Monday, March 14, 2011

Growth

It’s been a couple months since I’ve posted. I want to make a more regular effort to post, even if I feel like there is nothing significant to report, or I don’t have the time to make the post AMAZING!

So, let’s start with my little getaway without the kids! Jon and I went with Dave and Shelle to St, George, and spent one evening in Vegas. Here are some highlights:

We had lunch one day at this place:

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So, so good! Curry has become a new favorite of mine. I even made Jon take me to a Thai place a few weeks later for our anniversary. (Which was our 12th, on the 12th of March, and 12 is Jon’s favorite number.)

We went to the Bellagio in Las Vegas and ate the the buffet. I can’t even begin to list the delicious and vast amount of food I consumed. The watermelon was so fresh and sweet, the caprese salad was so mouth watering. The crème brulee was delectable.  Here are some pictures in the hotel’s big display. The theme is “Year of the Rabbit”.

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We went into Zion's. It was so quiet and peaceful. It was a lovely time. Such a contrast to the night in Vegas.

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Back to life…

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Paige did a science project about how plants get water from the ground. Here she is next to her display. I’d known about it for weeks and we had looked into some options but the due date really snuck up on us. We put this together the night before.

Here is a photo of Meg. Jon had gotten her out of her bed late at night and brought her downstairs! This is the way we roll around here! She really is a wonderful sleeper, but every once in a while she resists bedtime a little bit. And those are the nights she is a real daddy’s girl.

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Meg is now old enough to be in the nursery at church. She finally stayed in there the whole last hour! When I picked her up, she said, “Bubbles! Jesus!”

She is a tiny little thing, weighing in at 18 pounds. But she does have a vocabulary of over 100 words! She keeps us laughing and fills us with joy.

We got to go the baptism of my nephew last week. It was a special day! Haily is really looking forward to her own baptism, just a couple months away.

Charlie is becoming the perfect yin/yang personality. He can be such a tender hearted sweetie and also such a defiant, stubborn button pusher. He got kicked out of his primary class last week. But the following week was much better, possibly because of the agreement we made that he could have a new mermaid doll if he did well. Ah, Charlie.

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The past few months have been a lot like Charlie’s personality actually. A lot of turmoil and trials, and yet a lot of tender mercies. People have reached out in care and concern. I have had some sweet opportunities for learning and growth in the temple and in answer to fasting. Prayers have become more frequent, fervent, and meaningful. Relationships have been tested and strengthened.

My brother, Ben,  made a comment that you always learn a lot about yourself when you are going through the harder times. This is so true. Sometimes the things that become evident in ourselves are the things that need some work. This is the Lord showing us our weaknesses that they may become strengths.

These are also the times we learn the most about God as He reveals himself to us through the miracles that we pray so fervently for.

Springtime is on the horizon.

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