Change

This weekend marks our 1 year mark of being in Cedar City. What a lot of change we have experienced in the past year. I feel like my whole life I have dealt with change. By the time I went to college, I had already lived in 3 different states and experienced 4 different wards. College life can be described as 4 years (or 5 in my case) of constant change: roommates, apartments, wards, classes, boyfriends, lack of boyfriends, highs, lows, etc.

Although life does seem like it has slowed down a bit since the college days, I still feel like things change on a regular basis. Change can be hard, very hard. I was reluctant to move to Cedar City. I loved Salt Lake. Everything about Salt Lake was comfortable. We had awesome friends, a fabulous ward, I had an amazing job, I was taking a great sewing class, and life was just good. But I knew our time wouldn't last because I knew Kimball wanted to go back and work with his family and the farm.

Elder Snow, of the seventy, said this:

"We need to “get on with our lives.” Most of us do not seek or even welcome dramatic changes. But change is an essential part of life’s experiences.

Many of these changes come as we naturally make our way through our earthly journey. Our lives change as we progress from childhood through youth and on into adulthood and finally old age. Schooling, missions, marriage, employment, and retirement are all examples of milestones of change.

Too often we are reluctant to enter the next stage, begin the next challenge. Maybe we are too comfortable, fearful, or lacking in faith."

Let's just say that I feel like have adjusted well here. I have made friends, Kimball's job is finally slowing down a bit to where we see each other more often, McKay is happy, our ward is great, etc. I wouldn't say I welcome change, but I made a decision soon after moving here to just "get on with life" and try to make the best of it. Change is still hard but it is inevitable in all of our lives.

Another quote that I love, love, love is from Elder Uchtdorf about looking for the good:

"Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? Look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything. People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people—a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowman. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal."

It's definitely not easy to always look for the good in life, but I know that it makes my life better. I want to teach McKay and any other little ones I have to always look for the good in anything. I also want to teach them that change can be really good, even if it is hard.

Snow

McKay and I "played" in the snow last week. Mostly he just headed for the rocks, which are way more fun than snow.

Before you think that I am a negligent mother by not putting gloves on his hands, I will just tell you that I tried. He just pulls them off. Isn't his hat cute?

Dish Soap

Those of you with hard wood floors know how bad it is if water gets on your floor. I take extra effort to dry the floor well after cleaning or after doing the dishes...

Last night, a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) started the dishwasher for me (very nice of him) and about 30 minutes later, I came to the kitchen to find this:

Yep, some of you are laughing because you've done this yourself before. And some of you are thinking, hmm...I have never done that before, but I've heard of people who have. The addition of one word on the label: washer instead of just dish can make all the difference. :)

McKay loved the action. He got down on the floor to look at what we were looking at, and he held the screwdriver for daddy, which made him feel really special.

P.S. McKay walks now. YAY!!!! He is a big boy, and he always has a huge smile on his face after he reaches a destination.

Valentine's Rhyme

Here's our rhyme:

I love YOU...

...Go BYU!!!!!

We got "Jimmered" last Saturday at the BYU vs. Utah game. Unfortunately, Jimmer didn't put up as great of a showing as we were hoping (only 22ish points). The game was a lot of fun and we are so glad we took McKay who was able to show off his clapping and cheering skills.

January pictures

We are having some strugs lately. McKay is sick, which makes our nights shorter and longer at the same time. :) He hadn't been sick for a while, so I guess it was his turn to get it. Lots of kids in the neighborhood have had strep, so I am just grateful it is a normal cold and cough (knock on wood). Another struggle, for me, is that McKay will be 16 months old this next week and he won't walk. He can walk with us holding onto one hand, but he doesn't like to and he won't let go. I realize that he will, in time, but going out in public is really getting to be kind of a drag. Either the stroller comes every time, or I hold him, or he crawls around in places that are just dirty. I know I should be grateful that he can't get into more stuff at this point, but I am ready to have him WALK!!!! I am supposed to go on an airplane trip in a couple months, and it would be nice if he walked by then. :-)

So when I get discouraged about our "strugs," I just look back at the fun we've been having lately:

He is really into pens and pencils right now. He likes to draw (or stick them up his nose). Whichever one makes him happiest.

Here's his teeth for grandma. She can't see them too well on the webcam.

Just chillin'. His bib says, "if you think I'm cute, you should see my dad." It's true, his dad is very handsome.

McKay is super into hats right now (and has been for many months). Whenever we are in public, he points to any man/boys' hat and says the word. It's the funniest when we are waiting in line to pay somewhere. The guys think that he likes THEM, but in reality, he just likes their hat.

He likes to "hide" in between the wall and his dresser. It's a perfect little spot for him and he thinks he's so funny when he comes out and scares me.

One last thing, the other day, he started knocking on all of our doors and windows (inside the house). It is so cute to see how he associates things. He will go around to all the windows in the house and knock on them. It makes me smile.

Hoover Dam

Isn't this shot cool with the bridge?

The white line around the mountains is the highest water line

The dam is very large! It was my first time, and I really enjoyed it. Kimball and I took a few days off from our jobs (him-the dairy, me-McKay) and spent our anniversary-December 28-in Las Vegas. We had a great time and it was a much needed vacation.

JoAnn

Kimball's mother, JoAnn, passed away Saturday in a car accident. Words can't really express our thoughts right now. We are deeply saddened and shocked. {This was taken October 2009. Since that time, JoAnn has lost 70 (give or take) pounds. She had worked very hard to lose the weight and looked absolutely amazing over the Christmas holidays when we saw her}

She was the life of the party on New Year's Eve, just the day before she passed away. We are grateful for her love, support, generosity, sense of humor, and kindness towards us. One thing is for sure: she LOVED McKay!