Work in Progress

I am currently working on changing my blog template, so hang in there while I try to change it up. If anyone has any ideas or simpler templates, let me know. I just want something with less frills, but I want to be able to off set things, including my heading, title, etc. Anyway...I'll have it back up soon!

A Lesson I Can Never Forget

As I was logging on to check my emails this morning, I saw a story about a baby that had been pronounced dead, but was now alive. It perked my curiosity and so I clicked.

It was the story of Bronson Staker. As I watched the story (and cried), I realized that this family had to be LDS. Then, sure enough, the physicians relaying the story were from Primary Children's Medical Center. During the article connected to the story, it mentioned that the mother had blogged her experience. I had to click. And I'm so glad I did. My life is changed. As the morning melted away, I sat mesmerized by this amazing family's journey. In a matter of minutes, EVERYTHING had changed. I reflected on my own kids and how many times similar things could have happened them. I thought of my own little Alli, only 2 months younger than Bronson, and realized what my life would be like if something happened to her. Amidst the horror and the unexplainable anguish I was feeling...another feeling appeared...one of pure love. I felt encircled in a pair of arms that felt so familiar. All the thoughts, anxieties, guilt, anguish I was feeling, not for the Staker family anymore, but for my own family and all the "could have happened", and "what ifs" I was experiencing were completely washed away. It was as if a warm wind simply erased them. They were replaced by a feeling of hope, a vision of life hereafter, and a realization that my Father in Heaven knew exactly the pain I was feeling. It wasn't me. My baby boy hadn't drown in my tub. I wouldn't shrink in horror every time I walked into my own bathroom. No. But it could have been. Every one of us has made a mistake before, but most of us don't have to pay with our child's life. I am so grateful this little boy is doing so well now. In Primary, 2 weeks ago, we talked about the miracle of resurrection and about the times that people had been raised from the dead. We reviewed the stories of Lazarus...and other stories from so long ago. Why didn't I realize that these miracles are still happening today? I knew it; I know it. I seen it; I've been a part of it. I watched people who had no visible sign of life be resuscitated and be fine. But somehow, with this little, little boy...I realized - God's hand is everywhere. His power has not ceased. We are His and we are here on an errand so much bigger than what our tiny minds can comprehend. Our lives have so much more purpose than our hairstyles, the cars we drive, the decor of our homes, our callings, our jobs and the extracurricular activities we're involved in. If we don't realize this, we are missing the whole point.

I am so grateful for my loving Father in Heaven who reminds me how precious life is. I am grateful to gleam knowledge and insight from others who have faith and are willing to share their trials and heartaches with us. Most of all, I am grateful to be a mommy. I pray that I will never, never let another moment pass by without cherishing it. I hope that I can quit worrying about all the silly (okay, I'll say it - stupid stuff) that seems to occupy my mind and thoughts and most of all, I pray that I will be able to remember that this life is just too short and that the only, I repeat, the ONLY thing that really matters is my amazing husband and my sweet little kids. They deserve ALL of me. I am so humbled my this family's story. God is truly a God of miracles. May we never forget it.

http://www.stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35820985/ns/today-today_people?GT1=43001

Spring, Spring, It's a Wonderful Thing!

I LOVE Spring-time - it is my favorite season! The air really is filled with hope and new life and it just makes me want to get up and be HAPPY :)! I love my backyard. It is the perfect yard for spring and summer - secluded and big! Here are just a few pics of how we have been celebrating Spring! ( Yes, I do know it isn't officially here yet, but it is so nice to be able to go outside!)





I love the way Alli is carrying that empty bag! She was thrilled just to have the bag , it didn't even matter that the other kids had a candy in their bags!

My little pirate! Nothing is quite as effective at entertaining a 1 year-old as a steering wheel - especially a pirate one!

My cuties! I used to think the green M&M was so cute, but compared to my kids - not any more!

Allison loves playing soccer! She will chase the ball around the yard for hours and hours!

So Sweet!

This morning Brock threw up before school so I made him stay home. When I went to pick Brandon up from school today, I asked him how it was. He said, "Good. Just a little lonely." My heart just melted. Last week, Brock went to school without Brandon and his repsonse was similar. Last week, Brock said, "I wish Brandon would have been there. It wasn't any fun without Brandon because he always plays soccer the same way I do!"

I love that they are such great buddies. I hope it never ends, although I know that someday they won't want to do everything together. I love that they are so different and yet such great friends! I'm having such a blast watching these two grow up together! Being a mommy of twins is something that is unlike anything else!

Not Exactly Alike

The tooth fairy is awfully busy at our house these days! Brandon lost a tooth Wednesday night and another one Thursday morning. Then Brock lost his first tooth Friday night while we had some friends over. So 3 nights in a row, that little fairy was circling our house and dropping off dollar bills!

The Story of Brandon's Teeth:
Brandon has now lost 4 teeth and all 4 have been prematurely lost! The first was knocked out when he fell off a bunk bed. The next was ripped out when he was biting a blanket and Kaitlin yanked it out of his mouth. And then...the last 2 were pulled after a run-in with a net - last week we had our ward's Blue and Gold Banquet. I stayed for a little while, but then I went to a Stake relief society meeting and left Cole and the kids. As I was getting in the car, I had a feeling that something traumatic was going to happen in the bounce house...when I got home, I learned that I was right! Of course, it isn't really as traumatic as it is funny. Apparently Brandon was trying to scare the kids jumping in the bounce house and got his mouth caught in the netting! (Yes, I know...hard to even imagine!) Well, that little net yanked his last 2 front teeth loose! Loose might be a little gentle for exactly how loose they were. Cole pulled the first one that night. The next morning, I pulled the other since it was pointing straight out in front of him and bugged him when he sneezed!





Brock, on the other hand, has had one loose tooth for a very long time! He has tried so hard to get it to come out and I have even given a shot at yanking it a few times, but that little bugger just wouldn't budge! Well, finally it decided to give in and Friday evening, the day after Brandon lost his last tooth, I gave it a yank and, "Voila!" He didn't even realize it was out at first and then he was SO excited! It didn't even bleed at all!
Now he is busy working on another wiggly tooth, trying to catch up to his brother!

And so now I have little Jack-O-Lantern sons! I love their awkward, big smiles and how much fun they have experimenting eating different foods through their holes! They are already very different, but now it is even more fun to watch their bodies change and grow so differently too! I sure love these little toothless wonders!