{ Trials }

I have always considered myself lucky. I honestly have never faced a truly, "trial of my faith" type of problem. I mean, little hiccups here and there. Normal "way life goes" sorts of things, but nothing seriously mountainous. Let me tell ya, I have yet to face something super traumatic. However, I think having smaller trials back, to back, to back, to back, to back (are you getting the picture) are giving me that "trial of my faith" type of feeling.

April and May were not the best of months. I have seriously hurt myself. To the point of not being able to care for my family in the way I should, AT ALL. Frustrating! I was really on track to complete my first 1/2 marathon. That came to a stand still, and so much more. Now, I cannot even walk from my bedroom to the kitchen without crutches or a brace. This has infuriated me. I am not a "sit around" type of a girl, so trying to be patient and heal has not been easy.

Our car broke down on us for about the 6th time in a month. We poured lots of money into that thing, until dear ole' hubs finally had enough, and traded it in. Which, now I see as a blessing but still sheesh... So not apart of the plan!

Sick kids, still a bum leg mom, I get sick, I get pink eye, my washer is on the fritz, refrigerator dies (have to buy a new one)... see a pattern of bad luck here?

Fast forward to June. June can only get better, right? Apparently, I am wrong. Because we are a week in, and I find out my hours at work are getting cut in half. Yikes!! I am still working through this one. There has to be a reason, right? Right!

So, as we sort through all of these "little" trials I am finding myself truly humbled. I have been lucky in life. I have been blessed beyond measure, and even through these "issues" we are dealing with now, I am finding some miracles everyday. Like, miraculously my washer washed a load of laundry perfectly. Or, my new car makes it nice and easy for me to get my big ole braced up leg in and out of the car without (too) much of a problem! My sweet kids, who are oblivious to it all (that is the way it should be mind you), are enjoying every bit of summer. They get "mommy's leg", they give me foot rubs, read me stories. I don't think those little girls will ever understand just how much they teach me, and help me through. Being hurt, and needing help has also humbled me enough to accept help. Humility is a hard thing. I struggle greatly with accepting help from others. However, I am learning that if we do not allow others the opportunity to serve us in times of need, we are robbing them of blessings and great experiences. After all, it is through service that we learn to serve. I am blessed tenfold with good things!

I am so grateful for the good things in life. A husband who will work nearly every. single. day to make up for where I fall short. Children who remind me what is important, and a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally. He has felt my feelings of utter exhaustion, frustration, being pressed to the absolute end of my rope. But, I can handle it. He gave me these trials for growth and experience, so I can handle it!

So, while you may see me out and about running around like a crazy person, I am grateful for the blessings that come after the trial of faith. While I am still trying to understand, make sense of, and just make it through, I know that I will. Because after all, I have the Lord on my side.

"There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost. It is my prayer that we can find the faith, courage, and strength to endure to the end so that we may feel the joy of faithfully returning to the arms of our Heavenly Father" -Elder Robert D. Hales

{ Two Front Teeth }

Bailey lost another tooth. This makes #4. She REALLY did not like losing the other teeth, but she was A-okay with this one. I think it finally click that she gets $$, which means she gets goods, so it is all good!
I think she is so stinkin' cute with those missing toothers!

{ Tee Ball }

Gracie gave Tee Ball a try this year, and loved it. She had so much fun, and the coach was fantastic. All of her little friends were on her team too, so she loved that!

 

 

 

Gracie and her best bud Braden. These two are a crack up!

{ Student of the Week }

 

This little lady was chosen as student of the week!!! We are so proud of her. Even though things are a bit harder for her, so works so hard to do her best. She is such a sweet girl. We are so, so proud of her!

{ Makes me Smile }

 

This picture makes me laugh. It reflects each of my girls personality to a "T". Bailey playing mommy, Abigail with sheer terror in her eyes pleading for help, and Gracie posing and being center of attention.
I love these sweet girls!

{ Abigail is Mobile }

Holy Moly.... this girl started walking at 9.5 months. Great for her, not so great for mom :) She is a busy little thing, and curious too. Keeps us all on our toes, but certainly wouldn't have it any other way. We love this baby more than words!

 

{ Christmas 2012 }

Christmas picture overload here!!
We had a great Christmas spent at home this year. The older my kids get, the more I love spending Christmas at home with just our little family. The festivities started the week before with our annual "Porter/Hancock family" Christmas party. My Grandpa and Grandma Porter were back this year from their mission. We missed them dearly last year, so it was so nice to have them back. They mean so much to us!

