...And this is my blog.

First a small side note: yes, it has been forever. I'm sorry.

But really I had to do a blog post tonight because my mind has been filled to the brim with all things religious and spiritual for a while now and I've finally got it organized. I have a few thoughts and they are categorized as follows:

1. First, the question has been on my mind lately, "What does it mean to be a good Christian?" I've been praying and studying the scriptures to find the answer and I've finally come to the beginning of an answer. I'm not going to insert quotes, but instead summarize what I've been reading and thinking.

At the very root, Christians are followers of Jesus Christ. They seek Him, they try to understand His gospel, they listen to His voice and they try every day to do the things that He did and that He commanded His children/followers to do. I believe that not only do Christians follow the example of Jesus Christ in being baptized by immersion by one who holds authority from God to baptize, but they continually renew the covenant they made to Him when they were baptized. This is that they would follow Him, keep His commandments and take upon them the name of Christ. He has promised in return that they may always have His spirit to be with them. This is why I go to church every Sunday. I think it's important to hear the words of fellow Christians so that we may be uplifted and edified, inspired and healed. But the main reason for going to church is for the ordinance of the Sacrament. We symbolically take in the blood and body of Jesus Christ by partaking of bread and water as Jesus Christ himself indicated so that there would be no disputations among men. The bread and water is blessed by those having authority from God and passed to any who would like to participate in the sacred ordinance. When I take into me the blood and body of Christ, I personally recommit myself to him and ask for repentance of my sins and for help doing what is right. When I take the sacrament, I feel closer to Him because I know Jesus Christ instituted the sacred ordinance as a part of His church. It's just one blessing He has given us to show us that we are not alone and He is there to help us just as He always has been for His children.

That was a long one...

Thought #2
This is a big part of the answer that came to me as I pondered the question, "Who is Jesus Christ? Do I really know Him?" So to answer the second part of my question, I came to the realization that yes, I do know Jesus Christ, but I'm still learning. I read about Him, worship Him, and pray to the Father in His name that He will guide me and walk beside me as I walk through my trials and events of everyday life. Then I thought about those who testify of Christ. Who can really testify of Christ? I feel like this is the true test. People can come up with their own doctrines by mixing scripture with clever sayings and sometimes those things can be very helpful and uplifting. But nobody can fake knowing Jesus Christ. They can't powerfully testify of His divinity and grace and love without really knowing Him. Nobody can fool you into thinking they really believe in Christ. The reason for that is because when someone testifies of Him, you know without a doubt that it's true because the Holy Spirit burns in you. It gives you this feeling of comfort and assurance that what you're hearing is true. And now comes the best part...

You may now proceed to click the play button below.

Trust me... It's worth it.

I know Jesus Christ lives! I know Jesus Christ! I love Him with all of my heart. I know He loves us. His gospel is so beautiful and my heart is filled with humility and gratitude for the gift He gave me which no one else could.

Kids and Kimball

For those of you who don't know, Jason got accepted to BYU for the winter/spring semester. He is just finishing up a class for the spring semester online. It's a marriage and family class with so many great readings. Tonight we read a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson called "To the Mothers in Zion." I love reading older talks because the prophets were so bold. In this specific talk he reminded us that the most noble and important work we can do is in our own home, raising our children to love God and teaching them to have faith in Jesus Christ. Sometimes I start wondering what my real purpose as a mom is and I go looking for these kinds of talks. I highly encourage you to read this one.
It can be found here: http://emp.byui.edu/WILLIAMSG/Talks/etb_tothemothers.htm

I put Kimball in the title because President Kimball is often quoted in the talk. Of the many wonderful things he shared, one (or should I say ten) has really helped me catch the vision for what God sees as the work of a mother. President Benson told us ten things that are our duty as mothers to our children. I will name just a few of them.

1. Be at the Crossroads. This means be at home when your children are coming and going. They need to know that you are there and that you are concerned with what is going on in their lives. They need your supervision when they come home from school and they need your support when they leave the house to face to world.

2. Read to your children. It's so important to fill your children's minds with the truth of the scriptures and the principles of the classics.

