Reflections of Christ Slideshow

This ia a beautiful slide show presentation of Mark Mabry's photographs (Reflections of Christ). Music is from the Reflections of Christ CD. These images were part of an exhibit that was on display at the Arizona Temple Visitors which I had the opportunity to see in person this past April. It was breath taking experience.

A New Year Ahead

This was a great gift...

Lisa (my sister) got my this great plaque for Christmas. I hung it right as you walk into my kitchen. With the size of family I have, this is an ongoing battle for me. Sometimes I do succeed in getting the kitchen spotless but it ONLY lasts but a few short minutes or until the next meal.

There must be something we are all learning in the daily tasks we do (well, I hope there is). A refiners fire, a small one of sorts. It's in the doing, daily doing, a test to master our things and our space. A place for EVERYTHING and everything in it's place. (Wouldn't that be great!)

Thank you Lisa - I Love It!!

Fun Pictures - Great Ideas

These are from a really fun web site tinyprints.com, you can design Fresh, Modern Photo Cards, Announcements, Invitations and Personalized Stationery for every occasion. Check them out.

The Williams Family Christmas Picture - 2008

Tu'a

Katie, Ashley, Kristen, Alissa

Shelby, Christi, Donny

Devin, Lindsay

Sierra and Derek

Flash Back Friday - Christmas

1989

1984

Both of these pictures are taken at

Mom's house in Clovis, Calif

Let me vent...............

I love my husband, my children (all 9+1 of them), my family and having the gospel in my life. I love to blog, facebook and doing "Our" Family Newsletters. But sometimes it's not all just happy go lucky.

Having a child with mental illness and behavior problems, telling me everyday that they hate me and how stupid I am, can be discouraging. I really can’t “do” anything right for this child.

It’s a daily battle from the morning until I get this child to sleep, which can be as late as 2:00am. Getting this child to school is an all out fight. Even though this child is so bright, talented, and has an amazing testimony. I know it is a battle for them too, with mind, body and spirit.

Is my battle any harder then others? NO, I know many suffer with challenges much harder than mine. My heart and love goes out to you. I guess I am asking for understanding and love. We do not always see the hurt and struggles of others. Let us be aware, sensitive and kinder to each other.

Flash Back Friday - Christmas

Clovis, Calif

This picture was taken in Dec 1982, Donny and I played Joesph and Mary and I sang a song for Mom's RS lesson. Later that month on Christmas Eve Donny asked me to marry him. :-) (we look like babies!)

The Ward Christmas Party

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For our Ward Christmas Party Donny and I sang with a group of old fashion carolers. With out specifying an era we soon realized we represented different time periods. I am the late 1940’s – early 1950’s.

A new "do" for Lindsay!

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The damage wasn't as bad as it could have been. But still what is the attraction to the scissors and little girls’ hair? (I know my boys have done it too) There seems to be this power almost uncontrollable. Out of all the things they could choose to cut it’s the hair that gets it. Well, at least the hair does grow back!! Lookin' good Lindsay!

Flash Back Friday - Christmas

Clovis, Cailf

1972

~

As I share more memories of Christmas past. I came across this picture. I didn't even remember this picture. But I do say I am looking pretty sassy. As you can see in the picture we had a good sized stone fireplace, like many we would hang our stockings up on it each year. What you can't see is in the middle of the fireplace is some of the stones opened up leaving a gap. Dad would make these huge fires, which I loved!! We always had the glow of a fire going. One year my stocking caught fire, so instead of ripping it down and stamping the fire out, my Dad grabbed the whole stocking and tossed it into the fire and it burned. I was devastated!! It was blue (my favorite color), with a print of poinsettias and an angel on it. It was gone!! Never did I see a similar stocking again.

"Turn to the Lord! Do your best

and leave the rest with him"

Joseph B. Wirthlin, 10/4/08

Flash Back Friday - Christmas

Christmas Time - Clovis, Calif

1971

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I love looking at old photos; there are time capsules, moments captured in time. Christmas has always been a magical time for me. My Mom would set the scene, the glow of the fireplace, the twinkling of the Christmas lights on the tree, I would lay under the tree and would listen to the bulbs, make a "dink, dink" noise as the bulbs would twinkle on and off. The colors would reflect off the tinsel, it was beautiful. We had wonderful memories of going down Christmas Tree Lane, going to Cobb Tree Farm to cut a tree, having a hayride and eating fresh pistachios by the fire. Christmas music would play all day and night, It was a big part of adding to the Memories. We would go the local True Value Hardware Store to pick up the new Christmas album for that year.

