A revelation

So I have been struggling with something these past few months. As I have prayed about it though I have realized that it has actually been a struggle for years. I googled overcoming overeating one day. I don't remember why, maybe because I felt like I overate. I read the first page of the first chapter on Amazon. It was totaly me. I bought it and now I am reading it. I love this book. For years I have been on this diet/binge cycle, as they refer to in this book. Long before I started having kids I had been struggling with gaining weight losing weight. I can lose weight. I have always gotten to where I wanted to be. But this time has been different. I haven't been able to be disciplined enough, or exercise two hours a day. And really deep down I have been feeling angry that I even needed to "diet". This book has been such a revelation. I just started reading it last night, 100 pages :) but just enough that today I feel free. No more diets, no more scales. No more exercising more to make up for my cheats. I am not going to try to lose weight anymore. I will still exercise b/c I love exercising. The book poses a wonderful question. What if I never lost or gained another pound? How would I live my life? I love that!!! I am who I am. I am going to definitely continue to try to eat healthy b/c I want to set a good example to my kids. But no more guilt no more obsession. I am recognizing there is no happiness in the perfect weight, nor is there happiness in controlling everything you put in your mouth or obsessing about how much I have worked out. I love the idea of embracing myself just as I am.

So excited!!!

I can't even begin to tell y'all how excited I am!!! A very very very dear friend of mine is moving to Utah. We met in PA. Actually we first met over the phone.I was told by someone to call her b/c she had baby clothes she was giving away. The first time we talked it was I think for about an hour and half, probably more. It was as if we had always been friends. I was prego with Aspen at that time. I am still using some of those baby clothes for Alexa :) This friend has always been an inspiration for me. She is so creative, so kind, and very compassionate. She is a wonderful mother. And was there with me at one of the not so greatest moments of my life. So I am posting this today b/c I want her to know just how grateful I am for her, and just how EXCITED I am for her to move here. I love you my dear friend!!!!

Gratitude

Fall is my favorite time of year. There is something about the colors, the smells, and the festivities that makes my heart flutter. This morning I am overcome with gratitude. With this week being Thanksgiving I have been reflecting on my life and just what the Lord has blessed me with. I don't even know where to begin. I have a wonderful husband. I have four amazing spirited kids. I have the gospel. I literally would not be here without the gospel. I am grateful for priesthood blessings that have sustained me through some of my darkest hours. I am grateful for the atonement and that because of it our Savior can heal any and all aspects of our lives. I am grateful for prayer, for temples, for sacrament meetings and the opportunity to fast. I am who I am because of the blessings bestowed upon me by my Heavenly Father. I have in my mind a long list of the things on this earth I am grateful for but that list would not be if I did not have the gospel in my life.

Boston

So I decided to show y'all some pictures from Boston that my dad took last summer. I have more, so I had to pick my "favorites". I have a friend there, Ellen. "Hi! Ellen". She has taken some really great photos around the area, so I think I might have to hit her up for some.

This is part of Boston Commons, which is in the center of Boston.

My million dollar home :) This house was for sale at one point. I admired it, but it was a bit out of our price range :)

This library is next to Harvard Square, which by the by I wish I had picutres of. I loved taking my kids down there to walk around and hang out and eat.

U.S.S. Constitution - You have to click the picture to enlarge it to see it better.

Boston sky-line, and bit of the ocean

This isn't how all the homes looked in the area. This is what it looks like downtown and in a few a the surrounding areas.

Alexa Nicole

Alexa Nicole was born June 18 2007

Life was quite busy once she arrived. She weighed 6lbs 4oz when she was born, but decided to loose a bit more than the docs really cared for, so we went to the docs office everyday for the first week. And then she had an apneic episode which put her in the hospital for four days. She was fine after that. And then family came to visit and then we went to visit family, and then we came home and got ready to move and then we moved. So to those of you who are just now "meeting" her b/c of my not getting an email out I am so very sorry.

Happy Birthday


With Grandma

Just cute

To infinity and beyond!!!

Baby Ray's hero is Buzzlightyear. So it was only fitting that he be Buzz for Halloween. While going from house to house he kept saying "To infinity and beyond". The best was his reaction when he saw himself in the mirror, he was Buzzlightyear.

Feeling good about being Buzz

I AM BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!

We moved!

We are now in Utah! We moved about three weeks ago. I still sometimes feel like I am visiting. It has been great being closer to family. I love living in a house. We are just renting, but it is wonderful!!!! Sometimes when I come home I forget to open the garage door. I am not used to that. Often I worry that Ray or I have the music up too loud and that it might be shaking the neighbors pictures. Or maybe the neighbors just heard me lose my patience. We have a backyard. For those of you who never saw our home in Boston our front yard was about the size of a door mat and our backyard was about the size of two door mats but just consisted of dirt. Aspen can ride her bike for longer than 5 seconds before having to move for a car. I have to "walk" to my neighbors. And last but not least I pay significantly less here to live than out in Boston. Fuji apples are affordable. Broccoli is $1.50/lb. Our electric bill was 1/3 of that in Boston. I have to say though right now I missing the fall foliage of the East Coast. They do good falls out there. It has been interesting to me b/c it really has been bitter sweet moving. There are so many amazing things out east. But there are some really great advantages to living here. So it is that we will move forward making memories and enjoying our time here.