Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Baby Jesus

Since being parents Christmas has taken on a new meaning. I don't have the words to express my feeling for my Savior and his beauitful birth, so I have quote Elder Jeffery R Holland who puts it so perfectly.

"As a father, I have thought often of Joseph—that strong, silent, almost unknown man who must have been more worthy than any other mortal man to be the guiding foster father of the living Son of God. It was Joseph selected from among all men who would teach Jesus to work. It was Joseph who taught him the books of the Law. It was Joseph who, in the seclusion of the shop, helped him begin to understand who he was and ultimately what he was to become.
I was a student at Brigham Young University just finishing my first year of graduate work when our first child, a son, was born. We were very poor, though not so poor as Joseph and Mary. My wife and I were both going to school, both working, and in addition we worked as head residents in an off-campus apartment complex to help pay our rent. We drove a little Volkswagen which had a half-dead battery because we couldn’t afford a new one (Volkswagen or battery).
Nevertheless, when I realized that our own special night was coming, I believe I would have done any honorable thing in this world, and mortgaged any future, to make sure my wife had the clean sheets, the sterile utensils, the attentive nurses, and the skilled doctors who brought forth our firstborn son. If she or that child had needed special care at the finest private medical center, ! believe I would have ransomed my very life to get it.
I compare those feelings (which I have had with each succeeding child) with what Joseph must have felt as he moved through the streets of a city not his own, with not a friend or kinsman in sight, nor anyone willing to extend a helping hand. In these very last and most painful hours of her “confinement,” Mary had ridden or walked approximately 160 kilometers from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Surely Joseph must have wept at her silent courage. Now, alone and unnoticed, they had to descend from human company to a stable, a grotto full of animals, there to bring forth the Son of God.
I wonder what emotions Joseph might have had as he cleared away the dung and debris. I wonder if he felt the sting of tears as he hurriedly tried to find the cleanest straw and hold the animals back. I wonder if he wondered: “Could there be a more unhealthy, a more disease-ridden, a more despicable circumstance in which a child could be born? Is this a place fit for a king? Should the mother of the Son of God be asked to enter the “valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4) in such a foul and unfamiliar place as this? Is it wrong to wish her some comfort? Is it right He should be born here?”
But I am certain Joseph did not mutter and Mary did not wail. They knew a great deal and did the best they could.
Perhaps these parents knew even then that in the beginning of his mortal life, as well as in the end, this baby son born to them would have to descend beneath every human pain and disappointment. He would do so to help those who also felt they had been born without advantage.
I’ve thought of Mary, too, this most favored mortal woman in the history of the world, who as a mere child received an angel who uttered to her those words that would change the course not only of her own life but also that of all human history: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). The nature of her spirit and the depth of her preparation were revealed in a response that shows both innocence and maturity: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
It is here I stumble, here that I grasp for the feelings a mother has when she knows she has conceived a living soul, feels life begin and grow within her womb, and carries a child to delivery. At such times fathers stand aside and watch, but mothers feel and never forget. Again, I’ve thought of Luke’s careful phrasing about that holy night in Bethlehem:
“The days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and [she] wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and [she] laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:6–7; emphasis added).
Those brief pronouns trumpet in our ears that, second only to the child himself, Mary is the chiefest figure, the regal queen, mother of mothers—holding center stage in this grandest of all dramatic moments. And those same pronouns also trumpet that, save for her beloved husband, she was very much alone.
I have wondered if this young woman, something of a child herself, here bearing her first baby, might have wished her mother, or an aunt, or her sister, or a friend, to be near her through the labor. Surely the birth of such a son as this should command the aid and attention of every midwife in Judea! We all might wish that someone could have held her hand, cooled her brow, and when the ordeal was over, given her rest in crisp, cool linen.
But it was not to be so. With only Joseph’s inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay.
Then on both sides of the veil a heavenly host broke into song. “Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). But except for heavenly witnesses, these three were alone: Joseph, Mary, and the baby to be named Jesus.
At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched—none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen.
Shepherds would soon arrive and, later, wise men would follow from the East. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began."

Friday, December 19, 2008

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”

You might be wondering what are plans are for our lives. I have been wondering that myself. Mark just finished up here at BYU and the long term goal is to go to dental school. But for now we are moving to Vegas. We found a little place to live while Mark works for a while. I plan on taking care of our little boy and enjoy the sunshine. This is a huge step for us. I have been in Utah for just over 6 years. I do love it here but we are ready for a new adventure. So watch out Vegas here we come!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Let is Snow


This is what we wake up to and I love it!! and it's still coming down nice and steady. The only problem is if you are planning on doing laundry and your washer and dyer are outside!


my dancing baby

Boyce loves music and loves to dance. He figured out how to open our TV stand and some how he has figured out how to turn it on. Grandma Mac got him this fun new baby dance music for Christmas and when he hears it he can't help but dance. So I finally got him on camera. He went and turned the music on himself and was having a little dance party.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

the perfect date


Mark and I had the perfect date on Friday night. Mark's sister Candace came and watched Boyce while we went down to Salt Lake City for a fun night. We found the cutest and yummiest Italian restaurant to eat at then we went to watch The Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert. I have been to a lot of the Christmas Concerts and this was probably my favorite. It was amazing, and so touching. The guest singer, Brian Stokes Mitchell, was so fun and his voice was just so beautiful. It was just a perfect and fun night. The only thing I would change was the interesting family in front of us who were all wearing Santa hats.

