Today is Saturday and it was stake conference. Cortney was asked to speak in the priesthood session, and while he was gone, the boys and I walked over to a friends. We have a lot of friends in our new neighborhood and I love that we can walk to all of their houses. I pushed Matt in the stroller, Duke rode his scooter, and Will rode his bike. On the way over, Duke said "mom, this is the best day ever!" I hope the boys have a lot of happy memories in this house. I'm excited to watch them grow up with all of their friends here.


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Today the boys went to vacation bible school at Dukes old preschool and will do that the rest of the week.

Tonight we went to a Round Rock Express baseball game with the Delis's. It was fun and I'm really surprised they stayed engaged as long as they did.

I'm tired and ready for bed, but today has been a day that I am so thankful for a prophet. What a gift from God, to know that if I faithfully follow the prophet, I will never be deceived and never led astray.

Also, this morning, I saw on Instagram that a friend from my single days (and his wife), were picked by a birth mom for adoption. My heart is so full for them!! I cried at least a few times about if this morning. Birth moms are, surely, cherished by God. To all the naysayers and Debbie Downers in the world, just look at the faces of a couple who was just picked for adoption. That is the good, the wonderful, and the hope filled world we live in.


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We moved to the new house on Tuesday night. The move went pretty well--we hired movers and that was amazing. I've been unpacking and less than 72 hrs later and I only have a few boxes left! Although, those boxes are my clothes so getting dressed everyday has proved to be a challenge.

Each time I move I experience a wave of emotions. You know how there are the stages of grief? I think there are stages of moving. Tuesday night I teared up a few times because I was so happy and felt so blessed. Wednesday morning I was crying because I was so overwhelmed and was so worried about taking care of and paying for this house. By Wednesday afternoon, I had a very "whatever happens, happens" attitude and made the conclusion (as I always do), that this house (insert other intimidating thing) was an answer to my prayers and God will make it all work out, just like He always does.

Some girls in my class came over and unpacked until I kicked them out so the boys could go to bed. I love that group. And I love that 6 of them thought it would be fun to help out their teacher on a summer night. Margie came over (with Hannah and Megan) to make sure the boys beds were all put together and made for them--the first things to be finished from the move. A sweetheart.

It's 10 pm and I just took my shower for the day. We woke up and went to swimming, then to the library, then to the old house to pick up some things, then we came home and Duke napped. Then Boo came over for a few hours. We made cookies and i burned some and played with toys. Then Emily brought us dinner. It was enchiladas and watermelon and corn and it tasted like manna. No way was I going to get to make dinner today. Then Will went crazy (typical behavior from 6-8 pm), there was crying and screaming, and eventual succumbing to sleep. And Duke fell asleep with his nerf gun in hand. And throughout all of this, Matt was either asleep or attached to my hip (why my back aches as I type), because Will has taken to mauling (somewhere between the actual definition and brotherly definition) him whenever I put him on the floor.

But yeah, what a day. Tired. Goodnight.


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Today was pretty bad. I don't even want to document all that happened because I just want to move on, but I'll just say that around 6 pm a friend reminded me that it was Friday the 13th AND a full moon. I have never been one to be superstitious, but after today, you can't tell me all of this wasn't related.

My head is killing me. So is my back. And it is time to sleep. Oh, sleep please be good to me tonight. Please.

And may tomorrow be calm.


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Will was up really late last night, and therefore really grumpy today. Duke didnt take a nap, and therefore was really grumpy today. We have zero food in the house and I just didnt have it in me to take them to the store in their manic state, so we ate hot dogs and quesadillas for not one, but two meals today. There were a lot of points that were touch-and-go today so I'll just move past those memories and write what has been in my mind all day, and what I fiercely want my sons to know and understand about their mother:

I am an empowered woman BECAUSE of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have found so much strength in womanhood lately, and specifically being a Mormon woman. I am well educated, and well informed, and I feel so empowered being a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This faith does not breed sheep. It breeds powerful, intelligent, covenant keeping women who know God, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

This faith grounds me as a woman, but especially as mother. I know God is invested in me, and invested in my children. I know He is on my side and wants me to succeed, and my relationship with Him helps me chart my course and stay on track.

Boys, I love being your mother and I want you to know that Mormon women are incredible. They are valiant, they don't complain, they have hard lives just like everyone else, but they live joyfully because they KNOW God and they know His plan and purpose for them.

I am so proud to be in the Relief Society and know of no other organization that does more in developing women to be game-changers in their families and communities.

There has never once been a time in my faith when I have felt less than a male. On the contrary, I have felt my femininity was treasured and there was a divine purpose for my abilities within my congregation and my family.

I'm so thankful for you three, and it is not lost on me that your vision of women will likely be shaped by watching me, as you have no sisters to grow up with. I want you to know that Mormon women are so strong. And I want you to each marry a strong woman, someone who knows who she is and knows where she wants to go, who's full of color and life and joy, and gives that to everyone she meets. And most importantly someone who you see as your partner, and (besides Heavenly Father) the only other person you want in your foxhole.

That, boys, that is a good woman.



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I'm so annoyed because I just looked at my blog and I'm positive I wrote a massive post a few weeks ago about the boys and it must have not posted. Grrr. I'll have to look back through my pics and see what I can remember.

I don't have a lot of brain power tonight to write but Will was suppose to give a talk on Sunday about how the temple helps our families. Will didnt want us to help him write his talk and I didnt think he really had much material on what to say about temples. I asked him was he was going to say and he said, "mom, I'm going to say 'Guys, Jesus is risen, ok?'" It was funny to me, but now I just love it so much. Everything we believe is because Jesus was risen, even the blessings of the temple. I love how kids can just make things so easy and simple.

I'm so proud of my boys. I love them so much.


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