Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Content

I haven't posted in quite a while, mainly because I feel like we don't really do anything incredibly interesting that's out of the normal for our family. But I definitely want to keep posting so I can document my families life, and so I feel like even if I post about the hum drum things I want to at least do that for hubs and my little man even if everyone else might think it's slightly boring. I promise to get on here a bit more and maybe even post some up to date pictures :)

...

Content. Is this what heaven feels like? I'm so happy and comfortable in life currently. Not that days aren't without there challenges and it's like I don't have things to work on personally. Because I definitely have days where I know I could have done better. But I'm happy. I love and appreciate my job, and I feel that is reciprocated. I love our neighborhood and where we live. No I do not love all my neighbors, and yes there are projects around my house that are on the if-we-had-a-million-dollars to-do list, but still I love our house and area in which we live and the freedom being homeowners gives us. I have a new car that I don't worry is going to break down on the freeway or loose a tire as I'm driving home (that really happened) and is a wonderful mom car. Most important of all I have the greatest husband who just graduated from Utah Valley University with his bachelor's and is such an amazing provider for our family, and the most precious curious happy little boy to fill my days with wonder and opportunities to be the best mom I can be.

But the only way I can appreciate these things and people is because I have experiences to compare to when I didn't have them in my life and struggled without them. The first three years of our marriage we lived in four different apartments each one worse than the last. We dealt with obnoxious neighbors, ridiculous rent charges with utilities on top, and ultimately lack of control over our own living space. We recently got rid of our Subaru, which was nothing but trouble from the beginning (and a terrible purchase but don't tell Jared I said that) and made me worried driving Hilton around because I didn't feel it was reliable. I dealt with a terrible time dating, I never had a good or healthy romantic relationship until I met Jared and I truly was meant to meet him as he has made these past five years wonderful. And I feel I can still appreciate Hilton even on his terrible no-good very bad fussy days as I know what it was like to cry wanting a baby for so long. There is no way without these hard experiences that I could appreciate all the many blessings that my life currently holds. My challenges that Heavenly Father blessed me with have helped prepare me to appreciate what he wanted to give me, and I'm so grateful for those experiences. I know I have been so incredibly blessed with these people and things in my life, and I'm constantly worried that I will blink and it will be gone. My husband and Hilton are the reason I get up each day and try to be the best person I can be.

All of these things make me the luckiest woman ever, and I don't want to ever forget it.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Your Seventh Month


Again I cannot believe another month has come and gone! You are already done with your month's worth of swim lessons and by the last class you were splashing and giggling and just being super happy. Definitely an improvement from the first class, you don't mind getting water in your ears and are okay being flipped from tummy to back and vice versa in the water.

You have decided you hate vegetables all of a sudden and so I've tried to introduce new fruits and foods including blueberries, plums, and peaches. You love all of the new foods I've tried with you so hopefully we'll ease you back into some vegetables that you'll eat. You're still eating about five ounces a bottle at this point. Still every two hours or sooner. Unfortunately you are still spitting up a lot so sometimes you have to eat sooner than every two hours.

We have recently moved you up to nine month clothing, we'll see how long you stay in it. You're growth has been consistent so we will see! You are still in size three diapers and I think that will be the case for a while! They are still a comfortable fit so until you're next growth spurt we will be good for a while.

You finally started sleeping through the night about a week ago! It was such a miracle. I woke up the first night you did it really confused as to why I hadn't woken up to feed you and rushed in to check on you (as quietly as possible) and you were still snoozing away. It's been so nice to have this phase continue and I hope we don't have any sleep regression anytime soon!

You are starting to get close to crawling I think, the baby gate is officially up either way. You can turn yourself around and scoot on your belly, and can get from sitting to your belly easily, and then to your back. You can't quite sit up on your own, but I think its just a matter of time. You love walking in your baby walker at Grandma and Grandpa's and you love playing in your jumper at home. You are so curious and inquisitive about everything. You love seeing and inspecting new items, which of course go straight into your mouth. We're working on it. I'm excited to start doing some play dates to get your socialized with other babies. You're such a sweet inquisitive baby I think they'll go well but we will see!

Daddy is loving your sweet giggles and squals! We've found all your ticklish spots and use them frequently.

Mommy is loving your sweet smile, it's looking like you might have dimples like her.

