Finally!

I have never decorated my house before. Mostly because decorating your whole house at one time is TOO expensive. So, I decided that I would just do one room at a time. And I started with my bedroom. :) It is so nice to have one room in the house that is always the way I want it to be! Anyway, I told my sisters, and my Mom about it and they all really wanted to see it. So...here it is! Oh, and the first pictures are of some wall hangings that I made. :) I LOVE them!!

EDUCATION

As a teenager, I never took education seriously. I wish I had. I'm certain I am not alone in feeling this way. Lately I have been thinking a great deal about education. I sometimes wish that I had held off on getting married and having children, and attended college instead. But, now looking back, I know that everything has happened for a reason. And I am SO glad that I did things the way that I did. I know the person that I was right after high school. If I had gone to school right away, I would have continued to make the same efforts that I had always made. And that would have ended up in very expensive bad grades. haha. I was not mature enough for college. I did not value education, or my mind.

Since then, I have become a wife and a Mother. Which is a type of education all by it self. One that I am no where near "mastering", but am continually trying to improve. I love my life. I love my family. But as much as I love it, I do not feel 100 % fulfilled. It has taken me some time to figure out what was wrong. I figured out that my brain has been left dormant for too long. Long enough that I have come to value and appreciate it. I now have a hunger for knowledge. I crave the feeling of learning something new. The last time I felt this way was probably when I was in Kindergarten. I don't really remember. But I feel it now. So, I will begin to feed my brain. Build it back up, the way you would an atrophied muscle. It will probably hurt a bit at times but it will feel good as well I'm sure.

We are advised by prophets to get an education. We are told that an education is vital to our future, not only in this life, but in the next. Our knowledge is all that we take with us when we die. We cannot take any worldly posessions with us. So, in an eternal perspective, our brains are the most valuable things we own. And we should focus on them. Academically, and spiritually. They are all connected. I believe this with all of my heart. Because I know that there is a living prophet on the earth today. And if he is real, then God is real. Heaven is real. So, I plan to pack my little brain with all that it can carry, to the eternities.

Deciding where to start can be daunting. When I hear the phrase, "get an education", I automatically think of the word, Bachelor or Master. Very frightening words to me. I sometimes think, I am not smart enough to ever achieve either of those. Or, I don't have time for it. But, really, I AM smart enough. And I DO have time. I have a life time. I may not be able to go to school full time, or be able to afford to commit to a four year degree or more. School is EXPENSIVE. But I will do what I can. You don't have to go to a university to learn about something. There are thousands of books in library's. And they are FREE! So, if you are wanting to start out slow, go to your local library, pick a subject, find a book, and educate yourself. I don't believe that it is nesecary to have a "degree" in order to truly learn something. You can be your own educator. And you take all knowledge with you. Not only the knowledge accompanied with a certificate. Heavenly Father requires no papers. :)

I believe that the most important knowledge is that of the gospel. The scriptures. Our savior. Our Heavenly Father and his plan for us. I am currently half way through reading The Book of Mormon. I have read it before. But never like this time. I am truly reading it. I love it! I have always wished that I had a testimony of The Book of Mormon. And now, I can. And I am not yet finished with it. If you have never read it, I hope that you will. With an open heart and mind.

Ok, so this has been a bit intense and long. These are just some of the many thoughts that have been constantly going through my mind as of late. Oh, and guess what!! I just found out, that I will be able to get an associates degree through The University of Phoenix. For free! Because of Pell Grants and tuition assistance through the military. I am SO excited!! But I am having the hardest time deciding what to study! Ahh!!

Shelby- Mom, why did you give me this cookie?

Me- Because I love you.

Shelby- You can't love me with cookies, Mom.

Me- Oh. Well, what can I love you with then?

Shelby- Toys. :)

to Barbie or not to Barbie

Having a daughter has changed the way I look at the world...in so many ways. I worry about so many things and how they will affect her and the rest of her life. I want her to be a confident woman. So many women struggle with low self esteem. I think that a large part of the cause is the image of the "perfect woman" all over magazines. And when I look at Barbies, with their perfect bodies, it makes me wonder if they are the right kind of "roll models" for my daughter. They are so skimpily dressed. And Shelby really likes the way they dress. She wants to be just like the barbies. So, a while back I( very secretly) disposed of all the barbies. I'm trying to get her interested in other things. We got her an "Our Generation" doll form target. She likes it ok. She plays with it when I encourage her. But when we talk about Christmas, and Santa, she still talks about how much she loves barbies and all she wants is barbies. I feel so bad! I feel like such a mean Mom. Did I do the wrong thing? But if I let her have barbies, and she wants to dress like them, how can I tell her that she can't. It will seem quite hypocritical to her I think.

