Merry Christmas eve!!

Merry Christmas Eve from The Wilderness Family!!

Williams 6th Birthday!

This year Williams birthday was really hard it started the night before when I took out his baby book and started looking at his pictures.

Looking through the pictures brought back so many emotions of the day he was born.

After I had a good cry I went on FB and nurse Molly that delivered him had wrote me a message.

She told me she still displays this picture in her living room.

She was an amazing nurse and I will always remember the love she gave our family that day.

This is probably my most favorite picture taken the day he was born.

I love how gently and tenderly Shelly is holding him.

I love that I have these pictures and I love looking at them.

I just wish there was more.

I cried a lot on Williams birthday and I felt a grief that I hadn't felt in a long time.

I just was not expecting to feel such hurt and pain.

I know that family's can be together forever and I know I will see William again but some times knowing this will be a long time form now hurts.

Christmas after William

I am not going to lie I was dreading Christmas 2006.

I new I would probably have to fake the Christmas spirit for the sake of my kids.

2006 was a big year for us we started the year out burring William.

Then moving in June from the place we lived the last 6 years.

We loved Travis AFB and had many friends and friends that were family there.

I honestly did not want to move to Alaska.

I hated it there at first I was lonely and every thing felt foreign to me.

I made a few friends early on and tried to be happy.

When November came along I was a mess.

Garrett was baptized and that was great but I was still so sad.

I did not want December to come I dreaded the 14th Williams first birthday.

I decorated tress I decorated our beautiful home and I made cookies all the things that were needed to make the Christmas season fun.

The day before Williams birthday I found my self at the church my friend Kristy was setting up for the Nativity display they had done for the last 5 years.

I had no clue what was going on but went to help her.

I was so sad knowing that the next day was Williams birthday but the moment I stepped into the church something magical happened.

I felt a peace that I had not felt in a long time.

Everyone was so busy and happy doing there part to make the nativity what it is.

I got caught up in the spirt like everyone else.

I remember looking at all the Nativity's in awee.

It helped me get over the deep depression I was falling into and helped me cope with the Christmas season.

I felt the peace and comfort only the holly spirt can give you and I felt the love the savior had for me.

He new he new my suffering and felt my pain all those many years a go in Gasemmene.

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and I am grateful for that Christmas miracle I had that day.

The next day my sweet friend Chaure came over with 17 balloons for me and my children in Honer of the 17 days William was alive.

It was so sweet of her.

We were also blessed with the 12 days of Christmas that year.

My sweet friend Lila and here family will never know how much that cheered our family up that year.

Even though life was hard Christmas of 2006 I was so blessed with the spirt of Christmas.

Later on I will share how I let the spirt of Christmas in 2007 it was the first of many years that I did this tradition.

Williams Birthdays presents.



Our Christmas Baby.

April 24th 2005 I found out I was expecting our 8th Child a few weeks later I found out my due date was Christmas day.

To say I was trilled would be an understatement.

A few days later I found out Dale was leaving for Iraq.

I was still in great spirts thinking of how awesome Christmas would be with a brand new baby.

I remember going through the months waiting to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

I like to be prepared so I was also thinking of things to get and do during the Christmas season.

As the end August drew near I was on pins and needles waiting to find out what we were having.

I remember clearly going in for my sonogram I was so excited..

Then we found out we were having a boy and that he would be special.

The news of Williams heart defect and extra 18th chromosome was hard to take and the fact that William would die.

I wanted Christmas to be even more special.

Evey day leading up to December 
 was hard but we all had a good attitude.

I remember December 1st my sister and I went to Target with Mr. Benny boy and I felt William kick I remember feeling the joy of the moment.

Throughout the next 14 days amazing things happened in our home.

we had surprise gifts left at our door step and treats delivered I felt the love of the Christmas spirt, the love of those I let in my life.
The day before William was born Madeline's Class collected every thing we would need for Christmas dinner and surprised our family.
I was deeply touched.
That same day was my friend Kim's birthday she chose to spend the evening with me in the hospital keeping my spirts high.
A little while later my Dear friend Valarie brought my best friend in the world straight from the airport to my hospital room to cheer me.
Our Christmas baby's birthday was here it was a fun and happy morning.

