Scripture Scavenger Hunt...

I cannot write very long because I am at the leasing office and my children are in to everything imaginable!!! Anyways, I had such a wonderful weekend at stake conference!!!!! I loved it so much and I want to write a really long blog about it, but I will have to another time.

I had such a wonderful scripture study today!!!! I learned many new things it was incredible!!! I am so grateful for cross references that take us into even deeper study and reflection. While I was reading yesterday in John, I came across something really funny!!! I am not going to tell you what it was because I think it would be fun to see who can find it. It is proof that the scriptures where written for our day (a day of email and blogging, hint, hint...). It is found in John chapter 6.

Anyways, I have to go before my children destroy something....

Updates...

Finally....the sickness is gone!! YEAH!!! Cory and Cloey are doing great now and luckily Katelund and I never got sick (knock on wood). I was getting nervous last night because I was feeling a little sick, but I am so glad that I am feeling great this morning because today I have a primary leadership training meeting and stake conference tonight and tomorrow. I am so excited for stake conference. I love Saturday night sessions, they are the best. I actually called a young woman in the ward to babysit tonight. I was so nervous about who I should ask, but I feel pretty good about the girl, her name is Ashley. She actually already had plans to go to a football game, but she told me that she would babysit instead. Isn't that sweet? I don't know if I would have done that at her age.

Well this is the 4th week in a row that Katelund has slept through the entire night in her underwear without having an accident. About a month ago, she told us that she didn't want to wear pull-ups to bed because she just wanted to wear panties. So we decided to try it and she hasn't had one accident. Amazing huh?

Yesterday Katelund was asking me what letter she was holding from one of her puzzles. I told her the letter and she said, "Yes Mommy, you are so smart!" How adorable is that? I love it when your kids make you feel so good about yourself, I better enjoy it while it last, huh? :)

Cloey climbed out of her bed for the first time last night. I am hoping that it was just a one time thing, I doubt it but I am just really nervous about having her and Katelund in beds in the same room. They will never go to sleep!

3 things I love about...

Vaughn- 1. her easy going personality 2. how he makes others feel important 3. how his heart melts as he looks at his daughter and wife

Amber- 1. her strong will and determination 2. her love for the gospel 3. her ability to accomplish goals and overcome obstacles

Brooklynn- 1. her cute little body 2. how much she loves to eat 3. how excited she gets when her mom walks into the room

3 things I love about...

Sean- 1. how he can make anybody and everybody laugh their heads off 2. his huge heart 3. what a wonderful daddy he is

Brittney- 1. how dedicated she is to her family 2. her dancing skills (of course) 3. her hilarious and spontaneous personality

Kade- 1. his faith 2. the incredible love he has for others 3. his desire to be obedient

Landen- 1. his incredible eyes 2. how his smile lights up the room 3. how much he looks up to his older brother

3 things I love the most about...

Dad- 1. his unshakable testimony 2. his ability to not only overcome hardships, but to come out stronger in the end 3. his love for his children, grandchildren, and daughter-in-laws :)

Mom- 1. her incredible ability to make others feel loved, wanted, and even needed 2. the love she has for the gospel and her desire to be a woman of integrity 3. her fun and light-hearted personality

Logan- 1. his ability to stand up for what is right even when it is hard 2. his loyalty to his family 3. his ability to make others feel important

Stefani- 1. how beautiful she is , inside and out 2. her tender compasionate heart 3. her ability and desire to see where she can serve and help others around her

3 things I love the most about...

Ryan- 1. his love for learning 2. how important his family is to him 3. how much he loves and supports my sister

Andrea- 1. her loyalty and love for her friends and family 2. her ability to accomplish anything and everything 3. the ability she has always had to have an eternal perspective on life

Abby- 1. her curiosity and desire to learn 2. her cute little body and the strong spirit she has within it 3. her spitfire personality (a fighter from day1)

Ethan- 1. his easygoing personality 2. his incredibly beautiful eyes 3. the cute things he says and does everyday

3 things I love the most about...

Dad- 1. his perseverance and steadfastness 2. the way he sets and accomplishes goals 3. the way he loves to serve and help others

Mom- 1. her gentleness and faithfulness 2. how beautiful and graceful she is 3. her support and love for Dad

Katie- 1. her endrance and diligence 2. her desire to continually stand for truth and righteousness 3. her smile that brings happiness to everyone around her

3 things I love the most about...

The 3 things I love the most about...

Cory- 1. his testimony 2. the way he shows love to everyone around him and what an incredible father he is 3. his excitement for life

Katelund- 1. how she gets excited about the little things in life 2. how much she loves her Daddy
3. when she sings primary songs and says her prayers.

