BY FAR the scariest day of my life!!

Saturday started out like any other day. We woke up and rushed to get out the door for a church Easter Celebration. My little man and my Princess were the last to awake, so we were even more rushed.

We arrived (late) at the church just in time to scarf down some food and for the kids to rush out to find their Easter eggs.

We've been looking at getting a new-to-us car, so Oswald wanted to drive to the other side of Atlanta to take a look at one that seemed to be a good price.

After being at the dealership for over an hour, we packed up the car and took off. Oswald is quite a shopper and Saturday was no different. We went to the Mall of Georgia.

I had never been to the mall of Georgia and had no clue what I was in for. This mall is huge! It has everything in it from Nordstrom to The Children's Place. We were there for about an hour and our big kids were getting a little restless.

Oswald decided to take the big kids down to the play area. (just typing this makes me shake) I continued to browse with my little man. When I was done, Oswald said to come on down and we'd let the kids continue to play.

When I approached the play area, my Princess ran up to me and said, "Mommy, can I go ride the train?"

I said, "Sure, go ride the train."

Oswald and I started talking when he looks at me and said, "She left the play place."

I grabbed the stroller with the baby in it and take off to get her, thinking I will reprimand her for leaving us.

But I can't find her. Anywhere.

I see that there is a little train that rides around the mall. She's not on there. She's not on the little coin operated train.

She's no where to be found.

I am panicked.

I begin screaming for people to help me find my baby!

I am shaking, sweating, crying and screaming. "HELP ME FIND MY BABY."

Several people came up to me and asked me what she was wearing, so they could keep an eye out for her. One store manager was on the phone with mall security. I continued to run around that area of the mall like a crazy person, screaming her name as loud as I could.

I said silent prayers. I said prayers out loud. I said prayers SCREAMING!

Oswald left the play area and went around to the other side, a kind woman offered to sit with my little man while we continued to look for my Princess. But there was no way I was going to lose 2 kids in one day, so I stayed with my little man. The next thing I know Oswald has a crying little girl in his arms.

He had found my Princess. She was over by where kids were taking pictures with the Easter Bunny. I have never been so thankful to see her in my life. I still look at her and thank my Heavenly Father for letting us find her.

I would have died had I lost this sweet girl of mine. She is a true blessing in my life and I am so thankful for her.

Lesson learned.

I KNOW He Lives!

 Oswald and my Buddy our first Easter in North Carolina, 2007

I truly hope everyone is enjoying their Easter holiday.

I want to share what I know to be true. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ, came to this earth as a baby. That he grew up teaching the learned and the unlearned. That he befriended the friendless. That he healed the sick. That he was tempted of the devil and passed that test.

I also know that he went to the Garden of Gethsemane and suffered, truly suffered, for my sins. Not only my sins, but YOUR sins as well. I know that he was betrayed by a friend and taken before Pilate. I know that he was beaten and scourged and had a crown of thorns placed on his head. I know that he walked with his cross on his back to Calvary where he was nailed to it. I know that he hung there, and I know that when he could have stopped himself from this immense amount of pain, he didn't. He chose to die for us. He chose to suffer for us. He did this all because he LOVES us.

And I know that three days later, on what we celebrate as Easter Sunday, he rose from the ground. He was resurrected, so that we could be resurrected again. So that we could live with him and our Father in Heaven. I know that because of his Atonement, I can be with my husband and children for eternity.

I know that his sacrifice was the ultimate sacrifice anyone can pay and I am so thankful for that.

As you sit down to a delicious dinner and open your Easter baskets, please take a moment to teach your children the reason we have Easter. Teach them what we are celebrating. Teach them that because of Jesus Christ, we can LIVE AGAIN!

Temple Tour

This past week the Atlanta Temple has been open to the public, LDS and non-LDS. This is an opportunity to see the inside of a Temple of our church before it is dedicated to the sacred work that is done there.

Oswald and I decided to take our kids on a tour. It's the only time they'll go inside until they are 12 when they can do baptisms.

Because the Temple is such a sacred place to us and the members of our church, it is very important to us that our children understand it's importance and that they love the Temple.

First we started by watching a movie. We learned about the Atlanta Temple and how it has impacted the area around it. We learned how the Atlanta Temple serviced the entire south east for several years, but now there is a Temple in every state surrounding Georgia.

Absolutely. Amazing.

After the video, we walked up to the front doors. On each of the Temples are inscribed in gold, "Holiness to the Lord, House of the Lord." That sums it all up. This building is holy. This building is His house. This building is special and sacred.

Before we entered, they slipped shoe coverings on our feet so we would not get the carpet dirty. We walked into the foyer. We saw the bridal room, breathtaking. We saw the rooms where we receive instruction. We saw the celestial room. We saw huge chandeliers hanging in each room. We saw the sealing rooms where mirrors are on two side of the room, facing each other, where you can see multiple reflections of the people in the mirror (representing eternal families). We saw the baptistery. My kids were in awe of the baptistery. They wanted to stay in that room and just look at the font.

