Bitter-Sweet Calling/Testimony

Well, today was an interesting sunday at church. I took sarahbeth and tj to nursery and primary and then was on my way back to sunday school when brad caught up with me and told me that president archibald wanted to meet with us. so we went into his office and he extended the call of financial clerk in the greensboro branch to brad, and asked us to go to greensboro for the next year and serve down there. I was excited and scared and sad all at the same time. When we first moved here almost two years ago, we went down to give talks in the branch. I really felt we could easily go there, except that there wasn't really a primary or a nursery, and with small children that is definately a neccessity! I've also been growing lax in my own spiritual growth and have been praying for help to strengthen my faith and my testimony... (note to self: be careful in what you pray for!) just kidding... but i know this really is an answer to my prayers. It's funny because last night i was actually thinking about my testimony and thought, well, i can just bear it tomorrow because it's fast sunday, (note to all friends of non-mormon religion, fast sunday is a time when members of the congregation can come up to the pulpit and bear their testimony of the savior Jesus Christ.) But then I thought, I go up there at least 3 times every sunday to lead the music, i don't need to keep going up. Boy do I wish I had, and i wish i had been a little happier while I was leading the last song. Makes me think of life in a way, living every moment as if it was your last... ya know. I don't mean for it to sound morbid, and i really am excited. I just wonder how sarahbeth and tj will do without all their friends and such. Although, they'll get to see sydney and john-evan more, so that will be a plus! :-) Anyways, so back to what i was just saying though, about what i had been praying about, I sometimes find it difficult to stay on my own path of growth with kids and school work, and hubby, and friends, and extended family and yard work and house work and yadda yadda yadda, and then i kinda settle into this thing where i rely more on brad's testimony, like little kids do with their parents. I don't like to do it, and i can totally see that i do. I mean, i love to go to church, and when i'm there, i totally feel and understand what i should do to improve myself. I get all gungho, and (kinda like when i diet too) fail within the first few days, then wait until the next sunday to get to try it all over again... today a young girl, heidi, 17 years old, just baptized a couple of weeks ago got up and bore her testimony. Among the things she mentioned was that after she read the Book of Mormon, and prayed to know if it was true, she said she new without a doubt that it was true. I thought about that, and there are times in my life that i go through this, and think, well i know it's true. there are things that i may not understand... yet, and maybe i never will, but i think about joseph smith, and the first vision. (again, note for non-lds friends, if you need more info ask me, or go to mormon.org for more information) Now, God has not ever appeared to me, nor do i think he'll send an angel to explain things to me, but in some of our lessons in church recently we've discussed possibilities as to why a 14 year old boy received this vision, and i've concluded that part of it is probably because that experience isn't something that he can just explain away or easily forget, making the rest of the work he did here on earth much more real. For example, when he was being tarred and feathered and persecueted time after time after time, he could always lean back on the feelings he had during that experience, because he KNEW that what he was doing was real. does this make any sense? hold on, i'm trying to make a point here. What i'm trying to say in a really long round about way, is that I too have had an experience that i can vividly remember my feelings and when i do get stuck in my plateaus, or even on the downward excilator, then i can recall those thoughts and feelings, that testimony and I can pull it out and lean on it, however small it may be until i am able to get back to where i need to be, because I KNOW it happened and I cannot reason it away, or forget it. So, since I was unable to vocally bear my testimony to our tuscaloosa ward family, I want to write it down now that I DO know that my Heavenly Father loves ME! I know that the spirit whispers confirmation of our calling to my heart and that we have a purpose here in greensboro, whatever that may be (and we may never know what it is, but that's okay too). I know He answers prayers and that we may be the answers to someone elses' prayers. I know the scriptures are important and hold valuble truths and lessons and messages from our Father in Heaven and our Savior. I am greatful for the restoration of the gospel and believe in our current prophet Thomas S. Monson, and am thankful for the teachings of the former prophets too. I am so greatful for the love that the brethren of the church send to us in their words during general conference. and I know that i have purpose in my life (just not sure what it is sometimes :) But I just wanted to bear record of my testimony for you (and no, it doesn't matter that i'm in my own home with noone else around, i still cried while writing it... what a boob i am!)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter All! http://home.att.net/~solos_holiday/2008/_011/egg.htm

