Category Archives: Faith

Building A Strong Family

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Remember the days when families used to sit together as a family for dinner. Talk about their days and bring laughter into their lives. Our society has cut this out of their lives and it’s sad. It’s sad that families are so busy that they don’t stop to appreciate what God has given them. A beautiful family that should be providing each other with unconditional love.

Bringing families close and together is a very important thing to the Mormon church, as it is to most religions. We implement something into our homes that strengthens our families and all it takes is one night a week.

It’s called Family Home Evening. Monday nights, the majority of the members of the church are gathered together in their homes strengthening the bonds that God has given us with our families. It’s a date and time that’s a guarantee in each of our homes that we will be together as a family, without media, without stresses, just us, God and the ones we love.

The way Family Home Evening is typically organized is as follows:

Opening Prayer
Sing a church song together
Quick lesson on any of these topics
Family Activity
Special Treat
Closing Song
Closing Prayer

You don’t have to be a member of the Mormon church to practice this. You don’t have to even give lessons or sing songs. Just having a set day a week to do some family activity together will do amazing things. Even if it’s just playing a board game and eating some ice cream afterwards.

Today is Monday, which means “Family Home Evening Time” We are going to be giving a lesson on Honesty. Our family activity will be planning what decorations we’re going to do for Papa Norm’s new studio at a nearby Retirement community. He should be arriving on the 1st and I already have the keys. So, we’re going to have it decorated when he walk in, so it feels like home. Tonight we’ll have Jayden draw some pictures and we’ll plan out what we will need to go over and decorate – then next Monday night our activity will be doing the actual decorations. Our special treat will be Cookies N’ Cream Pie…. mmmmmm I definitely can’t wait for that!

I hope that I get some of you out there to join in with me. I’ll try to update every Monday with what he have planned. If you have ideas for great lesson ideas or activities, or even a yummy treat recipe you’d like to share please leave a comment and share it. Remember, you don’t have to be Mormon to have a Family Home Evening. It’s the perfect opportunity to have your entire family together to talk about any family topics that need to be discussed also 🙂

Ramblings On Me

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It’s the stake conference at church today and we’re not going. I really did want to go, but I really didn’t want to make Jayden sit through that for 2 hours. Not to mention, 1 hour of Sacrament meeting with Ella is hard enough, 2 hours is unthinkable. I am sad though that I’m missing out on all of the great talks they’ll be having today.

Lately, I’ve been struggling with this whole hormone issue that I’m having. I’ve lost all patience and I know that it’s effecting my family. Yesterday I freaked out on Gino for the mere fact that he didn’t get Jayden’s new fish aquarium ready the prior day so that we could go get the fish. Then I freaked out because Ella was whining and I needed a break. He chose to go and get the fish aquarium ready instead of take Ella and that made me even more mad. That is psychotic. I’m flipping over the stupidest things and I just want to feel normal again. This was all on his lunch break, which he should have been able to come home and relax, instead he had to deal with his hormonal wife. I did end up taking Gaba Ease as soon as he left and it was like a reformation…. you’d think I was bipolar.

I’m on day 2 of taking my progesterone, and I think I might feel a little bit different today. Gino’s been playing GTA4 all morning, and I’m not feeling the normal fury that I do feel when he plays. So, we just might be having some progress here.

I don’t want to get irritated with everyone the way I have been. I want the patience that my family deserves, and I hope that we all see a difference in me soon. If these progesterone pills don’t change the way I’ve been, then I’m probably going to have to make the decision to take out the Mirena IUD. I’d hate to do that, because at this point I don’t want to be prone to having any more kids. I’m not very good at taking other forms of birth control, and an oops baby just wouldn’t work.

I think today I might need to do some major scripture reading and prayer. Going to church always makes me feel so much better, but since we don’t have that today I need to do some personal scripture study. That probably means that the BOM blog will be updated today.

I’m a Mormon Mom!

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As I sat around today at the park with other moms I had a brief moment of panic run through my veins. Golly George, people, I’m a mom. I actually pack a diaper bag and tote my kids from play dates to piano lessons and I have baby that if I don’t pay attention to her for a brief second she will fall on her head! I promise before these last play dates, Ella’s never fallen on her head! Ella, if you’re reading this and you’re brain’s a little slow I’m so sorry!

I know that half the population in Sacramento just might think they’re having brain spasms if they knew that my play dates were with MORMONS! Guess what, Sacramento, I actually have more fun at Mormon play dates than I did stuck on I-80 in rush hour traffic trying to come home in time to eat dinner and then say good-night to my child who I wouldn’t even get to really spend any time with until the weekend.

I love the new life I chose. With every new decision that I make towards bettering my family and my soul I’m even fall more in love with the new life I chose.

