Merry Service

Each year Grandma and Grandpa Mecham ask for a service project for Christmas. For the past two years we have united with our cousins to make it an extra special project. This year we decided to reach out to cancer patients and try to make their holidays a little brighter. Both of our families have experienced loss do to cancer this past year and it made the experience very personal and special for all of us.

Our family dedicated our service project this year to our good friend and neighbor Shawna Gross. The Gross family moved in when Shawna was seven months pregnant, it was fun to get to know them. Shawna was a working women and dedicated her time to working as a manager at the CPS office. We didn't see her much until baby Carson came into their home. However we did get quite acquainted with her husband John and her two year old Jackson. John is so amazing and happy, every time you see him you are guaranteed a big happy HELLO or a honk of the horn if he is in his truck.
Shawna was diagnosed with cancer shortly before Carson was born and a short five months later she lost the battle and joined her Heavenly Father. She was an amazing example of hope and perseverance, I will never forget the lessons I learned from her. It was a devastating experience for all. The next 9 months of our lives our family grew we now had three more boys (including John, trust me on this one) to love, care for and help mend their hearts. These were some of the saddest and happiest times of our lives. Moving away from them was very difficult and we miss them everyday that we don't see them.

This year our family loomed 30 plus hats for the cancer center and another 10 for family members. We did this all in an amazing three weeks, we know the Lord was supporting us every step of the way. The kids were amazing and learned very quickly. We loomed while we listened to books, drove in the car and watched movies. We dedicated the evenings to watching Christmas stories of hope and service while our little hands loomed away. The movies really helped bring the spirit of giving into our home. Every chance the kids got they wanted to serve, socks for the homeless (YMCA service project), picking Angles from the WalMart tree, and dropping coins into the bell ringers little red buckets. What joy giving brings!

On the week before Christmas the cousins brought the goodie bags and we supplied the hats and we ventured to the Cancer Treatment Center to give our gifts. They were very kind and told us about Team Hope, that is a team of volunteers that would give our gifts to those in the center that they would most benefit. The kids are already asking about how you can become a member of Team Hope. I love this experience and thank Grandma and Grandpa for asking for such a selfless gift and giving us the opportunity to give of our selves in a selfless manner during the best season of all.

I Am A Youth

Today I listened to a home school recording that contained much needed information about the coming of "youth". It was a real eye opener to me of how misunderstood children are and how much we as adults demand to be understood. The speaker touched on hormones and how as women these words should be familiar to us; PMS, depression, mood swings and so on. I loved this part, many of us have been experiencing these hormonal affects for years and yet we still do not know how to control them. Yet we expect a child who is just experiencing them to control them. Puberty is a major hormonal change.

She also stated that because the body has so many other things to be concentrating on during this period of time many things that came natural before become difficult (such as thinking and listening). This period of their life will pass, the hormonal changes will slow down, they will mature and become adults. However, the experiences, positive and negative they have with their parents will last forever. What an awakening! The book The Five Love Languages of Children was brought up and how important at this stage of life it is to know what makes your child feel loved. I need to read this book.

Matthew is such an incredible child, he has been very excited for this time in his life. He has been reading books about it, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Receiving and Honoring your Priesthood and a book all about Growing Up. During our oral exam and discussion times he enjoys discussing what he is learning. I am taken back with how much he has grown in spirit, mind and body. He enjoys Leadership Education and is determined to bypass the term Teenager and become a strong and able Youth.

Our new ward has been wonderful for him. He is so social and friendly with everyone and freely expresses compassion. The first week in our new ward he was invited to a party that he enjoyed immensely. He has made many friends in Boy Scouts and had a great time on his first backpacking trip. MY LB accompanied him on the trip and only had great things to say about him.

Knock on wood I have yet to experience any crazy hormonal changes but I feel very blessed to hear the words of experienced women that take their time to teach others how to achieve positive relationships with their children. I cherish my relationship with Matthew, MY LB has expressed how great it has been to go backpacking with him and serve with him now he is of age.

