MY WHOLE STORY

Years ago at an Obagi marketing seminar in Salt Lake City, I listened to a presenter tell a story about a couple people. She told the story and then made us rank each character starting with #1 in the order that we liked them. A couple volunteers told their ranking and why. After the ranking process, we found out that we were only half way through the story. SHOCKER! By the end of the actual story, we learned the WHOLE story. It totally changed my opinion (and everyone else's opinion) of which characters they liked more and so on.

Life is so much like this. So many times we hear a story and make a judgement on the character of the person. It's natural to do that and all of us do. It's just interesting that as we receive more information how we might think different or even change our opinion.

A couple years ago, I tried to keep a very open mind. Where I would use to say, "I have no idea why she does that" etc., I started to think up reasons why she did do that. Maybe she had a bad day, maybe it didn't occur to her to do it different, maybe she didn't have enough money, etc. It has changed a lot of how I think and how I respond to others.

Today, as I was talking to a good friend, she mentioned our first interaction. It wasn't even on my radar because my experience was different and not cataloged like hers. Our first interaction took place around 7 years ago when doing a co-op preschool. We both had preschoolers at that time, and I arranged the moms in the neighborhood that wanted to participate to do so. I sent out a reminder during the rainy time of year to set a towel out by the front door for the kids to place their wet shoes on, etc. This friend also told me what she thought of my email... that I didn't know her well at all. (Insert laugh out loud here.) A towel may have or may not have been placed at the front door. I'm sure that others eye rolled as well. She goes on to tell me that I am such a loyal friend and one of her most favorite people now. All because she got to know me a little better.

Eye opener for me because I had no idea that this was her first perception of me. For me, that was not reality and not truth. But it was for her. Hmmmm. More internal dialog.

This last year for me has been one of the hardest. I know that I do not think like 95% of the people out there. Many times we associate and affiliate with those who are like us. But isn't it great if we hear the WHOLE story and refrain from making judgments right away. I feel like that's what has happened for me. But I'm going to continue trying to be positive and do what I do best.

So, here's my whole story. I am a loyal, lifelong, fight to the death type of friend. I look for ways to help and serve others on a daily basis. I also am a perfectionist, which means I want to do things a certain way and cross items off my list regularly. (Yes, I make lists and follow them.) I know I am not perfect, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to be right. I work hard every single day at my job; nothing is half way. I don't think like 95% of the people out there. I may say things right to the point, bluntly, and lacking tact, but I really don't mean to hurt feelings, tell you to do things a certain way, or don't believe what you are saying is truth. I hope one day that you get to know me well enough to smile and say in a loving way, "That's Zoey and I wouldn't change her for the world!" And for all those that you deal with each day, take a moment to try and understand the WHOLE story.

FAMILY ANNIVERSARY #15 - TRIP TO PROVO, UT

I was so excited to celebrate our 15th year family anniversary with the family by going to Provo. The reason why we chose Provo was because the Provo City Center Temple had an open house going on right now. Perfect timing for us!!!

We left on Friday and headed down to Provo to our hotel. Our kids just LOVE staying in hotels. We don't get to do that very often, but we have been staying more often than in the past. We decided on Red Robin for dinner and met Laura and Jason, along with Sam!!!

Dinner was not great, but we did enjoy each other's company. After dinner, we took a dip in the pool and earned more points for our fitness challenge.

Saturday morning, we beat the morning rush to breakfast and headed to the temple. It was quite the rat race going back in forth in the lines in the underground parking lot. Luckily the standby line was quick.

After waiting for a little bit, we went into one of the theater rooms, put on the famous booties and watched a 10 minute video of why temples are so important to Mormons. It was beautiful.

It was beautiful. Kate was so touched at the baptismal font that she asked if she could be baptized for cousin Maze when she turned 8. I had to explain to her that girls are only baptized for girls. And then Robyn reminded me that children under 8 don't need any temple ordinances. He is perfect. It still gives me chills just thinking about that perfect nephew. I can't wait to meet him again.

Here are some pictures from online since photography is not allowed.

One of the entries

Baptism font

Staircases

Celestial Room

One of the sealing rooms

A beautiful picture of the temple and the sunset

The end of the tour ends with the Christus

Our pictures as we were leaving!!!