3. Be together at mealtimes. This is the time when you get to know what is going on in their lives. They need to know that they can be completely honest with you and that they can ask you for advice.

4. Pray with them. Study the word of God with them.
5. Teach them.
6. Truly love them.

There are so many things a woman can do in the world today, but the most important thing she can do is be a mother who leads her children to God. No success can compensate for failure in the home. Seriously- go read it!

Jason and Jammin

My J today is about my incredible husband Jason. He deserves a shout out because he makes my world go 'round. I would not be as incredibly happy as I am today with a husband who does so much for me and loves me without conditions. Jason is really a rare catch. When we were dating he was so sweet to me. The first birthday I celebrated with him, he sent me flowers and a poem he had written. Even though he's a manly man, he sure has a tender side and knows how to get to my heart. One thing about my sweet husband is that he is very thoughtful. He pays attention to what I like and always remembers to do something special for every occasion. I love my husband!
My other J- jammin'. Dancing happens to be something that both my husband and I love, but are not talented at. AT ALL. Seriously- unless you want a really good laugh, you do not want to see either of us dance. Levi gets a kick out of it though. :)

Inspired

Every Sunday I feel so grateful to have the gospel as my anchor. I start to think about all the ways I am blessed and I just lose track. Today, there are two things I am particularly grateful for and they all could be summed up in one word. Inspiration. Two incidents happened within 24 hours of each other that really strengthened my faith in the gospel. 
First, about a week ago I was sleeping in bed with my sweet baby boy who is 6 months old. He is getting somewhat mobile so we have to be careful where we lay him down. If we lay him on his back, he will be rolled over in a matter of 2 seconds and start scooting backwards. This particular morning, Jason had gone to work and Levi and I were taking a morning nap in my bed. I was completely and totally asleep. Even dreaming. Out of nowhere, without opening my eyes, I quickly rolled over and grabbed my baby. When I opened my eyes, I was holding Levi by his legs and he was dangling over the side of the bed about 3 inches from the ground. I realized that there was no way I could have seen that coming (considering I was completely asleep at the moment) and I immediately said a prayer to thank God for protecting my baby. I know God answers prayers.
Second, I just got my wisdom teeth out last Wednesday. It sucked. Really, trying to rest and taking care of a 6-month-old do not coincide with each other. Not to mention, I wasn't taking pain killers because I'm still nursing the baby. So as I was healing from my surgery, one night I started feeling so sick. So terribly sick that I was crying and just wanted the pain to go away. I woke up Jason and asked him for a blessing. He got his vial of consecrated oil (after first using the eye drops that he reached for in the dark and accidentally dripped on my head) and laid his hands on my head to give me a blessing. I know blessings are granted according to our faith and the will of the Lord so it doesn't happen perfectly every time, but this time I was instantly healed and felt 100% better. The hand of the Lord is so present in my life. Mark 6:13 says, "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Some people think that healing by the laying on of hands doesn't exist anymore or that only the apostles could heal people. But I know that because there must be a "restoration of all things" and that includes the priesthood authority to act in God's name for the blessing and healing of the sick and the afflicted. I'm grateful to have a priesthood holder in my home who honors his priesthood and presides over our family in love and righteousness. 
There is someone who reads my blog who needs to hear something. If you think it's you, then it is. There are many good churches in the world. Many that teach about Jesus and that help men to be better people. But when Jesus Christ came to the earth, He established His church the way it had always been and the way it was always supposed to be- with one faith and one baptism. If you've never asked God if he has a church on the earth, I urge you to do so. If you already know Jesus and believe that he will answer your prayers, wouldn't you want to know if there was one church that had the authority that he gave to His apostles and that He approved of? I don't want to be pushy or anything (I guess it's my blog, anyway) I just ask that you will in sincerity ask God if he has something more for you and where you can find it. I testify to you that God lives. His Son, Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so that we could live with God again. There is a prophet on the earth today and he speaks the words of God. 


Thanks for reading!

H... call me a Hippie

There are a few things that are very "hippie" about me, and many things that not. But I proudly claim the title when it comes to health and peace. A few of the hippie things about me...

