Ushering at the temple

 Today I got to usher at the Ft. Lauderdale temple. I directed people into the tents where they watch a short movie before they start the tour. I spent those 5 hours with 5 different sets of sister missionary's and I loved it! There testimony's are so strong and they were so sweet and funny. Brother and sister Beck were working as coordinators so she helped me with any questions I had. They are in our ward here in Miami shores ward and they are good strong couple. The temple and  sky were breathtaking and I felt the spirit so strong and enjoyed helping out. I am thankful Tex was able and willing to watch the kids for me. He was going to usher tomorrow but something came up with school so he is going to see if he can do it some other time. Sister Beck told me a cool story about the first day that the temple was open to the public (March 29th) It was raining every where, they were worried that they might get rain but never did. They were in touch with a member of the church they knew that was a meteorologist who said he couldn't believe it!, it looked like there were walls protecting the temple from getting rained on. After the last tour and the last car left the parking lot it downed poured, It didn't surprise me as much as give me goose bumps and help to strengthen my testimony that this church is true!

Wait Nephi is real?!

These are my little boys! Tonight I had a conversation with these little boys, Tate in particular that will burn into my memory forever. After watching the Saturday session of conference Tex went to the priesthood session with some other guys in the ward while I made dinner and hung out at home with our three little ones. After fighting with Paisley to fall asleep, I wanted to put the boys to bed quickly and go relax on the couch (a very unimportant thing to do), I finished the nightly routine and wanted to say good night and be done but something in me said "Brittany stay consistent, please read the scriptures." So I got them out and sat down to read. I started reading the chapter  when King Limhi's people escaped the wicked Lamenites. I can't for the life of me remember what I said that sparked Tate's question but what ever it was made him ask " Wait so Nephite is real?!  Me: Yes he is real, just like we are real but they lived a long time ago. Tate: So Alma is real? Wait does this mean the 2000 stripling warriors are real too? Me: Yes all the stories from the scriptures are real, these people/ prophets lived just like we are lving today but they lived before us. He put his hands into fists and with the BIGGEST smile on his face said YES!!! I can't wait to meet them in ! He looked at me again to confirm his new found knowledge and said so I will be able to talk to them in heaven? I answered him yes and that I was just as excited to meet these incredible men and woman too. I also told him how we are all heavenly fathers children, we are all a big family. He continued to get more and more excited. So the people on the street they are my brothers and sisters? Mom? Tate asked what about the people that speak Spanish how will we understand what they are saying? In Heaven we will all speak the same language.  Can I invite Ruby Simmons( ruby is a little girl Tate's age, his dad Adam Simmons is a Podiatry student as well)  over to tell her this? She is a member of the church so I think this should come as no shock to her, sure I said we can have her come play. Peyton interjects, does Jesus have a swimming suit or a pack pack (back pack)?  Hmm I don't think so buddy.
Peyton saw a picture of Christ on the cross, why does he have no clothes on? I told him that is all the wicked men would let him wear. He pointed to another picture of the resurrected Christ and  asked who put his clothes on? Me: He did, just like you put your clothes on. I looked at Peyton in the eyes and said Peyton do you know that Jesus Christ died for you and Tate because he loves you so much?! He wants you to make good choices so you can live with him again. Tate looked at me and said " O man I love him too! I need to make good choices so I can live in heaven. He hugged me and told me how much he loved me and gave me a kiss. Before I walked out the door Tate said if we have more questions can we get out of bed to ask you?  I am so grateful that I took the time to read the scriptures to my little boys tonight, seeing the light beam inside his brain and eyes was amazing to see and even better to feel the spirit testify of Christ's divinity. I love this gospel and I love my children and the opportunity I have to be there mother. To: My sweet kiddos, the stories in the scriptures are true and REAL. I have read the Book of Mormon from start to finish and I know that it is true, I believe it with all my heart. I take comfort in knowing that Christ suffered for all of us because he loves us and reading and studying from the scriptures can help you make sense of anything.

