Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Words of Encouragement

I woke this morning in need of some encouragement, my first reaction, was to grab my scriptures and read a chapter, which then followed with a book I started many months ago but put aside as I usually end of doing with any book. ("Trusting Jesus" by Jeffrey R. Holland)
I picked up the book and opened to the book mark and began to read the very words I needed to hear. It is a bit long, so bear with me...

"It is to those who so hunger that I address these thoughts. Wherever you live, and at whatever point in age or experience you find yourself, I declare that God has through His only Begotten Son lifted the famine of which Amos spoke. I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life and a Well of Living Water springing up unto eternal life"...."Regardless of past paths taken or not taken, we wish to offer you "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)"...."With one voice and one accord, we bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to satisfy ultimate spiritual hunger and slake definitive spiritual thirst. Only He who was so mortally wounded knows how to heal our modern wounds. Only One who was with God, and was God (see John 1:1), can answer the deepest and most urgent questions of our soul."...."Everything in the gospel teaches us that we can change if we need to, that we can be helped if we truly want it, that we can be made whole, whatever the problems of the past."...."In spite of Life's tribulations and as fearful as some of our prospects are, I testify that there is help for the journey. There is the Bread of Eternal Life and Well of Living Water. Christ has overcome the world -our world- and His gift to us is peace now and exaltation in the world to come (see D&C 59:23). Our fundamental requirement is to have faith in Him and follow Him - always. I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities the Savior has surely sustained me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care."....

""President George Q. Cannon said once: "No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is [against] His character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being....He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and the purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments.""

Like I said before, these were the words I needed to hear and I realize they can relate to so many of us in so many different scenarios which is why I'm sharing, but for me, they are reassuring me of the Blessing of Peace I so desire especially coming closer to the time when this sweet baby will enter the world and our lives. I know in my last attempts of a natural birth I had angels watching over me including my grandmother. I also saw the hand of the Lord in all of it and I know He is there and will be there for me again. I feel so blessed to have loved ones close by and from beyond the grave that have blessed me and my family with their help and support. I look forward to the next chapter and the new addition to our family. I thank the Lord for the Peace and Strength He has given me thus far, for I could not have done it without Him and I thank all of you. Lots of Love!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Some of this and some of that...

About FOUR weeks and counting...I'm posting a pregnant picture, but only because I did with the first two and I'd feel guilty not doing the same for this one.

Lincoln wouldn't stop hiding behind my arm so there you have it.

I had an exceptionally good father's day. I got to hug and kiss on all the favorite men in my life. I've been so blessed and yesterday, I found myself to be one of the luckiest girls ever, getting to spend some time with all of them!

A little more of an update: I received my birth kit today! Eeeek! It's getting close. I sat down to watch a couple of tub birth videos the other day and within seconds my kids were right there next to me. I hadn't planned on letting them watch them but it actually turned into a very special moment for me. Linc was enthralled. These weren't just any ordinary birth videos. They were very well made and things were covered...so as to not frighten me or the kids. Haha!
Anyway, I had to get a picture...the longest and most still my Lincoln has sat EVER! He watched and when baby came into view, I cried and he gasped in Awww! and said, Baby, there!! He was so surprised. It was cute. Lizzie, on the other hand, had so many questions. We've had the sweetest conversations with her about all of it, both Rick and I. Simple but perfect answers to all her questions and she is so excited and quite impatient. She wants the baby here Now, of course.

Aside from baby news, we've been finding ways to have fun and stay occupied...every weekend has been filled with some trip somewhere or another fun-filled reunion or even just to get the kids out of the house. Lizzie and Linc had to check out the bikes at wal-mart on our last little outing...




 When she found out she had to earn a bit more money before she got a bike


This is how I found my Lizzie one morning after she woke TOO early and Watched cartoons until I got up. She likes to do that. She is like her dad, complains that she gets too much sleep. She loves the stars but hates the night because then she has to go to sleep. That's her words! She told me she wanted the stars to be in the day instead of night because then she'd have all her favorite things in one.


She either has "Turkey" (the duck's name) in a restraint or he's giving her a backwards Hug-You pick.



Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Scottish Festival!

We had So much fun this last weekend @ the Scottish "Vegetable" as we all call it, thanks to sweet Isaac.
Wicked Tinkers were the second best thing to see there. Family tops em all...Oh, how we'd missed them.












We also visited the Planetarium (which the kids loved), Rode the "train" aka the trax (which the kids loved) and walked through City Creek mall and Temple Square. The day was perfect in every way and it only got better with the Scottish Festival and an outing to IHOP.
The kids had so much fun they didn't want to say good bye, They continued to shout their ba bye's and lub you's all the way down the street when it came time to head home. It broke my heart when Lizzie started to cry and said, "mom, I really miss grandma Lizzie already". With tears in my own eyes at this point, I said, "I really miss her too.
It's nice to know it won't be too terribly long before we get to see you all again. Love you all!!

My baby boy is 2!

There's just no way my baby boy is TWO! When did it happen? How did it possibly go by so fast??..I had a moment the other day, lying in bed, thinking, I can't believe he's two! Did I miss anything? Have I taken things for granted?...I layed there thinking of all the precious moments that make Life SO worth living. The mornings, Lincoln sneaks into my room, climbs on my bed, gives me a kiss and says good morning!
The way he holds his fingers when he's concentrating harder on something. He did it when he nursed as a new born baby. His side-way look out of the corner of his eyes when he's being a goofball. His big head start before running and pummeling himself into your arms with the greatest hug following.
There are so many...I pray the Lord has a place to store all my favorite memories. One day, I can look back on them as a timeline of sorts. The very best moments of my life!
Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Baby Boy!
I love you Lincoln!

 Lincoln's monster Pinata I made for him
 His crazy (not at all how it was supposed to turn out) birthday cake

 Best shot ever!

 Blowing out the candles!
 Love Him!

Opening Presents!









Birthday Hugs!!













Monday, June 3, 2013

Pool Party!!

We went swimming after some work in the yard for my sister's birthday. It was a lot of fun.