Mother's Day....Boy does Heavenly Father love me!

I find it amazing that on a day we remember mother's I felt like Heavenly Father was sending His only little moments to tell me how much he loves me.  I'm blessed to be a mother to three beautiful, smart, and kind girls.  They are not perfect, but neither is there mother.  Nonetheless, God still loves me and knows I'm doing the best with what I have at the moment.  I pray my children will overlook the imperfections and remember my love.

I'll try to describe the beautiful moment as best I can.....I woke up with the sunrise, which I LOVE to do and made my way down to the patio in the back. I sat smelling the beautiful petunias Spencer bought me and read the Bible about Moses instructing the children of Israel to "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God"(Deuteronomy 8:11).  All I could think about what how blessed I was to be sitting on a beautiful day and learning about the blessings of following the Lord.

My family eventually woke up and I looked up to see Spencer's face.....

Who couldn't melt looking at that face?

 The girls came and brought me the gifts they made at school...they were great.

 They played follow the leader and giggled and laughed and brought me joy.

 We were able to go up to Spencer's parents house in evening and see the new Gibb girl and share in another mother's joy of being a mother the second time.  My sweet sister-in-law just came home from the hospital and we were glad to see her home.  She'd been through a lot and had earned her title of motherhood these last few weeks.

But it all comes down to this.....

It is in those sweet moments where you hold the gifts of heaven and remember how much Heavenly Father loves His children, so much He sent His son, even Jesus Christ to save our souls and redeem us from death.  Such mercy, such love! It is mercy and love that make it possible to continue each day as a mother. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I wrote a mother's day song in February....hope you enjoy it. 

A Sister, A Mother, A Friend

Words and Tune by Julie Gibb

Sisters - Faith, Hope and Charity

I am such a symbolic person. I was sharing a scripture with my children this morning in Alma 7:24 - 

"And see that ye have faith, hope and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."

Phoebe said she really likes those dolls at Christmas time that say Faith, Hope and Charity.  I sat and looked at my girls and realized that they are my own version of faith, hope and charity.

Faith:

When I was pregnant with Abby,  I had come complications that without slowing down, quitting school, and going on bed rest, would have been really dangerous for my sweet little baby girl.  I always wanted to finish school, so quitting was really hard, but I went forth with faith and I have been blessed with more than I could have seen.  She believes with out seeing the end. I have faith that I will some day finish my education, but for now, I know that in showing faith in God's plan for me and not my own, I have been blessed by a great gift, my Abigail!

Hope:

It took a great deal of hope during my pregnancy with Phoebe. I had a very energetic two year old, and a husband who worked and went to school at the same time, not unlike many women.  But, that same company that paid for school went belly up and Spencer lost his job two months before Phoebe was born.  He went back to school full time, we lived as best we could, and had hope in the plan of our Heavenly Father.   The faith that strengthened us with Abigail carried us once again.  I started to have contractions about 3 months early.  I went on bed rest again and hoped for the best.  Phoebe did come early.... 4 weeks, just in time to be considered early, not premature, and just in time for the last month of insurance to cover her pregnancy.  We have hope in Christ and our Heavenly Father's plan, and we also have our tiny, Phoebe Sue, a sign of Hope.

Charity:

While pregnant with Sydney Jane,  I experienced a great deal of the true love of Christ.  My sweet husband nurtured me, my friends served me, and I went through quite a few surgeries that helped me understand a little of what our Savior might have gone through.  It is during her life so far, that I have learned a great deal about Charity, and what it means to truly love someone the way Christ loves them. Born in love and continuing to love, Sydney has an incredible ability to give you hugs and loves just when you need them. She loved to cuddle, and she has bound our family in the bonds of charity, the pure love of Christ.   Our sweet Sydney Jane!

The Three Sisters - Faith, Hope and Charity

I happened upon a picture and article of the three sisters in Oregon.  They are faith, hope and charity.  I spent the first twenty years of my life in Oregon, and consider myself, "Made in Oregon."  I loved to look for these mountains, far away in the skyline.  It was kind of a thing to see if you could see them through the clouds, or rain, but they were always there.  Our own faith, hope, and charity are clouded by the events of life, and we may not see the "events" that assist Heavenly Father in teaching us these things until the clouds have lifted and the sun shines.  It is then we lift up our heads and look for our "mountains."  I had forgotten their names and reminded once more, with a sweet God breeze, that faith, hope and charity stand supreme.  They are three sisters, standing strong and supporting the other.  Without them, the future would look dim, boring, and without beauty.  I am thankful for the chance to CONTINUE to gain a testimony of the power of these principles.  I desire to abound in good works all my life and follow what God would have me do.

