Johnson Family Sealing

 Friday, November 14, 2014

I had the great privilege of taking some quick family portraits after Trevor Johnson was sealed for time and eternity to his parents and brothers. 

 Wonderful happy eternal family. David, Rena Jean, Trevor, George and Austin Johnson.

We always take advantage of friend picture opportunities these days.  We have been close since we were very small children. (Malu was not there.)

Easter 2014

As usual on any given Sunday, cooperation is minimal, so I do not have very many photos.  But here is our cute family on Easter Sunday.

 Easter

April 20, 2014

Eric picked this dress.  We found Valette's and he loved it so I went searching for a smaller size for Abbi to match.  We have the cutest girls around.

I'm not biased or anything.

Grandma Julie and Grandpa Greg joined us for Sacrament meeting.

I am thankful for my Savior.  I am thankful the knowledge I have of the Savior and His role in my life.  I can't imagine how much harder it would be to go through life without knowing of the Gospel and the purpose of life and what will happen when this life ends.

I really enjoyed the concept Elder Bednar taught us in this past conference, that we are not happy in spite of our loads in life, but because of them.  Adversity is life's great teacher.  Because of Him I can make it through trials and adversity, and remain joyful.

Because of Him I have an eternal family and I have the ability to be happy always.

Abigail Lynn's Blessing Day

Pre Blessing Bath

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Abigail Lynn Lara's Blessing Day

Lazona Ward, Barkley Building

 Grandma and Grandpa Lara

Poor Valette, there isn't a good one of her, I think she was fighting my hair the whole time we took these.

 Grandma and Grandpa Lawlor

Rachael, Noelle, and Rena Jean Bell...plus 9 others. Sheesh, we have grown.

I know that Rachael is the only one looking here, but I think that we all look so good in this one.  Really happy.

 Precious moment. Daddy and Abbi.

 Our happy family.

Grandma Vicki made this AMAZING dress. I told her what I wanted and she made it happen.  Thank you, Mom. I love it.

Easter

 Easter Sunday

March 31, 2013

Also Abbi's first Sunday at church.

 This is the best one of our faces and it is a little out of focus. Sad.

 Abbi is wearing my blessing dress, which was also Valette's blessing dress. Valette wore this as her first Easter dress too. I suppose it can be a tradition. Valette thinks that hat is the most grand toy ever.  She only wore it for these few pictures while we were at church, but at home she likes to go grab it and wear it around for a while.  She will come tell you, "I so pretty." I sure do love my girls.

...aaand Abigail with her tongue out. Very typical.

I don't talk church much.  But just know that I do believe in this gospel.  I know that my Savior atoned for my sins, and for everyone's.  I also know that He felt every pain we might ever have to feel in our own lifetimes.  There IS someone who will always know how you feel when you are sad or in pain or even joyful.  Especially joyful.  That is what our Savior wants for us.  It is the reason we have families and temples and the Priesthood.

I'm so glad to have the True Gospel in my life.

Happy late Easter.

New Year, New Goals

I am late in posting about this, but here it is anyway:

Happy 2013!

Last year January 1st was a Sunday. I remember sitting in Sacrament and listening to a bunch of people talk about their goals for the new year and thinking how I never make any new year's resolutions. Seriously, the only time I've done that is in school when it was an assignment. On that day I decided to make a goal for 2012 that I would attend the temple at least once a month.

I am so happy to report that I did it! (Okay, I missed February. But I am still counting it as a success.) 

I am grateful for the experiences I was able to have in the temple this past year. I love the feeling there is in the temple and I'm so glad for the knowledge I gained from going frequently. I also think that it helped me to be more considerate at home and a better mother--at least for the days right after attending.

***

This year I made a list of goals instead of just the one. (Insert popped eyes and dropped jaws here.)

• Attend the temple at least once a month
• Go visiting teaching every month. (I have been awful at this in the past, I thought if I told myself it's just as important as getting to the temple that I will be more likely to do it.)
• Instigate some form of regular family scripture study
• Make dinner at least twice a week/Plan menus ahead of time*
• Exercise regularly to make a serious attempt to get back to pre-pregnancy shape (I'm not planning on starting this until the baby is born.)

*I know that for some people this is a silly thing to make a goal out of, but not me. I have never been good at making us meals regularly. I am AWFUL at planning ahead for meals. I frequently end up back at the grocery store 3 times in the same week.  I don't exactly hate cooking (but I'll be honest; I love baking way more than dinner any day). But I do hate trying to decide what to eat, that is the hardest part of every dinner. Seriously.

I recently discovered this website called Plan to Eat. It helps you plan your menu and puts your grocery list together. It's supposed to be very customizable and is recommended by a few mom bloggers I found. It is not free though so I haven't decided if I'm going to use it. Anyone out there have experience with them? Or another site like them? Let me know.

 April 9, 2012

 This girl has discovered that she loves the piano. She sits on it and plays for a while, but I think her favorite is turning pages in the music.

She thinks that book is amazing. Also she always points out Jesus to me in any picture she sees Him in. Have I told you that she says "Jesus?" It sounds like "Jeejee!" She is always excited about Him. 

Valette's Blessing

Valette was Blessed Sunday March 6, 2011

Eric did a great job.  It was lovely.

It also happened to fall on my mom's birthday.  Fun.

This is my Aunt Sharlene.  She is my dad's sister but also my mom's best friend from high school.

Mom Vicki, Sharlene, Valette-5 weeks, Noelle
 Sharlene made this dress for me to be blessed in.  I was very excited to Bless Valette in the dress I wore.

Family =)

Dad Milton, Noelle, Eric, Valette, Mom Vicki

Dad Greg, Noelle, Eric, Valette, Mom Julie

She was not a happy girl when I tried to photograph her in the dress.  I want to do it again when she is happier.

Child of God

Jeff Ward, February 2011 Ensign

"I Am a Child of God"

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows to late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I'll live with hime once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

Last night as I rocked Valette to try to calm her down I decided to sing I am a Child of God. I have been mostly choosing primary songs whenever I sing to her and this was the first time I picked that one. I was surprised that I remembered the first 3 verses all the way through.

Do you remember in Primary how whenever it was "child's choice" the kid would almost always say "I Am a Child of God?" When I was in Primary I resented this. Again? We always sing that. I guess I wasn't listening very well to the words.

As I sang yesterday I thought about how My Valette is a Precious child of our Heavenly Father. She is so fresh and perfect right now--no sin or transgression has darkened her slate. I thought how Eric and I are responsible for her. We must "lead her, guide her, walk beside her." If she is going to grow up with virtue, if she is going to marry in the Temple, if she is going to be an example to others she must first learn. It is our job as parents to teach her and show her how to live by the standards of the Gospel. I sang again and I cried. I WANT to guide her on the path of righteousness.

Unfortunately Eric and I have a slacking attitude towards the everyday things we should be doing. I can count on one hand the number of official family home evenings that were just the 2 of us since we got married. We are not consistent about our scripture reading or family prayers.

Eric walked in the bedroom and I told him "we are responsible for her." He said yes and I said "How is she gonna learn about prayer if we don't teach her?" So we WILL teach her. We will correct our bad habits. We will grow stronger in our marriage and have a strong family if we do as the prophets have asked and work at it. So yesterday I resolved (again) to be better. To work at the little things I know I should be doing. To be the kind of mother I want to be for Valette and the rest of our someday children. [Maybe writing it here publicly AND in my journal AND now that Valette is here to smarten me up I will do better this time.]