Easter 2013

I was perhaps too excited about Lincoln's Easter outfit. His bowtie turned out completely adorable (even though it took me way too long due to having a hard time understanding the instructions, but then again, it was eleven o'clock at night) and he wore seersucker pants, for crying out loud! My little Southern gentleman. Also, I convinced Kurt to wear his tan suit and bowtie (and he spontaneously wore his boat shoes--good man) and I wore the prettiest thing I've ever owned (other than my wedding dress)--my chiffon maxi skirt. 

I love Easter, and I love how we Mormons focus more on Easter and the resurrection than Good Friday and the Atonement. I mean, we know the importance of the Atonement--it's mentioned every Sunday in at least one of the meetings--but without the resurrection, there would be little reason for the resurrection. Conversely, the resurrection needed the Atonement, because if we couldn't repent of our sins, I doubt we'd be all that excited about eternity. It's a package deal, and what a perfect plan Heavenly Father gave us and Jesus Chris performed for us. So grateful for the Plan of Salvation and this Gospel.

Okay, time for pictures! (I wish I'd thought to get pictures of just Kurt and Lincoln. Drat!)

Indulge Me While I Write about Love on Valentine's Day

One of my Visiting Teachers asked me recently what my favorite thing about being a parent is.
I thought for a moment, then answered, "It really is a fullness of joy."
The Gospel teaches us that families are eternal and that having children is a commandment from the Lord. It also promises us that doing so will bring us a fullness of joy.
The happiest day of my life was and always will be the day I was sealed to Kurt for time and all eternity. When I married him, and up until Lincoln was born, I never felt like our love was lacking anything. It didn't feel flat or less in any way. Looking back, I still don't think it was.
And yet, when Lincoln entered our lives (the second happiest day of my life), our love was magnified a hundred times. It truly became full. Complete.
In December, while at Costco, an older man came up to Kurt (who was holding Lincoln while I bought us some hot dogs) to ask about Lincoln. I walked up as Kurt was telling the man about Lincoln--his name, age, etc. He proceeded to tell us what a beautiful family we are, and what a wonderful thing we have. But what he said that stuck out to me the most was how wonderful this little baby is that came about because of our love.
I was thinking about that man the other day and what he said, and it struck me how perfectly the Lord created marriage. The ultimate expression of love between a husband and wife is also what creates children, who bring a fullness of joy to the couple. It is a beautiful, complete circle. The Lord truly loves us and has our happiness in mind--and always has.
The love I have for Lincoln is different in many ways from that which I have for Kurt. In many ways it's instinctive. I am wired to love and care for this child, put his safety and well-being ahead of my own. I didn't have to get to know him before loving him. While I would sacrifice my life for Kurt's as well, that love wasn't so biological. I had to know Kurt before I could love him. (Though I definitely thought he was cute the first time I saw him. ^_^) My love for Lincoln isn't purely biological of course, as I've grown to love him more and more every day.
Love is a powerful force. There are only three people I love more than Lincoln. Kurt is one, and there are only two people I love more than him. My Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This is such a perfect, divine plan, and the family is at the very core of it. I am eternally grateful for families and that they are eternal.
In closing, a quote I saw on Pinterest (of course ;):

A baby will make love stronger,
days shorter,
nights longer,
bankroll smaller,
home happier,
clothes shabbier,
the past forgotten
and the future worth living for.
-Author Unknown

I Am a Christian

Here's a link to Mormon.org.

Thoughts at Five A.M.

Sometimes you don't fall asleep till 1:30ish,

and then you get woken up by a weird noise that sounds like your dog howling at 4:30,

and you're completely awake.

But you feel calm and peaceful.

Sometimes we need to be shown by the Lord that we can succeed,

that we can accomplish things,

that we have capacity

on our own

(well, with not as much help from the Lord as we'd like).

Sometimes we need more help from Him than that.

Regardless, he gives us exactly what we need.

He won't write the paper for us,

or the story,

or read the book,

or go to the library,

but He will show us how to do it ourselves.

He won't fold the laundry for us,

or wash the dishes,

or vacuum the floor,

but He'll give us a loving husband who understands and helps,

and He'll let us know it's okay to let it slide for a while.

Doctrine and Covenants section 130 verse 18 says,

"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection."

Not whatever load of laundry. ;)

Happy Friday i miei amici.

My hymn of grateful praise

We've been having some really lovely days lately that scream, "Spring is next week!" I've been spending my lunch breaks in my car, soaking up the sunshine and Diet Dr. P. I've been feeling giddy and happy and grateful. Yesterday in church, we sang a hymn that sums up how I feel almost 100% of the time right now.

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

Calling All Scriptures

I'm hypomanic right now.

Which means I'm super giddy, I'm super talkative, my mind is racing at a hundred miles an hour, and I'm pushing myself to the limits of my energy.

I also have a lot on my plate with working full time, school full time, and keeping the house clean almost by myself (oh tax season, how I loathe thee).

