Dreaming with Eyes Wide Open

hope I win!

2011-03-15T21:00:00.001-07:00

http://mariaisonphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-mini-session-contest.html

Grateful

2010-11-16T21:31:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am thankful for...

Good friends I can laugh with.... There is so much good that can come from laughing with a good friend. And there is so much laughter that can come from having a good friend...

Working with the youth in my ward is amazing. I cannot imagine a better thing I could be doing in the work of the Lord than teaching the youth and getting to know them. The girls I work with have such amazing spirits and amazing hearts. I learn so much from them every day.

So Thankful

2010-11-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in Young Womens we had a lesson on gratitude. Referenced was the talk given by President Monson at General Conference. THe challenge that was given was to write down 2 things a day that you are thankful for. I decided it would be a good addition to my blog.

So its Day One....

I am so thankful for so much in my life right now.... but just focusing on 2 things a day.

1. I am so thankful for my beautiful little family...

Having a baby girl that gives me a new ride of adventure everyday is more than I ever thought it would be. Watching her learn and laugh gives me more joy than I could ask for. Also having a husband that loves me and really is my best friend is so incredible! I love him so much.

My husband and I struggled for awhile to make things work. Now we are finding ways to be together and make our love stronger I am grateful for every moment we have. I am grateful for the laughter and the kisses..

2.I am thankful for a warm bed!

At the end of everyday it never fails that I am exhausted! And every night I can crawl into my bed. I can wrap a my comfy down comforter around me and sink into the relaxation that comes with entertaining dreams. It is something I know I can always look forward to at the end of a long day, bad day, or a great day...

Live each moment...

2010-07-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

There are many things in life that cause us to be grateful. The other day while reading a friend's blog I saw that another friend's daughter was in the hospital. At 18 months old she fell into a canal in Idaho and had major side effects. She started to improve but then took a turn for the worse. She died just a few days ago. This precious little girl was suddenly taken home to meet again her Father in Heaven. This story touched me so deeply. We never know how short life will be... We only have this moment right now. We never know what the next will bring. I can't imagine my little girl being gone. I wouldn't know what to do with my self. I have grown to love the clutter and the noise that comes with a little one. It doesn't seem right when its too quiet. I hope that I can live in the moment more and enjoy the little times London and I share...

If any of you would like to donate to this families cause you can download this song that was written for baby Preslee. I know they could use all the help they can get with medical bills.

Preslee's song

http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com/

Things that made me happy today

2010-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

1. I got to sleep in and felt refreshed.

2. I did Erica's hair for a wedding and it turned out great.

3. I went to Ashley's house for a food storage party and got more things for my 72 hour kit.

4. I snuggled on the couch with London.

5. She snuggled with me long enough for us to watch Princess and the Frog 3 times.

6. London didn't argue when it was bed time.

7. Just like every night, when I started to say, "in the name of..." at the end of my prayer she shouted, "amen JE JE!"

8. One of my young women called and asked if she could come over and hang out.

9. We watched a movie and I did her hair.

10. We had a really good talk.

I feel like even though I woke up and the weather was crummy there were a few things to brighten my day. It seems to happen that way... The other day I was driving home in the middle of a crazy storm. London was asleep in the back seat and I was able to just have my mind to myself. When I looked ahead of me at the sky and the intense colors of the storm it almost seemed symbolic. I had to pull over and take a picture... It seemed as if the Lord had given me a visual of what He wanted me to know.

Directly in front of me was darkness and right over me was a huge storm. But just to each side of me was a rainbow and the most beautiful colors of sky I think I have ever seen.

I am in the middle of a crazy stormy time in my life. There are things that don't make sense.

There are moments I feel like I am surrounded by darkness and gloomy clouds.

But it never fails that the Lord gives me little moments, little experiences that are beautiful in the midst of the storm.He is constantly reminding me that no matter where I am sitting if I change my perspective just a little He will show me something beautiful.

He will never leave me just to sit in the dark.

Even though sometimes it feels like the storm is pounding so hard I can't see a few feet in front of me, he guides me through it. And so for the small beautiful, happy moments I am grateful. Because I know they are little gifts of light in the midst of my dark thunder clouds.

They are the promise that the sun will shine again...

Scriptures for Kids

2010-06-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

I am excited! London and I are going to do a scripture reading challenge for our kick off of FHE. You should all join us. This site is awesome!Scriptures4Kids Its going to be so fun!

Once upon a time...

2010-05-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time... the words that inspire hope and fantasy. These words have been said so many times and every time they mean that good conquers evil and the nice guy finishes last. It means love overcomes all adversity. My once upon a time started almost 5 years ago. I met the man I hoped was my prince charming in disguise. The adversity placed in front of us was so great I wasn't sure how we would make it, but I knew we would. Somehow I knew that love would overcome all difficulty. But now the lyrics that ring in my mind are... "You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending"
My happy ending was not at all what I thought it would be. In fact it is completely the opposite. It seems like every now and then it hits me like a ton of bricks. My ending wasn't the happy I was hoping for, it is a different happy. But I am learning its a better kind of happy. I have the most beautiful little girl who brightens every moment of my day. She brings me so much joy. And if it wasn't for her I would be lost in serious sadness.
I was reading the ensign and there was a talk at the Young women's broadcast by President Uchdorf. This talk was like and echo to my soul. It seemed to express all the things was thinking and all the worries in my heart. It helped me remember that as much as other people's choices can effect me and hurt, that I still have the chance for greater joy. And I will have my happily ever after.

My 3rd Mothers day

2010-05-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

It is kinda crazy to think that I have been a mom for 3 mother's days now. It seems like just yesterday I had a brand new baby and felt completely lost as far as how to be a mom. Now I feel like I don't have a little baby but a best buddy to be with all the time. Now having a 2 year old isn't easy by any means, but I love being able to have small conversations and do fun interactive things. I had the opportunity to speak in my church about what motherhood means to me. It was an amazing chance to read some inspiring words from church authorities that I respect and admire. Most of the words that I used came from Sheri Dew. I wanted to share some of the thoughts I used when speaking on Sunday, not only to remind myself again but to hopefully share the wonderful things I learned! Sister Dew once said, " mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy and influence. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us." And a quote by Elder Ballard says, " ALL women have within their divine nature both the inherent talent and stewardship to mother."
I love to know that God gave us the natural ability and talents to mother- every women. It is such a powerful thing, whether it be to lead our own children or those around us. It is a beautiful thing to know that mothers are not only those who bear us but those who bear with us. There are so many women that teach me how to mother by their example. I am grateful that I was given such a precious angel in my life. I am thankful God trusted me to raise one of his beautiful choice spirit daughters. She is everything to me. She is my my miracle. She is my dream come true. Everyday she makes my life better...