Families are Forever

Friday morning I was taking the metro rail home from the children's museum when my outlook on the day changed pretty drastically. A young family, mom, dad, three small children, boarded the train at the medical center stop. The father was holding a little girl about four years old who was obviously very ill. The whole family was very subdued and just sat in silence the entire ride. I then noticed that in the fathers hand was a pamphlet entitled, "What is Cancer". My heart just sunk. Tears came to my eyes as I thought about the difficult road this family is on and what could possibly be ahead for them. I know that modern medicine does amazing things but that life is also very fragile. The possibility of losing a young child would be devastating and especially so without the understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches that this life isn't the end. There IS more and families CAN be together forever. Watching this little family reaffirmed the deep gratitude I have for my testimony of this important principle. I wanted so badly to share my beliefs with them but I wasn't sure how. They got off at my stop and just before my apartment, I paused and talked with them for a moment. I gave them a card and invited them to call the number on the card to learn more about the importance of families. I finished my walk home feeling glad that I'd done something but still felt somewhat inadequate to what was truly needed. I just hope and pray that they are able to eventually find the comfort and peace that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beach Trip

I love the 4th of July! I love the patriotic songs and the beautiful fireworks but most especially I love that I most often get to spend it with my family. This year I was blessed to spend the holiday with my Texas siblings. My brother from Austin and my sister from Kingsvale met on the beach in Corpus Christi. We spent the holiday together with our little ones (eight of them 4 and under). It was such fun to create happy memories of being together. I am so grateful for families!

Gideon is my nature boy who loves being outdoors. The beach was no different. He LOVED everything about it- the sand, watching the birds, and listening to the waves come and go.
Vacations are such a great time to really focus on family without the distractions of everyday life. I loved the afternoon we spent at the beach with just our little family. This is the group! There was never a dull (or a quiet) moment with all these little ones.

Two Rules

There are two rules you must abide by if you are going anywhere in Houston- check the weather and check the traffic before you leave. I broke both those rules on Sunday and boy did I pay for it. I had to pick up Craig from the airport and I thought I'd leave a little early and go to the arboretum for a little walk with the kids. It was overcast when I left our home but by the time I got to the park, big juicy raindrops started falling so we didn't even get out of the car. We then got back on the freeway which quickly turned into a parking lot because of the storm and flooded frontage roads. So instead of a nice Sunday afternoon walk in nature we spent all our extra time in the car. Sierra just sat in her seat and sang songs about silly cars swimming in the water while Gideon just cried- I think the very loud thunder and heavy rain scared him a bit. We were sure happy to get to the airport. Anyway, next time I pack the kids in the car and plan to go more than a few miles I'll follow the rules.

Yummy! Gideon loves to eat!

Sierra showing off her new hat from her Grandma that she LOVES!

Being a mom

"Remember dear friends, that you are now doing the work that God intended you to do. Be grateful for the opportunity." Marjorie Hinckley

I've thought about that quote a lot recently because of the veracity of that statement. I truly feel that being a mother right now is the best thing I could be doing. I have been much more content with life than I did when I was focused on a career. It's a personal thing of course, but for me this is where my heart is. It's been especially nice to have my own home to look after again. I actually am enjoying the domestic side of staying home these days but I especially love playing with my kids. There are rough moments and not so rosy days, but overall it's great. Sierra is 2 1/2 and in the last two weeks since we moved to Houston, three new molars made their appearance. The teething and allergies triggered some bad asthma that is finally under control- yipee! I love having my happy imaginative child back. Gideon is almost 9 months and is now rolling over and starting to crawl. He is getting his first tooth so the teething rounds begin again. He is a sensitive boy but also very playful. A huge thunderstorm came through today and he was just mesmerized by the wind, rain and thundering skies. I thought it would frighten him but he just sat in front of the window and took it all in.

We live across the street from the light rail so we take the train often to the library, museums and to visit Craig at work. Gideon does great for about 15 minutes every time, then he just loses it. Sierra on the other hand loves riding the train and talking to all the people who get off and on. I enjoy not having to worry about parking, driving on roads with crazies and paying a ridiculous amount of money for gas. We did use the car to take a little road trip last weekend and drove to Austin (3 hour drive) to visit my brother and Craig's brother. Grandma Forbush was also in town to help with the the new baby Craig's brother's wife had. Sierra couldn't get enough of being with her Grandma. It was wonderful to be around family again.

Happy Father's Day!

Gideon and his new cousin Owen, just 5 days old.

My brother has two little girls that Sierra loved playing with- they are all such little princesses.

Texas

We are here in Houston, Texas now. Some observations:

• Cockroaches are big here! Especially the kind that habitat in crummy motels where we are currently staying while we wait to get into an apartment.


• Blond haired kids must be unusual because everywhere we go someone comes up to Sierra and talks to her and usually touches her. I'm not accustomed to complete strangers hugging and kissing my children. They love the attention thank goodness.


• Flying with children sure beats driving but it's still makes for a crazy day. Gideon woke up everyone in the Phoenix airport with his screaming when he dove out of the stroller and landed face first in Sierra's pizza. Sierra was content nearly the whole way playing with a Mary Poppins Barbie doll.


• Gas is still expensive here as well, even though we can see where it is being refined.


• There are wonderful people in the Summerwood area where we used to live. Attending church yesterday with them was a fulfilling experience.


• Saying goodbye to family in Nevada was much harder than I thought it would be. It's especially hard to hear my little one ask over and over to go to Grandma's house and to play with cousins. We're going to have to make a trip to Austin and Corpus Christi to see family soon.


• Humidity makes for some fabulous feeling skin and outta control hair.


• Being together as a family and having full time employment is such a wonderful blessing.

Gardening with Grandpa. Yes it was cold enough for coats.

Playtime with cousins.

Gideon & Sierra love to swing!

He did it!

Craig got a job!! After many months of unemployment post MBA graduation, we are thrilled with the opportunity for employment. He will be a financial analyst for a software company in Houston. He is excited to be moving back to Texas to the state he loves, though I know he would be even more excited if the job was in the oil/gas industry. He and my brother-in-law are leaving Friday with the U-haul for the trek. We decided driving 4 days with two little ones wasn't such a great idea so I'm flying with the kids next week. It's happened so fast that my mind is just whirling with the things to do- find a place to live (anyone know of a great place in Houston?), pack our stuff, prepare the children, spend time with our families before we move far far away, etc. It's a little overwhelming but I'm happy to be overwhelmed for this. We lived in Houston for two years before he went back to school, and Houston is where I served as a missionary so I am very familiar with the area. Nonetheless, it'll be an adventure I'm sure.

My sickie kids are doing much better- hallelujah! Gideon ended up with RSV (and unfortunately passed it on to his 7 week old cousin) and double ear infections. Sierra's asthma is under control and we are slowly returning to normal life- whatever normal is for us anymore.

Sickies

I've spent the last two days laying on my bed with two sick kids laying on me. I've watched more TV in these two days then in the last two months- ok not quite but it feels like it. It's days like these that I'm grateful I get to be home with them and especially grateful that we have insurance now (it only took 4 months) so a doctor visit is possible. Sierra has a respiratory infection which triggered her asthma. I've suspected she's had asthma for a while, but now that I have an official prognosis I can treat her more effectively- bring on the breathing treatments! I haven't taken Gideon into the doctor because what can they do- he throws up everything that enters his mouth. I just heard the finishing beep of the fourth load of throw-up laundry today. Craig has been out of town- he always seems to be out of town when the kids are ill. He was in Colorado last week and is in Texas this week. They can't be sick forever and the down time has been relaxing but I'm ready to get out of this room!