All these things I forget

Some times Tate acts way older than he really is. A few days ago(? Saturday March 29th)  after getting the boys in bed, I was trying to read them the scriptures but Peyton would not settle down. Every time I started reading he would start talking or laughing, I told him three times Peyton please be quite and settle down so I can read the scriptures. He didn't so I got up and walked out of the room. He started crying so hard, he followed me into the living room crying saying he would be good, I told him that tomorrow he should remember that when I say to settle down I mean it. He went back in the room and I could here him start to quite down about 1 min later he walked out with Tate. Tate said mom Peyton has something he wants to say, Peyton softly said mom I'm beggin you! I again told him I loved him but that I had already given him three chances and he chose not to listen. He walked away with his head hung low and Tate followed him in the bedroom, that's when I heard Tate say.... well Peyton you tried your best! Me and Tex laughed so hard!! Love those little boys!

-Tate's prayers are so thoughtful, Tex was explaining one night during scriptures that Jesus Christ was going to come back to the earth some day and that we need to make good choices so we are ready when he comes. In his prayer that night he said " we are thankful we could play at the park, help us to sleep good and bless that Jesus will get to earth safely. Tex and I grinned, but in my heart every day is a reminder that we need to become as little children. Also that we are lucky to have these little ones as are children.

Monday March 31st- We have been looking for homes down in homestead and cutler bay (Florida) area so we are closer to the hospital Tex will be working at (Jackson South Community Hospital). On Monday we had looked from about 3pm to 9pm. We were hungry, tired and little discouraged not finding anything we were super excited about so we stopped for some dinner at Sonic. When we asked the boys what they wanted Tate said a burger ( no surprise there) and Peyton yelled from the back I want chicken stripes opposed to chicken strips. I seriously loved this !

Thursday April 3rd- This was an awesome day not just because it was my brothers Brentons 28th Birthday but it was also the day Paisley rolled over for the first time all on her own it was the day our family went through the open house for the  newly built Fort Lauderdale temple.

It was no surprise that the temple was beyond beautiful and also no surprise that the spirit was so strong. When we walked into the brides room I hugged Paisley a little tighter and said a little prayer that she would live her life so that she and I could stand in this room (what ever temple that is) together. I know life is full of hard choices to make and evil lurks every where, we make mistakes but we can always change our ways and the Lord is waiting for you to come to him. That being said it is much much easier and you will be much happier if you NEVER leave the safety of the Iron rod.

The last event that happened on April 3rd was we put an offer in for a town home we love in a community called Silver Palms. We have to wait three days before we hear but it was Tex and I's first time putting an offer down on a home. Any time the phone rings we cross our fingers in hopes that it's our realtor telling us that we got the home. We should probably calm down but we are so excited to have a home of our own. :)

Paisley is 4 months!

To: My little lady ( miss Paisley Afton)
  Paisley is 4 months old today, its hard to believe that you are 4 months old, I feel like you are still my little 5 pound baby that was born in December but here we are and you are still as cute as ever and just as fussy as ever. In fact you kept me and dad awake pretty much all night last night, you would not sleep for longer than an hour and a half and we could not figure out what to do with you? I am typing this with my eyes begging me to sleep! One thing I think is so fun is that when ever me and dad go any where with you people always stop us to tell us how beautiful you are. on frequent occasion people will say " O my goodness she looks like a doll!, I thought you were holding a doll!", " O my goodness she is so beautiful! This not being said by just adults kids and teenagers alike love you.You have the most beautiful, perfect porcelain skin and your blue eyes just like your brothers pop right out of your sockets. You suck on your hands none stop and your brothers can not get enough of you! We find all kinds of food on your head from all the kisses they give you.I guess in short, you are beautiful, loved beyond your wildest imagination, and incredibly fussy. Words cannot describe how much I love you, and am thankful you are apart of our little family. :)

