Inspired

Part of my calling in the primary, is the stake primary baptisms. It is my most favorite part of my calling. I hate it when I have to miss one. When I left this morning, there was an unusual amount of traffic to get to the church. Thanksgiving Point was having their annual 5k, 10k, and half marathon race this morning. I got all choked up watching the runners come in from the half marathon run. I can't express adequately enough just what it does to me when I see someone, anyone push their bodies to this degree. I cry almost every time. And this morning was no exception. It is so inspiring!

So, I had already shed some tears before I even made it to the baptisms. One of the reasons I love going to the stake baptisms is the sweet spirit that is present. Those sweet children, all dressed in white, ready to embark on this new covenant, coupled with the beautiful primary children's songs has to be one of the sweetest experiences I get to enjoy regularly. I taught lots of children on my mission and they carry a spirit with them that softens, teaches, humbles, impresses, and magnifies our Heavenly Father's love for us. Today, of course, was no exception.

It's not even noon yet, and to be so inspired with so much already for this day leaves me very grateful.

Princess Diana

This has always been a favorite photo of mine. Can't help but to think of her today on such an important day for her family.

Happy

Lately Nathan has been asking me to be happy. I guess I wear my expressions a little too much on my sleeve, and the kids notice. When they do something good they will say, "mommy, are you happy to me?"

Some days are complete misses, and some days are dead on. I can't, for the life of me, seem to pull it together when Nathan poops in his underwear. The disappointment is thick and although everything I've read regarding potty training says to have absolutely no expression when there is an accident, I can't seem to do it! It is so dang hard for me! You see, at the time I'm convinced he does it because it's inconvenient for him. And once I realize that maybe he genuinely just doesn't quite have it figured out, it's too late. The damage is done. The disappointment is written all over my face. He goes into a complete sobbing fit and begs me to be happy. It's only then that I realize, this little guy really does want to please me. So I feel bad, clean him up, put on another pair of underwear.....only to change it a few hours later. At least, that's how it seems to be lately.  This potty training business could literally be the death of me. And to think, I still don't have it down with Abby yet either and I want more children to boot. But yes. Yes I do want more kids. With all the things these three do that drive me absolutely batty, I want more of them because they are so wonderful as well.

So Nathan, darling boy, you and your sisters do plenty of things that make me not so happy, but in all honesty, nothing makes me as happy as being your mama.

Easter Sunday

More than any other time in my life I have been so grateful for what Easter is all about. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's all the talk this week with my kids, explaining to them why we celebrate Easter, what it really means, that it's not about candy, the Easter bunny, or Easter egg hunts. It might even be because I think Hannah really gets it and that fills my heart with so much joy. Yesterday at our family Easter party, my dad read to us from the scriptures about the last few days of the Savior's life. I kept thinking about the Savior's atonement, him dying on the cross, being placed in the tomb, only to break the bands of death 3 days later by being Resurrected. His mission wasn't complete until this moment. And because of it, death has no victory over us. Those whom I love, who have died, will live again because of Him. I will see them all again and be with them. Could there be any greater news? Because of the Atonement, I can repent and be forgiven of my daily sins. I can literally ask for forgiveness and strive every day to be better, do better. And if that isn't enough, with all my imperfections, He allows me to be able to never be separated permanently from those whom I love most. After all, the family is central to His plan, so of course He would have a way for us to be together forever. I am forever grateful for my Savior. Happy Easter!

The Day Before Easter

Has been full of fun. Easter egg hunt at Grandpa & Grandma Eyre's, traditional egg-ala-golden-rod breakfast/lunch, and Dad talking about the true meaning of Easter. I'm so grateful for days like today.

It is so fun to watch all the grand kids head out for hidden eggs. The kids anticipation is literally intoxicating, as it's almost as much fun for the adults as well.

 The Easter Bunny left enough eggs for everyone.

Once Nathan was satisfied with his basket, he sat down to enjoy some of his loot.

Hannah scored too I'd say.

I'm so grateful that my kids are surrounded by their cousins. These memories and traditions will mean so much to them as they grow up.

I have so much to share about our family discussion of Easter, but I want to save it for tomorrow. All I can say is I'm one lucky girl to have parents who have taught me truth all of my life.

