Collin's 1st Birthday!

Collin turned 1 today.  He wore a shirt with a big 1 on it.  He got sung to at the Linger-Longer.  He is a wonderful little boy!

Talk

In the Nov 1978 Ensign, President Spencer W. Kimball advised:

The mass media of communications daily presents us with so much that is evil, that is ugly and sordid, and so much that is destructive of righteousness. Godlessness seems to reign everywhere. Satan is unfettered apparently. We have previously said that the growing permissiveness in modern society gravely concerns us.

We see about us constant change. Even the pace of life itself has speeded up. Sometimes it seems that the world is undergoing such throes of change that people are disoriented, not knowing what is of value. Right and wrong, however, are as they always were. The principles of the gospel are unaltered. All of men’s evil speaking and all of men’s evil acting cannot alter one jot or tittle of the commandments of God.

The forces of good are clearly and continually under attack. There are times when it seems the world is almost drowning in a flood of filth and degradation. And I want to cry out, “Hold on! Hold on to what is right and true. Therein is safety. Don’t let yourself be swept away.”

End Quote.

My question to you is how do we keep from being swept away?

One way is the Youth Programs that the Church provides.

Young Women’s and Young Men’s are wonderful programs that help develop self worth, and friendships.  When you attend and apply principles taught in these programs, you are learning truths and skills that you can use throughout your life. 

My husband and I are good examples of the importance of these activities.  I can trace most of my regretful decisions in High School and shortly thereafter to time periods that Church was not a priority for me.

My mother was in school most of my life.  She often had classes that conflicted with my weekly activities, and when I had visitation with my dad, we rarely went to activities.  I had to sit in the front row during Sacrament growing up, but I never felt that anything else was important.  I wish that I had believed they were important. 

I made friendships with people that did not have my best interest at heart, and let them influence my standards.  I did not attend as many Church activities as I should have, and lowered my standards.  By letting my standards slip, I made decisions that will affect me my whole life.  While the choices I made did not hurt anyone, and will not matter to anyone besides me, I still remember them.  For me, forgiving myself, is harder than forgiving anyone else.  I knew there was a better way, and I let others affect my standards, when I should have lifted them up.  I should have let the Saviors light shine through my actions.  I am grateful for the atonement, and for Heavenly Fathers love. 

If it were not for a faithful Visiting Teaching Companion who was also an old family friend, I don’t know if I would have stayed an active member.  I am pretty sure that I would have never understood Heavenly Fathers love for me, and that I have a part in his plan.  She lifted me up, and didn’t fail to share her testimony with me.  While she may not have been the only person to strengthen me through tough times, she lifted me when I was at my lowest. 

I still make mistakes, but I know where to look for the Iron Rod.

Now, look at Brother Fairbourn.  If you ask him what his biggest regret is, he says “I don’t know”.  He never made that really big mistake, he is very candid about his life, and doesn’t feel like he has to keep anything a secret.  He doesn’t have to worry that any one will think less of him because he did something when he was younger.  I would be very embarrassed and cautious answering the same question.

He went to Church.  He went to his activities, he became an Eagle Scout.  Brother Fairbourn went to seminary, and Institute.  His family felt that these programs were important, and overcame many obstacles to attend meeting and activities.  Brother Fairbourn was often dragged to activities by his older brother and sisters, because there was no one else to take care of him.  He says that he got to see how the YSA program was formed in the Akron Stake, and saw it run for a decade and a half, while hanging out with his family.  The Gospel was important, meetings were important, and activities were important.

Parents:

If your children attend Seminary, Young Men’s and Young Women’s on Sunday, and participate in the weekly Wednesday activities, they will receive guidance and strength in a world where once questionable activities are mainstream.  If you make attendance a priority, they will see that you understand the importance of these programs.  Getting them to the Church is only half the battle.  The other half is getting them to class.  Encourage them to attend their meetings.  If your child tends to leave the moment you turn your back, check back with the teachers, to make sure they attended.  Hold them accountable.  Also, show them by example that Church takes priority.  Go to your meetings, faithfully serve in callings, go to the temple, hold Family Home evening, and discuss with your children why the Gospel is important to you.  Yes, I mean bare your testimony, and often.

Youth:

Go to your meetings and activities.  Listen and apply principles taught to your life.  The Church created these programs to help you.  Participate in class, read your scriptures, be reverent, earn your personal progress award, be an Eagle Scout.  This is the time to build your foundation, build a strong one.  Find the Iron Rod and hold on to it tight.

I’d like to leave you with the words of a song.  Hymn # 274, the Iron Rod:

While on our journey here below, Beneath temptations power,

Through mists of Darkness we must go, In peril every hour.

And when temptations power is nigh, Our pathway clouded o’er

Upon the rod we can rely, and heavens aid implore.

Hold to the Rod, the Iron Rod; Tis strong and bright and true.