Another thought is...will it even make a difference? I could keep barbies out of the house, but she will be around them at friends houses. She will see them in stores. And she may still end up wanting to dress like them, or maybe even dress immodestly behind my back anyway. Something I am guilty of myself. Sorry Mom. OR... I could allow her all the barbies she wants, and she could end up just the way I hope she will. I am so frustrated!! I don't know what to do!! Well, actually, now after having written this all down...I think I do. But I would love to hear your thoughts...

Sad, sad, day... :(

I have known this day was coming for a while now...but still I am SO sad. My chacos and I have gone for our last walk. You may think this sounds silly. But I love my chacos(they are a brand of shoes, for those who don't know). I got them 6 years ago. Before Lucas was born. And I have worn them at least 5 days, EVERY week since then. So, a lot! A few months ago, I started to notice a little crack in the bottom of my right chaco. :( But I kept wearing them. No reason not to. Anyway, just this past thursday, as Shelby and I were walking to meet Lucas after school, I felt my chaco split apart, and start to pinch the ball of my foot with every step... I was so sad! Is it weird that I am emotionally attached to a pair of shoes? Maybe. Oh well. Goodbye, my chacos.

4, going on 14

Shelby will be 4 years old in about 5 hours. She was born at 3 am. I can hardly believe that she is already 4. So often when I look at her, I still see my baby girl. She has changed so much, but still has her soft baby cheeks. I love them! I love to hold her and put my face next to hers, and just stay there for a while. And fortunately, she still likes it too. I wish she could stay my little girl forever. But she is in a hurry to grow up. And she will, before I know it, I'm sure. So I am just enjoying watching her grow. Here are a few things about Shelby...

* Her favorite color is green.

* Her favorite princess is Ariel.

* She is ALL girl! She loves to dress up, have her nails painted, and watch me put on my makeup, while she pretends to do the same thing. I do let her put on lip gloss. She loves it!

*She is crazy about her Dad. But she likes to to try and act like she couldn't care less. They are constantly egging each other on, and love to tease each other. It's so fun to watch. They love each other so much.

* She is a person of extremes. When she is happy, she is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. But when she is mad...watch out!

* She is very passionate. She stands up for what she believes in. She is very determined and confident. She CAN do EVERYTHING on her own...no matter what I may think or say.

* She loves her brother so much. She misses him very much when he is at school. But I know that she enjoys the alone time with me. As do I.

* She is probably the most stubborn person I have ever met.

Shelby has so many characteristics that make for a very difficult little girl, sometimes. But I would not have her any other way. I can tell, that as she grows up, she will have the confidence, courage, and determination that she will need, to succeed in life. I love my Shelby so much. I am just crazy about her. There is never a dull moment with her around. I am so blessed to have her for my own. Happy Birthday, Shelby Lois Weaver!!

Shelby, cuddled up with Luke, while he is reading her favorite book to her.

Picking out her polish.
She has to pull them all out before she can choose.
All finished, however, she looks sad because she has decided that she didn't want purple. Bummer. lol
My pretty little girl.

I took these pictures last month. It's my little sister, Dixie and her sweet little family! I just thought I'd share.

Weaver Update

A snack before church :) Random, I know, but I just found this pic, and I love it!
Kevin is home, and we have been having a great time!
Kevin and I built these shelves when he came home so we could get everything off the floor in the garage...
so that the kids could have somewhere to play on rainy days(which happen often).

A picture I took for my sister-in-law, for a project she was doing, but I thought I'd post it, cause it's a cute one.

My Mom

A couple of weeks ago, my Mom came to town. It was a much needed visit for me. I love my Mom so much! And it was so nice to have her all to myself. We had 2 whole days with her. We didn't DO a whole lot. Mostly just visited. And I'm so glad. I love to sit and have really good conversations with my Mom. And even more, I love watching my kids cling to her and love her. Luke and Shelby absolutely loved having their Nana here.

I just had to write it down.

While the kids and I were eating lunch today, Luke and I had the following conversation...

Luke- "Mom, when I grow up and get married, I'm gonna kiss her like this(pursing his lips and moving his head around).

Me- "Yes, I suppose you will."

Luke- "But, Mom, I might miss you when I get married."

Me- "I might miss you too. But guess what?"

Luke- "What?!"

Me- "You guys can come visit me any time you want. You can come to my house any time."

Luke(with a huge smile)- "So, we can borrow your car?"

Me- "Well, you will need to have your own car."

I love my Luke so much!