Sweet Sunday

This past summer has been our family's own personal Gethsemane.  To make a long story short, we have been going through many trials.  We have been trying to look at our blessings and to look at the good, because in reality, we have a very good life.  We just have some bumps in the road and some major life decisions ahead.

I've recently noticed that, when we have temporal trials, that our spirituality seems to increase.  Is this just a natural occurrence for us to turn to God when we need His help so desperately?  Is it possible to stay close to God before the trials occur?  Is it the same with our earthly parents?  Don't we normally turn to them when, as toddlers, we need someone to kiss our boo-boos, as teens we need a shoulder to cry on, and as adults we need counsel from someone who has 'been there'.

What I really wanted to record today is how the spirituality of my children has increased during this summer.

Zane came home from school the other day telling me that he had said a prayer in the morning that he would be able to make more friends at school.  He told me that he felt like his prayer was answered during one of his counseling sessions.  His teacher and group talked about how there are three different personalities:  aggressive, passive, and assertive.  Zane knows he is mostly passive because he is shy.  He learned that someone being aggressive is super bossy and no one will want to be their fried.  But an assertive person knows what they want and is able to communicate.  Zane is our little thinker and I'm sure that deep down in his brain that this was a lesson that he needed to learn about his own personality and how to react to situations.  It was an enlightening moment for me, as his mother, to listen to him talk about such deep topics for a 9 year old.

Harrison is very much aware that he is getting ready for changes to occur as he takes a tiny step toward adulthood next month.  He is turning 12, will be leaving the Primary, will attend Young Men's, and last but not least, he will be receiving the Aaronic Priesthood.  He has shown these tiny spiritual growth spurts over the summer, but the biggest one occurred this morning.  He offered to join Andy and me in our fast.  Because Harrison decided to join, Zane decided to do it as well.  These boys have never fasted before and it was such a sweet experience to kneel down together as a family before church to begin our fast together.  It brought a special spirit into our home.  We did not have the normal bickering, shoe-hunting, and rushing that usually happens on a Sunday morning.  Most importantly, we were on time!

It was fast and testimony meeting today, because General Conference is next week.  I got up and bore my testimony because I have had a strong feeling lately that I need to confess God's hand in all things.  Everything we have truly comes from Him.  Shortly after I sat down, Harrison timidly walked up to the stand to bear his own testimony.  I was so proud of him! I loved seeing that tiny spark of his own testimony that he wanted to share with others.  I am sure that it will grow into its own fire.

What a rewarding Sabbath.
What a Sweet Sunday.

Busy Day - Let's Do This!

The To-Do List is about a mile long today. 

Dishes

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Going upstairs to nurse Isla. These can wait. I've trained the kids to unload the dishwasher. Next step: how to load it.

Moments

This morning was one of those

~baby is up all night teething
~child number four runs into our room, announcing he has to barf
~poop smeared all over the boys bathroom (what?!?!)

kind of morning.

It is times like these that I have to remind myself that Motherhood comes in moments. This, all of this, is just a moment. It will pass and there will definitely be good moments ahead.

Firsts

So many firsts are happening right now for miss Isla Jean. She is standing independently, sprinting up the stairs with super crawling power, she cruises around the furniture with ease, and has even started to take some steps. She even knows how to say 'tickle' and knows what it means. She loves to brush her hair.

Where has my little babe gone? Who is this spunky, ever-happy toddler beginning to emerge? Oh how we love and adore her. She really is the icing on the cake to our family.

Here she is discovering the garbage truck for the very first time.

Freak out

Yesterday I met Andy at Zane's soccer game. (He had been helping his sister, Lindsey, move.) I immediately started feeling ill. Nauseous and ill. I started feeling ill all the way up my throat, like the puke was on its way up any minute.
I told Andy that I was just going to take the kids home, instead of meeting him at the finish line of his 10k race.
On the drive home, I felt my throat and my tongue become numb. It was swelling up. I was having a hard time forming words. Was I having a stroke? What was happening?
I called my mom to have her search on google, while I hurried toward home. She finally convinced me to go to the nearest express care. I hung up with her and called Andy. Luckily his race hadn't started yet. We decided he would meet me at the express care.
The nurse and doctor asked me a zillion questions, trying to rule out a food allergy, Bell's palsy, or a mini stroke. (Eek!) They even took a pregnancy test to rule that out. (Double eek!!)
By this time my tongue was twice its size and I was numb from my cheekbones down to the bottom of my throat.
I was praying in my heart that it wasn't something neurological. The doctor had to rule out allergies because I couldn't remember eating anything since 9 that morning, which was 3 hours before.
He suggested we go to the ER, but I could breathe, I was stable, and I just didn't feel it was life-threatening yet. We went home, I nursed Isla, then took some Benadryl and passed out for about 4 hours. I was groggy, but felt so much better when I woke up. The numbness sand swelling had gone down a lot. I skyped wih my parents to show them I was ok. They were pretty concerned.
Waking up this morning, it hit me: I had downed a big mug of mother's milk tea just before I ran out the door to Zane's game. I had had an allergic reaction to something in there. Fenugreek? Milk thistle? Who knows. But I feel 100% back to normal this morning.
Now I know what an allergic reaction feels like… and knowing is half the batlle!

9 months … and growing!

Isla had her nine month checkup today. I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing. Time always seems to fly by after the baby is born, but not when you are pregnant.
Isla weighed in at 15 lbs 7 oz. She is 26.75 inches long.
Here are some pictures of her on the scale and with me in the waiting room.

Here Comes Trouble

Isla has discovered the stairs. We are in big trouble now. This little girl is unstoppable. She is trying so hard to e able to keep up with her big brothers.

Isla's 3 month birthday

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jamiegc just shared an Instagram photo with you:

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"Isla's 3 month birthday"

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The Instagram Team

Daddy comes home...

With Andy's job change to Chase, we are lucky enough to have him work from home occasionally.  He has a little office (i.e. table and chair) set up in our unfinished basement.  The boys are always willing to help him seal envelopes!