"E.T. Shoes"

I HAVE to write this down before it fades!

June's 2nd day of school. She came home and started eating her snack. She still isn't telling me much about school. It seriously is too much for her to process. She honestly can't go back and think about her day and pick just one thing at a time to talk about. haha. She's having too much fun! 

I finally get out of her that they did stations today, then a light bulb turns on and she yells, as if the thought will leave her immediately, "MOM! I HAVE TO TAKE E.T. SHEOS!" 

I said, "E.T. shoes?"

June: Yes, mom! E.T. shoes!

I was instantly confused because we recently wanted the movie E.T. with the kids and thought that Halloween wasn't until next month.

I then said, "June, why do you need E.T. shoes?"

June: "for school mom."

Me: "June why in the world would you need alien shoes at school." 

(My mind is going wild with how in the world I can make weird brown alien shoes that look like E.T.'s feet!)

June then says out of frustration, "NO MOM, not E.T. shoes like the movie "ouch.." I need school E.T shoes to run around in!" 

BAHA HA HA HA!

My lightbulb then clicks on. I giggle and say, "June, it's P.E. shoes. Not E.T. shoes."

She then giggles and says, "Oh! I thought it was E.T. shoes!" 

We both laugh together and at how I thought she meant the alien E.T. and she meant P.E. running shoes.

What a delightful memory. It will be hard for me to call Physical Education class P.E. I want to call it E.T. now!

Rock Collecting

June has recently gotten into rock collecting. She LOVES looking and studying each rock with particular interest in their uniqueness and differences. 

This summer she has been collecting rocks from our own yard and others we visit. She has been bringing home about 1-3 rocks a day. She then begs me, (for some reason right in the middle of making dinner) to come outside and see her rock collection. Since she can't remember which ones are new, when she gets me out there we have to look at each one all over again. 

Well last week was her first full week of school. She had been bringing home 1-3 rocks a day she finds at recess, but on Thursday, she brought home 19 rocks! She was so excited!

 (My eyes became enormous and I thought, "Man, by the time you are in 5th grade, we're going to have to buy the school all new gravel!")

I simply said, "June, these are lovely rocks, but the school will run out if you bring home this many everyday. Can you be VERY choosey and only pick 1 perfect rock a day?" 

She heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Oh good idea! My backpack is really heavy!"

As she sat on the stool at our counter top she wanted to show me everything she liked about every rock. Her eyes lit up and she radiated happiness! She grabbed what I thought was a normal grey rock and said, "I like this one because it's round and has little holes in it." 

She picked up another rock oozing with happiness and said, "I like this one because it's black and is like a triangle."

"I like this one because it's green and is smooth on this side."

"This one is pretty because the pink and black dots."

"This one sparkles in the sun! Mom, come see in the sun!"

She pulled me outside and we took the rock to a bright beam of sunlight shining through our trees and she said, "SEE!? Isn't it sparkly?!"

We ran back inside to look at all of her treasures. She bubbled with giddiness.

She continued to pick up each rock and describe to me how precious it was.

"I like this one because it feels fun."

"I like this one because it's shaped like a moon."

"I like this one because it's SO... pretty and white!"

(and she went on... and on... and on.)

It was such a sweet and tender 20 minutes with my little girl. She was looking at what I saw as ordinary playground rocks, when she saw jewels.

I couldn't help but think, this is EXACTLY what our Father in Heaven does with us. To us we may all seem ordinary with slight differences. Some are clearly different and stand out amongst the crowd, but all still are very similar. 

To God, we are all VERY unique and different. Some sparkle in the sun. Some have different colors, shapes and textures. Some have been broken, and show inside the rock's hidden treasures of shiny patches of granite. To the untrained eye, they may look normal and plain, but to Him, each is perfect and hold beauty, shape, and love. He is giddy when talking about each child and their differences. He wants to show everyone how each individual is different, and beautiful the way He made them. He rejoices in the differences between His rocks. 

I pray that when we look at those around us we don't see them as ordinary rocks, but as beautiful gems the Lord has put on this earth to make the world a glorious place.

My challenge to you, look for the beauty in all the rocks around you. It takes a humble eye to see the true beauty in the hardest rocks.

