Dear Caleb-

Dear Caleb-
Yesterday was a special day. As we walked into church, you told me that you wanted to bare your testimony today. I was quite surprised about this because I hadn't even told you that today was testimony meeting. We've talked about testimonies in family home evening, but you've never really wanted to do it before today. We've never taken you to the pulpit and whispered what to say in your ear. Your dad and I always thought that when the time came that you wanted to do it, you would know what to say by yourself. To make sure, I asked "Do you know what to say? Remember that mommy and daddy aren't going to go up there with you...." you looked at me and said "Yeah, I know."

As the meeting started, I began thinking about how gorwn-up you're getting. Through the opening song, I thought about your natural thirst for knowledge of the gospel. How you're able to relate ALL THINGS to choosing the right and living like Jesus. My dear son, I want you to always remember that this faith is a gift. A spiritual gift that you have been given. Even at this young age of five, I can see your faith and testimony burning with a conviction that many adults haven't even begun to taste. How was I so lucky to be blessed with a boy who has such faith? And before the meeting even began I was crying.

When the time came for you to bare your testimony, your daddy asked if you were ready. I watched you give him a confident, quick nod and then turn and walk to the pulpit by yourself. You stepped onto the foot-stool and adjusted the microphone and bore your testimony. The words weren't much different from what most other children say, "I know the church is true, I love my mom and dad, and my sister, and my baby brother." But there was something different about this. And maybe it was the fact that you are my son, and this was your first time- but as you stood there saying what you knew was true......I could tell you knew it was true. I looked over at your dad, and his face was as wet as my own. He knew it too.

Caleb, there will be times in your life when you may want to question your faith. But today your father and I saw a glimpse of the testimony that you will continue to build, and the man that you will become. Always remember that this fire was burning in your heart at a very young age. And it is not by chance that you have been given such a gift. Keep that faith strong. Protect it. And build it. And if you continue on that path, it will become like a rock. Solid, and unbreakable.

After you sat down, you looked at my red face covered with tears and said, "Mom- why are you crying? Did the Holy Ghost touch your heart?"
"Yes." I answered. It wasn't long before your dad mentioned in HIS testimony that this must be the way our Heavenly Father feels when one of His children is able to know for themselves the truth of the gospel. We are so proud of you. I hope you will never forget these things that you seem to allready know. You are our greatest blessing, and we love you.
Mom

20 week ultrasound

Yesterday (Friday March 9th) I had my 20 week ultrasound at 9:00 in the morning. We've been looking forward to this day for quite some time. Especially Caleb. He's been DYING to know whether he's getting a brother or a sister. So anyway, we took him to school and dropped Angie off at Tresa's house and then went straight to the doctor. The ultrasound tech. started by asking us if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. Um.....YES. We'd considered letting it be a surprise, but Parker agreed that it's a surprise either way, and at least this way we're able to be a little prepared. If it's a girl....we're set. If it's a boy.....well, lets just say that all my baby boy stuff never made it back to me. I lent quite a few clothes out to friends and family, and I've got nothing really. Even if they HAD made it back to me, who knows what kind of condition it all would have been in. Oh well. Yes we wanna know. So she starts out with the typical ultrasound stuff, and then decides to see if she can get a body shot with 3D imagery. The SECOND picture (below) is what we saw first.
She says, "Well....I'm glad you want to know the sex of the baby, because THERE IT IS!" As it turns out, we're having a BOY. And with this picture, there is NO QUESTION. Later when the doctor came in, he said that these were some of the best ultrasound pictures he'd ever seen. And the second 3D image......well he said THAT picture could be used as an advertisement for the ultrasound machine they used. He was pretty surprised at the level of detail we were able to get for an ultrasound of only 20 weeks. He said that usually you get pictures like that around 26 weeks, but this was unique for sure.

Anyway....we're glad to be having another boy. I've definately got some shopping to do, but I don't think I'll mind too much ;). When we told Caleb- he got a smile from ear to ear. He kinda blushed for a second, and then said, "I KNEW IT! I was RIGHT!" He was just so happy. I wish we would have taken a video of when we told him, but I didn't even think about it until after it happened. Oh well. It was cute, and it made my day just to be able to tell him that he got his wish.

Family of five here we come....

Little Moments

I just need to take a minute and write down some of the little things that my kids do and say, that seem so "every-day" but I realize I might forget if I don't take the time to record it.

My kids are my world. Every day I am amazed at how big they are. Angie surprises me with her cuteness DAILY. I find myself telling her, "You're such a DOLL!" so much. While she's busy and spirited (after all....she IS two), she really is one of the sweetest things you've ever seen. Whenever you tell her you love her, she always replies, "Yuh-boo too!!!" (love you too). And for some reason, it just melts my heart every time. She always asks me to lie by her at each nap and bedtime by saying, "Way down-me?" And even though I can always think of SO many things I'd rather be doing......as soon as I kneel by her bed, she searches out my hands and will hold your hand until she falls asleep.

When I blow-dry my hair in the mornings, she always comes and rests her head in my lap. I don't even know why....but it happens every time. And on Saturday mornings, when we don't have to get out of bed, but she's allready up. She'll climb in bed with us and then ask me to scratch her back. She is usually lying across my stomach when she does this- but will often fall back asleep when I do.