Thinking

The last few days have been so great. It helps that the weather has been so nice. We spent most of our Saturday outside doing yard work, planting our garden, playing in water (the kids anyway). It was such a nice day.

Sunday I spent a lot of time thinking. It was ward conference. I had a meeting before church with the Stake Primary Presidency. They are such great women. I really feel blessed to rub shoulders with them from time to time. And I'm really blessed to rub shoulders with our own ward Primary Presidency leaders. They are such great gals. We are all so very different and I think that's why I enjoy being with them so much. They've become good friends.

Sunday afternoon was spent enjoying the beautiful spring day, playing with our new chicks.....that all got named yesterday as well. Nathan's chick is Ninight (that is Nate's way of saying midnight, so we thought we'd honor the way he says it and call her Ninight). Hannah's is Bo and Abigail's is Spike. I realize that none of these names are very feminine. They are cute and we are having fun with them. So much fun, that we are going to get two more so Aaron and I can have our own as well. Are we crazy? Probably.

My kids are growing up so quickly. We are at a good time in our lives. Nathan seems to be over his difficult stage. He has been unbelievably sweet, fun, good natured, and grown up lately. I am loving it. Abigail has taken a little turn, not for the worse or better necessarily, just a turn. She is super clingy to me and wants me to hold her every chance I can. It's inconvenient sometimes, but for the most part I concede because after all she is my baby and she too is growing up so fast. Hannah is so smart. Sometimes too smart for her own good. She is clever, witty, and my best helper. I'm hard on her sometimes. Makes me sad when I realize just how much I ask/expect of her. I've been trying to let her be little more lately. She has an unbelievable imagination that is soooo fun to sneak in and watch her play "pretend". I've got to get it on camera. The things that come out of her mouth leave my jaw dropped. She is a hoot!

Aaron is loving his new job. He was home for dinner with us 4 nights last week. I am a happy wife. I hadn't realized just how stressed he was working for Ivory and what a blessing change can be in ones life. I really really love this man. He is so very good to me and the kids. Life is really good right now.

Early Easter Present

Let's all pray that they make it to maturity. The kids were SOOOOOO excited! They are thinking of names. The black one is Nathan's, all yellow is Hannah's, and the fighsty one is Abby's. Perfect!

Any Excuse for a Party

So very last minute, I threw together a little surprise party on Aaron's last day of Ivory. I need to explain myself to all of our family who is learning about this through my blog. Aaron does have work. We will still have income and benefits. We understand the tremendous blessing it was to have employment with such a great company and were very thankful for the security it offered. There will still be security, but there will also be potential for financial growth as well as ownership, which is what Aaron has always wanted. So, there you have it. Please don't worry about us. We are in a good place and have been preparing for this for several months.

I did hesitate to throw a party to celebrate quiting a job when so many have lost jobs and are still without work, so I kept this very low key, inviting only some family members and close friends. I do not want to give the impression that we were at all ungrateful for Aaron's employment with Ivory. We simply wanted to celebrate that he will be with us much more now. And that is something to really celebrate!



Like I said, it was thrown together quickly. Thank you Suzanna for making the yummy cake! and to everyone who was able to come. He was truly surprised!

Then End of an Era and the Start of a New

Aaron has said goodbye to this great company. It's been a work in progress for months now, and it officially happened on Monday. This decision has been handled with MUCH prayer and fasting. It is the right thing for our family. I was the last piece of the puzzle for it to be the right thing. You see, I thought the whole idea was crazy! I think a lot of people that Aaron works with think it's crazy too. But something happened to me one day and I just knew it was the right thing for both Aaron and our family. It's no secret that he worked an insanely amount of hours. I would often joke (but not really think it was funny one bit) that he worked hours like a doctor, but for a whole lot less pay. We both have great fondness for Ivory Homes and the people Aaron worked with. They were very good to us and despite how some may feel about the company, I really was always impressed with the leaders  and felt grateful that Aaron was able to work so closely with them. But now it is onto new and better things for us. It will mean more time with the family, I hope. It will allow Aaron to explore the world of ownership in a business, it will involve lots of hard work (which fortunately he has down to a "t"), it will allow him to be the entrepenuer he is. I'm happy for him.