1 Samuel 16:7
"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

Why do I go to church?

I was recently asked to accompany the sister missionaries in our ward to a lesson. They said their investigator was having trouble understanding why it's so important to go to church every week. They asked me to share some thoughts about why and what keeps me going to church. 

I had a morning to reflect and gather my thoughts together. 

"Why do I go to church?"

"Well, 1. It's a commandment,

And 2......it gives me strength. (Period)"

People complain about 3 hours of church, but for me, I need EVERY SECOND! Weeks are long and hard. Between craziness of family, work and friends, trials and hard times fall on everyone. Those 3 hours are crucial to stay on top of Satan. He tries to bring us down and make us feel like it's not important to go to church. I recently saw a quote that I love, 

"Satan tries to limit our praying because he knows our praying will limit him." 

It's the same with church. It builds me up and makes me stronger. 

I get spiritual armor that helps me withstand the constant blows of the adversary and harsh world. I am renewed and built up on Sunday's. I feel loved by those around me. I feel stronger knowing those in my neighborhood and community are trying just as hard as I am to get through life. We all come to church to make ourselves better and to gain strength from each other. 

We come to worship our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. We renew our covenants to always remember Him in all we do and say. 

Church also teaches our children about the scriptures, and how to live life! My children are taught how to be reverent, how to have fun, sing, and pray. Children will not know how to act if they go to church every once in a while. They have to be trained and taught how to behave in a church setting constantly and consistently. School teachers can see the difference between children who attend church regularly and who don't. Children who attend church can sit still and be quiet during lessons.

Why do I go to church?
 For me, for my family, and for my armor.
I need church to help me fight everyday against Satan. We live in a battlefield. We fight everyday to choose right over wrong. The gospel of Jesus Christ builds you up, it gives you the tools, metal and instructions to build your armor. It teaches you how to defend your homes, your family and your spirit.

Going to church is not easy, but it is DEFINITELY WORTH IT!

Famous vs Greatness

Today we had an amazing RS lesson on True Greatness. 

What is the difference between greatness and famous.

It seems like most famous people are not "great" people. Do they hold traits that we desire for ourselves to have? Does money and wealth measure true greatness? 

I want to know what happened. 

In the 50's the top 5 "greatest people" were Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Helen Keller, Queen Elizabeth, and Albert Schweitzer.

I decided to search"great people today" and some of the first things that pop up are "top 10 greatest business leaders," "Famous people of today," "Find out what famous person shares your birthday!" 

I have always believed that everyone is great in their own way. Everyone has a choice to make in what way they want to be "great." They can choose to be a great wife, a great mom, husband, businessman, teacher, sailor, pilot, street sweeper etc. Whatever you want to excel in you will if you put your mind to it.

I think of everyone who has had "great influence" in my life, not one of them is worldly famous.

When you have people who stand up for what they believe like honesty, love, and God; they chose to be great. When you have people fighting for our country in small and big ways, they choose to be great. When the woman down the road holds a preschool to shape the young lives of children today; she has chosen to be great. When a husband or father doesn't complain about his tiring job; he has chosen to be great. When a mom cleans the house as fast as she can, just to sit down to read to her children, she has chosen to be great.

Greatness is kindness, love, service, generosity, selflessness, humility and more.

I've been thinking about how I can teach our children how to be "great?"

I think that simply teaching them how to pray to the greatest thing that exists to all of mankind is considered "great." They humbly kneel to offer up praise to such a supreme being they can't physically and spiritually live without is the best lesson we can teach our children. Give thanks for what He has generously provided us and to gently ask for things we need, not want.

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."
Simple prayers humbly whispered to our Heavenly Father opens a line of communication and help no one on earth can describe.

Another way to teach our children how to be "great" is by serving our fellow men. The unnoticed acts of love and service provided by a humble friend. To the world they may not be "great," but to the recipient of the service they received, they are the "greatest!"

