Higher

This year I set the goal to be more organized. That included people's birthdays. One of my moms favorite things are birthdays. She loves to celebrate people and life's adventures. Sometimes I don't know what to get or do for her because she does so much for me everyday. Nothing is good enough for my mom. I am quite lucky to have her, don't want to even think about where I would be without her influence.

This year Time Out For Women came to our city!!! I immediately knew that I was getting my mom a ticket. Only problem was it was before her birthday so I would have to give it before hand. Luckily she was able to forgive me for jumping the gun. Lol. Good thing she's wonderful. Activities are my favorite kind of gifts. Who needs more stuff!

Time Out For Women (tofw) is a conference for women. It is organized based on the beliefs and values of members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but open to the public. During tofw there are speakers who share their life experiences and inspirational musicians. Tofw is not a typical religious event. There was clapping, hollering, singing, dancing, laughter, learning and some tears. It is a wonderful combination.

I find tofw is a great way for me to renew and revitalize my opinion on womanhood. I love being a woman but sometimes I let myself get down on the roles and responsibilities that I have.

Not only did my mom come but we almost had a row of family. I love getting together with my mom, siblings, aunts, cousins and my grandma. I know that doing things together strengthens our relationships and allows us to lean on each other. They help keep me solid.

Growing up we listened to devotional s on tape in the car. Some of those talks have stayed with me and they probably will forever. We met one of our favorite speakers!! Here he is Brad Wilcox!!

Hilary weeks is a musician and also very inspiring. I am very impressed with her music, music reaches the soul like nothing else can. She also incorporates experiences and lessons into her presentations. One of my favorite things she sharing this year was power positions. We all have things we don't want to do. Laundry, dishes, deal with various circumstances, etc. she talked about our mindset and how some positions help us to focus on what's ahead and accomplish with power. My favourite was the "wonder woman." Here we are with our poses. Enjoy our goofiness we certainly do.

Here is another speaker, her name is Kris Belcher. Incredible story. I always learn more about trials and the power of perspective. Perspectives are a choice. I can choose to see the good, the hand of God or focus on the negative. Kris not only focuses on the good but has learned to laugh with life. Especially at the circumstances she gets into as a blind women. She is a hoot. If you have the chance to hear or meet her I highly suggest it.

Who's hungry?

Our little Bee wants to eat everything in sight. I used to be able to eat my meal no problem while I nursed him but he wants my food more than his. He is so curious to what is in my hand or what's in my bowl.

We cracked out our highchair and I started with feeding him milk from a spoon. I thought that it would help him to learn how to swallow sitting up. One change at a time. Who wants to learn a new skill with a crazy new taste as well?

He did really great with that so I just added a bit of cereal so he could have the flavor. He did good with that too. It slipped past his lips a bit more but he was sure trying.

The second time we fed him cereal he did such a great job. Mostly I think he just wanted the spoon. What a silly boy I have.

Ditto

Shopping!!

I love it; when it comes to looking for adorable shoes. Laundry soap, dishwasher detergent, mascara, diapers not so much.

I hate the idea that I have to walk the same isles every time I need more of the same products I get every month. Once I have found what I like I stick with it.

You may have heard me mention "Ditto" before. It is my favourite way to shop. Instead of creating a new shopping cart every time I need to purchase something I just add it to my ditto list. I decide the amount that I need and when I need it. I generally order once a month. Ditto displays 12 months which is perfect for planning ahead. I know how fast I go through detergent so I have it on my order approximately every four months. I also know what gifts I plan on giving people. Instead of storing gifts I just have them shipped to me when I need them. This is helping me stay more organized and prepared. I am looking forward to May. We bought a lawnmower and I don't have to borrow a vehicle to bring it home!!!!

Love coming home to my presents, its almost like Christmas. Minus the fact that I pay for my presents.

The answer is yes, all of this came in a couple boxes. Oh and  that includes our fabulous new coffee table. It is way more kid friendly, no glass top or tons of wood to knock heads on. I love that it comes with two foot stools that I can have out and about or tucked neatly away in the table.

