I heart Mesa

Hey! Most of you know we have a lot of ties to Mesa still! in fact, I don't know anyone that has more passion and interest in this city then Heath! Well, check out this web site for this photo giveaway! http://iheartmesa.blogspot.com/

Only One of You

It's amazing how reading can change your perspective so much. Today, as I was sitting in the doctor's office with Jace for his egg challenge, I was reading a book called, 'the mother in me.' My mom gave me this book a while ago, and it's a compilation of short stories from mothers and their experiences, inspirations and reflections about motherhood. Today, I read about a mom who well was just so tired of the mundane and somehow lost who she was amongst her many duties and demands. I've thought about this a lot because, I too have found myself, at time, slipping into this mentality, and that's when I realize I need to do something that I enjoy to feel like me again! At 35, (which hello is not even old...well maybe not to me anymore bc it seems to be inching closer) she decides to take a ballet class. During so, she reads this quote:

" There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it."

I read it about 3 times to let it sink in. What an amazing and empowering quote! We all have something to offer; service to render or creativity to indulge. Whatever circumstance, situation, condition, stage of life, each of us can embrace our life and become whatever we want to be. One of the constant threads through this story was that by this time in her life, she felt like she'd been torn apart with hardly identifieable pieces of herself. We should never feel selfish doing something for ourselves. I have found I am a better mom, wife, friend..even person, when I have done something I enjoy. It makes so much sense because obviously you are a happier person, if you are happy with yourself.

So, there's my rant and rave for the day. Can't wait to embrace and live life tomorrow! Hey, today, all i did was turned up the music really loud while I cleaned the house and it was just for me!!!!

Vote for Camden!!!!

GAP Baby Casting Call

Please vote for Camden

Baby Boy ID: 886048303

Just visit http://www.gap.com/castingcall/ and enter the Contestant ID!!!

Could this face be any cuter! I just adore him and really think he'd be quite a stunning little Gap baby! If you have a second, vote for him. You can vote everyday until contest ends. Thank you so much!!!


P.S. No, I won't be mad if you go now and enter your own little kiddos! That's understandable. :)

Fight in Pink

Last Sunday, the family and I did the Race for the Cure! (walked the 5K) This last year, I've become friends with this girl, Becky in our ward. Her mother in law, Juli (also in our ward), has been diagnosed with breast cancer 3 x in the last 10 years. This year, the young women wanted to be involved and the bishop said it was the gospel in action..serving others. In total, they ended up having over 150 people on Team Juli! It was absolutely incredible to see the support and love from so many for one person. I've been thinking about this for a while...about why it's a race and why we walk to show our support. I think, in a way, it's symbolic of their fight bc these women find a way to put one foot in front of the other every day--they keep getting up and facing the journey ahead of them and just like this race, they are not alone. It was overwhelming to see the many names and faces pinned to people's backs in memory of this person and their fight. some win and some ...lose. Juli, has just found out that it's spread to her brain now. Yet, the moto on our shirts said, Doubt Not, Fear Not, Only Believing! And I think against all odds, she can beat it! We don't understand the kind of trials we are asked to go through sometimes, but Juli is a great example that we can have faith, courage and joy through it. The event had 53,000 people in attendance and oh, go to this link to see the symbol formed from our walk from the sky.

http://www.9news.com/genthumb/genthumb.ashx?e=3&h=204&w=320&i=/assetpool/images/091004011825_race-for-the-cure.jpg

Old Mcdonald had a ....

One of our last weeks in Thousand Oaks, we took Jace to this big farm where you can pick your own vegetables, fruit, and flowers. We picked strawberries and rasberries and they were amazing! They had pony rides, petting zoo, adventure zone, train rides, tractor bumper cars, mining for gold and a lot more. We fed the goats that walked across beams above our heads. Jace got to ride Tinkerbell, the pony. No other kids were riding the train, so they let him DRIVE the train. Picking strawberries was a very messy job! There were bees everywhere and squished strawberries up to your ankles. But they were worth it!! Here are some more pictures from that awesome day. We had a blast! Now we are searching for something like it here in Colorado.

JOY

Day 25 on 28

I know. I know. I've skipped a couple days. This experience has taught me a couple things. First, I really have gotten in a better habit of writing and have really enjoyed that. Second, there are a lot of things I can do with my time that give me "my time" besides blogging....which I seem to enjoy like sewing, exercising, reading, digital scrapbooking, baking. Third, people don't blog as much as I thought they did. Fourth, the best things about my life are my husband and two kids. Fifth and last, I like blogging a lot more when I don't have the pressure to think of something to write about. So, in light of this, I've decided to just make a goal to do something for myself everyday, it could be blogging but it doesn't have to be.

Enjoy the next posts so that will be solely dedicated to my boys who make me smile everyday.