F2TF 5K

In August my Aunt Becky worked really hard  with the Anything for a Friend orgainization to get a 5k  put together. It was a 5k to help honor and support loved ones who have passed on from cancer or are currently battling it. She made a team for my dad. Team Ralph, for those who don't know my dad had been diagnosed with Kidney cancer in the fall of 2011 and has recently passed away from it about a month ago.

A few days before he passed the 5k happened and it was a fun if not emotional experience. It started off with a beautiful morning. ( don't mind the bug guts in the picture it still is pretty).

The race was on the Weber state campus home sweet home for me and most of my siblings. It was so cool to see all the people. Each team had a different color of t-shirt so it was easy to see who was on your team. Before the race we had a balloon launch  and that was really cool. All the colors and love that floated up to heaven. 

All of us kids after the race. Justin and I actually just did the one mile walk. It's still a bit painful to run and be nursing a baby. But Bryan and Cali ran the whole thing and they did great!

So many people there! It wasan awesome support and great energy. Races have a great energy allready and to add all the love and support made it truely an inspirational event. 

A few days later my dad passed away. He had tumors around his throat and they started to bleed filling his lungs with blood and fluid. I was blessed to be with him his last day and help suction him and give him one more big hug. I know he loved me and he knows that I love him.

The theme of the race is Fight To The Finish. My dad certiantly did that. He never complained, even though he was in a lot of pain. He was always concerned about those around him in his last days. I miss him but I know that he is not in pain anymore and that he is still with me. Often times when feeding Grace or putting her down for a nap she just stares at the ceiling and the other day she was laughing and smiling at the ceiling as if someone was making faces at her. I had been thinking of my dad and was pretty sure he was playing with her. 

May we all Fight To The Finish in all our daily trials whether it be health, finances, relationships or work. We have the best cheerleader, support and love in our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ who are just waiting for us to come to them for their help. I know that families can be together forever and that I WILL see my dad again and that will be a happy day.

Baby Butler Baby Shower

In early August we threw a baby shower for Justin's sister Jyana who is going to have a baby girl in October. It was fun to help with the decorations and to get everything ready. Justin's family is getting pro at throwing together a baby shower . By the time his youngest sister has a baby it will be nothing.

We are so excited to have a Messenger/Butler cousin and so close together! I hope that they will have great memories of playing together. I have a cousin on my mom's side and we are only a few months apart and growing up we were the best of friends. He still has a special place in my heart even though we are both adults and busy with our own lives.

Anyways...Justin's Aunt Maria was able to come and she makes great diaper creations that are not only beautiful but functional. With all the diapers she used on the cakes for my baby shower I didn't have to buy diaper for about two months!

I wish I could take credit for this cake but alas I just paid the creator. A gal that I visit teach loves to do cake/cupcake decorations so I asked her to make some cupcakes and a baby cake. Isn't it adorable? It was very tasty as well. If you need a fun and yummy cake in the davis county area use her! She is great. 

I forgot to take a pictures of the beautiful mom to be. But lets be real who really wants to take pictures when they are pregnant. I know I wasn't supre jazzed about it just did it for the docmentation. But she is looking great. So far Jyana has been doing really well and I am glad. I hope that all goes for her during labor. It's kind of hard to prepare for something you've never done but she is very prepared and ready. Now she has only weeks! We are excited. Our little Grace has brought so much love and joy into our lives that I am happy for Jyana and her little family to experience that as well. We love babies! 

Book of Mormon Challenge

So at the beginning of the summer I was wanting to do something to improve myself and help me feel more  like I was pre-baby in body, mind and spirit. So I decided to have no sugar for the month of June and found a summer Book of Mormon reading challenge. Perfect I thought! I can do that and it's all laid out for me. So since June first I have been reading the Book of Mormon. I try to read everyday but sometimes I don't quite make it. Due to reading it on a more daily basis I have felt the power of this book in my life. On days when it seems like I will get nothing done if I can take a few minutes to read and ponder I feel calm and peace. On days when the world just seems to pound on me from all angles I can find solace and comfort in the words of the Book of Mormon. On days when I just don't want to try anymore I am reminded of my eternal goals and why I am here.

