Everything I am

"...I owe to my angel mother." -Abraham Lincoln

My mom is the epitome of selfless sacrifice. She consistently puts aside her wants, her desires, and her life to meet the needs of her family. She gives us so much of her time and energy, often without the appreciation she deserves.


She would drive two hours round trip in the middle of the night just to hold your baby so you can sleep.


She would spend hours upon countless hours making food, decorations, beautiful gifts, clothing, etc. for special events.


She would do your laundry, cook your meals, taxi you around town, and let you stay for weeks even though you don't live at home any more.


She would give you patient, loving advice as you stumble around trying to figure out adult life.


She would somehow remember everything that is important to you at any given time and sincerely want to hear all about it.


She would sacrifice herself and her whole life for your safety, happiness and wellbeing.

In fact, she's done all of these things (and so many more!) for as long as I can remember. She is the most wonderful mother and friend anyone could ask for.

I love you so much, Mama! Have a very happy birthday!

This Time Last Year

and the year before that, and the year before that, and every spring for the last five years, I have spent the month of April packing.

Not this year!

I am so excited to not be moving right now.

Ten Reasons My Dad Deserves a Wonderful Birthday

1. He is the most sincere and genuine guy you will ever meet.


2. His spontaneous recipes are better than the food in most restaurants.

3. He is not only respectful, or even gentlemanly, but chivalrous. He rivals Hugh Grant in "Kate and Leopold."



4. He knows EVERYTHING!!! If you can't find it on google, call my dad! The man is a walking encyclopedia!

5. He has a passion for learning, and taught me to love it, too.


6. He values good old fashioned hard work. I don't remember a single Saturday he hasn't spent working in the yard.

7. He notices and appreciates beauty all around him. He has a deep love and respect for nature.


8. He is adventurous. If it can be hiked, climbed, paddled, or explored, he's done it.


9. He's one of the most unselfish people I know.


10. He would do anything to make his family happy.

Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you!

Easter Weekend

I love Easter.

To me, Easter means springtime, and baking treats, and getting all dressed up. And let's not forget decorating eggs, hiding them, and then eating them- which I think is a brilliant idea. Kudos to whoever came up with that tradition!

We hid an egg for Madison, but she didn't seem too interested. (It's on her frog toy- pretty good camouflaging, eh?)

We also had a festive-cupcake-making extravaganza and took them around to our friends and neighbors. A new family tradition, I think!

Madison looked adorable in her new Easter dress, courtesy of Grandma. Lately, she likes to pull her handbands down over her eyes, which we think makes her look like a Ninja Turtle.
A really cute, girly Ninja Turtle.

Happy Easter!

When I, in Awesome Wonder...

As Easter approaches, I've found myself thinking more and more about my Savior. And when I think about Him, I feel so much gratitude, so much love, so much amazement. Usually, I feel like my little words are so inadequate to express how I feel. But I want to try.

Before Christ was crucified, the Governor Pontius Pilate brought Him before the people and he offered them a choice: "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas (referred to as a robber, murderer, insurrectionist, and a notorious prisoner), or Jesus which is called Christ?" "And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas."

Jack Christiansen, an LDS speaker, points out that the Aramaic name "Barabbas" literally means "son (bar) of father (abba)." Christ Himself referred to God as "Abba" (modern Biblical research shows the word more accurately means "Papa" or Daddy") in the Garden of Gethsemane.

So Jesus Christ, a perfect man, suffered and died in the place of a sinner, a "son of the Father."

And in beautiful parallel, we each as imperfect sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven are freed from death because of the selfless sacrifice of the Redeemer of the World.

"And when I think that God, His son not sparing, sent him to die,
I scarce can take it in.
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Oh, it is wonderful to me."

"How Great Thou Art," Hymn 86