Blessing #52 A NEW YEAR!

A New Year is a wonderful BLESSING!

Out with the old habits, in with the new.

A time to look back and refocus, refresh, and renew.

This year, we spent New Years Eve at Bryce Canyon again. Anny and Kass with their families came down. Dana and Tony stayed and we had a wonderful time.

We laughed, hung out, took lots and lots of pictures and.....

Danced! Jackson, Max and Zack had the same girls chasing them from last year. Paige stayed with us, so she was involved with the pleading to the boys to dance with the girls, I think they finally gave in. Aliza, who is only 9, danced for the first time this year with Hayley's nephew who is only 8. It was fun to watch, dance and take pictures.

Some of the crew bailed out early, due to tired or sleeping kids. But those of us who stayed, brought in the new year with a BLAST. (I think some of those kids look tired).

Hope you all have a wonderful, fabulous New Year!

Blessing #51 My Savior

I purposely saved my brother, Jesus Christ, for this time of the year. I am blessed beyond measure for the knowledge of my Savior. Without him, we would not have a chance to get back home to our Heavenly Father or be together as families. I am thankful for His love, sacrifice, and example. He SACRIFICED so much for me. He KNOWS all of my pain. He has been through EVERYTHING I have been through or will go through. I know I can LEAN on him when I need him. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father for allowing his son to go through this for us. I KNOW my Savior lives. I KNOW he will come again. I LOVE him deeply.

BLESSING #51 My Savior

Blessing #50 Christmas

I love, love, love Christmas! I love watching the kids faces as they see what Santa brought them, and while they open presents.

Maren, loved her Little Pet Shop playhouse, books, MP3 player and Lucky Charms from Santa.

Aliza was ecstatic to see that Santa left a bike for her at home. She got a Nerf gun, books and Froot Loops as well.

Jackson couldn't believe his eyes when he saw his 223 gun. He was hoping for a 22, but found a great surprise.

The room was full of excitement, it was fun to watch.

Later that day, we had our Christmas turkey dinner at the church.... Can you believe we are big enough for the church? It was nice to all sit near each other, and that kids could run around.

Kyla got a crimper for Christmas, and Clint was crimping every one's hair. So funny.

Christmas is a Blessing, to celebrate the birth of our Saviour and be together as families.

Blessing #49 Drivers license!

Watch out America, Sammy is official!!!

After months of driving with a permit and mom or dad, Sammy finally has his drivers license.  He can drive by himself.  EEK!  I think the only reason Sam and I are in agreement with this, is now we don't have to drive him to early morning seminary, or to and from work.  He had to take a drivers test today, and passed it with flying colors.  We practiced parallel parking before we went in because he used the truck.  The van has a big long crack, right in his vision, so the DMV said he couldn't drive the van.  He hasn't driven the truck much, but did a fabulous job.   For the parallel parking test, he had to deal with only one car.  He was excited about that.  If you look closely, it is snowing.  So, he tested in snow along with fog.  

Congratulations Sammy!  Now, don't roll the car like I did at 15.

Blessing #48 My Dad, Var Selle

It has been 25 years today, since my dad has left this earth.  I did write a big long post last year about him, but since this year I'm doing the 52 Blessings Project, I had to add my dad as a blessing.  Even though it has been 25 years, my dad still has an impact in my life and how I live it.  This past week I have been reading through his life story that he wrote throughout his life.  He stopped about 1 year before he passed away, ending with his entry on becoming a stake patriarch.  I am so thankful for his writings, I have gotten to know him better, and have started to read some to my kids so they can know their grandpa.  I so wish Sam had a chance to meet him.  I know they would have gotten along so well, they are so much a like (I think anyway).  I was very blessed to have him as a father, even though it was a short 16 years.  I'm thankful for the plan of salvation, and the sacrifice of our Savior,  so that we can all be together as a family again.

Blessing #47 Brothers

At our Family Reunion in 2007, my sister, Joy, put together a little program about our dad. My brother, Aaron, put on a jacket that my dad got from Japan (around 1947). He was there because he was in the Army being a paratrooper, dental technician, and playing football for two years.