I am not yet done with the book yet I have one more month to go but it has brought me closer to my Savior Jesus Christ. In the next few days I should be at one of the most important parts in the book. When Jesus came to visit the Americas after he had died and was risen.

At the end Moroni issues a challenge to pray to see if the book is true. I have done that challenge in previous times and have received my answer as yes! Every time I read it again my testimony and the truthfulness of this book are amplified.

I know that this book is true. I know that it testifies of Jesus Christ and his teachings. I know that by reading this book it will bring comfort, peace, love and blessings into your life.

If you would like a copy of the Book of Mormon please let me know and I'd be happy to send you one. If you'd like to learn more about it watch the video below or go to. http://mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon

What do you do in the summer time?

OH what do you do in the summer time? We've been trying to have more fun and do some more activites this summer. We had a fun get together with family for the 4th of July and my sister and her family came to visit soon after. Some other things we've been up to are....Justin tried to donate blood for the first time. Got a bit lightheaded and dizzy. Didn't quite fill the bag but got an awesome battle wound for it. The sad thing is he has great veins so I don't know what happened I wasn't there.

We had play time with all the Stoddard cousins and tried to get a picture of the 3G network. Gabriel, Graham and Grace. Yeah it's kind of hard to get a baby and two toddlers to all look at you for a picture. I love all of these pictures though but especially the second one where Graham is holding Grace's hand and she's about to pat his arm. Graham is alwas trying to hold her hand, Cousin crush already! 

We have fun taking goofy pictures. I have been feeling pretty good at work lately. I had to place an IV on a lady that I thought I wouldn't get. I could feel her vein and it was good but I couldn't get a feel further up her arm due to excess tissue. So I just went where I saw and said a little prayer and it worked! I had to draw blood off of it so I ended up making a big mess but I was super proud of that one. Since I've come back from maternity leave I've almost done an IV a week! It is SUCH a confidence booster to have them work and get it on my first try. I was a little worried that if I ever got into the hospital that my IV skills would be non-existant but nope. At least for now. I have almost been at my current for a year amd it's been great. I sometimes miss my little pts and the alone time I had doing graveyards but I know that it was a blessing to be able to get my current job and become pregnant when I did. It just all worked out perfectly. 

We love to hang out with cousins and Grandma Rain. We get to see my mom and dad once a week when they come and watch Grace. It's fun to see them and to be able to watch them interact. 

We like to paint cute little toes for fun in the sun. 

For the 24th we went to the Taste of the Town in Layton. There are a bunch of food vendors with samples and you buy tickets and then take your tickets in exchange for food. It was fun we had never gone before so it was an Adventure. We ran into Kurtis and Hailey some friends of ours. It was kind of funny because a few days before we had them over and Justin's friend David for dinner and games. 

And as always enjoy a Beautiful sunset. 

5 months!

On Saturday little Gracie pie was 5 months old! I can hardly believe it, then she'll be six months then a year and where did my baby go? I was moaning about that to Justin and he just said to me, "She's not there  yet." He is a good voice of reason for me at times. =)

She just gets more and more fun. She is a very happy smiliy, baby and everyone keeps commenting on her blue blue eyes. I look at them then look at mine, then look at Justin's and they aren't like either of ours so I guess it's just a great mix.

She rolled over of her own movement the other day and was totally taken by surprise. Instead of rolling over she likes to scoot around in circles. One day she was moving so I decided to document it. So disclaimer I didn't pose her into any of these just took pictures as an innocent bystander.

Starting out. 

Almost to the other side. 

Made it. 

Coming back around.

This is how she was moving around so much. 

And back to the beginning! 

