Change

So, change is a very difficult for me. (Just ask my husband about my reaction to him buying a new phone. And don’t even think about moving any furniture around.)

Which is why getting a new calling is so very difficult for me. Please understand that I never turn down a calling, but dealing with the change it brings can be daunting for me.
For the past eight months or so I have been the Sunbeam teacher and loved every minute of it – Truly I did. I had the cutest four Sunbeams. They brought me joy and amazed at their grasp of gospel principles at the age of three.

On top of that I was also the Teacher Development Instructor for the past two months. Juggling both callings took some maneuvering. My little Sunbeams sat by themselves during Sharing Time while I taught Teacher Development during Sunday School. I would end Sunday School a few minutes early so I could rush into Primary to gather up my Sunbeams, hectic to say the least.

I was growing very concerned about my Sunbeams and feeling that what was happening with them was not fair or right. Then I grew doubly worried about the beginning of a new year because these new Sunbeams would not be ready to fly solo during Sharing Time. What was I going to do?

On top of these worries cam the possibility of new adventures for me that would make it impossible for me to do either of these two callings let alone both at the same time. (I alluded to these adventures in my last post – and I still am not quite ready to share – soon though.) As the worries were forefront I received a visit from a member of the Bishopric.

A new Primary President was being called and she asked that I be her Secretary. I was so relieved and excited about this new calling. It was an answer to prayers.

The challenge has been juggling all three callings the past couple of weeks as a new Sunbeam Teacher has not been called yet (soon I hope). (I have a substitute for this week.) And, I will not be released from Teacher Development until this course round is completed which will be the end of January. It will all work out.

Back to my Sunbeams. Around Halloween I received the cutest, most thoughtful Thank You from one of my parents. Something I will cherish forever.

In case you couldn’t read it, it says:

“Dear Sister Murphy,
You are a ‘whopper’ of a teacher. You help me reach for the “stars’. You
Help me control my ‘butterfinger(s)’. You bring me ‘Joy’. You are a “SweetTart’. I Love You.”

It melted my heart and reminded me how important teaching these little ones are.
I will miss teaching them every week, but am grateful I will still be in Primary to watch them grow in so many ways.

Christmas and All Its Happenings

December is just about over and I had every intention of writing a bit here and there and even posting some pictures. However, I used Andy's camera for the picture and then for some unknown reason he took the card out of his camera and it ended up in the wash. As a result, no pictures, at least until now.

For Christmas I got my own little camera so I can take charge of my own pictures for posting (yea me!).

Even though it is after Christmas I did want to include something that you may find you want to do for Christmas next year. It's a poem called the "Christmas Nail". (Picture first and then the poem.

It's Christmas time at our house
and we're putting up the tree.
I wish I could find some simple way
to remember Christ's gift to me.
Some little sign or symbol
to show friends stopping by,
the little babe was born one day
but He really came to die.
Some symbol of His nail-pierced hands,
the blood He shed for you and me.
What if I hung a simple nail
on my shining Christmas tree?
A crimson bow tied round the nail
as His blood flowed down so free,
To save each person from their sin
and redeem us for eternity.
I know it was His love for us
that held Him to the tree,
But when I see this simple nail
I know He died for me.

Christmas was a little different for the Murphy's this year. Kimber is married and she and her husband went back East to be with his family. It was very strange not having her here. (It makes me grateful that she lives here close by.) In fact we still haven't exchanged gifts with her because she was gone. I am excited that she will be home in less than a week.

2011 has been a year of blessings for the Murphy's and I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for watching over and protecting my family.

2012 is already shaping up to be a year of new adventures for me. I am not quite ready to share as I am still processing the path my life appears to be taking.

In any event: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gratitude

I know - cliche. However, cliche, or not, expressing gratitude has a funny way of softening hearts and inviting the spirit - at least for me.
Recently I read somewhere: Imagine waking up one morning with only the things for which you gave thanks the previous evening.
For some reason that thought touched my heart deeply and has made my nightly prayers filled with more thanksgiving than asking. In doing so, I feel like the blessings I have received have been multiplied ten-fold. In fact, since focusing on my blessings, I have been given the priviledge of my mind being even more open to seeing blessings that I had not yet recognized. The spirit has been working on my heart through this process and I feel closer to my Heavenly Father. I just seem to "see" His Hand in my life just a little bit more clearly.