Cloey- 1. when she says, "mommy" 2. her sweet hugs and kisses 3. how her little lip quivers when she cries

My Incredible Family

I was thinking today about how much I love every single person in my family. I feel extremely blessed to be part of a family that loves the Lord and loves one another. As I was reading in Luke the other day, the Savior talks about how in some families mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, and even mother-in-laws would be divided against one another because of those who follow the Savior and those who choose not to. I think that it is incredible that there is not one person in my family (mother, father, sisters, brother, husband, children, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, neices, and newphews) that are divided against one another in choosing to follow the Savior. We are all in this journey together!!! How lucky we all are!!! As I was thinking about each specific person, I thought about all of the things I love about each one of them. I decided that today for my blog, I would like to start writing about the 3 things that I love about each person. It may take me a couple of days to finish, but for whatever reason, I feel inspired to do this.

More pictures

Our Vacation in Asheville

Sorry I haven't written for about 5 days, but I was busy enjoying every moment with Mom and Dad. I had such a wonderful time with them!!! Not only was it a vacation for them but it was also one for me and the girls. They took us to the incredible Biltmore Estate, on a beautiful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the incredible fall leaves and the beautiful Looking Glass Waterfall, a ride on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad, and a trolley ride through downtown Asheville. We ate at the most incredible restaurant ever, traveled through tunnels (Katelund called them "turtles" and she got SO EXCITED everytime we went through one), and Cory showed off his new office at the mall. Cloey fell in love with Grandpa and fell asleep on his chest. Katelund always wanted to hold Grandma's hand and walk next to her. Katelund was also spoiled by her Grandpa and loved every minute of it. He took her on a scavenger hunt at the Biltmore, bought her rocks, candy, sunglasses, and whatever else she wanted. Grandma spoiled both the girls with cute new clothes, trains, dolls from Alaska, and Katelund's "cards" (they came with her trains and she carries them around with her everywhere). It was hard saying goodbye because I wanted them to stay longer, but I am so grateful that they came. I love them both so much!!!! There is nothing better than watching your parents who you love so much, playing with and loving your own children. Mom and Dad, thank you for everything!!!! We love you and miss you!!!!

No Messes for Grandpa Black...

I spent a couple of hours today getting ready for mom and dad to come tomorrow. As I would clean a room, my beautiful little girls would mess up the one I cleaned previously. After I finished my room, I went into the girls' room to check on Cloey. She had taken toys and books and threw them all over the floor and she'd taken clothes out of the dirty clothes basket and thrown them all over the bathroom floor. Katelund turns to me and says frantically, "We cannot have a mess for Grandpa Black, Mommy!" It was so funny!!!!

How would I ever get my chores done without my girls?

Chillin...

A picture is worth a thousand words...

The closer Cloey is getting to two, the more fiesty she is becoming. The picture says it all...

Proud Moment

Katelund comes walking out of her room this morning all dressed in her dress-up wedding clothes. She says to me, "Mommy I am getting married." I said, "Oh, really?" She said, "Yep, I am getting married in the temple." Don't you just love it when kids say stuff like that? It just goes to show that they really do listen and learn to what you teach them, talk about, and sing about (we love to sing "I Love to See the Temple" together).

Politics

Today I was watching Oprah as I was folding my laundry. It was actually a really interesting show. They had an author on the show who wrote a book about the war in Iraq, 911, the lack of truth in propaganda, and the lack of demand for truth in America today.

I understand the fact that we went into war under circumstances that may not have been 100% accurate, but I really believe that Bush is a God-fearing man and that he does everything in his power to do what is best for the country. If the reasons we went into war turned out to be a different, then I am okay with that because I trust that Bush did what he felt was needed.

Maybe I am being a bit niave or idealistic, but I am so sick of everyone slamming on Bush. People are making such a big thing about how we, as American people, were lied to. Well I think that it is pretty ironic how all of the sudden everyone has morals and feels the need for honesty and integrity in our world. I really think it is more about people just needing someone else to blame for the problems we face as a country. I don't believe that the war on terrorism will end until the Second Coming, in fact we were told that in General Conference. As long as we are doing all that we can as a nation to help others and keep our country free and safe, then I don't feel the need to get all upset about what we were and were not told. In fact, I for one am glad that I don't have to make the decisions about whether or not we go to war. That is a decision that I leave for our Commander and Chief, the one who knows all of the information and who I chose to make those important decisions.

A Friend from Heaven...

