Hi lil' bro!
How are you? I've been thinking about you so much this week. I've been missing you like crazy. I hope we grow up and live next to each other so that you can stop in all the time and make me laugh and eat cookies with me and go skating and what squat not. I'm sure that everyone has mentioned Derek Walker. It has really strengthened my testimony as I have thought about the plan of salvation this last week. You remember Ashley Felton? Ryan's little sister that was my good friend. Well, she has been really sick for quite sometime now and the doctor told her this week that he thinks she has MS (thats the disease uncle Craig had). I also had another friend who's husband turned out to be a creeper and she is now getting a divorce. It made me realize how grateful I am for my life. I feel SO blessed. I feel unworthy of all of the things that Heavenly Father has bestowed upon me. It makes me want to be stronger and strengthen those around me who are going through serious difficulties. I remember at BYUI one time we had FHE with President Clark and somebody asked him, how do we strengthen our testimonies and stay close to God during times of our life that are easy/we are not going through a trial. He said, first of all serve others who are going through trials. Second of all, build your testimony because the calm times in our life don't last long. I have thought of that frequently since then. I really want to strengthen my faith and become so strong in my testimony that I will be prepared for whatever difficulties lie ahead. Life is meant to be difficult, I believe that is how we learn. I am grateful that Heavenly Father can see our eternal potential and knows what we need to experience in mortality in order to fullfill our eternal potential. Im so thankful for Christopher and Raleigh. They make my world go round. I can't even begin to tell you how hilarious little Rals is. He is still a chicken about walking he could TOTALLY walk but he refuses and crawls everywhere at lightening speed. He won't eat unless its sugar. And he climbs on EVERYTHING he is so dangerous! HE LOVES the slides at the park. He goes down huge slides all by himself. It is so funny. He loves to crawl up the stairs and go head first down whatever he can find. We spend a lot of time at the park, it is so fun. I love our new house and neighborhood. My next door neighbor is not a member of the church and she is about to have a baby so me and Raleigh brought her a gift and have been becoming good friends. She is a really nice neat woman and so is her husband. I'm excited to get to know them better. I read the book of James today. Wow, really good stuff. I highly recommend it. It has really had me thinking about what I need to do in my life to improve. Its crazy how little I know about the gospel and how much I need to improve. But, I am so thankful for the Savior and that he will be with me at the judgement day, pleading my case if I am worthy. It makes me realize how serious it is when we partake of the sacrament and take his name upon his. I always want to keep this covenant and respect his name by doing those things which he would have me do. I'm really looking forward to the Holidays. I'm excited to spend time with our family. They are the best. PLEASE be careful bud, I don't know what I would do if you didn't come home in two years. I'll be praying for you. Be smart and listen to the Holy Ghost in all that you do.
Love , Carlie
P.S. I am SOO proud of you. Mom was talking to me last week and she said, I hope Bryce is actually happy and he is not just saying that to make me feel better. I said, mom, Bryce is happy. He is doing what he is supposed to be doing, I"m sure its hard. But he has to feel good about the work he is doing and the progress he is making. he is an amazing boy and is doing an amazing thing. This will bring him joy. So, I'm sure you have discouraging and hard days where you are not happy. But joy is deep. Joy fills our hearts and our souls untill they feel like they may burst with gratitude. So when you have a bad day, where your bugged by your comp, or a dog bites you. FInd a minute to close your eyes, and search for the joy in your soul that you felt when your convert was baptized or when you have felt Gods love for you. Thats the fruit of the tree of life, thats true joy. Make time to remember that the fruit of the tree of life can be found in this life. We don't have to wait for heaven to partake of it. We can partake of it in this life and experience the true love of Christ, and be truly filled with joy. I love you!!!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A day of Baby Blessings
Oh brudder o mine,
I sure have been missing you this week. I keep on doing/thinking about things that I know you would love. I also bought some DELICIOUS street vendor tacos this week and all the employees and customers were chatting in Spanish. I also had a complete conversation with a man who only spoke espanol about our apartments and how to get more information and etc. etc. It was fun, I can definately understand more than I can say, is that the case with you as well? We sure missed you today at little Ravinia and Liams baby blessings. They are so sweet. We are so blessed to have a good family. Chris, Raleigh, and I ended up staying in Provo and hanging out with the gang all day. Raleigh also had a great time with his cousins. Ethan and Gabe are so funny. They LOVE Raleigh. Ethan is always trying to carry him around and Gabe likes it when Raleigh pulls his hair and bites his face. They are definately teaching him how to be a tough little guy. I think you would probably say the same about Mexico. It is teaching you to be a tough little guy. Today we were having a conversation about Monterrey, California and Chris thought we were talking about Monterry, Mexico so he kept making these weird comments. I thought it was so funny. I sure do love Christopher. He means everything to me. I know its weird/too early to think about it. But, I am so excited for you to come home and find your best friend. Being married is absolutely the best (next to having a baby to play with, that might be #1 ha haha). Anywho...enough of that squat and blah blah blah. You are doing awesome! I expecially loved your story about when you were on splits and had to be the senior comp for a bit and you