Perspective

Yesterday a family in the ward had their house burn down. It has brought up a lot of memories of our house fire years ago. I actually called Mom and Lee to ask them what was the most helpful when we had our house fire. They both said that just the feeling of love that they felt from everyone, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost. It brought back a renewed since of perspective for all the blessings of the Gospel. The Eternal Perspective as we say.  Tonight my good friend Kim called and invited me to go with her to institute and so I went. I was going to drop off a package of MK things I had for the family earlier in the day and forgot (pregnant brain) Anyway I was going to drop it off after going, well I forgot it again. Institute was wonderful and as we were heading home I asked Kim if she would mind if we went and picked up the package and dropped it off. So here we are at 8:00 at night going to drop this stuff off. When we arrived they were in the middle of pulling soaking wet pictures from albums. Kim and I were able to help them save most of their pictures. Their father had left them with lots of slides and photos, he was a photographer. The smell of the fire brought back lots of memories. Being there and seeing them just so happy to have recovered just those precious memories and not worried about anything else was wonderful. 

So to everyone I would recommend uploading all your pictures to an online storage or onto disks and sending copies to other family members. Also it was brought up to have an up to date video file of all you belongings in your home for insurance purposes. We are definitely going to be doing this.  

May the Lord Bless and Keep you all safe! 

All my love,

Christina

Happy Mothers Day to all the Beautiful Mothers I know

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
My plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.


Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.



Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child
So doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.



Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.



Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.



Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.


This poem was sent to me via e-mail from my beautiful sister Numia.

Happy Mothers Day to all my wonderful sisters, mothers, friends

PreganancyTracker

Life has been extremely difficult lately that is why I have not been posting very often, Sorry. I have had 24 hour morning sickness for the past few weeks along with being exhausted at all times. Things will get better I am sure. And it is all worth it in the end.

No Training Wheels

April 12, 2008 will go down in History as the day Jared rode his bike with no training wheels. 


Jared was a little nervous to start, so he and Daddy had a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help him to do well. As soon as he was going Aaron barely had to hold on at all. He was riding right away. Jared was so happy and told Aaron "Dad, Heavenly Father heard my prayer!" What a great opportunity for him to experience that love that his Father in Heaven and his father here have for him. It was a great day. 

Pinewood Derby

April 9th was Jared's first ever Pine wood Derby. Dad and he made his car to look like a dinosaur with horns. 

 

Here are a few of the competitors before the race. Jared's car is the green one on the right.

  

Jared was very excited to think that he might win. Unfortunately we are not very good at making pinewood derby cars because his car didn't even finish the track a few times. Poor Jared, but we always have next year. He did get an award for the "Most Fierce"car there. 

Here is a really good picture of another car that I took, the timing was just right. 

Lucky number 13

So a little while ago I received an email from Mom who received it from Amber called 50 questions (thats really 60) from Amber. Number 21 said "Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?" I said "Not yet hopefully soon." Now Amber being the insightful one called me as soon as she could and asked "Are You???" I said no but we weren't doing anything to prevent it.  That was on March 13th.  Well now I am!! That was fast! I know!  :o) If you have not guessed yet I am pregnant, (and extremely tired) I say Lucky 13 also because This little one will be my parents 13th grandchild (in 9 years.) Amber's baby #12 is due the end of October and this one #13 will be due the end of November. We are still planning our Family Holiday get together for the end of the year but it may be Christmas instead of Thanksgiving. 

And by the way if you want to think a little pink for me and my boys we wouldn't mind. I think the 2 girls out of, as of right now, 11 grandchildren could use another girlfriend.  Aaron and I decided to not find out at the ultra sound what the sex of the baby is until she or he is here. That way I have a few more months to dream of pink and dresses and ribbons and all that is the fun of little girls. 

A little Garden

Often times I find myself lost in my small garden. I love being so close to such beauty and serenity, as you can imagine with 3 boys I do not get many  calm and quiet moments. Early in the morning or in the summer after the boys go to bed. I can go out to water and be lost for an hour or so just breathing in the peace that is mine for the moment. 

This year has to be one  of the best yet.  Ever since the new Square Foot Gardening book I have not been able to fail. Everything is looking so wonderful this spring.

 I am growing corn this year, I have never grown it before but I am excited the baby corn plants look so cute. This morning they were covered with the dew from last night. 

 

As far a veggies are concerned I am growing lettuce, bell peppers, spinach, beans, tomatoes and cauliflower. I also have a lot of herbs such as parsley, cilantro, garlic chives, basil, lavender, rosemary and oregano.  Then there are all the flowers and such. 

This is Lambs Ear it is incredibly soft and it takes over the world. The boys love to feel it and pick it. 

 

This Purple Hibiscus is one of my favorites. It reminds me of Hawaii. The blooms are on a short tree that I can see from my office window, looking out and seeing them dance in the wind is great. 

Here is the Lavender that is doing very well this year there are tons of blooms. I love to dry them and have their sweet fragrance in the house. 

This yellow pansy is huge and just asking to have it's picture taken.  I love how it was looking right into the sunrise welcoming the new day with a bright smile.

 

The pink flower was a house warming gift from a friend that I just planted in the garden because it is so beautiful and it is doing very well. 

 

The jasmine is just about to bloom, its pink until it blooms and then the flowers are white and the fragrance is just wonderful it fills the whole back yard. Aaron loves  the smell. I wish it bloomed all year long.

 

Here is a Gerber Daisy, I planted this a few years ago and it is still blooming. I love the soft peach color of the flowers. If I ever have a girl I will fill her room with Gerber Daises don't they just say cute baby girl?

I am pretty sure this one is called a Pincushion, the butterflies love it. 

I think that spring is my favorite time of year. I love to be outside in my garden getting my hands in the dirt and helping things grow. Protecting them from the enemy aphid and welcoming the ladybugs and butterflies. My roses will start blooming soon. I found out that if you plant garlic with your roses the aphids will leave them alone, apparently aphids don't like the smell of garlic. 

The boys are learning too, they have their own strawberry box and they are in charge of keeping the strawberries safe from slugs and keeping them watered. There are a few green strawberries and they check them everyday to see if they are red yet. They love to find worms and put them into the garden boxes. I hope that they are learning some good life lessons from this. 

I hope you have enjoyed a little look at my garden.