Companionship Inventory

When serving as a missionary, it was a rule to have "companionship inventory" each week with your companion. This was a time to discuss any mishaps or feelings one may have in a calm, collected manner. It was always effective. Okay, maybe not always, but mostly effective.

Tonight I had companionship inventory with my eternal companion......and boy oh boy was it ever needed! I have been letting things fester for far too long and I could tell that he was too. He had just gotten home from the Priesthood session tonight of General Conference. The kids were sound asleep in bed. I opened up. The tears flooded. He listened. We were both quiet for a long time. Then it was his turn. I listened. I was humbled, as was he. We said sorry. There is a lot of power in the words I. am. sorry. So so so much more power in those words than there is in harboring bad feelings, pointing fingers, not forgiving and so forth. Everyone feels like they are right, right? We each think that we have a point or that the other is clearly more wrong than we. Oh I am so grateful for Aaron. After we kissed and made up and were holding eachother, I had the distinct impression that I chose the right man for me. We don't always see eye to eye. Sometimes we don't meet eachothers needs. But he loves me. There is no question of that. And I love him too. And we will no doubt need another companionship inventory in the future.....probably many, but oh I am so grateful he is mine. Which is really saying something because a few hours ago I wanted to kick him to the curb. Ok, not literally.

A thought to think on. Tonight in the Priesthood session, President Monson said, "It is not so important who you marry, as it is who you become." I really like that. Marriage needs just as much nurturing, just as much attention as little children need and sometimes we forget that.

Dear Abby,

Thank you for dancing and hopping around every day and reminding me not to take things/life too seriously. Thank you for your cheesy smiles and your crooked teeth......we will most definitely be spending thousands to correct that. :o) Thank you for your darling voice, even if you only know two volumes; loud and louder, I absolutely love your voice no matter what volume it is at. Thank you for giving me a reason to smile every day. I think you are positively perfect!

love,
Mom

Concerned

Today Hannah came home from preschool today and told me that she was playing "house" with Teague and held his hand and laid her head on his shoulder. Oh goodness! If she wasn't talking about who she is going to marry, playing house with boys often, and asking me how mommy's and daddy's have babies, maybe I wouldn't be as concerned. But I am. This girl has a fantasy mind like no child I've ever met. I do not know where she comes up with all that goes through her head. Can Disney really be this influential? We don't have cable, so she is limited by what she sees, atleast when it comes to entertainment. I know it is pretty normal for little girls to fantasize about marriage, princes', and babies, but Hannah really does seem to be over the top! What do I do? Aaron and I did have a talk with her tonight about "pretending" with boys. Ugh....I am not ready for these kind of discussions though at 5 years old. Do I have a valid concern people? or am I being ridiculous?

I'm also concerned about Nathan. Oh deary, this boy tries me daily. He is still having regular accidents in his underwear. He truly does not seem to care. The consequences are finally something that he atleast gets upset over, but still do not seem to be helping him to "get it". My mother-in-law is coming out in July to watch our kids and I am determined to have this completely taken care of. I know I still have 3+ months, but I'm worried. On the bright side, tonight he gave one of his great hearty chuckles. They are my favorite.

Abigail is about the most adorable little thing! When she closes her eyes and folds her arms for our family prayer each night, it completely melts me. It only lasts for about 5 seconds of the prayer, but it is truly the most adorable thing ever!!!!

So, I'm trying to take the good with the bad that inevitably happens every day. Please, oh please tell me that this is a very short stage that Hannah is going through and that she will lose interest in the whole boy thing.

Island Park, Idaho (picture overload)

I have the greatest friends! And not just because this one happens to have a cabin in Island Park and happened to invite us for the weekend. But it sure was nice and so much fun! Mandy and James bought a fixer upper cabin last year and have really turned it into a nice get-a-way place. It sleeps 24 people. Ya, 24! There are two kitchens and four bathrooms and a movie projecter. Honestly, we had so much fun. There was a whole lot of this:

 I am slowly learning that the only way to enjoy the snow, is to play in the snow. The dad's made snow caves, we went sledding off the roof of the cabin, and had snow ball fights. 