• I had a my baby naturally and at home. And I will never do it ANY OTHER WAY. I respect all birthing methods and think a woman should be able to choose what she is most comfortable with to go through what could be the hardest thing she ever does. I just happen to choose to do it in the comfort and safety of my own home. 
• Essential Oils. Sometimes I laugh at myself when I think of all the things I naturally lean toward. I simply feel like I'm a more informed citizen and I don't buy into the "only doctors know how to heal" mindset. Really, please just think about it for a second. I have nothing against doctors. I just have something against having a pill for everything from "shift work disorder" (feeling tired at work) to ODD (obsessive disobedience disorder). Can't we just take care of our bodies and let them heal themselves? How can we expect to feel good if we are breaking the Lord's commandments concerning our bodies? Anyway, I believe that God put herbs on earth as nature's medicine. Essential oils are my go-to when I have allergies, feel nauseous, or can't sleep. Besides them having no side effects, they are entirely natural and extremely inexpensive. 
• Which brings me to another thing: I do not like the government's attitude that it's their job to fix everything. Enough said. Talking about politics just makes me mad.
• Conspiracy theories. Alright, you may have already lost some respect for me, but I must say, you're an idiot if you believe what the media tells you. Should we even get into this? Just send me a message if you really want me to talk about my own theories... 
• Yoga- I LOVE yoga. That's actually what inspired this post. I was feeling crappy so I did some yoga and now I feel incredible!

Ways in which I am not a hippie: Sorry, I'm far from sexually open. No free love here. I believe in monogamous eternal relationships that are wholesome and defined by charity. Also I'm a terrible environmentalist. I don't recycle, my car gets 15 miles to the gallon, and I am what my sister calls, a "city girl." Alright, so that wraps up tonight's "secrets of a hippie yogi." Adios!

G is for Grateful.

It's 5 am and I've been up for an hour with Levi. I don't know if it just got too hot or he was hungry, or what. But he seems to be pretty awake still. While I was trying to nurse him back to sleep, I googled "how to be a better mom." (Google is my go-to for all things in question.) The third or fourth result down, I found an article with an excerpt from a book for mothers. The title of the article was, "Stop trying to be a better a mom and try being a happier one." it struck a chord with me and I was already hooked. After further reading I discovered it's probably true that we all want to be better moms, but never feel like we are making progress. So instead of focusing on trying to do everything perfectly, we should really just try to enjoy the little things that make us smile and let ourselves be happy with the way things are. This life was not made for attaining perfection. It's a learning and growing experience. I think we would be a lot happier if we remembered that each day. There are some things we do need to get in order though. Things that will make being happy more attainable. In her book, the author says, "We need solitude, not another diet. We need to figure out our spiritual lives more than we need another activity to run our kids to. We need hope instead of more stuff to do, which will only make us more anxious. We need to spend less so that we can loosen the grip that money has on us. There is much more we can get out of life." Ah!!! How glorious are those relieving words! Stop worrying! Stop comparing yourself to the super mom you think everybody else is! Stop trying to fill your life with things that don't matter and just let yourself be happy and grateful.

Hi. My name is Nicole. I'm a chocaholic.

Today, F is for Five-minutes. 5 minutes to get type this up and get the baby to bed. So, while he cries because he is tired, I will simply bullet-point my latest thoughts.

• F is for FAIL. I totally failed on the dailly blog-writing. Apologies are in order.
• F is for Family. On a good note, I've been spending quality time with my incredible family. Levi makes every day so wonderful with his smiles and giggles and just the way he looks at me. I am totally in love with him.
• F is for Fruits and Vegetables. Jason and I have started exercising together and eating healthier. The only problem is that I'm addicted to chocolate. I seriously am salivating as I'm typing the word chocolate. It's bad. I try to justify it by saying that dark chocolate is good for your heart or something, but I know deep down, it's just an excuse to make my way to the Ghirardelli section of the grocery store.  

Alright, bedtime. See you tomorrow! Maybe :)

E... Excuses!

