 26 X 32 plus a 4 inch black frame. You can also do a family picture. They are really really cute. I first saw these at my cousin-in-law's bridal shower and ever since then I have wanted one. The only problem is that we have to have at lease 10 people or ten pictures secured in order for them to be able to do a class. If you are interested just let me know. I am thinking of doing it the end of August of the beginning of September. Here are just a few examples of the Temple and Family Pictures


Once again, just let me know if you are interested or need more information. I think it would be really fun!

SUNRISE, SUNSETS & SEASONS

This was my view this morning!

The last couple of days I have forced myself out of bed at 6:00 to go walking before work. And I have found myself so appreciative for the sunrise. I have always been a huge fan of the sunset, and come to find out, I was just always to lazy to really realize just how beautiful the sunrise can be. I thought I would share a little inspirational thought for the day, and this talk is just the way to do it. It is by Isabelle L.H. Cluff entitled Sunrise, Sunsets and Seasons

-As a young widowed mother, I made a decision that has blessed our family with light.

As a newly widowed, 22-year-old mother of two daughters, both under the age of three, I had many choices awaiting my attention. Looking back 40 years later, I am particularly grateful for one decision I made early on.

Almost immediately after the death of my eternal companion, it became evident that mornings, when most husbands leave for work, and evenings, when they usually return home to family, were vulnerable times. Frequently as presunset shadows lengthened, my little daughters instinctively stopped their play and innocently asked, “When is Daddy coming home?” escalating the longing in my own heart.

Instead of struggling to fight off sadness and loneliness in the house each morning, I decided to step outside to greet Heavenly Father in the sunrise, partaking of the beauty only He, the Source of all light, could offer. The mellow hues of refracted sunlight witnessed of His love, and deep swelling gratitude began to fill my aching soul, sweeping away the darkness and securing a wholesome perspective for the day. When the little ones awakened later, happiness born of gratitude for Heavenly Father’s blessings genuinely filled my heart, enabling the three of us to cheerfully set about the duties of the day. The early moments alone with Heavenly Father provided deep solace and fostered renewal of my self-confidence, vital when half of myself had so recently been removed.

Sunset became the children’s favorite time of day. As late afternoon shadows lengthened, they soon knew the routine. We returned toys to their proper place and tidied the house, not for Daddy’s return, but instead to go outdoors and enjoy the sunset while playing in the backyard, talking together on the porch, or simply sharing the resplendent beauty of rapidly changing colors. Hugging and cuddling close on the porch at sunset, our little family circled together, knowing eternal promises are sure.

Years passed and school started; then high school and college followed. Success in each phase was augmented by sunrise solace and sunset circling of the family together on the porch. Discussions deepened into more mature topics, and decisions for course direction were reached in council with Heavenly Father at sunset. Through the years we witnessed together that He begins and ends each day in beauty, silently setting forth breathtaking loveliness uniquely crafted for that day and beckoning us to be happy in Him.

During these two-score years of watching the sunrise, I’ve become more aware of the sun’s journey across the horizon as fall gives way to winter and spring to summer. In these early, quiet moments with Heavenly Father, I’ve learned that there are also seasons in our lives and that assuredly winter eventually withdraws for spring. While I have attended each premier-performance sunset, He has sent a harvest of happiness into my soul. What could have been a long and lonely widowhood has instead been richly blessed by harvesting the sunrises and sunsets He has given every day. -

Isabelle L.H. Cluff

I love that in the end of the talk she says that she has learned that there are seasons, sunrises, and sunsets in our lives as well. I am finding that to be very true. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving us the sunrise to give us hope and strength for the day. I am grateful for a sunset that assures us that we have indeed actually made it through the day. I am grateful for the trials and struggles that occur throughout my day, because I know that they are what make me stronger and what make the sunrises and sunsets in my life seem so rewarding!

You're Gonna Miss This

CAN YOU RELATE?

