As always, I was very much ready for General Conference.
Saturday Morning Session
First of all, we got to participate in a solemn assembly to sustain our new prophet. I was 17 when President Monson was sustained as the new prophet, but I don't remember sustaining him so I must have been working that day. So this was my first sustaining of a new prophet that I will remember. It was really special.
The majority of the morning talks were essentially testimonies of modern day prophets - which is important - coupled with an other topic.
I really liked what Elder Brian K. Taylor said about us being children of God. In quoting an other GA he said, "Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it." I also liked when he said, "Knowing that I am a child of God is the most powerful knowledge I possess."
Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke last, and I felt like his talk was a perfect continuance from has talk in October. Elder Andersen testified that the prophet's voice brings safety during turbulent times. He encouraged us to put exclamation points after statements by the prophet instead of question marks. And, "The prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands next to you pointing you towards the Savior."
Saturday Afternoon Session
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson gave once again one of my favorite talks. She talked about how the Young Women of the Church can and should be included in the work of the Church. It was so powerful. She said, "Each member should know how much he or she is needed."
One of my pre-conference prayers was asking for inspiration on how to improve my mothering abilities. Brother Devin G. Durrant's talk was a good start. He talked about the ways in which parents teach their children: FHE, family prayer, on-call teaching opportunity, family scripture study, and example.
I felt a little frustrated by the end of his talk because I'm already doing all of those things. After a minute or so of feeling upset the inspiration came to me that just because I'm already doing those things doesn't mean I don't need reminders. I needed this reminder so that I wouldn't give up, that I should continue and improve and change as my children grow and their needs change.
Sunday Morning Session
I had no idea that a Latina was in the RS Presidency, so when Sister Reyna Aburto began speaking my heart soared. I also loved the topic of her talk. Her talk was about what it means to be "with one accord," or unity. She defined one accord as in agreement, in unity, and all together. She said that the blessings of unity are more inspiration from the Holy Ghost, growth as individuals and as a Church, and miracles increasing.
President Russell M. Nelson closed the morning session. I really can't adequately summarize his talk. But I can say that while he was speaking I felt the Spirit so strong. The Holy Ghost testified to me that President Nelson is indeed the Lord's chosen prophet at this time.
Sunday Afternoon Session
We got to listen to our two new Apostles, Elder Gong and Elder Soares bare their testimonies. Then we got the exciting announcement that the Home and Visiting Teaching programs will be replaced with Ministering! I haven't read the email yet that goes into detail, but it's sitting in my inbox!
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf asked, "What is the most important day in history?" He answered that it is the day that Jesus Christ knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and fulfilled the Atonement. I wrote in my journal that after that day, I think the next most important days in history are: The birth of Christ, The First Vision, and the restoration of Christ's Church in modern days.
Elder Quentin L. Cook condemned rape, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual violence under the term "non-consensual immorality." Another GA did so also during one of the Saturday sessions, but I didn't write down what he said, so I can't remember who said it, but it was something like, "My father said to me, 'Son, you have big strong hands, I hope you never use them to touch a young woman inappropriately."
President Nelson closed the afternoon session as well. He encouraged us to incorporate the messages heard in conference into our FHE lessons - this is something I plan to do right away. He then announced 7 new temples! I think the most exciting one for me to hear was that a temple will be built in Russia!
It was a great weekend of exciting changes, a strong spirit, and wonderful time with family.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
All Aboard! Benjamn's 5th Birthday
This year Benjamin turned 5 years old. 5! I can't believe I have a 5 year old. I can't believe my son is going to Kindergarten in August. Where has the time gone?
Benjamin's birthday party was hastily put together because I was applying and training for a new job the two weeks leading up to his birthday (which I will write about in a later post!). Benjamin loves trains, I mean he LOVES trains. He has a train set that we have been adding on to that he plays with every day. He watches train videos on You Tube. He makes real life train noises perfectly. He knows the correct names for each car and pieces of the track. This kid loves trains. So of course that was the theme for his party, games, and cake!
I made train cars out of cardboard boxes, with paper plates for the wheels, and ribbon to hold on their shoulders. The boys got to color on their train cars with markers and crayons. Then we went outside and made a train. The kids took turns being the conductor, and then my mom was the conductor and took them around the front and back of the house.