After the temple, we went to Spanish Fork to see Laura's apartment. We had a good laugh about how narrow her kitchen was. Dishwasher in the back, across from the fridge and then the stove. It's cozy!!!

The kids then played the wii and tried out several things. It was very fun!!! Here they are bowling!

the Peterson family!!!

 After the time in Spanish Fork, we went back to Provo to visit with the infamous Thomas family. We like to call them the Fa'aga'i's. Haha!!!

We had a wonderful time visiting at a lunch/dinner!

They brought up back to their cozy apartment. I had to take a picture of their picture frame!!! 

We all signed their frame while we visited even more.

After we were done visiting, we headed up to the Jolley's to visit with our cousins. We had dinner and then played card games while the kids played too. I love that they all get along and love each other.

Faith and Andrew

Dawson, Jony, and Kate

Too much fun!!! Sunday, we attending their full block of meetings at church. I really loved it so much!

The weekend was so much fun and worth every minute of it. I hope the other kids loved it as much as I did. Here's to another 15 years!!!

FACEBOOK FUNNIES AND QUOTES 2015

January

January 3rd

Kate said (7), "I just want to know if I can have two or three friends for my birthday for ice cream, or a facial... Or to get our nails done or something." I hope her husband is prepared. My kids think that going to the spa is a "normal" part of life!

February 

February 1st

Kate just got out of the bathtub and said, "I'm prunier than a grandma!" So funny!

March

March 1st 

Spoken from our 8 year old, Kate. "I don't know why, but I'll I've had today is ice cream and cinnamon rolls. I'm going to eat chips now because they are healthy!" Lol.

March 20th

Kate said, "If mom died, Faith would have to drive. And She would get arrested and kill everybody!"

April

April 23rd 

Conversation this morning with Faith and geography. Then, I ask Brandon if he knows why we have haze. He says the fires in Siberia and then asks Faith if she knows where that is. She says, "Yeah. Isn't it in Africa?" I think she needs more geography.

April 26th

In case you can't enough of the funny Jolley kids, Kate says tonight, "I think I cleaned too much, so my stomach hurts."

April 26th 

Dawson tonight for the dinner prayer, "Please bless that we will have a good night and awesome lives!" I want an awesome life!

April 26th

Yesterday, Faith messed up on making cake mix cookies so she asked if she could make "cake muffins." Brandon said, "You mean cupcakes?" Lol!

May

May 2nd

Faith tonight, "I'm getting to the stage where I'm going to college." Hehe! High school Faith, it's just high school. Don't grow up any faster please!

May 9th

My eyes were getting tired so I pulled over to have Brandon drive. Kate asked what we were doing and we explained that we were switching off. She said, "Does Dad know how to drive?" I do most of the driving, but Brandon and I were cracking up!

May 9th

Kate had a bad dream last night. She is worried about sleeping in her room tonight. As she looks at the mess, she says, "Maybe it's karma telling me to clean my room!" Rofl! I can't make this stuff up I tell ya!

May 14th 

Kate on Tuesday asked F, "Is it the 12th of 'Merica today?" (America)

May 16th 

Dawson today after we got out of church noticed that I had cleaned up the car. "Holy crap! This feels like I'm 16 and have a first car smell! Though I don't know what that would really be like. Do new cars really have a new car smell?"

August

August 5th

Kate tonight, "I need Sister Fa'aga'i to tune my guitar when she comes. It sounds like a dead bird!"

August 23rd

Trying to convince Dawson to play the piano for his grandparents. And he wants to make up something. I'm begging him and he says,"Please let me play my masterpiece first! I composed with my own two brains!"

August 23rd

Dawson, "I really think that I need to get one of those skipper binders." He wants to be organized this year!

August 25th 

So I'm trying to be more in the loop of bill paying and everything. Tonight I asked Brandon if he had a plan for our money. He said, "Yeah! Watch it go bye-bye!"

August 30th

Faith, "We talked about the sabbath day. I sat by Sister Poppins and Bailey..." (aka Sister Poppleton)

September 

September 12th 

A couple days ago, Kate randomly says (8 yrs old), "I hope you know I am going to live with you for a long time. Are you okay with that?" Laughed so hard. She changed her mind from until she's engaged, until she gets married. I love our little girl!

