Kelty & Teagan Shine the Light of Jesus Christ

Please share this wonderful video and Let your light of Christ shine. This is one of many beautiful videos that Seth Adam Smith has produced. You may view others at http://www.youtube.com/user/SethAdamSmith

March Madness!

Sending my love to Brett from Vegas. I hate tax season!

Las Vegas Temple.

Teagan with the Grand Canyon as the background! Brett has never been before so it is on our list of places to see and visit. Just can't do it this year.

Teagan and Mom having fun at the zoo.

My little Mermaid!

Teagan's second camel ride of the year!

Teagan was not happy when I told her we were leaving to go back to Utah and Grandma was staying in Arizona.

One of our little rest stops along the way. Teagan was so good on the 10 hour drive. I was so impressed with her. She entertained herself and sang songs and played games with me. We didn't watch a DVD the whole way down.

Teagan, Steph and Jay! Teagan loves her Aunt Jay!

Teagan and Grandpa at the Hoover Dam.

I know it's been awhile. March was so crazy busy for the Dagleys! And it didn't help that I couldn't find my cord to my camera to download pics to the blog. I think secretively Brett hid it. Kidding! Here is the update. I had two business trips in March. One was in Phoenix, AZ. My dad and I drove so I took Teagan with me and she stayed with Grandma Dagley while I went to my meetings. Before I left I sat down with both Teagan and Kelty and talked with them about how on this trip I could only take one of the girls with me and it would be Teagan and then the next time another opportunity came up like this Kelty would be next to come. I was so impressed with how well Kelty handled it. She was so excitted for me and Teagan to go on a trip together and she would get to stay with Shannon and her grandma. But she clarified with me many times that she would get to go with me next. Teagan and I had some great one on one time. My little baby is not a baby anymore as I listened to her talk to me and tell me about her little world. I did get one day to hang out at the pool with Teagan and Pat. Oh how I wish I lived in warmer weather and had a pool! We also went to the Phoenix zoo and rode a camel. Since we drove we stopped at Hoover dam and also saw from a distance the Grand Canyon. We also had short lunch visit with Jay while traveling through Vegas on our way to Arizona. At the end of March I went to Las Vegas for a few days. I was able to spend time with my sister Jay. We went to the temple and did a session and just had fun talking. Once again the weather was so sunny and warm. I was also put in as first counselor in YW. WOW! I already love the girls so much! Brett and I have to juggle our kids and work schedules for all our meetings that has been the challenge not the callings! AND March was not a very profitable running month for me. Let's just say I probably got in about 7 days of running the whole month. I still managed to find a total of $.64 cents. Thanks to Arizona new running territory.

Is this a joke? Me nominated for "Kreativ-ness"!

My friend Rebecca nominated my blog for an award. Her reason - because I travel so much! Thus one of the many reasons why I am behind on my blog. I don't consider my blog Kreativ and wish I had those Kreativ juices like my friend Rebecca. Anyways, Thank you! I will try to update as soon as I can find time and my cord to my camera.

Rules:
1. Copy the award to your site.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.
4. Link to those on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.

Here are my picks for "Kreativ"-ness:

My sister-in-law Ariel . She is the one I blame for the blogging addiction I have. She shares the coolest most random stuff on her blog. She has so many fun sites on her blog to visit. You could spend hours reading on her blog. I also love all her fun pictures she takes and the fun recipe's she shares.

My sister Jay. She shares her life as a newlywed. Well now she shouldn't be considered a newlywed since they will be celebrating two years together. I enjoy her stories of what it is like to be living away from family. We stay in touch through our blogs. I am so proud of what she has accomplished and continues to learn about life through her experiences.

Next, one of my running friends, who I wish I could keep up with, Heather. She is so dang "Kreative"! Always learning and teaching herself new skills and talents. She has a very cute family and it is very evident she loves being a mom and raising her children. She is a wonderful example to me.

My Martha Stewart Gap Sista . Can Jen find any more projects to work on? She finds the best buys on everything and is just so dang cute. She is so stylish and If only I could look and be more like her.

