Family!

Family.....

Sadie (aka Twist) and Savion

Oh how lovely
Sadie and Caitlyn

SO grateful for Kyle

One can not live without a dog.
...ok, well, I can't

My family is small.  I chose to only have 2 children.  I chose to have a couple dogs.  I'm grateful for my choices.  I'm grateful for my family and the additions being made to it!  Pretty soon I'll be a gram gram, that's a crazy thought.  I still feel like I'm living it up in my early 30's, being all sassy and shitty...but in reality, time is moving on and so is my little family.  I LOVE it!!!!!  I'm grateful the time has come for 'grandparentdom' and that I am healthy enough and young enough to enjoy it!  I absolutely LOVE living...and HOW could I live without my family?  I couldn't...just simply could not.

Handsome Man!

CJ...I could not have a family of my own without this guy!  I'm grateful for him. Being married and sealed to this man was the best decision I've ever made.  We will always be together...like, FOREVER!  CJ and I are one in purpose...life, family, friendship, up's, down's....all of it.  We are united and grateful for all that we have - but mostly our family, we love our family.

Sunshine and Happy Days!
Lisa Lucille

PS - I think family consists of the people who love us.  They are not always related.  I love those people too...they are my family.

I know my truth!

In the movie Couples Retreat, Vince Vaughns character (after being "bit" by a shark) says, "I know my truth."  I laugh every time!  But, since I am the cheesiest of cheesy people...I like to find a deeper meaning in every phrase, song lyric, quote and so on.  That being said, there is epic meaning in the phrase "I know my truth!"  I use it a lot to drum up a laugh OR explain, "what I know I just know, period, the end."  This movie phrase is my favorite (next to "You don't know my life!" from the movie Baby Momma - which has equally epic meaning for me!).  I use it often, because it ends all stupidity in thoughts, words and random arguments.  I know my truth...smile commenced.

my 'i know my truth' face
...so shut up.

When I use the word "truth" it doesn't stem from it's opposite - "lie".  Truth, for me, means honesty from the inside out.  I have NEVER been very honest with who I actually am, the person my Father in Heaven made me to be.  I'm a pro at degrading my looks, talents, good works, body image and general personality.  About 3 weeks ago my brain screamed "I'VE HAD IT!"  I listened.  My heart then reminded me, "Your spirit was made perfectly by a perfect being."  I knew, without doubt, someone was trying to tell me something.  It was one of those moments your jaw literally drops and your eyes fly open.  This never happens to me, because...truthfully speaking, I'm generally to stubborn to listen to what my 'inside' has to say.  Long story short, my life has changed.  I can look in the mirror without distain, I can laugh whole heartedly at myself, I feel a closer connection to my Heavenly Father and I show love more freely...because I'm not afraid!  My physical body was created by two of the most adorable people I know - my mom and dad.  So I've got to be a little adorable...right?  My physical body is only a house for my spirit, my spirit was made by God and I know he made it perfectly.  So, I'm feeling pretty good about my situation AND everyone else too!  It's always a work in progress, but I like work now!

my baby holding pic's of her baby!

If you want mind blowing, undoubtable truth...watch an ultrasound.  That's a baby, already sucking it's thumb, blinking its eyes, opening it's mouth and rolling around in quiet bliss.  Miracles are absolute, undeniable truth.  My grand baby, swimming in my daughters tummy, is a miracle.   She already looks like her dad - his mouth and nose, most assuredly.  She is camera shy, because she brought her little hands to her face when the technician rolled the ball of jelly up to take a look at her. My Cait was grinning from ear to ear at the beauty of it all.  How LUCKY am I to have been there to experience that.  The truth of it is...I was fascinated and empowered by my own daughters strength. That she is alive and is carrying a baby in her belly is a real miracle.

Kansas...check
Buck down...check
3 degrees...check

CJ goes to Kansas every year to hunt whitetail.  Beautiful deer with yummy meat.  They are yummy because they graze in corn fields and on alfalfa.  Truth...it felt like he was away for a month!  Truth...I felt like it was normal to feel like he'd been gone for a month.  Truth...the night before he got home I thought, "Feeling complacent about CJ being away is NOT something I want to get used to!"  So, I decided right then and there that our 'love story' will never end.  Ups, downs....it doesn't matter, it's a love story and I LOVE every bit of it!  I know my truth FOR SURE when it comes to how much I love my CJ.  No one could put up with me like my Chris does.  No one would care for me like my Chris does.  And absolutely no one could love me as much as my Chris does.  He's home now, and a new chapter in our love story can begin!

Sadie + Otis = love

Truthfully speaking...I know my baby is an adult and can take care of herself!  She has proved that time and time again.  She got a puppy this week.  He is a silver lab and his name is Otis.  As labs are, Otis can be hyper (and he pee's & poop's on my carpet).  However, I think dogs are harder to raise than babies!  So this is a great opportunity for Sadie to be responsible and care for something that breathes and requires water and food to stay alive!  Truth...I'm nervous about this endeavor.  Truth...I know Sadie will do the very best she knows how to keep this cute little puppy happy.  Last one - truth...I'm REALLY glad we decided to wait on remodeling the house.  It's best to have old carpet and old furniture when a puppy comes to live with you.

