My New Smart Phone...

Recently, Jon Mark surprised me with a new smart phone. I have never had one before, and I never knew just how much I was missing. I was perfectly happy with my dumb phone.... until now. I love my smart phone :) I can take pictures like the ones below. 

Caleb was sleeping and sucking on his tongue. I love it when my babies do this. It's just so cute. I love this kid. He scoots everywhere and is constantly putting everything in his mouth. This new scooting ability has increased in proficiency especially recently. The other day, we went to Lindsay's house for Sunday dinner. There were a lot of kids there, so we went outside to play tag and someone left Caleb in the house on the floor. It was only a few minutes before I asked where Caleb was and someone told me that he was in the house and should be fine because at this point he wasn't very great at being mobile. At first I wasn't going to go in and check on him. I figured he would be fine for another moment while I finished whatever conversation I was having. But, there was a thought that I had that pushed me into checking on him. I'm thankful that I listened to the spirit because when I went in to check on him, he had managed to scoot over to a silk leaf that had dropped to the floor (a Fall decoration) and had it completely in his mouth and part of it was making it's way to the back of his throat. It was about the size of a child's palm. He was okay, but I shocked at how quickly the situation could have turned even more threatening. I am thankful that I listened to the voice of the spirit. I do have faith that as I pray daily for the Lord to help me protect and teach my children, He will help me by the power of the Spirit.

I also took this picture on my phone. It is supposed to be Aspen tree trunks. Hopefully, that is noticeable. It didn't turn out exactly how I thought it would, but it's alright.

Here is a picture of Michelle, Jessica, and myself as we went to BJ's to celebrate Jessica's birthday. It was fun. We talked and laughed and totally bonded as girl's should.

Earlier in the day, Michelle and I had gotten our hair done by Bethany. This is my attempt to show people what it looked like before getting out of my car and walking in the pouring rain.

Joshua is really into reading. He loves non-fiction books and is always telling me about what he is learning. The other day he asked Jessica how the sun can burn and give off light if there is no oxygen in space. He recognizes that fire needs oxygen to fuel it, and it just didn't make sense to him. I am not certain that I had so precocious questions at his youthful age. By the way, I found the answer on the internet...  The Sun does not "burn", like we think of logs in a fire or paper burning. ... This heating eventually grows out from the center (or core) of the star to the outside, finally leaving the surface and radiating out into space to be ... So no oxygen is required! 

At our last parent teacher conference, his teacher requested that I have him tested for the gifted program that they have at the school. We decided to fill out the application, but I have more questions about the program before we make any decisions. He did a book report on the moon and helped me build a shoe box scene for it. He gave his report and he almost didn't do the "sun" thing that he was excited about. There was a hole in the top of the shoe box that he had covered with yellow paper. Then, when he shined a flashlight through it, it appeared to light up the shoe box like the sun. It was cool. When the class saw it, they were impressed and someone said, "your's is the best ever!" Joshua played it cool, but you could tell that he felt pretty important. 

One more thing about Joshua: he let out a really stinky toot the other day and I was looking around and checking all of the babies to see who pooped. Joshua was smiling and just watching me before he confessed that it was him. He said, "not only do I have stinky gas, but I have really long-range gas as well. I mean, you're far away!" He was pretty proud of himself.

Mercedes is a sweetie. She loves playing with Caleb and she sing many songs to him. She gets a little jealous when he smiles for others and will say, "ah, he doesn't like me anymore." She pouts. I think she just wants to hear me tell her how much he does indeed love her. Mercedes is doing well in school. She tries her best and often gets awards for having good behavior and good attitudes. She thrives on recognition. Today she came home super excited because she had a good progress report from her speech teacher. She has also started gymnastics. I am the teacher and I teach once a week and get paid $25 a month. It's mostly to give her something fun to do, but it is nice making some extra money. She has been practicing the splits and is getting better. She needs to build up some more muscle to be able to improve her back bend and handstands. She loves the cheer portion of the class the most and is very good and cheer. She is especially good at being lifted into a stunt. She becomes straight and tight and locks her knees. 

Lukey Bear loves giving me hugs and kisses. He gives me one after another after another every night at bedtime. Sometimes it is difficult getting away because he holds on tight to my neck and doesn't want to let go. I have started singing a song to every child and he thrives off of this. It is nice for me to end the day with some one on one attention for each child as well. 

Bear left town for a week to go to Lake Powell a little while ago. Lukey sure did miss him. He asked me every day when Bear would come back. One day, with much concern in his voice, he asked me very sincerely if Bear would be big when he got back. He was relieved to find Bear looking the same as when he had left.

