SOMEONE IN MIND

What do you feed your kids?

2012-03-01T12:56:00.001-07:00

What are the main foods that you feed your kids?

I feel uninspired in the kitchen.

My kids are so picky and so boring.

Cereal

Crackers

String Cheese

Marsh mellows

Yogurt

Peanut Butter

Cheese

Tortilla's

Applesauce

Junk Food

Seriously it get's hard working with such a small list.

The older kids are getting better about food, but Sawyer is killing me.

That list is about all he will eat.

What do your kids love.

Help me out!

6 Year-Old Tears

2012-02-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

Kate came home from School today in tears.

She threw open the door, walked into the house and chucked her backpack across the room.

The first words out of her mouth were,

"It's all your fault!"

I couldn't get any more information out of her for about 5 minutes. Kate gets really quiet when she is angry. She boils for what seems like hours until the tears seem to pop out of her face.

The tears break my heart.

And then I get frustrated and mad.

"Kate, I can't help you if you don't tell me what is wrong."

I finally decide to give her space and I leave the room.
5 minutes later I check on her.
I can't find her.
I look everywhere.
When I go to her room I find her under her covers crying.

Words don't really work with Kate. You have to give her space and time. She is stubborn but also sensitive. She has a hard time communicating her emotions.

I slip into her bed behind her and wrap my arms around her. It is all I can do to just keep my mouth shut. A few minutes pass and she turns into my hug. The tears are still coming.

"Kate, what happened?"

"They all made fun of me." She continued to tell me that some of the kids teased her about her leg-warmers. The kids were suppose to dress silly today, for Dr. Seuss. When I dropped her off at school there were plenty of other boys and girls dressed in mix-matching, funny clothes too. I didn't think that we had gone too extreme and I sort of thought that she was adorable.

I probably messed up the next part by telling her that the other kids were probably jealous of her, or hadn't seen leg-warmers before. I told her that the boys that teased her probably thought that she was cute, and the girls probably thought that she was pretty. I told her that there are lots of ways that kids tease other kids and the reason is never what you would think.

I then told her that there will be people that come into her life that won't like her.

They won't like who she is, what she looks like, what she does, or what she stands for.

I told her that there will be nothing that she can do to change the way that these people may view her and that she shouldn't waste her sweet tears caring what they think about her. I told her to figure out who she wants to be and to be it.

And then I gave her an extra tight hug, looked into her eyes and told her that her family will always love her. I told her that we will always love who she is, what she looks like, what she does and what she stands for. We will be right here. I told her that her Heavenly Father also loves her more than she could possibly imagine. I told her that she is safe here at home, and that she can tell me anything that troubles her and I will try my best to help her. I told her that her true friends will always have her back, they will always love her and they will always be kind.

Kate, the world won't always love you.

But I will.

It's Great To Be 8

2012-02-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

Next week is a big week for our family. Dylan is going to be baptized and I am getting so excited. I really want to make it special for him. He is such a great kid and has such a strong desire to do what is right and to follow Heavenly Father's Commandments.

I can't tell you how many times in the past week he has told me that he is praying for me to feel better. He is really good about praying. I don't think that he and I have missed one morning this year that we haven't prayed together. Well except the one's that I was still in bed and Scott got the kids out the door. I fail as a mother quite a bit, but those morning prayer's go a long way.

Dylan, I sure love You!!!

I made these images to frame side by side for his bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Goodbye Pajamas, We Are Back

2012-02-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Guess what? We are all feeling better. And feeling better is an amazing thing. I'm not miserable anymore. I'm not grumpy and achy and sick. I still can't hear but I'm going to shower and get dressed and accomplish something.

The first thing that I did today was write a guest post for {this lady}. If you want to read about my first fight with Scott and how he totally won...and how this sort of set up precedent for our Marriage...make sure to visit A Handful Of Peanuts. The Peanuts have been featuring different Love Story's all month. I've found some pretty great bloggers reading through her posts. Head on over there.

And just to brag about my awesome rocking dad, Here is a photo that my mom sent me of him playing with a Band at a club on Valentine's Day. How cute is he all dolled up holding that big bass guitar.

I love you Dad!!!

Only The Strong Survive

2012-02-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

The past week has been a difficult one.
Like...really, really hard.

Shouldn't there be a rule that mom's and kids cannot be sick at the same time.

Me: Double Ear Infection, Double Ear-drum rupture, Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Wyatt: Double Ear Infection, Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Sawyer: Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Dylan: Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Kate: Cough.

Scott: NOTHING. He is the Last Man Standing. (Lucky Husband with the Immune System of Steel)

Last week was suppose to be rocking.

Wyatt Turned 1.
Valentine's Day.
Dylan Turned 8.
Lance & Terry came to town.

I did my best, but I was SO miserable.

The babies and I are on Anti-biotics but we still feel terrible. The best I felt all week was after I took Mucinex-D last night. My friend Shawri talked me into it and it really did make me feel better. Not even drinking the bottle of NyQuil helped this girl. Bummer.

It is so hard trying to take care of a family when you are sick. BOOOO. Not to mention I am pretty much deaf right now and can't hear a thing. Not the phone ring, not the baby cry, not the kids fighting. And I missed another week of Church which really stinks. I so needed it yesterday. Scott & Dylan were the only one's that made it.

The good new is that the world goes on and somehow we make it through and forget it all. And I'm thinking a little bit of Spring could do that for me right about now.

And...

I miss the gym. (Crazy)

Forgetting Anniversaries

2012-02-15T09:50:00.002-07:00

What is it about Anniversaries?

Why are some anniversaries so easy to forget and some seem to cling to us. Some are special and filled with so much meaning, some bring pain, some remind us of what we have lost or what we have gained; and every year they deliver their dose of remembering. It is just one date on the calendar and yet life seems to culminate to that ONE big day lurking right around the corner.

A year ago today is the day I woke up in a pool of blood. A year ago today my medical problems started.

A year ago today is the day that my perfect, sweet baby Wyatt came into this world.

Happy Birthday Wyatt.

Your journey into this world was not an easy one. We almost lost you. And my body took a beating for it. But never for one second did I ever, ever, ever not feel complete gratitude that you made it here to me. You see, you made every painful tear, every surgery, every infection, every ER trip worth it.

SO WORTH IT!

Having you to hold in my arms gave me the strength to fight through the hurt. You gave me such a gift Wyatt. Having you made everything okay. It made it so easy to forgive the medical mistakes, to fight through the painful nights, to laugh when I wanted to cry, to fight when I wanted to give up, to move forward when it was all said and done.

But Anniversaries are a funny thing.
It seems only fitting that you came into this world fighting for your life, and I've spent the past year fighting to get mine back.
And here we both are, on your birthday, with terrible, terrible colds. Coughing, sneezing, and wiping our noses, with Pink Eye to boot. But we are sharing it together and I love you even more because of it.

It is me and you kid.
You are my miracle.
You are my sweet baby boy.

I love you to the moon and back, over and over, again and again, you shine in so many ways and my heart has been stretched to capacity because of you.

Happy Birthday Wyatt.

Love, Mama
xoxo

My Definition of "True" Love

2012-02-14T14:29:00.001-07:00

"True" Love...as in,

WOW, this isn't at all what I thought it would be.

It is HARD.

It can HURT.

And it takes A LOT of WORK.

I remember sitting down with my Bishop a week or two before our wedding date. Scott and I were young (well he was), and in love, and pretty clueless about what we were getting ourselves into. The Bishop told us that he and his wife had never {did I mention that he said NEVER} exchanged a cross word in their 30 years of marriage. I sat there with my hopeful head spinning, floating off to this place called {dream land} that my Bishop should have told me DIDN'T REALLY EXIST!!! I thought to myself,

"Oh, how romantic, and lovely. That is what our marriage is going to be. We can do it. We love each other SO much. I mean...it is TRUE LOVE after all!"

Well for those of you that are married...

it should come as NO SURPRISE

that about 4 weeks into our marriage

I completely tossed my idea of what a PERFECT MARRIAGE should be.

Perfect just can't exist when there are TWO IMPERFECT people involved.

So for me "TRUE" love is about trying for more of this:

TRUST
COMMITMENT
HUMILITY
SELFLESSNESS
KINDNESS
HAPPINESS
LOYALTY
HUMOR
LOVE
SERVICE
INTIMACY

And less of this:

Selfishness
Greed
Insincerity
Darkness
Dishonesty
Heartache
Tears
Stubbornness
Pride
Complacency
Meanness

And so you see,

Our Marriage isn't Perfect

But our LOVE STORY is.

We laugh.

We forgive.

We try.

We keep trying.

We kiss.

We give.

We serve.

We continue on.

Day after day after day.

Because the TRUTH about love is that the more you give, the more you get.

And the TRUTH is...
9 years ago, when I met Scott at church, and he introduced himself to me as 'Steve' because he was flirting, and I followed him out into the hall and gave him a little pinch on his bottom and a wink because I was flirting, our "TRUE LOVE" ignited. And that FLAME is still BURNING.

And here is a little note I wrote to Scott, a few years back.

Love Letters by Erin Peterson

I don't tell you often enough of the huge space you occupy in my heart.

I miss writing you love letters.
I think I shall start.

I love you.

It's a different kind of love.

It started as one big giant explosion...

and simmered to one, constant glowing flame.

It is steady, warm and pure.

Our flame is ours.
It works for us.

My love for you will never dim.
It can't.

You ignite my heart.
You quicken my breath.
You heat my soul.
You're my perfect match.

And we will continue blazing through life together.

