The Orton Family: January 2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

First ward's GNO @ Peking Palace

So today I got invited to GNO with the girls from my ward.

We went to Peking Palace a Chinese restaurant. It was so much fun to go and get to know the girls better. I Really needed this since I tend to be a little reserved and not as talkative and one of my goals this year is to get out of my shell and get to know more people. I loved spending time with my ward sisters and I loved the food! I had never been there so I didn't know what to order of the menu. I finally decided to be good to myself and I ended up ordering a veggie and rice plate and split it in half. I'm really trying to eat healthier and less this year :)

The whole experience was awesome until I decided to bend over to the side to reach for my keys and my left foot got tangled to my chair and I felt sideways along with the chair all the way to the floor. It was so embarrassing but funny at the same time. I really had lots of fun and I love my ward sisters. :)

Goals for 2009

This past Sunday was a Sunday to set goals for this year. We had Ward Conference and It was just awesome. Our Bishop and President Russell spoke in our sacrament meeting and gave us some goals to accomplish as a ward as well as individuals. I will write those down once I get the list. This Sunday we also sat down as family for FHE and wrote down our family goals.
Each Member of our family wrote their goals and posted them somewhere visible so we could read them and work on them daily. We are
super inspired and have a sense that this year will be a very special one as we work diligently to accomplish the goals we have set.
A couple of Sundays ago, In relief society, we had a lesson about goal setting and Sister Beesley gave us a handout that had an outline of how to reach our goals

The 4 steps of Goal -Setting

1. Evaluate

2. Plan

3. Act

4. Report

With this in mind it will be easier to work on our goals and get them accomplished

"Reach and strain...
Growth comes from setting your goals high
and reaching for the stars."
-Spencer W Kimball

"Spend your energies doing things
that make a difference. Then you
can become what you think about."
-M. Russell Ballard

"The past is behind: Learn from it
The future is ahead: Prepare for it
The present is here: Live in it!"
-Thomas S. Monson

May we all reach the goals we have set this year!

"Broken Things to Mend"

For this month's First Ward's power Hour we had a service project called "Broken Things to Mend" inspired by a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the twelve. We were asked to bring things from our home that had to be fixed so we could share our talents and help fix those broken items. It was a very successful and inspiring activity. It is a reminder to us all to fix those broken things in our lives both spiritual and physical keeping in mind that we are not alone. We have the Lord, our family, friends, and church leaders to help us along the way. Elder Holland expresses:
"If you are lonely, please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope. If you are poor in spirit, please know you can be strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know you can be mended." -Jeffrey R. Holland

The Carpenter of Nazareth
By: George Blair

In Nazareth, the narrow road,

That tires the feet and steals the breath,

Passes the place where once abode

The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way

The village folk would often wend;

And on the bench, beside Him, lay

Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,

The woman with the broken chair,

The man with broken plough, or yoke,

Said, "Can you mend it, Carpenter?"

And each received the thing he sought,

In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;

The broken thing which each had brought

Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,

With heavy step and wistful eye,

The burdened souls their way pursue,

Uttering each the plaintive cry:

"O Carpenter of Nazareth,

This heart, that's broken past repair,

This life, that's shattered nigh to death,

Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?"

And by His kind and ready hand,

His own sweet life is woven through

Our broken lives, until they stand

A New Creation—"all things new."

"The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,

Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,

Mould Thou into the perfect part,

O, Carpenter of Nazareth!"

Monday, January 5, 2009

Welcome 2009!!!

Happy New year every one!
This year we celebrated New years Eve at home like we do every year. Our friends Stacey and Victor, and Bryan's Dad Neil, Jeff, and Jason came over and we chatted and played Family feud.
The kids went to bed early but they had fun during the day creating a ginger bread house.
On New Years day, we went shopping for some snow gear to go to the snow the following Saturday and then we went to the dollar theatre to watch "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" for the second time. We really like the movie :)
That Saturday we went to the snow up in Shirley Meadows. We had a blast despite the fact that I don't own any snow boots and my shoes didn't have any traction so I slipped like 12 times. The same thing happened to Bryce. We couldn't find any snow boots for Bryce after searching 9 stores the day before. It was Crazy.
We are thankful for another year of life and are thrilled to see what this year has in store for us.
So far we have received some great news. My Sister in Law Cherie is finally pregnant after trying to have a baby for a few years. We are so happy for her and John and are so thrilled to have another baby in the family. Bryan is staying positive in his job and working as hard as he can since they raised the quota for sales. All we know is that the lord is mindful of our needs and he will provide what we need as long a we do our part and pay our tithing. I continue to wait to get in to the Nursing program at BC and taking some classes on the side to stay focused. Asha continues to work hard at school and growing in mind and spirit every day. Bryce has taken a big leap in his learning. He now knows how to count to 100 by ones, fives, and tens. He is reading! I can't believe how much he has grown and how independent he is becoming. We will continue to press forward with faith and stay positive through out 2009.
Happy new year everyone and may we all accomplish the goals we have set this year.

