Three Things

1. On being pregnant with a GIRL!

Both Jonny and Will are becoming more excited and aware that Sister is on her way! At 25 weeks this pregnancy is speeding along, thank goodness. With a growing belly, lower back pain, and the onset of Braxton Hicks, it's getting more difficult to do things like sleep comfortably, find clothes that fit, and catch up on cleaning/laundry after keeping up with the boys all day. And since this list of difficulties will get longer, and the days will get hotter, I am happy to be more than halfway through. Especially since we are all so eager to meet our little nugget! But I am so grateful, you guys. So grateful. To be healthy, to feel my girl moving much of the day, to not have the stress of a move looming ahead of me (we moved to VA when I was 32 weeks with Will and it was rough), and to be in a place where I feel so loved and supported. We have really settled in here and it is home! For another year at least.


2. On living our best life.

My emotions run high these days and I often find myself being more reactive than I want to be. It is so much pressure to realize what an impact my mood has on our home and family! So I continue to focus on meeting my needs, so I can meet my family's needs, and we can all work on living our best life.

For me that looks like daily scripture study and prayer, consistent meal planning, reading more often, and getting to bed early. On my nightstand right now are No Drama Discipline, The Last Child in the Woods, and The Gift of Asher Lev. This month I devoured The Rose Garden, No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and My Name is Asher Lev. A motley assortment of titles is typical, and works for me because it draws me to my books more often than my phone.

For our family, when Matt is working long hours we depend on structure, schedules, and routines. The boys and I thrive off being outside, planning outings, scheduling time with friends, and knowing what to expect. But when we get Dad home for a random morning/afternoon, or precious day off, it all goes through the window. Those days look like spur of the moment outings to the park, a messy kitchen, laundry piles, impromptu beach, museum, or zoo trips, and late naps/bedtimes.

This past month we also enjoyed a trip to California to visit my grandparents, and a visit from my brother and his family. Both visits filled our souls and hearts. They reminded us that even though we live far away, we have our people! Wonderful people who love us and are always there for us. Our California trip was extra special because I got to revisit the town where I grew up, and Jonny and Will got to bond with my grandparents, who were an integral part of my childhood and who I am today ❤

3. On what I believe.

My life is currently in a sunny place, but storms will come. So many of my friends and loved ones are going through difficult times right now. How are they supposed to deal with it all? How can we find peace when our life, not to mention the world at large, is in such turmoil? All I can do is cling to my faith in God. My faith helps me to make sense of senseless things. It is what gives me the perspective and comfort I need to weather my storms and attempt to help my loved ones through theirs.

I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each of us and knows us better than we know ourselves. We lived with him before we came to this earth. He created a plan for us, whereby we can return to live with him someday. That plan was our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has felt our pains and knows intimately how to comfort us and help us through our trials. Through Christ we can find peace and solace even in the midst of our deepest sorrows. I believe that with an eternal perspective we can come to realize hard things are good for us. They encourage us to draw closer to Christ our Savior. And when we are closer to him, he can purify our hearts and strengthen our weaknesses, lifting us and helping us a grow in a way that we never could on our own. He is the light. He is joy. And I know He lives!