i have the BEST cousin

This is our family

My awesome cousin Amy made them and sent them in her Christmas card to us. I'm so blessed!That's her in the middle...she's the mom of 4 beautiful children. Thanks Amy! We love you!

When needed Heavenly Father will use the phone...

I will admit this last quarter of 2009 has been rough for the Murphy family for a variety of reasons. I've been looking for the blessings...sometimes it was harder than others. I've been practicing an attitude of gratitude. I've been focusing on my haves and not my have nots. Monday, we were "blessed" that Gary was able to have knee surgery and everything went well. It's not fun to spend the holidays recovering, but we have insurance and sick leave so...attitude of gratitude. Really, over all I can't complain and then...Tuesday happened. As I was leaving to take a friend to drop off her car, to have work done, I simply stepped out my front door and BOOM...down goes Fraser! Yup, nasty sprained ankle was my reward. My first thought was...you've got to be kidding me! I have a 3 months old, 2 year old and 43 yr old invalid to take care of during the day...this is NOT an option. Add to that the 2 year old's parents were on their way to Atlanta to find out if the dad's mass on his pancreas is cancer. Really a sprained ankle? I mean REALLY???
After two days of sharing crutches with my patient, head shaking in disbelief, husband I admit to feeling a little sorry for myself. Enough is enough. Then my phone rings. A lady on the other end asks if I teach scrapbooking classes and if I'd be available December 19th to do a workshop. Can you imagine where my mind went...it wasn't pretty...then she goes on to explain she works for the Division of Child and Family Service and she wants me to help about 40 foster kids make life books. To say I was instantly humbled is an understatement. As I sat in my comfy recliner, looking across the hall at my healthy, loving husband, with pictures of my incredible children on the wall in our warm, safe home I was put in my place by a kind and loving Heavenly Father.

Thanks for calling...it's just what I needed.

If you need me on the 19th I'll be busy from 10-2.

PS Is a miracle sprain healing too much to ask? As Gary would say, I had to ask ;D

A Great Big Thank You and Yup, I'm obessed with google

We were walking in a crowd the other day and there was an older gentleman with a military baseball cap. My husband stopped and quietly thanked him. The look on the man's face said it all. I feel that gratitude and humility in my heart but don't express it often enough. So today I shout with all my heart "Thank you my grandpas and grandmas! Thank you Mike, Jeremy, Aaron, Will, Aaron, Chris, Gerry, Scott, Walter, Brent, Shaun, Ron, Adam, Seth, Luke, Stephen, Andrew and every other man and woman who has or is serving our country and protecting our freedom!

I want to go to this birthday party!

Happy 40th Birthday...cookie monster,
oscar,
burt,
ernie,
big bird,
snuffy
count,
Maria,
super grover,
elmo
....I miss you Mr. Hooper!

Thanks Google for making me smile!

New Month, New Living Arrangments

I knew it was too good to be true.
Life finally settled down.
We had 5 fun, blissful days together then BAM one phone call and Gar is on his way to Savannah for the month.
It was nice seein' ya, babe.
Be sure to write!

Look what happens when the I leave town...

I didn't believe my boys when they told me their dad was growing a beard. I don't like beards, normally. To my surprise I gotta tell ya, it's workin' for me! I know, I know..as the boys say all the time...get a room! Gladly :D

Thank you for the ride, Heavenly Father!

October has been an interesting month to say the least...

a knee revision for father-in-law

a dear friend and young mom nearly died
blessing of getting to love her children when she couldn't
being able to call friends and have them spring into action
acknowledging 20 yrs without my dad
a week in NJ with my in-laws helping out and having lots of laughs
sleeping on a sofa bed for a week
my body acting like it's an old 80 yr old
humiliating date mix ups
began getting to spend m-w with a brand new sweet baby girl (6 wks old)
leave for a week and nameless son's grades tank, big time
One day: Gary told he's in columbus for six weeks
Very next day: Gary told he'll be going to Savannah in a week or so until Thanksgiving
Later in the week: maybe Atlanta until Christmas
Gary scheduled his knee surgery
Down to 19 chickens
Griffin Beck Carmack arrives...my sister and baby doing great

Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste
a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed.
The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough,
most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages
require a high degree of mutual toleration; most jobs are more
often dull than otherwise.  Life is like an old-time rail
journey...delays,sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts,
interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling
burst of speed.The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you
have the ride.
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

This question matters

As I was studying my scriptures this morning with a heart and mind full of "life" I was reminded of a life changing lesson I learned just over 5 years ago.

As I struggled with the joy and demands of being the mom to a recovering only child and 3 toddlers, I prayed constantly for help and guidance. Over and over the simple answer came, "Love them" or specifically "love so and so." After Nathan died all I could think about was, "Did/does he know how much I love him?" It was the constant cry of my heart and soul. I was so grateful that over and over through his short time with us as I came to my Heavenly Father with my list of frustrations...help me potty train them, why won't they sleep, help Mychel adjust, and on and on the answer was what he knew I/we would need more than anything else.