You and me...on fire.

~~~~~~

Happy Valentine's Day Scott.
The whole family is sick.
This day isn't going to be very romantic.
But when I asked you to please empty the dishwasher this morning because I couldn't bring myself to do it, and I came back into the room and you were scrubbing the sink with everything in it's place.
That was SEXY.

I love you STUPID. (Is this a harsh pet name because I kind of like it?) Even though you forgot your socks on our wedding day and had to wear black ones. (As the photo's above will illustrate.) And I'm so glad that you love me. (Even though I snored SO SO SO loud last night {his words} because I am super sick.)

I am loving the journey, and I'm loving you always,

Snoobs.

Death By Cupcakes...

2012-02-10T13:48:00.002-07:00

When your new neighbor that likes to make cupcakes becomes your friend Becky that likes to make cupcakes...

You end up with TONS of cupcakes.

I couldn't believe my eyes when

I received a delivery of 26 cupcakes.

26 people!

I immediately had to sample the three different flavors and then I had to call 911 for emergency transport of remaining cupcakes.

Lucky for me I have several neighbors that were more than willing to take them off my hands.

Spreading Joy through cupcakes is the best feeling in the world.

Coconut Kiss

Vanilla Cake

Coconut Cream Filling

Almond Coconut Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon

Lemon Cake

Lemon Curd Filling

Lemon Butter-cream

Razzmanian Devil

Devils Food Cake

Raspberry Reduction Filling

Raspberry Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon was my favorite-

Such Amazing Deliciousness

And then this nameless friend showed up on
my doorstep a week later.

Mint

Ganache

Need I say more????

Laughed So Hard I Cried!

2012-02-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

My dear cousin Ellery shared this image via Instagram and I almost died of a laugh-attack. Seriously it was so funny.

Her caption read...

"Dear Gwen, love your new Target line, but do not tell me you don't know what is wrong with these shirts..."

Anybody out there see what we see?

(I don't want to ruin it for you so click on comments to read the funny responses that she got...)

Computer Overload!

2012-02-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know what is going on but I am in a Social Media and Blogging FUNK.

Kind of burnt out a bit. All of a sudden I feel no desire to sit down and look at my screen and since this NEVER happens, I am just going to roll with it. (It could NOT have anything to do with a messy desk, I'm sure of it.)

I've been going to the gym, watching what I eat, playing with the kids, reading good books, totally caught up on laundry, vacuuming everyday, drinking tons of water, reading to the kids, cooking dinner and watching a few movies.

Anyway, I hope all my friends are doing great out there!!!

Fill me in on what's the latest.

Any favorite blog posts this week that I need to check out.

Leave me a comment with the link!

Love to you ALL!!!

New York City Through My Lens

2012-02-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted any pictures from my New York Trip for a while

so I thought I would share a little

GLIMPSE..

I didn't spend one second shopping, dining out, or seeing a Broadway show.
I wanted my first trip to New York to be full of sounds, smells, color & people.

I only had about 48 hours to take it all in.

It was Magical.

An End In Sight...

2012-02-01T10:48:00.002-07:00

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!! I am almost finished with my 2011 book-work and taxes. I'm trying to ignore everything else until I am done.

Well, not the kids of course.

But EVERYTHING ELSE.

It will feel so good to be finished!

It won't however feel so good to be writing a 5 digit check to the IRS in April. Ouch.

Side Note:

***So happy about Romney taking Florida!!!

Your Assignment...

2012-01-28T20:18:00.002-07:00

YOU.

YES YOU.

Tell me something cool.

Saucy Pants Turns 3!

2012-01-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sawyer, I love you "HO" much.
Happy Birthday my Sizzle, Fo Shizzle.
You Make me "HO" happy.
I adore you.
I love being your mother.
You are sweet, and good, and kind and loving.

Don't grow too quickly.

Don't change too fast.

Stay small.

(Well, small for you my giant child.)

Happy Birthday.

How are you World?

2012-01-26T09:32:00.001-07:00

1. I guess it is time to take the Christmas tree down when undies start replacing the ornaments.

2. Wiggles is going to be 1 next month. I can hardly believe it. He is still so tiny. I love it.

3. Scott took Kate to her Snowy Night activity at the Kindergarten center. I love it when she gets to do fun stuff with her dad.

4. I have such a hard time getting Sawyer to eat. Kate has more luck than I do because Sawyer worships her. What kid doesn't like mashed potatoes? Weirdo.

5. Scott, Dylan & Kate are Crazy about veggie platters. I think it is just an excuse to drink ranch dressing.

6. Yum!!!

7. Sawyer loves the nasty Acai berry juice that Scott bought at Costco. It is so gross, but he loves it. Look how thick it is. It leaves a huge mustache on him. I'm glad he likes something.

8. Returned my Dyson to Costco and purchased this baby. Oh Riccar how I love you. Oh Dyson how I now know I hated you. SO MUCH BETTER IT IS BEYOND WORDS!!!! Shawri, you were right!

9. Wyatt is the EVER mess maker. Into EVERYTHING.

10. Made a Strap for my Camera. Super easy project.

And now Scott is out of Town for the weekend and I've got to get our business books finished for 2011, the W-2's in the mail, taxes filed, and have a birthday party tomorrow for Sawyer he is turning 3!!!! I'm a wee bit BIZ-ay. Can't wait for my girl date tomorrow night with the kids. At least something good comes from the husbands being out of town and working. Can't wait.

Peace out World.

Hope you are doing excellent.

Are you?

Week 3 Report & Weight In: Oh Crap

2012-01-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Alright people it is time to get serious. I'm lost in limbo. My brain is mentally defeating me.

It is time to get serious and kick some butt because I have a long road ahead of me. I still need to lose 30 lbs.

30 lbs.

Yikes, that is a small person.
I've gone downhill the past few weeks. I've been feeling sorry for myself. I packed up all of my baby stuff and gave it away. {insert tears}

I am having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I am probably {most likely but will still have to fast and pray about it} done having babies.

I wanted 20 of them you know. {And so did Scott which makes it even harder to accept}

But my poor body has been through a lot. And I have 4 beautiful children that need a mom that can take care of them.

So while I might visit this thought in the future...for now I need to be content, and grateful, and happy with what I have. {even though I really wish I was trying for another baby}

So there have been a lot of tears. I'm pretty sad. {REALLY SAD!}

And when my friend showed up on Saturday

and took away all my sweet baby things,

I opened up my heart to a different plan.

Not the one I had ever had in my mind.

The one where I don't get to see those pink lines on that stick.

I won't get to see my stomach roll when I lay in the tub.

I won't feel the tiny impressions of those first few kicks.

I won't watch in amazement at the ultrasound on the monitor.

I won't feed a new little one for the first time.

I have some really deep soul searching to do.
Some prayers that need to be answered and peace that needs to be found.

I have never wanted to do anything but be a mother.

On the other hand, I can barely keep up with the kids that I have. So I have a lot still to learn. I still have little ones to love and hold and kiss and snuggle with. I have plenty of laundry to wash, floors to clean, towels to fold, meals to make, and carpools to drive.

I just find so much joy and contentment and love in adding to our family.

I secretly want to adopt two little Ethiopian kids.

A girl and a boy.

Lucy and Luther.

Ya, they have names in my mind.

And maybe I will find them. Maybe they will find me.

Or maybe I will just have to give my love to others through service. Lose myself in serving the Lord.

I have been given so much already. SO much.

So I am committing now to stop feeling sorry for myself.
I'm going to start feeling gratitude everyday.
I'm going to discover what else I have to offer the world.
I'm going to keep working towards my health and fitness goals.

I am going to get there.
And awesome things are going to happen along the way.

My New Neighbor: Cuppa Cuppa Cupcake Heaven

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is just plain good to be me. And when your brand new neighbor shows up on your doorstep with homemade cupcakes, well it is REALLY good to be me.

*Image {Etsy}

I can't event tell you what they are called.

Spice Cake

Caramel Center & Top

Cream Cheese Frosting

They were perfect.

Can you almost taste them or what?

Even my cake and frosting hating husband said....DIVINE!

He said DIVINE!!!

And they were divine.

Sometimes it is just plain easy to LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.

Blog Stalk Talk: Life Treasured (identical triplets, what?)

2012-01-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Please tell me that I am not the only one obsessed with babies.

And what I'm even more curious about is babies that come in sets. Check out Abbey and her brand new Identical Triplets! These babies have only been home for a month. After spending some time in the NICU they all made it home. Success!!! You should probably check out these little miracles because they are beautiful. And you should probably leave Abbey a note because she can probably use all the positive feedback and support she can get.

What Fighters these babies are.

Visit LIFE TREASURED {HERE}!!!

I myself am pretty new to her blog, but I plan to watch these beauties grow up. Aunt Erin sounds pretty good.

Seriously, how amazing is that?

I mean, WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

Seriously, if you know what the odds are, will you tell me? I'm wondering.

And what blogs do you love?

What are your favorites?

Which one's do you blog stalk?

J. Crew: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Have You seen J. Crew's Chartreuse?

It is bright, bold, and beautiful.

When my sister Jenna sent me this dress to wear to her wedding I started panicking. The dress came in a size 14 people and that is a lot of chartreuse!

I had to take the sides in and let out the hem and it was barely long enough for me to wear. (Sorry, modesty is the best policy.) But I wore it, and I liked it.

And ever since the wedding, this poor J. Crew dress has been hanging in my closet. I tried it on recently and it was huge. I knew that I wouldn't be wearing it again so I decided to alter it into a skirt for Kate.

Kate was so excited to be able to help me make a skirt for her. I took out the zipper so that I would be able to use it on another project. Then I simply cut the length off the dress, including the amazing lining, and sewed an elastic in the waist.

Kate put this outfit together all by herself. She is so independent.

It was such an easy project. And it was fun doing it with Kate.

Now the only problem I have is Jealousy.

I wish I had a skirt in that color!

(If you read this post on Tuesday I am sorry for the re-post. The entire content of the post disappeared. Now that is weird. So I tried to rewrite it.)

Christmas In January: A Re-do

2012-01-18T14:17:00.001-07:00

Let the Record books show that I love my husband. I care for him deeply, I rely on him, I appreciate him and value him so highly. I try to express my love for him but sometimes I think I fall short.

I have told the blogosphere here, here, here, here, and here the things I love and appreciate and admire about my husband and I have also shared a love letter that Scott wrote me here.

But sometimes I find it easier to sincerely tell all of you how much I love him and appreciate him that it is to tell him and make him believe that I mean it.

Do you ever find it hard to truly show appreciation for your spouse?

I find it hard sometimes to convince Scott that I truly appreciate all that he does for our family. It is easy to say the words, "thank you", or "you are awesome", or "I really appreciate that", but I have found it really difficult to show him how much I value him.

Scott is a rare bread. He is a doer. He will do whatever job there is that needs to be done; whatever service that will lighten my burdens is his primary focus. I am starting to realize just how much I have taken him for granted. I don't try to. I don't mean to.

I am a loving and a giving person, but I have grown accustomed to him doing more than his share of the load, more than he should, and I have started to just expect it.

EXPECT IT.

What does this say about me? (too scared to really know the answer to this one.)

I have become selfish. I have prioritized myself, my children, my interests, my needs....MY. (evil word)

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to start prioritizing the needs of my husband. I don't think this is going to be easy for me. I really have become selfish.

My first item on the agenda was to RE-DO Christmas. You see, when Christmas morning came I didn't have one thing to give Scott. Not a Card, Not a gift...Nothing. I had been so preoccupied with my surgery that I had failed to plan anything for him.

Now Scott & I are never very conventional about giving gifts to each other. And Scott rarely has anything wrapped under the tree for me either. In September when I so selfishly told Scott that there was a camera that I wanted for Christmas, he told me to get in the car and he drove me straightaway to get it. That is just how he works. He hates depriving me of ANYTHING.

Insert my beautiful camera! My Christmas present from Scott in September.

Oh, how I love this totally ridiculously expensive camera.

It is not practical and I don't NEED it...but I love it. A lot.

Spoiled, right?

I decided that I wanted to do something for Scott.

Now, Scott doesn't really care that much about stuff. And the truth is he would rather have me NOT spend money on him and send the money straight to our savings account. But the problem is that he NEVER buys himself anything and I still wanted to do something nice for him.

So Monday the kids and I started to prepare. We decorated with Christmas lights, cooked a nice formal dinner, wrapped gifts, made treats and sent Scott funny Christmas-y texts throughout the day.

When he got home from work we shouted Merry Christmas and started the celebrations.

We had such a great time and it was really fun to be able to celebrate Scott together as a family.

Excuse me for a minute...

***Scott you sexy man you, I Love you.

I love you.

Love.

You.

Never, have I loved anyone or anything more than I love you.

You.

Rock.

Let's smooch. ;)***

So now I'm off to plan the next thing that I can DO for my husband. Maybe I'll shower, brush my teeth and get out of my sweats. Now wouldn't that be a treat.

And Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Remember THIS post? Now that was fun.

And I am determined to not start bleeding to death like I did last Valentine's Day.

Thoughts?

Search Keywords: Weirdo's out there I tell you.

2012-01-17T19:04:00.001-07:00

I am trying to censor my blog because I get the weirdest people (aka p.e.r.v.e.r.t.s) visiting my blog.

Popular things they are sent to my blog for are...

Ch...ub-B_Y LaD_Y

N.A._Ke.,D K-iD.s

N.u_de

I'm sick of it. I am trying to get rid of being associated with poor searches.

I have been erasing all my posts with my kids that might bring these searches.

Wish me LUCK!!!

P.S. I had a blog post that I posted last night completely disappear today.)

#whatisgoingon

I have a dream...

2012-01-16T20:56:00.001-07:00

"Not by the color of their skin but by
the content of their character."

---Martin Luther King Jr.

*Image Found {Here}

Sunday Thoughts: Sifting Souls

2012-01-15T12:05:00.002-07:00

I rolled over in bed to make eye contact with Scott...

"Are you ready for this?", I said.

I had already pushed snooze every 5 five minutes for the last hour and a half. We were both clinging to the edges of our bed as Sawyer's head rested near Scott's chest and his feet were pushing on my thigh. I closed my eye's and reopened them to watch Scott rise. Somehow it always feels easier to get up when I am following behind Scott.

Thank the heaven's for Sunday Mornings.

