Rock the Boat

A week ago in Sunday School, our teacher asked us when was the last time we wrote down a spiritual experience that we have had and if we have any experiences that we haven’t written down, but should. I thought about it all week long. What experiences have I had that I haven’t written down? Something I want to remember forever and want my children to be able to read one day. Something that maybe one of you all need to hear?

First off, I had one thing instantly pop into my mind that I haven’t been able to shake. Back when I was about 19 or 20, I’d go home in the summers and attend the singles ward with my brother. At the time, we didn’t really love going because we didn’t know many people, but I did make two memories there. The first thing was just funny. There was a man who bore his testimony and pounded SO hard on the podium saying something like, “Have you ever been so mad…” I don’t even remember what else he said, but he was passionate that day! The second memory is something that is so simple but so dear to my heart now. We would urge each other to go up and bear our testimonies. We called it “rock the boat.”

“Are you going to rock the boat?” We’d ask. “Only if you do it first.”

Those Sundays were good ones. And as Andy Bernard says, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

Then today, I was still thinking about spiritual experiences or memories that I wanted to write about when I realized one was enfolding right before my eyes. It was Eva’s primary presentation today, where all the children (there are probably 80 of them in our ward!) sit on the stand, each say something and sing all the songs they’ve been working on each year. Watching Eva sit up there as an almost 5 year old is touching, itself. To realize I have this real big kid who is brave enough to say a line into the microphone in front of everyone and to sing loudly, proudly, smiling and waving at me through the whole presentation… it’s just incredible. I’m truly blessed. But there was one song that stood out, and specifically one verse that sincerely touched me.

We have been saved for these latter days
To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
We hear the words our prophet declares:
“Let each who’s worthy go forth and share.”
I instantly felt the Spirit when I listened to these words, sung by my daughter and all the other children. They have been saved for THIS TIME. This critical and difficult time that we are living in. They were saved because they have the capabilities to be strong enough to make it. We need to be good examples for them. Teach them, show them the way. So that they can carry the gospel throughout the world. When I see all the hatred going on this week, all the riots, the crazy election stuff… Eva and Finn will be immersed in this world so soon and have a lot to bear. They are such precious spirits and God has entrusted them to us. I hope I can be a good enough mother and follower of Christ so that they are ready for what is to come, and that they one day can “go forth and share.”

/0 Comments/by
,

Disney: Snapchat Edition

I love snapchat. It’s just so casual and fun. Such an easy way to document the regular part of your day. So, I snapped some at Disney and put it all together. I love rewatching the part about what Eva packed in her bag for Disney. Too funny!

 

 

/0 Comments/by

Oh, hey!

I feel like I constantly have a to-do list of a hundred things to do, blogging is on there but definitely not high up. I have so much to blog about. The rest of our trip to Disney. All of our Fall fun stuff. A wedding. A craft exchange party. 21 Day Fix and fitness stuff. A favorite things party. Finn’s monthly posts. My parents’ visit to Utah.

But they will have to wait. Sometimes I have to choose on my list from good, better, best. So, just know we are doing well and we will be back soon!

/0 Comments/by

Wrapping up September

img_0026

One Sunday, we went to TJ’s office in Lehi so I could see the new floor graphics he designed. Long story short, we locked our keys, ID card (which opens up the door) and phones in the cafeteria there. We could have walked home, but we were both just so annoyed at the situation and kept hoping someone would show up. After we said a prayer, a security guard showed up outside and we were able to get our stuff back! Such a funny situation.

img_0025-2

Another trip to the farm and this time they had a couple special things going on!img_0024 img_0023

A balloon animal horse at the farm.img_0022-2

This huge BYU flag was hung on the side of the highway by our house on the day of the Utah game. It was amazing. It would have been cooler if we won the game though lol.img_0011-7

We have loved our Pass of All Passes this year… the Lehi Fun Center, although it’s pretty rundown, is so close and so fun for the kids!img_0059

We just picked up and took home this homeless boy at Walmart hahaha! I know he looks like a little orphan boy in this photo but he was so cute in there! And don’t mind all that junk food guys, we were about to leave for our road trip, okay? img_0058

Uhm… hello, adorable boy!
img_0051

Huge pumpkins at the fall festival at Thanksgiving Point!img_0050 img_0049

Just relaxing!img_0048

/0 Comments/by

At Home with the Kids

We have been letting TJ take the car to work a lot, meaning we are left without a car. Honestly, it hasn’t been bad at all. It’s definitely a change though since I’m used to getting out everyday and doing a lot of stuff with the kids. But we just have to find other ways to spend our time. We’ve used our playroom much more than ever before, walk to all the different parks in the neighborhood, set up play-dates with neighbors, go on walks and bike rides, play a lot of games and chalk outside, and walk to the museums and farm nearby. Here are some photos from the past month of our shenanigans.

img_0046 img_0047 img_0027 img_0029 img_0030 img_0032-2 img_0033 img_0034-2

/1 Comment/by
,

Cascade Springs

I took the kids up to Cascade Springs (info about it over here) and we really had a great afternoon. Blue skies, nice breeze, it was beautiful.

I had a little spiritual moment up there that I thought I’d share. The Springs are surrounded by three loops, all paved. It’s an easy walk, doesn’t take too long to do all three loops. I had my stroller with me, so we had to backtrack a bit because I didn’t want to carry my stroller up the stairs. Well, at one point, we put the quilt down and enjoyed the scenery for a while, then when we were heading out, I went the wrong way. We got back to the stairs. Then I backtracked again but it led me to a dead end. There were maps pretty much every 100 feet or so, but I never took the time to look at them. I kept thinking, I can do this by myself, it’s three simple loops (with a couple extra dead-end paths). But I couldn’t. Even though it was a simple path (we weren’t in any danger, so Mom, please don’t be alarmed!), we still got lost. After a couple minutes, we went back to the map we had just passed and figured out the pathway without the stairs. The map led us back to where we needed to go.