I have been given many things in my life to show responsibility for, but nothing as important as raising Gods children. What a fantastic burden, I pray each day that I get it right. I guess I should also pray to know what getting it right means. I think with all of my heart that getting it right does not mean raising perfect kids that don't make any mistakes. Getting it right means that as a parent I need to have a full and complete understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To understand the sorrows and heart ache that come from sin and be their for them in their time of need. I know there were many times that I wish I had someone physically there to comfort me and love me in spite of my follies. I am thankful for the peace that comes from knowing that God loves us and wants us to find happiness and offers redemption for our sins.

Matthew, being a good mom to you and your siblings is the most important thing to me (after loving MY LB). It was what I wanted to be when I grew up, a mom, it is my number one accomplishment I want to take with me into the eternities. I love you always and forever, mom.

These LIttle "Piggies" Went to Time Out

My sister in-law Ashlee and I went on our annual retreat to Time Out for Women (a gift from the mother in-law). This year the theme was "Choose to Become", so of course they encouraged us to choose something to become. It is so great to know that at 34 years old I can still choose to become something new. You know, something besides "all" of the things I already am. I mean I just became my kids primary educator not to long ago and I am loving that (I think I am exercising brain muscles I didn't know I had). I couldn't imagine ever thinking that I was already everything I could possibly be.

Ashlee and I decided to take this challenge to Become, and in the spirit of accountability we decided to "BLOG" about it.

I contemplated the recent events of my life and decided that I wanted to "become content with where my feet are". I wasn't exactly sure where I was going with this until the other day when I was having a conversation with some friends of mine. We were talking about baking/cooking and how much I dislike it (I should have chosen to become a baker) and the consensus was pretty much the same, we don't like to do it as much as we like to eat it. Except, there was one mom that said she loved it but she couldn't do it right now because her kitchen wasn't designed for it and she didn't have the right pans to do the job correctly. LIGHT BULB!! After she said this I sat quiet (rare moment) and thought about what she had said and realized that I knew exactly what "BE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE" meant. BECOME with what you have been given, BLOOM where you are planted, MAKE great with what you have.

My "become" is this....
Be where my "piggies" are! My little piggies have been longing to go back to there beautifully decorated home with the green grass and comforts of home. Bad little piggies.... My little piggies keep looking back ........ Bad little piggies.... My little piggies keep trying to race ahead..... Bad little piggies.... My little piggies keep saying, "if only". Bad little piggies....

These little piggies "choose to become" good little piggies that enjoy every moment, every place, every memory, every step, every trial and every experience that they are present for.

This little piggy goes to market to much....

This little piggy has always had a home (even if it didn't have a house).....

This little piggy can enjoy making roast beef....

Even if her little piggies eat none....

These little piggies can be be be be be whatever they want to become....

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I have so much catching up to do I don't know where to start. I could come up with a clever way to scrunch a couple of months into one post but then I would feel caught up and put away the blogness again for awhile. I think it is better to feel behind so I never feel like I can take a break. Wow, that makes it sound like I am being forced to blog, BLOG NOW OR PAY THE PRICE. Fact of the matter is the price for not blogging is lost memories. AND those I can not misplace!

Every year for the past several years my sister in law and I have gone to Utah for Women's Conference. This was the second year in a row that it snowed on us so I figured in the spirit of Christmas I could declare this MY most wonderful time of the year. Five days and four night without the normal stress of life. It is so blissful and peaceful and wonderful and the time away makes me feel so grateful. By now you are probably thinking that I am "full" of it, well you would be correct. I am full of the good stuff, the positive deposits that are made during moms annual time away.

I have really come to love and cherish the time I spend with Ashlee. She has become my sister in the gospel and is there to encourage me to do good. We always have the best talks on the way there and on the way home. She has been a great example in helping me with homeschool as well.

This year I truly had the best experience I have ever had. I feel so on top of my game with my studies and prayer, being a Gospel Doctrine instructor has helped me there. It keeps me on my spiritual toes and the knowledge I have gained has become truly invaluable to me. This year at Women's Conference I attended classes that focused on family and personal objectives that I have been working towards. Every instructor truly inspired me to be the best that I can be, depending on the day, my mood, whether I am hungry or tired, sleepy or just plain in a rotten mood. In other words my best changes daily and even hourly but as long as I know the direction I am heading and rely on the Savior to help me get there I can make it.