My brother Seth. He mostly shares videos he makes which are religious/political. He is one Kreativ and talented person. If only I could think the way he does maybe not I would never get any sleep. Thank you Seth! Oh and he is a Sarah Palin Fan!

My college roommate Brae (Private blog)! She is a busy mom of 3, twins included and shares highlights of what is most important to her. We share the same love for Alaska as we both grew up there and had the best childhood living in the great outdoors.

Last but not least, cute Jennilyn (Private blog). She is a fun loving mother and wife supporting her husband and family these past 10 years while her husband finishes medical school. She is an inspiration to me of what true love is. To stand by her husband at all times and help him accomplish his dream and goals of being a doctor and to have the faith to move to so many different locations with a family in tow. Good-Luck you guys as you begin your new journey!

Congratulations to all who won!

February's running earnings...

I sure have liked the warmer weather these last few days and running in shorts. I can't get too excitted for it because I am afriad the colder weather is around the corner again. I hate being teased like this. But I am just grateful I can run and I think more then anything it keeps me sane. I have been asked what marathons I am training for and the next one is on June 13th, Utah Valley Marathon. This past month's findings was $1.55 in change. It is alot easier to find change when there is no snow on the ground.

When life deals you lemons make lemonade...

This week life gave us snow so we made the best out of it. I am not a huge fan of the colder weather but I do like the whiteness of the snow and how beautiful it makes everything look outside. After Brett had spent what seemed like hours snow blowing on Tuesday evening he made the girls a slide in our backyard with the fresh snow. They loved it and the slide is all they still talk about with their friends. Way to go Brett! By the way these picures were taken at 10pm at night. I know we are terrible parents and let our girls stay up way past bedtime to enjoy the snow. Sorry if we kept our neighbors up.

Winter Wonderland!

We spent the weekend at the Cabin. I wouldn't call it a romantic getaway but it was a nice getaway with the kids. Friday we spent the day baking sugar cookies and eating way too many of them. The girls had a valentines party. My friend Heather told me that for their Valentine plans they were going to have a valentine dinner which reminded me of when I was a kid and the valentine dinners my mom would make. Everything my mom cooked or made was red, pink or white and the table was decorated. I thought Friday night we would do our own Valentines dinner with the kids. The girls liked the Cherry 7-UP in these heart glasses we have and they kept giving each other a toast. It was also my year to plan our valentines celebration. I made reservations a few months ago for Brett and I to get a couples massage. Then we headed up to the cabin after that. January and February really aren't my favorite months out of the year but I do have to say there is nothing more beautiful then after a nice snow storm and when the skies clear up and the sun comes out. I do love the fresh powder. The girls just can't get enough of the cabin. They love going.

Happy Belated Valentines Day!

I wonder if you know
how special you are
I wonder if you know
how precious you are
I wonder if you know
how lucky I am
to have you in my life
I love you so much!!!

Brett, I am glad you are my valentine!

What a week and it isn't over yet

It's Friday already. This week flew by so fast. It was really hard to come home from our Arizona trip knowing what we had ahead of us this week. Brett's company moved to a new office building around Thanksgiving and they were finally ready to have an open house for clients to tour the building and to do a ribbon cutting ceremony. This was on Weds. It's a very nice building and plenty of room for all their employees now to work in. Thursday we spent most of the day in Logan for a funeral. Brett's great aunt Ileen passed away sunday morning. It was a beautiful service and it was held in a beautiful old church. I couldn't get over the stained glass in the Chapel. It was great to see family and to talk about memories of Aunt Ileen. She didn't have the opportunity to marry in this lifetime but was a great mother to the generation of her neices and nephews. She was a breadwinner and worked hard for being single. She was so loving and kind to all of us and she will be missed. Thursday night Brett was in charge of the Stake round table and had to prepare for this. And my little Kelty has been so sad since her best friend told her that she is moving to VEGAS. How do I convince my neighbors not to move. We wish them the best of luck that everything will fall into place. We will miss you guys so much. We will have to approve of the new homeowners Kara. Now we just need to make it through Saturday and I am pretty sure I will crash on Sunday. I also caught a cold on Monday so it has just been one of those weeks you just deal with it and keep going. Lots of Thanks to my family this week who have been helping with the event tomorrow and watching my kids to get preparations ready.

