My Thoughts

How I'm feeling tonight. 

Feeling stronger than ever that the solution for MY family is to cling to the Gospel, stay out of debt and develop a relationship SO rock-solid with our Heavenly Father that nothing can shake us. I don't trust politics. But I trust the Lord. I trust in His ability to guide my family as we live IN this world, but not OF it. Immersing myself in the Book of Mormon has kept a calm peace in my heart through all of this. As it always does. I'm off to read... As for me and my house, we DO choose, serve and honor the Lord.

My faith means everything to me. I've seen the Lord's hand in my life too many times to EVER doubt or deny it. In the end, the earth (and all of the STUFF on it) will be rolled up as a scroll and destroyed, and ALL that will remain is US...and who we became. Whether or not we have a relationship with Christ. All I want out of life is to be able to kneel in His presence proudly and for him to approve of how I served Him during my time here. I have a lot of improving to do...

Cam, Roo & Claire, (and Baby O or K...if we really end up having you!!  I'm tired, so we'll see!  But if you do end up in our little family, this will apply to you as well, don't think you will get off easy cuz you're the baby!!) please cling to your testimonies NO MATTER WHAT.  I promise you it is ALL that matters.  Don't let the world take over what you know is true and right.  Daddy and I are doing everything we can to teach you the Gospel, but the time will come when you will have to make your own choice.  I pray every day that you choose the Lord.  It is all real.  It is true.  It will all be worth it.  In case you don't remember, EVERY time you guys pray lately, you say that you are grateful that we can be a family for forever.  I love it when you say those words.  Please keep saying them.  Believe them.  Live so that our little family WILL be together forever.

We love you so so much!

Love,
Mom

Proud of our Cameron

We got a nice e-mail from Cam's teacher yesterday. 

Hi Wood's,

I just wanted to let you know that Cameron had an awesome day today!
He was a great listener, so on task...did wonderful writing, and was very positive!

Way to go Cameron!

Miss Mary

 

"Once upon a time, there was a person.  He was at school.  He listened to his teacher.  The teacher was so proud.  Cameron."

 

 

Cam, you have been improving by leaps and bounds over the past few months.  We are so proud of you!!  Sometimes I think that we don't give you enough credit for how wonderful you are, and I'm sorry for that.  You are the smartest little boy I know, and you have the kindest, funniest personality.  You love to be around people constantly, and everyone is drawn to you.  You have a solid testimony of Christ already, and you aren't afraid to let it shine.  The Lord has so many amazing things in store for you, and we are so proud to be your parents.  We love you so much, Buddy!!

 

Sweet Valentines

Nate is too good to me!  So beautiful.

Cameron said, "Mom, did Daddy give you those?"

Mom: "Yes, because he loves me."

Cam: "I know he does."

 

On Monday night, Nate's parents had us all over for a Queen of Hearts party.  Robyn had her house all decorated, and we all had cute place settings with heart cards.  We had pink punch and heart-shaped cheese and crackers and heart-shaped pizza.  The grandkids each had a love note from Grandma.  I kept them, but since they will definitely get lost eventually, I wanted to save them here.

Cam, Roo & Cwaire, you are so loved!!  We hope you always know and feel that.

Dear Allie...

When I was pregnant with you, I had strong impressions that you were going to be a special gift to this family.  And you have been just exactly that for the past 3 years.  You have a sweetness about you that I just love.  You are a peacemaker in our home and family.  Thank you for being our Roo.  Hope you had a fun Birthday Weekend!

We love you, Sweetheart!

A little story about her cake:

I went to find and clean all of these little Dora characters, and I could NOT find Dora anywhere!  I looked and looked, these are tiny toys!!  I kept asking Roo if she knew where it was, and she didn't.  I started to get a little nervous because Dora is the essence of the purple Dora cake!!!  So Cam, Roo and I decided to say a prayer.  Cam was confident that Jesus would help us find it.  So Cameron said a sweet, heartfelt prayer.  (And during his prayer, I was praying that his prayer would be answered!!).  Well, the very moment he finished, I opened my eyes and was staring straight at her Dora backpack.  I opened it up, and sure enough, there was Dora!

A simple little answered prayer for my children.  Cameron was thrilled, and I'm so grateful that his faith in Jesus was strengthened today.  I hadn't looked in her backpack yet, and I know I would have looked there eventually, but I'm so grateful that my children were able to see the power of prayer.  A sweet, tender mercy from the Lord for them and for me!

Grandma gave her Swiper, Boots and a cute apron for her birthday!

Baby Blessings

My mom is wonderful and always writes down her grandchildren's baby blessings when they are given.  I thought I'd record them here so I don't have to try and keep track of little pieces of paper!  Unfortunately I only have Allison and Claire's blessings to remember.  For Cameron's blessing, the microphone wasn't working and Cam screamed through it, so we couldn't hear it very well.  I'm so sad about that.  Atleast I know it was still a wonderful blessing from his earthly father, filled with love and light from his Heavenly Father.  I know he was promised great things and that Heavenly Father has lots for Cam to accomplish here in his earthly life.

So girls, here are your baby blessings, given by Daddy by the power of the Priesthood.  You are so lucky and blessed to have a worthy father, who loves you so so much.

Claire Elizabeth Wood
Blessed on September 4, 2011

*Blessed with health and strength
*Blessed to make the right choices in your life
*Promised if you'll take care of your body, you will receive blessings
*Obtain an education
*Be an example to others
*Marry and be sealed for eternity and raise a family
*Be a joy and blessing in the lives of your family

(Thank you Aunt DeAnn for the cute outfit!!)

Allison Jane Wood
Blessed on March 15, 2009

*Blessed with health and strength
*Blessed to accomplish the goals Heavenly Father has for you
*Blessed with the Light of Christ, to be an example to others
*Gain a testimony of the Church
*Seek an education
*Serve a mission.  Bring souls to Heavenly Father and be blessed with happiness in your life.