ROCK HARD

i meant to post this yesterday, buuuuuut, yeah, well anyways, Kempton was 5 weeks old as of yesterday. i still don't understand how the time goes by so fast. he's doing really well, on sunday he was 10 1/2 pounds! GEEZE! and then tuesday night he slept straight through the night from 9:30 until 5:30!!!! i woke up a little before he did and my chest was SO HUGE! and so full it felt like there were boulders laying on top of me, i could hardley even roll over to get up to get him! He's doing great at holding his head up, and even though he has been smiling from day one, he's doing more reaction smiles now! it's so cute! still no word on the heart murmer deal, and i've called SEVERAL times, so i assume everything is fine. it's just frustrating though.

Psalm Sunday

So brad left to go on his fun spring break vacation with the class he is taking. such a great oportunity, especially since the school is paying for most of it! unfortunately that leaves me home with all 3 kids for 7 days. We've done pretty well for the first few days though :-) I arranged to have nana rabbit help me during church, and she was actually feeling pretty well to do it too! she and her family invited us over after for a yummy sunday afternoon and dinner! well, she absolutely spoiled the kids with easter basket goodies, stuffies, toys AND new dress up clothes! Saturday night, the kids and i played outside for a while, then i bathed the older two, even put sb's hair in rollers! and put them to bed, then bathed kempton for the first time in his little tub... all the other times he was in the shower with me. Then I laid out everyones sunday clothes, all the way down to the shoes. I packed the diaper bag and then more bags for after church. i also set everything out for breakfast. i got up before the kids, showered and got ready, then got them up and fed them, then fed kempton and got them all dressed and loaded everything and everyone in the car and left at 8:35 to get to church early to rehears for a musical number! Wow i'm good!!!! (gloating) All in all it was a pretty goodmorning! This is tj's surgeon's outfit! looked like turk to me from scrubs! and sb's doctors' costume! Thanks Nana for such a wonderful day!

Wow! 4 weeks/1 Month ALREADY!??? These are some weekly pics of our new little man. And some updates as well.

• got results for the ultrasound on his tummy, he's okay there... still waiting on the one of his heart...
• not sure how much he weighs or is measuring this week...
• sleeping for a 4-5 hour stretch at night, from 10:30 ish to usually any time around 3-4 in the morning
• taking a really good morning nap, eating lunch, a really good afternoon nap, and then a little fussy from about 4 or 5 on, getting a little evening nap, then a good feeding around 7, and one last feeding for the night around 10.
• oh, and he does NOT like to be swaddled, not tightly anyway, or with his arms bound either. so unlike the other two. but whatchya gonna do?

His Sunday outfit! I got it all (plus a tie that i didn't really like) all for $1.00!!!! at the children's closet. not bad i'd say! Every week i take a picture of him with this frog on the blanket. i did the same thing with tj and sb. And here, he was pretty upset, but it was his first time in jeans and i just couldn't resist!

I am SOOO BLESSED!

I am truly blessed to have such great friends AND a wonderful family! Especially my husband! First I want to say thanks to everyone who came to see us at the hospital: The Lodens, they even came the night before and played games with us, brought movies and tangerines! (and rescued the Jays!) Who knew that exactly a week later they'd be holding their own precious 11 fingered baby boy! (just kidding joane, you know i had to throw that in there! :-) and if they couldn't do anymore... they also brought us some yummy baked potatos and bbq chicken! Perfect! The Kids's Nana (Rabbit!) known as Robin Skagen to many others... Thanks so much for the flowers and the really cute outfits! And thanks for being such a special friend to our family!

Haley and SB used to be in nursery together, but now, they've been seperated for sunbeams... but that doesn't slow their friendship! The Norris ladies even stopped by for a valentine visit! complete with cookies and a way cute outfit! Thanks for being awesome friends jill!!! Our Dr, dr myers from the women's pavillion at northport. Totally great doctor! even got a thankyou letter in the mail from her for being apart of our family's special event! what a thoughtful thing to do! i kinda hope that we will be able to repeat the experience before our time is up here in alabama! The most awesome of nurses ever! Sue and Virginia! they stayed with us the entire time and took EXCELLENT care of us!!!!

