Kendric's 9 Month Check-Up

I haven't been doing the greatest at keeping my little guy's stats up to date but he definitely is well and very healthy.
Kendric had his nine month check-up last Thursday. He couldn't get his shots because when the doctor was checking his ears, she realized he had a double ear infection. She asked me if he had been fussy or if he showed any signs of his ears bothering him and I told her he seemed perfectly fine. Kendric is a tough boy and has been since he was born. Nothing really phases him and I feel so blessed that he's such a great baby! Kendric weighs in at 23 lbs and is 29 inches long. He pulls himself up onto anything even my legs when I'm standing up. He loves to walk along the couch and is keeping up pretty well with his big brother Jack.
Jack and Kendric definitely challenge each other. Kendric likes to wait until Jack is asleep and K will try to attack Jack. It's pretty funny but we won't let him do anything.
Kendric only cries when he's mad. If he falls and he's crying, it's not because he's hurt. It's because he's mad. He has a bit of an attitude and knows exactly what he wants.
He has been scooting since he was five months, crawling since he was six months and has stood up by himself a few times for only a couple of seconds each but he is showing signs that he'll be walking soon.
Kendric has been such an amazing addition to our family. He fits in so well and he has the brightest smile. He loves to cuddle but he also likes to be rough. He is a Mama's boy but still loves to be rocked to sleep by Daddy.
Having Jack and Kendric so close together has been a test of incredible patience but has been such an amazing blessing. They make my days so much more enjoyable. They make me laugh and I love that I have been able to be home with them.
I love my boys! I am so glad they love each other and play so well together.
I can't believe they will be two and one in July. Time sure flies by but with every passing day, I am grateful to be a part of their lives. I'm privileged and tremendously blessed to be their mother. They make me a better person and I look forward to watching them grow and to teach them so many things.
My boys mean the world to me.

I love you Kendric, you are so amazing in every aspect of the word! I love you my sweet boy!!

President Monson's formula...

" Let us remember President Monson’s formula: “You can’t be right by doing wrong; you can’t be wrong by doing right.” {- Ulisses Soares, “Abide in the Lord’s Territory!“, April 2012 General Conference}
I love this quote. 

I've been doing a lot of scripture reading. I actually finished the Book of Mormon a few days ago. I know these words are true yet I still felt impressed to pray and ask. As I finished my prayer, I was filled with the Holy Ghost. I was filled with overwhelming warmth and comfort and know with an assurance, these things are true and that God is real. He hears me, He knows me. 
The other day I came across 3 Nephi 13:24. This scripture is also in the Bible in Matthew 6:24. It reads:

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

Everyday I am trying to be mindful of my actions and my thoughts. I know when my thoughts are mean or I am quick to anger, it is not of God. I am grateful to have the scriptures to guide me. To gain Christlike characteristics. To find my way back to our Heavenly Father and to reap the blessings of exaltation. To feast upon them so that I may understand service, to have faith, to try with all my might to show love to everyone and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to those around me. As I get older, I am understanding why my parents stressed so much to go to church, to read scriptures and to make good choices. I know who I want to serve and that is God. 

I wanted to know where President Monson's formula originated and what talk it came from. I looked it up and found it. I love this talk addressed to the students of BYU in 2005. It's called, Decisions Determine Destiny. Check it out, it's a GOOD one! 

Of that talk my favorite thing President Monson says is, "I can't stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences."

This I know all too well. Because I chose to make bad decisions back THEN, I am facing the consequences NOW. I know in due time the Lord will deliver me from this personal bondage I feel. The separation I have to endure from my Hola. But I have the utmost faith that with hard work, determination and the Lord's help of course, that I will have my Hola with me once and for all. I am grateful for my trials. I look to them as building blocks and ways to make me stronger. 
I hope and pray that I can teach my children to learn from mistakes made in the past. To teach them that the past is past and that we can learn to make better decision and not to repeat history. I know with the Lord's guidance, I will be able to help mold my beautiful boys into wonderful, faithful men who love the Lord, who will honor their priesthood, who will be willing to serve Him, always stand in Holy places, be good examples to those around them and remain witnesses of God until we can all enter into the kingdom of God as good and faithful servants.

