She's home!

After a year of my mother and her husband serving their mission in Independence Missouri, they are home!! We are so excited to have them back and Evie can't stand to leave her Momommee's side for a moment.  In fact she had a 30 minute break down after church today when we had to leave them there to be released.  I love seeing their bond, it is so sweet. 

windows down

As a family we have really been trying to focus on keeping the Sabbath day more holy.  After all it is one of the 10 commandments that God has given us for our benefit.  If we treat this day just like every other day then how is that keeping it holy? How is that setting it apart from the rest of the week? If Sunday doesn't feel or look different then are we using it as God intended "as a rest from our labors"? 

As I've been teaching the Old Testament this year I have read over and over how the Lord commands the Israelites time and time again to keep the Sabbath holy.  The beautiful story of the manna is such a tangible representation for them.  I've wondered what's the point of keeping the sabbath day holy? Why should it be considered holy? Why does the Lord value tje Sabbath so much that he put it in a list that includes not killing and lying?

As I've pondered this something that has been impressed on me over and over has come when I've thought about where the sabbath came from.  The first "sabbath" so to speak was the 7th day of creation when the lord tested from his labors.  I think this shows how much the Lord values and respects the creation.  It was such a sacred event that he rested for a whole day to marvel at what He had done.

The Sabbath is a day for us to rest and marvel at what God has done for us.  I love it! I look forward to this day all week.  

A couple months ago we had stake conference and on the long(er) drive home the kids were getting restless.  In an effort to distract the children John put the windows down and let the cool approaching fall air blow in.  He encouraged the kids to feel the wind and enjoy the drive home.  It was a magical moment and the kids loved it.  I'll never forget driving home with giggles in the back seat and my hair whipping around my face with my love by my side on that beautiful peaceful Sabbath drive.

walk in the light

These little balls of energy and I had been cooped up for so many consecutive rainy days that we bursting at the seams and had to get out of the house rain or shine!

So two days ago we slapped on our rain coats and plugged in our twinkle lights and made the most of the gloomy evening.  They were drenched and muddy but oh so happy that none of the dirt even mattered.  Laundry could be done and shoes cleaned but the outside was the solace we needed.

Evaleigh loves tiny things. And somehow she tracked down a small part of my key chain that had broken off and was laying in the mud.  She brought it to me blowing the whistle at the top of her lungs and asked me to do the same.  Then I noticed the small keychain attached to it with two tiny foot prints and next to it it said "Walk in the Light."  I pulled her close to me and read it to her and then sang her Teach Me to Walk in the Light.  It was a moment I never want to forget under the glow of the twinkling lights teaching my daughter about faith and the gleam of the Saviors love and gospel.  

The spirit filled my heart as I watched her stomp around yelling "walk in the light walk in the light!"

Then we all share a big piece of eye of round roast that I had been slow cooking in the oven for 8 hours. Yum. 

Time Out For me and my sister

This weekend was so very needed. My sister and I went to Time Out For Women here in Atlanta.  We heard incredible music and brilliant speakers.  I was inspired and reminded to follow my dreams boldly.  One of my favorite things said was by Whitney Johnson when she talked about being both a ship and a harbor.  That explains exactly where my soul wants to be and what it wants to be doing. 

It is so hard to balance all I want to do and be in this life. But with the guidance of the Lord I know it can be done.

I had amazing opportunities to meet some women this weekend who spoke to my very soul today and at the end of the conference my sister and I stayed behind to speak with them and it was an honor.

I'm so grateful to spend the time with my sister.  I'm grateful for her friendship and her unending support. In fact she just helped me bathe and put to sleep four children all while helping to clean my house, go through Avetts clothes, and help me get organized.

"Because I have a sister...I will always have a friend."

ascend

I wanted to share a little bit of the story behind this song.  I think it is the kind of song that could mean something to anyone who hears it.  We all have mountains to climb and whatever the mountain is that you have to climb wether it is a personal trial, repentance, an addiction, self doubt, loss of a loved one, or just something hard in your life that makes you feel like you have no idea how you'll make it through, I hope this song can give you a glimpse of hope and the source that you should look to for help. 

