Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad! It's been 11 years since you've been gone and I still can't believe it. I miss you so much and am thinking about you all day. Love ya Dad!

We are thankful!

Almost exactly 5 months to the day we have a house! Our prayer of putting us in the house that we are supposed to be in has been answered. It is a different Ward but I have heard only wonderful things about it. We are so excited. The youth group is huge ( a big prayer answered for Mom!). The girls are planning color scheme's and furniture placement, me too! We are all planning a big party to have all our friends and family over to help us make this house a home. So more on that later. Thank you for all the prayers and help with this time in our lives. It hasn't been easy but I feel we have come closer and have learned a lot about each other.

Just Smile!!!

I love my husband! That's all that can be said.

I am just going to smile today. In the midst of moving (into storage sheds & in laws) I really do feal blessed. I have my girls and my husband ( that will kill me if he ever sees this) and we will have a roof over our heads. Just a quick update, we have 4 offers on houses right now and are still waiting to hear from them. This will be our last night in this house, we will be out on Thursday. So just say a little prayer for one of the offers to be accepted if its where we are supposed to be.(I will not suburban this) A BIG thanks to all our friends for the help this week!

What first?

Where do I start? A weekago from this past Friday I threw my back out. I hurt my back about 3 or 4 months ago and I never took care of it, so on Friday I moved a bag of trash from one side of me to the other side and I was down on the ground. I have never been in so much pain in my life counting giving birth with no help. I spent the first day and a half on my bedroom floor. Then the next good 2 full days in bed. I need to give a HUGE thank you to nicest man in the world "Mr. Back Dr." (we are so lucky to have him in our ward) He came over and brought his table and his electric stimulator and has adjusted me several times. I cried the first time (bawled like a baby and you are talking to a person who can count on one hand how many times I've ever cried) he was so gentle and kind, I love Mr. Back Dr.!

Now for the latest on our house situation. We will be out of this house by Sept. 11Th. We have 3 offers out on homes right here in this neighborhood. One offer has been out for 4weeks this week and still have not heard anything on it. So we are looking to find a temporary stop for hopefully no more that 2 months. Its going to be really hard and a huge pain but I can say that I am very grateful for my family. In the big picture this is only a really small problem. We are just praying that we get the house that we are supposed to have. I refuse to get all worked up and consumed by this. I have my girls and my husband and that really is all that matters. So we could use your prayers to help the home become available that we are supposed to have. Thank you!

Now some really exciting news, I finished the 3rd book in the Twilight series last night (way to late) so I am starting the 4Th one today. I am so excited that I made it. I am what you call a non-reader. Never have been and was sure that I never was going to be. So thanks to my hubby for telling me I would never finish the first book, sure is funny how anger motivates me. Thank you to my friend CA for giving me her book and telling me to read it. I do love them. I only have a house to pack but that 4Th book is calling my name!

I have a business

Yes, for about one year now I have worked my own web site. I really believe that it is a wonderful opportunity! So why has it been so hard for me to talk to people about it and get the word out? This is the question that is on my mind on a daily bases. So here it is. My web site is a travel site, you can book airline tickets, rent cars, book hotel rooms, send flowers, reserve T-times for golf and even buy a car! Everyone that has used my site has saved money. So I ask again why is it so hard to let people know about it? My conclusion is selfesteem. How I long for that girl that could talk to anyone and do anything she wanted. How did I get here? So enough already with the couch session. My travel site is paulastravelbuys.com if you are looking for a fall break vacation or just to get away for the weekend, compare my site to the ones you normally use and if I'm the better buy then please book with me. Also if you are interested in writing off your personal travel and getting those wonderful FAM trips then just ask me how. Happy vacationing!

On your mark, get set, GO!

Madison's first day of 6th grade 08-09

Alyssa's first day of High School 08-09

Yesterday marked the first and last in the Smith family. It was the first day of 6th Grade for Maddy and the last first day she will ever have in elementary school. It was the first day of High School for Alyssa and the last day of not having a clue of what High School would really be like. Maddy really likes her teacher, this is a huge answer to prayers. She has had the hardest time of it the last two years, so finally we can enjoy school again. The only thing that she is sad about is her best friend Annie is not in her class this year. Alyssa had a great first day of High School, there was NO tripping or falling, running into anyone or anything, not being able to open a door, or even getting lost. (open house the night before school is a HUGE pain but the best thing you can do for your child, walk to every class in order of there schedule, genius) We are only 2 days into school and we have a hot breakfast every morning, pray and even got scriptures in today! We are setting a great pattern, I love it.


P.S. Does anyone have a part time job opening for a sad and lonely Mom, during the hours of 8 to 2:30? I know someone perfect for the job!!!

Family Reunion

Alyssa & Maddy 7/08
Alyssa & Maddy 7/08

Alyssa & Maddy 7/08


We finally went away together as a family this summer. We went to Clay Springs for Arlon's family reunion (Perkins). It was a working one. They are clearing out trash and cleaning up trees and shrubs in preparation for the Perkins reunion next summer, it is Ben Perkins 100th birthday and they are inviting all of the Perkins family. Arlon ran his chainsaw all day and Maddy helped pull brush to the big pile. Alyssa had spent the night in Showlow and I was not feeling good the night before and that day. But I think Arlon and Maddy represented us just fine, way to go you too! Uncle Randall let Alyssa and Maddy take his quad out and they love that thing. Right before we were leaving we let them take it out for one last ride. Then out of no where these dark gray storm clouds came rolling in so fast and the ran came down almost instantly. We had thought that they made it up to Randall's to put the quad away and were probably under shelter. But as soon as we had convinced our selves of that we hear the quad reaving as fast as it could and here comes my 2 drowned wet girls and the quad. They had been in the middle of the back field when the rain came. It did make for some really cute pictures (I would not let them come in till I found my camera and got some pics). It turned out to be a really nice weekend.
P.S. You like the P.J. wearing atv'rs