Life Changing

 KenLea, Oh my sweet baby girl! This past Monday, March 26th, You turned 1 years old! Can you believe it?! I can't. It's been the best year of my life! You fill my days with so much joy. You turn my stressful, worrisome days into complete bliss. You have accomplished so much. You amaze me; from being able to literally hold your head up and look around the room, the day you were born, to crawling at 5 1/2 months, walking before 8 months, loosing your first tooth, walking up and down the stairs, mimicking everything we say, You my dear are more wise and knowledgeable than I. Nana tells me not to worry if your next sibling isn't crawling till he/she is 9 months, that You are just a brilliant, over achiever, and she's right. You work so hard at everything you do, in fact Nana and Papa nicknamed you "The Practicer." You will do something over and over again until you get it right. You already have such a cute sense of humor, and make us laugh everyday. You also know how to make Mom cry, like sticking your hand in the toilet while mom turns her back for a minute, or pulling a stool on top of you and knocking your tooth out. You also make Mom very happy with how obedient you are. I know you don't like the word "no," but thank you for always listening and doing what we ask. I love how you sing along in church. I love listening to your long stories. I love watching you play and read your books. I love your contagious giggle and your adorable smile. I love the sweet spirit you bring into our home. You my dear daughter are the greatest gift I have ever been given. I want you to know that your Heavenly Father loves you, that I love you and will always love you. You are so precious and worth more than any worldly treasure. I want you to know that I promise to do my best with being your mom. I will read to you, help you learn, talk to you, always be here for you, take you to church, teach you good and righteous things, so that one day, when you are all grown up, you too can have the eternal blessing of a family of your own. I love you so much! Happy Birthday sweet baby girl.
Since your Birthday was basically another regular day, I decided I'd catch some pictures of you doing what we do all day long.

Birthday dinner! Pancakes! Most of it ended up all over her and the floor.

I don't think my heart could Love any bigger! You make Momma so happy! XOXOXOxoxo

I Will...

Not Comply!

I tend to use the word "hate" loosely at times of anger and frustration. I've used the word to describe national leaders, criminals, etc. Honestly, I do not hate. I may be fuming mad, but I do not hate. I have been told, by multiple wise people, to pray for those I am frustrated or angry with. So, as I begin this post, I want you to all realize that there is no hatred in my heart, rather fear, frustration, and growing courage.

I've decided that though my voice is small, and maybe not heard by many, I should still voice my concerns, my opinion, and my hopes. Did our ancestors not fight for our freedom? Our freedom of religion, of speech, of all we can achieve. They did fight, and so will I. 

If you know me well, you know that I am a proud, patriotic American. When my parents built their new home, I chose to decorate my room "rustic patriotic." And now, although I cannot afford much home decor, my house is decorated based around patriotic colors and a life of a "redneck." 

My junior year of high school, in my history class, I remember a rather liberal girl, sitting behind me, loudly made a comment about how our troops are "low" and how America is no place to be proud of. I new that I would explode with anger if I didn't leave the room, so I stood up, gave her a look of frustration, and walked out of the classroom. I think she got my point, everyone else did. I had multiple friends tell me how surprised they were, that everyone knew I was obviously upset, because apparently I slammed the door, which in my moment of anger, I hadn't even realized I had done.

I cry when I listen to "I'm Proud to Be An American" by Lee Greenwood, or when I go to a flag ceremony.

I do! I love this country, I love it's roots, it's foundation, that every man is free! But, now, Satan is creeping in. He wants to bind us with his chains. He wants to take away our freedom. 

It is continually getting worse. Ridiculous regulations are being made. Lives are being taken away, along with our rights and our freedom as men and women.

Federal government is wanting to ban lead bullets, because it is more harmful to the animal then a bullet without lead. They worry about hurting these poor ducks and such, but killing a baby, oh sure, that's just fine. I mean we "wouldn't want our daughters to be punished with a baby!" (-Obama in Pennsylvania) It doesn't matter if the baby is born or unborn; it is a life, a person, a child of God, and has every right to be given an earthly life. If you made the decision to put yourself in a place to where you could get pregnant, then you need to deal with that. A baby is never a punishment. I am beyond grateful to my biological mother who chose to deliver me, and then to give me up for adoption. Every life: embryo, fetus, infant, child, middle-aged, and elderly is precious!

Another new regulation is that children under the age of 16 are not allowed to work with farm equipment, including raw products, such as eggs. 