Answered Prayers

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Do you ever stop to think about the prayers that God has answered for you? Maybe even the ones he hasn’t.

On Sunday morning at about 3am or somewhere around there I woke up with the worst pain I had ever felt in my right kidney. I thought I was going to die. I at that point resorted to a 6 year old child and immediately called my mommy crying. Her words were go right to the hospital you are having a kidney stone. My husband gets the kids in the car and my pain immediately stops. It was kinda creepy. I went to bed and woke up in the morning feeling kindof like I had a bladder infection. I wasn’t insanely miserable, but I was uncomfortable. It didn’t feel like a normal bladder infection – it just didn’t feel right. Monday morning I woke up after having dreams of having a miserable bladder infection to complete and utter pain. Not in my kidney but in my bladder area. I thought I was going to die again. It was 6am and my doctor’s office didn’t open until 8am. For two hours I complained and moaned and cried. I didn’t know what else to do – I finally prayed and begged for Heavenly Father to PLEASE take my pain away until I could get to the doctors. I couldn’t bare it anymore. Not even 30 minutes after my prayer I had no pain. I made it to the doctors and was informed that I had a lot of blood in my urine and the put me on some antibiotics. If the pain comes back they want me in to do a CT Scan of my kidneys and see if there are indeed stones in there. I have had mild cramping off and on, but no more pain. I have no one to thank other than my loving, wonderful Heavenly Father.

So, this got me thinking about prayers. We go to him and sometimes he answers and sometimes he doesn’t. I can remember praying my heart out when my heart was broken as a young girl. Asking why this happened to me. I thought he wasn’t answering my prayers when in fact he was. During my heart break he gave me my true soul mate. Gino. I really believe that some way or another our prayers do get answered. Sometimes not in the way we want at that moment, but in the way that they are supposed to be. I know my prayers are answered a lot, and a lot of times I don’t even realize it when it’s the small things. But I noticed the minute my pain disappeared on Monday that he was there. He knew that I needed Him, and he helped me. I am so thankful for Him.

On another note – I updated my Book of Mormon Blog FINALLY! I would like some input on 1 Nephi Chapter 8 if you would be so kind to read it and give me your input over on my BOM Blog. Thank you!!!

P.S. I Love You

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We sat down last night to watch this movie and I had already fallen in love with these characters as I had read the book. I cried from the beginning til the end. I’ve been having issues with death as it is and I really think I shouldn’t have watched this movie. I think it all started when Robert died. I began dwelling on death. I’m scared of someone I love dieing. I’m scared to die and leave the ones I love. I can’t even fathom the idea of not having my husband next to me. He’s my best friend. When something bad happens, it’s Him I go to. When something good happens, it’s Him I go to. I never want to lose Him. I love Him.

I know that none of us make it out of this world alive. It’s all in God’s hands and I know things will get better for me in this department as my faith is grows. As my testimony grows.

As for the movie, they butchered the book. It was a wonderful movie and I really did love it, but the book is 100 times better – but isn’t that always the case?

Blessing Weekend

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We had an amazing weekend. Close to a year ago I met a girl named Jen. I met her on a message board that I used to be a part of and we became very close. She’s LDS and actually is why I am back in church. This past weekend her and her husband, David, and their adorable puppy, Lily, drove for 6 hours to come and visit us. It was the first time that we got to meet each other after chatting endless hours online and through text messaging. We had the honor of having her husband bless Ella & Jayden in church on Sunday. The blessings were so special. Gino got to hold Ella while the circle went around them. Ella didn’t scream, which I expected her to do. Jayden’s blessing was done after Sacrament in the Bishop’s office. He was such a little man. I’m really happy that he got blessed, even though it wasn’t until he was 6. I think it’s important.



A Conversation with God

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2 days ago I was racking my brain trying to remember this thing I read that was a baby talking to God before coming to earth. I really wanted to find it, because I wanted to digiscrap it and print it out and frame it to put over Ella’s crib.

I’m a part of a forum w/mom’s who have baby’s w/the same heart condition (or heart conditions like her’s) and I just went there tonight to find that one of the girls posted it. Amazing. Absolutely amazing to me. And this is it…….

A Newborn’s Conversation with God

A baby asked God, ‘They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?’
God said, ‘Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.’

The child further inquired, ‘But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.’ God said, ‘Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.’

Again the child asked, ‘And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?’ God said, ‘Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.’

‘And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?’ God said, ‘Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.’

‘Who will protect me?’ God said, ‘Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.’

‘But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.’
God said, ‘Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.’

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, ‘God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.’

God said, ‘You will simply call her, ‘Mom.’

Holy Crazy Family Time!

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For the past few weeks it’s been nothing but visiting, visiting and MORE visiting. I know I’m ignoring my blog, but I honestly have been so busy! As mentioned before we went to Sacramento for Easter. Then the day after we got back Gino’s family showed up and stayed for 6 days. 2 days after they left my Grandma showed up and is still here and then today Gino’s BFF Dave showed up. So in the midst of all this visiting my blog is getting ignored.

