Once Upon A Family Specials!

September 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment

This month Once Upon A Family has 3 products discounted! I have never seen them do this before. This is awesome! So like with any good thing…I wanted to share it with you.

The first one is Stories of My Life Boxset
I have been wanting this one for myself lately. I realize as I get older, I don’t remember everything like I think I will so, I would like to get my life story written down. It will be something special to leave with my children…my legacy. There is a very special video Once Upon A Family has made to highlight this wonderful product. If you would like to see it, click here.
The second one is Words of Wisdom.
Click on the names to read more about the products.
The third item is our Artwork Portfolio.
I use this to put all of my kids oversized pieces of “picasso.” It is beautiful, like a piece of artwork itself.
You can see more at my website at www.familybringsjoy.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized

"Why?"

September 10, 2008 By 1 Comment

My youngest daughter says the funniest things. The other day we brought home McDonald’s for dinner…busy day. It was late and everyone was very hungry. The kids started eating before we had blessed the food. It is a custom in our home to always ask a blessing on the food. I asked the kids why they were eating since we had not said the blessing yet. My youngest (5) said, “Why do we need to say a blessing?” I was surprised by her question as we have always said one and I thought she knew the answer to her question. Instead, I went ahead and told her again, repetition is supposed to be good. “We want to thank Heavenly Father for the food, He is the one who gave it to us.” She looked at me and said, “No He isn’t, McDonald’s gave it to us!”

Filed Under: Home Brings Joy, Values Bring Joy

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

September 9, 2008 By 1 Comment

Where do I start…hmmmm. This book is brilliant. Stephenie Meyer is brilliant. If you love science fiction, you will adore this book. I have to admit, I was hoping for a little bit more romance. I am learning that I enjoy the “ooey gooey” love stuff in books. Once I got past that, I was hooked and loved the suspense. I don’t know how she or anyone who writes science fiction comes up with… with this whole new world!?

The beginning had my mind reeling with curiosity. It was not as slow a start as I thought it might be. I finished the book last night. The end of the book has so many great quotes in it and I can see so much of her faith revealed. Maybe not everyone reading would see this. As usual it all depends on who you are, what you think about and your perspective.

There are many parallels to what our current world is like right now.


“From human times…”Man Burns Three-Year-Old Daughter to Death,” the headline screamed at me, accompanied by a picture of an angelic blond child. This wasn’t the front page. The horror detailed here was not so hideous as to rate priority coverage. Beneath this was the face of a man wanted for the murders of his wife and two children two years before the print date; the story was about a possible sighting of the man in Mexico.
Two people killed and three injured in a drunk-driving accident. A fraud and murder investigation in to the alleged suicide of a prominent local banker. A suppressed confession setting an admitted child molester free. House pets found slaughtered in a trash bin.”


For this reason, I could see why the thought of GOOD aliens coming here to make our world a better place could be a remedy.

My favorite quote is this one:

“Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale.”

It reminds me of a these scripture verses:

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.” 2 Nephi 2:11

“…it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.” 2 Nephi 2:15

Hope this day brings you great happiness, even in troubled times.

Shan
Filed Under: Me Time Brings Joy, Reading Brings Joy

Favorite quote from Midnight Sun

September 7, 2008 By 1 Comment
“Her existence alone was excuse enough to justify the creation of the entire world.”
Midnight Sun
Stephenie Meyer
page 238
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Twilight Moms

September 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I have got to go to bed! I stayed up too late reading and posting on my new favorite website twilightmoms.com. It is so hilarious reading some of the posts. One thing I know for sure, the Twilight series has brought a lot of joy to people. That is a great thing! Isn’t it!? I think so. The biggest “buzz” is about the movie coming up. I am worried about getting a ticket to opening night. I hope they will allow us to buy them ahead of time. Needless to say, the suspense is killing me. I can not wait to see the book on the big screen. I know they won’t be able to put everything in just an hour & half movie, but I know I will love what they do have. I already told my family I plan on buying the movie when it comes out on DVD. They were all surprised as I do not like to watch movies more than once!

I did begin to read The Host this week and it is very interesting. It is very different from Twilight, but I think I will like it…maybe not quite as much as Twilight, but I am still at the beginning of the book…we shall see. One of my friends said she liked it better than Twilight, so I knew it had to be good and worth reading.

Off to bed…bills to pay tomorrow.

Happy Weekend! Shan

Filed Under: Blogs Bring Joy, Me Time Brings Joy, Reading Brings Joy

38 is GREAT!

September 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Today is my birthday and I want to thank everyone who called me to wish me a happy day. It is special that you remembered. It has been a good day. I started out by running 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym. I placed my little card on the scanner like I do every time I enter the gym and the computer all of a sudden said “Happy Birthday!” It totally shocked me! Then everyone in the office said Happy Birthday to me. That was pretty cool!

I then decided I would go see the progress of the house. There was only one framer there. It is very cloudy today with a high chance of rain. He informed me that one of the framers fell off a rafter yesterday working. I was very surprised to find out they worked yesterday. I did not expect that, being Labor Day, & then to find out someone who has been instrumental in building our miracle was hurt doing so. I was sad to hear the news. I think he has shoulder and ribs injured. The one man who was there asked me why I was coming & taking pictures of the house. I was thinking in my mind, “why would I NOT take pictures…it is my dream home you are building.” Anyhow, he continued talking and said out of all the 12 houses he has help build in the last 3 years that only one other owner came to take pictures. I was a little surprised myself and then told him it might be due to people working full time. I think maybe they just came and took pictures at night when they were not there anymore. This was a very nice man and I began to explain to him that I am very grateful for their work. “I want to take pictures and capture this process…it is a miracle to me. I like to see how it has grown. Honestly, I am in awe.” He looked at me and said, “you are the first person to say that, usually everyone takes us for granted.” I can not begin to tell you how humbling it was to hear him say this to me. He continued talking, sharing stories of how rude owners were to them, treating them like second class citizens. My sympathy overflowed as I listened to him. I am very grateful for these men, the framers of our new house. They have a special talent…it really is amazing to watch them work and see their progress.

At the last minute, a friend invited me to lunch and we visited a quaint little “Tea Room” in our small little town. Then before we knew it, it was time to pick up the kids from school. Hubby just got home with a cake for dessert…isn’t that so sweet! He also gave me Stephenie Meyer’s book The Host! Something to look forward to reading. Although, I really can’t imagine it being any better than Twilight. So we are off to have dinner at my favorite Italian Restaurant as a family. I made a birthday mix today and found a song I have been looking for for years: Something Good by Utah Saints. It is such a fun song to dance to!

I hope this finds all of you, my family & friends having a good day too! I am so blessed to have you all in my life. And even though I have wrinkles, grey hair and a slower metabolism I am grateful to be here this day…it is a gift itself!

Adios, Shan

Filed Under: Home Brings Joy, Me Time Brings Joy, Music Brings Joy, Photography Brings Joy, Reading Brings Joy, Running Brings Joy, Values Bring Joy