Catch up, Chicago and George

So I haven't been great. I've been meaning to post my letters to katie but haven't, so here are some highlights from those emails.

We went to a fall festival and George got to touch a bunny, a horse, a pig, a goat, chickens and a hedgehog (part of a petting zoo).

We are planning to move to Utah when our lease is up (June). (We are still applying for jobs all over the country, but if nothing full time pulls through, then we're moving to Utah next). We'll stay the summer and then take care of the house while Jon's parents serve a mission (free rent! ) and then hopefully we can make enough connections out west to stay.

We had talked about a trip to Chicago in honor of our anniversary, but it's on a Wednesday and his best weekend was in October sometime. We realized last minute that one weekend was his best, so we planned the trip in like 2 days. We came up Friday after Jon's classes he teaches. We got in late so we didn't do anything. We bought a 2 day pass deal that allows you to do as many attractions of 25 in 2 days. So Saturday we went to the field museum (they have the largest, complete, best preserved t Rex). Then we went on a bus tour (we all fell asleep). The coolest thing to me was their baseball field. ... Some of their bleachers are on surrounding apartment buildings, built on to the roof. So like there's a street in between, but you're still "at the game". Then we walked part of their Riverwalk (but I guess not the nice part of it) and we took an architectural boat cruise- my favorite of the day. We had Chicago pizza for lunch (rated #1 in 2014 by Chicago magazine) and panda for dinner. Then we took a bus through the magnificent mile (a mile long shopping strip). Then we went to the John Hancock observatory- one of 2 skyscrapers with an observation deck to see the whole city. George kept making friends (we met three people from India at a bus stop, saw them again in the John Hancock building, and again, right before heading back to the hotel- they loved George). Sunday we went to church, then a tour of Frank Lloyd wright's home and office (a famous architect). We tried making it to another tour but didn't make it with bus times. Then we went to the Art Museum and saw Paul and Romy Snyder. There was a lot of renaissance art and stuff that Jon and I like as well as some other stuff (renaissance jewelery and an armor section, Indian, Japanese and Chinese sections. .. too much to see) Then back to the hotel. (It took us about an hour and a half. ..) parking in the city is expensive and hard to come by. We would've stayed in the city but there was a marathon that weekend and the reasonable priced places (in safe areas) didn't last long.

On Monday in Chicago- we slept in and then packed up and drove to a metro parking station. We took a train towards town and got off close to a hot dog place that has the #1 Chicago dog according to trip advisor. It was called George's hot dogs. Then we biked to a chocolate store (rated #2 in the world according to national geographic) and got two chocolate bars after sampling some different ones (including some with bacon in it or Indian curry and coconut). Then we biked to the lake and down a lakefront trail to Millenium park, where they have a famous fountain and the "bean"- the mirrored thing- it's called Cloud Gate. Then we rode the train back out of town and left.

Then jon and i were in a concert. It was Friday and Saturday with a dress rehearsal on Monday. So George played with some other kids (the director's kids) with a babysitter while we were gone. And I sang in church on Sunday. When I picked him up from the babysitter on Friday, the babysitter had put all the other kids to bed and George was starting to get restless, so when I got there he was so happy and went for his nursing cover, like I'm ready mom! So I have a picture of that.

This week George was invited to his first party- a Halloween party! He loved it. :-) and at our ward trunk or treat he loved a maze they had and sat down on the ground to try to make friends with other kids (definitely a social little baby).

This last week was a lot of cleaning. George makes lots of messes. He knows how to dump out drawers and likes dumping out two that have some of his toys in them, and he actually pulled the whole drawer thing down, and I'm sure it must've hit him on the way down. (I was worried about that when he first started pulling out the drawers so I was in the process of rearranging things and one drawer was completely empty and another was mostly empty). George is starting to copy pitches, like in songs. So far he only tried to imitate the "dun dun dun dun" from I think the movie intro for fox or mgm with the lion, he's pretty close with it. And then Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, he tries to do the sunbeam part so I'll throw him up in the air. He also says "ta da"! He's going through a picky eating phase (hopefully a short one) and it's been hard to get him to eat enough. He likes bringing me books (I love that he already has favorites and favorite toys). He knows how to close doors and is close to accidentally locking himself in his room. .. :-/ one of the times he was babysat, a friend was watching him who has a son a year older than George. .. she said George taught him some new tricks (like how to climb onto the back of the couch) and at the other house he climbed onto a small chair to a small desk, to a big chair to the big desk to get to the keyboard. :-) he does a chomping motion with his hand for an alligator, pounds his chest like a Gorilla for gorillas and monkeys, and almost has a good oo oo ah ah. (One of the reasons we decided to go with curious George for Halloween). His newest thing is leading me around- he'll grab my pant leg and pull it in the direction he wants me to move my leg or push me from behind (like I'm being herded). :-) but at least he's trying to show me what he wants. And he gets the nursing cover when he wants to nurse. :-) I love my little boy!