Building a Ginger bread house on New Years Eve

Eating the ginger bread house after New Year's

Asha in the snow at Shirley Meadows

Bryan fell into this hole

Family Pic!

Asha and Joey In the sled

Our Christmas celebration In Bakersfield

1ST. WARD CHRISTMAS DINNER

December 19th

We had a great Ham dinner and a great program. Asha, Bryce and I each had the opportunity to sing some Christmas musical numbers.

The elders performed the cuttest number with thier Santa Dancing hats

Our family picture with Santa and his elf!

Hurray! Santa came to town!

Bryce and Asha Taking a picture with the Santa dancing hats!

THE ORTON'S FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY

December 15th.

This was a very special family gathering at our house in which we had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our savior. We had the party a little early since we had to travel to Texas for Christmas.

The celebration included Dinner, a christmas program in which we had the privilage to see all of the grandkids act out the Nativity, while Cherie, Melinda, and I did a trio singing "Away in a manger"accompanied by Janine who played the flute . After the program, we opened presents from the gift exchange and we had super fun playing Bunko as a family.

Our Christmas tree

Janine- The angel

Zoey- Wiseman #1

Joey- Wiseman #2

The kids getting ready for their performance

The family Joined us in singing

Melinda Performed a beautiful song in sign language

David- Baby Jesus

Bryce- Joseph

Kimberly- Mary

Asha- Wiseman #3

Bryce and his uncle Jeff Opening the present his uncle gave him

Yes!!!!!!!!! an Optimus Prime mask and voice changer.

Thanks Uncle Jeff

Opening presents

Bryan got Reindeer poop!

ASHA'S SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

December 16th

The beautiful singer

Bryce, Frosty, and Asha

We had the honor to have My dad attend Asha's program and celebrate some christmas fun with him.

Our Christmas celebration In Texas

December 20th-28th

The Pictures are in Order somewhat . The Main Point is that we had a great trip and lots of fun celebrating with our family. We are grateful for this wonderful gift of being able to travel to Texas to celebrate with our loved ones The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

On our way home we stopped to play in the wonderful snow of Flagstaff Arizona.

Asha Ready for the Snow ball fight!

Bryce getting ready too!

At Road Kill Cafe (Arizona)

On the way home we stopped at this wonderful Cafe for Breakfast

Located on Route 66,

It is very famous place and the food was delicious. Bryce was particularly happy since the menu featured dishes starring characters from the movie "Cars"

Getting up and ready to continue our Journey to Texas.

(Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Stopping for a break at Williamson Arizona on our way to Texas

Finally we arrived at Lubbock Texas! yay!

The kids were so happy to see each other and ready to play for a whole week!

Our pajama bandidos! getting ready for some bed time stories. Each one wanted a different story and song so I ended up telling 5 stories and 5 songs :) It was a long night!

Bryce cuddling with Mama Mimi

In Lubbock, We went to this Christmas Ornament store. It has become a tradition in the Perez Family to go to this beautiful store full of thousands of Christmas ornaments every year to start the holiday season and invite the spirit of Christmas. It was so wonderful and the kids had a great time looking at all of the beautiful ornaments.

I found these cool Christmas Caroler ornaments.

I like the one in the front the best so I bought it and brought it home ;) hee hee hee.

I really needed a Christmas with my Mom. I had Missed it for 5 years.

Allan and Asha Playing hide and seek.

Joy and smiles at Santa Land!

GUATEMALAN TAMALES

Christmas wouldn't be the same without our delicious Guatemalan Tamales.

Prepared with Masa and pork or chicken, covered with a recado, a sauce made with Chiles, Tomatoes, pumpkin and sesame seeds and other spices and wrapped and cooked in a banana leaf for a wonderful and unique flavor.

A tradition in all Guatemalan families and certainly in ours.

This year was particularly special since I had the opportunity to make them with my mom.