~~~~

*Image found {Here}

My family gains so much from attending church on Sunday mornings. Some mornings run smoothly, and some are chaotic, but NEVER do I ever regret getting my family into that chapel. There is such a peace and comfort that I receive at church that fuels me for the coming week. Taking the sacrament and renewing my covenants each week helps to keep me focused on what really matters in life.

For the past few weeks I've been trying to prepare for next Sunday when Scott and I will be speaking to the Stake Single Adults at their monthly fireside.

I've decided to title my talk Sifting Souls. I was inspired by Kim over at Oh, Sweet Joy. Her post entitled Sift My Soul really moved me and got me thinking.

Who is Jesus Christ?

He is a Soul Sifter.

He reaches into us, moves around all that we are, and helps rid us of our impurities. It isn't always comfortable and sometimes we get jarred around quite a bit.

I've been thinking a lot about how he Sifts our Soul's. For me most recently it has been through injury, illness and infirmity. For some it is through loss. It can be through the Holy Ghost, the scriptures, a sermon at church, financial struggles, unemployment, or loneliness. The list can go on forever. The one thing that is certain is that we all need to be sifted.

And I think that the Lord uses all of these opportunities to search our souls and to heal us.

On Christmas Eve, Ryan and Kelly Pack were traveling to their home in American Fork, UT, when a SUV crossed the median and hit their car head on. Their life was changed instantly. They sustained very critical injuries and on Christmas Day their sweet 18 month old son passed away.

I don't know this family, but I can grieve with them. I know that this will be a time of a great sifting in their lives. They will have to rely on their faith and on their Savior to survive.

I wanted to share with you a sweet video that was made of Colum's funeral. I warn you that it is very hard to watch and contains quite sensitive footage, but I assure you it is beautiful. I wonder if the Lord won't sift our souls as we watch it.

Colum Jacob Pack Funeral 6/29/2010 - 12/25/2011 from Kenny Bozich on Vimeo.

Please if you have any thoughts or feelings regarding this post will you please share them with me as I am preparing to speak on this subject next Sunday. I would really appreciate it.

And if you would like to donate to the Pack Family you can do so {HERE}.

Blog Stalk Talk: Mommy In Manhattan

2012-01-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

It is time to introduce you to another one of my favorite blogs.

Jenna Blogs over at Mommy In Manhattan and she and I have been Cyber friends for 3 years now. I have been able to see them move from California, to Chicago and now they live in New York City.

Jenna likes to PLAY and she is always up to something crazy, like this trapeze class for instance. She teaches Pilates, does eyelash extensions, loves fitness and cruises around the Big Apple with three kids.

She is awesome and I hope you will love her too.

Check her out...

{Mommy In Manhattan}

Jenna, one of these days we are actually going to occupy the same space. Let's do lunch.

Wednesday: Did You Know?

2012-01-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

1. I took the kids swimming on Saturday night. I sat on the edge of the pool with some friends and watched the kids swim. The Blackfoot Pool is trying to come up with 200,000 dollars to make some renovations and I have mixed feelings about this. They sincerely need to renovate, but I wonder if the building is a lost cause. I'm not sure that it would be enough money to really do what needs to be done. Let's just say that pieces of the ceiling fall on you sometimes. You heard me right. My kids love it there, but it needs some SERIOUS work.

2. Dylan turns eight next month. He is so excited. He will be able to be baptized and he is really looking forward to it. He also can't wait to get the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

3. Wyatt is crazy. CRAZY. He is so busy I don't know what to do. He is all over the place and into EVERYTHING. I have a hard enough time keeping the messes to a minimum. Sheesh.

4. Dylan and Ryan are the same age and have the same teeth. Isn't this stage adorable. Oh my heavens those huge teeth in their little cute mouths crack me up. So Fun.

* Free Printable {Here}

5. I love Grey and Yellow and this free printable from Persnickety Prints is adorable. You can find it at the link above. Tell Chari that I sent you!!!

6. I need to get to the gym today. NEED TO.

7. I almost have sugar out of my system. I'm feeling so much better. Why couldn't I have just said NO to the Christmas goodies?

8. I am not too into politics, but I am behind Mitt Romney at this point. I like Newt Gingrich, have a crush on Rick Perry (the same one I have on George W. Bush. It must be that Texas Blood and slow accent.) I think Ron Paul is smart but crazy, and John Huntsman comes off so arrogant to me. JUST MY OPINIONS.

9. I am about ready to rip my hand-me-down couches out of my living room. I can't stand them anymore. Scott has told me about 10,000 times to go and buy new ones, but I don't know what I want. I am TOO Indecisive.

10. I love my husband. He loves me. We have 4 crazy kids and I feel really busy all of a sudden. Why do I feel so busy? Oh ya, because this is my busy month for work. I do the accounting for our businesses and I need to get out all the w-2's, finish my year end taxes, and get the books ready for the professional accountants.

Bonus: Downton Abbey

I may have watched the entire first season and the newest episode in two days. SO GOOD. OH my starts I am a sucker for stuff like this. Love it!

Have you seen this Show?
Did you like it?
Are you busy this time of year?

Week 1 Report & Weigh-in

2012-01-09T10:13:00.003-07:00

It is time to get back on track.

When I started this Journey of mine in September, I had no idea what the future would hold. I felt old, weak, slow, fat, out-of-shape, injured, sick and pretty disappointed in myself.

By the end of October I felt strong, awesome, powerful, healthy, fit, quick, in control, motivated, and excited about the future. I was PROUD of myself. All that in two months of being consistent. Quite the Profit.

In November I found out that I had to have a pretty intensive surgery and it sort of paralyzed my efforts. I was still working out like a machine, but I started eating my emotions and my fears a little bit. I fought it with everything that I had, but I was pretty scared and insecure about the future and it was defiantly playing a major roll in my weight loss. I was still proud of myself for continuing to workout...the old me would have quit.

And now December 15th has come and gone and I feel that it is a true miracle that I am doing so great. I feel great, I feel blessed, I feel FIXED.

So now what? I have NO more excuses. REALLY. None. I'm better than I could have ever hoped for.

So here is to 2012.

A year of reaching my goals.

Pushing myself.

Being an example.

Overcoming my fear of failure.

Relying on the Lord for strength in moments of weakness.

Enjoying this body that I have.

Loving this body that I have.

Using this body that I have.

Today was my first day POST-OP in the gym. I took it easy. I tried to be smart. I felt like I wanted to fly.

It was hard not to do more.

But, I felt strong. I felt awesome. I felt powerful and healthy and fit and quick and in control.

I am realizing just how much all that training did to help me prepare to recover from the surgery. When I found out about my surgery it felt like my efforts were wasted and I was going to have to start all over again.

But what really happened is that my training made ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

And while I gained a few pounds being idle and eating holiday treats, I didn't lose any muscle. And I didn't lose my vision.

So I'm back. And I could really use some company.

Do any of you want to join me?

This journey isn't just about losing weight. It is about getting FIT and LIVING LIFE.

What are your health and fitness goals this year?

I want to hear!!!!

(I'm not weighing in for another week or so. But I will soon. And I am being accountable.)

My Best Advice...

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of Serving as a Missionary for my Church in Seattle, Washington.

My companion, Sister Tazalaar, shared one of her mother's pearls of wisdom & I have never forgotten it.

*Free Printable {Here}

I think about this all the time.

The Mother yelling at her children in the middle of Target.
The rude customer service Representative.
The man that cuts you off and then the driver behind you who blares their horn.
The chain smoker sitting on the curb.
The Dr. that cuts open your bladder. ;)
The husband who forgets your anniversary.
The children that don't seem to appreciate you.

Sometimes the only thing we can do is to give people the BENEFIT of the Doubt.

Maybe people are doing their best. Maybe they aren't. But who am I to judge?

All I can do is show them Love.

I think about this all the time.
And I try to love EVERYBODY.
A lot.

And I do.

Love EVERYBODY.
A.
Lot.

(Sister Tazalaar's mother was also a professional packer, who taught people who traveled a lot how to pack their bags. You will never believe how amazing her packing skills were. This was a Missionary's dream. Maybe I feel a tutorial coming on. It would be my first ya know.)

*******Edited Correction: Audrey Merrill (Sister Tazalaar) just informed me that this quote did NOT come from her mother...she heard it at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). Well, regardless...I love it. And feel free to check out her website. She might just save you some SERIOUS cash. For Real.

Blog Stalk Talk: The Daybook

2012-01-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

Some blog's you just can't keep your eye's off.

That is how I feel about The Daybook

Syd feels like a little Sister and Ty's my bro. And I really wish that Aunt Erin could give that little Everett a smooch and a squeeze. He is so yummy. I'm not sure what attracts me to this blog more; Syd's writing and humor, her style sense, her sweet baby, or her photography. She makes me laugh and I love that.

Anyway, she is totally AWESOME & AWKWARD

Check Her Out.

Now tell me...

What blog's do you Stalk?

Tractors Is So Dumb

2012-01-05T11:39:00.001-07:00

The kids were thrilled that Santa brought them these Mater Teeth Suckers.

{What a Smart Santa} ;)

Now I need to be a smart mamma and make some SERIOUS Dentist appointments.

Wednesday: Did You Know?

2012-01-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

1. It is awesome to see the kids do things together and actually get along. I feel like I'm usually diffusing a bomb between them most of the time. You never know when the tension is going to explode. I know they love each other a bunch, but they also try to get each other in trouble and it drives me crazy.

2. Wiggles has been getting teeth the past week and trying to survive his first ear infection. Let's just say he is NOT happy and NOT sleeping. Poor Scott has been so awesome. This is a picture of him catching a few minutes of sleep before he left for work. He was up all night with Wyatt. What a great dad and awesome husband.