Just a little note ...

Looking Back ...

I'm back to working on my photos and I pulled a couple to send to Katie. (I posted them on fb too).  Looking at photos often brings back good memories - relationships that mean the most to us or scenic shots that profess the beauty of the world and a testimony of God's love for us. I think it's interesting that when we look back, we often remember the good times more than the bad times. Oh, we don't forget the bad times, but I think Life is Good. It really is all about - Perspective.

So this week is short and I'll leave the two photos. Thanks for the memories. I love pictures! It reminds me of how much I love you!

The "REAL" Warriors! - Juju was the BEST cheerleader. Good times

And a quote that Cassie shared with me that has stuck:
There's no growth in comfort and no comfort in growth.

I'm kind of in a funny spot emotionally right now. Sometimes you just don't see the plan the Lord has for you. Sometimes you need to do something or not do something. Right now I feel like I should "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:..." Psalms 37:7 So I move forward, kind of in the dark, trying to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [my] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;" D&C 58:27

Cousins! (and Katie rockin' her Grandma sweater!)

Cape and a Nice Tiara

I saw this pillow this week and at first thought of Katie. She's always wanted a tiara - but not just any tiara, a special tiara.  I don't think I can afford it.

But I took a picture because well... it was so cute. And I've thought about it so many times this past week.

I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT GIVEN A CAPE AND A NICE TIARA, I COULD SAVE THE WORLD.

I'm probably not going to ever have a magical cape or a crowning tiara in this life and I probably won't be saving the world. But I do have angels that lift me up and love that comes from my Savior that wraps around me and keeps me safe (maybe even makes me invisible sometimes to danger that lurks by).

I'm probably not going to have a tiara that makes everyone realize how special I am, a symbol of what I've achieved or become.  I go pretty much unnoticed most of my life and as I found out, even misjudged or ridiculed because I'm a "Lang". Whatever...

I know who I am - I am a Daughter of God - and if I follow His plan I will inherit all that He has. It reminds me of the story of the young boy who was throwing star fish back into the ocean.

 A man called out to a young child on the beach, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The child paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled man.

To this, the child replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the child bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

I can make a difference to someone. I hope I make a difference in your lives because you are the ones I treasure. And I love watching and seeing how all of you, maybe not SAVE the world, but CHANGE the world, by being the people you are! I Stand All Amazed!

Little Things

It's been one of those weeks when I'm thinking, "Did anything happen?" 

This week has been the routine, nothing too exciting and nothing to catastrophic.  But there have 

been special moments ... LITTLE THINGS that made me realize the Lord knows us and directs us. 

- I was able to talk to an old lady in my yoga class about death and how we feel.

- I'm helping Tilly Gardiner teach our Beehives next Sunday a lesson on how to have Christlike love. 

I had read some amazing things and texted her - this is a great lesson, but how do you get the girls 

to actually love like the Savior - to take it the next step, not just having a good lesson. Then Carly 

posted or 'liked' or something on Facebook an Extra gum commercial. It's a cute little love story, but 

at the end it says "When you give extra, you get extra." If you want to feel loved, then love!

- Because of Terry Newman we were able to transfer the Vaca's records into our ward in about 15 min. 

and he wasn't even at Church. The boys are now attending Seminary. (Oh the Vaca's are back in our 

ward).

- Last Saturday, we went to the temple for baptisms.  As we were waiting - the lights went out. It's 

been like 100 the past few days. We didn't even get to do baptisms. We ended up at the Visitor's 

Center and with the emergency lights we had a testimony meeting with the kids. It was really good. 

I think the kids needed to feel the connection with each other. Kaitlyn Knapp was there and then 

came to YW on Sunday, which we haven't seen her for a long time.

- I bore my testimony on Sunday. The bishop and Jake had mentioned reading scriptures. Someone 

else mentioned prayer and so I felt prompted to bare testimony on faith. I don't know what exactly I 

said but I remember saying that I think that faith is like the pixie dust that makes it possible to fly. As 

we do little things the Lord blesses us. As we were taking the sacrament I remember thinking that is 

how the Lord is - He is always there, gently and offering to give, continually loving us. It is as we take, 

that he heals, that he strengthens, that he cleanses. I am grateful for the testimonies that you all have. 

