Follow the Prophet

Family Home Evenings can be challenging with a two year old, mainly for two reasons:

1.) They don’t sit still
2.) They’re not even listening half the time

But I’m an avid believer in consistency in hopes that with enough repetition, it sinks in. And last night, it DID! We are preparing for General Conference this weekend and thought it only fitting to have a lesson on prophets. We told Maddie that Heavenly Father has “helpers” here on Earth to helps us make good choices and they’re called Prophets. And for our activity? While holding a picture of Thomas S. Monson and Joseph Smith, we marched in a line around the house while singing “Follow the Prophet”. Now we did this for at LEAST a half hour, needless to say that Maddie loved the object lesson. And the crowning jewel for Mommy happened afterwards when Maddie was able to repeat this back to me:

SUCCESS! :) And now she can't get enough of Prophets. :) She goes over and talks with their pictures all day!

How grateful I am for the opportunity to teach my daughter the gospel. It is such a blessing for me when I see the gospel in action in my home. Madisen already has a love for temples and makes sure to point them out everywhere she goes. For example, here's a conversation we had in the car today on the way home from the University Mall--she spots the Provo Temple:

Maddie: "Look, Mommy! I love to see the temple! I'm going there someday!"

Mommy: What do we do in the temple, Maddie?

Maddie: We listen and we pray. And get married. Mommy was married in the temple, Daddy was married in the temple, Grandma was married in the temple, Gary was married in the temple...

Mommy: That's right! Except for Gary isn't married yet. Someday he will, and someday Maddie will get married in the temple too!

Maddie: Yeah!

Her knowledge is so simple still and so pure, but she's learning everyday, and I"m grateful for the chance to help her learn and grow. :) Being a Mommy is the best!

I Canned, I Peeled, I Preserved!

Let me start out by saying that somehow I've become obsessed with canning. I NEVER knew there were so many possibilities with what you could can, and now that I do, watch out mason jars! I'm coming for you!

I got started last year when a co-worker taught me the art, but I was a bit turned off with how long the process took. Lo and behold, you DON'T have to peel each individual peach with a knife--there's an EASIER and more EFFICIENT way to do it. **This technique doesn't work with all fruits, but it does with peaches** You just put a bunch of peaches in boiling water for 30-60 seconds and then dip them in cold water and VOILA--the skins come right off!

With this little tid bit of knowledge under my belt this year, canning became a delight, and even Spencer wanted in. It is somehow therapeutic for me. I love working with my hands and i've always loved cooking. And if I can save a buck in the process by canning my own stuff, count me in! :) We've finished now 14 quarts and have 2 more to go! Now on to apples, then strawberry jam (i'm cheating and buying the strawberries from Costco instead of a local vendor), and then some homemade salsa. If anyone wants in, lemme know! :)

For now, i'm enjoying the sound of popping lids. What a nice sound that is. :)

Insomnia

How is is that you can be sooo tired that you're practically nodding off in whatever position you're in....but when you hit your pillow, you are wide awake and cannot turn your brain off? It seems in that moment all of the world's problems hit you like a ton of bricks and you feel you must resolve each and every issue before sleeping. And even if you WANT to sleep and try multiple times to turn over or to adjust your covers, pajamas, and pillows, sleep just won't come.

At this point, I had no other choice than to take a Tylenol PM as I have been awake now for 2 1/2 hours just tossing and turning (Poor Spencer..i'm sure his sleep isn't restful either with me being so fidgety). Hopefully this helps as I will have to be up in 6 hours! And let me tell you...I'm quite grumpy when I haven't gotten at least 8 hours.

Bring it! If you won't come sleep, then i'll make the most of it. Heck, Spencer might even wake up to a spotless home, with even nook and crannies sparkling. Eh, I think i'm getting ahead of myself...I AM too tired for that. So Law & Order, I'll settle for you. Which brings up another thought provoking question--how come Dish Network has NOTHING on at 1:30 a.m.?

Sigh....

Where to begin...

I know this will probably not suffice, but since it HAS been such a LONG time since I have written, i'm gonna have to do most of my updating with bullet points. And if you want to know more on a specific bullet, feel free to text, write, call, or facebook and i'll give you all the info you want to know:

• Went on a cruise to the Caribbean with my siblings and parents--we visited Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, and had a BLAST! Thanks to Mom and Dad Williams for covering all expenses and allowing us to have such a fun reunion. It's always fun getting together with siblings and parents as we all live so far apart!
  

• While I was gone, Spencer moved us (with help from a WONDERFUL Mother-in-law and sister-in-laws) into our new home! We're so excited to be here even though it's temporary. We love having the space that a little apartment doesn't allow. Along with a new house came a new, more flexible job for me. I'm still in the real estate business, now working for Legend Real Estate as one of their managers. I only work 13 hour weeks from my home and they pay our rent too! Spencer is finishing up all applications for dental and graduate schools (we're covering all our bases this year) as well as working for Marriott and Legend Real Estate. Things are busy, but we are loving every minute, me especially. Since Maddie was born, I worked 40 hours a week at Liberty Square Apartments and never got to be a stay at home Mommy! But now since I can work from home (and only 13 hours!), I'm enjoying life immensely. Not only can I be a mommy, but I have time for a social life and callings which was near impossible before.

• We have enjoyed a summer full of fun events with both sets of Grandparents and aunts/uncles. Both the Empeys and the Williams have been able to come visit and spend time with us and it's been so fun! We love having family visit!

• Potty training--I expected this to test my patience and leave me quite frustrated most days, but it ended up being quite painless. Maddie is still perfecting the art of pottying, but picked it up quickly. We cleared our schedules for a whole week (no girl time or play dates almost killed me!) and dedicated ourselves to the cause. Within a couple of days of running around half naked, she understood the process and could go by herself. Once we introduced panties, the trick became trying to make her TELL me when she needed to go as she couldn't pull her panties down in time (lots AND lots of laundry). But we're in the clear on that one! She now tells me (sometimes at the last minute though) when she needs to go. With time and practice, she'll have no problems, i'm sure. And now we're not stuck at home all day!

• I've become quite obsessed with canning. Spencer let me open my birthday presents early as it was all canning themed--and if I waited until mid-October to open them, i'd miss the opportunity to can peaches and apples, etc. So now that I have the proper equipment, i'm gonna jump right in! We went and bought a 1/2 bushel of peaches from a local provider and will start this weekend! If anyone would like to join me, i'd be happy to have you here to help! I'm planning on doing peaches, apples, strawberry jam, and homemade salsa if any of those tempt you! :)

So far these are the things that I can remember about our summer. I know this is just a quick recap, but I have made it a goal to be better and post at least once a week for friends/family. Unfortunately, writing on my blog is the first thing I start to neglect when there's a lot going on, but NO MORE! Or at least that's my goal. But if it's anything like my goal (or dream, rather) to fit into a size 2, then it might never happen!! :)

Love to all!

I. Have. Been. A. Terrible. Blogger.

Life has been crazy, and the first thing to go for me is my blog. But no more!! I owe it to my family members and closest friends (who CONSTANTLY ask me to update) to keep all in the loop! But tonight is just not the night to finish at where I left off. Just too much to say... And since t is now almost 11:30p.m. and I'm about to turn into a pumpkin, I will be going to bed now. But I am promising to all who read this that I have made it a goal to become better at writing about all of our adventures!

Much love!