3. I love taking pictures when I am in the car (I get bored driving) and Scott is a good sport.

4. Scott received a very generous Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse from one of his gym members. It was a Christmas Gift. The family had been unemployed for a few months during the year and Scott still let them use the gym even though they couldn't pay their memberships. (My Scotty is AWESOME) So the family gave Scott this nice gift as a gesture to say thank you. I couldn't believe how thoughtful they were to say thank you in such an extravagant way. We sure enjoyed using the Gift on New Year's Eve. Here is Scott coloring at the table. He is such a kid. But actually a REALLY great color-er. (is that a word?)

5. This is not a super great photo, but I love Sawyer's cheeks in it. My little man. (I do not love my cheeks in it. Or my chin.)

6. Here is a picture of my little Farm Town at dusk. I love living here. There are only a handful of street lights and stores, but it is home to the best people in the WORLD. I love you Blackfoot.

7. Don't let this smirk fool you. He has been tears for a week. I'm so glad that he is finally feeling better. We missed our happy Wiggles.

8. I had a severe lapse in judgement after a phone call with Amber {my super awesome SIL} yesterday and decided I should try to potty train Sauce. He turns 3 in a few weeks and you would think that he would be ready. In my head I knew I should wait a bit more, but then I thought...oh heck, just try. So I used up his last diaper, put him in undies and bought some pull-ups (PRINCESS ones dang it. I was in such a hurry I didn't even notice they were pink. He was not thrilled) After 6 pair of wet underwear this morning and one pair of poopy (gross) I gave up. I lasted about 15 hours. PATH-e-TIC.

9. Wyatt ate his first piece of pizza last night. The whole piece. 10 months old. Amazing. The Peterson's know how to eat!

10. Oh Kate. This girl is giving me a run for my money. I love her. I love her. I love her. {repeat to self before you explode} She is cute and naughty and messy and snotty. Heaven help me. Please?

Bonus:

Neighbor Cathy is really sick and that just makes me sad. I took her some soup and cough drops yesterday but she sounded terrible. I much prefer seeing her out in her garden that sick in bed. I told her that it would be a good break from swearing at her dogs. She mustered a small smile. I love you Cathy. Hope you feel better.

Bonus II:

I am doing awesome. I am so good. AMAZING. WONDERFUL. AMAZING. I feel great and feel NORMAL for the first time in a year. Can you believe that I was cut open three weeks ago today and I feel THIS awesome? I can't!

Scary Bonus:

Scott and I were asked to speak at a Stake Single Adult Fireside in a few weeks. I'm excited and nervous. I have to figure out what I should speak on. I'm really bad a narrowing things down. REALLY bad. Wish me luck.

Blog Design Bonus:

Don't judge the blog design. I love trying new things and well, I'm experimenting. I don't have much skill, but it sure is fun.

Any Potty Training Pointers?

Any Naughty Daughter tips or advice?

Any topic ideas for my talk?

Are you loving the NEW YEAR???

I AM!!!!

Intentional Prayer by Laurel Christensen

2012-01-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

I loved this post by my friend Laurel. She is turning 40 in 40 days. I'm turning 40 in about 4 years. Wow, how time just seems to fly. I love this scripture and thought I would share her message with you. One of my New Year's Resolution's is to have more sincere prayer, but I think I will also add more Intentional Prayer to the list. Hope you enjoy the message. You can find Laurel's blog right {HERE}.

Intentional Prayer by Laurel Christensen

The effectual

fervent prayer
of a righteous [woman]
availeth much.
James 5:16

effectual [ih-fek-choo-uhl]: capable of producing an intended effect
fervent [fur-vuhnt]: showing great intensity of spirit

I'm amazed at the ways the Lord has used my friends to speak to me.
I could fill volumes just representing the last year alone.

But, this little volume is about a couple of dear friends who are turning 40 with me this year.
These girls are uncommonly good.
One of them suggested that we needed to do something really special.
She arranged for a conference call between the three of us.
I thought she was going to suggest a grand trip we could take together.
Or some "bucket list" item we could complete and cross off.

But, instead...

"I've been thinking a lot about this and I think we need to unite in intentional prayer for each other for the 40 days leading up to our birthdays."

And though the term "intentional prayer" is not really used in the Mormon faith, I'm smart enough to know what it must mean.
And my little heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
I knew this was something I needed to do.

Who does that?
Who thinks to suggest such a thing?

My good, Christian, Godly-devoted friends, that's who.
Oh, how I love them.

We each shared a bit of the things in our hearts and committed to each other to pray...really pray...with real intention.
Effectual.
Fervent.
Prayer.
For 40 days.

I could not be given a better gift for my birthday.
To pray for my friends.
And to know they are praying for me.

My "40 days" starts tomorrow (can you believe 'tis only 40 days?).
(And isn't that a great way to end one year and begin another?)
One of the girls "40 days" already began.
So, we've already been praying for her for a few days.

And what I'm learning about prayer...
...about the significance of the number "40"
...about the power of praying for others...
in just a few days...

Well, let's just say I've got some things to share.
Good things.

Stay tuned.

(image found here)

I think I'm cured. Like really.

2011-12-30T01:44:00.000-07:00

I have not leaked.

Urine.

All week.

{smile}

I started my period.

It is normal.

{smile}

Never.

And I mean Never.

Did I ever imagine.

That I would be so happy.

To menstruate.

But I am.

Happy.

{smile}

God is Good.

God is Great.

Miracles Happen.

{smile}

2012 is shaping up to be a Great Year.

Fabulous Year.

Exciting Year.

Adventurous Year.

Healthy Year.

Simpler Year.

Less expensive Year.

{smile}

I am happy.

p.s.

For any new reader's that might be puzzled by my menstruating gratitude,

2011 has been an interesting year.

My bladder was bisected during an emergency c-section. It was completely cut in half.

It did not heal correctly.

I had a fistula (tunnel or hole connecting two organs) form

between my bladder and my uterus.

I have had chronic infections due to this hole.

It lead to urine leaking out through my Uterus,

and to my periods emptying through my bladder.

I know. Weird.

But I think I'm cured.

Like REALLY.

Two weeks ago a man named

Dr. Vernon Cahoon

changed my life.

This man gave me BACK

my life.

How can I possibly ever repay him.

I can't.

My Hero.

Wednesday: Did You Know?

2011-12-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

1. Christmas is amazing. I can't believe how much I love ribbon, wrapping paper, and family. The kids love it too and Kate and Sawyer had so much fun decorating Papa. My dad is a kid at heart and is so patient with the kids. Isn't he cute!

2. How cute is Sawyer rolling out the cookie dough that came in {this amazing Christmas Cookie Basket from the Folkman's}. You have to check out the link. It is the cutest Christmas Gift idea I've ever seen. Rachel is a genius, just like her mother and always puts together amazing theme ideas. It blew my mind, and my kids were the ones that benefited from the great gift. They had so much fun making and decorating cookies with Nana.

3. Before we left Utah on Tuesday, we hit up the Quicksilver store in Provo. Everything was 75% off and we scored. My favorite purchase was this flannel shirt for Sawyer. Oh my heavens I am in love with it. It cost me a Whopping 2 bucks. So cute.

4. I'm going to stop talking as much about my medical issues. There will be a few more posts, but I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about 'poor' me. So here it is. It is two weeks post surgery and I am FABULOUS!!! I can't believe how good I am. Miracle after Miracle have gotten me here and I feel so blessed to be doing so well. The worst part of the entire surgery was my rash, and the first time they filled up my bladder with fluid.

My catheter got a hole in the bag the night before I had it removed and so I had to double bag it with grocery bags. SO GROSS!!! But pretty funny.

I am TUBE free, PAIN free and I have no holes in my bladder or uterus that aren't supposed to be there! AMAZING! I feel so blessed.

5. Scott and I laid in bed last night while Sawyer was sleeping on the floor. (This happens a lot. Don't ask.) He started telling us jokes and we were laughing so hard. I can't believe that he is almost 3. I have enjoyed him so much. Everything that he says or does is just magic. I sure have a soft spot for him in my heart. I love all my kids so much, but every mom should have a Sawyer.

6. Today, when I put Kate's hair up in pig tails I made her promise me that she would wash her hair tomorrow. It has seriously been a week since she washed her hair. Gross. She sure clean's up cute though.

7. Wyatt is getting really mobile and really brave. This is him yelling at me for trapping him in the living room with stools. I'm not sure what to do with him. He is everywhere. He is hilarious. And really smiley, as long as he is roaming free.

8. Scott left the house today and exclaimed "we are going to a family movie tonight if the house is clean when I get home." I know that this incentive was for the kids...but good grief, that is still a lot of pressure on me. I better get busy!

9. On Monday, Kimm, Nana and the clan took me and my Catheter to see A Dolphin's Tale (my first public outing with my pee). I cried about 10 times. I dreamed of being a dolphin trainer as a child and still have a love for the Sea and it's creatures. Great movie. Scott ended up driving the two babies (yes I still call Sawyer my baby) around in the car for most of the movie. Thanks Scott.

10. My first night without my catheter and my first night with a working bladder I had to use the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This is worse than pregnancy. I literally felt like I was going to the bathroom all night long. (TMI I know!) Anyway, tell your bladder that you love it!

How was your Christmas?

What is the longest your daughter has gone without washing her hair?

Do you have a extra soft spot for any of your children?

Wise Men Still Seek Him by Gentri Lee

2011-12-24T11:17:00.002-07:00

(This is a guest post written by {Gentri Lee}. Make sure to visit her blog. You will be glad you did!)

It's funny that we have to "find" Christ in Christmas. Why did we lose Him?

Without Him- there would be no Christmas.

We get so caught up in the gift giving that we forget the most important gift that was ever given- His life, for ours.I am a Mormon- a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe in the Bible, but we also believe in The Book of Mormon. It is ANOTHER testament of Jesus Christ- another witness that He did indeed live.

Have you ever wondered what it was like in other parts of the world? In the Book of Mormon we learn from Nephi, an ancient American Prophet, what the first Christmas was like in the Americas.Christs birth had been prophesied by many Prophets. In the 3rd book of Nephi, we learn of one- Samuel the Lamanite, who told of Christs birth 5 years before His coming. He stood on a wall and preached the words God had commanded him. He told of how on the night of Christs birth it would be as if it were day and that a new star would rise. As he stood on the wall and spoke these words men cast arrows at him- but they could not hit him.

Heleman 14: 2-3 &5 2. And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on His name.3. And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of His coming, for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before He cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.5. And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you."

5 years had almost passed and those unbelievers began to rejoice. They set apart a day where all those who believed Samuels words should be put to death- lest the signs should come. The believers were steadfast, and Nephi began to pray to the Lord in behalf of his people, and the Lord answered him...

3rd Nephi 1:13-15 & 21 13. Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I unto the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.14.... And behold the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.15. And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.21. And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

Christmas was celebrated all over the world then, and is celebrated all over the world now. Let us remember WHY we celebrate. It is because our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer came to earth to redeem us from our sins. To show us how to live, and to die so that we could live with Him forever.

