My testimony for a friend

I know the church is true. It's Strange to think back, 7 years, I was so young and didn't have an idea about life yet. Yet by the grace and love of heavenly father I was able to meet a young man that changed my life forever. I already knew that I was a child of God and I already had started that relationship, but I had no idea what would be in store for me by joining the church. Over the years I have had trials and horrible experiences that I probably could have skipped right over if I had not joined the church. However, I would have done the largest disservice to myself that I could have. In the last year I have had the chance to hold a calling or two that have challenged me, but they all seem small compared to what is the larger calling in my life which is to endure to the end. I am a stubborn child, my parents can attest to that, but I feel blessed that Heavenly Father saw a chance to inspire a young man to befriend me. My life would be completely different without the gospel as well as you. Heavenly Father answered my prayers when I met that young man and was invited to join the church.

Every year I remember different parts and build a testimony of something else. Prayer is just about the only thing that had gotten me through life recently on all levels.

My friend, I want you to know that Heavenly Father LOVES you and you are his child. He is always there and always looking for your best interest. He knows exactly what you need and desires to help you always. I believe that as his children we are always on his mind, even if he's working on something else.

I know that Thomas S Monson is the prophet and that he was put here to help guide us home to Heavenly Father. I know that the temple and the covenants made there are te only way to reach our potential as children of God. I know that sometimes God uses "sandpaper" to make us smooth. And I know that the church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Game night and new friends

So we've been in missoula for about a month, less if you count Christmas and the holidays.
During the time in which we moved here to about Christmas we were all pretty sick. While visiting family we ended up in the Valley ER with both kids having ear infections. We probably would not have taken our kids in if Oaks hadn't of told us his ear was hurting. Most people that know Oaks, know that he doesn't really tell you that something hurts unless it is for real. We got into the ER to find out that Lulu had a temp nearing 105 degrees. It made me feel like a horrible parent for not realizing she was that hot. So se ended up with an IV and I was so thankful that Oaks needed to walk around during that period of time in which she was given that. I don't know if I've ever had such a gut wrenching experience as that. I felt so bad for her and the poor nurses felt horrible too. But everyone is all better now and the antibiotics were great and "tastes good" according to Oaks.
We've only been to our new ward twice. I think we will really like it here though.
We met some friends ad had them over for dinner on Sunday. They have a daughter that is about a year younger than Oaks. They were super cute together and insisted on ending the night by twirling in the office chair. We have been really lucky here so far and have yet to meet a bad person yet.
Chris had his birthday! Big ole 2-9. We had chocolate cake with raspberry filling. Thank you Grammy for the berries (Oaks & Lulu's Grammy). We finically finished off the cake yesterday and were wishing for some today! Funny how easily it is to be trained to eat sweets often.
We had been doing some driving around the area for "adventures".
Oaks is a SUNBEAM! A sunbeam, it almost kills me to know that he's in primary now. It doesn't seem like he's been in our family for that long but, so that's how life goes. He's loving primary and his teacher thinks he's awesome. It's interesting to see how he is with other adults that are not family, or like family.
I will have to say that Lulu & Oaks miss their friends R & E terribly, not to mention how much I miss the play dates.
Chris and I feel really blessed to be here in Montana, it feels like home already, when Tacoma never did. So we are excited and hope that life here will continue to be just as great as it has been.

Plus we love all this white stuff called snow!

The last few months

Our life recently = CRAZY!

So we have been particularly busy as of recently. I have not done any type of blogging to speak of once I was called as a RS President, didn't really have any time. That has all changed since then... I'll explain.
October:
I was called as Relief Society President and got two of the best counselors in my presidency. I will miss them very much and felt so blessed to be able to work with them. Chris applied to a job that he had seen in Montana and we didn't think it'd go anywhere. He also sent a résumé to a job in Colorado, that seemed promising.
November:
Chris sent an email to an engineer in Montana at HDR, the firm he had applied to. He was lucky enough to have had a lunch with him while in graduate school, it didn't take long from the time he sent that email. From the time that the email was sent to the job offer was two weeks or nine business days. That was the day before thanksgiving and we need to be living and functioning in Missoula, Montana before January 2nd. So we will be moving to the Big Sky state. Oaks has fallen in love, with my green sparkly shoes. Or as he calls them, green sparkle shoes.
December:
This month has been no fun! I mean no fun! We have spent it moving. We managed to get all of our stuff packed in a week! A week! I seriously thought that it would have taken longer. The funny thing was watching Oaks & Lulu play during all of this packing.
We also took a trip to Missoula to find a rental for our family and pup. During our trip to Missoula we got stuck on LookOut Pass for like 2 hours completely stopped due to a semi truck crash. There's a picture of the hippie van in front of us, seriously had to be a hippie because we saw him. This picture was taken early on in the waiting game. Today, Chris and his dad went today with a family friend to pickup all of our boxes in Tacoma and being them closer to Missoula.
Lulu also turned 1 on the 5th! She's one, already. I can't hardly believe it. I love that beautiful little girl. She is still the happiest kid on the block. I don't know how we do it, but she is always happy and smiling. I love it and she has brought so much happiness into our home.

