Talon's 4th Birthday

We were in Utah for his birthday (again...and he LOVES it).  We celebrated by going to the zoo with our good friend from Clarksville [who moved =( last December and now live in Utah while their dad/husband is bravely serving our country in Afghanistan for 15-18 months], Nana [my mom], Jeannie, Jace, and Mallory [cousins], and Doug flew in the night before cause he didn't want to miss his favorite Talon's birthday.

Then we met up with Riri (pronounced ree-ree, my step-mom Lori) who generously gave not only the birthday boy a birthday present of going to Build-a-bear, but all the boys got their next year of birthday presents.  They had a great time making their own bear.

That evening we planned a little family/friend swim and spaghetti party complete with birthday surprises from Aunt Kimmie and Aunt Katie.  His birthday cake was rice crispies with swedish fish in them...seriously so yummy!  And then to end, we watch Disney's "Oceans."


Taly boy, we love you so much!  Your enthusiasm for life is contagious and keeps us smiling/laughing with they way dramatically express yourself.  We LOVE it!  You are eager to learn and be creative.  Your best friend is still Jax and I'm dreading seeing how his advancement to Kindergarden is going to affect your play time.  You guys play together literally ALL day.  There are moments your selflessness to share or the way say "Oh-tay Mom" make my heart melt.  You love to have your back scratched before you take a nap or go to bed at night.  You've devised a creative way to tell me which direction you want me to scratch 1. up or down- you move your torso up and down and 2. side to side- you move your hips side to side.  You LOVE music and sing along to several Backyardigan songs along with Pandora's Disney channel.


I always knew you'd be strong both physically and mentally.  Wrestling is one of your favorite activities, esp. with Dad or Aunt Kimmie (Anaconda wrestling as you call it).  And you are very strong willed in your desires and expectations.  You're still quite emotional as the littlest thing can upset you and boy is it down hill from there.  But I've learned if I just hold you, somehow that helps you deal with your feelings.  Speaking of, when you're upset you say, "Mommy, I need you" as you reach for me to hold you.  I do love being a comforter for you, but also know as you go throughout your life that Christ is there to hold you and comfort you in your times of discouragement, heartache, or suffering.  He will ALWAYS be there for you and will bring comfort and peace to your soul.

I love you so much my sweet 4 year old!

Always,

Mama

Strawberry Pickin'

Yay for sweet delicious fruit...Colt was in HEAVEN!

Speaking of Colton...he LOVES food...is frequently scrounging for it.

 And speaking of Heaven...this boy is Heavenly to me!

Pet Frogs...oh yes

We found them to be the perfect day pets...as that's about how long one can keep a frog.

30...30...30

So for the past month I've been trying to think of a goal for my thirties...something meaningful, improving, healthy, challenging, gratifying...and it finally came to me last night.  My goal for my thirties is "COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT."

Starting with my thoughts, I want to be more positive and get rid of all the negativity/stress/worry/fear I've been battling since last May when I learned Doug would probably deploy and it's been intense the last month-too much stress and not enough faith.  It's time for a change Amber...you hear me...we are going to let go of the control, let go of the fear, let go of the constant planning, let go of the stress, let go of worrying where we will live (searching for new house to rent), when we will have baby #4, if/when Doug will deploy and for how long, if I'm really cut out as a Young Women leader, etc.  I'm done...turning it over to the Lord. 

Also, yesterday while I was driving to Young Women's night, a sassy Carrie Underwood song came on and I starting belting it in the car.  It felt great!  I want to do just that...take full advantage of the moment and SING LOUD!

Hillary Weeks has a new song coming out that I heard at T.O.F.W. called "I Danced in the Rain."  The lyrics are powerful and that's what I'm going to do.  I know it's going to rain and rain hard...possibly with  more tornados, but you know what I'm going to find my polka dot umbrella and childlike rain boots and go dance in it.