ZONA!!

We had fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Scottsdale, AZ. When we were landing Teagan was looking out the window watching the scenerey and as soon as we landed she turned to me and said, Mom we missed it! I asked her, we missed what? She said the Beach, Hawaii!! She has been telling me this whole time we were going to Hawaii and she remembers when we went to Hawaii in November seeing the beach and Ocean from her window seat so she must have recognized that there was no beach this time. She cracks me up. We headed straight to the pool. It didn't take long for the girls to warm up to the water and Kelty was remembering all the things she learned from her swimming lessons. Teagan wanted to do everything Kelty was doing by jumping into the pool and going under. Grandma and Grandpa live in Arizona from January to the end of March while Keith works/paints. We played minature golf, hung out at the Phoenix zoo and Brett and Teagan rode a camel, fed the ducks and just relaxed in the nice warm weather. Who could ask for more? Do you know how hard it was to leave yesterday to come back to Utah? We also had an early 3:30 am wake up call Sunday morning when the fire alarms went off at the hotel we were staying at. Talk about an interesting experience. Grandma Dagley came home with us yesterday after receiving word that her Aunt had passed away in the morning. We will get to see her again this week while preparations for the funeral are being made for Ileen. The girls had fun sitting by Grandma on the airplane and it was a little less stressful flying with her help. Thanks for a fun trip in Arizona Grandma and Grandpa!

monthly running earnings

For all of you who didn't believe the total money I found last year from running I have decided to report how much change has been collected at the end of each month As of January 31, 2009 I have $3.09. It is surprising how fast nickles and quarters add up. Sometimes I wonder if my husband drives along some of my running routes and throws coins out just because he knows how happy I am when I find money. I will never know. I am also happy to report it has been 32 days with out my caffeine drink and going strong. It's a glorious day.

Things that made me so happy today

1). Freshly fallen snow and the storm that cleaned out all that gross air. I had fun running in the snow this morning.

2). Eating a whole pack of cotton candy bubble gum. My favorite!! This makes me really happy and then blowing big bubbles.

3). Getting adjusted at my chiro appt. My body is falling apart.

4). Teagan telling me I am HOT!! It made me smile and only wish. The other day Kelty told me I was pretty and Teagan said no she isn't and I looked at her like hey? She yelled mommy isn't pretty she is HOT! Brett has taught her well.

5). Taking a 45 minute nap. I hardly ever take naps unless it is a Sunday and well I haven't been able to do that for awhile.

6). Being reminded I have 4 more days until sunny warm weather! Looking forward to the weekend.

Had to share this video from my brother's blog. I have watched many of my own personal friends struggle to get pregnant and after many tests have decided to adopt. It has been hard at times to watch them go through these trials but it has also been a spritiual experience to finally see my friends bring home a baby and to witness these babies sealed to their parents and families here on earth in our temples. How grateful I am for the many courageous wonderful women who chose to give up their children for adoption rather then abort them and to see my friends enjoy the blessings of being parents and to see the joy these sweet children bring into their lives.

This is the touching story and counsel about adoption from Tamra, a birth mother. Please watch it and share it with others to understand the perspectives, peace and joy that can come from adoption.

If You Are Pregnant...

Its not uncommon to feel that your only options are abortion or raising your child on your own. There are other options; and the decision is yours.

No one else will live daily with your decision, which is why no one else can make this decision for you.

The best thing you can do for you and your future child is to educate yourself about your options and feel confident that you have found the solution that is right for you.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.itsaboutlove.org

With her permission, I share Tamra's story:

People often don't understand my choice. Many respond with pity on their faces as if to say, "You poor thing.” I tell them, "Don't feel sorry for me; I'm a lucky girl." This is the happiest story I know.

