Beautiful

This is me.  Hi world!
I'm about to talk about a sensitive subject, so fasten your seat belt.  There are so many articles, opinions, and rules about what we can and cannot say about beauty, especially to young girls, I thought I'd add my two cents.
I'm no great beauty as you can see, I'm quite plain, except for that gorgeous hair, sweet smile, my feet and finger nails, those are awesome.  My husband get mad at me whenever I say I'm plain or anything that could even be construed as putting myself down.  What he doesn't understand is that when I say I'm plain or chubby, or I look bad I'm not putting myself down, I'm making an observation.  I am over weight, it's a fact.  I don't mind though because my kids mean more to me then being skinny.  I got this body bearing my babies and I wouldn't go back to that slim thing I was before I got married...unless I could keep the kids too, that would be cool.  I also don't mind being plain, usually.  I like who I am, I am ok with the way I look.  I have yet to love the way I look, but I'm working on it.  Why do I say this?
In about 3 seconds you will be two cents richer because here it is.  I think beauty boils down to two things.  Comparisons and confidence.  Two C's, two cents, hahaha, that's fun...I like words, but back to what I was saying.  I am beautiful because I am me, not because I am me trying to be her.  I don't compare myself to others and I am comfortable in my own skin.  Think of your idea of a beautiful woman or handsome man and then ask yourself this, if they lack confidence do they feel beautiful?  Nope.  Beauty is on the inside, it is about the way we act, but it's also about the way we feel.
I have two girls so this while beauty thing has been on my mind a lot.  I want them to feel beautiful.  My genes probably won't help them with the worldly side of beauty, but I hope that my smarts can help them.  If I can teach them confidence, if I can teach them to love themselves, and be comfortable in their own skin, then they will be beautiful no matter what they look like.
Think of the most attractive person you know, not the hot movie star, a real person you are attracted to.  I use the word literally, not in the I want to date you way, but the are you drawn tot hem way.  You are attracted to this person, or drawn to them for a reason.  Usually that reason in confidence, it really does make a person more beautiful because they feel beautiful.
Our bodies are beautiful, amazing creation that God has given us.  He asks us to take care of them, but he doesn't compare us or judge our beauty.  There are no beauty pageants in Heaven.  We are divine and because we are His, because we are wonderful and amazing then we are beautiful.  There are as many shades of beauty as there are shades of color, each one different and unique, but still beautiful.

Laughing

Today I am grateful for a sense of humor and laughter.   John says I am  immature, but I like to think I have a good sense of humor.  :)  To me life is kind of a mix between a game, an adventure, and a joke. Don't get me wrong, I can be serious when it's needed...usually.  :) But I dearly love to laugh.  Life is so full of...life is just full.  There are all sorts of ups and downs, disappointments, frustrations, messes, chaos, and all sorts of stuff.  If I did not spend so much time laughing I would probably spend it crying.  I prefer cheeky to teary.
For me attitude is everything.  Instead of getting upset with Glen for getting into my make up and nail polish I laughed at him, took pictures and had all sorts of fun with it before having him help me clean it up.
Instead of feeling irritated that Benjamin had frosting all over his face, the table, chairs, and even some on the wall (how did * that* happen)  I took pictures of his cute funny faces and we laughed at his "old man beard."
Some people call me silly and tell me to be serious, but why?  What is the point?  Why go through life feeling embarrassed, frustrated, irritated, or sad when you can find something (or someone =D ) to laugh at.  :)  Life is so full of little moments that we can laugh at and I laugh at myself as often as I laugh at other things.  Te other day I made a really blond comment and instead of feeling embarrassed I re told the story 2-3 times and laughed at it. Today someone asked me how I was and I said "Great!"  Then proceeded to trip on the stairs and I laughed and my grace, or lack of it.
So here's the moral guys and gals, if you can't laugh at your self...well, just call me, I'll laugh at you.  :)