We let them free play outside until Benjamin asked for his piñata. All the kids got to go twice, swinging three times. But then they got kind of bored because they were all so little they weren't making any progress. So the other moms and I took some swings at it and got some good cracks in it and let Benjamin take the final swing to break it open.
After that Benjamin opened his presents. Then we sang Happy Birthday to him and had cake and juice boxes. Benjamin was so excited for his cake, that when I was making it he wanted to help. So I let him watch me frost it, and then I let him choose which trains would go on the cake, and he got to place them on the cake in the order that he chose.
At the end of the day Benjamin told us that he loved his birthday and had so much fun. He wasted no time in getting creative with his new train tracks!
We let them free play outside until Benjamin asked for his piñata. All the kids got to go twice, swinging three times. But then they got kind of bored because they were all so little they weren't making any progress. So the other moms and I took some swings at it and got some good cracks in it and let Benjamin take the final swing to break it open.
After that Benjamin opened his presents. Then we sang Happy Birthday to him and had cake and juice boxes. Benjamin was so excited for his cake, that when I was making it he wanted to help. So I let him watch me frost it, and then I let him choose which trains would go on the cake, and he got to place them on the cake in the order that he chose.
At the end of the day Benjamin told us that he loved his birthday and had so much fun. He wasted no time in getting creative with his new train tracks!
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Using Our Food Storage
At the beginning of this year we ran into some temporary financial trouble. We could not spend our normal amount on anything, including groceries. Although we live in a small 2-bedroom apartment, I had created a small food storage, and I decided that we would live off of that for a month or two while we got back on our feet.
The reason why our financial trouble was only temporary was because Gerson still has his job, so we needed to hang onto his next few paychecks and spend as little as possible from them while we revamped and reorganized our checkbook and budget. Since we had a paycheck to look forward to, I saved money by only buying needed fresh food like bread and milk. I used any frozen meat, fruit and canned vegetables and fruit, and boxed food first before buying any fresh ingredients. That got us through the first two months of the year, and by March we were good to dive into our new budget and I could begin to rebuild our food storage.
I used to think that it wasn't possible to have a food storage in an apartment. You see, I had been raised by my mom, and her food storage is quite impressive. So I was going off of that when I got married and moved into apartments that had hardly any room to store a regular amount of food, let alone food storage. So for the first two years of my marriage we did not have a food storage at all. I just hoped that should anything happen we would be able to get ourselves to my parents' house and live with them. (Even today now that I have a food storage, getting to my family to my parents' house is still plan A so that we can be together as a family during emergencies/the last days.)
When I was pregnant with Benjamin I read a parenting book titled, Mom! I'm Home! It was written by my aunt's mother Rosanne Buhler Orgill. One section of the book talks about food storage and she advises to rotate your food storage by placing your oldest food items first in line and using those when you cook and replacing them with new items in the back of the line. I started doing that by slowly buying more than I needed of canned and boxed ingredients. Now when I grocery shop, I buy the amount that I need for the meal that I am making, but I already have some in my pantry, it's just going to replace what I use.
So technically I am always using our food storage, so what I mean by us living off of our food storage for the past two months is that I wasn't replacing the food that we ate. I couldn't so that we could save money. Now I am rebuilding my food storage again. Situations like this are why we have been taught to have a food storage, to be prepared for any storms that come our way. I am grateful that I had a food storage prepared. If not, we wouldn't have starved, but we would have had some interesting meals and would have had to rely on neighbors and family. This experience strengthened my testimony that our leaders know what they are talking about when they teach us how to be prepared. And if the temporal preparedness is correct and important, than the spiritual preparedness is too.
The reason why our financial trouble was only temporary was because Gerson still has his job, so we needed to hang onto his next few paychecks and spend as little as possible from them while we revamped and reorganized our checkbook and budget. Since we had a paycheck to look forward to, I saved money by only buying needed fresh food like bread and milk. I used any frozen meat, fruit and canned vegetables and fruit, and boxed food first before buying any fresh ingredients. That got us through the first two months of the year, and by March we were good to dive into our new budget and I could begin to rebuild our food storage.
