the tuckers: November 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Happy Birthday Papa!!

Today is my Papa's birthday, so we went to the cemetery and lit candles in some yummy chocolate cupcakes! One of his favorite cakes was Gailon's German Chocolate Cake, so we thought that this would work out well.

I noticed as we were leaving that the configuration of Venus, Jupiter, and the moon made a smiley face. Not the best picture, but you can still see it.

One of the things my dad and I did was look at the stars and find constellations that we could discuss. Even when I was on my mission or away at school we would do this, so the stars have always had a special place in my heart. Makes me kinda think he was smiling down on me tonight.

Happy Birthday Papa! I love you! I miss you...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanks-living!

Gratitude is expressed in thanksgiving;
but more so in living lives of honor and integrity,
of kindness and compassion,

in awareness of others and their needs,
and an honest expression of gratitude
for all those who affect our lives.
Thanksgiving is best expressed as
thanks-living.
- A. Theodore Tuttle

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Just Call Us Grandpa and Grandma!!

Ok, so I know that sounds weird. Our oldest foster son, Chris, called around 11:45pm our time last night from North Carolina because he is now a daddy!His birthday was earlier this month and now he has a little bundle of joy, Madilyn. So sweet!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Blah, Blah, Blah...

That is what it feels like after two weeks of parent conferences. Many of them were the same, "Your child is doing well here and here, but need to improve here and here. Here is their retention letter for reference..." So many of my kiddos are below grade level. My personal goal for them is to have them at grade level by the end of the year. A lofty goal, maybe. But I think that a goal needs to be something worth reaching for.

We have been so incredibly busy with photo shoots over the last few weeks, from a lunar 40th birthday bash, to many family portraits. I LoVe the photos that were taken this past week with one little boy in particular! SO AdOrAbLe!!! He is so calm and serious, until his daddy tickled him in the right place, or his mommy spoke to him in just the right way. Not to mention the beautiful sunset pictures of a great family! So much fun! I will have to get some of the photos from Gailon to post here. I know that some of them are on his photography website blog.

Other than that, life moves along!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hello? Is this thing on?!!?

Yes, it has been some time since my last update, but it has been some time since I have had a chance to breathe!! We have been so busy! So here is a quick update as I am on my way out to yet another activity!!!!

First of all, Kimmy came over for a visit! It was so great for Gailon to actually meet her! I thought that this was a cute pose, like she is saying, "Hehe!! I am checking out Gailon's screen!!" and "Hi Mommy!"

Love that little one!!

Next we were able to shoot the Nocella's Family portrait!

Just kidding!! This is not the real one, that one is yet to come!! Updates coming later......

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Favorite Quotes

“I believe…that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ….I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us.”

~David A. Bednar “The Tender Mercies of the Lord,” April 3, 2005

"It is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny." ~Elder Uchtdorf

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy, they are the charming gardners who make our souls blossom."

"Have hope. Be strong. Laugh loud and play hard. Live in the moment. Smile often. Dream big. Remember you are loved and never give up!" ~unknown

"So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage." ~ Henry B. Eyring

“A grand adventure is about to begin.” Winnie the Pooh

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones
and when you have laboriously accomplished your task GO TO SLEEP IN PEACE.

GOD IS AWAKE."
~ Victor Hugo~

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”
--Og Mandino

"God is closest to those with broken hearts.”

~Jewish Saying.

...when I found him whom my soul loves I held him, and would not let him go...Song of Solomon 3:4

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ~Dr. Seuss.

"Happiness is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be." ~ unknown

"You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today's world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms."
~Neal. A. Maxwell

"Once in awhile,
Right in the middle of an ordinary life,
Love gives us a fairy tale."
~ Anonymous ~

"Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug."

"There are some people who take the heart out of you and there are people who put it back." Elizabeth David

“Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

~Christopher Robin

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." ~ Thomas Edison

"Be the person you want the world to be." ~Unknown

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my
fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

~Marjorie Pay Hinkley

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you."

~ Winnie the Pooh

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

-Yiddish proverb

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

~Wayne Dyer

"A house is made of walls and beams a home is made of love and dreams." ~Unknown

"It is not the amount of money an individual earns that brings peace of mind it is having control of his money." ~ President N. Eldon Tanner

" I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity"

- Eleanor Roosevelt

"You did not come into the world to fail. You came into the world to succeed. You have accomplished much so far. It is only the beginning. As you move forward on the trail of life, keep the banner of faith in self ever before you. You may not be a genius. You may not be exceptionally smart. But you can be good, and you can try. And you will be amazed at what might happen when in faith you take a step forward."
~Gordon B. Hinckley

the tuckers