Let's Play Ball

Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Take Me Out To The Stadium

Take Me Out To The Crowds

ROOT ROOT ROOT For the Jayhawks

Congrats to our T-Ball Super Star

#26 Spencer Mecham

P.S. He slept in his medal.........

The "Truth" shall set you free

This was one of my favorite quotes from conference.....
"When Children have and know scripture and truth we should not be afraid to let them experience the world." - Sydney Reynolds

Of course the first question I ask myself (oh me of little faith), how do I know exactly what to teach and that I am teaching all of the things that they need to know?

Korihor believed and taught that you could do whatever you wanted for tomorrow you die. He had many people follow him EXCEPT the Stripling Warriors. They would not be led astray and they sent him out.
Oh how I wish I could talk to the mothers of those faithful young men. How, what, why, when, the questions I would have.
I heard a story at conference that keeps this story alive today....

Brother James Toone worked in the MTC and noticed one young man that stuck out amongst the rest. He said he stood taller, spoke with more faith, acted kinder and was more willing. Brother Toone's felt inspired one day to ask the young man why he had such integrity and faith and this was his reply from memory:
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. We do not doubt our mother's knew it. -Alma 56:47-48
Following this memorized scripture the young man looked Brother Toone in the eyes and said "I too was taught by a mother who knows."

Even though these wonderful mothers are not here to ask questions their story and legacy is left to us to figure out our own how, what, why and when.

Sister Sidney Reynolds gave this advice:
1. Invite the Spirit and help your children to recognized it
2. Teach the word
3. Know the scriptures
4. Continue your education

Her best advice to me was this; Allow your children to ask questions and search their own truth. BEHOLD they can ask any question they want because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

Bitter but OH SO SWEET goodbye

So what is the one thing you swore you could never live without but throw a party when it's time to say GOODBYE?

DIAPERS

Goodbye diapers! Thank you so much for being disposable. I loved the way you fit my babies so comfy and snug and rarely ever would anything escape. You held so much at night (and days by my fourth) at times you even became translucent but still you held. I never had to wash you or pay you any attention and still you did your job. You and wipes made a great team and I will miss you, OR NOT.

SHE'S POTTY TRAINED

And feeling oh so FREE

Signs of Summer

Oh the sweet signs of summer. The anticipation to get in the water for the first time. To make your first big "SPLASH" into summer. Oh the sweet signs of summer.

Happy Mother?

Since the boys were gone camping with dad friday night I decided to take the girls to visit Me-Ma. It was a great visit I got to spend LOTS of time with my mom. We even took advantage of the Night Owl sale at Kohls together.

I got home Saturday evening and fell into complete exhaustion. When I woke up my body ached and I had a fever. I knew I possibly had a UTI and realized it was going to wait until my doctors appt. So I went to the Urgent Care and waited. When I was finally released it was to late to get my medicine so me and Tylenol P.M. went to sleep. I woke up on Mother's Day to complete yuck. Fever, body sweats, pain in my lower back and abdomen. My kiddos would explode in one at a time after they awoke to tell me Happy Mother's Day. I wanted to be a Happy mother but I was sick.

MY LB still went on as planned and they made me breakfast in bed, I read their cards and opened my gifts. I am sure I looked as though I was glistening with delight (sweating with fever). I continued to rest throughout the morning and felt a little better (all drugged up) by the time church came around.

I love to hear my kiddos sing with the Primary especially when they sing about "ME". But best of all I love when they come back to sit down and have that look of pride on their sweet little faces and give me kisses. I am so glad I didn't miss this.

After dinner I went to bed for the night and it was a LONG night.

Thank you MY LB for making my Mother's Day as special as it could be given the circumstances.

Heros also feel pain

One of the conference speakers was Camille Olson. She is surely a women to put on your heroine list. She is knowledgeable and confident with the scriptures. I have always wanted to be more of a scriptorian but find all of the knowledge difficult to obtain and also to contain. This was the third time I had heard her speak and I just relish in her words and confidence.

It's a funny thing when you find out that people struggle. That at times they felt less then their true potential. Had a hard time feeling happy and struggled with everyday tasks. That at some point they felt like they were alone. Especially when that someone is a someone that you put on a pedestal.