I used to think that it wasn't possible to have a food storage in an apartment. You see, I had been raised by my mom, and her food storage is quite impressive. So I was going off of that when I got married and moved into apartments that had hardly any room to store a regular amount of food, let alone food storage. So for the first two years of my marriage we did not have a food storage at all. I just hoped that should anything happen we would be able to get ourselves to my parents' house and live with them. (Even today now that I have a food storage, getting to my family to my parents' house is still plan A so that we can be together as a family during emergencies/the last days.)
When I was pregnant with Benjamin I read a parenting book titled, Mom! I'm Home! It was written by my aunt's mother Rosanne Buhler Orgill. One section of the book talks about food storage and she advises to rotate your food storage by placing your oldest food items first in line and using those when you cook and replacing them with new items in the back of the line. I started doing that by slowly buying more than I needed of canned and boxed ingredients. Now when I grocery shop, I buy the amount that I need for the meal that I am making, but I already have some in my pantry, it's just going to replace what I use.
So technically I am always using our food storage, so what I mean by us living off of our food storage for the past two months is that I wasn't replacing the food that we ate. I couldn't so that we could save money. Now I am rebuilding my food storage again. Situations like this are why we have been taught to have a food storage, to be prepared for any storms that come our way. I am grateful that I had a food storage prepared. If not, we wouldn't have starved, but we would have had some interesting meals and would have had to rely on neighbors and family. This experience strengthened my testimony that our leaders know what they are talking about when they teach us how to be prepared. And if the temporal preparedness is correct and important, than the spiritual preparedness is too.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Lily, the Best Gift of 2017
On December 27, 2017 we welcomed our third child. A girl, who we named Lily. This is her birth story.
Note: This post goes into some detail about labor and delivery. If that topic is not your cup of tea, stop reading. I won't be offended. :)
Two weeks before my due date I started having contractions daily for 2 hours then they would stop. That happened 4 days in a row. At my 39 week appointment, my doctor gave me the option of being induced on the 22nd. I declined because I would miss all of our Christmas plans. If she came on her own during that time, that was fine, but I didn't want to choose that. I requested to be induced on my due date, the 29th, if she didn't come on her own before then.
I had contractions all afternoon on Christmas day, but they also eventually stopped. On the 26th we did a bunch of cleaning, organizing, and shopping; which was a good thing because I went into labor in the middle of the night, and we went to the hospital with a clean apartment!
At 4:15 in the morning of the 27th I was woken up by a really painful contraction. Because of my previous false alarms, I didn't take it seriously and tried to go back to sleep. But more kept coming, stronger and closer together. I was struggling to watch the clock, so Gerson downloaded a contraction counting app and clocked them for me.
From 4:30-5:00 they were roughly four minutes apart, and by 5:30 they were two minutes apart. During this time they became so painful that breathing techniques weren't helping and I started to yell and scream. I was worried that I would wake up the kids or my neighbors, or both.
We called my parents to ask one of them to come over until Benjamin and Luna woke up, and then take them to their house. Surprisingly, my mom answered on the first ring and sounded awake! I later learned that she had been in a low (She has type 1 diabetes), and she had just barely got her blood sugar up when we called. She sent my dad so that she could rest from her low.
I had a hospital bag packed already, but nothing for the kids to stay with my parents. I had a packing list prepared and left it on the table for my dad. Gerson was helping me get dressed, when an other contraction happened and I felt my body do a small push. For a moment I feared I would deliver at home. I almost told Gerson to call 911, but before I could say anything, a stronger impression helped me say, "New plan. Take my pants and underwear off, and put me in a dress." Gerson ripped my bottom clothes off and stuffed them in my hospital bag, and I put on a floor length stretchy dress.
My dad hadn't shown up yet, but Gerson decided to put me in the car anyway. We opened our door right as my dad walked up. I tried not to scream while we were outside, but one came out anyway and my neighbor - and good friend who was also pregnant and near her due date - opened her door. My dad told her, "Sorry, she's in labor." My friend called for her husband to carry our bags and she helped walk me out to the car. At this point my vision was blurred, so I can't remember seeing anyone, I just heard all of their voices. I apologized if I woke them up. She told me they were already awake, that they were going to the hospital too. I asked her why she was helping me, she laughed and said, "No, I'm not in labor, I'm getting induced today."
