Quote About Trials

Over the past few years Dale and I have been called to pass through many trials concerning our financial situation. We have said countless prayers and miracles have happened as a result. Other times, the outcome that we think we need at the time does not happen. I have come to a greater understanding that the Lord's will for us is better than our own. Instead of asking why and feeling sorry for myself, I have learned that the Lord is mindful of our family and is helping us in many ways that we may not even see at the time. Even though everything may not be all right at the moment, I know that it eventually will be and if we remain faithful and righteous, the outcome in this life or the next will be greater than we ever could have imagined.

I came across this quote in the February Ensign that sums up exactly how I have been trying to view trials and why they happen to us: “The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by.”

If I ever start feeling discouraged or disappointed I remember that all things are working together for my good and how we will never be asked to endure more than we can handle. It makes me think, "How many times has the Lord put something in my path that has saved me from myself and what I thought I needed at the time?"

We are going to be okay. I don't know how, what, when, or why but I know with out a doubt that as long as we are doing the things the Lord requires of us, we will be watched over and led by the Spirit.

We can always be happy amidst times of trial if we choose to be. We don't have to let our happenings affect our happiness.

Sorry, I feel like I just gave a Relief Society lesson or something. I've just been itching to share that quote with everyone.

Typical Afternoon

Another typical afternoon around here at the Morris residence.
Did you know that the secret to having a fun day is to stay in your jammies, wear your cool new plastic fire fighter's hat and play tee ball? Ya'll should try it.

Tabby Lou

Friday night, I took Tabby out on a mommy/daughter date to see Coraline. Before we left, I took some pics of my girl who is growing up entirely too fast.

Do we not look awesome in our 3D glasses?
The movie was kinda spooky and when it was over I asked her how she felt about it. She told me that she liked it but it freaked her out. Hope I didn't scar her for life.

Update

Update on our own personal housing crisis. The good news is we don't have to be out as soon as we thought we did. We have almost a whole extra month to stay here. Bad news is that looking for a rental house sux!!! Pardon my french. But it stinks. It's worse than looking for a used car. We have come close a few times but haven't been able to seal the deal for one reason or another. It's miserable process but we are not freaking out. We feel there is something out there for us. And now we have a bit more time to find it. So sorry neighborhood/ward, you aren't getting rid of me just yet.

A Little Valentine's Day Reminiscing

Since this year's Valentine's Day was a bust (nobody's fault, it just didn't work out) I will share a fun story from Valentines Past.

I remember it was the Valentine's weekend when my niece was born so this was 3 years ago. Dale a.k.a. Mr. Romance decided to surprise me and told me to pack for a weekend trip but he would not say where. I had a lot of fun guessing where he was driving me on the long road trip. I never once suspected that he was taking me to the most adorable bed and breakfast up in Prescott! He reserved the "upgraded" room complete with iron claw tub, wood floors, fireplace, and all the frilly grandma decor you'd expect a B&B to have. It even had one of those toilets that required you to pull down on a chain with a wooden handle to flush.
He also paid the owner extra to have chocolates, sparkling cider, and flowers waiting for us when we arrived. Needless to say, I was on cloud 9.

That night, we ate dinner at a jazz club. No we don't like jazz, nor do we frequent jazz clubs. But hello! It's Valentines day! It just seemed like the right place to go. Oh, it was so yummy. And yes, I did enjoy me some jazz music. The only thing that would have made it better was if Ron Burgundy showed up with his jazz flute.
The next day, Dale let me choose what we would do for fun. He, being the kindest man, allowed himself to be subjected to one of the most girliest, mundane snoozer activities that a man could ever endure. Antique shopping. I had a great time picking out cute old bird cages and these gorgeous black milk glass containers. I was starting to think we'd better get out of there before Dale lost his mind when he came across something that he fell in love with. Something that he had to get right that moment. I knew it was coming home with us and there was nothing I could do about it. What was this magical item? Here are some pics of the thing he just had to have:
She's a beauty, ain't she? Complete with formidable looking skulls on the handle. I believe it set us back a whopping $20.00. A mere price to pay for such an awesome machismo collectable. The cool thing about it was when I was walking out of the store, an old guy coming in thoroughly checked out my behind. Dale saw this and promptly gave him the "don't stare at my wife or I'll use this new sword I got" look and raised the sword up so the man could clearly see it. I didn't see this happen. But I can imagine that Dale scared him straight.

