Consider the lilies

During my scripture study today, these verses stuck out to me:

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

(3 Nephi 13:28&30)

Picture source here

Lilies are my favorite flower (water lilies especially), so these verses mean that much more to me. But even better is the fact that I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know who I am. They love me SO MUCH. They want me to have joy. Pure, lasting, eternal joy that only comes through them. 

Life has not been easy lately. I've been struggling through a personal trial that seems to let up and then I suddenly find myself hunkered down again waiting for the next attack. However, those words of Christ filled my heart with peace and comfort, reminding me that I'm not alone and to stick with it.

To endure well and have faith. 

So that's what I plan to do because Christ hasn't let me down yet, why should He now? I know if I reach out to Him in faith, He will be there and He will provide - just like He promises He will. 

(PS: Love this message from President Eyring: The Reward of Enduring Well)

Aidan Funnies #2

Aidan says the funniest things lately. He is turning more into a talking, little boy vs. a babbling toddler every day. I love it. Here are a few things I actually jotted down. :)

He matched the stickers to the letters. He now knows A is for Aidan, K is for Kimball, M is for Mommy, and D is for Daddy.

I made deviled eggs while Kimball and Aidan were taking a nap. When Aidan woke up he said, "Aidan hungry." He asked me for toast or something, and I told him, "We don't have any bread, but I made some deviled eggs. Do you want one?" He looked super confused, so I explained, "They're really yummy. Do you want to try one? They're in the fridge." He wanders over to the fridge, opens it, sees the deviled eggs on the top rack, and exclaims while grabbing one, "Ohhhhh, YUM-mmy!"

One morning I made paper airplanes. While I folded, Aidan played. He made one fly in the air by holding it in his hand. I asked him where the airplane was flying to, and he said, "Taco Bell!"

Aidan: "Jesus died." 

Me: "Yes, Jesus died, but he's alive again!" 

Aidan: "Jesus resurrected!" 

Me: "Yep, He is resurrected." 

Aidan: "Jesus happy now!" 

"Look Mommy, race tracks!" pointing to a road we're driving by. "Cars racing!"

For a little while he was in the habit of calling Jayze "Jayze" instead of Daddy.

Every time we pass Taco Bell, he says, "Taco Bell!" He does the same thing for Costco and Walmart.

During a rough day, Aidan walked over to where I was sitting down on the couch, kissed my knee, and said, "Love you sooo much, Mommy!"

Jayze: "How do you say cookie in Spanish?"

Aidan: "Spanish!"

While reading scriptures, Jayze starts reading in Spanish. Aidan says, "No! EN-glish, Daddy!"

I dropped Kimball off at a friend's house, but took Aidan with me. When I got back into the van without Kimball, Aidan started whimpering and with a trembling voice said, "Kimball? Kimball? Kimball?" When we were on our way back, I told him we were going to pick up Kimball. He was so excited. When I got out of the car and came back with Kimball, Aidan said, "Kimball! Love him SO much!"

Aidan:"Aidan wear Lightning McQueen shoes." 

Me: "How about your sandals because they're easier to put on?"

Aidan: "No, Lightning McQueen shoes." 

Me: "Okay." 

Aidan suddenly laughs and says: "Ohhh, sorrry." Then, with a decisive nod of his head, he changed his mind and said, "Sandals."

Right before cleaning up his toys during our bedtime routine, Jayze and I said, "K, time to clean up your toys!"

Aidan: "No, brush teeth first!"

Can't go out of order... :)

Me: "Aidan, what's your favorite color?"
Aidan: "Green!"

Me: "What's your favorite animal?" 

Aidan: "Lions!" (but recently he's changed it to giraffes)

Me: "What's your favorite food?"

Aidan: "Peas!" (Me: ???)

Aidan: "I like driving in the car. Kimball happy!"

He's very independent. He's constantly saying, "Aidan's got it!"

After watching Cars 3, I asked Aidan who his favorite character was. He said, "Jackson Storm!"

