Father's Day 2014

Happy Father's Day to the men that make our wonderful lives possible! We love you!

Free Fishing Day 2014

We all know how much Adam loves fishing and camping.

Saturday brought around the much anticipated Free Fishing Day. I was able to get off work early on Friday and Adam rushed to pick me up early. While passing through Idaho Falls we grabbed a delish dinner from Sweeto Burrito and hit the road to go camping near Palisades.

The camping trip didn't quite turn out as planned. Once we got into the mountains and had been outside for only a short time, we realized that in our rush after work, we had forgotten our coats. Between the 2 of us, we had one hoodie, mine. I lent my hoodie to Adam Saturday morning so he could fish while I huddled in my sleeping bag.

He looks good in it right?

Despite forgetting our coats, we found the perfect camping spot. One that allowed Adam to fish close by and me to sleep in longer or relax while Adam fished. However, we did find ourselves surrounded by cow patties (some very fresh) and these camping buddies:

Friday night was pretty uncomfortable. Our air mattress decided to not hold in air. Apparently Adam found it more comfortable to sleep on top of me half of the night than on the deflated sheet of rubber! All in all though, I think the camping trip was a success. Adam purchased a camping toilet so that I didn't have to squat in the woods. That made camping more bearable. Adam caught a fish. And, although it was 9:30 in the morning when we began heading home due to the cold and some rain, I got a Carmel Caribou square ice cream cone. That made me a happy camper!

Chicken Wire

Have you ever had your thumb impaled by a piece of chicken wire? No? Well, it was a new experience for Adam too.

Adam was helping a cousin tear tile out of the bathroom when the chicken wire impaled his thumb and he had to go to the emergency room to get it pulled out. Hopefully the bathroom remodel turns out well!

The Motherhood Project: Part 3

This Mother’s Day, as I lay on the couch recovering from my gallbladder surgery, I read this quote by Patricia Holland posted in a meme on therhouse.com Facebook page, “In a poignant exchange with God, Adam states that he will call the woman Eve. And why does he call her Eve? ‘Because she is the mother of all living.’ (Genesis 3:20; Moses 4:26) … Eve was given the identity of ‘the mother of all living’ –years, decades, perhaps centuries before she ever bore a child. It would appear that her motherhood preceded her maternity, just as surely as the perfection of the Garden preceded the struggles of mortality.”

To most people, a mother is someone who has given birth to or is raising children. In fact, the Oxford Dictionaries defines the word “mother” as, “A woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.”¹ So, by definition, I am not a mother. But, if Eve was a mother before she had children, maybe I am too. What made her a mother? I think that motherhood is being in possession of the greatest attributes of womanhood. 

I decided that if I study the attributes of great mothers and women, I can use those attributes to become one of the greats myself. 

·         Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there for Christ during His trials and sufferings. She stood by Him while he hung on the cross.² I would say that she was empathetic and compassionate. I can do that. 

·         The mothers of the 2000 stripling warriors taught them about God, right and wrong, and obedience. They were teachers.^3,4 They were teachers. I can be that. 

·         The amazing Emma Smith endured hardships and was a comfort to her husband and others. I’m trying to be that. She also had a spirit of meekness, used consoling words, and laid aside the things of the world.⁵

There are countless other scriptural examples and models of great women that I see in my everyday life, including my own earthly mother. It would be impossible to list them all. I think that if I strive to be a great woman, I will find that I am a mother, with or without children. Join me in claiming your motherhood. 

References:

1.       http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/mother

2.       John 19:25

3.       Alma 56:47

4.       Alma 57:21

5.       D&C 25

Christmas in the Springtime

Right now it is kind of like Christmas morning in our house. We saved up a bunch of yogurt, sour cream, and cottage cheese containers and planted starts for our little garden last week. Our kitchen has become a little greenhouse and each time we walk in we have to examine our little yogurt cups and count how many sprouts we have. I found myself wanting to jump out of bed this morning and run into the kitchen to check on them. Hold on... let me go update my count... 18!!! It was 15 when I counted this morning!

Do you think these beans will turn out with a strawberry-banana flavor?

I walked in the door from work yesterday and found this:

Adam was worried that our fabulous baby plants weren't getting enough sunlight, so he nailed a lamp to the wall! Our very own greenhouse!

Pop Quiz

Quick, pop quiz! What happened on April 3rd 5 years ago (2009)?

ADAM AND I WERE MARRIED FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY!

We weren't planning anything this year because of our recent vacation, but both of us thought that 5 years was a pretty big deal and we wanted to do something about it. Darn Adam beat me to it! I was going to come home from work and take him out to dinner, but when I stepped in the door our table was set up in the living room with candles and our "fancy" plates. Adam acted as waiter and brought me my first course which was salad and Texas toast. Next, he brought in Hot Hawaiian pizza from MacKenzie River Pizza. I was ecstatic! Delicioso! Finally, we ate home made brownie earthquakes (Did you know Adam worked at DQ when he was in high school? We'll have to tell you the story of the time I walked into his store!) It was so simple, yet thoughtful. Adam had taken flowers to my work and they were sitting on my desk when I got there. He included 2 chocolate caramel Cadbury eggs (well 3, but he ate one) and a tear jerking card. I sure love that man!

The Dangers of Sports

Sports are dangerous. In my humble opinion. You see, every time I play a sport or even watch one, I get hit by the ball. One time before Adam's mission I got hit by a foul ball at the local Chuckar's baseball game. I kid you not. That darn ball chipped off some of my knee cartilage and left me bruise for months. The ball park offered to get the ball signed for me as a memento or something, but I didn't want that thing anywhere near me! See what I mean? Sports are dangerous. Just the other week I was trying to watch a volleyball game of Adam's and was chatting with someone outside the gym doors. Lo and behold the ball came whizzing out and almost hit me!

Now, Adam is not one to shirk at flying balls. He pretty much loves all things sports. Golf, soccer, football, softball, and on, and on, and on. But, SPORTS ARE DANGEROUS, and Adam sure has had to pay the price this last week.

1. 1 jammed thumb in intramural volleyball
2. Another jammed thumb in intramural softball
2. 1 major calf "raspberry" from sliding into 1st in intramural softball
3. 1 strained ankle from a rousing game of racket ball

I can be a pretty good cheerleader, but unfortunately not this year because I haven't been feeling well this sports season. Come to find out today, my gallbladder is only functioning at 12%. Looks like my future has the makings of a laparoscopic surgery.