Sister Beck is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. When she speaks I feel as if she is speaking directly to me and I know the thousands of sisters sitting around me felt the same way. I know that she cares about me, understands me and wants me to find success in all of my endeavors. Amazing that I know all of this and I have never personally one on one spoken to the her. She knows me because like her I am a daughter of God, living my Earthly state and persevering the best that I can.

I feel so blessed to be a member of the LDS church. It gives me hope and happiness for brighter days and joyful blessings to come as I strive to keep and obey the commandments of God.

Highlights of my trip....

Being with Ashlee

Deseret Book Concert (rocks every year)

Service (newborn caps)

Shopping
Snow

Crafting and watching movies

Temple Square

Dinner with Alison

Being alone to think and ponder

I look like I am getting older! Of course I feel like I am getting older, pretty soon I will be taking all of the classes that they offer on raising a youth. I will be learning how to bring up a youth in the gospel and how to prepare him for a mission and temple marriage. Wow! It seems like just yesterday I was taking classes on becoming a wife and mother. I do love the changes that are occurring in my home and look forward to the things to come.

Life Comes At You Fast

I feel like life is zooming by. Of course it doesn't help that everyone around me is growing and changing. How rude people! You are making me feel old.

My Niece had a baby!

I am a "Grand Aunt"

Of course that makes my beloved sister a "Grandma"

And my much loved mother a "Great Grandma"

Life Comes At You Fast!

Good thing it has been such an awesome ride.

8 Is Great

Spencer had a very special day on Saturday. I say Spencer but it was really a special day for our entire family. Choices and decisions like this put us closer and closer to our goal of becoming a "Forever Family".

MY LB and I are so proud of Spencer and the choice he made to be baptized. He is such a special spirit and has worked hard to increase his faith and testimony leading up to this great decision. I love him for allowing his dad and I to truly use our testimonies and knowledge to lead him and guide him. Along with support from the missionaries, grandparents, and his brother Matthew.

Spencer is an incredible person and we are so blessed to know him and be the ones chosen to raise him in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was a very special day....

Spencer and his dad played I Am A Child Of God together. Spencer had been
practicing so hard and MY LB had been working overtime to get his String Bass fixed so he could play with him. Their hard work payed off and it was a beautiful performance that brought the Spirit.

A picture of the String Bass under construction in my front room (I called it "FrankenBass"). I am still in awe that this LB of mine is so talented.

Spencer had two great grandpas attend his baptism. What a great blessing to have your two great grandpas be witnesses to one of the greatest moments of your life.

I love this kid!


I will forever cherish this picture and the example that Matthew is for his younger brother.


MY LB and I also shared an anniversary on this day. I was so happy to share this experience with MY LB on our twelfth anniversary. That evening we were discussing what our favorite memories have been and we both agreed that our most cherished moments come from our Savior. The birth of our children, being Sealed in the Temple, and the baptism of our sons. We look forward to what the future brings and many more cherished moments together.

Another Spiritual High

I am going through another one of those extreme spiritual highs. The kind that can only be achieved by two full days of spiritual messages, some of which were given by the General Relief Society President, Julie Beck and a General Authority Dallin H. Oaks. Yes, in person. Yes, truly amazing!

I am one week and some change from returning home from Women's Conference in Utah and still going spiritually strong. To avoid being a preacher and instead being a women of shared knowledge I will give you bits and pieces at a time. But first and fore most I must tell you who I shared this journey with. My sister in law Ashlee shared this fine and wonderful experience with me. I feel so blessed to know her!

Here we are at the service opportunity making Tu Tu's for little princesses in the hospital.

This is the storm that Ashlee protected us from, bless her. I was so glad that I was not the one driving. We ran into snow on the way there and on the way home. Both times there was a vehicle flipped over on the side of the road. Very scary, thankfully we had the protective shield of prayer on our side. Upon seeing this picture MY LB said he was pretty sure that he DID NOT sign up for allowing me out in this weather. Who knew, the weather forecast said rain and some sunshine. Which is why we signed up to run in the Provo Run13 5K.

Here we are soaking wet from the rain and yes, snow that fell during our race. Of course with all of the rain, snow, running, and exhaustion it was easy to forget the temperature was in the 30s. That is until we stopped, now we were wet and freezing. It has been a long time since I have found so much satisfaction from a hot shower.

