2009 Family Photo Session

Well, here we are. The kids did a great job cooperating at the picture studio. I have really enjoyed seeing our family grow over the years. I can't wait to frame the pictures and display them in our home. These are memories that we will always have and look back on. Pictures really are worth a thousand words.

Dr. Martin Luther King

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

SALT LAKE CITY 16 January 2009

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be represented at inaugural events for President-elect Barack Obama by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostlehe two leaders, who have been asked to represent the Church by Church President Thomas S. Monson, are scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and the National Prayer Service at Washington’s National Cathedral on January 21.

“It is always an honor for the Church to be represented at the inauguration of a new president,” said President Monson. “We send our best wishes to President-elect Obama and pray for the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven to be upon him and his administration.”

TIME

"So frequently we mistakenly believe that our children need more things, when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time."
--President Thomas S. Monson

TIME...

I feel overwhelmed by this word. Throughout the day I spend time in the kitchen, cleaning messes, changing diapers, etc. I'm worn out! And then...the kids want my TIME.

"MOM, look at this!"
"MOM, help me do this..."
"MOM, let's do this..."

And I want time to myself. I have finally been able to get up early enough to have a couple of hours to myself in the morning. However, during the day I find myself wanting MORE ME TIME :) And of course getting up earlier means I am ready for bed by 7:30p.m. and the kids just got their second wind even though they should be going to sleep.

TIME...
limited
precious
valuable
useful
invested

I always imagined myself as the mother that gave her time graciously to her children. In a way that was fun for all. What am I missing? Feel free to respond. How do you give of your time? Is it fun for all? Or is it exhausting? In part, I think my frustration stems from my inability to stay focused on a single task for a long period of time. People say I am patient, but I am so NOT. I'm learning to be patient. With little ones around it is an absolute MUST. A work in progress.

Together Time:

Reading books
Watching movies
Art Projects
Riding Bikes
Baking
Car Rides
Walks
Dancing
Singing
Trampoline Jumping
Dressing up

"Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."
-Antonio Smith

Family First

One of my goals for 2009 is to focus on my family and making our home a haven. One of the things that I have really wanted is individual photos of each of my children and a family portrait each year displayed in our home. So far, the last two years, we have managed to have a family portrait. This year is looking promising as well. Especially since today I just popped on over to the Picture People and had this photo taken of the kids and me. I also had their individual pictures taken and they turned out great. My husband and my children are very important to me. I cherish them and want to exemplify that through my everyday actions throughout the coming year.

The Guessing Game

What does the North Star...

The Pine Cone and Tassel...

And a moose all have in common?

The Freeman Family!!
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We're Moving to MAINE! And we couldn't be happier!
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Darrel received an official phone call and e-mail today that will be followed up by an official letter in the mail.

"...as the Polar Star has been considered the mariner's guide and director in conducting the ship over the pathless ocean to the desired haven, and as the center of magnetic attraction; as it has been figuratively used to denote the point, to which all affections turn, and as it is here intended to represent the State [Maine], it may be considered the citizens' guide, and the object to which the patriot's best exertions should be directed."

Just call us MAINiacs!!!

Congratulations, Darrel. You have worked hard and now we move on to the next.
Just like Goerge and Weezie " We're movin' on up!"

We're Seeing PINK!!!

We are so happy to announce that we are going to welcome another baby GIRL into our family!!!!