Still goin' strong - Week 4

Here are my next two pages.  This week was a tough one and I didn't feel that we did a whole lot, but it was enough to scrap about.

Birthday Number 2!

Just sharing my scrapped pages of 
Benson's 2nd Birthday.  

It was fun!

My Baby is TWO!

We celebrated Benson's birthday this week.  In my opinion, it was what a PARTY should be!  We had lots of family squished into our little house, lots of presents, and one really cool cake.  Oh, and balloons, there were balloons.  I could tell that Benson had a good time and that made me very happy.

Thanks to our wonderful family for all of the fun.  We loved having you all over, even if it was "standing room only."

Project 365

Due to the influence of an amazing neighbor, I have decided to attempt "project 365." I had no clue what this was when I first heard about it. You take a photo a day and scrapbook each week. At the end of the year, you have a glimpse of what your year was like. I'm only at week 2 and I'm certain that it's going to be a challenge.

Here are my first two weeks: (week one is two pages)

 

A special thanks to Amanda Anderson for her inspiration! (Her blog is listed on mine if you want to see all the cool stuff she does!)

An Angel

I have very different feelings this Christmas Eve. I learned this morning that my dear friend Christy Barnard has returned home to our Heavenly Father. My heart aches for her beautiful kids and her kind husband. I will miss her and her amazing attitude, faith, and kindess. She was truly an angel and has forever changed how I look at life and my loved ones.

She left a legacy to those who knew her. She was an example to me of how to put the Savior first, then others, then herself. I will dedicate
all of my races that I run to her and to all of those who fight the battle of cancer. I will run in memory of her and with a goal to be a little more loving and a little more thoughtful with each step I take.

I am blessed this Christmas to have a reason to look at my blessings a little clearer, to love a little stronger, and to feel the true meaning of Christmas like I never have before. How grateful I am to have many friends and family members that are angels. Angels that bless my life and many others.

Thank you to Christy, for how she lived, and thank you to all of you that I can joyfully call my friends.

New Years Resolution Practice. . .

After realizing that blogging isn't just for everyone out there to keep up with what my little family is up to, but it's also for me to keep a type of a journal. . .I want to try to post more often. You are welcome to read up on us if you like, but I have decided that I need keep up if I want to be a better journal writer.

SOOOOO, here goes.

November 2nd I had my heart surgery to close up my "5+" hole. It went great and I'm living migraine free! I was awake (not totally aware) for the procedure. It was painless and my stay at the Murray IHC hospital was WONDERFUL. I wish that I could've stayed one night longer. I regret not finding and fixing this thing earlier.
Benson is starting to say all kinds of sweet things. He currently has an obsession with babies and will pat my front and sweetly say "baby, baby, baby." Oh, how I wish little man, I have to be cleared by the heart doctor before I can work on getting you a sibling. He also will carry around a little doll in a basket at Grandma and Grandpa Young's and cook food for the "babies" in their toy kitchen. His obsession, I'm certain, comes from the fact that his Aunt Shanna is going to have a baby THIS FRIDAY! We are so excited to meet little Breymen!
Mitch is as wonderful as ever. He fought the snowy mess on the roof to hang our Christmas lights and is a darling daddy to Benson, getting him ready for school everyday. He has started working on his resume to apply for another job. He's done great at his current place, but driving to Murray everyday can make just about anyone stressed out and tired.
This past Sunday, I had a solemn opportunity to visit a friend that is losing her battle with cancer. She is absolutely amazing and has more faith than I can ever imagine! Her attitude about the battle she and her family are fighting made me look at my focus in life.

Life is fragile, life here is temporary. My fight is going to be for things that matter. My dear friend taught me that even when you are fighting, you smile; when you do things that matter, you matter; when you truly care about others, others will care about you. A school full of teachers and students wore pink and shouted their love for this beautiful lady.

As a teacher, I will teach acceptance and kindness. As a mother I will love endlessly and teach what matters. As a wife, I will support with all my heart and be a strong partner to my love. As a sister, a daughter, and family member, I will give as much time and care that I can. As a friend, I will be there as often as possible. As a runner, I will now run with a purpose and with an understanding that I have more to be thankful for than just my physical life. I have a purpose and I have many reasons to feel blessed.

As Christmas approaches, I will not forget my blessings, my purpose, and the many many people that I love. This life is too temporary to take advantage of any moment.

Not Much to Say

I just feel like I need to post. Although, I don't feel like I have much to say. I'll list a few updates.

• Benson is getting over a nasty cold
• I caught Benson's nasty cold, that's how I know that it was nasty
• Mitch will be riding Lotaja in ONE week-YAY!!!
• Have a new calling teaching Relief Society-how fun/intimidating
• I learned that I have a hole between the chambers of my heart, surgery will be coming soon
• School started-it will be an interesting year (already had to have a "please shower before you come to school" discussion)
• I signed up to run Ragnar-what was I thinking?
• Held another pants party, my last (got a WAY CUTE purse)
• My sister-in-law is expecting and my little sister is due in only a couple months-JEALOUS (I may or may not have shared my wish for another baby with the entire ward. Sorry Mitch)

I've learned that I really like that I have a simple life. Anything more may be unmanageable. We stay SO busy here just doing the basics. We are simple, but simply happy.

Benson eating his super cool treat at Gardner Village

Benson just hanging out by the stream waiting for Mitch to be done with his bike race.

Mitch, done with the bike race. Good job!

Benson has found his nose, the holes in his nose. He also found a girlfriend. She lives next door, owns a car, and a really big bottle of bubbles. What could be better!?

Inspired by Enos

Recently Benson has been picking up on everything. No, not quite everything, but we need to be careful. He's now says "no, no" "me" "mine" and can point out any photo or statue of Jesus. If I don't watch myself he may start throwing toilet paper into the toilet, or trying to put on mommy's makeup, or use a cheese grater on the new kitchen rug. (Although, I've never used a cheese grater in that way)
Oh, wait. . . that was today

After renewing our efforts to keep prayer a common and visible practice, Benson quickly caught on. In the middle of dinner (after dinner prayer) he will be found squinting his eyes and folding his arms. After the bath, and before I can tackle him down and don some clothes on his cute little self, he will peek around his rocking horse and have his arms folded and coax me to pray.
Sorry buddy, I just don't feel right praying with nakedness present

We now pray over breakfast; the beginning, middle and sometimes the end of it.
The same goes with the other meals.

Tonight, at Olive Garden, Benson made sure our food was blessed before it was even ordered.
Bless you my child, bless you.

Thank you for helping us remember