food for thought

I love both of the posts my sisters have done lately. SO. I hope they don't mind. I'm stealing...because I want to share with you too! Today I will share what Kim wrote.

I love her thoughts...because this is TOTALLY me. I have soooooooo many good intentions. Ya know what. That doesn't amount to ANYTHING. Who cares. It's what I do with those. I have every intention to do good. And do it tomorrow. Well. I better start changing some things. And quick. How about you!!??

***** ***** ******

I am a lousy writer. But sometimes I am very contemplative. I wish I could be witty, thought provoking and entertaining in my blog posts but my talents lay somewhere else I guess. But I want to express my thoughts anyways. A thought keeps coming back to me like a little pin prick in the back of my mind. In a book I read last year, it makes heaven to be believed as such an open place. Nothing is hidden. You can hear each others thoughts, you can see 360 around yourself. You have all knowledge.

Then we come to earth. We are bound to a body. We can only see forward. People are talking in weird languages and we cannot communicate one iota. We finally learn to communicate. Then we learn through childhood that our parents can't read our minds, we can be sneaky and make things appear different than they are inside us. We can lie. We can hide the truth. We can pretend to be someone who we are not. We can even deceive ourselves.

But with Christ we cannot hide the truth.

Our actions speak louder than words. We try to live two different lives... Be two places at once. But it doesn't work.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." I believe this with all my heart.

What I spend my time on

How I treat my spouse, children and friends

How I cope with stress or hardship

Who I spend time with

How I speak of others

My order of priorities

What I value

What I don't value

What we say doesn't matter. What we WANT to be isn't good enough either. It's what we do that will prove where our heart truly is.

Early in marriage I remember always saying to Josh, "I was going to do that." "I meant to do that." I'm not a bad person because I was truly planning to do that good thing. And one day his reply caught me totally off guard. I really had to think about what he said and I have never forgotten it. His reply to me was, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Our good intentions aren't good enough for the final cut after this life. Our actions are what will save us or not. I pray that my actions are in line with what I know. It isn't enough to know the truth.

We must DO it.

Change is inevitable

Today I was released from my church calling as

Young Women President.

I've had the opportunity for the last two years to be the leader over the teenage girls in my church.

The day I got called I cried.

I was so overwhelmed. I'm not a natural leader. It's hard for me to take charge, delegate, be organized, and know eyes are on ME with expectations from people...I was SO NERVOUS.

Now today, I continue to cry.

I'm so sad to be leaving these wonderful girls I've come to love so much. It's so fun to get to act like a teenager and hang out with them. They are so amazing and have blessed my life in more ways than they will know.

I hope at least one thing they will remember from me, is my love for them (okay 2 things) and my testimony of the gospel.

I'm glad I got to end this past week finishing on a high note:

New Beginnings.

I made these invitations (they look cuter in person)

and we based the night around LOVE and HEARTS.

Then I also made these clear frames each decorated with scrapbooking paper inside and vinyl lettering on the outside, which is the annual scripture theme they will be focusing on this year.

The night was a lot of fun, and today I taught in church for the last time.

I'm sure I'll be in YW again sometime in my life...but for now it's always hard to say good-bye.

But, life is all about change.

I'm excited to now serve as the enrichment leader.

So friends...any ideas? Send them

MY WAY!

She had me at "goo goo ga ga"

Yes she is!!

Sorry this has turned into a paparazzi blog about Kambrie...but I just can

NOT help it!!

Maybe one day I'll get back to being more entertaining and fun.

i think she gets this from

her birthmom!

Beware: DANGEROUS MOTHERS.

I was about 8 years old. I was at my friend, Sarah's house. We were watching her gerbils in their cage. There were some mama gerbils and some new baby gerbils. I guess the mama gerbils had been fighting over the babies...and in that very second that I was standing there watching these creatures, I saw with my very own, little innocent eyes, a mama starting to devour a baby. YES. That is what I said. She was actually eating her baby.

I still am somewhat traumatized by this experience, and throw up in my mouth just thinking about it.

Gross.

What the?

How the?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How could mama eat this tiny, little, cute, (was actually an ugly red blob because it was so new) innocent baby!!??

Well. Now I understand. I became a mom.

Just admit it. You're getting hungry too. Aren't you!!!???

THEY ARE IRRESISTIBLE!!!

Insert me as the author please...

...because she says exactly what my heart feels.

If we had it to do over again

Adoption is what we'd choose

We got more than we had hoped for

The day we adopted you

Longing for a child to love,

I'd wish upon the stars above.

