Mormon Message

I don't know if you've seen this video:

But I'll be honest, when I first saw this video I was depressed. That is a realistic crappy day and in no way did I like to see it on film. It really bugged me that she missed dinner with her cousin and it was almost heralded because she did all these nice things for everyone else. I had been pondering this video for a couple of days trying to understand why the video was made this way. Having no answers, I decided that for FHE last night Jason and I could watch it and have a discussion. I was not expecting it to be different the second go around but it was. I realized the point of the video for me. The message was that no matter how bad you feel about your day, no matter being on Facebook in the morning, not being the instantly willing person to watch your neighbor's kid, no matter forgetting your dinner appt, or letting your cousin down because you can't meet with her, no matter how much these little instances build upon each other to make you feel like a failure Heavenly Father still loves you. The message wasn't that we should self sacrifice everything for everyone. The message was that no matter how shoddy our effort feels as we try to live the gospel Heavenly Father still loves us in our weakness and still accepts our efforts.

Sometimes having a newborn is hard. Sometimes I really dislike the fact that I'm the only person on earth who can give this child what he needs. Especially after a day when I've already given so much and I still am asked to give. And it never stops. On Saturday I was feeling pretty rotten after giving so much to put on a relief society activity and dealing with a baby who hadn't slept all day. I went to church the next morning feeling like I had nothing left and I had no idea how to replenish myself. Not to mention that I felt unworthy because of my attitude to approach God. Then in testimony meeting the whole theme of the meeting was how we are loved by God and he cares about what we care about, even if it is just a silly little game we play that has no significance to our eternal salvation. He cares.  And that's what this video reiterated to me.

Happy Three Year Anniversary!

So far we have spent each anniversary in a different state. Year 0- Utah, 1- Maine, 2- Florida, 3-North Carolina. That's right this year we went and found fall in Asheville, NC. Some days I think it must just be all in my head that I don't like Charleston, the place of endless summer and humidity. And then I go to a place like Asheville where there are mountains, the air has a chill about it, the smell of apples linger in the air and the leaves are telling you that it is indeed the end of summer and my heart sings. And then I remember that I'm not crazy but I actually know something about myself: I miss out on happiness when there is no fall or winter. *sigh* And that is why Asheville restored a piece of happiness, not to mention celebrating three wonderful years of marriage and eternal families with my boys.

It was a little different traveling with an infant. We had to do something for the hike so we tried this hiking pack we bought a while ago, decided he's a little too small but I couldn't resist how cute he was when we tried it on him.

I know this is a random picture but this was our first adventure from the trip. Will was an excellent little traveler. He slept the whole 4 hour ride up there and we were priding ourselves on it :) We stopped for gas before heading to the mountains and as I went into the grocery store (which was like dying and going to grocery heaven, they do exist!) Jason got Will out so I could come and nurse him. Well as I approached the car Jason starts crying out for help. Turns out that Will had a major blow out that he had been saving for a few days. It was all over his carseat, clothes, diaper, and blanket that Jason was changing him on. It was hilarious. So I come over to look at the damage whilst Jason is mid diaper change when Will start's to pee and continue to get the blanket more wet while I start dying from laughter. Whoops, didn't think about stopping for a diaper change.

 And this is the beginning of our hike. I've always wanted to see what mountains were like in the East and I was pleasantly surprised. They are more than hills and more like mountains than I had imagined. They are covered in trees instead of rocks which is the biggest difference between them and their cousins across the country. They also are more gradual instead of steep cliffs. We hiked Graveyard Fields which had two waterfalls with it. It wasn't strenuous but we felt like wimps since higher elevation meant harder to breathe, dang it. Not acceptable for Rocky Mountain dwellers. We also felt like we were really high up which gave us the willies as we were driving up there, living at sea level has made us soft! But I think we were able to appreciate them more, truly spectacular. 

 Forgive all the pictures of our family. I think in the past I take too many pictures of scenery and not of people so this time I made sure to get people but neglected the scenery.

 My little family, I love them!

 getting a diaper change in the mountains. Will was a trooper through the whole thing and even seemed to really like it. He was really happy to stretch out though and cried when he had to be put back in the bjorn. 

 Happy Anniversary Jason! It's been a marvelous three years and I can't wait to see where the next adventures take us. 

 look! Color! 

 Saturday before we left we made sure to go apple picking. It's something that we thoroughly enjoyed in Boston so we wanted to recreate the memory. It wasn't quite the same and this was the first activity where Will cried the whole way through. Not letting him take a morning nap was not cutting it. But Jason took it like a champ and sang a song about patience while I laughed and Will cried. I hope we continue to laugh and see the bright in a potentially otherwise stressful situation. 

Happy three years! Here's to the number 4!

Baby Blessing

Will is two months old this week! It's pretty crazy, I can't believe it's been two months but I'm also glad that I have made it two months as well. We commemorated his being two months old by blessing him in church today. It was a wonderful day full of lots of love. My dad came out for it as well as Jason's sister Jamia and her family. We felt so blessed to have family when we're so far away. I felt today like I've fully accepted and embraced my role of motherhood. It's amazing to me how full my heart is with love for Will and Jason. I feel more fully complete as a person and I'm loving the days I get to spend with him. I bore my testimony and my dad said it was akin to hearing a newly called bishop bear his testimony and seeing him changed and taking on the mantle. He felt like a mother is a part of the priesthood and as such you receive the divine help and growth and development that is appropriate for it. And that's how I feel, I've received the mantle of motherhood from the Lord and I'm changing. It's a wonderful calling.

Here's a few of my favorite pictures of the day.

Will was in a baby blessing outfit that my mom made and a blanket that my grandma crocheted before she passed away. Therefore he was surrounded by three generations of mothers. It was pretty special.

 We sure love you Will!