Blessings

Through the last 3 years our family has seen and felt a lot of things. We have had fits of laughter that threatened a run to the bathroom, and times where I litterally felt my heart breaking. I found myself often wondering why, or what am I supposed to learn from this, or why am I paying the price for someone elses choices? I don't know if I will ever have my answers to all of these questions but what I do know is this. I do know that regardless of the cause of a trial there is ALWAYS something we are supposed to learn from it. Some of the things I have learned are...don't give into fear, it will do nothing to help, it will only make things worse. #2 I am in charge of only the things that I can do, and everything else is up to the Lord, #3 regardless of what's going on I need to be kind and give as much as I can, #4 the only things that really matter are my family, the gosple, and love, if I have those things and live by them the rest will take care of it's self. #5 work hard, and then work harder, after I do that and show I'm willing to do my part then I can be blessed.

As I was reflecting today on the past years I realized that eventhough I despise what we have gone through, if we hadn't I wouldn't be who I am today. I have been forever changed. I have had to forgive in order to heal my heart. I have had to learn to do things I never did before. I am stronger and less afraid of others and more concerned with my responsiblitiy to the Lord. I am willing to admitt wrong, fault and mistakes and ask for forgiveness more often. One of the biggest changes I have felt is my knowledge, my more acute knowledge that my Heavenly Father knows me. He has sent many tender mercy's my way, mostly by others, but sometimes just to my heart. I know that he has prepared a way for us to navigate through it all, but always with our work included in the equation.

I guess that through all of this "refining" my hope is that I am a kinder, stronger, more faith filled person. A person that because of the sorrow and fear that has at times consumed my soul, that I can be a source of hope and strength for others. I know that I am not alone in my trials, that there are countless others who go through challenges that can echo my thoughts. And although we all face different things, often the fear and sorrow are felt the same. There have been many times that I would remember what the Lord told Joseph Smith in D&C 121 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment"  This is what I have clung to for 3 years. A small moment. It will change, it won't be the same forever. And you know what? It did change. Not a lot but there were changes enough times to sustain us, and to help us move on to the next chapter.

We are all stronger than we know, more capable than we believe and more loved than we can understand. My goal is to live so I can help others know these things, and maybe by working for this goal I will come to know more and see more often the tender mercy's I am given everyday.

So Excited!!

OK, so I am really excited about my new project!! I have wanted to do this for several years, but, for various reasons I kept putting it off. Well, no longer! I have decided to promote my photography! I have a blog started and am working on my website. I am asked often to take photos for famlies, and they all ask me why in the world don't I have a business doing this? I hum, and ho, and don't have a really good reason as to why I am not doing something I love. So I decided the time has come and I am going full force. I hope that you all check out the photos I have up, and check back to see what new treasures I've found. I hope you share this with your friends and help spread the word. Thanks so much!
http://www.elisiarichinsphotography.blogspot.com/

Hey Everyone!

Ok, so I am going to follow the trend and take our blog private. I find myself wanting to write and share things but then I don't because there are certain people that I don't feel are safe. So please everyone give me your info. incase it is different than what I have for you. Have a great day!

Long time no see?

Well I thought that it was about time to write an update so everyone knows that we are still alive! As Im sure everyone would say 2009 was a tough one. But we are all still here with a bed to sleep in so that is a blessing. We had so many blessings last year and we are so very grateful to those angles that were the messengers:) Our kids are doing great! Katelynn just got invited to the level 5 ballet class! That is the last level, she is sooo excited! She will definatley be advancing quickly on point now. She won the campain for student body president back in September and is trying hard to make school better for the students. She is also 1st chair in band for the clarinet and saxaphone section, and she is doing great in piano. She is realy excited to go to YW in February and she can't wait for Junior High. AHHH!!! She wants to try out for cheer, and has been practicing quite often for it. Emily is so great. She is still sweet, but can pack a punch to! She is doing really well in school with all A's and B's and is still doing tumbling. She just started in the childrens choir for the East Valley Mormon Choral Organiziation. She is really excited to perform at the Mesa Arts Center, especially because I'm in the Orchestra. So it will be a lot of fun! She is also still doing well on her piano lessons and practices without me making her, I love it when that happens! Brennick is doing really great in school and is LOVING all day kindergarden. He is doing really well with reading and patterns and simple algebra and is having a blast. He has been bit by the "like" bug and has a bit of a crush on a girl named Allie. She is in his school class as well as primary and he just can't help himself from smiling at her, it is so cute! He still loves planes and basically any motorized vehicle, and has develoved a great love of Legos. All in all they are happy, healthy, smart, funny and good kids, we really are blessed. Kim is working hard to get more business and keep things movin' in a positive direction. Things are hard for everyone right now, but I've learned that nothing stays the same for very long and we just have to do our best to work hard and when we make mistakes we work at fixing them. I hope everyone is doing great and is happy and healthy! And I will try to post more often:)