Christmas 2009

We had another wonderful Christmas at the Hurst household. This is the first years since our kids started looking forward to Christmas morning that we didn't get up at 6:00 am. Janna still wanted to, but her teenage sisters and brother demanded we wait until 7:30. No argument from Kevin and I. I think Amberly would have gladly slept even later than that, but we compromised. It was a relaxing day and I'm so glad to have such a wonderful family to enjoy the holidays with. I'm especially thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to remember Him on this special day.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Parties and Concerts

The Christmas Season is in full swing and the parties and concerts take up our days and nights

Kevin's mom has a Christmas Party every second Saturday of December. This year she hosted the Nelson crew. It was fun to see family that we only see every other year.

The Horsley Party was a Christmas Breakfast again, this year held at Omniture where Glen works. It was a great place to host the ever growing Horsley clan.

Jeffrey is in Chamber Choir this year and did a great job at his Jr. High concert. I'm glad he enjoys singing as well as sports.

This year, Janna had the privilege of having a solo part in her Choir Concert. She did a great job at the mall and at the evening performance. I tried to upload the video, but after an hour I gave up. Trust me when I say she sounded great.

It's always a treat to go to Amberly's Christmas Concert. She is in Chamber Choir and Acapella Choir so she sang a lot. She also accompanied on the piano for a couple of Chamber numbers. I'm going to be sad when I can't go to her concerts in Rexburg every time she performs. Great job Amberly!

'Tis the Season

We had a wonderful family night tonight. The kids begged for a real tree this year, so after doing some shopping for their cousins, we took the kids to pick out a real Christmas tree. It's been a few years and I must say I enjoy how beautiful and how fragrant a real tree is. We decorated as we listened to the First Presidency Christmas devotional. What a nice tradition.

Merry Christmas.

Aprons

Are these cute or what. My sister makes these cute aprons. The prices are 1/2 what you'd find in OTHER places. Prices are: $20 for adult. $15 for child and $10 for toddler. She also makes special orders for matching aprons or does $22 plus sizes.

Contact me if you're interested. I will have a bunch at the Manila Elementary faculty room for a couple of weeks. (785-8860)

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break started out with THE BIG LEAF CLEANUP.

Snow shovels are a great way to clean up leaves.

Janna missed the great leaf cleanup because she was with grandma, baking pies for the next day. Thanksgiving was at Kevin's parent's house this year. We had great food, games and music when Amberly and Kelli sang for us. Oh yeah, and Jeffrey watched football.

Pie day was muy bueno. We ate lots of yummy food, played some more games and visited. It was alot of fun (except when we started talking politics). 

After going to Ethan's birthday party, Amberly, Cammie, Jeffrey and I went with Frances, Todd and John to see Blindside. What a great movie to end a great day.

Soloist

So Janna tried out for a solo part for the Christmas concert at our school chorus and she was chosen to have one of the solos. I'm proud of her for trying out and real excited she was selected. Sing your heart out Janna.

Championship Game

Jeffrey had a great football season. I think one of his coaches, Sam Dehoyas explained the season well in an email he sent about head coach Dave Pincock. He said:

I have had the privilege of coaching with Dave now for 2 years, and I can honestly say that Dave truly cares about your boys and wants nothing but the best experience for them. His greatest desire is for them to have a great time and to learn the game of football. I can promise you that there is not ONE other team in our league that learned as much about football as our boys did or had as much fun. Dave has been criticized by other coaches all year who would say that our team would never do well and could never endure a long hard fought game because he doesn't run them enough or make them hit enough. Well, funny thing is... Daves' team is still in it and all those other teams are done and have already turned in their equipment.

In the first game of the season we were beat pretty bad by this AF team that we played for the championship. The boys showed how hard they worked with their coaches this season by having a great showing in the championship game.

AF scored the first touchdown in the first quarter, but we held them from getting the extra points. We then scored right before halftime and got a one point conversion going into half time with the lead 7-6. We held them until half way through the 4th quarter. The score was then 14-7 for AF. Even though we fought hard we weren't able to score before the clock ran down.

I know the boys were disappointed, but as a parent of a boy on this team all I can say is great job Pleasant Grove Vikings. You came a long way from that first game of the season and had a great game in the championship. I am proud of all of you.

