Love You When You Whine

I saw this book sitting on the shelves at the library and I casually threw it in my bag not knowing the impact it would have on me. The first time I sat down to read it with Charlie, I felt anxiety on every page. And maybe you'll see why with a page like this: 

 I do love Charlie and Olive in these moments of chaos but it sure is hard! Reading caused me to think, is this book condoning inappropriate behavior? One line says, love you even when you hit someone. But that is NOT OK! So to say the least, it was a hard book for me to swallow.

Well, it quickly became Charlie's favorite book to read. He would pick it out of all the others and after reading it once would ask to read it 2 or 3 more times. It gave me a lot of time to think about it.

Now, I went to the temple today, lucky me! And as I approached I prayed that my heart would be softened and that I would think clearly. I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for. But as I sat in a quiet area, my mind was flooded with thoughts about this book and how it was connected to the gospel.

A perfect example of this perfect love. The people wanted to
stone her for her sin but the Savior forgave her and
asked that she sin no more. 

Jesus Christ loves us NO MATTER WHAT! He loves us despite our sins, weaknesses, and rebellion. He loves us even when we say we don't love Him (that's another similar line from the book). He is the ultimate example of pure love, no matter what! That doesn't mean he condones sin or say's its OK to rebel. He loves us because we are His. I discovered, that its His love that makes me want to keep his commandments and be a better person. I feel so much gratitude for His sacrifice. I'm grateful for His love for it motivates me!

I realized today that that's what I need to do as a parent. I need to love my children especially when the are screaming at me, throwing tantrums, demanding every thing in sight, etc. Love is kind, patient, long suffering. Those are the qualities I need to work on as a parent.

I love how all these things connected. A visit to the library, reading with Charlie, a prayer, going to the temple. It's beautiful the way we are taught by the Holy Ghost, Our Savior, and Our Heavenly Father. They truly know us, love us, and desire us to live with them again!

Thanksgiving 2014

We spent a lot of time with our family over the Thanksgiving Break. 

The first half was up in Logan. Now that the kids are all getting older things are louder and a lot more exciting. We went bowling. Andrue and Audrie enjoying that the most. 

The kids all sat down and had a Thanksgiving Dinner and for about 10 minutes they all sat and ate. All we could do was watch in amazement. 

We enjoyed movies, walks, cooking, and eating.

The second half was in North Salt Lake. Sundy prepared a beautiful set up with the china from her wedding. There was  a lot of colorful food. Once again, the kids had a great time playing and running around. Charlie loved playig with his older cousins Alia, Mel, and Harrison. The girls were also really cute with Olive getting her to laugh. 

Here's the updates on the kiddo's. 

 CHARLIE

is 3 and is still trying to get the three fingers together to show people. He is vibrant and funny. This morning he created a system where he had a string tied to our dresser and the other on the top of the bed. He was sending hangers with clothes down the line. I thought it was pretty creative. He is a great helper in the kitchen. He helps grade cheese, minces garlic, puts ingredients in the blender, etc. Its so fun and he's so excited to participate. He has been doing a pre-school co-op where me and 3 other moms take turns teaching our 3 year old boys. His two favorite letters are O (that's for Olive he yells!) and I, because he can write it all himself. I love seeing him learn!

OLIVE

is 15 months old. She is offcially a walker! For about 3 weeks now. She likes to stay close to me and i am often holding her while cleaning and cooking. But she has her alone time exploring the house and putting toys all over. She likes looking at books. Lately, she has been clicking her tongue and been a big time jabberer, although, we haven't heard any definite words yet. She is a sweet girl and give lots of kisses and snuggles. She is also a BIG eater. She'll eat almost anything and has a big appetite, which i am so grateful for. Also, a side note, she will NOT wear bows. Its a miracle i got a picture of her with this one that i made.

   

ANDY

is becoming an Entrepreneur. He is extending his schooling so he can focus on a start up he is working on with a partner. I love that he is getting to pursue his dream. And although i know it will be a challenge it will be a growing and learning experience he will have for the rest of his life. I love his ambition and passion to build and create great products. I am grateful for the time he takes to support me in mine as well. He's had many nights with the kids allowing me to pursue me interests.  

BLAIRE

I am enjoying teaching charlie letters and numbers. I love reading to him. I love playing with Olive. I am a ward missionary with a focus on Social Media. I visit teach two really great girls and gain so much from their experiences and thoughts. I am reading some great books, one about Harold B. Lee and miracles the other is called, 12 gifts for Christ. Andy and I have also been exercising everyday! We take turns going to the rec center at 6am. I have enjoyed the fitness classes: yoga, pilates, and zumba. I have never felt better! 

Provo Family

My Dad would hate to hear this but it's true right now: 

We are a Provo Family (ha ha!) 

