Government involvement in how I choose to raise my son has been a discussion my husband and I have had many times since D was born. I do not have a personal experience with government interference, but I am sure we have all heard stories of parental rights being trampled on by court decisions and government. It is a scary thought. Please take the time to watch this video. I know it is long, but it is very eye opening. It puts all the thoughts and feelings I have had about this issue into words. I would love to hear anyones thoughts about this topic.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Birthday Survey
D turned 4 this month. A new tradition we have started in the "Birthday Survey." I have seen this idea is a few different spots around the internet. I was excited to finally try it out on our own. I started out by having his write his own name and his age. It is so cute to see his backwards 4.I then wrote the answers to the rest of the questions.
Favorite color: pink and blue
Best friend: Adam, Katie, Mom, and all my stuffed animals
Favorite animal: tiger and beetles
What you want to be when you grow up: a firefighter
Favorite movie: Bug's Life
Favorite book: my magical Disney story books
Favorite food: fruit salad popcorn
Favorite toy: the boat my friend game me
Favorite thing to do with Dad: wrestle with him
Favorite thing to do with Mom: tell jokes with her
Favorite song: Book of Mormon Stories
Favorite holiday: birthdays
My plan is to do it every year for his birthday. It will be fun to see how the answers change or if any of them stay the same. One day I plan on compiling it all into a book with a picture and the answers. It will be one of those keepsakes that only a mom can truly see the value in.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thankful
- My husband
- My son
- My warm and comfy bed
- That D is a great sleeper
- Modern medicine, especially when I needed a c-section
- Great doctors who answer emails
- A wonderful hairstylist who I love to visit with and makes me look good
- Freakishly warm fall days
- Freakishly non-windy winter days
- PBSKids.org
- Good books read to me by the hubby
- A car that runs well most of the time
- Family within a days drive
- Great friends
- Play dates for D
- That throwing up makes my migraines feel tons better (Gross, I know)
- That D doesn't throw up often
- Skype
- Chapstick
- Hot showers
- Board games
- Awesome friends (because I have the best)
- My Kindle
- Girls Night Out
- Getting to serve in the Primary Presidency in my ward to church
- Family Home Evening and D's enthusiasm for it
- The 3 people who actually read his blog. (Thanks, Hubby!)
- My ability to use a budget every month
- Mint Oreos
- Popcorn
- Microwaves
- Diet Dr Pepper
- Vacations
- Movie Days
- The list could go on, but I need to pack for my Thanksgiving trip. Most I want to say I am thankful for my Savior and His gospel. Without Him I would be lost.
- Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Gift From God
One thing I have noticed when talking with different friends who are suffering with infertility is their sensitivity about it. I don't mean this as a jab or to judge them. It is a very sensitive topic. I can completely understand how they would feel upset or disappointed when someone asks if they are going to have children (or more children in some cases) or when someone announces a pregnancy. I use to feel that way a little when trying to get pregnant with D. You get defensive, wondering why it is any of their business if I have more children. Or you wonder why them and not me. Why can they have so many children so easily? Why do they finally get to end their battle with infertility when I can't? It can be heart wrenching.
Today I realized that my Heavenly Father has recently given me a great gift. I didn't realize it before, but after talking with some friends I could see it. After dealing with so much pain over not being able to have another child, the Lord has instead blessed me with understanding and love. I don't feel upset when others ask me about the size of my family. I know they are usually just concerned for us or curious, and I can understand both emotions. I no longer feel upset when other people are pregnant. I can honestly say I am genuinely happy for them, probably a little overly excited. :) I have found myself no longer praying that we might have another child, but rather praying for friends of mine who have been trying to conceive.
I hope this doesn't offend anyone who might read it. I don't mean any offense. I just wanted to express how grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who has allowed me to find peace with such a painful issue. I still long to hold a little baby of my own when I hold a friend's baby, but that is OK. I can share in their joy completely now. It is such a wonderful thing.
Now if I could just be blessed with the gift of enjoying hard work. Maybe then my house would be clean more often. :) I guess we all have room for improvement.
Today I realized that my Heavenly Father has recently given me a great gift. I didn't realize it before, but after talking with some friends I could see it. After dealing with so much pain over not being able to have another child, the Lord has instead blessed me with understanding and love. I don't feel upset when others ask me about the size of my family. I know they are usually just concerned for us or curious, and I can understand both emotions. I no longer feel upset when other people are pregnant. I can honestly say I am genuinely happy for them, probably a little overly excited. :) I have found myself no longer praying that we might have another child, but rather praying for friends of mine who have been trying to conceive.