Watching Cars 3 with his Lightning McQueen hat, shirt, and shoes.

Aidan: "Aidan wants banana."

Me: "Sorry bud, we're all out of bananas."

Aidan: "Go in the van. Drive. Store. Get more bananas. Come home!"

Me: "What do you want for dinner, bud?"

Aidan: "Mmmmm, pizza!"

Me: "We don't have any pizza."

Aidan: "Daddy comes home, go in van, go get pizza." 

Aidan: "You're the best, Mommy!"

Me: "You're the best, Aidan!"

I love this silly, loving, sweet boy of mine. Despite his recent sassiness, he really is the best. 

July 4, 2017

I loved how relaxing this 4th of July was. We began our day with the ward breakfast: pancakes, multiple fruit salads, and good company. Afterwards, I drove home with Aidan and Kimball while Jayze hitched a ride with one of our friends to help a ward member move.

I took a quick snooze myself after putting the kids down for naps, and it was wonderful. Later, we were going to hit up a local water park, but the kids' nap schedules ended up being a little crazy. We went to a local park instead. It turned out to be the better decision. It has a splash pad, a huge chess set, a space with swings and slides, and is free. :) 

Aidan wasn't much into the water, and surprisingly, Kimball wasn't either. They were both dressed in their swimsuits, but barely got them wet. They were more interested in the slides, swings, and chess set, which was fine by me. It was nice to have so many options. Although, when they saw how much fun Jayze and I were having in the water, they warmed up to it.

Before we headed to the park, we bought a big package of fireworks at one of the many popped up, white tents. Kimball kept walking in the parking lot, so we stuck him in the booster seat. He seemed content eating grass and picking up sticks and pine cones within his reach. The fireworks scared him because of how loud they were, but he liked watching them sparkle and sizzle.

Aidan loved the sparklers and the little snappers you throw at the ground. He kept saying, "More fireworks!" and "Aidan's turn!" He helped Jayze light one of the fireworks and liked the one that shot into the air and exploded into a series of colors. 

The sky celebrated with its own version of red, white, and blue, and we finished the day off by eating oven-baked tinfoil dinners and watching our neighbors light off their fireworks in the parking lot right outside our window. The kids didn't get to bed until about 10:30, but it was worth it.

I'm grateful to live in a beautiful country with beautiful freedoms. I feel extremely blessed to live in America and happy I can celebrate it every year with those I love dearly.

When Your Brother Gets Stuck in a Box

I ended up helping Aidan because K was too heavy for him, but Aidan made the effort quite a few times. 

Fireflies

Last Sunday (June 25), we received a tender mercy - we saw fireflies!

Jayze had seen a few when he went running the other night and wondered if we would be able to see any by our apartment. He took the kids out on the grass just before their bedtime to see if they could glimpse any, but no luck. I think it was still too light outside. Since it was getting late, we put the kids to bed and then, with our elbows up on the back of the couch, we peered out the window searching for any sign of even one firefly.

Jayze told me he said a prayer asking to see them, but if not, that would be okay too. I decided to pray in my heart as well. We were talking on the couch when Jayze smiled and nodded toward the window, looking out over the darkening yard. I quietly squealed and said, "Really? Where?!" and jumped up on my knees and began searching out the window again.

I looked intently toward one of the big trees near the wooden fence, and there! A flicker of light! A firefly! As the sun kept going down and as I kept looking out the window, I saw more tiny bursts of light. They flashed for just a moment before disappearing. 

Even though the kids were already in bed, we could tell Aidan was still just barely awake, so Jayze went and got him. He led a tired Aidan out of the bedroom toward the window and told him to look for fireflies. Aidan rubbed his eyes, looked out the window, and after a few moments saw one. Then another one. And another one!

It was magical. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father answered our prayers, and I'm glad Aidan got to see them too. Mine and Aidan's first sighting of the season! And since I love fireflies so much, I know it won't be the last. We'll make it happen again and again.    

(parts taken from my journal 6/28/17)