We spent Christmas Eve with some great friends, then came home early enough to open Chritmas Eve jammies, pop some popcorn, and watch "Mr. Kruegers Christmas".

Santa came the next morning, and brought everything the girls had asked for. Bailey got her "music player", and Gracie got her guitar. Santa pulled through again!! Abigail was just happy to be there. I love spending 1st Christmas' with my babies. Brings an even sweeter feeling to the holiday season.

A couple days after Christmas we were able to head up north to the cold country for a few days. Ahh.... it was so nice to be "home". Of course we all loved every minute of it, and were all bummed when we had to come back to the valley. The girls enjoyed playing with cousins, riding horses, playing in the snow. So much to do!! I enjoyed the time with my sisters. We missed Whitney and Tylers family this year, but were so happy Chelsea and Jarred were able to make the trip from Alaska. We miss them!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{ School Christmas Programs }

 

 

Both girls participated in Christmas programs this year. Bailey for Kindergarten, and Gracie in preschool. Both the girls did so well, and are really growing up so fast!!

{ Aaron turns 3-0 }

 

 

 

 

My guy turned 30 this year. I pulled off a suprise party (with a lot of help from friends). So glad I have gotten to be apart of his 30 years. I am a lucky girl!!

{ Bailey is 6 }

 

Can you believe this is the only picture I took on Bailey's birthday!?!?! Oh my... I need to work on my picture taking! Anyhow, another year has come and gone for this sweet girl. I am still trying to wrap my head around 6 years old. Where did that time go? She is turning into a little lady right before my eyes. We are sure lucky to have her as apart of our family. She is a sweet blessing!

{ Fall 2011 }

Fall is such a fun time of year. I love the colors, smells, weather. It is all awesome! With fall we get a trip to the pumpkin patch, and Halloween. This year we had a "Royal" Queen, Cowgirl, and a Black Cat. May I just say they were the cutest!!

 

 

 

 

 

{ 1st Day of Kindergarten }

Everyone told me sending my first born to Kindergarten would be hard. I thought.... can't be that hard. I will be just fine. I think I did hold myself together really well. I didn't cry, but only got a little teary eyed. But man, they were right!! It was so hard to just leave her there, and walk away. I think I left a little piece of my heart at school with her. It is that first step of letting go, and it is a hard thing to do!

We struggled with whether or not to send Bailey to kinder this year. She is behind in most things compared to her classmates. I think that is something I am struggling with more than she is. She still gets all her therapies,and will continue to throughout Kindergarten. I just didn't want her to realize that she was behind. So, we debated. Do we send her and hope she makes progress, or hold her out another year?? These are hard choices when it comes to your kids. Ultimately, we decided to send her. She needs the push to do better, and we are just crossing our fingers we made the right choice.

I was so proud of her today. She gave me a kiss, walked right in, found her cubby and dropped off her things, found her chair and sat right down without even a second glance my way.

She is so special to me! Through her trials I think we have both become stronger, and I am hoping Kindergarten will be good for the both of us!

{ Gracie's attack of the Scissors}

Honestly, I knew this day would come. I really am surprised it took this long for one of my girls to get a hold of the scissors, and really do a number on their hair. So, was I mad.... only kinda! Gracie got a hold of the scissors one day, and went to town. Not only did she cut her hair, but she cut her pants and my bed sheets before Bailey could race down the hallway to let me know what was going on. Ehhh.... Her hair sure turned out cute once we fixed her self inflicted "mullet". I know if could have been much worse!

{ Rice Cereal, Anyone? }

We started Abigail on some rice cereal. I think she likes it, although she gets more on her all over her than in her mouth. Practice makes perfect, right? She will master it soon enough!

{ Tooth }

This girly has one, little, pearly white in that cute mouth of hers. Right on the bottom, and it is so stinkin' cute! Man, were we all glad that finally broke through! With my other girls, I never really knew they were tetthing. A tooth would just be there. They didn't really fuss or cry about it. Abby on the other hand is a whole different story. She let the world know she was teething, and that she wasn't happy about it! For 2 weeks she was clingy, crabby, wouldn't sleep, had to be held, the whole bit. Now that the tooth is here, she is back to her normal happy self! Phew... However, I know another one is right around the corner. Guess I better enjoy her before we start round two:)

{ Waiting }

This picture cracks me up.....


I'm thinking they had enough of me. They wanted their dad. They waited, and waited, and waited. Don't worry... he came! All was right in their world again!