On Saturday, Gordon and I went to Portland (sans baby) and went to the temple. We hadn't been in a while so it was nice to go! We also went to Trader Joe's, Winco and then out to dinner! It was so nice to have an entire day together without Brooke. We love her a lot but sometimes you just need a break, especially me!
Thanks, Tammy for watching Brooke the whole day while we were gone! I guess they did a little shopping, too!
So, I was thinking about a talk I heard a while back from General Conference or maybe it was a Stake Conference....Anyways, in the talk, the guy talked about perfection being unattainable, yet attainable. Meaning we can be perfect in our scripture study, our daily prayers, family home evenings, church attendance, temple attendance and visiting teaching and/or home teaching. Every so often I take inventory of my life and how I'm doing on these items as well as some other personal goals. Sometimes I blame things on other people or other factors when really, it's my fault. So, this is me recommitting to do better on these things that I know I can be perfect in.
Speaking of PERFECT, Gordon is practically perfect! He is so wonderful to me and leads this little family in love and righteousness. He works so hard so I don't have to and is such a good example to others, especially other co-workers. He loves to play with Brooke and as soon as he gets home, she runs to him and gives him a big hug! (Just like I used to do when I was little with my dad :) ) He watches Brooke on the weekend for hours so I can get my long run in. He sets goals for himself and reaches them! He is very strong in his convictions and knows what is right and wrong in situations. He is kind to others and does a good job at befriending people who might be considered different. Thank goodness he asked me to marry him! I've loved that boy since before he knew I existed (and it wasn't just because of his big muscles!) I Thank the Lord he noticed me and was nice enough to be my friend!
We know that something will work out as far as finding a job after his internship is concerned, but right now we're still in a little bit of a limbo. Just looking for jobs like crazy. BUT, today was his unofficial last day as an intern (as far as the school is concerned) and he just found out today that he got a score of 500/500 and a "FANTASTIC JOB" on his final report for his internship class! So, great job, Gordon! We are so proud of you! You are perfect to us today!! Yippee! Lets have a party!
Here's a talk I found that sort of talks about that I just mentioned, not the same one I remember, but very similar. You can go read that talk HERE.
From William H. Bennett "Our Goal is Perfection", Ensign Nov, 1976.
"The pursuit of excellence should be major work of our lives. Many people, however, give little attention to it. Perhaps they feel that it is not possible for anyone to reach perfection in this life, and so they let the immediate pressures dominate their actions. While it is true that we cannot attain perfection in a total sense in this life, it is also true that we can attain perfection in many specific areas of activity. Furthermore, if we fail to do what we can and should do in this life, we may deprive ourselves forever of the opportunity to do those things later on and thus lose great eternal blessings....
"With respect to spiritual matters, we can be perfect in this life in paying tithing; being honest in our dealings with others; having personal and family prayers; abstaining from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; holding family home evenings; and in reading the scriptures daily. We can if we really want to....
"No one is perfect, but everyone should be striving for perfection."
I can't believe that this is my little baby! She was so teeny tiny and now she's getting so big! Maybe it's the glasses but she seems like she's going to be starting kindergarden tomorrow!
I whipped up some cream the other day to top off some pie, and I gave Brooke one of the beaters to lick and of course she loved it and made a mess! Typical.
Just as a side note: she has started walking and sort of running on her tippy toes. It's so funny and cute to watch! I'm trying to get it on video.
So, over this last weekend, I traveled to Smith Rock to run in my third half marathon with my sister-in-law Tammy and her friend Melanie. It was SO MUCH FUN! Even though the trip start to finish was 24 hours, there was a lot of fun packed in! We left around 3 pm Friday afternoon to drive to Bend, OR to pick up our rack packets. Then we stopped to do a little shopping and eat dinner and then we went out to find and drive the course. By the time we got to our hotel, it was at least 10. We all were in bed by 11 which is not bad on any regular day, but since we had to get up at 4:30 the next morning, it was a little late. Oops.
