Checking in

Hey everyone! Thank you for the amazing ability to still have readers...even if I have not been blogging recently. So much has been going on. My son is now 20 months and such a little man already!  O and that handsome man in plaid beside us?? That my friends is my boyfriend. He lives in Utah and this was taken Thanksgiving Weekend when Seth and I went to meet his family.

My gosh are they the best examples of faith to me! I loved all of the family prayers and blessings I saw! One of the crazy things that happened out in Utah was when I needed to purchase new garments. I was sized all wrong before and needed to be fitted correctly. So the boyfriend took me to the Deseret Book store in Ogden Utah. On the door happened to be a notice about Al (Fox) Carraway who was going to be doing a book signing there. I was so excited because she is actually from Rochester NY where I have grown up! She was so great, and you can tell the gospel is true in her life. 

Been too long

I want to apologize for my brief hiatus from writing. It's been a crazy summer. Seth got new glasses and has been adjusting to wearing them everyday, he has a tube surgery soon ( for his ears) so prayers would be much appreciated. I have been living as the single mom with many struggles this summer, but it is the group of family and friends that I am surrounded with that have kept me going. I have met someone who has kept me accountable with reading my scriptures, and I look forward to reading them. It is great having people at work almost shocked when I tell them I am a Mormon. They usually say something like I always knew you were so happy and don't drink coffee! Heck I don't even drink caffeine.

I have noticed at church Seth even coming into his own with the routine we have. I let him walk up the steps and he tries to help me open the door. He then knows exactly where our pew is. Second up from the door on the right side. he is pretty dang smart for 17 months of age ( well tomorrow anyways..but whose counting?!) OK I am counting because at 18 months of age he will be going into the church's nursery. Which will be something huge. Second and third hour he will be with friends his age and I will be able to attend my lessons.

This week also is nearing the one mark point of my separation. So I shared this on my Facebook/instagram..
Almost a year ago I was told I was no longer loved by someone who vowed to love me. I didn't think I would ever be ok. Here I am almost 365 days later and I still have on a beautiful smile. I have met some of the most amazing people and my friends/family have been the best support. I've learned what it's like to live by myself (well Seth lives with me but he can't help pay bills 😁) and I've learned how to truly love myself and be happy with whatever comes my way. Sure I get sad..but if God brought you to it..HE will bring you through it. I may have lost a husband and be getting a divorce but I gained a great coparent and Seth still has a great dad in his life.

I will also add in: I travelled the farthest out west I have ever been (to Utah) to see my amazing friends get married and I travelled alone with Seth. Met the most incredible people there as well. I found a job I was good at and have volunteered with a great soccer program bringing my mom and sister closer with new memories. It's been a good year.

Thank you for continuing on this journey with me , and still reading. It truly means a lot.

Great people

This picture represents a friendship that spans across the country. My dear friend Emily Kelly ( remember my original missionary Anthony Kelly? This is his wonderful wife) painted these for me, and sent inspirational pictures for me. I had a tough weekend with my papa. He is suffering from Alzheimer's and I drove out to Cape Cod MA for Father's Day. He was so happy to see me and had been struggling all morning with my uncle. It was nice to get him out of the house and just spend more time with him creating memories that I will be able to cherish. Though he said he won't remember most by the end of the year...he said he will do his best to try and remember me. This made me cry so much. The man who can tell me any answer I need to know can't even remember to take his medicine at times. This care package from Emily came at the most perfect time. It is almost like she knew. 

I hope life has been great to each of you, though times have been rough these past few months with my papa and family.. I am cherishing being his granddaughter. I get to enjoy every moment, and remember all of the amazing times with him. One thing that really made me happy this weekend was his comments about my faith. He told me that he was so happy that I found a faith I could not only love, but am actively living each day. I was so happy that he was seeing this in me.I love that he gave me the foundation for my faith. This is something I have thought about a lot lately, I am blessed. Truly blessed with this life. 

Orlando Shooting Thoughts

So much is stirring since the shootings in Orlando Florida from the other early morning, and Pulse night club. For those international readers, Pulse is a LGBT club in the heart of Orlando , and a gunman entered and killed over 50 people, and injured another 50+ people. While the media focuses on the shooter, I wish there was more recognition of the victims, heck even the first responders'. I saw a tweet that chilled me to the bone. It stated something of them needing to drown out the constant ringing of cell phones as loved ones were trying to get into contact with the deceased. I could not imagine the sounds or sights they saw.
This is a link with the victims names and a little about them. Click Here

We are all human, and their lives deserve to be remembered.Love your family a little more, tell them they are worth it. Tell your friends how much they mean to you. Whether in FL, or France, Belgium, or all across the world where these senseless murders are occurring, remember the victims.

