"happy dreams"

I titled this post "happy dreams" because every night the kids and I say our good night prayers and ask to have happy dreams...

 

Yesterday morning at 6am, Lincoln ran into my room with the biggest smile on his face. There was no hiding how happy he was. He started telling me that he saw daddy in his room. Lincoln said he was scared and that daddy put his hand on his cheek and said, "you're okay." It was the sweetest thing hearing Lincoln explain his comforting encounter with daddy. he even demonstrated by softly putting his hand on his own cheek the way daddy did.

 

After he told me his whole experience, I got up to check his room and the house to make sure there wasn't some creep-o acting as his dad. there wasn't anyone of course and I know Lincoln knows his dad better than that, but I just had to make sure. Once confirmed there was no one there, I called Chris... because part of me wanted to make sure he was still alive and it wasn't his spirit visiting Lincoln. Chris is alive and well. It was just so interesting for me to here this from my little 2 1/2 year old in such detail. and although I understand most of his toddler language, there are still some things that are hard to understand or have clarified.

 

Lincoln was simply dreaming - but I don't think it was just some random dream. I truly believe Heavenly Father specially sent him that dream to comfort our sweet little Lincoln. Lincoln has been having a  really hard time with Chris being away. He brings him up often and its usually in a sad way. He'll say things like "I want daddy" or "I miss him" and he'll tell people randomly "daddy at work." Every time I end a call with Chris Lincoln starts crying or gets mad.

 

it is so incredibly hard for all of us to be apart and its just so obvious that families aren't meant to be separated for this long of a stretch. I try to be strong but it just breaks my heart to see my babies in pain from missing their father.

 

One thing that keeps me going is having the Lord by my side. I couldn't imagine going through this without the fullness of the gospel in my life. I thank Heavenly Father every day for the precious family he has blessed me with and the fact that we will be together throughout all eternity.

 

"My Burden Was Made Light"

Could you forgive the drunk driver who killed your wife, two children, and unborn baby?

 

   

how many people died that night?

 

how many people really  died that night?

 

in reality, because Chris Williams forgave Cameron, a life was saved.

 

 

This man is a perfect example of the state or 'condition' we need to be in to forgive.

How can we get into a 'condition' to forgive? :

 

 

PRAY.

He prayed and  Heavenly Father listened to his anger. Then when his heart was ready, He taught him more about how he could heal through his son, Jesus Christ.

 

 

KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

Chris kept an eternal perspective. I love the part towards the end of the clip when he says, "...one day I will be with my wife again, as well as the rest of my family."

 

"Please remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently  wrong." Elder Howard W. Hunter

 

 

LET IT GO.

Elder Jeffry R. Holland said: Certainly not everything that we struggle with is the result of our actions. Often it is the result of the actions of others or just the mortal events of life. But anything we can change we should change, and we must forgive the rest. In this way our access to the Savior's atonement because as unimpeded as we, without imperfections, can make it. He will take it from there."

• Sinners experience the healing power of the atonement by repenting; victims experience it by forgiving. Same power; different access codes.
• Figuratively speaking, Christ has purchased all of the debt from every insolvent soul who has ever lived mortality. So we have no right to demand repayment from each other. Only Christ does--and he purchased it at an enormous cost.

 

Forgiveness Challenge: "May we have the Spirit of the Master dwelling within us, that we may forgive all men as He has commanded, forgive, not only with our lips but in the very depths of our hearts, every trespass that may have been committed against us. If we do this through life, the blessings of the Lord will abide in our hearts and our homes."

 

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I know my Savior lives and am so grateful for His sacrifice and the gift of repentance. I'm thankful for the knowledge I have and the peace and surety it brings me. I love knowing that I have an eternal family and that we will always be together even after our time here on earth. I'm thankful for the fullness of the gospel and the scriptures, both the Bible and Book of Mormon; I couldn't imagine life without the other. I know that my Heavenly Father hears my cries, complaints, and rejoices, and will always guild me down the right path. There is no denying what I know and how it makes me feel.

 

(we were taught a very powerful lesson this morning

at church that I really wanted to study

more in depth. In this post, I am quoting a lot of what

our teacher taught and adding some thoughts of my own. I hope by sharing this,

it may also touch some of you the way it has me)

 

Part of the Plan

Last night I had the privilege of seeing the First Lady of the Marine Corps., Mrs. Bonnie Amos, for the second time at a dinner social put together by QOSO (Quantico Officer Spouses Organization). She is such a spunky lady, so funny and so much wisdom to share. I love how open and real she was with all of us marine wives.

 

She met her  husband in September, got engaged in October, married in December, and they've been happy married for almost 50 years! When someone asked her how her marriage has lasted so long, she replied, "Well, I'm sexy!" I told you she was spunky! ha ha ha. She then went on say that the foundation of their marriage is God. I really enjoyed everything she shared with us. She helped me realize that it's perfectly normal for me to throw my "pity & pissy party" (first you feel sad, then you're mad) every time I move. Her and her family have moved to over 20 locations and she said she kicked and screamed every time! Mrs. Amos is such an inspiration to me. I want to enjoy every location we're stationed at and really embrace the changes and all of the different opportunities that come with that.