My therapist has instructed me not to multi task too much. So when I'm playing with our new puppy or walking him or on the cardio machines at the gym, I'm not allowed to read. I need to use that time to focus on my breathing and keep myself calm.

As a multi-tasker, I say bleh to that. But I will do it because I pay her a lot of money to know what she's talking about.

She also suggested picking one scripture a week and reading it every day while I brush my teeth or something like that.

So what are your favorite scriptures?

Some of mine are Romans 8:18, Romans 8:35-39, and Ether 12:4.

Breathtaking

After seeing these images, how could you not believe in God?

Mediocre

I've been struggling lately with motivation. Meaning I've had hardly any. So the other day I went on an LDS.org search for quotes on mediocrity to get me off my lazy butt. Because, let's face it, that's something I find myself slipping into way too often. (Mediocrity, not my butt. Weird.)
I am so grateful for modern revelation and living scripture. And for the internet for making this inspiring quotes so easy to find. ^_^

If we strive for perfection—the best and greatest—and are never satisfied with mediocrity, we can excel.
-Spencer W. Kimball

Do not settle for mediocrity.
-Ezra Taft Benson

Remember that once you have experienced excellence, you will never again be content with mediocrity.
-Thomas S. Monson

It is stretching our minds and utilizing the skills of our hands that lift us from mediocrity.
-Gordon B. Hinckley

The distance between mediocrity and excellence can be ever so small.
-Gordon B. Hinckley

Men cannot really long rest content with mediocrity once they see excellence is within their reach.
-Thomas S. Monson

There is no place in this world for mediocrity; we need to strive for perfection.
-L. Tom Perry

Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement.
-Thomas S. Monson

To lower your expectations will forever be a stumbling block and will, if repeated in other situations, almost guarantee a life of mediocrity.

All of us are prone to excuse our own mediocre performance.
-Thomas S. Monson

Others can assist or hinder you, but the responsibility is yours and you can make it great, mediocre, or a failure.
-Spencer W. Kimball

As I have dealt with this and other challenges, I have come to realize that it is foolish for me to think I can end up in the same place as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and that I can live with the Lord again—by exercising little faith or by putting forth mediocre effort.
-Barbara Ann Harris

Pursue excellence With the thousands of choices available, the work of the Latter-day Saint not only needs to be uplifting, but must be excellent to set it apart from the worldly and the mediocre.
-M. Russell Ballard

Happy Easter!

Please enjoy this incredibly beautiful and powerful message from Elder Holland.
You will cry, I gar-un-tee it.

With A Bold Brush

I have decided I want to have a religious picture in every room of my house (I include the painting of George Washington praying at Valley Forge in that category). I hope to have at least a few prints of Minerva Teichert's beautiful art. I first fell in love with her art when I took out my endowments--they had a copy of Christ with Mary and Martha in the brides' room. I am struck by the beauty of her painting. Here are a few of my favorites.

Learning Experience

Today, I have learned what it's like to lose friends because of your belief. I have been actively supporting Prop 8 on facebook for the last week. Most of my gay friends have engaged me in civil discussions, the conclusion of which have not altered our friendships. Today, one friend did differently. They accused me of being discriminatory and hateful.
I cannot change my beliefs to be convenient for my friends. I have to protect myself, my family, and my religion. I know now that sometimes that comes at a cost.

I'm sure this will not be the last time in my life.

My Proposition 8 Post

A few things that I have found especially poignant:

This post from a friend of a friend.

This post from another friend of a friend.

And this posted email from a friend of a friend.


I've never wished this before, but I truly wish I lived in California right now so I could vote on this immensely important topic. If you do live in California, please vote YES on Prop 8! It is more than redefining marriage, it's also our religious freedom at stake here!!

Isn't It About Time?

I love General Conference. Kurt and I voted to go to the library and listen to it online today instead of watching it at the Church and I'm really glad we did because I wasn't distracted by
uncomfortable pews or other people coughing. I was seated in a comfortable chair and with the earphones, I couldn't hear anything else and it allowed me to be more focused during Conference than I ever have been.
I just got back (on Thursday) from visiting my family. While Kurt was gone for training, I was able to go visit my sister, Steph, in Atlanta for 6 days, then go down to Charleston to be with my parents, Caroline, and Collin (and Steph too) for 3 days. It was so nice to just be there with my family and not be concerned with going places and doing things, but just being with them.
Today, during the first two sessions of Conference, I thought of my family constantly, especially during certain talks. President Uchtdorf's, Elder Wirthlin's, Elder Holland's, and Elder Bednar's talks were strengthening to me and I thought of my family constantly during their talks. I sincerely hope that my family got the same comfort out of them that I did.
I am extremely grateful for the Gospel, for Jesus Christ, for the Plan of Salvation, for Joseph Smith, for the Book of Mormon, for president Thomas S. Monson, and today especially for General Conference.