Simple Sunday

At my little sea foam green distressed table, I sit here and type this with an occasional sip from my black coffee mug. Our lofts apartment only has one floor length sliding glass door where we can get the fresh air and warm rays of sunshine; it's a little cooler but I'm glad to still see sunshine. Blakely is in the back watching her cartoons before her afternoon nap. Her little giggles at the movie echo through our homes walls.

I love Sundays. It's the end to a great weekend and a day to start the week off right. It's the perfect day for me to enjoy the small things that are present in my life. This Sunday in particular is General Conference, I haven't listened to it in probably 4 years and for my mormon followers you would understand the feeling of spiritual bliss that has come over me as I sit here and listen.

One talk in Particular that struck me focused on how the Lord is with us always and knows our needs. I reflect back on all the personal and family needs that my husband and I have gone through in our short road of life together. There always has been an act of saving grace that comes upon our path. Without doubt I know it's a blessing from the Lord.
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."


The last talk of the first session was given by our president of the Church, Thomas S. Monson. He read aloud Matthew 22:36-40
36- Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy god with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38- This is the first and great commandment
39- And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
40- On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets

Pondering on that, if you love the Lord, love thy Neighbor and if you do not love thy neighbor how can you love the Lord?

He later asked a question along the lines of this- Why is it that the people we love most, are the frequent targets for the unkind things we say?

That question replays in my mind, over and over. What has warranted all the things I have said to my family and husband in the heat of the moment?
What I take from this other than that question being so powerful is that if I Love my family, my husband, my coworker, the random person who has "ruined" my day, as myself and truly love them as myself, that eliminates most room for contention. At least in my life it would.

I'm constantly at a battle with myself and not being completely happy with who I am. Reading books on minimalist living and how simplicity is key, there's nothing that seems to fill that hole within me.  After today I feel what I am missing is actual love. Not receiving it but actually giving it- charity, comfort, humility, and understanding. To myself, family, friends, and others outside my comfort zone.

Doing this in todays life seems to be one of the more difficult things for me to do. Todays world has so much to distract you from, it fills your life with materialistic things that you lose sight on the more sincere & complacent things that have been right in front of you all along.

I take this counseling to heart and will apply it to the best of my ability. After all I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.

Happy Sunday and may your week be filled with Honest love for thy neighbor.


Love,
M.

A Trip to the Zoo

Bryan has been at drill since Thursday so it's been a 4 day Mommy daughter weekend filled with chaos, love, laughter, and lots of nap time. I give my husband a big kudos for doing this every day he doesn't have to work. He literally is the man. Lately the weather has been really nice outside and I hope it intends to stay this way. I'm currently sitting on the rooftop typing this so I can get some sun, although I'm going to need a solid week in order for my pale skin to soak it in. Since my time at home with the little one all she wants to do is watch The Lion King. I have the movie down by heart now so instead of watching it ten more times today I figured I'd take Blakely to the zoo to actually see the animals. It was her first trip there today and although I wish the hubs was there to enjoy it with us, I had to take this adventure on my own. We had such an great time and I've never seen Blakely's expressions come more to life then they did today. I would have to say that the Lions were her favorite animal, following the Giraffes and Elephants. We stopped off at the Meerkat cave which she started yelling at them for digging. Blakely also pet this huge snake without an issue, I wish I was able to get a good picture but of course I didn't. Before leaving I wanted to get her something at the gift shop which took a good ten minutes pulling her away from everything. Failure of a choice on my part- She of course went to this 39 dollar tiger which I couldn't help but to laugh. We paid for a baby giraffe and went on our way. Walking to the car she held my hand which she RARELY does, (mom points for me) my happiness was quickly interrupted when this huge bird pooped all over me and my new "mom bag."

*Mom Bag: A bag big enough to fit half the household.

Overall we had a great time and moments like these and the millions of others I've had with her this week makes me wish I could stay at home with her more often.

Finishing with lunch at Wendys.. She couldn't have been more happier.



Xo

-M

The Places that have Built Me.

As I look back on my life a lot has changed; what I mean more specifically is myself. I am still young and have plenty of road ahead of me but the places, the people, the environment, it all has had a defining impression on me.

There's a house on Creekview Drive nestled on a street thats covered with tree's and interesting people. As I mentally pull into my old drive way I see a place where the good and the bad took place.  I remember first moving in where I was greeted by neighbors who invited me over to swim. I remember the endless nights of sleep overs in my moms car, living room, bedroom, and even roof with my 3 girlfriends. I remember all the sneaky things I did with my friends- backyard pool hopping, "borrowing" construction cones + signs and shoving them into the back of my mothers red hot minivan. The copious amount of toilet paper and bags full of donuts that we used to decorate peoples homes with. I remember the parties I first started attending and the peer pressured things I took part of. I remember all the friends I made and all the friendships that didn't last.

Midland was my second home before I officially moved there in the middle of my senior year. A small town west enough to get real Mexican food, where the land is full of oil rigs and some of the snobbiest rich kids I have ever met. My parents were going through relationship problems and I found many outlets with Midlands finest. I became someone I look back on and wonder who that person was? I lost who I was and not to mention spiritually broken, which at the time I didn't care. Not saying that Midland was all bad, I've met some amazing people along the way which I will forever consider part of the family. I experienced a lot of heart ache and without those personal trials I would't be where I am right now.

Great Lakes, Illinois- Chicago do I miss you. So far my No. 1 favorite city to shop in. I arrived  at bootcamp October 6, 2010. After being broken down and then built back up again, I had changed. Being on my own for the first 7 months was difficult and picked up on some good tips for the future. Visiting home twice gave me a new perspective on things and it was there I had realized that the people you called friends were really just the opposite, and that time can't always mend the broken.

Moving to the Carolinas was one of the best things I consider a blessing in disguise. There I discovered a thing or two.
 No. 1   That it's easier to walk away from something or someone rather then stay there to fight.
 No. 2   Really Forgiving people that truly hurt you is harder than I could have ever imagined.
 No. 3   A good amount of alcohol wears at a persons heart and soul.
 No. 4   Staying to fight the problems you honestly want to walk away from is hard, but completely  
             worth it in the end.
 No. 5   Tearing down your personal walls allows room for one to come in and sweep you off your
             feet.
 No. 6   Stay strong and the Lord will bless you.

Leaving us at Virginia, a place for Lovers, or so I am told. Nothing really life measuring has happened as of yet. I know who I am and who I want to continue to be.
  A good Mother that is there during every little and big thing for my daughter. To kiss her ouchies and sing her to bed each night. To hold and squeeze her for as long as I can before it's too late.
  To be a dependable, honest, and a loving wife for my husband. To be there for him on his good and bad days, and be by his side wherever life may lead him. To snuggle and smother him so that he knows I do love him. To continue to be his best friend and cherish him always and forever.
  To be the christ centered woman I strive to be for myself and my family. The hardworking role model for Blakely, so that she may know it's important to be intelligent and create a good name for yourself. To be completely content with life in itself for I have no reason not to be.


Each and every experience that has crossed my way has molded me into the person I am today.  Without failure or struggles one cannot grow, and I'm thankful for each and every one of them. Out of everything I will leave you with this: Love with your entire being; Live your life in the ways that will bring you pure joy and happiness; Don't change unless for the better; and keep your beliefs, faith, and morals high, strong, and true. This life is too short so make it reflect how you want it to be.


Xo

-M