Yesterday at the baby shower, I invited a girl from the ward to come over today so that her son and Katelund could play and so that we could get to know one another. On our first Sunday in this ward, I past her in the hall and she stopped me and told me how beautiful I was (which makes me laugh because she is the beautiful one) She is a Spanish girl that grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She was baptized at the age of 17 when missionaries knocked on her door.

I am so excited because I think that I just found my new best friend. Her name is Marie. She is incredible, funny, humble and she has a unshakable testimony. Her husband is struggling with the gospel right now and he works on Sundays, so she brings her 3 children to church by herself week after week. We had such a great time talking. She is one of those people that you want for your friend because she makes you want to be better.

One of the things that made me the most excited about having her as a friend, is when she told me that she doesn't want to be part of the gossip (there is quite a lot of gossip among some of the sisters in the ward). We both think that we must have been friends in heaven. :)

Sore Muscles

Yesterday I went to Cory's gym (he gets a free membership from a renter at the mall). I decided to do tons of weights (which I had already done that morning at the exercise room here at the apartments) and to run 3 miles (I had already ran a mile that morning). Well, today I am feeling quite sore!!!! Especially in my arms and chest. I really need to be running that much a day but I have been so bad about it since we've moved here. I run a couple of days a week and only 2-3 miles each time. I have got to get back into my training or I'll never run my half marathon before another baby joins our family. I really want to run the 1/2 marathon this winter but it might have to be pushed back to spring. I don't know, we'll see. I could do it a lot sooner if I didn't have to worry about running it here in the mountains. Hills are so much harder to run!!!

I went to a baby shower this morning. Carrie (one of my friends) came to pick me up and take me there since she couldn't get a hold of me and she knew I didn't have a car to get there. She is so sweet. While at the shower, there were a lot of people there to socialize with but for some reason I found myself hanging around the same sisters the whole time. I was very disappointed in myself afterwards because I should have taken the opportunity to mingle with everyone. I just need to get into my groove again of making friends. I am finding that this ward is quite a challenge for me, but that is not going to stop me!!! Because I am " a bumblebee happy and free to explore new tomorrows with delight and glee". :)

I guess I am just experiencing some sore muscles today (physically and socially). :)

Finally....

I have finally been called to be a visiting teacher. I have been kindof anxious about getting my assignment because I really want the blessings from getting to know and serve some of the sisters in the ward. I really struggled with a desire to do visiting teaching until I lived in Fayetteville. I had such incredible experiences with the sisters I visit taught there, and I actually felt like they needed me. In other wards I'd lived in, I never really felt like it made any difference if I went each month or if I did not. I prayed for a testimony of visiting teaching when I lived in Arlington, and little did I know that in the next place that we lived, that not only would my testimony of visiting teaching come, but also my love for it.

The faith of a child...

Katelund's leg had an excyma break out today. I put some of her steroid cream on it but it was still really hurting and bothering her. She was crying and getting really frusgrated because her medicine wasn't helping. So I asked her if she wanted to say a prayer... (the following conversation is word for word)..."Yes Mommy, that is a great idea, because I know that Jesus will make me feel better." So after I said the prayer, she got up and said, "Mommy, I am going to be baptized." Isn't that so adorable? It was so precious that I had to hurry and write it down so that I will never forget it.

A New Day...

Thank you to all of those who commented on my blog yesterday. I love you all so much and I just live to hear from each one of you. I am sorry that I haven't posted pictures lately, but I no longer have access to the technology that I need in order to make that possible. I will ask Cory if he knows another way that I can get them from my camera to the computer. Again, I am so sorry that I was so down, but sure enough the clouds went away last night.

I was walking out to my car yesterday evening and I sat and talked with our new neighbor for quite some time. I forgot her name but she is also 25 and she is living here with her dog. She goes to school here (she actually used to go to Purdue). Her parent's own a bed and breakfast up at Black Mountain so that is why she moved out here. She told me yesterday that she is having a really hard time here because she is lonely and just has no social life. I told her that she could come over anytime she wants. I know that it was not a coincidence that I ran into her yesterday!!! Heavenly Father knew that she is just what I needed. I have now been praying and pondering upon what I can do to make her feel better about living here. Today I am going to make some cookies and take them to her (this really is a sacrifice because thanks to the South Beach Diet, I can't even have one bite of dough). It is amazing how when you focus your thoughts and energy on serving others, your worries and problems seem to disappear.