I love the Lord. 

"Little Things" - I saw this on Facebook. I think Emily posted it cause I've never seen it. 

AND some BIG things too! Love you Michelle!

I hope you have lots and lots of Big Things happen in your life right now, but I also hope that you can 

see and appreciate the little things too. They are there. 

I'm back again!

So it has been a long while since I have been on here, and that seems wrong since I was the one who came up with this idea in the first place. Anyhow, I wanted to give everyone an update on us real quickly before I have to head off to my next class. Michelle is doing well, but the baby is getting big so they are going to do some measurements this Friday and if the baby is getting too big (when the baby gets too big with diabetics, the shoulders can get too wide to the point where they get stuck in the mother's pelvis) then the doctor said we should consider an induction (c-section). From what Michelle has told me, she would prefer to do the natural way, so we may bring up in the meeting with the doctor if necessary that we could try to induce labor, not sure if that is an option or not, but we will give it a try. As for me and school, school is going pretty well so far, and I've been able to keep up with all my classes and I've started a big programming project that is due in a couple weeks. One frustrating thing is that our financial aid petition still has not gone through and they are asking for more information, reason this is frustrating is that I started this whole process over a month ago, and each time they have sent me an email each week saying, 'this is great, we have met about it, but we need the following...' and they have done this at least 5 different times. So, I'm ready for them to be done and make a decision so that we can get the financial help we need, because we don't have enough to pay tuition without that money. So keep us in your prayers, especially Michelle, and we will keep you all updated. Love you!!!

SO Many Seeds!

I love Conference!

In Eyring's talk on the Holy Ghost he said that we had received many "seeds" today. He then said, "Plant those seeds." "Do it." We need to take the seeds of conference and plant them in our lives and watch them grow. And it's not just the words that were spoken, but also the promptings that came into our hearts. When Carole M. Stevens spoke about her granddaughter not sitting in her seatbelt and trying the IF...Then approach to no avail and then praying. That is how parenting is. Her answer was to teach and when her granddaughter saw that she loved her, it made all the difference. She then sat in her seatbelt and since she didn't forget ... went to the store for a treat, made homemade bread and played with play dough. My thought was "This is why Jamie should live close by - so I can do that with George - and the other grandkids." That is my hope and prayer. BUT the prompting that came to me was "Learn to make really good whole wheat bread." I'm going to do that in the next 6 months. Maybe then my prayer will be answered. Seems a little crazy - I can't eat any of it to know it's good and Julie and Dad don't really care. But I guess I can give it away. Hope it's not bad. haha  Maybe I should give them jam too:)))

Highlights from me of Conference. 

Uchtdorf - told the experience that as a patient he was not very patient and came home and went on the internet. We make it too complicated. The gospel is simple. We don't need to be more of anything to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Richard Maynes - Joy in a Christ-centered life - the story of the potter and the clay and how the clay needs to be perfectly centered on the wheel.

Neill Marriott - I cried when I heard her story of her family motto "It will all work out" and then her daughter dying just before she arrived. She told us the words to a gospel song "Have thy way, Lord, Have thy way." I'll be what you want me to be. To be healed, we have to have a broken heart. It made me think of Cassie when they broke her arm to set the other broken arm. HE is the healer.

Larry Lawrence - talked about the rich man in the NT that was humble enough to ask, but not faithful enough to do. What Lack I yet? And then went on to give several real examples of how the HG prompts us. He encouraged us to ask the Lord in prayer, "What is keeping me from progressing?" And sometimes when we are discouraged we need to ask the Lord what we are doing right - so he can lift us up. As we receive those promptings we pierce the veil. It made me think of a sheet of paper with a pin hole in it. As we have more and more pin holes we can one day see the face of God. 

Quentin L. Cook - spoke of his mission in England and being sent to a town. People advised him to be "ship shape and bristled fashion". He explained what that meant. He then said to be Righteous, Follow Rules and Expect Hardships. Sounds like a mission.

I have in my notes after the primary song "Beautiful Savior" Katie is listening to this:)))

Robert D. Hales - Spoke to the YA. I didn't know he was a pilot, but he said "Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. And then chuckled as he said, "I won't tell you how I learned that). Will you hear His voice? Lots of advice on the person you should marry. If you want my counsel, be prepared to take it.

Jeffrey Holland - The love a mother for her child is the nearest thing to the love of our Savior to us. Of course I cried. Being a mother is the greatest thing. 

