BoRrOwEd HeAvEn

All things that are beautiful and wonderful in my life are a gift from God. A small piece of Heaven that He has let me borrow before it fades away. All things beautiful that I breath in: a fragrant flower, the smell of fresh fallen rain. Borrowed. All things beautiful that I touch, a baby's silky smooth skin, sand underneath my feet, water running through my hair, the wind. Borrowed. All things beautiful that I see: a child's smile, a gorgeous sunset, a falling star. Borrowed. All things beautiful that I hear: a child's laugh, the sound of the waves crashing in from the ocean. Borrowed. I know I'm standing in Borrowed Heaven. Life truly is a Heaven on earth if we open up ourselves up to experience the wonder of all God's creations that surround us. He gave me life and I will give it back. But before I do I'm going to hold it tight. This is my prayer. I know I'm living in Borrowed Heaven. I stand in awe at the Majesty of God.

"LoOk WhAt JeSuS mAdE uS!"

Rachel came into the house to get me yesterday. She said "Come and look what Jesus made us!" so I came out and she pointed out the gorgeous sunset. She continued to explain that Jesus made it for us because He loves us and that all the swirling clouds were beautiful and that's because "Jesus loves us." How right she is. Thanks for reminding us Rachel. God has left His fingerprint on all His creations and how grateful I am to Him for that, and how grateful I am that my daughter has the intuition to remind me.

NeW hEaDeR

Carol took the time to show me some new skills and in the process created this new header for me. Thanks Carol!

ItUnEs TaG

I've been tagged a few times on both a blog and Facebook. So here it is:

You put your itunes on shuffle and for each question put next. The song is your answer.

Here are mine:

1. If someone asks: "Candy" by Mandy Moore
2. My Personality: "Stupid Girls" by Pink
3. What do I like in a guy: "Baby Be Brave" by The Corrs
4. My lifes purpose: "Worthy to Stand" by EFY
5. My motto: "Simply Nothing" by Shawn McDonald
6. Friends think of you: "Sing Out" by Celtic Woman
7. What do I think about often: "Stiff Jazz" by Six Degrees 100
8. What is 2 +2: "Only If" by Enya
9. My life story: "To the other side" by Deana Carter
10. Parents think of me: "The Knowledge" by Janet Jackson
11. My wedding song: "Ebudae" by Enya
12. Song at my funeral: "i'm Alive" by Celine Dion
13. How will I die?: "Love Song" by Sarah Barielles
14. Any regrets?: "Chiyos Prayer" from Memoirs of a Geisha Soundtrack
15. What hurts right now?: "Beyond the Sea" by Celtic Woman
16. The person that I love: "Aint No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera

a ViRuS

Since last Wednesday our family has been fighting these nasty things! I was diagnosed with an Upper Respiratory Infection. Symptoms included hot and cold flashes, a swollen and sore throat, ear aches, headaches, fevers, every single muscle in our bodies (and muscles we didn't know we had) aching, and near vomiting. Finally today I am almost fully recovered and Rusty is finishing up with the worst of it. The stupid things have wreaked havoc and pure hell in our house for about a week now and there is no medication to ease the pain. Oh no. Nothing. Be GONE!

tHe LiSt

Instructions: Take the following list and bold the items you have completed or experienced.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I’ve gone halfway. That counts!)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (the replica in Vegas totally counts here!)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been on television
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Rusty shot it. I helped skin it and prepared it.)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

57/100

I tag everybody.

OuR FaVoRiTe ChRiStMaS CaRd

Rusty's oldest brother Scott has a great sense of humor. Every year he sends out a witty spoof of a Christmas Card and we literally laugh out loud and have tears streaming down our face. I just had to share........

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

It is the season to be and merry and to get the annual Christmas letter out to everyone. As usual, we are a little late. Well, we don't know quite how to begin this, but as was expected things have not gone well in the Wilson household this year. Just when we thought we had it all, along came the market crash. Things have been tough. Scott is still working, but can't quite deal with his minimal salary the state is paying him. Being the big Ute fan that he is, he went and pawned his Rolex to get into the Utah vs byu game. He still claims it was the best trade he has ever made, a new Rolex for a football ticket??? Anyway, Sheryl was rather upset and had to pawn her matching Rolex just so we could have a Christmas.

As expected, the Hummer H2 was repossessed in October. The BMW was gone in the first week of November. The repossession company wouldn't even let us get our TV, 20 disc CD changer and satellite system out before they took it. We are back to driving a minivan, but we think it is nice that we all travel together now instead of in two vehicles.

Sierra was planning to attend Harvard, but those plans have obviously been put on hold. We asked the finance clerk to refund the tuition we had paid up front. They seem to be dragging their feet because we have not seen a dime.

Starleigh was baptized this last June, and has had to sell her CTR ring to pay for a Christmas gift for her mom and dad. She didn't seem to mind because she didn't really care too much about that whole "Choose the Right" stuff anyway.

Sydnee and Saydee are just 6 years old and wish they had not lost their CTR rings because they have nothing to sell and will likely not have much to offer this year.

Our dog Buddy ran off. I guess when you quit feeding some animals they tend to leave. Dogs seem to be rather selfish at times. We had to barbecue our pet goat. He was simply eating too much alfalfa that could be used for the family.

Anyway, we hope that you are all in good spirits and are doing well. Even with all of the economic downturns, we can still have hope and faith especially in these hard times. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

PS Please send donations to......PO Box12345 Lynndyl, UT

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The Wilson Family

My DaD

This is my Dad. He is one of my heroes. I have had a really rough couple of weeks and my Dad has been there for me in more ways than one. He is coming down tonight to watch the kids so I can actually accomplish something before Christmas. My Dad has the biggest heart and would do anything for his family and I am so grateful for that. So here's my shout out to you Daddy. I love you. Your grandkids love you. We ALL love you so much! Even Gracie Cat.