See Nie 2

Yesterday was a hard day.  I won't go into big details, but sometimes reality can be hard to handle.

Our Plan for the Wood Family next year: Have another baby and move to Tennessee.

The Lord's Plan for the Wood Family next year: Something else.

I honestly don't think I have ever been so confused in my life.  Turns out getting a license to teach in TN from out of state is NOT as easy as we thought.  We have to have 3 years of work experience first....OR Nate has to take an additional 5 tests on top of the 2 he already has coming up....very expensive, very difficult to study for, no guarantee that he'll get a job.  My heart fell.  Three years....  And as for the baby thing, well, that's obviously personal, but I can't thank my bff, Merilee, enough for her shoulder to lean and cry on and for a very empathetic heart she has.

But luckily the Lord gave me 3 things to lift myself up and smile and move forward with faith.

1. Nate looking me in the eye this morning, giving me a big hug, and saying, "I promise you...I promise that in 3 years, we will move to Tennessee."  I believe him. 

2. General Conference this weekend.  Best 4 days of the year...every April & October.  I will be hanging on every word of our dear prophet and apostles...I know they will give me peace and direction.

3. Last night I had the amazing experience of going to see Stephanie Nielson speak.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I drove down to Lindon and met my college roomie, Becky.  She took me to dinner (Los Hermanos, yum!) and we headed down to BYU.  We had no idea how big the event would be, we had hopes of getting to meet Nie at the back of our minds.  But when we walked in to the ballroom, we were completely shocked by how packed it was!  We were half an hour early, and we could barely find a seat.  People were crammed in and standing up, and even though  I was bummed that we had bad seats (we were way off to the side) and we obviously wouldn't get to meet her, I was so happy that she would see how loved and admired she is.  I'm sure things like that help her heal more than any medicine can.  She started out by showing her 'My New Life' video from Mormon Messages.  Then she stood up and told her entire story.  Lots of details about the day of the accident....what she'd done the night before that and that morning, how she felt and what she thought as she realized the ground was getting closer.  She said she saw her children.  She cried as she talked about waking up and realizing she'd missed 5 months of her children's lives.  She showed shocking pictures of what her skin looked like on her arms and legs.  She spent a long time talking about how hard it was for children to learn to find their mom again.  She told a funny story about how the first time Christian saw her in the hospital, she was in a coma, wrapped up like a mummy.  She said that when he entered the room and held her hand, her heart rate accelerated so fast that the nurses had to ask him not to touch her.  They'd never seen anything like that before!!  Nie said, "That's about as hot and heavy as it was for me and Mr. Nielson during it all."  Haha....!!!

But then she spoke of the reality of God.  She promised us that He is alive.  She testified that He lives with SO much conviction and power, and I felt the Spirit enter that room so strongly.  She talked about learning to find her beauty again...her real beauty.  She said she finds her beauty in her husband, in each of her children's different features, in the beautiful Utah mountains.  She testified that she knows that her body will be restored to perfection as Alma has told us in the Book of Mormon.  She said she knows she'll have her freckles and flawless skin again.  She asked us all to never try to change our bodies and to stop comparing ourselves to each other.  She said that even though it's badly scarred, she knows her body is a temple.  She said she begged her Heavenly Father to let her remain on this earth with her husband and children "no matter what body I'm in...I just want to be there."  That was humbling.  It was a beautiful evening.  I felt so much better after hearing her speak. 

Afterward, Becky & I got ice cream and talked nonstop about everything under the sun.  I love her so much!!  I love my friends, they are my family.  I have so many wonderful friends who always seem to always know just what I need.

Roo's Corner

Since we moved our bookshelf over by the window, this is Roo's favorite spot.

1-She goes there when she's playing.

2-She goes there when she's trying to avoid us, like if she knows she's in trouble or is trying to get away from us.

3-She goes there to do her "business".

See that look?  Classic "Roo corner look".

Playing around, wrapped up in Cam's jammie pants.



***

This morning, my friend, Becky, invited me to go with her to see NieNie speak at BYU next week.  It happens to fall on a Thursday evening, which is the one evening when both our hubsters are off work.  Perfect!  Can't wait!  I'm sure I will have amazing things to write about her lecture, she is speaking on "Recapturing Beauty."  Not sure how big of an event it is, or if we'll get to meet her personally, but I am excited to feel her strong Spirit she emulates and be taught by her.

My Inspirations

With Mother's Day approaching, I wanted to do a post for and about a few

Mothers Who Inspire Me

1. Casey (see her blog here)

I've never met Casey in person.  But I love her dearly.  We would be great friends if we lived near each other.  Casey, you inspire me.  Your children and husband are first in your life, and it shows.  You are creative and always thinking of ways to teach and enlighten your adorable children.  They are lucky to have been sent to you & Blake, and I'm pretty sure they know that!!  I can't wait for the day when we meet and can talk motherhood while Jack & Cam play trains and while Lainey & Allie play dolls.  I look at your family and hope that my family will end up like that.  Thank you.

2. Nie

The lessons to be learned from this woman are endless.  But what has touched me the most is her recent quotes about how "motherhood is a privilege".  I try to not get out of bed in the morning until that thought is at the front of my mind...and I try to keep it in my thoughts as I mother my children and maintain my home.

