Good and Bad

Everyone always has that day where it's just "that kind of day." A bad day. A day that you feel down. A day where you feel like you're not worth anything. A day where you feel like you aren't doing a very good job, whether it be at work, being a mom, being a wife, daughter, sister, friend, etc. I've been having a lot of these days lately. I feel like I'm failing at everything. There are those moments though where I feel like a success, that I'm doing something right, that I'm where I need to be. That moment when Rylan finally steps while I'm holding his hands instead of me dragging him, when Keegan goes pee in the toilet, and today I have to smile so much bigger and beam brighter because Kaleb said his first prayer all by himself without any help at all. My kids are my everything! I wouldn't give them up for anything or anyone! I'm proud to be a mom! I love being home with them. Yes they stress me out a lot with fighting, whining, doing naughty things, but there are so many more things that make up for that. I'm so happy that I don't have to miss out on any moments of growth my kids make.

There's this scripture that my husband and I have been ponderizing this week and it has helped me. 

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Alma 26:12

I know that I can do anything with God's help. I have good days and I have bad days, but I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father will never leave me. He will always be there for me. ..."for in his strength I can do all things..."

 I saw this article on facebook and it's something I really needed to read. It's something every mom should read. It's called When Mothering is Hard and No One Sees.  https://faithandcomposition.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/when-mothering-is-hard-and-no-one-sees/

I am so blessed to have an incredible family! I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father that He trusts me enough to raise my 3 boys! <3

He Lives!

Today as I was reading my scriptures I came across this scripture in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 16:9, 15.

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

"Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father, Amen."

I absolutely love this! Jesus Christ, our Savior is the light of the world, He is the good. Nothing can take away from that. Jesus Christ lives! Christ is the reason we are able to be exalted to live with Heavenly Father again! I can't imagine not knowing this! My life would be so much different not being apart of the gospel of our Savior. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Life Has Gotten Interesting

Life has gotten a little bit more interesting. I took Kaleb and Rylan to the doctor this morning for their ears which have been  painful. Neither has an ear infection, but Rylan has a bad cold and teething while Kaleb has a TON of fluid in his ears due to his severe allergy to cats and dogs. The doctor said that she hasn't seen that much fluid in one kids ears.

For those that don't know, Kaleb has severe allergies to cats and dogs which is depressing to me as I want a dog so bad. When Kaleb doesn't have his allergy medicine he ends up with black and purple eyes that swell pretty bad, he sneezes a lot, and runny nose. We have tried all sorts of over the counter medicine and only children's allegra helped. Recently my parents watched the boys while Adam and I went on a much needed date. When we went and picked up the boys Kaleb looked like he got punched in his face. He had a nasty black and purple eye and swollen pretty bad. I had given him his allergy medicine prior to going to my parents since they have a cat and 2 dogs. My mom not knowing I gave him medicine, gave him a dose of benadryl and he still had a severe reaction with double dose on allergy meds.

Today the doctor said that Kaleb's allergy is worsening and he can no longer touch or be in the same room as a cat or dog. If the animal is an indoor pet Kaleb cannot be in the house at all. If he is leaving the house to go to the store, church, or school he needs to take allergy medicine or even if someone comes to our house that has animals. The dander on someones clothes bothers him as well. We are no longer able to go to anyones home that has cats and dogs until we meet with an allergist and try to get treatment that will help Kaleb. His allergy is worsening and the meds aren't helping anymore. The doctor is worried that it will start effecting his breathing if we don't figure something out soon.

Life has gotten so much more interesting. It saddens me that we cannot go to my parents home, sisters home or certain friends homes anymore.  At least until we can figure out a better treatment that works. Please pray for Kaleb that the allergist can figure something out.

I couldn't ask for better!

I just have to do a little rant about how GrEaT my sweet husband is!

See this man...

This man amazes me! I am truly the luckiest woman in the world! In the last few months I have broken my shoulder blade and gotten sick a few times. He didn't complain once! All he did was take such good care of me. He took care of our 3 boys all by himself. He let me be and didn't ask anything of me. He's been so busy working, studying for his CPA tests, helping my dad work on the weekends, helping out around the house, and being a wonderful daddy and husband. There is no greater man! I am so proud of all the hard work my sweet Adam does. I am truly blessed to have such an incredible spouse! He is truly my other half! I don't know what I would do without him! I couldn't ask for better! Ok, rant over.   <3 love my man!