Ugh! I can't believe I forgot to post yesterday! I have a few excuses, but they're kinda lame like, I fell asleep. But anyway, today was so fun! I got to take a nice road trip with my best friend Whitney to St. George to attend our friend Matt's wedding reception. Congrats Matt and Brittney! Their reception was lovely. And what a beautiful couple! Of course we didn't get a single picture so you'll have to use your imagination. Ok I better hurry if this is going to count for today! Goodnight!

Dinner and Dishes

I thought about posting yesterday about the Delicious Dinner that we had the on Monday night, but Decided on something else. So tonight, I shall give to you the wondrous orange chicken recipe that blew our socks off! Seriously way better than takeout. We live about 200 yards from a panda express so it would have been much easier to just go grab some chicken and call it dinner. But I Decided to be brave and try my hand at Chinese food. Did I ever mention that I hate Chinese food? I don't get it. I guess there isn't an ounce of Asian blood in me. Well to be fair, I'm not really sure that Orange Chicken is really Chinese. So... behold... the recipe. 

Chinese Orange Chicken

INGREDIENTS

  Chicken

• 1 and 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced into 1-inch cubes

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or AP flour)

• 1/2 cup corn starch

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

• vegetable oil for fying (I used sunflower oil + 1 tbsp of butternut squash seed oil for flavor; peanut oil is excellent for Chinese dishes)

• 1 and 1/2 cups water

• 1/4 cup lemon juice

• 1/3 cup rice vinegar

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp orange juice

• 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

• zest of 1 large orange (about 1 packed tbsp)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• about 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced

• 3 tbsp cornstarch

• 3 scallions, sliced

• 1 tsp red chile flakes

• orange slices

• cooked rice

1. Sauce.
 Measure water, lemon juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and orange juice into a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Remove 1 tbsp of brown sugar from the 1 cup measure; add to a small bowl with the 3 tbsp cornstarch.  Mix well with a fork and set aside.

1. Chicken
. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, peppers, and ginger. Dip chicken pieces first in egg, then toss in cornstarch mixture. Shake off excess and spread pieces on a clean plate.

1. Add oil to a large frying pan or wok (I used a 12-inch frying pan and about 2 cups of oil) to about 1 inch deep. Heat over medium flame until the oil is hot & shimmering (375 degrees F) but not smoking. Add chicken in batches (it took me three), stir lightly to cover all chicken in oil, and fry until cooked through, about 3 – 5 minutes (edges should just begin to brown, no hint of pink should remain and/or the middle of the biggest chicken piece should read at least 170 degrees F on an instant thermometer). Remove to a clean plate layered with paper towels to drain. Once drained, transfer chicken to a large bowl.

1. Sauce
. Add remaining brown sugar, orange zest, garlic and ginger to the sauce mixture. Raise heat and bring to a boil. Add about 2 tbsp of water to the small bowl of cornstarch + sugar: mix well until the cornstarch is well incorporated with no lumps.  Add to the sauce and stir until sauce thickens (should happen almost instantly). Once sauce is thickened and bubbling, add to chicken and toss to coat.

1. Serve
. Add red chile flakes to chicken and toss. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve over hot rice and garnish with a generous sprinkle of sliced scallion and orange slices.

Yummy!!!

C is for playing "catch-up"

You ever find yourself trying to catch up to the guy in front of you in the race of life? He's always just out of reach and no matter how fast you run or what kind of tennis shoes you buy, you can never seem to catch up with him. What's the deal with that? Doesn't it just drive you nuts? That's what these silly social network sights do to us. Actually just the Internet in general. We keep looking at everyone else and thinking about how much further ahead they are. Don't you get sick of trying to be as good as you think you're supposed to be? It seems like almost every day I find myself reminding my own self that it's ok to just be me. It's ok to be happy with everything I have and to just CHILL. So that is my advise to you today. Stop trying to catch up with Mr. or Mrs. Jones and start just doing simple things that make you happy. Write a letter to your grandma, clean out your closet, make your baby giggle with a silly face. Live your life and stop worrying. It's all going to be ok.

B is for....

