Water party with DeVroom's (my 2nd family)

On Thursday I had a water party as a goodbye type party. I wanted to leave the family with some good memories. After kidnapping Chase and getting everything we needed to have the party. Chase, Ellie, Blake, and I started filling up water balloons! Here are some pictures from the day! It was so much fun and I am so grateful that I did it!


Chase, Ellie, and Blake helpng me fill the balloons!

Let the fight begin...Run, Chase, Run!

Colton thought it would be fun to help Chase....


Who do you think got more wet!


I love Blake!!!!



Rolling down the hill with some of the boys!


Drying off....

Gratitude for simple things

The last few months have been a roller coaster to say the least, but yesterday as I was getting gas I stopped for a second to realize the simple ways in which I have been blessed the last few weeks especially, but also throughout my life.

At the top of this list would have to be the DeVroom Family all 30 of them (if I miss counted sorry). They have been there for me no matter what happens and have taken me in to be part of there family. I'm especially grateful for Marney and Steve for giving me a place to stay for a month after I had to move out of my place, until my summer job ends and I go back to Twin.

Next would be my family starting with my brother in law Joe for coming down to move me back to Twin with only a 24 hour notice. I don't think that I can ever express to him how much I love him and appreciate him for all the things that he does for me. Katelyn couldn't have found anyone more perfect for her. My parents are the best. If it wasn't for them I would be homeless and jobless. Thank you both so much for letting me stay with you and start a business again in your home until I can get back up on my feet. Katelyn you are my best friend and I know I can count on you no matter what, your the best! Jeremy and family. Thank you for showing me the simple joys that children bring into my life. Mia, Tyson, and Alacyn I love you so much and couldn't ask for better nieces and nephew.

Good friends. Through out my life friends have come and gone but those few who have stood by my side and been there for me no matter what I have gone through have helped me see so many things, and I admire so much. Thank you!

Tithing. Since loosing my job money coming in has been a big thing, and each month as I plan out my budget there is barely enough money to get me through the month but as the end of the month comes there has been a little bit more than I needed, or the little places that I have been able to save money. If its .60 cents at the gas station or a bill isn't as much as I was planning. I have been able to meet all of the financial obligations that I have, and I am truly grateful to be able to say that, especially when I wasn't sure if it would happen.

There are many more simple things in my life that I am very grateful for,but these right now are the ones that each day I remember and thank Heavenly Father for in my life.

moving

I have about decided that my life's mission is to see how many times I can move in one year....

With no luck being able to find a full-time job in Bountiful after searching for 2 and a half months I started to look into opening a preschool. With no money and not knowing very many people in Bountiful this task was a little hard. After talking with my sister one day I realized that this task could be completed if I was in Idaho. So after many hours of contemplating this decision, and going to the temple I am now moving back to Twin Falls and will be opening up a preschool. To start out with, and until I can get some money saved up it will be at my parents home. I am so excited and can't wait. I have always wanted to have a preschool, and to actually have it come true is still a little hard to believe. I owe a a lot to my parents for allowing me to start it in their home, I couldn't do it without them. So if you're in Twin or know anyone who is that has children ages 3-5 let them know.

lessons learned....

It's now been almost 2 months since I lost my job with KinderCare. Over the last 2 months I have learned a lot though...
For starters I learned that I have the most amazing family ever. I love each one of the more than anything..
2nd I learned that I get bored very easy! I have watched more movies and spent more time on the computer than one should...and everything that I could do and now have time to do I don't want to...
3rd taking trips with my sister is so much fun and something that I wish I could do more of..she makes them so much fun with her random screams! Very few people have come to truly appreciate these! I loved them.
4th I love going to the temple and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to go!
5th in the processes of moving I realized how much stuff one person can have...really where does it all come from and go! I don't get it...when I look at my house it really doesn't look like that much but when boxed up HOLY COW!!!
6th I have the worlds cutest nieces and nephew! I loved being able to spend some time with them, and love even more being able to talk with them on the phone now! I don't understand very much that Tyson says (hes 2 1/2) but I love trying to figure it out. Mia is fun to talk to also...but she doesn't talk long if she's at Grandma's and the TV is on...she has to watch her shows!
7th I love sleep! That is one thing I can definitely say I have enough of.
8th I need to find a job!!! I have loved having this time off, but I am more than ready to get back to working!

