Mini Road Trip

A few weeks ago we went to Idaho to attend Grandpa Lloyd's 80th birthday party. Here is the birthday guy and his lovely wife. Aren't they just the cutest couple? They are such wonderful examples to us, and we were excited we were able to go up and see them on that special day! Thanks to one of the cousins who posted the following picture on Facebook...

The birthday party was a lot of fun! We had a pot luck dinner, with an awesome 50 pound cake made by one of my sister-in-laws. She does an incredible job making specialty cakes, and Grandpa Lloyd's was no different.

While at the party, M got to play with a lot of his cousins that we don't get to see very often. He was in heaven the entire time! Here he is with some of the Idaho cousins. Seriously, these guys are some of the neatest kids I know. 

And of course, he got to see Grandma and Grandpa B! He really was happy to see Grandma B, despite his sour face!

After Idaho, we stopped in to see Grandma and Grandpa P. It is always a joy to see them. M is absolutely in love with Grandma Pete's cane and walker. Whenever we tell him we are going to go to Grandpa P's house, he always says, "And we're gonna see Grandma's cane!" My grandma is wonderful to let him play with her cane and walker. Here she is pushing him on her walker. He really gets a kick out of that!

Our last stop was at my parent's house. We spent the night there and got to see "Evva-Bevva" and "Kehl-Man." McKay goes over the top when he sees these two. He gets so excited he literally can't contain himself so he has to jump up and down to get out some of the excitement!

I tell ya, I think those two boys shown above will be compatible mischief buddies in the next year or so.

It was a wonderful weekend that went by way too fast! We were happy we got to see a lot of family in just a couple of days.

Some thoughts on our ward...

We have been in our ward for about four months now. This has given us time to meet a good amount of people, and from all of our interactions thus far, I can tell there is something special about this group of people. Each and every person we meet is so kind and loving. And not just the "Oh, hi, nice to meet you," kind and loving, but welcome you into their home and accept you as their friend kind of loving.

The youth in our ward are outstanding. Three young men spoke today who are getting ready for their missions, and wow, AMAZING! Jake and I cannot believe how spiritually mature and prepared they are. These boys are nothing short of power-houses in their testimonies of the Gospel and of our Savior. It is clear to us that these boys have been taught the Gospel in their homes from an early age.

We have had the privilege to be in some of the homes of these people, and it is just incredible to see how they accomplish the goal of "love at home." They are truly a Christ-like people. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if they were translated any day now.

I am loving it. These people remind me of the ward I grew up in. Everyone was so willing to serve, and I see that here. I think I realize it even more so now that I am an adult, and not just a kid showing up each week to be taught. As I have gotten older, I am beginning to see all of the work that must happen in order to create these kinds of feelings in a ward.

Tonight we went on a little drive through our neighborhood and took cookies to some of the ladies I visit teach. I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the blessing it is to be in this little town we get to call home for a short while. We feel so blessed to be able to associate with people and families of such high caliber. Already, our lives have been altered for the better because of the examples we have seen the last four months.

The church is true, no matter where you are, or what ward you are in. Jake and I have learned valuable lessons from each ward we have been in. Tonight I am just feeling thankful for the ward we are lucky to be a part of right now at this time in our lives.

10 things I have been learning

Here are some things I have been learning (or am still working on learning) lately... 

1. I am really trying to love myself for who I am, and not what the world expects me to be. Many times I am too hard on myself. I am learning to be more positive in my thoughts towards myself. 

2. Through the Spirit, the Lord is mindful to make us aware of our weaknesses. As hard as it can be, it is a blessing to realize you need help with something, and that through the Lord, He can turn a weakness into a strength. 

3. As important as it is to have a clean home, it is even more important to make time for my family and friends. Dishes and laundry can wait, relationships and people will not.

4. I am being reminded of the strength date night can have in a marriage. Something about doing things, as a couple, brings power and an added measure of sweetness to the relationship. (And boy oh boy, it takes a lot of WORK to make date night happen with a kid(s)...)