September 25th

Dawson telling me about his day and the fight during recess. "I stood back and watched the drama unfold!" Lol

October

October 1st

I forgot to post my conversation with my sweet 8 year old Tuesday. It went something like this. She started talking about school and a particular situation. Then she said karma was going to bite! I asked her what karma was. She said it was like a ghost that follows you around. When you do something wrong, it just bites you!
She definitely does not want get bit by karma! Glad that my children know what you put out to others should always be good intentions with love. Thanks Kate!

October 25th

Mom: "Why don't you like curls Kate?"Kate: "Because curls are evil!"

October 29th

Going to help Dawson practice piano before school. He says, "I wanted to experiment with different octaves to see if it will sound better. I'm just not feeling it with this octave."

November

November 30th

Kate tonight, "Dad, isn't the most important part of a marriage honesty?" I love my 8 year old!!!

December

December 2nd

I love my kisses from Kate so I asked for one tonight. She politely gave me one AND THEN said, "I'm sick! You don't want to kiss me!" It's ok baby girl. I will still take your kisses any day! Love her!

December 16th

As I was leaving, I hollered out to Echo (my dog) to make good choices today! Haha! I guess she really is a chog!

December 25th

Kate talking to Grandma Kathy, "If you got one for F and D, then you had to get one for me because I'm too cute to be forgotten!"

Quotes

"When we pray, God hears more than we say, answers more than we ask, gives us more than we can imagine, in His own time, and in His own way."

"Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and fully enjoy the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. 'Accentuate the positive.' Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye, and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life." -Gordon B. Hinckley

"When you feel like you're drowning in life, don't worry. Your lifeguard walks on water."

"God doesn't GIVE us what we can handle. God HELPS us handle what we are given."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold." Proverbs 11:27

"We are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given a life. It is up to us to make it good or bad."

"God has placed you where you're at in this very moment for a reason, remember that and trust that He is working everything out."

"If you're lonely, please know that you can find comfort.If you are discouraged, please know that you can find hope.
If you are poor in spirit, please know that you can be strengthened.
If you feel you are broken, please know that you can be mended." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"Your value does not decreased based on someone's inability to see your worth."

"If we look with our spiritual eyes and hear with our spiritual ears, we will see and hear miracles in our lives and in other lives around us."

"Marriage and children are not part of the plan of happiness, it IS the plan." - Boyd K. Packer

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful & magical person that you are."

"If you want to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose. When you wake up, you can't just wait to see the kind of day you'll have. You have to decide what kind of day you'll have." - Joel Osteen

"Friendship isn't about who you've known the longest. It's about who walked into your life and said, "I'm here for you." And proved it."

"One day she finally grasped that unexpected things were always going to in life. And with that she realized the only control she had was how she chose to handle them. So she made the decision to survive using courage, humor and grace. She was the queen of her own life and the choice was hers."

"Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy."

"With God on our side we cannot fail." - Thomas S. Monson

"Real friends say bad things to your face and the good things behind your back." - Steven Aitchison

"If for awhile the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"Marriage does not guarantee you will be together forever, it's only paper. It takes love respect, trust, understanding, friendship and faith in your relationship to make it last."

"If someone has offended you, insulted you, or disappointed you, let it go! If you are remembering all the ways you have been hurt or forgotten, let it go! Ask yourself, what good does it do for me to hold on to this?' - Iyanla Vanzant

"A negative mind will never give you a positive life."

"You have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy." - Dumbledore

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." 

"You set the tone for your home. If you will slow down and enjoy the moment instead of getting mad at the world, it will be a much nicer day and week," - Flylady

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." - Charles Dickens

"Of this be sure: You do not find the happy life ... you make it." - Thomas S. Monson
 

SUPER MOIST THANKSGIVING 2015

This year was with Brandon's family. We were excited that we would be able to go down to Utah and spend time with Amy and Justin and the kids. And then about 2 weeks before, we figured to out that Brandon was on call. It was a pretty big blow to our plans. Since we couldn't leave the area, we made different plans. We invited the Fa'aga'i's to join, Kathy & Jerry if they didn't go down to Utah, the missionaries, and my parents.