"To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

In the world "greatness" is construed by social media, books, and more. Keep your eye on the glory of God. He is the true judge of greatness. "Remember the worth of souls is GREAT in the sight of God." Never think for one second that you aren't "great" just because your name or face isn't on TV or the radio. Choose to be great in your family and your community. Greatness is measured by the lives you touch for good. Who's life can you change for the better?
No one is like you. You have a mind set unlike anyone else. God made who you are for a reason. You were meant to find, help and aid those around you. Who you are, is truly great.

(I want to be fearless, fun, happy and loving like my little superhero)

There are no small miracles

I've come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a small miracle. 

On Tuesday around 5:30pm our 5 year old June and 3 year old Connor were playing around after dinner while I washed the dishes. All of a sudden I heard June scream, Connor came out of the master bedroom saying very calmly, "Mom, June hurt herself." The next thing I heard was a blood curdling scream not like her usual timid yell for me when she falls down and bumps her arm. I raced back to the bedroom and saw June on her hands and knees as blood was dripping from her head and pooling on the floor. She said in panic, "MOM! WHERE IS IT BLEEDING?!" She didn't know what she had hit. I turned her over quickly and saw a HORRIBLE gash on her head. I instantly thought "Stitches!"

I ran into the master bath and grabbed bath tissue to help wipe off some blood from her face. I pinched her head and told her to walk with me into the kitchen where my phone was, she started panicking and hyperventilating saying she couldn't breathe and she tasted blood. I tried to calm her as I kept pinched her gash together to try to slow the bleeding. I went from a nervous 7 to a 20 with her saying she couldn't breathe. Did she hit her neck? Was she bleeding inside her throat? Why is she tasting blood? I grabbed my phone and tried to call my husband who was in a meeting. No answer. She was struggling to breathe so I did what I had to, called 911. They answered quickly and I told them the situation and they called an ambulance to come. 

I laid her down on the floor by the front door. They came in the door 5 minutes later. Thank heaven we live in the small town I grew up in and I knew 4 of the 5 people who walked through the door. It was a HUGE blessing to be able to tell June that I knew all of these men and they were VERY nice. June even knew one of the volunteer EMT's, her little friend Wyatt's dad. He could only be there for a few minutes, but it was a HUGE blessing that she could recognize a face in the middle of all the unknown men.

The thing that breaks your heart most about such a traumatic experience is the pure fear in your child's eyes. Thank heaven by the time the EMT's walked in the door my husband called back and I told him to rush home. Another sweet blessing is that we just happen to live across the street from my parents. They had just arrived home from a small trip so I called my dad to come get Connor while we take June to the hospital. He was able to be over in 1 minute while they assessed June. One of the EMT's mentioned to me while checking June said, "Good job mom for getting this to stop bleeding before we got here." It was nice to know I provided a tiny bit of help. My husband then arrived to  silent stress and a fear stricken wife and daughter. Bless his soul, he knows what do under pressure. He was a combat medic and certified EMT for 5 years while we were in the Air Force so it helped having him arrive so quickly. He knew his way around an emergency situation and ambulance and could help. We pulled out of the drive way and I saw my dad standing in his doorway just in shock that his sweet 5 year old granddaughter was being taken in an ambulance on a stretcher. I waved quickly as I kept up with the ambulance. Josh rode in the ambulance with June as I drove the car RIGHT behind them. I didn't want that vehicle out of my sight. It held two of my most precious possessions, one of which was hurt. We made it to the hospital in 3 minutes, yet another blessing that we live in a small town and everything is close and there is NEVER any traffic. 

I pulled into a parking place and ran out of the car waiting for them to bring my sweet child out. I was thankful Josh was inside with her so she wouldn't be to scared.

They got her out of the ambulance and into the ER quickly.

No other patients were in the ER so the doctor and nurses could help her immediately. They were all very nice and helpful. One nurse gave her a new stuffed animal within the first 2 minutes of her arrival. I've never seen a child grab a stuffed animal so gratefully, and put it under their arm and hold it so tight, in a quick fluid motion. She was SO thankful to have something to hold other than mom's hand. Mom's hand got in the way of the doctor and nurses taking vitals, the stuffed moose didn't. June loves to come up with names for her toys. I asked her what she wanted to name it and she said, "Moosey Moo." ha ha.