Things were going slower than we wanted.
Then William was born his birth was truly a miracle.
He had a rough first day but was ready to go home the next day.
24 hours after Williams birth we brought him home to happy brothers and sisters and Grandparents cousins and friends.
I was a bit scared at first but did not want to spend what time I had with William with fear so I let all my worries go and lived in the moment.
The next 10 days were magical we had so many people drop by to meet William and bring him gifts.
I kinda felt like Marry as the wise men came to see our savior and brought him gifts.
I loved sharing William with those around us those who loved us.
Christmas day came and I decided to bring William to Church.
I was a little scared and worried about the germs.
I remember holding him as our friend Sheldon sang the most beautiful song Oh holly night my favorite Christmas Hymn ever.
William kept his eyes open the whole time once Sheldon was done singing William closed his eyes and slept the rest of the Sunday meeting.
I knew then that William
chose who he wanted to sing at his funeral.
The rest of that Christmas day was pure magic.

William lived for 5 more days.
We were so blessed to have him for Christmas that year and I will for ever be grateful for the love and kindness our friends and family showed us.
The spirt of Christmas shone bright through all the eyes of everyone that served our family that year.
It was the perfect Christ and it defiantly topped the year before.

I am not going to lie I really dreaded the Christmas season of 2006.
I will share tomorrow how that year changed my life yet again.

Finding the spirt of CHRISTmas.

For years I dreaded the Christmas season it always drove me nuts at how everyone was caught up in the commercial side of Christmas.

I felt the magic of Christmas was gone somehow.

I remember feeling sad Christmas season of 2003 my grandmother was dying and I just did not like how everyone was rushing around buying gifts hearing ho ho ho and seeing all the gilts of commercialized Christmas I just felt bugged.

a week before Christmas a girlfriend of mine asked if she could come over so I could show here how to make doll clothes for her daughters twin dolls I said sure.

After an hours lesson I realized that she  would never get them done in time for Christmas for her daughter so I offered to make doll clothes.

I felt a glimmer of the Christmas spirt as I finished the doll clothes Christmas eve morning.

In January 2004 I made a goal that I will find the magic of Christmas again.

I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to please help me.

In February I found out I was 2 months pregnant with Ben Shocked but Happy I thought boy Christmas will be exciting this year with a new baby.

I went thought the year had a sweet little baby boy Dale was promoted at work and life was grand.

As Fall approached I thought about how I was going to bring back the magic of Christmas in my life . I new service would be a big part of it.

For years we had picked a boy and a girl name of the angel tree and let the kids buy gifts for them. So we stuck with that tradion and added a whole family.

I also got some names of family's on the base that there husband or wife was deployed and planned special treats for them.

I was a little sad when I found out Dale would be gone from October until the first week 2 weeks of December.

I new I would have to do all that I planed on my own with my 7 little ones.

I was still excited and new this would be fun!

My in laws came out for thanksgiving that year and we decided to do all the black Friday sales together.

I will never forget this day as long as I live.

It was 4:30 Am I was the 96th person in line to get into the BX on Travis AFB.

Ben was sleeping away safe in his car seat and I was standing there with my in laws when I heard.

I hate Christmas time.

My heart sunk and I leterly felt tears spring into my eyes.

Inside I was screaming No! This is not the way I wanted to start the Christmas season. I soon began to hear a ton of people expressing what they hated about the Christmas season.

I new I had to put a stop to this I went into the middle of the crowed and a shouted at The top of my lungs I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

I love the smells of Christmas I love the feeling I get when my kids start making there Christmas list.

I love seeing all of Santa's helpers ring the bells.

I love the twinkling of Christmas lights.

I love how kind everyone is to each other.

I love knowing that we celebrating our saviors birth .

I love knowing that our solders still sever on Christmas day fighting foe our religious freedom to celebrate Christmas.

I love Christmas.

