One word

Last year, my word for the year that I decided to focus on was FORTIFY.... I focused my efforts in everything on fortifying myself, my family, my relationships....

The Lord has truly blessed our family this year... I believe that FORTIFY was the perfect word and so much has been fortified, just like a castle :) We have grown closer together as a family and enjoyed so many wonderful, strengthening times.

We have been so blessed to attend the temple regularly, even though, since July, we have been going to Twin Falls temple. The longer drive deffinately takes more determination and faith that everything will be alright. Before the Boise temple closed, we were promised that, if we made it a goal and a point to attend the temple each month, we would financially be able to attend. There have been some months where we prayed to know what to do. We set the date to go and relied on the Lord to make it possible for us. The Lord truly does hear and answer prayers and allows us to accomplish our righteous goals. By attending the temple, we've been able to fortify our relationship with our Father in Heaven, fortify our relationship with one another, and our family.

I am working on my word for next year.... This one will be just right for 2012

A very merry Christmas

What a sweet sweet Christmas this has been! We had sacrament meeting only for church today. The program was so sweet and simple, the spirit was there. We really enjoyed the service!

Before church today, I told the boys that all I want for Christmas is to have a quiet peaceful Christmas with no fighting and arguing :) YAY!!!! It has happened so far :) The boys have all had such good attitudes and have been so helpful :)

After church, we had the opening of the stockings and gifts :) Before Christmas, Kyler had brought home some gifts for everyone from school. As we were opening the gifts that Kyler had "bought" for everyone, he explained to us how he aquired these sweet gifts. Kyler had earned points during school and saved them up. On a particular friday, they had the "point store" where Kyler had the opportunity to spend his points. He told us that he spent his points on buying these gifts for us instead of buying something for himself! How sweet!!!!! It was so touching to hear Kyler's story of love and to see the boys open these gifts that Kyler had thought to get them. He really put a lot of thought into these gifts as well. He knew just what everyone would want. What a blessing Kyler is! He has truly had the Christmas spirit this year :)

The boys also got scarves from their Aunt Sonia :) Blue and gold Middleton vikings colors :) They totally love them :) Kyler has been wearing it since he opened it :)

This Christmas has been so peaceful and so precious! There has been so much love and goodness! I pray that it continues and that the boys have felt the spirit of this Christmas and will desire to have these same feelings throughout the rest of the year and next year :)

Wedding cake!!!

My newest creation!!!! This cake was made for a family friend's daughter :) I just love this family!!!! Joann Perza's sister Kathleen Frazier asked me to make her daughter's wedding cake :) I had so much fun with this one and enjoyed every minute of making and decorating it :)

All of these cake creations could not and would not be possible if it weren't for my Heavenly Father blessing me and my hands!!! I am so thankful for this talent. Everytime I make a wedding cake, I say a prayer and ask that Heavenly Father's love for the bride and groom shine through the cake. I am His hands, and it truly does take a touch of the Master's hands to create such wonderful, beautiful works of art.

Another blog

I decided that I want to blog about all of the things I'm learning and experiencing with doTERRA essential oils. I have added another blog :) The title of the blog is "Adventures in oil" the website for it is.... www.oilsbygina.blogspot.com I have so much in just one short week to share, I can't imagine how much more i will learn and have to share, so I want to make a special blog just for it :) Happy reading and learning :)

A blessing in the making

The other day I was invited by a friend to attend a class. I had been asking about some essential oils that may be able to help Brandon with his blood condition. She was in the area and doing a class on tuesday evening, therefore invited me to attend and learn more about these oils.

The class was wonderful! I learned a lot about these essential oils and the benefits and blessings of these particular oils. doTerra is the name of the company that manufactures these oils...they are harvested from their native origin (lemon in italy, lavendar in france). By harvesting in the native home, you receive the most pure oil that our bodies naturally know how to communicate with. Heavenly Father has blessed this earth with all that we need for our lives and health!

I signed up to try these oils and talked to a few of the ladies at the class. We decided that we needed to try a few different oils on Brandon to see how his body takes to them and how they help him. I bought grapefruit, zendocrine, and recieved a starter kit of lavendar, lemon and peppermint oils. Each of these oils does different things for our body's benefit and health.

Grapefruit helps with cancer, depression, liver disorders, migraines, stress, lymphatic system, and many other things.

Lemon helps with food poisoning, blood pressure, liver problems, arthritis, muscle aches and pains...it cleanses the air, disinfects, helps with colds, fever, infections, white blood cell formation, and many many more things.

Zendocrine helps with organ cleansing, healthy tissue function...this is a combination of clove, grapefruit, rosemary, and geranium

These three are the oils that I've been using for Brandon since tuesday when I got them. I use two drops of each on each foot and massage them onto his feet. I have also put 1-2 drops of lemon in a glass of water for him to drink.

So far, after massaging the oils onto Brandon's feet for 4 days, I have noticed that a rash that he had around his waist and arms is beginning to fade. The rash is almost gone from his waist, and is fading from his arms. His mood level is more positive and he seems to feel overall better :)

I want to document his progress and continue to do more documenting as I obtain more oils for my family and test them out. I am so grateful for the blessing of friends who are inspired and guided to help my family. I pray that I may be able to help others as these friends have done for me. If you are interested in checking out my website, I have made one and will post a link on the blog so you can check it out as often as you would like :)

I look forward to learning more about doTerra essential oils and how I can help my family and friends improve the quality of our lives!