We got her checked in quickly and doctors said she needed a cat scan to be sure she didn't break any cheek bones or bones behind her eye. It was a very hard hit and they needed to be sure there wasn't any brain damage. I HATED looking at that deep gash, I wished they could have just sewn it right up before she had her tests done.

About 20 minutes into being there our Bishop showed up to see how we were. He and Josh gave June a small sweet blessing. It was so nice of him to stop by to be sure she was alright, and if Josh and I were ok. Two minutes after he left, my sister Candace showed up. It was so nice that June could see how many people were worried about her and came to her aid immediately. Candace called her husband (my brother in-law) - he's an optometrist, to come look at June's eye. My brother-in-law came 10 minutes later to check it out. Everything seemed good. He had explained that he was looking to be sure the bones behind her eye didn't pop. Those can break and small bone fragments can get into your blood stream and harm you terribly. June's eye was good, what a relief.

We went into the cat scan and Josh stayed with her telling her to remain very still. He talked with her perfectly kept her calm. What a good daddy. My good friend Mandy from High School was the on call technician. It was so nice to have a friend there. She hugged and asked me, "How in the world are you staying so calm?!" I sighed and thought, do I look calm? Because I am at my nerves end about to bawl! It kills me to see such fear, hurt and pain in my baby girl.

We took her back into the ER to wait for the results. They put numbing gel into her gash. We waited for it to work then she would get her stitches.
It felt like over an hour they finally came over and started to test around her gash to see if she felt anything. It looked like she was good and he grabbed the packet to start giving her stitches. The doctor threaded the needle and we held June down in case she jumped. She instantly screamed. She could feel EVERYTHING! OH NO! SHE WASN'T NUMB! Poor girl. We had to continue. After he finished the first stitch he put a lidocaine shot into her gash and around to hopefully ease the pain. Lidocaine shots HURT to she screamed more. He said she would need 5-6 stitches before but now that she was crying so hard he only gave her 3. In my mind I thought, this was a facial wound I wanted him to keep stitching, 3 more minutes of pain would be sure the scar was small and not big. But he stopped at 3. Grrrrr.....

When they were done I picked her up and held her close and rocked her back and forth to stop her crying. It also helps to stop crying when the nurse is gives you a sucker and tells you, you were so brave!

We got the results from her cat scan and it all looks good. We were told to keep a close watch on her. The doctor said it sometimes take 3-4 weeks for a brain injury to show up on a cat scan. If she throws up, think head injury. If she can't walk straight and can't remember things, think head injury. Bring her back if any of those things occur.
We were discharged and took off back home.

My parents went to the store with Connor and got June a balloon and flowers. She was very happy, but VERY TIRED. We thanked my parents and put the kids to bed. June slept with Josh and I so we could wake her up through the night to be sure she didn't become unconscious.
It was a long night.

We woke up to a tired sick girl. She started throwing up after breakfast. We tried to give her sips of water but that seemed to make it worse. Two minutes after she drank or ate something it came right back up. We made "camp" in the living room. June had every luxury a sick child would need. A couch, a TV, a bowl, blanket and a mom who kept getting her cold wash cloths for her head. We read lots of books and kept changing small ice packs for her swollen face. June continued to throw up all morning. She fell asleep at about 11. Josh and I said that after she woke up we would see if she continued to throw up we would take her to the doctor. We assumed she had a light concussion because of the throwing up, she was dizzy when she walked to the bathroom. But she wasn't light sensitive and no headache. We kept close watch on her for her 4 hour nap. She was exhausted from her injury, her long night of being constantly woken up and from throwing up all morning.

She woke up a new girl. She said she was thirsty so we gave her tiny sips of water. She held it down. Next she said she was hungry. I got her a little bit of rice and fed it to her practically one grain at a time. She held it down.

YAY! She started eating a little bit more and a little bit more. She asked if she could get up and play with Connor. She went downstairs a new girl! She was back. Aside from her bruised/swollen face she acted the same as she always had. She started talking faster and faster. She told Connor how amazing the hospital was, that she got to ride in a big truck, they gave her suckers and a toy. She said it was great! Ha ha ha. Her tune was very different yesterday!