• Now, that's all that i had pictures of, but i wanted to also say thanks to Alix Hatter for visiting and sharing stories with us, as well as for the great bag! Megan Slazek for stopping by before she had to go to work and for bringing those yummy cookie things! Jenni Ennis came by just before we left too after she got out of the gym! what a friend! and also gave us a reallysweet outfit! The Tews came to see what the fuss was all about too! Amy has totally bailed me out, especially by watching the kids the first night we were in the hospital until my mom was able to pick them up the next morning. She has been such a life saver! Robyn and Mckayla Myers visited as well, which was amazing in and of itself since Robyn forgets a lot of things... she means well and has such a sweet heart! love you robyn!

• And then there's the food and support after we got home! I already mentioned the Lodens, Debbie Church sent some food home with brad from work, yummy ham, potatos veggies, rolls and salad, AND an apple pie (which is great for breakfast too)! mmmmmmm. Kelly wyatt brought us some tator tot casserole and WARM brownies... delicious! Stephanie Andrus sent over some burritos with their yummy spanish rice AND of course... more brownies. She also was a saving grace by taking sb and tj for the morning and lunch hours a few days that first week after my mom left, letting me get some homework done, and some much needed sleep! On Tuesday, Jenni Ennis and her family treked all the way out here with a tender roast and OHMYGOSH the best salad i've ever eaten! AND the most yummiest cake ever... even more yummy in a bowel of milk! Then Terri Hansen also came over for a few hours to tend to the kids while i finished a paper AND she left us dinner! sweet meatballs, rice and OF COURSE MORE BROWNIES!!!!!!

• AND THEN!!!! we have friends that haven't been able to be in town that we really love and appreciate too! Annalie has called almost everyday to check up on me and make sure i'm not going too insane, Jen has checked in on us too... oh how we miss you guys! i'm still working on a good little video clip of sb for your "girls" jen! My good friend from az that we haven't actually talked to in a while sent us the most precious card and outfit, thank you Sharp family!

• EVEN The department where brad works gave us a towel with kempton's name on it with matching washcloth! Extreemly Thoughtful of them, thankyou!

• AND to top it off, brad has been so sensitive to how tired and aggitated i've become (poor guy) and last night suprised me with a spectacular foot bath and foot rub! What a wonderful hubby i have!!!!!

• I Just want to say a huge thanks to everyone who has helped us out and sent along good wishes! our family is TRULY greatful!

3 Weeks Already!

So our little guy is now three weeks old! amazing at how fast the time goes by! Last week at his 2 week check up (on friday) he was 8 lbs 5 oz. Oh and he does have heart murmur, but we're still unsure of how serious if at all it is. Anyways, yesterday he started projectile vomiting... fun stuff! so we took another trip to the dr's (dropping the kids off at amy's) (i'm learning)... and we ended up having another ultrasound done on his belly this time, to make sure the part from the stomach to the small intestines is working properly. we'll know more probably tomorrow.

anyways, some new stats on Kempton:

• 3 weeks, 1 day
• 9 lbs 5 oz (YES i said NINE POUNDS! that's 1 pound in less than 1 week!)
• and 21 inches

I think he is definately starting to look more like tj! just blonder!

Will This Day NEVER END???!!!???