Last Belly Shot

For my journaling, here is the last official belly shot of my 3rd pregnancy. 

We love you, sweet Baby!  We can't wait to meet you and have you be a part of our family.  Cameron is SO excited to meet you, he is the best big brother, you are SO lucky!  He has all kinds of fun things to teach you and show you.  Allison is going to love helping me take care of you.  She will be a great big sister!  You'll be here in 10 days now, and we are so anxious to hold and kiss and snuggle you! 

Picture taken by Cameron

Cam is FIVE!

Didn't I just post about Cam's 4th birthday?  I swear I did.  Where did this year go???

Cameron G. is FIVE!  We made a birthday countdown chain about 2 weeks ago, and he has patiently been taking a link off every morning.  He was pretty excited this morning, "Mom, I'm five now!!"  Lots of big happenings when you're 5 in the life of Cameron:  riding the yellow 4-wheeler, the baby comes, Kindergarten!!  He's been waiting and waiting to be 5!!

Here is the day in pictures:

We gave him his first 2 presents right after breakfast.

Spiderman toothbrush!  (Roo got a Dora toothbrush)

He has been asking for a "black Spiderman costume" for months and months now.  Not sure why he's so obsessed since he's a villian, but he loves him!  It was so cute to watch his face when he finally got it! 

Then later that morning, we headed outside for Cameron's Costume birthday party.  We served ice cream and just let the kids play.  There were so many cute costumes!  Thank you to all of our friends and family who came to celebrate with us!! 

Cameron's cake.  Made with love, yep, we're NOT getting any better at this as the years go by, but it's SO fun and makes our kids HAPPY!! 

After lunch/nap, we headed over to Nate's family for a swimming/pizza party.  The cousins had fun swimming. 

Blowing out his candles! 

Opening more gifts.  We are so grateful for everyone's kindness to our sweet Cam. 

Cousins lined up to watch! 

Sweet Miss Isabelle 

Opening the other gift from Mom & Dad.  A personalized basketball jersey!! 

So I have been meaning to write about this lately, but over the past month or so, Cameron has truly started to evolve into a completely different kid.  I honestly don't recognize him lately!  He has really started to grow up in ways that I never thought would happen!  IT IS AWESOME!!  Most of you know how difficult it has been for me to parent him.  I feel like all of my tears and hard work and endless, nonstop discipline and frustration and countless prayers are finally starting to pay off.  Prayers are answered (even if they take 5 years to be answered, they ARE answered)!!!

Cam, we love you so much.  Daddy and I talk a lot about how proud we are of you.  You are SO smart.  You are SO handsome.  You are SO sweet and sensitive to your family and friends.  You are truly beginning to turn into the kid that we always prayed would emerge out of your crazy toddler years!!  You love the Church and Christ's gospel at such a young age.  You already stand up for what you know makes Jesus happy.  We are so proud to be your parents.  We hope you had a wonderful 5th birthday!!  We love you!

True Royalty

With all the talk about the Royal Wedding, it has gotten me thinking a lot.  It's been so fun to see the pictures and footage, the couple looks amazing, and Kate's dresses are beyond gorgeous.  My personal favorite is how big William's smile is after they kiss!!  And the hats!

Everyone keeps saying how it's been so exciting to watch a 'real' fairy tale with a Prince and Princess....and it IS exciting!  But it has gotten me thinking.  When it comes down to it, none of that matters unless a marriage is sealed in the temple to last beyond death.  It's a fairy tale on earth and to the public eye, but living happily ever after isn't a reality for them.

It is for me and MY prince though.  In the temple, we even learn that we will literally become kings and queens of our own kingdoms.  We will rule and reign together.  Forever.

The other day, I somehow stumbled onto the heartbreaking blog of a widow who had lost her husband.  She wrote about how she had to go to the social security office to do some paperwork, and they gave her a certificate that said, "Marriage ended by death - November 2009" (or whatever the date was).  She said it was the worst moment of her life, seeing those words.  I can't even imagine.

So as the world looks on in awe at Kate and William...I sit here with my simple, unknown, common life and honestly can't help but feel a million times more lucky than Kate.  MY fairy tale is real.  My marriage will never end with death.  Nate and I ARE royalty.  The world may not notice who we are, but we know who we are.  Sons and daughters of a King.  ALL of us are.  All of us need Christ's atonement.  In the Lord's eyes, ALL of us are royalty.  All of us our equal in His eyes.  All of us can accept Christ's Gospel into our lives and enter the temple doors to be joined together for time and all eternity...not until death do us part.

Roo just walked by me singing, "I am a Child of God."  She knows exactly who she is.  And she's right.  She IS a princess.  A beautiful one.

This dude is royalty too.  Life would be pretty entertaining if he ran his own kingdom....oh wait, he already does....my house!!!

Dear Prince Cameron & Princess Allison (and Royal Fetus),

The world isn't going to teach you that you are royalty.  You won't hear it from television or celebrities or even most of your friends and teachers.

But your mom and dad know that you are royalty.  You mean more to us and to God than you will ever know.  The world is going to try and convince you that you need possessions and money and beauty to be happy and to be noticed and loved.  But that's just not true.  Please remember that.

Being 'Royal' doesn't mean having a castle or a palace or servants or nice clothes.  Being royal means NOT having those things, but still knowing every single day that you are loved and have the potential to become like our Heavenly Father.

Daddy and I love you both so much.  You are both so full of talents and have such amazing potential to do anything you want with your lives.  Stay close to us.  Stay close to each other (& baby too!).  Stay very close to the Lord, and we promise you will always be happy in this life and for eternities to come.