What I was doing 10 years ago.

October 25th 2010 marked the 10 year anniversary of my entering the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This was an amazing time in my life that I will never forget. As I reflect upon that time ten years ago I think about how my youngest brother is now serving as a missionary in the Kennewick Washington mission. He is doing a wonderful job. I remember that 1 1/2 years of my life as difficult and wonderful, exhausting and strengthening, full of trials and extremely testimony building, full of homesickness and love, tears of sorrow and joy, and ultimatly life changing for the better. I grew to be a stronger person. One that KNOWS that Jesus is the Christ and that we are God's children. A person that would't change her religion to save her life because she knows that it is what will save her soul. A person who is more patient and loving towards all because of the experiences with companions, investigators and every day people on the street. A person who now looks upon all people as children of God and see's their eternal potential. A person who is more outgoing and friendly because she knows that is how you touch people's lives in a meaningful way. A person who is more carful about what she is saying with her actions. A person who wants more than anything to have a happy eternal family, one that lives the priciples of the gospel with steadfastness and determination. A person who knows who she is and why she is here. I am so thankful for the missionary program. I am thankful for the missionaries who taught my mother, therefore teaching me the gospel. I am thankful for the missionaries that found my husband and truly brought about his conversion to the gospel. Overall, without missionaries for the LDS church my life would be drastically different. I hope again at some point in my life to become a formal missionary again. In the mean time, I will continue to be a missionary in my every day life to bring the joy of this gospel to all of my friends and family.

Happy 1st Birthday Matthew!

We had a great party at Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove today for Matthew's first birthday. He was a little overwhelmed by all the people but we all had fun.
Party Guests:
Great Grandma Anderson
Nana Anderson
Mommy and Daddy
Uncle Jake, Aunt Amber, Jared, and Zach
Uncle Seth, Aunt Meagan, and Sage
Uncle Dave, Aunt Jackie, Sam, Ben, Jacob, and Eden
Babysitter and friends Lylian and Julio
Friends Erin and Wayne Carbajal, Aliea, and Jaxon
Friends Michelle and Mark Hiles, Cooper, and Madison
Friends Josephine Peters, Stephania, and Mellania

Daddy and Matthew. What a perfect day for a party!

We had dinner. Pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, and fresh tomatoes from the garden.

The spread. So many people brought gifts. They were so generous. The cake was made by Daddy and frosted by me.

There were so many toys he didn't know which one to look at.

Daddy got a big tractor for Matthew. I think Daddy likes it more than Matthew does.

He didn't like the had at all.

Blowing out the candles. He was very interested in the fire.

He was more interested in looking at and playing with the cake than eating it.

Pretty much all of it ended up on the ground instead of in his mouth.

At the end of the party we carved pumpkins. Here are Amber (my sister in law) and Josephine (a friend and mother of a patient I used to work with).

Dave (my brother in law) really went to town on his pumpkin. Erin told me that this was Wayne's first time carving a pumpkin.

It is hard to believe that one year ago Matthew came into our lives. I had been waiting for that day for so long. I remember the feelings I had when I first held him. How could I be blessed with such a perfect child of God. This first year has been hard but incredibly rewarding. I couldn't ask for a better child. He makes me want to be a better person in order to give him the best life possible. I pray that there are many many more birthdays to come and that all of them are as happy as that first day I held him in my arms.

Chef Jamie

Jamie finished his first cullinary class this week and had to complete a practical final in baking and pastry. He decided to practice on my family on Sunday. He did a great job making muffins, pie, dinner rolls, cream puffs, eclairs, and cookies. He feels like he did OK on the practical exam and well on the written test. Go Jamie.

Fall Fun

We went to Hee Haws for family night this week and enjoyed huge pumpkins, hay mazes, potato bag slides, and petting zoos. Matthew was really intrigued by the animals.

I need a haircut!

Hopefully Daddy will let me get a haircut soon. It is forbidden until I am 1.

Fall Colors of Utah

We took a drive over the Alpine Loop on Sunday and really enjoyed the fall colors. Matthew loved them too. We switched him over to his front facing car seat and he was able to see a lot more. I am so grateful for the beauty of this earth God gave us.

Someone REALLY needs to get somewhere.

I have been working on Saturday nights caring for a patient in Eagle Mountain during the month of October to save up some extra cash. Apparently someone really needed a GPS navagation system because this last Sunday morning I came out to my car groggy from a night without sleep to find my over head lights on and my passenger door slightly ajar. I didn't think much of it until later that day when I noticed my GPS system was missing. Someone apparently felt that they needed a GPS system more than I did. I have no idea how they got into my car. The funny thing is that they didn't bother to take my XM radio that was attached externally to my air vent or the mounting device for the GPS. I think it is really sad that people resort to steeling. I know times are tough but really, a navigation system? Thank goodness it wasn't one of the cheep ones and I now have a smart phone that can navigate for me. I hope the person who stole it comes to realize that it is not stuff that makes you happy, it is your relationship with others and God that are truly what makes life worth living.

Ear Infections

Doctors are getting really tired of seeing Matthew and I. On Saturday we visited the doctor for the third time for the same darn ear infection. He has been on Amoxicillin and Augmentin and now a second round of Augmentin and that ear infection wants to stick around for good. This is his first ear infection he has ever had but it seems to really like living inside Matthews poor ears. He's been through the ringer with diarrhea and teething at the same time too. I have a good little boy though because he has been a little fussy but he is still for the most part sleeping through the night. Thank goodness for that.

Babies LOVE to be naked! (Don't worry, PG pictures)

Matthew has been this sick recently. I took him in to the Insta care a couple Sundays ago, and he was diagnosed with an ear infection. He was put on Augmentin and he seemed to feel a little better in the next few days however ten days later he was still pulling on his ears. I decided to take him into see the doctor again. This time both his ears were infected and the doctor changed his antibiotic to amoxicillin. He has been so uncomfortable lately. He's had diarrhea for three weeks now, and that is just making his bum very raw. Yesterday after crying through a bath I let him wander around the house naked. His favorite thing to do now is go to daddy's sock basket and pull all the socks out of it. He thinks it's hilarious. I caught him in the act of this time and got some pictures. He is doing much better today now that I've given him yogurt and acidophilus to combat the antibiotics. His bottom is still red, but I think it is getting better. Enjoy these pictures, I think they're very funny. His hair is getting really long I want to get it cut but Jamie doesn't want to yet. At some point after his first birthday we'll cut it.