Feasting on the Scriptures

You know, it took a pair of Jehovah Witness missionaries for me to realize how long it's been since I have really studied the scriptures. Not that any real conversation ensued, but I invited them back for a discussion and told them I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that I would be referencing the Book of Mormon along with the Bible. They gave me this little book that had chapters of topics in them, similar to what I did as a missionary, except with pamphlets and the Book of Mormon. I read the first chapter and it was about the nature of God. There were several differences that stood right out, but I knew that I would need scripture to back up my point of view, from the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I started reading and writing down references and then I just didn't want to stop. I have never really studied the Old Testament, and I have a hunger to do so. I thought that a discussion could be a good missionary opportunity, or to at least plant a seed. If they aren't interested in learning more about the Book of Mormon, then I won't engage in another discussion, but I am going to try to give them each a book. I took one of theirs, why shouldn't they take one of mine? We'll see. I'll have an update about it.

Big Brother: Friend or Foe?

Erick is growing up so fast. He looks so big, yet compared to Tripp everyone is big. I know that he loves his brother, and tries to be so helpful. But I also know that he is very jealous of Tripp, and does not like to feel excluded. For example, Nana might feel like she could balance Erick and Tripp in her lap together, but Erick needs to have both legs in order to feel comfortable. He lets me know that Tripp is crying, and promptly runs over and tries to put a pacifier in Tripp's mouth, sometimes after sampling it himself. I did however catch him trying to share his Cheetos with Tripp, but was he really trying to be friendly? As I am typing this, Erick is doing something that I don't like him to do, which is to literally run circles around a content Tripp, who now knows how to roll over, and sometimes he "accidentally" falls onto a part of Tripp. Is Erick as loving as I think he is, or is he trying to find the right time to make his move? He doesn't understand that Tripp's flailing arms aren't trying to hit him and they definitely aren't trying to steal his choo choo or trucks. Well, as sneaky as Erick can be sometimes, it's obvious of his affection for the baby and I tell him what a good big brother he is. Maybe it will stick.

Happy Birthday Erick!

Well today makes it two years with the greatest boy, named Erick! (That was for Tripp)
We had a party Sunday night, the day before his actual birthday. He LOVES Thomas the Train, so he had a party themed with it. Well mainly the cake, which took me till 4 in the morning to finish. When you want to get creative, it sure isn't easy sometimes. His presents were mostly fixated on Thomas the train too. Erick was saying "Woohooo..." the whole time he was opening them. He expected to play with each one instantly too, but they have an almost adult-proof way of packaging toys now, and if it weren't for my Uncle Barry's pocket knife, it wouldn't have been good.
And he sure did like my cake.


He blew out the candles before we even started singing the song, so we tried again and we got about halfway through and I figured, better out than burned.

My Uncle Barry's birthday is on the 20th, I think, but we celebrated his as well.
He's really into Micky Mouse and has an awesome collection. He's been at it for as long as I can remember anyway.
We're going to Adam's parents house for dinner tonight and I'm going to bring some cupcakes, I have to do something with all this left over icing, and so I'll probably have more pictures to add to this later.

I always said to myself that I would like to have kids, because it would be neat to have a little me running around. Naturally I thought I meant a little girl, 'cause that would be more like me in the physical sense, but Erick is exactly what I had in mind. He is my mini-me. He looks a lot like I did at his age.
This was my second birthday.

And this is Rachel, Sarah, and me.

Tripp on the other hand is Adam's mini-me. How blessed we are!

Can you tag yourself, or is that being pushy?

Okay, so I was reading a friend's blog and she was tagged, like this-
The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.

The curious cat that I am, I quickly survey the room. I happen to be sitting next to a shelf that has a box full of "The Cat Who..." books, but I knew that there had to be a book right in front of me, because I never put things back. So I look under all the millions of paper and opened mail and come across a book that I used months ago to write a talk. So, I turn to the 123 page, barely delving into the contents of it's lengthy subject. The fifth sentence happening to start in the middle of the page. It was very profound, so I decided to "tag" myself.

"It would have been a sign and a wonder indeed, the fame of which would have spread as fire in dry grass; and all Jewry would have been aflame with excitement and interest in the Christ." - Jesus the Christ, by James E. Talmage

It hit a chord in me. How excited am I about Christ? I know that sometimes I'm jumping out of my seat to comment in any class in church, and I absolutely love to teach. But it's more than hearing the sound of my own voice, I'd like to think, and I do feel closer to the Savior than I ever have in my life. Hopefully it will continue to be so, but it's interesting to think about being optimistic about life. Not just going through day to day motions, but actually enjoying everyday. I think that's a new personal goal for me. I know that I get happy, but sometimes I slip into routine without thinking. I want to be excited. About Christ, motherhood, life! So, there is my epiphany. And Bekah and Mom, consider yourselves tagged. I don't know if I should have to complete rule number 5, since I self-inflicted.

Hyvää Äitienpäivää

...or Happy Mutha's Day to all who know no finnish.