Cait and Kyle making it a forever family!!!!

On saturday, my Caitlyn and her adorable husband Kyle were sealed in the Oquirhh Temple.  It was SO cold and rainy outside, but inside the temple it was warm, welcoming and bright.  Little Ava was kicking and poking her momma the whole time!  Kyle was a big cry baby...which was so endearing (love ya Wade!).  My Cait, with her gigantic smile and big wide blue eyes, glowed the whole day.  Truth...they are a a family bonded together for eternity now!!  Despite the elements and migraines, this was one of the happiest days we've ever spent together.

This week has been crazy busy and crazy fun and crazy tiring.  My house is a mess, I have 3 piles of laundry just waiting to be folded and put away, I've only cooked one real meal in 7 days, I'm tying to entertain my "sort of on bed rest" Cait, I never see Sadie because she is a dating machine, I've been to the store 3 times (already!) in preparation for Thanksgiving, I have papers to sign and people to meet with all over the valley....however...I know my truth, and the truth is 'if everything wasn't crazy, busy and a little disheveled, it wouldn't be LIFE!'  I am living my life with open arms.  That's the TRUTH!

"Truth is like the sun, you can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away."  Elvis Presley

I love EVERYBODY...that's the truth!

Peace peeps!

Lisa Lucille

so many things happen...when time flies....

Gosh!  So many things happen in a moment, hour, day, week, month.....you get it!  Time really does fly.

Reminders of what's happened in the last year or so....

*a cruise to the caribbean - again, that's #17, not bragging...just saying'
*voice box surgery - didn't last, not complaining...just a good test of will work and what won't!
*Kyle came home from serving in Kosovo for 10 months!  Good soldier boy...xoxoxo
*a new 5th wheel - L O V E...it resides in St. George (hence, so do I from time to time)
*Sadie tried out for Miss Bluffdale and won Miss Photogenic!
*Sadie graduated from Riverton High - and then.....
*Sadie went to Peru - an amazing and selfless service project she involved herself in!

*CJ bought me a new 4-RUNNER - it's gorgeous...waaayyyy better than a new pair of shoes!!
*CAITLYN is PREGGERS! - STOP!...Grandma time! (And it's a girl! - Ava Jane)

*a Colorado Springs trip, to visit Cait...in her ghetto digs...
*Tom left for 'duck' training in Canada - miss him....he probably doesn't miss me?
*went on an AMAZING church history tour - 12 days on a bus learning, sight seeing and learning!

Susquehanna River
Wait! John the Baptist was here?!  BOOM baby!

shoppin' the pioneer way
Kirtland OH
She like their hats....

Baptized for the dead...
with my Sadoe...
in the Nauvoo Temple!

*Cait and Kyle moved home - back to Utah....where we LOVE them!

*my IRONMAN finished the Florida race in 10:54:08 - wicked weather and all...he ran his A#% off!

*Kyle and Caitlyn are going through the temple to be sealed for ETERNITY on Nov. 22!  YAY!!!!

That brings me to today.  CJ is in bed with the flu.  Sadie is working.  Cait is home with her dogs and preggers belly.  Ava is swimming happily in her mothers womb.  Kyle is working his little rear end off (he works at the shop).  I am sitting at my kitchen counter (have been for the last 2 hours!) wondering "EXACTLY HOW LONG does it take to update iTunes on my iPhone?!!?" In between the wondering of the iPhone and this exact moment, I have been filling plastic cups full of ice water, warming up chicken noodle soup,  dosing out ibuprofen and taking temperature checks on my sad CJ's forehead.  So...I haven't got a damn thing accomplished today.  It's ok, because my family comes first, and...well...I love them.

This month I will be starting a Random Acts of Kindness project, a Proverbs Project, re-decorating my craft room and, of coarse, journaling...in my 7 (yes, 7) journals.  I journal...so sue me.  The blog will reflect my efforts (whether super lame or freaking awesome...some kind of effort will be made).

The best part of the next week (november 10th) is that my Grandma Gibson will be 90!  My awesome grandma, who, took me to her golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, relief society luncheons, taught me to forever love the smell of PineSol, and body surfed in her 60's....she will be 90!  Forever one of my favorite people and greatest examples!  She's adorable....and supremely feisty.

And....I guess it's pretty cool that my Cait will be turning 22 on the 9th and my cute dad will be turning 67 on the 14th.  I'm sorry Cait and Dad, but 90 trumps both y'all.  Just sayin'...loves!

"Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.  I don't care if I win or lose...I just love playing the game!"

Peace to my peeps....

Lisa Lucille :]

It's HOT...it's JULY!

July has been HOT!  I'm pretty sure the temperature hasn't been below 95 since the last week of June.  I think 90% of the time it's been at or above 100 degrees!  However,  I have loved it.  The nights are perfect, right at 72 degrees, and it's been nice to play with Tom and go for walks after dark.

