The Beauty of the Lights

Tonight I was driving home from school as my car was heating up. Just this morning I had finally pulled my winter coat out, and I was feeling grateful that I had! Still, it was pretty cold in my car. Ever since I got back from the South I can't handle the cold! I used to love winter and the cold, and snow, and everything that comes with it. Now, not so much. My Dad makes fun of me for wearing sweaters in the summer and cuddling with my blanket while the front door is open and the AC and fans are going. As I was driving I was thinking about all of this, and how I wouldn't mind the cold so much if there was something to show for it-like a foot of white fluffy snow. But alas, it's just plain old cold with not even a hint of snow. I was just starting to think about how unpleasant all of this is as I turned into my neighborhood, then I saw something that made my heart jump and smile: Christmas lights. A number of houses in my neighborhood are all aglow in their Christmas splendor, which is something that makes my heart smile. I am a sucker for Christmas lights. I love them on everything! They bring feelings of warmth, laughter, belonging, and love. Mainly, they remind me of my Savior, the reason we celebrate Christmas. He truly is the Light of the World, and the lights on our houses this time of year reminds us of the Light. These lights can be guiding, leading us home and to the things that matter most to us. The Light calls to us out of the darkness and beckons us to come in and be filled. I am so in love with Christmas lights, and I very much love my Light. He is the reason I am found, over and over again. Whenever I lose my way, He is there to guide me back. I am thankful for the reminders that I have of my Savior, and the love that He has for me.

Priesthood

Today I am thankful for the power of the priesthood. My nephew, Cole, was given a name and a blessing at church today by men who hold the holy priesthood. These men can trace their priesthood back to Jesus Christ Himself, not some guy who got a piece of paper saying that he holds the priesthood. The priesthood id a divine gift in my life. I have been the recipient of many blessings in my life, from various priesthood holders. These men have been worthy to act in the office of their priesthood when I needed it. I am thankful for the role that the priesthood plays in my life, and for way it shapes the men in my life into who they truly are-sons of the Most High God. The priesthood is a special gift, but it is one that I don't think about every day. I am grateful for those moments that allow me to step back and see just how encompassing this gift is in my life.

Sam-I-Am

Three years ago today I was in Starkville, MS. It was transfer day in our mission, and I had picked up my new companion, Jessica Mellor, earlier that day. Just as I crawled into bed our phone dinged, and I picked it up to see who was trying to get in touch with us so late at night. I saw a Birmingham number that I immediately recognized, and I anxiously opened the text message to see what it said: "Congratulations! You're an aunt!" I couldn't hep the huge grin that came to my face, and I timidly said, "Sister Mellor...I'm an aunt!" And that is how I found out that my first nephew, Sam, had finally come into the world. I couldn't imagine that day how much one little brown-eyed, blonde-haired boy would change my life.
 I met Sam for the first time about three months later. It was so amazing to see him there, all bundled up in his carseat. Even though he was sleeping Nic took him out of the carseat so that I could hold him. From that moment on my heart was his, and I was wrapped around his finger. We have been best buds ever since. I've been blessed to be able to spend a lot of time at his house and be a part of his life. I'm even almost as good as Mommy, sometimes!
 I love the way Sam calls my name, Nanny, whenever he sees me. He is always so full of love and joy, and will come running from wherever to give you a big hug. Sam has always been very cuddly, and I remember the first kiss he gave me. He was standing on my lap and I had been kissing him. Suddenly he leaned forward and gave me the best open-mouthed, drooly baby kiss ever! I was surprised and laughed, which scared him a little, so I gave him another kiss to let him know it was ok. Since then he has become quite the kisser! He lives to give love, and I love it. Sam is so friendly, and inquisitive. I love when he asks questions. He even tells you, "Nanny, I got a question." I love the way that Sam sings, and makes up his own songs from time to time. Sam loves music in all of its forms, and he likes to play his instruments for you. Sam is also very brave! He loves to feed the chickens with Grandpa, something that used to scare me! Sam is also quite the cuddle-bug. When the boys come to G-ville Sam and I get to share a bed. Who knew that one little boy could take up so much space?! Sam loves to take "one toy" to bed, and he uses the term "toy" very loosely. For a while he used to take this metal Christmas tree with bells for ornaments (which he calls his jingle bells) to bed with us. It was so noisy, but he had to have it right there next to him. I lost track of how many times I've had to quietly pry that jingling tree out of his arms, but I love it! This little quirk had led to some fun times as I've made my bed: I find blocks, trucks, sparlky snowflake ornaments, and other random tidbits that make their way as a "toy." I smile each time I find these random toys!
 My heart forever belongs to this little man, and I am grateful for him everyday of my life. When I've had a bad week the only thing I that gets me through is knowing that on Friday I will get a big Sam hug the moment I walk in the door. Quick story, on Thanksgiving I was giving the boys hugs before they had to leave. When I hugged Sam he said, "I see you on Friday!" He knows that Friday is the day Nanny comes to stay for the weekend. Thank you, Sam, for being the first little boy to make me a Nanny!

