A.F. Adventure

Well, today is Father's Day.

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful husband who does his best to keep the kids happy.  He works hard, he plays hard, and he spends almost all of his free time doing whatever I ask or whatever the kids apparently need from him at that moment.  He's a wonderful father and I'm grateful to have him for my husband.

As a celebration today, we went up American Fork Canyon to take a drive and do a little exploring.  It was a beautiful day -- 95* with a light breeze.  The drive was GORGEOUS and the sunshine made an ethereal feeling spread through our family.  It was so nice to just walk and discover.  We got to the summit on the Alpine Loop Road and had to take a picture.  John said to me "Thanks for letting me get high on Father's Day."  haha.  What a goof.

Here are a couple of pictures from the trip. Some didn't turn out too well, but I can't complain about the day as a whole.  Hope you like them!

~C

Milestones

It's almost the end of April already!

Over Easter weekend, we were lucky enough to have John's parents out to visit for a couple of days.  Though our visits are always too short with family, we really enjoyed having them out.  We got to celebrate Easter and show them our new home and neighborhood.  We even went to Temple Square on Easter and went out to dinner.  The boys adore their Grammy and Grampy and were so excited to decorate their room and show off all of their tricks.  We have been so grateful for the wonderful relationship we have had with them throughout our marriage. They have been so kind and supportive -- even when it was less than convenient for them.  We're glad our kids have had a chance to build such a strong relationship with their grandparents and I'm so grateful for my close relationship with them.

I wanted to hop on and post a few pictures and a video of the kids today.  Since the sun has been shining so much and the weather is starting to warm up a bit, Andrew and Mason have finally had time to get out and ride their bikes.  They love to get outside and be active, even if I have to force them out initially.  Once they're out there, they hate to come in. :)

Andrew has been riding with training wheels since he was 4 because we never had any level ground to teach him to ride his bike without them.  Things sure have changed now that we're in Utah!  About a week or two after Grammy and Grampy left, we took his training wheels off his bike and he took off up the road without any problems.  John and I ran beside him all the way up, turned him around, and ran all the way down again about a half a dozen times.  I nearly died, but Andrew has gained such confidence knowing that he can ride that bike all by himself.  It only took him one more day to learn how to start and stop himself without help and now he wants to ride ALL the time. :)

Mason is having a hey-day with his bike as well.  He still has training wheels, but I think those will be off by the end of the Summer.  These kids are awesome. :)  For now, he races Andrew all over the place, and sometimes he rides his scooter (though it's not nearly as fast!).

Andrew showing off

A couple of weeks ago John's uncle Gary and his wife, Janet, came to visit us, too!  We've been so lucky to have visitors!  They were kind enough to take us out for dinner at my favorite restaurant (Chili's), and we had a nice visit.  Their stay was even shorter than John and Carolyn's, but we were grateful to have them stop in while they were travelling through on their way back to Seattle.  We love our family!

Here are a few pictures of the family. Enjoy!

~C

 At the Monster Truck Show

 In the Toy Room

 Andrew reading to Mason

 Mason playing You To The Rescue

 Mason with the Horton mask

 Play time at Utah Lake

 Outdoor Fun:  Tether ball!

 Mason on the dirt bike with Daddy

 Andrew on the dirt bike with Daddy

 Some of their favorite time is computer time

 Donut Date at Andrew's school

Mason visiting Andrew's class for Donut Date

Springing

Hi Everyone!

   Well, it's officially April and officially Spring!  Here in Utah that means that it's April and we may still have another snow shower or two before we stay warm continuously.  The last few weeks have brought such warmth and beauty as I've seen the grass getting greener and the trees start to bud and flower.

   Andrew is really enjoying his new school.  He has a wonderful teacher and a great group of classmates, though he rarely actually says anything about them.  He'll have a comment now and then about what they do at recess or how many Beyblades his friends brought to school that day.  That kid would KILL for his own Beyblade, but he'll have to wait until he earns it. ;)  He's learning how to ride his bike, again, and will soon have his training wheels off.  He's getting so independent and I love to see him learning new things and making new discoveries.

    Mason is on the verge of reading. He starts Kindergarten this coming Fall (boo hoo!) and he can hardly wait.  He really wants to be in Andrew's class, but that's not going to happen and he's bummed about it.  It seems like he is growing more and more every day.  He certainly talks more now than he ever did, but he usually has pretty intelligent things to say, which is a nice breath of fresh air from the fluff that I talk about all day.  He really likes learning new things and asks great questions.  He says a lot of funny stuff, too, like "I'm such a bugger for beating you again!"  His love of board games is one of the things I love most about that kid. He always wants to play games, and I welcome that with completely open arms!