I hope this doesn't offend anyone who might read it. I don't mean any offense. I just wanted to express how grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who has allowed me to find peace with such a painful issue. I still long to hold a little baby of my own when I hold a friend's baby, but that is OK. I can share in their joy completely now. It is such a wonderful thing.
Now if I could just be blessed with the gift of enjoying hard work. Maybe then my house would be clean more often. :) I guess we all have room for improvement.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The 17 Days of Christmas
So, are you guys on Pinterest? If not, you should be. It is awesome, but that is not exactly what this blog post is about. What it is about is this great idea I found on there for Christmas. It is from Sew Dang Cute and it is called The Christ Book.
It is 17 different days of scriptures, songs, and pictures about the Savior's life, starting with Christ's birth fortold and ending with Christ in out lives everyday. The other night I had some insomnia, so I spent that time putting a book together for us. I am just waiting for my pictures I ordered from LDS.org. I am so excited to start this new family tradition.
I will admit that I did add some song and remove other songs or picture. The reason being that I really wanted the picture and the scripture/story to be across from each other so that D can see the picture while we are reading, and that didn't always happen when I followed her outline. This idea would be a really easy one to change up if you wanted, but it is a great starting point. You could even make it go longer that 17 days if you added more songs or told more storied about the life of Jesus. I think 17 days will work well for us because we won't do it on Monday night because of Family Home Evening and there are always a couple of nights that D falls asleep before we get to scripture study. Plus, I don't want to do it on Christmas Eve. We already have family traditions for Christmas Eve.
I am so excited to add more Christmas traditions to our family that focus on Christ. Please share if you have any in your family. I am always looking for more.
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It is 17 different days of scriptures, songs, and pictures about the Savior's life, starting with Christ's birth fortold and ending with Christ in out lives everyday. The other night I had some insomnia, so I spent that time putting a book together for us. I am just waiting for my pictures I ordered from LDS.org. I am so excited to start this new family tradition.
I will admit that I did add some song and remove other songs or picture. The reason being that I really wanted the picture and the scripture/story to be across from each other so that D can see the picture while we are reading, and that didn't always happen when I followed her outline. This idea would be a really easy one to change up if you wanted, but it is a great starting point. You could even make it go longer that 17 days if you added more songs or told more storied about the life of Jesus. I think 17 days will work well for us because we won't do it on Monday night because of Family Home Evening and there are always a couple of nights that D falls asleep before we get to scripture study. Plus, I don't want to do it on Christmas Eve. We already have family traditions for Christmas Eve.
I am so excited to add more Christmas traditions to our family that focus on Christ. Please share if you have any in your family. I am always looking for more.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Bucket List
This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.
1. Write a book. It sounds silly, but I have wanted to since I was about 15. One of these days I am really going to do it, even if no one but D reads it.
2. Ride on a train. Once again, that is something I have wanted to do since I was young. I think it started from watching White Christmas. I am sure experience will be just the same, singing and all.
3. Hike the Grand Canyon. I grew up with my dad hiking the Grand Canyon every year. My brothers joined him this last year. Maybe next year will be my chance.
4. Learn Spanish. My husband can speak Spanish fluently. I recently ordered Little Pim Spanish DVDs for D to learn. I even have a book laying around for me to get started. I just need to get started. That is the hard part.
5. Learn to sew. This is a hard one because I don't know when to consider this one completed. I have done some sewing, but I am not very good at it.
6. Visit Hawaii. Who wouldn't want to visit Hawaii?
7. Own a home. This goes beyond just purchasing a home (We have lived in apartments since we were married almost 8 years ago). I mean having it all paid off. I want it to be mine.
8. Take a karate class. I know I could do this now, but I just feel so intimidated. Maybe I will get up the nerve soon.
9. Wear a bikini with confidence. OK, so I don't ever plan on wearing a bikini, but I would like to know I could and look good. Halloween candy around my house today isn't helping towards that goal.
10. Plan the perfect vacation for my husband. Anyone who knows my husband knows what a difficult one this is. He is a homebody and would rather spend money on something he can own than a vacation. I would rather have a vacation. One day I will plan a vacation he will absolutely love. I just need to figure out what exactly that would entail.