Today Lukey raced me and the other kids on scooters outside. I was pretending to lose so that Luke and Mercedes would win. Mer took off down the road, determined to win. Luke started out trying for the win but then looked back at me and slowed down. He felt bad that I was losing and didn't want me to feel bad, so he stayed behind with me and encouraged me along. He sure is aware of others. He is a protector in so many ways. Today as we were exercising together, he saw my wrinkled belly. He asked me why my belly looked that way. I told him I was glad that my belly was like that because it reminds me of my kids and how much I love them. He asked why. I told him that my belly meant that I was willing to sacrifice my body and my life for my kids because I love them so much. Then, he turned to me and said that if we were on a boat and there were sharks around and I fell into the water, he would reach into the shark infested water and pull me out because he loves me too.

Hannah is a cute little spunky girl. Lately, she says, "MOM! I was talking to you!" She doesn't want to be forgotten and she makes sure she isn't. She declares to everyone around her that I am her mommy! She squeezes others off of my lap and sits on Caleb's head when he nurses. She throws her weight around just to make sure that everyone knows she is apart of our family. She needs lots of cuddles from Jon Mark. She likes dancing with him and getting horsey-rides from him. She wants what everyone else has. She talks really well. She is flexible with her back bends. She sings songs and twirls around the room with Mercedes. She wears long dresses and skirts. She has crazy hair. Every once in awhile she will let me fix it... like right now, today she let me fix her hair into two pig tails on the top of her head. She looks a little like a bug with antennae like that. Lukey said she looks like a lady bug. 

Caleb. Caleb loves hugging my neck. I love that. He hasn't been sleeping very well at night because he is congested and I think he is teething. He needs me to snuggle him at night, on one hand I like the middle-of-the-night snuggles. It's quiet and dark. I can hear him suck his thumb and settle into my arms. I can feel the rise and fall of his breathing and how it gets heavier and longer as he falls into a deeper sleep. I love those things. But, I like my sleep too. And, I function better when I get more sleep. I am surprised, however, at just how little sleep I can get and not be super affected. Usually, by day three of little sleep, is when I start to feel the affects of it. He gets a lot of attention from Lukey Bear and Joshua. They will play with him spontaneously. They play rougher games with him, like pretending to be growling dogs and charging at him and then stopping abruptly right in front of him. He laughs. They like taking videos of him. Luke is constantly trying to hold him and carry him around the house. And, yesterday, I caught Joshua holding him upside down. It was only a few inches from the ground, but I made sure he knew to never do that again. Mercedes is more gentle in her play. She sings songs and plays peek-a-boo. 

Jon Mark is well. He is busy at work and they are trying to hire an assistant for him. He works long hours, but he is always good about playing with the kids when he comes home. He works hard for our family and I love him for it. I look forward to the weekends when he is home. 

I am well. I am enjoying painting and other projects. My time is spent on my feet and I don't get to sit very often. My long days are getting shorter as my kids get older and more active. 

And... those are the updates. 

Surprise Party and Blood Moon

The other night, the kids planned a surprise party for Jessica. They decorated the house, helped me think of party games, and planned a confetti entrance (as shown in the picture). We had a powerpoint presentation that the kids helped create by telling me the reasons why they love Aunt Jessica. It was a fun night surrounded by family. I think that the kids really enjoyed being a part of the festivity. We even let the older ones stay up longer and play Werewolf with us.

There was a blood moon recently. It was REALLY awesome to watch. We tried to get a picture of it, but the sky was too dark. It was really neat though. The kids were super enthralled by it and watched it for nearly 45 minutes. It was difficult for me to keep my eyes on the road as I drove.

One morning, not too long ago, Luke woke up with weird blue marks on his body. He fell asleep with a blue pen in his bed. Kind of random, I know, but I thought I would post it anyway...

FHE Eternal Families

It's a little snug. But... it still fits! The other week, Michelle got out her wedding dress and let all of the girl cousins on the McAvoy side try it on. Mercedes was in heaven! She asked me if we could get mine out and I told her that we could for family home evening. So, after a lesson about families, we tried it on.

Mercedes gave me a glimpse into the future, and I may or may not have gotten a little misty-eyed.

Joshua was bored.

Luke wanted to try on Jon Mark's tux, but we rented it 10 years ago.

Messy-haired Hannah needed a turn. That was tricky.

Jessica gave her a wedding horsey ride.

