Hike to Stewart Falls

Since Zach has been done with school it has allowed us to have more family bonding time. It's been great! Today we took Madison on her first hike.

There were some amazing views, even though it started to rain on us.

And someone fell asleep on the walk back to the car.

Zachs Graduation!

Trip to the Zoo

Boston

My heart goes out to those that have lost loved ones or have been injured in the explosions at the Boston Marathon. I had three friends from my home ward running the marathon (along with their families there to support them). My heart sank when I heard the news, I worried non stop for them. Thankfully they and their parties are all safe and unharmed.

We will never truly understand why people choose to do the evil things they do, we can only try every day to be the best people we can be. Raising children in a world that is becoming increasingly more wicked with each passing day makes me worry for their futures. How will my daughter grow up when she is surrounded by all these things? It is our responsibility as parents to nurture and teach our children. It is our responsibility to show them the faith in humanity and to have love and respect for one another.


 The words from the song "Where is the Love?" by Black Eyed Peas comes to mind. I thought it had a deep impact then. 

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace are so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong

Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)?
Where is the love (The love)?
Where is the love, the love, the love?

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
Now ask yourself

Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father, help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love?

Sing with me y'all:
One world, one world (We only got)
One world, one world (That's all we got)
One world, one world
And something's wrong with it (Yeah)
Something's wrong with it (Yeah)
Something's wrong with the wo-wo-world, yeah
We only got
(One world, one world)
That's all we got
(One world, one world)

To Uncle William

This morning I woke up and I was so excited because my Mom told me it was your birthday!

So I decided to make you a special present....

 I found the paper and picked it out myself....

 Then I measured to make sure everything would fit....

I used a little tape to hold it all together....

and BAM.... your birthday present was finished!

 

Hope you like it! 

Happy birthday Uncle Will!!

love,

Madison

Feeling blessed

Today I am feeling extremely blessed. I look down at the sleeping 7 month old in my arms and I think, how lucky am I to be her mom. She is the perfect baby. Of course I could complain that she whines often, she hates taking naps, and she craves attention but I am constantly rewarded with smiles and loves for my efforts as a Mom. 

I think about how lucky I am and how truly blessed I am to have her in my life. I think about how much she has changed my life and the person I am. I want to be better because of her. I know of so many family members and friends that have struggled with infertility, miscarriages, pregnancy, labor and motherhood. I am thankful to say that even though Madison came 3 weeks early; nothing was wrong. She was perfect and able to come home from the hospital right away. My labor and delivery was a dream. I guess what I am saying is that I'm not strong enough for a "real big trial". Thankfully, my Heavenly Father knows me very well and will give me what I can handle.

My heart breaks for my friends whose children have to remain in the hospital and have surgery. I feel like lately my life has been surrounded with babies that are in need of extra blessings. I feel for the parents and commend their strength in these situations. My friends that are still trying for the babies waiting in heaven, they will soon come. Have faith. 

I used to talk to Zach when he got home from work every night about the events of the evening at the ER. Since being a mother, those talks have become less and less. I cry at everything and I mean everything. He sees tragic events and death almost daily.  It hurts my heart to think of a sick or hurt child. That being said it has also really grown our testimonies. Zach will tell you that the families that know and understand God's plan are so much more calm and loving during these hard times. It is because we know as members of the church, there is life after this. The people that think that there is nothing after this life, they are distraught and heartbroken. 

 It has really strengthened my love of the gospel and God's plan for each of us. I know we will be reunited with our love ones again. I know that I am sealed to Zach, Madison and my other future children for time and all eternity... and there is nothing they can do about it. 

I know we are given trials for a reason. I know we are given blessings for a reason. I know that not every person will go through the same things in life which is what makes us all so beautiful and different. I know that if we are doing the things we are asked to do, we will be blessed. When things are difficult it sometimes isn't easy to see why this is happening and we question "why me?".  Sometimes it isn't till after the trial has passed that we can see the bigger picture. When things get hard stop for a moment and think of just one simple blessing you have. 

When I was younger I would write in my journal almost every day and at the bottom of each entry I would write my 3 Simple Pleasures for the day. They were just that, simple pleasures. A cold ice cream on a hot day. Being able to crunch the leaves on my walk home. Running up hill without stopping. Things that you may not think twice about. By doing this it opened my eyes to the many (and sometimes very simple) blessings we are given every day. These simple pleasures are really blessings. I was able to have ice cream because my family had money to provide for us. I was able to hear the crunch of the leaves. I had legs that work properly and lungs that can let me breath without stopping. 

I suggest that any one who reads this blog try to find 3 simple pleasures every day, you will see how quickly your life will change by doing this. Your outlook on life will be so much brighter.

Have faith. Pray often. It works.

Sorry for the ramble tonight. I just feel like I needed to get that out for some reason.