tracted into a house that turned into 13 investigators! I cant believe that you have the courage to do that! When I picture my shy, quiet little brother from junior high I am blown away that you are just chattin it up with random people on the street, AND IN SPANISH. Its incredible. I think the Lord chooses 19 yr. old boys because they have a real sense of adventure AND they are usually humble enough to still listen and learn from the Holy Ghost I know that you definately are. We have had a great week around these parts. We celebrated Christopher and Raleighs birthday. I can't believe Raleigh is 1! This year has gone by WAY to fast. He is the funnest little boy ever! I know that I feel that way because I am his mom, but seriously, he is so cute. He loves to climb on everything. He climbs on the rocking chair and rocks it till it almost tips over, then he climbs up and down and around the couch, then up onto the piano benh, then high up into the closet, anything. He also talks to himself 24 hours a day. Little chit chat in the background all my life. It is fun. Mom is convinced that he said, "I love you", but he doesn't even really say mama so I'm doubting that. ha ha. He is also pretty fiesty, he loves to wrestle. But, most importantly he is quite the mommas guy. He wants me to rock him to sleep and hold him when he is sad. He loves me most, and I like it that way becase I love him most. I love being a mom. I know that I am not the best at it and sometimes I get discouraged becuse mom, and kenz, and cobie, and barbie are all so good at it that it stresses me out when I compare myself to them because I am not as good at it as they are. BUT, I have to remember to try really hard to be better and then just relax and enjoy it. The past year has been my hardest but also by far my most rewarding. I feel like I am really doing what God sent me here to do. Chris made Raleigh an awesome wooden bicycle/scooter thing for his birthday. I will have to take pictures to send to you. Tomorrow we are having a birthday party for him so I will send you the pictures from it. I love to have mom and dad in town. It is so much fun to spend time with them. We sure do have good parents huh! Anyways, I'm falling asleep, but I love you so much and am terribly proud of all that your doing!
Love Carlie
I sure have been missing you this week. I keep on doing/thinking about things that I know you would love. I also bought some DELICIOUS street vendor tacos this week and all the employees and customers were chatting in Spanish. I also had a complete conversation with a man who only spoke espanol about our apartments and how to get more information and etc. etc. It was fun, I can definately understand more than I can say, is that the case with you as well? We sure missed you today at little Ravinia and Liams baby blessings. They are so sweet. We are so blessed to have a good family. Chris, Raleigh, and I ended up staying in Provo and hanging out with the gang all day. Raleigh also had a great time with his cousins. Ethan and Gabe are so funny. They LOVE Raleigh. Ethan is always trying to carry him around and Gabe likes it when Raleigh pulls his hair and bites his face. They are definately teaching him how to be a tough little guy. I think you would probably say the same about Mexico. It is teaching you to be a tough little guy. Today we were having a conversation about Monterrey, California and Chris thought we were talking about Monterry, Mexico so he kept making these weird comments. I thought it was so funny. I sure do love Christopher. He means everything to me. I know its weird/too early to think about it. But, I am so excited for you to come home and find your best friend. Being married is absolutely the best (next to having a baby to play with, that might be #1 ha haha). Anywho...enough of that squat and blah blah blah. You are doing awesome! I expecially loved your story about when you were on splits and had to be the senior comp for a bit and you tracted into a house that turned into 13 investigators! I cant believe that you have the courage to do that! When I picture my shy, quiet little brother from junior high I am blown away that you are just chattin it up with random people on the street, AND IN SPANISH. Its incredible. I think the Lord chooses 19 yr. old boys because they have a real sense of adventure AND they are usually humble enough to still listen and learn from the Holy Ghost I know that you definately are. We have had a great week around these parts. We celebrated Christopher and Raleighs birthday. I can't believe Raleigh is 1! This year has gone by WAY to fast. He is the funnest little boy ever! I know that I feel that way because I am his mom, but seriously, he is so cute. He loves to climb on everything. He climbs on the rocking chair and rocks it till it almost tips over, then he climbs up and down and around the couch, then up onto the piano benh, then high up into the closet, anything. He also talks to himself 24 hours a day. Little chit chat in the background all my life. It is fun. Mom is convinced that he said, "I love you", but he doesn't even really say mama so I'm doubting that. ha ha. He is also pretty fiesty, he loves to wrestle. But, most importantly he is quite the mommas guy. He wants me to rock him to sleep and hold him when he is sad. He loves me most, and I like it that way becase I love him most. I love being a mom. I know that I am not the best at it and sometimes I get discouraged becuse mom, and kenz, and cobie, and barbie are all so good at it that it stresses me out when I compare myself to them because I am not as good at it as they are. BUT, I have to remember to try really hard to be better and then just relax and enjoy it. The past year has been my hardest but also by far my most rewarding. I feel like I am really doing what God sent me here to do. Chris made Raleigh an awesome wooden bicycle/scooter thing for his birthday. I will have to take pictures to send to you. Tomorrow we are having a birthday party for him so I will send you the pictures from it. I love to have mom and dad in town. It is so much fun to spend time with them. We sure do have good parents huh! Anyways, I'm falling asleep, but I love you so much and am terribly proud of all that your doing!
Love Carlie
Sunday, August 21, 2011
New Car and Crazy ol' Braewood
Hey Buckeroo!