The entire Wonmen's Conference experience including the shopping, minus the driving conditions was amazing as always. Only this time I promise, really I promise, I am going to keep that spirit alive.

My first story I will share with you now....

Of course being women that the talks were designed for we heard a lot about, fighting guilt, staying strong amidst adversity, overcoming failure, celebrating our achievements, and lots of other you are worth more than you think topics. So, with all of this fresh in my mind I knelt down to pray before my 5K race. I felt the spirit so strong (that's what happens when you have time away from the kids. I KID I KID) and I had a strong feeling that I needed to "Smile and Run". Whatever else happened I needed to keep on smiling throughout my entire run. I was determined!

Oh what a challenge. It was cold (DI thrift store saved our hides from freezing to death, dumb unprepared warm weather runners), I smiled. It rained, I smiled. It snowed, I smiled. I wanted to walk but pushed through with a smile. I was being passed by lots of people, I smiled. I thought it was going to be easier than it actually was to keep smiling but goodness knows there was plenty to NOT smile about. I had to keep reminding myself to smile. By the end I wasn't sure if I was really actually smiling anymore, I had to feel my mouth to make sure. I REALLY wanted to be smiling when I crossed that finish line.

My fantastic sister in law Alison came to watch us and snapped this photo of me crossing the finish line. I think I was trying to smile but I can't really tell (maybe I am crying instead). I know that in my head I was saying, Smile, Smile, Smile.

Either way, I learned a very valuable lesson during that race, one that I am trying to carry over into my actual living. You know the everyday matters of life. The rain, snow, cold weather, exhaustion, and feeling like you are being passed by everyone around you. I am trying my best to keep reminding myself, just "Smile and Run", just "Smile and Run".

Oh how I truly hope that at lifes finish line I will have a smile on my face, one that I didn't force to be there. A genuine, I am so glad to be home smile that will be returned ten fold by a loving Heavenly Father.

To all of you my friends I encourage, despite what everyday has to offer you try your best to just.....

"SMILE AND RUN"

What weekend? What Easter? What busy? Not me!

I don't know why but for some reason I very much dislike when people give me a hard time about being busy. I hear it all of the time, "You are always so busy." So what? Is that a bad thing?

Here is the answer; Yes I know I am busy and in some ways I hate it and in other ways I love it. It's not a bad thing to be busy doing good. If that good doesn't take away from the peeps that I love.

Especially this one that I love the MOST;
(hate to burst your bubble, but this one is ALL MINE)

Do I purposely make myself busy? No! Does anyone? Do I enjoy being so busy? Depends on what I am busy doing. Do I want to slow down? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe so.

The Lord has blessed me with a huge platter of good things to choose from. There are so many good things that I am beginning to get "FULL". To bad I am not sure which of the good things I want to keep and which I want to discard. Sounds like a matter for serious prayer and reflection.

Well, in the mean time I guess people should just not worry about how busy I am. Or better yet people should be more willing to except that I just can't do everything and sometimes, YES, that even means saying no to you (speaking to no one in particular, just saying).

On that note, how busy was your Easter weekend?

Ours started off like this...

Saturday looked a little like this....

Conference

Maggie T-Ball

(Doesn't she look so cute)

Easter game and hunt with Grandma and the cousins.

Rush home to decorate our monster eggs and do a little "surprise for dad" while he was at Priesthood session of conference.

We are so blessed to have a dad and husband that works so hard for us. We decided to show him how much we appreciate him by filling eggs with words of love and candy. He had to find them in the dark without a flashlight. One thing each of the kids wrote that was the same as mine was along these lines, "Thanks for making the money". Love you MY LB!

Easter Sunday looked like this....

The Easter bunny came left goodies and hid our monster eggs.

After a wonderful omelet breakfast a la MY LB we watched the Sunday morning session of conference.

I just love this picture!

You can never get enough of hiding Easter eggs. We went to the park for an egg salad picnic and more egg hiding (The great egg games will be featured in my next post).

Back home for the last session of conference.

After conference we took naps. We were waken up by an Earthquake, did you feel it? I did!!

We were all so beat from a crazy two days and the kids were coming down off of a candy high so we opted for a quick stir fry and ended with a nice evening walk.

So now the question, where did Easter go? I think it is off hiding with Christmas, New Years, and Valentines Day.