Come Follow Me

 I had a clear thought yesterday that I need to incorporate Come Follow Me into our daily lives.

I have a non-member (Mia) and an inactive member (Braxton) in my home.

I also have a missionary preparing to serve in two months (Kaydon) and an active member trying to figure the world out (Colton).

And I have me.

I felt like I need to post something on our fridge and on our bathroom mirror each week.

So, this is our message this week:

Along with this is my own message for my children.

This week's message is:

Our bodies and our minds are temples, too! We can feel the Spirit just as strongly within our own souls as we do in the temple, or at church. We have the ability to hear the still, small voice and to feel the things God puts upon our hearts just as powerfully when we are listening to God in our true selves as we do when we are sitting in buildings. Leave the unclean things outside of your body and your mind. Don’t defile yourself. Allow His glory to rest upon you.

 

This week’s goal:

Pay attention to what you are putting into your minds: social media, movies, tv shows, music, etc. How does it make you feel? If it doesn’t bring you joy, turn it off.

I send this to Jackson, too.

Happy Week!

Sometimes It's Just Hard

This boy of mine is struggling.

It is his story to tell, of course.

As his mama, I want nothing to be hard for him!

Truly.

I want him to have amazing friends who actually look out for him and care about him.

I want him to feel like he belongs.

I want him to feel, always, like he has a place at the table.

Yesterday, he went to the gym with me after church.

He has eOS this entire year in order to get in his P.E. requirements for graduation.

Mack was there.

He is one of the employees at the gym who I adore.

I asked Mack Attack if he would show Colton some of the forms that he has to know.

He was on it!

He took Colton and spent an hour with him, showing him everything!

I got my leg workout in and some cardio.

I could not have been more grateful for Mack and the time he took for my boy!

I just want Colton to feel how loved he is.

How amazing his is.

How special he is.

Especially when it's all pretty hard!

 

Braxton Turns 20!

Tomorrow, my Peanut turns 20!

Braxton was the sweetest, most happy baby that ever there was!

He loved his binky upside down and dragging his blankie behind him.

He almost always had a scowl, but the happiest scowl that ever there was!

Braxton is hard working.

He is my ride or die.

He is the one that his brothers count on to take care of me!

Braxton does things on his own terms, for sure.

He has the softest heart and just wants to be loved.

Braxton is a great cook and is super good at crafts!

This guy was made to be a plumber, and he is excellent at it!

Braxton, Ma loves you to the full moon and back!!

Happy birthday, Peanut.

 

Jackson Turns 22!

Stop it right now!

This boy of mine is 22 today.

Jackson was born around 6 pm, after his mama had been pushing for three hours - unmedicated.

The doctor used the vacuum to pull him out of my vagina.

Then the poor kid had two heads for two weeks.

Jacks was collicky for the first YEAR of his life, then he settled in.

Jackson is hard working, loving, sensitive, and SO good with people.

Jack is a peace maker.

He is funny, kind, inclusive, and fun.

Jackson has always been an amazing big brother.

His brothers look up to him and his example always.

So does his mama.

Thank you for choosing me to be your mama, Jacks.

I love you more than words could ever describe!

 

Parrish Creek - I Think

Monday night, I hiked Parrish Creek Trail.

I have no idea if that is actually the actual name of the actual trail, but we'll go with it for now!

First of all, there is nothing better than being able to see clearly from one mountain range (on the east) to the other on the went. 

We live in the most beautiful place on Earth.

Davis County, Utah is home.

It was BEAUTIFUL.

It was a bit tricky in spots... by tricky, I mean dangerous.

Although I am positive that I am the only one who thinks so.

The sound of the creek was soothing and meditative.

The little waterfalls were stunning.

The rock formations are incredible.

And, I didn't fall until the very end.

Yes.

Yes it does hurt like hell.

 

Kaydon's Temple Day

Kaydon went through the Bountiful LDS Temple on Saturday.

I am fully aware that we are not supposed to take pictures in the temple, but I could not help but grab these.

My babies.

One, escorting the other.

They are so grown up, so mature, so responsible.

The four of them call themselves "The Squadron."

I am so grateful.

Kaydon had accidentally set an appointment for a proxy session, rather than his own.

That pushed us back about an hour.

It was no big deal, but he felt very bad and embarrassed.

While sitting, waiting for the session, I read this:

"Then shall I see his face with pleasure and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father."

As I felt that there isn't a place for me at the table, I read this and realized that there is a place for me where I belong.

As I watched my children and listened to them as they experienced this together, I was so humbled by their presence.

As I stood in a prayer circle with two of my boys, I was astounded at the Spirit felt there.

With them.

Kaydon described his experience as, "Beautiful."

It was one of the best days yet.

In attendance:

Jackson

Kaydon

Randy and Kris Robbins (Pops and Nana)

Dean and Kris Robb (Papa and Grandma)

Brandon and Carrie Robb (Uncle and Aunt)

Their Mama

 

Back To School 2021-22

It's my last first day of school.

It feels SO surreal.

Colton is a senior.

He has been SO on top of things for his school year!

He has met with the counselor more than once.

He is ready to do this!