The Iron Rod is the word of God; Twill safely guide us through.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Blessings

It is amazing how much Heavenly Father loves us, and knows what we need.  I had a weepy morning today.  There was no reason, I was just weepy.  My sister called, and made me feel special, which is just what I needed.  Thank you Jerie, for listening to the spirit, and acting on that spirit.  I love you. 

County Fair

 

Collin went to his first county fair.  He had his first Hersey Kiss.  He had his first donut.  He thought it was yummy.  We got one without powdered sugar or frosting for him. 

 Collin climbs everywhere.  Here he is stuck straddling the couch.

 Here is the other angle. 

Collin fell asleep while playing with his toys. 

Primary

The more I work on Primary things, the more I realize how wonderful it is to have such great support.  From Aaron, watching Collin so I can go to Church without him, to the teachers who show up and teach each Sunday.  Primary would not be able to run without you.  My counselors support me so much, and Jenn especially is always at my side, guiding me through.
Thank you to everyone!

Collin's first Parade

 Collin had his first tootsie roll in the picture below.  They started the parade with a 5 k run.  The parade started during Collin's nap time, and he caught a quick nap before it started, but he was a tired happy little boy.

Collin Eating cracker. Please Mute

Bottle feeding.

I am going on a medicine that requires me to stop breastfeeding Collin.  So I am going to have to pump-and-dump for 2 weeks.  I think after the 2 weeks, I will keep him on the bottle, and just not go back to breastfeeding.  We were planning to switch to bottle in September anyways.  I only have 3 days worth of milk pumped and frozen, so I am going to have to give him formula.  It's so sad.  I will remember this for my next kid, and store more breast milk for back up.

First Ten Months

Dear Collin,
Your first ten months have been an adventure for the three of us.  Your smiles have warmed hearts, your laugh brightened days and your love of everyone have brought peace to childless souls.  Every where you go, you leave mothers and hopeful mothers with a smile on their face.
Collin, you have learned to eat with your 8 teeth in the last couple of weeks, and you sink your teeth into everything you can get into your mouth. You eat peas, green beans, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, applesauce, bananas, peaches, plums, nectarines, oatmeal, rice cereal, Gerber Puffs, Cheerios and bread. 
Today I write this, as you play in your little pen, talking to yourself, and having a grand time.  You are sitting in a chair, waving your arms about, and bouncing up and down.  You have so much energy and spirit.  Singing is one of your favorite activities.  When you are happy you sing all the time.  You also sing along with the hymns at church and bring smiles when anyone hears you.  You love to read magazines.  When I say read, I mean crumple and rip pages.  You also play the children's piano everyday.
You can climb all the chairs and the couch in your pen.  Mommy and Daddy had to buy a shelving unit for on top of the TV to keep you from getting in to the video's and gaming systems on top of the TV.
You barely just out grew size 3 month clothes, and are so cute in your 6 month outfits. 
Before your Mommy and Daddy are ready, you will be walking and soon after that you will turn one.
We love you little man.  Please always remember that.
Love,
Mommy

Table

Aaron and I finally found a cheap table for me to do my crafts on.  We got it at a garage sale.  It is a vintage table, and very bulky, but it is stable, and in great condition.  We got it for $5 because it is Bulky.  Collin loved being held by the person having the garage sale while we loaded it into the car.  He also got to pet a couple of dogs while we were garage sale hopping.

Collin loves to play in the back seat of the car.  We picked up a couple of Gyros and ate them in the car.  Collin crawled around the backseat while we ate (we were parked of course).  He loves to explore, and when we let him free in the car, he finally gets to touch what he looks at while he is strapped in.

Diapering

I think Collin's objection to diapering comes from our bed time ritual.  We change his diaper, change his outfit, and lotion him.  He was screaming every time we diapered him, but I think that we may have moved past the worst of it.  I have started to change him when he gets up from his naps, rather than before he goes down, so day time changes go much better.  Daddy is so good with him, and he only wants Daddy to change his outfit.  Mommy usually changes his outfit (I have more practice and can do it while he is struggling). 

Collin's attention span is about 15 minutes right now.

Collin patience at the high chair lasts as long as he has finger food.  He can sit there and feed himself for about 15 mins, if I keep him in Cheerios, toast, or Gerber puffs.  He will eat squash, green beans, peas, potato, sweet potato, carrots, applesauce, plum, peach and banana.  Blueberries, broccoli, spinach and kale upset his system.  His favorite fruit is applesauce.  He eats a 3lbs jar a week at least.  We have to feed it to him last, because he won't eat anything after it. 

His love of applesauce is rivaled by his love of "Bride and Prejudice".  Dad thought I was pushing it on Collin, but then when Daddy watched Collin earlier this week, Mommy found the two of them watching it together.  I think Collin loves the Colors and Music of "Bride and Prejudice".  He will watch other shows, but it is the only show he will watch when he is teething.  He only get 2 hours of TV time a day, so don't worry, no couch potato in the making.  He is watching the movie right now, and playing on his piano. 