 

 "We're in this position because God put us here."

-Mrs. Amos.

I couldn't agree with her more. One night, 3 years ago, as I was trying to understand why my  husband should commission into the Marine Corps, I got the impression that I was also called to this life. There is a reason why I would be moving around with my family to new and different places and meeting new and different people. I'm still not exactly sure what I have to offer, but I'll continue being myself and work on being and instrument in His hands. I know that this is Heavenly Father's plan for me.

 

 

I wanted to share this reading list with you military (or non-military) friends that Mrs. Amos put together. I just ordered 1001 Things to Love About the Military Life! Can't wait to start reading it!

1. Separated by Duty, United by Love  -Shellie Vandevoorde
2. 1001 Things to Love about the Military Life  -Crooks, Henderson, Hightower, Scherer
3. Help! I'm a Military Spouse--I Get a Life Too  -Hightower, Scherer
4. Confessions of a Military Wife  -Mollie Gross
5. The Military Spouse's Employment Guide: Smart Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles -Janet Farley
6. The Road Home: Again. Smoothing the Transition Back from Deployment -Elaine Gray Dumler
7. Transformation: The Mindset You Need. The Body You Want. The Life You Deserve -Bill Phillips
8. Faith Deployed / Faith Deployed Again  -Jocelyn Green
9. Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq & Afghanistan & Their Families  -Keith Armstrong
10. Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home  - Waddell, Orr
11. The 17 Day Diet  -Dr. Michael Moreno
12. Service Etiquette, 5th Edition  -Cherlynn Conetsco, Anna Hart
13. A Family's Guide to the Military for Dummies  -Melissa Seligman
14. The Day After He Left for Iraq  -Melissa Seligman
15. Eating For Life  -Bill Phillips
 

Attention All S.A.H.M.s!

       Let's face it, being a Stay At Home Mom is not all glitz and glam. With all the drool, poop, and snot we deal with it's actually quite the opposite. So to keep me from pulling out my hair, I've been trying to find some activities to keep me and the kids busy and make our long days together a little more enjoyable.
        Getting out of the house definitely makes the day go by faster and the kids can let out some energy. For all those days that we do stay home, because of the weather or simply because it's a PJ's kind of day for me, I've been trying to find some fun at-home-activities for us. Click here, here and here to view some of my favorite go-to links with lots of ideas for a fun time with your little ones!
         Share your secrets with the rest of us SAHMs... What do you do to entertain your kids? What simple things do they enjoy? Do you have any favorite books or links on parenting you'd like to share?

I just wanted to share a couple more things that have made me feel a little more valuable as a full time mom, I hope some of you may also find these helpful.

and

This article, Guardians of the Hearth, was a huge reinforcement of the great importance I am as a mother.

Festival of Lights

My "Junior Missionary"

 



There were Christmas trees everywhere and there's nativity sets on them too!



I love this picture! it's been one of my favorites since I was a little girl.

There were over 50 nativity sets from all over the world! It was so interesting to see every ones own interpretation of the birth of Christ. They are all portraying the same scene, but in different ways.

Washington D.C. Temple 34th annual Festival of Lights

 

Another Gift from God

Our baby Ella is 4 weeks old in these pictures. She is such a sweet little spirit and she always brings a smile to our face. She has big gorgeous eyes and a big beautiful smile. I think she's going to look like her daddy. We feel so blessed to have her here with us. I love seeing Chris with her. He is so gentle with her and is always saying how beautiful she is. We are so fortunate to have our little "Ella Bella" in our lives.

Her aunt Nicole took these cute pictures of her and she also took Lincoln's...

Lincoln's Newborn Pictures

Ella's Special Day

Our baby girl was blessed on Sunday, September 4th and it was such a special day. It was great being surrounded by loved ones. It was so nice hearing what Heavenly Father has in store for her. She is such an amazing blessing to have. 

Doesn't she look so adorable!? Her grandma Seymore made this beautiful dress for her special day.

Lincoln's Special Day

I love being a stylist, I love my clients, I love my co-workers...

...I just love my baby more!

November 10, 2010 was my last day working at my salon. I worked at the Carlton Hair Salon for 2 years. It was a great experience. I absolutely love doing hair and I had such a great clientele. I called the owner of the company to tell him that was going to be my last day working there. He was so understanding and he told me to just call him when I'm ready to come back. Things couldn't have worked out any better!

As much as I loved it there, it really wasn't hard for me to decide to be a stay at home mom. I love my little Lincoln so much and I couldn't imagine missing out on him growing up or having someone else raise him. I love every second I spend with him. We've got such a strong and growing bond. It's been the best decision I've made yet!

Here's Lincoln meeting the people that were around when he was growing in my belly!

 Looks likes he's scared of Oscar... ha ha

I think he likes Trisha's bright hair!

Lincoln's Special Day

Lincoln was blessed on 10.10.10. It was such a special day. He was blessed with health, strength, moral clarity, intelligence, understanding, and open mindedness. After church we had a great dinner at my house that my mom and sister so kindly prepared. Our home was filled with people we love and that love our little Lincoln.

(His grandma Seymore made his cute little suit!)