I finally stopped my shouting and realized the crowed was quit.

Then I heard clapping and cheering.

I walked back to my place in line a little shocked at what I had just done but felt the magic of Christmas.

My Father in law was wiping the tears from his eyes and said that was some speach.

I then heard I love Christmas Over and over and over the next half hour we stood in line.

I felt so happy People in line kept bringing me orange juice and Coffee (witch I don't drink) But was touched by there kindness.

I new they were caught up in the Spiert of CHRISTmas too.

Through out the morning all over town I kept having people tell me why they loved Christmas at first I did not understand why but then realized they had heard my speech.

I tell that year was one of the best Christmases I had ever had.

Dale came home from his TDY and we went to the childrens party at his work.

There was no one to play Santa so Dale did I loved that he did this and loved sitting on his lap telling his my Christmas wishes;)

The Christmas season kept getting better and better and I soon realized it was through service and my attitude that this was what CHRISTmas was about.

When January came along I thought again how can I keep the spirt of CHRISTmas going this year.

Four months later my answer was given a Christmas baby was in store for our family.

I always wanted a Christmas day baby and was thrilled that Christmas day was my due date.

I will tell you tomorrow My Christmas baby story.

Please feel free to tell me how you Keep The CHRISTmas spirt in your family.

Kadie,Dan and baby make 3!!!

So you all guessed right My beautiful Daughter and her Handsome prince Are having a little prince or princess for me to play with love and spoil !!

Not only did they make me the happiest mamma in the world with the news of my up coming name change they also announced that they are moving to Colorado.

I feel like the most blessed Lady in the world.

All my dreams are coming true right now.

I have to pinch my self often and bend down on my knees and thank Heavenly Father for all my wonderful blessing.

It amazes my how tough this summer was with Dale being unemployed to how incredibly happy we are this Fall in winter. 

I give all the credit to Faith and the Love that my Heavenly Father gives to me.

I am so great full for how Blessed I am even during the rough parts in this journey we call life.

With this I will end my post .

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a hoot Town!

Homework made fun!!

Little Benny boy had a home work assignment to make a Urban Community.

He carefully colored all the pictures then we glued the to pictures on to card stock.

He then decorated the box and glued the pictures on.

Ben named the town have a hoot.

Benny Loves owls and used them as the Towney's of Have a hoot.

I think he did a great job and would live in have a hoot down any time.

Care to Guess!!

Lets play a guessing Game.

I got some amazing news to share.

I cant share on my blog or face book just yet.

So make a guess make it good and there might just be a prize.

I will reveal on Monday what this Amazing news is.

So let the guessing began.

Feeling the love!!!

A few weeks ago I received a package in the mail for my dear bloggy friend Jennifer.

I was surprised to see this beautiful package in the mail.

A lovely runner and napkin set.

I saw one she made on a swap we were in together and commented that i hoped it was mine because I had a matching apron.

Jennifer was so thoughtful and sweet and sent me a smilier one .

I just love it!!

I really felt the love when I saw how thoughtful she was.

Thank you Jennifer..

Catching up!

OK I have been bad about blogging I really have been busy.

To start with November 4th I celebrated with my little buddy Kimble his 2nd birthday.

I was there the day he was born and if you have read past post you will know he had a lot of struggles his first 6 months of life with his heart.

So it was a very happy day seeing him turn 2.

He loves cars so I made him a race track cake and he loved it!

For the last 5 years I have been involved with the Nativity that our church put on in tiny Palmer Alaska.

I am so sad not to be a part of it this year but found out the do a simler one here in Colorado Springs so I have been busy helping out with that.

Early last week I checked the mail and found this sweet necklace in the mail from my dear friend Ande.

The Charter means friendship.

She sent one too 3 to our other dear friends  and bought one for her self as well.

There was 5 of us couples that went out often when we liked in California together.

Ande is like a sister to me as well as the other 3 gals.

Benny boy was so excited last week when the school sent him home with an ID card.

He was so proud of it that he sleeps with it and it has a special place in his pocket along with his lucky rocks and race car.

