Prayer Does Make A DIfference

I woke up this morning and prayed once again for my kids. I had the prompting to call my son who is currently working in Kentucky. I called him to see how he was doing. But today when I asked how he was doing. I asked him not only how he was doing physically but more importantly I wanted to know how he was doing spiritually. He is 24 years old and I did not want to think that I was pressuring him in any way, but I only wanted him to know how much I care about  him.

I could feel the spirit guide me in what to say to my son today. We had a great conversation and he was able to share his ups and downs with me both physically and spiritually. He was able to share with me how prayer has been key to helping him overcome his hard times. It was a very simple conversation but my sincere love and concern for him was apparent as I let the spirit guide what I needed to say to him.

I found this poem as it reminded me of the conversation I had with my son today. May God bless him each and every day and help him become the person He wants him to become! Prayer is key in knowing what and how to do just that!

Later today I sat down with my teenage daughter and she shared with me how she has been trying to help a friend. Her friend has had some difficult trials lately and Shaniah shared how prayer was key in helping her get over a rough time in her life just a couple months ago. As Shaniah was telling me this I felt the spirit testify to me just how our kids do truly learn from their own trials and tribulations. I knew that this was the only way she would have ever gained a testimony about prayer. She had to struggle first, then pray, and finally recognize the joy and peace that comes after she prayed. 

Having two kids testify of prayer to me today made me realize just how their trials can and will make them stronger but only if we allow them to struggle first. I know that Prayer truly can make a Difference and it is so amazing to see your kids figure that out for themselves! 

Helping our Young Adult KIDS!

Today I was able to attend sacrament meeting. I had all of my children on my mind today. I have been praying for and wondering how I can help each of my young adult children and teens navigate through their own trials and challenges in their life currently.

 As their mother, my first instinct is to want to protect them because I do not want them to suffer or get hurt. I would  do anything to take away their pain and suffering. It is so hard watching them make choices that you know will bring an unwanted or undesired consequence.

I thought about how our Heavenly Father must feel about all of his children on this earth. I thought about how he must feel each day watching all of us use our free agency. I though about why we were all given this free agency and know that we need it in order for us to learn and grow. I am sure our Heavenly Father would love to take away our pain and suffering but he knows if he does then it would limit our growth and what we are supposed to learn from each challenge.

Today I found peace when I read this article the the  July 2014 Ensign entitled, "Ten Tips for Parents of Young Adults". It helped me to not only trust my children and their decisions but also to know that their trials are for their own good and if I took that away from them then I would be limiting their growth.

I really loved this quote and was reminded just how important it is to not only trust God but to also trust my children and know that every decision  and obstacle they go through will help them grow and become the person God intends them to be.

"TRUST THEM WITH THEIR DECISIONS.
This doesn’t mean believing that they will always make perfect choices. It means trusting that they can be resilient, that God is forgiving, and that life can be deeply meaningful even when it includes overcom- ing failure or enduring trials. Young children can be scarred by trauma, but young adults grow from over- coming obstacles rather than avoiding them. Provide emotional and practical support, encourage breaks from the stress, pray with and for them, and inject a little humor. "


I also found peace as I read just how important it is to love them for the amazing person they are and the great qualities they have. Showing love and acceptance for them as an individual child of God will show them you are more concerned about their well being then what others may think. 

Each of us struggle some how or some way  during our life and we should never judge others when they are going through their difficult times. Because we could very well be in the same predicament later.

"MEASURE TRUE SUCCESS. When we focus too much on how others will judge us for our children’s choices (either for good or bad), we lose objectivity, and we often lose the Spirit. Remember that our success as parents is not defined by how well our children live our values but by how consistently and selflessly we live them."

I love this last quote as it helped me to remember the spirit will help us as parents know what we need to say and do in order to help our children become the person the Lord intends them to become!

"As we prayerfully consider the needs and personalities of each of our young adult children, the Spirit can help us guide without criticizing, support without suffocating, and step back without abandoning. As we do so, our young adult children will come to trust that both we and the Lord are on their side. "


I know if I keep a prayer in my heart for my kids at all time, I will be blessed by the spirit and know what I need to say and do in order to help them navigate, and not protect them, from all of their struggles and challenges. 

Like Mother…..Like Daughter

I lay in bed this morning pondering over the fun times we had yesterday and although I was in quite the painful flare, just thinking about all the good memories reminded me that everything I did yesterday was all worth the pain I have today!

As I was going through all of the pictures I took yesterday I ran acrossed a couple pictures of my grand-baby Ireland that reminded me of some pictures I took of Kaylee when she was a baby.
I quickly went to Kaylee's baby book and found some  pictures of when she was 9 months old. How similar they were to one another. It was so fun to see just how much they look like one another at 9 months of age! I just knew I had to share what I had found! Here they are…..

Like Mother…………………..Like Daughter

Kaylee                                     Ireland

So excited to see how similar they are. I asked her daddy to find a baby picture of himself  when he was 9 months old. He also was a blonde tow head and I think she has his chin, cheek dimples, eyes, and shape of head…So fun!!

Just…Fake It Till You Make It!

Today we celebrate not only our independence and freedoms we  enjoy  while living in this country but also many other freedoms we may not recognize as we go throughout each day.

 Since being diagnosed with this illness 18 months ago I have discovered many things I am unable to do without paying some type of a price for it later. I have found that what I do today will effect me an hour or even a day later in terms of a lung flare-up, extreme exhaustion, or even a massive migraine.

