Summer Fun

*Because I am a craptastic blogger there will be no pictures in this post.

We have had so much fun this summer. It's nice to know that we are only half way through it. So even though I know I have already forgotten most of what we have done, I figured I would brain dump what I do remember before it goes too.

• Lilly graduated Pre-School. It's sort of bitter sweet. It's fun to watch her grow up and get to experience new things. She really does get cuter and sweeter by the day. But it's hard for me to move on and let go. It has taken me the past 3 months to try and convince her that she will in fact love Kindergarten even though she will have a new teacher and make new friends.
• Noah turned 3 in all his three year old glory ways. We celebrated with Family and then I took him and Lilly to the germ fest known as Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate. He had a wonderful time.
• We pack a picnic lunch and some blankets and traveled a couple hours down to Manti, Utah for the LDS Manti Pageant. It's a yearly tradition for my family ever since I was little. It's something we look forward to and love doing. We go a bit early and eat dinner then head over to the Temple grounds to get seats. Then when the sun goes down we watch the outdoor play about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It moves me every time. This year, and maybe it's due to all the pregnancy hormones, I did in fact get teary-eyed.
• We've taken the kids to the local amusement park, Lagoon. We've floated down the lazy river, rode crazy rides (well the kids have, me and my baby belly don't get to do much) and got very hot and dirty.
• Shane's family came to visit. We had a BBQ, visited and spent some well over due quality time chatting it up. (They live about 3 hours away but we don't see each other nearly enough)
• I've had an ultrasound and a fetal echo to check on Baby Alice's development. She's doing good and yet I continue to freak out. She is making her presence known every day now with her kicks and summersaults. Shane has felt her move and even Lilly got to feel a kick or two.
• The 4th of July (my favorite holiday) was awesome! We got up early and went to the parade. Lilly had a blast but it was too much noise and stimulation for Noah. He spent the entire time on my lap, hiding his eyes, and plugging his ears. Then we went swimming at my grandparents and had a family BBQ. It was fun to visit with everyone and the pool was super clean and the water perfect. Then we went to Fireworks. Unfortunately the family didn't get to be together and my parents didn't get to watch with us (they went with my Brother and his family) but two of my sisters came with us. We chatted and played around. Then when the fireworks started Noah got scared and spent the entire time plugging his ears and hiding under a blanket. Lilly made it about 1/2 way through before falling asleep. The next day we went to dinner at my parents and then set off our own fireworks. That was fun. Since they live up on the bench of the mountain we also got to watch all the fireworks across the valley. When we lit the plain little snakes on fire and it started to grow Lilly exclaimed, "Whoa! I didn't see that coming!"
• We took the kids to see the Shrek movie that came out. It was cute and they had a great time.
• We've played out in the sun; jumping on the tramp and splashing in the pool.
• We went to a friends house to swim and had many play dates.
• Shane ripped out the broken and unsafe hot tub that has been rotting in our deck since we moved in. Now we have a nice big ghetto hole.
• Our car didn't pass emissions and it was a huge pain trying to get it fixed and registered.
• Someone hacked my iTunes account (the massive hack has been all over the news) and stole my money resulting in canceled cards and no funds).
• Shane went on Trek with the youth in our church. He got rained on, hailed on, and snow on while sleeping on the ground with no shelter. But he had a great time.
• Noah had his three year heart transplant anniversary.

So there you have it. I know I'm missing tons of stuff but owell. And I do have some pictures that I plan on posting when I get a minute.

Be A Hero. Be An Organ Donor.

Tender Mercies: It Means God Knows Who I am

Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. - Elder David A. Bednar (The Tender Mercies of the Lord)

Tough and difficult times come to all of us. Sometimes we may even hit the bottom of what feels like a deep and dark abyss. I know there have been moments when I have felt so overwhelmed by whatever trouble is ailing me that it's hard to even imagine a time when things might be better. Yet, I continue to be amazed and comforted by a loving Father in Heaven who reaches out to me and help ease my pain.

Yesterday I spent the greater part of the day making myself sick with stress and panic. One thing after another continued to pile up on me until I felt so overwhelmed I couldn't even picture in my mind when things might be able to get better.

I laid in bed last night and begged Heavenly Father to ease my stress, to help me be strong to get through the trials as we continue working on solutions. I woke up today hopeful for brighter times and God reminded me that he knows who I am and listens to my prayers. There were a few key items that we just needed to go our way today and they did. Are my problems fixed? No, I still have many serious things we're facing but to have these few things go our way did in fact help ease my burdens and shows me that my Heavenly Father hears my prayers. He reminded me that he loves me and while it may not be in the plans to have all my burdens taken away, he gave me a small reprieve to ease my pain.


Be A Hero. Be An Organ Donor.

Noah's Three Year Heart Day

On Wednesday July 7th, it will be three years since Noah's heart transplant. I've republished the post I wrote right after he received his new heart over at Noah's Adventure.


Be A Hero. Be An Organ Donor.

Thoughts on This Independence Day

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

The two most important documents affecting the destiny of America are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Both of these inspired, immortal papers relate primarily to the freedom of the individual. Founded upon that principle of free enterprise fostered by these documents, the United States of America, in less than two centuries, has achieved a greatness that far exceeds that of any other country in the world. - President David O. Mckay, Conference Report, October 1966, First Day—Morning Meeting, p.5

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. - Doctrine and Covenants - Section 101:77 - 80

This year as I sat and watched the local firework display my thoughts turned to this wonderful nation. To the freedoms and liberties we have been given, to the people who sacrificed so much and to those who continue to sacrifice that we may be a free nation. This country was founded by divine direction by noble men who trusted in a higher power and it is this heritage that I am profoundly grateful for. I am honored and proud to be an American. I will fight against any power, foreign or domestic, that tries to take away my freedom or destroy this great nation.

The American Dream is the opportunity to work hard and be successful in a land with religious freedom where the Constitution ensures your rights and liberties. This nation has been successful and great because of it. I hope all of my fellow American's remember their freedoms this Independence Day. I hope you all remember that freedom isn't free. We have to stand up for what is right and protect it from anyone or anything that tries to take it away from us.

Should we counsel people, "Just live your religion. There's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom"? No, we should not, because our stand for freedom is a most basic part of our religion; this stand helped get  us to this earth, and our reaction to freedom in this life will have eternal consequences. Man has many duties, but he has no excuse that can compensate for his loss of liberty. - Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1966, Afternoon Meeting, p.122

We again warn our people in America of the constantly increasing threat against our inspired Constitution and our free institutions set up under it. The same political tenets and philosophies that have brought war and terror in other parts of the world are at work amongst us in America. The proponents thereof are seeking to undermine our own form of government and to set up instead one of the forms of dictatorship now flourishing in other lands. These revolutionists are using a technique that is as old as the human race, - a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate over whom they thus gain mastery, and then enslave them. - Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. 6:,p.151

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin 

 And now as to the last neutralizer that the devil uses most effectively-it is simply this: "Don't do anything in the fight for freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the Constitution." This brings us right back to the scripture I opened with today-to those slothful servants who will not do anything until  they are "compelled in all things." Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution. Perhaps if he set one up at this time it might split the Church asunder, and perhaps he does not want that to happen yet for not all the wheat and tares are fully ripe. - Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1965, Afternoon Meeting, p.125

In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children - Book of Mormon - Alma 46:12

Be A Hero. Be An Organ Donor.