Some will say, "Well, it's best that you placed your son for adoption, because you needed your education and to finish growing up," or things of that nature. And while it is true that I am blessed to pursue the educational and social prospects of my choosing in a way I would not have been able to with a child, and although I've been endlessly blessed by my choice, none of these facts constitute why I chose.

Of course I enjoy spending my time and money the way I want. Of course I feel blessed to date without the added complication of being a single parent. And of course I love the independent young adult experience and all I gain from it. I can tell you, though, without hesitation, that I would have given it all up to have my Justin's hand in mine. I would have sacrificed all that was mine....but I would not sacrifice what could be his.

There are those who say, "But Tamra, you could have made it work! You were 18, you had money enough, your boyfriend wanted to marry you! You're a good person and you loved your baby so much!"

I confess this was my thinking for the first several months of pregnancy. I was not one of "those girls." I'd be a good mom.....but not the best. I was enough....he could have more. And I had the “more” Two parents who'd prepared for me, who chose me, and most importantly, to whom I am sealed in a forever family.

How could I tell my son, “Not for you”? Even with all my bargaining and rationalizing, at the end of the day I could not, even at my best, make up the difference between me and the family he COULD have. No amount of overcompensation would have been sufficient.

Many will just ask, “How? How did you do it?" I still don't know. I didn't. I couldn't have. The choice I made defied my instinct as a woman, as a human being, even as a mammal. To give away a piece of myself, my very heart, flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone -- it seemed the very air from my lungs went with him. It was impossible....for me.

And then to survive! But more -- to fare as I never had, with a new peace that felt like breathing true oxygen for the first time! I thought that to make this choice would leave me broken for life; instead, I am mended. None of this was or could have been my doing. That sort of strength comes from a source beyond myself.

As I held my baby, my Justin, in the hospital room, where the veil between here and heaven became so thin, my doctor stood silent in the door for a moment, watching as I sang to my little treasure, as I stared, endeavoring to memorize his face. He saw the love in my eyes and said, "You won't go through with it.”

What he and many others don't understand is, it is BECAUSE I loved him that much, that I was able to do this impossible thing. Had I loved him an ounce less, I would never have let go. It was the only way I could break my own heart and let him go home to those who were his -- and I know now that he was theirs before he was mine. THEY shared him with ME. They are an extension of my family in a way I cannot explain. When we met, I recognized them. I can't tell you from when or where; I don't know the conversations we had or the nature of our relationship, but I knew those faces! And immediately in my heart I felt family love for them. Never before or since have I experienced anything to approach it.

There are a thousand reasons why my choice has been right and perfect for all whose lives have been affected, but THE reason is.... I asked: "Father....what do I do?" Before I knew or understood any of the wisdom or logic of it, I knew the Lord's will for my baby and me, and I allowed my own will be swallowed up in it.

"Didn't you want your baby?"

More than I have ever wanted anything. He wasn't mine. He has been my missionary. I bless his family for being willing to wait while he fulfilled that mission. My heart has been mightily changed.

We were both born that day.

weekend fun!

Here is a quick overview of all the fun we had this weekend. I also ran 9 1/2 miles on Saturday with the girls. Sorry no picture of that. I haven't ran that far since running the St. George marathon back in October. I was so tired the rest of the day. I think I am still trying to recover from the run.

We went snowmobiling Friday night. It was kind of scary being out on the trails all by ourselves that late at night. We have gone when there is a full moon so it really lights up the sky but I kept feeling like a Bear or wolf would jump out. Brett laughed.

The girls love wearing their aprons and helping me in the kitchen. I think we made several batches of cookies this past week since FHE night. Every night the girls would ask to make cookies. Thank goodness for frozen cookie dough.


Jenkin family and Dagley family attending the Draper Temple open house. I have been to about 6 temple open houses and this was the first time where you didn't wear the white booties (I actually missed wearing them) and they served refreshments at the end of the tour. They expect over a million visitors to go through the temple before it is dedicated.


There really wasn't an opportunity to get a picture up close to the temple since they have you walk through tents and then hurry you on and off a bus.