I am me

Toady I am grateful to be me.  I am grateful to be a woman, a wife, a mother, a sister, daughter, friend, and a child of God.  I am grateful for my strong body that has carried two wonderful children and borne them into this world and fed them until they could eat solid food.  I am grateful for my hair, even the 7 grey ones.  I am grateful for pretty feet, and a nice smile.
I am grateful that I am a woman.  As a woman I have the opportunity to be a mother.  I am protected and provided for by my husband. I may be emotional, but my emotions help me to be loving, sensitive to others, sympathetic, empathetic, and understanding.  As a woman I have a divine gift and calling from God in the ability to deeply love and serve others.
I am grateful for my personality.  I am honest, you will always know where you stand with me.  I get over things fast, I can go from crying to singing in 0-5 minutes.  :)  I love to laugh and play.  I am not afraid to laugh at myself, or others for that matter.  I am cheeky and smart.  I try to be confident and patient and I usually succeed.  I am beautiful, even when I do not feel it.  I love life and have a deep love of learning and knowledge.  I love to help others.  I cannot see suffering without a deep and abiding desire to do something about it.
I am me.  I am a lady.  I am a mom.  I am a child of God.  I am a Latter Day Saint (Mormon).  I am divinely created.  I am me.

Words to encourage and uplift

Today I was paid a high compliment. Let me back up.

Today for my birthday dinner we went to Noodles and Company, one of my very favorite restaurants. They have all sorts of noodles, soups, salads, and sandwiches. Something for everyone. I got a bowl of spaghetti to share with Benjamin. You know how kids eat spaghetti, or really anything for that matter when they are under 2. He had a lot of his meal under his chair, I even dumped noodles out of his boots. :D Seeing the big mess I decided to clean up. I got down on the floor, hands and knees in my dress, and picked up all of the food from under his chair. I was told by a lot of people that there were people paid to do that I could leave. I knew that, but i also know what a pain it is to clean up after a little kid, after all I have two. I also figured this was more then your usual run of the mill mess and since this is a place where you don't leave tips I couldn't just leave a big tip and feel ok.

So there I was with spaghetti on my skirt, thanks to an extra large glob he dropped, trying to figure out if a fork or my fingers was more effective and I hear a lady make a comment. Not a snide comment either! She said to her companions that I was a good mom. Then another woman, her mom I think, told me that my boys were lucky to have me. I was setting a good example for them and they would grow up to be good, polite boys. She said they were cute and I was doing a great job.

Sometimes I feel discouraged. I worry that my kids are missing all the little lessons I am trying to teach them. But I know that they are learning. They see my example and they follow it. To you I would say, do not become discouraged. Your kids are watching what you do, they want to be like you. You do well and they see that.

These two sweet ladies really made my day. It means a lot to me what they said and I hope some day they realize it.

A princess, beautiful in His eyes

I am a princess, no not a fashion obsessed, dramatic, get my way type of princess. A princess in the truest form. I am the daughter of a King, and as such heir to all He possesses. Think about that for a second, we are all children of God, the most high King. He is Lord over all...ALL. And we as His children are all princes and princesses, heir to all He possess, in other words, heir to ALL. I am so sad to see that some girls and boys, men and women forget that they are royalty.

John and I went on a date to the temple the other day, I love dates like that. ya know one of my favorite parts? I always feel so beautiful. It's not because everyone is wearing white and so I feel less out of place then usual, it's not because my temple dress is extravagant and beautiful. I feel beautiful because in the temple I see my divine worth better then any other place. I feel beautiful because I see myself through my Father's eyes. He created me and being God his creation is perfect. I am not saying the I am perfect, far from it, but as His creation I am perfect. He made me the way I am and as His creation, and as His daughter I am beautiful. In the temple I feel that beauty and divine worth so deeply.

I am grateful for the opportunity to go to the temple and to feel the Spirit of God so strongly. I am grateful for my knowledge that I am a child of God, divine and beautiful to behold. I love my Father in Heaven and am grateful to know that he is my Father and my king.

Poor Computer, no, Poor me!

My poor computer broke, ok, just one tinsy little part broke. But that tinsy little part means that I have no internet for awhile. No Facebook, email, blogging, recipes, or surfing unless I want to wait until 10:30 when my husband gets home from school with his laptop, or I want to use my neighbor's. The library won't happen. Can you just picture me sitting there blogging while my two toddlers run a muck? Not happening. So I will just hang out at my neighbors more often, they love me anyway, right and blog less.
I am sorry my faithful friends, I really miss blogging every day. I miss the chance to get my thoughts, experiences, and testimoniy out for the world to read. But stay tuned. I will try to keep up on the blog, even if it means staying up late occasionally, not that I don't do that anyway :D And until the next post just think of giraffes. And feel free to leave a comment so I know you're still around.
Loves!

