Jessie Turned Seven!

On March 8, 2005 I was in the hospital giving birth to my first child - Jessie Petronila!  She was a month early and so tiny, but luckily she was fully developed, so she came home with me after the regular 2 days in the hospital.  Of course, I didn't know how labor or recovery would be, but the day after I came home from the hospital I went shopping!  I felt great!  But after my Mom left, the real labor began - the intense day in and day out of taking care of a newborn.  For most of her first year it felt like she was awake more than she was asleep.  Although I remember those days and how hard it was, when I see her now it seems all worth the work!

Granted, there are days/moments when I feel like I'm going to strangle her, but for the most part she is such a wonderful kid!  Perhaps it's because she's the first, or maybe because she's a mirror of my younger self, but for whatever reason we have such a connection!  There are times when she does something or is about to say something and I know already that she will do it or what she's going to say.  I often hear her say, "How did you know?"  (How do I explain to her that I would've done the same thing at that age?  Especially when it's something I don't really want her to do?)

From an early age Jessie loved people!  As soon as she could walk, she would go up to other kids and get in their face as if to say hi.  She's so good at making friends and she has such a sensitive soul.  While a sensitive kid, and prone to being so concerned about what other's think/feel, I'm always so proud of her when she stands up for herself!  And I'm especially so happy at how well she does in school!  At her age I couldn't even talk to the teachers, let alone volunteer to do anything!

She's in the French Immersion program at school and she LOVES it!  She loves speaking French and she loves knowing another language.  I love seeing how good she is at it and how quickly she's picked it up.  It's truly amazing to me.

Jessie is creative in every sense of the word.  She loves to sing, dance and act. One of her favorite things right now is to make up ballet dances with her sisters.  Even though she hasn't actually had any classes.  And she loves to draw and make things with paper.  Which is the reason why her b-day invitations were hand made this year.  She just loves to create things.

She made some for Tressa's party too.

She also has just figured out that she loves reading!  She's really into the Magic Rainbow Fairy series!  Every time she gets a new one I let her stay up to read a few chapters.  She loves magical things and she's convinced that the tooth fairy is real.  She has written her several notes and the "tooth fairy" has written back.  (How can I resist?)  For that reason I made her a fairy cake and we made a fairy craft for her party!

Here's the link, if you'd like to do it yourself!
http://ourworldwideclassroom.blogspot.com/2010/09/craft-club-pipe-cleaner-fairy.html

She's such a girlie girl and if she had her way she'd wear a dress almost every day.  She loves jewelry and dressing up!

One time when my Mom was visiting she told me how much she loves to watch Jessie because she reminds her so much of me when I was a little kid.  Since she told me that (a few years ago) I now realize why I sometimes know what she's going to do before she even realizes.  Because I know we are so much alike: I have more empathy for her when she's upset because of friends/foes at school; I know I'm fighting a loosing battle at bedtime when she stays awake for hours after she's originally tucked in, and I can pretty safely assume that anytime she's not supposed to get into something - she does it very sneakily when I'm not around!

I feel so lucky to be her mom and even though I feel sad sometimes that she's growing so fast, for the most part, I'm so glad she's 7!

I Am A Christian.... But Some People Call Me a Mormon

I do not condemned other faiths.  I believe that everyone must find their own way to God. The longer I live and the more people I meet, the more convinced I am that there is more than one way to God.  There is an abundant of good people in the world - those who profess Christ as a Savior and those who do not.  It seems it is too much to ask that we can live in peace with other religions, but I will never buy into the judgement people pass on about other religions, just as I hope that someone who knows me and knows that I am a "Mormon" will never condemn me for what I believe.

Since "Mormon's" have been in the news a lot lately, I am writing this post to share my own testimony of what I believe and how I feel about my religion.  (Please feel free to pass on this post to others who may wonder about our religion.  Also, the link to the church's website is on the top right corner.)

I belong to The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints!  We have a book called the Book of Mormon - which is why people who belong to the church were originally called "Mormons".  However, the name of our church is the church of Jesus Christ.  As the Book of Mormon clearly states in 2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

We know that the Book of Mormon is divine text - just as the Bible - that teaches us about our Savior and Redeemer.  This is the reason why we read it, believe it, and use it to better our own knowledge of Christ, who atoned for our sins.  We know it is only through this sacrifice that we can even hope to live with God again after we have experienced our tests in this life and have moved on to the next one.

I have always known this.  I had wonderful parents who taught me about our Savior and I knew that He loved me and that I needed Him.  I remember being baptized at the age of 8 into this church.  I remember talking to my parents about why I wanted to be baptized.  I knew it was because I wanted to follow Christ.  I wanted to follow Christ's example and I wanted Him to know that I was committed to living a life being an example of His light and love.  I took that commitment very seriously - perhaps too much so at times, but I knew what I was committing to.