On that note I have noticed on Facebook that some of my "Friends" are posting a month a gratitude. I am going to have to play catch up, and list a few things to get from the first of the month to now. Then after that I will add to this post for the remainder of the month.

Day 1:I am grateful for prayer and for the ability to recognize answers that came so swiftly.

Day 2:Iam grateful for my ability to teach and that Heavenly Father is blessing me with opportunities to use this talent.

Day 3: I am grateful for a husband who is my best friend and supports me no matter what.

Day 4: I am grateful for a son who is honoring his good name.

Day 5: I am grateful for a daughter who has embraced her role as a wife and is becoming a woman in her own right.

Day 6: I am grateful for scriptures and their sweet words of hope.

Day 7:I am grateful for friends, who depsite the miles between us, are always there.

Day 8: I am grateful for wonderful parents and that we are Friends.

Day 9: I am grateful for modern day medicine and the skillful hands of a surgeon.

Day 10: I am grateful for modern technology and its ability to assist me in every aspect of my life.

Day 11: I am grateful for freedom that cost the blood of true heroes. Thank you to all of the Veteran's and their families who sacrifice more than they should ever have to.

Day 12:I am grateful for modern technology and its ability to assist me in every aspect of my life.

Day 13: I am grateful for a job that brings me joy and fulfillment.

Day 14: I am grateful for my sweet sunbeams and for being a recipient of their unconditional love.

Day 15:I am grateful for a grandmother who taught the joy of doing Family History.

Day 16: I am grateful for a grandmother who taught me the joy of needlework.

Day 17: I am grateful for rain especially because it happens so rarely here in the desert.

Day 18: I am grateful for memories

Day 19: I am grateful that I have been blessed with a love of learning and knowledge.

Day 20: I am grateful for scriptures and the spirit of calm reading them brings me.

Day 21: I am grateful for my husband

Day 22: I am grateful for cooler weather, finally!

Day 23: I am grateful for family traditions (Family dinners, annual beach trips, football games, etc.)

Day 24: I am grateful for holidays that bring friends and families close which reminds us of what is truly important.

Day 25: I am grateful for my love of reading.

Day 26: I am grateful for friends who call unexpectedly after many years and then ask if they can come for an extended stay. (And the answer was "Of Course!").

Day 27: I am grateful for Christmas and everything that comes with it - especially the decorating and baking.

Day 28: I am grateful for the beautiful sunrises I get to see every morning. (Oh, how I wish I had had a camera for this morning's Sunrise.)

Day 29: I am grateful for those rare quiet moments when you recognize that all is well and good with life.

Day 30: I am grateful for my testimony of the Restored Gospel. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and am humbled that He chose to fulfill His mission as the Savior for me and all of Heavenly Father's children.

I Remember it Like it was Yesterday

Today is a special day - Jordan turned 18! When he and Kimber were babies (15 and a half months apart) I thought that this day was a far distant event. Now I sould like the old cliche of so many moms - Where did the time go?

It seems like just yesterday I was telling Andy while at the Air Show at Fairchild Air Force Base in the Spokane, Washington area that something was wrong. I hadn't felt the baby move all day. Off we went to the Base hospital. As soon as the monitors were hooked up the contractions began. I was still five weeks early so I was given medication to stop the labor - to no avail.
Because I was five weeks early the Base was unequipped to handle the delivery. So I was loaded into an ambulance where lights and sirens were going. Andy was following behind just as fast as he could - and yep the police stopped him for speeding. After he was warned that a dead husband and father would do none of any good he was on his way.

An epidural and a few hours later my sweet Jordan was born. He weighed in at 5 lbs 8 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Just a peanut.

I am so grateful Heavenly Father blessed me with this great guy as my son! I am so very pleased with who he has become.

