Just when I thought he wasn't listening

I went down into Michael's room this morning to open his window and this is what I found on his whiteboard.
In case you can't see his words, he wrote, "We honor the soldiers life to death battles. We also honor my grandpa who died from a cancer that has no cure."

Michael, sometimes you take my breath away.

Nursery Carnage

We sent him into nursery on Sunday as happy as can be and when we picked him up we got this...
We are hoping that none of the scratches end up scarring his sweet little face. :(

Snapshot

...of a 36 year old on his birthday.

Happy Birthday, my strong, faithful, courageous and handsome husband!

I love you forever!!!

4.5%...and other smokin' deals

We just refinanced our home and we were able to get a 30 year mortgage at 4.5%!

Woohoo!!!

This saves us a lot of money every month and in these uncertain times, we are extremely grateful. I read in the news that rates haven't been this low since right after World War II. They got down to 4.7% at that time.

Did I mention? Woohoo!!!

Also, I am now officially a 'couponer'. What is a couponer you ask? My son Michael says it means you are a coupon maniac. I have been able to get the most amazing deals this past month. My deals include...

Secret Deoderant...FREE
Frosted Flakes...50 cents a box
Colgate Toothpaste...FREE
Fruit Roll-ups and Fruit Gushers...25 cents a box
Dove Bar Soap...FREE...actually, I made $1.40 on the 8 bars I bought
2 packages of Huggies diapers and one package of Huggies wipes...$1.00 (not including tax)
I ended up with 24 packs of diapers and 8 packs of wipes...can you say another woohoo!!!?
Liquid Tide laundry detergent...FREE
$25 gift card to one of our favorite restaurants...$2.50
Redbox movies on Mondays and Wednesdays...FREE

Now you can more fully appreciate why Michael refers to me as a 'coupon maniac'. What are your smokin' deals this month? or What other cool ways have you devised to save money?

Next month Matt and I are going to cash. I've never used cash before...I will let you know how it goes.

Curious?

I am a mormon.

My relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost are more important to me than I can express. I have a testimony that Jesus Christ died for me and that He was resurrected. I KNOW that He lives. I believe that families can be together forever...even after we have left this life. I believe that the temple is a place where we can be sealed together forever. I know these things because I have prayed about their truthfulness and I have received a personal witness that they are true.

I recently discovered that a dying television program will be discussing (and showing) our temples in an episode. I am saddened to hear this and realize that it is only a ploy for ratings, but I am concerned about all those people that may see it and not understand the other side of the story.

I found this video and it helps describe why we (as mormons) build temples and some of the work that we do there. I know that there are a lot of you that read my blog, but do not share my faith. I respect you and I hope that you respect me too. Please take 3 minutes out of your day to watch this. If nothing else, it will give you a better understanding of some of your neighbors and friends.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them. You can even question me anonymously if that makes you more comfortable.

All my love,
Carol

Please click here to see the video.

Southern Caribbean Cruise 2009

Day 1: Traveling

After a long day of connecting flights, we decided we were hungry. Dinner at midnight? Sure, why not???

Day 2: San Juan

Old San Juan

Joanne, Anna, and me. I can't tell you how much I love these two women.

Fort at Old San Juan

Cheese! Joanne decided to say Queso instead of cheese since we were in San Juan and her "smile" is the result. Turns out there is a reason why you are supposed to say cheese. We laughed and laughed when we saw this photo.

Our ship wasn't ready to board and so we grabbed some lunch at a restaurant in San Juan.


Day 3: At Sea

The Sanctuary...ahhh relaxation at it's best.

This day at sea was perfect.

Playing Princess

All ready for dinner.

Day 4: Aruba

After our running joke about Queso we actually found a sign that said it and we had to take a picture. Joanne cracks me up.



Phase 10 anyone? Especially enjoyable on a balcony in the Caribbean.




I can't help but feel that Brian got a little SUN!



