Truly Blessed

Church must have been really good today because I cried 5 times!  Yes, you read that right.  Five!  No, I am not pregnant.  Don't ask what is wrong with me.  I was just super weepy.  It was a really great meeting though, all joking aside.  You know how sometimes you get stuck in a spiritual rut of going to church out of habit?  Today is just what I needed to kick me back into gear!

I had to go to early for an interview to renew my temple recommend.  (Disclaimer-I am going to use a lot of church terms.  I know mostly just family and close friends read this and understand those terms.  If not, please feel free to ask me and I will happily answer without any pressure!) When he asked if I support my local church leaders I just started to cry.  I think the men that lead our congregation do such an amazing job!  They did not ask to be put in that position and I can only imagine how stressful it would be!

Today was sort of a farewell for this awesome girl!

I cried when her mom gave the opening prayer just thinking about the fact that one day my little baby is going to leave me.  Ridiculous, I know!  Her mom was a bigger mess than me, but then again, her baby is leaving for 18 months to another country!

I taught Sydney in Young Women's when she first started coming back to church several years ago.  Sydney is leaving to serve a mission on Tuesday.  She will teach the gospel to the people of Bolivia for 18 months.  Her talk was funny, witty, informative and spiritual.  She will be a great missionary and do an amazing job as long as she doesn't call someone a chicken head (one of the few Spanish phrases she knows)!  I am so proud of her and the decisions she has made!

While she was speaking, I couldn't help but think of this little guy. (my youngest brother Andrew)

All of the sudden he has grown up into a young man.  He just received his mission call yesterday.  This summer, he will be leaving for two years to teach the gospel to the people in Panama City, Panama.  I am so excited for him!  I can't wait to hear the stories he has while he is there.  I loved my mission!  It was by far the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have ever done.  I learned and grew so much.  I can't wait to see him grow!

My friend's husband gave one of THE best talks that I have heard in a while.  It really touched me.  He talked some about our Heavenly Father's love and the need for us to go through hard things in order to grow.  He shared a personal story.

This past summer their youngest daughter (12 months at the time) was diagnosed with cancer.  He said that it was the first time in his life that he had ever asked God "Why me?"  He knew that there was something that had to be learned.  He felt a sense that Cora would be ok and that those around her needed to learn something from this.  He is a surgeon and wants to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery.  He knows that one of the toughest surgeries is when they have to break the rib cage (I think).  He said that most patients get pneumonia and that it is a very painful recovery.  He knew this before Cora had that same exact surgery, but he knew it was necessary to get rid of the cancer.  He said how difficult it was to watch his child in pain but how it helped to know that she needed to go through that to fight the cancer and get better.

It is much like how our Heavenly Father is with us.  He knows that the outcome is great even though we may go through some really tough things, but it is for our good.  He said he can imagine how God feels watching us suffer and trying to help us through these hard things.  It was very touching to hear from that perspective. 
Here is their beautiful baby girl.   
                                 
As I was leaving I had to say bye to Sydney.  The moment I saw her I started to cry.  I tried to compose myself before I actually talked to her.  She really is going to do great things!

I am surrounded by so many great people!  Some of them I don't know very well and others are my best friends.  They all touch me in some way or another.  I really am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.  Maybe tomorrow I will be able to hold it together a little better!

Confidence

Note: Do not read if you are offended easily.  I am not referring to anyone specifically.  I just really want to say thank you.

Something has been on my mind a lot lately and I have been hesitant to actually write it down in words.  I just wanted to sincerely say thank you to everyone who has helped me become the person I am today.  Mostly this is speaking to my mom and dad, but it is also to the men and women in my life who have supported me in every aspect of my life.

Growing up, I never felt like I had a lot of confidence.  I never felt smart enough or pretty enough or skinny enough or funny enough or athletic enough.  I often let people walk over me in an effort to get them to like me.  As I grew and matured, my thinking began to change.

I started to realize that I didn't have to be the prettiest or the smartest or the skinniest or the best at everything.  I just had to be me and that was good enough.  I learned that people liked me for who I was and not for who I wanted to be.  I learned that I could make my own decisions without worrying about what others would think.  I learned that I could stand up for myself and people would still like me.

I am not exactly sure when this change took place, but it did.  I realize it now.  Maybe its because I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me.  Maybe its because I know I have divine potential.  Maybe its because I know my parents will support whatever decision I make even if they may not think it is the best one.  Maybe its because I know I have a husband that will stand by me.  Maybe its because I have seen others do the same and live so happily.

I can now say that I have confidence.  Not the kind of confidence I dreamed about having in high school, but confidence in who I am as a person.

On facebook lately, it makes me sad to see so many people struggling with confidence issues.  Not being able to make decisions without others telling them what to do, seeking approval from others, needing acknowledgment of everything they do, getting upset when they see others succeed.  It just brings so much unnecessary stress and sadness.  

I just wish everyone could understand how great life is when you know who you are and have confidence in yourself.  Its not to say that I don't appreciate when someone notices my hard work or tells me I look pretty (who doesn't?) but I am confident in my life even when things go unnoticed. 

Charleston Falls

Travis and I have been feeling a bit of cabin fever lately!  We love to go on "hikes" and bike trails and to street fairs here in Ohio but the weather has not allowed for such things lately!  We have had snow and cold weather for a while now.  We try to get out as much as possible but it isn't always feasible with Adelyn.

This past weekend we just had to get out of the house!  Just up the road from us is a park with a waterfall.  Our friends went a couple weeks ago and told us how awesome it looked.  We walked the trail to see the frozen falls.  It was amazingly cool!  I didn't have the right lens with me so it was hard to get a picture of the whole thing.