The puppies are loving when you don't like eating your solids, you take a mouthful and if you don't like it will spit it out over the side of the high chair. They're more than happy to help clean the floor.

We love you so much little man, I can't imagine life without you!





Sunday, June 15, 2014

Your Sixth Month


Oh my goodness how this month has flown by! You are already half a year old which is just totally crazy! How is that possible? It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms for the first time and kissing your sweet face.

You are still in size six month clothing much to my surprise! Not for long I don't feel like though. We just moved you up to size three diapers and thank goodness! They are so much easier to get on you. Diaper changing has definitely started to become a workout with you. I spend the majority of the diaper changing experience fighting to keep you flat on your back and on the table. I definitely cannot walk away anymore from the table to grab something because you'd be on the floor. You are so strong in body and spirit, you definitely want your way and have started to learn how to fake cry. It's adorable and frustrating all at the same time because I know when you're doing it but still want to console you. Grandma falls for it more than I do though so we will see if you learn it doesn't get you anything or if it will be a struggle.

You are officially to only one wake up through the night, typically around one or two AM. Mom is definitely enjoying the extra shut eye and am grateful we suffered through the sleep training. It was fun and definitely filled with tears from both you and me but it has paid off. You are completely used to sleeping unswaddled and actually immediately switch to your side once I lay you in your crib.

We have recently increased your bottles to 5 oz. at a time, and are trying to do solids with you twice a day now. You have mastered how to hold your bottle by yourself but have also figured out that if you refuse to hold it mommy will, so sometimes you are lazy. You still love pears, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and mommy is trying to introduce avocado we'll see if you like it!

You are officially sitting all on your own and love to sit on the floor with toys surrounding you and play and pick up with what interests you. However you are still top heavy and we've had a couple bonked heads in the past week or so because you turn or lift your head to fast and off balance yourself. Mom cried just as hard as you did though the first time so I'm very careful to make sure to surround you with pillows or sit on the floor with you to catch you if necessary.

We've gone to two swimming lessons so far and you are pretty stoic about the whole experience except for when we lay you on your back. You really really hate that because the water gets in your ears. However you enjoy it when mommy sits you on the edge of the pool and you jump fall in and I catch you. So far I'm glad we did it, however we will wait to do any more lessons until next year. You are by far the youngest baby in the class and all the others are able to either crawl or walk so we have to simplify the activities for you compared to the other babies.

Daddy is loving tickling you and giving you raspberries. You are so fun to play with.

Mommy is loving your fine blonde hair that is growing on your head. It's actually starting to thicken up!

The doggies are loving that you throw your toys to them from the high chair. Adi has taken a certain liking to your koala toy and mommy has caught her with it a couple times. Naughty Adi!

Happy half birthday my love!!! I can't believe you're halfway to being a year old, where is the time going?!



Monday, March 24, 2014

Hilton's blessing day 3.16.14

Our sweet baby Hilton was blessed a little over a week ago, and what a beautiful day it was watching my strong handsome give such a tender blessing to our sweet little baby. The morning started with us (me) frantically getting Hilton bathed before I needed to start getting ready. Jared and I planned on changing Hilton into his blessing outfit at the church right before sacrament meeting started just in case we got a surprise diaper or Hilton decided to spit up at all. Luckily for us neither happened and his blessing outfit made it through unscathed.

I had been pretty careful during the morning trying to time it so he would take a nap during his blessing, but unfortunately for me little mister knew something was up and was resistant to his nap. As they called for all those invited into the circle to come up and Jared took Hilton from me, Hilton started to cry on the way up and I thought, 'oh great, here we go'. The instant Jared started the blessing Hilton stopped so I think he was listening to what his dad was saying.

Unfortunately I had been so concerned about trying to make sure his blessing outfit was preserved and he was in a good mood for the blessing that I didn't even think to record or ask someone to write down what was said in the blessing. After sacrament meeting was over and we were saying hello to family before packing up to go to my parents for refreshments, I had a sweet sister from my ward come up to me and give me a paper. She said that she had felt prompted to record the blessing for me and that it wasn't word for word but almost. I was so grateful someone else was listening to promptings that day for me because I was so worried about the physical aspect of it I forgot about the most important part which was the message for little Hilton to be able to look back on and know what had been said.