After Cory got home last night, we got the strollers out and walked to the store to get some milk. We had so much fun on our walk and it was just what I needed. I love Cory so much, he always knows just what to do to make me feel better. Then when we got back from the store we heard a knock on our door. It was one of our neighbors, Bryan (he is head of security at the mall). He is the father of the girl that I was babysitting the other week while her mom was in the hospital. Well her mom (Tonya) is back in the hospital again. Anyways, he came over to borrow our cell phone to call his wife because his phone was dead. Well after he called his wife, he told us that he had been thinking about some of the things that I had told him about our religion. Anyways, we ended up having about an hour discussion about the gospel. It was AWESOME!!!!! I couldn't think of a better way to end a day!!!! I got to be a MISSIONARY!!!!! I can't wait to go on a mission someday. Hopefully him and his family will come to church with us this week. As Bryan was leaving last night I handed him a Bookof Mormon and then Cory highlighted Moroni's promise and told him that he knew that if he prayed after he read it that he would know for himself of its' truthfulness.

So as I start a new day, I do so with a much better attitude and with gratitude in my heart for my Heavenly Father who shows me his love each day.
P.S. Grandma, if you are reading this, I just want you to know that I have changed my blog commenting rules so that you can now post as anonymous. Love ya!!!!

Is anybody there????

I am thinking that I might as well just start writing in my journal instead of posting on the internet because I don't think that anyone is interested in reading my blogs anyway. I know that I sound like I am feeling sorry for myself, but I just have not had the best day today. I am just feeling kindof alone. I can hardly talk on my cell phone, I don't have a car during the day, and I can't walk to anymore stores because all I do is spend money.

I am so sorry to complain ;all though I don't know who I am saying sorry to since nobody blogs anymore. I even prayed today at lunch that when I checked my blog, my sister's and my mom's blogs for the 100th time this week that sombody will have written. I just need to keep praying for a friend who doesn't work and who has children that aren't in school. I am so grateful for the wonderful friends I have here, but I can only spend time with them on the weekends. Again, I know that I am just feeling sorry for myself, and for that I am so sorry. I have so much to be grateful for, but for whatever reason, today all I see are the clouds.

Growing Up

Katelund has turned into a southern belle. She talks with such a cute little southern drawl. I don't know where she is picking it up from, but we love it!!! My favorite is when she says "douwn" (down).

Cloey is starting to talk more and more. She is now saying "please" and "thank you", but she still says "diaper" the very best. She says "diaper" and pulls at it whenever she needs a diaper change. It is really cute.

It is amazing how much Cory and I's marriage has gotten so much better ever since we moved into our own place. Things are so wonderful. I feel like we get the butterflies again when we're together in each other's arms. I know that I can't just contribute it to having our own home. Since we moved here I decided that I was going to get us into the routine again of saying our prayers night AND morning and reading our scriptures in the morning (we used to do it at night). We have also been having really good family home evenings. The routine that we now have has been incredible for our family. I feel like we are stronger now than we have ever been. It is amazing how when you do what the prophets tell you to do, that the love in your home grows and your relationships with one another deepen. I love my family so very much!!! I am so grateful for the experiences that Cory and I have had that have taught us and refined us into better people. That is what life and marriage is all about; standing a little taller each day.

Conference Weekend

This weekend we got to spend conference weekend with Cory's family. They decided to drive up Saturday morning and spend the rest of the weekend with us. John, Sherrie, Stefani, and Logan came to stay in our tiny little apartment. I was a little bit nervous about space, especially considering the fact that we have so much of our stuff crammed into our apartment. My worries were washed away as they came in and I realized how excited I was to see them and spend time with them.

We had so much fun together!!! We all loved conference (although I think Sherrie and I were the only ones who didn't fall asleep at some point). We also played games, talked, Cory and Logan wrestled, Sherrie and I planned seminary lessons, Stefani talked on the phone and played with the girls, John snuggled with Cloey most of the weekend, and we had a birthday dinner for Cory and Logan.

Saying goodbye after the final session was hard for three reasons. First of all, it will probably be another couple of months before we are together again, and secondly because I did not want conference to end!!! I could have listened to 4 more sessions. It is amazing how the older you get the more you come to LOVE and look forward to conference. Lastly, it was really hard because I felt like we were saying goodbye to President Hinckley. As we were singing the closing song, "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet", tears were rolling down my cheeks as I bore a testimony of gratitude in my heart of how blessed we are to have a living prophet to lead and guide us in these latter days. President Hinckley is one of a kind and he has done so many incredible things. In, fact Elder Bednar said to the Honduras missionaries that he finally understands why there are twelve apostles....to keep up with President Hinckley. I know that all the prophets of the past and future are and will be incredible...but, I will always hold a special place in my heart for President Hinckley, who taught me to "Stand a Little Taller".