Montreal Temple

On Saturday we went to the Montreal Temple with some friends and switched watching eachother's kids while we both did a session. It was wonderful!! The session was so beautiful! At this temple there are obviously a lot of French speakers, being that it is in Montreal, but that day we got to hear the session in English for the first time at this temple. After our session, we watched our friends kids so they could do a session. We went outside to have a picnic and enjoy the sun. It was a beautiful day. Before we went outside, we let the girls watch a movie about the Book of Mormon. As they were sitting on the couch in the waiting room sort of watching the movie, Kelsey turned and looked at Addi, her friend, and said, "Addi, I love Jesus, do you love Jesus?" Addi then responded that she did. There was also another lady in the waiting room, so Kelsey looked over at her and asked her the same thing. She smiled and nodded her head yes. So sweet!

Bad Hair Day!

The weather has been so beautiful lately! This whole past week has been near 80 degrees. So unusual for this time of year, but hey we will take it! Because of that my girls have been filthy at the end of the day from playing outside, especially Kelsey. So we have switched our routine from having morning baths to nighttime baths. Doing their hair is always a bit more of a challenge in the morning, especially when Kelsey gets breakfast food in hers. Mylee's had quite the due this morning. Check it out!

Going on with the bath theme. The other night Kelsey got out of her bath and didn't want to get dressed. This is a common problem. Instead of struggling with her, I told her to come get me when she was ready to get dressed and I would help her. In this past this has worked like a charm. I went downstairs and did dinner dishes and after a while I called up to Kelsey to see if she was ready yet. I didn't get any answer. I tried a few more times and still no answer. Afraid that she might be into trouble, I ran upstairs and this is what I found. She was so tired! Playing outside all day does a number on her. Sweet little girl.

"Mom, the Prophet!"

Today when we were walking from the parking lot into our church building Kelsey saw an older man wearing a suit and holding a brief case. Excitedly she shouted, "Mom, the prophet!" Her happy exclamation was an answer to my prayer. Let me explain: last week during General Conference I felt so uplifted by Elder Ballard's talk on Mothers. In it he said:

"There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives."

He then counsels that we need to "recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction" Today I had a joyful moment! There are times I often feel inadequate in my roles as a mother. I feel there is so much I need to teach my girls and I have such high hopes and aspirations for them. When Kelsey thought she saw the prophet today, I felt Heavenly Father was sending me a message that what I had been doing in trying to teach Kelsey the gospel, in particular about our new prophet President Monson, was working and that I was doing a good job.

There are so many times I feel so inadequate and that I am not doing enough, Kelsey's joyful exclamation brought me comfort and then today as I have been studying, I felt an added peace when I came across a talk given by President Erying in the October 2007 conference entitled, "Rise up to your call." His talk is counsel to those who have callings in the church, but I am relating what he said in this instance to my calling as a mother. He said:

"If I only think of my own performance, my sadness deepens. But when I remember that the Lord promised that His power would go with me, I begin to look for evidence of what He has done in the lives of the people I am to serve. I pray to see with spiritual eyes the effects of His power."

Kelsey was evidence for me of his power today when she saw the "prophet". It was also evidenced when Blake called from the hospital to talk to us during his dinner break. Kelsey and I had just sat down to read scriptures, when Blake called. I talked to him a while, then Kelsey wanted to talk to him. I heard Blake ask her if she was going to bed then Kelsey responded, "No, have to read scriptures first." Pure evidence that the Lord is magnifying my abilities as a mother and that He is with me in my mothering. President Erying concludes:

"You can have the utmost assurance that your power will be multiplied many times by the Lord. All He asks is that you give your best effort and your whole heart. Do it cheerfully and with the prayer of faith The Father and His Beloved Son will send the Holy Ghost as your companion to guide you. Your efforts will be magnified in the lives of the people you serve. And when you look back on what may now seem trying times of service and sacrifice, the sacrifice will have become a blessing, and you will know that you have seen the arm of God lifting those you served for Him, and lifting you."