Caleb is so grown up. Last week, I was stricken with a really bad cold. I never got a fever, but each evening, I'd come home from work and have ZERO energy to feed and care for the kids. Last Thursday I was at the end of my rope. I had so much nasal congestion, and was so worn out from sniffling and coughing all day that when I got home I just sat and cried for a minute. Then I told Caleb that he needed to take care of his sister until daddy got home, because mommy was just too sick. I stuck a "Stouffer's Chicken Alfredo" in the oven, and then crawled into bed. Caleb was more than willing to, "be in charge." He turned on a movie for his sister, played with her, and even (to my complete surprise) took her potty twice. I didn't have to get out of bed until Parker got home, and I was SO grateful that I didn't.

He always reminds us what we should do to, "Choose The Right." And if you tell him that he's not choosing the right.....he quickly changes his attitude and actions so that he will be doing so. He LOVES family night, and wants to discuss EVERY PICTURE in our gospel art picture book before going to bed.....even though for each lesson we're supposed to choose only ONE to talk about.

Friday night is his FAVORITE night of the week because he gets to stay up. We usually put Angie to bed, and then he sits on the counter and helps me make fruit smoothies and popcorn. He knows where all the ingredients are, and wants to do as much as he can himself. He pulls out the frozen and fresh fruit, the yogurt, and the lime sherbet ice cream from the freezer. And he likes to push the buttons to the blender as well. Then once the smoothies are made, we pick a movie and he sits up with us for an extra hour or so. Usually not the lenght of the entire movie....but long enough that he feels pretty special to be awake when he normally shouldn't.

He prides himself that he can make toast all by himself, and stir things on the stove without burning his hands. He also likes to flip pancakes and pour his own juice.

He never complains about cleaning up his room, although he still gets distracted when doing so. I still have to stop what I'm doing and help him, but he knows where things go- and doesn't throw a fit when I tell him it's time to clean up. I am grateful for this. I know this is a challenge for many parents. Don't get me wrong. He doesn't clean up after himself without being asked........but if I give him a task, "Put the shoes in the white basket." he'll do it.

He will dress himself on the weekend (not usually on a week-day because I am the one to wake him up and am usually dressing him while he's still half-asleep). And sometimes he'll even dress his sister. He is starting to like showers instead of baths, and always has to remind us how grown-up he is when he showers. I still throw the 2 kids in the bath together more often than not- because it's just easier that way. But he really is starting to enjoy a good warm shower.

He really is willing to try anything. Last weekend we were at my mom and dad's house, and Grandpa has been into making fruit/vegetable smoothies since he's been on a diet for the past month or so. My dad's smoothies usually include home-made grape juice, fresh strawberries, a banana, some frozen raspberries, and either a pear or an apple. But he also throws in spinach, cabbage, and kale. Combine that with some ice, and protein powder.....and you've got one of my dad's favorite meal replacements. Anyway. He was making one of these smoothies in front of Caleb, Dejah and Mycah- and each time he threw in a handful of vegetables the girls would say, "EEEEwwwwwww!!" Of course the finished product is usually brown or green. Although it's actually quite good, the little girls INSISTED it was gross and refused to take even a tiny sip. Caleb didn't miss a beat. He wanted to try it. And even though his cousins were chanting at him, "Don't drink it Caleb! It's GROSS!" Not only did he take a sip.....he downed an entire glass of his own. It made me so proud. I really can't say anything for it, except that I just got extremely lucky. Angie is the same way. My kids eat anything. I really am just so blessed.

I didn't mean for this to get so long so fast. But I'm glad I was able to share a few of my precious moments about my awesome children.

On my knees....

Angie's little-angel stage where she falls asleep when you put her to bed, has passed. She's been in the bunk bed for months, but it wasn't until recently that she decided she needs to get out of bed if she's not dead asleep. I used to lie her down, tell her to stay in bed and she would. Now I've resorted to lying by her until she falls asleep. Usually I don't lie down because I'll fall asleep too- so I've resorted to kneeling next to her bed. At naptime she falls asleep within 5 to 10 minutes, but at bedtime it takes at least a half an hour. And it seems like if I try to bail out of there before she's totally out.....she'll come out and find me within 2 minutes. No amount of spankings, threatenings, or taking away of toys or blankies seems to change anything. And it feels like it just takes more effort to fight with her, than to just sit there till she's asleep. As a result, I've spent A LOT of time on my knees lately. I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it sooner, that this is the perfect time for me to pray. Especailly since I have gotten so bad at remembering to do so. But now I kneel by her bed EVERY NIGHT. So I've been taking the time to pray as I wait for her to zonk. And I was SOOO surprised at how MUCH I was able to pray about when given this HUGE window of time to do so. Usually my prayers are short. I have so many other things to do, or I'm just too tired. But when I'm kneeling next to my daughter's bed.....trying to stay awake anyway, I was amazed at how things just kept coming to me. Things to be grateful for. Things to ask for. People to pray for. And before I knew it, SHE was out and I was still going.

As much as I've dreaded this event each evening- especially considering that my growing stomach seems to cut off the circulation to my feet MUCH QUICKER with each passing day.....I must say that I am grateful for what this has done in my life. What kind of power would there be in my life if I would pray like that EVERY DAY?! To just keep talking like time wasn't a thing to worry about. I'd forgotten how much prayer is a BLESSING.....as well as a time to ask for blessings. And even though this new routine throws a kink in my schedule that I often do not enjoy. So much time just sitting there in the dark. Time I could be folding laundry, or cleaning up dinner, or (HEAVEN FORBID!) doing what I wanna do. At least it is no longer time wasted. I'm on my knees anyway. I might as well use that time to be grateful, and prayerful.