Last but not least I went to a craft fair with my friend Jennifer before I left I snapped this shot.

I was felling pretty hot in my skinny jeans .

Since I missed 10 days of being grateful here is my list.

1. I am grateful for all the sunshine and warm days we have had.
2. I am happy that my kids are healthy.
3. I am grateful for lotion my skin is so dry here
4. I am grateful for my fun friends I get to hang out with
5. I am great full for netflix
6. I am grateful to be closer to my family and that Dales sisters are coming to thanks giving.
7. I am great full for my ipod it makes running much more fun
8. I am grateful to go to church each Sunday
9. I am grateful for my big girls who aren't here with us I miss them but am glad we can text and talk on the phone.
10. I am grateful for a home to live in until ours is built.

Swap

I am in a fun secret Santa swap over at the flirty apron swap.

We were asked to post a questioner on our blogs so here I go!

What are your hobbies?

What are your favorite colors? Red and Aqua

Do you collect anything? Shoes, jewelry, fabric

Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? No

Do you have any pets? No

Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate? Chocolate

What do you like to read? all sorts of novels

Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet? Candies

What is your favorite holiday treat? Pecan bars

Describe your favorite holiday tradition. Reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning to our children. Elfing on Christmas ever.

Did you believe in Santa as a child? As a Child yeas as an adult even more.

When do you open presents? Christmas morning

Do you put up a tree and when? If not, how do you celebrate? Yes at least 2 trees :)

Does your tree have a theme? Yes both do My formal tree is very elegant and our children's tree White with bright colors.

What has been your favorite gift to give? to receive? I love to give homade gifts and I love to receive homemade gifts.

Thankful day 3

Today I am thankful for date nights with my Husband.

Yesterday I spent all day with the kids playing and having fun on there Snow day.

I had not showered or gotten out of my Jammies yet the clock read 3:30 and I smelt bad and did not look so pretty.

Not wanting to look bad for my hubby I quickly took a shower got dressed  and did my hair and make up.

Dale walked in the door at 4 pm.

I walked out of the bedroom and he just smiled.

He said wow you look good.

I smiled back and said ya you want to take me out on a date.

He grinned and said ya baby.

So on a week day we went out and had the best time.

I love our weekly date nights

I love that after 23 years together that we are still in so in love.

I also love that when I walk in a room my hubby can still say WOW!

Thankful!!

Last year for the moth of November I wrote every day what I was thankful for .

I think I will do it again this year too.

Yes I am a day late so I will do 2 today.

The first thing I am grateful for is my Children.

I have 9 amazing children.

My four beautiful daughters and my 5 amazing sons!

Yes I include my son inlaw as one of my children.

They all make me laugh and cry and get mad but in the end I love them all so much.

I have to sneak a pic of William in here too.

Since he is busy in heaven doing the Lords work and cant pop in to take a family pic just yet.

The second thing I am grateful for is my husband I love him so much.

It is so hard to believe we have been married for almost 22 years.

We still date every Friday night and he is always spoiling me.

I not only lucky that he is my husband I am lucky that hes my best friend.

I am looking forward to this season of Thanksgiving I plan on taking time each day to reflect on the things I am grateful for.



Creepy Halloween!

I was just not in the Halloween spirit this year for some reason or the other which is quite odd for me because I love Halloween.

I think all the changes this year has caught up with me a and I still 5 months behind or something like that.

I was a little sad too I love planning my kids costumes and they normally look smashing.

I made Madeline a rock star costume but that was it .

The other kids were on there own.

They did not do too bad.

I did learn my lesson never let Madeline get a hold of Halloween make up on her own.

I am not a fan of creepy costumes and have never let my kids dress creepy before.

I did how ever let Ben and Mylissa be zombies after all it was the # 1 Halloween  costume choice this year.

I guess Madie wanted to be a Zombie too instead she looks like Ozzie Osborn after he bit the head off a bat.

Next year I will be a better mom and be more involved and make all there costumes like in years past.

All and all it was a great Halloween!