How Are We Already Here!?

I mentally was not prepared for our latest milestone. There are some recipes that I'm already needing to double in order to feed my family. I can't be too surprised since Samuel is obsessed with eating whatever they rest of us are eating. Tonight, he decided that the exact same food that was on his brother's plate was far more appetizing than what was on his plate. He's lucky he's so cute!

Yesterday

Yesterday was the best day I've had in a long time. These two sons certainly help make mornings even brighter.

At the last minute, I decided to make a couple of new recipes for my foodie group potluck. The kids did great! They requested a car shopping cart and at first I wasn't sure all three kids would fit, but they did and they all loved it!

I still can't handle how cute looking at the backs of their heads. Aaron and Lucy were very excited to see that there's a "pumpin" patch inside our HEB.

Lucy helped me make a homemade funfetti cake.

I forgot to take any pictures of last night with our friends, but it was great. We even came home with a bit of cake and a few stuffed bell peppers.

I really enjoy our group and this was one of the first times we included our families which was good since we usually have way too much food!

By the end of the day, my feet were more sore than my back! I am so excited that I'm really healing though I'm mentally preparing for another set back just in case. God is so good!

New Printer

We celebrated getting a new colored printer by cutting out colorful shapes! For the bast few years, I've heard good things about Epson ecotank printers and so we finally got one. This is the one we got. It's nice because you buy ink instead of an ink cartridge and if you run out of one color, you don't have to replace all of them. Here's hoping it's a good fit for our homeschool!

Sunday is the Best Day

"Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden,

Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.

He’ll safely guide you unto that haven

Where all who trust him may rest."

First verse of hymn #117 "Come unto Jesus"

By: Orson Pratt Huish

It felt so good to be back at church. Yes, the seats were uncomfortable and so I wasn't too sure I would stay the whole time but it was just what my spirit needed today. What a week! Something that I'm seeing is a surge of men and women choosing to learn about Jesus for themselves. It is powerful and uplifting me to be better at living what I believe. My prayers are shifting to focus more on those around me that are strangers because I know Jesus knows and loves each one of them. I am so grateful that I had parents that introduced me to Jesus as a baby. I still had to choose to get to know Him and I am so grateful that I have. I still have so much more to learn and change and grow, but I know I can trust Jesus to be with me through it all.

So Sunday

"I believe in Christ; he is my King!

With all my heart to him I’ll sing;

I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.

On earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick; the dead he raised.

Good works were his; his name be praised."

Hymn #134 I Believe in Christ
By: Bruce R. McConkie

We did another church at home week. The children have been congested and didn't want to spread any germs in their classes. After dinner we went to the Austin Temple. It is so exciting to see the progress each time we visit it.

Aaron and Lucy love finding "tools" to play with as well as throwing rocks. The work site is clean so there's not too many screws or nails but they find a few each time we visit.

Sleepy Sunday

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control: That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul; It is well, it is well with my soul."

Second verse of hymn #1003 It Is Well with My Soul

By: Horatio G. Spafford

I was able to hold Samuel for his morning nap today and it fed my soul. Samuel then got in another good nap at church. Healing is coming, but it's still slow.

A Day of Rest

"Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today. The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Oh, waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o’er my sinking soul, And I perish! I perish! dear Master. Oh, hasten and take control! The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Peace, be still. Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea Or demons or men or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, be still; peace, be still. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace, be still."

Second verse of hymn #105 Master, the Tempest Is Raging

By: Mary Ann Baker

Another Rough Sunday

"Be still, my soul:

The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide; 

In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul:

Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend 

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end."

First verse of hymn #124 Be Still, My Soul

By: Katharina von Schlegel; translation by Jane Borthwick

Right after this picture, I tweaked my back and it was bad. The pain was immediate. Thankfully I was able to hobble to the car and, with the heated seat on high, drive home. What makes this even harder is that my ankle was mostly healed and now I'm starting all over but with a much bigger injury. It's hard to be hopeful tonight.

We Are Two Dirls

Lucy frequently tells me, "We are two dirls." I think it's more about where she's at developmentally rather than she's feeling out numbered by two brothers.

She's such a fun girl, so we made crackers today. Lucy is becoming more independent and learning lots of good skills. I'm so glad we are two dirls. 

Sunday, Sunday

"We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives. If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission, and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living. Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life. If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children."

Amy A. Wright, April 2025 "Thou Art the Christ"

These pictures are getting trickier to take!

At one point during Sacrament Meeting, there was a stack of boys next to me. It's crazy that there's three of them now!

During a prayer after church, Lucy thanked Heavenly Father for her teachers. Then she thanked Him that her teachers help her to know what to do. Then she thanked Him that she could be part of the best part of their day. I only asked if she wanted to pray, I didn't prompt her with what to pray for. Lucy is hard to win over, but once she is she is a true friend.

Two Little Fishes

Today is a day I want to remember especially since I took almost zero pictures.

Our nephew Tyler opened his mission call on his Dad's (my brother) birthday. I'm so excited for his next chapter. (He hasn't posted about it, so I'm going to wait to share where he's going.) I love that the letter has changed so it explains what is means to be a missionary before the location is stated. I know that he's going to have a positive impact in so many lives.

Next, we went swimming with our favorite Paynes. How we love them! Lucy and Aaron were constantly asking Liv for help even when they didn't really need it. Lucy has gotten so much more confident in the pool. Samuel basically hates his baby floaty and wasn't really in a mood for swimming. Thankfully he felt better after a bottle and lounging with me. My ankle is doing better and was really good in the pool. There are some light sunburns on us because we delayed leaving to be on the video call for Tyler. I forgot to put another coat of sunscreen on us.

Aaron loves man handling Samuel and thankfully Samuel typically likes it. These brothers are so cute together!

Today was such a good day. 

I Need Thee Every Hour

A few months ago while studying the scriptures, the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" came into my mind. I felt so strongly that it is so true that I really do need Jesus every hour. Then the thought came that I need to remember Him every hour if I truly want Him to be with me every hour. I am not good at thinking about Him once my day gets going. I decided then and there to create multiple alarms to go off throughout my day to remind me to pray.

I have noticed that even though I still need these reminders throughout the day, there are times that I am quick to pray. Frequently it's prayers of gratitude but at times it is for help for my kids or me. It's a simple change but I'm like the difference it's making in my life.

Happy Sunday!

Scenes in church:

I love the boy, the outfit, the naked baby doll, and the partially eaten sandwich.

Last week, Aaron quickly volunteered to give a talk in Primary. He loves talking in the microphone and he was so excited to use it today. He was assigned to give a talk about section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Aaron wanted to talk about planets. We were able to connect the two by sharing that God and Jesus used priesthood power to create the planets. We are given His power as we make and keep covenants and it enables us to help others come closer to God. Aaron struggled starting his talk, but he was able to share it. It was hard to understand because he kept the microphone too close to his mouth, but he's getting more experience.

As we left church, my heart was overflowing with love for these three. It helped that we were listening to Jupiter by Gustav Holst. (I introduced Aaron to Holst's The Planets suite well over a year ago. He loved planets and I told him it was planet music. He quickly loved listening to it and started recognizing each planet.)

Aaron wanted to drive on the "new" bridge on the way home and I loved the beautiful view.