Let us be like the Wise men of old- and seek Him out this Christmas season, and always.

For "wise men still seek Him."

Love,Gentri

Mom Guilt

2011-12-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

It is officially Day 10 of Scott taking care of EVERYTHING and me doing NOTHING.

The mom guilt is killing me.

Never have I wanted to do laundry, the dishes, or change diapers more.

I am recovering really well. Actually I think remarkably well. However, I am not suppose to really do anything. I can walk around and that is about it. Do you know how hard it is to keep myself from doing things. Especially picking up my sweet baby Wyatt when he is crying and looking right into my eyes. It takes all of my restraint.

Scott took off with the kids today and I haven't seen him in about 4 hours. He has been so wonderful. I always brag about how amazing he is...but he really is so amazing. He can do it ALL. And he has been so kind and wonderful through this whole ordeal. And for a guy to look lovingly at his wife while she is holding her own bag of urine...that says something folks!!!

This picture isn't the best quality, but it just perfectly illustrates Scott's role in this family. He is the Center. He makes sense out of all of our jumbled quirks and our family just works because of him. His focus is our family. It always has been and I know it always will be. He finds so much joy in being a Father and I love him so much.

I am amazed at how wonderful the hard times can be. I've been forced to slow down and completely stop being a mom, or at least the majority of my mom roles. But my sweet hubs has taken over in every way and I love him.

Do you hear that? I love you Scotty.

Applying The Atonement by Mara of A Blog About Love

2011-12-23T10:33:00.003-07:00

(This is a guest post written by Mara of A Blog About Love. Mara blogs about infertility, marriage, divorce, living in New York City, Faith, Fashion and so much more. Her blog is spoken in such honesty. I adore her and I know you will too.)

Breathe,breathe, breathe.......

Isanyone feeling the holidays caving in on them?

Parties. What to wear. Last minute gifts. Events to fit in. Babysitters to find. Crafts to complete. Treats to make & deliver. House guests to plan for. Meals to prepare. Luggageto pack. Flights to take with babies. And making sure that all yourloved ones feel loved.

Iactually felt a smidget of this holiday stress myself tonight. I suredid.

So how do I keep Christ in Christmas?

I do it the same way I try to remember Christ everysingle day of the year....

Itry to turn around all negative emotions. And I'm talking about the onesin my heart. Cause those are the ones that matter......such as.....

-Fearof never getting pregnant.

-Anxietyabout justifying not working full-time right now.

-Stressthat creeps in when I don't accomplish all that I want to do in one day.

-Feelingbad because I haven't really even decorated for Christmas this year. :)

-Wonderingif I can pull off a big party at my house this weekend.

Everythought or feeling in our heart either blocks the oneness with Christ or allowsus to vibrate with His same light. I finally decided to start practicingturning all my negative thoughts around into love, hope, faith & charity....andI've done it. If you think hard enough, you can do it, too...doesn'tmatter how great the trial. And it's through the Atonement of Christ thatwe even have the opportunity to turn things around again and again andagain. By some miracle, a few years ago at the lowest point in my life, Ifigured this out. I consciously started applying the Atonement and Ihaven't stopped since. Doing this has helped me to face 7 years ofongoing infertility, an unexpected divorce, the ups and downs of starting HARVEY FAIRCLOTH, and verychallenging & unique circumstances associated with living & working inNew York City. I now know how to tap into the peace available to me atany given moment. And every time I do so, I have the privilege of feelingmore & more at one with Christ. It has led to more happiness than Ican even describe. And one of the best side effects ever: being ina place to meet & marry the most loving man I could imagine.

Soduring this Christmas season, when stress can be at an all-time high, I remindmyself that the Atonement applies to this silly stress, too. Ugh. How ridiculous that we actually need to apply the Atonement because we arestressed out about celebrating His birth. Ha! :) But, that ishow beautiful the Atonement is. It applies to everything. Itapplies to all our weaknesses. And by choosing to apply it, we can keepChrist in Christmas.....and in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-gthat we do.

MerryChristmas to one & all!

Mara

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make sure to visit Mara over at

A Blog About Love

Here With Us by Sara of August Fields

2011-12-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

(This guest post was written by Sara over at {August Fields}. Sara has documented her beautiful home being built and decorated from the ground up. Her beautiful style blows my mind. She is a DIYer and she also Home Schools her 5 children. Just wait until you see her School Room just off her kitchen. Make sure to stop by and visit her blog.)

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ was always emphasized as the true meaning of Christmas during my childhood.

I grew up in a Christian home and in 7th grade, gave my life to the Lord. Believing that I am saved by grace alone, sets me apart from many world religions. Knowing that Jesus IS my savior, that He pursued ME is at times beyond comprehensible.

We would put up a tree, exchange beautifully wrapped presents, play Christmas music and many other traditional traditions. (which we still do!) Yet, that was all in addition to, and layered around the Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Today, my relationship with Jesus has continued to strengthen and my children too know and love to celebrate Jesus at Christmas. We spend time doing advent devotions, setting up our nativity.

This truth, that GOD came DOWN, for you and for me, is astounding, revealing and remarkable.

The words of this song, sung by Joy Williams, speaks clearly to the significance of Christmas. I challenge you to read these words carefully and allow them to penetrate your soul. I've also included a youtube video to hear the recording.

Here With Us:

It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small,
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King,
You're here with us
You're here with us

It's still a mystery to me, oh,
How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time
How His ears have heard an angel's symphony,
But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
Here with us
You're here with us
(Ohh, mmm, here with us)

Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem
A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
You're here with us
You're here with us

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please visit Sara at

{August Fields}

Post-Op Thoughts...Lot's and Lot's

2011-12-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Waking up from surgery and seeing Scott and my parents huddled in the corner with tears in their eyes was a moment in time I will never forget. Oh the blessed state of being alive!!!
It is such a relief to have the surgery behind me. I will be very grateful to never have to stay in the hospital again. Ever. Never. Ever.
It is funny realizing that the surgery has been way less painful than I thought it would be.
I am also realizing that it is going to be a much longer recovery than I anticipated. When they said I wouldn't be lifting anything for 6 weeks they weren't kidding. I have two babies people. How am I going to make it?

I tried so hard to read, sleep, watch movies, and blog, but I was a total zombie. I couldn't do anything. My mind was a wasteland. The whole thing so far is one big blur.
I was so grateful for visitors while I was in the hospital. I wish I would have had more visits. I can't believe how much it helped having people stop by.
The surgery ended up taking 5 hours and I feel so bad for Scott who had to wait and wait and wait with no word from the Doctors.
Dr. Cahoon explained the entire surgery to me in great detail after I woke up from the Anesthesia and I have no recollection of this whatsoever.
Getting poked by nurses who can't find your veins is really annoying. And painful.

This Bair Paws Machine is AMAZING and I wish I had one at home. It blows warm air out of a hose and I put it under my blankets and it kept me super comfortable and warm. Where was this machine when I had spinal meningitis?
This was my first hospital visit ever where all the buttons on my bed worked. The TV remote worked, the lights worked, and even the rolling table worked with no problems. Luxury I tell you.
If I had to say one bad thing about my stay it would be the food. They didn't have a menu. I really like when I get to plan what I eat instead of mystery meals just being brought in.

This picture is Ashley. She is like a sister to me and she works at the hospital. After her shift she came in and helped me change, walk around my room for the first time. She was a great blessing to me and I love her so much. She was made to be a nurse.

Can you tell how stoned I am in this picture. My eyes were barely able to stay open, I couldn't focus on anything and I felt like I was flying. Those are strong drugs my friends. Strong.
I had two catheters after the surgery and one drainage tube. I still have one catheter and it comes out of my stomach and it is really freaky. I have to carry it around with me and Sawyer calls it my "ewe, yukky poop bag". This makes me feel really loved. There is nothing worse than carrying around your own pee bag. EXCEPT for carrying around your own pee bag that isn't working. (Like last time. That was super painful.)

Come one. Tell me how bad you wish you could carry around your own urine? When was the last time you told your bladder how much your loved it? Bladders are awesome. Bags of pee are not.
My biggest worry was being able to go #2. I have had success. Nough' Said.

I love Michael Buble. Love him. Not as much as my friend Laurel loves him, but he is most excellent. I rocked to his Christmas tunes while I was in the hospital. It helped.

I have a beautiful 7 inch long incision that starts at by belly button and goes down, down, down. It is lovely. NOT.

And seroiusly, NOTHING has made me feel better than having my sister JENNA put on these eyelash extensions. I love them. They make me feel feminine and girly, and a little bit less like an ugly jigsaw puzzle. BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER JENNA. I LOVE YOU.

The only complication that I have had is an allergic reaction to the glue and tape they used on my incision. It is completely scabbed over with blisters and such. It hurts and itches and looks terrible.
I've been taking Benedryl for the allergies and I have slept for the past three days straight. I have slept all day and all night. LITERALLY.
My Mother-in-law Shawna has taken over the care of everything at my house. EVERYTHING. Remember I told you that I have been sleeping for 3 days straight. She is remarkable.
My friends and neighbors have taken care of all the food and meals so far. They are the best people in the world and I can't believe that I lucked out getting to live next to them.

Well, I am making it through this. It hasn't been easy. I will be happy when the catheter is taken out on Tuesday. For now I have given up all Christmas goals and ideas and projects. They just aren't going to happen. It is okay. I feel closer to my Savior than ever before. More aware of his mighty power and love for his children. More aware of his love for me, and his willingness to bear my afflictions.

I am so blessed. I am so humbled. I am so grateful.

I am alive. I am ticking.

And pretty soon I will be back to normal. And I will have to try a lot harder to remember where I have been, and what I have been through. But I am determined to remember these lessons, these little nuggets of wisdom, the gratitude for life that I have been given.

I am most likely not making sense, I am on drugs, remember?

But I am so blessed.

Remember that.

Love to you all!!!!

PS. I've missed you. How are you all doing?

Joy To The World by Christina Felt

2011-12-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

fantastic holiday card via The Wheatfield

As far as Christmas hymns go, Joy to the World has become one of my favorites. I can’t sing it without hearing a full choir and orchestra in my head, I can’t sing it without feeling like I’m proclaiming the greatest truths of the gospel to the world, and I can’t sing it without tearing up as my heart is full with the joy I feel knowing that my Savior HAS come and the He WILL come again.

In the first verse of Joy to the World, one phrase that always hits me is “let every heart prepare him room.” I've thought a lot about what that means. It’s significant to me because although there were no inns with room for the Savior, we all have the opportunity to make room for Him in our hearts, always, but especially at the Christmas season.

Several years ago I had a light-bulb moment regarding how the holiday season works together to testify of Christ- I become grateful and my heart is softened at Thanksgiving, my heart turns to my Savior at Christmas and I long to become more like Him which prepares me to make goals at the New Year to repent and improve. I then realized that I didn't want to wait until the New Year to improve (although I’m sure I’ll take stock then and set goals once again), but I wanted to give my own gift to the Savior throughout the Christmas season. I wanted to prepare my heart to have room for Him. As I have made room in my heart for Christ, I have become aware of changes I need to make so that He can have room to dwell there and be comfortable in doing so. It's been a humbling process, but one that has brought me great joy. I loved the following excerpt from these remarks by Henry B. Eyring. It's changed my perspective greatly.