We are all human regardless of our efforts, accomplishments, potential and physical looks. Don't we all have those times that we feel alone and not quite good enough.

When Camille Olson was explaining her situation I felt a familiar pain. Not a "oh good she feels that way too". But a Christlike closeness of familiarity and a sorrow that others feel that same pain.

Camille related this experience that happened during this time when she was feeling lonely and abandoned. It changed my outlook and provides hope and renewed peace at times when it is needed.

Camille lives close to work and enjoys walking to work. She tries to take different routes to experience different surroundings. On one particular trip she noticed an Apricot tree, the Popcorn Popping kind and took note of the blossoms that occupied the tree. For the next several weeks she continued to take a different route. She recalled to us her feelings that I expressed earlier of her personal struggles with life. One day she decided to take the route with the Apricot tree again and in doing so she calculated how many Apricots she thought would be on the tree based on the blossoms she had counted earlier. When she arrived at the tree she began to count the apricots and much to her surprise her calculations were very close. Tears began to roll down her cheeks for as surely as the apricots continue to grow, God lives. He knows her, He loves her and He is aware of her and her struggles.

I have pondered this message and I have thought about the things in my life that could trigger that realization that God lives to provide comfort at times that I am weak. Surely the beautiful roses that I transplanted on a whim because I needed the container prove that God lives. I am not sure what will trigger those emotions in my time of need but I will certainly try to remember that God lives and look for reminders in the beautiful world that surrounds me.

However, I do know that in times that I feel my Heavenly Father's love the strongest these are the things that continue to remind me that God lives and loves me.

A Spiritual High

This past week I spent four glorious days on my own (with good friends) seeking a spiritually uplifting break from the norm. Better known as Women's Conference. This was my fourth visit to Provo for this blessed event. However I have to give a huge shout out to this being my "FAVORITE" year.
The spirit was so strong and each conference address and class I took was very specific to my needs as a wife, mother and daughter of God. The trip was also special because it was the first time that we took time out to visit the Temple during our trip. Just imagine filling your entire spiritual well up and then going to the house of the Lord to really drink it in. I can't believe how clear your understanding and love for the Lord multiplies when you are in the Temple.
I feel so uplifted, happy and spiritually fed that I had to add a little something to my blog title to emulate my thoughts and feelings and warn people that it is going to get churchy. BECAUSE........

CHRISTY IS ON A SPIRITUAL HIGH

The service opportunity was AMAZING!

Look at all of these women.

We are putting together hygiene kits. Ashlee and Amber are stuffing combs and I am folding towels. When completely finished with an auditorium filled with Latter Day Saint Women the grand total of kits (hygiene, school and infant) was over 30,000. It is an Earth shaking opportunity to be part of this.

It is not very often that you experience something where everyone is cheering, hooting and hollering and yet the Spirit is present and very strong.

Mt. Timpanogas Temple

This is the best shot we could get because it was raining and oh so beautiful outside. Did I say......

"I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE"?

Concert

Yes I said concert and yes it was complete with waving cell phones, dancing and shouting. One of my favorite parts every year, FOR SURE. This year we even go to get our picture taken with Alex Boye. Thank you Ashlee and Amber for rocking out with me at this fabulous event. SING IT WITH ME....................

Oh, sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline, I believe they never could

I am so excited to share some of the things that I have learned. Stay focused because this is your last warning. THIS BLOG IS GOING TO GET CHURCHY. I am trying to think of fun ways to share so not to get to BORING. For example I bought this EXCELLENT book by John Bytheway (How To Be Miserable) so I have decided to devote my Monday's to becoming MISERABLE. So if you are interested in learning how to become miserable you must tune in. But be warned, By learning how to be miserable you may also learn how NOT to be (miserable that is). (quote by John Bytheway).

I can't close my post without giving a SHOUT OUT to: Ashlee my sister in law, this is our third Women's Conference together and I love getting to know her and picking her brain. She is a great example to me of a mother, friend and LDS women. YEAH ASHLEE!!

And my friend Amber. I am so glad you were able to come and share this experience with us. YEAH AMBER!!

One last SHOUT OUT to him that I truly love, MY LB. You are the most awesome person I have ever met. Thank you for being there for me and supporting me. YEAH LB!!!!