While we were driving I went into a kind of daze. I still felt the contractions on the inside, but my body stopped responding to them on the outside. So I stopped tensing up and screaming, I was strangely relaxed and felt like I was falling asleep. I have read that some women do that right before delivery, and I was scared that I would deliver in the car. Gerson drove 20 over the speed limit the whole way, and the pain and feeling came back when we pulled into the parking lot.
I couldn't move on my own to get out of my seat. Gerson was trying to help me, when we heard a voice say, "Would you like a wheel chair?" A nurse who was about to leave had seen us pull up. Gerson said yes and thanked her. She went back inside and brought out another nurse pushing a wheel chair. They wheeled me into a room where more nurses met us.
They asked if I could get into a gown, I told them no, I didn't have underwear on underneath my dress, and I needed to get up onto the bed. Gerson lifted me onto the bed and the nurses started to prep me. They said I was at an 8 and asked if I wanted an epidural, I said, "Yes, if there is time." Gerson later told me that he knew there wasn't going to be time, and he was so scared that I would pass out from the pain.
Whenever I would scream the nurses would kindly say, "Try to turn your screams into deep breaths." They were so nice, positive, and encouraging the whole time. Before they even called the anesthesiologist, I yelled, "I'm pushing!" They checked me and said I was at a 9. They told me my doctor was on his way, and that I needed to not push. They advised me to take short and fast breaths during a contraction to keep myself from pushing. It worked enough to keep baby girl in until my doctor arrived, but it was close and I yelled, "I'm pushing!" two more times. The nurses would say, "You can't, you need to hold it." And I said, "I'm sorry, I'm trying, but I can't control it!" During that last exchange my doctor was in the room putting on his gown, gloves, and mask.
As soon as he was ready I tried my best to follow his instructions, but it was hard because my body was fighting against the pain. I have no idea how long I pushed before Lily was born, but it was quick. She came 30 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. Gerson cut the cord, and they put her on my belly for a quick moment to let me see her, but they had to check her because she had pooped during labor and they wanted to make sure she hadn't swallowed any. The nice thing about the hospital I deliver in is that they don't take baby out of the room for that kind of stuff. They have everything they need right there, and I was able to watch from my bed while Gerson stood right by Lily.
This was my first un-medicated delivery, and I would only do it again if it was as fast as this one was. There is no way I could do that for 8 or 12 hours. I definitely do not regret getting the epidural for Benjamin and Luna!
Once everything had calmed down, they placed her on my chest and we cuddled. I told the nurses I was sorry for all of the screaming. They told me not to worry, that I did great, and they had heard worse. They brought me breakfast, and Gerson fed me while I nursed Lily. On our way to my recovery room, a nurse came up to me and said she was tending to my friend, who was asking about me, but they couldn't tell her anything. Later, when I was rested, I texted her to let her know how I was doing and ask about her.
Because I was so exhausted from lack of sleep and feeling everything, I didn't feel like I really started to bond with Lily until later in the day. I had a similar experience with Benjamin, so I wasn't worried. We stayed in the hospital for two days. My parents brought Benjamin and Luna to visit three times. My friend came by with her baby, and we visited for at least and hour. Lily didn't grasp nursing as quickly as Luna did, but we didn't struggle as much as Benjamin and I did. A week later, she's nursing well!
We have all completely fallen in love with her. Luna wants to hug, kiss, and touch her all of the time. She watches every diaper change, and goes running to the bassinet every time she cries. Benjamin will talk to her when he wants to, but he won't touch her except a soft pat here and there. He does like to say, "She is so cute." They both love her in their own way.
I'm so grateful that she is healthy, and made it here safely. She definitely belongs in our family!
Note: This post goes into some detail about labor and delivery. If that topic is not your cup of tea, stop reading. I won't be offended. :)
Two weeks before my due date I started having contractions daily for 2 hours then they would stop. That happened 4 days in a row. At my 39 week appointment, my doctor gave me the option of being induced on the 22nd. I declined because I would miss all of our Christmas plans. If she came on her own during that time, that was fine, but I didn't want to choose that. I requested to be induced on my due date, the 29th, if she didn't come on her own before then.
