Trying to be a better me..................

Have you ever just looked around you, especially recently, and noticed all the tough times, challenges and obstacles invading homes and families? I look around, I see so much pain, sorrow, enduring to the end, service, love, heart ach, illness...etc etc...seems I could go on and on. Believe me, the Schroeder household have had their share as well.....I think about the Family Unit and the Love and Security that should be felt there. I see others struggling with faith, decisions, trust etc and see that as such a way that satan works his "mighty miracles" to destroy these precious families. This is part of enduring to the end, that we must follow our leaders that teach us and guide us....it's just so hard at times. We are so easily discouraged in simple things, that when it comes to the hard things..how do we ever do it. I know we have been given promises..and "guides" to help us receive those promises...these things will help us stay strong especially during hard times and I am committed to try to do better myself. I want my family to succeed and be Eternally together. I want to do the right things to keep us Faithfully obedient to all the Lord's commandments...Attending the Temple...that is so easy for me, why is it soooo hard to find the time! Well, I am going to go more often. Once a month just isn't good enough, it needs to be more often especially right now. I need to feel the Lord close to me and witness again to me that these things are true and good and precious and WORTH IT! My scripture reading....I am sooo bad at that, and it has got to be a priority for me. Prayers, what a hard thing for me to always remember. I'm quick to pray when there is a problem, when I need help, or when others need help (which is actually a lot) but I have been so bad at my own evening personal prayers for quite some time now and that is just not an option anymore .....I guess I have just been plain lazy...I can't allow this anymore. I know it is up to me to make sure I do those things that promise blessings....right now I need those blessings and to feel close to our Savior. My Testimony is strong, but I have been ignoring it and just not doing my part. I love my family, I want the very best for each one....and I want us all to succeed. So...here's my big list.........Personal Prayers, Family Prayers, Personal Scripture Study, Family Scripture Study, Try to attend the Temple twice a month even if it's by myself.....try to give service to someone at least once a month....or whenever the Lord needs me too. I Love my Savior. I am so sorry for being a slacker. I know I have let my "busy" schedule of life take over and put aside those things that are really important....that will change. This sounds like if I do all these things I will be "perfect" lol...not a chance....I will always have something to work on...that's just who I am. If the Lord can forgive me for these past short comings, I promise to do better with my life...to be a better mother, wife, grandma, friend...just a better me.

R.I.P. sweet boy.....June 21, 1992-August 7, 2009

Till we meet again sweet friend.............

Our BEST FRIEND..................

Just sitting here thinking about someone in our lives that never judges, gets mad, distrusts and who loves unconditionally, this is our friend Mockey. Mockey came to our family during a time when we were all working on recovering from the loss of another close friend..Sandy..and he filled the holes in our heart in a way we will always be grateful for. He was just a pup, hyper and into everything. He was tiny, running as fast as he could throughout the house and under the couch, and yes, falling through the slats in the stairs of the deck! We had to go through and put chicken wire along the bottom of the fence so to avoid an escape, then when he did escape, we would chase him all over Milden Lane (thanks neighbors for your patience) He loved to ride in the car, that became a good thing for us. It was always such a pain to go looking for him (with 4 little kids), you would meet him eye to eye and then he would dart away! Finally we got smart and used a secret tool, the car....due to the fact he love a good ride, we would open the sliding door and he would run and jump right in...ha ha gotcha!!! He grew to be a beautiful loving friend who would run trails along the fence....he was everybodys friend. He is always there when we need his comfort. Seems to know when we need his snuggling. Has has always been such a sweet boy, and such a good dog..the best, and we are a lucky family to have been able to call him our friend for the last 17yrs. We hope to have many more years with Mockey, but see him slowing down a lot. He doesn't run trails anymore, doesn't run away anymore, has a hard time climbing the deck stairs, doesn't jump on the beds or furniture anymore...and as of lately, doesn't look at us and whine to have us do something for him....he lays at our feet, sleeps outside in the tomato bushes or under the lilac bush...we pick him up so he can sleep on the bed, or on occasion we put him in his favorite place on the back of the couch to look out the window, but we have to hold on to him so he doesn't fall... you can feel him getting skinnier and skinner because he isn't eating as much......We are realistic, we know he is older than most dogs ever get, but because of our love he is still with us and we hope he is for a long time to come....you just don't find dogs that are so loving and good. Mockey, we want to thank you for all the wonderful loving years you shared with our family...17yrs is a long time and as long as you need us, we need you....We love you sweet friend....

Yes we did!!! We went spur of the moment BOWLING.......

Oh my gosh!!! We had soooo much fun bowling 3 games at Delton in West Valley. Here is Max....he had such a great time as you can see...if you notice the ball, it is headed for his one strike of the day!! Whoo Hoo Max!!! (sorry for the blurry, I forgot my camera, again, and had to depend on my cell phone...booooo)





This is Gary doing his thing, of course, he won the first 2 games, but I actually won the third.....(his arm was giving out, remember, it's been LONG time since we have bowled!!)

Kati...look at that form!!! We laughed so hard!!! Oh, are we going to be sore tomorrow!!!

Notice Max keeping an eye on his mom's game....he just totally enjoyed himself, as did the rest of us......

Sorry, no pictures of me..(well, not really sorry LOL) I bowled a 50 something first game, 77 second game and a whopping 110 for the 3rd game!!!
OH YES....Gary and I are really sore...In placed I wouldn't have expected!!! But it was totally worth it and I now know this will be a Schroeder activity again!!!

9/11.....8yrs ago.....God Bless America

Grapes + Juicer= Jam

DONE!!!! Picked the grapes growing on our fence, spent 4 hours juicing them with my grandmother's hand juicer, and now after 4 batches .... Grape Jam!!!

Labor Day in Las Vegas.......

This is a picture of Cheyenne, Luana and Max (picture last October at our house..need to get a picture from the weekend from someone)....Cheyenne is the reason we traveled to Las Vegas this last weekend. She chose to be Baptized and we wanted to be a part of that day with her and with the family, so we STUFFED ourselves into our little Ford Focus and headed to St George first, then the next day on to Vegas. We stayed at Arizona Charlie's on Boulder....a motel Kristi and stayed at before....then spent our time with the Taukinukufili's. I was so proud of Cheyenne and she looked so beautiful...she has a beautiful dress that she wore after the Baptism. Max, wow, he was infatuated with Cheyenne...in fact he has decided when he turns 5...which is a whole hand, he and Cheyenne will be married. We asked him at Church about the up and coming wedding plans and he was very determined this would happen. Also, he was very interested in the fact that Joey was passing sacrament. He decided that Joey was able to hold the priesthood because he was "Tall" enough. Max has decided that soon he will be "Tall" enough to hold the priesthood. Hmmmm...can you say, "parent teaching moments?" He was full of cute, funny explanations for different things...it's funny what goes through these little guys minds. He kept following Cheyenne around the house until finally she decided to hide out in her mom and dad's room.....funny! They did get some pictures of the two of them, really cute, I will have to track down a copy from somebody and post them. All in all, it was a great time.....minus the drive there and home in our Focus tuna can....wonderful baptism and confirmation, great BBQ in the back yard, really great time visiting and playing games, swimming etc etc....can't wait to go back!! Love you Taukinukufili's