So we got up and got ready the next morning and drove to the starting line. We were all jittery and nervous, but once we got running, it wasn't bad at all. Well, come mile 6, I was running pretty fast and passing a lot of people. The whole time I was seriously praying that my knees wouldn't start hurting, that my lungs wouldn't start hurting, that I wouldn't get side aches and that I could stay at that fast pace I had started to run about half way through. Well, miraculously, I was able to keep running and I ended up finishing the race at 2:03 which is awesome since I was trying to beat my previous best time of 2:08. I managed to shave off 5 minutes! Thats what happens when you train with fast people! Who knew?! Anyways, I am very happy with that time and this was probably one of the best runs I've had. Now I need to find another half to run so I can try to run it under 2:00.
Still really hesitant about the Portland Marathon. I want to run it but I don't. I can't seem to get past the 16 mile mark without literally feeling like I'm going to die. Still haven't ruled it out though.
So, overall, a great trip with some great ladies! Hope to do it again, Tammy & Melanie!
I guess there's a lot to do in Hood River on the 4th. We went to a shortened version of church, went home to change and then went to get a spot to watch the parade. It was a chilly and windy day, so we all had to be bundled. After that we went over to Gordon's parents house where they were having a party/potluck thing for close friends and family and all the food was awesome. I ate too much. I think everyone ate too much. Then we watched the fireworks and went home! It was a looooooong day, but really fun! Happy Independence Day to America and Happy belated Canada Day too!
Brooke watching the parade
It was blustery and cold hence my crazy hair and Brooke in her blanket.
Daddy's sunglasses are so cool!
Cuteness.
One of Gordon's friends who came to his parent's party was in the parade wearing these stilts! Gordon tried them on and got the hang of it pretty quickly!
Everyone around the fire. I want a small fire pit in my yard too! Its so relaxing and marshmallows are the best straight out of the fire!
This was the first time in our (almost) 3 year marriage that we saw fireworks together! It was precious.
I made the mistake of feeding this girl some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven the other day. She not only didn't want to eat anything else the rest of the day, she got chocolate everywhere! Including the couch and on me! Figures.....
Lately some of her favorite foods have been: strawberries with cream, grapes, grilled cheese sandwiches and pickles. We're trying to introduce new foods to broaden her palate so she likes more, but she's kind of picky.
Over the last few weeks, I've been contemplating what I should be doing. Like, I have a running group and running schedule, I have my food blog that keeps me busy, I have my friends to hang out with, I teach Sunday School to 4 & 5 year old boys and I do other things here and there, but I thought maybe I should be doing more.
I decided that what was right for me (and our financial situation/predicament) was for me to go to work. I applied for one job. It was a part time job working for head start as their health & nutrition consultant--right up my alley. I thought "Hooray! A job that is part time that I will LOVE and that will let me use my degree!" Perfect.
They called me back and I went for an interview. It went well. A few days later, I get offered the position and I accept. I am happy and excited. I figured out that me working part time for 10 months would pay off all of our debts entirely (including student loans) AND pay for flights to Canada for Christmas AND have a little left over. Amazing. Gordon and I then proceed to figure out some sort of childcare for Brooke. Although we have lots of family here in town, NOTHING is working out. I am frustrated. So very frustrated.
Through lots of talking, prayers and tears, I decline the job. Interestingly enough, the night before I decline, I received an answer to my prayers: We will be blessed financially without me working & Brooke needs her Mom. So, I get over it, try to be positive, count my blessings and think things will work out because the Lord told me that me and my family would be blessed.
This was earlier in the week. Yesterday, I saw one of my friends post the newest 'Mormon Messages" video that just completely re-affirmed my decision to decline the job. Even though logically it doesn't make sense at all for me to not work, it is what's best for my family. I know that we are being watched over and that our prayers are heard and answered. I know that their is a plan for my life and even though I have an idea of where I want to go, it is really all in the Lord's hands. And I'm ok with that. I am grateful I had this experience. Even though it was hard and angering at times, I learned a lot from it.
