Wonderful Daughter

It's our sweet daughter's birthday this month and I thought I would do a tribute to her. She will probably be embarrassed by this, but I just wanted to share how much she means to us. Many of you know that she is the only daughter Nick and I had. Being raised by brothers was a challenge at times, but she really could hold her own with them. She really never played with dolls much, she just wanted to do what her brothers were doing. Talking of her brothers, they were so protective of her, especially when it came to boys. When she was in high school and started to date, her bros always had a sarcastic name for the guys she went out with like, big lips, Opie and Dopey. They never came up with a name for Spencer, I guess that is a definite sign that they all liked him. Kim made a beautiful Bride. I love this picture, it truly is the way she is, always smiling and is happy wherever she happens to be. She is very compassionate towards others and loves to help when help is needed. I don't think I have ever heard her complain about anything.

We all want our children to be better than we are, and she truly is!! She is a wonderful wife and a tremendous mother. I told her the other day that I want to be her when I grow up!!

This is a picture of the two of us that I treasure. It was taken a couple of years ago when she was pregnant and we were saying goodbye to Brett at the MTC. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but more important she is beautiful on the inside. Nick and I thank the Lord for her and the example she is to our family. WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN TONGUE CAN TELL!!!

For Good

Dear Family and Friends--

I was listening to the Wicked CD and came across a wonderful song called For Good. It is the song that is playing now on my blog. I hope you can hear it. It is about two friends who are singing about each other and the influence they have had on each others lives. When I heard this, I began to think of the many people who have have left their "handprint on my heart", as the song goes. My whole family has made a tremendous difference "for good" on my life. I have a few close friends, you know who you are, who has blessed my life through the years. I just wanted to tell all of you how much you mean to me and how much I care about all of you.

Love, Miriam/honey/mom/grandma/aunt mimi, etc. etc. etc.

Happy New Year

Thank goodness for a new year!! The new year is a good time to look ahead and make some reasonable goals and specific ways to reach them. Our family has always made goals, some we have reached, many we haven't, but we keep on trying! Usually Nick has about 20-25 goals he wants to reach, this year it is only 7. Me, I will just get out my old goals from last year, dust them off, and start all over again. No, really, I have added a couple of goals this year. One is to finally get all our VHS and DVD's (we have between 200-250) numbered and put downstairs in the bookcase for the kids to pick and take home and watch. We think it will be a neat movie library for the family. Another goal is to get the office in order. We have the computer and crafts in a tiny room and it is about time I organized it.

Aside from these important goal, the most important is trying to strengthen our relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior. Nick and I teach the Gospel Principles class in the Parkside Ward and the lesson last week was on our Heavenly Father. Sometimes, we need a little reminder of what really is important in this life, and it truly is this relationship. Everything else will fall into place if we keep striving to do this. Pres. Kimball said from the time he was a little boy through his life he lived by the motto: "What will please Heavenly Father?" He gaged his choices on this simple statement. He was a man of great character and without guile because of following this motto. I am going to have this as my motto this year and hopefully it will help me to be a better person.

May all of you have a happy new year and may the Lord's choicest blessing be with you and your families all year long!