Okay, so Friday was my first big day with the kids by myself in town... Kempton had a doctors' appt at 10 while brad was teaching so it was to be just me, and my 3 friends that i normally pon my kids off on have up and left me. (well one got back last night, but not in time) (and i guess to the other one's credit, she wants to be here but can't... i guess i still love her...mwbffs!) but the other one moved... the nerve. anyways, back to the story. So we get up, in the car, drop off brad, and twist and wind our way through campus to get to the other side where the dr's office is. i'm thinking, this is going to be just great! look at me SUPER MOM of 3!!! I park the car. I get tj out, then kempton, and finally sarahbeth. i carry the carseat with kempton, the diaper bag and my new purse!!! (thanks Alix!). i hold tj's hand, and sarahbeth holds his other hand. we look like the perfect little family walking into the office. as we get to the door we see joane loden, her baby, and her mom!!! hey look! witnesses to my perfectness! I walk with my kids down to the area where we always go, and am told to go back to the front to register kempton because even though my family has been there for 2 years, kempton is a new patient and has to get registered at the front... ok, no biggie. so now i pick up the diaper bag, my purse, and the car seat and let sb and tj run carefully back to the front and calmly ask to register my new baby! all is well, EXCEPT i forgot the letter with the baby's medicaid number on it. no worries! Joane's mom watches/entertains my kids while i try to call to get the #, because i didn't want to waste all the time and gas just to go home to get the stinkin' #. unfortunately, they won't give it to me over the phone, BUT i can go to the county health dept and get it there. No big deal, i have to go there anyways to register kempton on WIC. So, i gather my entourage and we had back to the car. after I convince sb and tj to get in, it's time to nurse kempton. so i roll the windows down for the kids in the back and turn on the music and proceed to nurse kempton. sb then decides to have an arguement with me on how she should have a turn to feed baby kempton. i told her only mom can feed baby kempton right now. but NO, she said, not from here, as she points to her chest. from my finger!!! I try to tell her that no food comes out of her finger, and eventually i get the point across. Then after a few quiet moments, she asks "Mom, when my chest gets bigger, can I feed baby Kempton?" needless to say that made me smile! and we proceeded to talk about when it would be okay for her to feed a baby... more precisely after she gets married she can feed her own babies. and she was happy with that. so on to the health department. we get to the parking lot and park... i get tj, then kempton, and then sb out followed by the diaper bag, and my purse. we go in and sign in on the clipboard at 10:40. thank goodness because they close at 11 for the day. after a few minutes sb needs to go potty, so our friend who works their and loves our kids (thank goodness!) watches tj so i can take sb and kempton to the restroom. well, poor sb has diareah, so we end up doing this a couple of times while we are there. good news! at 11:15 we get a new letter with kemptons' insurance # on it. so then i go to the wic window and give them my 10 lbs of informations that they requested me to bring only to have them inform me that i failed to include a proof of residency. SHEESHE!!! once again, weve' been here for 2 years now! can't you see i'm frazled and can't handle this today!!! so i snatch my portfolio of papers back and load my broad back up into the car to go get brad, who will be finished with classes at 11:50. we sit out in the parking lot as usual, when sb says she needs to go potty again. WELL, we still have 10 minutes until brad will be done teaching and no where to park. THANK YOU UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA for doing away with practically all of your visitors parking! and they don't accept dollar bills in the parking garages... messed up! so i just pulled into a faculty spot and got all 3 kids out (left the diaper bag and purse behind) and ran inside to find the nearest bathroom... which happened to be out of order, and then had to find stairs/elevator and get to the 2nd floor and finally found the bathroom. that building is a little confusing when you're looking for something specific. go figure. anyways, run into brad and go back out to the car. we have been gone for a total of 20 minutes. and guess what is on the windshield!!!!!?????!!!!?????!!!??? a freiken' $50 parking ticket!!!! ARGH! so we drive by the parking services so that i can explain why i failed to obey their rules. but after i tell my story, they just smile and say sorry you have to fill out an appeals form. and actually brad has to do it since he is the student that is registered with the parking permit! so on to target to return a few things and make ourselves feel better by buying a couple of movies. while we are there, sb and i walk around the baby section and look at the easter dresses, which happen to be across from the bra section. sb looks at them (the bra's) and then at me and says " mom, when my chest gets bigger, can i put one of those on?" more smiles... after that, it's back to the doctors office, where we wait 1 1/2 until kempton finally sees the dr. brad took the kids outside to play and pass the time. So updates on Kempton are this... he is 8lbs 5 oz, still 20 inches, and he has a goopy eye and gets medicine on that now, and uh, oh yes, he has a heart murmer and has to do some testing for that on monday... so it looks like we get to retry our hand at this super mom thing... WOOHOO!