I Can't Not Share This

So, we did quite a bit of Christmas shopping at Deseret Book and were qualified for a free subscription to LDS Living Magazine.  I thought it would be one of those magazines that I might look at sometimes when I have nothing else to do.  I got my first issues yesterday, have you seen it?  I must say I was so intrigued when I saw the cover.  I guess I was expecting a picture of an LDS temple or something, but this is what I saw...

I LOVED seeing these two on the cover of an LDS magazine, particularly the one with the tattoos.  I thought to myself, that is what we are supposed to be like.  Can we not embrace people's differences?  Is there not room for everyone here?  Don't we all belong?  Don't we all have a past or a history and sometimes we wear it on our sleeve.  Can we not pass judgement?  I was so intrigued by the cover that I couldn't not open it.  I flipped to Al's story (the one with the tattoos).  I just think she's so stunningly beautiful and I absolutely LOVED her story.

Long story short... she was living in New York City and told the missionaries that she would let them teach her only if they brought her a steak dinner thinking she would never see them again.  Of course they brought her the steak dinner.  She ended up calling them at 4:00 one morning to tell them she wanted to be baptized.  she states, "and I wanted to yell to all of New York that happiness is real, that it exists, and that they can have it..."

Al lost every friend she had and was even forced to choose between the church and her family.

I was so inspired by this girl!  I love that she was willing to give up the entire life she had know for what she believed in.  

I hope that I can be better at accepting people for their differences and that they will accept me for mine.  The LDS religion is NOT your judgmental neighbor or family member. Happiness is real, it exists and you can have it. 

Spotlight Family Style (Our Baby Cakes)

1. She loves all things food…a girl after my own heart
2. She eats dog food, ok this isn’t exactly something I love about her, but I love that it’s typical of her.  Someone says, “Where’s London?” and then we all run to the laundry room and sure enough, there she is with a handful of dog food and some in her cheeks.
3. I love to hear her say, “tickle, tickle, tickle”
4. I love that she was born a brunette, even if she is a blond now.  I don’t know if it’s just me or what, but you grow so close to your baby before it is even born, you know that what you have created is so amazing and that so much of your body goes into making it and allowing it to grow that it’s kind of nice when it comes out and sort of resembles you.
5. I love that she was a miracle baby for my Mother who I know was not ready to see heaven, but needed a bit of heaven sent to her.
6. I love her laugh.  Love Love Love her laugh!
7. I love her chub.  It’s starting to disappear, she’s getting skinny now, but what’s cuter than a chunky baby?
8. Her bum.  She’s a baby still so I can say that.  Love her cute little bum.
9. I love that as an infant she seemed to recognize Jesus.  I love the way she would stare at that picture in the Relief Society room and when I walked away she would cry.  She still stares at that picture, but she says “Jesus” now.
10. I love that her sister is her best friend, even if that means I’m second.
11. I love her compassion.  I love her concern for other crying babies.
12. I love that she was real to us, that she existed in our lives even before she existed on earth, that we knew she was a part of our family.
13. I love her sweetness
14. I love that she’s so active and into everything
15. I love how she always says “HI!” when she sees us.
16. I love how she loves babies and always points them out and likes to look at them
17. I love it when she sings… SO CUTE!
18. I love her chubby little hands… also VERY CUTE
19. I love the way that she admires her big sister and that she puts so much trust in her
20. I just love that she’s my baby, that she counts on me and that I still have someone to carry around.
21. I love her kisses, even the French kisses.
22. I love it when she is in trouble or just doesn’t want to listen to me so she runs from me.
23. I love that she is so smart.  The fact that she can even remotely work our phones is so amazing to me.  The first time she touched it she knew what to do.  She defiantly picked it up faster than Dustin and I.
24. I love that she loves her babysitter.  Even though it makes me sad when she doesn’t want me.
25. She loves animals so much
26. I love how she helps me do laundry
27. And dishes
28. I remember just after she was born thinking, “wow, she’s really pretty!”
29. She’s patient with me when I have other less important, or sometimes equally important things to do
30. I love how she will always answer your yes or no questions even if she has no idea what you are saying.
31. I love how she runs to the door when her Dad gets home
32. I love her innocence
33. I love it when she tells me “no-no”
34. I love that she’s a whole lot of personality in a little body
35. I love how she seems to understand most anything I say to her.  So smart!
36. I love how she reminds me that life is a gift
37. I love how she makes me wonder what she will become
38. I love when she talks, when she just goes on and on telling stories in a language unknown to me.
39. I love her stunning blue eyes
40. I love how busy she is
41. I love how she has changed me.  It’s hard to explain, but I’m different now, even more than when Brinley was born.
42. I love how she makes me want more and more and more kids
43. I love how she has strengthened my marriage
44. I love how she has taught me to have faith.  How when the Dr. told me she couldn’t see anything and couldn’t hear a heartbeat she was still there.  She has taught me that I can believe in things I can not see
45. I love her smile
46. I love the way she giggles when the wind blows in her face
47. and the way she admires the snow fall
48. I love the way she climbs on things. I’m convinced she will always aim high and make her way to the top
49. I love how forgiving she is
50. I love HER!  All of the little things that make her HER.  I love them all.

Love you Lunnie, so bless to be your Mom!  

One "Sweet" Day

Brinley LOVES Valentine's Day so we always try to make it special for her.  And she kind of has high expectations, actually the night before Valentine's Day Brinley asked me why the table wasn't set.  We wanted to make it a special day for her, but on a good day Thursdays are pure madness... our busiest day by far.  So... I woke up extra early to make red heart shaped pancakes for the girls an Dustin had left cards out for all three of us.  He's really great and I'll be honest, reading the cards he wrote to my girls choked me up a bit.  Great Dad!  Really great Dad!

 Brinley even had special Valentine's day hair.  

 My parents were on a little vacation so we ran out to Paradise to take care of their chickens.  The chickens kept pecking at Brinley's feet which she thought was funny until one pecked at a hole in her boot.  

 And when Dustin got home he brought us all flowers.  So sweet.  

 Dustin and I worked together to prepare a special Valentine's dinner for the girls (all his idea).  

 And of course Grandma left a gift for them before she went on vacation.  It included chocolates in which the girls thought they had to eat the entire box.  She's the best Grandma in the whole world.  I'm not just saying that, she really is.  

 We got a little gift for the girls and most importantly had a great day together. 

Dustin surprised me with perfume, jewelry, a scarf and a shirt.  I have so many people in my life that are sure easy to love and it's fun to have a day to celebrate that.