11. Leave an endowment to a university/college. We have been so blessed that my husband has been able to get a PhD without any debt. I hope when we both pass away that we will be able to leave an endowment to a school to allow others to have help with schooling costs. I suppose this one really should be at the end of my list, my final 'kicked the bucket" item.
12. Grow a garden. My mom can attest to the fact that I have been trying to do this since I was about thirteen. Carrots do not grow well in a rocky flower bed in Arizona. Maybe one day I can get it right.
13. Have a year supply of food and toiletries. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are encouraged to be prepared for times of need. This includes a year supply. I usually have enough food storage for about 2-3 months, but with a tiny apartment I do not have the room to be as prepared as I would like. I am currently working on 72 hour packs.
14. Take D to Disney again before the magic fades and not tell him we are going beforehand. I think Disney holds magic for people of all ages, but especially for young children before they stop believing in magic. We took D to Disneyland when he was 2 1/2. I thought it was the best watching him take it all in. I can't wait to take him again.
15. Get my bachelors degree. I quit school with my associates when my husband got into grad school so I could work full-time. I would like to finish one day. I don't know how soon I will be able to get to that one, especially if we do decide to homeschool.
This list is in no particular order. It is not inclusive. These are just some of these things I have talked about wanting to do, but never have. This was a good excuse to take the time to write them down. What is on your bucket list?
1. Write a book. It sounds silly, but I have wanted to since I was about 15. One of these days I am really going to do it, even if no one but D reads it.
2. Ride on a train. Once again, that is something I have wanted to do since I was young. I think it started from watching White Christmas. I am sure experience will be just the same, singing and all.
3. Hike the Grand Canyon. I grew up with my dad hiking the Grand Canyon every year. My brothers joined him this last year. Maybe next year will be my chance.
4. Learn Spanish. My husband can speak Spanish fluently. I recently ordered Little Pim Spanish DVDs for D to learn. I even have a book laying around for me to get started. I just need to get started. That is the hard part.
5. Learn to sew. This is a hard one because I don't know when to consider this one completed. I have done some sewing, but I am not very good at it.
6. Visit Hawaii. Who wouldn't want to visit Hawaii?
7. Own a home. This goes beyond just purchasing a home (We have lived in apartments since we were married almost 8 years ago). I mean having it all paid off. I want it to be mine.
8. Take a karate class. I know I could do this now, but I just feel so intimidated. Maybe I will get up the nerve soon.
9. Wear a bikini with confidence. OK, so I don't ever plan on wearing a bikini, but I would like to know I could and look good. Halloween candy around my house today isn't helping towards that goal.
10. Plan the perfect vacation for my husband. Anyone who knows my husband knows what a difficult one this is. He is a homebody and would rather spend money on something he can own than a vacation. I would rather have a vacation. One day I will plan a vacation he will absolutely love. I just need to figure out what exactly that would entail.
11. Leave an endowment to a university/college. We have been so blessed that my husband has been able to get a PhD without any debt. I hope when we both pass away that we will be able to leave an endowment to a school to allow others to have help with schooling costs. I suppose this one really should be at the end of my list, my final 'kicked the bucket" item.
12. Grow a garden. My mom can attest to the fact that I have been trying to do this since I was about thirteen. Carrots do not grow well in a rocky flower bed in Arizona. Maybe one day I can get it right.
13. Have a year supply of food and toiletries. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are encouraged to be prepared for times of need. This includes a year supply. I usually have enough food storage for about 2-3 months, but with a tiny apartment I do not have the room to be as prepared as I would like. I am currently working on 72 hour packs.
14. Take D to Disney again before the magic fades and not tell him we are going beforehand. I think Disney holds magic for people of all ages, but especially for young children before they stop believing in magic. We took D to Disneyland when he was 2 1/2. I thought it was the best watching him take it all in. I can't wait to take him again.
15. Get my bachelors degree. I quit school with my associates when my husband got into grad school so I could work full-time. I would like to finish one day. I don't know how soon I will be able to get to that one, especially if we do decide to homeschool.
This list is in no particular order. It is not inclusive. These are just some of these things I have talked about wanting to do, but never have. This was a good excuse to take the time to write them down. What is on your bucket list?
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