 

I forgot to mention this wonderful service is available in over 80 countries worldwide. Change your way of shopping. Check it out here.

What would you rather have delivered to you than go to the store to find it? 

Four months

Bee is four months already!! Time has flown.... Well most days. There are still days when I don't have a clue to what he wants or needs. Those days are so long. I definitely have days where I am just waiting for Jason to get home so he can have his turn. I am so grateful to have a wonderful husband.

Bee is doing wonderful. He has reached alot of milestones for his age. He is extremely observant. Always watching where we are or what we are doing. I am often amazed at the focus that he has.

He loves his toys. He easily picks them up and he can even pass them from hand to hand if he concentrates really hard. His eyeballs almost pop out of his head. He has a giraffe that he adores he could just gobble it up all day long. Recently he has become quite find of his exersaucer. It has toys on the tray and his seat spins. Oh so fun!!

Last week I was preparing dinner in the kitchen and Jason was with Bee. Jason hollered at me because Bee rolled over!!! How exciting and if course he waited til I was in the other room to show off. For a month he has been lifting his feet into the sky and dropping them onto one side. He was so close to rolling over but always got stuck on his side. Not anymore we have a roller. This week I saw him roll over! I was so excited. I was clapping for him like I do for all his little victories, he just looked at me like Mom I just rolled over its not a big deal. He's only four months and I'm already embarrassing him. Oh well. It will be good for him. Right??

When Bee was first born we had problems with breast feeding. His latch just wasn't very good so we have been using a shield. For those of you who don't know what it is, it is a plastic barrier that helps babies latch. Anywho back to what I was talking about. Bee has decided that he no longer needs the help!! I was told that once he got used to the shield that he would not be able to nurse without it. For a few days he was extra fussy while nursing and I couldn't figure it out. Then he ripped off the shield and just started nursing. What a smart boy I have. I thought maybe it was just a fluke but it has been almost a week hooray! One less thing I have to carry around with me.

Bee was such an amazing sleeper since he was 7 weeks old, only waking up for a quick snack at 5am. These last couple weeks he has gone back to waking up twice during the night. Ugh!! I need sleep. I know I have been spoiled but I need sleep.

I can't wait for what the next month brings.

Strengthen Home and Family

When I was growing up I attended a program called Young Women's. It is a religious group/class for girls from the ages of 12 - 18. In 2002, during my time in Young Women's, they added a line to our theme. Originally it went.

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.  

We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, 

and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • 

Choice and Accountability • Good Works • and Integrity

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared 

 to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, 

and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

In the paragraph that speaks about what we are preparing to do, "strengthen home and family' was added. When I was a youth those words were just more words that I had to remember but as time has gone on they have become some of the most important words to me. I know who I am and what my responsibilities are. As my family grows so do my responsibilities. With Bee growing every day I have been thinking a lot about how I am going to teach him who he is and what his responsibilities will be so he will grow to be the man his Heavenly Father needs him to be.

During General Conference this April I heard a lot about strengthening home and family.
Why strengthen home and family? When to? How do you? How will my Savior help? What do I need to change personally? How can our family change?

I am so grateful for the prophet and apostles and for the direction that they provide. I know that when they speak they are speaking the words of my Heavenly Father. I am overfilled with gratitude to know that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to guide and direct my life. I absolutely love my life, that however does not mean that my life is perfect and easy. It takes work, sometimes lots of it. I can tell you that it is 100% worth all of the effort you must put in.

I am excited about all of the new things I have learned and things I am working at changing. It's going to take time, good thing I have a patient husband. I will update you on my progress individually and also on how our family is doing in regarding to strengthening our foundation.

What makes a home and family strong in your opinion? Do you have any tips? What works in your home? What doesn't work? I would love to hear what you think as I am new at this mom/homemaker thing.

Some of the Greatest Gifts

We had one of the most marvelous visitors! Lindsay stayed over night at our place before she went home. We have been friends for 9 years or so. I am so lucky. I also love that my husband loves my friends too.

