Crazy Cotton Kids

5/25/10

Proud Mama

McKenna had her BETA induction last. Academic honors- I am so proud of her. She has worked so hard for her grades. UNLIKE her mother used to. :)

5/20/10

Thanks to Jill's post tonight I am inspired to end the last 30 minutes of this day on a good note. Jackson is testing me like none other. And I am pretty sure my neighbor hates us. (he tried to tackle her newly planted tree)

Went to the store and he was horrible. I can always tell its over the top bad when people give me that look like, "She shouldn't be a mother". Now, I'm used to the look that says, "boy you have your hands full", that one I can handle. But the other just hits my self esteem super hard.

Loosing my temper at night because I have been holding it in all day, is not the way to go out. But I did it anyway. But what I am grateful for (here I go Jill) is that I got the chance to cuddle and kiss him before he fell asleep so he knows I love him.

And I do, because he makes me laugh way more than cry.........

I walked out side and saw this. I mean he was laying here long enough for me to think, "what the heck", realize what he was doing, pull out my phone and take the pic. He is playing dead. It's one of his latest gigs. And he will lay there until someone finds him.

Not kidding, eyes closed and all. ......now thats funny

He was giving me a thumbs up because I told him he did a good job at playing dead. "cool mom" he says

And his other gig lately is to climb up top the car and dance around the roof. He first started this while in AZ visiting my family. He freaks out a lot of people doing this. But I reassure them by simply saying, "Oh, Don't worry, if he falls he'll just bounce" Yeah that wins me the Mother of the year award! But really, he will bounce.

I had to snap it fast so he wouldn't see me and think that I was condoning this kind of behavior. I had to hide my face from laughing as well. Yet another reason our neighbors hate us.

So, as I have a whopping 15 minutes left of this day, I can honestly say I feel better about my little hellion and am ready to see what tomorrow brings.

(I hope your not reading this Mira because you are still watching him tomorrow for me! haha)

Family's Are Forever

Even when things are hard and times are tough, it's nice to take a moment and capture the real things in life.

Family's Are Forever

3/21/10

To Learn it, Love it, and Live it

Learning through trial, as we have been taught, is part of our earthly existence. Turning to the scriptures one particular day I came across Alma 32. The people here have been kicked out of their synagogues and "they are despised of all men because of their poverty.." They turned to Alma for help and guidance. What I read next touched my heart.

"And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards {them}, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word."

In my feeling of despair, sorrow, and sadness I felt I could relate to the people Alma was teaching. What truck me was the response Alma gave them. He was filled with joy! He knew that when we are truly humble, it is then and only then, that we are teachable. We learn the word of God when we are humble and willing. Learning all I could about what the Lord could teach me through this trial had suddenly brought more joy to my days.

I soon realized that the more I learned the more I loved. At times, as crazy as it sounds, I loved the trial. I was loving that I felt the spirit more, I was loving that I appreciated my family more, and I loved myself more. How is it possible that in the middle of heartache, I can feel so much love?

In a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled, The Love of God, he says "When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."

As I felt the love of Christ it was as though He was standing against the wind on those days I didn't think I could bare it. Through the Love of Christ I had clarity on days that started out with heavy fog. His Love was saving me.

In Moroni 7:47 it says, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

Another big part to Love it is serving those around us, even in the midst of our trials. It was when I crawled out of my hole and thought about others or gave service that I felt better, and for that brief moment I forgot about my own hardship.

President Monson's talk this last conference, titled What Have I Done for Someone Today, said in reference to the scripture Luke 9:24, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives."

After trying to learn all I did, and trying to love more fully, I was finding it hard to actually LIVE it. When we feel temporary relief from our trials, do we continue to learn and love like we did in the middle of it? How easy is it to enjoy the free feeling that we just start coasting through life again? I realized that my true test was, do I LIVE what I have LEARNED?

I stopped looking at life as just getting through the trials the best I can, one to the next. Or taking in deep breaths while all is well, and then holding it when life feels like it's falling apart. I found that no matter what may come my way, if I continue to learn all I can about the Savior and follow Him, and continue to increase my love in all things. It is then that I am truly living life. What comes my way, bad or good, it is just another opportunity to grow. I don't mean to make it sound simple and I know that many suffer more than I ever have. I know the Lord only allows us to experience what he knows we can overcome. I feel the Lord has stretched me this year more than ever before. I have felt more pain than ever before and I have felt more alone than ever before. I know it's not easy, I can say however, that I am just beginning to feel some gratitude for what I have been allowed to experience along the way. May this year bring more learning of Gods word, loving and serving those around me, and living life with joy throughout it all.

A few family pics

3/9/10

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNA-BOO

WOW, I remember 12 years ago today waiting impatiently to see what this long awaited little girl would look like! Aaron and I were so anxious to be parents and could not have been more blessed to have McKenna come first. I remember looking on the computer for baby names. I liked Makayla and Mckenzie, and then remembered one of my favorite movies growing up, Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymore. I loved Elise McKenna.

She was so elegant and kind and beautiful. She glided as she walked and well, I just loved her. I waited to see my little girl and feel of her spirit and once I did I knew she was a McKenna.

She is full of grace and beauty and walks with angels. I could not be more happy with who this young woman is becoming. She teaches me everyday to be a better person.

She is a GREAT babysitter and loves little a children. She has been such a good older sister and cousin (or as we like to call her aunt mckenna)

She has been an animal lover from the beginning. Once we had 5 cats because she would not let us turn away a stray. It just reflects her nurturing spirit.