Fridays for Ryan

I love my little brother Ryan. There are lots of things about Ryan that are amazing. One is that he is a great father. He adores his little girls and he is so cute when he takes them to Disneyland to play. I have always loved how he spends his day off from work playing with his girls.

Another thing that Ryan has always been my example of is truly making other people feel important. For years, when Ryan was in High School I saw him interact with his friends. He always had so many people around him because he knows how to make others feel warm and welcome. He brought out the light in my little sister every time he was around. He is amazing!

For my service to Ryan, I wanted to "play with my kids" better. Especially Cole. Cole LOVES it when you spend time on him, making him feel special. He thrives on being the center of the action, the focus of a conversation. He has really been struggling with "self worth" and happiness this year. So my goal for my gift of service for Ryan was to be a friend to my child like Ryan is with Brooklyn.

I explained my concerns and ideas with Cole's teacher and asked if I could come in to her class on a weekly basis, and help with anything she needed. She was delighted. I go in every Friday morning for an hour. I read to the students, I grade all the homework, and I do interactive activities with the kids. But mostly, I get to help Cole feel special. I try to look out for the students who might need extra love or attention that day also. It has been a really neat experience. I have gotten to know lots of the special kids in Cole's class, and I have been able to help Cole get to feel important.

The other extra effort I really wanted to make on Ryan's behalf was the awesome interactive computer scavenger hunt experience at Disney World. #1 Disney... Totally Ryan! #2 Computer... Totally Ryan!! #3 Spending time making my son feel like he is number 1... Totally Ryan!!! So on our last day at Disney World, I spent 4 hours with just Cole and I playing the Agent P Adventure Game. It was Cole's favorite part of the trip and I must say, it was my favorite part also. What a great experience it was. I totally kept thinking, "Man, Ryan would totally LOVE this! I REALLY wish he was here."

Ryan, you are wonderful and I love you. I want to be like you in so many ways. You have a determination so see things through that is such an example to me. I am really proud of you little brother!

Sorry, my pictures on on my camera that I can't find. I will update it as soon as I find Cole and my cute pictures!

To Mike, Love Charise, A Year Late and A Dollar Short!

Okay, so yes, last year is where I mixed it up and accidentally had Bill do Mitzi instead of Mike. MY BAD!!! I felt terrible! So this year I get to do double duty and serve two of my brothers! (That is a hint for my future post to come!)

Michael, you have been reading to Connor since he was born. I remember calling Mitzi once and asking what you were doing and she said, "He is reading to Connor". I remember thinking, "Ummmm, Connor is 4 days old... What do you mean her is reading to Connor." I remember many more times that year my asking if you were still reading to him and Mitzi telling me, "Of course, Mike reads to him from the Book of Mormon every day." It was such an example to me. Brighton was barely two and we were only reading every once in a while with him! Bill and I decided that we wanted to read to our kids every night like McBride does.

Now that Bill has gone to working at a job that he leaves early in the morning, I have taken over the "morning routine" and as it was nearing the holidays and Mike has been on my mind with my gift of service, I have started reading the scriptures every morning with my kids. The Book of Mormon is always on the McBrides breakfast table, and I know that they read it every day with their kids. We use the "readers" that are geared to kids. It is such a special feeling in the morning when we gather and read together. I love the sweet peace that it brings into our home each morning. I have also been so excited to see my son Cole learning to read big scripture words. Cole really struggles with reading, but with our scripture mornings Cole tries really hard, and does a great job.  

I have taken MANY nights this year to read stories with my kids in bed. It is such a special time. Thank you Mike for teaching me the value of reading with my children.

I just want to bite on their lips!!!

I am in love with my babies... all 18 of them. I remember when Amy first started having babies and people would often ask me if it made me sad that she was younger than me and that I did not have babies yet.... It was the dumbest question ever! I remember the amazing joy of holding each of her babies in my arms and knowing that they were mine, eternally. Families are forever... FAMILIES... FOREVER!!! These precious babies are my family, my nieces and nephews... MINE! MINE! MINE! The family unit is never ending.
(Thank you Auntie Karen Hill for years of cute matching clothes!)

(Thanks Auntie Sue Ward for years of wonderful toys, trinkets and treasures!!!)

As Bill and I have made the decision to move here, the BIGGEST part of our decision was cousins. We craved cousins for our children to play with, sisters to go walking with, Brothers for Billy to work with and enjoy. We miss our West coast family so much. California, Utah, Washington, Nevada... they all seem so far away!

This year, I got to serve Lani. My plan was to do Kids Are Music and incorporate having Houston be a part of it and help him feel confident and important. I thought it would be a fun idea to work with him to catch the true spirit of Kids Are Music. The service, the patriotism, the excitement in serving your community.



He is so wonderful, I can't seem to stop giving him everything he wants!
So I was going to focus on Houston in my service to Lani, but then I was given an opportunity to spend an entire week with her delicious baby girl. It was such a joy and a blessing to be able to snuggle her, hold her, care for her and sleep with her. My little sister Lani was called on to offer a week of service that no one else could possibly do, and there was no way that she could keep her Hadley Bear with her. I felt so blessed to be there and be able to step in to be a one week temporary mommy to our sweet Hadley Addison. Sometimes service doesn't even feel like service, it just feels like fun!

Yes, She is DELICIOUS!!