Thankful for Tender Mercies

After a long rough day with children all I felt done. Done with kids. Done with housework that I can't get done. Done with fighting, screaming, yelling, hitting, and pushing. R was going to be late coming home from work. We were out of milk and all the easy dinners required it. I was in no mood to make a more complex meal, nor would the kids let me, I am sure. All I wanted to do was crawl into a hole and stay there until the kids grew up.

Don't get me wrong. I love them to death, and I am excited to watch them grow up, but this terrible twos thing is kicking my rear. Some days I just wish that we could skip this stage, especially since A is still in it (and getting worse by the day it seems), and G has just started it.

After too many close calls of being close to tears I was at my wits end. Then thankfully R called me to tell me he was on his way from work. Followed by more screaming and fighting children who didn't like the dinner that I was making them. I was so relieved to see R come through the door when he got home.

After talking for a few minutes R decided that I needed a chance to get out of the house. So I left to go get some milk. While at the grocery store I wandered around for a while... not a good thing for me to do while I am upset. I am a major emotional eater, and with trying to loose weight... well lets just say there are lots of things that tempted me. I was good though, I didn't put anything bad in the cart... until I called R and he asked for some Flamin' Hot Cheetos and some Ice Cream. Which I am sad to say I bought, for as I write this I am eating some of those yummy Cheetos with some sour cream and milk (so bad for me, I know, but at least I haven't touched the ice cream).

Leaving the store I was still feeling pretty frustrated. The fact that it was raining made me a bit happier (for those of you not in the area, that is a rare thing out here where I live during the summer). As I am driving home I see a near blinding light to my right. The Sun had come out from behind the clouds to make an amazing sunset. Then I look to my left and there is a beautiful rainbow. Above me it is raining, something that I love. And then to top it off there was a song that came on the radio, Just another day in paradise (or I think that is the name). All that added together started to make me cry yet again... for the umpteenth time today.

I honestly believe that it was a tender mercy that I was able to see those things, and then hear a song about how things can go wrong but how your life can be paradise despite it all. And who needs all those tempting foods when you can see a beautiful sight like that to make you feel better.

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who sends me things, just as I need them to make my life brighter, even if for a second. Things like this let me know that I'm not alone, that I have someone who know exactly how I am feeling at the moment and knows exactly how to make me feel better.

feeling a bit sad...

As I was looking at Facebook last night. I saw a post from a friend from High School. In this post she had a clip of a video of her and her husband being baptized into a new church. In this clip she talked about how she had been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as she reached adulthood (due to her mother not giving permission). She then started to say things, not so nice things about the LDS church. Normally it would make me rather upset to hear those kinds of things, but instead it just made me sad. Maybe it was because this was someone I knew and not a random person saying these things. I don't know, but I do know it made me very sad for her.

This friend is not the first friend that I had from H.S. or Jr. High that was once a member of the LDS faith who have turned away from it. It makes me so sad to see how their lives have changed so much from what they were. I am sure that they feel that the changes have been for the better, but a part of me hopes that they realize just what they have LOST because of those choices that they have made.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints myself. I LOVE the gospel and the precious truths that I find in it. I don't know where I would be or what I would do with out the knowledge that I have now. I hate to think of what my life would be like if I were not a member of this wonderful gospel.

As a youth I was inactive in the church (along with my whole family), I had some wonderful Young Woman leaders who started pulling me to church, helping me with rides and letting me sit with their families during church so I wouldn't feel so alone. I will be eternally grateful for those women and the way that they helped change my life for the better. I worry when I think of where I would be now if those wonderful women had not come along.

As I see the friends that I had from school, and think of where they are now, I can't help but wonder where I would be if I hadn't moved to Phoenix for College. Those times in college were the times that made me gain a testimony of my own instead of relying on those of my Y.W. leaders. Those times are when my testimony was set in stone. Where I grew the most spiritually. Where I had to rely on the Lord the most, and I learned that I would never be truly alone.

Its funny how I don't realize just how much I have grown since my H.S. days until I have something open my eyes to it. I am so grateful for the changes that have happened, and I hope that I will continue to change for the better.

G's second Birthday

I find it hard to believe how fast time is flying... G is 2 years old already!

G the day he was born

one year old

Two Years old! Such a big boy!!!

The Birthday Cake
since he loves cars he got a car cake.