However! Here’s a few updates going on in our world:

Rylie May is home and doing wonderful! She’s so little and makes Ella look like a toddler. I still have no pictures, but will post some as soon as I take some.

Ella is pulling herself up onto any and everything and has even thought she could walk and fell on her face. Everyday I swear this little girl is growing more and more and not just physically, but smarter. She is one smart little cookie. The other day Gino and I were walking out the door and said “Be Back” and I swear she said in her little voice “Be Back”. I thought I heard it and didn’t say anything, and then Gino stops and turns around and then his aunt says, “OMG! Did you hear that?!?!” We continually tried and tried to get her to say it again, but of course nope.

Jayden just went back to school after being on spring break. It’s been a hard adjustment for us all, but we’re managing. One of his front teeth is loose. With every tooth he loses I feel more and more like my baby is growing up too fast. UGH – he’s almost 7!!! I cannot fathom the thought that Jayden will be 7 this year.

Gino’s new schedule has actually been working out for us. I’ve grown to love it and now they’re ripping it from us. I HATE HOME DEPOT MORE THAN ANYTHING! Now he’ll be working the original shift he was supposed to get. 4am-1pm…. UGH! My poor husband will now be waking up at 3:15am – and poor me will have to drag Ella out in the morning to drop off Jayden at school. We’ll manage. We will manage.

I haven’t gone to curves in 2 weeks. 2 fricken weeks! I have to make a promise to myself that Monday morning at 10am I will back in there. Because not only am I not going to Curves, but I’m also not eating as healthy as I was before going to Sacramento.

I know I told how I’d have my Tips back this week, but with my Grandma here they completely slipped my mind! So, I’m not going to guarantee that they’ll be back on Tuesday, because we will probably be busy with fun tax stuff, but I will try my hardest!

Last, but not least – I’ve started back up My Book of Mormon Journey. Head over to my other blog and join me in reading the Book of Mormon. I’m only 5 chapters into it, which will take you no time at all. Even if you’re not LDS, what would it hurt to read about it?? I post links to the chapters so you can read online. And I would love all comments over there with your opinions, feeling and things that will not only help me see things the way you do, but help strengthen my testimony as well as yours. I love hearing other’s testimonies, because I believe that mine grows stronger.

Meeting Jenna Lee

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I got to meet Jenna Lee this weekend. Jenna Lee was born 12/7/87 to my aunt Rayna. My aunt was only 16 years old. She knew in her heart that she could not give Jenna the life that Jenna deserved. So she made the most amazing decision to give Jenna up to a family who could give her the life she deserved.

I had the privilege of meeting not only Jenna, but her entire family. The family that raised her into the wonderful girl she is today. When I hugged her mom I was filled with so much emotion, because I think she’s an amazing person to give Jenna the life she did. Gino, the kids and I went to church with them on Easter Sunday and got to watch Jenna give a talk on the resurrection. It was emotional. It was amazing. She has an AMAZING testimony of this church and I only hope that one day I can have one as strong as hers.

Rylie May was born today

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I woke up this morning expecting to be able to watch the birth of my new baby cousin. I went curves, came home and took a shower, got the kids ready and packed our day bag for a day of hospital. I got there and everyone was in the waiting room. The kids and I spent some time in with Jill and her labor was going smoothly and she was numb!

I walked out of her room and not much longer there was a rush of nurses. My aunt Amy was in the hallway crying and I learned out that Rylie May’s heart was dropping. It actually even stopped. I couldn’t believe what was going on. The doctor that delivered Ella was Jill’s doctor and I could see the panic in her eyes as she was running. They wheeled Jill out and everything happened so fast.

They did an emergency C-Section and Rylie May was in this world for an entire 4 minutes without taking a breath. Jill spent hours in recovery and Rylie was in the NICU with breathing tubes. This day that was supposed to be an exciting, joyful day turned out to be every mom’s worst nightmare.

I think one of the saddest parts of today was watching my Aunt Amy (Jill’s mom) sit there feeling so helpless. She just wanted to be with her daughter and she couldn’t. I can’t even begin to imagine how that would feel.

I finally got to see Jill at 6:30pm. She was in good spirits. I had already seen Rylie in the NICU and I felt horrible that I had seen her before Jill had. Jill told me how she actually felt the surgery and they ended up putting her to sleep. As I left the hospital I saw the doctor in the hallway and she told me that they had just removed the ventilators off of Rylie. She’s breathing on her own!!

I know I’m reaching out for many prayers right now, but please pray for this precious new soul in this world who has had such a horrible start. I will post pictures once I get some.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYLIE MAY