My brother, Curt, put on my dad's football helmet and sweater that he earned while playing football for three years at the U of U in 1950. He majored in pre-dentistry and minored in zoology.

My brother, Gary, has toothpaste and a toothbrush, showing that my dad went to Tufts Dental School in Boston, Massachusetts in 1954 for four years. There he met, baptized, and married my mom.

I just want my brothers to know how much I love, respect, and look up to them. I love being around them and seeing some of my dad in them.

I am BLESSED to have them as BROTHERS!

Curt

Gary

Aaron

Blessing #46 Making Memories BYU/Utah Game

And so it begins.......

Who do we cheer for? The team our nephew and cousin J.J. plays for? or the team we have cheered for, for years. Some made their choice strong.......

and some couldn't choose just one.

Either way, we sure had a fun time cheering.

Saturday, Kass's family and my family went to my mom's house to watch the BIG GAME.

Mom and Zack went to the game with Aaron and Brock. Curt had season BYU tickets, and of course Doug and Rhonda and their kids were there watching J.J.

The rest of us (Franckowiak's, Tomany's, and us) had a blast, painted faces and all, watching the game on T.V. We cheered when we saw J.J. on the field, and we cheered when BYU made some points. It was a fun game to watch. I always love it when it is a close game, as long a BYU wins. (Sorry Amy).

Cade was really upset, and sad that J.J lost, but he still has two years to play, and he will be playing a lot more next year.

Anny had all these T-shirts and brought them out after the game. The kids put them on to watch a movie while waiting to go to bed, or home, whichever came first.

Aliza, Blake, Cade, Cameron, Maren, Abby, Brynn

What a blessing it is to be able to make such fun memories for the kids. I'm thankful for the opportunity to put these moments down so memories won't fade.

Blessing #45 Church Callings

I am a few weeks behind on my blessing project, so I am doing a few today.  

I wish I would have taken a picture of my class at church.  Today I was set apart for my calling, Sunday school teacher for the 14 year olds.  I actually received and was sustained with this calling back in May.  It was a combined class at first, having 9-13 students, but now I have between 5 and 7, depending if they come to class.  I do miss the Primary kids a lot, but it is fun to be with these youth.  Sammy is one of my students, and it is a joy to see his knowledge and wittiness in a different aspect.  

With each knew calling comes more growth.  I know I grew enormously with my last calling as Primary President, but I find myself growing in different ways with this calling too.  I get to prepare a lesson each week, which can be tricky.  We use the same manual as the Gospel Doctrine class, so I have to find ways to make it fun for these youth.  (Once I read from my journal from when I was 15 to show the kids the importance of journal writing, they got a kick out of that).  I am thankful for callings, I know we are called by the Lord at the time WE need them.  

Blessing #44 Church Magazines

As I've been reading the conference issue this month, I have felt blessed to have these magazines in my life.  I enjoy, each month, reading the articles that help better our lives and others.  I am thankful that the children have a magazine to read that pertain to them in there lives right now.  I am thankful for the people who are inspired to put these together.  We are truly blessed to have the words of our Prophet and Apostles in our homes every month.

Blessing #43 Lazy Day Reading a Book

Is this a Blessing?  I'm not sure, but it sure felt like one on Tuesday.

The whole day wasn't a wash, but this is how it went:

• 6:00 - Got up and took Sammy to Seminary
• 6:05 - Got Jackson up to study for a test
• 6:30 - Got Aliza up to study for a test
• 6:30-8:00 - Helped get kids ready for school and Sam for work
• 8:00 - Was going to go to gym to exercise then run some errands, but laid              down for a second and fell back to sleep. (darn I think that started                my lazy day)
• 9:30 - Woke up and was going to exercise at home, but started reading a                book that Sam wanted me to read (The Lost Symbol)
• 12:00 - Decided I better jump in the shower before Sam came home for                    lunch so he didn't think I wasn't doing anything, then went back to                reading
• 3:00 - Went to pick up kids from school/read in car while waiting
• 4:00 - Helped kids with homework/made dinner
• 4:30 - Took Sammy to work
• 5:15 - Took Maren and Jackson to gymnastics and Aliza to reading clinic
• 6:15 - Read while Maren and Jackson were at gymnastics
• 6:45 - Maren finished with her class, Jackson stayed and I took Maren to                pick up Aliza from reading clinic
• 7:50 - Got home with girls, helped them with reading and to bed
• 8:30 - Read until.......
• 12:00 - Went to bed