So, I today I'm asking: Do those most dear and precious to me know I love them? Really, what else matters?

God's Plan....Matters!

Many, many years Heavenly Father gave me a priceless gift at at Creative Memories Convention...a friend I still cherish today. We have only seen each other a handful of times and years have gone by without contact, but that affect our friendship. She sent me a video of her daughter (how she can be a senior in college is beyond me...) singing a song she wrote. It spoke to my heart....I hope you can "hear" it too.

I'll paste the words below, but you can also find them by going to YouTube and clicking more info. Also, I know Bonnie would love to hear your thoughts on her song so pop on over to YouTube for that too :D




Bonnie Leigh Abt performs a song that she wrote in July 2009
Lyrics:

Plane arrives in a foreign land
he shields his eyes from the swirling sand
what a strange and beautiful grand plan.
Twenty years had come to pass when
he heard the calling on his life
he waved goodbye to his mom and dad
as he boarded that plane, trying to explain

(chorus)
I know it isn't what you saw when you
told me that I could chase my dreams but
my God was never one to stand by passively

At thirty-one she lives alone
a single bed is all she's ever known
if you asked she'd tell you she prefers it this way
"How do you handle all those lonely nights?"
her good friend wonders over the phone
she paused and thought of all the ways
God used her for His gain, and tried to explain

Chorus

Life is not a story you could easily have guessed
so don't turn that page, He's not finished with you yet

No words can dry a mother's tears as she
sees her son dying on that cross
she longs to comfort him and hold him in her arms
"I remember every time you bled when you
scraped your knees or bumped your head,
what would I give to take you down
and wash away these stains",
but her son simply explained

Chorus
So hold on for just a little bit longer
and one day this whole world will see that
our God was never one to stand by passively
soon we'll see, soon we'll see

It's been a big week here at the Murphy's

Tuesday:
My last sibling got married...Congrats Markham and Brittany.

Wednesday:
I bough my first eggplant and made my first eggplant dish...it was yummy.

Thursday: My sister Lindsay and her husband Adam welcomed their third miracle...Welcome Camryn Eileen.

And then to top it off my mom sent me this today. I could watch it over and over. I wish I could make it my wake up video! Ohhhh, I wish I could have been there!



More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of march 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music".

What is the world coming to...

We now have a twitter account because it was a homework assignment. Could be worse... If you'd like to twitter with us we can be found at Nathansfamily...Murphy Matters was already taken. Tweet,Tweet!

A Must Listen

We found this on a member of our family's blog and HAD to share! Side note...mp3 isn't available yet...legal hoops to jump, but I can hardly wait...

Family Matters

So, I've decided a few things.
1. I'm not getting old
2. I'm not getting old
3. I'm not getting old

It's been a crazy summer, almost nothing has gone as planned, but you might as well enjoy the journey. Here's a peek at what we've been up to...


The boys got to visit their grandparents and spend a couple of days in DC!

Murphy's farm as added chickens to our insanity...at least we'll eat well!

We celebrated our country and it's freedoms...Thank you to all our military!!!

Gary's 25th year high school class reunion

Dad livened up the party with a 911 call, ride in the ambulance and stay in the hospital

Because he also has shingles...I know...if it's not one thing it's another...we had to dress up!

At least we got some fun photos from it!

How many places have you lived?

A rockin' friend had this on her blog and I thought, hum...let me count...I'm at 25 (really probably a few more in the early years, but close enough)...How 'bout you?
1. Centerville, UT (born)
2. Las Vegas, NV
3.Salt Lake, UT
4 Salt Lake, UT
5. Centerville, UT (Apt H-8? mom?)
6. Centerville, UT
7. Kaysville, UT
8. Linwood, NJ
9. Bountiful, UT
10. Linwood, NJ
11. St. George, UT
12. Linwood, NJ
13. Glassboro, NJ...Joe's
14. Glassboro, NJ...Flower shop
15. Provo, UT Branbury Apts
16. Provo, UT First place we lived when we got married...it was scary!
17. T Street, SLC, UT Mychel was born here (ok in the hospital close by, but you get what I mean :D
18. U Street, SLC, UT
19. Boca Raton, FL Funeral Director school
20. Mesa, AZ
21. Spanish Fork,UT Upstairs at the mortuary
22. Spanish Fork,UT Downstairs at the mortuary
23 Spanish Fork,UT The boys came home to here!
24. Columbus, GA
25. Midland, GA HERE we are!


ps Gary's is much shorter....from what I remember
3 places in Pennsylvania
With summers either at this really cool campground or at the beach...yah life was hard :D
Somers Point, NJ
Glassboro, NJ
and then we connect in Provo, UT
....so he's at about 15

Murphy, Murphy How Does Your Garden Grow?

