"Thank heaven there is tomorrow. Because there is tomorrow, all our yesterdays have meaning and all our dreams have hope."

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Help

I just finished another great read this month. Our book club pick was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. It's about the domestic help in Jackson, Mississippi during the beginning of the civil rights movement. The three main characters are absolutely fascinating. It took a bit for me to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.
Now, I better clean up the house that has been neglected for the past week!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Jack's Easter Outfit

Pretty darn cute, if I say so myself.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Early Easter Egg Hunt

Today some friends and I had an Easter Egg Hunt for our kids.
I thought it was fun . . . Jack could have cared less!
So much for egg hunting this year.
We will save it for next Easter!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Some Bad Habits

Today Jack walked into the room where I was working with his clothes looking like this . . .Apparently the sippy cup/spitting habit isn't broken yet.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Matty's Mission Call

My little brother received his mission call this week!
In July he leaves for the Mexico City North mission for two years. Matty, you are such a great example of service. We love you!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Time To Celebrate!

Time to celebrate with a little of this . . . and a little of this . . .
Drum roll please . . .
The kitchen is done!
Of course there are always the little decorations, back splash and window treatments to be done - but the cabinets are finished!



Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
Today I find myself . . . LUCKY!
(I found this craft idea on a blog and decided to attempt it with a friend one evening. I think I like the way it turned out!)


Friday, March 12, 2010

Lead Me, Guide Me, Walk Beside Me

Over the course of this last week I have had many reminders of how precious life is. Wednesday was the two year mark of the passing away of a sweet baby girl of some of our dear friends. Also, this week I spoke with another wonderful friend who just received news that her six month old nephew passed away from SIDS that morning. Many other conversations and occurrences have brought to mind the reminder of grief and the road that so many of us are asked to walk down.

As I reflected on the feeling of loss and grief this week I felt overwhelmed by the loneliness that is left in my heart. I ached for those who were suffering this week and was genuinely trying to "mourn with those that mourn." Sometimes this road seems too much to handle on our own. At one particular moment of sadness the lyrics to a primary song popped into my head.

I am a child of God

And He has sent me here

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear

Lead Me

Guide Me

Walk Beside Me

Help me find the way

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Him someday

This is a song I have been singing ever since ever. I was taught this song long before I could understand the meaning of it. I had an "ah-ha" moment as I thought about the last part of the song.

Lead me. Guide me. Walk beside me.

I realized that throughout these very difficult (almost) three years I have been led, guided and walked with consistently. I feel like it was a process. During my most difficult days I know I was following. I was being led by so many people. The days after Gavin passed away I remember being led by so many people. I needed someone to tell me what to do. I remember my mother saying, "You need to eat now. You need to shower and get dressed now. We need to pick out his casket today and a plot tomorrow." I needed to be led because I could not do it on my own. I needed people to find comforting words for me and listen when I needed to talk. I was surrounded by so many amazing people who help lead me. However, most of all I was lead by a kind and gentle Heavenly Father.

Our Father in Heaven does not put us down here and then abandon us. He leads us. And then when we are a little bit more stable on our feet, He guides us. He puts people in our path to help share the load of grief. He guides us to comfort and peace.

And now, almost three years later I can look back and see how He has walked beside me. He still does. And on those days where it still just hurts too much, I know that at any minute I can turn to Him and ask for guidance again.

Wednesday I was reading from the Book of Mormon and came upon the passage in Alma 7:12. It says, "And He will take upon Him death, that He may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and He will take upon Him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy . . . that He may know how to succor His people according to their infirmities."

This passage refers to the Atonement of Christ. He was sent not only to atone for our sins, but to know our infirmities, our pain, or sorrow. He knows what we feel and how to comfort us best. I am grateful for that knowledge. I am grateful to have the privilege to look back during times of trial and see where he has led me, guided me and walked beside me.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Poor Sick Baby Jack Jack

Nothin' like a good cuddle with dad when Jack isn't feeling too hot.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cabinet Update

The kitchen cabinets are finally coming to an end. We have seven doors left that need to be put up and decorations to put up that will help add color to a few areas - but this massive project is slowly coming to an end. YAY! I really like the way things have turned out. It's hard to see in the pictures - but the white makes everything else pop really well.

And my favorite part . . . the crown molding!
Ahem . . . perhaps it is because I stained it all myself. It's all I did for two days!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Don't Lose Your Shirt!

No, we aren't going for "that" look - I just have a hard time keeping a shirt on Jack right now. He is in a spitting and drooling phase. If I give him a sippy cup with water he lets it all fall right out of his mouth onto his shirt. Little punk! It means we are going through three shirts a day. So, today I gave up. He is going shirtless while he drinks from his sippy cup.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Gavin's Happy St. Patrick's Day

Dear Gav,
Happy early St. Patrick's Day! Last night we came to visit and decorate for you. It was so quiet and peaceful as we sat next to you and remembered all the wonderful times we shared together. I miss you so much. Some days I wish so desperately that I could hold both of my boys.

Jack was excited to see you. He kept touching your picture. I know he recognizes you. We have your picture up in our home and we tell him all about you. I hope you are watching over your little brother. He is so much fun. I know you two would have gotten into mischief and made my days crazy. I would have loved every minute of it just as much as I love every minute with Jack right now.

I hope you know how much we love you. You are never far from our thoughts. There is a place in my heart that belongs to only you. I love everything about our story, Gavin. I love you.

Love,
Momma



Tuesday, March 2, 2010

BOO!

Jack thinks it is quite funny to run around with his blanket over his head like a ghost right now. He blindly runs and runs until he runs right into a couch or some other obstacle. It's pretty funny.



Monday, March 1, 2010

Belated Birthday Dinner

With our kitchen under contruction for the last four weeks - my cooking has slacked. To say the least. Jason really wanted twice baked potatoes and ham for his birthday dinner.