The Secret of Happiness

We often fall into the trap of thinking a new car, job promotion, beauty makeover, or some level of fame will make us happy. And often they do—for a time. But it never lasts because wealth, power, beauty and fame simply don’t bring lasting happiness, as much as we wish they would. Rather, true happiness comes from following Christ’s example and developing Godlike attributes such as goodness, love, justice and mercy. It comes from serving others and helping them to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. It comes from overcoming the appetites of our human bodies and instead following the promptings of the Spirit. It comes from working hard and having a healthy lifestyle, friends, family, and personal achievements.

Regardless of what you do or don’t have in this life, your deepest, most lasting happiness will come from knowing God’s plan and following it.

I love the church's websites. They always have just what I need. Do you need some inspiration, guidance, or cheer? You'll find it at mormon.org

California

Thursday: drove to Clovis after work, arriving around midnight

Friday: shopping, CB&T, Farmer's Market, Inception

Saturday: Millerton Lake (MAJOR sunburns for everyone but baby), BBQ

Sunday: church (Loralye's first time alone in nursery!), dessert with family

Monday: drove back home with a pit stop in Bakersfield

Our trip to Clovis was a little jam packed. I went to bed late every night and still managed to get up at 7am to get ready for the day before the baby woke up. It was so much fun even with half my parent's house being A/C-less. With all of the activities, I had little time to take pictures. And during the moments where I should have had time (ie. a few hours on the boat), Loralye was attached to my hip. She was such a mama's girl all weekend. So other than a few pictures of my mom and Loralye on the boat while we were waiting for my dad to jump the dead battery, the only pictures I got were on my cell phone:

Going over roller coaster-ish bumps on the way there.

Piling toys on Uncle Philly.
Playing "Fee" (aka. One... Two... Three!) with mom and Philly at the Farmer's Market.

Watching Papa's phone with cousin Kenna.

Sleeping on the way back with her new neck pillow.

Honey Nut Cherrios on the way home.

Loralye update: She had her 18 month check up yesterday. She is 29lbs 4oz, and 33 3/4inches tall which puts her in the 95-100 percentile for both. I think its funny that I have had countless people tell me how chunky she is, but she is the exact weight she should be for her height. She didn't have to have any shots at her check up. I thought she was going to have several because some of my friend's babies got lots of shots at their 18 month appointment, but Loralye didn't need any! And she won't need any until her next well check up at 2 years old :) Woo!

Gramma's "Pearls"

After my Gramma passed away her belongings were divided up amongst her children and grandchildren. My Papa, bless his heart, is no longer of a sound mind and his body is going, so he moved in with my aunt and did not take much with him. It's amazing how much stuff a family can build up in their home after living in it for a few decades. One of the items I was lucky enough to receive was a costume necklace made of fake pearls. It probably isn't worth more than a dollar, but it means a lot to me to have something that she used to wear.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday morning and I decided to put the necklace on Loralye and take her and my camera outside for a walk while Aaron was at work. She isn't the most cooperative model, but I was able to snap a few cute ones worth sharing anyways.

Not a great picture, but I had to share.
Her belly rolls are just so cute!

Because this blog is the only way I really journal, I wanted to type up a few things that I'm super excited about and thus counting down to...

3 days until we drive to Clovis!!
4 days until Loli will be old enough for nursery :)
12 days until the Pioneer Day Celebration in North Las Vegas... complete with fireworks!
27 days until we speak in Las Vegas 8th ward for the last time!
33 days until Aaron's 29th birthday!!
37 days until we get the keys to our rental townhouse!!!
40 days until we move into said townhouse :D

xoxo

What a weekend!

We had such a fun 3 day weekend! We were able to see my parents and Aaron's family and even squeeze some time with friends in there. Aaron, Loralye, and I all had a fabulous time! I have oodles of pictures too, so brace yourself...

My parents drove in on Thursday night and kept Loralye with them at the apartment on Friday. Allen let me leave work a couple hours early and we went shopping at the Venetian and the Fashion Show Mall for a while and then came home, went swimming, watched Hatari!, and went to bed.

Papa, Loli, and I freezing to death (but still having fun!) in the apartment pool. It was 100+ during the day, but the pool temperature drops like crazy as soon as the sun isn't touching it.

Trying to get Papa to take her out of the cold pool.

Once out of the pool, all she wanted to do was play along the edge of it.
Peek-a-Boo!

She's becoming such a little lady :)

Back in the pool and ordering Papa around.

Out again and ready to go back to the apartment for a bath and bedtime!

Bye bye!

On Saturday we lounged around a bit in the morning, went shopping again (the girls went to the outlet mall and the boys went to Fry's), went to dinner at Famous Dave's, and went to a Las Vegas 51's baseball game (mainly for the fireworks show at the end). Thankfully Loralye slept in 2 hours later than normal that morning because she didn't get to bed until about 11 o'clock that night!

Feeding Molly some "breakfast". She loves Molly, which I love because I've had her since I was 13 months old.

Riding on daddy's shoulders into the ball game.

Sitting on Papa's lap watching the game.

Sharing a Cherry Garcia ice cream bar with daddy.

I thought my parents were staying here until Monday, but they changed their plans so they wouldn't be stuck in too much traffic and headed back home on Sunday as Aaron and I headed off to church. We had some good friends over for dinner and dessert that night instead. We love the Jensens and are so glad that they live right across the street :)

On Monday we went to Aaron's parent's house for a BBQ and swimming. Aaron's sister Cynthia and her hubby were in town, so we had almost his whole family there (minus a little sister who is at girl's camp).

Getting into the pool with Grandpa.

After the first couple minutes out there she mostly wanted me to hold her, so I don't have any pictures of her playing in the pool. But I do have a couple cute ones from after she was done...

Touchdown!!

Applauding herself.

My sweet pretty girl.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our weekend an incredible one!

We love you all!!

Hope.

As I am sitting in the office feeling sorry for myself, as I do most days, that I am here and not at home caring for my daughter and my home as so many of my mom friends are, I decided to seek out a little help. I quickly found that help on LDS.org and thought that I should share it with all of you in case there is someone else out there who, like me, needs to be reminded that there are good things to come.

That there are always good things to come.

Good-Things-to-Come

I do belong at home. A mother's role is in the home. But sometimes life doesn't happen just as it should. I am blessed beyond measure to have a job that not only keeps us from drowning in our debt, but that allows me to have my daughter with me always. Some days are harder than others. Some days I sit here and cry because I don't think I can handle being here for one more second. But I know that through the Lord's help, I can handle it. There is hope. This time in my life is just a second compared to all that lies ahead. I have so many good things in my life now and there are still so many good things to come.