Climbing Mountains...

I try and journal the good things that happen in life..the fun memories or the funny things my kids do or say.  I think most mom do.  It helps me find the joy in life.  I think it helps me remember from time to time when life gets me down I am a good person...and a good mom, or at least I really try hard to me.  It is easy, for me to remember the hard times and forget the good ones. That is one reason I have loved blogging in the pass.  It has helped me enjoy the journey now.  Sit back and smile.  Today however, is not one of those happy uplifting times...its more of a, I can get through this type of times.

On Sunday, I had to give a lesson on trials and adversity to the Young Women.  It was paralytically difficult for me because I am having a hard time right now. For some reason my emotions got the better of me, which honestly has happened more often than not lately.  Frankly, it was kind of embarrassing as the snot kept coming and the tissues ran out.  I read a ton of information while studying for my lesson.  I came to the conclusion that sometimes when I have tried as hard as I feel that I can, I am reading my scriptures and praying and "bad things" happen anyway, that the Lord is shaping and molding me.  He is refining me and making me a better person.

As I cleaned the kitchen this morning I was thinking back to other times in my life where I have had difficult situations arise.  How I handled them, how I wish that I handled them.  The blessings that came after the trail of my faith.  It brought tears to my eyes to remember the blessings that came...how much I learned about my self, other people and about my Heavenly Father.

I was talking with my Mom last week about how I was feeling.  She shared with me different times in her life where she struggled with similar situations and how she handled them. It was a strength to me. How grateful I am for an amazing mother.  For her amazing example to me as far back as I can remember.

How grateful I am for a husband who listens, supports and loves me too. Last week Matthew came home from work and told me to come to the computer. When I asked him why, he told me he knew I was having a hard time and he wanted to do something nice for me.  He had found four purses that he liked and wanted me to pick one.  I told him I was not letting him buy me a purse but that I loved that he was thinking of me.  I felt special because he had spent some time picking out different purses for me that he thought that I might like. What a sweet guy!

I haven't quite figured out what I am suppose to learn from this situation right here and now but I am finding comfort in this scripture as I try and figure that out.  Mosiah 24:13-15

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Saying Goodbye

For the seven years that we lived in Bartlett, Tennessee I always talked about coming back to Nashville. We moved to Bartlett because Matthew decided to go to Law School at the University of Memphis. We thought that we would be there for the three years of school and get a job back in Nashville shortly after. Plans don't go like we always think they will...

For the longest time, I had in my head that we were going to move at any time. Matthew would apply off and on for different job postings in the Nashville area. When he interviewed in September it took me by surprise when he called me from work a week or so later and told me they made him an offer. I started crying. We had two weeks to pack up and get to Nashville. I was happy and sad. Happy to be closer to family but so sad to leave the people I had come to care about so very much and our little house.

We ended up finishing all the little house repairs that you always say, you will do later. We put her up on the market started packing up and two weeks later we headed to Smyrna. It all happened so fast. The kids were crying and didn't want to leave...it was hard.

My parents asked us to move in with them. When we told them that Matthew got the job they started filling out mounds and mounds of paper work to go on a mission for our church. A couple weeks after being in Smyrna we got an offer on our house. It was really sad to let it go, but we did. We went back down one last time and got the rest of our things. The kids were so excited to sleep in their beds again. Eli walked in and was so excited to be there. He was smiling ear to ear. He sad, "I remember this place! I love it!"

When the moving van was packed we gathered together and thanked Heavenly Father for our blessing and all the sweet wonderful memories we shared in our home. We were all crying as we pulled away. Is everyone this emotional about moving out of their home or are we a nut job?!

We have been in Smyrna for three months now. The kids are finally adjusting to their new school. I, well, its harder for adults to deal with change than kids, I think. I love being so close to my parents, being able to visit with my mom every day. I love being able to visit with my sweet friends that I have missed so dearly over the years. I love Matthew's new job and the people that he works with. I love feeling a little safer.

I never thought that I would say that I miss Memphis but I do! I miss my sweet wonderful Primary kids. Their hugs and sweet stories. The great ladies that I served with. My close friends. The kids school. My tiny little house. The close access to just about anything you could think of. The sweet little kids I use to watch...

It is so humbling to look back the the events over the last seven years, things that I thought at that time should be different, and see the guiding hand of my Heavenly Father watching over my family. All those sweet blessings and experiences I hold dear to my heart and will be ever so grateful for.

