Caleb is about to begin CLINICAL YEAR!!! We're pretty excited. (Okay, he's nervous but IM STOKED!) We're that much closer to graduation. Yes, I say we. Have you ever had a spouse do graduate school? They NEED to make a certificate for all the spouses at graduation. For his break we went to California with all the Knights last week, and this week we got sick. At least last week was fun. We loved seeing family and Lincoln still keeps asking about where all the kids (cousins) went. Bless his heart. Lars on the other hand had stranger danger overload and was back to his happy self upon returning home. (8 month olds... pfff)
- Caleb and Angel Lars.
For the longest time I have justified not writing in a journal very often because I didn't feel like our life was going to ever be very different. The longer we have been married I realize that my life has hardly ever stayed the same for longer than a few months. I bought a cute note book that we keep around and write down events that we want to remember for our sweet family. One I just wrote the other night is, "When we make Lincoln laugh he says, 'You making laugh to me!' " and when he makes Lars laugh, he says, 'I make laugh to him!' " As you can imagine - it sends Caleb and I into laughing fits! I love this stage. Lincoln is going to be 3 soon and is already asking ENDLESS questions. Just this last week I feel like Lincoln has broken world records for number of questions asked by a toddler.
- Who knows what was happening here.
- Our family at the Mormon Battalion.
Lars is different from Lincoln. No brainer, I know. Its just amazing to me. It seems like between my own personal study, church lessons, and a family devotional last week, the scripture in Alma about all things denoting there is a God has been brought to my attention a lot. My boys are further evidence of that. From the moment I feel them kicking in my womb I am reminded that I don't control them; they are not me. They have their own spirits and bodies. Lars is so curious and so busy. Lincoln had great concentration and loved to people watch. Lars would rather not ever be cuddled. Lincoln still asks me to hold him like a baby. Lars is rarely not happy (unless he doesnt know where his mom is) and Lincoln... *cough cough*... doesn't like not being in control. There differences are becoming numerous, but they both make me want to be better.
- Serious Lincoln and Grandma
- Cute girls playing in the waves
I have noticed something inside me change as they grow older. I am looking more heavenward for approval and advice. I am seeking out ways to better my parenting and teaching skills. I am more keenly aware of the example I am setting. The world is constantly saying, "Don't have kids until....", "If you do have kids, space them further apart and don't have so many!", "Why would you want that many?".... and all kinds of negative messages about children and families. I'm not saying we all should just have babies as fast as we can without regard to personal situation and circumstance. Children are a blessing. Motherhood is a blessing. If you're like me, you find yourself coming up with excuses for why you want children, why you want to stay home and raise them, and why you want more. What a silly thing! There is nothing more noble than raising children. And I don't have anything to apologize for.
- Mommy and Lars
- Our family playing at Carlsbad beach in California
Do you find yourself more and more grateful for your mom the older and wiser you get? Recently I was at church and noticed a single mother with a row of little girls sitting by her. I got emotional watching her sheparding all these children while holding a baby on her lap. It might have been a very chaotic meeting for her. Sometimes when Caleb passes the sacrament and I am left with two small boys, I wonder why I even came! But I know why, and so did this mother I watched. Our efforts as mothers NEVER go unnoticed. God sees. He sent us those precious babies, and one day we will see all the good we do, like He does. Bless my mother. She brought 7 girls to church all by herself -Sunday after Sunday. Teaching us to pray and holding family home evenings without support. Mom, you're amazing. And I want you to know that it was not in vain! Here I am at 26 years old, taking my sweet family to church. Lincoln knows who Jesus is. He says the sweetest prayers. He even prays for his helicopter, for all his grandparents, aunts an uncles, his cousins, and tonight he prayed for you to get better from the "fire ants" (my mom was rushed to the ER tonight after going into anaphylaxis from a bee sting). He sweetly sings so many primary songs and tells me that Jesus and Heavenly Father live in the temple. Yes, I taught him those things - but you taught me! I sure love you. Thank you!
- Me nursing Lars while Lincoln patiently waits to go see Shamu at Sea World. I love that Caleb captured this photo.
Caleb is now done with didactic year (class) and on to clinicals, which means I should be getting the computer more often. Yay!
