Lady A

Last Saturday a friend and I had the privilege of going to a Lady Antebellum concert!!! It was such a blast! Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE country music fan. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, my friend and I got a great deal and we will be attending 5 or 6 more country concerts this summer. :) Ahooa! Of course we both wish our husbands were doing this with us but it will still be fun nonetheless. My husband encouraged me to do this and he is happy to watch our daughter while I do so. And yes, we are poor. Yes we are in thousands of dollars of debt. Yes we are careful with our money. But yes, we still need to live life. Yes this will probably be our only year in Pennsylvania. Yes this is probably the only time in life I could do this. Yes we are treating ourselves to adventures out here because it's important.
So, that being said, what a fun night it was! Thompson Square and Darius Rucker opened for them and they were quite amazing too. Darius Rucker sang a few of his Hooty and the Blowfish songs which the crowds went crazy over. He was way more entertaining than I expected and sounded fantastic live! Lady A of course rocked it with so much talent and we were singing along with their songs. I don't think I could pick a favorite of theirs although "Need you now" and "Just a kiss" are definitely among the top!
I will say though, I missed my husband and daughter dearly. When Darius Rucker sang "It won't be like this for long" I found myself getting so emotional thinking of my daughter and how fast she's growing up. I wanted so bad to kiss her chubby cheeks and hold her tight. Looking around at the people around me and realizing how different concerts in Jersey were than in Idaho and Utah, I found myself wanting to wrap my arms around my husband and tell him how incredible he is and that I'm so grateful he holds the priesthood and is respectful. I found myself feeling sad for all the people there who were so lost and had no idea that there is so much more to life. When we arrived home I gave my husband a huge hug and clung to him for a bit just being so grateful for the man he is and then I went in to check on my sleeping daughter and I just got tears in my eyes as I looked at her peaceful, pure, innocent, beautiful body and felt the Spirit radiating from her so strongly. I whispered to her that I loved her, softly stroked her face, and then I quietly left.
So, it was a great learning experience for me in several personal ways that made me a better, more content mother and wife. But don't get me wrong- the concert itself was fantastic and I am very, very excited for the concerts coming up! I even had some small missionary opportunities with my neighbor and I'm hoping for more to come.

So, next Saturday we will be singing along with Miranda Lambert!

Re-Focusing

Yesterday late afternoon my husband and I were a bit on edge. Not upset, but feeling some anxiety. We were both trying to stay calm but we could both feel it between us as we talked about it. A few things have come up about the boating accident we were in last year and it hasn't been easy. I've been quite optimistic and full of faith about everything but yesterday afternoon was hard.
Anyway, we were in the kitchen together preparing dinner for the missionaries and I told my husband this would be a great night to have the missionaries over for dinner because they will help us feel at peace. And they did. We love to feed and serve the missionaries and they always bring such an added Spirit to our home. We fixed their favorite- whole wheat oatmeal pancakes with coconut syrup. Along with some turkey bacon, eggs, and peppers all mixed together. Yum! Anyway, after dinner the elders shared a message with us and of course encouraged us to do missionary work. After they left I thought some more on what they had shared and how it went along with my own thoughts lately.
I haven't been as missionary minded the past few months and I've become aware of that. Monday night I gave the lesson for Family Home Evening and we talked a bit about missionary work and how we need to see everyone as a child of God and as what they can become. We discussed how we need to take advantage of these last few months here and really work on being member missionaries. So, when the elders asked if there was anything they could do for us I asked if they would please give me a Book of Mormon. I told them if I have one on hand it will give me the courage and the extra push I need to give it away. They gladly accepted and my husband and I both have a Book of Mormon to prayerfully place in someone's hands.
Lately, as I've prayed for missionary experiences, tried to become more missionary minded and as the elders were talking to us last night the same girl has popped into my head. I can't even remember her name but she has come to mind every time I've prayed or talked about missionary work. She is a nanny and I've run into her at two different parks. I feel drawn to her and find her on my mind a lot. I'm now praying to meet her again soon so that I can talk to her about the church and give her a Book of Mormon. I think she'll be at a library reading time next Tuesday so I will try to meet her there. I love this gospel and I'm excited to share it.

Content

A few weeks ago I found myself constantly thinking of Idaho and how our time here is coming to a close. Anytime change is creeping closer I think a person naturally thinks ahead. I kept thinking about my family, my friends back home, and all the exciting adventures that await us there. Our baby is going to be born in Idaho so  naturally that is also on my mind. We've started looking at housing there, and our landlord here is starting to show our apartment to other families- another reminder the clock is ticking.  I almost found myself wishing our time away here, as if I was already "checking out."
Then, a couple of weeks ago my daughter and I were taking a drive exploring some new roads. I was in awe of how beautiful the scenery around us was and I will never forget the Spirit whispering to me so softly in the car to not take for granted the little time we have left here. It really touched my heart because I almost hadn't realized that I had somewhat "checked out."
I know the Lord has blessed me so much because after that neat experience everything changed. I find myself clinging to Pennsylvania and everything and everyone around me. We have made some lasting, incredible friendships here that have changed us for the better. We've been privileged to be in a ward that has become like family. I've had a lot of tender moments lately that have made me stop and think, "Can I really leave this place?" There are so many wonderful things about the east that are dear to my heart. We've done so much learning and growing together as a family here. I feel so much love in my heart for everything and everyone around me. Pennsylvania feels like home.
So much so, that it's hard to think of leaving. Idaho is not in the forefront of my mind and I'm not ready to go back. When the time is here for us to go home I'm sure we'll be ready but until then we have an exciting, fun summer planned with lots more memories still to be created. I am happy where I am and that's enough for now.