In all things

It seems to me that in recent years I cannot look at any moment in my life without seeing the evidence of Heavenly Father's work. Every time that I wonder how I could possibly make it out of this mess or another, a solution always seems to arrive with the most significant timing. 

Most recently we had the opportunity to take over as managers for a small apartment complex that our friends happened to be leaving. It all happened pretty quickly, and I'm sitting here writing from the desk of the office of our new home. I am grateful for this chance that Heavenly Father has provided for us. And the best part is that we get to be back in our old ward boundaries, which is awesome! 

So, today I am so very grateful.

Of Things Eternal

On December 28th, 2013 My husband and I entered the temple to make very special covenants. 

We were able to have many friends and family present as we promised each other for eternity. And then the moment our little boys were brought into the room and we were sealed together for all time and eternity as a family, my heart was overjoyed. I am so grateful for that experience and for the opportunity to improve my life each day. As I write this, I can can't help but think of the words of one of my favorite primary hymns which goes like this: 

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain

And ponder on the beauty of an Earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as Earth right after rain.

 I want to be the best I can to live with God again.

When everything was finished, we stepped outside in the chilly winter night. It was sprinkling out, and the ground was wet. I heard the words of that song in my mind and I knew that this was my chance to be clean again and to do my best in the future. What a beautiful hope I have.

Trystan Eugene Curtis

On October 24, 2013 Trystan Eugene was born in the early hours of the morning. He brings to our home a beautiful sweet spirit, and I feel at peace when he is near. 

Over the last couple months, his older brother has struggled to adjust to not being the center of our world, but he is on his way to being a wonderful big brother...

...when he's not throwing toys at his baby brother's head.

I am a lucky girl :)

Oh Dear, we have a Toddler...

Time flies...or so they say. Or maybe I'm adjusting to getting old. That's probably more accurate. Either way, my baby is not a baby any longer and has ventured into Toddler-hood. That's probably not even a really term. 

My sweet, mild-tempered little boy now has grown a personality that is much bigger than I anticipated. Always, I find myself cleaning up again and again the new and sometimes not new objects of his curiosity (which seems to have no bounds). Or there are times when my angel becomes a hot-tempered being of the underworld and throws himself on the floor without a care as to whether the impact will cause injury to his poor little noggin. And there are times still when he feels no fear and heads straight for the most dangerous option possible, giving heart attacks freely to all adults present.

Needless to say, I am exhausted all the time, but in a good way, because I have never been so happy or felt so blessed in my life than when that little boy- my little boy- smiles at me like I'm the greatest, most fun, and lovable person in the whole world. 

Rhodri's smile

And of course a video of my wild child:

Finding Peace This Season

This time of year is wonderful. It's the time of year we get to celebrate the birth of our savior, spend time with family and sing the same songs we sang last year and the year before that. Sometimes we can get caught up in the general expectation everyone around us has about what we should and shouldn't do or say, how much money is acceptable to spend, how many people we should buy gifts or make treats for, how many Christmas parties and family gatherings we should attend, and (of course!) having the best Christmas lights on the block. 

Personally, I think it gets a little overwhelming. In fact, sometimes I feel like being a "Bah Humbug" about it all and think how nice it would be to hide until the "spirit" of Christmas has taken leave because I don't have the best lights or prettiest tree, I don't have lots of money to spend on friends and family, I don't think Santa is charming and maybe I don't want to lie to my children about something that I don't feel has anything to do with Christmas in the first place.

And then I just get reminded that I am being pretty silly about this thing. There is nothing scary about Christmas. Unless, of course, you're a fan of Black Friday. That's also beside the point. 

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. The redeemer of the world who lay down his life for us all. And at one point in time this amazing person, the son of God, was just a tiny, precious, miracle baby to a righteous virgin mother. And while it is nice to be able to give people fancy gifts, we should remember why we do so. It is to symbolize those that came to see the savior and bought him Gold and silver and precious things to show their love and appreciation of the gift he would ultimately give to us. And while there were those wealthy wise-men,  there were also the poor Shepherds who brought nothing but their awe and acknowledgement that this was a very special day indeed, and also there were those who brought their gift of music to the Lord because that was the only thing they had to offer. And...it was enough.

I realize that this year has been tough for more than just myself, and that I don't stand alone in the feelings of inadequacy this season, but I hope that I can shed some of the light that I have found while pondering how to appropriately celebrate a season in which I struggle to find joy. I have come to the conclusion that the best way to celebrate is to be at peace because no matter what my needs this season, I have already been given the one thing that I need most in my life: the atonement. And through the atonement of Jesus Christ all things are made possible. It is with this in mind that I put forth my trust in the Lord that things will work out, and I and my family will be ok. I will do my best to give of myself to those around me, and it will be enough.

You make me wanna "La La"

I had the opportunity to sing in church this last Sunday, and while it was scary because it has been so long for me, I managed to make it through relatively unscathed. Ha ha. Actually, the other night was our ward talent show and Chili cook off, and I had several people ask if I would sing, and then was harassed when I told them I hadn't planned on it. But afterwards we went out to get frozen yogurt and ran into a friend in the ward who had missed my performance on Sunday, but whose daughter was there and retold a funny story of how someone sitting close to their family said "Nice pipes!" during my song. It made me laugh.

Now, I am dealing with the request to sing for various things, and I don't mind. It feels great to work at singing again. And Rhodri gets so excited whenever I get up to do something in church, it makes it all a little more special that I get to share something that means so much to me with the person that means the most to me.

Fall update (That's why the title isn't very clever)

I feel like I have less of a baby and more of a little kid every day. Rhodri is hitting so many new milestones at one time, it's hard to keep track. Mostly, his personality is starting to shine through, and I am having a blast getting to know the fun side of my little monster. Also, I don't know how I typed "babby" instead of "baby" in the video above, and I know I can edit it, but I think I will leave it.

It has been so much fun having my sister Kirstie close again. I love spending time with her, even if it's doing dumb things like watching reality tv, because there isn't anything better than hanging out with someone you love unconditionally and who loves you the same. Rhodri also adores his Auntie Kirstie, and his older cousins. Especially Rachel, who has the magic touch with babies. Pretty much  anything she does leads Rhodri to laugh hysterically.

Halloween was a lot of fun, trick or treating with Rhodri for the first time, and then going to a haunted house in someone's home. Any excuse to wear my awesome blue wig. Ha ha.

All the kids on halloween.

Rhodri as a Dinosaur or dragon, not really sure.