Dave turns 30

My lil' brother Dave turned 30 today.  There is a huge shin-dig/luau planned for this Saturday, which will be a blast.  My thoughts?  I'm OOOOOLD (not to make it about me)...

Davy is so smart.  He's an entrepreneur.  He's a husband and father.  He has a lot of Dad's qualities, like financial savvy, spirituality, and elusiveness.  :)  He has an MBA.  He works in sales, apparently very successfully, owning a beautiful and huge home in Layton.  I remember everything about his youth -from the little blue jumper he wore all the time that wouldn't zip all the way up because he had a huge head- to his "Aladdin" phase- to his band, etc.  I am so grateful to be a part of his life.  He is an incredible person, and it's my honor to call him my brother.

I love you, Dave.  Happy Birthday.

Geeze

Blogger has changed everything!  I am just catching up on it all.  Needless to say, it's been a VERY busy summer.  The girls and I have been swimming so much, no one recognizes me with this tan...  I am back to pre-Christmas-munch-out jeans!  YAY!  Let's see if I can stay there...

Today Lance got the camera working again, so I will need to blog all about our crazy year.

We have been on a Disney Cruise.
I worked for about 4 months.

Life moves forward in Sortor land, and I plan on keeping all my good friends abreast of the happenings/ goings-on/ whimsies of she who is Rebecca Anne Nolan Sortor.  Take it or leave it.

:) pleeeze take it.  I am that fun to follow....

meh

This last weekend was great -went to Phoebe's (my brother Dave's lil' girl) 3rd birthday party!  There is so much to tell about me and the 'goingzon', but for now, let's say, stress.

Quality

The days pass so quickly.  I am trying to make my time with the girls as "quality" as it can be, however, I'm hitting a bad block of time (4pm to 8pm) where Ella wants to stay busy playing with friends... Mia wants to follow her.... Sabrina is exhausted and doesn't like to take naps (but falls asleep sometimes anyway).  The goal is to keep the relationship that I have had with each of them when I was at home all day long.  I think Summer is especially hard because the kids have to find something to do (be entertained) all day long...  I'd feel awesomer if the girls were all in school while I worked...
Anywho, we made dinner, we washed hair, we made dessert, we played Super Mario Bros., we watched 2 episodes of Hannah Montana.  I'm trying...  : /

NEGLECT

To explain what has happened over the last year is moot.  I have survived the worst (including a new worst day of my life), and have come out kicking and screaming as I fight for my family.

Turmoil sucks, but it's a character builder, eh?

Meantime, everyone got older...  Ella is 8 (still working on baptism deets), Mia is 4, Bri is 2, almost 3.  Lance is still at Schreiber, and I have started working at ye olde Convergys.  I put 7 years in, in a past life, so it's not too big of a deal to come back.  However, I am trying to navigate tech-support for Comcast business clients.  Tuff.

I need to blog again.  I need to keep a record for my family.  I may tell my tale eventually, but please follow me, pray for me, and help me keep my karma clear as I apologize for anyone whom I have hurt.  ....My family especially.

With love

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

I want to thank all of you for being invested in our lives. We love you so much! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Token....

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. The token self-shots are baaaaaack!

Ella's Christmas concert was today. What a fiasco. Have I mentioned that I am NOT a fan of Ella's elementary school? Gruff. Delivering some gifts... Running errands... Gettin' her done. By far the busiest time of the year.

Day 7 MWTOTY

Tonight we ventured to Mom's house for some family time/ differ/ hang with my friend Betsy-babes. We had a great time. Mom took a few moments to talk to the kids about the Christmas things they see every day -and what it signifies. IE candy represent the crook that the Shepperd's saw. We talked about stars, and Ella actually proved to me that the lessons were working! -She told us about the night before our Savior was born, the dark night sky never came. It was as bright as the sun for the entire night. Those who were unbelieving were panicked. I don't want that judgment one day of being one who panics and hides in shame.

Lots of work to do.

Thoughts on my experiment... I am so much happier now in this moment of my life than I had been for entirely too long.

Got most of the Christmas cards finished, got the car back ($268 -never gettin' that back ...do I have any rich friends? Leave a comment, or send a check in the mail!! Cash is acceptable too!), glamorizing my friend for photos, and took the pictures too! I hope that something looks good for her. The season of giving, of beauty, of Christ has truly captured me. I absolutely love love love

Day SIIIIIIIIIICKS MWTOTY

The siiiiiicks has a double meaning... It's long because it covers 2 days (I want one more shot at it tomorrow), and the "cks" part of it goes toward an ugly stomach bug that's been plaguing the tummies and toilets of the house. Eew.

Ok, so yesterday was the ward party. The meal was tostadas (deeeelightful) and I didn't have to cook! That's what went right...
Lance's Dad wound up back in the hospital (after a terrible history as of late, including a quintuple bypass) and was ambulanced to Ogden. The car broke. The wii broke.
Merry Christmas $ = :(
Okay, so here's why my Christmas spirit is :) --No one was hurt or injured when the car broke (could have cost lives if these springs had exploded (thanks for expiring the recall last month, Ford) while going any faster). Ella couldn't play the wii all day (woo!). ...And after draining his chest and running tests, I don't know the current situation with Donny, but I think that no news is good news. I will have to hound Lance for the update later on. After I heard about Donny last night I said a prayer. I cried and prayed, and was impressed to ask for his health if it be His will. I kinda had a panic attack after that. There was an incredible relief to hear that the hospital hadn't called during the night.

The miracles are everywhere and can be recognized when we accept His grace into our hearts and look.

No pictures lately -during this experiment. ...Just words. A LOT of thought.

Day 5 MWTOTY

Sooooo, amidst distractions and tears we read some scriptures and said a prayer.

Thought for the day....

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store."
-James E. Faust

I need to work on my gifts......