Sorry, I missed writing you the past couple of weeks. Sunday night kept creeping up on me and monday mornings are madness around here. Anyways, shouldn't happen again. We had a very interesting week. Its made me want to move really bad. Thursday night we had a psycho lady come over at 9:00 pm and start screaming at me because I am giving her extreme anxiety about smoking she was swearing and shaking and Chris started talking/yelling back at her to try and defend me...in the end she stormed off screaming that "I AM HIRING A LAWYER< AND YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR HARASSMENT" it was super weird. Then on Friday night we had 4 cops come and break up a drug/gang fight at 2:00 am with spotlights and stuff chasing down the boys as they ran through our complex. it was really scary. Then last night our apartment completely flooded with water. I mean there was a puddle in the kitchen our living room was drenched EVERYTHING. My journal was on the floor and it is completely ruined, which is super sad because it had all of raleighs information in it. But, hopefully it will dry out ok and be readable. Sounds like your roasting up out there. I would have loved to see you riding your bike with an AC unit inbetween your legs. That is so funny. Also, on a brighter note, we bought a new car. Its rad, we sold our Honda because we couldn't afford the car payment and downgraded to a 1993 Subaru Legacy. IT IS RAD. Its a super long hatch back that we can do everything in. I'm really pumped about it. I'll attach photos. Its super ugly, but the inside is in perfect condition. A Polish immigrant purchased it when he first got here and has kept it absolutely clean and well tuned. tonight we took it up for a spin in the mountains. It was so much fun, you can lay the back seats down perfectly flat and make a nice little comfy bed. I think we will have many good adventures to come in it. We had a great time at Reese and Barbs yesterday. We hung out with them and cobe and rob. Its fun to have all the kids around. Ethan and Gabe LOVE Raleigh. They are always fighting over who gets to push his stroller or feed him or carry him or touch him or do anything with him. Gabe is still a little wild, but he is learning how to be nice. I went shopping with them the other day. It was crazy we had 4 carseats in Barbs car! Anyways, Gabe needed to go potty so I took him while Barb was checking out. We go in the bathroom and he takes off his shoes, shorts, and underwear. Then he mounts the toilet like spiderman and squats on it. After he tinckles I ask him if he's done and he says, "No, I am going to need at least another 5 minutes." It was so funny. He then continued to go for about 10 min. That kid can really letter blow if ya know what I mean. Our lesson was on eternal marriage in church today. A girl in our ward made a comment about how she has wanted to leave her husband several times and how their relationship is so difficult. It made me so sad. It is difficult to be married but I believe that it should be a lot better than it is hard. It should be full of more joy/happiness than anger/unhappiness. I believe it will be what you make of it. Before I got married I thought that it was just the covenants that you made in the temple that prepared you for the celestial kingdom, but I now understand that it is all of the patience, and selflessness, and sacrificing, and enduring, and loving that you do that helps you become celestial material. Heavenly Father in deed set out a perfect plan for us to follow. I am so thankful for Christopher and Raleigh. They make me so happy! I can't wait for you to spend some more time with Raleigh he is SO much fun right now. Today in Sacrament meeting he was getting super tired and he was standing up holding on to my shoulders on the bench. Then before I can stop him he is biting my ear trying to get my earring in his mouth. He tries to get my pearl earrings out every day sometimes he is successfull at just snagging on to it when I set him down or something, but that was a new tactic. Just bite it while its still attached to my head. It was so funny, I couldn't get him off of me. Anyways, Miss you and love you tons! I am SO proud of you and pray for you and think of you all the time.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A bad day...
Today started out wrong. I took Chris to work and we got in a fight about letting Raleigh sleep in our bed, and then I never get to sleep, and its my fault, but I blame Chris for not ever helping me at night..etc. etc. It was stupid, but it ruined my whole day. I hate it when I let things like that happen. I just started feeling like a failure at everything. My laundry hasn't been caught up in 3 months, either has my cleaning, I havn't cooked a healthy meal in a week and we have been eating out way more than I would like, Raleigh needs a lot a lot of attention from me right now, and I can't always give it to him. I am demanding too much help from Chris to try and stay afloat when he should be working on his secondary applications and everything else. Anyways, I had a melt down. Then I just started feeling like, what am I doing? I do not want to wake up every day for the rest of my life and clean my house, and cook dinner. It seems so bleak when you think of it like that. I couldn't seem to remember what makes me happy and why I'm glad to be alive. But tonight, I remembered. After our fight, I decided to try to let Raleigh fall asleep by himself after I rocked him. So I nursed him and he almost immediately fell asleep, so I held him for a bit and rocked him, but then as I laid him in bed he woke up. I would normally just quickly pick him up and continue rocking him untill he peacefully drifted off to sleep, but i just let him lay there to see if he could fall back asleep by himself. Well, he screamed and screamed for about 9 minutes and then I went in and patted him on the back and laid him back down and told him how much I loved him. That really got him going, he wailed and started shivering and breathing fast and labored, but I wanted to Chris to see what had happened. So I left him. 5 minutes later Chris couldn't handle it so he went in and tried to calm him down. The entire time Chris held him he wailed and shook untill I decided I couldn't take it any more. I went in and held him tight and rocked him for about 30 seconds while I sang songs and he peacefully fell asleep. I could have laid him down, but I didn't. Instead I held him for as long as I wanted and stared at his beautifull little face, pudgy fingers, and quivering little breathe. My tears met his as they rolled across his forehead and