Quilts and More Quilts!

As I was looking for a new blog template, I found this one and thought it was only appropriate for me to put it on here! Our stake Relief Society just had our annual Relief Society birthday celebration! We had a variety of service projects including tying quilts. It was a lot of fun and I have definitely expanded my knowledge of quilts and my tying abilities... so pretty much I am a professional. But don't plan on asking me for quilting help in the near future...I have had my fix of quilting for about the next 2 years. I might be a little more willing then. :)

22 Weeks

Well, I have finally taken some pictures of my prego belly. These were taken after a large Sunday meal.. so I might be a little bit smaller on a regular basis. I tried on some different shirts to show a little bit of variety with my belly. I am feeling great and my little girl is doing well too. We are both excited for Mike to be coming home from his internship in 3 weeks!

What a blessing... President Monson!

Today I was reading through the first presidency message, and I absolutely loved the address and I just had to share some of my favorite parts of his words.

Personal Counselor
"One human resource officer assigned to handle petty grievances concluded an unusually hectic day by placing facetiously a little sign on his desk for those with unsolved problems. It read, “Have you tried prayer?” What he may not have realized was that this simple counsel would solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than could be obtained in any other way."

Choose One or the Other
"We cannot know what faith is if we have never had it, and we cannot obtain it as long as we deny it. Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other."

Source of Power
"Times have not really changed. Prayer continues to provide power—spiritual power. Prayer continues to provide peace—spiritual peace."

I know the Lord truly has blessed us all by restoring the gospel to the earth and a prophet to guide and direct us. I especially loved the article because a portion of it relates personally to Mike and I. We are very grateful for prayer and power we receive from it. I know that many, many of my problems have been overcome because of prayer... and I am so very thankful for the Lord's merciful hand in my life and in the lives of so many others. Here is one last quote to end on:

"Through personal prayer, through family prayer, by trusting in God with faith, nothing wavering, we can call down to our rescue His mighty power. His call to us is as it has ever been: “Come unto me.”

-for further reading click here

Our Baby Girl!

Our beautiful little girl! :)

Her cute little foot!

This is a 3D picture that they took. The image in the right corner is in 3D.

A shot between her legs... This one was pretty clear to me that she is a girl.

It's a baby girl!

We were excited to find out that we are expecting a little girl! She is quite the wiggler! The ultrasound tech had a difficult time getting some good shots of her. They asked us if we were able to tell the sex... and Mike and I both had no clue! Although later on we were able to see a decent angle that was obvious to us that she was a girl.

We were able to see our little girl in 3D too. That was pretty neat... and kind of disturbing all at the same time! Anyway, we have brought our selection of names down to 3: Madisyn, MaKennzie, and Shaylynn. Any input? I'll be posting the pictures later on. :)

Here comes the weekend!

There are a couple of things that I'm really looking forward to this weekend:

1. Mike is coming home to visit! It is virtually all I can think about and I am so excited to be home with him.. especially on Valentine's Day!

2. Saturday afternoon we are going to find out whether we are having a boy or a girl! I don't really care which one it is, but the sooner we know, the sooner I can start shopping for adorable outfits and baby stuff. :)

3. Three-day weekend. I love my students, I really do. But I am really looking forward to having Monday off.

Life is wonderful!

Precious Gifts

Last weekend I was able to meet with an amazing person. Her name was Char, she is an English professor from Denver. Although what she had said wasn't new to me, I was grateful for her thoughts. I don't exactly remember what we were talking about during our discussion, but she began to share her thoughts about helping others. She had said that in order to serve others, we need to first find the divinity within ourselves, and then once we find the divinity within ourselves, we will be able to see the great divinity within others.

I had learned this same principle earlier, but I was impressed with the understanding that God had given her. Today I was reading out of "A Heart Like His." A thought stuck out to me from Alma 24:8, "I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts." Last weekend when my car was towed, I was on the verge of tears and trying really hard not to be upset. I said a little prayer in my heart that I would respond to this situation in the way that Heavenly Father would want me to. I felt His support, and that testified to me of God's great love for His children and His willingness to help us change.

I know that as we become aware of our weaknesses and ask for help, God will answer our prayers. He will help us to realize our true identity and then the true identity of others. I know that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are able to change and through the gift of the Holy Ghost that the change comes about. For these things I am so very grateful for, and for good examples like all of you that help me take those small steps closer to God. I know I still have a long way to go, but I am grateful nonetheless for what I have been given.