The spoils from his Birthday, Cars, a Ball, and some cards.

Fourth of July.

We had decided that since the 4th was on a Sunday we were just going to stay home, and maybe watch the fireworks on the TV instead. Then we found out that our town was going to be celebrating on the 3rd instead. We changed plans and decided to go celebrate at the local H.S.'s ball fields instead. After a wonderful dinner made by Friend M (yummy bbq ribs!) we headed out to get some seats. After arriving and setting up we realized we didn't have anything to do... or mainly things for the kids to do, for the 3 hours until the fireworks started. So R and friend A went and got some stuff to do.....

Boffer Swords!!!

G was having fun with friend A.
He wouldn't let anyone use the big sword.
He would say "mine" anytime that someone
grabbed it

A fighting with Daddy

R and I fighting.

I think they had fun!
somehow we missed get a pic of A at this time...
but at least you can see G's big smile.

randomness

I wanted to post some of the things that have been going on in the Wilcox House, so here you go.

We got paper bags in the news paper one Sunday
The kids wanted to walk around with the bags on their heads
so we made holes so they wouldn't run into things.
They had such a blast.

At the Phoenix Comic Con. in May
A pic with the Ghost Busters!!!

Every Year Chick-fil-A has a "Cow Appreciation Day"
You dress up like a cow and get free food.
This is G's cow costume.

A absolutely refused to wear anything at the restaurant
but as soon as we got home and the camera was pulled out
she had to wear her cow ears.
Aren't they just adorable?

Proud to be an American!

This time of year I find myself reflecting on how grateful I am to be living in this wonderful country. I truly am proud to be an American!

I can't help but be grateful for those people who gave their lives during the revolutionary war, civil war, and all the other wars that have been fought to keep us free. I am also thankful for those who were willing to give their lives for our freedom, those that came home safely, those that came home but left pieces of themselves (physically, emotionally, or mentally) on the battle fields. They deserve our utmost respect for what they have done for each and everyone of us.

I am truly thankful for the opportunity to live in a country where I can worship how I please. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who prepared this land, to be free. It truly is the Promised Land.

I pray we all remember to take a moment to remember why we are celebrating this 4th of July, or in our case this 3rd. Enjoy the food and fun, but take some time to thank Heavenly Father and all those who have been willing to give their lives. Thank them for the freedom that we enjoy and take for granted.

We got a calling!

We were put into a new ward for church a little over a month ago. I miss seeing my friends every Sunday at church, but I am growing to love the new ward. I have met lots of new people and look forward to getting to know them all better.

I have to admit I was a bit frightened when the Bishop asked us to be in the primary. I can deal with my kids, most of the time :) but sometimes I feel like that is all the kids I can deal with for the time being. I was a bit scared that we would be called into the Sunbeams since they still needed a teacher for A's class. When the bishop told us that he would like us to be the 11 year old teachers, I felt a bit relieved, but still worried that I might not be able to handle it. I know myself and know I don't have much patience for misbehaving children... which is probably why I am in the primary in the first place.

This past Sunday we taught for the first time, I have to admit, it was much easier than I was expecting. It might have something to do with the fact that I haven't subbed a class in the senior primary before and I wasn't the most reverent when I was in primary. The kids were respectful and knew some of the answers to the questions in the lesson.

We also found out that when they turn 12 they don't have to go to sharing/singing time anymore. I didn't know that due to the fact that I was inactive in the church during the time I would have changed from primary to young woman's. So after August (as long as there are no new class members with later birthdays) we will be able to go to Relief Society and Priesthood again. I LOVE that I will be able to go to Relief Society again.

I have a new Visiting Teaching route too. I am excited to get to know these sisters. I have to get it done every month too.... I have the Visiting Teaching coordinator and the Relief Society President as the people I visit teach. Now if only my partner will call me back I will get it done for this month. :)

R has another calling, but hasn't been sustained yet, so when he is I'll post it.

Funny story, this past Sunday when they were announcing all the callings they forgot to call our names. The Primary President was sitting right behind us, so she caught the attention of the Bishopric counselor in charge and let him know they forgot us. At the end of Sacrament meeting they announced they had forgotten a calling, so it was then that we were sustained for the primary calling. They still missed R's other calling though, so hopefully they will remember this week. Its good to know that even people in leadership can make mistakes like that. I don't feel so bad when I forget things when I know other people do it too.