His favorite stuffed animal right now is the Aflac Duck.  If you squeeze it, it says Aflac 3 times and the last time is more of a quack.  He tries to scream with the duck. 

He also loves the piano.  It  has brightly colored keys at just the right height for him to touch while standing.  He will stand at the piano for about 15 minutes at a time. 

He is such a happy little boy.  He "talks" a the time and loves to climb.  He can now climb into the big black chairs in my living room.  He can also pull himself up onto the couch.  He is standing without support more and more each day.  He can stand for over a minute without support, but no walking yet.

Love

Love is when your husband sneaks down stairs to do the dishes while you sleep.

Dancing Boy

Collin is watching Bride and Prejudice this morning.  He started to dance to one of the songs.  He turned around during his dance and realized that both mommy and daddy were watching him.  He stopped and gave us this impish look.  He soon forgot we were watching, and did it again.

more pics

 Collin made a mess of his lunch a couple of days ago.  His watches "Bride and Prejudice" with mommy.  When daddy saw Collin with a Gerber puff between his eyebrows, he teased that Collin wanted to be an Indian (from India, not America).

Here is Collin watching "Bride and Prejudice".

Collin is starting to self feed.  We only let him self eat cheerios, rice krispies, Gerber puffs, and bites of toast.













Collin has a cute OSU Jammie.

Turn the sound off.  It is just buzz.

2 months of Pictures

Collin Meeting his Cousins.  We went to a park.

 Collin got a small sunburn on his nose.  Mommy is glad she put a hat on him.  It could have been worse.

 Collin thought Logan needed to suck on his fingers too.

 Aren't they cute?

 Collin and BJ have been getting along much better.  Collin pulls out BJ's hair, but with how hot it has been, BJ doesn't care as much as he usually does.

 We went to NC to see Collins Cousins. 

 This is them at church.

 Aaron had to drive back to OH after these photos.

 I like this one best.

 Daddy and Collin took a nap together on one of the 100+ days.  That was the last nap Collin took in his swing.  He is getting too big for it.

 Collin is climbing now.

 He just got up from a nap when we took this picture.

 He sits so well.

 BJ is sitting in out laundry hamper.

 I don'[t know why he knocked it over to sit in it, but he only has done it this one time.

 Collin is wearing a 6M shirt in this picture.  As you can see, it is too big for him still. 

He is such a happy boy.

What we have been doing this summer so far.

So much has happened since I posted last. 

My last post covered Collin learning to crawl. 

On June 4^th, Daddy had his last day at school.  He was home before noon.  We took the next few days easy.  We went to visit my MIL on June 6^th.  I also visited with some friends from church and work.  A,B & C came home on the 8^th.  Monday we left for my sister’s house.  She lived in NC.  We went to see her before she moved to UT.  Aaron stayed with us until Sunday, and then he had to go home for interviews.  I stayed an extra 5 days.  It was wonderful to spend time with my sister.  Thanks to Grandpa Kevin, Collin and I rented a nice car, and drove home to my MIL house.  Collin and I didn’t get there until Saturday Morning.

Daddy’s Family from UT arrived at my MIL house Saturday afternoon.  We spent a few nights at my MIL with them.  They stayed for a week with my MIL.  Sunday, June 24^th, the Emerson’s had a family reunion.  My sister-in-law and I put it together.  It was a lot of fun.  We played Bingo, hot potato, had a great potluck and chatted.  There were even door prizes.  Collin watched his cousins (18 months and a year older) climb the stairs, and decided he could too.  He didn’t get very far, and thanks to a very watchful Daddy, didn’t hurt himself.  The next day he climbed on my MIL very low couch (the girls had taken the cushions off to make a fort), but he hasn’t climbed since.  Collin went swimming for the first time on June 28^th.  A, B & C drove home after swimming. 

The next few weeks, we chilled at home.  We organized the basement, cleaned the house, and just spent time together.  On July 1^st, I was called to be primary secretary.  I still taught RS on July 8^th, but I started working on my calling July 1^st.  There is so much to do.  We have so many exciting things coming up, and I was called 2 ½ months after the rest of the Presidency (I am playing catch up). 

Friday, went to my MIL house to spend the night.  Saturday, we helped Aaron’s cousin move and Collin was left with Grandma for 8 hours.  He had fun and was fine, but he is a bit clingy today.

We are still job hunting, and Aaron has lots of interviews, but please keep us in your prayers!

Remember Love

The boy you punched in the hall today, committed suicide a few minutes ago.

The girl you called a slut in class today, she’s a virgin.

The boy you called lame, he has to work every night to support his family.

That girl you pushed down the other day, she’s already being abused at home.

That girl you called fat, she’s starving herself.

The old man you made fun of because of the ugly scars, he fought for our country.

The boy you made fun of for crying, his mother is dying.

You think you know them.

Guess what?

You don’t.

Jesus said love everyone.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

John 13:34

“See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.”

D&C 88:123

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

1 John 4:7

“And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.”

Mosiah 18:21