Life has been a little crazy and to be honest I'm scared and a little excited about this move. Oaks seems excited for a new home, but he's going to miss R & E terribly. So is Lulu for that matter. They have been our life support for friends and social activities. Hopefully we can start doing vacations or visiting each other now.

I actually almost forgot, that Lulu has learned to walk! So now I have another walker in the family. We love this little cutie!



We had a light dusting of snow in Spokane, Oaks did not enjoy it because it meant that it made his trike hard to ride.

Seven years ago

This post was written in December and i was hoping to post it on January 6th but missed it by a few days.

I love writing and thinking about it every year and might just add a few more details each time I write about it.

Eight years ago I met a young man that changed my life. No it was not my wonderful husband, but a young man that has had an impact in my life, for the rest if my life. Every year in the month of December, I think about this young man. I think about the example he set for me and how his family grew to love me. It always makes me think about the birth of Christ and how special each of us are to be children of a loving Heavenly Father.
While I have not kept in close contact with this family or this young man, I tend to think of them often and hope that ther lives are still gospel centered and full of love and joy. This young man introduced me to the gospel and my new life that started a year after that. I was baptized on Janurary 6th 2006 by my best friend. I wish I could say that we are still best friends here and now, but we aren't. He just passed through my life sending it in a completely new direction.
Before I was a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I knew I was a child if God, but I didn't have all the tools that I needed or answers I was desiring. Not to say I have all those things now, but I'm in the process. I knew that this young man was special, he had blue hair and looked nothing like any of my friends from back home. That young mans appearance was probably one of the reasons he had gotten my attention. I had just moved across state and he was my first friend. I feel so lucky everyday that I wake up that I am a member of the church and know that I am loved, looked after, cared for, and that I have a purpose for being here on the earth.
I recently have felt the love so strongly and the guidance in my life from Heavenly Father. My life feels unbelievably blessed and I am so lucky.

For the future....

Originally I had said I wanted to post on here twice a month.


I would still love to do so, but I've been called as a Relief Society President. Needless to say, I am not sure I will have any or much free time. However, I will still be taking tons of pictures of my kids like always.

We'll see. As of right now, I wish I could put my head in the sand and take a nap or break.

First half of October

October 1st half

We have had some fun recently. Oaks & Lulu are always doing well. To be honest, I have a difficult time remembering what exactly we have been doing since the last post. And obviously I need to post more so that  I have something that remembers for me!

We watched General Conference and we had perfect angles during our sessions for the most part. I do believe it was because it was what we needed and definitely not because of anything we did to help inspire that. I made Oaks some prophet and apostles cards, so that we could try to match them up to who was speaking, when it was appropriate.

We have been doing a few play dates with friends, which is super nice! One of which was to the zoo on a Saturday. Oaks has a love of the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, who can blame him? We LOVE going! Oaks and Lulu are normally perfect little angles but for some reason the zoo makes it that much more apparent. The day we went was a little soggy to say the least. It had crossed our minds to just go to Ikea instead of the zoo because of the rain.

We did in fact also go to Ikea recently, we love that place. They have the best food in their restaurant and food court. Oaks happens to love him some pizza and meatballs in gravy. They are pretty amazing! Oaks was able to get a new stuffed doggy. Chris asked him what his names was while we were still in Ikea and he had named it Jeffery. It was a little surprising to say the least but it fits well. I asked him again last week and he told me it was "No". So I guess only time will tell what his name will be, but Lulu loves it too!

Oaks has been taking like no body's business. His favorite saying as of late "that's my favorite". My response is "oh really?" Its super cute.

Potty training is going awesome! By awesome I mean, he's been willing and its all clicking in that smart brain of his. Every morning I put him into undies and ask him to got potty. We are still having accidents and small things here or there but it is completely improving! It makes me a little giddy to know I will soon have one child out of diapers.

Helpers reward! when making brownies and then building fun with daddy!

 

Potty training

Oaks started potty training himself today. So I made him potty chart. Hopefully this time it actually happens. We had an unsuccessful attempt in July so, we just got normalized to being home after all of that crazy fun. So I will update this with some photos of his new chart after a few days.