5.28.2008

My Thoughts

So, my friend Lacey recently posted on her blog the truths she has learned over the past year and it really got me thinking about what I hold dear to my heart. My life has changed dramatically in the past year and I think that now is the perfect time to document my thoughts and feelings. So I am taking a page from her book and writing down a few of the truths I have learned this year that make me who I am:

- I finally believe the quote "Happiness is not found in the destination, but in the journey." I have everything I could ever want in life and every day is an adventure I can't wait to take.
- There is no better thing for your marriage than to move far away from home. When you only have each other to rely on, you can only grow closer.
- On the other hand, moving away from family is the hardest thing in the world! But I guess it makes you love and value them that much more.
- I never knew I could be so happy sitting at home every day. Being a stay-at-home mom is the greatest blessing in the world.
- My religion is who I am - not just a part or a measure of me.
- Take time everyday to be a child again and have fun. This seems so simple, but the happiest moments of my life lately have been spent rolling around on the floor with Hayden acting like a child again. Life is too short for stuffiness.
- Also, take time every day to be creative. It is up to us to make the world a more beautiful and revolutionary place.
- Friendship is lasting. No matter how far away we move or how much we change, as Woodrow Wilson said, "it is the only cement that will ever hold the world together."
- Being a mother is unlike anything I could have ever imagined. It (along with marriage) is the most wonderful adventure I will ever take, but also the most challenging. Midnight feedings and early wake up calls have definitely tried my patience, but seeing Hayden smile is the most rewarding thing in the entire world. I would give my everything to make him happy.
- While becoming a mom changes you forever, you can't loose yourself in it. As Elder M. Russell Ballard said in the last conference, "Find some time for yourself to cultivate your talents and interests. Water can not be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children."
- I'm still working on this one, but marriage comes first, then children. I have been struggling lately thinking that I always put Nate on the backburner to Hayden, but Nate is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am who I am because of him.
- Literature is one of the greatest things in the world. I love more than anything to snuggle up on the couch with a good book and get lost in its pages.
- I still haven't outgrown my beauty pagent phase, much to my dad's chagrin! Not that I want to be in another one or anything, but I totally DVR'd Miss America this year and loved every minute of watching it.
- Life is too short to spend time comparing yourself to others. If you are always trying to "keep up with the Jones'" you will never be truly happy. This is one of the greatest blessings about living in Missouri. It seems like Utah is so fashion conscious and every time I visit I feel so out of style and frumpy, but here, I don't feel like that. That is especially nice because we are so poor!
- I need to find more opportunities to use the talents I have been blessed with. I can't remember the last time I sang in public and that used to be one of the things that defined who I was!
-And finally, Live in the now. You can't wait until you are out of school or have more money or are back home to start living. If you do, your life will be over before you even start living it!

I am in such a good place in my life right now. I have an amazing husband and a beautiful little boy who are the center of my world! I'm so excited to see what life has in store for us over the next few years and we are so lucky to be blessed so abundantly. Life is good!

On another note - Here is what we have been up to over the past month. I have been a serious blog and picture slacker, so you would think nothing has been going on in our lives, but really we have been pretty busy! Nate has been incredibly busy with school, work, and now church, so I have felt like a single mom lately! But, we did have a nice break between his two semesters and went home to Idaho to visit Nate's parents for the week. We didn't plan it this way, but we hit Mother's Day, his little sister Sadie's SOS performance, her track meet, and her dance recital all in the same week. It was so fun to spend time with them and we definetely got spoiled - Hayden especially! Mimi (Nate's mom) is such an amazing grandma and she loves her grandkids! Papa (Nate's dad) also saved us on a few occations! He has the magic touch in rocking Hayden to sleep!

Nate also surprised me a few months ago with amazing tickets to Wicked, and the performance was last Saturday. It was amazing - it totally lived up to all the hype. I have been listening to the soundtrack for years now, so it was fun to finally put the show with the songs. We loved it! It was also the first time I have left Hayden with anyone other than family, so I was a bit of a worry wart on the drive to the Music Hall, but once the show started, I was able to relax and enjoy myself. Thanks Amy and Ryan for watching him!


We also have a lot of fun things planned for this coming week. We are excited for our stake conference this coming Sunday where we will be visited by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! It will be so exciting to have an apostle of the Lord in our midst! Then on Wednesday, my parents are coming out to visit and I can't wait. This will be my Dad's first trip here, so we are going to do the whole church history thing and go to Nauvoo for the weekend. It should be fun. Here are just a few cute pictures of Hayden that we took recently:

Hayden in his darling new PJ's from Mimi. It is definetely getting hot and humid here so shorts and short sleaves are a must!