The best date ever!

Valentine's Day was seriously hectic for John, more so then usual. He had to work until 10:00 pm, he had a huge project due the next day, and also a huge meeting with one of the College Dean's all looming. So we did something with the kids Sunday night and decided to move our date to another day. John had President's Day off and so we chose President's Day. The kids and I were really looking forward to having a day, a WHOLE day with daddy home. When he gets home at 10 pm every night they don't get much time with me, neither do I. To start out the day we all had breakfast together, Glen made daddy a pancake all by himself. Then John went shopping and I did a bit of house work. We met at John's mom's house at noon where his sister and mother would watch the kids. John took me to the restaurant we went to on our first date and gave me a yellow rose. Then he took me to a book store and told me to pick out tow books. I immediately picked out Jane Austen's complete novels in leather bound, beautiful isn't it? And looked around trying to decide between a dictionary or another classic novel. John brought me a white rose and I decided on another classic novel, The Inheritance, by Louisa May Alcott. (The dictionary I wanted was a lot of money) Then it was on to the movie. He knew I had been wanting to see Tangled with him and so that is the movie he took me too. There he gave me a red rose. Yellow, white, and red, are the color of roses he gave me the day he proposed. After the movie we went swimming with the boys. We all had so much fun. After we got home he gave me the itunes gift card. He knows how much I love music and especially itunes so I can get the song I want and not the whole CD. The whole date was a surprise and I loved every minute of it. Especially sharing a milk shake at lunch. I love how well my husband loves me and how hard he works to help me feel loved. He is such a wonderful man and I feel so blessed. Now I just need to finish the two books I am reading and then I can start on my new books...

Race for the cure

To day I completed my first 5K. I was so excited about this one because of the cause. All proceeds from this race went to research in the hop[es of finding a cure for breast cancer. It was so moving so see all of the people out there in support of this race and cause. I was teary eyed as all of the survivors, including Glenna whom we raced for, paraded around the fountain and lined up for a picture. And there we so many who entered the race. The estimate was around 20,000.
I took the boys in the stroller and we walked this time, but I hope to run my next 5K. I will try to do another one at the end of the summer. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to take part in this race. I wish I had my camera so I could have gotten a picture. I was also very happy to see my mother in law waiting at the finish line to show her support for me with a sign and balloon for Glen, oh ya, and the "victory grapes."
A few facts about breast cancer;

• Although rare, men can get and even die from the breast cancer.
• 192,370 U.S. women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.
• Studies show older women have a higher risk of breast cancer, as well as those with a family history of cancer, excessive drinkers and those who are overweight.
• More than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors live in the US.

Imagine a world without breast cancer.

Still here

Just wanted to let you all know we are still here. Glen is learning so fast. His new words are horse, neigh, and duck. He also makes a really cute duck sound. He loves climbing on everything and hiding in the curtains.
John has taken on more hours at the library since he lost his other job. He is also spending time with our neighbor to learn more computer stuff. Because he has been home more John has been a huge help with Glen and the house, especially when I don't feel well. He has taken some things over completely. Bless his heart, and the rest of him too. :)
I'm doing pretty well. At church someone told me I didn't look as far along as I am and that I looked great (at least she didn't say I didn't look pregnant. That is NOT a compliment) Whatever anyone says I feel huge. For about 3 weeks now I have been having terrible pain in my lower abdomen. My midwife says it's just my muscles irritated at having to carry so much weight, but it sure hurts anytime I exercise, or move for that matter. She told me to take it easy, right, with a toddler? She also said Benjamin is in the 56th percentile, which means he may weigh now what Glen did at birth. Wow. I hope he doesn't gain much more wight. But hey, on the positive side at least I am not putting on a ton of weight, I have not gained much this time for which I am very grateful.
Check back soon, I will try to get up the post I have been planning. It will be a summer post with lots of cute pictures of Glen, and maybe a sneak peek at the East Canyon Twister tournament.