COURAGEOUS

Last night Pedro and I went on a date.  We watched the movie "Courageous".  I loved that movie and the wonderful message it sends to all men out there.  They let them know how important their role as dads is and it doesn't mean only as providers but so much more.  It reminds them that they are to be protectors, role models, friends, spiritual leaders, and for their own sons, their example is to help bring out their son's "own man" within.  It takes courage to be a real man.  I loved how they finish the movie with one of the most inspirational talks I've ever heard and the final picture is a police badge which shows the words "TO SERVE AND PROTECT".  I might not be a man, but I was inspired to be a better mother and treasure the time I am being given with my children.  I hope the world supports these type of movies and truly, we had a full theater. I know I have a courageous man by my side and I am SO grateful for him and the sacrifices he makes for us.  I love you Pedro, mi amor..

Homecoming Dance

Last Saturday, Erik went to the Homecoming Dance.  First time he goes with a date and so he was pretty nervous about it.  We went to buy cologne, shaving cream, breath mints...  He wanted to be in his best for that night.  Then I started to get really nervous myself when he received a text from his date asking if we could pick her up at her house and if "I" could go inside so her parents could meet me!  I panicked!  I'm not used to this kind of things...  In fact it wasn't long ago when I had to meet my husbands parents and "we" were dating... Was it really THAT looooooooooooong??? 

What a relief it was when we got to Amanda's house and realized I had already met her mom before.

She is a YW President and I had that calling before so we'd had some stake meetings together and she looks so nice and friendly!  Of course I have to mention that I had never met her husband or Amanda's grandparents who were there at the time.  They took some nice pictures and we were all giggling more from nervousess than excitement, I think, and both Amanda and Erik looked very CUTE...

So I drove them to school and on my way there I realized I didn't give Erik any money and I didn't even know if he needed money!  ( I am such a rookie at these things)  So I stopped at a gas station and got about $20 for Erik and then dropped them off at the front of the school.  I saw them walk away and she held his arm and right then and there I started crying.  No I wasn't mad at her...or him...It's just that I saw my child walking away and he wasn't a child anymore...  Erik is turning 16 in about two weeks and before I know it he will be an adult.  This is unknown territory for me, I am used to dealing with children issues, you know, the fighting, namecalling, the not sharing of toys...  But 16 will bring a whole new era for me and my child.  It's the time when he will start practicing his independence and how to be an adult.  I am both excited and afraid.  I'm just hoping I have taught him enough to

make good decisions and I'm sure from now on there will be lots more of praying on my part.

I love my son and I am proud of him.  After all he is the one who changed my mind about not liking kids.  He is a handsome young man who is trying to find his place in life.  I want to make sure he knows that he will always have a place in my heart.

Kimball Stake Family Vacation



It's been exactly one week since we left on this much anticipated Family Vacation.  It's been almost a year since the Kimball Stake started to plan and putting things together.  It's been hard but oh so worth it!  My husband and I were the ward representatives and so had several meetings throughout the year and lots and lots of information to give to the members of our branch.  Well, we left on Wednesday and it lasted until Saturday.  It took place at the Geronimo Campground (BSA) and it was sooooo beautiful with all the trees, the little brook running all along the campground, the mountains and especially the fall foliage, which wasn't very much because in Arizona there are not too many trees that go through that change, but anyhow it was beautiful.  There were lots of activities to do (zip line, archery, rifle shooting, horse shoe, badmington, etc...) and classes that went from dutch oven cooking, to parenting, budgeting, clogging, to tuning in with the Spirit.  At night there were great programs that brought together all 1500 people who attended this family vacation.  Wednesday night was:  Ward Videos, where each ward had to make a video so we could get to know the members.  Thursday night was:  Talent Show.  Friday night was:  A special program put together by the Stake Presidency, which included several musical numbers by our very talented Stake President and his quartet and his counselors, a skit, and some final words to cap off this special event.  I truly felt the Spirit that night and I felt so loved by my Heavenly Father and my priesthood leaders.  I know this was inspired and it truly brought us together as a stake family.  I'll always remember this event and of course, President Clint W. Smith, my Stake President.  :)

Tears in His Eyes

      Two days ago my little boy learned a painful lesson, you don't touch the stove carelessly.   He was mad at me for not wanting to give him cereal in the middle of the day, that he slapped hard the top of the stove right where I had just moved the pot from.  I am SO thankful it had been on low and not high or medium-high, because this would have been a real tragedy!  But yes, he burned his hand a little bit and he spent the whole afternoon screaming and crying if he wasn't holding an ice pack in his hand.