A New Year

It's been an interesting past couple of months. Last post I talked about doing a ton of holiday baking. Well, that didn't exactly happen because I broke my scapula (shoulder blade). I was in a sling for 5 weeks and then had to do physical therapy. Sometimes it still hurts, but it's rare now. During this time my family and home took a hit. I was out of commission. Now it is the start of a new year and I am ready to take it on. There are so many things that my little family has started doing such as chore charts for everyone, more organization, potty training, etc.

 One of the things that I have really been focusing on is doing my personal scripture study. This is a huge thing. I have gotten really bad about it, but I started making a goal to do it every day and I've only missed 1 day! I can tell of how much a difference this has on my attitude, how I parent, my home is just more peaceful. I love it. There is nothing better than a peaceful and happy home. <3

This year Adam will be receiving his CPA certification. He has only one more test to pass before April 30th which I know he can do! I'm so proud of my husband! He is such a hard worker! He's an amazing husband and daddy! I don't know what I'd do without him! Love you sweetheart! Forever and ever, always and always! <3

My Passion, Baking!

It's now the holiday season which means it is also baking season! I know I'm not the only one  that is super excited! Baking is my passion whether it be cakes, cupcakes, breads, pies, cookies, etc. I've already made a few things, but I'm just getting started. I have pumpkin pie bread in the oven as I type. This is only the beginning too. Since I'm gluten free now I get to experiment with new recipes and altering recipes I already have. I've already made this pumpkin pie bread with gluten free flour and it's really good. I've also made a pie crust gluten free and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite. I'll have to keep searching on that. Pinterest has been a life saver with gluten free recipes. When I'm not sure about something I have my incredible friend Amanda Murphy! Can I just tell you how AMAZING this woman is?! She truly is wonderful! She's probably getting tired of all my random texted questions...hee hee. One day I won't need to text her questions anymore and she'll be sad. ;) I love the smell baking brings into my home. I need good smells because living with 4 males makes my house stinky. They think it's funny too! Stinky boys! <3 Loving Life! <3

God Is at the Helm

General Conference is an incredible creation. For those who don't know general conference is when the living prophet and apostles speak to the world about things that our Heavenly Father has inspired them to talk to us about. It is on tv, internet, and radio. Anyone can watch or listen to it. It's also nice for people like me that have little kids and it's really hard to hear or sit long enough because of my 3 little boys being boys that they have videos of all the talks and print outs of all the talks to read afterward.

As I am slowly reading through the talks since I missed most of them while they were airing I have come across a couple in particular that I really enjoy. One is "God Is at the Helm" by Elder M. Russell Ballard who is an apostle of God. In a previous talk Elder Ballard gave he talked about being on the Old Ship Zion which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. This time he continued on that talk. He quoted a previous president of the church, President Brigham Young, "We are on the old ship Zion...God is at the helm and will stay there...He dictates, guides, and directs. If the people will have implicit confidence in their God, never forsake covenants nor their God, He will guide us right." To me this is an amazing analogy. God is directing our life. We have to trust in Him and follow Him, and He will guide us to exaltation. 

Elder Ballard continues in saying, "Our ship's destination is the full blessings of the gospel, the kingdom of heaven, the celestial glory, and the presence of God! God's plan is in the place. He is at the helm, and His great and powerful ship flows toward salvation and exaltation. Remember that we cannot get there by jumping out of the boat and trying to swim there by ourselves. Exaltation is the goal of the mortal journey, and no one gets there without the means of the gospel of Jesus Christ: His Atonement, the ordinances, and guiding doctrine and principles that are found in the Church. It is the Church wherein we learn the works of God and accept the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves us. It is within the Church that we form the commitments and covenants of eternal families that become our passport to exaltation. It is the Church that is powered by the priesthood to propel us through the unpredictable waters of mortality."

This is the ship that I want to be on. This is where I want to go.  It's not always easy. It's important that we remember that we can't as he said "get there by jumping out of the boat and trying to swim." We cannot get to where we need to go by ourselves. We need help. We need to do the things we are supposed to and follow God to get where we need to be. It may not always be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.