It feels more like Christmas since the concert, devotional, and all the snow we got on Saturday.

Friday, December 12, 2008

the new arrival

The last couple of days Boyce has been so crabby. I was getting so frustrated because he wasn't napping well and hardly would eat anything. Then today we was crawling around and I saw him pick up a mystery item and put it in his mouth, so I grabbed them and was trying to did it out when I felt it.... a tooth! After all this time he finally got his first tooth poking through. I don't know why but it's so exciting. Boyce is just growing up everyday. There really is something new he does each day. He is pulling himself up on things, crawling again, and repeating sounds, hand motions and little words, of coarse it's hard to believe because most of it he doesn't do for anyone but us. It's still so exciting and fu

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Thanksgiving

I know it's taken me a while to post about our holiday, but it was just perfect. We went up to Spokane to be with my family, and almost everyone was there. We had a beautiful and yummy thanksgiving dinner with the cousins and my aunt and uncle. We went to an indoor water park, had a festive time in Coeur d'Alene window shopping and looking at the lights on the boardwalk, We even got the most beautiful and perfect snowman making snow. It was a blast.
I am just so grateful for family this year. I have the sweetest boys here at home and the most wonderful family all over. I love them all.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Goodbye Marriott

I have been working two nights a week up in Park City at the Marriott Mountainside. It's been a lot of fun, but tonight is my last night. I am happy not to have to spend anymore nights away from my boys. I am going to be now taking care of my boys, getting ready for Christmas and packing for our big move.

Monday, November 17, 2008

sleeping babe


I love when Boyce is awake but he is so cute when he is asleep.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Here we have Idaho

We had a fun weekend in Idaho visiting our family. Mark's brother Brian and his wife Amanda just had a baby boy so we went to see them. He is a cutie. Boyce just love little Avery we had to fight him off. He can't wait until he grows up and can play. We also got to see our friend Julie & Chris who just moved to Idaho Falls. Also we got to spend time with Mark's parents and little sister. It was cold but we love seeing family.

Ashley's dance recital

We went to Ashley's dance recital a couple weeks ago. Ashely is our friends Matt & Michelle's little girl. She was so cute and did a great job. Boyce just loved all the dancing and music. In Mark's opinion he loved it a little too much.


Monday, November 3, 2008

Strong Families

I know we don't live in California, but the elections taking place tomorrow can have a huge effect on us. I really like this video of an interview with Elder Bednar about prop. 8. Elder Bendar is a member of the quorum of the apostle and a special witness of Christ. Please go to this site and watch this video. http://deseretbook.com/video/view/13
This is another video I liked too. It's very simply and explains why it's important to vote yes for prop 8, and protect our families

Sunday, November 2, 2008

great week; family, fish, fall and halloween

We had a really fun week and took lots of fun pictures and videos. My brother John came to visit from Portland with his wife Jada and thier two kids, Owen & Paige. They stayed for a week and it was so awesome to have them here, and so nice of them to come.
Boyce had so much fun with his cousins. We all went to the aquarium one day. I didn't think Boyce would really get it, but he loved looking at the fish swim by!


One beautiful day Joe & Mal came over and we played in the leaves and craved pumpkins. We spend a lot of time outside all week throwing the Frisbee around and jumping in leaves.

Owen loves to watch "moovies" and he loves being scared so we watch Monster House at least once a day.

Halloween was so fun having these little ones around. It was definitely the warmest Halloween I have ever experienced. Boyce was even a little warm in his costume. We went to Joe & Mal's ward treat or treating. Then did a little in our neighborhood. We have so much fun having trick or treaters come to our own house. But by far our trick or treaters were the cutest!
Boyce had a big week. He got to spend so much time with his cousins and he really got the army crawl down and he is loving crawling all over the place. Today at in sunday school he crawled under 3 rows of chairs to get some little girls toys. This video was just after he got out of this costume and we was so happy and wired we just couldn't put him to bed.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Pumkin Patch Pics

We went to a farm near by and took a hay ride out to the pumkin patch. It was a beautiful fall day and we felt very fallish out at the farm.

Beautiful Provo

We had a really fun time with our best friends Chris and Julie last Sunday. They just recently moved up to Idaho Falls and were visiting for the weekend. We took a beautiful drive up in the mountains and took some pictures. (Boyce was asleep in the car).

Monday, October 20, 2008

good news

On Saturday our land lords got a letter in the mail with the approval to rent out our house. The people in the basement moved out so we get to stay until December. It is such a miracle for all of us and we are so happy.

Monday, October 13, 2008

lots of visitors

We had a great weekend even though it was so cold! We even got a little bit of snow. Our friends Brett & Laurie were here visiting from Texas and stopped by to see us. There little twin girls are a month older then Boyce I know it's hard to believe becuase he is so much bigger! Then my parents came to spend the weekend here in Provo. It was so much fun, and we miss them already. It's so wonderful that they can come and visit us. We got lots of cute pictures of Boyce with grandma & grandpa and my brother Joe and his wife Mal. We have really loved living by them. My sweet sister in-law Amy sent Boyce a really cute Halloween package and he really loved the bubbles! thanks