I had contractions all afternoon on Christmas day, but they also eventually stopped. On the 26th we did a bunch of cleaning, organizing, and shopping; which was a good thing because I went into labor in the middle of the night, and we went to the hospital with a clean apartment!
At 4:15 in the morning of the 27th I was woken up by a really painful contraction. Because of my previous false alarms, I didn't take it seriously and tried to go back to sleep. But more kept coming, stronger and closer together. I was struggling to watch the clock, so Gerson downloaded a contraction counting app and clocked them for me.
From 4:30-5:00 they were roughly four minutes apart, and by 5:30 they were two minutes apart. During this time they became so painful that breathing techniques weren't helping and I started to yell and scream. I was worried that I would wake up the kids or my neighbors, or both.
We called my parents to ask one of them to come over until Benjamin and Luna woke up, and then take them to their house. Surprisingly, my mom answered on the first ring and sounded awake! I later learned that she had been in a low (She has type 1 diabetes), and she had just barely got her blood sugar up when we called. She sent my dad so that she could rest from her low.
I had a hospital bag packed already, but nothing for the kids to stay with my parents. I had a packing list prepared and left it on the table for my dad. Gerson was helping me get dressed, when an other contraction happened and I felt my body do a small push. For a moment I feared I would deliver at home. I almost told Gerson to call 911, but before I could say anything, a stronger impression helped me say, "New plan. Take my pants and underwear off, and put me in a dress." Gerson ripped my bottom clothes off and stuffed them in my hospital bag, and I put on a floor length stretchy dress.
My dad hadn't shown up yet, but Gerson decided to put me in the car anyway. We opened our door right as my dad walked up. I tried not to scream while we were outside, but one came out anyway and my neighbor - and good friend who was also pregnant and near her due date - opened her door. My dad told her, "Sorry, she's in labor." My friend called for her husband to carry our bags and she helped walk me out to the car. At this point my vision was blurred, so I can't remember seeing anyone, I just heard all of their voices. I apologized if I woke them up. She told me they were already awake, that they were going to the hospital too. I asked her why she was helping me, she laughed and said, "No, I'm not in labor, I'm getting induced today."
While we were driving I went into a kind of daze. I still felt the contractions on the inside, but my body stopped responding to them on the outside. So I stopped tensing up and screaming, I was strangely relaxed and felt like I was falling asleep. I have read that some women do that right before delivery, and I was scared that I would deliver in the car. Gerson drove 20 over the speed limit the whole way, and the pain and feeling came back when we pulled into the parking lot.
I couldn't move on my own to get out of my seat. Gerson was trying to help me, when we heard a voice say, "Would you like a wheel chair?" A nurse who was about to leave had seen us pull up. Gerson said yes and thanked her. She went back inside and brought out another nurse pushing a wheel chair. They wheeled me into a room where more nurses met us.
They asked if I could get into a gown, I told them no, I didn't have underwear on underneath my dress, and I needed to get up onto the bed. Gerson lifted me onto the bed and the nurses started to prep me. They said I was at an 8 and asked if I wanted an epidural, I said, "Yes, if there is time." Gerson later told me that he knew there wasn't going to be time, and he was so scared that I would pass out from the pain.
Whenever I would scream the nurses would kindly say, "Try to turn your screams into deep breaths." They were so nice, positive, and encouraging the whole time. Before they even called the anesthesiologist, I yelled, "I'm pushing!" They checked me and said I was at a 9. They told me my doctor was on his way, and that I needed to not push. They advised me to take short and fast breaths during a contraction to keep myself from pushing. It worked enough to keep baby girl in until my doctor arrived, but it was close and I yelled, "I'm pushing!" two more times. The nurses would say, "You can't, you need to hold it." And I said, "I'm sorry, I'm trying, but I can't control it!" During that last exchange my doctor was in the room putting on his gown, gloves, and mask.