  John and I are grateful for our jobs and even more grateful for our extra space.  John has enjoyed having a garage back and a big yard to care for.  He has turned on the irrigation a few times to make sure everything works, mowed the lawn, fertilized, and overall just enjoyed making plans for our yard.  He is less than satisfied with his job, as has been the case for quite some time, and now he's putting in applications for Corrections and Police departments in the area.  We're hoping something good will come from that and we'll keep praying, crossing fingers, etc.

  Well, that's our update for now.   Enjoy the pictures.

-C

Reflections and Testimonies

Today has brought with it an immense amount of gratitude in my heart.  It seems that Sundays have been especially nostalgic lately.

I have been able to attend Relief Society the last couple of weeks, due to my release as the ward's Primary Chorister (the BEST calling in the whole church, I'm certain), and have actually thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  I've been able to sit next to a good friend both weeks and have enjoyed being near her and being able to share of her wonderful spirit.  She is a relatively new convert to the church and I can tell how much she loves the Lord and how much being a member of the Church means to her.  I'm so greatly blessed by friends like this wonderful young woman and am so grateful for her.  I am going to miss my beautiful Chanel (sad face).

Today we were chatting about President Lorenzo Snow and his feelings about Spiritual education.  There were a few tangents that made their entrance into and away from the conversation, but as we chatted and as we were taught, I had a few things come to my mind that I felt I needed to share.

1.  Sometimes a speaker in church just hits you.  In my experience, the most powerful message I have ever heard was given by Jeffrey R. Holland in the 2009 LDS General Conference.  It was so amazing to see him stand there, adamantly expressing that the Book of Mormon and the Gospel are true.  As I watch it, 3 years later, I feel as grateful for his testimony today as I did then.  I sat there in that chapel watching the small t.v. and listened intently to his witness of the Book of Mormon.  My two children (Andrew only 3 and Mason only 8 months old) were completely quiet for this 10-minute moment in time.

Have you ever had that moment?  You know, the one like in the movies when everything in the background goes out of focus and the person in the foreground seems to come more forward?  That moment of focus that lets you know that each thing that is said is meant JUST for that person, and they are 100% aware of the impact that it is going to have on their lives? That's my moment.  All of a sudden, Elder Holland was speaking DIRECTLY to me, challenging me to doubt what he was testifying of, and I couldn't do it.   I remember sitting there, listening to his powerful testimony, and thinking to myself "Of COURSE it's true!  I already know it!"  For the first time in my life, I felt like I didn't have to lean on anyone else's testimony.  I knew it all on my own and it was good enough for me. No doubt.  And I haven't doubted it since.

2.  A few months later, in my ward in Wenatchee, Washington, I had quite an experience that frustrated and exhausted me.  I had been attending church alone for some time (as I always do, since my husband is not a member of the LDS Church), and, while sitting in Sacrament Meeting, my then 1-year-old, Mason, crouched down and peed right out of the side of his diaper... all over the floor in the Chapel.  As if it weren't horrifying enough to try to wipe it up as everyone around me saw the panic in my eyes and the pee all over the floor, my oldest son, Andrew, ran out the other side of the pew and up to the stand and into the empty choir chairs.  Right in the middle of Sacrament Meeting, during our Bishop's wife's talk, Andrew took off running.  I tried to catch him on his way up, and as I did, Mason took off up the other side.  I was mortified!  On my own, trying to catch TWO running children was proving to be impossible.  I was able to grab Andrew and right when I was near tears with all eyes of the congregation on myself and my defiant children, my Home Teacher, Brandon Child, rushed up and grabbed that little Mason and sat him on his arm.  *Face Palm*  Here he was, helping me in such an embarrassing moment for me, and he set that little peed bottom right on his Suit Coat.  I could hardly stand it.  I went home that day nearly consumed in self-pity and tears, trying to muster the courage to call him and thank him for his help, as well as offer to dry clean that suit jacket for him.

I was despondent and beyond frustrated.  As I stood making dinner that night, I got a phone call from my Bishop's wife, Elisabeth.  She called me to encourage me, to tell me how inspiring I am for coming to church all alone and doing the right thing even though it's hard.  She told me that she hoped I wouldn't let the events of that day keep me from attending church in the future and she told me how much she admired what I was doing to instill faith and good Sunday practices in my very young children.  I already knew I wasn't going to leave the church because of an embarrassing 10-minute horror story (as it seemed), but it was so nice to have a call from a wonderful person who took the time to call and lift me up when I was feeling so completely defeated.  Her words stick with me to this day, and even when I feel like it is too much to do on my own, I remember her telling me "that it will all be worth it" as my children learn and grow in the Gospel.  I am truly grateful for her every day.