I know I am one of the few who has been blessed to know of the existence of a Savior from an early age.  I remember being 5 or 6 years old and having my brother ask me if I believed all this stuff we were learning at church.  His question surprised me - I had never questioned any of it.  And even after he asked me and the idea of questioning the existence of a God was purposed to me, I knew that what I had learned in church was true and I told him so.  For me the knowledge of Christ was just as natural for me to believe as it is for me to breathe.  It's not something I had to think about, I just knew it was right.

When I was 11 years old I was struggling with some things and seriously considered taking my own life.  The only thing that helped me to hold on to this life was knowing that I would have to meet my God face to face and explain to Him why I took my life.  I couldn't handle the thought of looking Him in the face and acknowledging such an awful thing.

When I was a teen, it comforted me to read the scriptures and know that Christ had suffered for me, that He knew me and that He already knew I would make mistakes and He loved me anyway.  His tender love and mercy were real to me.  So real that I wrote a poem to express how I felt about Him and the love I feel from Him.  (See post below this one.)

As an adult, I find comfort in knowing that I can repent because of Him.  I guess as an adult I realize more and more how many mistakes I make and how much help I really need.

My life has always revolved around my knowledge of Jesus and His sacrifice for me and for all of us.  And, regardless of what other people think about me or about my beliefs, I know that I am a Christian.  I know that Christ lives, that He came to earth in the flesh, lived a mortal life and suffered for our sins so that there would be hope for us to return to our heavenly home.  I know that, by turning to Him, we can feel peace in this world of turmoil and trouble, and through faith and repentance, we can return to His loving presence again.

The video below is my favorite hymn, which I insisted be sung at my baptism, it says it's "Into the Light", but really it is called, "I Stand all Amazed".

My "Poem" about Christ

Written in 1995.  This is not a rhyming poem, but I didn't know what else to call it, really.

Comely in looks,

Yet strong with many years of hard, physical labor.

His work requires someone with endurance and 

     Patience in every tiny detail

Whether his task be a rocking horse

     or putting up the walls of a house.

He holds his head high

     and he's not afraid to look you in the eye.

One can tell that he is sure of himself.

His very being impresses the image 

     of power on my mind.

His power is gentle-

     born of His love for me.

In His eyes all are equal.

     No one has to pass judgement.

He accepts anyone who will give up 

     their sins and come to Him.

Not once does He think of Himself

     or what others will give in return.

He wants everyone to feel of His love,

     To find comfort in the warmth of His touch.

He wants to help us become the best we can be.

     He knows that each one of us is 

Unique and has a special gift to share.

To be in His very presence

     Can calm a troubled heart.

At the touch of His gentle hands

      A child lives.

At the sound of His voice

     The stormy sea is calmed.

People gather around Him-

     Longing to hear what He has to say,

          Wanting His acceptance.

He leads the way as He reaches out

     to those outside of the circle of followers.

He opens a door and lets them 

     Come unto Him.

He teaches of love, peace,

     Understanding, compassion, and mercy.

There is wisdom, knowledge and light in His eyes.

As He speaks not one person can doubt

     that He knows His mission in life,

And the purpose of man on this earth.

*       *       *       *         *       *      *     *      *    *

I pushed my way through the crowd-

     Wanting with all of my heart to

Be close enough to touch Him.

Soon I was before Him

     and my eyes met His.

He seemed to be searching my soul...

     Asking my heart if it believed?

Do I have the faith that He can give me

     the strength I need to make it through this life?

Do I believe His teachings?

     Will I follow Him?

     The Creator of all,

Man's Savior and Redeemer,

     Him who rules a kingdom above,

The Judge of all who will enter heaven-

     With the humility of a beggar

He asks me to accept Him and His message.

Can I doubt His power?

     Or the love that He has for me?

Tears came to my eyes as I answered his unasked question:

     "Yes, Lord.  I believe and willingly will I follow Thee."

How could I deny Him?

     Such love, devotion and compassion!

A love like that I've never known.

     I trust Him and know that He will not lead me astray.

Through my tears and sorrowing heart,

     I can hear His soft voice

beckoning me to look beyond my trouble,

     Helping me to rise up out of despair.

In the mist of confusion and

     the darkness surrounding me,

Slowly pressing me to my knees with it's weight-

     I know that only my faith 

          can bring His healing touch.

As I call out to Him-

     Through the darkness His hand will come to help me up.

His grip is firm, comforting and gentle.

     He will lead me,

           Gently pulling me back into the light.