Snowy Days

There aren't very many snowy days in Missouri. I miss the Utah snow! Mostly just for a minute, then I don't miss it anymore. It's just so gorgeous to look at! 

So I wanted to start taking pics of people more right? I asked (made?) my husband come outside in our latest snowstorm so I could take some pics of him to practice some aperture mode. 

He hates snow/cold/winter/anything to do with winter. Except for maybe Christmas. So this is like, a really big deal. Here's my favorite picture:

He *wanted* that picture taken. It is not my fault that it is now all over the internet. I also love the second one:

Here he is walking into Narnia (aka our backyard). 

Best husband. Oh, and here's a picture of Mossberg for good measure. 

DIY Handpainted Floor: Bring Your Love

It's getting close to Valentine's Day; one of my most favorite holidays ever! I just love love. You know?

I started painting some sappy love quote I came up with on our entry way floor, then never finished.I figured, Valentine's Day is coming up, so why not finish the freaking floor? And I did. 

First, I drew out letters onto the floor with a marker. I originally used latex paint and painted out the letters. I washed the floor once and some of the paint peeled up. 

This time I used oil-based porch and floor paint (which I used on our dining room table and our kitchen and dining room floors). I outlined the letters with frog tape to help with the edges and to help speed up the process. 

This is not a project for the faint-hearted. I think it took me two hours to tape the letters off, and even with frog tape there was some leakage. That may have to do with the fact that our floor isn't completely level. Whatev. I'm okay with imperfection, so I left it. It's going to get all walked on anyway!

Why Not Pizza?

Sometimes we go on dates, and sometimes we eat pizza. There were probably three weeks of my pregnancy with Caeden where all I could (would?) eat was pizza and spaghetti. Everything else made me nauseous. Whatev. 

We went to "Why Not Pizza" in the big city of Polo, Missouri. There are like, 570-something people living there. There were more people at the bar in town than anywhere else on the main street. Including the gas station, which I guess is a good thing if the majority of people are at the bar. It happens. 

We were the only people in the place, which is probably a good thing as I am far too loud and crazy to be around anyone else. Just kidding. But really. We are pretty good at entertaining ourselves: 

Nathanael even got to use a jukebox for the first time!

For all the local homies: try it out! It's a great place with yum food. and it's cheap!

Sometimes I Be All Like

Takin' pictures of myself. 

Because I can. and I'm practicing the manual settings on my camera. The third pic is my favorite. It's all like...I don't even know. I just laughed when I saw it and was like, "Why you so mad?" Anyway. I want to start taking more pics of people. Although adorable, Caeden is not the most patient baby. He gets it from his dad. Just kidding! Just kidding. 

I'm trying to accomplish number one here; discover my talents. In doing so I am also remembering to be me (number 9!) I always used to take pics of myself. Why? I don't know. Call it Vanity, if you will. 

I'm pretty sure if Caeden could operate a camera, he would be taking pics of himself too. It's genetic.

Note to Self

This summer, make sure you cut a crap load of wood. Then you won't have to spend your mornings searching the woods for dead, seasoned sticks. Even though you have a little companion to follow you around, 15 degrees is not your friend, nor is it awesome when your nose hairs freeze. 

For real. Stock up wood this summer. You will thank me later. Just avoid ticks. 

10 Reasons I Will Raise My Children With God

There was an article written by Texas mother and blogger recently featured on CNN iReport, stating why she raises her children without God. She implies that those who believe in God or religion are brainwashed into believing made up stories and that believing in God is equivalent to believing in Santa Claus. She says she is not attacking religion, but states, “I only want religion to be kept at home or in church where it belongs. It’s a personal effect, like a toothbrush or a pair of shoes.”

If you’re like me and believe in what she calls an “imaginary God” or religion, you know that our beliefs are not something we just take off. God is not like a toothbrush and my religion is not like a pair of shoes. I don’t just take of my religion when I feel like it. I live it every day.

I am a young mother. My son, Caeden, is only a year old, so I do not claim to be an expert at parenting. I am only here to share why I raise, and will continue to raise my child(ren) with God.

She says, “I understand why people need God. I understand why people need heaven. It is terrifying to think that we are all alone in this universe, that one day we—along with the children we love so much—will cease to exist. The idea of God and an afterlife gives many of us structure, community and hope.”

In my eyes, I understand why people don’t believe in God. It is hard to be accountable for our actions not only in this life, but even after we die. Sometimes I wonder, “How simple would life be if I didn't believe in God?” But I do believe. I echo the words of God in a promise to Him, “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Here are 10 simple reasons why I raise my child with God:

1. LOVE :  God loves us and teaches us to love. In fact, love is so important to God that He commands us to love one another (John 13:34). Again, we have choice, and God can’t and will not force us to love anyone, but God loves love so much that He wants us to share our love with each other. God is love (1 John 4:8).

2. BEAUTY: God gives us beauty. Look around you. There are hundreds of species of flowers and trees. There is color everywhere. Mountains, hills, birds, animals, oceans, clouds. (Psalms 8:3-9)God gave us beauty, but our senses are dulled by society’s thrills and expectations.

3. LISTEN: God listens. He is not overbearing, but waits for you to come to Him. (Matthew 7:7). God answers all prayers. You just need to be listening.

