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.

Love is

Love is my husband working soooo hard for our family
Love is my husband telling me to keep sleeping in the morning while he goes and gets our daughter out of bed
Love is my husband calling me during the day just to say hi and tell me he loves me
Love is my husband making sure he makes time for our family in his crazy, hectic, don't know how he does it, schedule.
Love is my husband coming home earlier than anticipated
Love is watching my husband be so tender with our daughter today as she has been so sick
Love is my husband leading our family in prayer and scripture study each day
Love is watching my husband interact with our daughter
Love is hearing their laughter
Love is coming home from the store not knowing where they are and finding them under the table in their fort they made
Love is my husband doing amazing in his schooling
Love is my husband being strong when I'm weak
Love is my husband never complaining when I ask him to do something
Love is my husband asking what he can do for me after he's had a long day
Love is my husband laying his hands on our daughters head to give her a blessing
Love is my husband being okay with cereal for dinner
Love is my husband letting me ramble and be emotional
Love is my husband always making me laugh

I am in love with an incredible man. He is my angel.

Magical Sunday

Today was magical. Nothing extraordinary happened but perhaps that's why it was so wonderful. It was simply a great day.
To start off, not that this is important, but I had a good hair day. :) I think everyone would say they're more confident when they have a good hair day. So that was a bonus. But truly, here's what our magical Sunday consisted of:
my husband and I sang a musical number at church today. (Lord, I would follow Thee) I love when we sing together.
my daughter is loving nursery! Not one tear today :)
Primary was great- I have grown to love these children so much
80 degrees today!!!
going for a family walk while eating popsicles
putting a blanket out in the backyard and playing catch and just being together as a family
skyping with both my husband and I's parents
going to dinner at our neighbors house. They have become great friends and they spoiled us tonight! Crab cakes, red crockpot potatoes, asparagus and twix brownie bars for dessert. Every single bite was delicious. It was our first time eating crab cakes and I tell you what, definitely not our last- we loved them!
snuggling with my daughter and reading a book and praising her for how wonderful she is
and now, time with my husband.
What a great day!!!

Exciting!!

BIG news in our home! We are expecting our second child and we are sooo happy :) !!!
We found out we were pregnant on Valentines day (awe), it was perfect! We cried and hugged each other and felt like we were floating that whole day.

It's amazing how things work out. I told my husband months and months ago that if I could pick when I'd like our next child to be born I told him October or November is what I would love. Well, everything worked out because we are due October 16th! We are truly feeling so humbled and so blessed. It is an answer to our prayers.

I love the bond I have instantly felt with my children when finding out I was pregnant. It's so spiritual. My husband felt a really strong bond instantly with our last child and it's fun to physically see it now. They truly are best buddies and they do share a very special bond that touches my heart. I have felt that strong bond with this child. A year or so ago, when talking somewhat casually with my husband over dinner about the future and talking about our family, I all the sudden felt so close to whoever was going to be born to us next. I got teary and felt such a strong connection. It was really a spiritual experience for me. And now, much time has passed since then and I very much still feel that same strong bond carrying my child. We went to the doctor together as a family to hear the heartbeat and I couldn't hold back the tears when the baby showed up on the screen. Relief, humility, love, sacredness, and happiness flooded through me and my family at that moment. My husband squeezed my hand and that was all the message I needed to know he felt the same way.

Now, this is not to say I didn't feel a special connection with our first child or that my husband hasn't with this child. That would not be true. I'm just writing down some of our experiences.

Motherhood is a journey. I'm constantly learning new things from my daughter everyday and she is helping me grow to be a better person. I've read this a couple places and have found it to be oh so true:
"While we are teaching our children all about life,
our children are teaching us what life is all about."
I love that. I have found that daily I am having to say "I'm sorry" to my daughter about something I did wrong or should have done a different way or done better. I'm learning. My daughter is patient and my testimony has grown so strong that we truly are to become as little children.

I'm so grateful to be a mommy and to be able to give my daughter a sibling. My sister told me that she always had a hard time understanding how Heavenly Father could love us all equally. She said she didn't understand it until she had her second child. Then she knew. She knew how He could love one child just as much as another. I can testify to that already. I love my family!

Families are Forever

Random

Mini Cadbury eggs... just might be the only thing worth gaining weight for. Goodnight! I seem to lack self control when it comes to these beautiful eggs. Sadly, (no I'm not proud) we finished a bag in about three days and promised we'd wait a while before we got another one but then yesterday was my birthday. I wanted them. So I got them. And I knew I was going to have brownies and ice cream but I got them anyway. And now every time I go into the kitchen I find myself grabbing a couple (or maybe 5 or 6) Bless my heart.

Anyway, tomorrow my sister finds out the gender of her baby! I'm so excited for her and so anxious to find out. She has a daughter and then three boys. This will be her fifth child. They are all adorable and I could not be more happy for them.

The weather this week has been fantastic. In the 70's all week! It has definitely lightened our moods and brought an extra natural joy. We have taken advantage because next week is back to the 50's and 60's - which I know, still isn't bad.

Yesterday was my birthday and it was so fun. I hope everyone feels special on their birthday. I got several phone calls and texts and had a great evening with my family and our neighbor. It was nice and relaxing. For one of my gifts my husband got me the current country weekly magazine to look at for the day- (okay I may have bluntly told him I'd love to have it) but he was still sweet to get it and I enjoyed a good dose of Jason Aldean.

We have lots of exciting things planned for this summer! My husband found out he has four days off the end of may so we are really hoping to take a trip to Palmyra. That is a must before we leave the east. In June my oldest sister is coming and possibly bringing her daughter. Ahooa! I can hardly wait. I called her and told her Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney are putting on a concert here and that was all I needed to say. It wasn't too hard to persuade her and I can hardly wait for that concert and to see her! Also, my neighbor and I got an amazing deal and together we will be attending 4 country concerts this summer. Bangerang! We are stoked. We really did get a great deal and this is probably the only time in life I would be able to do this.

We grilled Salmon the other night. Hi! Why have I not done that before? It was delicious and truthfully I could eat fish every day. I love it and we will definitely be having more in this household. Super easy too.

My daughter. She is cracking us up lately and really starting to put words together. My husband and I are constantly learning as she is changing and graduating to new stages. She is such a joy!

Institute. I attended today and paid extra attention and really participated more than usual. I love our teachers, i love that it's a small group of us, and I loved our conversation today about signs of the second coming, 14 fundamentals of a prophet, and general conference.

A quote I read from a blog today that really hit me and is going to help me when I have my down moments or any struggles is this, "fighting through darkness and despair and pleading for the light is what opened this dispensation. it is what keeps it going, and it is what will keep you going. " That was from Elder Holland. I love it.

Lots of wonderful things are going on here, but we've got our struggles too. I try to pretend to be supermom sometimes and put on a face, but it's just me trying to be positive and push through. Some days are very much earth life here in our home but for the most part we have it really good and I'm trying to focus on our blessings because I know we have so many.

Tomorrow is supposed to reach almost 80 degrees and this is truly worth celebrating! I'm sure we will go for a walk and go to the park. We're also supposed to meet up with some other couples from my husbands school and grill out for dinner at a park. Plus there is still cookie dough ice cream in the freezer. It's going to be a good day :)