3.  About a decade ago (ugh) someone challenged my mom to read the Book of Mormon every month for an entire year.  That required a full 18 pages of reading each day in order to make the goal.  Twelve times through the book.  I remember days when she would miss a day of reading and the next day would require 36 pages of reading.  I remember how much she would sit there, determined to get all of those pages read, no matter how tired she was, and still managed to get all of her work done and be an amazing mother to myself and my siblings (though I never appreciated her enough).  Her dedication to reading and to meeting that challenge has affected me in so many different ways.  I remember how she would tell me that each time she read through it, she would get so much more out of it and it would affect her in different ways each month.  It's like she was learning things on a new level with each turn of the page.

As I prepared to take out my endowments and attend the temple for the first time a few years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would read the Book of Mormon all the way through before my temple date.  I made that promise to myself 3 weeks before I left for Utah. I realized that I would have to read a few more than 18 pages a day to get it done, and as I started to really read it... with a real earnest desire to read it and know it was true, I found myself hardly able to put it down.  All of a sudden so much of it made sense in my life.  Maybe it was because I was reading it for myself this time. Maybe it was because I was reading it so quickly.  Regardless of the reason, I found myself enjoying every verse, drinking in every moment and spending all my free time studying and pondering those words.  Even days when I needed a good nap, or needed to go to bed, I wanted to read instead. I have been so grateful for the opportunity to read and re-read the Book of Mormon.

I know that these three examples may not mean much to the average person.  I know that people who read this may look at what I wrote and doubt and question and ignore what I feel and what I say.  But I will testify right here that I KNOW that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one TRUE church on this earth.  I KNOW that what is taught is true, that this organized religion is IMPERATIVE and that every moment I live, I am affected and changed for the better because of this church.  I am grateful to be able to share with my children and teach them the things that I know.  I am grateful for the Atonement of the Savior and the opportunity that it provides me to right my wrongs and repent of my sins.  I am grateful that I have an Advocate to have mercy on my soul at the last day and the Judgement bar of God.  I am grateful for mercy, for suffering, for challenges, and for the love I feel for and from my Savior.  I am grateful for the many examples and kind people that have been placed in my life to help me grow and help me learn.  I am grateful for a living Prophet, who speaks God's will and prophesies to the world of the things He would have us know.  I am grateful for all my blessings -- whether I recognize them or not -- and hope to be able to deserve the wonderful things in my life.

If you don't know, if you're not sure, and if you're even slightly curious, I would urge you to get your hands on a copy of the Book of Mormon and read it for yourself.  Pray about it, give yourself 10 minutes a day to REALLY ponder, read, pray and search your heart to know if it's true.  And I promise you that if you do, you will see what I see.  You will know what I know.  And you will want to learn more, be part of something bigger, and pattern your life after that of Jesus Christ.  I know that the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offers this to me and to anyone on this earth who will truly seek the truth.

This is my testimony to you. This is my testimony to my children.  This is my testimony before the Lord Himself.  It is personal, it is powerful, it is everything that I am.

Thank you for taking the time to read as I shared what is most precious to me.

-C

House Hunting

We did it!  We got all the way to Utah and did the house hunt!  We looked in South Salt Lake County and North Utah County for a house to buy.  We had compiled a list of about 30 houses, but before we got there,  more than half of them had gone under contract!  What a bummer!  Regardless of the slim pickings, we found a great house.  Well, actually, we found THREE.  So we put them in order of the ones we liked the most to the least, with all things considered -- location, price, bedrooms, lot size, house size, etc -- and made our first offer.

After a few hours and a good night's sleep, and another few hours (ugh), we found out that our offer had been outdone and we missed it!  So we moved right away on to our second choice and put in an offer.  After waiting to hear back (and having to get on an airplane and fly home in the middle of it), we got an answer and we got the house!  Hooray!  We only had to counter once, which is nice, and it turned out to be just lovely for us.  Our new house is in Lehi, UT and will be so good for our family!

Everything has been going well since Sunday. We have had the inspection done as well as sent in all the paperwork for the contract, etc. It's been a bit of a busy week, but it's been really nice and exciting, and we're getting pumped for the move.  I've felt relatively un-motivated recently, but I did find the energy to pack a few boxes and make a few changes around here to make packing easier.  The next month or so will be fun in trying to get everything worked out.  Below are a couple of pictures from the Realtor's website.  We think this is going to be a great place for our little family!

Thanks for keeping up with me!

-C

 Front of House

 our GINORMOUS back yard!