Date Nights

I am never a big fan of getting together with Matthew's coworkers. Not because his coworkers are mean but these women have successful careers as big time attorneys and well... I am a stay at home mom. My every day life is MUCH different than theirs. Matthew called and told me he had a dinner benefit that I had to go to. I was SO not looking forward to it. The dress was business casual so I went to buy we some cloths. I found some pants that we too long but I thought with heels they might be okay. Yeah, I was wrong. They were way to long. Since I didn't have time to hem them I taped them up! Yeah, not my best idea. By the time I got to the front door, I was stepping all over my pants, lol! Matthew and I were laughing. Oh well! The conversation wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I survived the night and had a good time.


(This dinner was back in Septemberish 2011 when Matthew worked at Hardison.)

Matthew surprised me with Les Miserables tickets back in June, I think. One bad thing about waiting so long to journal is I can't remember when he gave them to me exactly. He gave them to me a few months before the show came...the show was at the end of August.
Matthew was so excited to give them to me. He told me he had a present for me and I was going to be so excited I would want to kiss him! (that is such a Matthew comment.) He came home from work and gave me a large vanilla envelop. It had another envelop in side. Inside that envelop there was another, etc. After opening about 5 envelops I saw my tickets. I was so excited! Matthew had never seen Les Miserable so I was really excited for him to see it. It was a wonderful night! I loved it so much! I am so grateful for such a sweet hubby!

Easter

After LOADS of candy and trying to sit through three hours of church this is what I got...

Spring Time

We have started out this Spring running and running...

Matthew started a new job with a bigger firm. He loves his new job and he has been able to learn a lot from these attorney's. This new job has health benefits and if you are a Moffitt, need I say more! This job has been such a blessing.

Maddie and Kennedy started soccer this year. It has been fun to see them so excited to play. They are NOT the most coordinated girls on the team but they are the ones that produce the most laughs! At Kennedy's first practice the coach asked her to dribble the ball to the net and she started dribbling the soccer ball like a basket ball. When the girls are are goalie, they stand with their knees bent and there hands out ready for anything. They are always in stance even when they are in mid-field. They don't want to take the ball away from people either, "that just isn't nice." To their defense, they have never played before and do not know anything about soccer. They love to play, though. They live for practice each week and they have a great team of girls and an awesome coach. Maddie and Kennedy also started a singing group with Mrs. B. The Spring Singers. They love singing with all their friends and it has also been a highlight of the week.

Jake started T-ball this year. He has been talking about T-ball ever since he went to his cousin, Chas' game last year. He was sad to discover that T-ball required you to stay still for extended amounts of time. He is often found with his glove on his head, playing in the dirt or just facing the opposite way looking at the road. He IS however, the cutest little boy on the field. I LOVE the uniforms. They look so stinking cute!

Eli started a music class with Mrs. B. He loves seeing her each week and she is SO good with the kids. He loves having his "own" thing just like the other kids. He does wish he was able to play soccer. We canceled Eli's surgery, this week. I took him to the doctor last Friday to see about the staph on his stomach. I wasn't sure he could go into surgery having it. I was telling the doctor about some other things going on and he told me I needed to do a stool sample. WAY GROSS!! I canceled the surgery. The doctor called me the a day later and told me Eli tested positive for C diff. It was a blessing in disguise that I canceled the surgery. I had to post the picture of Matthew taking the sample and Eli telling Matthew, "Doctor Owens wants to test my poop!" It was so funny!

I stay so busy going to and fro. I did start watching a little boy, Jackson, three days a week. He is a really sweet kid and the boys love having a play mate. It has been enjoyable.

Black History Project

My girls are in second grade. I think they are average students. (Maybe above average students would find this easy, I don't know.) They received an assignment last week to find a famous African-American person they would like to due and report on. They were to make a time line with at least 5 events and have pictures for each one. After they gathered their researched they were to write two paragraphs on two events on the time line of their choice. Dress up as this person and present it to the class.

Okay, I think that is too much for a second grader. They can not gather research on the internet. (They could have at least taken them to the library to check out a book on the person they would have liked to due their report on.) I do not like that I am stuck doing TWO reports! I don't find that fair. I haven't enough busy work.

With the said my girls did enjoy learning about history. I think they could have assigned a project much more on their level.

I am just saying........................

Proud Mommy Moment

On Sunday we were waiting in the lobby for the sacrament to finish being past. The girls sat in one chair together and Jake sat in another. Matthew and I were standing next to them. After about a minute Jacob stood up and Maddie jumped up and took his chair. Jacob got upset and told her to get up, that chair was for Mom. He went on to tell her he got up to give it to me. I almost cried. I thought it was so sweet. I don't think that I have ever been so proud to be his Mom!