Odds & Ends, Here & There

Wow!!!  It totally isn't like me to not post for a month!  What have we been up to?  Little odds and ends, here and there.  

We've been watching the little one get bigger.  Which also means we've been watching me get bigger... accompanied with those first ugly stretch marks and the painful round ligament pain.  Not fun, but I know it will be worth it in the end.  

I've had many people ask me, how I'm feeling.  Well, to tell you the truth, nothing like I expected!  First let me say, that I am happy I'm pregnant and so excited for what is to come. But, my body feels so different.  It's not the same body I've lived with for 25 years... it's changing and I'm not used to it.  You come to know what is normal for you, but lately I just can't tell.  It's kinda weird.

But, now that I'm in my third trimester, I couldn't be happier that what I want most out of this, will be here soon.  I can't wait to see his face, to hold him, to hum him a lullaby, to comfort and sooth him.  I think of him everyday (how could I not with all the punches, kicks, and squirming), and thank my Heavenly Father for this precious gift... because that's what he is.

We decided to get new phones... and change companies.  We are now with Sprint, and I must say... I think we are getting a pretty good deal.  We both ended up getting this phone:

Yes, one is Black(his) and one is Purple(mine)

I have always loved LG's because I think they run smooth and are really easy to figure out.  They are Smart Phones, so we can download all kinds of cool apps now.  I love technology, so this has been very fun for me!!   

Briant had a camp out with his scouts a couple weeks ago, so instead of being home alone, I went and stayed the night with my brother and his family.  My niece, performed a cute little dance in her Operetta and she did such a good job!!!  I made a little video:

Now that the munchkin's curtains are done, my mom and I have been working on blankets.  Here is one quilt I just finish the front for.  We are proud.

In Sunday School two weeks ago we talked about parables given by the Savior.  I think once you get the hang of them, they are intriguing.  We learned that he made them about things that the people did every day so that they could relate to them better.  

I love that Ah-Ha Moment when you figure out (or someone else explains) what they really mean and how they apply to you.  I'm so grateful that he made them so simple.... but so deep all at the same time.

The parable of the sower was what really caught my attention this week... especially about the seeds that get caught in the stony places.

When we were little, and we argued with one another, once in a while my mom would send us out to the garden to pick up rocks as a consequence.  Why do we get rid of the rocks in our gardens?  I used to think it was because it was really annoying when you hit them with the shovel while digging.  While that may be true, there is another reason.  When you have a really stony garden, it is harder for the roots to grow deep.  Even when we weren't in trouble, my mom would tell us while we were weeding, "If you see a big rock, pick it up and throw it away."  

I'm not sure my mom intended for me to learn this lesson while I picked up rocks all those years ago, but it suddenly hit me in the middle of this lesson.  When, I get rid of the rocks in my lives (anything that won't let the Spirit in), then my roots in the Gospel and my relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior grow.  When I have those Spiritual rocks I cannot progress as I should... so by getting rid of them I can become more Christ-like.  I'm sure this could apply to the weeds too.

I am so grateful for the scriptures and the things I learn from them.

Well, that's what's been up here for the past month.  All is good.