Teaching Mom to Blog

Cake Balls

Sun Beams & Perfect Moments

Little kids always know exactly what to say to touch your heart. I just have to take a minute to blog about the adorable experience I had subbing for Liz today in her primary class. She teaches the CTR 5 Class. So I was sitting in sharing time with them trying to get them to listen. I was thinking to myself how crazy it was that we expect them to listen to the long lessons and torment ourselves as teachers by trying to keep them quiet. The teacher was talking about treasures and went on and on about how we keep some things and treasure them up. She was reading scriptures and talking to the kids for about ten minutes. It was a really great lesson, but I was thinking there was no way any of the kids were listening, understanding, or even getting anything out of it. She then, however, asked the children what they treasured. One little girl answered, "I have a whole bag of treasures that I keep hidden from my little sister. She tries to eat them and they are special to me so she can't." Another little girl, Hannah, raised her hand and said, "I have a little heart necklace with diamonds and an H on it. It's SO special." Then another little girl jumped up raising her hand and said, "I treasure Jesus' love!" It was so cute and perfect, I couldn't believe this little five year old came up with that on her own. Then the teacher asked how we can treasure Jesus' love since it is not something we can really keep in a hidden box. To my surprise... and everyone elses... This little sun beam boy jumped up and shouted so excitedly, "SHARE IT!" After those two sweet comments, I realized that these small little primary children were listening, and although some things seemed too advanced for them, they understood, and sometimes, they understand in a better way than we do and can teach us more than we can teach them.
I was also listening to a cd that my mother gave me for Christmas that had this song on it that really made a difference in my week this week. So here it is.

(Lyrics: Sherry Marks Walker
Music: Doug Walker)
Performed by: Doug Walker

When Faith was smaller,
she had a treasure
Made just for little girls
Though made of plastic,
she loved to wear them
Her own strand of shiny pearls
Faith had a father, kind and gentle
How he loved his little girl
One night at bedtime he asked her
Will you give me your pearls

Oh no, not my pearls, Faith said
How about my teddy instead
And he said, your Daddy loves you –
it’s okay
And with a kiss, he tucked in, his little
Faith

As Faith grew, now and then he’d ask her
To give him her precious pearls
And though she loved him
she couldn’t give up
Her favorite thing in this world
Until one night, she said through her tears
Daddy, these are for you
As she let go of her little treasure
He was crying too

As he took her worn, plastic pearls
Around her neck he placed
A beautiful strand of genuine pearls
He had saved just for his sweet Faith

For all this world may have in store
He waits with so much more
Your Father loves you, it’s okay
To let go of what you hold with Faith

Lyrics based on the story “The Treasure” by Alice Gray
from the book “More Stories for the Heart”

I guess I just felt like this song and the experience in Primary is telling me that I need to treasure things more. Especially things from my Savior, and share those with others in different ways. I know I take so much for granted and other things I love and I am selfish and don't want to give them up. Even though sometimes there are better things in store. Moving to North Carolina has really taught me how much I took for granted. It has really helped me to be more thankful and appreciative of the things I have. Not that I don't have things out here that I am grateful for. Don't get me wrong. I love being out here and learning so much. I guess I am just having one of those looking back on days when I lived at home and things were easy moments. Even though I always thought those days were SO hard. I am so glad I am living in North Carolina and learning so much. It is crazy to look back and see how much I have changed. I feel like my outlook on life has changed in the past six months. This week I hope to try to treasure things better and keep changing for the better! :)

Looking Back

The new year has helped me make some resolutions. This year I am actually going to follow through with them... :) One of mine is to blog more often. I have always wanted to blog more but have always decided that I do not have time. But I will no longer use that as my excuse. I want to blog more often and I am going to make it happen! :) So my first blog this year is going to be things that I learned in last year. 2010. Here is my LONG list.

1. Things that seem impossible may actually be very possible.
2. When you think you have your whole life planned, you actually don't. I am not saying that you shouldn't have goals and plans... just realize that things CAN and may change.
3. One must always be open to new challenges and opportunities.
4. There is more to life than boys.
5. Just when you think all the doors in your life are closing, you realize that you just have to open the one that takes you down the perfect road.
6. Sometimes you have to do things in life that don't make sense until much later.
7. Driving across the country can actually make you enjoy driving more.
8. TomTom is my best friend. He is with me 24/7 due to my missing sense of direction when out of the state of Utah.
9. Going to bed before midnight can actually be more fun than staying up til the wee hours of the morning.
10. You must always be careful what you do and say because four year olds that live with you WILL repeat things you do and you will realize your flaws and imperfections.

Those are just a few of the many lessons I have learned this past year. I can't wait to see what I get to learn this year. I am sure I still have LOTS to learn! <3

It Just Takes Some Time

Well it has been over a year since I last blogged. I couldn't sleep tonight so I decided it would be a great time to get caught up! Over the last year I have gone to college, moved to North Carolina, become a nanny, and just enjoyed life as much as possible. It doesn't seem like a lot over the space of a year, but life sure has been busy. Time flies by so quick. I think I need to try to slow down and enjoy the journey. So, as of the first week of June, I am a nanny for Chrystal and Bryt. So far I am loving it, but it is hard work. Kids are so cute, however, they take a lot of energy! I am, however, so glad I have had this experience so far. It is funny to experience a four year old and a nine month old baby all day, every day. It definitely keeps you laughing.