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
She keeps apologizin'
He says they don't bother me
I've got 2 babies of my own
One's 36, one's 23
Huh, it's hard to believe

But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this
Yeah, you're gonna miss this

Somedays I wish for nothing more than the day to be over and to be in my comfortable bed. Sometimes I wish away these next few years of little sleep, no money and small houses. Most days I wish a didn't have dishes to do, mounds of laundry to fold, baskets of shirts to iron, bathrooms to clean and toys to be picked up. I wish I didn't have so spend a fortune on gas, groceries and other wonderful necessities. Sometimes I want to worry about no one else but myself....but this week I found myself feeling grateful for all these terribly wonderful things. I realized that these mean that :

- I have child who keep me going (one who reminds me that she is there by her small but very clear kicks and jabs to the stomach)
- No money gives me time to learn and to grow with my wonderful husband.
- Having a small house doesn't allow us to be very far away from each other and by doing so gives us the opportunity to become closer to each other.
- Dishes mean we have food on our plates.
- Laundry means we have clothes on our back.
- Shirts to iron means that I have a husband who likes to dress very well and who has someplace to go every week that allows him to dress in his Sunday best.
- Bathrooms to clean mean that we have a place to prepare for our day and keep our bodies clean.
- Toys to be picked up...well, as often as I do this...I realized this means that I have a daughter who has quite the imagination and makes our house a home by these small (sometimes very large) messes.
- I will gladly spend a fortune on gas because we have been blessed with a reliable vehicle that has treated us very well.
- And last but not least, I am grateful I have others to worry about because it would be very boring if I just had to worry about myself.

I get so caught up sometimes on the negatives that I forget that most of the time..those negatives are only our positives in disguise. We are blessed beyond belief and I wish I could have the ability to see past our trials and see the blessings that are hiding right behind them. I love the many messes in my house and the people who help make them. They are my world and I can't imagine life without them.

A couple of nights ago I was laying with Hannah in bed and I was tickling her back and telling her stories and talking about her baby sister and all of the sudden I felt our baby girl squirm and I am pretty sure she was just getting comfortable for the night. I couldn't help but feel completely overwhelmed by the love that I felt for these two little girls. I can't believe that I am a mother. When Hannah calls me "momma" it just absolutely melts my heart. When our baby girl rolls around in my tummy I just try to imagine loving her more than I already do, and I haven't even met her yet. That is just crazy.

I have come to realize that I don't want time to fly by. I enjoy Hannah being small, and I enjoy our baby girl being safe and snug. I don't even want to think about when they are teenagers. This world scares me and I don't know if I will let them leave the house...EVER!!! I also have to say I have a wonderful husband. I was thinking about him the other day (don't get the wrong idea, I think about him often) and I realized how much fun we have together. He makes me laugh and makes me feel beautiful. He is everything I could have asked for and more. As excited as I am for eternity together...I am currently enjoying the present and loving our life right now. As scary as it to think about money and Shiloh's business, I know I am forgetting to realize how great the simplicity of our life really is.

Well, as you can see, I had a lot to say today but my mind and heart are so full and I have been feeling so so SO blessed lately. So to my husband, two beautiful girls, and our Angel....Thankyou for making life worth living and making me want to enjoy every second of it with you because as the Lyrics say... I'M GONNA MISS THIS! I LOVE YOU!

Just For Fun

Shiloh and I needed a weekend away from Pocatello and so we decided to go spend it in Salt Lake. It was my birthday weekend and so we spent the whole time looking for clothes for me...not just any clothes though...maternity clothes. Although I didn't really succeed, I did find a cute pair of pants and a swimsuit. We went to the malls and out to eat a couple of times. The last day we were there (sunday) we decided to go to Temple Square and walk around. It had been raining the whole weekend so when Sunday ended up being sunny I was so excited. We got lots of good pictures of the flowers and of our cute girl. I know it may not seem like much but we really don't go many places ALONE without friends or family so it was a ton of fun to go with just the three of us. There are some pictures of our trip on this slideshow...and also some of just Hannah and I being weird. That seems to happen a lot. Next post....BABY PICTURES and update.