4. FREEDOM: Sometimes, like children, people are angry when they don’t get what they want, and in turn, blame God. God will not take away hardships. God will not take away all pain, sorrow, and hurt. He is not the creator of those things. Satan is and if we yield to his temptations we will find a long, narrow path of misery. (Luke 22:31)

God gives us choice and lets us learn for ourselves. How many times do you tell your child, “Don’t touch that, it’s hot”, and they still touch “that” anyway? God has told us over and over, in scripture and modern-day revelation to do or not do something. Then He lets us go. He doesn’t follow us around and snatch us up at every crack in the sidewalk. He tells us, “Don’t touch that, it’s hot”. We choose to “touch” or not. (Galatians 5:1, Genesis 3:5)

5. COMFORT: I broke my arm when I was nine.  I was on a slip-n-slide, thinking I was pretty awesome sliding across the plastic on my feet instead of my belly. I tripped on a rock at the end of the slide, fell on my arm, and broke it. My parents could not take the pain away although I’m sure they wanted to. They did what they could to lessen the pain by taking me to the hospital and letting the doctors and nurses fix me up. They did what they could to make my life easier while I couldn’t use my arm like I was used to.

I don’t blame my parents for my broken arm, just like I don’t blame God for my hardships in life, but I do go to God to help lessen the pain. (Psalm 116:3-8. Psalm 118:4-8)

6. RESPONSIBILITY: God teaches responsibility; we already know that God has given us choice and that He lets us learn for ourselves. He also teaches us that for every choice, good or bad, there is a consequence. (Galatians 6:7-10)

7. STRENGTH: God teaches us to trust and to be strong. He gives us strength. (Isaiah 41:10 & 13, Proverbs 3: 5-6, 2 Samuel 22:33, Psalms 29:11)With strength comes courage. (Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 20:1, Joshua 1:7, Psalms 27:1, Isaiah 51:7)

8. SACRIFICE: God understands sacrifice and gave His only son as a sacrifice to save the rest of us (John 3:16). God gave up His happiness for a greater cause, in the spirit of true love. If that makes Him a “bad parent and role model”, then He is the best bad parent ever. How many of us would be willing to sacrifice our only child to save even a hundred other lives?

9. POTENTIAL: We can become like God.  God gave us the potential to become like Him, but like a flower, without proper nourishment and care we will not grow. (Romans 8:16-17, Psalm 82:6, Acts 17:29, 1 John 3:2)

10. TRUTH: God is real. If you don’t believe that, then the rest of this post is probably nonsense to you. I will raise my child(ren) with God because He exists. (Genesis 1:1) The entire Bible (and Book of Mormon for my fellow LDS) testify of God. Others have testified of him, that they saw Him, and they left a record for us.

I don’t often voice my beliefs in such a public setting. I am content to let seemingly harmless attacks on religion and God go, but the voices of those who oppose God and religion are becoming stronger, while those who know are becoming quiet with the fear of offending those who don’t. I will stand as a voice and I will not be ashamed.

If you are like me and know there is a God, whatever your religion, please share this post. Grab the button from my side bar or from below and post it on your blog. It will link to this post. 

Feel free to share why you raise your children with God!

*UPDATE* This is not a hate post. I just wanted to share what I believe. I'm not trying to make anyone believe what I do, and just because you and I may disagree does not mean we can't get along and still like each other.  As one of my friends said, "There is beauty in being able to believe what we choose." So true and so right. Also, special thanks to the woman who wrote the post that inspired this one. I wouldn't have thought to write about why I will raise my children with God if she hadn't written about why she doesn't. Thanks for reading :) 

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It's so Fluffy!

Guess what? We had another baby! A fluffy, 8 week old, Great Pyrenees baby.

Meet Mossberg. 

He's so fluffy!! And so sweet. Mossberg follows Caeden around and waits for Caeden to get back up after he falls. I think they will be great pals.

A Happy Corner

Remember how once upon a time I painted and gave away this nightstand? 

My friend, Whitney, won it! And here it is in what she calls her "Happy Corner". She has the cutest style ever. 

Thanks for letting me share your happy corner!! I think I need one too. 

Some Nonsense

This morning I went outside to take some pictures for a project my mom, my sister, and my self are working on. I was walking along when I heard a *squeak* under my foot. I paused mid-step and turned to see what the heck made such a noise. Then I saw it. Half buried under the dead grass was a a poor, lifeless bunny. 

Except it wasn't. 

What I thought was a bunny actually turned out to be a long lost chew toy of some sort. Don't ask me why I thought I was a dead animal. Bunnies don't squeak and dead things don't either. But whatever. 

Redirect. My family has been over pretty much all day taking down a tree and chopping and stacking wood for me. They are the bomb.

Pretty sure my dad is telling my mom to stay back. 

Pulling the tree down. 

That's how we do Monday. How was yours?

Something About Snow

Have you ever gone outside after a fresh snow to look at the animal tracks in your yard?

My sisters spent the night a couple of weeks ago and we did just that! I've always loved looking at animal tracks.

We found some cute rabbit tracks.

Then guess what we found? 

Cat prints! Too small to be a cougar (thank goodness). I think we have more critter problems! Bobcat maybe? Apparently they eat chicken. Remember how I found chicken feathers on our doorstep? Nathanael tried to be optimistic and said, "Maybe the wind blew them over from the neighbors house..."

Onto our doorstep?? Not likely.

Our neighbors live a quarter mile away. Nice thought, husband, but I think not!

Polka Dot Polka Dot Polka Dot Party

I didn't get to have a baby shower because Caeden was born the day my baby shower was scheduled, so we had a first birthday party for him! Not that he will remember. But we will, and it was so much fun. 

Everyone decorated t-shirts for him:

And wrote things they see in him now on little "polka dots" and put them in a tin so when he is older, he can look back and see they kind of baby he was. 

Caeden cried when everyone sang, "Happy Birthday" to him and didn't eat any of his cake. Which left more for the rest of us!