5. It is important to have good friends as a mother that will uplift and inspire you.

6. My perspective of prayer is completely changing thanks to a stellar book I found for a dollar at the D.I., How to Pray and Stay Awake. As we are more specific in our prayers, the Lord will be more specific in His answers.

7. I tend to get nervous when talking with people whom I really admire. I need to find ways to improve in this area. I suppose, I can see #2 of my list.

8. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will get pee spots out of a mattress...

9. We truly are characters of habit. Most always our thoughts and opinions stem from the habits and lifestyles we knew as children. Before jumping to conclusions, try and understand where a person is coming from. It is healthy to analyze and readjust our own "character of habit" persona. In no way does this mean to lower your standards; it simply means that usually there is more than one right way of thinking. Does this even make sense?... 

10. Good families don't just "happen." It takes an incredible amount of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to raise good kids.

Crisis+Time = Humor

Thankfully, I was able to think of that quote when this little gem of an experience happened today:
  
(Disclaimer: This post talks of and has a picture of poop. Read on at your own risk.)

Scenario: M had been in his room for about 30 minutes. He was having some quiet time. He was, or so I thought, quietly playing. I was enjoying some quiet time of my own. I was sitting on a chair when M came out of his room... 

Me: Hi sweetie, what's going on?
M, as he walks up behind the chair and leans on the arm rest to my side: Nothing.
Me, as I put my hand on his back and notice his bum is bare...no diaper: "Where is your diaper?"
M, calmly: It spilled.
Me: ...it spilled?!

I quickly pulled him away from the chair and realized he had "smears" on his bum. I walked him into his room and this is what I saw:

That was the end of our quiet time today. I think I handled the situation quite calmly and composed.

Huge, red pancakes!

Shortly after M woke up this morning, I told him I was going to make pancakes for breakfast. The kid loves him a good pancake, so as I expected, he got a big smile on his face after hearing the news.

A few days ago, we read a book about different sizes objects can be. The book discussed words like tiny, small, big, bigger, etc. Well, a minute or two after I told him we were going to have pancakes, he said, "I want a huge pancake!"

In my head I was thinking, "Huh, I have never heard him use that word (huge). He must have picked it up from the book we read the other day. What a little smarty." Happily I replied, "Alright, I'll make you a HUGE pancake!"

So we started making the pancake batter. Out of the blue he said, "I want a huge, red pancake!"

Back to my head, "Hmm. OK. I don't know where he got this idea for a red pancake... Maybe it was from our green pancakes on St. Patrick's Day? I suppose we can make red pancakes..."

"Sure bud," I said as I grabbed the food coloring. "We can make huge, red pancakes!"

So we did. And it was fun. And they turned out more pink than red, but that was okay.

The picture doesn't do justice to show how happy he was to be eating the "red" pancakes. He finished both pancakes, along with two cups of milk. Hungry boy.

Love you, buddy!

Learning to savor my "normal days"

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are." 

 
Currently, my day consists of changing diapers, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining a two-year-old. I love it. I consider it a blessing to be doing these things each day. However, I imagine like many of you, I have fleeting moments where I find myself wishing for a future phase of life. Thoughts like, "It will be so nice when Jake is done with grad school," or "It will be so nice when M is potty trained,"or even, "It will be so nice when I can go back to teaching." 

This week the Lord has reminded me about the importance of finding joy in the journey--something I sometimes forget to do. I was inspired by a piece of writing I stumbled upon that was written by Mary Jean Irion. These are the closing paragraphs of an essay she wrote: 

A normal day! Holding it in my hand this one last moment, I have come to see it as more than an ordinary rock. It is a gem, a jewel. In time of war, in peril of death, people have dug their hands and faces into the earth and remembered this. In time of sickness and pain, people have buried their faces in pillows and wept for this. In time of loneliness and separation, people have stretched themselves taut and waited for this. In time of hunger, homelessness, and want, people have raised bony hands to the skies and stayed alive for this….