Slideshow design made with Smilebox

Finally Updating

I am actually updating my blog...I didn't think this would happen ever again. I have been such a horrible blogger. Well, since I am so far behind, I wanted to start out with the latest big adventure of the Armstrong household...our Cancun Trip. It was so much fun and every time I look at those pictures, it makes me want to go back. I was about 11 weeks pregnant on this trip and morning sickness and bloating was getting the best of me, but I made it and it was so much fun. Hannah had such a good time. She LOVED the water and talked about the pool and the ocean for months afterward. I am glad she is old enough to enjoy these vacations and remember them too. Shiloh and I enjoyed being away from home and the stress of life. It was a very much needed vacation. Since there were so many pictures to choose from, I decided to just do a slideshow because I could only narrow it down to 100 pictures from the 500 we took. I hope you enjoy.

Next pictures to come are of our more recent small trips and just some fun things. We also have some fun pictures of our growing little baby but they will be in the
next post.

Digital slideshow made with Smilebox

Our Deepest Fear

Shiloh and I watched Coach Carter about a month ago and I forgot how much I love that movie. During the movie Coach Carter keeps asking one of his players what his deepest fear is and in the very end he finally tells him. (This isn't the exact same as what they say in he movie, this is the real quote.)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other
people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

^^ Marianne Williamson

I love this because it explains what my life feels like sometimes. We have had a fair share of trials this past year with jobs and just life in general. It is hard being at a stand still when school is over and you expect life to all the sudden begin but it doesn't work out quite like you had hoped. We had also been trying for a baby for a little over a year and I know that is nothing to some couples but we didn't have a hard time getting pregnant with our first two so I didn't expect any complications with getting pregnant again. It just through us for a loop a little bit. Anyways, lately we have been realizing the blessings of everything that has happened, or better yet, everything that has not happened. We have seen that things are working out in the right time and the right place. As much as I would have loved Shiloh to have found a job right after he graduated, he is finally starting his own little business up, and that is exciting and scary at the same time. But had he gotten a job he wouldn't have entertained this idea and we both feel really really good about it so I think it was just another blessing in disguise. Also after over a year we just got pregnant at the perfect time. Heavenly Father knows what he is doing, I just forget to have faith in his plan sometimes and I forget to have faith in myself. You know, the funny thing is, when we got pregnant I couldn't help but wonder why I got pregnant when so many deserving and special women haven't been able to. Why was I the one, surely I didn't deserve this as much as they did. This is the reason I love the quote so much. We do deserve this, Heavenly Father knows the desires of my heart and knows what is best for us. I am curious to see how this next year goes with a new baby and a new company. Needless to say, we have been blessed and we are very grateful.

A Week in Paradise

Well we had a BLAST last week in Cancun. The weather was beautiful and it couldn't have been more perfect. We were really sad to have to come home but I am just glad we had a week to relax. Hannah REALLY loved the beach and the pools. She keeps asking us is we can go back there. I wish we could go back too. It is really nice to be back in the states for a few reasons, free and clean (cleaner) bathrooms, good water, and a nice bed. Anyways, we had so much fun and can't wait to go back. Hopefully next year.

In other news...maybe you noticed my newest addition to the blog...we are so excited and happy to say that we are expecting baby #3. It has been a long year and we are ready for this new little baby to join our family. Hannah is finally getting excited and is starting to understand a little better. She actually went around Mexico telling people that her mommy has a baby in her tummy. I thought it was pretty cute. We just pray that everything goes well. We had a ultrasound done two weeks ago and our little was very active already and everything looked really good. I was so nervous that we wouldn't see anything in there but for all the sickness that I have had, there better be a baby in there... and there was. Well anyways, we are excited and very ready for this new adventure. Life is good!!!!

By the way...picture of our trip will be coming soon.

Saturday Fun!

Whats better than making a fort with a two year old on Saturday morning. It was such a beautiful morning and really warm so we decided we needed to be outside. Hannah had a really fun time, we actually put the laptop out there so she could watch her movies and she stayed out there for a good two hours. She loved it, and I really loved it too until I became the slave instead of the play mate. I guess that is what moms are for right.

