Pure, Victorious One

Four years ago, time stood still as I laid in my hospital bed snuggling my firstborn child. I remember so vividly the quiet reverence that abound in that very room where this miracle of birth took place... Four years ago, exactly, the machines, doctors and nurses were all gone... it was quiet and peaceful. Nothing impeded the Spirit -- my heart was forever changed -- and as I beheld my Father in Heaven's miracle in my arms, I knew I was resting on holy ground. I didn't think about what I would be doing or where my life would be 4 years from then. At that time, I couldn't possibly have fathomed it.

Catherine Victoria has brought joy, love, light, goodness, purity, peace -- an outpouring of the spirit -- into our family for the last 4 years. Her gentleness and selflessness are a constant reminder to me of who I would like to become... she reminds me very much of her two grandmothers... wonderful women who endlessly give of themselves and find their greatest joy in bringing joy to others.

Catherine is intelligent, talented, spirited, creative and imaginative (to name just a few)... I could give hundreds of examples of each of these attributes, but that would be only a meager attempt at describing this noble child of God. One of her greatest attributes, by far, is her ability to feel and show compassion far beyond her years. She is humble and grateful.

I'm grateful for the last and best four years of my life... and it just keeps getting better! I love my girl. My life is forever changed.

Four years ago today...
After 37 1/2 weeks, and 17 1/2 hours of labor...

Our 5 pound, 7 ounce miracle came into our arms and hearts,
and our lives have never been the same.

Happy Birthday, my love. I hope that our celebrations this weekend helped you feel just how treasured and loved you are. I hope that in some small way it gave back to you even a portion of the joy you have brought to others your entire life.

Daily dose of joy

I just can't help but be happy, optimistic, full of love, joy and gratitude when I'm with my littlest angel.

5-month old pictures, Noah

I finally got around to posting some more 5-month-old photos of Noah. Melanie's been asking me for a couple weeks now, but I've had so many other shoots and images to process that I forgot. So...without further delay, here they are!

Pumpkin Patch!

We went to the pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening the other night. We've gone to this same patch for the past couple years so Catherine and Ethan were somewhat familiar with it and they all had a lot of fun!

4 pockets + one boy = endless possibilities

front pockets:

1 puzzle piece

1 quarter

3 pennies

1 outlet cover

10 rocks

back pocket #1:

water bottle cap

back pocket #2"

1 cootie game piece

1 lego (not ours, it came home from a friend's house... in a pocket)

a dear friend, an amazing example...

We had the privilege of spending some time with our dear friends, the Glausers, this past August while we were on vacation in California. I love that we have a timeless friendship. Each time we get together with them, it feels as though no time has passed. And although it has been 2 months now since we saw them, Meli's words still ring loud in my mind...

Meli is an amazing woman... she is a wife and a mother, a daughter and a sister, and most dearly to me, she is my friend. As we talked about our children and how quickly they are learning and growing up, the conversation topic of preschool came up. We talked a little about the types of things children learn in preschool, and I told Meli about the preschool curriculum that I had written for Catherine. The next thing Meli shared with me will stay with me forever.

She expressed that although she agrees that reading and writing and arithmetic are important for children to learn... eventually they DO learn those things, whether at home or at school. She would rather spend her time teaching her son values such as kindness, love, compassion and honesty... to give him a solid and sure foundation before he is off to school, out "in the world" and bombarded on every hand with the lies and deceptions of the world.

Thank you, Meli. Thank you for reminding me why we are here on this earth and what is most important to learn. Thank you for reminding me how we as mothers have the greatest opportunity and responsibility while our children CAN be at home all day with us, if we so choose, to teach them eternal principles and truths.

5 months old

Not so little anymore! Noah is 14 pounds 12 ounces!

It's hard to believe our little Noah is already 5 months old! While it feels as though he was just born, thoughts of our family before his birth now feel so distant and empty! We feel very blessed that he is a part of our family!

Great photos of Noah at 5 months coming soon...