This is Travis and Adelyn standing at the bottom of the falls.  It is iced over and then covered in snow.

 Here we are a little further up in front of the falls.

If you know Travis at all, you know that he couldn't resist from going behind the falls.  I was hesitant about him going and his response was, "how many people can say they walked behind a frozen waterfall?"  He walked all the way from one side to the other.  He said it was pretty awesome back there. 

It was a short trip because it was pretty cold and we don't have snow pants for Adelyn, but I am glad we went and got out of the house for a little bit.  It just makes me more excited for summer and the places we can explore!
Here is a shot Travis took with his phone behind the falls.  

Valentine's Day

Travis and I are not very big holiday celebrators.  We are pretty laid back and don't make a huge deal of things.  I have dreams of throwing huge parties and having beautiful holiday decor and doing fun crafts and having the perfect holiday outfits but let's face it...that is just a dream right now.  At least until I have more money and more time. 

This is our fourth Valentine's Day together.  I thought I would take a trip down memory lane.

This was our first Valentine's Day together (2010).  We had only been dating a couple months at the time.  We took a trip out to Colorado to visit Travis' best friend.  We were able to tour the Olympic training center. 

Look how young we look!

The next year was even better! Travis was living in Ohio and I was still in Utah.  He came out to visit for Valentine's Day.  He took me snowboarding for the first time.  He planned on proposing then, but I was not in the best mood after falling pretty much the whole way down the mountain!

 Luckily his backup plan was a candle lit dinner that was waiting back at my apartment.  While I was in the bathroom, he quickly wrote "Will you marry me?" on one of the candy hearts that decorated the table.  Of course I said yes and now he is stuck with me forever!

I can't find a picture from last year, but it was not nearly as exciting as the previous two!  We went out to dinner and then went to a dance at church. 

This year was still low key, but a little more fun.  I woke up and found a cute little mailbox waiting for me.  I have been complaining to Travis lately that he doesn't write me as many love notes as he used to when we were dating.  He got the mailbox to leave out year-round and write notes to each other!  So cute!

 I didn't feel good when I got home from school, so we stayed home for the evening.  Travis made me dinner and I found another surprise in my new mailbox.  Tickets to see Beauty and the Beast.

Like I said, I didn't feel well so there are no pictures of me!  Here is one of Adelyn instead with her Chocolate Kiss!  She is already a chocoholic!! 

I don't like to be super lovey-dovey in public but I am so lucky to have married Travis.  He puts up with all my shenanigans, moodiness and imperfections.  He is perfect for me and such a great dad.  I love you babe!

Pretty Princess

One of my favorite things about having a baby girl is that I get to dress her up!  I love pink and frills and lace and all things girly, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to suit Adelyn's personality.  I try to pick clothes that I feel like match her personality, but every now and then I get to put her in a girly hand-me-down like this one!

This was Sunday after church.  I have to say, it is getting harder and harder to take good pictures of her.  She never sits still anymore and she likes to make goofy faces.  It is definitely a challenge and often requires both me and Travis to get a picture to turn out.  At least she is helping me practice my photography skills.  (any tips on getting clear pictures with a moving child?)

Crazy face!  I think she was squealing of laughter!

She loves standing and pointing and "talking" and being the center of attention!

This picture makes me laugh!  She looks so girly holding on to her dress and standing in 4th position. 

 Trying to get a cute Valentine background, but being unsuccessful!  This age is so hard! 

We Have a Tooth!

Adelyn is finally getting in her first tooth!  Yes, she is 10 months old!  She is a little behind.  Her friend Scarlett is only 9 days older than her and has a full mouth!  It's crazy how each child is different!

Here is the proof!  She looks like she is angry, but she is just singing!

 

It is on the bottom left for those of you that can't spot it.  It is still pretty tiny.

Snow Day

Ohio has been a little bit ridiculous lately.  Apparently this is the worst winter in years.  Yes, it is cold.  Yes, there is snow.  Yes, life goes on...kind of...

School is cancelled on a regular basis and I feel like we are going to be going to school year-round from all the days we have to make up!  I don't know the last time we had a full week of school without a delay or cancelation!

I admit that I love staying home with my baby though!  She is getting more and more fun to be around!  Let's just hope we can still pay all the bills!

We had a snow day on Wednesday and I was less than a great mom.  I was trying to get stuff planned for school (when you miss so much, you have to figure out ways to cram it all in!), researching good convertible carseats, finding deals on treadmills, cleaning, organizing, a lot of stuff besides playing with my sweet baby.

When I got the call this morning that it would be another snow day (I am still shocked about it), I made sure that the same thing wouldn't happen!

We started off the morning with Adelyn's first craft project!  Valentine Heart Painting!

 She tried fresh peaches for the first time and loved them!  She had a nice, warm bubble bath!  It was all fun and games until she slipped and went totally underwater.  She wasn't happy about that.  I made her stay in and get over her fear and she was ok after a little bit.

We played in the snow for the first time!

This is my favorite picture.  She was looking at the dogs next door that were growling and barking at us like crazy.  We ended up going in after just a couple minutes because I was scared that they were going to jump over the fence and get us.  One bit Travis this summer so now I am paranoid around them.  

 We moved to the front of the house to get away from the dogs.  Lighting isn't as good, but I actually got one of her smiling!

 This was take two after she had lunch.  Look at how big she is just standing there!

 This was her general feeling towards the snow.  She didn't really like it or know what to do with it.

She just makes me so happy!

 She is down for a nap and we are going to go out with Travis when he gets home from work.  It has been a much more successful day!