Look for the sunshine through the clouds

I think in our times of trial, we are so focused on those hard times that we forget about the many blessings we have.  Lately I have been having a really hard time with being sick (yes, morning sickness has been worse this go around), feeling so tired all the time, crying all the time and feeling hungry all the time.  I was telling Ben last night that my emotions are out of control.  I just feel out of control!!  But I've been thinking a lot about a Relief Society lesson our R.S. President shared about looking for the sunshine through the clouds.  It was such a good lesson, and obviously I needed to hear it.  So I'm going to list 10 things I've been blessed with.  Here goes, in no particular order:

1.  I have been blessed with a very loving, supportive, patient, intelligent, willing husband (I could go on).  He has helped me so much, even as simple as getting me toast in the morning so I don't throw up.  What a sweetheart!  I don't know what I'd do without him!

2.  I have a beautiful, healthy, happy little girl who brings such joy in my life.

3.  I am a member of the only true church, and feel the blessings as I live my life the way I'm supposed to.

4.  I have a wonderful family (both mine and Ben's) who are supportive and I know who pray for us everyday.

5.  I have all that I could ever need.  A beautiful home, a running car, food, clean running water, etc.

6.  I have wonderful friends who are concerned and worried about me, and who seem to know just when I need them.

7.  I have been blessed with the simple things, like the Disney movies to keep Lilli entertained while I'm sick in bed (she watches them in our room so I can lay down).

8.  I have a healthy body.  

9.  I have one beautiful baby, and now have one on the way!

10.  I have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of my trials, afflictions, and sicknesses and has blessed me with the comfort I need to get through each day!

Remember, look for the sunshine through the clouds.

Mother's Day

Ben really went out of his way to make Mother's Day a special day.  We went out Saturday night with some good friends to dinner and a movie.  Earlier that day, Ben surprised me with a gift certificate to Motherhood Maternity, so I can get me some cute maternity clothes.  I let someone borrow my maternity clothes (ALL of them) and she's moved away and I don't know where she is.  Ben thinks I totally planned it, but I didn't, not really anyway.    Then I went to go to bed after our date, and he had hidden some piano music.  Sunday morning he let me sleep in and made me breakfast in bed (a yummy omelet with spinach, tomatoes, and cheese).  Ben had to work that day and so I know he wanted to make the day extra special.  He definitely went above and beyond.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter (with one on the way).  

My own mom is such a great example of what a righteous mother is.  I hope that I can be as a great a mom as she was.  She's my best friend and I love her so much!  I don't know what I'd do without my mama!!  Not only is my mom a great mom, but I'm so grateful for Ben's mom, Vicki, as well.  She has been a great mom and gram gram and we love her so much too!  I love my family!!!

Baby #2

Yes!  That's right!  Ben and I found out this last week that I am pregnant with our second child!!!  I can post it now that all families know.  We're very excited and anxious.  Lilli doesn't quite understand just yet, but whenever we say anything about a new baby, she gets pretty excited (for a second and then she's distracted).  I haven't been to the doctor yet, but I think I'll be due sometime in January.  I'll know for sure when I see my doctor.  But thanks to all of you for your love and support!  We're going to continue to need that as our family expands!!!!!!!

Sunglasses, Strawberries, and Water!

Ben thought it would be fun to completely soak Lilli with the hose, so I thought it would be fun to soak him too.

She was being so goofy yesterday!

Ben got these Little Mermaid sunglasses for Lilli.  Don't mind the hair.  She had just woken up from a nap.

This summer has been fun so far, and it hasn't even really started!  Lilli loves water.  I've mentioned several times before that she is my little water baby.  One day it was super hot, so I turned on the sprinkler, put her swimming suit on, and let her get all wet.  I just love her swimsuit!  She had such a good time.  Just the other day, we went over to our good friends, the Pilkington's, and she went swimming in their little kiddie pool.  Lilli stayed in the water until I MADE her get out.  She was turning purple and shivering and shaking all over!  How long do I leave in there until she gets hypothermia??!?!?  She wasn't too happy about it, but when we got home I put in her in a warm bath.  Yesterday, for play group, we went to a strawberry patch and picked a whole bucket full of yummy, delicious strawberries.  Lilli ate them more than she picked.  Not to mention the first 3 strawberries I had put in the bucket, she took one bite of each and then put them back in the bucket.  I guess she just wanted a taste.  By the time we got home, she had eaten about 20 strawberries (no exaggeration either) and was a complete mess.  She got a bath when we got home.  She was mad when I took the bucket inside.  She already had two in her hand but I guess wanted more.  Silly girl!!!  I love summer!

ABC's

Thanks Kate for tagging me!  Alrighty, here goes!

A: Attached or single?  Attached (thankfully).  Ben is such a wonderful hubby!  I could NEVER do the whole dating scene again.

B: Best Friend? Definitely Ben, and my mom.

C: Cake or pie?  I have to choose????????

D: Day of choice?  Whatever days Ben has off, so we can spend it together as a family.  But I love every day.

E: Essential item?  DVD player for Lilli in the car.  That thing has made trips SO much better.