In my heart I always knew,

a part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,

once I adopt you and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,

imagining even the littlest things.

The way it will feel to hold you tight,

and tuck you in every night.

The drawings on the refrigerator door,

childhood toys across the floor.

The favorite stories read again and again,

hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,

a journey ended, but our lives began.

Still mesmerized by your sweet face,

still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,

a loving family all your own.

A house you've now made complete,

with laughter, smiles and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,

know I will be there everyday.

Rest easy as each night you sleep,

a lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Author: Teri Harrison

Wear Pink.

Who doesn't look cute in pink!?

DITTO

writings on the wall

Our friend Kyle drew this pirate picture for Tanner during church, and Tanner carried this picture around for weeks! He LOVES people to draw him pirates. He has FINALLY started to color and draw more, and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I'm proud to adorn them all over my walls. ☺

How cute is that.

I love his handwriting and pictures.

Thanks for visiting the art galleria today.

confession session

*I down right suck at new years resolutions. I'm already failing and it's only February. Crappity crap crap.

*I like HOT showers. HOT HOT HOT showers.

*Last night we (Landon, Tanner and I) were all gawking at Kambrie like she was a trained monkey and we were waiting for her to do tricks. It was actually really funny!! We just can't get enough of her. I still feel like I'm dreaming sometimes. Waiting 5 years for something is a long stinkin time. I'm still adjusting to my reality and I LOVE it.

I. AM. OBSESSED.

*I sometimes usually make Tanner come lay in bed with me and watch cartoons in the morning, so I can sleep in longer!

*I eat too much sugar for bfast (donuts, left over cookies, sugar cereals...). No wonder I'm friggin tired all day.

*I like love watching the Olympics.

*I love sweat pants. The second I get home from running errands I put on my sweats. I'm all about comfort. And I don't wear make-up or do my hair, if I don't have to!

*I have many many many weaknesses. But let's not forget peeps.

I'm only human.

4 months old

I

LOVE LOVE LOVE

her!!

Boston

warning: lots of pictures

BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS

February 2010

Here we are patiently waiting on the airplane to take off for some fun in Boston.

Kam likes to fly!

These views below are what we got to look at everyday from the window of our hotel room.

It was AMAZING and breathtaking.

We stayed in the Sheraton hotel right in downtown. It was a perfect location.

We were able to walk right out and get on our hop on/hop off bus that took us on tour to many historical sites throughout the city.

We made sure we were BUNDLED up well...it was COLD. ☺

Kam was a trooper and did great. We just pushed her around in the stroller and she slept and stayed warm!

Here we are touring the house of Paul Revere.

It was fun to learn more about him...and his "midnight ride!"

The Atlantic Coast.

Right across the street from the ocean, is Faneuil Hall.

This is a fun outdoor shopping area with an awesome eatery in the middle of the center...Quincy Market.

We ♥ this place.

Here they are boiling my cheese for my macaroni.

It was TO DIE FOR.

We came back the next day and I got the macaroni

AGAIN.

MMMMMM mmmmmmmm GOOD!

Doesn't that look heavenly? Well, it was.

The streets were awesome.

The buildings were amazing.

The atmosphere was exciting.

I LOVE BOSTON.

We loved walking around downtown and getting a feel for the city.

Here is the

BOSTON COMMON

area and

PUBLIC GARDEN.

reminded me of Central Park in NY

We had fun skating on the frozen pond.

We took a ride on the "T" subway to check out Harvard University. We walked around campus and took in the beauty of the campus. The buildings were AMAZING. They were HUGE and so old and just really neat to see.

HARVARD

Look how big that building is...see the girl walking in front. It was GINORMOUS! Here is TD Garden where the Celtics play, and the Bruins.

FENWAY PARK

Boston Red Sox

We had some nice relaxation time too.

Kam and I just chillin.

Here we are watching the Superbowl!!

I actually did watch some of it though. It was a good game.

GO SAINTS!

We toured this ship...The USS Constitution...our nations oldest commissioned ship.

We wish Tanner would have been with us (we left him with friends), he would have LOVED seeing this ship, looking at the cannon's and knowing this used to fight pirates! This ship was undefeated and thus nicknamed "Old Ironsides."

I think that's a wrap!

WE LOVED BOSTON.

We had a great time and saw many more sites and had more fun adventures than even listed here (Boston Massacre site, Bunker Hill, "Cheers" bar...)

The city is so historic and exciting.

We can't wait to go back!!!!