AZ Sunsets and Planting Pumpkins

We're still working hard to try to get the house settled- it's quite the process since we still have some renovations going on, furniture that we need to get rid of (since we downsized the house a little we have to clear out some of the extra furniture before we can even move things were they need to be), closets that need to be built out so we can hang our clothes and actually start unpacking, and "the list" goes on. But we're taking it in strides, and even amongst all the chaos there are sweet little moments that I have to stop and soak in.

Matt has this dream of growing our own pumpkins for the boys to carve this Halloween and the time to plant them in order for them to be ready in time is slipping away. So last night while we did our daily Lowes run, this time to pick up wood to build out the closet shelving, Jed and Matt headed over to the gardening section to pick up some seeds. Tonight after dinner I started cleaning up the house while the boys headed outside. As I was sweeping up the floor I got a glimpse of what was going on outside. The boys were still half naked because we had stripped them down so they could eat watermelon with their dinner, but they had their boots on and they were following Matt across the backyard to the spot they had designated for their new crop. Blazing in the background was a beautiful Arizona sunset (I am a sucker for sunsets) so it was definitely time for me to put the broom aside and head out to enjoy the sunset and my little cowboys diggin' in the dirt with Dadee.

Jed headed over to give our baby goat Rico some attention...

Not sure how much "help" the boys were to Matt

Jed liked stepping into the trenches Matt was digging... 

And they were so excited to be right there with him that I think he spent half his time moving them back... 

But he wouldn't have it any other way! And Ollie is already asking when he gets to carve his pumpkins!

What a beautiful night! 

#urbancowboys #countryliving #myfavoriteguys

Littlest Urban Cowboy Chasing Chickens

The morning ritual now is for the boys to wake up at the crack of dawn and want to go outside to see their chickens. I am finding that by 9am they have usually gone through two pairs of clothes and a few showers (rather it be in the house or just in the hose outside) so I'm beginning to care less and less about what they actually wear, or if they wear anything at all! But shoes are a must and they have started keeping them by the back door, and so the daily adventures start by gearing up...

Jed loves his cowboy hat, and I love him in it. Something about a little cowboy that just melts my heart- maybe because it suits him so well too. He's such a rugged little tough guy and I love stomping around after him to see what he will be up to next.

And these are the moments when I get to see his attitude. Like when I tell him to pick his hat up off the ground and he decides that he's too tough to have to listen to anyone so he crosses his arms in defiance and then puts his head down so he doesn't have to look me in the eye because even his eyes won't listen to me anymore! Yep, the twos are already coming on with this guy!

I can't help but think that strong will of his will get him places though. I really don't think he even realizes that he's so little, he pretty much thinks he can do anything and even kids that are bigger than him don't phase him at all. He'll still try and wrestle and play with them so tackling a few chickens is nothing! He doesn't even let their flapping feathers stop him!

And once they give into his strength and iron will he always likes to bring them over to me to pet...he's so proud of himself!

And that is how Jed likes to spend his time these days, chasing chickens! (Run chicken! Run!)

Sarah's Endowment

Yesterday we had the privilege of attending Sarah's endowment. What a beautiful thing it was to be in the Gilbert temple with her and her family and all those that came to support her, including some of my own family, as she made this big step in her life! I am not quite sure how we even made it, due to a mix up in times our sitter didn't even make it to our house until 9am. We were sitting in the car waiting to make our exit when she arrived and by some miracle we made the 9:15am session! The session was full and everyone was seated except for one sister, they were just going to get her a chair when we arrive. We didn't even have to ask, the temple president was the one standing at the door trying to make sure everyone made it in and he simply told the brothers to get three more chairs (Jodee came up the stairs right behind us).

I love being in the temple! Every time I have gone when someone else is going for the first time it always takes me back to my first time in the temple. For me it was in Atlanta and it wasn't a five minute drive from my house like it is today, it was over a three hour drive. I didn't have family waiting for me in the celestial room, but it was a wonderful experience none the less. I made the trek to Atlanta with my parents and one of my favorite pictures is one we took on the way there. It was just the three of us, we stopped at a scenic overlook to take in the view. I love how happy I look, that I have both of my parents by my side and that the rolling hills of Tennessee are behind me. That picture normally sits right by me on my desk but being only half unpacked right now as we get ready for our next move it is tucked away in a box at the moment. I remember walking through the doors of the Atlanta temple and how from the moment I stepped in it felt like heaven. All the people were dressed in white and all of them were excited to have me there, welcoming me in with big smiles. There weren't that many people in the temple that day and I was the only one receiving my endowment so I felt super special. You wear a tag when you are going through for your own endowment so it was easy to spot that I was a newby but the result is you are showered with love and well wishes by these strangers that somehow feel more like a distant relative that you just haven't had the opportunity of meeting before. It truly was magical. 

