the ones you live with, laugh with, love: April 2013

What a crazy, wonderful, busy, whirlwind year it has been. And I am so blessed to have lived every minute of it. The trials, the joys, the sadness and the blessings. They all make up this wonderful life. It has not always been easy but when I look back I am able to see and understand the purpose for all things and the blessings that have come from them.
In my last post, we told everyone we were pregnant again! We could not have been more surprised. But we were excited to see who Heavenly Father was sending us. Little did we know what a blessing this angel would be for us.
My dad battled cancer for over a year. And finally lost his battle in August 2012. One of my sad, low times of the past year. But the outpouring love and support we received from so many friends and family was truly a gift and a blessing. It did not make us miss our dad less but it did help us remember how dear he was to everyone. I am one that when I have something really special, I like to keep it sacred and to myself. So it sometimes is hard for me to share even those I love with others because of my great love and protection over them. But this was one time I really had to step back and let others remember and love him as well and I was proud to share him with everyone. My dad will forever be missed. But I can imagine what joy there was when he crossed through the veil to the other side, I know his mother and Father and little sister were there waiting for him. And I know they were by his side through his darkest hours there at the end. I long for the day when I get to be reunited with them all. Thank goodness for the plan of salvation. We truly have a very loving Father in Heaven.

And now we know why our sweet Avril came to us... She was a tender mercy from our Father in Heaven to give us peace and happiness in our darkest hours. Avril Erin was born on Sept 5 ( Just a few weeks after my dad passed). She has been and is such a great blessing. What a joy to everyone. We feel so blessed to have each one of our children.

Matt and I marvel at our lives and how we have grown. We can not help but notice Heavenly Father's hand in everything. We are amazed that our oldest, Alec, will be graduating this year. He is getting ready to submit his mission papers. What a blessing for him and us. I feel like he was just born.. I hold my youngest and can't help but hold her just a little tighter because I know how fast she will grow, I know in just a blink of an eye she will be graduating like her older brother and other siblings. I am so grateful for his example to his siblings and us. Again, I feel so blessed. I will miss him so much when he leaves. He has always had such a sweet, calm spirit. And I have always said he was my saving grace. He was a tender mercy from above. He came when I needed him most. My life was forever changed for the better when he came. He will always be my sweet baby.

I feel so blessed for each of my children... Each with such a unique personality and each the perfect piece to our puzzle.This is the one thing that I am most sure about in everything that I do. That I am a wife and mother before everything else. I Love it when I wake up to little ones cuddled beside me in bed, I love watching the clock for the time when my love walks through the door.

I would have never guessed that 19 years ago when we went to Prom together as 16 and 17 year olds that we would be here with seven kiddos. He is truly the love of my life and I am so thankful for him.

And just a few pictures from this past year.....
Avrils Blessing.. We blessed her with my family's other tender mercy, Mary Anne's baby, Jintrie. These two sweeties are only 11 days apart.. Definitely destined to be best friends.