I was sitting here thinking, ok what starts with B and is exciting about our family? I mulled over Breakfast (we eat an incredibly healthy breakfast in our house), maybe Books? (Jason and I love to read books together!) And then it just hit me in the face! BABY!!! We have a baby!!! That is the most important "B" word in our home! So... I thought I would tell you a bit about our baby. Levi Jacob Horlacher was born on December 28th 2011 after 27 long hours of labor. I may or may not have been accused of being a hippie, but in spite of what people said or thought, I chose to give birth to our baby in the place where I feel most comfortable and safe- our home. It was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced and I will never do it any other way! Levi was an average weight of 6 lbs. 9 oz. and 20.5 inches. But he didn't stay average for long. Now he's almost 4 months old and weighs about 18 pounds! What a chunk! He is just precious. He has started laughing and smiling all the time and loves to talk to us when we try to have conversations. Levi can roll over from his belly to his back and is doing great at bouncing in his jumperoo. A few days ago we were playing with him and got a video of the cutest laugh we have ever heard from him! Sigh... he makes my whole life worth living. I would do anything for our little bundle of joy!

A is for Attitude- 26 days of the Horlacher family... alphabetized

This is my attempt to blog for 26 days in a row. Every day is a new letter. Today, being the first day, I'll tell you something about our family starting with the letter A.
Sometimes when I'm in a rotten self-pitying mood my wonderful husband cheers me up me repeating this quote to me. It's a quote he memorized on his mission to help him stay positive and motivated. Charles Swindoll said, "Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more mportant than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the
inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it." In essence, your attitude is what changes things. It can change your circumstances, your appearance, your success and happiness in this life. And the great thing about attitude is that you are 100% responsible for it. You can choose every day and every hour what your attitude will be. The world IS how we see it. None of us see the world for what it really is. We all have a world view or a paradigm that we look through when we see the world. It can be a beautiful place or a miserable place. It all depends on how we choose to see it. So today, I choose to be successful, I choose to be happy, I choose to love myself for who I am, I choose to be productive, I choose to be beautiful.
A is for attitude.

Baby is asleep and waiting for a phone call

It's not every day you find yourself posing the question, "Hmmm.... what should I do now?" Well there's actually plenty to do, but when I'm overwhelmed I procrastinate. Tomorrow our family is headed to Idaho for a nice Easter vacation with my family. (Hooray!!!) Did I mention that I'm in dire need of a vacation? The only thing I'm not in need of is 8 hours of a fussy baby in his carseat. Why can't he just tell me why he hates his carseat so much so that I can try to fix it? In any case, by this time tomorrow it will all be over and we will be taking it easy for a few days.

Yesterday I was looking through the (586) pictures and videos of Levi that I have on my phone, starting with day one and just watching him grow right in front of my eyes. It makes me remember how fascinated we were (and still are) with this little guy who has come into our life. He is such a cutie. This video is taken from my favorite angle. He loves looking at us at eye level and he's getting so good at holding up his head! I usually mention "grandma and grandpa" in the videos because I am always sending them off to Idaho to that my family can feel a little closer.

Yes, he is a little gassy! But who could disagree with the fact that this kid is beyond adorable!?

On a side note, I must say something about blogs that I want all of my readers to realize. This also goes for facebook, pinterest, and other such internet sensations. This morning I was reading a few blogs, still in my pajamas, yesterday's makeup still on my face, nursing my baby. I caught myself thinking that all these people have such perfect storybook lives. They play games with their cute kids, they sew incredible dresses for their adorable little girls, and their houses are palaces full of perfectly polished picture DIY decor. It made me think, why can't I be so organized and crafty and super mom? Then I had to reprimand myself. Silly me- of course nobody is going to put anything about how many diapers they've changed that day or the tantrum their 3 year old threw. I recall the words of President Uchtdorf, "God is well aware that you are not perfect. He is also well aware that the people who you think are perfect are not perfect." It's nice to have a reality check once in a while. So to get to my point, no, my life is not perfect. I'm terribly flawed and doing the best I can. So don't forget when you read my blog or anyone else's that we are not goddesses, just human beings. My life is normal and I love to revel in the things that are wonderful.

Self consciousness gives me serious writer's block.