As soon as he was ready I tried my best to follow his instructions, but it was hard because my body was fighting against the pain. I have no idea how long I pushed before Lily was born, but it was quick. She came 30 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. Gerson cut the cord, and they put her on my belly for a quick moment to let me see her, but they had to check her because she had pooped during labor and they wanted to make sure she hadn't swallowed any. The nice thing about the hospital I deliver in is that they don't take baby out of the room for that kind of stuff. They have everything they need right there, and I was able to watch from my bed while Gerson stood right by Lily.
This was my first un-medicated delivery, and I would only do it again if it was as fast as this one was. There is no way I could do that for 8 or 12 hours. I definitely do not regret getting the epidural for Benjamin and Luna!
Once everything had calmed down, they placed her on my chest and we cuddled. I told the nurses I was sorry for all of the screaming. They told me not to worry, that I did great, and they had heard worse. They brought me breakfast, and Gerson fed me while I nursed Lily. On our way to my recovery room, a nurse came up to me and said she was tending to my friend, who was asking about me, but they couldn't tell her anything. Later, when I was rested, I texted her to let her know how I was doing and ask about her.
Because I was so exhausted from lack of sleep and feeling everything, I didn't feel like I really started to bond with Lily until later in the day. I had a similar experience with Benjamin, so I wasn't worried. We stayed in the hospital for two days. My parents brought Benjamin and Luna to visit three times. My friend came by with her baby, and we visited for at least and hour. Lily didn't grasp nursing as quickly as Luna did, but we didn't struggle as much as Benjamin and I did. A week later, she's nursing well!
We have all completely fallen in love with her. Luna wants to hug, kiss, and touch her all of the time. She watches every diaper change, and goes running to the bassinet every time she cries. Benjamin will talk to her when he wants to, but he won't touch her except a soft pat here and there. He does like to say, "She is so cute." They both love her in their own way.
I'm so grateful that she is healthy, and made it here safely. She definitely belongs in our family!
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
The Thought Behind the Gifts
Family Search's question for December 23rd was: What are the most memorable and treasured gifts you have received in your life?
I have received many amazing gifts throughout my life, but there are three that stick out: my cat Tiger, a bookcase, and clothes for Luna her first Christmas.
My parents gave me a kitten for my 8th birthday/baptism. This was a really big deal because neither my mom nor dad grew up with pets and neither really liked cats. I had been begging them for a cat since I could talk, but we couldn't have any pets while living in apartments. They gave me Tiger a year after we moved into our house. Giving me a cat was a big way they showed me how much they loved me. Tiger touched all of our hearts during his 18 years of life - even my dad no matter what he says. 😉
Gerson gave me a bookcase our third Christmas. For the first two and a half years of marriage, we just stacked our school books on the floor. Our collection was growing, and I was adding books for pleasure reading as well. When Gerson asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I tentatively said a bookcase. He found a good deal and we assembled it together. I'm a huge bookworm, so a bookcase is a pretty great gift!
We blessed Luna the December after she was born, so Gerson's family came to Utah for Christmas. Most Christmases Gerson's parents have us buy the gifts that are from them and they pay us back. That year they bought and wrapped the presents themselves since they were going to actually see us. Since Luna was only 3 months old I opened her gifts for her. Gerson's family got her a bunch of clothes, and the colors and styles they got showed how much they pay attention to me and what I like. As I gushed over each outfit they said, "These gifts are more for Chelsey than Luna!" I really felt loved by them.
I hope that I have been as thoughtful in the gifts that I have given my loved ones, and I hope I can continue to be thoughtful in the future. Gift giving has really changed since becoming a mother. I love picking out Benjamin's and Luna's gifts, and I love watching them open their gifts!
I have received many amazing gifts throughout my life, but there are three that stick out: my cat Tiger, a bookcase, and clothes for Luna her first Christmas.
My parents gave me a kitten for my 8th birthday/baptism. This was a really big deal because neither my mom nor dad grew up with pets and neither really liked cats. I had been begging them for a cat since I could talk, but we couldn't have any pets while living in apartments. They gave me Tiger a year after we moved into our house. Giving me a cat was a big way they showed me how much they loved me. Tiger touched all of our hearts during his 18 years of life - even my dad no matter what he says. 😉
Gerson gave me a bookcase our third Christmas. For the first two and a half years of marriage, we just stacked our school books on the floor. Our collection was growing, and I was adding books for pleasure reading as well. When Gerson asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I tentatively said a bookcase. He found a good deal and we assembled it together. I'm a huge bookworm, so a bookcase is a pretty great gift!
