Its a beautiful day for a picnic

Blanket #3

I finally finished this blanket! I said I would be done before I had my baby, but here we are 2 months later! I am happy with the way it turned out.

Mr. Octopus

This little guy has started to really pay attention to the world around him.  Him and Mr. Octopus have staring contests:)

Just take one step at a time

I had a couple friends leave some really sweet comments on my blog recently.  Thank you! 

These comments got me thinking a lot for some reason.  I have always felt that part of my plan in this life was to help people in one way or another.  While I don't necessarily think that this is the only way I am meant to touch people, it does make me feel like I am on the right path if others are actually reading this and even relating at times.  

Thank you again for your comments:)

*****

I think a lot.  I over think a lot too, but I really enjoy having time to just sit and reflect.  Nap times are my time to sit and think and to study scriptures for a few minutes.  Deagan likes to have me in his room while he is falling asleep, so I feel like I have to use this time wisely.

This afternoon while Deagan was dozing off, I was studying scriptures thinking about life in general.  While I was reading and studying, I gained some insight that I felt could be very applicable to this idea of finding your purpose in life.  

I find myself either looking in the past or looking towards the future.  I am either thinking about something I might have done wrong or worried about doing right in the future.  It is a tricky place to be in because as a result of this constant looking back and forwards, I find myself not content with where I am at right now. There are of course some things that I can not change in my life, and those are the things that I find myself stressing over; a lot.  I found myself feeling very strongly that I need to be content with where I am at with the things I can not change. 

 I can not at this time understand my ultimate purpose in this life. But I can work day to day towards that goal.  I strongly believe that I will be led to where I am suppose to be, and that I will find myself doing what I should be doing.  I just need to take it one step at a time and one day at a time.  

I know this is true for you too!

Realization

Poor Greg.

He has to put up with me and my constand ramblings of "What am I suppose to do in my life?? Who I am suppose to become?"

Bless him for sticking with me and for always listening and giving his input.  He always has great advice too; for real.

During one of these conversations, I realized that I am not artsy.  I don't think from that part of my brain.  (After all these years in school I still couldn't tell you off the top of my head which side of the brain that is.) All the things that I have been working on, or will work on this year, require skill from that side of my brain too.  NO WONDER I AM STRUGGLING! :)

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy sewing and creating things, and I really love to photograph my children and things like that.  I am just not naturally good at these things.  I try really hard though.  Greg has this gift though.  He has the touch! To be honest,  I ask him for advice on how to decorate because if I were left on my own to do it, it would not be pretty.  (In no way is that a diss to Greg either.  It is just proving my point that he is more artistic than I am.)  He takes some of the most amazing and beautiful pictures too.  You give him a camera, and he can create magic. (Cheesy I know:)

I am ok with this new realization too.  In fact, I am so grateful for it! I feel that it is because I have been on this "quest" to try new things that I have learned more about myself.  That is a huge blessing to me.

Greg also helped me to see that instead of trying to develop new talents all the time that I should work on the ones I already have.

Genious!

I have a love of health and fitness that I want to develop more.  I really enjoy working out and eating healthy, so I am trying to find new ways to improve in both areas.

I really enjoy cleaning and organizing. (I know I am crazy.) I am currently in the process of organizing our food storage and our emergency preparedness plan.  Read this blog to do the same.

I LOVE being a stay at home mom.  I love it!

I love to read.

I love music.  I am better at listening to it, than making it.

I love to serve. I am not necessarily a good teacher, but I really enjoy teaching in our church.  I am currently serving in the Primary, and I really find joy in teaching and leading the children of our area. 

I still plan on working on the things that I have already talked about for the year, but I feel like my search for purpose is actually working! I am beginning to realize who I am, and what I love to do and not what everyone else tells me to love.

I feel good about this:)

These Bring a Smile to My Face:)

Overwhelmed by Goodness!

Cheesy title I know, but I have spent the past hour reading different blogs of different topics. (Fitness, nutrition, homemaking, church stuff, finances, crafts, etc.) I am passionate about and love to learn more about all of these topics.

While I was looking over different blogs, I found myself feeling so strongly that I wish I could do this thing well! Then I would go on to the next blog and feel the same thing about that one.

I felt so overwhelmed because there are SOOO many amazing women out there who do so many amazing things.  There are some woman who create fun and unique sharing time ideas for women, like me, who are not creative at all to pull from.  There are also other women who are passionate about fitness and nutrition and try to inspire other women to live a happier and healthier lifestyle.  There are also other women who are super crafty and can take ANYTHING and turn it into something magical.  And then there are those women who can do it ALL!  I stand in awe oft those women.

My problem is that I want to be like that woman who can do it all when in reality it is not possible! My question then is, how can I live a balanced life where I am daily drawing closer to God, becoming a better wife, mom, friend, etc, improving my health through fitness and nutrition, keeping my house clean, etc??? Ah! Where is the balance?? Is there one?? Is that even possible?

I would like to think there is.

We are all on this earth because we have a purpose.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US! I believe that 100%.  I know that I am on this earth for a purpose.  We are all here to help inspire and to uplift one another.  But I don't feel like I am living up to my purpose.


When I read about other women who do SO well in one area, I find myself envious that they have found their "calling." One of my greatest desires is to be an influence for good.  I want to help people!!

I think that life is so great! Heavenly Father has placed us on this earth with different talents and abilities and we all are blessed to be able to learn from each other.  That right there is a testament to me that God lives and that He loves us!

This is a totally random post with totally random thoughts and outbursts, but I just feel so overwhelmed by goodness right now! To all of you who have inspired me, whether you know it or not or read this blog or not, THANK YOU for your inspiration!

Faces

I love these faces!