{January - Bang! Bang!}

"Time is the school in which we learn, time is the fire in which we burn ".

                                                                                                               Delmore Schwartz

I always love the fresh beginnings of a new year and the chance to write a new chapter in the story of my life.

This year has definately started off with a BANG - not all bad, but enough upset to make me think that maybe we should have skipped the "13" part and just went to 14.   I am not really that superstitious but you will catch me knocking on wood from time to time,  and not tempting fate if I can help it.

We have personally started off the year with a letter from the IRS on January 3rd claiming that we owe them $2,000 - ugh!.   New Health Insurance cards that the pharmacy claims expired in 2005...What???, and a car that broke down a few days ago needing a new clutch and transmission - then the day we got it back from the shop Taylor slid into a curb and more damage so it is back in the shop.   Also, Kurke had 2 work trips right off the bat - 2 weeks out of town.

Kurke had to re-do our taxes and we did not owe $2,000 thank goodness.  The health insurance cards can be redone, the car has been fixed, and is being fixed again - although that was not a fun price tag, and Kurke is home.  Happy New Year.

I will not complain, at all, however, because there has already been so much death.  A friend in our ward lost her SIL in a freak sledding accident, 2 people that used to be in our ward passed away, and a dear blog friend lost her very young husband unexpectedly.  My heart is sad for all that loss so soon in this new year.

Maybe we should have skipped the "13".  I don't know.

There is good though and that is what I hope to focus on the rest of this year.  Knock on wood!

Here are some positive things that have happened so far in January:

1.  Trent got braces - Our last one in braces - yahooo!!!  Have you ever met a kid that thinks braces are "Sexy"?  Well you have now.  He told the orthodontist that he was excited to get braces because the "ladies will think he is sexy".  Where did I get this nut?  He cracks me up.

Of course, his mouth hurt for several days after getting the braces so even though it was 2 degrees outside all he wanted were smoothies.

 2.  Some may not agree with me on this but  SNOWWWWW!!!  We had the warmest winter on record last year with nearly no snow and it stunk.  This year we have had snow and it is sticking around because we have also had coooooollld temps.   In fact, we have been in the single digits every morning and the teens during the day for weeks now.  I have to admit I love it - probably because I am spoiled and have a garage to park my cars in, lots of hot chocolate (wink), and many craft and sewing projects I am finally finding time for!

Snow around my house and where I commute.

 I can watch for hours when it snows super hard like this with really big snowflakes.  LOVE

 There are still some red berries on the back bushes.

 

We had a snow day and Trent and (my "other" son) Isaac had a blast.

 I know they are almost to the age where they are done with this kind of snow play so I am savoring this year!

 Cracks us all up when Zoe runs through the snow as fast as she can.

Trent chases her and makes her even more wild.

 Then she ends up with Doggie Snowballs!

I spy a snowman and a little buddy snowman.

Those snowmen have been standing in the yard for almost 2 weeks now.  Ha Ha

Snowmen love temps below freezing for weeks on end!!

I enjoyed it all from behind my sewing machine looking out my big picture window.

3. New Beginnings - Boy this came up fast on January 9th so we were thinking about it and working on it during Christmas - Gahhhhhhhh!  It turned out super nice though.

This is the invitation I created.  It includes the theme for this year which I love:

"Stand ye in Holy Places and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come;  for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord".

D&C 87:8

 Each YW received her favorite Temple to put in her room.

 Beautiful voices!

Top r:  Urs our fearless leader doing her musical thing, Middle r: Sister O gave a beautiful talk, Bottom Middle: Welcoming the New Beehives.
I didn't get a good picture of it.  But after Sis. O talked the girls each came up and took a balloon and released it into the air which signified giving up bad habits and unworthy things that will keep them from Standing in Holy Places.  They drifted off into the air leaving the girls free to pursue Good Things in their lives.

Not everyone but alot of us!  :-D

Snowmen at night.