My main goal and purpose in this life is to steer my children unto righteousness. I hope that I can fulfill that duty and privilege. I know with the Lord's help, this task will be much easier. With the Lord ANY task is much easier to endure and with Him ALL things are possible. I hope my kids know that there is true and real power when searching and pondering the scriptures. Power to do good always, power to fight temptation, power to learn and feel the things that are true. I love them with all my heart and hope they feel it everyday. 
I hope you all have a safe weekend and that you continue to feast upon the words of Christ. God is good, ALWAYS!

It's Almost Time

Since Isaiah's concussion we have had lots of time to spend with him. He just goes to his classes and comes home. It's pretty awesome because we definitely enjoy our quality time with Daddy. We have a little over three weeks left in Cullowhee and we are getting anxious to get back to California.
We have been packed for two weeks and have gotten rid of most of our stuff. I can't believe how fast we have collected junk! One day I was fed up with packing and re-packing I just bagged everything I own and had Isaiah drop it off to Goodwill. I'm glad I did. We also got rid of so many unnecessary toys. As each day goes by we get more and more excited. We're ready to close this chapter of our lives and start another.
We have also been eating clean for the past two weeks. We're seeing big changes and eating healthy isn't so bad, it just takes a lot of work in forcing yourself to eat five to six meals a day. It definitely is mind over matter and each day is getting easier. It has been nice to get back into a workout routine and being sore never felt so good! I have lost 40 lbs since Kendric was born, I plan to lose 26 more pounds before my brother's wedding in June. I swear I will never be that big ever again and it helps a lot that Isaiah is so active and helps motivate me to keep pushing and reminds me that I really don't need that fat unhealthy hamburger I've been craving since we started eating clean.
Here are some photos of my boys! They are growing so fast and they love to play with each other. They argue in gibberish and fight over the same toys. I laugh and think it's cute now. I know eventually it won't be so cute!

{The boys hanging out!}

{Jack had Oreos on his face and Kendric was devouring a corn dog!}

{Daddy and Kendric}

I hope you all have a great weekend!

God Is Good.

Buddy's killer was booked and charged with his murder yesterday. He will remain in jail without bail until his trial. We are still unsure of how and what happened but it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the outcome. It's taking every ounce of me to keep praying to God to keep these feelings of anger, hate and malice out of my heart. It's infuriating to look at the person who killed Buddy with a smile on his face in his mugshot and out of touch with reality. Seemingly heartless and the look of evil in his eyes. It's hard to even read any more of Buddy's case because it simply is heart breaking. I know it is not right to judge and that I must forgive this senseless person and pray that my heart can be softened to do so. I know God has a plan for us and that His promises are everlasting if we so choose to do what is right and keep His commandments. I know He knows ALL and we must endure to the end. I will never deny His hand in all things and I know He is with us all and comforts us in our sorrows. Trials only make us stronger and I have a greater understanding on where our perspective should be. I only hope that when this life is over, I can be worthy to enter into His rest. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I am grateful you are all in our lives. Regardless of any situation, God is good. He is ALWAYS good!

Unsettled...

I went to run at five in the morning like I usually do if I can get up that early or am having bad cases of insomnia. Since the tragic news of Isaiah's dear friend Buddy, our sleeping schedule has been out of whack. Mine has always been but it's at another level now. We constantly speak of memories we can recall and we often check up on his case which is at a stand still. We run through all the many scenarios that could have played out and it just brings chills to our spines. I made an attempt this morning to run stairs and by five in the morning it is still dark. I am NEVER bothered by the fact that it is dark because there are huge lamp posts by the stairs so I run stairs until my legs can no longer take it. This morning was different. I had a creepy feeling lingering over me. I couldn't stop thinking of Buddy's killer. It made my whole body shake and I usually never get scared or feel like that. I know we are still grieving and are at different stages in this process. As time goes by it will get easier to adjust but I just can't seem to shake the fact that the person who committed this awful crime is still free, is still alive and is still going about their daily life. It's frustrating and I can't imagine what his parents are feeling. I hope you enjoy every moment with your family and friends. We miss you Buddy and look forward to our reunion after this probationary period we call life!