Giveaway time!

Another great giveaway!! Maybe this time I will win! ;-)
Click here to learn more!

Want to win a giveaway!

A friend from the good ol days of Brick Oven has a great blog about her journey for the pursuit of confidence, and she is teaming up with a great photographer for a giveaway! I am so excited to enter... and if you would like to enter check it out at
her blog here

Testimony

When I first decided to come to Utah, I felt like the main reason I needed to be here was to gain a stronger testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, away from family, and close friend (all mine went to BYU-I Idaho. I have had a good number of testimony building experiences while here, and I think the reason why the lord as seen fit to not let me leave this wonderful desert, is because I am not done working on that testimony. Testimony's are a constant "work" in progress of course, but I realized today that perhaps I have not learned everything I should and can from Utah. One such opportunity occurred today while I was surfing Pinterest. I came across this print

I clicked on it in hopes of being connected to website that would allow me to copy and save the image for future use. What I came across is something I will never forget. It was a blog of a mother of 6 who recently lost her 20 year old daughter who was on a hike here in Utah, and tragically fell to her death. As part of her blog the mother shared links to of her daughters story which aired on a show here in Utah called Mormon Times. It is not on BYU-tv, but is a Sunday program through our local news station. Her story touched me greatly, but more importantly her TESTIMONY touched me... The family has printed her testimony which was written in her journal one month before she passed away! If you would like to see her story on mormon times click here

But I wanted to share her Testimony that has really strengthen mine in the process...

Click here to read Laney's Amazing testimony

Hats, Ties, and Cars

Julian has a few obsessions as of late. Namely, Hats, Ties, and Cars. Julian LOVES to wear a hat, even if the object it not meant to be worn as a hat, Julian will put it on his head anyway, and walk around as if it was a hat all along. He also walks around with Jamies ties around his neck, and whenever he see's someone wearing a tie (or a hat for that matter) he yells out.. A tie, a tie. or A hat, a hat! Cars; this one is relatively new whenever he sees a car he has to yell car, and then touch the car. He likes toy cars as well.

All of this for the most part is funny and cute, but let me give you a few examples when this can be quite annoying lol. The other week I went to BYU to register for my run/swim race which takes place at the end of this month. Julian was with me, and there was a long line. Well of course like most college student, and especially at BYU, there is an abundant of student wearing... you guessed it, a hat or a tie. I was waiting in line for 10 min, and pretty much every second of the wait was joined with Julian yelling... A hat, a tie... The other example is that we live across the street from the church building so we just walk to church each week. In the parking lot are about 30-40 cars. It took us about 10 min just to walk through the parking lot, because Julian had to stop at each car along the way, touch it and yell.. A car!!

Like I said this makes me laugh and giggle usually, but every once in a while think you might have a breakdown if you hear the word, hat tie, or car again!

Here are some pictures of the many hats Julian enjoys!

Look at that face! That is a face that I can't help but love! I have been asking heavenly father in my prayers recently to help me remember to stop and focus on Julian and his needs through out the day, to really try to understand him. You see Julian has a whine that within seconds makes you want to shoot yourself! He is very independent, yet so needy at the same time, and impatient as all get out (he gets that from his dad) When he doesn't like what you have to say or don't respond quick enough he will hit you, and it's not just the "frustration" hit that doctors talk about, it is a true attention getting I am mad at you hit! Between all of that I have been struggling the last several months, at getting truly upset and mad at this little boy! To the point that it was taking over any positive. So the last several days I have prayed for the guidance and awareness to STOP and THINK and UNDERSTAND my little boy. The first day I just prayed for patients, BIG MISTAKE, when you do that the lord answers by giving all the opportunity to practice!!!

The next several nights I asked that I would be able to understand Julian, remember his limitations, and to be aware of his feelings and struggles. And the last several days I have found or rekindled a even stronger love for him! I always loved him, but the last several months I had been physically exhausted and my emotions so frayed that I had a hard time feeling all the love I really have for him! The last several days I have been able to stop and see I boy who is extremely loving. Who cares deeply for those around him, who loves to snuggle, even if it is for a brief minute in between his race. A sense of humor to boot, and a smile that could kill! I am absolutely in love with this little boy. He still has a whine that could bust an ear drum, and a mighty powerful slap, but I have learned to see past that to the heart of my son. I am learning to make those frustrating moment into better teaching moments.

Motherhood is hard work! I never expected it to be easy, I knew it was physically demanding, but the thing I think I was least prepared for is how EMOTIONALLY demanding it can be. But at the same time it is very emotionally REWARDING! You just have to remember to STOP, THINK, AND LISTEN!

There is a popular blog I follow entitled 71 toes The mom has a very simple sign in her entry way that reads "Love More" This has been my focus of the week, and I really want to make a similar sign for my house, so that I could always remember that there is always room in our lives to love more...

Mommy loves you Julian Thompson James!