Unrelated News

It's unfortunate bringing a bottle of Ibuprofen to work, then reading the expiration date: 

My son is a fast little tart at times. I walked out of the car for two seconds and returned to this scene: 

Taylor Swift is a personal favorite. I love her song "All too Well". But the all-time blow it out of the park, feel good wanna go take on the world song, "We are never ever ever getting back together"- that one is sublime. And I got to belt I out with Taylor and a stadium full of other lovely ladies at her concert last Saturday :) 

Life is hard. But it's beautifully blessed at the same time. 

Wouldn't It Be Lovely

Sometimes I put exclamation points in texts or comments when I'm really not that enthusiastic. I'm sure others do the same. But then that exclamation point stares at me, it starts to mock me... "are you really excited about this? are you sure it wasn't a sad face you wanted to use to end this sentence- are you sure there isn't more you would like to say? you're just going to end this with a false exclamation point?"

I don't care for that exclamation point.

Sometimes I don't like having to go to work every day. When my child hits other children, or throws his food halfway across the restaurant, or lays down in the middle of the store aisle because he doesn't want to sit in the shopping cart, all I want to do is quit my job, move into the mountains for a few months, and spend every day teaching my son how to be a behaved, respectable little boy. Wouldn't it be lovely to wake up in the morning, have a lovely breakfast prepared for Rafe when he gets up, sit with him patiently and teach him how to use his spoon or fork, how to drink from his cup without chucking it at the wall after every sip he takes, go for a nature walk with him around the neighborhood, point out ants and the garbage truck and the little birds he always sees before I even do. Wouldn't it be lovely to place him down for his nap every day, clean around a home of my own, prepare a healthy lunch for little man when he wakes up, spend the afternoon building forts and going to a farmers market to pick up fresh ingredients for dinner, playing at parks and going to gas stations and watching all the fun trucks stopping by. Wouldn't it be lovely to have plenty of time to prepare and sit down for dinner, before Rafe gets cranky and tired, time for a lovely bath and maybe one last wrestle before bed time.

I'm not ignorant. I know that all my amazing, hard working stay-at-home moms are saying, "girl, puh-lease, get your head out the clouds". I know that staying at home with Rafe would not always be sunshine and daisies. I know that every child has the naughty phase, whether or not their mothers work outside the home. I know that my day dream of staying home with Rafe is irrational. Sometimes moms who work in the home dream of a day surrounded by other grown-ups. Sometimes moms who work in an office building dream of a day surrounded by children. 

I am blessed to have so much support from my family.

I am blessed to have a wonderful nanny for Rafe. She's like a second mother to him, and we love her to death.

I am blessed to have such a wonderful job where I can work 9-5, have weekends and (recently) holidays off, leave early if needed, and support Rafe and I. 

I am blessed to have a Savior who has felt my sorrows, my longings, my loneliness.

Penny for your thoughts

I was walking out of work today and happened across this little man-

and although at first I was really excited about having good luck the rest of the day, I looked at the penny again and saw the words, "In God We Trust". And today, that statement rang especially true in my heart, because I had just listened to a beautiful talk by President Eyering,  "Where is the Pavillion?"

There is certainly a little more peace to be found- even if answers have not yet come- when we place our trust in God.

I KNOW it, I LIVE it, I LOVE it

Alright, we have switched domain names, added a tool that will block certain IP addresses- and we are back to public!

Why is this important to me? 

Because I have thoughts. 

(that is from Julie & Julia for those kindred spirits out there)

Because I have thoughts, I have a story, and I have a testimony.

So we're going to fight to stay public.

A couple of thoughts for tonight. I was listening to Sister Ann M Dibb's talk the other day- I know it, I live it, I love it - and just wanted to shout and sing for joy.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I know it because I search the scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and receive daily affirmation through prayer that this is the true church.

I live it because I want to be with sweet Rafe forever.

I love it because as I follow the teachings of Christ's gospel, I am filled with a happiness that surpasses anything else in this world.

Know it, Live it, Love it.

Privatized

I work for an AMAZING company- this last weekend they took us to see Iron Man 3- so naturally I had to actually watch all of 1 and 2 in order to be caught up! One of my favorite lines in Iron Man 2 was when Tony says something about how he has privatized world peace... anyway, if you know the scene, it was funny, and I thought about that when I wrote the title of the blog.

My private blog. Blah. I don't like that it's private, but we'll see if something can't be done about that. For now however, we are private.

What Rafe has been up to lately...

Caught ya!

Helping out Aunt Maddie while she chops off his hair...

Buzzed!!!!

My son, licking the lid of the can of Puffs...

saying "Hello, Bruce"

Climbing the mini-rock wall at the park. Yup. He's going to be a climber.

Unable to sit still for a simple picture... Too much to explore at the Tulip Festival!!!

Phinn's worst nightmare: being left in an enclosed space with Rafe....

Batman!!

Chomping on an apple & doing his morning stretches

Oh wait, this apple is good for me ?!?

We are wrapping up a chapter in our lives this week here in Highland, Utah- and beginning a new one in Alpine, Utah! Moving along with my parents about 5 minutes away to a beautiful new home. I'm certain it will take Rafe less than 5 seconds to fall in love with this new place- there is a cute little playhouse built into one of the walls in the basement :) And plenty of stairs for climbing on!

Rafe is the sweetest little rascal around. The other night I was snuggling with him while he slept, and after a moment he woke up, saw me, giggled, leaned in for a kiss, then after promptly fell back asleep. My heart melted, I cried, I snuggled him as hard as I could. What a precious little blessing he is in my life.

Love you forever Rafe

Elder Bednar

I love Elder Bednar. 

I stumbled across this, his first General Conference address as a newly ordained Apostle.

---

In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome all things.

I love Rafe.

I love Rafe.

I love the pattern he and I have getting home each day- he walks over to Bailey's (the outside dog) food bin, we walk over to her dish, then back to the food bin- all the while he points out where I'm supposed to be going, where I'm supposed to put the food. Then we go in and do the same for Phinn (inside dog). 

I love that he tells me he is ready for dinner by grabbing his bib and sitting himself in his chair- and insisting that he buckles himself in- "I do!!"

I love that when I say, "Bath time! Let's go downstairs!!" He immediately knows to open the door to the basement and slide down- but then once I've reached the bottom of the stairs as well, he grins and tries to run back up. It's a little game we play- he loves his bath, but likes to pretend like he won't go in it for a few minutes.

I love how unbelievably stubborn he is. The other night he was exhausted- almost falling asleep while I gave him his bed time bottle (he is getting a little old for this... but I can't help it, I love that last few minutes of quiet with him before bed) anyway- he was so tired, and I tried to help him out by holding his bottle for him.... he batted my hand away so fast and gripped his bottle himself so tight his little fingers turned white. He does things his own way- and in his own time.

I love how willing he is to give kisses- and how he knows the easiest way to get out of trouble is to lay a big wet one on me.

I love that he spends his time in the car taking off his shoes and socks... and then trying to put them back on. He does a pretty decent job with the socks- the shoes we'll need to work on :)

He is growing so fast- this time last year I was starting to draft ideas for his first birthday- now I'm doing so for his second!! He is the greatest blessing in my life.

I love Rafe.

I gave a talk today in church and want to share it on my blog- in General Conference, Neil L. Andersen said, "For those using the Internet and mobile phones, there are new ways to invite others to “come and see.” Let’s make sharing our faith online more a part of our daily life. LDS.org, Mormon.org, Facebook, Twitter—all provide opportunities." I added a new tab to the top of the blog, called Testimony. As I wrote the talk, I know I had the help of the Lord with every word.

"Come and See"