 

 

 Corbin and Hannah are a year apart. They played so well together the entire time. When we were leaving they blew each other a kiss. Ummmm....this could be a match made in heaven!

I haven't seen this much snow in years and years! It was so much fun!

 The icicles were huge! and the kids loved sucking on them.

This was a great snowball fight. Little Corbin has a really good aim!

I caught Abigail eating snow everytime we were outside.

Little Tessa didn't get to enjoy the snow with us, but boy oh boy was she ever happy to make faces for my camera. She honestly was the most perfectly content baby. And yes, I'm starting to get a little baby hungry.

The last night we were there, we roasted marshmallow's in the snow, told funny stories, and watched "Dispicable Me" on their giant movie screen. 

Goodbye Island Park! We hope to visit you again very, very soon.

Legos and the Book of Mormon

What started out like this today

Ended up looking like these

Thanks to a very talented and patient dad. This mom was SUPER impressed! and so were the kids.

Obviously legos have nothing to do with the Book of Mormon, but today was Stake Conference and we were given a challenge as a stake, to read the Book of Mormon by today's conference. We knew this would be a great challenge to follow for our family since at best we either read 3 verses before bedtime together, or we read out of the book of Mormon for children. When I could see that we wouldn't finish it together as a family, Aaron and I decided to continue to read with the children, but read more aggressively individually to participate in the challenge. Some nights I would read from my scriptures aloud to an individual child as they laid quietly in their beds. That really seemed to work and I was able to read quite a bit with them that way. The most impressive blessing I saw come to us happened just yesterday. Over the past few months our children have seen me reading to myself out of the Book of Mormon. They never said anything about it and would quickly go about playing. While doing Hannah's hair yesterday, she said, "mom, will you read the Book of Mormon to me?" I wanted to cry! Yes dear Hannah, I will read this precious book to you again and again and again. She sat there quietly as I read to her the words of that book. This is nothing shy of a small miracle to me because I promise you, just before we say prayers together at night it is nye impossible to get the kids to sit quietly for 30 seconds to hear the scriptures. But somewhere between now and last October, when the challenge was given to us, she saw us reading and I'm so grateful that example meant something to her. I can even see how Nathan was effected by it as well.

I love that no matter how many times I've read the scriptures, there is something new I learn every time. It is one book that apply's to every situation I've ever been in in my life. It truly is the word of God and I feel so incredibly blessed to have it apart of my life. I know it is true with all of my heart.

Melv's Post

Is there someone you just love so much that isn't your spouse or your child? There is someone in my life that I love so much. It's my older sister Susan. I love her. She was 11 when I was born and I remember watching her when I was little put on her makeup and thinking, "I hope I'm as pretty as Susie someday". She was always my friend and greatest support growing up. I have found letters she wrote me when I lived in Oregon with my parents during my highschool years. She always made me believe that I was someone special and that I deserved greatness in my life. I believed her. I really really did believe that she thought I was someone special. I think she still thinks that. But I want her to know how special she is to me. She has always been there for me. One time on my mission when I got to call home for mother's day, the family call was cut very very short. She could hear in my voice that I needed to talk more. What she didn't know is that I cried pretty good after that call and not 10 minutes later she had called me back. I wanted to reach through that phone and hug her. She has always given me what I needed and that night I needed a sisters loving words that I was ok and that I was where I should be. But the real reason I wanted to write about her today is because I don't think she knows just how much she means to my little family. Aaron and I consider her so much apart of our family. There is noone that knows our children better than she does, besides ourselves. She has saved me time and time again when I've literally come crashing down regarding the challenges of motherhood and at times, even marriage. She can somehow bring reason to me. She speaks my language. She is such a comfort to me. She has seen every side to Melissa that there is and she truly does love me anyway. She is brutally honest, which happens to be a language I speak as well and is probably why I can handle it. I've always looked up to her. I've always admired her. I've always been so proud of her and to have her as my sister. I confide in her and I think she confides in me too. We have laughed and cried so much together. She has been involved in every part of my life. She has been supportive of all that I have done. She has been a great example to me. She is my great friend. She is so very very loved by me.