The Anderson Family

Back Row: Aaron Dalley, Ryan Anderson, Tom Tasker, Aaron Anderson, Drew Teemant

Middle Row: Julie (Dalley's girlfriend), Noelle Anderson, Sarah Tasker, Me & Aidan

Bottom row: Mike & Kellie Teemant, Hannah, Logan, Haylee & Alex (Ed is the photograher)

We had a party for Ryan a couple of weeks ago at my house and I was relentlessly snapping pictures. Before everyone left, I was able to get them together for a group shot. It was fun to be able to have one last party.

It's hard to sum up how I feel about working for Anderson Covers in a short, blog entry. I do not regret my decision to leave once the business was sold. I do think it was the right time for me to leave. I do miss working with these wonderful people but change is a part of life- and you have to move on. I doubt that I will ever have another opportunity quite like this one- I think that is probably the thing that I will miss the most.

Anderson was like a family to me- the people there know my strengths and weaknesses and loved me anyway. They were there for me when I had ups and downs and I was there for them. And on the business side of things- what we built was incredible. The kind of growth that we sustained year after year was amazing. I am grateful to have been a part of it.

My Mosiac

This is a mosiac of me created by Fd's mosiac maker.

To make one:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker. Save your mosaic and then add it to your blog like a regular photo.

Here are the questions and my answers:

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Amy
2. What is your favorite food? Mexican food
3. What school did you go to? BYU
4. What is your favorite color? Green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? I'm embarassed to say, but it's Paul Walker 6. Favorite drink? Diet Cherry Coke
7. Dream vacation? Hawaii
8. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Someone who motivates others to achieve what they really want in life
10. What do you love most in life? My family
11. One word to describe you. Optimistic
12. Your nickname. AIM

Extreme Segway

Ed and I took the kids up to the Kite Fest on Saturday. It's the first annual festival that celebrates our Spanish Fork wind power as well as "green" products. They had a Segway booth there with free test rides. I've always been fascinated by this product and was so excited to ride it.

It was really fun- it's like a wii balance board with wheels and a handle bar. I'm sure after this experience, my wii fit age skyrocketed because 30 seconds after this picture was taken, I was on the ground! I'm not sure what happened but I got going pretty fast and panicked. When I noticed that I was heading over a small cliff, I pulled it hard to the left to avoid jumping off into space. As I did this, I twisted and flew off the Segway. I landed flat on the ground with my hand still attached to the machine. This made it run over me. It eventually came to a stop in some bushes about 5 feet away.

Of course, the employees were freaking out thinking I was really hurt. Ed couldn't come to me because he was on his Segway frozen with the thought that if he moved, the same thing would happen to him. I wasn't really hurt- and I hopped right back on! I told the employee that helped me, "See, look at my kids and and my husband. They aren't even alarmed. It's because I fall a lot." He said I just wanted to do "Extreme Segway" and to cut it out because I was scaring his customers away. LOL

Hannah almost got a video of it but she missed it. So for right now, you'll have to be content with my version of the mishap. Of course, it's funnier to hear the story told complete with hand movements and facial expressions. Oh well- someday I'll learn to be more cautious.

We had a great time at the festival. And since it was free, we didn't break our new budget. The kids wanted ice cream and you know at those things it's so expensive. So we hit the Little Acorn on the way home. This also was a good budget saver.

Here are some more pictures:

The Prompting & Comforting Spirit

Tonight for FHE, the kids had their monthly PPI with Ed and he also gave them their annual Father Blessings that we traditionally do before school starts (a little late this year).

It was a great evening! The kids really look forward to their interview with their Dad. I'm so happy that they love this monthly occasion. I know they are still young and I'm sure their time will come (the rolling of the eyes and the big sighs) when they seem to hate it. But I know it will be one of those memories that comes up when we're all around the table for a family dinner in 20 years. And I love that the traditions that we have are consistent and stable.

For Christmas 2005, "Santa" left us a family journal. It's just the ordinary journal that you can find at the Distribution Center and is engraved with "The Huhtala Family". I put a copy of my Annual Christmas Letter in there along with the letters I write my kids every Christmas Eve. I also write down the main points of their New School Year Father's Blessings. Haylee was the last child to come in for her blessing. As we were waiting for her and I was reviewing her previous year's blessings, I had an impression come to me that she would be blessed to be protected and spared. This prompting didn't come as to much of a shock since I have had these types of promptings concerning Haylee every since she was born. As I have told a few of you, Haylee is the only one of my children that I cannot close my eyes and see her in adulthood. All of others, I have a feeling of what they will be, look like, accomplish, etc. I don't know why I am not able to see her, but I have always felt that Heavenly Father has been preparing me for something regarding Haylee's time on earth.

Tonight, in Haylee's blessing, Ed paused for a second. He then continued and said, "I bless you that the Spirit will guide and direct you and keep you from danger- that you will be safe." He was pretty choked up during this and the rest of her blessing. After Haylee left the room, I turned to Ed and knowing what I was going to ask, he shrugged. He did not know why he had said that but he felt the words come to his mind and then as he thought about what they meant, he could barely continue with the blessing. I reminded him of my previous feelings and my inability to see her as an adult. As we continued to talk and share our feelings, we both felt comforted by the Spirit and by our knowledge that Families are Forever.

I may not know for a very long time why Haylee was given that particular blessing tonight. And I may not know for a very long time why I'm unable to see her as an adult. But what I do know is that Heavenly Father loves me, my husband, and all of my children. His plan is greater than mine. I must continue to have faith in His plan and His Gospel. And I must be strong enough to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost- wherever they may lead.