Once we got to my parents house we had a wonderful time visiting with friends and family who came to the blessing to support our newest member. We felt so blessed and grateful to have so much support from those close to us, and it was so nice to get to visit and finally show off Hilton since it was the first opportunity most of our family has gotten to meet him! Sadly I failed at taking any pictures of those that came, I was so stressed from worrying about the blessing that I completely forgot! However we did get some sweet pictures of the three of us and I'm grateful we got a picture of him in his blessing outfit.


Happy blessing day Hilton, and thank you so much to all those that came. We know a lot of people traveled a long way to come and wanted to say thank you and that it meant a lot!


Little man was definitely worn out from his big day, his nap schedule was a bit off so he slept very well that night! Poor little Hilton! When you're worn out sometimes only daddy will do.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Smith's Christmas 2012

We had a lovely Christmas, and hopefully you did too. We got up early and helped the dog's open their stockings and then opened up ours. My gifts were all picked out by myself, Jared just wrapped them so I wasn't expecting any surprises but he never fails to do a surprise gift on Christmas morning.

Aspens angry bird toy

an SR22 to be my concealed carry once I take the class 

After we finished our own little family Christmas gift opening, we went up to my parents for our traditional Christmas morning luncheon of egg's Benedict and Wassail and exchanged gifts. I got not only a new Dyson vacuum but also a wonderful jewelry box. Afterwards went to see Les Miserables. Honestly I was only semi impressed by the movie but maybe that's because I wasn't comfortable and I had to go to the bathroom twice. There were some wonderful moments but a lot of watch checking dullness as well.

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Afterwards we hurried to the Smith's house and had Christmas dinner. I made my amazing Cherry Pie and we exchanged our white elephant gifts then watched Brave. I forgot to bring my camera to the Smith's, so I have no pictures of the Smith side darn it.

  Delicious looking huh?

Overall a wonderful day, and I surprised Jared with quite a few things we was not expecting at all including Black Ops 2 and some blue suede shoes. He's going to be the best looking date ever!


P.S. it's totally crazy to believe that this is Jared and I's FOURTH Christmas together! Where has time gone?

Thursday, November 01, 2012

a glimpse of the past

Anyone who knows me personally, knows I love old black and white movies, in my opinion the best entertainers were Louis, Bing, Cary, and Audrey. I often dream that I was born in the wrong era. But maybe not. I don't think I could deal with latrines and live without technology. But alas. This is going through my mind today as I walk to classes.


Saturday, December 03, 2011

Holiday Reading

I ordered this for our little vaca to Hawaii to read on the plane and the beach...


...I hope it holds up to all the claims of how amazing it is in comparison to Hunger Games. Someone mentioned violence? Is it yucky graphic? Anywho any other great book suggestions for the plane ride would be highly appreciated.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Forgetting what life is about

Sometimes, when I get so caught up in the lists, to-do's, tasks, jobs, cleaning, homework, dates, reminders, alarms, I forget what life is really about.

Often its those small moments that steal my heart, that make me feel stronger and braver than I ever could be, that gives me that out of body experience that mentally makes me say, "I will never forget this." It can be anything from teaching someone something that is precious to me, seeing something so sacred to me, or holding hands with the hubs and not knowing where his fingers end and mine begin.

It's days like today that I am reminded in every small thing each reinforcing that I am loved. It's days like today that I am awake and amazed by all of the tender mercies and kindness's I am given by a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and those people around me.

Today, especially I am so grateful for my husband and everything he does for me. I am so lucky to have found him, and even more lucky for him to have loved me like he did and does.




"I have died everyday waiting for you. I have loved you for a thousand years, and I'll love you for a thousand more."

Fairy-tales do come true, I'm living one.

p.s. who is going to see the movie this was made for (Breaking Dawn)?

p.p.s. thank you to Jane from Harley&Jane today. It was a beautiful message to encompass what I have been feeling of late.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

{HappyEverAfter} ch. 3

This is the part of the story where Jared and I start to disagree about some of the facts, but don't let that fool you. I'm right. Women are always right. Right?

If you haven't read the rest of Our story, go here, here, and here.

Ch. III

The reason for the BBQ was played out in a two day trip to far away lake where we camped, spent the day on the lake, played card games, and ate delicious food. 

I agreed to go on this single's ward trip since my friends were going. I figured it would be a great trip to go have some summer fun. Little did I knew that this Jared boy who I knew very little about was also coming although I had thought he wasn't planning on the trip. Months later when I asked him why he came on that trip he said it was because of the interest he had in getting to know me better. He may deny this, but its true.

