To the Mountains

Our total time for Patrick's affiliation this summer is six weeks.  I was pondering on the symbolism of the number 6.  I love the story of the creation and how it was completed in 6 creative periods.  And then the wheels in my head started turning.  Perhaps I could reflect a day of the creation each week through a family activity.  Well, the first one was easy.  We definitely organized our world at our little apartment here through packing and moving.

Then this past weekend I decided it was time for a drive up the canyon to see the beautiful mountains and rivers.  It was good to walk in the breezy morning air and be in nature.  The boys seemed to be in total bliss out there in God's great expanse.

It was beautiful.  My poor sweetheart didn’t even have a coat and it was really windy and freezing.  My ears were aching by the time we reached the dam.  

But we taught the boys about throwing rocks in the river and little ducks swimming around.  One little baby duck was lost from his mother and we told Easton that he must not have listened to his mommy when she told him to come…hopefully the lesson sunk in.  Easton felt so bad for him.  I wish we could have helped the duckling find his mother further downstream.  

Explaining to Easton about the creation was a special experience.  We have already spoken much about this, but it was somehow more authentic as we were walking through the beautiful mountains.  We told Easton that Heavenly Father and Jesus had created all of these beautiful things: the trees, the mountains, the water, the rocks.  Aren’t we lucky and so blessed to have such beautiful things?  Don’t we have such a kind Father in Heaven?  Easton agreed.  It was a good day.

Today I Saw Lilacs...

{Today I Saw Lilacs…}

Yesterday we got new blinds that replaced the icky old curtains in this apartment.  So for the first time this morning, I opened the blinds (I have kept the curtains closed because I didn’t want to touch them).  What I saw took my breath away…fresh, purple, spring lilacs.  This is just one more instance convincing me that there is beauty all around when you take the time to notice.

House or Home?

House or Home?

We just finished moving into our new apartment.  I know we’re only here for 6 weeks so I’ve been worried {and contemplating} how we can make this old apartment feel like a true home during our sojourn. 

So I’ve been thinking.  And pondering.  A lot.  Last night as I lay in my bed I thought for probably the millionth time upon the familiar adage that you bring your home with you wherever you go, wherever you live.  I know {I told myself}. And then it clicked.  After years of believing this phrase, it finally made sense.

It’s kind of difficult to explain but I’ll try my best. 

I guess I’ll begin with what home is not.  Home is not a physical place.  It’s not a building with four walls and a roof.  It’s not the edifice we buy or rent or live in.  This is a house…a flat…an apartment…an abode…a dwelling place.  But not a home.

Home is so much more.

Home is a feeling.  Home exists in your heart when you and your very dearest loved ones are gathered around you.  You do indeed bring this all-encompassing feeling of home with you to every house because home is the ambience, the aura, the sense of atmosphere that is generated by the love that knits your family together and binds them in unbreakable bonds.  It’s you.  Home is the feeling that exists within your family—it’s the very atmosphere that is generated by your unique and individual family.

Therefore, when you and your family move to a new home, your home {your loving, peaceful, familial aura} descends upon the physical edifice and it becomes yours.

And then, if we are living worthy of the Holy Spirit, He will also descend upon our house and sanctify and purify it.  This is the moment when the edifice {no matter how small, drab, old, or worn} becomes beautiful.

Eastonian Inspiration

Dear Easton,

I love you. Yesterday you told me that you had a dream that you went to Heaven and visited Father and Jesus.


A few weeks ago when you were staring into space at the dinner table we asked you what you were thinking about. You said, "Jesus. Jesus loves me."


And a few days later you were walking outside with your head hung down in sorrow. I asked you what was wrong and you replied, "I miss Father and Jesus."


Last week you bore your testimony to us in Family Home Evening. It was short and sweet and simple and perfect. You said, "I know Jesus loves me. I know we have a prophet. I know we go to church. It's true." I love your sweet testimony. You remind me so much of what really matters and what is most important.