The next day, we played with play-dough. The kids had me take pictures of their creations. Joshua made an airplane.

Hannah ate the play-dough.

Luke made eggs.

 Mercedes made some sea shells and a dress.

This is just to show how cute and big Caleb is getting. He army scoots so fast now. He has two teeth and is enjoying solid food like a pro. I still nurse many times a day though.

A token picture of Dad.

 Joshua also made the solar system and wanted me to take a picture of that as well.

Michelle

Michelle, when did you take this on my phone? :) I just now saw it.

Daddy's Gone

Mercedes looks so sad in this picture. Jon Mark left for a few days to go to Utah on a hunting trip with Mark. The kids aren't used to him leaving for so long. It really shook up our daughters. Mercedes cried every night. She had me take this picture of her holding a picture of our family that she drew. She wanted me to text it to Jon Mark. He didn't have great cell phone coverage in the mountains, so we went most of the time without any contact. One night, Mercedes was crying for a long time. The day before she had me text Jon Mark requesting him to send a picture to her of him pretending to shoot an elk. Because of the lack of coverage, we didn't get a response for almost 24 hours. She was crying and saying, "Why doesn't he send me a picture? I asked him yesterday to send me a picture." I responded to her that he probably couldn't but that he would if he could. Then, literally right after I said that, my phone dinged saying that I had a new text message. She got excited and I told her that it was probably someone else. But, it turned out to be from Jon Mark and it was indeed a picture of him pretending to shoot an elk.

The kids spent the night in my room with the door locked. They didn't know I was scared. I told them that for fun we got to have a slumber party in mom and dad's room. I felt more comfortable with them with me, not because they would protect me, but because I could protect them easier if they were all with me. This helped me sleep at night, knowing they were safely on my floor.

Luke wanted to send some pictures to Jon Mark. So, we made a goofy strand of pictures.

Andy's Funeral

My friend's husband passed away from cancer the other day. He was a huge motorcycle fan and at his funeral, 67 motocyclists led the procession.

These pictures were my attempt to capture them. Leyla rode on a motorcycle behind the hearse that was also pulled by a motorcycle. They were calling it, Andy's last ride.

The funeral, and the events leading up to the funeral, were both inspiring and sad. He died of cancer, but he wanted everyone to know that cancer was a blessing to his family. He felt the love of his Savior so deeply through the trial, and the trial gave him the opportunity to live like he was dying. 

I feel so much for his wife, and their two children. Such a trial is one that I hope I will not ever have to endure. But, their experience taught me so much about trials. If we accept the Lord's will with grace and humility, the Lord will yoke Himself to us and help us carry the burden. We will feel His love for us more deeply, and we will begin to see with our spiritual eyes the truths of eternity. Leyla and Andy lived the last two years with grace. They allowed this trial to change them and mold them to be more like our Savior. They were strengthened through Christ.

I cried so much at the funeral. I barely held it together at certain points. I know Andy is watching over Leyla and their children, and I know our loved ones are nearer to us than we know. I am thankful for the priesthood power that seals families together forever.

As I was pondering over the loss of Andy, a certain scripture kept coming to my mind. I am not a scripture scholar, I hope that my application here is appropriate. And, I hope it makes sense.

John 15:12-13 

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The first verse is a commandment to love one another, even as the Lord has loved us. When we love others, they are more receptive to what we have to share about the gospel. Then, in the second verse, we are taught that the greatest love we can show is to lay down our very lives for our friends. Jesus literally laid down His life for us, because He loved us. Andy's graduation from mortality was not his choosing, but he accepted the Lord's will so completely. He gave his life to Jesus Christ. At the funeral, there were many "typical" LDS persons in attendance. But there were others there too, who, by appearance, appeared to not be of our faith. Yet, they were there, partaking of the spirit that filled that room. Their love for Andy, and Andy's love for them, brought them to the chapel where they were able to hear testimonies of those left behind about matters concerning eternity. 

Through dying, Andy brought many to the knowledge of the gospel. His death changed lives, people came back to the fold of God. Like the prodigal son, they were lost and now they are found because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Andy testified, so strongly of the goodness of God. Of eternal families. Of temples. Of the love of Christ. I know for a fact that his brother in law, mother in law, and father in law, came back to the church because of the spirit that they felt as they watched him go through cancer. It was the spirit of the Holy Ghost that converted them. Because Andy accepted the Lord's will, his trial became a tool that the Lord used to change so many people. I hope I can go through my own trials with such grace. Does that make sense?