I soaked in the sun yesterday...and yes, it was extremely hot!
Tom wasn't having it ;]

Sadie getting ready to ride Yo Yo :] 

Today is July 24th.  This is the date Utah was made an official state of the United States of America.  That's why July in Utah is so awesome!  We seem to have fireworks blasting the whole month....because we have much to celebrate :]  I take pride in the country our forefathers loved.  I enjoy living in Utah by the mountains.  And since I missed "scripture sunday"....here's one "And for this purpose I have established the Constitution of this land, by the hand of wise men who I have raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" D&C 101:80  That's why I love my country so deeply....because I know it's ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

My Cait and her Sweet Kyle
Defending and Protecting Our Nation

Peace Out, Love your Family and Be Free!

the last 1 1/2 years....in a nut shell :]

It's been almost a year and a half since any blogging has been attempted.  My life has adjusted quite a bit!  It's amazing how much can happen in the course of a year....

My best friend in the whole world, Axl, passed away on September 30, 2012.  It broke my heart right in half and is still hard from time to time.  One year ago he was given an Excellent Health Report.  The techs at the vet couldn't believe he was 10 years old...they thought he was 6!  Crazy what can form in just a couple months...a basketball size tumor in his stomach.  It was devastating for me, but I made the decision and we put him down.  I stayed with him until after his poor little heart stopped beating.  I cried harder than I had in years. Oh boy I loved that stubborn dog...and I know he loved me right back!  He's buried in back of our barn and I visit him once in a while ;]

However, never fear!  There's always a dog near!  In February of this year, CJ took me to "look at" some chocolate lab PUPPIES.  One thing you should never do...take Miss Lisa to see some puppies.  Yep, there was one I just couldn't take my hands off of - and now we have Tom!  He is polar opposite than Axl...he loves socializing, he WILL drop the ball for you, he never leaves your side and truthfully is already more obedient that Axl ever wanted to be ;]  I bought a plaque after Axl died that says "All you need is Love...and a Dog"  It's so true.  Dogs are the most caring and honest friends you could ever have.  Tom loves to play and swim in the canal and pee all over the house, which is why he is now an outside pup!

IRONMAN Florida 2012....CJ swam it, biked it and ran it!  Then he passed out waiting for me, Kay and Craig to come get him ;]  The highlight of his whole race (to me anyway) was his bike...he biked 112 miles in 5 hours and 15 minutes!  He's amazing!

The race start was on the beach at the base of our hotel!

THE MOST EXCITING thing that happened, was in November.  Our Cait got engaged to Kyle Wainwright!  It was a blessing to sooooo many prayers.  Cait and Kyle are like 2 peas in a pod.  They love each other and are happy.  The got married on March 16th!  It was a party....so much fun!  Kyle is in the army and had to leave to serve in Kosovo just 1 month after they were married.  It's been hard for Cait and Kyle, but they stay connected through Facebook and Skype.  He will return home in February of 2014 and his service will end the following year.  We love Kyle and cant wait for him to return home!

Sadie was involved in 'Special Needs' programs All Year Long!  She loves serving, however she can, in these programs.  She worked so hard at school and in the special needs mutual...she was literally tired ALL THE TIME!  And she finally got her driving permit...license to come next month!

Dancing with Aiden at Best Buddies Ball :]

Sadie also went bear hunting in Canada this May with CJ, Uncle Todd and Dave Openshaw.  She had a blast, but most importantly, shot a bear!  Unfortunately there are no pics of this momentous occasion on this computer yet...but they're great and her bear was 6 ft tall!

My fun with My Little Preschool came to an end in May.  Only 2 years...but it was a blast and I will love those kids forever!  They will forget me, but I will never forget them ;]  It's time for me to take some time getting myself back together.  It's been a tough couple years which took its tole on my body and emotional state.  I'm in the process of getting my sinuses figured out, they may need to be operated on?  But I'm for sure getting my tonsils taken out...then maybe I will be able to breathe and be active again?  I'm also aiming to get all my "lady junk" out.  So there may be 2 or 3 surgeries this year?  I hope so...then I'll move forward again!  My constant and love of my life is always there to support and take care of me...I love my CJ.

My Grandpa Gibson passed away on July 1st.  Just a few weeks ago.  I absolutely love my Gramps and the awesome example he has always been.  He loved me, he loved everyone!  I will miss him, but am so grateful he is where old age and illness can't keep him down anymore.  He is truly a man of great honor.

on his 91st BDay in January

Graveside was a tear jerker...gramps served in the US Navy
My man dedicated gramps grave, they were great friends

So...when all is said and done, all is well.  It's good to enjoy life, it's good to also take it one day at a time.  All I need is the love of my family.  They are my most favorite treasure.  I am proud of each one of them!  I'm super grateful to be the wife to a seriously sexy and funny man, my very best friend.  I love being mom to my two crazy and beautiful girls, and I finally have a son who I adore!!  I am a very different person than I was 1 1/2 years ago...but I'm still Lisa and I really don't mind being that :]

family first...always

Peace out...be of good cheer!