Glenn Beck puts it best. I encourage you to watch these videos. He is a good man, he does not hate Obama, in fact he was one of those I spoke of earlier who said to not have hate, but rather pray for those you have a hard time with. He isn't trying to to attack anyone, but rather give courage to stand up for our rights and freedom. 

http://web.gbtv.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20193729&topic_id=24584158&tcid=vpp_copy_20193729&v=3
http://web.gbtv.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20193817&topic_id=24584158&tcid=vpp_copy_20193817&v=3
http://web.gbtv.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20193933&topic_id=24584158&tcid=vpp_copy_20193933&v=3
http://web.gbtv.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=20194071&topic_id=24584158&tcid=vpp_copy_20194071&v=3
I hope you choose to take the time to watch these videos, they are eye opening, touching, and encouraging. 
It isn't about if you're black or white, democrat or republican, Jewish or Catholic. It's about making righteous decisions. We are all different, we will all have different opinions, and that is wonderful, but we should not just sit back, idly on our couches, hoping that it will eventually change. We have to fight for the change. Vote! Stand up against abortions, against teaching our children to be lazy, against the Federal Government trying to take our every right away. I am a Women. And I will fight for my rights, for my children's rights, for their freedom, for our freedom to worship God, to teach my children, to build my home on property I bought, to gather eggs and plant a garden with my children, to eat Ding-Dongs if I want to eat them.
I Will Not Comply!
*I welcome you to share this post, or to write and express your own feelings. Don't be afraid to voice your thoughts, because they are worth being heard.

A Story

I'm sure most of you have had some type of Relief Society Birthday Party celebration of some sort, we sure did. My mom is our Relief Society President, and so we had a lovely diner, potato and salad bar, and cake with ice cream. It was delectable! After the dinner we played the game White Elephant, I'm sure you're all familiar of. Everyone brings a wrapped gift of something silly/random. You put them in the middle of the circle and then you take turns picking a gift from the pile and unwrapping it, or stealing someone else's gift. Well the gift I brought was a bottle of "Monkey Butt," a humerous gift I thought. Well a good friend, who has a good sense of humor chose it, which my mom than stole it from her. Side note: my mom brought like ten gifts just in case people forgot theirs, she went through her house and picked random things. Anyways, since my mom stole her gift, that meant she got to pick again, which she picked one of my moms gifts. As she was beginning to unwrap it, my mom leaned over to me and said "oh, I got this out of your old room, I assumed you wouldn't mind." Which I didn't at all, it was a little purple estee lauder make-up bag, which I have gotten multiple free ones from my previous work. I whispered back to my mom, "Did you check inside to make sure there was nothing in it?" It still had the plastic on the zipper, so my mom assumed it wasn't used, she said. So, a couple turns went by and I leaned over to my friend and asked if I could see the bag. I discretely opened it, and to my horror there were some panti-liners in it. Yes! Thank you mom! So I turned to my mom and showed her, she let out a loud gasp and grabbed the bag. I began to laugh so hard I cried. And then of course my dear friend Allison Pace, sitting next to me, reached over and grabbed it, opened it and showed everyone. We were all laughing so hard! Luckily I have a wonderful ward! Yes, the majority is women over the age of fifty, but they are all sweet and good humored. Definitely makes a good memory.

True to My Heart

I love these little messages.http://youtu.be/dbFiB7oiQs4
I think we all find ourselves doing exactly this. At times, it really is so easy to judge people, especially those we don't even know. We all come from different families, faiths, countries, circumstances. I hope that next time I find myself judging somebody unfairly, I stop and remember that I am not them. I cannot get personal revelation through our Heavenly Father for them. I do not know what they have been through. Heavenly Father loves every single one of us. Everyone! And it is our job to love everyone as well.
I love the gospel. I have a testimony of the Atonement, that Jesus died for us so we can repent and return to live with him again. I know that great blessings come from preparing and going to the temple. I know that Joseph Smith went into a grove and earnestly prayed, and he saw the Father and his Son. And he restored the true and everlasting gospel here to this earth. I know that President Monson is a true and living prophet, and if we take heed to his counsel we will be blessed. I know that we can have eternal families, that there is life after this. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and if you sincerely ask and read it, you will be filled with the spirit. I know that the Holy Ghost is real. He can be with us always if we keep ourselves worthy. I have felt his spirit. He bares truth of this gospel. Even when I have a hard day and am stressed, I can feel peace and joy through the gospel. I love my family. I love the gospel.
I invite anyone to read the Book of Mormon. I know it will bring you much joy and peace in your life. Also take a moment to visit www.lds.org, filled with wonderful talks and messages. I love all of you and want you to be able to partake of this joy as well. It's no fun to enjoy a yummy cake all by yourself, but rather share it with everyone.
Loves, and have a wonderful weekend!