down his sweaty cheeks. I remembered that it is that love that brings me happiness. Its my little family. Then I was listening to music on Christophers iphone as I did the dishes and a song came on that we listened to when we were dating. I remembered that HE is what makes me happy. HE is what will make my days bright. HE is what matters. I'm thankfull that Heavenly Father helped me to remember that. Satan wants me to find validation from the world by my physichal appearance, or my musical abilities, or whatever selfish whim I may be floundering with. But at the end of the day, going out and doing something selfish only makes me feel, unsattisfied. Rocking my baby, feeling him close, and remembering that God will help me to be a good mom brings me true joy. I know that I won't be a mom like Kim Harper, my house will never be that clean, and my kids will likely never be as well behaved. I will also not be a mom like Mckenzie, wow, she is incredible. But, I will do my very best, and whatever that is will be well enough for my children. I am always seeking advice from my mom, kenz, cobe, barbie, Amy, Vanessa, and other friends, but at the end of the day, I always know that I can't really do that. I am unique, and my love and abilities as a mother will always be unique. I may never let my baby cry himself to sleep as my mom and Amy tell me to do. I can't do it. I will love him and try to remember what is best for him and do that at whatever the personal sacrifice, but I just need to know that God approves of what I am attempting to accomplish and that will be well enough for me. Life is so very complicated. It feels good to try to sort out my emotions into words, other wise I become a bit of a selfish worry wort. I have so many complex emotions and I seem to always be expressing them in the wrong way. Why do boys not feel things as deeply as girls? Chris will never understand my rampages. Oh well...I'll keep trying to explain it to him:)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Doc Martin
Another week has come and gone huh? Time is moving so quickly, I can't believe it. First of all, I wanted to attach a few talks. These are some of my very favorites, I figure it would be fun to have new reading material, I don't know if you can print 3 of them, but if not, choose the one that sounds the most interesting. They are all excellent.
http://www.byub.org/talks/transcripts/devo/2009/1/devo2009113-3403.pdf
http://lds.org/liahona/2007/04/the-sacrament-and-the-sacrifice?lang=eng
http://www.byub.org/talks/transcripts/devo/2009/9/devo2009929-3894.pdf
We had a great Sunday today. I love going to church. It has been a couple of weeks because we have been traveling and busy since I have been able to go to our ward and enjoy all three meetings. It really makes such a difference to go and ponder on the Savior, the Sacrament, our lives, and what we have been blessed with. It keeps me motivated to do what I need to do in the week that lies ahead. It is so exciting to hear about your investigators, sounds like they are all progressing and that you are learning to teach with the spirit? Are you home sick at all? You seem to be doing really great! I miss you so much, thats kind of a crummy part about a mission. I don't think that I have ever been this long without talking to you before. We had a great week, we went to the pioneer day parade on Monday. Raleigh loved it and it was really cool. Tons of floats, motorcycles, and ya know...cheerleaders and squat. The coolest part though is that President Monson leads the parade. So he drives past in this nice, black car with all of his body guards swarming around and stuff. It was really neat. Raleigh and I did some swimming with Mom, Ethan, and Gabe. That was fun. Ethan is so funny, he would go out with this little kickboard and just back float as he bumped in to people and totally relax and enjoy himself. Raleigh is starting to get more and more used to the water. He is starting to enjoy splashing around, and crawling out into it a ways. He is really tan and his tiny bit of hair is getting really bleached out bright blonde inthe sun. He is so cute. At church today he was making his little goat vibrato so loud during all three meetings, everyone was staring at him like, "what is he doing"? I jus smile and say....I don't really know. Then he does this thing where he screams SO loud like a high pitch bloody murder scream. And then he just smiles immediately after and carries on like nothing happened. SO it scares me when I'm cleaning in the kitchen and all of a sudden he is screaming like hes been shot I run in the bedroom and he is just playing with a stuffed animal like nothin happened. Its so funny. Chris is also doing well, really enjoying work. We have been doing some hiking and stuff, trying to enjoy every last bit of good weather here this summer. We are also starting to fill out secondaries to medical school. That is the second round of applications, then if they like his second application they will call him for an interview, if he does well in the interview then he might get in to their school. It is really stressfull. We have been watching this TV show called Doc Martin, it is british. But it is about this surgeon he develops a paranoia of blood so he becomes a general practicioner. Its really good, it has made us excited for Chris to be a doctor. I am doing well, I really hate managing apartments. I had to evict 2 families this week. That is really hard and sad, I feel like I am kinking them while their down. They both don't really have anywhere to turn and their lives are a mess. It is interesting to me though, because they both smoke like crazy and live trashy lives. It seems like if you couldn't pay your rent you wouldn't be able to afford buying cigarettes, but that is how screwed up their mentality is. I am sure you deal with people like that quite a bit. I just wish they had something to live for and find happiness in. That is what the gospel provides me with. I want to share that with others. The missionaries have been tracting here all week again. They avoide me because they are not suppposed to be able to knock doors here, but I don't stop them. I figure if Iget in trouble, whatever, I was only doing my missionary duties. Raleigh turns one in a month! I can't believe that, I am thinking about having a birthday party fo him, we shall see. Well, I wish I had more to tell you, our life has been pretty gol durn boring though! Keep up the good work, remember you have a little nephew far far away that will need you to be a good example for the rest of his life! And a big sister who looks to you as an example too....