The first full day we had on the lake was started by a wonderful breakfast and then followed by groups of singles climbing onto one of the multiple boats that had been brought up for the weekend. I waited for one I had been on previously while passing my time on the beach playing in the sand and dipping my feet in the water. A group had congregated behind me, but I didn't recognize anyone except for a couple from high school, Andrew Jones and Heidi Hanson (now Andrew and Heidi Jones). Since they seemed rather engrossed in their conversation I concentrated on the arrival of the boat I'd been waiting for. As it pulled close Jared jumped out onto the dock to close the gap. The people changed out, and I jumped on among them. There was one more place so Jared offered, rather quickly that he'd be willing to go out again. I kinda of thought his excitement was rather odd, but didn't really think much about it since we were pulling away and I was ready to get in the water.

Of course he sat across from me and then after I took my turn, kind of showing off on the water skis, he congratulated me and then sat next to me making conversation between the other riders runs. I can't say I wasn't interested in this flirty fun boy who was being the perfect gentlemen. But I definitely wanted to play it cool. And then while he was showing off, which was very noticeable, he biffed it hard. Then laughed at his expense with us.

Back on the beach we played card games, I taught him phase ten, speed, and california speed. Of course he let me win. Almost every single round. In the group around the campfire I mentioned if anyone liked Kenny Chesney that the radio had mentioned that you could buy six tickets for $100. Jared at that perked up and said, "you like Kenny Chesney? You really like Kenny Chesney?" I was afraid this meant that he didn't like country and was about to make fun of me. When I said I did he then asked, "I have a pair of tickets and no one to go with, you want to go?" This took me a little by surprise but of course I enthusiastically said yes. 

The next day right before my car was about to leave, Jared asked if I'd like to go on a date before the concert. When I asked what we'd be doing he nonchalantly responded that it would just be casual fun and dinner. I let him know I was up for that, and then left excited and definitely twitter-pated constantly asking the girls in the car what they thought of this huge development.

Hope everyone had a great fourth of July weekend! Once I get a new card reader for my camera card (Adi had fun flossing her teeth with the old one) I will upload our fun fourth photos.

~M


Thursday, June 16, 2011

one year ago

Today is our anniversary. Our first marital anniversary, and I'm so glad its come. It's been a crazy first year, don't let anyone tell you the first year isn't. But at the same time of getting used to each other's odd quirks and habits, we have fallen even more in love with who each other really is.

I couldn't help but throw in some pictures from our perfect wedding day. I love looking back through these and seeing how absolutely blissful we were that day. I wish we could relive it. But that's what anniversaries are for right? To reflect and cherish those savored memories.

 Just a few of our beautiful photos. Loved that day. 
And I'm sure we will love this day. 

Off to make more memories.
~J&M

6.16.10

P.S. if you haven't been following our story...go here to start from the beginning.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

{HappyEverAfter} ch. 2

Today's post is a really special one to me, since tomorrow is our very first anniversary. Marital anniversary that is. Yes, yes it is our one year anniversary of marriage. So once we are done with work, we will go and enjoy in some splendor in whatever my hubby has planned, eat some absolutely divine cheesecake cake, and spin romantic lines at each other all. night. long. That's right. Be jealous.

 Anyhoo, for those that are behind, go here to catch up:

Ch. 2

And he didn't just smile, but he smiled at me. Or maybe that's what it felt like. I tried to act casual, very nonchalant watching the volleyball game, even asking Michelle who the other players were all to this young man's expense. I didn't really ask him or speak directly to him because I was being my normal in-the-shell kind of self and not really going out of my way. 

Michelle and this young man Jared starting talking about his yard and such immediately after we started watching the volleyball game. I tried really hard to act like I wasn't listening, and to keep my eyes focused on the game or my feet. Everytime I looked up though, I noticed him looking at me with his piercing blue eyes and contagious smile. I intermittently entered one word answers or smart remarks into the conversation that was going to the tune of, 'how gardening is so time consuming'. 

