"Be ye therefore perfect"

This is not my typical post, and forgive me, because it will probably be a bit long, but I have had some thoughts that I wanted to put into words.

Today I ran into an old friend, a girl that I knew in college, 12 years and (20 pounds) ago. We both had our children at the pediatrician's office, and the whole time I was sitting there talking to her, I was thinking that I wished I had put on make-up and changed out of my old jeans and T-shirt. I was so embarrassed to be seen looking like I did. She still looked like she did in college, cute and thin. Her hair was done neatly and she had nice clothes on. She was so kind and we had a great time catching up, and I am sure that she gave no thought to the worries that were going on in my head.

A similar thing happened a few weeks back. A friend popped in during the early afternoon, and my house was a mess, and again, I was embarrassed that my dished weren't done, and that there were cheerios on my floor, and that my kids were grubby with their hair undone, and in whatever clothes they had picked out for themselves that morning.

When I left my friend this morning, I thought to myself, 'why do you care so much about what you look like, and what other people think of your appearance?' I have thought on that all morning, and this is the conclusion that I have come to.

In Matthew, we are given the admonition to "be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect." That is a tall order for all of us simply because of our human nature. We are each trying to do the best that we can, and trying to be Christ-like followers I think, but somehow, in my mind, I translated that to mean that I have to be physically perfect, (you know, thin, beautiful, and well dressed with a clean house and perfect children). When really that is not what Christ is asking of us. The kind of perfection that He is asking of us is not a physical perfection (as in a spotless house, weed-free lawn, perfectly groomed children, or trendy appearance). I believe He is looking for a perfected heart .

In 1 Samuel 16:7 it reads-

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

I have been too concerned with my failure to be outwardly perfect, to pay much attention to perfection of the heart. Perhaps that is one of Satan's great tools to lead us astray- his great distraction. He tricks us into thinking that appearances are more important than personal purity. He tries to keeps us so busy keeping up with the Jones's and so wrapped up in materialistic things, that we have no time for what is really important. I hope you won't think that I am saying that those people who have it all together, have put their priorities in the wrong place because that is not at all what I mean. I simply realized that the Lord expects great things from me, just not the same things that I have been expecting from myself lately.

So, while I do believe that a clean house is a happy house & I will continue the never-ending battle to have a clean house, I want to worry less about the unimportant things in life, and pay more attention to the things that are of worth, my husband, my kids, my faith, and my heart.

The Princesses Request

Today while we were driving home from Grandpa's house, the girls were watching Barbie's Princess and the Pauper on the DVD player. At one point, Barbie (as the princess) tells the pauper in song, that when she wakes up, "the maid comes running in...and while I eat she rubs my feet... " Ally says to me, "mom- maybe we could try that tomorrow, when you are done eating breakfast, you could rub my feet while I eat, or maybe daddy could if you are still finishing your breakfast."

So, I guess Ally would be the princess in our household. So do you think that makes me the maid?

My first 5K

I am excited to tell you all that on Saturday, I ran my first 5K ever! It is an amazing feeling, and I have to admit, I am proud of myself for accomplishing this goal in my life. For 3 months I have been training, and was really worried about how I would do, but I finished, and did it in 38 minutes (my goal was under 40), and I felt great doing it. I couldn't be happier. :)

Summer Vacation to Oregon

Well, it was a wonderful family vacation, filled with fun with friends, activities, and the occasional meltdown or two. :) Here are a few pics that I am excited to share with all of you.

First, we spent Friday night at my favorite restaurant, the Marakesh with 3 of my best friends and their spouses. Great food, great company and a great time was had by all.

On Saturday, we went to Blue Lake Park in Gresham,
Here is Olivia, having a ball at the sprinkler park.

This is our Ally, who was affectionately referred to as "grumpy" on our trip.
Can you see why?

Sunday was spent with my good friend Martha and her husband Jesse,
and their 4 beautiful daughters.


Olivia, Jenna, Kylie, Ally, Emma, Mariah, and Logan (the odd man out).

The air mattress was apparently the hot spot to be.



Monday was one of the highlights of the trip for all of us.
We spent the day at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).



Ally and Livy in the sand box...



Happy kids at play...



Daddy teaching Ally how do build a dam out of sand...



Daddy with girls and the HUGE T-Rex...



Tuesday we headed out to the coast for an over-night stay at Seaside beach.
We stopped on the way to pick some blueberries at a U-pick blueberry patch, which I thought would be so fun for the kids, turns out, not so much. They were done after 5 minutes... :)



Next stop, the carousel in the mall on the coast.
Here is Craig and the girls.



Olivia on her horse, or dog, or whatever animal it is supposed to be.



And my new favorite picture of Ally, who is a BIG horse lover.
She was most excited to ride the carousel.



Next, we visited the Seaside Aquarium.
Here are the girls touching the anemones, urchins and sea cucumbers.



Mom with Sleepy and Grumpy....



Dad with the girls and the sea lions.



Wednesday morning, we got up early and headed to Indian Beach (between Seaside and Cannon beach) at low tide, so we could see the tide pools. It was amazing. We saw TONS of starfish and anemones and other sea creatures. Olivia and I thoroughly enjoyed it, Grumpy, however, was not amused, she was more interested in building sand castles.



Olivia with the star fish.



Beautiful aren't they?



Logan's first touch of sand and salt water.



The beautiful Oregon Coast.



A great panoramic that Craig shot.



What we didn't get pictures of is Olivia face-planting in the sand, Logan crying for the entire 20 minute walk back to the car because I forgot his Binky, and Grumpy crying because she didn't want to be there, and then crying because she didn't want to leave. :)
We had so much fun that when we got into the car,
this is the scene 5 minutes after we started going.

Perhaps Grumpy, was really Sleepy in disguise. :)





In spite of all the crying, Craig and I both agreed
that the beach was the highlight of the trip.

And here is one funny one of Logan at a restaurant....
he was upset when he would drop his pickle.



Is that cute or what?

Even though at times, we weren't sure why we wanted to go on this long family road trip, in the end, we were so glad that we did. It was TONS of fun, and we want to do it again sometime soon. And we are SO glad to be home. :)

Coming home.

Well friends, we have been gone now for 1 week, and will be heading home to Utah from Oregon tomorrow. It has been a wonderful vacation.....at times, and challenging at times....such is the life of a mother :) I have been taking TONS of pictures and will post the details when we get home. I will fall asleep dreaming of my own bed tonight....and trying not to think about the REALLY long drive home.

Breakfast in the Berry Patch

So, it has officially become my favorite part of summer, fruit season!!

This morning we went out to the garden to pick peas and berries. There is nothing better than garden fresh peas, strawberries and raspberries for breakfast.

Craig and the girls (squinting in the sun) by our newly planted strawberry beds
with raspberry patch behind.

Logan enjoying emptying out the peas in a frantic and frivolous fashion. :)

The kids with our first (of many) batches of peas. Anyone want to help shell them?

Olivia and Logan, picking peas....or playing in the dirt....I'm really not sure.

And last but not least, Ally with MORE baby bunnies. :)
About 2 weeks ago, we had just gotten rid of the last bunny from the first batch,
when mommy bunny- had more babies...the VERY NEXT DAY!!!
That whole multiplying like rabbits thing- well, it's not an exaggeration.

Anyone want a bunny?