I immediately felt that those maps are like the scriptures. They’re there for us. They’re ALWAYS there, ready for us to turn to when we get lost. Even on the simplest paths when we think there’s no way we’d need help, no way to get sidetracked, they’re there. If we don’t turn to them (even if life is easy), we won’t be able to find our way to safety. Things will come up, we will get lost. We need to swallow our pride and stop thinking we can do it by ourselves. We can’t. We need their help.

DSC03045 DSC03035 DSC03033 DSC03016 DSC03006 DSC02998 DSC02996 DSC02986 DSC02984 DSC02980 DSC02971 DSC02954 DSC02922 DSC02919 DSC02913

/0 Comments/by

Six Years Time Warp

On May 22nd, it was our six year anniversary. We spent the day by having the plague in our house, aka Hand Foot Mouth Disease. Eva was getting over it and TJ was in the middle of it. So, it was pretty terrible and a little disappointing to spend our anniversary like that. But we postponed it to the next weekend when everyone was feeling better. We walked around Temple Square, which honestly brought tears to my eyes as we walked around the same place we were married. To see our little kids with us, teach Eva the importance of the temple, hold TJ’s hand while pushing Finn in the stroller… it was the best day. We are so blessed. It’s been a great six years. Not always easy, no. But worth it, yes. I love you, dear TJ! Thanks for being such a kind, funny, supportive husband. One who will put up with my nagging, be a good sport when I ask you to do face swap on snapchat, and let me watch The Office every single day.

Six Year Anniversary-family of 4 in SLC

IMG_0356

Five Year Anniversary-we were about to move back to Utah

Screen-Shot-2015-05-07-at-11.06.34-AM

Four Year Anniversary-Les Mis on Broadway!

Screen-Shot-2014-05-28-at-9.59.02-PM

Third Year Anniversary-FIRST day in NYC, dinner at Grimaldi’s

Photo-May-22-10-25-00-PM

Two Year Anniversary-Spent apart, TJ was in NYC for his summer internship

IMG_2809-560x560

First Year Anniversary-just baby faces in Kiwanis Park, pregnant with Eva!

248970_10150195998131447_3801331_n

Wedding!

58221_425021316446_4479842_n

/0 Comments/by
,

These are my people

A year or two ago, I was sitting at the piano on the stage of our church back in Jersey. I was brought tears as I looked down at the congregation when the following thought came to me, “These are my people. They are my family.”

I won’t forget that moment. I knew at that point that we were sent to Jersey for a reason. Tons of reasons actually. But one of which was to be a part of that great ward.

Well, fast forward to now. We’ve lived in Lehi for almost a year now. The congregation we are in at church definitely doesn’t look or act the same as that ward back in Jersey City. I definitely miss those Fast & Testimony meetings back in the city because you never knew what was going to happen. Break into group prayer? Sure. Sing at the pulpit? Go for it. Bring your harmonica? Give it a blow! But although this new ward has different quirks, yesterday I was at Stake Conference. I was standing in unison with my fellow neighbors and friends singing a powerful hymn. I looked around and saw the faces of many who have really reached out to me this past year, some who probably didn’t even know the influence they’ve made. The relief society counselor who always is honest in her testimony. A mom who’s always kind to me in the nursing room. A couple who always has a smile on their face no matter what trial comes their way. These people… They are my people now. I love them. We all may have families close by and may not need each other exactly how we needed each other back in Jersey. But this congregation is where we are supposed to be right now, and I’m so glad for that amazing confirmation yesterday.

/0 Comments/by
,

Baby Steps

One of my all-time favorite movies is What About Bob. If you haven’t watched it before, why are we even friends? JK-but really… go watch it right now. Dr. Marvin, Dr. Leo Marvin, has the brilliant advice to take baby steps in your life. It’s a really comedic scene, but in all reality, it’s such great advice. It randomly came into my mind last week when I was dealing with something, and I keep thinking about it. When we are having a hard time, dealing with anxiety, or just simply don’t want to do something (e.g. work out, eat healthy, wake up early, etc), think of it in baby steps. We can do anything for one minute. So start with that minute. Do what you’ve gotta do, then do it again the next minute. Minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, you can get through it. Baby steps. Baby step around the room… baby step out the office……. I’m sailing………. I’m a sailor! Okay, I’ll stop with the quotes now. But I will finish the post with a photo of me at Halloween when I was Bob!

74206_446235526446_2332427_n

/0 Comments/by

Monday Schmonday

  1. We just got home from a long trip visiting my parents in Kentucky. The weather was absolutely wonderful and we had a perfect time. Posts coming soon about the trip.
  2. The weather for the week looks like a major thumbs-down (snow on Wednesday… really???).
  3. I’m starting the 21 Day Fix next week. It was a little investment but I figure it’ll give me some more motivation and give me the support group I need to take care of myself. If you have any tips about the program, please let me know! I’ve already started the meal planning and trying to come up with my workout game plan so I’m good to go and maybe can get a heads start.
  4. We’re going to the Tulip Festival a couple times these next weeks, with friends and family.
  5. Eva’s got her dance recital soon, can’t wait to see that little fairy dance on a big stage!
  6. I’ve been competing with an old friend on my fitbit each week and have lost by a hair two weeks in a row. GAME IS ON, DEAR FRIEND. GAME IS ON.
  7. Walking Dead ended a couple weeks ago and I’m still not over that gruesome finale. Negan is a main character in The Good Wife right now, as a good guy, and it’s sooooo bizarre.
  8. I want to see Children of Eden at AFHS this week. I love that musical! Anyone wanna join?
/1 Comment/by