We were so thankful we didn't have to go back to the doctor to check to see if her head injury worsened.
The next day I was thinking about the placement of her injury.
It was a miraculous blessing that it was in the exact place it was. Half an inch closer to her eye and she would have broken the bones behind her eye and her cheek bone. An inch to the other side and it would have hit her temple and would have been even worse.
Angels were truly watching over her. There are NO small miracles. I kept seeing such sweet small blessings as I reflected on the events of the previous day.
Everything went smoothly and exactly the way it was supposed to.

Our Father in heaven watched over our sweet girl and protected her from a serious injury this week. I know and understand that won't always be the case. Everything happens for a reason good and bad. I have faith that He will ALWAYS be there when we need Him. Through the good and through the bad I trust my life and experience on earth will be what I need to grow. Growing can be hard, our trials and tests will make us stronger and in the end we will have more faith and love than before.

There are no small miracles.

Trapped

Visiting with my sister at her home one day, my little boy wanted a snack. I said, "There are snacks in my purse in the car, you can go grab them and bring them inside." He has done this before and so I thought nothing of it. Standing visiting back and forth for a few minutes near the front door, I had a feeling to go check on him. He had only been gone for 4 minutes, but still I thought it was necessary. Other times he gets distracted and starting jumping on her rocks or playing in her dirt. Another time I went out there and he was pretending to drive the car. I got in the car and he had pushed so many buttons while it was off that my car sounded like it was having a panic attack! Music up high, windshield wipers on, air full blast, etc. But this small venture to the car was different. 

I walked to the car to find him crying and pushing on the door over and over. He had shut the door and couldn't get it open again. He had pulled the handle but the car door was still attached. I quickly opened the door and held him close. He was so relieved that I came to find him. I kept saying over and over, "I will always come find you. I promise." As he cried, buried is head in my shoulder and as I held him close, I kept repeating, "It's ok. I will ALWAYS come to find you. I promise." He said through his tearful exhausted voice, "I was in there all day! I was so scared!" 

I am thankful for the Holy Ghost in my life and direction he sends me. He helps me and protects me daily.

We have all been trapped in a situation where we feel there is no escape. Literally or spiritually. When we feel like all hope is lost there is someone who will ALWAYS come find us. Jesus Christ, our Savior and Shepard. He is there when no one else is. When we are trapped and the door we frantically try to open won't budge, He will always find us and rescue us.

I am sorry this happened to our little boy, but yet thankful for the guidance of spiritual promptings. I am also thankful to reflect on this occasion and liken it to our Savior. I know he is real and he will ALWAYS come to our rescue. 

I can see Him hold us and say, 

"I will always come find you, I promise."

The Mountain of the Lord

Today in Sunday School some wonderful comments were said that I just had to share. 

2 Nephi 12:3 

"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

I love that the temple is called the "Mountain of the Lord." 

The temple is where we receive instruction and He teaches us His ways and shows us how to walk in His paths.

The mountains are an amazing place. You literally feel closer to the Lord, amongst pure nature - the way He created it. All through the Bible and Book of Mormon prophets went to the mountains to gain knowledge and to converse with the Lord. Moses, the Brother of Jared, Nephi and many more. It's amazing that true prophets of the Lord went to the mountains to gain truth and be personally instructed by the Lord. It was the closest thing they had to a temple.

Mountains are a holy place. If you think of a mountain and a temple you can see and analyze many similarities between these two majestic places.

Peace - Serene - Pure

Tall and strong

The rivers and blessings flow down and out from it.

You can't look at a temple without looking up, just like a mountain - you always look UP.

A beacon to the world

Mountains and temples point to heaven

Places of learning

Beautiful

Etc.

I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to dwell and ponder on this verse of scripture today. To look at how the prophets of old spoke of a temple, and to compare it to a mountain. The similarities are amazing. The scriptures are wonderful and give me added insight into what I need personally. I love sharing small bits of what I learn in life and in church. It strengthens my testimony and builds me up! 

(A few of the Mountains of the Lord we have visited)

(Logan Utah Temple Summer 2015)

(Salt Lake Temple - 2008)

(Payson Utah Temple Open house - 2015)

(Jordan River Temple - 2008)

(Provo Utah Temple - 2016)