Halloween

Halloween has come and gone, but fortunately it will never die because....I going to blog about it.

Kevin never dresses up, but he did try on my hat.

I'm not very original. Every year I'm a witch.

Amberly wouldn't wear Jeffrey's pads...because they stink, but she was a cute football player.

Look at that cute granny.

Jeffrey was the opposite of his real self...a nerd.

Don't smash that cute bug.

The best reason for Halloween...my students.

The awesome Manila first grade team.

This cute little giraffe stopped by for some treats.

Janna did great for her last Trick or Treat.

Glad she had fun with her friends.

Happy Halloween!

Poet-Not Really

I wrote this poem almost 2 years ago. I've only shared it with 2 people, but feeling inspired by my cousin Debbie to share some of myself through writing, I am screwing up my courage and posting this poem I wrote. It is extremely personal and I hope my blogging friends will realize that I have no ambitions as a writer, but sometimes experiences just need to be shared in a very intimate way and this was GIVEN to me and has helped me understand myself better. I am feeling like I need to share it publicly now. I don't know why I just know I'm supposed to. Please be gentle. Feel free to keep your opinions to yourself. This poem was a gift from God directly to me and he is now pressing me to share it. Maybe my hard drive is about to crash and I need it out in cyberspace. I haven't even made a hard copy of it. I kind of feel like I'm walking down the street in skimpy clothes and all my flaws are exposed. Well here I go. I'm going to send it out there. I think I'm sweating.

Gift From God

Born with a gift from none but God
I wield my tongue at all I see
Cutting, hurting, laying open
Precious souls given to me.

In His mercy God has shown me
That this sword needn’t destroy
With a humble heart I plead
For Him my tongue for good employ.

When I humbly come before Him
Offering all I have to give
He will make my weakness over
Into strength, blessing all who live.

Let this sword be used for goodness
Lifting, Praising, Testifying
Of the One who changes all
With hearts contrite and breaking.

RaeAnn Hurst
January 20, 2008

I LOVE MY FAMILY

I love my family!

I love the color purple!

I love fall!

Baby Jackson

Last Monday, we were all finally healthy and could go meet my new nephew, Jackson Horsley. My brother and his wife Sarah had this little cutie join their family on 09-09-09. What a fun birthday huh? We're so glad to welcome him to the family. Way to go Glen and Sarah.

Heber Valley Camp

This week-end we had another fun family reunion at Heber Valley Camp. This is the third year my family has been able to go to this beautiful place together. We've always had the most beautiful fall weather. This has become a much loved tradition with the Horsley family and we hope it will continue for many years to come. I love you family!

Two years ago we had my sister take family pictures at Heber Valley and we I decided it was time for some updates. My sister Maria kindly took these of our family with my digital camara. I think they turned out pretty good. I love you Kevin and kids!

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance,

chaos to order,

confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast,

a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.

- Melody Beattie

I stole this poem from my friend Melissa. I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. Maybe because I've been feeling so much gratitude for my amazing life. I really think it is a commandment we pay way too little attention to, even though I think it is probably one of the most important commandments we can keep. If I tried to share even a fraction of what I'm grateful for I'd been typing for days so I just want to share one of the things I've been sending prayers of gratitude to Heavenly Father for lately. FALL! What an incredibly beautiful season. The weather is sweet and the mountains couldn't be more beautiful. The sky is so blue and beautiful. I drive around town and can't help but praise God for the FALL beauty. Thank Heaven for FALL.

Been Gone

I've not been posting much lately because I've been visiting my friends, Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley, Sadie Baxter, Hal and Marge Owens, and many more in their beautiful mountain village in Mitford, North Carolina. I've enjoyed my visit with them immensely even though this is my second visit to their little village. The food is wonderful and the company can't be beat. I appreciate them letting me share their joys and sorrows. They have taught me much and lifted my spirit. We've shared a few tears together and a great many laughs. I should be back in a couple of days after I visit Father Tim's home town in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Then its time to get serious about my Spanish studies and begin a more regular indexing regime. I know Father Tim and his friends would welcome you to Mitford if you should ever like to visit. If you go to the library it's free.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's my 42nd birthday. Wow! I feel younger now than I ever have. I love birthdays! Thanks everyone for your kind birthday wishes. I love having all of you in my life.