I told my Buddy that he could come back when he's 12 and do baptisms. His face fell. Then it clicked, he's excited for when he's 8 to get baptized himself. I told him, in the happiest voice I could do, but remain reverent, "But you get to be baptized when you're 8!!!"

A smile crossed his lips and we walked out holding hands.

When we left, they took the shoe coverings and we talked to a little tent for some refreshments. As my kids were sitting there, I asked them their favorite part of the Temple.

My Buddy said, "I like the baptism part."

"Yea, I like the baptism pool." said my Princess.

I hope they remember this experience forever, I know I will.

(My big kids being reverent)

If you are in the Atlanta or surrounding states, the Temple is open for another week. It is an amazing opportunity and well worth the drive. I invite any and all to come visit, you will not be disappointed!

Called to Serve

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are called to serve in many different aspects of our life. And we serve willingly, being called to serve is a blessing.

We are called to serve missions. Some are for two years, some for 18 months, and others for 3 years.

We are called to serve in the Primary. (with the children)

We are called to serve in the Relief Society.

We are called to serve in the Young Women and Young Men organizations.

We are called to serve as Bishops, as Home and Visiting Teachers...

the list goes on...

Just recently I was called to serve in a way I have never been asked to serve before.

I was called to be the President of the Young Women. I am the leader of over a dozen girls ranging in age from 12-18. I remember being a girl age 12-18 and life was hard. Hard in different ways than life is hard for me now. Making the right choices was hard. Life was challenging from what grades I got in school to which boy said "Hi" to me in the halls. And now I get to be a leader of girls facing these same challenges.

I have wanted to put down my thoughts and feelings for some time now, but always felt like the verse in the scriptures when they said this of Mary, "and she kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."

To me, accepting this calling was similar to that. I wanted to keep all of my feeling bottled up inside, for me to have and feel. 

When I was asked to accept this calling, I was in shock. I listened to every word my Bishop said, but I don't think I really took any of it in or even remember much of what he said. I do know that he started to cry when he was telling me that he was inspired that this is where I need to be.

The entire ride home, I was in such a state of disbelief and very overwhelmed that being so young I would be called to such an important calling. "The youth are important," he said to me. I know the youth are important. They are the ones who will be leading and guiding our church, our country, and our world in the future.

I felt blessed to know that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to help these girls make righteous decisions. He trusts me enough to help them hold to the rod. He trusts me enough to guide them in the path that they should go. And I am amazed at his faith in me.

I have been doing this calling for a couple of weeks now, and after much prayer, I know this is where I am supposed to be. I was born to be working with the youth.

It does not matter what capacity I am in. It does not matter how long I will serve there.

What does matter is that I have a testimony, which I do. What does matter is that the girls know I love them, which I do. What does matter is that I take the time to get to know each one of them, which I will. What does matter is that the Lord trusts me, and I trust him. And everything else will just fall in place.

Feeling the Spirit of Christmas

I have been bitten by Scrooge or maybe I have been secretly transformed into the Grinch, but whatever it is, I cannot get into the holiday spirit. 

I love the hustle and bustle of the season. I love going into shops and seeing them in all their Christmas glory. I love the smell of a fire burning. I love to bake yummy Christmas goodies.

But for some reason this year, nothing is helping. I've bought gifts, which I'm hiding in my bathroom! (good thing my kids don't read yet, huh?) I've baked Christmas cookies. I've been listening to music all month long. We've trimmed the tree and decked the halls (as much as this apartment's gonna get decked) and nothing, nothing is helping with my Grinchiness! (probably not a word, but it works!)

We watching the Christmas Devotional tonight and it's hard not to feel the spirit when the Prophet and Apostles are speaking! President Monson has a way of warming your heart and bringing the spirit into a room. He truly is a Prophet of God!

I am excited for the Christmas. I wish I could do some service for someone, that might make my heart feel the true spirit of the season a little more fully. 

I keep thinking about my kids and teaching them the importance of Christmas and what it means that our Savior was born. What it means that He died. What it means that He lived on this earth and that He will live again. I want to teach them all of these important concepts and have them cling to that knowledge. I want them to live their lives so that when people see them, they will really being seeing our Savior. I want my kids to know that I have a testimony of the restored gospel of Christ. I know He was born in a stable to a virgin who trusted in her Heavenly Father. I know He came to this earth with a purpose. I know He suffered in Gesthamane for my sins. I know He died on the cross for me and because of that I can live again. I know that because of the temple, my family can be together forever. This is what I want my kids to know. I want them to know that their mother has a testimony. That it burns inside her heart and warms her entire being.

I am thankful for this beautiful time of year when not only do we get to look at beautiful lights, eat yummy food, and open gifts, but we get to remember the greatest gift we have ever been given: the gift of our Lord and Savior.

I think the Grinchiness has left and I am really feeling the true meaning of Christmas...