"Jesus gave his gift freely, willingly to us all. He said, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:17–18). I bear testimony that as we accept that gift, given through infinite sacrifice, it brings joy to the giver. Jesus taught, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). If that warms you as it does me, you may well want to give a gift to the Savior. But he seems to have everything, doesn’t he? Well, not quite. He doesn’t have all of us with him again, forever—not yet. I hope we are touched enough by the feelings of his heart to sense how much he wants to know each of us is coming home to him. We can’t give that gift to him in one day or in one Christmas. But we could show him today that we are on the way. If we have already done that, there is still something left to give. All around us are people he loves, and he wants to help them—through us. One of the sure signs of a person who has accepted the gift of the Savior’s atonement is a willingness to give. The process of cleansing our lives seems to make us more sensitive, more generous, more pleased to share what means so much to us. I suppose that’s why the Savior used an example of gift-giving in describing who would finally come home to him: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. … “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:34–36, 40). And that, I suppose, is the nicest effect of receiving great gifts: it makes us want to give and give well. I’ve been blessed all my life by such gifts. I acknowledge that. Many of those gifts were given long ago... And so what shall we do to appreciate and to give a merry Christmas? “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). I pray that we will freely give. I pray that we will be touched by the feelings of others, that we will give without feelings of compulsion or expectation of gain, and that we will know that sacrifice is made sweet to us when we treasure the joy it brings to another heart."

This year as a family we've discussed together the gifts we want to give to our Savior this season. We have been working hard to sacrifice and to fulfill those promises. It has brought us closer to each other with that common goal, but more importantly it has brought us closer to Christ as we celebrate Him. ----

Christina is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend who loves to be inspired and is always working to become a better person. She has been blogging since 2007, but earlier this year she changed venues. Christina now blogs at Bee a Little Better where she shares her journey of self-improvement as well as lessons learned caring for her dad when he suffered a massive stroke days after the birth of her third child.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spirit Of Service by Aarean

2011-12-15T04:42:00.001-07:00

{This post was written by my new friend Aarean. Find her {here}!

I absolutely, positively love this time of year. The food, the decorations, the family getting together...the music, the colorful trees and ornaments... It's all so wonderful! How easy it is to forget (and yes we hear this phrase so often...) "the true meaning of Christmas". When Erin asked if I would share some ways that I try to remember Christ during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I was thrilled. For the mere fact that amongst the gift wrapping, the shopping, or blogging about my latest Christmas projects, etc...it forced me to take a step back and re-prioritize.

Of course, one of my favorite things to do, especially during Christmas, is to read the story of Christ's birth (found in Luke). But, my favorite thing about this time of year is the spirit of service that radiates through so many. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and service is a huge part of what we believe. Like our Savior said, "Verily, I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me."

During this this time of year, the greatest thing I can do in remembering Christ is to be of Service. Making Christmas cookies for my neighbors. Cooking a holiday meal for a friend. Helping out at a food drive, or simply donating goods to a local charity. All of these things are simple ways to serve, and it is a true reminder to me of what this season is all about. There is so much joy and satisfaction is service, when we forget ourselves and focus on others...there is no better way to remember our Savior then by serving. I truly, truly believe that!

Merry Christmas to you all...may you find service to be a beautiful reminder of Christ during this special time of year!

xoxo

Aarean

editor of Color Issue

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aarean is an incredible designer and shares her knowledge of color on her blog

{Color Issue}

You really DO NOT want to pass up her blog.

You just don't.

Hop over there and be inspired.

Pre-Op Thoughts

2011-12-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

• I let the kids pack their own clothes. I hope they packed underwear.

• I sat Dylan and Kate down and told them how much I love being their mom. I told them that if God ever decided he needed me in heaven, to make sure that Scott found a beautiful, kind new wife. Dylan said, "like a step mom?" and I said "No, a REAL mom? And you would be super lucky to have two moms". He said, "ya two moms is great, but one mom is better if it is you." this made my heart smile. It was kind of a mature conversation, but I felt better for getting my wishes out there.

• I'm looking forward to hospital food. Is that weird?

• I started crying when I was praying for my Surgeons. I was expressing how much they would be blessing my life if they could fix the problems and I completely lost it. How cool would it be to truly be able to change someone's life like that for good? Pretty awesome.

• Scott is the best husband in the entire world. He helped me so much today and he knew just what to say. I love him.

• Hoping that tomorrow I have one less hole in my bladder and one less hole in my Uterus. Fingers crossed.

• Best case scenario I stop leaking fluids from all the wrong places and I get to have another baby.

• Hoping the incision from my belly button down to my pubic bone isn't too hideous.

• Grateful that the hospital is close to my parents house.

• Grateful for my faith, my friends, my family, my husband, my children.

• Watched an amazing documentary last night called Buck. Now all I can think of is riding horses

• I am blessed.

I will check in tomorrow and let you know how it went.

I love you all.

A No List Christmas Wish by Krista Smith

2011-12-13T12:45:00.001-07:00

This post is written by Krista Smith who blogs over at{Saturated Canary}

Christmas makes me feel very much like a kid again. My momand dad always made it so special for the four of us kids. We had so manyfun traditions…little things that added up to make a truly wonderful, excitingmonth. We lived right next to a Christmas tree farm, so cutting our owntree down was a blast. Some years my dad was working, and my mom and us kidswould go over and choose one ourselves. Always too big to fit into ourlittle house. It would pop all the ceiling tiles out…pine needles wouldbe through the whole place…and we ended up drenched in sweat and sap trying toget the tree to stand upright in the tree stand. Still, I love thosememories…all the family pieces that still make my heart skip a beat whenDecember rolls around.

I grew up in a Christian home, so our Christmas holidays werealways centered around Jesus' birth. We still did the whole Santathing…and I still do for my children (who are both avid Santa believers:), butthe Reason we celebrate is forefront in our hearts and minds.

I understand that some families choose not to include the Santaaspect in their Christmas celebrations. I totally respect that. Formy husband and myself, we love the building excitement through the month, thecookies set out on Christmas Eve, and little notes the kids write to Santa…Isave them all. (I can't pull them out without getting all sappy:). I follow my parents example in how to include the holiday festivities withoutloosing focus on Christ. There were never any Christmas lists. Nohanding Santa a ranked toy wish-list for him to check off on Christmasmorning. We were only allowed to ask for one thing.

My kids know they can choose one thing each year. There isnever an argument or question. They don't even blink an eye when other kiddiestalk about their lists. For them, it has always been one thing. They know it cannot be very, very expensive (because that gives Santa theimpression they are taking advantage:). They know it cannot be real (wedon't do puppies in boxes. hubby would have a fit:). They both pickone reasonable toy each year. I love how the limiting of their requests makesthe one they choose that much more special.

We have had Santa's ask, Is that all?? And my kiddossimply reply, yes. (It is funny to see a puzzled look on Santa'sface.) The One-Wish rule keeps our children grounded and keeps the OneGift that we received in Bethlehem forefront in their little minds. It is a nice reminder and reality check, that Christmas is about so muchmore than the number of gifts and stacks of toys. Santa is a sweet guy,and he always brings them a couple extras:). We have a few special giftsfor our children as well. But everything on Christmas morning isappreciated and received with thankful hands. I think overwhelmingchildren with toys, especially as Christians, floods their ability to value andappreciate each present. And it removes time and space in their heartsfor remembering Christ that day.

So we choose to keep the presents reasonable.

To believe inSanta.

To keep Christ first.

To show our children that Christmas

isabout giving.

About being thankful for traditions and memories.

Andto allow them one wish.

Which is a nice conversation starter about

theOne Gift we received on

Christmas all those years ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can check on Krista over here at the

{Saturated Canary}

Again, I just want to thank you all so much for your participation and enthusiasm for

Finding Christ in Christmas.

Letting the Christ-child in & a Christmas Blog Hop

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

This post is written by Jocelyn Christensen who blogs at
{We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ}

In our family, we have a lot of traditions that ground us in the true meaning of Christmas, but one tradition in particular is quite beautiful and you don't need to purchase anything extra in order to do it in your own family!

We call it "Letting the Christ-child in." It is a very simple and can be very meaningful.

According to my mother, the tradition originated with her maternal grandparents who were members of the Church of England. They had a very late church service on Christmas eve and afterward, as a family they would walk home, singing carols as they went. Arriving just about midnight, they opened the door to their home to "let in the Christ child" as they re-entered their home and then opened their gifts.

For generations now, my family and I have also opened our Christmas gifts at midnight Christmas eve, but ALWAYS, we open the doors of our house FIRST to let the Christ-child in.

I have fond memories of one parent standing at the back door of our house and the other parent (with children racing behind them) scurrying to open the front door. Simultaneously, both doors are opened, allowing a crisp winter breeze to sweep through the house. As a child, I remember imagining a young Christ-child wandering through the house for that brief, thrilling, magical moment.

After we have figuratively let the Christ child in, we begin our celebrating, gift-giving, and partaking of party food!

You do not have to wake up at midnight to start this tradition in your family...just open your doors and your hearts to the Christ child this season.

I am thankful for the Christmas season, and for the gift of good family traditions that help us learn about, celebrate, and center our lives on the Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope that you will experience His presence and love where ever you are and however you choose to celebrate this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

If you have a Christmas Post you would like to link up please do it here. This Blog Hop is being hosted by Jocelyn over at We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ.

Sunday Thoughts: Unto Us A Child Is Born

2011-12-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the governmnet shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Our family loves to reenact the Savior's birth on that first Christmas night. For us it brings a soft reverence, a deeper appreciation, and a more real understanding of the significance of what we celebrate as Christmas.

Even I, stop and try to imagine what it might have been like to have been there on the night that the Savior of Men came to earth. He, who is greater than all, born in the humble and lowly surroundings of farm animals and a cold stable.

What would it have been like to have been there when God gave the world His greatest Gift?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Thinking about and pondering on God's greatest gift, helps me become less interested in making wish lists for myself and my family...

and more concerned about recognizing the significance of what giving TRUE gifts really means.

Gifts that don't come in packages wrapped up in bows. Gifts that don't come with a receipt in case it doesn't fit. Gifts that don't take the meaning out of the season. The Christmas Season.

Christmas is a magical time of year. Lights, stockings, Santa and reindeer all make the season seem more magical. But the true magic of Christmas comes as a gift to us all. The gift of a Savior, grasping us from the clutches of evil, redeeming us to the heavens above, and saving us from ourselves.

So deck your halls, trim your tree's and if you must, shop till you drop.

But please, stop this season, before it is too late...

And reflect on what God's gift to the world means to you...means for you.

And may the giving be a little sweeter this year. The presents a little more meaningful.

May the spirit of Christ be found in your homes, in your conversations, in your music, and in your hearts.

Merry Christmas to you all.

May Love, Peace, Good Works, Joy & Happiness abound.