I know this has been a burning question for all of you loyal Murphy Matter's followers...so let me update you. So far we're winning the weed war, but we're not getting cocky...the real battles are yet to come.

Here are the stats:
Pea's...enough for daily snacks and some reward for the labor. More than we've ever gotten
before so we're feeling pretty good. Will definitely plant a fall crop.
Onions...small but yummy. Definitely need to research and see why we grew mini onions
Caulifower...bust...nothing, nyet, nada
Broccoli...finally see some mini, mini heads
Red Potatoes... dug up a few plants that died early and got some tiny, yummy nuggets. Mature plants starting to bloom..we're getting excited.
Garlic...total surprise...didn't know we had it...if we can keep the boys from digging it up to look
at it we may actually get a years supply from it.
Red and Yellow peppers: tiny peppers starting to grow but the ants have eaten one...as if their sting isn't bad enough now we have to fight them for our food...$&^% red ants!
Blueberries...our one year in and year out success are lookin' good...about 3 more weeks! We can hardly wait.

Better late than never

My computer is sick...it needs a Dr visit but house calls are expensive so I'm saving up. I haven't forgotten "ya'll". Thank goodness for my iPhone, it allows me to pop in for a quick blog visit, but leaving comments etc it just too painful. So know I'm thinking of you and looking forward to the day when "yellow power" is healthy and happy again...until then, here's this:

Not your typical spring break...

Gary's parents were here for the first part of it,
Mychel-Anne arrived home from college,
the weather wouldn't cooperate to go to the beach or the mountains,
but in the end...I got a perfect day!

This is bad....very bad...

I interrupt my cute St. Patty's post because this just had to be shared. I'm checking email and what do I find but one for my dear, dear husband...at least I think they meant him. My problem is while I think he's awesome and wouldn't trade, sell or barter him for the anything...hmmm, yea I'm pretty sure anything....
I think this is going a little too far:





Dear GARY HERBERT LORD or as I read it:
Lord Gary Herbert (read with british accent)



what am I supposed to do with this...do I tell him someone has promoted him...thinks he's beyond the cat's meow, his true potential has finally been acknowledged? I really don't have the energy for a swelled head right now, but with the status of everything in the world his ego could use a little pumping up. Ahh the dilemma of a loving wife...Advice???

and yes his middle name really is Herbert....after his Uncle Herb....who has moved to Heaven and will hear you if you make fun!

Loved this....and pay it forward reminder...

Don't forget...if you want to join in the PaY it ForWard fun...go here.

Life lesson: Don't ride your little brother's bike

unless you want this to happen:
Friday night at the urgent care medical center....probably a chip is their diagnosis....referral for Monday



Monday afternoon: Nearly four hours later - Pretty sure he chipped a bone....cast for 3 weeks...green was the color of choice! Why doesn't the mom get any pain meds?

Pay it Forward....

Lucky and Blessed!

I've had a couple of friends join in the pay it forward movement on their blogs...how could I resist! I can only speak for myself, but the older I get the more aware I am of my blessings. What better way to remind ourselves of your blessings, show gratitude and share the love than to Pay it Forward! So in that spirit...if you want to join:
1. Leave me a comment saying so.
2. Put a similar Pay it Forward post your blog

I will randomly choose at least 3 people who comment to surprise with some kind of fun goody sometime before Easter (other people are taking a year, but I'd forgot if I tried to wait that long)

Finally a few things/people I'm grateful for:
Lisa...that I could "steal" her shamrock and I knew she wouldn't mind
Snow days in GA!
Friends who volunteer to come to a surprise party...and even suggest the idea
Friends who are willing to give hours of their time to help with a power point project
Hot Chocolate
Snuggling under layers of blankets on a cold night
Kleenex with lotion

How to get church canceled in the south....

When we arrived at church this morning...



on the way home an hour and a half later when they canceled church....

It's your day Zacy!!!

I have a secret

recipe...
I got it from a crazy source.
I need someone else to make it
and
give me feed back
before I share it publicly.
If you like bisque soup
and
want to play
email
call
bring/send treats.

Is there ice cream and cake in heaven?

I vote Yes and that it's...well...Heavenly!

I always want to send a note...

I once read the that the death of your child makes you part of an exclusive club you never wanted to join with dues that you'll be paying everyday for the rest of your life. When I hear of someone who has entered our club it devastates me. While everyone has their own unique journey we all share the crushing grief and life time of loss stretching ahead of us. I've never met the Whitt family or their angel daughter Tuesday, but their journey has been inspiring and heart wrenching. Their virtual family is having a special event Saturday....here's how they describe it:


We would like to hold a virtual parade on Saturday, February 7th, for Tuesday (the same day her family is having a celebration of her life parade for family and friends). We want each and every one of you to stop what you're doing on Saturday and spend a little time with your kids on a bike ride or a wagon ride or a sled ride or a skateboarding cruise or a stroll in the park and to photograph it.