Day 5: Bonaire

Matt didn't get the memo that we were being sexy. :)

On our way to snorkeling in Bonaire. Truly the best snorkeling we have ever experienced. There was a reef wall that completely dropped off into deep ocean. Very surreal feeling.

Killing time in Bonaire.






Day 6: Grenada

On our way to Seven Sisters Waterfalls.

Hiking to Seven Sisters in Grenada...poor Anna had a horrible wound on her foot and the mud didn't help. Everyone was a good sport even though Mike and I were the only ones who hiked to the actual waterfalls.

Seven Sisters is a series of seven waterfalls. You have to climb up a narrow path in the jungle (by literally grabbing at roots and hauling yourself up) to access the first waterfall. Matt and I did this same hike by ourselves in 2008 and while I couldn't wait to do the big jump at the end, Matt was NOT doing that again...EVER. Mike however thought it sounded fun and so he and I made the hike to the top and jumped the previous smaller waterfalls in order to make our way to the BIG 40 foot waterfall at the end. Mike went first...

Here I go...

I screamed really loudly when I went. :)

Yahoo!!!

Hooray! We did it!!!

Matt won a free men's shave at the Spa and his skin was silky smooth.



Day 7: Dominica

Check out the muscles on my man!

Hiking in Dominica...I absolutely loved this island and I can't wait to go back.

After swimming up Titou Gorge.

Day 8: St. Thomas

Matt and I with the Caribbean Princess in the background.

What a memorable and fun vacation we had!

I love my teeth!

In December of 2007, Matt and I had extra money sitting in our "Flex Spending" account at his work, and it was either use it or lose it. So, I bought all of the over-the-counter medicine I could think of and then still had additional funds sitting there. I am not one to see good money go to waste, so I called my brother-in-law (who happens to be a fabulous orthodontist) and asked him to slap some braces on my teeth.
I had braces when I was a teenager and while my teeth are nowhere near as bad as they were when I was a kid, they had shifted and it bugged me. So, for the last 13 months I have endured braces on my teeth and while it was not fun, it definitely was not as bad as I remember them as a kid. (This may have something to do with my liberal use of Ibuprofen and my much improved dental hygiene.) :)
Matt and I had a cruise planned at the end of January and we were going with friends and my sister and brother-in-law. You guessed it...my orthodontist. So, for the last 4 or 5 months I have been giving him a hard time and telling him that he had until our trip to get my teeth straight or he was gonna have to hear me whining the entire vacation. Have you ever tried snorkeling with braces on your teeth? You can't bite down correctly on the mouthpiece and it is NOT enjoyable.
So, two days before we left on our sunny vacation, my braces were removed and I LOVE my teeth. I smiled and smiled and smiled for days on end. Thank you Mike (my handy and very kind ortho)...I am one happy customer.

This picture was taken in San Juan while we were on the aforementioned vacation. I have a lot more pics to share from this trip and also (if I can figure it out) a video of me and Mike (orthodontist extraordinaire) jumping off a 40 foot waterfall. Soooo fun!!!

The best photographer ever!

Ok, I may be a little biased considering the fact that the photographer is my husband, but seriously...could these pictures be any cuter???

Infected

Philip has the chickenpox.

Michael got them a week before Thanksgiving and he had to miss a week of school. He was immunized against chickenpox, but they got him anyway. His case was mild...only 60 or 70 pox...but it was still miserable.

Now, my baby is miserable. He is currently talking/crying in his crib after a whopping 30 minute nap. His morning nap was a no go. I am going to go love on him some more and count down the time till Matt gets home.

Sealed

On November 8, 2008 we were sealed to Philip.

This day was the culmination of all that I have waited for.

We arrived at the temple at 8:30 and ushured our kids into the playroom. The temple had staff there waiting to help our kids during the entire process and they were very helpful and kind.

