Personal Thought

This week at church I was blessed to hear the most amazing song I have ever heard. It was about Emma Smith, and her life. It really put in to perspective her trials, and life. At one part the song talks about how she buried her children. This really hit me, I cannot imagine. It got me thinking. In Emma’s time, it was more usual to lose a child physically. As I look around now, we are so advanced in our medicine, and knowledge. A child’s physical death still occurs, but not as common. I feel now we are at a time where more commonly a spiritual death is more common. This terrifies me. I cannot imagine losing a child, let alone thinking that the they have made decisions which are making it impossible to be an eternal family. The peace of the gospel is knowing that after death we can be reunited. What happens if my children choose to live for today, for the moment. Satan is awful. His power is real. At times I feel so inadequate to raise my children. I know they have agency, but it is my job to teach them right from wrong. I have been pondering on things that I may do to help my eternal family become a reality. Everyone has flaws. Everyone has a weakness. The adversary is aware, and will attack on that. I want to help my children identify there weakness’s. I want to allow them to make them strengths. I do not want to focus on the world, or becoming wealthy. I want to focus on my family. I want to be able to earn enough to give, I want to teach my children the joy of service. I want them to find the peace in selflessness. Money will only get us so far. I need to get further. I see so many people, so focused on wealth. Or wanting to keep up with everything. They want to be the craftiess, the cutest, have the nicest things, have all the latest technology. That is not where I want my focus. I want our family focus to be eternity.
Things are occurring in my families life that are difficult, and have taught me just how awful Satan is. This life is not our own. I hear so many say “I want to live for myself”. This is such a horrible mind set. We are indebted. To Jesus Christ. He atoned for all of our sins. When we live for ourselves we allow his atonement to be in vain. I want to please those around me, I want to bring joy to their life’s. I do not want to be a source of sorrow or pain. I want to teach my children to live for others. To serve, and uplift. This is a test, and Satan is becoming more and more powerful. We are in this together, as brothers and sisters. We need to live for each other. Our life’s can help those around us reach eternity. Satan is selfish. He teaches to only make yourself happy, and not to worry about those around you. I need to teach my children to disregard this with haste. This is poison. I am only human. At times I live for myself, but I will not lose hope. I love my family, and I want us all to be together. I know that through these hard times, great things will happen.

Sadie 8 months

Sadie is getting more, and more personality every day. She must think that this makes up for the fact that she is not mobile at all!! She is such a princess. She has always hated being left alone, and to this day if she is alone in a room she has a bit of a come apart. She sure is sweet though. She loves so deep. I am so excited to watch her grow. She is the light of my life. There are not a ton of pictures, due to the fact a lot were mix in with the last post. I will try and make up for it next month. She has started to say da da. Which...I guess I am okay with. :) love the guy to death but is it so wrong that I want to hear ma ma first?! haha. Sydney, and Sadie continue to become great friends. They bring me such joy. There are defintly days where I want to curl up in a ball, but I am so blessed. The sweet is what I remember at the end of day. Sadie you are beautiful inside and out. I love you so much!

Our New Home…

While we were away enjoying California, my sweet husband was at home working his tail off to get us all moved in. With the help of his dad, he pretty much got everything done. We moved to Diamond Valley, which is just right outside of Saint George. It is a beautiful small town. When I say small I am not exaggerating. It is so small it does not even have a stop light! It has an elementary school, firestation, and a church. That is it. Other than that it is open land, cows, and horse’s. I have really enjoyed running here. As I am running I love to sing and dance. Since there is no one around I have fun. I am sure the people who read this, from California are laughing very hard, at the image of Amanda dancing and singing in the middle of no where. All I got to say is, you got to try it!! There is something amazing about the fresh air, and breath taking mountains. I am sure the cows get a kick out of it, although they are a tough crowd. So I am inviting everyone to come and give it a go. Ballet moves are so much more fun with an audience of animals(even though I have never taken ballet, I attempt)
I was worried about becoming bored, and lonely. That has yet to happen. Our house is darling. It is over 100 yrs old, and actually was a stop on the pony express back in the day. It has been well taken care of, and most of it has been remodeled. The kitchen is AMAZING, tons of counter, and storage space. It is 3 bedrooms, and 1 bath. It feels like a little cottage, and I know some amazing memories will be made here. We have the most amazing view, and I can’t help but thing of the country song “the view I love the most”, every time I look at the front. Our ward has been so friendly. I am excited to be a resident of Diamond Valley!

Pictures are soon to come

My life!

So much has happened in the last few months. It has been an exciting, and very eventful time. So I have defiantly been struggling in the blogging area!
I will try to play a little catch up.
We were blessed to be able to travel to California. One of my best friends is a flight attendant, and wanted me to come for her baby shower. Jeff was unable to come, due to work obligations. So the girls and I had a little adventure. I realized just how much I love, and appreciate my husband. Ali was such a helper, and really put up with a lot…..especially with being 7 ½ months pregnant! We left Saint George, and headed to Salt Lake. Although I love Saint George it is annoying that we have to fly out of SLC or LVN to connect to a California flight. So we got to the St. George airport, and were all ready. Unfortunately we were unable to get on that flight, due to our stand by status. That was a bummer, but we managed. Sydney had fun stuffing the vending machines with gummy bears( sorry to who ever purchased a snack, and got a little more than they bargained for) I tried to get them all, but I am sure I missed. That flight was probably the hardest flight. Our flight was suppose to leave at 6 and arrive in SLC just in time to make a connecting flight to California. So my genius plan was to have the girls skip there naps, and just sleep on the flights. Well my plan was not so genius, and ended up back firing on me. By the time we boarded the first flight both girls were past the point of exhausted, and way grumpy. I am sure all the passengers around us were happy that flight was only an hour, and I was right there with them. We got to Salt Lake, and stayed at my friends place. It was fun to see her apartment, and spend time with her and her husband. We left first thing that morning, and thanks to my friend, and her husband things went really smooth. Sydney enjoyed the flight, and loved taking off. She did get antsy at some parts, but for the majority she was awesome. We got to California, and Sydney ran up to my mom with arms wide open. She was so excited to see grandma. It was a very relaxing, and simple trip. I got to spend most of my family, and I could not have asked for more. I got to meet my adorable nephew. I did not want to leave him. My mom was so sweet, and accommodating to our needs. The girls and I went to a park that I played at as a kid. It was such a cool feeling watching them find joy in the same things I did. I love them so much. I love my family, and I am so grateful for the relationships we have. I am truly blessed. On Saturday we went to my friends baby shower. It was so fun seeing old friends, and catching up. California brings back the kid in me, it makes me want to roll down my windows and blare my music. I love the feeling of the warm sky and busy streets. While it is good to visit, it is always such a pleasure comin home. Saint George has stolen my heart. I say it is California without the smog. On the plane ride back to Saint George Sydney kept on saying “grandpa,hi grandpa,grandpa”. I was so confused. Finally I looked at my Ali, and said “I have no clue why she is saying that”. Ali was like I think she is calling that guy grandpa. I look over, and sure enough he looks just like John!! Too cute. She loves her grandpa’s. My life is good, and I am so blessed. Don’t get me wrong there are hard times, but we have been blessed with all of the good.