Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
P.R.
The other day I was complaining to my mom that I don't feel like I ever receive personal revelation. I think Heavenly Father must have thrown his hands up in exasperation at my comment because since that conversation my eyes have been opened.
Experience #1:I had Eleyna loaded in the van ready to go to dance class when I realized my keys weren't in my diaper bag. I started searching frantically. Eleyna started crying because she was so excited for dance and couldn't understand why we weren't leaving. I ran across the street and retraced the route through the church parking lot we had walked that morning to go to basketball thinking maybe the keys had fallen out of my bag. I said a quick prayer on my way back pleading Heavenly Father would help me find my keys. A minute or so later I had the thought enter my head that I should check the pocket of the coat I had worn the night before. I ran inside, put my hand into the pocket and felt the cool metal of my car key.
Experience #2:I've been thinking a lot lately about the biggest challenge women are facing spiritually today. I've been searching for the answer and through some twists and turns came upon a talk by Sis. Beck from last year's Women's Conference. As I was reading it I felt the Spirit confirm to me that I had just read my answer.
Experience #3:I had to drop off some clothes to Bryson at work so he could go up to our cabin straight from the office. At the last minute I felt prompted to include a take-out menu from a restaurant near our cabin with the clothes, thinking that if he was hungry he could call ahead and then pick up some dinner on his way. When he found the menu he called me to say thanks and I could tell he was really touched by the gesture. It was neat to realize that the Lord is guiding me in my efforts to be a good spouse.
Experience #4:The last one was at a recent doctor's appointment with Hunter. I've been worrying a lot lately about some "episodes" (for lack of a better term) that Hunter has been having the past six months or so, but I hadn't planned on bringing it up during this appointment because I didn't really think this specialist would have any insight. While I was talking with the doctor I unexpectedly mentioned to him these "episodes" which resulted in the physician recommending some testing on Hunter's heart. A few days after the appointment Hunter started having an episode and we were able to go right to the hospital and have the tests done immediately because we had the orders from the appointment earlier that week. (If we hadn't had orders from the doctor the only route available would have been the ER which can take HOURS. Not exactly where two perma-exhausted parents really want to spend their Friday night.) I can't say that we've received any resolution so far for the puzzling episodes but I know that God had a hand in sending us in a different direction and facilitating the testing.
I guess my conclusion is this: Heavenly Father loves us. Whenever we start to feel alone, unheard, discouraged, we should consider the possibility that we may just be too wrapped up in ourselves to notice God's hand in our lives. I am ashamed to admit that it took the Holy Ghost's use of spiritual exclamation points at the end of these experiences to get my attention and help me see (once again) how intimately and regularly the Lord communicates with little ol' me. I didn't like realizing that I don't know my Father's voice as well as I would like.
An apostle's words...on personal revelation~
"As a young regional representative, I was assigned to assist Elder Marion G. Romney in reorganizing a stake. During the long, quiet ride to the conference, our conversation turned to the spiritual dimensions of our assignment. Elder Romney taught me about how the Lord blesses us with revelation. 'Robert(Elder Hales),' he said, 'I have learned that when we are on the Lord’s errand, we have His blessings to accomplish whatever we are asked to do.'"
"Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their presence."
"As faithful children, youth, parents, teachers, and leaders, we may receive personal revelation more frequently than we realize. The more we receive and acknowledge personal revelation, the more our testimonies grow." (emphasis mine)
All quotes are from an October 2007 conference address by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets".
Experience #1:I had Eleyna loaded in the van ready to go to dance class when I realized my keys weren't in my diaper bag. I started searching frantically. Eleyna started crying because she was so excited for dance and couldn't understand why we weren't leaving. I ran across the street and retraced the route through the church parking lot we had walked that morning to go to basketball thinking maybe the keys had fallen out of my bag. I said a quick prayer on my way back pleading Heavenly Father would help me find my keys. A minute or so later I had the thought enter my head that I should check the pocket of the coat I had worn the night before. I ran inside, put my hand into the pocket and felt the cool metal of my car key.
Experience #2:I've been thinking a lot lately about the biggest challenge women are facing spiritually today. I've been searching for the answer and through some twists and turns came upon a talk by Sis. Beck from last year's Women's Conference. As I was reading it I felt the Spirit confirm to me that I had just read my answer.
Experience #3:I had to drop off some clothes to Bryson at work so he could go up to our cabin straight from the office. At the last minute I felt prompted to include a take-out menu from a restaurant near our cabin with the clothes, thinking that if he was hungry he could call ahead and then pick up some dinner on his way. When he found the menu he called me to say thanks and I could tell he was really touched by the gesture. It was neat to realize that the Lord is guiding me in my efforts to be a good spouse.