I love autumn! 

I love the colors, smells, crispy air, and excitement of approaching holidays.

I have been trying to soak up every moment of the this short season 

because once winter hits, its harder for me to stay positive. 

Life right now is happy yet challenging.

Charlie is going through a BIG tantrum stage and it wears me to the bone, emotionally.

Olive's sweetness helps counter it.

Andy is more busy than ever and i miss having him around. 

I wish i had more time to cook healthy and yummy food but i feel lately that i am behind in everything, and i'm just trying to catch up.

Life seems so ideal from pictures...

but behind the pictures are real people 

trying to do their best with what they have been given. 

It's not easy and it's not suppose to be.

I'm grateful for all of it because i know that through these challenges,

I am growing.

Freinds share what they LOVE

I had a great conversation with a friend the other day.

It's rare when spiritual topics come up, i love it when they do!

My friend had seen a movie called, Heaven is for Real, and she was telling me about it.

It's a true story about a 4 year old boy who almost dies from his appendix bursting.

After, when things are back to normal this boy relates his experiences during that period.

Things like: he sat on Jesus's lap, he met a sister who was miscarried, he met a great grandpa, it looked like earth but a lot more beautiful.

My friend is Catholic and I'm not sure what the doctrine is exactly about life after death but she acted as though these were new ideas and something to think about.

Nothing sounded odd to me. In fact, it went along with everything that I believe.

 

Alma 40:11-12 says:

 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

 

We were having this conversation at Happy Hollow, an amusement park for little children. Her 16 month old daughter and Charlie were wandering in separate directions with swarms of other children around. The setting for this conversation was not ideal. We tried with little success.

 This friend likes to talk about things that matter and she is sincere. I have loved getting to know her here in California.

There was SO much i wanted to share with her at that moment but couldn't because of the circumstances.

 

If i had had the perfect setting these are the things i would have shared.

1. I believe that God is a physical being who is glorified and immortal. His son Jesus Christ also has a physical body. He was resurrected 3 days after his death on the cross.  

2. I know this because God spoke to a young boy in the 1800's who was seeking truth. Joseph Smith was confused by all the confounding doctrine. After much study and prayer he decided to specifically ask God what church to join. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him to reveal truth!

3. Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet in this modern day.

4. New scripture was revealed to add a second witness to the Bible and to clear up the confounding doctrines, its called The Book of Mormon.

5. There is a Prophet and 12 apostles today who work under the direction of Jesus Christ. This is His church.

 

My heart is just pounding thinking about it. And this is just skimming the surface!

Well the circumstances weren't right but later we were talking about the missionaries. She also served a couple humanitarian missions for her church. We shared our separate experiences with our service. I asked if the sisters in her area could come visit with her. She was interested.

 

I always thought that sharing my beliefs was hard.

I am starting to get a better picture that its all about love and friendship.

When you are friends with someone you share what you love and you be who you are.

Making these friendships is so much more important than i ever thought it would be!   

 

Traveling West

My pioneer ancestors really travelled west. It's a dream they could've never imagined how we do it today. I am grateful for their faith and willingness to do hard things. In this area I know I have it much easier then they do (and that's still an understatement)! 

We travelled west, in our car, 12 hours, over the span of two days, stopping at a comfortable hotel in Reno. We are in Los Gatos in a small 2 bedroom furnished apartment. The neighborhood we are in is ideal! Cute, clean homes surround us. We are in walking distance to great parks, historic downtown, the library, and our church. 

California is beautiful! It's green. Beautiful flowers line the freeways. Orange trees across the street. 

We visited the Redwood forest today and plan to go again. We had dinner in Santa Cruz and did a drive by the ocean. Charlie was very disappointed not to go onto the beach but it was already getting late. 

We'll be here all summer so we have plenty of time to play at the beach. 

Olive is a happy girl! She has been pleasant through all the traveling. Her personality is showing more everyday.

                        Redwood trees are awesome! I felt so small. 

Charlie was great on the drive too! I felt so grateful! 

A unique trunk we saw.  

Memories of my Grandpa Whitaker

I love thinking about my grandpa. 

I have so many sweet memories. 

He often made me laugh with his silly jokes or by scarring me or startling me. 

He always gave tight warm hugs. 

He always had a kind smile and words of love as we greeted or departed. 

He told many stories from his past which I cherish. 

I loved playing games and watching him tease grandma. 

I loved hearing him pray. It was sincere and a true conversation with our father in heaven. 

I loved seeing how much he loved my grandma. He showed her by sweet gifts like roses and jewelry. But it also showed as he gently held her shoulders or put an arm around her or gave her a sweet kiss. 