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want more than all the world your return. And then I will know what now I am guessing: that you are, indeed, a common rock and not a jewel, but that a common rock made of the very mass substance of the earth in all its strength and plenty puts a gem to shame. 

The day is over, and now I will sleep. 

These paragraphs are beautifully written and full of wisdom. We have probably all been guilty of wishing away a normal day "...in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow." During the stressful and mundane moments of motherhood, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of what a treasure it really is. After finding these words of wisdom, I have really tried to make a conscientious effort to find joy in the journey of each day! There is so much happiness to be had in changing diapers, folding laundry, and being with my child. I know there will come a day when I will yearn to have these precious days back.

Tractor Man

I love my husband. He is a finance guy. He wears suit pants and a tie to work, everyday. He deals with numbers and money, all day. But one of my favorite things about him is that beneath the business man, there is a farm boy underneath. A real small-town, homegrown tractor man. 

Jake had the blessing of working on a farm with an incredible man, Scott, all through high school. 
It is supposed to rain pretty hard this weekend, and Scott had to leave for a trip early this morning. Scott knew he wasn't going to be able to get one of his fields ready for the rain before he had to leave, so he called Jake to see if there was any way Jake could work on the field while he was gone.

Um, no need to ask Scott. That boy will do anything to help you farm!

Long story short, Jake didn't end up having to help too much because the people who were going to put manure on the field never put it on. So there was nothing for Jake to "disc," or mix in, with the soil. Jake was a little bummed, but he was able to take M and I for a little ride before he was done. My oh my, M was speechless! He didn't say a single word the entire time! I could see his brain working through his eyes; he was so focused trying so soak everything in and see how it all worked.

This is a blurry picture, but it captures how happy Jake was to be giving M his first real tractor ride. It also captures how intrigued the little guy was. He was staring back at the discs that were turning the dirt over.

Here is M shortly after we got home from the tractor ride. He decided to rest on the fireplace.

I love my tractor man and tractor boy.

He is Risen!

This year was the first year we had not been with our family on Easter. We missed being with them, but it was still a wonderful day!

M woke up to Jake and I telling him that the Easter Bunny had come, and that he needed to find his basket. Not quite sure what in the world we were talking about, he eventually started looking with some coaching by Jake and I. It didn't take him long to get excited though, and soon enough he found his basket in a cupboard. He was ecstatic when he found it. I mean, what kid doesn't love waking up to his parents giving him candy?

He got some blue Peeps, Skittles, and Cadbury eggs.

I asked him what kind of candy he wanted to try, and he reached straight for the Cadbury eggs. I was so pleased. He is a boy after my own heart. I LOVE those things! I limit myself to one bag a season, because I seriously down the entire thing in two days. I could do it in one, but I ration myself...somewhat. Technically I broke my limit though, because the bag you see below was the second I have bought this year. And lets be honest, I ate the majority of that bag as well.

We were able to go to church. It was such a beautiful meeting. I love that we celebrate Easter on  Sunday so we can learn more of Christ on that special day.

After church, we went upstairs to have dinner with our neighbors. They are just the neatest family. They had an Easter basket for M and their granddaughter, A. The two have a great little friendship together! M runs around wildly with excitement every time he sees her. However, when she tries to get close, he gets weirded out, as you can see by the picture!

They had an Easter egg hunt for the two little ones, and then they had an adult Easter egg hunt for all of their kids. They were so kind to invite Jake and I to participate. For the adult hunt, their Mom puts money in eggs and hides them. Like, hard core hides them. Like hides them so well that she has to write down exactly where she hides all 100+ eggs. It was a hoot to see all of the adult kids running around frantically looking for eggs. It is a great tradition, one we think would be fun to do one day in our own family! Here is M helping Jake and I look for eggs.

After the egg hunts, we had a delicious turkey dinner.

It was a beautiful day. We were blessed to have spent it with wonderful friends.

How thankful I am for the joyous words, "He is Risen." Because of these words, we know that He lives today. And because He lives, we too will live again. This life is not the end. What peace and comfort that brings to my soul!