Time Flies

Wow...I didn't realize it had been so long since I last blogged. I guess working full-time, going to school pretty much full-time, and then trying to find time to have a social life has taken over any life that I might have outside of that. So here is a quick update on me...I am in fact still alive. I know, some days just barely but in 3 weeks I will be done with school and hoping that I am then able to find time to do more with my friends. Ok back to the update....lets see what has happened........thinking....thinking...thinking...the only thing I can think of which could be why I haven't written anything is the newest addition to the Brown family being born. My sister-in-law Cindy gave birth to Alacyn Taylor Brown on Feb. 9, 2010. She is the most precious baby ever. I was able to go home that weekend after she was born for many different reasons, one being her birth, Valentines Day, and my mom's birthday. Since Jeremy and Cindy were living with my parents then I got to see lots of her and loved her more than ever. Tyson is a very protective of his little sister and doesn't let too many people hold her. I loved being home and spending time with my family. Mia was such a big help and wanted to do what ever she could as long as it was with me. Since I had homework she decided to help so I wrote down everything that I needed to get done and she then would cross it off as it was done and if I stopped doing it would promptly tell me to get back to work because she wanted to play the Wii with me. We never got around to playing it but I promised her the next time I came home I would.

The next time happened to come a day earlier than originally planned due to the death of a friends grandma who was also one of the ladies my dad home taught. It was a great break from work. Before this unexpected day off I had planned to take the Monday after off. So during this time off I went to a funeral, helped my brother move, baby sat my nieces and nephews, attended a friends mission homecoming, attended my nieces blessing (the real reason I came home) hung out with every member of my family, and got cremated in wii bowling by a 6 year old. It was a FANTASTIC weekend, and if I could afford to take more time off of work I would do it more.

Tyson....too cute I know

Mia wasn't around when I was taking pictures so I don't have any updated ones of her. I think that is about all that has gone on. Life is busy but so much fun. I am continually grateful for everything that I have. This semester I have learned so much about me, and my purpose in life. I wasn't looking forward to some of the classes that I had to take, but as it comes to a close I am really sad for them to be ending. They have changed not only my life but the lives of many of my family members. I know that I took them at a time that would not only benefit me but help me to be able to help out so many others.

2010 so far...

2010 has started out to be a very trying so far. In just 3 weeks my emotions and life has been from one extreme to the other, but through all of this I have had a deeper appreciation for the gospel in my life and the knowledge that I have through it. Let me explain why.

I am going back to school right now online along with working full time. As a result I don't have very much "free time," but I have some amazing friends who this last week reminded me that I need to still get out and have fun, and last Wed. grabbed my homework and went to Sandy and had a homework party. While there midst the very little homework that I actually got done I had a lot of inspiration of a few different things that I knew I needed to do to help me become the best person that I can be. I was hesitant to go out because of all the work I had to do but I was so grateful as I drove back to Bountiful for the simple things in life and those that are brought into my life right now.

Work right now has also been VERY stressful. I haven't felt like I am doing a very good job as a teacher. The children have been having problems in class and I have taken them on very personally. After many nights of crying and talking with my mom things are slowly turning around and hopefully they continue to move upward.

Oh, and my mom ended up in the hospital with an infection in her foot. I knew she would be fine, but just the thought of my mom being in the hospital and me not being there to help at all I had a very hard time with it. I had to continually remind myself that there was nothing I could do and she was going to be OK. She is now home but they still don't know what is wrong with it and how it got to be infected.

These are just a few of the reasons why I hope and pray that the year turns out a lot better than it has started. I truly am grateful for everything I have in my life and for the gospel I don't know where I would be without it.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

I decided that this year I was going to put my Christmas letter on here instead of sending it out. This way it could be shared with a lot more people than before. Sometimes technology is a great thing, other times I am not so sure.....

It's hard to believe that this year is almost over. I have been so blessed and grateful for so much this year. At the beginning of the year as I was starting the search for a new job. I didn't know where it was going to take me or if I was going to be able to do it, but slowly things started to fall into place and in a matter of weeks everything was set into motion and I had a new job in NSL with good pay and benefits, a place to live with 3 roommates, and I was so excited.

As June came and it was time for me to move to Bountiful I felt on top of the world. Little did I know that the next 3 months would be the most rewarding, frustrating, and challenging, but I wouldn't change any of it. I don't even think I could put into words all of the things I have learned since starting at KinderCare. Its been the best job at times, and at others one that really makes me take a look at what I really want in life. A search that is never ending.

My sister got married the weekend before school started in my parents backyard. Its hard to believe that my little sister is married. It was a very fun weekend. I made her wedding cake with the help of my mom cause I started to freak out.

The next week I started teaching Kindergarten and going to school online in pursuit of my BA from BYU-Idaho. Its been a learning experience and I love the 13 kindergartners that I teach and 13 school age children that come after school. They each have taught me so much.

Besides teaching for fun this year I was able to go with my sister and bro-in-law to Lagoon, BYU's homecoming game, and OK so I guess that's all I did. Well beside my trips home, and all the fun times I have been able to have with my family. Especially my sister and Joe. I love those two so much.

I hope that everything is going great with all of you and that everyone has a great holiday season, and carry it through the new year!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Sarah