Here is where I get to brag a bit:

He is full of life which depending on the day can be a wonderful/horrible thing
He is a hard worker and loves to be given responsibility
He looks a lot like his dad believe it or not.

He holds a 1st degree Black Belt in Mixed Martial Arts

He will be certifying soon as a Welder thanks to the vocational classes he has been taking
He is a worthy Priesthood Holder with the goal of going on a mission in a year
He is everything a mother would want her son to be.

With Grandpa Murphy

See the glint in his eyes? Always up to mischief.

So dapper!

He was one belt away from earning that 1st degree Black Belt.

Another one of his interests.

Happy Birthday Jordan - I Love You!

Happy Birthday to You & You & You & You

The month of October is a very busy birthday monthfor the Murphy's and for the Dale extended family.


For the Dale's we celebrate the birthday's of my dad (the 5th), Sara (Shauna's daughter, the 5th), my sister-in-law Jennifer (the 18th), Jeff (my brother, the 24th), and Alyson (Jeff's wife, the 29th).


But that's not all - throw in the Murphy's and you have: Josh (Kimber's husband, the 24th), Andy (the 25th), and Jordan (the 29th). WHEW!!!!


So to celebrate just a few my dad, mom, Andy, Jordan, Kimber, Josh, McKenna (My niece), and Callie (Tim's fiance) all went to "The Old Spaghetti factory" in downtown Phoenix. All of us LOVE that restaurant and it didn’t hurt that they were having 40% off their best menu items either

I took pictures with my cell phone, but none of them came out as I would have hoped so a view of the restaurant is the only visual for you this time around. (I guess I need to invest in a camera if I am going to be a consistent blogger.)

Here are some highlights:

Everyone except Kimber and Josh rode the light rail.

Enjoyed each other’s company while waiting to be seated (approx 30 min.)


Dad was cold while waiting so he and I wondered around the dining room where it was warm as if it were a museum


Got seated and ordered drinks and after a long wait ordered our food


Josh opened his presents since it was his actual birthday


Ate delicious food


Visited and Laughed A LOT



Got Spumoni for dessert while the staff sang birthday to all four of the boys and then they each blew out their candle


Watched McKenna do a “Spit-Take” after Krystn imitated the squeaky high Minnie mouse voice of our sweet waitress.


Rode the light rail home.

It was a great evening. I feel so very blessed to live so close to family and that we truly do enjoy being with one another.

Happy Birthday Everyone!

In The Beginning.

So here I go making my blog official. I have been playing around with it and still don't feel quite adequate. The purpose behind this blog is to share the events in my life from big to small and everything in between. The biggest event I get to share now are pictures from Kimber's wedding. I will try to edit them down, but I am so pleased with them that may be difficult. (I do have to give a big shout out to Katelin Roberts our photographer - she was fabulous.

Here goes:

Here's the happy couple just emerging from their sealing. It was a beautiful ceremony. The sealer had just the right amount of humor, but didn't over do it as to take away from the spirit. It turly was a blessing to watch my little girl make covenants and start this wonderful, insane, difficult, joyful journey called marriage.

They truly were joyful and are totally in love.

It looks like spring, but boy was it hot!!! And yet the bride and groom are all smiles.

My beautiful baby girl all grown up. She looks like an angel.

This is one of my favorites. Kisses all around!

Isn't this Clever? (Thank goodness the cars waiting behind and to either side were polite enough to let this picture be captured.)

The theme of the reception was music since that has been Kimber's passion until Josh came along. The cake was gorgeous. The topper was a Treble Clef and three Quarter Notes that I found on Etsy.com. Perfect.

The beginning of mischief - and everyone thought my neices were so sweet.

And the mischief continues - my poor car. The only thing that bothered me was the Silly String - nothing like the AZ heat in August to bake it on to the hood and melt it into the interior. Oh well.

This picture of the reception does not begin to do it justice. There were so many who made the vision that I didn't even know I had come true: Alyson, Tiffani, Spencer, Hope, Lisa, Taylor, and Andy. They worked magic and turned a church cultural hall into magic!

And just as my story begins - so does the story of their life.