So here it is in list form, because I like lists:

1. Think positive

2. Sing loud in the shower/car/home

3. Dance...how about a dance class

4. Sit-ups and push-ups daily (unless prego)

5. Scriptures daily/Prayers morning and night (all with more meaning)

6. Share Gospel more confidently and frequently

7. Candidly Creative Photography business going

8. Record our family history through blogging/pictures and print into books

9. Read to kids everyday (scriptures and lots of good books)

10.LOVE and serve my husband better (this might mean I'll fold and put away his laundry...we'll see =)

So here's to you Elder Wirthlin, "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."

http://lds.org/liahona/2008/11/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng&query=come+may+love+%22come+what+may+and+love+it%22

And from Hillary Weeks' blog and experiment on positive thinking:

http://hilaryweeks.com/blog/?p=392

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “How could a person possibly become what he is not thinking?  Nor is any thought, when persistently entertained, too small to have its effect.  The divinity that shapes our ends is indeed in ourselves.”

Brigham Young said, “The greatest mystery a man ever learned, is to know how to control the human mind, and bring every faculty and power of the same in subjection to Jesus Christ.  This is the greatest mystery we have to learn while in these tabernacles of clay.”

So life: Come what may and love it and watch me dance in the rain!

Some things my mom has taught me

I gave a talk in Church today about how my mom helped teach me the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  These are some of the things I remember learning from her example and during those tender one-on-one moments of teaching.

1.  Mom loves to learn and develop talents.   Her children were expected to stimulate their minds in healthy ways such as 

music- learn to play an instrument, helps organize the mind and enhance learning throughout the day

creativity- dress up, building tents, Christmas popcorn snow, musical theater, dance

school was a priority, college was celebrated

reading- library in our house, 30min reading first= 30min mom approved tv show

writing- record what you learn in conference talks

2.  Taught us characteristics that would prepare us for our futures:

Hard work= positive self-esteem- if a job was only completed 90%, we had to do it again until it was 100% completed; if we had a school project it was to be done to best of our ability and not just thrown together; she worked with us side by side

Responsibility- we were held accountable for our choices and consequences where given, *Girl’s Camp YCL story

Resist temptation- we have the power to choose right or wrong, there will always be a consequence good or bad to every choice we make, Satan is crafty and will do everything he can to bring you down

Faith- the Lord’s will, will always be what’s best for us

Happiness- There’s a positive in every situation, look for it.

Service- seek it out, rarely sits still when she comes to visit me; be anxiously engaged in a good cause

3.  Created a Home where the Spirit dwelt.

Sensitivity to the spirit- taught us from an early age to identify recognize when the Holy Ghost is present and when he’s not,  TV and Computer programs were expected uplift us and not kick out the Holy Ghost

Uplifting Music- Classical, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, EFY songs always being played in our house

Pictures of Christ, Temples, our family decorated our walls.

Family Scripture Study- early in the morning before seminary

Family Prayer- give thanks daily as a family and on your own, create a relationship with Heavenly Father

FHE- Mom made sure it was held frequently

Attends Temple frequently- currently goes every Saturday morning

4. Mom taught me to always do my best in whatever I did. Even during hard times. You don’t give up or give into temptation, you always give it your best as that’s what we will stand accountable for, “Did we do our best?  Did we give it our all?”  That doesn’t mean you’re perfect in fact at times, it means you accept that your best is not always going to measure up.  You can’t do it alone, must rely on the Lord.  With His strength and power, all things are possible.  He’ll make your weaknesses strong and He will make up for where we lack.

Just an example of this stage in my life...I know it will pass too quickly

Your toddler wakes up at 6am freezing because he wet his bed and wants to climb into yours, then begs you for breakfast while you ignore the request trying to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep, this lasts until you leap to your feet when you hear the gallon of milk spill all over the kitchen floor, you rush in and have to decide if your going to be upset about it or not, then your kids are upset because you didn’t pour enough milk in their bowl, you suggest if they’re not content with what’s for breakfast, then they are excused to get dressed for preschool in their room, later you go into their rooms to find they’ve pulled out all their clean clothes from their drawers and have mixed them with the dirty clothes as they’ve piled up all the clothes to jump into while only wearing their underwear, you create a “clean up” game on the spot to get them to put away their clothes and do their laundry and after 45 minutes you’ve tackled 25% of the mess. 