I may complain about where I live,but just look at the view I get everyday. The mountains look so pretty lately, and this little girl doesn't look to bad herself.

Blowing her mommy kisses



The finished product. It amazes me that such a simple tent can make her day.

The Princess relaxing in her castle.

This is Hannah's new smile...really cheesy but way too cute! I love this girl.

Trying to do the cheesy Hannah smile


What a great day so far.

Winter

Well, I am officially REALLY bad at blogging. I get so far behind I don't even want to try to catch up, so that results in my serious lack of blogging. I haven't posted anything about Christmas or anything since, so I though I would at least post some pictures. We had a great Christmas, definitely a snow filled Christmas break. We went up to Island Park for a week and it was really really relaxing. I love that Hannah is old enough to enjoy the snow and snowmobiles. She looked cute in all her snow clothes and with her goggles and helmet on.

Just a little update, since the middle of December I started working again part time at the same Law firm I worked at before Hannah was born, only this time I am a receptionist. I really got lucky, the job offer came right when we needed it. It was definitely a blessing. It took some getting used to but I work with really great people and I actually enjoy it quite a bit. Shiloh is starting up a new business hopefully this week. He is trying to tie up some loose ends and he should be up and running this week...HOPEFULLY. He is going to be selling a software the provides a way for businesses to get organized and keep track of everything that is happening in the company. I can't really explain it like Shiloh can. He is really excited about it. He has a company name and everything...Armstrong Corporate Compliance Systems, LLC. Cool huh! We are excited and nervous to see how things will work out, but I hope that they do well and knowing Shiloh...they will. We have been blessed tremendously this past month and it is crazy to take a step back and see how much the Lord has blessed us. Hannah is getting big and cute but she is a handful. She loves to be a big girl and sometimes it drives me nuts but I love her and she is the sweetest, most lovable little girl. Anyways, enough babbling...here are some pictures of the last few months. I needed to get these done because in less than two weeks we are going to Cancun, Mexico and I really want to be able to come back and blog strictly about that. I AM SOOOOO EXCITED. Well...Enjoy!

Create a photo slideshow

Our Deepest Fear

Shiloh and I watched Coach Carter about a month ago and I forgot how much I love that movie. During the movie Coach Carter keeps asking one of his players what his deepest fear is and in the very end he finally tells him. (This isn't the exact same as what they say in he movie, this is the real quote.)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other
people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

^^ Marianne Williamson

I love this because it explains what my life feels like sometimes. We have had a fair share of trials this past year with jobs and just life in general. It is hard being at a stand still when school is over and you expect life to all the sudden begin but it doesn't work out quite like you had hoped. We had also been trying for a baby for a little over a year and I know that is nothing to some couples but we didn't have a hard time getting pregnant with our first two so I didn't expect any complications with getting pregnant again. It just through us for a loop a little bit. Anyways, lately we have been realizing the blessings of everything that has happened, or better yet, everything that has not happened. We have seen that things are working out in the right time and the right place. As much as I would have loved Shiloh to have found a job right after he graduated, he is finally starting his own little business up, and that is exciting and scary at the same time. But had he gotten a job he wouldn't have entertained this idea and we both feel really really good about it so I think it was just another blessing in disguise. Also after over a year we just got pregnant at the perfect time. Heavenly Father knows what he is doing, I just forget to have faith in his plan sometimes and I forget to have faith in myself. You know, the funny thing is, when we got pregnant I couldn't help but wonder why I got pregnant when so many deserving and special women haven't been able to. Why was I the one, surely I didn't deserve this as much as they did. This is the reason I love the quote so much. We do deserve this, Heavenly Father knows the desires of my heart and knows what is best for us. I am curious to see how this next year goes with a new baby and a new company. Needless to say, we have been blessed and we are very grateful.

Going Private!

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a great New Years. We sure did! Unfortunately I am forced to go private, I would love to continue to be "blog buddies" with everyone so please please PLEASE leave me your email addresses so I can add you to my list. Thank you so much.