A Lesson In Service

So this morning was a neat morning for me. I learned a lesson in service from my toddler. Here's the story:

We have a paper shredder and our cat, Autumn, recently discovered it. For the past few nights, she has kept herself busy pulling out the shredded paper. (I know at this point you're thinking, "Just empty the thing already!" I just keep forgetting.) So Connor told me this morning that he was "helping" by pulling out more paper and putting it on his head. I gave him a sad face and said, "Connor, you are not helping mommy. You're making a bigger mess." I figured I would clean it all up later because we needed to get to the post office, and I walked into the living room to get my shoes on. Connor lagged behind, and like most toddlers, when he gets quiet you worry. When I went back in to see what he was doing, he had cleaned up all of the shredded paper from the floor and put it back into the paper shredder. I was in awe of my little man! He was so proud of himself for helping me and I was so proud of him for doing that for me. It was a good lesson for me in how important it is to serve others and how good it makes you feel.

Also, I discovered a bird's nest yesterday in our flower pot outside. At first I was heartbroken because I thought the mother had abandoned her babies, but she was back last night. It's really cute to hear them chirping away during the day. They're covered in a light fuzzy substance and have the beginnings of little wings. So CUTE!

Some Much Needed Updates

Well, it has been a TERRIBLY long time since I last updated this blog. So much has happened in the past eight months, many of which are EXTREMELY important, so here goes:

1. We are expecting baby #2 in January of 2010! It is so exciting (and a little scary) to think we'll be adding to our family. Connor is excited right now, but I know he doesn't fully comprehend what having a little brother or sister is going to entail.

2. I went back to work in January. Jason was about to begin his final semester at Stetson and only had two night classes, so we switched roles; I became the breadwinner and Jason became a stay-at-home dad. I really HATED being away from Connor and I had way too much work all the time. I also really struggled with the counsel we have received from the general authorities about mother's staying home with their children. One of the girls I worked with was pregnant and was determined that she would not be returning to work the following year after she had her son. Her reason? "Nothing is worth sacrificing my family." What simple, but profound words. So, after a LONG four months, I'm back to being a stay-at-home mom. I LOVE it! There is nothing better than when Connor wakes up in the morning and says, "Hi Mommy!" and then, "Bye Daddy!"

3. Jason graduated from law school! YIPPEE! I am really proud of him.

He is now in the process of studying for the Bar. (Not so fun!) He is also working in downtown Tampa at the 13th Judicial Circuit. He works on post-conviction motions for inmates. He really enjoys his job and the people he works with. (I think he liked having his own office the most!)

4. We're moving! I can't believe it either! It's exciting and a little sad, too. I've lived in this condo for six years. We decided that we need a little more space so we're moving to a 3/2 condo in Riverview, FL August 1st. I'm not looking forward to all of the packing that will be involved, but I am looking forward to having a bigger kitchen! The complex also has two pools, a workout facility and a playground.

Catch up

Connor and I just got back from NH less than a week ago. My sister flew us up as a suprise for my dad's 50th birthday. We had tons of fun...and we're ready to move back! I'll upload some photos. The foliage was AMAZING and it was so fun to watch Connor play in the leaves with his cousins. We'll have to see about the move. It will depend on where Jason gets a job when he graduates in May.

Yearly Check-up

Ok, so I know what you're thinking- not that kind of a check-up! I'm referring to the fact that I can't seem to keep this thing updated!

A lot has been happening lately. Connor started nursery at the beginning of the month. :( I can't believe how big he is getting! Everyone tells you how fast time flies when you have kids, but it's true! He's a lot of fun, though. He has really gotten into baseball. He watches games on tv and he sleeps with his bat, ball and glove. He wakes up in the morning and asks to watch baseball. We bought him a 2007 Boston Red Sox dvd that he watches during the day. I'm not exactly sure where the fascination came from, but I can't say I'm totally unhappy about it. It's nice to see you're kids enjoying different aspects of life. He's also learned to give kisses, which is SOOOO cute. He does the "smack" noise and everything. And of course, the thing that melts my heart the most, he waits to hold my hand when we're walking places. I have really enjoyed being a mom.

Jason just started his third, AND FINAL, year of law school. I can't say that I'm overly disappointed. It's nice to see the end of the road in sight. He's applied for some Bankruptcy internships with judges around the country. He's busy with school, interning with one of the oldest Bankruptcy judges in the country, attending classes and working on the US Virgin Island's Constitution project.

I have gotten really busy with my real estate job. I'm working with some renter's right now and am also developing some marketing tools for the company. It's something I am really enjoying and it's been great to be able to work from home and around my own schedule.

We got to attend my friend Kristen's wedding a few weeks ago. It was so awesome to see her get sealed in the temple. She's like a sister to me and I am so happy for her!

Life is sure to pick up in the next few months as Jason hopefully hears back from some of the places he has applied to and as we approach Connor's second birthday. I'm excited to see what life has for us next.

What a Good Boy!

It was another wonderful day at church today. We are SO proud of Connor for almost making it through an ENTIRE sacrament meeting WITHOUT having to be taken out! He was so good today! Actually, he would have made it through the whole meeting, except it was fast and testimony Sunday and we went over time by about 10 minutes. I think he is really going to love nursery, which he will be in at the end of THIS month. Crazy!!!

One thing I would like to share happened during our testimony meeting today. I have been helping the sister missionaries teach some women from China. Being from China, they have no background in Christianity and have TONS of amazing questions to ask. At their most recent discussion, the sisters taught them about faith, what it means and how to obtain/exercise it, etc. They also challenged them to pray. I mentioned to them that they might first want to pray about whether or not there is a God, since they have never believed in Him before. Then today, they came to church for the first time. The very last woman who got up and explained that she noticed two themes running through today's testimonies: faith and that there is a God and we are His children. I couldn't believe it! I don't know if those women even noticed that she was bearing her testimony of things they had just learned, but it was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father does love us and will answer our prayers. I think there are too many times in our lives when we dismiss things as coincidences, but when we truly understand the gospel and how Heavenly Father works through others to help us, we will understand that He truly does have His hands working inr our lives.

Whoops

Well, I wanted to put pictures up from the NH trip, but I can't find the cord that hooks into our computer so I can do so. When I find it, I'll update them.

So an update on my exam...I PASSED!!!!! I am so excited! I was especially grateful because I took 7, yes 7, practice exams and didn't pass one of them. A little background information for those of you who don't know how the Real Estate exam works: you take a 100 question test that you must pass with at least a 75%. When I went over the practice exams with Jason, he said the material was property law, contract law, etc., from law school all rolled into one. CRAZY stuff! I am just so happy that I passed! So now I am officially a licensed real estate agent. I'm just so grateful to be able to do something that I enjoy from home.

I also forgot to mention in the last couple of blogs about our family "project". We've been doing Weight Watchers for about a month and a half. Jason has lost about 20 lbs. and I've lost about
15 lbs. It's funny how the weight just starts creeping up on you. We didn't think we were fat, but we wanted to lose some weight while we only had a little to lose. It's been fun though.

Well, I'll try to update those pictures and maybe add some from our upcoming events.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!

Trip to NH

Well, it wasn't under the best of circumstances, but I wanted to post some pictures from our trip to NH. Jason wasn't able to come because of school, but Connor and I had a really fun time with the family, despite the funeral.