I miss him dearly. My heart aches for my grandma! How hard it must be to have the person you have lived with for 67 years gone. Only temporarily of coarse, but still gone. It was an emotional day for me. A speaker at the funeral services said something like, "being sad doesn't lessen your testimony of the plan of salvation. It's painful because you love them and miss them." I know we will see him again. 

How exciting and glorious that day will be. I'm so grateful for the love my grandpa had for me. 

Sometimes I wonder how our Father in Heaven can love us all so completely. 

But my grandpa loved all us grandchildren in a similar way. 

I think it was my aunt Trisha who said our love never stops growing. 

As much love we pour out of our pitcher the pitcher continues to be full. 

I hope I can love like my grandpa loved. 

I hope I can work hard like he did. 

I hope I can serve like he served.

I hope I can continue to transform into the daughter of God I am meant to be like he transformed into the Son of God he was meant to be. 

I hope I can continue his legacy. 

How I love my grandpa and am grateful for the choices he made and life he lived! 

Pictures from a family party 2012

Grandpa probably joking around

Immediate love afterwards

Tickling toes was a common occurrence

My dad's funny family. My dad constantly provokes his sisters.

Pictures from the funeral.

Defend your faith!

General Conference is amazing! I have only watched the first session but I feel I have been edified, corrected, comforted, and inspired! Elder Holland and Elder Anderson both answered so many of my concerns and worries. I am grateful to have living apostles and prophets to keep the doctrine of Jesus Christ pure. The world changes but Gods truth does not. I am grateful for my foundation on Jesus Christ and his restored church. I feel greater confidence to defend my faith at any cost. I feel a greater desire to follow Jesus Christ even if it is unpopular. 

Internship Search

I just love watching Andy from
afar. I admire all the good he is
doing and will continue to do as
he uses all the gifts and talents God
has blessed him with. 

What a deal this whole internship search a has been! It has been the craziest roller coaster. Andy has been handling it all with such ease, or so it has seemed. Andy truly has been blessed with great success. We don't know why. Andy received internship offers from: Amazon, Adobe, Symantec, and Tessla. He is currently in CA meeting with Facebook. A very last minute trip. Here's the story:

Andy had declined all offers except Adobe which we were planning on going to. He had also been having interviews with Facebook but weren't planning on them going anywhere. Andy needs to sign his contract Friday for his summer internship (its Thursday). Yesterday Facebook called wanting to do another round of interviews. This would be unusual because he had already done the typical 2. He was very gracious but realized entering into this 3rd round of interviews would go past the due date for Adobe and he wasn't willing to risk not having a internship at all, so he declined their offer of another round of interviews. We were both a little bummed because this job at Facebook had great things happening. 

That conversation with FB was Wednesday afternoon. He received a call back from FB just after dinner. The recruiter said, "The team really would like to meet you, can you fly out tomorrow?" 

We were both in a bit of shock. Of coarse he said yes and he is there, in CA at Facebook now. We'll see what happens. I really am ok either way. 

Adobe is also a great place to work. And the companies are both in the same area of CA. 

We'll see. 

Andy and I are so excited for this week to be done. 

Because by tomorrow we will know for a surety (or so i think) where we will be heading this summer. 

I feel so proud of Andy. He truly is a natural in this whole business scene. I am amazed how personable he is with the people he meets. And ultimately, he told me, he just wants to support our family. I love him. 

I am so grateful for all the hard work he puts into his schooling and job hunt and still making plenty of time for us. When he is home, he's home. I couldn't ask anything more of him.

A night of Haikus

Andy planned a fun Japanese date night with games and Haiku writing. I love nights like this! I'm new to writing Haikus, Andy is a natural. I am so grateful for my husband.

Night of Japanese

Games that would not bore a child 

Night taken back in time 

Big smile loud laughter

Sweet grin silent observing

Heart is smiling back 

Anticipation

A new place we will call home

Adventure ahead 

Green my favorite

Tiny men playing some tricks

I will be waiting

Written by Blaire

Little momo treat

Winter's date with Blaire at night

Loser's tummy upset

Japanese game night

Charlie, Olive, sleep soundly

Mom and dad have fun!

Kids anticipate

Running, swimming, summertime

Long for winter's end

Wild dreams come true

Tesla, Amazon and more

Anguished decision

Written by Andy

Reflections on a Fast Sunday

Kids are in bed. That includes Andy. He's taking a "nap". He goes to church at 7am for meetings now. So his Sundays are long. It was fast Sunday today. I didn't share my testimony in our Sacrament Meeting BUT i was thinking about it a lot throughout the week. 

I just can't get over the fact that the lines of right and wrong are turning more gray and getting more blurry if not just completely disappearing. In the scriptures when it says evil will be know as good and good will be evil. That is totally describing the world we live in. I feel like i am the enemy because i believe in standards and morals. When i see certain things posted on Facebook, much of which is contrary to what i believe, i feel confused. What saves me and helps me see clearly is reading the Word of God, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and words of the living Prophets and Apostles. I am so grateful for these resources! 

