A post because I'm feeling conversational and Eliza is napping...

Hey friends,

Have I mentioned on this blog that I'm pregnant??  I know... I'm a great one for secrets. I'm actually quite pregnant, as in I'm dilated 2 centimeters, 75% effaced, and I'm 36 weeks today. I can hardly believe it! You'd think 9 months would give you enough time to wrap your mind around it, but sometimes it doesn't feel like I've had any mental prep time at all. But ready or not, Baby Girl #2 will be making her debut sometime soon. And we'll be ready. :)

My Texas family threw a baby 'sprinkle' for me this week, because "every baby deserves a party and every baby should be celebrated." I felt a little funny about it, especially since she and Eliza will have been born a month apart so all of the clothes should fit seasonally, but it was a wonderful opportunity to get together with a bunch of women in the ward that I love and just have a fun girl's night. I also co-celebrated with my friend and neighbor, Meghan, who just had her own little girl Margot a few weeks ago, so it was nice to share the spotlight with a dear friend and cute baby. :)

This week has been full of music practice. I mentioned I was put in charge of the Christmas program. Well, pianists are scarce so I'm also accompanying most of the meeting. This has been a challenge since I don't have my own piano to practice the difficult pieces. But I have really great friends who have welcomed me (and Eliza) into their homes on many mornings and afternoons this month to practice and get the music solidified before the program on Sunday. This week has been a lot of practicing with those I am accompanying and it's so comforting to see how Heavenly Father just helps things come together. As long as the meeting is rich in the Spirit, we will have been successful.

Have a happy Thursday!

My Joy and My Song

I've been working on a project this month, but between orchestrating the Christmas program and practicing the piano for the pieces I'm accompanying, my time hasn't quite been my own. But over the weekend, Blake helped me finish my project, and it has completely changed my December.


We decided to decorate our Christmas tree with several names of the Savior this year. We finished late last night, and it has been such a blessing to me in the hours I've been awake to see the tree. We think and talk of Jesus Christ so much at this time of year, but generally we think of Him in the context of the baby in a manger, or even some of the names from wonderful Christmas songs:  Wonderful, Counselor, King of Kings, or Lord of Lords.  But every time I pass the Christmas tree, an ornament catches my eye that makes me think of and appreciate my Savior in a fresh way that feels very real and very powerful.

The Mighty one of Jacob...

Advocate...

Founder of Peace...

Lord of the Vineyard...

Redeemer of Israel...

Bread of Life...

I want to share my testimony that The Way, The Truth, and the Life was born in a humble stable and came to redeem all mankind. I testify that the Only Begotten of the Father will return to the earth in glory to reign as King of Kings, and that in that day, just as the shepherds knelt to worship him at his birth, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ.

Share the Gift

So I've been failing miserably as a blogger. That's okay; there are more important things to be successful in. But recording our little family's history and keeping in touch with my family is important to me, and I figure that maybe I ought to try a different approach to this blogging business and see if I can be any more successful.

Enter the Moment of the Day. I'll attempt to share something random from our life on a multiple-times-a-week basis (see how I didn't say 'daily'?... Realistic goals for the win.). Even if it's a bunch of trivial stuff, you'll still be getting more from me than you have thus far!


Here was a really happy moment today:

I've been feeling pretty stressed this Christmas season. In mid-November I was given the assignment to coordinate the Christmas Program by December 21st. It has proven to be a challenge and an extreme test of my patience and "good will towards men." (A test which some days I pass and some days I fail...) I feel that as I've been channeling so much of myself, my time, my patience, and my stamina into the task at hand, the things that are most important to me have been neglected. Namely, Blake and Eliza. [May I just interject and say that Blake has been an absolute CHAMP. All. Month. Long. With him on my team, nothing's impossible.] I think that is what has been the most difficult thing for me:  feeling a severe imbalance in my life at a time when, if anything, the balance scales should tip towards family, not away from it.

All of that is the long way of saying that I've been a little bit of an on-edge, stressed mess sporting sassafrass cranky pants. Not exactly the picture of "Christmas cheer," you might say. But today, this video was able to cut through all of the frustration and stress and pierce my heart. It felt so good to feel myself soften as the Holy Ghost testified of the reality and divinity of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

What a truly priceless gift. And how wonderful that we have the opportunity to share that gift with others. #ShareTheGift