{unwrapped}

{a breakthrough}

For so very long, I based my own personal worth and acceptance of myself on how OTHERS loved me. How liberating it is to truly love, admire and accept the woman I am...AS I AM RIGHT NOW, and as the wonderful woman of strength that I KNOW GOD has planned for me to become. How amazing it is to feel WHOLE and FULFILLED and full of PEACE....regardless of whether or not I am loved by another. And yet....how liberating and rich and genuinely PURE and REAL it is to LOVE ANOTHER...after now TRULY LOVING MYSELF FIRST. So richly blessed to have learned this...and to believe it with my entire being...while I am still so very young. How did I ever manage to live, and LOVE, any other way?!

{happiness is a choice}

I have been asked quite a few times what my answer would be if I was asked to share what ONE LIFE LESSON I would share with my little ones...and the world. It is an EASY answer for me. Without a single moment's thought, my answer is, "If there is one thing I have learned that will change your life and the QUALITY of your life FOREVER, it is that HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE." To those who haven't experienced the FREEDOM of this lesson once learned, this will merely sound cliche. To the rest of us who KNOW of the truth of this statement, we feel it resonate within our very souls and TRULY UNDERSTAND the meaning of AGENCY (and therefore, feel an even more intimate relationship with and overwhelming gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father who GAVE us this PRICELESS gift)....the value of our ability to CHOOSE how we feel -- our ability to CHOOSE to be HAPPY! Priceless. When I went into the School District today, they had this BEAUTIFUL STRETCHED CANVAS PRINT by artist Rodney White on their wall. It literally took my breath away. I couldn't believe it....it was "my" MOST CHERISHED LIFE LESSON...so eloquently written and beautifully displayed. Someday, I will own this (or make one myself). Until then, I couldn't resist sharing.

{three generations of cougar fans}

Ever since the first kick off of the season, Kaden has been talking about wanting to go to a football game with his Dad. Today was finally the day! YAY! Chas had an extra ticket and was able to take Kaden to the game against Idaho State today. Although with BYU winning 56-3, I'm not really sure you can even call that a game. LOL! GO COUGARS! Nonetheless, he had a GREAT time. I asked Chas if he could please take a picture of them at the game so that I could post it here. He ended up getting a RIDICULOUSLY awesome shot! LOVE that he got the BYU in the background! Nice. When Chas and his dad came to drop Kaden off after the game, I asked if we could take a few quick pics. It's been a while since I've been able to take some Three Generation pics of Kaden, his Dad and his Grandpa. I thought this would be the perfect time to do that....and not only get a few great updated Three Generation pics, but Three Generations of COUGAR FANS, all proudly dressed in Cougar Blue. Love that.


So grateful that Kaden was able to to spend quality time today at the game with two of his favorite people.....and specifically on a day when our awesome Cougs seriously DOMINATED!!!! Today was a extra great day for the Cougars AND these three generations of Cougar fans!

{our disneyland miracle}

So grateful to have finally MADE time to write and edit pictures here and there this week from our trip to Disneyland last October - a trip that will forever remain in this humble Mama's memory, heart and soul as our wonderful "Trip of Miracles." I told myself I would not let an entire year go by before blogging about it. A year would have been next week. Hit it! Finally finished up the blog entry late last night (or early this morning, however you choose to look at it) and filed it back when we actually TOOK the trip, instead of posting it a year later. So, if you're interested in hearing more about our very blessed (understatement) first trip to Disneyland, you can read more about it by clicking on the link below...

{"our trip of miracles"}

{beautiful people}

I'm so tired. I won't lie. My soul and spirit are strong, my faith is unfailing....but I am physically so very tired. Still recovering from being very sick, working almost every night (through the night) editing photo shoots, dealing with a flooded house and poor little guy that was diagnosed with pneumonia this weekend, catching up on things at home and working during the day. And this morning, after making pancakes for my babies, playing in the playhouse and feeding the chickens and swinging on the swings with my baby girl and getting everyone tubbied and ready, I dropped my little ones off to my sweet sister who is watching them while I am at work today. Then I drove to work...in tears. When I got here to work, I got a message in my e-mail from one of my oldest and dearest friends with a simple quote and a message from her that said just how much this particular quote (posted below) reminded her of me. And I cried some more.....

I don't feel beautiful today. I feel so tired and run down. My little ones (oh my heart..they are my LIFE), my Savior, my faith in God....and dear amazing friends like my sweet Kate, who feel inspired to send sweet messages just like this one to remind me who I am.....are what is keeping me strong lately. So grateful for COUNTLESS, AMAZING BLESSINGS in the midst of a pretty stormy time right now. And so sincerely grateful for the STORM itself....because I KNOW FOR A FACT, that although it is beating me down in THIS moment, I WILL come out even stronger in the end. So much gratitude for my sweet angel friend that reminded me today what "beautiful" really is....and that she SEES that in me. It's true that I am so very tired...but despite that, I feel so richly blessed. Life is still amazing. :-)

{mutual weirdness}

Any remote possibility that there's ANYONE out there that is "compatible with my weirdness?" LOL! Have always loved this quote SO MUCH...and LOVE this digital graphic that I found of it online today. Thought it only appropriate to post it with these particular shots. Amazing what you'll do when you've been sick for almost 2 weeks (MAJOR "cabin ever"), are SO excited to finally get out of the house for a date night...and get bored while waiting for your date to arrive. LOL! Here are the rest of the shots from this very low quality, impromptu "Bathroom Mirror Cell Phone Photo Shoot." Hit it!


And truthfully...for better or worse, weirdness and all, there's NO ONE I'd rather be. :-)

{strong women vs. women of strength}

Today has been a long day at the end of a long few weeks. Seems like we've been blessed with a variety of "opportunities for growth" all at once here at The White House. To only name a few...I was more sick than I can ever remember being for almost 2 weeks a few weeks ago and am just barely getting my full strength back, had a series of computer viruses that put much of my priceless data at jeopardy, our house flooded this weekend and Kaden was diagnosed today with pneumonia. I don't ever like to dwell on the "trials" at hand...but the GROWTH that comes as a RESULT of those "trials." So for that reason, I will refrain from completing the list of fabulous growth experiences we've had lately. That isn't really the point of this post anyway. As exhausted as I am...my spirits are strong and "UP." I am more in love with my babies, my Savior and LIFE in general than I ever have been. But I can't deny that I am.....exhausted. I am so blessed to be provided with so many opportunities for growth and strength....and so RICHLY blessed with ANGELS along the way. Today was no exception.

So grateful, after a long day at the doctor's office and pharmacy today with Kaden, to come home to a message on my Facebook wall from my dear friend Carla that said, "Heather - Thank you for being such a great example of a 'woman of strength'. You are such an inspiration to others. I am blessed to know you, my dear :) Much love ~ C" Little does Carla know JUST how much that meant...and how perfect her timing was. God is so very good to us to send us His angels and countless  tender mercies to "soften the blow" during some of the richest "trials" of our lives. Attached to Carla's message was a slideshow presentation with a poem that I had never heard, loved immediately, and brought tears to my eyes. I want to share these comforting words with you, knowing that there are MANY "Women of Strength" that read my blog on a daily basis, and very well may need these words of encouragement as much as I needed them today.

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape...
But a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything...
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her...
But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.

A strong woman walks sure footedly...
But a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face...
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Many thanks to my dear angel friend, who was so in tune to the Spirit...when I was truly aching for these amazing words of encouragement. And love and overwhelming gratitude to the loving Father who sent her to me....