So much YES!

So I just read this article that really spoke to me. Here is the link : Click Here I have an openly gay brother who has had so much to deal with in his life and he isnt even 16. He has had to deal with people making him feel less then confident in who he is, and taring him down instead of building him up. This article makes me feel like more people should read it and TRULY love every person for who they are.  Yes granted some people are truly not good at times. I know there are sick and twisted people, but judging all people based off of one's actions is not ok. So enjoy the read and the post in general. Try to go out of your way and understand people, because as the quote goes... everyone is battling a different battle, you just don't know it.

On other news in my life, Seth is a happy almost 14 month old boy with new glasses.

He is seeing the world in a whole new way. He had a hard time focusing before and resting his eyes, these really help him. I love seeing him discover the world. The best part of just watching him grow in general has to be on Sundays. Going from the baby in the car seat, to being buckled into my carrier and trying to stay awake during the meetings, to walking along the little space in out pew, and sitting and looking at his church books. It was great seeing him taking sacrament and a little girl who sits in front of us about 3 years old, say to her dad "look at the baby eating the food", when her herself wasn't necessarily given the chance to take the sacrament herself. (Disclaimer you are able to chose for your family what you do and at what age you take the sacrament, but for me and how I chose to raise Seth, he has been getting sacrament since 7 months old.) It was great so see her notice that this little boy of 13 1/2 months was ready and knowing he was getting the sacrament.

Made it to Zion

So unlike the pioneers before me I didn't have to walk across America pushing handcarts. I did however have a 22 pound 9 1/2 month old strapped to me as I pushed his stroller and our carry-ons through the airport. One does not know the struggle unless you are baby wearing and have to use the bathroom... With no family restroom at the Chicago airport one has to make some weird adjustments. Walking out of the Salt Lake City airport is something that I will never forget. The Rocky Mountains are incredible and all encompassing. Even flying over these mountains I thought " how can anyone deny Heavenly Father?! Look at the beauty of this Earth!" I began the drive back to Orem UT with my great aunt. Such beautiful scenery!!

The first full day in Utah we went to BYU to see the campus and check out the book store for some BYU gear. And man this bookstore puts any other to shame. Does your bookstore have a fudge shop and candy section with fresh made choices? Yeah mine either. Sorry Fisher but you are no BYU bookstore. 

  The second night had me meeting up with many of my old missionary friends..even two from Arizona who made the trip up for Anthony's wedding (elder Kelly). We went to Cafe Rio which is very well known out here. And not only was it delicious but it was filling as well. Seth went to town on my guacamole and my tomatoes.
Anthony and Emily's wedding day was so beautiful. I was so happy to be apart of it all. The sealing room is beautiful beyond all belief and I shed tears as Anthony looked at his beautiful bride and just admired her from across the altar. Seth even got to go inside the temple too!I mean it was the waiting room..but still. He was able to go to the Jordan River temple and be inside of it before it closes down for a few years and has some renovations done to it. The two families then hosted a luncheon at Anthony's church and it was wonderful. Seth again was admired by everyone and its was great seeing Anthony actually get to hold him and see him.
A few days later I was able to go to Temple Square in Salt Lake City with Emily and Anthony. We went to the mall first to snag some lunch and with a very crowded mall food court Emily asked a nice gentleman who was sitting alone if we could sit with him. This is something I would never be able to do. As my comfort zone does not exceed to others normally. Which is a shame at times because this guy was nice and had a story to share. This gentleman was homeless and has been all over the country in his lifetime. He has actually been actively working with someone from the LDS church to secure employment and housing. The newlyweds offered him some money for lunch and he was so humbled by it.
Temple square is beautiful and has so many great things to see. We went to the Relief Society  building and then the two welcome centers. The statue of the Jesus Christ in the North Welcome center is stunning. And my goodness the temple is stunning. I wish upstate NY had temples just a few towns apart. When deriving along the highways at night in Utah you can see several temples just standing up higher then the other buildings.

All I can say is go to Utah. For a trip, or moving there or just anything. Its stunning and beautiful all in one. The people are beyond kind and I love the churches on every corner thing.