A Lot to Be Thankful For...

Forever Families
The Gospel in My Life
The Freedoms We Have
For Blessings
The Beautiful Fall Weather
Thanksgiving Programs with really cute Indians
Thanksgiving Crafts, made with love
Being all together (I know as time goes by there will be times I won't get to have all my children with me)
For Mom and Michael being here in Utah
For Great Food and lots of it!!
For Memories and Longevity of Life
I truly have a lot to be thankful for

Devin

Derek

Shelby

Lindsay

Ashly & Tu'a

Sierra, Devin, Derek, Shelby & Ashley

Kristen, Alissa, Katie, Sierra, Devin & Lindsay

Nana/Marie & Kristen

Christi & Donny

Michael & Mom/Grandma/ Lois

Nana sharing memories and pictures of the past

Christi, Nana, and Mom
Nov 27, 2008
AF, UT

Flash Back Friday - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Family

Clovis, Calif - Nov, 1982

Every holiday was a celebration at our house. The whole extended family would come, I loved being with everyone. I also remember Mom cooking and cleaning herself to death. As you can see she paid great attention to all the little details, the food was always wonderful. Thank you Mom for all the great memories and your holiday magic.

Another fun web site!! LDS Fabric

I can across another fun web site.

Look at some of this great fabric.

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http://ldsfabric.com

Jessie Clark & Justin Williams l Signing For VP Dick Cheney

Signing For VP Dick Cheney

Salt Lake Airport

with Jessie Clark and Justin Williams

(Justin is my nephew and was battling cancer at this time)

Flashback Halloween - 1990

Halloween - 1990 - Fresno, Calif
Alissa 6 1/2 months, Christi, Ashley 3 1/2 years old and Donny

The effort it takes to go well, anywhere!

The work to go anywhere is quite a feat. Think about how much time and effort it takes to go well, anywhere.

Shower, hair and makeup x the girls I have and the WWF take down to get the boys to take a shower is a sight to see. The rule is No one can shave on Sunday morning; they take all the hot water. So that is a no no. You would think some of them could shower the night before but “no way”. If we do all shower, there is another load of towels to wash. By the way I buy only white towels (two each person) so I can bleach the heck out of them. You would think they could hang them up to dry, but that doesn’t happen either.

When we finally do make to the car with everyone dressed and ready to go, it is an accomplishment. That’s after the fighting about that someone has someone else’s shirt or skirt on. What can you do?

Halloween 08

Halloween Pumpkins

A Fall Welcome

------ 1st Ward Halloween Party ------

We had the 1st Ward Halloween Party on Tuesday evening. (I really do hate Halloween), but this was fun, they did a great job. There was a HUGE turn out. It was a dinner of homemade soups and rolls. I made a "taco soup" that was a hit! They had a pumpkin craving contest, a costume parade, awards and games. I think everyone had a great time.

Our cutie Lindsay

Donny and the Young Men
Doughnut on a String Game

Derek - a construction worker
he has a tool belt on full of tools

Shelby doing the Beehive's bean bag toss game
(The game was made by Grandpa & we made the bean bags)

Sierra (50's) & Katie (80's)
The fishing game

Devin - a football player!!
(he wanted to be a "dead" football player, I don't do "dead")
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Kristen did a great job on her pumpkin

Sis Uppencamp, Carson and me ( a 50's house wife)
Not the best picture of me, but this was the only one I got

Timpview Comp

Okay I know I just posted this whole thing about slowing down, well it's not happening. With four ballroom dancers, church stuff, scouts, school, work, homework, chores, dinners etc. and 9 children. It never seems to end. So I guess we do the best we can and enjoy it all while it's going on.

We are full swing of the Fall Ballroom season. This weekend was the Timpview Thunderball. Everyone did a great job. For all of those people who ask me about watching the girls dance, coming up on Nov 14 &15 is the BYU Dancesport Championships at BYU in the Wilkinson Student Center. My girls will be dancing off and on both days, but most of the big events and finals happen on Sat afternoon & evening. Come join us for some fun and cheer the girls on.


Katie & Austin winning quick step & swing

Kristen

Forever Sisters - Katie & Kristen

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Melissa Holden & Christi - the Mom's

Irish Step Dance - JV Ballroom Team - Sierra

Sierra is doing a great job on the JV team - Good Sierra

Pre Champ Latin