SPRING!

It feels like Spring is right around the corner!
The days are getting longer!
The angle of the sun, as it slowly creeps across the sky, feels like it's Spring!

The snow is melting, slowly but surely!
It's getting close!
I feel it!
I got this in an e-mail and I thought it was cute!

This only takes a second and it feels so good!
I think we all need a little spring today!
I'm sending you some Spring!!!!

Click on the snowman.

You will get a black page.

Click your mouse anywhere (& everywhere) on the page & see what happens!

Better yet, click (hold down) & drag your mouse over the black page...

Enjoy!!

We love you all!

Alma 7

Since I fessed up to my funk last week, I've been doing a lot of self reflection.
It feels good to take an inventory and put myself in check.

It has been kind of fun to blame my mood on outside factors, especially the weather/cold winter but it really, profoundly, boils down to the purpose of life.

Well, what I think is the purpose of life.

To see what we will choose.

Abraham 3:25
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"

This scripture, brought to us by modern day revelation, says that the earth was created for us, to prove ourselves and to show what we choose.

2 Nephi 2:27
"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

Hmmm....which to choose? Liberty and eternal life OR captivity and death?

What really resonates with me, right now, is the last line,
"for he [the devil] seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

NOT JUST IN ETERNITY, BUT NOW!!!

He never tires of seeking misery for all man.

But, we can choose happiness.
And despite all circumstances that may bring us turmoil we can have peace through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I know this because I played "that" game today. The game where you have a question and you don't know how to get a clear answer so you open your scriptures and flip the pages or just let your scripture fall open where they may.

And you read.

And you get an answer.

Alma 7 was my answer today. The whole entire chapter spoke to me but particularly verses 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17.

"..he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to the their infirmities."

HE KNOWS.
HE SUCCORS HIS PEOPLE.
I KNOW HE LIFTS OUR BURDENS.

Verses 19, 23, and 27 were very comforting as well.

Though there is a little fear and a lot of uncertainty when it comes to:

how is Nathan going to pull everything together in his schooling in the next 70ish days? (I know he will!)
"what is next?" after graduate school? (work of course!)
how will we get from point A to point B? (same way we got here!)
and where/what is point B? (somewhere exciting!)

I found that there is also a lot of FAITH.

What A Difference A Day Makes

I'm feeling much better today. Not saying the stink of bad attitude is gone, yet, but I'm feeling good. Thanks for encouraging me, letting me know I'm not alone, and saying I'm "your idol!!!" I'm so grateful for good friends and supportive family.

Yesterday I got the laundry going early, before Rebekah came and it was folded, I was showered and had clean underwear on by 10ish. I love a full drawer of clean underwear. That alone can bring a lot of peace and security to a mom's life.

Marley is sick. She was just getting better but, now she's worse than ever and so is everyone else in our ward. I was supposed to get my hair cut today, by my lovely friend/hair dresser but she called to say her little cutie is sick. All I could say is, "I'm glad you called, mine is too."

Marley has yet to learn exactly what it means to cover your mouth. She never does...of course, she's not even 2 but, we're teaching her, so when she coughs, we say, "Remember, cover your mouth." We then demonstrate by fake coughing into our own hands. She just licks her hand, palm and fingers. Now we are trying to teach her to cough into her arm. That's going a little better.

I was thinking that maybe a cute little song would help and came up with this gem this morning. To the tune of If You Chance To Meet A Frown (thanks Chelsea, it's been stuck in my head).

If you have to cough or sneeze
Do not let is spray
Quickly cover up your mouth
And then you cough away.

Not the best I know...but kinda helpful...maybe....someday.

In The Midst

Nathan is in the midst of taking his compressive exams for graduating from his program. He has three hours to take each test and he took one last Thursday and one last Friday and he takes the last one tomorrow. WRITING FOR THREE HOURS STRAIGHT!!! NINE HOURS TOTAL!!! On top of all the papers he has to do for his classes! Then his two hour oral exam is March 4, where he will defend what he wrote.

He applied for graduation and paid the application fee in January, so we are well on our way to GRADUATION!!! Whahooo!

I have to say that I am so very proud of Nathan. He has worked very hard throughout his Masters program and these past two weeks he has worked harder than I've ever seen him work, as far as education efforts go. This semester is his hardest yet and I have said that every semester since he started. I don't know how he does it.

He gets stressed out and he gets nervous and I only know because we talk about it. I wouldn't know from his behavior. He is still very loving and mild mannered. He is still helpful, supportive and contributes to all things family, church and personal. I am so grateful for all his hard work and calm and steady ways.

Me on the other hand. I have been in a weird funk since January 1 or 2 or maybe 3. I don't know when exactly it started but, I have been crabby, impatient and sometimes depressed. And as I type this...I'd like to defend myself and say, "No I haven't!" but, I have! I would say that most of it manifests itself outside of our home...but, that's not better! Is it?

It's not constant and I still have full self control so maybe...possibly no one has noticed?

I consider myself a friendly person but, lately... I don't know?

I think what it boils down to is that it seems like I've been taking things WAY too personally.

One time on my mission there was a whole 5th Sunday Relief Society and Priesthood combined meeting about abuse. Something that was said in that meeting has stuck with me.

"What part of your beliefs would allow you to behave that way?"

Like I said, that meeting was about abuse but, I have thought about that quote in many situations since.

What part of my beliefs would allow me to be annoyed when I don't understand the whole situation? What part of my beliefs would allow me to snap at someone for something of little importance? What part of my beliefs would allow me to be quick to judge and slow to forgive?

The answer is, there is no part of my belief system that merits self-centeredness, rudeness, or unrighteous judgement.

Am I being taught something? Reminded? What is the deal?

The hardest thing for me today...right now...is knowing that I am weak. Today I had a resolve to DO. I had a list of things to get done. I had energy and time to do it. I got through one fifth of the list and then got slammed with a blotchy-eyed, hand-numbing, head-aching migraine. Thankfully I was in a position to go right to bed for a couple of hours (Marley went to bed too!) and when I woke I only had minor lingering affects. I was able to still fulfill important obligations this afternoon but, I didn't get the laundry done and I'm out of underwear!

What's the deal?

Am I just self absorbed? Am I just too fragile? Am I just in the midst of "life?" Am I just an imperfect person, striving for perfection and that's HARD? Don't we all know it? Don't we all forget?


I feel so unsettled lately.

Got to pick a pocket or twooOOOOOO.....

Our electric bill has been a little over $90.00 for two months in a row.

For our tiny little two bedroom apartment!

We are SO very ready for this cold cold winter to be over.

Dang you Punxatawny Phil!!!!

PS - post title is a song from the musical Oliver. In case you were wondering.

The New Addition....

I know I never told anyone that I was expecting but, this little cutie arrived to our home on Tuesday, January 19,2010!

She's about

10 lbs. 6 oz.

25 inches long

Blue Eyes

Strawberry Blond hair (just like mine)

Ok, she is not ours, her mommy drops her off Tuesdays and Thursday and picks her up each evening.

But we love her!

Now this baby, on the other hand...
I got her car seat out to see if the base would work with our "New Addition" and it did! But, Marley loves to play in her old car seat and even likes us to strap her in, so we are keeping out for a little while. I didn't even have to adjust the straps...she still fits...just longer.

She also loves her old bouncy seat but she definitely has to share that with our "New Baby."
Marley loves being the mommy and calls all of her stuff animals "baby." She often says, "Pew! Poopee. Stinky." And then sniffs their tails. And then promptly runs for a diaper and the wipes.

So, that is my excuse for taking a little break from blogging.. We have been getting used to our "New Bundle of Joy."