Meet the Future Lucy Bredensteiner

Just wanted to introduce you all to Lucy- Ephraim's future wife. Chandra and I look forward to being Grandma to the same children :)

The Ash Dilemma

Many of you have probably heard that our cat, Ash was hit by a car a few months ago. He survived the accident with two broken bones (his radius and ulna bones) and a damaged eye. His eye is healing very well although we don't know how much vision loss (if any) that he has-he seems to be fine as far as balance and depth perception go.

As for the leg, the emergency vet splinted it in the hopes that it would heal on its own... however, the fracture was such that the bones are not healing or creating any more bone tissue to fuse them (this is called a non-union). Jon and I were devastated to hear that he would require surgery by a specialist to heal properly. This hardship has definitely come at a very bad time for us financially and to add another monthly payment for a $3000-3500 surgery just feels so insurmountable! After much praying and a lot of tears we (well mostly I) have decided to go ahead with the surgery. Ash has been part of our little family since the beginning- we have had him for 7 years and I can't imagine putting him down for a broken leg! So if you see us at a local homeless shelter for dinner you'll know why :) Please keep us in your prayers.

New Haircut

I couldn't stand it any longer (literally); I finally chopped off my hair! After Chandra cut it the first time it was right below my shoulders and I wasn't really happy with it. A week later she cute an inch or two more to right above my shoulders and I love it! It is so much easier to deal with-now I know why the "mom-style" is in right now (see Katie Holmes). I have posted some pics for my parents, hope you like it.

Twilight Update

I can’t wait until Twilight comes out in movie at the end of this year! Here is a cool movie clip posted by MTV; I got the link from stepheniemeyer.com.

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900&vid=226476

Here's to the Little Moments

Last Saturday we had this amazingly warm ( mid 80's) and sunny day! Jon had to do some work on his truck, but I didn't want to waste such a perfect day on lounging around our house, so I made a few phone calls and we were soon on our way to meet our friends at Carkeek Park in North Seattle. For those of you who live in this area, you definitely need to check this park out-it's fabulous! Anyways, the Martin's were nice enough to invite us on their family outing and we are so so glad they did.

The park had this great kid area with a fish slide (made out of stone) and all these rocky areas with fake porcelain? sea stars, sea cucumbers, anemones, crabs, and other intertidal critters.

Eph being voluntarily swallowed by a stone fish.

Apparently, Clay didn't agree with the fish's digestive system.

Then their was a playground, a couple of huge grassy areas for playing football or having a picnic, hiking/walking trails for checking out nature and some beautiful views of the Sound, and last but definitely not least a beach on the Sound with a railroad track running right next to it (my boys loved watching the trains go by while playing on the beach). There was a little inlet where the water was shallow that was perfect for the boys to play and explore. We had such a good time running, playing, and exploring this park; we can't wait to go back for more!

View of part of the beach and railroad tracks from the bridge (used to get from the park to the beach).

What little boy doesn't like dirt, rocks and water!?

All the little boys seemed mesmerized every time a train passed by.

Two out of three smiling-not too bad!

Playing in the water...

Standing on the bridge overlooking the train tracks.

Eating a snack.

Just like Kai, Andrew plopped into the water right away (hence the lack of pants). This little guy keeps his Mommy (Jill) very busy...reminds me of when Clay was young (oh, what it would be like to have only the one again).

All tuckered out!

On the way home I had one of those perfect moments where you feel like your life is the greatest ever- the two younger boys were exhausted and dozing off, the windows were down to let the warm evening breeze into the car, and Clay said something like, "I love you Mom or you're beautiful" and I thought I have the world's most wonderful job...here's to the little moments!

178th General Conference

Okay, I just wanted to get in a few thoughts about General Conference the past couple of days since I consider blogging to be my "journaling" (I know many of you probably think its a cop-out but otherwise, it just doesn't happen). Anyways, I was very excited this conference and I'm not really sure why but it might have been because I had attended the temple the week prior and felt ready for it or maybe that I was going to get to sustain (I know they can't actually SEE my hand but it still feels good to raise it!) and listen to our new prophet, Thomas S. (I found out the "S" stands for Spencer, just a random tidbit) Monson or it could also have been because I actually remembered that there were Saturday sessions and that I had decided to watch ALL of conference this year. For whatever reason, I was stoked!

President Thomas S. Monson

So, in our ward one of the stake leaders challenged us to think of some things beforehand that we wanted advice on, or that we wanted answers to, or that we needed help with and then listen to every talk with those things in mind. Jon and I sat down the night before and figured out two things to think of- one of them for both of us was to learn to be happy with what we have, and the other one for me was to be happy with who I am.

So on Saturday, Gerald Lund gave a talk about opening our hearts to the Holy Ghost and in part of it he said that we needed to set our hearts on spiritual things rather than on material things or what man thinks (not exact quote). He said that when we seek to gratify pride we desensitize our hearts to the Spirit. I know for me that it is so important that I have that open communication with the Spirit as I raise my children in the gospel and I want to really learn to find joy and contentment in all the amazing blessings and comforts that I enjoy!

On Sunday, my second thought was fulfilled and more in Elder M. Russel Ballard's beautiful talk on mothers. I felt like my Heavenly Father was telling me through his servant that He loved and appreciated me- I can't express how moved I was by the Spirit during this talk! Elder Ballard asked the question: What can you do as a young mom to reduce pressure and find joy in motherhood? He answered that we should appreciate all the little moments and slow down from the autopilot of just getting things done. I definitely struggle with this; clean house or happy kids? Second, he recommended that we don't over schedule; that kids and moms need unstructured time to play, listen, laugh, teach... I'm not too bad with this but sometimes find it hard to "play" for long periods of time with three little boys who want to play cars constantly! Third, he admonished us to avoid television, surfing the Internet, and recommended we pray, study the scriptures and the gospel. New resolution- no internet or TV for me when the boys are awake. Fourth, he warned against substance abuse-that it won't help us. Bye-bye cherry coke zero... I felt the Spirit whispering to me so strongly that I know that this talk was an answer to so many of my prayers. It showed me that although I have some things to change that I am doing great and that my work is sacred and important to my Father in Heaven. I feel recharged!!

Some other good stuff:
Elder Tom Perry- create a clear and true picture of eternal life in your mind so that it will make righteous living more desirable as we head to somewhere we yearn to go.
Elder Bednar- missionaries are full-time teachers and we are full-time finders.

I am so grateful for our prophet, the 12 apostles and the quorum of the 70s- that I may receive revelation in these latter days that help give me hope, strength to endure, faith, and joy in this lonely and tough mortal existence.

NOTE: All talks were paraphrased into my own words.