Laundry Room Makeover

Laundry. That word should be a swear word in my opinion. It's filthy, and dirty. I have never been very good at doing...ahem...laundry. So to help me with it, I thought if I had a nice/decorated laundry room that was functional and beautiful I might (I said, MIGHT) come to enjoy doing it! (Did I really just say that?!)

I got to work, planning out the room. What first inspired me I should say, was this basket systems on Pinterest. However, I modified it for my laundry room needs.  First I picked out the colors I wanted, then I measured out the area for a table and basket system, then I bought all the material, my husband and I build it together. Isn't he great!?

I then sanded and painted it.

Here's the Before:

And lastly and most importantly I decorated the room. I am not quite done, but close enough that I will show you now...

So with out further ado here is my new LAUNDRY room....tada!

We build a counter the same size as our dryer so I can fold clothes and put them in piles there.

Most of the decorations I got from the D.I. or the dollar store. I still need to find some little pictures to put in the 3 frames.

I found this cute glass vase and spray painted it and then with puffy paint added a design on it. ( I got that idea off of Pinterest too- so fun and easy!)

I wanted a towel bar so I could dry my hands after getting them wet from the washer. We had two extra left over, so again, I found another similar thing on Pinterest and thought I would try it with baskets hanging down. I only bought one basket for now, just to see if I like it. It's great for holding things, however, I don't really know what to put in it, as I have two cupboards above my washer/dryer that keeps everything. So I don't know about the whole basket thing...? 

For the most part I love it and I have already seen a BIG improvement in my attitude towards...*cough*, Laundry.

 Let's hope it stays that way.

His Tender Mercies...

"The tender mercies of the Lord are real and . . . they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. ". . . The Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and though the Lord Jesus Christ." David A. Bednar

Yesterday was May 6th, and 3 years ago yesterday, our little boy passed away. I wanted to record my feelings and impressions from yesterday before I forget.

First of all, it Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday; my favorite Sunday. The spirit was so so incredibly strong. I was so emotional and didn't know why. I was weepy in Sacrament, Sunday school, and all through Relief Society. The Lesson in Relief Society was about, "The Loving Arms of God." The teacher talked about how He is always there to comfort us and lift us up, and His arms are especially around us during difficult moments and trials in our lives.

We have a family in our ward right now going through the exact same thing we went through 3 years ago. This new mom was pregnant with quadruplets! She lost one early on in her pregnancy, and then lost another, a girl, around 20 weeks. She came down with preeclampsia and had to delivery her other 2 babies at 25 weeks. She gave birth to a girl and a boy. Their little girl survived for three days before being called back home. Now their only child left is their son, Nate and he fighting hard to live every day. At 1 pound 10 ounces he is going through many of the struggles Emily and Ethan did. I pray that he lives and becomes their miracle baby. I can't imagine losing 3 children already, as having to lose one child was hard enough. I don't know this family, but my heart aches for them as our stories are similar in many ways.

As the teacher was giving this beautiful lesson she briefly talked about this family in our ward. As you can imagine it was hard for me to hold back the tears. I was already emotional and weepy all through the other meetings... why not keep going? Then the teacher asked me to read a scripture for her. I was kind of caught off guard by the scripture, because the scripture was John 14 : 18, 27. It reads, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...Peace I leave with you, and my peace I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled." The question that came with it was, "What are the promises given in these scriptures if we depend on the Savoir?

I could barely get through reading the scripture out loud as I was crying so hard,  then to also have to share what I felt about it, I was uncontrollable! I briefly told of my own experience losing our son and the power of His loving arms around me so intense and so immediate, that I knew without a doubt I was being held in His arms, as I was holding my own child. I have never felt such peace and comfort as I did the day our son passed away. I know we will be with Ethan again. I know because I received an overwhelming feeling that the covenants Ryan and I made in the temple on August 31, 2002, the day we were sealed, if we but keep them, will bring the blessings of immortality AND eternal life. That means, not only will we live forever, but we will be with our son again and all our children and grandchildren for generations to come. I am so grateful for this knowledge and for our Saviors atonement that made this possible for us and everyone who has ever lived on the earth..

I left Relief Society after the lesson early as I needed some Kleenex asap! (as mascara was burning my eyes!) And there, I run into my husband in the hallway. He of course was concerned about me and I told him briefly what happened. We got home and I just needed time to be alone for awhile. I went in the bedroom and sat on the bed with a picture of Ethan and just wept. I wept like I did the day he died. It wasn't an hour later that Ryan came bolting into the room and told me it was May 6th!

May 6th. The day Ethan was called back home. How could I have possibly forgotten!?!?

I felt so guilty ... How could I have NOT remembered what day it was?? What a terrible mother I am!!

Yet, it was like my spirit KNEW all along. Ethan was right there with me at church, holding me this time, as I wept for him. The spirit was so strong and so real, that I know Ethan was there making sure I did not forget him or that I wasn't alone as I ached for him. Time does have a way of making things easier, but sometimes the emotions are right at the surface as if he just passed away yesterday...which he did, 3 years ago.

