Celebrating Life

The celebration of Easter is so special, I love to reminisce of life and especially life eternal. The Best gift I have been and ever will be given is eternal life, and too often I forget how lucky I  have been to be taught about eternal life.  Lately I have had some Jehovah's Witnesses that I have been trying to kindly get rid of but to no avail they show up every Friday morning and they are relentless.  (I need some good tips for getting rid of them, so far, nothing has worked) Last Friday they caught me so I let them share their message with me, and I am glad I did! They told me that they believe that we are all going to "HELL." Let me explain, they say that in the bible when they talk of "hell" it is the grave. And when we die (our bodies) that they are buried and that is the end until the Resurrection. I was really thrown back at that and mad. My whole life I had just thought that it was common knowledge that we have a body and inside a spirit. ( I have been raised in Utah, can't you tell) But I honestly started to question my thought process for a bit. What they told me was quite convincing and they backed it up with impressive scriptures. So in tears that night I came to Shawn and said, do you truly believe that we have a spirit inside us. Of course he had great answers and eased my mind, I love his faith. But I was just in fear that if for some reason they were right and I lost someone that I loved dearly that they would just be resting there in their grave, rotting..... No spirit leaving there body and living on, drawing near to us and continuing their work as spirits. I hated the thought! Death has always haunted me, I worry everyday that something is going to happen to Jack. And I think that is why I was so appalled at the theory they had of death, it just seemed so final. I'm not one of those people that can say, " I know the church is true" I don't know, but I sure hope it is. I have invested a lot of time and faith into it. I loved the talk that Pres. Monson gave about the resurrection, it was beautiful. It really eased my mind. I guess what I have come to realize is that what I have been taught about death and eternal life is beautiful and peaceful, and I am going to trust and have faith that is is right, because I believe that God is in charge and I trust him, and that puts me at peace.

On top of all of that we had a great weekend with family, I love them. I am so glad that we get together so often, and make holidays so special.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

PAST WEEK OR SO...

Hiking with with Steve, Kim, Kash, and Harley. Pinewood derby, 3 BBQ's in the back yard, enjoying the WARM weather, Book Club (The Shack), play groups, Making Popcorn trees, Making Easter suckers with Gonga, Swimming at Grandpa Munks indoor POOL, Jack jumped off the edge and loved it, SHAWN moved his Shop, Shawn has worked double over time, Last IMMUNIZATION for Jack, Jack weighted in at 34 lbs. and 3 1/2 feet tall,  Jack THOUGHT it was weird she said he was 3 1/2 feet when he only has two feet, the nurse loved his COMMENT, family outing to "How To Train a Dragon", Loved it and was scared out of his shorts, and family night consisted of a cute EASTER EGG Hunt, Jack got skittles in his egg and loved it!

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Now I might be partial but that is one cute LEPRECHAUN!

(Jack made this hat at a play group. The first time he put it on I burst out laughing, I love it!)

Jack the Leprechaun eating green waffles, lucky charms and green milk, along with his gold nuggets the Irish Leprechaun left! Happy St. Patty's Day

The "D" Word

Maybe I am alone in saying this, but does anyone else feel like Marriage is getting more and more disposable everyday?  I feel like every direction I turn I am faced with a new marriage falling apart. Honestly it scares me and it has made me really analyze my marriage.  Many of the people that are in this situation I have looked up to and thought their marriages "seemed" okay.  The bad thing is most the time the excuse is, I'm not happy, I feel like I settled for this marriage, and the best one, I'm addicted to sex... Lame Lame Lame. Honestly the real problem is that all three of those statements start with I and there is where the problem lies. I love this quote “Marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have. In my judgment, the real essence of happiness in marriage lies not so much in romance as in an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one's companion. Thinking of self alone and of the gratification of personal desires will build neither trust, love, nor happiness. Only when there is unselfishness will love, with its concomitant qualities, flourish and blossom.” -President Gordon B. Hinckley

After I read that quote a few couples popped into my mind, and I am thankful I have them to look up to...

I don't personally know these two, but I feel like I do. Most of you know this story, but for the ones who don't here is why I look up to these two. Stephanie and Christen, a darling married couple with five kids, were in a horrible plane wreck over a year ago. They were both on the brink of death, Stephanie burned from head to toe. Long and great story short, no matter what they look like or what their disabilities are now they are in love. They keep each other alive and look to each other for support.  A great example of true love!

Anyone that has made it 60+ years of marriage belongs in my book of good examples of a successful marriage. I am lucky to call these two my grandparents. They always have smiles on their faces and my grandpa ALWAYS gives my grandma a kiss good bye. I love that. They do everything together, and don't ever act like they are sick of each other.