I've been sitting here at the computer for a few minutes with my fingers hovering above the keys. I keep thinking, "What will so-and-so think about this?" Or, "Will Mrs. Jones still think I'm sophisticated if I write about this?" The truth is, if you want to offend nobody, write nothing. We make judgments every day of everyone we see. It doesn't mean it's right, but it happens. So until I find another use for my blog, it may be like all the others and just cover the happenings of my little world here at home. Everyone is their own worst critic anyway, so what do I have to worry about?


So sorry to have this be my second blog post, but I got tagged in the lovely Jenessa's blog and figured a question and answer might be a good way for the world to get to know me and our family. So here's the forwarded post, but with my answers.

1. Post the rules. 

2. Share eleven random things about myself.

3. Answer the eleven questions from the post I was tagged in.

4. Create eleven new questions for my tagees to answer.

5. Tag eleven people.

11 Random Things About Me 

1. I was adopted at age 11. Most people don't know this about me and it's kind of a cool fact, so I like to share. My wonderful family is made up of my dad and mom, David and Jennifer Oliver, who also happen to be the most wonderful, patient, loving and big-hearted brave people I know; Myself as the oldest, my little brother Kyle and my little sister BobbySue. I have the most incredible family!

2. My big toe is really big. Not fat or anything, just very long and a little obnoxious. But I like to think it gives me better balance.

3. I absolutely love to read and write. Reading more than writing, but both bring me to a new world that centers me every time I visit them. 

4. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also known as the Mormon church. And just so you know, a quick overview of what I believe... First, God is real. He is living, He is our Father, He loves us and He has a plan for all of His children. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to this earth to live a perfect life and to save us. He is a living being of flesh and bone and will return again. The Book of Mormon is a true record of the an ancient American people complete with a historical and scriptural record of their prophets, called of God just like always. Families can be together forever through being faithful to covenants made with God in sacred temples. Feel free to visit mormon.org to find out more about what we really believe, rather than trusting those who know nothing about the LDS faith, but proclaim to because they don't like Mitt Romney. 

5. I'll keep it short and simple. Yes, I am voting for Mitt Romney for president. No, it's not because he's LDS. That's all I'm going to say about that.

6. I happen to be the mother of the cutest baby in the world. No, he's not for sale. But, you're welcome to get a smile out of how dang cute he is. 

7. I do not like orange juice, mushrooms, or olives. This is neither important nor relevant, but it is random and that's what counts.

8. I love taking pictures! I'd love a big fancy SLR camera, but that may be way in the future. Naturally, my baby is subject to being put in cute "baby poses" at least a few times a week. 

9. I have lived in 17 different houses in my lifetime. I may have missed one or two, but nonetheless, I can't say I've grown up in just one house. But the interesting thing is, the first time I went to my parents new house was this last Thanksgiving and oddly enough, it felt like home. I guess it goes to show that a house is made of brick and stone, a home is made of love alone. Wherever my family is, that's where my home is. 

10. I love green, but hate orange and purple. There's just something about those colors that bugs me. On a side note, I love plum. But don't call plum purple because it's not. 

11. I would like to someday be a ballerina. I should have started ballet in 4th grade when my mom offered, but I didn't. So someday soon, I will take ballet classes. 

Jenessa's questions for her fellow bloggers:

1. What was one of your silly childhood dreams?

I wanted to be a famous singer when I grew up. Every time I would visit my grandparents in California, we'd make a talent show out of a cardboard box stage and Martina McBride's "My baby loves me just the way that I am." Your family members are always your biggest fans. 

2. What is one of your greatest fears?

I really am afraid of deep water. I psyche myself out when I'm swimming in a lake and start thinking about big fish or monsters of the deep. I'm not really sure if I could handle swimming in the ocean. 

3. If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

At this point in my life, I'd really like to meet all the president candidates and ask them my questions. That would include President Obama. I'd really like to get to know him and maybe figure out who he really is and why he's made the decisions he has. It's so hard to get a feel for who the candidates really are just by watching the debates. 

4. If you had to wear one article of clothing for a year, what would it be?

You know, I like fashion, I like clothes, but I don't spend a lot of money on clothes. So out of my fantasy closet, I'd probably wear a pair of cute brown boots every day. That, or a good fitting pair of blue jeans. I feel like it's worth it to buy a pair of jeans that fit you really well.