xoxo, Carlie
http://www.byub.org/talks/transcripts/devo/2009/1/devo2009113-3403.pdf
http://lds.org/liahona/2007/04/the-sacrament-and-the-sacrifice?lang=eng
http://www.byub.org/talks/transcripts/devo/2009/9/devo2009929-3894.pdf
We had a great Sunday today. I love going to church. It has been a couple of weeks because we have been traveling and busy since I have been able to go to our ward and enjoy all three meetings. It really makes such a difference to go and ponder on the Savior, the Sacrament, our lives, and what we have been blessed with. It keeps me motivated to do what I need to do in the week that lies ahead. It is so exciting to hear about your investigators, sounds like they are all progressing and that you are learning to teach with the spirit? Are you home sick at all? You seem to be doing really great! I miss you so much, thats kind of a crummy part about a mission. I don't think that I have ever been this long without talking to you before. We had a great week, we went to the pioneer day parade on Monday. Raleigh loved it and it was really cool. Tons of floats, motorcycles, and ya know...cheerleaders and squat. The coolest part though is that President Monson leads the parade. So he drives past in this nice, black car with all of his body guards swarming around and stuff. It was really neat. Raleigh and I did some swimming with Mom, Ethan, and Gabe. That was fun. Ethan is so funny, he would go out with this little kickboard and just back float as he bumped in to people and totally relax and enjoy himself. Raleigh is starting to get more and more used to the water. He is starting to enjoy splashing around, and crawling out into it a ways. He is really tan and his tiny bit of hair is getting really bleached out bright blonde inthe sun. He is so cute. At church today he was making his little goat vibrato so loud during all three meetings, everyone was staring at him like, "what is he doing"? I jus smile and say....I don't really know. Then he does this thing where he screams SO loud like a high pitch bloody murder scream. And then he just smiles immediately after and carries on like nothing happened. SO it scares me when I'm cleaning in the kitchen and all of a sudden he is screaming like hes been shot I run in the bedroom and he is just playing with a stuffed animal like nothin happened. Its so funny. Chris is also doing well, really enjoying work. We have been doing some hiking and stuff, trying to enjoy every last bit of good weather here this summer. We are also starting to fill out secondaries to medical school. That is the second round of applications, then if they like his second application they will call him for an interview, if he does well in the interview then he might get in to their school. It is really stressfull. We have been watching this TV show called Doc Martin, it is british. But it is about this surgeon he develops a paranoia of blood so he becomes a general practicioner. Its really good, it has made us excited for Chris to be a doctor. I am doing well, I really hate managing apartments. I had to evict 2 families this week. That is really hard and sad, I feel like I am kinking them while their down. They both don't really have anywhere to turn and their lives are a mess. It is interesting to me though, because they both smoke like crazy and live trashy lives. It seems like if you couldn't pay your rent you wouldn't be able to afford buying cigarettes, but that is how screwed up their mentality is. I am sure you deal with people like that quite a bit. I just wish they had something to live for and find happiness in. That is what the gospel provides me with. I want to share that with others. The missionaries have been tracting here all week again. They avoide me because they are not suppposed to be able to knock doors here, but I don't stop them. I figure if Iget in trouble, whatever, I was only doing my missionary duties. Raleigh turns one in a month! I can't believe that, I am thinking about having a birthday party fo him, we shall see. Well, I wish I had more to tell you, our life has been pretty gol durn boring though! Keep up the good work, remember you have a little nephew far far away that will need you to be a good example for the rest of his life! And a big sister who looks to you as an example too....
xoxo, Carlie
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Pioneer Day!
Hi Mr. Bud!
