Making history--My first blog post ever!

So it might not be a great day for me to write my post since I am feeling heavy hearted but here goes....

First a little update. Jared and I moved into a cute little 3 bedroom house in orem. We rent out the top floor and a newly married couple live in the basement. We have a Cherry tree in the front yard and a huge fenced in backyard for the kids to play in complete with patio furniture and a grill:) Having more space has been a HUGE blessing to our family. Chad has his own room (and a REAL bed!) so we all have private space and now can come out and enjoy the shared space. We have a washer, dryer, and dishwasher so I am feeling the blessing of these amenities in my life right now! We love our new home! (did I mention Jared and I have our own bathroom with 2 sinks?! So awesome to be able to get out of bed to use the bathroom without having to get fully clothed each time:)!)

On more good news....if you didn't know...we are expecting our third little one this April. I think it's a girl but we will know for sure in a few weeks. I am planning on delivering with the midwife again at our house so wish me luck:) 

Jared is still working as the art director at Connect PR. He is enjoying as he puts it "being a productive/contributing member of society" but is looking forward to finishing school and teaching which is his true passion. 

Sam and Nathan are as cute as can be. Nathan turned one last month and I can't believe it has been a year. He loves walking around exploring the house and everything in it but more than anything he loves his brother. Sam started a neighborhood preschool which he loves! He is so social and thrives off interaction with people. He still looks just like me and talks peoples ear off just like me:) 

Self-Reflection

Spiritual - I have been feeling the need, the urge, the inspiration to read the Book of Mormon again. Let's just say I keep getting stuck in my scripture study.I have yet as a wife and a mother found a great scripture study system. I have often beat myself up for the changes in study and prayer and have many times felt lazy. Yet, I am thankful for Heavenly Father's mercy blessing me with understanding, patience and a broader more flexible understanding of how to have a relationship with him during this transition and life phase. I am amazed at his compassion continuing to bless me as I say my prayer laying down with my eyes closed in bed too tired to get myself in the proper order of prayer or the way he showers down inspiration and guidance the moment I sincerely seek his help. I feel so blessed and watched over. I also feel the need to receive the blessings and the transformation that come into our lives when we read the Book of Mormon. I want the power of protection and the increase of love that comes from a true study of the Book of Mormon. So....if anyone wants to join me I am going to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. I am in Alma 36 so I am going to start from there and see how it goes. I know I can accomplish any goal that is confirmed by Heavenly Father and I know this is something he wants me to do. If I make the sacrifice I will be successful. 

Physical- So being pregnant is nice in one respect because I don't feel bad about the little pooch that never left after Nathan was born. I actually think I look cute again with skinny jeans and a maternity shirt where there is suppose to be a big belly...I will enjoy this while it lasts until I just feel big and swollen and fat faced:) Seriously though, I am supposedly doing 8 goals for the last 8 weeks of the year. I failed miserably the first week but will try to accomplish the goals the next 7 which include working out 4 times a week and eating 4 fruits/vegetables a day. Not sure I will ever make the water goal of 8 glasses a day but I will give it a go:)

Mental-not sure... Some times I struggle with the isolation/identity of being a stay at home mom (see social section:)) and forgiveness.  Other than that things are great up stairs:)

Social- I need to change my attitude. I feel like I have struggled since we moved to Utah. I haven't really made many friends and feel somewhat isolated. Some of that is self inflicted. I am thankful for the friends I have (although sometimes I isolate from them too...(Mel so sorry I never returned your call to hang out. I really appreciated your call and I love you despite my slow response rate!)) and really need to do better at reaching out to others. I get in my little shell and just hide there. When I do peek out and try to reach out to others I often feel discouraged and or rejected at the result and throw in the towel. 

 Do something fun and spontaneous with the necklace on and take a picture to post to the blog:

On a date night Jared and I climbed to the top of a tall parking lot that was empty and we sat and talked and looked out at the beautiful city of provo. It was spontaneous and it was nothing exciting or extravagen. However, it was so fun! One of the best dates we had in a long time. Life fills up and it is rare that Jared and I have a chance to just sit, talk, and be in love (when we are not both tired out from the day:)) Sorry no picture though....you are just going to have to imagine it. 

Do something to stretch yourself

So technically I did not have the necklace for this event....but I thought I would so I am still using it:) I ran the top of Utah marathon pregnant and nursing! Sure I finished after the race officially shut down but I finished and it was no easy task! I was definitely not as prepared as I wish I would have been but I will throw myself a bone for the above stated reasons. It was really fun, it stretched me, and I am glad I was able to finish my 4th and probably final full marathon!!

all 5 berrys
do a fun service for someone sometime this month:   My fun service this month (November not October but I will double up this month) was playing in the snow with Sam. Don't love the cold but he was SO excited to play outside that I went out there with him.  We built a snowman, snow castle, and ended the adventure with a snow ball fight. Definitely rewarding service and worth the sacrifice because he couldn't stop giggling during the snow ball fight which got me giggling too. He kept talking about how fun it was for the rest of the day. Heart warming stuff I tell you. He would stop what he was doing and say "that was really fun having a snow ball fight with you mommy" doesn't get better than knowing you brought your child a bit of joy. 

This is very long but you may not hear from me again for 5 more months so hopefully you will forgive me:)

Love you guys. 

T