The Song Of The Righteous Is A Prayer by Abby

2011-12-10T09:15:00.001-07:00

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

Doctrine and Covenants 25:12

I am not a singer. Don't get me wrong, I love music, and I love to sing, but tunes and keys and I are not the best of friends. My husband assures me it's no longer painful to hear me sing, and that quite often now it's even enjoyable. This wasn't the case when we were first married, so you can imagine my horror when I discovered that most of his family had gorgeous voices, and loved to sing together.

Shortly before our first Christmas together my horror turned to full on panic, as my husband told me all about one of his family's favorite traditions. You see, for as long as he can remember on Christmas Eve they would all gather together and make popcorn balls, and take them to the neighbors singing Christmas carols as they delivered them. What was worse was that he wanted me to join in this tradition with them. That's right, my sweet husband, who I would do anything for wanted me to put aside my FEAR of singing in public, and go through his parent's neighborhood singing to the neighbors. I honestly couldn't imagine a more horrible and embarrassing experience!

Unfortunately that year we weren't with his family at Christmas, and the following year I was with them, but I was alone. Steve was deployed to Iraq, and since my family was on the other side of the country I decided to drive up to Utah so I wouldn't sit in an empty house all through the holidays. I had intended to spend some quiet time alone while everyone else went caroling, but in my mind I could see the look in his eyes as he told me about this treasured family tradition. I could see him remembering having snowball fights with his brother in between houses, I could see his smile when he talked about the joy of being with his family.

So that Christmas Eve I joined the rest of the family, and my brother in-law pushed me right to the front because he knew how uncomfortable it made me, and my father in-law grumbled that he didn't like to sing, and our niece and nephew wanted to know when we could go home where it wasn't so cold, and in all of that I saw how much our family wanted to share Christ with others at Christmas.

I saw how my brother in-law wanted to make me laugh and smile even though in my heart I was grieving being a world away from my husband, and wondering if I would ever see him again. I saw the look of pride in my father in-law's eyes, when he thought no one was looking, as he, our patriarch, listened to his family sing their testimony of the Savior's birth to all of those around them. I saw my niece and nephew's excitement to get home to hear their grandfather read the story of Christ's birth from Luke 2,which always follows the caroling.

That night my soul delighted in song, our family's souls delighted in song, and our neighbors souls delighted in song, as we sang praises to our Savior, and shared our worship of Him with those around us. I am so grateful for the beautiful opportunity we have each year to gather as a family and offer up these beautiful prayers to the Savior of the world as we remember His awe inspiring life.

I am grateful for the opportunity to

keep Christ in Christmas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You Can Read More about Abby over at her blog

{a house of...}

She is a military wife, homeschooling mom, and lovely creative person.

Favorite Movie Quotes

2011-12-09T14:35:00.001-07:00

‎"Everyday...everyday you're not dead in the ground and you
wake up in the mornin', you gonna have to make some
decisions. Gotta ask yourself this question; am I gonna believe
all them bad things them fools said about me today? You
hear me? Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools
say about me today? Alright? As for your mama, she didn't
pick her life. It picked her.

But you, you gonna do something
big with yours. You wait and see."

Constantine {The Help}

Do you have a favorite Movie Quote?

Will you share it with me in a comment?

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing by Laura

2011-12-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving, I jumped to my computer with excitement. I had been waiting all year for this. Since the Christmas decorations were taken down and newness of the new year was sinking in.

I opened my Pandora that was bookmarked on my computer. Pushed the button for my favorite Christmas station and waited to hear it.

***

source

At age 17, Robert Robinson and some of his drinking buddies decided to attend an evangelistic meeting, with a plan to make fun of the proceedings. When the pastor began to preach, Robert felt as if the sermon was just for him. He did not respond to the altar call that night, but the words of the evangelist would haunt him for the next three years.On Dec. 10, 1755, at age 20, Robert finally yielded his life to Christ, and very soon thereafter answered a call to the ministry. Three years later in 1757, as he was preparing to preach a sermon Robert wrote Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing to complement his sermon.

The music for the hymn was composed by Asahel Nettleton in 1813.

source

***

source

When I selected songs for our wedding, the thought of having Come Thou Fount played while we lit the unity candle was kind of an arbutrary decision. I had heard it a few times in church. I liked the melody. The words were pretty. It would sound great with the rustic feel we were going for.

Now, 2 1/2 years later, it's hard to explain what this song does in our home.

It's not really a Christmas song and is probably only in the Christmas playlist because Sufjan Stevens added it to his holiday album. But thinking about Christmas these days, I don't think about the tree or the food or even the presents. This song is Christmas to me now.

The words are hauntingly beautiful and speak so much to how we should worship during this season. It speaks of singing the Lord's grace, never ceasing in our praise. It asks the Lords to teach us how to worship with tounges on fire.

Even in our times of sorrow and confusion,

the Lord seeks me.

Even though I often run away from Him,

Jesus was born to bring me home to our Father.

source

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

When this song comes on the radio, I stop.

I stop typing, I stop working.

I pause.

Every time I hear this song all I can do is lay my head down and pray.

To redevote my life and my heart to the Lord.

It's a love song to God.

During the next few weeks, as time seems to slip away, as the pressure of the season builds up, it's so important for us to pause. To sit in the stillness of the love of the Lord and breathe it in. This is what this song does for Kyle and I. It is a true blessing and continues to fill us with the spirit of Christ and the true meaning

of the holiday.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;Here by Thy great help I've come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,Interposed His precious blood;

O to grace how great a debtorDaily I'm constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,Seal it for Thy courts above.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Here is a little about Laura}

My name is Laura and I'm along for the ride.

My blog is about the things that mean the most. The little things that make life sweet, and messy, and silly, and beautiful.

Jesus

my husband and our kitty baby Jupiter

the career that I have been called to

creating

family and friends

food

home

inspiration

pretty things

simple things

real things

{I hope you'll consider joining me on the journey!}

Click This Button To Visit Laura's Blog.She even has an Etsy shop!!!

Spinal Meningitis Symptoms: Please Read!

2011-12-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

{Please Read The Symptoms

even if you don't have time to read the guts.}

Spinal Meningitis

Severe & Worsening Headache
Extremely stiff neck and spine
Fever & Chills
Vomiting or loss of appetite
Confusion
Sensitivity to light

I am so heartbroken today. On Monday a Young Man passed away from meningitis. He left behind 3 children under the age of 4 and a pregnant wife.

For those of you that don't know, I was hospitalized with Spinal Meningitis last year.

I want to quickly educate you on some of the basics of Meningitis.

First of all there is no way to know what kind of meningitis you or your child has without seeing your doctor and undergoing a spinal tap.

Viral meningitis may improve without treatment in a few days.
Bacterial meningitis is serious, and requires prompt antibiotic treatment to avoid serious brain damage, hearing loss and death. Some types of bacterial meningitis can prove fatal if not treated within the first 24 hours of symptoms.

The scariest thing about Meningitis is that it isn't easy to know if you have it.

{Here is a brief account of my story}

August 24th of 2010 I was making dinner and started to get a headache. By the time 7:00pm rolled around and The Bachelor came on I was laying in bed with a really bad headache. I remember laying there trying to watch the show, but not really being able to concentrate on what was happening. My headache started at the front of my head and spread evenly and consistently over my head and started down the back of my head. The only way I can describe it was like putting on a headache helmet. It started in the front and as it got worse it just followed down my neck.

I was 14 weeks pregnant and thought that the headache was pregnancy related. I fell asleep and woke up at 11:00 pm. When I woke up I told Scott to go to the store and get me Excedrin and Sprite. Being pregnant, I knew I wasn't suppose to take anything, but I had gotten to the point that I didn't care. The fever and chills started in and I was so out of it. I fell asleep again and woke up at 4:00 in the morning. The house was quiet and I made my way to the kitchen. I opened up the cupboard and pulled out the Children's Tylenol and drank what was left in the bottle (not recommended). I got on my knees and started to pray.

I asked Heavenly Father to please let me know if something was seriously wrong. I asked for guidance. It felt different from anything I had ever felt before. I knew I was really sick. I just didn't know if I needed treatment.

I got on the internet and started typing in my symptoms. I used the symptom checker at the MayoClininc.com. Meningitis was the first cause listed. I didn't have any idea what it was. My symptoms seemed to be exact.

I prayed again. I didn't want to feel like a fool if I showed up at the ER and only had the FLU. I wasn't sure what was wrong.

As I prayed I had the distinct impression that it was not worth risking the health of the baby and to get myself to the ER.

By this time the Tylenol had kicked in a little and it was 6 am. I decided to drive myself to the ER (small town, only a few blocks away but still stupid in hindsight). When I got there I told them that I thought I had meningitis and I needed a spinal tap.

When the Dr. came into the room he told me...

"Having meningitis is like winning the lottery.

It Doesn't happen that often, but when it does it is big."

He told me my chances of having meningitis were small and that he didn't think I needed a spinal.

I can only thank the Holy Ghost for confirming to me at that point that I needed to have a spinal. I told the doctor that I wanted to have the spinal and he agreed.

( I will just throw in here that having a spinal while being pregnant with meningitis was one of the most painful experiences of my life.)

Within an hour I had the results that I did in fact have meningitis. I was admitted into the hospital immediately.

It took 48 hours to confirm that I had viral meningitis and not bacterial, but my five day stay in the hospital was the best thing for me. I was so sick. Shaking, puking, stiff, weak, freezing, headache from HELL. It took almost a month for me to regain my strength to even be able to walk around my house. I thank my Heavenly Father for guiding me safely through it.

Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms so that if you or one of your children ever have them, you will recognize them. It could save lives.

I am so, so, so sad for this poor family.

Christmas by Casey Wiegand

2011-12-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for Christmas this year.

A time to celebrate, give thanks. A time to focus on Jesus. On giving.

Baby snuggles and little boots.

Family, fires, music and a lot of love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meet Casey...

My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama.

I love painting and sharing our life through {my blog}...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I have two little ones with the hopes of lots more and am married to the love of my life!

Wednesday: Did You Know? + a winner!!!

2011-12-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

1. I love being a blonde. Is it even possible to ever be TOO blonde? Look, my hair is SO blonde you can't even see it! Okay, maybe the sun shining through the window had something to do with it. Hair appointments are the best. Thank you Megan at Bridge Street Image, I heart you.

2. I love living in Southeast Idaho. (I'm not being sarcastic, I REALLY do.) I love it here. It is beautiful and cold. The people are amazing and generous. The scenery is breathtaking. The traffic is NON-Existent.

3. I love my husband. You probably already knew that. But did you know that he has a new girlfriend named Ricky RICCAR? He picked her out yesterday and took her to the office. He called to tell me that she is the most amazing vacuum ever. I said "I'm glad she makes you so happy, feel free to bring her home and introduce her to the family."

4. I should also probably tell you that Scott is playing his violin tonight at a charity fundraiser for Relay For Life. Ya, he is pretty awesome.

5. This is what it looks like when Scott and I leave our small town of Blackfoot and drive to Costco. Have you been to any of these cities?

6. Panda Express is just about OUR favorite place to eat. On our family vacations we have been known to eat there daily. {HOLY SODIUM overload} This one just opened in Pocatello. Oh Ya, Oh Ya!!!