She is just growing and growing. It's fun to see her discover more around her. We've been struggling with sleeping lately which has been no fun. She'll wake up in the night and cry and cry but not be fully awake. Once she fully awakes she calms for a minute then realizes that she's awake and starts crying again. It's super fun. We've been trying to make a bedtime routine and let her sit it out for a few minutes if she's crying. It's worked better. We still have some rough nights but she is napping better in the daytime. =) 

She's getting better at sitting up on her own and can go for quite a while before wobbling to a side. 

She is getting more hair and it's getting longer. This picture cracks me up because her hair looks like a toddler trying to do their own hair all crazy. Cute.

This is her favorite toy when dad takes care of her. the wipes box. But hey it makes a cool noise when you hit it, it has tasty corners. It's got al the right moves. =) 

She got this super cute school girl dress from a Messenger relative sorry not sure who. It was really cute and fun to see her in it. Justin doesn't normally get all excited about her clothes but he loved this one. 

There she is our little baby girl, Gracie pie, stinker, and silly goose. We love her so much and love her slobbery kisses. She can always make me smile. 

Grateful

This past week was a really rough one for me. I was physically tired, emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. Work was hard, baby wouldn't sleep and kept crying, and family stresses added to the mix. Needless to say I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and not knowing how I was going to make it through.

I came home extremely grateful for my handsome husband. I am always grateful for him but he has been especially helpful this past week. Listening when I needed him to, fixing the problems that he could, cheering me up or just hugging me and above all always showing me love, respect and kindness. I love him with all my heart and he makes me a better person. 

He helps me be silly.

He's a great travel companion and even better friend.

He is always up for an adventure.

He helps me reach my goals.

He likes to have fun.

He's a great daddy and he's cute too!

I love him so much for so many other reasons but mostly this week, I love him because he makes marriage fun, home a heaven and family a joy. We are coming up on our three year anniversary and I still feel like we are honeymooners just now with a baby. It has been some of the best times these past few years. 

Justin thank you for taking care of me and Grace and always showing us love.

I belong, I believe

In a new missionary effort challenge from our bishop of our church I am going to be more vocal about my beliefs via social network. So get ready for some fun! =)

I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aka, "The mormon church." I have been blessed to be a part of the church all my life. I officially became a member when I was 8 years old and became baptized. The LDS ( short for Latter-day Saints) church brings true happiness, peace and blessings into my life. I know that it brings me closer to my family, and to my Savior Jesus Christ.

The first and foremost belief in the LDS church is of Jesus Christ. We believe in Him. We believe that he lived, that he died and that he lives again and that we may live again as well. We strive to live our lives the way that he lived his. By giving love, service, compassion and kindness to those we meet. In our church we have what are called articles of faith stating some of our basic beliefs. The first one goes like this: " We believe in God , the Eternal Father and in his Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost." We believe that they are three separate beings that we call the Godhead.

We also believe in Latter-day Prophets. Just as there were prophets in the Bible preaching the word of God we have a prophet to help guide us in the current days. Our current prophet is President of the Church Thomas S. Monson. He is a great man and truly lives a Christlike life. We believe that he has the gift of revelation to let us know what our Father in Heaven wants us to know. One of our more popular prophets was Joseph Smith. He restored the gospel back in 1830 and also translated the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is an aspect that is different from most other churches but is a key part in our beliefs. It is another testament of Jesus Christ and his teachings to the people of the ancient America's . It is a true book and testifies of Christ every time you read it. It was translated from Golden plates by Joseph Smith and for that we are grateful.

The family unit is very important in the LDS church. We believe that we can be with our families forever and so we strive to have a close, and united family.

I'd like to close with my testimony of the teachings of the gospel. I have searched them, prayed and lived them in my life I know that by doing so you can receive peace to your troubled mind, safety from harm, and more love and patience in your life. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet and that he leads and guides our church in this day. I know that the Book Of Mormon is a true book and that by reading it you can be happier. I know that families can be together forever and that we can be able to see our loved ones who have passed on again someday. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

If you have any questions please let me know. I'd be more then happy to answer them. If not or you just want to know more about the LDS church you can go to: www.lds.org and browse around there.


And for getting through all that here's a picture of Grace. She makes it all worth while and makes me want to be a better person.