Then you look at your watch you’ve got 15 minutes till school begins, accept you’ll be late, throw clothes at kids to put on, they don’t like what you’ve chosen so you leave the room instructing them to pick out an outfit and get in the car, go get the baby who’s blown out his jammies and needs a bath, no time, wipe him down with a wet wipe, dress the squirming little one, throw soiled clothes and bedding in wash, load everyone in the car, quickly prepare milk for baby, a semi-healthy lunch for the kids, lick the peanut butter knife as you need a little protein to keep you going, leap in the car planning the fast route to school, v.t. companion calls to remind you of appointments schedule, hugs/kisses send kids to school whom you just realized are wearing mismatched clothing, one forgot his shoes and they’re strutting bedhead, switch cd in car from kids songs to Hillary Weeks seeking some inspiration from the Spirit that you can say what the sisters need to hear, after a moment of putting life in perspective as you learn the trials of another, you put on the “I’m so thankful for my life” shirt and head off to quickly grab a few necessities from the store before picking up kids.  

Head home for what you feel is a “prized possession” of the day...naptime.  Read stories about king cobras, farm animals, and jungle sounds, pat backs, blow kisses, feel a sense of “yes, my time!”, straighten up a bit, switch out laundry, send emails out for church calling, hide in the garage while making phone calls as to carefully not wake up the kids, read an Ensign article, debate if it’s worth taking a 15 minute power nap or if you’ll be more grumpy because it wasn’t long enough, the baby wakes making the decision for you, you sneak in a little one on one playtime of peak-a-boo, the other two wake, make snack, and head outside for some bike riding and frog finding, have a quick lesson on sharing after punches were thrown, kiss a few knees, start dinner, rejoice when dad gets home as he brings so much comfort to our lives, family dinner, dishes, encourage clean up of toys, colors, the cool tent they made out of blankets with dad, forgo bathtime as one more day won’t really hurt, read scriptures with kids, prayers, snuggles, lights out.  

Dad and I look at each other decide if we want to work on a project or just go to bed.  Spend some downtime and just before we go to bed, we sneak a glimpse of the most precious sleeping kids in the world...ours.  Say our prayers and thanks the Lord for the most wonderful day together and pray for many more just like it.  

I like how Hillary Weeks put it, “Extraordinary moments happen during ordinary days.”

Yay for trip to the temple...in Utah!

I went to my cousin Katie's wedding in Utah the beginning of May and it was so wonderfully refreshing.  The day I arrived was her endowment session and it was the first time I was in the temple with every endowed member (minus one) on my family's side.  It was so neat to have my mom, Dan, Daniel, Adrienne, my Dad, Lori, Aunt Chris, Uncle Kevin, cousins- Jared, Jeannie, Jason, Tae, Aubrey (Jon had to work), and of course Katie and her fiance Devin.  It was truly a heavenly moment and as my aunt pointed out, we were all there because of my mom...pretty neat I think.

though I wan't their photographer, I did take this shot of the them

Also, while I was there, Hunter (16yr) had his Eagle Ceremony.  What a talented young man he is!  And his desire to do his best school, scouting, and what the Lord wants of him is such a great example for me.  I just love him and am so proud of him!

 His ultimate frisbee team took state champs this year! (Mom says it was because they had Hunter on their team =).

Her wedding was really wonderful.  I even got to get to know her wedding photographer a bit as she gave me a ride home from the reception which was 3 hours away.  Aria is her name from ariaphotography.com and she was super encouraging and offered some great advice to me.  My aunt asked me to video tape the event and I found it fun that she and I both where dressed in green outfits.

STORMS...and the storms of life

So, we've been through a bunch of severe storms...there have been tornado warnings night after night and so it got to the point where we started putting the kids to sleep in bathtub so we didn't have to pull them out of bed in the middle of the night when the sirens went off, as we stumbled down the stairs in the dark because of course the electricity was out, etc.

We lucked out and just had branches everywhere, many people had whole trees up rooted and destroyed roofs, car damage, etc.