Crazy emotions

Today for some reason I feel Lonely! I have been around the people at church, my family and a few friends at the park, so there is no reason I should feel lonely. I miss my parents and siblings in Utah I wish we were going over to my parents for family dinner right now. I have been looking forward to living in a home and being done with condo living, starting residency and making a real pay check. Now that we are a month or so away I am so scared! l don't know what school to put Tate in and if he will be accepted to any of them any way? Is buying a home the right choice or should we still be renting? If buying is the right choice will we find and get into the right house and neighborhood? Will we make friends? Is Tate going to like school? Will he make friends? I don't want him to be bullied or fall behind intellectually. I have been with out Tex for extended periods of time but we are starting a hard rode all over again and I am sad and lonely just thinking about all the nights and holidays me and my kids will spend alone. I don't want to do it! I know I need to, and I want to be strong for my kids and husband also  just so I can look back and say "YOU DID IT" and you did a great job! Still though I wish I could have my sisters or mom come be with me when I needed them. After all my complaining I sit back and feel so guilty because I know that there are so many people going through way harder life challenges then I am so I don't have any right to be sad or lonely and how can you be so excited for something to happen in your life and then when it approaches be so terrified?? I know I have a ton of blessings to  be grateful for and I love my kids and husband but I feel distant from all of it. I am strong where my husband is weak and I am weak where he is strong and some times that makes for a not so happy couple. He is really my only friend that I can be totally real with and right now I am missing even that. For any one who ever reads this even my kids in the future do not think that I am not grateful for what I have or mistake my need to express my self in a more somber attitude today for a lack of love for you or for my sweet husband, I cant imagine my life any other way, as life goes though we go through hard times and I am trying my best right now to just put one foot in front of the other.  P.s Sorry my punctuation is so terrible.

The Enchanted Forest

 This morning we promised the boys we would take them to the Enchanted Forest right after breakfast. I was slow getting going and thought about staying home with Paisley while Tex went with the boys but decided that are time together is limited and went with them. I am so glad I decided to go! We always have a great time, I am embarrassed to say that growing up I was not up for much exploring in the woods, all except for when I was at Grandma & Grandpa Southams house, playing in the tree house and maybe helping out down at the crick. My husband on the other hand that is all he did, so he is trying to teach me its fun to tromp around in the woods where the spiders and snakes live. Yikes!! We walked on the most beautiful trails, the boys rode their scooters all while feeling the sun beat down on my neck and the cool breeze that doesn't happen very often in Florida. Its in these times that threw all my insecurities and many things to work on I feel my saviors love for me.

 We aslo happened upon this little guy walking across one of the little pathways. I don't think I have ever been this close to a live turtle before, maybe I have and I just don't remember it but I felt like a little kid. Of course my boys thought it was the best thing ever, in fact the rest of the day randomly little Peyton would say that was fun seeing the turtle today huh mom? I love these precious memories we make as a family.

Yay I turned 30

 So I turned 30th this March and Tex did the funnest decorating and party a girl could ask for. Sunday was the 9th so after church when we came home he made me go in our room with Paisley and did not let us come out for like 3 hours. He put all these beautiful balloons,streamers,flowers, yummy diner, and way fun presents. I wanted this watch from Swatch so bad and he totally got it for me. The boys picked out gifts for me as well, Peyton got me girl soap and Tate got me a candle. Very thoughtful gifts. We had a few friends over later for some delicious ice cream cupcakes from Cold Stone Ice cream, It was a wonderful day. It is crazy to be 3o years old but I am hoping for good things the next 10 years and am determined to make them count!

We celebrated our 8 year Anniversary the very next day and it was so fabulous! We rented a tandem bike and rode down the Holly Wood board walk all the way to the pier at Dania beach and back. We had lunch at a place right on the board walk called the Taco spot it was very yummy. We ended the day with Ben and Jerry's ice cream and headed back to pick up the kiddos. I will be honest and say that the last 8 years of my life and I am sure if Tex was here he would agree, it has had it's really rough times and we have both wondered if we could do it? I am here to say we can and it's so worth it! Life is not meant to be easy or fun all the time but I think we would both agree that we have had some really amazing ups and I am so grateful for my husband. He teaches me things I know I could not have learned from any ones else,  He is so fun, very intelligent and so driven he is also the BEST dad and that is definitely one thing every woman wants for her precious children. We have lots a head of us but we are going to do it together and life is way more fun to do together than alone.

 I love this quote by are beloved prophet-

 “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

 Paisley's first time in the bumbo! I love this little girl so much, I am totally smitten with her.

 Yesterday was our Match day where we found out where we would be spending the next 3 years for residency. This picture was taken 10 min before we found out. Are Residency is going to be here in South Miami. The Hospital Tex will be working at is Jackson South Hospital. It's going to be a hard first year and we have had Tex around a lot lately so the first year is going to be an adjustment for us but we have done it before so we can do it again!

 Later that night we decided to take the kids on a night walk on the beach and see if we could find any nesting sea turtles, we didn't find what we set out for but instead we found a cool sand crab and our not afraid of anything dad picked him up and let the boys hold him. It made for a really fun night and left the beach feeling a little more confident that we can make living in Florida for 3 more years work. :)