First of all, I am so sorry about your companions mom. That is so horrible. Was she sick? Did he know that she might die or was it a surprise? That is so tragic, I can't believe it. I bet that has been difficult for the work this week. I hope that everything is working out ok. You are very sensitive and kind, so I am sure you have been able to help him through this week. I was also blown away by how good your Spanish is! You are learning so quickly, I can't believe it. Today is pioneer day ya know? So, Chris, Raleigh, and I have been celebrating all weekend. Its been really fun. On Saturday we went to this place called, "This is the Place Monument" it is right by the hogel zoo. It is the place where Bringom Young said, "this is the place." You know that story. Anyways, they have all of these old pioneer homes and gathering places. It was really fun, they also have Indian village with T.Ps and mud huts and stuff. THey also had ponie rides and a petting zoo. Raleigh loved it and so did we. Then we went to a SWEEET rodeo. It was crazy good. It was in this huge arena and compared to Rupert, I was blown away by the quality. I mean there was no "We know you can Rain for Rent but can you RIDEEE for rent." Do you remember that? However, at the beginning they started playing this crazy loud heavy metal, I mean LOUD. Poor little Rlaeigh boo just started crying his eyes out. He hated the noise, but then he saw all the horses and he got pretty excited about it. TOmorrow we are going to the parade in the morning, so I hope he enjoys that as well. I have really been thinking a lot about the pioneers today and how incredible they were. I'm so grateful for the founders of our religion, it is incredible how much faith they had to accomplish what they had to do. Expecially Joseph Smith and the early apostles, it would be so difficult to stand up for what you believe to defend such a small group of people. I have been thinking about how Joseph SMith must have been truly convicted. He did not care about what anyone else thought except for God. I hope to become that way. I want my relationship to God to be the deciding influence in the decisions I make. I feel like in order to do this I must be having meaningful prayer, scripture study, and pondering time. I miss going to the temple every week SO SO bad. It is so tough to find a babysitter, so Chris and I can only go once a month now and I miss it so badly. I'm sure you know how I feel. I also miss you really bad! I have been thinking about you a lot this week, and praying for you and your companion. Chris did surgery witht he doctor he works with this week, he loved it. He also got back his MCAT scores, they were lower than he had hoped. I was really disappointed, but hopefully we will still be able to get into medical school. Keep us in your prayers. I feel bad because I have a hard time of being really supportive and trusting Chris to provide for our family at times. I have never been blessed with the gift of Faith. But thankfully, Christopher has, he is so faithful and believing. He never really gets scared, he just trusts in Heavenly Fathers and does his best. I am thankful for his example. I can't wait for you to meet Liam and Ravinia! They are SOOOOO cute. Liam is so handsome, he looks so different from Ethan and Gabe. Its crazy, he weighed exactly the same amount as Raleigh and he looks kind of like Raleigh to me. At least similar coloring. Raleigh is getting really tan though because him and I go to the pool and stuff. I put him out in the water where he can barely crawl and then he crawls his way out and looks at me and claps his hands, like, " Hooray, I escaped!" Its really funnny, he doesn't really like the water too much. He loves the bath, but not the pool. He also got a top tooth this week! He is had diahrea which means diaper rash which means an unhappy baby. He has been sleeping with Chris and I and keeping us up all night kicking us in the ribs, pinching our necks, chewing on our collar bones, and pulling our hair...HARD. He likes to wrestle and fight a lot. It is fun. Well, buggy boo, I sure do miss you. I am praying for you. I know the church iis true, I KNOW it is. I know how much Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to have success and learn faith and patience. You are doing so well, keep it up, be brave and just think of ol' capn carbud pushing you on when you want to quit.
Loves,
yo one and true only lil' bud
First of all, I am so sorry about your companions mom. That is so horrible. Was she sick? Did he know that she might die or was it a surprise? That is so tragic, I can't believe it. I bet that has been difficult for the work this week. I hope that everything is working out ok. You are very sensitive and kind, so I am sure you have been able to help him through this week. I was also blown away by how good your Spanish is! You are learning so quickly, I can't believe it. Today is pioneer day ya know? So, Chris, Raleigh, and I have been celebrating all weekend. Its been really fun. On Saturday we went to this place called, "This is the Place Monument" it is right by the hogel zoo. It is the place where Bringom Young said, "this is the place." You know that story. Anyways, they have all of these old pioneer homes and gathering places. It was really fun, they also have Indian village with T.Ps and mud huts and stuff. THey also had ponie rides and a petting zoo. Raleigh loved it and so did we. Then we went to a SWEEET rodeo. It was crazy good. It was in this huge arena and compared to Rupert, I was blown away by the quality. I mean there was no "We know you can Rain for Rent but can you RIDEEE for rent." Do you remember that? However, at the beginning they started playing this crazy loud heavy metal, I mean LOUD. Poor little Rlaeigh boo just started crying his eyes out. He hated the noise, but then he saw all the horses and he got pretty excited about it. TOmorrow we are going to the parade in the morning, so I hope he enjoys that as well. I have really been thinking a lot about the pioneers today and how incredible they were. I'm so grateful for the founders of our religion, it is incredible how much faith they had to accomplish what they had to do. Expecially Joseph Smith and the early apostles, it would be so difficult to stand up for what you believe to defend such a small group of people. I have been thinking about how Joseph SMith must have been truly convicted. He did not care about what anyone else thought except for God. I hope to become that way. I want my relationship to God to be the deciding influence in the decisions I make. I feel like in order to do this I must be having meaningful prayer, scripture study, and pondering time. I miss going to the temple every week SO SO bad. It is so tough to find a babysitter, so Chris and I can only go once a month now and I miss it so badly. I'm sure you know how I feel. I also miss you really bad! I have been thinking about you a lot this week, and praying for you and your companion. Chris did surgery witht he doctor he works with this week, he loved it. He also got back his MCAT scores, they were lower than he had hoped. I was really disappointed, but hopefully we will still be able to get into medical school. Keep us in your prayers. I feel bad because I have a hard time of being really supportive and trusting Chris to provide for our family at times. I have never been blessed with the gift of Faith. But thankfully, Christopher has, he is so faithful and believing. He never really gets scared, he just trusts in Heavenly Fathers and does his best. I am thankful for his example. I can't wait for you to meet Liam and Ravinia! They are SOOOOO cute. Liam is so handsome, he looks so different from Ethan and Gabe. Its crazy, he weighed exactly the same amount as Raleigh and he looks kind of like Raleigh to me. At least similar coloring. Raleigh is getting really tan though because him and I go to the pool and stuff. I put him out in the water where he can barely crawl and then he crawls his way out and looks at me and claps his hands, like, " Hooray, I escaped!" Its really funnny, he doesn't really like the water too much. He loves the bath, but not the pool. He also got a top tooth this week! He is had diahrea which means diaper rash which means an unhappy baby. He has been sleeping with Chris and I and keeping us up all night kicking us in the ribs, pinching our necks, chewing on our collar bones, and pulling our hair...HARD. He likes to wrestle and fight a lot. It is fun. Well, buggy boo, I sure do miss you. I am praying for you. I know the church iis true, I KNOW it is. I know how much Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to have success and learn faith and patience. You are doing so well, keep it up, be brave and just think of ol' capn carbud pushing you on when you want to quit.