7. This terrifying, ape like monster was outside the Vacuum store yesterday. I was so weirded out by it. It was creepy and fantastic all at the same time. It was totally out of place and really scary. Yet another reason I love Idaho. So strange.

8. Kate has this thing with dressing up Sawyer as a girl. He lets her. I said, "Sawyer, you look so pretty". He said, "No, I cool." You should see the ponytail he is sporting in the back. Matchy Matchy, twins squared.

9. I love it when random photo's show up on my phone. I'm guessing Dylan.

10. Wy-Wiggles is everywhere. He went from not even rolling over, to sitting, crawling and climbing in about 3 weeks. HELP. He is into EVERYTHING. Good thing that he is the Happiest Baby Alive. Teeth are arriving shortly.

~~~~~~~~~

Guess What Peeps?

We have a WINNER for our book giveaway

Love Life And See Good Days!!!

(Drum Roll)

And who is lucky #9?

Maria, you lucky DEAR...You WON.

It's a MAJOR AWARD!!!

Be excited, be very excited and email me or facebook me your address.

Congratulations SPLASH, Love V8

(Totally inside joke between she and I cause we go way back like that. We're tight.)

Have you ever been to Idaho?
Do you love your Vacuum?
Is there such a thing as TOO BLONDE?

Just me, and my Savior by Ashley LeMieux

2011-12-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

From December2007-May 2009 I served a fulltime mission for the LDS church.

It was a time ofgrowth, faith, and serving people who still have a deep place in my heart.

I was sent toCincinnati, OH and Kentucky.

Before you are sentto the place you will be serving your mission,

you spend time inwhat's called a missionary training center.

I entered those doorsjust a couple weeks before Christmas,

and said goodbye tomy family for the next 18 months.

On a mission, youaren't able to see them or talk to them on the phone.

I'll never forgetChristmas that year.

There were nopresents with my family,

no contact withpeople I knew.

Just me, and mySavior.

In fact, the trainingcenter gave us each a sack lunch

to take to our roomsfor our "Christmas dinner."

I sat on the floor ofmy tiny dorm,

and laughed as Ipulled out a slimy roast beef sandwich

and a brown banana.

I didn't have aChristmas dinner that year.

And it didn't matter.

My mission wasdevoted to serving God, and Christ.

My purpose was toteach others of them who did

not know of theirtruths and existence.

Sitting ultimatelyalone that year,

I felt more love fromGod than I can describe.

I was able to reflecton the true meaning of Christmas,

while serving the Onewhose birthday we were celebrating.

That year, Christmaswas forever changed for me.

Allow the spirit ofChrist into your heart this year.

Spread it to others.

And feel more lovethan you knew existed.

Merry Christmasfriends!

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Ashley is a Super Popular Blogger over at

The Shine Project!

She is always up to something Good! She is Full of Fashion, Chairty Work, and Love.
When I read her blog I feel a little younger, and a tad bit Cool.

Click on her Her button below and please go for a visit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Christmas Looks Like by Nicole Neesby

2011-12-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

What is the most common line we hear during this crazy holiday season!?

We are just so busy

While Christmas

parties

shopping

baking

decorating

family dinners

cooking

gift wrapping

plays

and more

make this statement true for many of us

I often ask myself

Do I need to be this insane during this best time of the year?!

Because as I sit back and remember why the entire world shuts down on
December Twenty-Fifth

I picture

a simple couple

in a simple shelter

with simple farm animals

all gathered around the baby Son of God

The peace, love and joy seems a far cry from the chaos we have come to know Christmas as today

As Hubs and I adventure through this first Christmas together since our spring wedding in a
little white church

my hope is that I can view Christmas this way.

For us this looks like simple decorations throughout our house

Unique family traditions like cutting our tree

Decorating together

Then cuddling on the couch to watch a Christmas movie by the lights

Family meals and special food

Simple gifts not purchased with credit

Spending time with those who we love

And mostly most important

Remember how the Maker of the World came to live among us and love us so perfect and unconditionally

. . . .

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.

~Charles Dickens

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicole blogs over at The Neesby Lookbook. She is a busy girl, working three jobs and recently returned from a trip to China. She is as sweet as they come.

Pop on over to see her. Just click on her cute photo below.

And Don't Forget...

Take Time today to Remember Christ!

The Traditions Of Christmas by Montserrat Wadsworth

2011-12-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

Our family loves musicals so it will come as no surprise that one of our favorites is Fiddler on the Roof. We have nine children the first six of whom are girls. While we were in the thick of having just girls my husband could very easily relate with Tevye. (He also does a very impressive Tevye but that's beside the point). The whole theme of Fiddler on the Roof has to do with one word.

Tradition.

"Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything... How to sleep, how to eat... how to work... how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl that shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, "How did this tradition get started?" I'll tell you! . . . . I don't know. But it's a tradition... and because of our traditions... Every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do."

There are many traditions that surround the celebration of Christmas. Many of them, while they may in and of themselves be good, can distract us from what we are truly celebrating, the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. From the beginning of our marriage, and I mean the very beginning as we were married on December 20, my husband and I decided we would try to establish only those traditions that would point our family to Christ.

Tradition #1: No Santa. I think this one is the hardest for other people to accept. "What?! How can you deny your children the magic and joy of Santa?" We don't need the magic and joy of a fictitious figure when we can have the pure love and joy and hope of The One from whence all love and joy and hope flows. We have taught our children to be Christ's helpers, not Santa's helpers, upon the earth.

Tradition #2: Three Gifts. Just as the Christ child received three gifts from the Wise Men each of our children receives three gifts. (Of course they also receive gifts from grandparents and friends but from our immediate family the number is three.) Two come from mom and dad and the third comes from the sibling gift exchange. Those sibling gifts are always homemade. It is so delightful to help them as they secretly scheme and plan, sew and build the perfect gift for one another.

Tradition #3: Service for Others. One year when I was a child our family received a very memorable Christmas surprise. We try to do them same for another family with our children each year. Our whole family is definitely part of the planning, coming up with ideas of what types of service to do and for whom. Children are very sensitive to the needs of others. Many times they have seen a need we overlooked. This is one of our favorite traditions! Again, it is because we are trying to be Christ's helpers, not Santa's helpers.

Tradition #4: Christmas School. Because we homeschool we are able to plan our schooling around our needs. We actually have no school for the whole month of December. But because we do need to fill up our days with good things to avoid being lazy we do Christmas school. This consists of some type of unit study where we learn about different aspects of Christmas. We have studied Christmas hymns, the symbols of Christmas, and our favorite that we return to year after year no matter what else we are studying , the names of Christ.

Mary's Heart by Liz Lemon Swindle

Tradition #5: The Living Christ. This one is actually a new tradition that was started last year. As a gift to my husband we, meaning the children and I, memorized The Living Christ. We started in September going over a line or two each day. Christmas morning dawned. My husband called on our oldest to open one gift first (another tradition) but instead of opening her gift she told him she had a gift for him. We all stood and recited The Living Christ, even the six year old had it completely memorized. The look on my husband's face - of shock, then love, then gratitude - was priceless. It was such a sacred experience none of us felt like opening any gifts for at least an hour afterward. We just sat and talked and visited and enjoyed our family and the love of Christ that permeated our home. The children suggested we start every Christmas morning from then on by reciting The Living Christ. This year with Christmas on Sunday, the children were the ones to suggest that all we do before church is recite The Living Christ then wait to open our gifts after church.

And that is our whole purpose of having Christ centered traditions. So our children can recognize the love of Christ in their lives and help to spread that love to others.

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Montserrat blogs over at Chocolate On My Cranium

She is the active, homeschooling, amazing and talented, keep it all together, mother of 9 {NINE} children.

Her family nicknames include:

Cookie (6), Bon Bon (15), Fudge (8), Truffle (10), Brownie (12), Special Dark (4), Mr. Ferrero Rocher, Ganache (2 months), Semisweet (14), Hershey (2), Cocoa (me)

And when she sends you an email, her signature reads:

Chocolate is cheaper thantherapy and you don't need an appointment.

Please make sure to stop by and give her a visit. I adore her, and you will too.

Sunday Thoughts: Motherhood and My Christmas Angel

2011-12-04T14:34:00.001-07:00

What I have gained from Motherhood:

Stronger Faith In Jesus Christ

The pursuit of a family and bearing children can be a hard journey and I have gained a stronger faith in my Savior because of it. My daily needs and weaknesses as a mother keep me continually returning to my knees to ask for help. I have never been let down.

Greater Love

I think that I grew another heart when I became a mother. I often wonder how I can feel {really feel} so full of love, compassion, empathy and patience for my children. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." He loved us that much. Knowing how much I love my children, and that He loved us that much that he would send his son. What an Amazing Gift.

Selflessness

I am still amazed at the awareness and perspective I have gained from having children to look after. It has made it so much easier to remember what is truly important when my needs and my wants are not in the forefront of my mind. Being able to serve my family has made it easier for me to be able to serve those around me and care less about material possessions and more about the worth of souls.

Understanding of The Atonement

The process of bringing children into this world is painful and hard. It is a struggle which has brought me deeper understanding of the LOVE that our Savior has for us. He not only suffered for our sins, but for our pains, sorrows, sicknesses, sadness, and losses. He truly understands our heartaches. Through my own pain and tears I have learned just how much he loves me. He was willing to suffer all, in order to save us; In order to save me.

To Know God

People are continually telling me that Kate is a "little" me. And she is. She resembles me so much. Seeing my reflection in her has brought me a deeper understanding of the divinity within myself. For we are all Sons and Daughters of a King. We all have divine qualities, attributes, and gifts. And we all have the ability to be a reflection of a Loving Father In Heaven and his perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

My Sweet Christmas Angel

Being a Mother is a Gift, a True Joy, and I am so, so ,so blessed.
I hope that all of you know and understand how grateful I am to be a mother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And here is an Instagram Replay of the week:

Left to Right...

Flu shots. Not fun.

Elf on the shelf. Our new elf is named Scout.

Our home.

Dylan the Cow at the Manger. Don't laugh at the ears I made. Coming up with a cow costume was hard for me. I was blank.

Getting ready for a date with my good friend Shawri. It was awesome getting out of the house. Thanks Scott.

My Red Boots that I pull out at Christmas time. I bought them and DI. I don't care if you think they are ugly. They make me feel Christmas-ee. And a little like a cowgirl. PLUS, I live in Idaho.

Elf on the Shelf. Bless my heart. This is being adored by our children and loathed by me. I never remember to move the Elf and then I wake up in a panic!!!

I cooked our Turkey exactly a week after Thanksgiving. Give a mom a break. At least it got cooked.

Other BIG NEWS: I finally have a MICROWAVE!!!

I told the kids on the way home from church that they could pick ANYTHING for lunch.

They went with melted cheese roll-ups. How easy is that?

Oh how I love the Microwave. Bless it.

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If you haven't entered my giveaway for the book

Love Life

And See Good Days

Then it isn't too late. I will be picking a winner tomorrow, so click

{RIGHT HERE!!!!}

Also, if you feel like linking up a Christmas Thought , Tradition, Craft or a Sunday thought...

DO IT!!!!!

Not Enough Time? by PJ Johnston

2011-12-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Trafficchoked highways and parking lots.