Our formal living room in front and family room behind it

Winds of Change

It's officially Winter, I guess!  It has been a little on the chilly side these last few days in the Seattle area and I'm finding that I am more and more dependent on my coat.  I love this time of year because the Christmas Season is in full swing and it is my absolute favorite holiday.  I love the Christmas carols, hearing bells ringing, and the generally good attitude that everyone seems to have this time of year.  I also love that I am able to watch any and all of my favorite holiday movies without any complaining (well, without MUCH complaining) from my husband and children. :)

This year, though, the decorations are a little sparse and the Holiday season is sliding a little into the background as we anticipate a very big change in our lives:  We're moving!

We have made the decision to move out of the Seattle area and make a trek across a couple of states to the beautiful state of Utah. John has been granted a transfer with his job to the Salt Lake City Branch, working around the Provo area.  This brings so many opportunities for our family, as well as some sad goodbyes.

Due to the move, JJ and I will FINALLY be able to buy a house.  A REAL HOUSE!  We're so excited about being able to do this.  We feel like it has been a long road of waiting and we are so grateful that things are starting to fall into place for us.    Another amazing opportunity is that because he will keep the same rate of pay, I may not have to continue to work for much longer.  I will continue to work for a while until we get settled and figure out what needs to be done and make sure our finances are in place. Then I will be able to stay with our kids full-time. I'm so grateful for that chance!  Also, I will be able to continue with some of my amateur cake business, as it is a little easier to do that from home in Utah state.  Maybe one of these days it won't be just amateur!

John will have to work the same job, just in a new location.  While that's not ideal, he can start looking elsewhere for employment once we're there and hope he can get into a police department.  He has already taken the written test and has passed that.  Now it's just a matter of getting an application when positions become available.  Who knows?  Maybe something will come through down there in a faster manner than they did here in Seattle.  He would make an amazing officer and I can see that being a good profession for him.  For now, though, he'll stay where he is.

Andrew will have to switch schools.  He loves Kindergarten and has had a wonderful time at his current school, and though we're sad to leave it, we know he'll be just fine and will really excel in Utah.  I think that he and Mason are just so excited to finally have a house with a yard that they don't really care about much else.  They are truly excited about moving closer to cousins and getting a chance to get to know their Grandma and Grandpa Platt.

While all of these things are good, we are going to miss John's family so much.  They have been such an immense amount of support to us, so kind, generous, and helpful, and we are going to miss them the most of all.  The whole move is bittersweet, but we know that a few hearts are breaking during all of this excitement. We're so grateful that they are on the cusp of retirement and will be able to come visit.   We will still plan on visiting them here in Seattle, as well, and a few more camping trips and adventures will await us in the future with them.  We look forward to the happy memories we'll make in the future!

Everything is pretty well in place.  John and I are flying to Salt Lake this week to go house hunting.  We have 2 1/2 days to find the right house, get the paperwork in, and pray that it all goes through before we have to be back for work again next week.  After we get back, I'll put in my notice at work and start trying to find someone to train into my position.  Our move-out date for our Apartment is January 25th and my dad will fly in that night to help with the drive to Utah the next day.  We'll stop in Nampa to see my brother, Jonathan, and his family that night and drive the second leg on Sunday.  John will start his new job at the beginning of February, which will give us a little time to get settled and, hopefully, unpacked!  It's going to be a whirlwind of a month, but it will be good!  We are so excited, and also very sad, but it promises wonderful things for our family.

Consider yourselves updated. :)

-C

Teaching Moments

I know it's been forever.

On Monday Mason and I picked Andrew up from the bus stop.  Andrew was BEAMING because he had been given a cute little key chain with a green foot on it from his teacher.  I can't tell you how excited he was! Our daily ritual is for the kids to cut the corner of the apartment complex, while I go the long way, in a "race" to see who gets home first (I'm sure you'd never guess they win every time).  We got about half way across the complex when Andrew burst into sudden tears.  He had lost his key chain somewhere between the bus stop and the half way mark.  We started a hunt for it and I realized this was an important time to teach a spiritual concept.  Prayer.

We stood right there and, while he didn't want to say it for being so upset, I said a prayer for him that Heavenly Father would help us find his key chain.  I asked him if he had faith that Heavenly Father would help us, and he said yes.  I asked Mason, and he said yes, too.  I told them I knew Heavenly Father would help us and if we worked hard to find it, He would make it easier for us to find.  We walked back and forth on the lawn, 3, 4, 5 times.  Nothing.  All the time I was praying that God would help Andrew learn this important principle.  As we walked by the 6th time, split up and spread out, I called to Andrew to ask if he had found it yet.  At that very moment, he reached down and said "Look, mom!  My key chain!  Heavenly Father DID help me!"  We hugged it out, of course, said a prayer of gratitude, and started the trek home again, this time all together.  As we were nearing our building I heard Mason a few yards behind me, start singing "I Love To See The Temple."

Such a swelling in my heart.  Such a wonderful lesson.  Such an amazing teaching moment.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

-C