I know that this life is truly a battle for souls! Heavenly Father so desperately wants us to return to His presence. He has given us laws and commandments and a Savior to make up the difference of what we lack. But Satan is so real and deceitful. He tricks, and distracts, and numbs us. He wants us to forget and doubt. He wants us to do whatever feels good. He wants us to partake in this fake happiness which only lasts for a moment. The more i realize this the more i feel the need to not only be a strength to myself and family but also to friends and strangers, for we are ALL children of God. 

I know God lives and that we are His children. I know He provided us with a Savior. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in it's fullness.

December Scripture

My new years goal comes to an end. The goal was to keep my thoughts positive and uplifted by memorizing one scripture every month. I did good in the beginning, memorizing long scriptures but as each month came I chose shorter scriptures and then decided to just think about the scripture through out the month rather than memorize. Nevertheless, I accomplished my goal. I don't think I would have if I wasn't accountable to this blog. It's easy to let goals fall by the wayside if not accountable to something. So thank you blog.

My December scripture is already memorized and a good reminder for this holiday season.

D&C18:10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

Remember how God sent His Son, for he so loved the world? He loves us. Each of us. Our souls have great worth. It's something I want to remember this month and always. Every stranger on the street or person I pass has a soul of great worth. Not only that but they are my brother and sister. I need to show more love and kindness. I need to give more time to serving. I want to be a better disciple.

This little girl inspires me. Makes me want to be better. I have a big responsibility to teach her truth. I will strive to teach her not by word only but also by example. 

Olives Blessing

Olive had her big day.

She was blessed on Sunday December 1st.

I got the dress from White Elegance. I had bought it when i found out we were having a girl.

I was so excited!

We had the blessing at Andy's parents house. 

Both sides of our families were there except my sister Keli and her family.

It was a nice gathering. A beautiful blessing. And testimonies afterward from George and Andy.

A thought or feeling came to me during the blessing. I bet my grandma (whose name is Yvonne) is here.

It was neat to think she and grandpa were also there for the event.

A big dinner afterwards. 

It was a perfect evening to bless our Olive Yvonne Watanabe.

Brother and Sister. This is the best we could do. 

The Watanabe Family

The Whitaker Family: notice Cache with the yellow swimming goggles. Classic.

I like the before photo photo.

Sweet little bracelet from Grandma Sundy.

Thanksgiving in Bear Lake

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent in Beautiful Bear Lake!
It was my parents and my brother Reggie's family.
We played on the beach; finding a dead fish, ice patches, and throwing
around a football.
Our Thanksgiving lunch was yummy.
I just love how beautiful Bear Lake is.
It was so relaxing to be there.
We have so much to be grateful for. It was nice to talk about the blessings
we have received this past year. The big ones are:
Our healthy baby girl Olive.
Andy getting a good score on the GMAT.
Andy getting accepted to BYU.
Andy getting a scholarship.
Having a place to call our own.
We are blessed!

This is called the choke hug. Charlie has learned
this from his other wonderful cousins. 

Dad and Olive.

Aren't Post-Thanksgiving Naps the best!

Saying goodbye to grandma and cousins.

History Lesson

I found some great pictures of my family on family search. 

I love these old photos.

I love feeling a connection to these people.

These are my mom's parents. Dick and Bonnie. 

This couple is my grandpa Dick's parents. Francis and Henrietta Hope.

This is another photo of Henrietta. 

She served a mission in the Northern States. 

This is her farewell announcement below.

My mom said she was very intelligent and served as a 

secretary to the mission president. 

This is my 4th great grandma Lucy Pratt. 

My mothers fathers fathers grandmother.

She is a daughter of Parley P. Pratt.

One of the early apostles of the church. 

My grandpa Dick with his family. My Grandpa is top left.

Fractured Wrist

As luck would have it, Charlie beat both Andy and I to his first fractured wrist.  Andy broke his first bone at 7 years old. And i still haven't broken anything. It happened at my parents house and was caused by a tumble down a few stairs and landing just right on it. He cried hard but we couldn't see anything wrong with him. We continued our journey to Bear Lake thinking he was fussy because of a missed nap. But then we noticed him not using his left hand and even holding it at times.  He even asked me to kiss it better more than once. So finally we got the hint and took him to the Bear Lake Hospital which was a 30 minute drive north to Montpelier. It was a late night for Charlie but through it allhe was a champ! They gave him an x-ray, saw the fracture, then put on the splint. He doesn't seem to mind except every once in a while he asks to take it off. A cast may be coming soon...we'll see what the doctor says today.