Loves,
yo one and true only lil' bud
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The Light and Life
WUZZUP BUD!?
I could not believe your pictures from the flood! Are your shoes ruined? That is nuts! It looks like you are in the eh uh..ol..ya know...G-HETTO! I know how it is to live in the hood, you can count on me to understand your situation. Last week infact I went over and played with my Mexican neighbors and raleigh. They all think he is so cute because he is white and bald. They always go..OHH where is his hair!? Its funny. But, my neighbors are so nice, I really like them. I try to speak Spanish to them but its tough. They speak way too fast. I also saw something really funny this week. The mormon missionaries were knocking doors at our complex and hot and their trails were the JW's. SO the mormons would knock a door and give their speech and next the JWs would knock and give their speech. I got a realy kick out of it. It also made me think of you though because that would be SO hard for me! I would not have the courage to do that. I know how rude and weird most of the people are who live here and it would be seriously nearly impossible for me to imagine trying to just teach them the gospel. ohh...toughy. Today was Christopher's brother, Tyers, Birthday. I made him a chocolate cheese cake with chocolate shredded on top with big puffs of whipcream all over it. It looked really cool and tasted SOO good. It was fun. He has had a tough life and made some poor decisions but he has a heart of gold. he is really kind. I picture the prodigal son being really similar to him. I read about Ammon, Aaron, Himni, Omner in the BOM this week. Man, talk about some baller missionaries. I love the story of the anti-nephi lehis. It is so powerful. It always makes me realize that miracles can happen every day. lately I have been feeling SOOOO blessed. I can't even descirbe it. My life is so rich and so full of happiness. Chris is such a good dad and husband. He takes really, really good care of me and Raleigh. He reminds me so much of you. Its funny that way. And raleigh is the HAPPIEST baby ever. He likes to climb inside the dishwasher and on the couch and rocking chairs, its hillarious. I also give him what I like to call a buckin bronco ride. I put him in our brown leather recliner and then a pump the foot rest h\up and down so the chair goes crazy and he laughs soooo hard. He likes to be scared a little bit. Like he will sit on Chris's shoulders and hold on to his hair and lean back untill he is about to fall and then he laughs and laughs. tonight he was rolling on the floor by us and putting his hole mouth on our faces and chomping down. He likes to wrestle and get rolled around and smashed and then he chews on you and pulls your hair. Its so much fun. We finished all of Christophers medical school applications this week. that was good. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted from off of our shoulders. Now we just have to sit and wait it out. Hopefully we will also find out his MCAT score soon. I'm nervous, but I feel like God has a plan for us which is true, he does. I dont know how to properly give thanks for all that I have been given. I just can't figure out why my life is so darn good. I know a lot of good mormons who's lives are not nearly as easy and lovely as mine. I feel like I have a lot of responsibility to give back to Gods other children and help them on their path back home. Kenz was here this week. It was really fun to watch Raleigh and Stillman play together. Plus I just love being with kenz she is really funny. I hate that she lives so far away now. I hope we all live really near by eachother when we grow up. barbie is due any day now. I'm excited for her...between you and me...that gal is UGE! I mean, wow, she makes a big baby. I have seen a little of people this week whos lives are a mess because they do not understand the plan of salvation or they have chosen to live contrary to what they know. It is so heartbreaking. I feel like sometimes you can see it in peoples eyes, they are void of the spirit and of life. You know how we each have the light of Christ? And how Christ is the light and the LIFE? WEll, sometimes people come here looking for an apartment and they have 0 light in their eyes, they look void of life like there is nothing left of their spirit but a hollow body. That is because the light of Christ has been smothered out and they have no LIFE (Christs love) in them. It is so sad to me. Today we were talking about the atonement in Sunday School and I held Raleigh in my arms while he slept and nearly started crying imagining having to sacrifice him on behalf of someone else. I couldn't do it. It would kil me. I love him more than I can even express, sometimes my heart feels like it is going to explode because I love him so much. But then, to imagine sacrificing him on behalf of someone else who wouldn't appreciate the sacrifice or recognize that he gave his life for them so that they could repent and then they chose to not repent but to ignore the fact that he had given EVERYTHING so they could live and find happineess. Now that would be a complete tragedy. And with so many of Gods children that is what happens. I can't imagine how this must break the fathers heart. I truly want to do everything in my power to make sure that in my case, the atonement is not taken for granted. that I repent and I live and have life and happiness and joy because the Savior sacrificed his all so that I could have all of these things. Isn't that a perfect plan? I sure think so, I know the church is true bud. I know your doing the right thing. I know God is SO grateful for you and your hard work and your innocence and kindness and bright spirit. DOn't get discouraged and don't be hard on yourself. Remember how much you are loved by EVERYONE and especially God. Have a good week, go out and tear it up!