I dropped him off this morning and he walked in like a boss!

I went and got the nieces ready.

Their mama had surgery last week.

Four girls with long hair and all wanting Auntie to do something with it.

They all got french braids!

Easy and quick!

They started a new school this year!

They were nervous and excited and anxious.

Brynlee was especially excited that it is her birthday!

It's great to be 8!!

Last night was our last back-to-school feast.

Jackson did a great job explaining the need to persevere.

We talked about how long suffering is just long ALLOWING.

We just need to allow God to refine us and we need to allow Him to decide on the time frame!

Jackson talked about how we can feel joy EVEN in trials!

I made Caeser Salad, Ziti, and French Bread.

No complaints from the kiddos!

 

2021 Family Theme

It's that time of year again.

It's my last year as a mama of a K-12 student.

Colton will be a senior in high school on Monday.

Kaydon will be leaving on his LDS mission November 1st.

Braxton will continue to work as a plumbing apprentice and plans to move to Brigham City soon.

Jackson will continue to work as a project manager for Roof Tek, and plans to move out of his Nana's basement in the next year, or so.

We will have our Family Back-to-School Feast on Sunday.

It is Jackson's turn to choose our Family Theme for 2021.

He has chosen "Perseverance."

Alma 14:26 will be the theme.

Pictures to come next week!

 

Half Days

My half days have really been a blessing.

But, I'm probably not utilizing them the way I ought to be.

I really should be resting and sleeping.

But, I've been so busy with appointments on these days that resting isn't really happening.

Yesterday, I had my lash appointment.

Then I went to the gym.

Then I got my nails painted.

THEN I went to bed.

I'm SO grateful to have half-days in the middle of the week. 

It's been a much better transition back to coming to the office.

But, Heidi Girl..

REST!

 

Doodler

It turns out I might be a doodler.

In fact, I'd consider myself a semi-pro doodler.

These are all my notebooks for minutes-taking.

Clearly some meetings just aren't as exciting as others. 

Doodling is almost a form of meditation for me.

I go into another dimension and it's my happy place.

 

Smokey

Our air is SO bad, Guys.

Like, the worst in the whole world bad.

Like, it sucks to breathe bad.

Like, I have headaches every day bad.

BAD!

And, no this picture was not taken whilst exercising.

It was taken whilst leaving for work.

But, good thought.

 

Back At It Ish

I did it

Saturday, I walked back into the gym.

News flash:

Mama has been deep into my false self since my procedure ten days ago.

I've been thinking on it, trying to figure out where my feelings are coming from.

I think I have it figured out, and now it's release time.

First, they weighed me pre-procedure.

The scale verified my fear: I have gained 15 pounds.

I say "fear" because I am an addict.

To validation

As part of that process addiction, I have had eating disorders in the past, but it has been eleven years!

That 15 pounds had me scared, feeling very unworthy to step foot into a gym with workout clothes on, and anxious.

Second, I attempted to go to the gym the day after the procedure and it was NOT a strong showing. In fact, it scared me a little. I thought back to post-stroke and that fear came back.

Third, all of my motivation and excitement has seemed to blow out the door as if the big bad wolf was standing inside of me.

I talked with a good friend on Wednesday.

He was asking how my morning workout went.

I confessed that I hadn't been since the previous Saturday.

I told him some of my feelings and thoughts and asked for his in return.

He said, "Why don't you show yourself some grace. Take the week off from the gym - make it YOUR choice to take the week off. Focus on your eating and your drinking of fluids. Love yourself through it and think about it next week."

And, I did.

I am back to intermittent fasting, which my body LOVES.

I am sleeping so much better since my procedure.

I am drinking more than the allotted water.

So, Saturday I walked into the gym.

I didn't want to.

I didn't feel excited like I usually do, but I did it.

And I went back Sunday.

I didn't want to.

I did it anyways.

I told myself affirmations all along the way AND, I did something else.

I looked around at the people who are medically diagnosed as obese.

Those who have medical problems that make going to the gym physically hard.

I thought about them.

I thought about their struggles and their burdens and their will to be their anyways.

In my mind, I praised them and felt gratitude for them.

I thought about how they were inspiring me to keep going, even as they were taking long breaks between sets, or stopping to sit down every five minutes while on the treadmill.

They were there.

And so was I.

And we are ALL worthy to be there.

I came home to this creature.

Apparently, Kaya felt it necessary to do neighborhood watch duty for the day.

She is both magic and mess.

She is both love and hate.

She is both darling and naughty.

 

Kaydon is 19!!

Kaydon Trask is 19 today!

For a couple of weeks, I have two 19 year olds.

Kaydon is feisty, hard-working, super fiscally responsible.

He is service oriented, a great leader, and a very caring brother.

Kaydon holds his emotions in, until he doesn't.

He is funny and smart.

Kaydon is SO anxious to leave to serve God on November 1st.

He will be serving in the Dominican Republic.

Those people are SO lucky!

Kaydon is a fighter.

He has BIG goals.

He IS big goals.

I love everything about him.

Kaydon,

Happy birthday, Buddha.

You are sunshine to my soul!!