Also, the month of April was a roller coaster of a month for me.  Doug was going to be deployed, then he wasn't, then he was, then he wasn't, then we learned we needed to move out of our house because the landlord was moving back (pcsing...so goes the Army) and we had entered a very competitive rental market since 20,000 soldiers are coming back from Afghanistan, so prices are higher for houses much smaller than the one we've been spoiled with at a crazy good price).  Also, I got put into Young Womens...this isn't a negative, just knowing myself and that I will want to give my whole heart  to this calling but how do I do this when I feel I'm barely managing being a decent mother of 3 VERY active boys, and not knowing if I'm going to have a husband here or in Afghanistan or what the heck is going on in the next year of my life!  I just need more faith!

My little men on Easter

It's been storming all day, but we did get a quick pic of the boys after church just before they stripped down for lunch, peanut butter bon bons dipped in chocolate, Easter egg hunting, and egg dying/decorating.  (I forgot to change a setting on my camera before I took these, so they're not the best...oh well)

 We had to hold the Easter egg hunt in the playroom because of the weather.  A few friends joined us.

And this is the turkey Doug shot on Friday and we ate it for our Easter feast as a family.  Colt and Jax even loved it.

In honor of Easter

Thinking about showing this to the Young Women this Sunday...yes, I've been released from my two previous callings...now onto my 4th calling in 9 months...1st Counselor in the Young Womens...I think the Lord is trying to keep me in my toes...it's really just bringing me to my knees.

I really enjoy this clip by Elder Holland.

(sorry had to remove it because it was always playing...no pause?)

"Have I done any good in the world today?"

Seriously my new motto.  After this past weekend's General Conference, I've a been re-energized in my callings as Ward Welfare Specialist and Compassionate Service Leader.  Feel more and more the importance of serving others, caring for the poor and needy, teaching self-reliance, and becoming more self-reliant myself.  I didn't know that this was the 75th Anniversary of the Church Welfare System until it was mentioned during conference.

I notice 7 repeating themes during conference:

1.  REVELATION- comes line upon line, precept on precept, more common than "Big Spiritual Experiences."; let us be those whom the Lord can rely on to receive the promptings of the Spirit; often times the answer comes when our feet (serving, ACTing, doing) than on our knees; by being the answer to someone else's prayer, ours will be answered
2. SELF-RELIANCE/WELFARE- very important to have these to be true disciples of Christ, esp. giving self-less service; exercise come economic discipline; when love becomes the guiding principle, it becomes True Religion- a manifestation of our Gospel Beliefs
3.  TRIALS- are for our growth, why we are here, don't resent them; endure them well and we'll become more like Christ and be who He needs us to be;  hard things happen before beautiful things can occur
4.  TEMPTATION- rid of worldliness and increase to qualify for the Holy Ghost; by establishing Celestial traditions, we will combat the unrighteous traditions of the world.
5.  MARRIAGE- single men, get married and stay married.  Marriage between man and woman is of God and having a family helps rid us of our selfish desires and become more like Christ.  Pure joy is found within the family.
6.  HIGH STANDARD- God expects us to follow, and it requires work, humility, and faith; are we willing to received correction "divine chastening",
7.  TITHING- those who pay their tithing tend to be more self-reliant because the Lord gives them knowledge on how to be provident on 90% of our income; our faith is strengthened, prevents divorce

I took a survey among my friends and family of a theme that stood out in conference.  And the majoring of responses showed a consistent theme of Self Reliance/Welfare/Give to poor and needy/Service.  Second, was in relation to the Family/Marriage/Temple.

How I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!  It inspires me to live a life of love and service to my husband, children, friend, family, and ALL of God's children.  Yay for a great conference!

Being the Best Mom you can be...more important than money

I wrote this to a friend who was stressing about paying off student loan debt. I thought I should post it here just in case I have a daughter-in-law who might have similar feelings in the future. (I do look at this blog as my personal family history...just need to get it printed).

----------

The sacrifice we make to be the BEST MOTHERS we can be, whether financial, physical, emotional, etc. is pleasing unto God. There is no greater counsel than to follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost. The world will teach you to value money and God teaches that where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

Don't let Satan sway you from feeling confident in doing the Lord's will. The prophets have counseled us to be wise with our spending...and to be present in the here and now...and that no success out of the home can compensate for failure in the home. You, my friend, have always been very aware of your spending...don't let it make you crazy, it should bring peace. The debt was for the future well being of your family...take peace in that. And might I add that you guys have a job that provides for your family and aren't you thankful for that!! Law school helped you to get where you are...what a blessing!