Matt and I then went over all of our family information with a temple worker to make sure that everything was correct. This process took about 20 minutes to complete and when we were finished she asked us which two men we would like to be the witnesses of the sealing. A totally unexpected wave of grief hit me then...when I realized that I wanted my dad to be there to witness this event. Matt said he wanted his father and then asked me if I wanted to have Devin, my brother, stand in for dad. I said yes and was overwhelmed with how much I missed my dad. Since the time that he died four years ago, I don't think I have longed for his presence more than I did in the temple that morning. Tears started to stream down my cheeks and Matt held my hand tightly.

I whispered to Matt, "Dad will still be there, right?"

"Of course he will be, Carol, he wouldn't miss it," Matt replied.

I am crying as I write this because I know that my dad was there to witness this miraculous event in my life. I know that he was there to support this decision Matt and I had made. I am so grateful for the knowledge that life doesn't end when we die. This is the whole purpose of the temple and the reason why we wanted Philip to be sealed to us for time and eternity. I am so grateful for His gospel that doesn't deny anyone from receiving His choicest blessings.

Anyway, after we finished the paperwork, we headed back to our designated dressing rooms so that we could get changed into our white clothing. (We wear white in the temple to symbolize our purity and equality before our Father in Heaven.) Once I was dressed, the temple worker led me to the Celestial room where Matt was waiting for me.

It reminded me so much of our wedding day. We were married in the same temple and we were able to sit alone together in the Celestial room on that day as well. The peace I felt about my decision to marry Matt was overwhelming and it has been a sustaining influence on me when times were tough.

Once again, as we sat in the room together, I was overwhelmed with peace about our decision to adopt Philip. I knew that he was our son and that Heavenly Father wanted me to be his mother. When the time came, Matt and I were led into the Sealing Room where all of our friends and family waited. When we entered, the first thing I noticed was my Michael, James and Anne, all sitting in a row in their beautiful white clothing. They were all grinning up at us as we walked into the room and Michael had big tears in his eyes. The Spirit was so strong and once again witnessed to me the truthfullness of His gospel. I then noticed my mom who was holding Philip. He was as calm as can be and absolutely darling in his white outfit.

Before the sealing ordinance was performed, our sealer chose to share a scripture that he said had come to his mind. It was 1 Corinthians 2:9 and it says,

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

For those sitting in the room with us, this scripture may not have meant much, but to me personally this scripture was a tender mercy from the Lord.

Remember this post, way back in April, about our journey to Philip? I quoted this particular scripture in that post because it described exactly how I felt about the whole process...heart altering process...that led us to Philip. And yet here I sat, with a man who was ordained of God to be with us in the temple this day and he 'thought' to share the one thing that would testify of Heavenly Father's love and awareness of me. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

Tears filled my eyes as I listened to him recite this scripture. It was as if Heavenly Father was once again telling me that He knows me...Carol...and that He loves me so much. He has known this path all along and He has been preparing me and leading me to this point. I just need to have the faith to follow His lead and I will never be left alone.

The Sealing Ordinance was then performed and Philip was as sweet as can be. Once it was over, Philip didn't want to let go of Matt and my hands...he just grinned at us and we were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.

All of our kids were able to stand by us at that point and the sealer had us look into the large mirrors that they have hanging in the Sealing Room. The mirrors cover opposing walls and so when you look into one your image goes on forever and ever. The sealer took the opportunity to teach our kids that now that Philip was sealed to us he would be ours forever and ever, just like the images in the mirror.

I want to share the second verse of one of my favorite Primary Songs...I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE

I love to see the temple.
I'll go inside someday.
I'll covenant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God,
I've learned this truth;
A family is forever.
(Words and Music: Janice Kapp Perry)

I feel so blessed and so grateful. Thank you for all of your kind words and support during this process. They have meant more to me than you know and I am grateful for the positive influence and encouragement that good people have brought into my life.

All my love,
Carol






If you would like to know more about Temples and the work we do there or anything else about my religion please visit http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/