Independence Day 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
We decided to spend our 4th of July weekend visiting Chad's family in Jacksonville, Florida! It was so fun seeing Chad's grandparents & to get to introduce Max to the family.
We also had a lot of fun visiting, swimming & eating delicious food at Aunt Connie & Uncle Dwight's house.
And of coarse, the beach.
Went out of our way to take the ferry for Liam. Oh well.
St. Augustine. Got some ice cream & a souvenir shirt for Liam (only because he peed all over himself)!
...more time at the beach. Remember the picture (above) of Chad's mom putting sunscreen on his back? Ya, she missed a few spots. haha
All in all, a fun trip!
"Even Babes Did Open Their Mouths and Utter Marvelous Things..."
Sunday, June 09, 2013
This post is long overdue. I've wanted to share a tidbit from my favorite talk this past general conference & something that's caused me to reflect a lot. The talk is titled "The Words We Speak". It talks mostly about how we talk to our children & how our words can uplift them & strengthen their faith.
Speech is something on my mind quite a lot. Liam has speech delays & speaking, & understanding for that matter, have not come easily for him. So naturally, my ears perked up when this woman was not only talking about children, but also how to listen & talk to them.
But it wasn't until the closing lines of her talk that my heart was really pricked. "May the words we speak and write to our children reflect the love our Heavenly Father has for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for us. And then may we pause to listen, for a child is most capable of speaking great and marvelous things in return."
Could it be that my little Liam, speech delays & all, could speak "great & marvelous things" and I was missing them? As I've taken this to heart & paused to really listen to him, I've been amazed at the things which he can communicate to me.
A few examples-
"Liam is broken. Fix it." (This is often said while cradling a perfectly fine knee or foot. I've discovered the miraculous healing power of my kisses and hugs.)
"Hold you." (This always stops me in my tracks and reminds me that whatever it is I'm doing can wait just a bit so I can hold my boy.)
"Liam in time out?" (He's said this after I've gotten after him from something. And I have to reassure him, "No. No time out. I'm not mad." Gosh, I've felt like this before when I've done something "bad". I've felt like I deserve more of a punishment than God seems to require of me. This is just one example of how I'm learning things about myself & my relationship with God through observing my son(s) and our relationship with each other.)
Understanding & learning the ways that Liam communicates with me is not always easy. I have to put on my special listening ears to hear his small voice. It is so much like hearing the voice of the Lord. I have to incline my ear to hearing & understanding the "still, small voice". And as I do so, I learn great and marvelous things.
I haven't pulled out my camera for weeks. We've actually been pretty sick around here. So here's a few pics of my rapidly growing boys.
Just a few random pictures of some wildflowers behind our house.
Speech is something on my mind quite a lot. Liam has speech delays & speaking, & understanding for that matter, have not come easily for him. So naturally, my ears perked up when this woman was not only talking about children, but also how to listen & talk to them.
But it wasn't until the closing lines of her talk that my heart was really pricked. "May the words we speak and write to our children reflect the love our Heavenly Father has for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for us. And then may we pause to listen, for a child is most capable of speaking great and marvelous things in return."
Could it be that my little Liam, speech delays & all, could speak "great & marvelous things" and I was missing them? As I've taken this to heart & paused to really listen to him, I've been amazed at the things which he can communicate to me.
A few examples-
"Liam is broken. Fix it." (This is often said while cradling a perfectly fine knee or foot. I've discovered the miraculous healing power of my kisses and hugs.)
"Hold you." (This always stops me in my tracks and reminds me that whatever it is I'm doing can wait just a bit so I can hold my boy.)
"Liam in time out?" (He's said this after I've gotten after him from something. And I have to reassure him, "No. No time out. I'm not mad." Gosh, I've felt like this before when I've done something "bad". I've felt like I deserve more of a punishment than God seems to require of me. This is just one example of how I'm learning things about myself & my relationship with God through observing my son(s) and our relationship with each other.)
Understanding & learning the ways that Liam communicates with me is not always easy. I have to put on my special listening ears to hear his small voice. It is so much like hearing the voice of the Lord. I have to incline my ear to hearing & understanding the "still, small voice". And as I do so, I learn great and marvelous things.
I haven't pulled out my camera for weeks. We've actually been pretty sick around here. So here's a few pics of my rapidly growing boys.
Mother's Day
Thursday, May 16, 2013
For Mother's day, we had a little potluck at Stockton Lake and here are the pictures to prove it!
The cousins & uncle Cody had a fun time "racing".
But mostly we just hung out, visited & ate. Oh yes, & we celebrated my sister's b-day! (One more year Sheen...& you enter the wonderful world of 30's!!)
These are my sister Kyra's two oldest girls. I just had to get a picture of this! They remind me SO much of me & my younger sister Shannon! They were a little shy when they first arrived & held hands wherever they went. But Lydia (the oldest) was the more shy one & more of the instigator. That was totally me & Shannon!! These girls just melt my heart!
You know, as much as I adore Gracie...I see all of my sister Kyra's facebook posts & instagram pictures about ALL the mischevious things she gets into (sharpies, nailpolish, paint, make-up, climbing, etc.) and I just wonder...should I be worried that Liam & her get along so good?!? LOL!
Happy Mother's day to both my moms!
Through the joy of his Son...
Monday, May 06, 2013
I've been getting lazy with actual picture taking (thank you iphone & instagram!). But I did find some photos that I just love...and I did have something I learned a few weeks past that I wanted to share. Two totally unrelated things...but here I go!
In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 33, Alma is preaching to a group of people called the Zoramites. I've read this chapter too many times to count, but this time, the last verse stood out to me.
"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen."
Our burdens are light through the joy of his Son. I thought of the times where I've dealt with burdens- an eating disorder...shyness...severe humiliating acne...break-ups & heartbreaks...school stress...financial strains...rejection...the list could go on (but I don't want to muddle through too many sad memories haha). Different sorts of "burdens", but they all had a common thread. Something that ALWAYS gave me comfort was knowing that Jesus Christ is one acquainted with grief. He knew (knows) how I felt (feel). He loved (loves) me despite my imperfections/sins/trials/current state/whatever! Somehow my burdens became bittersweet. They were still burdens. But I felt my heart being sealed to the Saviors. I felt a deeper level of love both for and from Him. And that felt joyous!
Easter egg dying.
The Springfield Zoo.
Lazy Sunday afternoon.
In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 33, Alma is preaching to a group of people called the Zoramites. I've read this chapter too many times to count, but this time, the last verse stood out to me.
"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen."
Our burdens are light through the joy of his Son. I thought of the times where I've dealt with burdens- an eating disorder...shyness...severe humiliating acne...break-ups & heartbreaks...school stress...financial strains...rejection...the list could go on (but I don't want to muddle through too many sad memories haha). Different sorts of "burdens", but they all had a common thread. Something that ALWAYS gave me comfort was knowing that Jesus Christ is one acquainted with grief. He knew (knows) how I felt (feel). He loved (loves) me despite my imperfections/sins/trials/current state/whatever! Somehow my burdens became bittersweet. They were still burdens. But I felt my heart being sealed to the Saviors. I felt a deeper level of love both for and from Him. And that felt joyous!
Easter egg dying.
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