     We went to pick Erik up at school and we forgot the ice pack so the whole trip he was screaming and crying while holding his hand.  My heart really melted when I saw Emma looking away and tears streaming down her face... she was suffering to see her baby brother in pain.  That made me feel like crying too, because it's so sweet to see my kids caring so much for each other.  But I didn't cry.  I didn't want to embarras Erik even more than he was. 

     In the evening I gave Pedrito a quick bath and told him to endure the pain a little bit without the ice pack so the pain would really go away.  It did after about 30 to 40 min.  and then he was fine.

     I really hope he learned his lesson in not messing with the stove again, but it's hard to see tears in my children's eyes because they are in pain...  Again, I'm just thankful it wasn't worse.



General Conference



There is nothing like a weekend filled of uplifting and inspiring messages that help you realize the things you need to work on, but also the blessings that are all around you.  I am 37 years old and I can honestly say that it's only been the last 5 years out of the 22 that I've been a member of the church, that I truly delight in the words of the prophet and apostles.  General Conference was a boring time.  I thought there was a neverending number of speakers and did not pay much attention to it.  I was there, but I was not really there, listening.  But they say that with age comes wisdom.  I love to hear what God has to say through his servants, it is now more personal for me, since I am a woman, wife, mother trying to not only survive but thrive in this difficult world, I KNOW I need my Heavenly Father's guidance.  General Conference is a time when the Lord talks to us, his children.  Every message is important and my spirit is fed by them.  Now I look forward to those two times of the year when God will speak to his church as a whole and also individually.  I am grateful to have a living prophet and apostles who are special witnesses of Christ.  I am grateful that even when it took about 12 years, I realized that General Conference is a time to listen, to be renewed in hope and faith, a time to ponder, a time to repent...  See?  It's not so bad to be getting old, it comes with gifts.  The gift of wisdom... :)

A New Day



I love mornings.  It's almost the end of September and even though we are still getting temperatures over a hundred during the day, mornings are getting to be quiet nice.  This morning I sat for maybe 5 minutes in the back patio and took in the fresh morning air, the beautiful, beautiful blue sky, the sweet sound of birds singing, and the calmness that is so exclusive to early hours.  My heart felt grateful because of being alive to see a new day, a new chance to do things right.  To me every morning (especially when it's not 95 degrees at 6 a.m.) feels like a spiritual rebirth, a new oppotunity, a new blessing...  Early mornings are my most favorite time of the day.  Fall.. I am so glad you are here... :D

Motherhood

Last week Pedro and I were talking about Pedrito.  He is such a ball of energy who NEVER gets tired of running around and jumping up and down.  I asked him if he thought Pedrito had ADHD and he said: 'Of course!  Don't you see him? ( He was at the moment climbing the piano and the bookcases which are not tied to the wall); then I remembered the talk on Sunday by a High Counsel member.  He said that a few months ago he and his wife had a baby daughter, but she was born with some condition and they were told she would live 1...maybe 2 weeks at the most.  She had a little face disfigurement and he started to fear what people would say of her, maybe gossip about how she looked...  That did not happen.  He said ALL the sister of their ward and even the young women expressed with sincerety how beautiful she was.  They showed so much loved and caring for his baby and their actions touched his heart.  The baby would cry.  A lot.  But he said when he tried to help his wife who was holding the baby, she said: 'No, I'll do it.  I want my daughter to "know",without a doubt,  before she leaves us, that I love her very much.'

My son might drive me crazy sometimes, but my hear is so full of love for him.  I need to show him that no matter how much his hyper behavior drives me nuts sometimes, I LOVE him.  I know there is a reason why Heavenly Father sent him to me, I need to learn patience.  I am grateful for Pedrito and the opportunity to be his mom.  I am grateful for the inspired talk from this brother that gave me the eternal perspective of motherhood, which I already know, but it is so easily overlooked in the day to day life. 

So don't forget this Lili, put on your armor of LOVE today and then you'll be ready to begin the day's lesson:  Patience  :)