xoxox, carbud and rals royce
I could not believe your pictures from the flood! Are your shoes ruined? That is nuts! It looks like you are in the eh uh..ol..ya know...G-HETTO! I know how it is to live in the hood, you can count on me to understand your situation. Last week infact I went over and played with my Mexican neighbors and raleigh. They all think he is so cute because he is white and bald. They always go..OHH where is his hair!? Its funny. But, my neighbors are so nice, I really like them. I try to speak Spanish to them but its tough. They speak way too fast. I also saw something really funny this week. The mormon missionaries were knocking doors at our complex and hot and their trails were the JW's. SO the mormons would knock a door and give their speech and next the JWs would knock and give their speech. I got a realy kick out of it. It also made me think of you though because that would be SO hard for me! I would not have the courage to do that. I know how rude and weird most of the people are who live here and it would be seriously nearly impossible for me to imagine trying to just teach them the gospel. ohh...toughy. Today was Christopher's brother, Tyers, Birthday. I made him a chocolate cheese cake with chocolate shredded on top with big puffs of whipcream all over it. It looked really cool and tasted SOO good. It was fun. He has had a tough life and made some poor decisions but he has a heart of gold. he is really kind. I picture the prodigal son being really similar to him. I read about Ammon, Aaron, Himni, Omner in the BOM this week. Man, talk about some baller missionaries. I love the story of the anti-nephi lehis. It is so powerful. It always makes me realize that miracles can happen every day. lately I have been feeling SOOOO blessed. I can't even descirbe it. My life is so rich and so full of happiness. Chris is such a good dad and husband. He takes really, really good care of me and Raleigh. He reminds me so much of you. Its funny that way. And raleigh is the HAPPIEST baby ever. He likes to climb inside the dishwasher and on the couch and rocking chairs, its hillarious. I also give him what I like to call a buckin bronco ride. I put him in our brown leather recliner and then a pump the foot rest h\up and down so the chair goes crazy and he laughs soooo hard. He likes to be scared a little bit. Like he will sit on Chris's shoulders and hold on to his hair and lean back untill he is about to fall and then he laughs and laughs. tonight he was rolling on the floor by us and putting his hole mouth on our faces and chomping down. He likes to wrestle and get rolled around and smashed and then he chews on you and pulls your hair. Its so much fun. We finished all of Christophers medical school applications this week. that was good. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted from off of our shoulders. Now we just have to sit and wait it out. Hopefully we will also find out his MCAT score soon. I'm nervous, but I feel like God has a plan for us which is true, he does. I dont know how to properly give thanks for all that I have been given. I just can't figure out why my life is so darn good. I know a lot of good mormons who's lives are not nearly as easy and lovely as mine. I feel like I have a lot of responsibility to give back to Gods other children and help them on their path back home. Kenz was here this week. It was really fun to watch Raleigh and Stillman play together. Plus I just love being with kenz she is really funny. I hate that she lives so far away now. I hope we all live really near by eachother when we grow up. barbie is due any day now. I'm excited for her...between you and me...that gal is UGE! I mean, wow, she makes a big baby. I have seen a little of people this week whos lives are a mess because they do not understand the plan of salvation or they have chosen to live contrary to what they know. It is so heartbreaking. I feel like sometimes you can see it in peoples eyes, they are void of the spirit and of life. You know how we each have the light of Christ? And how Christ is the light and the LIFE? WEll, sometimes people come here looking for an apartment and they have 0 light in their eyes, they look void of life like there is nothing left of their spirit but a hollow body. That is because the light of Christ has been smothered out and they have no LIFE (Christs love) in them. It is so sad to me. Today we were talking about the atonement in Sunday School and I held Raleigh in my arms while he slept and nearly started crying imagining having to sacrifice him on behalf of someone else. I couldn't do it. It would kil me. I love him more than I can even express, sometimes my heart feels like it is going to explode because I love him so much. But then, to imagine sacrificing him on behalf of someone else who wouldn't appreciate the sacrifice or recognize that he gave his life for them so that they could repent and then they chose to not repent but to ignore the fact that he had given EVERYTHING so they could live and find happineess. Now that would be a complete tragedy. And with so many of Gods children that is what happens. I can't imagine how this must break the fathers heart. I truly want to do everything in my power to make sure that in my case, the atonement is not taken for granted. that I repent and I live and have life and happiness and joy because the Savior sacrificed his all so that I could have all of these things. Isn't that a perfect plan? I sure think so, I know the church is true bud. I know your doing the right thing. I know God is SO grateful for you and your hard work and your innocence and kindness and bright spirit. DOn't get discouraged and don't be hard on yourself. Remember how much you are loved by EVERYONE and especially God. Have a good week, go out and tear it up!
xoxox, carbud and rals royce
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