Experience #4:The last one was at a recent doctor's appointment with Hunter. I've been worrying a lot lately about some "episodes" (for lack of a better term) that Hunter has been having the past six months or so, but I hadn't planned on bringing it up during this appointment because I didn't really think this specialist would have any insight. While I was talking with the doctor I unexpectedly mentioned to him these "episodes" which resulted in the physician recommending some testing on Hunter's heart. A few days after the appointment Hunter started having an episode and we were able to go right to the hospital and have the tests done immediately because we had the orders from the appointment earlier that week. (If we hadn't had orders from the doctor the only route available would have been the ER which can take HOURS. Not exactly where two perma-exhausted parents really want to spend their Friday night.) I can't say that we've received any resolution so far for the puzzling episodes but I know that God had a hand in sending us in a different direction and facilitating the testing.
I guess my conclusion is this: Heavenly Father loves us. Whenever we start to feel alone, unheard, discouraged, we should consider the possibility that we may just be too wrapped up in ourselves to notice God's hand in our lives. I am ashamed to admit that it took the Holy Ghost's use of spiritual exclamation points at the end of these experiences to get my attention and help me see (once again) how intimately and regularly the Lord communicates with little ol' me. I didn't like realizing that I don't know my Father's voice as well as I would like.
An apostle's words...on personal revelation~
"As a young regional representative, I was assigned to assist Elder Marion G. Romney in reorganizing a stake. During the long, quiet ride to the conference, our conversation turned to the spiritual dimensions of our assignment. Elder Romney taught me about how the Lord blesses us with revelation. 'Robert(Elder Hales),' he said, 'I have learned that when we are on the Lord’s errand, we have His blessings to accomplish whatever we are asked to do.'"
"Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their presence."
"As faithful children, youth, parents, teachers, and leaders, we may receive personal revelation more frequently than we realize. The more we receive and acknowledge personal revelation, the more our testimonies grow." (emphasis mine)
All quotes are from an October 2007 conference address by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled "Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets".
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thanksgiving
I know these are ridiculously overdue. They've been waiting on my Edit Posts list for months now. Nothing like a hospital stay to help you catch up on the ol' blog.
For Thanksgiving this year we went to Bryson's Aunt Kath's home in Sandy. The food was excellent as usual and we all got to go swimming after the feast (well, not right after of course) in the indoor pool. I didn't really feel like I got to socialize much because I was nursing, tube feeding, and just plain feeding three kids, changing three bums, and trying to help three little people sleep the entire time. Poor Bryson went snowboarding that morning and wiped out really hard. He had a bruised face and a headache most of the day. Still, I love being with family on the holidays. It is a special treat to spend time with Bry's cute grandparents.
My treasures.
For Thanksgiving this year we went to Bryson's Aunt Kath's home in Sandy. The food was excellent as usual and we all got to go swimming after the feast (well, not right after of course) in the indoor pool. I didn't really feel like I got to socialize much because I was nursing, tube feeding, and just plain feeding three kids, changing three bums, and trying to help three little people sleep the entire time. Poor Bryson went snowboarding that morning and wiped out really hard. He had a bruised face and a headache most of the day. Still, I love being with family on the holidays. It is a special treat to spend time with Bry's cute grandparents.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Christmas lights
Bryson wanted to be the first family on the street with Christmas lights. (You might as well start calling him Clark Griswold around mid-November.) We had some very nice weather right before Thanksgiving so we decided to get them up. I broke my own rule of no Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving and I'm really glad I did. It was a great night for the project. Eleyna was so excited to help her dad put the lights on the house. After a while I went outside to check on their progress and this is what I saw.
My little two year old on the roof! ~Gasp~
After I got my heart restarted I decided I wanted to be up there supervising things. My timing was perfect. The sun was setting on one of the last golden days of fall.
I LOVE this baby girl!
The finished product was professional-looking. It is so darn fun to be married to a man that loves the holidays! The competitiveness is a turn on for me too. Way to go on being first on the street babe.
My little two year old on the roof! ~Gasp~
After I got my heart restarted I decided I wanted to be up there supervising things. My timing was perfect. The sun was setting on one of the last golden days of fall.
I LOVE this baby girl!The finished product was professional-looking. It is so darn fun to be married to a man that loves the holidays! The competitiveness is a turn on for me too. Way to go on being first on the street babe.