5. What is one of your favorite things to do with your family?

Because our family is so young right now, our favorite pastime is watching Levi in the bathtub. He absolutely loves the water and he will kick and laugh and splash for as long as you'll let him stay in. It's so enjoyable to watch him having fun.

6. Who is someone you've said "When I grow up, I want to be like ____", and why?

There are a few people but I know I've said lately, "When I grow up, I want to be like Holly Brimhall." To me, Holly is the most beautiful person in the world because she is so genuinely kind. I absolutely adore her unselfishness and her unconditional kindness toward everyone. I always felt important and listened to while talking to her. She treats you like you're the coolest person in the world. But the thing that I most would like to emulate in Holly is that she just glows with the happiness that the gospel brings people. She's always smiling. And it's a genuine smile. You can't fake being truly happy. 

7. If money wasn't an issue, what would you ask for from me?

Flowers probably. I LOVE flowers. I'd want a new bouquet of different flowers every day.

8. What is one of the qualities you like best about yourself?

I hate these questions. But if I have to, I'd say I like my ability to change my attitude. I realize that a lot of power is in the mind and we can create the lives we want. It's pretty exciting!

9. What is something that always makes you happy without fail?

That's way too easy. Getting a smile or a little laugh out of my little guy is the best thing in the world. It makes me happy just thinking about it!

10. Where is your favorite place on earth?

I love to be in the temple of the Lord. There are only 136 buildings on earth dedicated to things that last forever and one of them is only 25 minutes away from my house. I absolutely love to just sit an think in there. It's so quiet and peaceful. No interruptions, no clocks, and no outside influences. It's so beautiful. 

11. What is one character from a book or movie who you wished you could be?
When I was a little girl I used to wish I could be Lois Lane. I even convinced my mom to let me cut my hair as short as hers when I was in first grade. I didn't come out looking quite like Lois and my mom cried when the beautician gave her a 13 inch braid.


Alright, that's all folks. I'm not tagging anybody because first of all, I don't those "once you've been tagged you have to pass it on" things and second, I don't even know many people that keep up a regular blog. That is all.

We eat, sleep and shower just like everyone else. Well.. sometimes.

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.- Benjamin Franklin


I wish I could film every minute of my life and then add commentary. Not that anybody except for me and maybe God would be interested in watching it. I don't know why I feel called to write. Perhaps it's because I know I'm blessed so I think I have to share in order to seem grateful enough. It could be that I want an outlet for all my crazy thoughts, goals and dreams or maybe it's just that I need a witness to my life. In any case, I don't ever want to stop writing. I've been keeping a hand-written journal since I was 13 and I just love to go back to the beginning and read until I fall asleep. It's invigorating to see years in the space of a few hours. It gets me excited to keep living so that I can keep writing. 


As a new mom, my life has gotten incredibly exciting and so very very wonderful. I'm actually having a hard time writing because my 6-week-old baby boy is laying next to me on the rocking chair and just staring at me and talking. In fact, I almost feel guilty for not just staring right back at him until he falls asleep. I read a cute note today on facebook that said, "There's this boy who stole my heart. He calls me mom." Levi can't talk yet, but it makes me happy that when he starts talking, I'm the lucky one he'll call mommy. 


Before I was a mom, I thought I knew what my life would be like with a baby and I had everything planned out. Within the first 24 hours of having a newborn, I knew I'd spend the next 18 years forgetting everything I said I would and would never do with regards to raising my children. You can't judge a mom. A mom has got to do whatever she has got to do to keep her sanity. I used to think it would be easy being a mom. Now I just know that it's worth it. And despite all the silly people in the world who say you aren't living if you spend the best years of your life raising children instead of travelling the world, there's nothing I would rather be doing. But in case those of you who are waiting until the magic number 30 to start your families are mocking me, let me tell you, moms are people too. We have feelings, we need to eat once in a while, and contrary to popular belief we feel like our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. It's a noble and daunting task to shape the character of a human being. Each of our roots were first sown in our mothers arms. It's is my greatest joy to be able to say, "I'm just a mom."