I can't remember a time that I have heard my parents yell at each other. I love that they still take time to go on dates and love to watch old boring westerns together. I doubt very few days have gone by that my Mom hasn't had a full  meal ready for my Dad when he got home, his laundry folded washed and put away and the house spotless. I doubt a day has gone by that my Dad hasn't worked his fingers to the bone, provided everything that a family could need and honored his priesthood. I love that my Mom waited for my Dad while he was on his mission, it just adds to there great love story.

 I have had numerous conversations with Shawn's Mom about how much pain Shawn's Dad is in all the time and still he wakes up each day and pushes through. She always has a tear in her eye at the end. Corey loves motorcycles, and even though it might not ever happen they always talk about having matcing Harleys and riding together. I hope someday they do.

Shawn's Grandparents have too been married for 60 + years. I love to watch these two. Even though I have never seen them kiss each other or say I love you it is through their actions that I see their love. Grandma Munk has Alzheimer and Grandpa Munk has now had to take on the many roles she had, like cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping, he had some big shoes to fill. And in return Grandpa Munk can hardly walk and without a doubt Grandma is by his side keeping him balanced, I guess you could say one couldn't live without the other.


If you weren't on this list don't be offended, after I started listing a few I realized that there are a lot of you out there that I look up to, thanks. This has made me realize that Shawn and I are in it for the long haul, and there is NO giving up. There may be a lot of divorce happening around us, and my heart hurts for the victims of selfishness, but there are also a lot of great examples around us too. Someone once said that they have a swear word in their house they call the "D" word. Not to be mistaken with the other "D" word :) and it is not aloud in any way shape or form in their house...I think they meant divorce. I too will add that to the list of  DO NOT SAY  in our house words too. I love you all and I know sometime divorce doesn't always go both ways, sadly. There are many people out there that are divorced and don't want to be, that makes me want to cry. I know that there is a soul mate out there for each of us and I am so grateful I have mine!

Little conversations...

Jack and I were at our Tuesday play group when I overheard two cute little Jack conversations, they went something like this...

(we had been there for a few min)
 Jack- Hi Austin I haven't said hi to you yet today. (with a lot of animation)
Austin- Umm.. Mom why did Jack say that...
(Jack has spent way to many hours observing what his Mom says, yikes)

( After a slight accident, Jack was spending some time in the bathroom, but after sitting in there for 10 min. I gave up, Haily and Jack had this potty talk together.)
Haily- Jack you go potty.
Jack- Nah, I just did a little poop in my undies, Moms mad...
Haily- oh

I've always wondered what little boys conversations were like, well there you have it!!!

I have to add one more also.  

Jack - When I grow up I am going to be a dad, like you. I am going to have a big head like you. A really big head!!

Look Again

It's another book review... Apparently we have been doing a bit of reading around the house! I just finish a book titled, "Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline. It is a great book, I loved it because it taught me about being a Mother. The best line in the book comes at the end when she writes, " I have learned that the love a mother has for her child is unique among human emotions... And though, as his Mother, I certainly felt tired at times, I never tired of looking at him. I never tired of watching him eat. I never tired hearing the sounds of his voice or the word he made up... I never tired of seeing him play with legos...  Here is how a Mother's love is different: You may fall out of love with Man. But you will never fall out of love with your child....

This past Friday was one of those "Challenging Mom Days." I changed Jacks paints four time, before it was 12 o'clock. He got into everything he could possible find in the house that would make me upset, he popped the top of his orange juice and shook it all over the back of my car.... If you happened to have run into me that day you probably heard some not so nice things! Needless to say I am giving up on the potty training, after 9 months, and my car got a much needed overhaul. But thank heavens I had just finished this book the day before, and I realized that I love Jack more than I will ever be able to show. And no matter if I have to clean up poop and orange juice mess everyday, I wouldn't give up one second I get to be with JACK. It is like she said my love for Jack is,"unique among human emotions." It's not really something that is explainable, just something felt deep down inside. I am so lucky to be a mom, especially Jacks mom.

If You Give A Cat a Cupcake

Jack and I just finished reading "If You Give A Cat A Cupcake" and I realized how similar my days are to the girls in the book... 

If you give Jack a chocolate milk.
He will want a bagel with white cheese to go with it.
While eating his bagel he will get it all over his face and he will decide he needs to take a bath.
He can't take a bath alone,
He will want all of his cars in the tub so he can do a car wash.
When he gets out of the bath he will be cold and he will ask to wear his sweat pants,
He won't want you to help put anything on so it will take double the time it should,
By then he will be bored and he will want to play a game,
Not just one game, but his 3 favorite, The Ice Game, Toy Story Game, then The Bee Game.
Then he will notice it is day time and want to go outside to play.
 He won't let you sit down he will want you to watch everything and say, "way to go Jack" the whole time,
And he might make you go down the little slide and play in the sand box too.
Then he will remember that he has a dog named Scout and he will want him to come out and play,
Then they might get the great idea to run away from you,
 You will have to go grab your shoes and chase them around the neighborhood.
By that time jack will remember that he is thirsty and he will ask for a chocolate milk...