We are counseled to keep our bodies healthy and to do physical activity...that is a good thing and if Gold's Gym membership is what helps you do that, great! It's worth the investment to maintain your sanity...that's what helps you be the best mom you can be...that a GREAT thing. Also, you guys having a getaway so you can maintain a strong, healthy married is another good thing. You want that weekend to be enjoyed...not analyzing every penny...that's not rejuvenating. By coming back from a weekend of L-O-V-E you'll both be ready to meet the parenting demands with more energy and love.

Choose to BECOME...(TOFW 2011 theme)

"All things are POSSIBLE to him that BELIEVETH" Mark 9:23




Of course I loved every minute of it. Though I organized a group of 14 of us to attend, to keep myself focused on why I was there, I went on my own to sit 3 rows up from the stage, right behind the presenters to get the "most" out of this experience. Here are some of my notes and inspiration received:

Mary Ellen Edmonds

• A rose seed is a rose from the moment it's planted until it dies. Same goes for our identity, we are God's child from the moment born until we die.
• You are real and absolutely unique. Heavenly Father knows you, your name, your thoughts/feelings, your hopes/dreams, etc.
• Satan does NOT want you to know who you are.
• Shred every unclean thought. "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not"

Kris Belcher

• Help me to know thy wil and LIVE it.
• Everyday CHOOSE to turn your adversity to Heavenly Father.
• Let the wind blow so we can become who He wants us to become (parrallel Bro. of Jared and vessels that traveled in the dark, blew to safety)

Hillary Weeks

• "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become."
• Loved her new songs "That's who I am" and "I danced in the Rain" ...new cd out in the fall, can't wait
• Her experiment. Avg. person thinks 300 negative thoughts/ day. She used a clicker to count negative thoughts (around 170/day) and then decided to count positive thoughts instead (over 1200-best day)
• I need to write down my "windows of Heaven"...the things greater than I could imagine that God has blessed me with (Doug, BYU Event Management Job, Timberline Middle School job, my kids, my High School experience, Dental School experience)
• "Circumstance can't change, our thoughts can"
• Phillipians 4:8 (make quote board) "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
• "Extraordinary moments can happen during ordinary days."
• "You briefly get to know your child as a child, the majority will be as an adult."
• Fill your mind with positive thoughts of succeeding on the things that are most important."
• When you encounter difficulty, you're being prepared for something.
• When you have a million things to do in the day, pray to know what is the most important thing for you to do and then DO that one.

Merrilee Boyack "Blazing Your Trail"

• be Bold and fearless
• be Eternally minded
• be Creative
• be Outward focused
• be Meek
• be Enlightened
• be U...unique
• read book "Stand for the Family" and visit standforthefamily.org
• Spirit daughters come from the most creative being- God.
• Don't conform or compare- that's Satan

Bro. Hilton III "Nothing shall be impossible before you"

• Be encouraged in His grace, not discouraged by comparisons (Matt. 17:20)
• Pres. Uctdorf- shouldn't compare, just do the best you can
• Pray for the strength of the Lord
• "Fear Not" and "Fear ye Not" appear 100x's in the scriptures; "Be Not afraid" appears 35 times in scriptures
• The battle against good and evil is not ours, it's God's.
• Teach boys the answer to life's problems are in the scriptures.
• Walk forward in faith---do NOT fear---it's not until our "feet our we" will the Lord provide a way
• No Fear, go Foward (Exodus 14:11-28)
• Do His will, then you'll know the doctrine---that's how we gain a testimony (John)
• "Although some blessings dont' come until the next life, nothing shall be impossible before you."

Emilee Freeman

• "What have I been called to do right now in this time in my life?"
• Pray to find out what purpose the Lord has for me.
• It's extremely important for you to trust in the Lord, learn what purpose he has for you and "settle it in your heart."
• The Lord looks at what we will become, we should too.
• Put a picture that strengthens your testimony of Christ in each room. Let the boys choose it. Write "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ" under it.
• Record the moments when you see the Lord loving you.
• Serve the Lord with all your heart, hold back nothing. Consecrate your life to the Lord.