I hope you'll join us...can we ever make enough memories with our families? You can go here or here or here to read more about Tuesday. I'm sure there were plenty of her family waiting to greet her, but I like to think Nathan was there too offering to show her around...he's like that...always wanting to be the big brother and share his knowledge. I always wish I could send a note or a hug...I think he'd like a care package from home.

Oh, it just gets better

Let me set the scene:

Mother of the year, takes her two wonderful sons to a cooking class.
Food was delicious and not tooo hard to make
so realistic mother of the year agrees to make food at home.
Hard working father pays for large grocery bill
due to quality ingredients needed for French and Greek food.

First, the loving mother of the year and chef son make Sundried Tomato and Basil Hummus
Verdict: Not as good as the Cooking Goddess'
Humble mother of year calls Cooking Goddess for advice
Salt
sons with a death wish won't try improved version

Next, ever so patient mother of year and son who is walking a thin line
make Chicken Fricassee
Chicken is cooking
time to add stock and white wine
yes, I did go to the store and for the first time in my entire life buy wine
that would be a WHOLE 'nother post
So, non-alcoholic mother of the year measures stock and then pulls out bottle of wine
crap
it's not a screw top
scrambling mother of the year instructs side kick son to google
how to open a wine bottle
(ok seriously of all the things I thought I'd never say to one of my children
this has to be at the top of the list)
first cork screw (attached to cheap can opener)
breaks
mother of the year now getting desperate sends pirate son
to hunt for another cork screw...(we have to have one somewhere don't we?)
cabela's multi tool...no
generic multi tool...no
last hope...swiss army knife in back of father of the year's night stand...SCORE!
eventually mother of the year and chef son open wine bottle
and continue cooking what had dang well better be the most delicious
and appreciated dinner this year!

family of the year sits down to dinner
verdict: Not as good as the Cooking Goddesses
son who deserves to go to bed with no dinner says
"It must be her pans and her plates 'cause she didn't even make the food, the class did."
older and wiser son says
"we just need to wait a month before we cook any of her food"

done!

Pictures by Zac (aka chef, side kick, walker of thin line etc)

on silver linings

the things I've learned about trials:
fighting it doesn't help
humility does
complaining, whining, whailing is wasted enegry
prayer is power
doing it alone doesn't work
giving it to God does

for me the silver lining and the hard part can be the same
the overwhelming feelings
of love
divine intervention
and
knowing there is often nothing you can do
but
wait
pray and
trust

The Real Me

So, this sweet sister emailed me a request for me to answer 5 questions for the getting to know you section of our Relief Society newsletter. I dutifully complied. Imagine my surprise when a sweetened and sanitized version was printed. I believe in being honest, true etc...in that spirit I share my original answers:

Where are you from?
I grew up in Centerville, UT and then Linwood, NJ

What are your talents and interests, or what things do you enjoy?

Spending time with my family, Sleeping, Reading, Scrapbooking, Tetris...in that order

What do you dislike?
Garlic, Cantaloupe, being awakened unecessarily, scary movies (also wanted to say, but didn't dare, people who aren't prepared and waste my time)

Your skills,training, education:
I have a BA in education and a minor in psychology. I can read and watch TV at the same time. I'm better at Tetris on facebook than my daugther Mychel-Anne (she's a freshman in college). I can make bread, jam and a cake for scratch but I choose not to. I'm currently learning how to use itunes.

What callings do you have and/or have you had in the past?

Years in primary, young women's, sunday school and every so often Heavenly Father lets me be a Relief Society teacher. Current serving in my most shocking and awesome calling ever: Primary Chorister. Who knew it gives you rock star status in the children's eyes....a definite bonus.

A Reminder That Matters

My uncle forwarded this to me and it really touched me in a powerful way...especially when I thought of my children and the children in my life and Who they are!

Christmas Review

So
we made lots of yummy goodies,
shared some,
flew to Utah,
loved being with Miss Mychel,
fun seeing family,
it snowed so the boys were in heaven,
saw dear friends,
ate yummy food,
yada, yada, yada

all else pales in comparison to my two best Christmas presents.....



drum roll, please


Gary gets the best husband award this year............


yup...he did!!! I'm now the proud, addicted owner of an iPhone and can I just admit
I LOVE IT!!!!!

Present #2...how does it get better than an iPhone?


Check these out!

My amazing baby sister Emily discovered a hidden talent.
(she didn't own a camera for years...
hum maybe that's the secret
does talent store up and then finally burst forth???)
I've been dying to see my children through her camera...











To see more go HERE!