I haven't had a day were I read like that for a long time.  I didn't get such a day on Wednesday, but I did get to read a little hear and there, and I finished the book on Thursday.  I was hesitant to start the book, because if it is a good one, I don't like to put it down.  But it sure felt good to sit in my bed most the day and read.  AAH.

Blessing #42 My Father-in-Law

I've been wanting to post this man as a blessing for a while, but Fathers Day came and went, his birthday would have been a good time, but it didn't happen.  So, I thought since today is Veteran's Day, this would be a great time to honor Samuel Lyle Pollock.

Growing up, he was called "Lyle".   I still hear some people call him this, but......

after he left home he started to be called Sam.  He served a mission in New York and opened up the Bronx and was key in getting Spanish speaking missionaries in there.  He was known as one of the best missionaries there.  When he got home he married one of his mission companion/roommate at college John Oleson's sister, LaRae, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Two months after they were married, and while he was in his first year of Law School, he was drafted into the Vietnam War.  He received a blessing from his father before he left saying that if he would keep the commandments as he had been taught, he would not receive a scratch in combat.

He had many combat stories that are amazing to hear, most are of combat experiences that should have killed him, but was spared.  He earned several medals, including 2 silver stars and 1 bronze.

After coming home, he and LaRae started their family (my Sam being the oldest).  They ended up having 9 wonderful children.

When I came into the family, 16 years ago, he had written and produced several songs and put them on tape, and later made another series of songs and put them on CD about the Vietnam War.  They were made to help those who were Vietnam Vets and were having a hard time because of it.  I never knew much about the war, because I was born at that time, but learned a lot through those songs.  What an inspired man.  I have heard story after story on how those songs have help men in pain, even 30 some years after the war. 

He lost his wife, LaRae,  7 years ago due to cancer, leaving him to raise his two youngest sons, Steven and David alone.  He has done a fabulous job.

Steven, Nick, Clint, Sam, Kenny, David

Dana, Sam L, Kelli, Megan

He also has been very involved with bringing in-active members and families back to the church.  He has taught Stake Presidents and even some of the Quorum of the Twelve his formula, and it has been a great success.

Sam loves fishing.  That is my Sam's favorite memories with his father (some not so fondly..... lots of walking).  When he is not fishing, he is working at the Rock Shop at Bryce Canyon or out finding petrified wood, cutting it in slabs, polishing it up, and selling it.

When Sammy and Jackson were young, my Sam would tell them the bed time stories that he was told growing up.  When dad heard about this, he decided to make a tape of all the stories he had told his kids.  My kids have listened to that tape over and over for 10 years now.  They love listening to "Grandpa's tape".  

Sam is such a wonderful grandfather, making each child seem like they are the one and only.  He is a wonderful father, and father-in-law.  I lost my father at 16 years old.  When I married into this family, it felt great to have a father again.  I look up to this man with great respect and awe.  I am very BLESSED to have him in my life!

(I know this post doesn't do justice, but I had to try)

Blessing #41 My Bed

Oh how I love getting in my bed at night after a long hard day. I usually crave my bed by 6:00 (especially now that it's dark earlier), and some days am in bed by 8:30 or 9:00 (I used to make fun of my mom for going to bed that early, I can understand now). I may not be going to sleep at that time, but I'll read, watch t.v., or work on my computer while enjoying the soft comfort of my Tempur-Pedic mattress. Sometimes I'll have the kids come at lay with me and read to me for their reading log.

I'm thankful for the BLESSING of a comfy bed!