HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

A Little Help From the Lord

Sometimes I get really down on myself. I look around our apartment and see the mess, I feel like a horrible example as a mother. How can I expect my children to keep their rooms clean, when I can't even keep mine and the rest of the house clean.  I am embarrassed when my family comes over and sees how slack I have been with the chores. It's even worse when they start doing some of them for me. I push myself down further and further looking at all the mistakes I have done and look at the life I am setting out for our family.
I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father who answers prayers. I asked for strength and this was the answer he gave me:

Never Give Up

BY PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

From an address delivered in April 1987 general conference.

You run in the race of life, competing only with yourself. To win, keep trying and moving forward. Your family and your leaders are cheering for you.

Never Give Up

In our journey on earth, we discover that life is made up of challenges—they just differ from one person to another. We are success-oriented, striving to become “wonder women” and “super men.” Any hint of failurecan cause panic, even despair. Who among us cannot remember moments of failure?

One such moment came to me as a young basketball player. The game was close—hotly contested—when the coach called me from the bench to run a key play. For some reason which I shall never understand, I took the pass and dribbled the ball right through the opposing team. I jumped high toward the basket; and, as the basketball left my fingertips, I came to the abrupt realization that I was shooting for the wrong basket. I offered the shortest prayer I have ever spoken: “Dear Father, don’t let that ball go in.” My prayer was answered, but my ordeal was just beginning. I heard a loud cheer erupt from the adoring fans: “We want Monson, we want Monson, we want Monson … OUT!” The coach obliged.

Not long ago I read about an incident that occurred in the life of U.S. President Harry S. Truman after he had retired and was back in Independence, Missouri. He was at Truman Library, talking with some elementary school students and answering their questions. Finally, a question came from an owlish little boy. “Mr. President,” he said, “was you popular when you was a boy?” The President looked at the boy and answered, “Why, no. I was never popular. The popular boys were the ones who were good at games and had big, tight fists. I was never like that. Without my glasses I was blind as a bat, and to tell the truth, I was kind of a sissy.” The little boy started to applaud, and then everyone else did, too (Vital Speeches, Feb. 1983, p. 6).

Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failureto achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.

In 1902, the poetry editor of the Atlantic Monthly returned a sheaf of poems to a 28-year-old poet with this curt note: “Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse.” The poet was Robert Frost. In 1894, the rhetoric teacher at Harrow in England wrote on a 16-year-old’s report card, “A conspicuous lack of success.” The 16-year-old was Winston Churchill.

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” (The American Treasury: 1455–1955, ed. Clifton Fadiman, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1955, p. 689).

We know men and women can change—and change for the better. No more vivid example is recorded than the life of Saul of Tarsus. The sacred record reveals that Saul threatened the disciples of the Lord. Then came that light from heaven and the voice saying unto him: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

“And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:4–5).

Saul’s answer is a model for each of us: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Saul the persecutor became Paul the proselyter. Night had turned to day. Darkness had yielded to light.

Simon Peter, that fisherman who left his nets and followed the Lord, had his time of struggle. He had been weak and fearful and had denied his Lord with an oath. Then there came change. Never again would he deny or desert his Lord. He found his place in the kingdom of God.

We have the example of Alma the Younger, who turned his back on sinful practices and wasteful ways. Conversion came. He became an exponent of truth. His tender words of counsel to his sons Helaman and Corianton are literary classics. To Helaman: “O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God” (Alma 37:35). To Corianton: “Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing” (Alma 39:11).

Then and now, as President David O. McKay so consistently taught, the gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature and change human lives.

In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential. But the way is rugged, and the course is strenuous. So discovered John Helander from Goteborg, Sweden. John is handicapped, and it is difficult for him to coordinate his motions.

At a youth conference in Kungsbacka, Sweden, John took part in a 1,500-meter running race. He had no chance to win. Rather, his was the opportunity to be humiliated, mocked, derided, scorned. Perhaps John remembered another who lived long ago and far away. Wasn’t He mocked? Wasn’t He derided? Wasn’t He scorned? But He prevailed. He won His race. Maybe John could win his.

What a race it was. Struggling, surging, pressing, the runners bolted far beyond John. There was wonderment among the spectators. Who is this runner who lags so far behind? The participants on their second lap of this two-lap race passed John while he was but halfway through the first lap. Tension mounted as the runners pressed toward the tape. Who would win? Who would place second? Then came the final burst of speed; the tape was broken. The crowd cheered; the winner was proclaimed.

The race was over—or was it? Who is this contestant who continues to run when the race is ended? He crosses the finish line on but his first lap. Doesn’t the foolish lad know he has lost? Ever onward he struggles, the only participant now on the track. This is his race. This must be his victory. No one among the vast throng of spectators leaves. Every eye is on this valiant runner. He makes the final turn and moves toward the finish line. There is awe; there is admiration. Every spectator sees himself running his own race of life. As John approaches the finish line, the audience, as one, rises to its feet. There is a loud applause of acclaim. Stumbling, falling, exhausted but victorious, John Helander breaks the newly tightened tape. (Officials are human beings, too.) The cheering echoes for miles. And just maybe, if the ear is carefully attuned, the Lord can be heard to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).

Each of us is a runner in the race of life. Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone. That vast audience of family, friends, and leaders will cheer our courage, will applaud our determination as we rise from our stumblings and pursue our goal.

Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all, even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God.

 -

I may not be perfect, but I am trying. I am running my own race at my own speed and I will win. Thank you Father for this answer!

Playing in Snow

Yesterday it snowed, kinda. So I took Tim outside to play.

He liked the snow, just not on his hands :)

The Magic of Snow!

This morning we woke up to a thin blanket of snow!!! Tim loved watching it through the window. I hope it keeps coming so we can go out and play!!!

My Little Helpers

This last weekend was our cleaning weekend. Not very exciting, I know... But Tim liked to "help" with laundry!

We also finished putting up Christmas and putting away the boxes!!!

We ended the morning with a nice lunch of Ramon!  Here birdie birdie!!!

I love my Little Helpers!

Santa!

Tim didn't like Santa very much this year. This is the only picture that I have of him not screaming or looking horrified. 

Couldn't help myself :) hehehe

Tim the Climber

Tim loves to climb up on the chairs.... Unfortunately...

But He's Happy!

Belly Button!!!

Some one found his belly button!!!

Pregnancy Time Table

So I have been keeping track of my growth through the weeks, trying to take a picture once a week. I know they say that after your first you look bigger, but I LOOK HUGE!!! At least in the pictures I do, I really only have a birds eye view :) But here is what we've got so far...

10 Weeks

11 Weeks

 12 weeks

 13 Weeks

Daddy's Little Boy

Tim loves to play with his Dad's things, this last Sunday just happened to be Dad's tie. 

He wore it all Sunday, including church.

Pregnant!!!

We have decided to let out the news!!! I'm Pregnant!! I am 12weeks along and am due June 15th! We originally thought I was 10 weeks, but I measured big and the ultra sound the baby was big enough for 12 weeks!
We are so excited to have this new child come and join our family! We have known for months that this baby has been waiting to join our family and I am so grateful that God re-veiled to us that this child is coming so we could be prepared for this excitement! I am so grateful for the support that our family and friends have given us!
Dear Baby,
Welcome to our family! We love you so much already and will love you even more when you are in our arms! You have a wonderful older brother who will take great care of you and love you so much.
Be healthy and strong!
Love,

Mommy