Intermission in progress......

The Death of a FAMILY

Dear friends,

This post will be short, painful, and to the point. After knowing each other for over 13 years and being married for 12.5, *** has decided to call it quits. His divorce lawyer, paid for by his parents- Gary and Susan Jensen- will file the completed paperwork this morning.

This was not my decision, and it was not my children's decision. It was ****'s decision. And it is an understatement to say that my children and I are devastated. I can't breathe. Every full breath carries the ability to fill my eyes with tears followed quickly by a sharp pain in my heart. I am crushed.

For the record, I am able to say that I fought against this until the end. For even though our marriage was far from perfect, my faith in the Saviors ability to step in.....even in the darkest hour, kept me holding on to that dream of a Christ-Centered Family.

For those of you that knew me during the years surrounding our courtship and marriage, you know how deeply I trusted in my Heavenly Father to show me my "best-for-me-only", and I cannot deny that we each received a clear confirmation of our choice. That said, when it became clear that I had lost the battle and that Satan had succeeded in breaking our family apart, it was natural to remember those days and ask in my tear filled prayers the question 'why'?

However, without much of a delay, I felt the comfort of the Spirit as it said, "Be Still. God knew what trials would be put in front of you and ****.  He knew how you would each respond, and he knew that in the end, **** would make this choice.".......in that moment I felt my Heavenly Father pick me up again, into the safety of his arms, and somehow, I was able to cast this heavy, scornful, ugly burden onto The Lord. Including the pain that I felt for my children.

I am confused. This is NOT how my story was supposed to go!!

I am angry. Angry that our families were not more supportive during our trials, angry that I couldn't fix the problem by myself, and angry that he chose the path of least resistance.

I am sad, so very sad for my children.They deserve better than this.

I am wiser too. Will I ever remarry? I doubt it. But if I do? He will pray with me daily, talk to me about anything and everything, laugh with me and encourage my dreams, no matter how foolish to him they may seem. I will pay attention to his family, because, you see, in-laws are often out-laws who are set in their ways with no room for change and no tolerance for other ways of accomplishing something. But MOST of all? He will PRAY with me. His testimony will be a part of his everyday language, for 2 Nephi 32 is real.

Oh, and did I mention that he will pray with me? Okay. Just checking.

After you pick up your jaw and close your mouth from the shock....here is the answer to your question. No. I am not okay. I am broken. What do I need? Prayers, lots and lots of prayers. For myself and for my beautiful children. Any non-judgmental support is welcome. The trials of this life will continue, all the way to the very end. These ARE the final days that will lead to the coming of our Advocate to the Father. Our brother, exemplar, and Savior. Oh, how I long for that day!!

Other than that?

 "Trust in The Lord with all thine heart, lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct all thy paths."

       

And they keep growing and growing....

I was looking through our family pictures the other day and I cried out to Kurt, "Ahh! This is killing me! Look at our babies, they're all grown up! The BEST days of our life are OVER!!!"

He said, what? "We still have a LOT MORE years!"

To which I said, "yeah, but these baby years, I waited my whole life for them and our youngest is going to kindergarten....I'm finding a job! Sob!"

LoL....he started to say something and I said, "LOOK! I just need a little VALIDATION HERE!"

Kurt said, "Okay....sorry....bummer"

 Once upon a time I was 6 months old!

Mommy asked me not to grow up.......

            

                      ❤  But I DID!! ❤

         

                     Happy Birthday 

                       ❤ Lily Eva ❤ 

                      We Love You!!

Modest Swimsuit - Vintage by ModCloth - $15 Coupon for YOU!!

As most of you have likely experienced, the chore of finding a swimsuit is a dreaded, daunting task that is usually accompanied by a bit of damage to your self image, not to mention your pocket-book. Well ladies.....those days are OVER! (what? yeah right! Google brought me here? Nicole has lost her mind....again?! eyes rolling into the back of your head....)

For REAL!! May I introduce ModCloth, an online boutique that caters to....well, everyone! They carry everything from dresses and jewelry to hats and shoes, but for this post I will focus on their swimsuits!

***disclaimer- everything in this post is direct from this bloggers mouth. I have not been paid to promote ModCloth in any way. HOWEVER-every link available in this post is my personal link and will take you to their site where you will be prompted to create your own account. (DO IT!!) By creating your own account via my personal link we will BOTH earn a $15 credit. Available to use on your first purchase over $50 (you will also receive FREE SHIPPING). I will be credited when your order ships. {*please take the time to read the details at the bottom if this post*}***

!!!SWIMSUITS, SWIMSUITS, SWIMSUITS!!!

Modest (or not), flattering, something for everyone! What are you looking for? A post-baby suit? A swimsuit for a blossoming pre-teen? (That's me!) Something that flatters an A-Plus sized figure? (That's me too!) Something RETRO, playful, sexy (oh, ladies....just send your daughter to her room if she is still virtuous, pure, and WAY TOO YOUNG to care about that last description.) real vintage, new vintage, or Elegant? Elegant? No.Joke. Enter swimsuit #1- the elegant Esther Williams:

🎶 She wore blue.....velvet...🎶 Um, yeah. I know, right? The craziest part about this suit (which also comes in black, mint, and green velvet) is the RAVE REVIEWS! People love it, it holds up in the pool and ocean, isn't too hot, doesn't crush. It's simply STUNNING! Oh, and did I mention that it's less than $100? Yep! In fact, out of all of the swimsuits ModCloth  offers, only a few are priced over $100. And all of our favorites are less.