As I knew I would Icame home on a spiritual high. I embraced each of my kids with long hugs and a BIG kiss for Doug. And when I saw Jax's bed head at 5pm and learned he didn't have shoes on either for his soccer pictures, I was able to keep an eternal perspective and not worry that the coach's son was that way...he's only 5 right. =)

When your week feels like this...

Sunday

1. Doug gets set apart as Elder's Quorum President
2. Learn of 3 families in need of meals, babysitting, prayers (ward Compassionate Service Leader)
3. Meeting with committee @ big youth event, discuss marketing (special assignment from Bishop)
4. Discuss ward family garden with the family donating the land (ward Welfare Specialist)
5. Kim, doug's sis, in town

Monday

1. Clean house, do laundry
2. Compassionate service committee meeting
3. Calm down over exhausted 3 year old 
4. Make a gluten free meal for a family
5. Lower crib because 14m old figured how to climb/fall out of it
6. Feed the missionaries
7. F.H.E.
8. Respond to voicemails and texts about families in need
9. Let Doug know that I love him and support him in his new calling (he's overwhelmed)
10. Prepare for preschool...didn't happen

Tuesday

1. Deal with the fact your 14m old kept you up all night and that you don't know why he's super fussy and won't sleep in his bed
2. Prepare for preschool 
3. Implement preschool for 9 super hyper kids...why didn't I have the hyper bug too
4. Feel overwhelmed with all that needs to get done
5. Put all three boys down for naps, snuggle with the 3 and 5 yr. old to make sure they actually fall asleep (need happy boys tonight)
6. Return more phone calls, start emails that need to be sent out, get distracted by one and then end up distressing on my blog =)
7. Need to start dinner
8. Prepare for marketing meeting with youth tonight and to watch kids cause Doug has EQ meeting

Wednesday-Saturday (much the same) but adding

1. Fellowship a few sisters
2. Set up meals for a family
3. Get a group together to clean another lady's house
4. Be visit taught
5. Learn to make chicken bruschetta at our first cooking group
6. Soccer meeting- Doug's the coach
7. Send email to Preschool parents and then Preschool again 
8. Get "ward family garden" email info details, create sign up sheet, posters made, start spreading the word
9. Return library books and get "food" ones for preschool.
10. Finish editing photos from a recent shoot.
11. Go to the temple in Nashville with Doug
12. Organize carpool and lodging for Time Out for Women (convince one husband to let his wife attend)
13. Confirm babysitter for this weekend since Doug has to work another Saturday (grr)- write up detailed schedule for my kids for her
14. Rejoice in the fact that I'll be getting my cup filled this weekend...can't wait for T.O.F.W.!!!

...be thankful you have a strong healthy body to get it all done!!! (pep talk for myself)

Dr. Suess Preschool Party

Reading, singing, eating, rhyming, creating...

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

Today coming home from church Jax says, "Daddy, quick get your seat belt on before the policeman comes and gives you a sad ticket and then you have to sell all your knives and guns!"

Amazed at the connection Jaxon made today from a discussion we had last fall.  I had explain to the boys the importance of wearing their seatbelts.  In addition to the safety concerns, I explained if the policeman gave us a ticket because they were not wearing their seatbelts, then they'd have to sell their toys to pay for it because it would be a lot of money.  How interesting that Jaxon connected knives and guns as Daddy's prize possessions that those would be the treasures he would have to sell.

So out of curiosity I ask, "What would Mommy have to sell if she got a ticket?"  To this Jax replies, "Your kids...and your husband!"

My heart grew five sizes as he KNEW that my most precious possessions are my kids and my husband!!!  I then turned to Doug and said, "Even our kids know what we treasure most."

Doug in his defense says, "Ya, but I would never sell the kids!"

I was then contemplating all the other responses that Jax could have said like my computer, cell phone, sewing machine, fabric, clorox wipes, washer and dryer, camera, friends, etc. as I do spend a lot of time with each of these items.  But thank goodness he feels that my kids and husband are my biggest treasure and that's where my heart is also.

Below are pics my cousin Jeannie took when they came to visit the beginning of this year (including the one as our blog header).  I LOVE THEM!!!  Thank you Jeannie!

My TREASURES, My HEART!  I love you guys!