You are not alone.

You don't have to do anything alone.

Jesus Christ is the way, he will always be the way.

I wrote this song recently for someone very close to me who is facing the biggest trial they have ever had to face.  I've never known anyone in my life to ever display more faith than this person and they are such an enormous example to me of how to face our trials and challenges.

Ascend

Standing here and looking at the top. 

Knowing that you have to climb. 

You fill your lungs your feet hit the dirt. 

In motion pushing every stride.

And when you feel that the step you take is the last one you can bear.

A burning and a feeling He is pushing you there.

The higher you climb the more burdens you unload so you can ascend.

You turn to look behind you

And He is carrying them.

Blisters sting the sun is beating down.

Breathless gasping in your chest.

Slipping sliding trying to hold on.

A strength emerges just beyond your own.

And when you feel that the step you take is the last one you can bear.

A burning and a feeling He is pushing you there.

The higher you climb the more burdens you unload so you can ascend.

You turn to look behind you

And He is carrying them.

Climb, climb, climb.

Standing here and looking at the top.

You never knew how far you'd come.

(Disclaimer: sorry for the crazy eyes in parts, it's a habit I'm trying to break. So proceed with some non judgemental caution, Ha!)

seminary

We started seminary this week and I am just happy about it!! I am thrilled to be in the Old Testament this year and to learn more about that incredible book.

Whitney and I had so much fun setting up our classroom and preparing and organizing for the year.  Since last year was my first year in the Church Education System there was such a learning curve and getting to know all of the ins and outs of the program.  This year I feel more experienced and the goals for our classroom were more clear.

I taught my first lesson of the year to the kids today and the spirit was so strong.  I am learning to rely on the spirit more in the lessons and to go where it leads me. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and we had "The Big Picture" drawn out in the parking lot in chalk.  We talked about what happened before we came to earth, why mortality is so hard, and why we should be obidient in this life so we may gain eternal life with God.

I testified to the students that yesterday as I was praying in the car on the way to the first day of seminary that God told me that they are good.  I know they all have their struggles, but don't we all! No one is perfect and we are all in the goal together of becoming like our Savior and trying to do the things He taught us.

I'm so grateful for this calling and how it grows and stretches me and how much I'm learning. I feel so lucky to get to begin my morning baring my testimony and talk about the gospel with these incredible youth. I hope that they can see their potential, because I do, and it is good and infinite!

I'm grateful John and I got to go to the temple the night before seminary started. It is always such an amazing place to be where I feel so much of Gods love.

Psalms 27:4

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

a resolution

My New Years resolution this year was to read The Book of Mormon as many times as possible.  Knowing that I can count on two hands all of the books I've probably ever read I knew this was a big challenge for me.  I read the Book of Mormon cover to cover once in college and it took over a year.  But two and half weeks in to the new year and I am already 1/3 the way through.  I can't wait to keep going.  

I love this book and I know it's true. I love how it works together with the Bible and it testifies of Jesus Christ and brings peace and joy to my soul. It prophesies of Christ before his coming and I know the things that it teaches are good.  I love to read its counsel and pray and ponder and wonder about it. It helps me to be a better person.

Our Sunday school teacher asked us to email her our scripture study goals for the year and I shared my goal with her. She responded and asked me if I had ever read the book of Mormon in a week!??  I had never even had the thought to do that before. It made me wonder if that would be something I could ever do. With teaching seminary and two kids that I am raising during the day reading it in a week is not quite possible for me but I'm going to try my best to finish it before the month of January is over.  Reading the book of Mormon this quickly is giving me a new perspective that I've never had. I love getting all of the storyline in a much quicker time. It's a beautiful book with a beautiful message about our Savior and I'm so grateful for it and what it teaches me.