I don't know exactly why Ethan was taken from us. I don't know why bad things happen sometimes. But what I do know is that Ethan was very good. He was valiant and obedient. He came down to be the "big" brother for his sister Emily. He fulfilled his mission here by gaining a body and is now in a better place doing the calling he was meant to do. I know Heavenly Father loves us and is mindful of our needs, our wants, our troubles and our heart ache. I miss Ethan a lot. Some days the heart ache of losing him, is more intense than others. Yet, having the promise that we will be with Ethan again someday makes this life worth it.

This was a very personal experience to share with so many, but I can't help but feel so grateful for this experience and so many others that I wanted to share it with you. Thanks for listening with an open heart.

We love you Ethan! We can't wait to be with you and hold you again! Until then, 11:11 always.

Love you,
Mom

Our family's sweet skills...

 Avery's new coloring book was the talk of the night and this is what we did as a family Friday night.

That's right. We have some sweet coloring skills. Don't be jealous. 

Avery's Prince Charming... (I guess I'll share).

This last Friday Ryan didn't have to work so he decided to take Avery on a Daddy daughter date. Avery loves her Daddy. A few weeks ago this conversation took place between them:

Avery: I am going to marry you Dad, when I grow up.
Ryan: I am married to mommy already.
Avery: Are you sure you don't want to change your mind?
Everyone else: LOL!
Me: Sorry Avery, Mommy beat you to it. He is mine! :) But I will share him with you, until you find your own prince charming someday.


Avery is definitely a Daddy's girl. I took this sweet shot before they left on their date.

They went to McDonald's or as Avery says, "Mickel-Donald's". She got a happy meal (twice in one month!? Woah! That's unheard of around here). They played for over 2 hours together and then went to the book store where Dad bought her a HUGE Princess coloring book. And he brought me home a little gift too, which I was so surprised by. I have been loving a new(sorta new) music artist named Adele. So he bought me her CD! Thanks Babe!

A New Adventure

It's me again! Didn't think I'd ever be back, did ya? Thought I had forgotten all about you, didn't you? Well, to be honest I am surprised myself to be blogging again. I have run out of excuses, "I can't blog", because...I was moving, I was unpacking, I was homeschooling, I was catching up with friends, I was hanging out with my family; playing games, and more importantly winning those games. ;)

Yes, I am back. And with a vengeance!

I am back to fulfill those worthy resolutions that I was once so determined to accomplish at the start of the year! It's a new adventure and beginning for our family and what a great way to start fresh then to update our blog with all of our new happenings, not just for my two readers, but for our family journal.

Most everyone knows already, but we moved back to Idaho the end of January as my husband was offered a job in Twin Falls. We feel truly grateful to be back in this great state and closer to family. Texas almost feels like a blur, like an extended vacation. We will always love and miss those friendships that we made there, some so very dear to us. We knew we were meant to live in that area and meet the people we met for that time in our lives. Living there gave me such a great testimony that Heavenly Father knows all. He doesn't just know us "so much", and "loves us so much". He loves us with a PERFECT love and a PERFECT understanding of what we need and want in our lives. Looking back at the things that transpired as we lived in Texas and the things that came about, I am truly in awe and am grateful for those blessings every day!

Other exciting news is we bought our first home here in Twin! (well besides the Condo we bought 7 years ago in Colorado). We weren't expecting to buy a brand new house, but we love it. It's the perfect size for us, in a great location and so far the school that our children are and will be attending is awesome and our ward has been so friendly with many families in our same neighborhood. I am loving the brand new carpet in our house, the giant bathtub and huge kitchen.

We have also had two birthdays this last week in our family. Emily turned 3 years old on the 19th!

I decided to buy a cake this year than try my hand at making one. As it is Madisen's birthday two days later,  on the 21st, I knew we would be having even more cake. Then two days after that, we were going to be having even MORE cake and icecream with our whole family, that it just seemed better to buy a small cake. Less is MORE, right? She loved it though, and that's all that matter. (And now I have 5 pounds of cake to loose! Ugh.;)

On Friday, the day before Madisen's birthday, I wish I would have remembered to take pictures of the green dinosaur cupcakes I made for her and her1st grade class. Her class sang to her and she beamed from ear to ear. She looked mature and so cute in peach/orange top with a matching bow. Ryan was off for lunch so we all got to go and surprise her in class. Since we are so new to the area, we weren't going to throw her a B-day party this year with friends, but being able to go to her school was so fun and we know she loved it too. 

On Saturday we wanted to make it special for Madisen and asked her what she wanted to do. Her reply: McDonald's. haha. So we loaded up the kids and took them to McDonald's. We evern splurged this time and bought them Happy Meals. I know, right? We are so crazy.

Later that day we took the girls on a hike across the Twin Falls bridge and saw the canyon. It was awesome! Such a pretty site. I can't believe we only live 5 minutes from this place. 

After our hike we settle down and ate our picnic lunch. It was so nice just spending time laughing and playing as a family. 

After touring the site for awhile we headed back to the car and decided to drive to the temple before calling it a night!

Don't mind Emily...

Like I said, this last Sunday we had our family come up-down-straight across :)-from Pocatello to party with us. The girls again, were spoiled this year getting lots of cute, yummy presents. 

Happy Birthday Madisen and Emily! As my dad says, I am so glad you were born! And especially into our family! We love you!!!