Sporadic thoughts

I am surrounded by men and women who never cease to AMAZE me. My heart aches for those who endure trials that I don't know if I could face myself. Which further proves that God only gives us what we can handle.

I cry when I think of all the wonderful things ppl have done/said to us these last few months. I am stubborn and way too independent and it has forced me to be humbled in ways I didn't think I could be. Rod is amazing. And that's an understatement. I am genuinely happy for women in my life who are pregnant and I understand why it's hard for them to tell me b/c I would think the same thing! Being a mother is the greatest feeling in the world. What kind of person/friend would I be if I were to be upset by someone being able to feel that?!

I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and a mother and her 3 kids were in the next aisle over and the mother was being VERY hard on one in particular that was crying. I instantly had a rush of emotion come over me when I hear her say with hate in her voice, "Ugh, I'm so sick of this!!!" Don't get me wrong, everyone is entitled to feeling that way, and I understand words come out that we don't mean - but it def. gets me thinking about the words I say when someone else could be listening. How would she have felt if she only knew a mother one aisle away had just buried her 4 month old son? I'm such a weirdo that I was very close to offering to hold her young child so she could finish her shopping. HA! 

Side note: Russ & Erin and their 3 kids are moving to AZ this weekend. I am SOOOO excited!! Hurry up and get here Crumptons! :~)

Called to Serve

Elder Blake Aaron Julander  
Washington D.C. North Mission - Spanish Speaking
He'll be reporting this Wednesday to the Provo MTC. What a stud right?! So excited to have another missionary to write...(It's been awhile)! I sure do enjoy sending and receiving a hand-written letter every once in a blue moon. At his talk yesterday, he shared this scripture:

Doctrine & Covenants 35:13

Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit.

Love that...

Here are some fun pics we took a few weeks ago

Good luck Blake!!! You'll do great! Thanks for being a great example to your friends and family! Love ya!


And a scripture for my own lil' missionary :~)

Doctrine & Covenants 138:57

I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

The designers side...

I just finished reading a book entitled, "Angel Children" by Mary V. Hill.  I have a feeling I'll be sharing parts from this book over the next few months. Here's the one I needed today.

Marvin J. Ballard shared this story:

"I remember going to a carpet factory where they were making beautiful rugs. I approached from the seamy side. The shuttle was flying back and forth and the warp and woof were being made but there was not any design there. It was all ravelings and ends. It was just like life. When I stepped around on the other side it was another picture. It was the same operation - the same things exactly, only this was the design side. The color was blending; the figure was developing. There was not any failure there. We look at sorrows and we think they are tragedies, but we are only looking at things from the seamy side. There is another side to the picture, the designers side - God's side. And there are no blunders there.

Some day we will see it. Some day we will be able to say, "The Lord liveth! The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Look at this boy...is it any wonder why Heaven wanted him back!? :~) Love you Cannon.