All the little memories: A new challenge

     To be completely honest, I don't know how well this is going to work.  However, it is becoming more and more important to me that I begin to record some of my most beloved memories.  Most of them are very small, concerning little things about my childhood and my Grandparents.  But I think that the little one are just as important as the big ones.  I have become more concerned as of late that if I don't MAKE time to record these memories now, then I will never write them down and they will be lost to me.  So here goes :)

Three Ponds Hike

Obviously, my diligence in keeping up on my posts/updates is a little lax.  But, better late than never!  These are pictures of a hike that we did at the begining of the summer called the Three Ponds Hike.  True to its name, the trail, which was actually a really sandy and dry riverbed, led to three red sandstone pools all pouring into each other.  It was really pretty, but I will say that walking through 5 inch deep sand for a couple of miles is rough on the legs!

 This is the very top pool, which looked pretty deep.

It was cool to see the reflections in the pools.

Kyle and his sister Gina. Say cheese!

Kyle's mom Pam came with us too.  It was loads of fun!

April Showers bring May Flowers

     It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies by.  A lot happened last month, both good and bad.  Kyle turned 24 years old!  What an old man ;)  We had a great time celebrating his birthday, the birthdays of four of his siblings and my little sisters birthday!  Busy month for our families.  It was great to be with them all and to celebrate those special days with them.
     Kyle and I experienced a loss on April 4th.  I had a miscarriage.  I was 3 days short of 10 weeks and even though I wasn't that far along, all the feelings of excitement, joy and hope died as well.  I spent a lot of time praying about whether or not it was the right thing for Kyle and I to do, to try and have a baby...I had felt an assurance and peace that what we were doing was a righteous and worthy desire.  I had such a good feeling about it that I just assumed that all would go well.  The truth is, we can never really see what the Lord has in plan for us because in the tapestry of life we are only a couple of threads.  Only our Father in heaven can see the whole work of art.  Only he can really see what is best for us and help us understand that we need to just trust in him and have faith. 
    I felt like my heart was broken.  I felt so sure that because I had received a positive answer that nothing would go wrong with our baby.  I was sure that things would be easy.  Afterwards, as I struggled to understand why I had miscarried,  all I felt was confusion.  Confusion about why it had happened.  Confusion about why there were so many precious babies born into horrible situations with parents that didn't love or nurture them, when Kyle and I were here ready, willing and desiring to have our own baby, why it happened to us.  I felt like one in a million and that no one knew the grief and disappointment that I felt. 
     Then I remembered there was one who would understand.  So I prayed.  I prayed not for understanding, but for healing.  I knew that I needed to trust in my Savior that for whatever reason we lost our baby, it was necessary and that's all that I need to worry about right now.  I read and reread my favorite scripture, one that has brought me much comfort in the past, but that has new meaning and importance to me now.  Alma 7:11 says:

11. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

     I came to KNOW that the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ is not only to be forgiven, but to be healed both physically and spiritually.  Because of my Savior I was healed.  He lifted me up and carried me through.  He made life good again.

     I don't know what will happen in the future, and I can't begin to guess because anything is a possibility.  One thing I do know, however, is that no matter what my Savior and brother Jesus Christ will be there to raise me up and carry me through.  That is the power of the atonement. 

 

Fabricy Caftiness

I have finally mustered up enough ambition to try making something.  More specifically, a crafty something.  Now, to put it in perspective, the craftiest thing I have ever done was decorate a Christmas tree.  Not very impressive at all.  So, in light of my latest accomplishment, this is a documentation of this rare event.  Just don't laugh....too hard....

Baby Booties!!! I was inspired, thanks to Pinterest, to create these for a baby shower gift.

They are a little rough around the edges, literally AND figuratively, but they came from the heart and that's what counts, right? :]

Voila'!

Snow, Snow, Snow, SNOW!!!!

Okay, just imagine that the title of this post is being harmonized by Betty, Bob, Phil and Judy from "White Christmas."  The scene is when they are sitting in the club car on the train talking about Vermont.  I should know, because I literally watched that show more than 10 times in the month of December last year.  Anyway, take the amount of snow that Vermont has to offer at the very end of that movie and decrease it by about.....99.9%.  Then you can imagine what outside looked like today. I was so excited for the first (and probably last) little snow sprinkle of the year!!  All I have to show for it are a few feeble snowflakes on my sweater sleeve....

Okay, eight beautiful and rare little snowflakes....how I miss getting snowed in!!

In case you are wondering what this random photo of a random dirt mound is, I was trying to capture the beauty of the weak little snow storm....hmmm, not so much, eh?  Trust me, it was there!