My mind continues to run and function at its peak and still has the same drive and desire to accomplish things that I have in the past. But now I really have to think about what I do each day and decide whether or not it is worth the pain I will have to pay for it later.

On this holiday when we celebrate our freedoms and blessings of the independence of our country, can I suggest we also take the time to celebrate and be grateful for everything the Lord has blessed our bodies to be able to do.  Before this illness I never even had to think about pacing myself or saying no to anything. When you are healthy you have a never-ending supply of gas in your gas tank and you just keep on going and then refill. For me I have had to learn to run on empty and get the most out of every mile that I travel.  By learning this I have come to appreciate  and treasure so many more things than I ever did before.

Today I was grateful to have a family luncheon with my parents, my hubby, and my kids and grand baby. I really tried to keep things extremely simple so that my energy would be spent with my family and not in preparing food. Plus, I wanted to have enough energy to be able to play and swim with my grand baby.

The family get-together was great and after they left I found myself completely out of spoons. (See spoon theory post from a few months ago if not sure what I am talking about).  I laid in bed all afternoon and tried to muster up some additional spoons for the evenings events. Kaylee and her hubby wanted us to come over and join them in their annual neighborhood b-b-cue and fireworks.

I was not sure I was going to make it, but by 7:00 that night I rolled out of bed and told Kim we are going no matter what. I really enjoyed myself while I was there but spent the entire evening in a chair with a smile on my face not letting anyone know of my pain or fatigue. Sometimes I find "You just have to fake it until you make it!" When others see you not in pain it helps them to not worry so much about you and they can enjoy themselves more knowing you are looking just fine!!! haha! Just a little secret that I finds works great! Plus you don't have to miss out on all the fun!!!

Ireland, Me and Kaylee

Horsey Ride Grandma!!!

Love this little 4th of July CUTIE PIE!

Grandpa and his GIRL!

Daddy and his Daughter

J'Dee and Nikki with Landee

FAMILY FUN ON THE FOURTH!

Parade Fun…..

As a family we went to the local Riverton Parade. My youngest daughter was asked to be in it and model prom dresses for her friends mother's prom dress company. We were excited to be there and support her as well as be with Ireland at her first big parade. 

I really love parades, although my hubby hates them and my older daughter is not too fond of them either. I told them both that we do parades for the kids… so get used to it! haha! Even though they were not too excited about the parade, they really enjoyed watching Ireland have so much fun dancing to the bands, waving her red, white, and blue wand around, and most of all watching her face as the sirens blared from the police and fire trucks.

So much fun in one little day….

IRELAND soooooooo happy to be here!!

What a Cheezer!!!

Such a fun little girl!

At the parade I was feeding her and felt inside her mouth and found her first little tooth had popped through! Her mom and dad said… "No wonder she did not sleep last night!"

Daddy and his little girl!

Grandpa making sure Landee gets her high five from the police 

Ireland pointing at the cops and sirens

Uncle Dee Dee and Landee

Ireland is a little jealous of Kaylee's cousin Cruz.

Shaniah is in the green dress hiding…. We were making quite the noise as we cheered her on!

Niah laughing at her crazy family and we cheered for her!

The family

J'Dee, Nikii, and Landee

Candida Cleanse

Today was spent resting up so that I can be able to participate in the 4th of July festivities over the next couple of days. Its amazing how I even have to plan my life around not over-doing today so that I won't be in a bad flare tomorrow and can enjoy the upcoming holiday.

It has been a month since I finished my second 30 day treatment of Doterra Oil's candida cleanse. I have noticed lately that I seem to be having flares one after another like I used to before starting the cleanse. I decided it was time to order the GX and PB assist from Doterra and re-do the candida cleanse. I am hopeful that my candida level will come down again and once again help me start feeling better. I also discussed with my daughter that I might have to do this each month in order to keep the candida levels under control and allow my immune system, which is found primarily in the gut, time to heal and recover from the yeast overgrowth.

I am so very excited and hopeful that I am noticing a difference when I am on the candida cleanse and when  I am not. I also want to get on the Culturelle supplement daily to help establish the good level of yeast in my gut as well during and after the cleanse.

I have heard so many good things about people with auto-immune diseases and how they have been helped by reducing the candida in their gut by way of these Doterra oil supplements. I am so hopeful that this will be yet another key in finding what will help me battle and win the war against this disease.

Landee...Our Little Light

Kaylee and Bubba have been doing swim lessons at our house for the past month and I have loved being able to play and spend time with Landee at home. It has been extremely good for me and my health to have this little one make me smile and bring so much joy and happiness into my life and the lives of my family. Oh how she has brought so much light and  joy into our lives.

When someone in your family has an illness, we have learned that the entire family is affected by it in one way or another. This little angel-baby  was sent to our family to bring the much needed light into a dark and sometimes never ending trial.

She has taught us how to focus on what really matters in life and has given us the strength to go on on days that feel overwhelming and down right discouraging.

Life without Landee would be very hard to imagine. She lifts our loads, and brightens our burdens. She helps each of us put a smile on our face as she shares her love and laughter with us. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father who sent this tender mercy to our family at this time. How grateful I am for what she has brought to our family over these past 9 months. LOVE THIS LITTE GIRL!

Landee Is Truly Our Little Light