All the while I couldn't shake this feeling that I knew him from somewhere. His face, his eyes. Where had I seen them before? I tried to remember past soccer leagues, high school classes, parties I'd gone to. As the three of us were waiting for our turn to rotate into the volleyball game I casually asked him where he was going to school. "The community college", he replied. I asked if he'd ever played soccer before or been on a team, "no", he said. Had he come to our church ward before? "A long time ago, maybe last summer." Well that definitely ruled out any definite answer as to where I'd seen him. I didn't want to ask to many questions in case I seemed to creepy weird so I stopped there. But I couldn't help but notice that he also casually asked where I was from, how long I'd been in the ward, and where I went to school. I was grateful that I wasn't the only one curiously asking questions like a background check.

Then it was our turn to rotate in, and I was ready to confidently go after that ball. After two years on my young women's volleyball team I was sure it would all come back. Nope. I don't think I'd ever made more of a fool of myself. I, being my self conscious self, wanted to make sure no one was watching too closely to my mistakes. I looked to the side of me, in front and behind as well acting like I was checking the sand for nothing sharp I could step on while really making sure no one was annoyed or something. I didn't think anyone from the other team really was looking, they were all happily scoring points. But then I noticed him glancing my way in between serves. And then when he directed the ball towards me it always seemed softer than how he hit it towards my other team members. Favoritism huh? Well, I definitely took advantage of it.

Right after we finished our game it started to rain, rather quickly and large droplets too. The entire group, players and watchers ran for cover. Since it was late I made a be-line for my car to go home. As I was driving away I tried to put the boy Jared out of my mind. 'I would probably never see him again anyways', I thought.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

{HappyEverAfter} ch. I

For those that have been waiting so patiently, thank you for the wonderful responses to the first part:

Ch. I

When I came back from college I had had a beginning life crisis because my high school dreams of becoming a lawyer had been dashed by my international relations class, and realizing that I REALLY wasn't cut out for that kind of stuff. 

I spent a quite a couple weeks being the lazy girl who sun tanned on her back porch, who went walking each morning with a couple of my best friends from high school telling them 'this summer was just about focusing on me', and daydreamed about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was really determined to not be in a relationship this summer, and to not let myself get sucked into a boy. I had just dumped a crappy boy and I wanted this summer to be about discovering what I wanted out of life. To grow up a bit. All the while with Erica's advice in the back of my mind.

During this time I took a religion class at the BYU salt lake center and fed my spiritual self by doing what I was supposed to be doing like praying, reading my scriptures, etc. One specific day, we were talking about prayer and the Professor said something to the affect of, "at times when you're feeling stagnant, not only do you need to start listening to the spirit to know what you should do, but you should also specifically be praying and acting to find the answer whatever it may be."

The more I tried to forget about finding the right guy the more I felt that I really wanted to find that significant other. I felt deep down that if I truly did want to chose to start seriously searching for that person and that was what I should be doing, that the Lord would help me do that whether that was in a couple months or a couple years. And so I prayed. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do remember specifically asking to be directed to that one particular person who would help me become the best I could be, and who be a good fit to me if that was what I should be doing.

A week later in class I was aware of this singles activity that was going on immediately following class. I tried really hard to focus on the lesson, and I kind of succeeded. But I just could not get the thought out of my head that I should go. It was on the way home, it was the perfect timing, yada yada. It made sense to go. But it wasn't so much that I couldn't get it out of my mind, but that I just felt this impulse to go. Like there was something that I needed to go for. Maybe it was destiny, or maybe it was just because the lesson that day was on being in the right place at the right time. Who knows, but I still went.

Upon arriving at the park, I found the food table and then saw someone from the relief society that I recognized as Michelle who I started chatting with. Once we were done eating there were games and activities going on below the pavilion that were open to anyone who wanted to play. We didn't necessarily want to play, just merely see who was there. On our way down the stairs Michelle turned to me and said, "there are a couple of guys in particular that I want you to meet".

We hit the bottom of the stairs right near the edge of the volleyball court where a group of people had collected. There were a couple of guys watching the game with their backs turned to us. One with a black baseball cap and khaki pants on was watching the game intently but turned smoothly to Michelle's greeting and simply smiled.

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Sunday, June 05, 2011

Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge #1

This week's challenge was flowers...of course I couldn't help but take more photos 
of our peonies, but I also found some great poppies, and a bit of sageweed, 
which isn't a flower but definitely a beautiful photo.

The peonies were fully popped, and the poppies were completely open but not wilted yet. 
The sage, was just pretty. I love plants. And I love these photos. 
I feel like my photography is improving. Hallelujah!