Bradley Foster - Difference between hearing and understanding and the example of Hellen Keller. He talked of Pablo's father and how he counseled him. I know where you are. I've been there. I'll help you get through it.  LOVED it! I want my children to know that I want to help them get through it.

Oh my, I'm going to mention every talk, but they were so good!

Vern P. Sanfill - biking in the dark tunnel. We may feel confident only to find that our preparations are not enough. It made me think that we need each other. We all have dark times. We choose how long we remain in the dark. Lord save me. Hope. Faith. Darkness would not last if I kept peddling. I thought of your investigators - They have the power to choose - to believe or doubt. If you doubt you do nothing. But if you believe, you do something.

James B. Marino - Sometimes answers to prayers are not an event, but a process.

Dallin H. Oaks - There is hope and strength through Christ, if only, we will ask. 

Sunday - If the Savior Stood Beside Me - ...thinking of Katie (so happy but I miss her).

Thomas S. Monson - so strong and then I was so worried at the end of his talk. I remember praying to give him strength. His words... Let you Light so Shine before Men..., Be thou an example of the believers... Talked of the experience of the Jerusalem Center and the "light in their eyes". I thought of Rahgad and how she saw the light. We will shine in an increasing dark world. 

Gary E. Stevenson - new apostle - I need to focus on what I can do, not on what I can't do. 

Dale G. Renlund - new apostle - heart surgeon - I wrote "oh my..." this calling isn't about me. He told the experience of a mother and father who lost 3 children. We have to see others through the eyes of our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Mother.

Russell M. Nelson - heart surgeon operated on Spencer W. Kimball - L. Tom Perry - stunned to have him gone, Boyd K. Packer - soldiered on during his illness, Richard G. Scott - reunited, but then he said, "The 3 of them were my treasured friends. I miss them more than I can say." He too, talked about their wives and women and how, (we brethren) need your strength...

Claudio Costa - Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - Oh how Katie loved Jesus Stories! Her prayers always included "Thank you for Jesus."

Devin G. Durrant - Small efforts sustained over time can produce significant results. And then talked about "Ponderizing" that will be a new fad. Ponder/Memorize a scripture/week. We are going to do it.

Von G. Keetch - about surfing and upset about a barrier only later to find that the barrier was keeping them safe from sharks. 

Koichi Aoyagi - car accident in pain, why? We need to accept our trials in faith. Can we endure it WELL? I could have died. I didn't. I have learned empathy. 

SO many seeds!

In between morning and afternoon conference yesterday I cleaned windows. It's an amazing thing - you wash windows and your whole house feels cleaner. Made me think of the funny story Pres. Monson tells of a woman who thought her neighbor didn't know how to do laundry, only to find out it was her windows that were dirty. Our lives are so much better when we do the things to "clean our windows" and let the "Light" come in. I feel more content and happy. 

I've been thinking how I need to be more grateful. I have so many blessings that the Lord gives me. It hits me harder and harder. Katie has been doing better than I even ask for and I ask for a lot! Everyone is doing well. How can I be grateful?

Katie is talking about El Niño and how there's a lot of fear in the people. Many will lose their homes. They are doing all they can to prepare. Today in South Carolina there is flooding and many people are losing their homes. Here, I am hoping for El Niño so the hills are green and I can spray the house down and not be penalized for wate usage. I feel very ungrateful.

So how do we show gratitude? Plant the seeds that He gives us. At a time of harvest of the earth, remember eternal things. He wants to bless us. He loves all his children. Follow Him.

Faith is the key!

3 Nephi 19:35,36 -

This is when Christ appears to the Nephites, after his crucifixion, after 3 years of teaching and setting up his Church in the old world AND performing many miracles.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews: wherefore I COULD NOT SHOW UNTO THEM so great miracles, because of their UNBELIEF.

Verily I say unto you, there are none of them (NOT Peter, Paul, none?) that have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they heard so great things as ye have heard.

FAITH is the key to everything. 

I love the story in Mark 9, of the man with his son. It's very emotional when you realize what this father has gone through for years. Christ tells him in v. 23, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believe. v24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

It makes me realize that I need more Faith. 

George is now 1!