The night before prepping...  Pie shell for the coconut cream pie

Rainbow jello

Blessing mix

That morning, we woke up to fresh powder! They said we got over 4 inches. So glad that we didn't have to drive on slick roads for the holidays.

I put on comfy clothes, a facial mask, and the Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My idea of a great morning!!! I also stuffed all of the Christmas cards too. I know, overachiever.

Faith split a cup of water...

Brandon taking out the turkey...

We enjoyed a super moist turkey, mash potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn, rainbow jello, and homemade rolls! It was delicious! We had planned to eat at 1:00 pm. The hardest part of Thanksgiving dinner is the timing. As I pulled out the last tray of rolls and called the family to the table, the clock turned 1:00 pm. That was my absolute favorite part!

Grandpa and Grandma

Faith, Dawson, and Dad

Mom and Kate

And while we were enjoying dinner, these two decided to start talking to their jello. It was really funny!!!

For dessert, we had the choice of coconut cream, pumpkin, and apple pie. It was delicious!!!

We visited with my mom and dad early in the evening. And I ate some super good cherry pie!

I really enjoyed the whole day. It was a different Thanksgiving than we have ever had, but it was a beautiful day. We have so much to be grateful for. Our homes, freedom, our religion, physical bodies and strength, our minds, family, friends... My list could go on and on. So grateful for this day to reflect and hope that we continue everyday to be grateful for all that we have. Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving too! Love you all!

DAWSON'S FRIEND PARTY!!! NERF WAR/SECRET SPY

Dawson was very excited for his birthday! Unfortunately, Mom and Dawson had some miscommunication during the planning stage of his party. I thought that we had agreed to do a secret spy birthday party and Dawson thought it was just a nerf gun war party.

So, he was patient and we ended up doing a great combination. Here's how!

First, here is the invitation. (I was still thinking secret spy party!)

When everyone arrived, we had them pick out code names! One was a color and the other was an item or person figure.

Next we played a game where they had to use their interrogation skills to ask yes or no questions to find out who they were. Here was the first - Dawson and Mickey Mouse.

Teagan

Evan

The group - they decided after round 1, that they would shoot each other during the interrogations! It was quite funny and worked out well.

The pictures we used were Mickey Mouse, Nemo, Spiderman, Harry Potter, Pikachu, Olaf, Marshmallow, and Christoff. Super fun!

The 2nd game was to check and see if they were able to pick up on clues! Faith put together a tray of "random" items. I had them number their papers 1-3, 1-4, and 1-5. They had 1 minute to review and go over the tray. After the minute was up, Faith removed 3 items and they had to write down there answers. Round 2 was the same. Round 3 I played with them a bit and had them turn over their paper and write 1-12. They then had 2 minutes to write down all items on the tray! Another fun and easy game for us!

Evan (AKA - Orange Lizard), Daniel (AKA - Blue Ninja), Teagan (AKA - Red Snake), and the birthday boy (AKA - Green Tiger)

The final game that I put together was running through the trip wires without showing up on the sensors. I timed each of them and we did 2 rounds.

They also used black balloons to do a little bit of skeet shooting for target practice.

I had a friend from high school make these wonderful chocolate cake "bombs" for the cake.

We actually had 2 dozen, but it was awesome to light the whole platter for a big KABOOM!

Presents! Thank you boys!

Dawson is always pulling faces! And although he does not like chocolate, he LOVES rolos! Silly boy!!!

The boys had the remaining hour to play with their nerf guns and go absolutely CRAZY!!! They had the whole house and had free play which they so loved! We didn't even plan to have 2 of the boys wear orange and 2 of the boys wear blue! Couldn't have planned that more perfectly!

I also put together a little gift bag that had pop rocks (AKA - explosives), glow bracelets/sticks (AKA - laser wires), a couple extra black balloons (AKA - skeets for target practice), and silly string (AKA - more laser wires.) The boys loved it and it was super easy to put together.

In the end, we had a bunch of fun and both mom and Dawson were happy. And that's all that matters. Unfortunately, we get to spend the next 4 months listening to Kate plan her party (yes, she has already started.)