We blessed Luna the December after she was born, so Gerson's family came to Utah for Christmas. Most Christmases Gerson's parents have us buy the gifts that are from them and they pay us back. That year they bought and wrapped the presents themselves since they were going to actually see us. Since Luna was only 3 months old I opened her gifts for her. Gerson's family got her a bunch of clothes, and the colors and styles they got showed how much they pay attention to me and what I like. As I gushed over each outfit they said, "These gifts are more for Chelsey than Luna!" I really felt loved by them.
I hope that I have been as thoughtful in the gifts that I have given my loved ones, and I hope I can continue to be thoughtful in the future. Gift giving has really changed since becoming a mother. I love picking out Benjamin's and Luna's gifts, and I love watching them open their gifts!
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Our Proposal Anniversary
Family Search's question for October 16th was: What different occasions do you celebrate each year?
We celebrate all of the major holidays: Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and Independence Day. I've written about a few here (okay, I've written about Halloween and Christmas, my two favorites):
Trick-or-Treating Lessons
Christmas Traditions
Ode to Ortega Halloweens
An Ortega Christmas Story
We also celebrate graduations, birthdays, and baby blessings:
Benjamin's 3rd Birthday
Princess Luna Turns 1!
Benjamin's 4th Birthday
Dinner and Ice Cream Celebrations
One unique thing that Gerson and I celebrate is the anniversary of the day he asked me to marry him. So we have our wedding anniversary, and then our proposal anniversary. Gerson proposed to me on February 7, 2010 (The story can be read here). It was a Sunday, and on the next day we went to Brick Oven on a date and shared a heart shaped pizza. Now every year on February 7th we go out to Brick Oven and share a heart shaped pizza to celebrate the day we got engaged! It generally ends up being our Valentine's date as well, but it's really special to us to have our own day to celebrate our love for each other.
We celebrate all of the major holidays: Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and Independence Day. I've written about a few here (okay, I've written about Halloween and Christmas, my two favorites):
Trick-or-Treating Lessons
Christmas Traditions
Ode to Ortega Halloweens
An Ortega Christmas Story
We also celebrate graduations, birthdays, and baby blessings:
Benjamin's 3rd Birthday
Princess Luna Turns 1!
Benjamin's 4th Birthday
Dinner and Ice Cream Celebrations
One unique thing that Gerson and I celebrate is the anniversary of the day he asked me to marry him. So we have our wedding anniversary, and then our proposal anniversary. Gerson proposed to me on February 7, 2010 (The story can be read here). It was a Sunday, and on the next day we went to Brick Oven on a date and shared a heart shaped pizza. Now every year on February 7th we go out to Brick Oven and share a heart shaped pizza to celebrate the day we got engaged! It generally ends up being our Valentine's date as well, but it's really special to us to have our own day to celebrate our love for each other.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
FHE, Prayer, and Scripture Study
Family Search's question for October 21st was: What were the faith and religious traditions of your ancestors?
For this post I decided not to go very far back, and I'm going to share the traditions that I grew up with and how they inspired my own. I'm going to talk about Family Home Evening, Family prayer, and Family scripture study.
Family Home Evening
Growing up we either had FHE on Sundays or Mondays depending on how life was going that year. We had a FHE wheel that had our names on it: Mom, Dad, Chelsey, Michael. Outside of the wheel were the following "jobs": Prayer, Song, Lesson, Treats. We turned the wheel one position each week to rotate jobs. The person on prayer chose to say either the opening or closing prayer and called on someone else for the other one. The person on song chose the song and led the music. The person on lesson gave the lesson. And the person on treats chose the treat, but my mom usually ended up making them regardless of who is on treats.
When Gerson and I first started doing FHE in our home we used a FHE jar that I had made in Relief Society. It was easy to pull a topic out that already had scriptures, song, and activity ideas. We took turns each week. When we ran out, we had to start thinking of stuff ourselves. Around that time I felt inspired that the kids should get involved with FHE as well. As if by inspiration my aunt gave us a gift that happened to be a FHE board! It's a black board, so we write in chalk. When it's Benjamin's turn to give the lesson, I help him pick something and practice it. When it's Luna's turn to give the lesson Gerson picks something and has her answer questions about the topic. Family Home Evenings have become a lot more spiritual as we have gotten the kids involved.