I love when she comes home even if its only for a few days. With best friends it doesn't matter how long it's been since you spoke it always feels like you just got off the phone. I love that feeling. What a blessing. I am so thankful for her and her example. I also love that she gets to be Bee's auntie. He is going to learn so much from her.

A good friend makes all the difference. I find that my most precious gifts are people.

Easter 2013

Some beautiful Easter flowers from my wonderful Grandma!

Coloring Easter Eggs

Bee sure is helpful. It was fun to paint some for him.

Wednesday afternoon

G.W. and Edna King!

 

I love this couple! As soon as they came on stage my heart melted. They had life and a pizazz in them that is not found often. My background stems in recreation therapy - gerontology. This gives me an instant love for anyone over 60.

We had amazing seats and I'm so glad we did!

Let me share a bit about this amazing couple. They have been married for 41 years. In this time they have become world travelers. In their first 5 years of marriage they went to some islands on their honeymoon and traveled Europe on 5 dollars a day. G.W. wrote a book on his travels and had it published years ago.

I have only been married for two years and cannot imagine traveling that much in the next couple years. Especially while they were still finishing school (nursing) and in a starter job (civil engineer). Where there is a will there is a way.

The Kings have been retired for 31 years. Every month they take a week off and go on vacation! Every month!! Oh the possibilities. They have been in 53 countries and had the opportunity to travel with their families. They have taken their mothers and sisters all over the world. G.W. said he is looking for the best chicken in the world. I think that's a wonderful idea. I wonder where in the world it might be? Any guesses? Do you have the recipe for the best chicken in the world? Yumm even thinking about chicken makes me hungry.

I try and learn something from every couple that I meet. This couple was very inspiring. I loved the way that they complimented each other, worked together and achieved what they worked for. Jason and I are constantly bettering our selves and our relationship. We still have a ways to go but I am loving the journey we are on together.

G.W. kept saying on a Wednesday afternoon, No job, nothing to do, someone's got to do it!! That's exactly right. Wednesday afternoons are meant to be enjoyed by someone so why not Jason and myself.

My favorite story shared was the story of the pay check!

I will briefly share it.
GW was working for a firm and every other friday was payday. It was back in the day when direct deposit didnt exist. His checks where delivered to his cubicle by a man with a wobbly cart. You could hear it coming down the hall. People just waited impatiently for the cart to roll to them so they could rush off to the bank. Most people had already allotted their entire paycheck to various bills and needs. GW hated going to the bank on friday's because it was so busy. As a result of the work that GW and Edna had been doing outside of office hours he was not concerned about his paycheck. When the cart came to him, he opened the envelope, looked and the cheque and set it in the drawer. He didnt need to rush off to the bank. He did this with 3 pay cheques. He received a call from the finance department, they were concerned that he wasn't receiving his money so they told him he better deposit them soon. Keeping them was throwing off their book keeping. GW decided to make thursday his bank day. He always went to the same cashier and deposited the money into one account. He did this for a year and didn't touch the money. He just watched it grow. Life is good when you don't have money concerns.

This is similar to our plan. We have almost worked enough so I can stay home with our little Bee. We will see what the future holds. I might keep working for bit, until my next maternity leave, just so I can put my entire cheque in the bank and just watch it grow. Then bring Jason home from work so he too can spend quality time with our family. I am so excited for our future and the opportunities/possibilities that lie in our future.

Wednesday afternoon. No job, nothing to do, 

someone's got to do it!!

Garden

I have decided that I need some new hobbies.

Since we have a yard of our own I decided to take control of it. Make it beautiful and useful. Maybe some flower beds and definitely a garden.

Last week I started a garden!! My family had a garden while I was growing up but I never enjoyed it. It might have had something to do with the size. It was MASSIVE! Honestly, I think it had more to do with the fact that I just wasn't interested.

My garden is currently on my kitchen table.....

 

Just waiting til the Southern Alberta weather decides if its actually spring or just fake spring. So far still fake spring.