For me the best part was the initiatory where you receive the most beautiful blessings. I think that part was the most significant for me because the few years of my life prior to going to the temple were not necessarily times that I was proud of and it had taken some effort for me to find my testimony and make the changes in my life that lead me to the temple which was a stepping stone to serving a mission. So hearing those blessings pronounced upon me was a humbling moment. A mixture of profound gratitude and joy, knowing that I truly was forgiven. I was overwhelmingly grateful for the Savior and the significance of the atonement that made it all possible for me to be clean again and to know that I was where He and all of those that love me wanted me to be- back on the path. It's hard to really put all of the feelings in words, the feeling of being clean. I think Alma described it best in Alma 36:

 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am inthe gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlastingchains of death.

 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember mypains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

 21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

As we waited in the celestial room I had the chance to look around and observe all the beautiful details. I was blessed to get to hear the architect of the temple speak in a fireside after the temple dedication. The agave plant is found throughout the temple and he shared with us what he saw in the agave plant that inspired him to use it as a symbol in the temple. The first being the leaves that unfold- each one making an impression on each other as the plant grows and blooms. He spoke about how significant our lives are to those we touch- how we make an impression on each other. It would be impossible to note all the people that have touched my life and made an impression on me, but most definitely Sarah and her family would be numbered among them. Not to mention the impression Jed has made on all of us, would Sarah have even been in the temple today if it were not for the impression Jed made on her life? The architect also spoke about the thorns, every agave plant has them. Instead of excluding the thorns from the design he chose to make them a significant part of the design. As I looked around the celestial room I could see the thorns everywhere. They were in the frames on the mirrors, in the gold trim found on the chandeliers, in the stained glass and details carved on the wall throughout the room. The thorns that we all have in our lives are what change us, if we didn't feel and chose to overcome the bitter, we would not truly know joy. How could we if it were not for our pains and trials? Again I thought of Sarah and thorns she has experienced and overcome. They will forever be a part of her story but so will be the joy!

As I watched Sarah come through the doors into the celestial room, welcomed by her husband and family, seeing the light and joy in her eyes and having the opportunity to embrace her I couldn't help but think how sweet the joy of the gospel is. I know her own pains have been bitter. She has shared a portion of them with me and my heart has ached for her time and time again. To think back to when we first met, the pains and trials she has endured and to see where she is now is nothing short of a miracle. As I watched her move around the celestial room being embraced by all those that love her I felt my eyes start burning and the happy tears started flowing. It was a tender moment to witness. Especially to see her mother and father and brother watching her too. Knowing how their hearts have ached for her during the difficult times, knowing how much they love her and how their only desire has been her happiness made this moment all the sweeter.

As we left the temple Jed was waiting outside with Ollie to greet us. What a blessing open adoption is. How grateful we feel to be a part of Sarah's life. To be loved and supported by her family and to be able to be there with them in their happy moments just as they have been there for us in ours. I am so grateful that our journey did not end with a painful moment leaving the hospital. I would have felt so cheated  had that been the end. It's hard to think of what we would have missed out on, today being one of those moments I would never have wanted to miss! #itsaboutlove

Christmas Tree 2014

Tonight we set out to find our perfect Christmas tree! I was super tempted to go the budget route and pick one up at Costco. Even before Thanksgiving I've been eyeing the one they have on display when you walk through the door and for only something like $54 who could ever beat it! The only problem is you just pull up and they pull one out of the truck all wrapped up and ready to go and that is what you get. Matt would have none of that, he insisted on "picking" our tree and in the end I didn't put up much of a fight because truly I love the whole experience of going to a lot, supporting small businesses, and getting to pick out the perfect tree!

7:45pm We arrived at the lot eager to find our tree!

It's funny how at first glance they all look amazing but as soon as you actually have to pick one you start to notice all the empty patches, or crooked tops, etc. And so it began...

I soon found Ollie over at the counter chatting away with the owner. Why was I not surprised? I always get a little grin as I listen to his conversations with strangers and get to see their reactions to him. He always makes every day brighter and I am sure the owners must love getting to see the joy on kids faces as they come through to pick out their trees.

He returned with a little gift, and he sure was excited about it!

The boys loved running through the trees, and Jed especially enjoyed touching the pokey limbs and taking a sniff of the evergreens.

Ollie was a lot harder to keep track of, and his typical boy self was quick to find a stick and mud!

I thought I had found the perfect noble fur but Matt wasn't so sure...

Funny how the very first tree that caught my eye was the one that we went back to again and again.

It was a top two contender, but it wasn't quite perfect. In the end we made a last minute find that stole the show.

8:26pm The search was finally over!

The pictures didn't do it justice! I'm really missing my bounce flash, but it was the perfect one. So full and green and perfectly straight! I don't even remember the kind of tree it was, but I do know it was a kind we had never had before and we were excited to bring it home! Another reason to love the tree lot, they always have cute photo ops setup. The boys doing their best to give us two thumbs up...

And the family photo...

Meanwhile they were busy getting our tree freshly cut...

And in the end after Ollie started grabbing tools I think they were happy to pack us up and see us go!

Back at the house Matt and I were doing our best to put up the Christmas tree when the whole thing fell over on him!

We all got a good laugh out of it, especially Ollie!

The tree and Dadee both survived, the tree is finally up and Jingle Bells must have known the tree was coming today because last night he picked a spot with the best view of the tree in the house!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...