AMAZING! I LOVE THE GOSPEL!

M Russell Ballard, "Daughter's of God," April 2008 General Conference
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-37,00.html

Henry B. Eyring, “Rise to Your Call,” October 2002 General Conference
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/EmailArticleProcess?action=update&cmlId=217658&locale=0&emId=593568239

Latest Events

Finally we have been getting some spring weather. It has been so wonderful! This week inparticular has been wonderful because Blake has been home during the day. He is working in the Emergency Department right now and is on the 2 P.M to 11 P.M. shift. We don't get him at night, but it has been a great change to have him a part of our daily morning and afternoon routine. Above, Kelsey and I made princess crowns and then had a picnic with Daddy outside. Kelsey loved it except for the flies. She had a panic attack everytime one landed on her. Humm...we're going to have to work on that one.

Yesterday, we had pictures taken of the girls. Kelsey for her 3 year and Mylee for her 6 month. They were so adorable! I got some good ones of them. Days before I had been preparing what they were going to wear, here are some pictures of my trial outfits and poses. I know, I'm a little obessive! I chose the red poka dot dress with Mylee in the red jumper. I made Kelsey a pretty white and red bow to go in her hair and made Mylee a little skirt, but didn't end up using it for pictures. It will be cute for church though.

So this is funny. It was after the girls bedtime, Mylee was sleeping and Kelsey was trying to. Blake called from the hospital on his dinner break to talk then Kelsey came down stairs crying because she said she had an ouchy and needed a bandaid. In an effort to get her back to bed so I could talk to my husband in peace, I went upstairs to find her a bandaid even though she wasn't bleeding and didn't need one. Much to my dismay I couldn't find one. When I told Kelsey this, she threw a huge fit. I then proceeded to look harder, I finally found a wierd shaped one. It was a bandaid though and Kelsey was satisfied. She took the bandaid from me and put it on herself. My moments of frustration quickly turned into a memorable, precious and hilarious moment. Look at this picture and you will see why. I was cracking up on the phone with Blake.

One last thing, is this baby not the cutest thing you have ever seen! She's such a doll!

Mystery Shop Disaster

Blake graciously watched the girls for me while I did some errands yesterday. It was so wonderful to move in and out of stores so quickly! One of my errands was doing a mystery shop at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I have done this shop numerous times before and usually do it because they not only pay me, but reimburse me for an item up to $8. I usually can always use some new kitchen gadget. Well, I had quite the experience yesterday. As part of the mystery shop, I have to browse through all the departments and note the names of all the employees I pass by and whether or not they greeted me. I also have to ask an employee where an item is and see what they do. For this particular shop, I had to ask about air purifiers and judge them on their selling abilities and so forth. As I was pursing the store, I saw a lady that had helped me during a previous shop I had done there. During that shop I had to pretend I was engaged and had to start a wedding registry. I remember being frazled as she asked more and more detailed questions about my presumed wedding. Well, she took one look at me yesterday and I know she recognized me. She must have caught on last shop that I was a mystery shopper. As I walked away and went into another department, my suspicions were confirmed as I saw her scurry by, whispering to every employee she passed. I knew exactly what she was doing. When I walked by the employees she had already talked to they were overly attentive to me. Employees starting coming out from everywhere and all of them were overly excited to help and assist me. I felt like a gold fish in a glass bowl. Everyone was looking at me! I would have left, but needed the money, so I proceeded with the shop. I had to make a return and a purchase as part of my requirement. When I got in line to do my return and make my purchase an employee immediately picked me out of a line of people and took me over to an empty register to do my return and make my purchase. I couldn’t get out of there faster! I felt like saying, "Yeah you figured me out." But I was afraid that I might not get paid if I said something. All that and I only got $8 bucks and I ended up buying fruit snacks because I couldn't find something under $8 to buy that I needed. I’m not going to do that shop again unless they offer me big bucks!