My website is www.mydoterra.com/ginahallam

Happy 13th birthday Josh!!!

13 years ago, we welcomed our third little boy into this world and our hearts! Josh has been such a blessing to our family. He has such a sweet spirit and a kind heart. Josh is so kind to others. He's a good friend to everyone! I just love him to pieces my Joshua Merritt!

Josh got his middle name from my Grandpa Snowberger, he's just like my Grandpa in how good a person he is. One thing that Josh does that just melts my heart is that he comes up and gives me a hug whenever he can. Joshy hugs are sooooo good!!!!

He used to have a nickname of "sunshine committee" He was always a ray of sunshine with his smiles and laughter and loves. One year, when we were going through a miscarriage, we were at a marriage retreat. We came home, my mom was watching the boys, and Josh saw us come through the door...he ran to me and just hugged me. He was extra happy and cheerful for the next few days. What a sweet special blessing it is to have such a wonderful young man in our family.

Josh has loved being in young mens, going to scout camp, APC, and camping. He's grown both physically and spiritually.

Josh also shares his special birthday with his Grandma Cook! Both wonderful, special people in our lives! Here's to you mom and Josh!!!! May you have a very blessed day and know that you are so loved! May this year bring you all that the Father has in store for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

What a wonderful, blessed year we've had thus far. There is so very much to be thankful for. I know I've slacked big time on updating our thanks on our blog. We've been so very busy with all of the wonderful family time...which really is how it should be :)

We've had scouts, pack meetings, school projects, parties, major couponing, yard work, birthday ;) all sorts of fun family time!!! What a wonderful way to spend our time, with our family!

I'm looking at the month of December and it is so full of so many more wonderful events! I have two bazaars coming up, a wedding cake for a sweet young lady, Christmas concerts, Christmas parties, activity days, jewelry parties!!! It's so wonderful to be so involved in such wonderful things!

One thing that we are most grateful for is FAMILY!!!! Each and every person who comes into our lives becomes family to us! We love you all and are so very grateful for each and every one of you! May you have a most blessed and wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

Anyone going black friday shopping, please have a little black friday fun for me!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!

Too good to pass up

I saw this on facebook today and shared it on my wall. I felt that I need to post it here too... This is just too perfect... I mean purrrrrfect ;) hahahaha

This is how I feel so many times during each day. I think of all my blessings or see a blessing and am just so thankful. I don't even know how many times in a day that I thank my Heavenly Father, but I know I do it alot..which is a wonderful thing :)

NOVEMBER!!!!

It's NOVEMBER!!!! We've made it through football, marching band competitions, football awards parties, going over the hill everyday for practice....and enjoyed every ....well mostly every minute of it :)

Now, it's time to turn our focus to those things we are most thankful for. We have been so very blessed this year and have so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for:

#1 My Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ for blessing our family with so many wonderful blessings. The Savior makes this life possible and eternal life attainable! I am so grateful for my close relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior.

#2 My family, we have had so many fun times this year...tears of sadness and tears of joy...so many memories have been made this year it's wonderful!!! My husband and my children are my closest friends. This year, I feel as though I've grown closer to them than any other time...maybe it's a different kind of growth from just mother to mother and friend. We have had some amazing discussions and chats...as well as played around a lot and had some great laughs!!!

#3 The opportunity to go to Texas this year and take the whole family to meet my brother Don and all the family down there! We didn't get to see my sister Amy or Misty, so...oh darn we'll have to go next year ;) We had a great time getting to Texas and coming back, but had the best time just visiting and hanging out with Don and Mary. The boys were able to see why I think my big brother is so cool!

I can't wait to post more thankfullness this month :) May we all focus on those blessings of the year and remember them and express our gratitude for them, this month and always.

Long time.....

It's been a long time since I posted something, but so much has been going on. Football mainly hahaha....

The boys had an awesome football season and it's FINALLY OVER!!! I am excited that football is finally over, yet sad at the same time. We have been going over the hill back to Emmett everyday for practices for the boys. It has been a huge stresser and a ton of money on gas, but it was what we needed to do and helped make the transition easier on the three younger boys.

Kyler has done a lot better in flag football this year :) He's learned a lot more and has gotten several flags during his games. Kyler will be playing tackle next year YAY!!!! He's looking forward to that :)

Dallin did an AMAZING job this year with several quarterback sacks. He's a tackling machine!!! Although, they only won one game, the Wallace huskies did a great job on defense and offense :) I can't wait to see him play next year!!!

Josh's team had an undeafeated season until the playoffs...the very last game yesterday, they went up against Meridian White and held them to only 14 points when no other teams during the season could do that. They lost their game after a long hard fight 14-8 The Kenny Keene huskies had the best season anyone could ever have asked for!!!! Josh did soooo goood at defensive line!!! He got several awesome tackles stopping the ball!!!!

Yesterday, I was thinking about next years football season and got really sad at the realization that...those teamates that the boys have grown close to are now going to be opponents :'( It really makes me want to cry when I think about Dallin and his team...those kids have been so close in school and on the field.