Struttin' His Stuff

This is Cades new church shirt. Jared thinks he looks like a cowboy but I think it is cute. Cade thought he was hot stuff, strutting into nursery and loving all the little girls. He is such a goof. I love this little boy!

Fun Visits

It is not very often that I get to be on the picture end of the camera and even more unique to this rare occurrence is that I also have make-up on...incredible! So I just thought that I would share.

We had the opportunity to have my mom come and visit for the day. We had so much fun spending time with her and Cade was absolutely fascinated with her as well. He was too funny because he kept asking for a taste of my moms "juice," as he would call it (diet coke). I gave my mom the approval and she gave him a little sip to which the above face resulted...haha it startled him a bit but he quickly decided it was a neat juice. We also had some fondue for dinner. It was really yummy stuff. We had 2 cheeses and 1 chocolate/caramel with all the fixings. It was a fun change of pace and Cade loved that he not only got to "poke" his food but dip it too.

We played and played with Uma (my mom) and had a wonderful time. Thanks for coming to see us mom. We love you!

Pondering Response

I have always loved this picture of the 10 virgins. My grandma Joyce had this picture hanging in the hall by her front door when I was a little girl and I can remember countless times that I would look at the picture on the way out and think, "which one would I be?" As I have prepared my lesson for Relief Society this week and pondered on our question I have taken a wonderful journey into my soul. I have learned a great deal about being prepared and how it is that I can help my family become not only prepared but Completely prepared. I have come to learn that the parable of the 10 virgins is not about good and bad, righteous and unrighteous, followers and unbelievers, but it is about those that are prepared and completely prepared.
In Jewish tradition when a wedding was drawing closer much time was spent in preparation for the event and the feast that would follow, of which preparation all 10 of the virgins were involved in. As the day approached the bride would stay at her home with her family/friends and the bridegroom would stay at his home with his family/friends and finish the celebration preparations, which could have lasted hours upon hours. Once the bridegroom had finished, he along with those that were with him would start the procession, call upon the bride once they reached her home and then the bride and her family/friends would join and they would all make their way to the place of the wedding and feast.
Back to the parable, the 10 virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to finish preparations and had fallen asleep. When the bridegroom was heard coming at the unlikely hour of 12 midnight 5 of the virgins realized that they would not have enough oil for their lamps to light the way. These were women who loved the couple and wanted to be part in the celebration, not just random people off the street, but loved ones. They had made many preparations for the celebration, they waited all hours of the night for the bridegroom but none the less they were not Completely Prepared with enough oil. They quickly asked the other 5 who had brought enough oil if they could borrow some, to which the reply was "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." Matthew 25 However, once these women returned from purchasing more oil the procession had left and the door to the celebrations had been shut.
The thing that I have learned to most from this journey and the parable is that often times we put a great deal of time into preparing ourselves and our families but when it comes to the little things the physical things: food storage, staying out of debt, saving money, we forget that we must do those things ALSO to be completely prepared. We are not expected to do it all at once but it is a journey, here a little, there a little. But, we have been counciled time and time again by our prophets to prepare ourselves that I think that often times we forget that they are talking to us and not just everyone else.
I also know that for me the thought of food storage is a little overwhelming, expensive, and "where am I going to put it?" comes to mind. However, through this journey I have seen that the Lord will provide a way if I am willing to listen and submit. "... prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10
In answer to the question "If you were part of the Parable of the 10 virgins which one of the virgins would you be and why?" I would have to say that I would hope that I would have enough oil for my lamp. I know that my preparations are not complete but I am diligently working on "having enough oil," physically and spiritually. But this I know to be true, the Lord will provide if we are willing to ask, listen, and act so that we might be prepared when he calls upon us.

Grandma Dear

Happy Birthday to my Grandma...who is only the BEST grandma in the whole world! Today is the day that she graced the world with her presence and how thankful I am for that day. I have been so blessed to have her in my life. We have spent many hours together in my little life and when I was little I honestly thought that everyone was best friends with their moms and grandmas. I loved to sit and listen to my mom and grandma chat while eating tuna fish sandwiches and drinking diet coke. I loved sitting for HOURS while she tried to learn how to french braid my hair or tie it in rags. I loved going shopping with her and asking to hear stories about me, to which she kindly obliged. I loved daydreaming about my wedding, what colors I would use, what food we would eat, and what the groom would be like. I loved actually having the blessing of having her by my side as we did plan my wedding. I loved the countless hours of yard work and meeting her at the gym the summer I lived with her. I loved having her as my support when I was in labor and gave birth to my little Cade.
Grandma, I have been so blessed to have you in my life and thank you for all the love, support, and encouragemet you have given. We all love you grandma! Thank you for being my friend!

Photo Journal

So I have decided to try and keep a history for my family through pictures. I figure that I am taking them anyway, I mine as well use it for something. I have made the goal to take one picture a day that captures the feelings, activities, and accomplishments of the day. I am really excited and ready to learn more about photography and take a more creative look into my life. You can take a look here or click on the link on the left side of the page. Enjoy and I invite you all to join in creating your own photo journal with a picture a day.

Pondering

Monday is here again which means time to add another question the the "pond." I am preparing my lesson for Relief Society on Sunday and the topic is being self reliant and prepared so this topic has been on my mind a great deal lately. So today when I was reading an article out of the newest Ensign about the parable of the 10 virgins it really hit home and touched my heart. I started thinking about how all 10 of these women were converted, willing, and had the desire to follow the bridegroom but 5 were not prepared. Therefore the inspiration for the pond this week....

"If you were part of the Parable of the 10 virgins which one of the virgins would you be and why?"

I know that it is a little bit of a different question but I think it will be an interesting journey to find where you are, why you are there, and where you want to be. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing your insights on Friday.

The Weekend in Review

Welcome welcome to the summer! We had my dad come out to visit us for Jared's birthday. He was planning on only staying for the day but once he stepped off the plane and saw his grandsons smile we roped him in for another day. It was lots of fun to have him here with us. We watched the Jazz game, went out to dinner, visited the park, and the boys played lots of basketball. I also had the opportunity to take a spot on the opposite end of the camera for some family pictures that he snapped for us...thanks dad!

We have a children's activity pool by our house that we went and checked out on Saturday. It was so much fun so I am sure there will be many many more pictures of the pool to come. Cade was a little unsure about the pool at first, surprise surprise, but soon warmed up to it and had a blast!

He loved rolling around in the water and splashing Jared. Who needs kids your own age around when you have a daddy!

This picture, one on the left, is one of my favorites. Cade had a little crush on the life guard and kept checking her out. It was too funny to watch him as he would try and get as close to her as he could without her seeing him and then would run away when she looked down at him. Watch out ladies...he is learning young!

Another love of Cades is cookie dough...he is a boy after his mothers heart. I took dinner to a friend that just had a baby the other day and so decided to make a quick batch of cookies. Cade was so interested in watching everything go into the bowl but was even more excited about licking the spoon after it was mixed. It was too cute, aside from the tummy aches we both had after eating way too much dough.