Saturday we made a lasagna, and a shrimp pesto alfredo dish, and Jon made panna cotta (gourmet Italian jello-pudding) and then we got a mix of Ceasar salad and added in some olives and purple onions. We went early to set up two tables and set the table with a tablecloth and centerpiece and nice disposable plates, cups and silverware. We even found small disposable dessert dishes for the panna cotta. We had a lady who made two fresh loaves of French bread- really good. We cooked for 14 people including our Temple President and his wife, Mission President and his wife, Stake President and his wife, Stake Presidency, Elder Hallstrom and Elder Dudley (visiting General Authorities). It went pretty well, but it got a little busy. I was supposed to be back with food right when our babysitter showed up. I gave her a quick run down and left her my phone number and told her to text me if she had any questions (even if it was to just find something). Dinner went well and the adult session was good. The topic of the conference was "The Work of Salvation". Elder Dudley spoke about Ward Council and Family Council and one lady who spoke, spoke specifically about family council in her family. She mentioned how they had a problem once and brought the matter to everyone's attention in family council, then they dismissed everyone for a few minutes and had everyone retire to their rooms to pray about the problem. Everyone came back and they started youngest to oldest with their solutions. I don't remember all of them, but the youngest girl thought they should ask Grandma to come help (so they did). One of their boys came up with another plan and they incorporated his idea. They used everyone's idea and got through the problem. I thought that was great- how everyone in the family was expected to pray and come up with an idea and everyone's idea was implemented, in some way or another. Elder Hallstrom spoke about the Sabbath Day. It made me realize I need to change some things. Sunday is the Lord's Day, not just a day of rest. It's a day to rest from the cares of the world and focus on the Savior. It is not enough to merely refrain from doing certain things, but also to fill it with uplifting things. It was mentioned that appropriate Sabbath Day activities will change from family to family. One family spoke of how Saturday is a very hectic day getting ready for Sunday and they have different activity centers set up for their kids for Sunday, including a family history area in their home and a place set up with coloring stuff to send pictures to grandparents (from the smaller children). Anyways, Mom's blog post last week had a meme that suggested appropriate activities, such as reading a conference talk or a random act of kindness, writing in your journal or calling someone who is sick. It reminded me of my mission and how Sundays were not a relaxing day. It was filled with worrying about which investigators were coming to church and meetings and teaching (just like any other day). I guess our Sundays should be more like mini missions- whether we're studying, ministering, teaching, doing family history- we should make sure that we are doing the Lord's work on Sunday. (Spending time with family is part of the Lord's work too, or can be.) Besides making a few goals for better Sunday worship for myself, I was also impressed that family council and Sabbath Day were the main things they talked about with a theme of "The Work of Salvation". I felt like improving our Sabbath Day worship and family council are very important parts of attaining Salvation and Exaltation- so they're things I need to improve on.

Conference weekend, we had a friend stay with us and her son (who doesn't love George- her son is an introvert and George doesn't understand how someone could want personal space). Anyways, we invited her and her husband to eat lunch with us before heading home (they live in our stake but about an hour away). Then we got Jon's mom from the airport that night.

This week, lots of birthday preparations and lots of grandma time. We went to the library and the store and Tuesday we went to Babies R Us to look for a present for George from Grandma Patsy. I don't remember day to day, but his party went great! Mom sent lots of cool stuff and then we put everything up. Only 5 kids came, but George went from sad and wanting to be held to his face lighting up and wanting down so he could play. We had lots of cars to play with and balloons and a craft (precut stickers to put on an outline of a car which can be made into a magnet) and a pin the headlight on Mater. The cake turned out well and the food did too. We just did a picnic on a blanket in the front room.  George learned how to use his toy from us (Jon and I) his first car ramp thing and had lots of fun. He crashed afterwards. Friday we had a down day but we did go to Once Upon a Child, where we bought George some clothes and I found this animal zoo I've been looking for (on Amazon it's $75 and on ebay it's $70 used so I was happy to finally find it at Once Upon a Child for $15).

We set up all his presents and wrapped the good stuff from Mom. It looked like Christmas- but I think it was more exciting for me than for George. When we went to open presents he was more interested in the computer where Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Aunt Bug were watching. But he loves his new toys. He got a tool set from Mom and a magnet set that we haven't gotten out of the box yet, but he likes the music it plays so far. And he liked carrying around his movies (Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Make Mine Music with Peter and the Wolf on it). He's so fun to watch and play with now. After opening presents we went for a drive to a small town about 30 minutes from us called Nashville. We went to a puppet/marionette show for his birthday. It was a Halloween show and was really well done. Afterwards the lady told us to come to the Christmas show in Indy. She told us they normally say 18 months and up but that George was so good and watched this whole show that he'd be fine at the Christmas one (if we want to). I enjoyed it and George laughed and he got to high five one puppet and she had an alien puppet that landed on his hand. Then we ate lunch, got fudge (which Nashville is known for) and headed home. Jon watched George while Patsy and I went to the Women's Broadcast.