Our first meeting

Bama Gear!

St. George Temple '11

We be stylin'!

Front-yard Picasso

I love his face!

Jason and Felicia's Wedding

"Nan, you keep me warm and safe and sound?" This is what he said when I got him out of the bath tonight.

Today is Sam turned the big 3!

Marko-Polo

(Nov. 23)
Fifteen months ago today a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy came into my life. I remember waiting at my sister's house with Sam, anxious to hear the news of the newest arrival in our family. Finally, in the evening, the news came that he was here. Sam and I jumped in the car and headed to the hospital. I remember how nervous I was to meet him! This was my first experience meeting a newborn in my family (I was on my mission when Sam was born) and I wanted to make a good impression on this new little guy. The first time I held him, he stole my heart. Sweet little Mark Emmitt Clay came into my life and into my heart.
 A post about my Marko-Polo has to include what he has taught me, which includes talking about some things that are still hard to talk about over a year later. A few days after Mark came home from the hospital he started having seizures and ended up at Primary Children's Hospital. The fear that entered my heart that Sunday afternoon when my Mom woke me up to tell me that he had been taken to the hospital was paralyzing. Somehow I managed to keep it together enough to drive into the hospital with my parents. Waiting there and not knowing what was going on was so hard. I've never prayed so much in my life as I did in those hours, and days that followed. We learned that Mark had bleeding in the ventricles in his brain, which was causing him to have seizures. It took a few days for the doctors to get the seizures under control, and all-in-all Mark ended up staying at the hospital for 13 days. This was a crazy time in our lives. Early on we didn't know what was going to happen, or if Mark would make it. That is really hard to say. It was really scary. For what seemed like forever, we weren't even allowed to touch him, let alone hold him. Mark is strong, and between his strong willpower to live and the expert medical attention, he made it through.
 Just a couple of months later we found out that as a result of Mark's bleeding that he would need to get a shunt (a device that drains excess fluid from his brain to his abdomen) because the swelling wasn't going down on it's own. Still, Mark was so strong! The doctor told my sister that the head scan and the happy, smiling baby in front of him didn't exactly add up because that much pressure should have been making him pretty miserable. Mark had his surgery, and came out of it just as happy. Since then he has continued to be our happy boy. Unless you happen to run your hand over his head and feel the bump, you would never know that Mark had gone through all of this.
I mention all of this because of what it taught me: faith, the power of prayer, trust, and love. All of these things were increased in my life as a result of "Miracle Mark" and his teaching experience for all of us. I love Mark more than words can express. I loved his beach-bum blonde curls (until they got cut off), his deep blue eyes, his Chunky-Monkey days, his Mater-tooth smile, his sweet laugh, his love for clapping, his speed crawling, his humming when he reads, his willingness to share his food, his mischievous looks, and his hugs. Mark gives excellent hugs, and they are completely his own style. When Mark wants to give you love he'll place his head on your shoulder, face out, and pat your arm a couple of times. He'll lift his head up, look at you, then do it again, and repeat until he feels that there has been enough hugging. I live for those hugs! He says "Nan Nan" on occasion, and gets the biggest smile on his face when he sees me. I am thankful for the opportunity to be his Nanny, and to continually learn from him. I love my Marko-Polo!