Gross! That can't be sanitary! Hayden't new favorite activity is definetely swinging. The playground at the townhomes is right in our backyard, so we generally go out and swing a few times a day. It is a great escape for the bordom!

Hayden giving "loveys" to daddy.

Also, our newest investment - a new highchair for Hayden! He is so cute in it, but I swear he grew up overnight! He loves the little fruit and vege puffs and will shove as many of them in his mouth as he can. He is doing really well eating like a big boy and is such a smooch!

And last but not least, Nate gave Hayden a bite of his otter pop and and he went crazy for it! Now everytime Nate is eating one, Hayden eye balls it and cries until he gets a taste. I guess it's a good thing he'll have a dentist for a dad, right!

Well - if you made it through this incredibly long blog entry, I give you props! We are doing great and miss you all!

13 comments:

kenna said...

Very well said Kate. I think Lacey got it right, doing something like this every year. Perhaps we need to realize what we have accomplished and how we have grown, right? I think that is the only way we can truly progress. Beautiful thoughts.

As for that little of yours eating the swing, well, my microbiology teacher in college said it's good for them. I cringed, as I am quite OCD about cleanliness, but little Hayden is getting lots of anti-bodies. Those are good.

Kate you never cease to amazing me.

kenna said...

Ha, pardon my grammer.

'Amaze me' is what I was shooting at.

Holly & Kasey said...

You couldn't have said it better!! Hayden is a doll!!

Tiff and Dave said...

So cute Kate, and so many things to be grateful for! I have been anxiously awating an update, so I was excited when I checked today. Hayden is getting so big, and I know what you mean about them growing up way too fast! Halle LOVES the puffs and would eat them all day if I would let her! She definitely enjoys finger food over baby food! I can't wait to see you guys again and to get the kids together. We miss you and love you!

The Wehrmeister's said...

I'm glad you had a great trip, and It sounds like you've learned a lot this year. You are such a cute mother and we always look forward to seeing Hayden out on those swings. He really seems to love them.

Brad.Lindsey.Lexi.Rowen said...

Hayden is so adorable and he is growing so fast! I'm with you, enjoy these moments you will never get them back. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. It is one of my (our) greatest blessings. You are quite the writer and I really enjoyed reading this post. Thanks!

the-olson-clan said...

I loved your thoughts about your last year! What a good idea. It's great to sit down and write it all out so we don't forget! I laughed about the otter-pop thing, Tessa does the exact same thing!! Hayden is getting so big and he is so adorable!!

Camille said...

What a great post- it sounds like you have a pretty good thing going. And Wicked tickets too? I'd say you are a lucky girl!

emily and adrian said...

Great entry Kate! I'm glad you like the midwest. SO many people come here and complain the whole four or five years...drives me nuts!
I LOVE your high chair. I want to come over and check it out.
It was nice to see your beautiful face out in the audience tonight at Stake Conf.
Lastly, I had a feeling you did pagents! You have this great walk that only pretty pagent girls have. I love it! I was telling someone the other day about how you are a southern belle and you don't even know it. My Mamow would ADORE you!!! Anyway, you are good people Kate. I'm glad to know you! Love the blog!

The McClellan Family said...

Hi Kate,
you don't know me but I went to school with Nate. I saw him in Rigby when you were visiting and he mentioned he'd help with a class reunion. I started a blog for it and was hoping he could let everyone he keeps in contact with know about it. the blog is rhs2001.blogspot.com. the email is rhs2001@gmail.com
thanks,
Jorelle McClellan

Womack Family said...

Hello Kate, My name is Erin Womack. I thought that I'd introduce myself since I doubt that Nate is the blogger in the family. I went to Rigby High with Nate. I just wanted to say Hello. You two have a very handsome son. Congrats. I enjoyed looking at your blog. Well yea, tell Nate that Erin says Hello. Thanks.

Sherry said...

I fully feel the same way about Utah and fashion. There's less stress when I go into the city to find the right outfit than there is to go to Salem.
Your boy is really cute. I'm glad you're enjoying life.

Shawna said...

hi, this is your cousin Curt, it is great to see you and your family. Hayden is a cute kid. We'll have to get your email so we can invite you to our blog.