You inspire me every day. Please never stop.


Love always,
Mommy

April Pics...Rather Late.

Easter Egg Hunt at our own house

2010 Dodge National Circuit Rodeo

Easton with the rodeo chairman emeritus...in other words, none other than our beloved Poppy!

On my birthday...23 years old

Colie and Mom (Nana) came to visit with cake in hand.  We went to eat at Arby's and had a splendid time

Of course it couldn't have ended any better than with a trip to the Idaho Falls temple with my sweetheart.  I love birthdays.

Easton's first snake encounter

And first rhubarb experience...

Delicious!

Easton's game of walking the boards

Easton found a feather.  When I asked him what it was, he replied, "A piece of bird!"

Easton gladly shared his gummy worms with Tate.  Oh how I love him!

Look Closer.

I think I first learned this lesson in my 7th grade Health class.  When I saw my class schedule, my heart dropped.  What luck?!  The dreaded Mrs. Gray.  I had never talked to anybody who liked her.  She was meaner than mean, crueler than cruel and often sent kids home in tears!  To top it all off, I had never heard of a single person who had ever received an A in her class.  This was the most worrisome part of all considering my 4.0 GPA.

I will never forget the encounter I had with my dad when I told him of my horrible misfortune.  He looked at me with his wise, fatherly eyes and told me to give her a chance.  He counseled me to be respectful and good in her class, and to work hard.  This I could do, I thought.  But then he told me that I might be surprised.  Mrs. Gray might become my favorite teacher, he smiled.  I agreed to do my best, but in my heart I questioned my dad's last statement.  He just doesn't know Mrs. Gray, I thought.

I had knots in my stomach all weekend long as I waited for Monday to roll along.  And it did much to my dismay.  My first day was scary of course, and Mrs. Gray did seem like the witch everyone described her to be.  But as the semester progressed, I noticed that my respect and hard work was paying off.  Before long I noticed that Mrs. Gray was taking a liking to me.  She asked me to do favors for her, and she actually smiled at me--often!  It was a miracle!  By the end of the semester, I had learned a great deal, and my grade was an A.  I realized with a little laugh that Mrs. Gray had become my most favorite teacher.  On the last day of school, I took her a bouquet of flowers and thanked her for all she had done for me.  She gave me a great big hug and showered me with compliments on my accomplishments that year.

The "Mrs. Gray experience" was so much like this banana.  Far away and according to rumored opinions, Mrs. Gray was gray and monstrous.  But up close with a magnifying glass, she was beautifully yellow...a truly golden person...that is, if you took the chance to get to know her.

Thank you Mrs. Gray...for teaching me lessons of health...and lessons of life.

High Time for Updates!

April was a whirlwind.  And May has proved to be following the same trend.  Patrick finished up his semester on Friday the 7th and started back today! :(  We moved down here yesterday with both cars packed to the hilt with items we need to live in our furnished apartment for the next 6 weeks.  Yes, it's affiliation time for my sweetheart.  This is the first of five he has to do throughout his doctorate program.  It was so sad to leave our cute little apartment that I have invested so much time and energy into creating into a home I love...I guess I'm just so grateful that we get to come back in 6 weeks!  This will be a wonderful experience though.  It will be so nice to live only a few minutes from my parents after being so far away for so very long.  I have missed them dearly.

I must say, I was feeling a bit downhearted as I packed up everything but the kitchen sink (and the other furniture of course), but then something struck me.  It came during our prayer for safety right as we were driving away from home.  Patrick said something to the effect of, "Help us to be blessed in this new family adventure."  And then my heart changed.  Where is my sense of adventure I always seem to possess in abundance.  I had only been focusing on the negatives.  But the positives, those happifying droplets are everywhere and ever abundant.  I just need to remember this.  Thank you, sweetheart, for your wisdom.

Here are a few pictures from BYU Women's Conference that my sweet sister Nicole and I attended a few weeks ago.  It was the most lovely experience:

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