F: Favorite color?  My favorite color has always been blue, but lately I'm really into pinks, greens, and browns.

G: Greatest accomplishment? Of course getting married and having Lilli.  But I am proud of my accomplishment of losing weight.  It's been such an uphill battle but I'm down 13 pounds from when I first started.  Yea!  Go me!

H: Hometown? Cokeville.  Like Katie said, I think I'll always be a Panther at heart.  A lot of good memories.

I: Indulgence? I'm not sure.  Anything sweet.

J: January or July?  Here in Georgia, definitely January (the weather is mild).  July here gets up to 105 to 110 (with some crazy humidity, so really it feels like it's 120).  Back in Wyoming, I love July.  The weather (temperature) was perfect!

K: Kind of accessory you have to have?  I love purses too, Katie.  I really need a new one.  

L: Life is incomplete without?  Lilli saying she loves me.  It really melts my heart! 

M: Marriage date? December 18th, 2004

N: Number of siblings? 5 (2 bro's and 3 sister's)

O: Oranges or apples?  It depends on what I feel like, but apples are SO much less of a hassle.

P: Phobias or Fears?  I hate having my feet dangling over my bed.  I'm afraid something is going to grab them.  Also, I have to have the shower curtain pulled back (or open) during the night.  I'm afraid something will be behind there waiting for me (I'm crazy I know).

Q: Quote? "Seriously?" I've been saying that a lot lately. 

R: Reason to smile?  We just had a Relief Society lesson on that today.  I have so many reasons to smile.  I have a beautiful, healthy little girl and a wonderful, loving husband.  I have been so blessed!!!!

S: Season:  My favorite season here is spring.  The weather is mild and everything is turning green!  I love it!

T: Tag your friends? Whoever wants to do it.  I'd love to see everyone's answers.  I love knowing the tidbits of people's personality's.

U: Unknown fact about me?  I've done so many of these tags, I can't think of something you don't know about me.  Ben just told me that I should write that I don't like to take the extra goobies that are at the bottom of the pan when I dish up lasagna.  Does that make sense?  When you dish up lasagna, some of either the meat or the sauce falls out onto the pan, well, I don't like it. Yuck!

V: Very favorite store? Target.  I spend WAY too much money there, everytime.  That's why we don't go there too often.

W: Worst habit?  I definitely think biting my nails.  I bite them until they hurt.  You'd think I'd learn, but I just keep doing it over and over again.

X: X-ray or ultrasound? I've only ever had an ultrasound, but I prefer that to X-ray anyway.  Getting an X-ray always is a result of some sort of broken bone. 

Y: Your favorite food?  I love any kind of Mexican food.  I'm addicted.

Z: Zodiac?  I'm a Scorpio.  I looked up what the characteristics of a Scorpio was and I read that it is a success sign. "Self-contained, self-centered, and concentrated, it usually succeeds in what it sets out to accomplish."  I don't know.  Sure.

Library

Ben took these pictures while we were at the library (again with his cell phone camera).  Lilli loves books, and as you can see, it was a little chilly outside.  She's too funny!!  And cute!

Latin Festival (Cinco de Mayo)

Fort Gordon was having a Latin Festival through the weekend so we decided to go.  We wanted to do the whole "buying food and tickets for the rides that are totally NOT worth that much."  It was worth experiencing at least once, I guess.  So we bought some tickets and let Lilli ride a bunch of rides.  She had so much fun.  But I don't think she had as much fun as Ben and I did watching her.  On all the rides except for the swings she had this scowl on her face.  I went on the little carousel ride with her.  She just held on to the horse for dear life.  We actually took her on the swings twice, she liked it so much.  After rides, we went and got us some "authentic" latin food (that's what the sign said).  Ummmm......it so was not authentic!  Plus they give you diddly squat.  It was still good, but I have to say I was really disappointed in the "authenticity" and the amount.  What a rip off!  After "dinner" (or a snack, I think), we got Lilli some cotten candy.  She was a little hesitant at first, wasn't sure what to think.  But after tasting it, she loved it.  We all loved it!  Even though it was kind of a rip off, we still had fun and it's an experience Lilli hopefully enjoyed!

Sorry about the quality of the pictures.  They were taken with Ben's cell phone camera. 

Soccer Season

Here are some action shots from one of Ben's soccer games this season. This is his second season playing for the Air Force team here.  He really enjoys playing soccer (he's obsessed). Last season his team did fairly well winning about half their games.  This year has been a bit more of a struggle for them. They tied or lost the majority of their games and managed to squeak out a couple of wins right at the end. 

This week has been pretty busy with end-of-season double elimination tournament. They lost in a penalty shootout on Monday. Fortunately, due to a bracketing mixup, that game didn't count. Tuesday the lost a pretty heated match against a Navy team (1-2) Wednesday night Ben played in goal and they came away with a win (3-0). He played in goal again tonight and did really well. They beat a team of Brits (2-0). Now they have to play the same Navy team again on Monday in a loser-out match. It's supposed to be a pretty intense game.