Family Prayer
Growing up we said prayer at dinner time and right before bed. My dad called one of us to say prayer each time.
When Gerson and I were getting ready to get married, my stake president recommended that Gerson say prayer on the odd numbered days, and I say prayer on the even numbered days; that way there is no confusion on whose turn it is to say prayer. We stuck to that until about two months ago. At that time I felt inspired that we needed to include Benjamin and Luna in family prayer, they have been learning how to pray in primary and both had asked to say it. So now Gerson calls on someone for prayer at dinner time and bed time. I also felt inspired to start having family morning prayers. Benjamin and Luna serve as our alarm clock, and I say it.
Family Scriptures
Growing up we read different versions of the scriptures depending on my and Michael's age. We started with what I call the "comic book scriptures." They have little box pictures with a few sentences under each to describe what is going on. My brother and I learned how to read with those. Next we read another illustrated version, but there was only one picture per page and more detailed text. Then we moved on to the regular scriptures. Once Michael and I could read, whatever version of the scriptures we were one we divided up the reading equally among my dad, mom, Michael, and I.
Gerson and I didn't start reading scriptures as a family until after Benjamin was born. We got the "comic book scriptures" when Benjamin was around a year old and are still reading those. Since my kids can't read yet, Gerson and I divide the reading up between the two of us. We have each set in English and Spanish. We read the chapter in English one night, and then the same chapter in Spanish the next night. Benjamin and Luna sit next to us and look at the pictures as we read, and we let them make comments and ask questions.
As my kids get older, and more join our family I'm sure we will change up little details. The recent changes we have made have been so good for our family and our spiritual growth.
For this post I decided not to go very far back, and I'm going to share the traditions that I grew up with and how they inspired my own. I'm going to talk about Family Home Evening, Family prayer, and Family scripture study.
Family Home Evening
Growing up we either had FHE on Sundays or Mondays depending on how life was going that year. We had a FHE wheel that had our names on it: Mom, Dad, Chelsey, Michael. Outside of the wheel were the following "jobs": Prayer, Song, Lesson, Treats. We turned the wheel one position each week to rotate jobs. The person on prayer chose to say either the opening or closing prayer and called on someone else for the other one. The person on song chose the song and led the music. The person on lesson gave the lesson. And the person on treats chose the treat, but my mom usually ended up making them regardless of who is on treats.
Family Prayer
Growing up we said prayer at dinner time and right before bed. My dad called one of us to say prayer each time.
When Gerson and I were getting ready to get married, my stake president recommended that Gerson say prayer on the odd numbered days, and I say prayer on the even numbered days; that way there is no confusion on whose turn it is to say prayer. We stuck to that until about two months ago. At that time I felt inspired that we needed to include Benjamin and Luna in family prayer, they have been learning how to pray in primary and both had asked to say it. So now Gerson calls on someone for prayer at dinner time and bed time. I also felt inspired to start having family morning prayers. Benjamin and Luna serve as our alarm clock, and I say it.
Family Scriptures
Growing up we read different versions of the scriptures depending on my and Michael's age. We started with what I call the "comic book scriptures." They have little box pictures with a few sentences under each to describe what is going on. My brother and I learned how to read with those. Next we read another illustrated version, but there was only one picture per page and more detailed text. Then we moved on to the regular scriptures. Once Michael and I could read, whatever version of the scriptures we were one we divided up the reading equally among my dad, mom, Michael, and I.
Gerson and I didn't start reading scriptures as a family until after Benjamin was born. We got the "comic book scriptures" when Benjamin was around a year old and are still reading those. Since my kids can't read yet, Gerson and I divide the reading up between the two of us. We have each set in English and Spanish. We read the chapter in English one night, and then the same chapter in Spanish the next night. Benjamin and Luna sit next to us and look at the pictures as we read, and we let them make comments and ask questions.
As my kids get older, and more join our family I'm sure we will change up little details. The recent changes we have made have been so good for our family and our spiritual growth.
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