Our First Meeting

You got the camera out again. Great.

Like my guns?

The Look

Smilin for the ladies

Birthday party!

What are those things flying over our heads?

This is the mischievous look

My List

(Thanksgiving Day)

Today I am thankful for the Thanksgiving Holiday itself. What a great opportunity we have each year to really concentrate our thanks, and pause to remember what exactly it is that we're thankful for. For me, at this time of year with the big push to give thanks, I start to feel like I am ungrateful the rest of the year. That just isn't true. Though not perfect, I try to be a grateful person all year long. I am one truly blessed girl, I know that. For me, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to focus some of the "smaller" blessings that I have been given, along with the "big."
On this Thanksgiving Day, here is a small list of what I am thankful for:
Dad
Mom
Jolene
Jason
Nic
Felicia
Sam
Mark
Cole
Baby Mair
Tinkerbelle
Sanders
Ruger
Molly
Gus
Cocoa
Stubby
Chickens
Faux-fireplaces
Warm beds
long weekends
WONDERFUL friends-too many to list, but they play such a HUGE role in my life!
School
Work
Milk
Teaching experiences
Socks
Sweaters
Journals
Scriptures
Scripture Study Journals
My testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
My mission and all of the memories
Music
Modern Technology
Max, my car
Friendly people
My home
Washers and dryers
And the list goes on...

At work various classes have been learning about the first Thanksgiving, and the history of Thanksgiving in our country. I am proud to live in a country that has decided to set aside a day to just say "thanks" and acknowledge what we have. My biggest thanks goes to my Father in Heaven. Without Him, there would be nothing to give thanks for. I know that He is the Source of all that I have and all that I am blessed with. Because of Him my heart has reason to rejoice and give thanks all year round.

Black Wednesday

I did some black Wednesday shopping tonight. I wasn't looking for good deals, just a good present. Did you know that it is next to impossible to find dress clothes for little boys? That's another story for another day, so back to the purpose of this post. It can be discouraging when you go to store after store, and none of them have what you're looking for. You finally settle on something to buy, and the cashier barely  makes eye contact with you, and the only words spoken are your total. True, I don't know what reasons she had for being unfriendly, so I won't hold it against her. But there was one cashier who did her best to be friendly: the cashier at Target. She initiated a conversation, and commiserated with me over the fact that you can't find dress clothes for little boys. She was so friendly and nice. I realize it's Thanksgiving Eve and she, like the other cashier, had places that she would rather be, but she did her best to make the place where she was the place she wanted to be, and it made for a better experience for me, and probably for other customers as well. Tonight I am thankful for the nice Target cashier, and for nice people all over. You know the ones: those who smile at you like you're BFF, but you've never seen them before, those who initiate conversations in random public places, the stranger who holds a door for you or picks up something you dropped, and a million other small things that happy people do that make the world a better place. I don't do it all the time, but I try to be one of those random happy people. It's fun to see the random reactions you get from people who weren't expecting happy. I love it! Thank you to the happy people of the world for giving us all something to smile about!

Sister Dates

Today I am thankful for my sister in law, Felicia. She and Jason started dating while I was on my mission, so in the airport when I got home was the first time I met her. I wasn't sure what to say to her, so I just gave her a big hug. She has been one of my best friends ever since. We like to go on "sister dates" where we generally eat pizza and do something fun: try new candy stores, bake, watch movies...it's always a good time! I love that she has so willingly accepted me as a sister and friend. I love when she and Jason come over to the house and I get to spend time with her. Felicia is such a fun person to be around. We love some of the same movies and music. I know that she genuinely cares about me, which I really appreciate. I am very lucky that my brother chose to make her my sister forever! I'm also very excited that in the spring she'll be making me a Nanny, again! Hooray for babies!