Easter Baskets and SO MUCH MORE!

Easter 2003- Love these old pictures.  They grow up too fast.

This year I wanted the focus to be on Christ.  A few weeks ago I asked family members to write their testimonies by email and send a picture.  I've been making books for my girls to enjoy and really understand what this day is REALLY about.  He Lives!

I also asked the Easter bunny to do something different.  She willingly obliged.  The Easter bunny comes on Saturday at our house.  Each of the girls gets a mixing bowl with a treat package to cook with mom and other kitchen equipment, practical and we get to cook together!  There are a few chocolates, some sidewalk chalk, and bubbles shaped like a carrot and that's it, no overboard gifts and all the activities we can do together and we won't have extra BAGS of candy lying around the house tempting me!  They'll have a great book of testimonies to read on Sunday Morning too! LOOOOVE it!

I will post the pictures when it's all completed and let you know how it turns out.  So excited this year....and can't wait for conference. 

Click below to listen to conference April 3rd and 4th.

LDS General Conference

NEW YEARS 2010!

It was a great New Years!  We participated in our cities first night celebration, watched Harry Potter, and clanged bowls and spoons at midnight. Our 7 year old said she was really tired and told us how hard it was to stay up that late.  We thought so too! We toasted in the New Year drawing to a close our phrase..."Peace is mine in 2009".  We really have found more peace.  I'm excited to keep that peace rolling and set out for a New Year.

We waited in lines and played games!  My favorite was the toilet paper toss into the outhouse.

Painted our faces.... and have our own little butterfly.

Celebrated 2010!

Posed for pictures!  Lots of butterflies at our house.

Had Story Time at the Library...the kids sat there longer than the games!

Blew in the New Year!

And banged our pots and pans to let the WHOLE Neighborhood know it was midnight!  It made me miss my sisters and my mom.  We always banged pots no matter how tired we were.

Happy New Years Everyone!  

Since New Years is the time for sayings and goals, mine is simple.....

I KNOW I CAN in 2010!

Feeding Your Kids with a New Attitude!

Ever try feeding your children when you are seeking after a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family?  There are many who find this a challenge, and as a mother of three girls, I have experienced this myself.  I have found a great deal of introducing food and change to our children is in our attitudes.  It lies within us to have a good attitude with our children concerning food and experiencing new flavors, textures and combinations of food.  I had a neighbor who sent her daughter over because we had "Trees with snow," (i.e. Broccoli with healthy ranch dressing).   My daughters are still convinced that eating beets make their hair soft like a princess and that it's red/pink because it's royal food.


I have tried adding, substituting, and replacing many things in my families food choices, but the key is doing it slowly and with excitement.  If you are trying to feed your kids fruits and veggies and won't touch the stuff yourself, don't expect them to chow down and enjoy it either.  Get yourself feeling good about your food choices and then start with your family.

Remember that children like to choose, just like we do, what they want to eat.  Fill your fridge with the fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean meats and dairy that your family enjoys.  Give them options and let them help you prepare the food. 

For example: You are packing your child a lunch and there are choices between a lean turkey and cheese on whole grain bread (or a wrap)  or whole grain chips with salsa and a cheese stick. Carrots or broccoli?  Apple or banana?  You get the idea. I have seen so many lunches with sandwiches, chips, cookies or treats, fruit snacks (full of sugar, might as well be a peice of candy), and sodas or juice boxes that are not 100% juice. If you ate that everyday,  how would you look, feel, or behave?  I would be droopy by 1 or 2 after eating like that, let alone the sugar drop and irritability I would experience.  Every wonder why your kids are more ornery, or tired, after school?  Check out what they are eating for lunch! 


Hope this sheds some light.  Keep moving forward.  When one experience with a new food choice is a challenge, keep trying.  When introducing babies to new food, they may spit the carrots back at you, but we don't give up.  We keep giving it to them to try and eventually their taste buds become accustom to it.  Be good to yourself and eat for health, and create positive attitudes about food and eating with your children. Someday, they might be feeding you!