The other day Ellie asked me why my fingernails are so long. (I finally learned to stop biting my nails and have been so happy with how long and pretty they are beginning to look.) So I told her that they were long because they were pretty. She then told me that Jesus doesn't like long nails. This gave me a good laugh and I could not figure out where she came up with that for days. Then a few days later I was holding her hand and I guess my nails were bothering her and she said, "See Chels? That is why Jesus doesn't like us to have long nails." I am so glad I have cute little Ellie to make me laugh each and every day. Even though she tells me that my barely getting long nails are way too long. I guess I will have to keep them very short for her. :) Ellie also sent Liz and I into giggles with one of her new toys the other day. I bought her a little disney princess pretend video camera at walmart. She had been such a good little sport, a dollar toy was the least I could do. Later that day, as Liz and I were preparing dinner before Bryt came home, Ellie went around and pretended to video tape each one of us and asking us what our plan was. She then turned the video camera toward her and pretended to video tape her plan. Apparently you can't video tape actual activities, just the plan for the day.:) I am looking forward to more silly moments with the adorable little Ellie.

Cooper is also very cute! He never fails to smile at me throughout the whole day. I have been trying to help him walk recently. He is getting so good! I think he will be walking soon! He also loves to play peek a boo. He even moves the blanket up and down all by himself! Or one of his favorite games is to shut the door between you and him and wait for you to open it... only for him to shut it again giggling. He is such a smart little guy! I love seeing him every day!

As for me, I am just adjusting to the humidity and heat, making freinds, enjoying family, and trying to enjoy the rest of the summer before school starts and life gets more busy.

Graduation

I remember when I was little that I used to see high schoolers and think that they were so big! Suddenly I am graduated and past that. Where did all the time go? I never knew that it would pass by so quickly. High school was a blast, but I am so glad it is over! Now everything in my life is up to me! That is so weird. For twelve years I have been going to school because I had to. From now on I get to be adult enough to get up and get myself to my college courses. I am so excited to finally be able to move on and become me :D The world better be ready, because here I come! :D

Grand Nationals

This last weekend I was in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2008 Bands of America Grand Nationals. The experience was amazing. I am so glad I got to go for my senior year. We went expecting to do the best that we could do and in our eyes, we did exactly that. Friday Morning we performed our preliminary performance at ten forty five a.m. Nationals were the first event in the new Lucas Oil Stadium, Home of the Colts. The stadium was huge and was full of 90 amazing bands from all over the nation and many of their fans. Walking on to that field for the first time was amazing and the most scary experience I have ever had. There were so many people sitting in the stands and judges all over the field and in the judges box just waiting to judge us. We performed and to our devastation did not have a very good show. Girls had been so nervous that they had set their flags wrong. A flag was covering Nikki's rifle and she thought mine was hers so we were late coming out for the rifle and drum feature trying to find her rifle. So many little things that could have been fixed but weren't and were huge disasters. To our relief the judges called us in the announcements of the semi finalists bands. We still had made it even though we had messed up so badly. We were so relieved and the band was so excited again. This was actually happening. The next day we went through the same drill. Only this time while entering the field you could feel the energy and excitement in each member of our band. Everyone was shining with confidence and excitement. We were thrilled to able to perform again in such an amazing event. We performed with preciseness and beauty. Mistakes were very minimal and the whole band felt amazing. Coming off the field we all cried realizing that that could be the last time that we ever perform that show again. Not one eye was dry. We had given everything we had to that show and it showed. Our performance was incredible. Everyone was sure we would make finals. Even parents of other bands and judges from the regional we had attended. They were all confident we would be participating in that nights later events. As I lined up with the other captains and drum majors to go on the field for awards and retreat, I felt so sure that we would be doing it all again that night. There was no way we would not make it when we all felt so good about our performance. But as we waited and saluted the audience on the field, our name was not announced among the twelve finalists. My heart could not believe it. My marching band experience had come to a close. I would not perform The Island or any other field show ever again. Tears streaming down my face and reality trying to find a place in my heart I walked into the silent lobby of the hotel to meet my fellow band members. Mr. Miller was standing on a stool with tears in his eyes preparing to speak to us. All of my friends were in shock waiting to hear what had happened. Mr. Miller explained that he did not feel bad about not making finals. He had hoped and been sure that we would but the outcome was otherwise. He was proud of us and everything we had accomplished. He had never seen one of his bands ever perform so well. He would tell us results as soon as he was given the scores. We went back to the stadium and watched the finalist bands and tried to see why we had not made it. Every band was amazing and beautiful, but was ours not in that same category. How were we not performing when we were right up there with all those bands. Later that night Mr. Miller explained that three of the four judges had placed us within the top six of the 90 bands that had performed. However, the other judge had placed us significantly lower. Thus our placement was averaged out between the four judges to 14. Two bands away from making finals. Come to find out, this judge had placed us 20 points behind Davis when he judged us a few months ago in Utah. I guess he just has something against American Fork Marching Band. All I can say is that I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to participate in such an amazing marching band. We know that we had the best performance of our lives and I am so grateful that we could end the season feeling so happy about our last time on out field. And yes, for fifteen minutes we owned the Lucas Oil Stadium field. :D Ask the judges. They'll tell you.

Homecoming

This pic is bad quality
because it is a picture
of a picture but it was
the best I could do.
Homecoming was a blast.