Blessing day
We blessed Rockwell on November 7, 2010, in our ward. Bryson gave him a beautiful blessing. Two of the things that stood out for me were the admonition to learn from Hunter and about his life’s purpose and the blessing of the ability to learn the gospel and always love the Savior and hold him dear. I loved witnessing all of the amazing men I associate with hold my sweet, pure baby in that priesthood circle. I got to bear my testimony during the meeting. I enjoy participating in that way when my babies get blessed. I feel like motherhood and my testimony of the gospel have sort of become one and the same over the years. I’m glad that Rock’s (middle)namesake-my father Devin-in particular was there. If my boy will follow in his Grandpa Devin’s footsteps I know he’ll make his Heavenly Father proud.
That evening we had a little shindig at my parents’ house. It was so nice to mix and mingle with our immediate families and celebrate Rockwell. It felt so good to be surrounded by family. We were especially touched to have Bryson’s grandparents, who made the long drive down to Provo from Rexburg, with us the whole day. God’s plan for us to be part of a family unit is so right.
That evening we had a little shindig at my parents’ house. It was so nice to mix and mingle with our immediate families and celebrate Rockwell. It felt so good to be surrounded by family. We were especially touched to have Bryson’s grandparents, who made the long drive down to Provo from Rexburg, with us the whole day. God’s plan for us to be part of a family unit is so right.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Lucky me
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Happy Halloween
Eleyna had the time of her life carving pumpkins in October. We did one pumpkin with shark teeth and the other one with cow teeth. It is funny how a precocious two year old breathes new life into activities like cutting faces on gourds.
I love Rock's face. Scared silly.
Each member of the family got to pick out a pumpkin but we only carved the two. Eleyna got the gist and that was the whole point. She had a great time scooping out the insides. Look at that happy face!
That being said, I dropped a couple of Hamilton’s (sounds better than Alexander’s) this time around myself.
I just couldn’t resist the idea of dressing the kiddos up in some coordinated way. There are endless possibilities for a group of three. Plus, we had plans to attend a little Halloween shindig and of course I wanted to show them off in all their cuteness.
Bry and I dressed up as a gangster, think John Dilinger, and a Gatsby girl (paying attention in Sophomore English class?). I felt pretty good about the novelty of our couple. The children ended up going as Dora the Explorer, Diego-Dora’s cousin, and Boots the monkey.
Classic.
The Halloween party we attended was hosted by Trevor Safford, my best friend in high school. It was so fun to mix and mingle with people I haven’t seen in years. Eleyna had a great time at the party with Jack, Sammy and Luke’s little guy. Who knew running around in circles for an hour could be so darn fun? I’m sure the “fun-ness” was partly due to the sugar high all children are riding on this holiday. As part of the Dora ensemble we used black hair dye, spray-on style, which promptly started spreading to everything it came in contact with: hair, hands, neck, face, costume. It was a nightmare! Our bathtub was black for days before I got around to cleaning it.
One other thing. Bry took Leyna over to Janeen's to trick-or-treat with her cousins. At one house the bowl with the treats had a hand attached to it that came down and grabbed her as she reached for the candy. She was completely traumatized by it (nice job Daddy) and talks about it to this day. "Remember the hand! Scared me!"
I love Rock's face. Scared silly.
Each member of the family got to pick out a pumpkin but we only carved the two. Eleyna got the gist and that was the whole point. She had a great time scooping out the insides. Look at that happy face!
So, honestly, I think it utterly absurd that people spend hundreds of dollars to dress up on Halloween every year.
That being said, I dropped a couple of Hamilton’s (sounds better than Alexander’s) this time around myself.
I just couldn’t resist the idea of dressing the kiddos up in some coordinated way. There are endless possibilities for a group of three. Plus, we had plans to attend a little Halloween shindig and of course I wanted to show them off in all their cuteness.
Bry and I dressed up as a gangster, think John Dilinger, and a Gatsby girl (paying attention in Sophomore English class?). I felt pretty good about the novelty of our couple. The children ended up going as Dora the Explorer, Diego-Dora’s cousin, and Boots the monkey.
Classic.
The Halloween party we attended was hosted by Trevor Safford, my best friend in high school. It was so fun to mix and mingle with people I haven’t seen in years. Eleyna had a great time at the party with Jack, Sammy and Luke’s little guy. Who knew running around in circles for an hour could be so darn fun? I’m sure the “fun-ness” was partly due to the sugar high all children are riding on this holiday. As part of the Dora ensemble we used black hair dye, spray-on style, which promptly started spreading to everything it came in contact with: hair, hands, neck, face, costume. It was a nightmare! Our bathtub was black for days before I got around to cleaning it.It made my heart happy to be back at the Hacienda on Halloween. Great memories.
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