~M


Friday, June 03, 2011

photo contest+fill in the blank friday

This week has been a pretty good week for photography. I took 
this photo on Tuesday at a local pasture by my mother-in-law's house,

and I'm submitting it to Through a Photographer's Eyes for the




But in addition to that I was sure you'd want to read some fun facts about me and my honey. 
Yes, I'm getting more and more sentimental as our anniversary draws near. 
Odd? No. I'm a female, cut me some slack. 

1. we love reese's peanut butter cups because its the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate. and we love to devour bags together. its the absolute all time proud pleaser when we do movie night.
2. a time that our mothers knew best was when we decided to go on a cruise for our honeymoon. they both knew it was a mistake because it was to expensive and not as much fun as we envisioned but they still supported us.
3. our first kiss went a little like a full symphony playing perfectly sweet music, like butterflies all around us, the rest of the world was blocked out, and completely weak at the knees. and that was just my hubby's emotions from it. (:
4. our celebrity crush is any of the james bond actors. sean connery is Jer's fav. timothy dalton is my preference. seriously, we own all 21. come on over, we'll do a marathon sometime.
5. our splurge of choice is gas money. we spend tons and tons of money driving back and forth from our parents hometown for really any excuse we can come up with. what can we say...we just really dislike utah county.
6. our biggest accomplishment is our first year of marriage! everyone was very correct, it was tough, but its going to get much better after this now that we've adjusted to living with each other.
7. our dance jam of choice is lucky by jason mraz and colbie callait. its our song, we danced to it at our wedding, we have every word memorized (and if we don't its a great chance to lighten up the mood as we dance in the kitchen).

I love my hubby. Love love love him. I can't wait til we're a couple years down the road, in our first house with a couple children and look back and see our short yet wonderful journey. 

Happy weekend!
~M

Monday, May 30, 2011

Gwen's {Bridals}

My second set of bridals. And they were just as fun as the first! Gwendolyn a friend from HS days came to me wanting some bridals quite a couple of days ago. Unluckily for her (but lucky for me), the computer with her bridals on them broke, and her photographer doesn't keep duplicates for very long. 

So we headed out on a perfectly partial sunshine and overcast day to the Bountiful Temple where she got married. Thank goodness Gwen could read my mind when I suggested something on how she was posed. She knew exactly what I was looking for, and moved where I needed.

Anyways, here are my top favorites. There were over 200 good pictures, but only 50 I edited.


~M

Sunday, May 29, 2011

They come in three's

Bad luck. Horrible experiences. Sad goodbyes. 

Let me warn you: this post is not happy. 

It is rare that I have an entire week filled with lots of painful, humbling experiences. 
Experiences that make your insides twist with discomfort and make you feel like what's on the inside, should be out. Days, with these feelings, are more frequent, than weeks.

But this week was hell-o jello not good.
I was truthfully having quite the pity party for myself once Saturday rolled around.

But through it all was my never-ending supportive sweetheart, loving guidance from my parents, and a little black curly haired puppy to lick me half to death each day I came home. 

Something our Bishop said today while bearing his testimony in Sacrament meeting, really seemed like he said it only to me directly. I swear he looked directly at me when saying it, or at least that's what it felt like. His message was, "Through all the sucky, horrible, no good experiences we have when it won't stop raining and life just won't let up, is that we need to remember, no matter the heartache we feel now, it is all in an eternal perspective and for our final good."

And then I realized, after all the insightful encouragement and reminders from my sweet sweet hubby, that the Lord not only has a hand in my life, but he has control of it. And that anything he does is for my eternal welfare and better good. A quote I absolutely love from Dallin H. Oaks 'Adversity' in the 1998 Ensign, "Like the mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary. What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them." This, was my reminder that I needed to not only try and be less unhappy, but I needed to find a way to be joyful, and to learn from my experiences. 

That of course is not so easy to do, but I am trying. 

I feel like I say that a lot. But isn't that what we're all doing? 
Trying to find that self sufficiency and self satisfaction from our journey in life.

Partly why this week was so hard was we laid to rest 
my final remaining grandparent on friday.
Goodbye Grandma Helen Buck. 100 years of wonderful life, 
and 20 years without your sweetheart, you deserve to go home.
We love you.

Feb. 1, 1911- May 22, 2011


Hope it was a wonderful Sunday, 
make it a week to remember!

~J&M