We ended up having a relaxing day cuddling by the fire and enjoying the break from our kids. It was the best Valentine's day ever.

What sparked this fantastic memory was the fact that I was cleaning out our closet and packing things to get ready for our move when I happened upon the sword way in the back behind all of Dale's clothes. It remains there, waiting to be drawn against any intruder that dares to enter and do battle. It's not the nicest, sharpest sword by any means but Dale once told me that he was confident he could cut a man in half with it if he had to. Lovely.

How funny that one of my most romantic memories is tied to a cheap sword with skulls on it. Such is marriage.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Girly Necklaces

The nesting/girly stuff continues. I am actually really pleased with how these turned out. I've been wanting to make cute necklaces for Tabby and Ella for a while but I never could find beads that I liked. Then a friend told me that she finds other jewelry, takes them apart and uses the beads she likes. I never thought of looking for beads from things that were already made! I mail ordered some of the beads, used some I already had, and found the rest on some cheap-o bracelets and necklaces at Tilly's. Cost me around $15.00 all together. If you have the right tools, they are easy and fun to make!

Sorry for the bad pics, I totally don't know how to photograph jewelry.

Trying to Be Optimistic

Ugh. I am really ticked off right now. Not at anyone in particular. It's just that our rental house in Gilbert fell through because of the giant nasty MOLD problem that was discovered this weekend! I'm ticked because I really liked that house and was excited to live there. Thank goodness it was discovered before we moved in there though. A newborn, a child with asthma (Tabby has it), and a husband with awful allergies would not be the perfect candidates for a mold infested house. I feel bad for the owners, what a huge annoyance to deal with. Anyway, we decided we really do want to try to live in that area so we drove down street after street looking for houses. We really couldn't find anything that would work for our family. Not that beggars can be choosers but we shouldn't have to live in a house that we hate, right? Not knowing were we are going to be able to move our family to when we lose our house next month is not the best feeling in the world.

It's a.....

Introducing:

Gunnar
We Haven't Decided on a Middle Name Yet
Morris!

My motherly instinct once again did not let me down. I'm 4 for 4.

AND...
The sonographer said that she didn't see any signs of bleeding anywhere! PHEW!

He seems to be healthy and normal with all the parts in all the right places.
Because of my miscarriage last year, I am more elated than ever to be so blessed.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts everyone!

Off I go...

I'm about to head out the door for my ultrasound. Even though this is the 4th time around, my nervousness never lessens.

Maybe I'm nervous because when I was on my way to go to get my ultrasound done when I was pregnant with Ella, I was full of the bazillion ounces of water they told me to drink and when we were almost there, I threw it up all over myself. Not one of my finer moments. Of course I instantly started bawling and Dale had to pull over into this industrial warehouse parking lot to "clean up the mess." I guess some worker there heard me wailing and saw Dale hunched over me and instantly thought the worst. He came right over and yelled, "What's going on here???!!!" Then he saw what really happened, didn't want any part of it and got the H out of there. However, I was flattered that he tried to come to my rescue. Anyway, we had to reschedule my appt. that day because I was no longer full of water and hello, like I was going to roll up to that place covered in spew. Ugh.

Hopefully today will go much better! I'm praying that this sub-corionic bleed as my doctor calls it is gone and everything will be healthy and normal.

I'll let you know!

Hair Bows

I've been bit by the nesting bug. Because we are packing things up to move, this means I can't do the usual nesting activities like prepare the baby's room, refurbish a dresser, paint the entire house, etc. And cleaning is lame. So what's a girl to do? Make hair bows of course! My sis asked me to make some for her little girl's birthday coming up and for her friends baby shower. This motivated me in to making some for my own girlies.
These sweet little ladybug ones might be my fave.
Next on the nesting list? Organizing my scrapbook paper! Fun, I know! Thanks to Melody, I am now equipped with some new aws paper holders. Can't wait to show the pics.