What’s in a Name?

On our way to the beach over the Ski holiday.

Annie  Well my name means, loving.

Hudson  What does your name mean, Mom?

Me  It means wealthy one.

Hudson  What does wealthy mean?

Me Rich.

Hudson  Oh, what does Dad’s name mean?  Construction worker?

Me  What?!

Hudson  Well he knows how to make wet sand-dirt.  He’s really good at that and he likes gears.

Me  Nope, it means protector, but that was a good guess.

All Together Now…and Forever!

So I had a distinct impression several weeks ago that I needed to get our family pictures done.  I didn’t know why and I still don’t, but it was nagging me and weighing quite heavily on my mind.  It actually scared me a little bit to be honest, because the thoughts that followed put me into a bit of panic and still make me teary-eyed even now.  The moment I asked and set up the date, the weight was lifted and life has been back to fabulous ever since. I love the pictures and how well she captured the true nature of my children…sass and all!  Being a mom so totally rocks!

Gracie with her favorite person in the whole world!

So sassy!

This was one of the last shots and the kids were just done.  I plan on trying something similar again hopefully with Gracie happy to be hanging upside-down.

It’s tough getting Bugs to smile. She must be looking at Will.

This kid is a crack-up.  He tells the best jokes.

Thanks for doing this Jess, you’re the best!

A Little House Just For Me

So I took this picture in Boston and I asked Will if it would be appropriate for this post. I was assuming it wouldn’t be.  He replied, “So you’re saying you’re a cathedral?…and you have bats in your belfry.”  Now I have to use it regardless, because it made me laugh.  I do have bats in my belfry.  And for the record, I see a little cottage in the woods when I picture myself.

So I had a pivotal clarifying moment recently in which I began to see myself as a little house.  My childhood was spent building a foundation upon Christ.  Upon my foundation that my parents helped me build, I built a house for myself.

I build my house through the small and simple things I do on a regular basis.  I build my house as I interact with my children, as I live my life.  I try to build the best house I can.  Then the Lord comes and has different plans.  He sees my feeble attempts at construction and provides help for me to do better.  Often times humbling circumstances completely collapse my little house, only to allow me to start fresh with my sure foundation to build again, build better and more secure using the lessons I have learned from previous building attempts to improve.  Instead of being upset that my house has been knocked down, I need to be thankful that the Lord wants to help me build something better than I deserve or can create on my own.

I feel as though my little house has been demolished many times over the course of my life as I try to figure out what I should be and who I need to become.  I think at certain times in my life I needed certain kinds of houses.  I welcome the change and the opportunity to try and to be and to do something better.  How thankful I am, that I don’t still have the house I did in high school, college or even the one from a few years ago.

Watch What You Pray For…

Watch what you pray for, right?  You just might get it.  I prayed to be humbled.  It happened…knocked to my knees.  I prayed to be more diligent in my scripture study.  It happened.  Unkind words can be hurtful.  Usually, I’m good about letting things go, but they stuck this time.  I couldn’t tell if I felt hurt or angry, but really, I think it was both.  Let’s be realistic.  I don’t have room in my life or heart for anger or hurt.  Regardless, I found my lack of comfort simply unlivable.  I felt like I couldn’t find comfort or peace.  Being with friends and family didn’t help.  Being alone didn’t help.  That just caused stewing.  My soup doesn’t need an all day simmer and mixing of the anger and hurt flavors.  Talk about toxic!

So I went to my scriptures.  The moment I sat down I felt the words wrapping me in a blanket.  Where can I turn for Peace?  Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole?  When with a wounded heart…where can I run…to calm my anguish?  …to the Lord of course.  I knew he would speak to me through the Prophet and the scriptures.  I had my scripture then and I knew General Conference was right around the corner.

I just sat there with them open on my lap knowing that as soon as I started reading the peace would come, my heart would feel joyful and I could just let it all go…

I happened to be in Helaman Chapter 5 part way through for my scripture study.  The first words I read, “It is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye may build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds,…it shall have no power over you to drag you d0wn to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

My burden was immediately lifted and the feelings were gone.  I then had a pivotal clarifying moment.  Thank you Mom and Dad for helping me build a firm foundation!  That foundation is more important than I had ever realized because I have, do and will continue to rebuild myself upon it on a daily basis throughout my life.  I’ll indulge my pivotal clarifying moment another time.

I think this post might be mostly for my children…someday when they are older.

ABCs…Baby You and Me!

Remember that icy road in Denver with my brother post, way back in January?  He was telling me about President Monson’s ABCs talk during our snowy escapade.  My brain got to whirring and I decided that I wanted our family to create our own ABCs this year of things we should be doing to live an abundant life.  So every Monday at the start of FHE we sit down and ask if anyone has thought of anything to add to our alphabet.  I think it is something we really needed.  We finally finished our ABC’s.