January is the time for change

So, it has come to my attention, that once I buy something, I am going to have it for a long time.  Maybe this is why I have a hard time making decisions to buy things. I realized that I had some family pictures in frames for almost 20years. My kids have been wearing the same jackets in all our travel photos for 4years. It is time for a change! We are also looking for ideas to remodel our home, and I've found many great ideas online. I've decided the new black is... black. I needed to add some accents to my home and also make my picture collection look less messy. Here are my completed projects:

..and I ordered new jackets for the kids, too. Goodbye pink and red.:)

Blogger, and Facebook,and Pinterest oh my....

...not to mention Google+, twitter, etc. I can't keep up. When I was on bed rest with Nikolas, I read a lot of blogs, and started a Facebook account. But I was on bed rest.  I am feeling overwhelmed by information and wanting to change everything in my house as well. :0
 A few years ago, I cancelled TV and went to Netflix in order to have better control of TV watching. I think the same thing needs to happen with the web. I need to set aside a time for web surfing and keep the rest of my day free from distraction. I have to admit, I spend a lot more time online than I should.

"All these things can be for thy good".. if I'm using it for good. I love that I can quickly chat with family and friends far away, and I have found many good ideas that I have used online. But I have also spent many wasted hours looking and finding.. essentially nothing of interest or worth.
I have decided to set aside a time every day for my kids & I to unplug and have personal scripture study- together. Yesterday, it was a calm and peaceful.

The Lord is mindful of me

The most amazing thing happened, I got released from teaching Seminary. I was not thinking that this would happen for several years- at the least not until Christopher graduated from High School. The Bishop called me in to ask how Seminary was going at the beginning of Christmas break. At the time I told him fine, but after thinking about it, I called him back and told him that this year it has been really hard for me to teach.  Since August,  I have been very actively seeking a new job, continuing to work at my old job-which is under transition with a merger,  I have started substitute teaching, and I'm a mom.

The new teacher just moved in six houses down from us. Six houses! I don't even have to drive my kids to seminary. (I still drive them to school some mornings after seminary in a carpool.) Her children are grown, and she has taught Seminary and Institute for many years. She had a premonition that she would be called as the Seminary teacher.  I am glad the Lord is mindful of us, even when we are not actively praying for help. The week I was released, the Primary music leader fell and broke her knee, so I have been the temporary music leader. I love it!

I miss the serious study of the scriptures that I had from teaching and preparing lessons, but for now I am mostly feeling a huge sense of relief that one of my responsibilities has been kindly transferred to Sister Hunt. And my house has been much cleaner since my release. :0

Happy New Year!