3. Lindsay (see her blog here)

We are cousins and grew up together in Oregon.  Not only is she one of the most hilarious people to hang out with ever....Lindsay is a brilliant photographer and more of a great example of motherhood to me than she'll ever know.  The oldest two of her adorable children have autism.  Lindsay, I look up to you so so much.  Your gorgeous children could not have been sent to a better home.  Thank you for showing me what kind of mother I should really be.  Patience, optimism, pure love....those are the qualities that you radiate...and the qualities I seem to fall short on.  I am grateful to have you in my life to follow and learn from.

***

Thank you to my own mother and to Nate's mother.  Thank you both for raising the two of us in homes with high standards and where we felt safe and loved.  Every child deserves that, and we are doing our best with Cameron and Allison to pass along what we grew up with.  We love you so much!

My New Life

I am touched by Stephanie's strong desire to use this trial to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though I served a mission for 18 months to the beautiful Korean people, I should be continuing to share when I know to be true. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It brings peace, hope and joy into my life and to my family. Please read it. It is powerful and real and so so true. I know that eternal families are real. I was married to my sweet Nate in the temple. The sacred powers of the Priesthood are on this earth and were used to seal us together for time and all eternity. We will not be separated by death. We are also promised that our beautiful children will be with us forever. This brings tears to my eyes as I watch them and kiss them and hold them. They are mine forever. This Gospel is full of wonderful truths that are meant to bring us joy in this sometimes confusing and difficult life. Hope in this life. Purpose in this life. And the best part is...everyone can find this out for themselves. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is meant for you. Nobody is exempt from the blessings of the Savior and his teachings. Please let me know if you have questions or want to know more.I love you all.

Accepted

Yesterday we got THE letter.  Nate got accepted into the teaching program here at the U.  We assumed he would, but having the acceptance letter in our hands feels good!
Do you know what this means?

1. In the fall, he starts his teaching observations.
2. Next January-April, he will be student teaching every day from 7:30-3:30.
3. May 2011, he GRADUATES and we find a job and move outta here!!!

The light at the end of the tunnel just got a lot closer and a lot brighter.  We have NO clue where we will go.  I want to leave Utah, but obviously, we will go where there is a job.  Every single day, I think about what our future holds in store for us.  It's so exciting!  We're both pretty open to going anywhere.  Hopefully the Northwest....possibly the midwest (houses are cheap!)...maybe the East Coast (would be fun, but we probably won't)...definitely not the southeast...but my gut says we're gonna stay put in Utah.  Hmph.....

(Nater boy and Cam at Multnomah Falls, Portland Oregon)

PS....Nie's blog made my stomach hurt this morning.  Why are people so mean?  If you don't like my blog (or her blog)...don't read it.  But don't turn around and use our blogs against us to make us feel bad.  Beautiful Nie, I understand.  Keep blogging girlfriend....I know I am!!

See Nie

This afternoon we headed down to the Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcake shop in Draper.  On her blog this morning, Nie said it was the grand opening and that she would be there.  Nate had today off work, so we decided to go....atleast we'd enjoy some yummy treats, even if we missed her. 

Stephanie is one of my biggest heroes.  I try to pattern my life after good people....women who uplift, inspire, are full of faith, who put the Gospel at the head of their lives and most of all, those who are good mothers.  Nie is all of those things and more. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get to 'meet' her.  In fact, if we'd arrived just a few minutes later, we wouldn't have seen her at all.  I wanted to say hi, give her a hug, thank her for her example.  When we got there, she was standing off to the side, talking to a woman.  They talked for a few minutes, and then she joined her family behind the counter.  She took pictures of the girls who worked there, maybe she'll post them?  Her husband, Christian was there.  I also saw her daughters, Jane & Claire, and I'm sure her boys were there too.  It was almost surreal because I feel like I know them!  I had to remind myself that they don't know me!!!  They all went into the back room, and I could see all the kids crowded around a girl who was frosting cupcakes.  Then the door closed, and I sadly didn't get to see them again.  I was brave and asked the cashier if Stephanie was still there, but she sort of made it sound like they were busy in the back.  I didn't want to be obnoxious, so we hung around while Cam ate his keylime cupcake, and then we left.

I was a little disappointed, but at the same time, the small glimpse I saw of her was absolutely worth the drive down (as was the cupcake!).  She is beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.  When I looked at her, I honestly didn't see the scars.  Her eyes and her smile (the two un-changed things about her) were SO full of life, so radiant, so pure....it's honestly all I could see.  Her scars are there, but her sweetness and genuine-ness are much more visible than the scars.  I was shocked at how pretty she is in person.  Like so pretty, that I'm actually jealous!!  She's also really stylish....as was her family.  Christian seems like an absolute gentleman, and of course her cutie girls were just that....tooo CUTE!! 

***
So anyway, speaking of good people & good examples....my very own Nate is just that.  One of his gazillion amazing qualities is his genuine kindness and concern for others.  He thinks of others constantly and does what he can to improve their lives.  It's something that I've always loved about him.  He showers me and the kids with compliments every day.  He calls his little sisters often to see if they need anything.  He has several friends from his childhood who have struggled.  He has recently gotten back in touch with a few of them, and he is always telling me about them, and how worried he is and wonders what he can do for them.  Last night he invited a friend of his over who is in a tough situation....out of work, no car, a damaged relationship with his family, etc etc.  Instead of feeling 'above' this friend or ignoring him, Nate invited him into our home, drove him around, spent time with him....Nate even gave him some of our groceries to help him out this week.  And this isn't the first time he has done this.  Nate is so non-judgemental.  He loves people with the true love of Christ.  He sees people's goodness and potential instead of their faults.  I'm proud to be his wife and proud that my children have such a great man as their father.