Saturday, June 30, 2012

Best Friends











My girls love each other & are best friends.  I hope it stays that way as they grow older!  They love to push each other around on the car and in the dump truck.  The funny thing is that Skylar can't even walk yet but she can push Blakeley around on the car.  They even love to wrestle!  It cracks me up that they actually WRESTLE and roll around on the floor together.  Love them!

















Did I mention that I love them?

Friday, June 29, 2012

Skylar's New Blankie



Thank you to Primary Children's Hospital in Utah for this gorgeous new blankie for Skylar.  When Skylar ended up in the hospital & needed surgery when we were in Utah last July, the hospital lost our blanket that we left with her.  Needless to say, I was pretty upset about it but I didn't really complain too much.  I was stunned when  a couple weeks later, I got a letter in the mail from their quality department offering to buy me a new blanket to replace the one that was lost.  I was floored that they would go above and beyond to correct the situation.  I don't know why I waited this long to get one and I feel kind of bad that I did.  We have a ton of blankets but Skylar has never had a special blankie of her own that I got especially for her.  So here it is.  Needless to say, I'm thoroughly impressed with Primary Childrens Hospital.  What a wonderful organization who truly cares about their patients!

I got this blanket at this etsy shop.


This is the blanket that was lost

Thursday, June 21, 2012

So Grateful for LDS Women



















I just posted this on my ward's Facebook group page (not sponsored by Relief Society but all the RS sisters are on it.)

I'm so grateful for you women and for your wonderful examples. Time and time again, conversations I have with you & comments and experiences that you share in class lift me and turn my perspective to where it needs to be. I am so grateful for this gospel which is so wonderfully organized so that we learn from each other. You all are so special & I am so grateful for you!

"Thee lift me and I'll lift thee and we'll both ascend together."
~John Greenleaf Whittier


As I think back on my ward in Florida as well...I have met some of the most wonderful ladies in existence.  They are such great role models to me and such good examples of what motherhood and life is all about.  I'm so grateful for these wonderful women I could just burst!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Special Mommy Moment















Yesterday, while Blakeley was eating her breakfast, she wanted me to hug her out of the blue and when I did, she said, "I really, really, really love you Mama."  It was the sweetest thing.

And then right after that, she did it again.  She wanted another hug and she said the same thing.  I about melted, it was so sweet.  And she hugged me tight. 

Wish I could bottle that memory and open it whenever I want.  To remember the way it FELT and the way her little voice sounded.  So sweet.  Sigh.  Oh, how I love her.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Overcoming Discouragement















"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows."  ~ Helen Keller

I think it's so easy to get discouraged in life...when circumstances are tough and things don't seem to be going the way we want...when things happen to us that are out of our control. I've been learning recently on an entirely new level that we really do have the power to control the thoughts that we have and the attitude that we have. You hear all the time, "Choose to be happy" and sometimes when I've heard that in the past, I've wanted to roll my eyes and say, "Yeah, whatever..." but it really is true and we just have to learn how to react when storms come our way. I think it takes practice and discipline. 

I had a good conversation a week or so ago with some friends and we talked about how we can control our thoughts and feelings in certain ways. In those instances where we start to feel discouraged or bad in any way, we can recognize that we're having that thought & replace it with gratitude. Instead of allowing those negative feelings to settle in and fester until we magnify them into what feel like big, stressful situations, we can stop them in their tracks and think about things we are grateful for right now in our lives. I've been focusing on controlling my thoughts a lot & I still have a long way to go but I can already recognize how I'm improving & I'm happier because of it.

I found these Joel Osteen quotes & I love them because they totally apply to me & how I've been feeling the last year or so.  And I love him.  Everything I've ever heard him say goes along with what we believe.  Apparently I need to read the book that all of these quotes come from.

“You may be sitting around waiting for God to change your circumstances. Then you’re going to be happy, then your’re going to have a good attitude, then you’re going to give God praise. But God is waiting on you to get up on the inside. When you do your part, He’ll begin to change things and work supernaturally in your life.”
Joel Osteen,Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

“When you go through difficult times, make sure you pass the test. Don’t be stubborn and hardheaded. Recognize that God is refining you, knocking off some of your rough edges. Stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. God has called each of us to be champions; you are destined to win. If you will work with God and keep a good attitude, then no matter what comes against you, the bible says that all things – not just the good things in life, but all things – work together for your good.”
Joel Osteen,Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

“Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion. The very thing you are fighting against so tenaciously may be the springboard that catapults you to a new level of excellence. Your challenges may become your greatest assets.”
Joel Osteen,Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

I've also been reading conference talks everyday which automatically makes you feel happier & reminds of you of the proper perspective of life and how to overcome it's inevitable challenges. The truth is that we can't do this alone! There is no way I could overcome the trials I have faced and will continue to face without leaning on the Lord.

Here are just a few talks I've read lately that have profound messages about adversity and how to overcome discouragement.  They are seriously amazing talks!  Read them!

Healing Soul and Body (By Robert D. Hales)

Overcoming Discouragement (By Val R. Christensen)

Adversity (By Dallin H. Oaks)
Adversity (By Henry B. Eyring)