CUE FASHION SHOW!!!!

Now, so that no one reading this post raises their eyebrows, calls the bishop, or hops online and into their favorite anti-Mormon chat room......The picture in my header IS the Salt Lake City Temple: of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ and I do my best to follow HIS doctrine, which includes latter-day standards of modesty as a means of showing respect for our bodies, which are a temple of our Spirit, and thus, sacred. I have never and will never dress my girls in a bikini. It is a choice that Kurt and I made when our firstborn, Eden, was an infant. For our family, it is about obedience, as outlined in the For Strength of Youth pamphlet. Are babies exempt from standards of modesty? No! A body is sacred, period. For more information, feel free to click any of the highlighted phrases in this paragraph, you will be redirected to the official website of the LDS church.

My decision to include ALL of the available options for this fabulous Swimsuit (Eden's choice for this summer) is to illustrate that ModCloth has something for everyone!! If you want my vote....choose to err on the side of Virtue.

Below you will find some of my favorites, and remember...enter ModCloth via my personal link for $15 off of the swimsuit, or dress, or bag of your choice! My families pocket-book THANKS YOU!!

Oh yes! Don't forget your red lipstick....it's mandatory! ;)

❤Isn't the one-piece just so CLASSY? ❤

❤ Cute, cute, cute! Polka Dots are 'IN' ❤

❤ You can never go wrong w/ BLACK ❤

❤Retro-Nautical AND modest...win!! ❤

Here are the details for $15 off of your purchase. ❤❤❤ Happy Shopping!!

A Mothers Day Post

Mothers Day 2013. I have so many conflicting feelings today. 

First of all, it's worth mentioning that I am stuck in bed.....literally. Thursday evening my L4-L5 disk slipped again, pressing firmly on my sciatic nerve with more determination than it ever has before. The pain is at a 10, but alongside the pain, my feet keep falling asleep, and the pain made me feel lightheaded, like I'm going to pass out. A finger touch on my skin anywhere from my hips down HURTS! Lol....I finally caved @ my Spine Dr's and accepted a Rx for a small # of Percocet. 4 years ago I could take SO many of those and feel nothing. Now? I take 1 and it knocks me out. ***It feels GOOD to feel my Spirit stronger and in more control of my body....rather than the other way around.*** That IS one of our tasks while on this earth you know. To overcome the natural man/woman. When we moved to Ogden almost 6 years ago, I had no idea that the move would trigger my "refiners fire" but it did. And I am so grateful for the lessons that have begun to pour out as steadily as the rain has poured over the past several years.

........So, back to Mothers Day. It's here and I LOVE it! For me, it's become the day that I focus on the HUGEST blessing that I've been given. That of being a Mother. These kids are my LIFE! In hundreds of ways. More than I can count. Let's just say, I never knew my heart could love so many little people so much. ❤❤❤❤

Pretty much perfect....don't you agree?

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

KSL Classifieds - Now offering answers to your prayers.

Irony? Fate? Luck? Chance? Any of these words could be used to describe an instance when two strangers interact and in the process, God performs a miracle. But I know....I KNOW differently. These meetings are not something that can be found by looking for them. They can only be GIVEN by living WORTHY of them. Given by a Heavenly Father who knows each of us SO WELL, and who LOVES us SO MUCH, that only HE can orchestrate such a seemingly random meeting of two of His Spirit Children. As for the word 'worthy'....well, HE is also the only one who really knows what that means.

So, with that in mind. I created the picture below to honor my Father in Heaven, who has NEVER left me to walk alone on this earth, and also to thank the recent angels who have been worthy and willing to let the Holy Spirit guide them. If we never meet on this earth, I shall look forward to reuniting in Heaven. 

So, Kathie, Danielle, Faith, Bill, Melanie, 

Stacy, Amanda, Brenda (& daughter) 

and countless others who have blessed another...know this. 

This Picture may be printed for personal use only.
www.goodfamilyliving.blogspot.com

With ALL of my love,

Nicole

I'm back! Not a Zombie (ick!) or a Vampire (darn!), just back!

Wowzers!!!!

It's been over a year. 

One year and 6 days to be exact.

And.........I'm Baaaaaack.

For better or worse

Hopefully Better

I'm Back.

And Public.

If any of my friends tried to check out my last funny post

AGAIN

you likely failed.

Why?

Two Words

Craigslist Stalker.

Let's just hope that "Suann" got the message from "Cheryl"

To BACK OFF and stop sending Craigslisters

to my FAMILY BLOG.

Sad huh? Sick too.

Moving Along.

Ahhhh, 2012....gone, long gone.

It's been a heck of a year and I'll catch all y'all up.

Just not today!

Today I'm heading down to 

Primary Children's Medical Center

for our Princess Lily's Check-up!

Here's hoping for a GREAT A1C Score!

*Whoo-Hoo to 2013*

Current Picture.
fyi my mind sees things in
Black and White.
Working on that.