WhAt iS LoVE?

Love's been on my mind lately for some reason. I keep getting thoughts of, "When you really truly love someone, what does it entail? Do I show it, or do I think I'm showing it?" etc.

The past few weeks, almost everything I've listened to or read seems to have some message about love that enlightens my mind. For example, this morning I was reading the scriptures and flipped open randomly to 1 John 4. 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Made me think. I'm always afraid to hurt David's feelings or afraid to offend someone or the other. And the same goes for David and just about everyone else, too, I'm sure. Here are my thoughts on the verse:

Fear scares us and keeps us from doing good.

We can't ever make someone offended at us. THEY choose to take offense.

Love includes chastening and correction. They help us to be the best we can be.

>>Consider this, we're all making cakes. You forget to put the eggs in it. I notice, but don't tell you because I don't want to hurt your feelings or make you feel dumb. Your cake turns out horrible and flat and you wonder why. I then tell you that I noticed you forgot the eggs as you were making it, but didn't want to tell you for fear of hurting or offending you. How much would you trust me after that? Because I didn't tell you, you feel more dumb and hurt than if I would have, not to mention that you now don't have any cake to enjoy.

Compare this to life. Anything in life. When someone is making a mistake or missing something vital and we know a better way, or have experienced it before, or whatever the case may be, and we don't try to help them, we are limiting them and not really showing them that we love them. In the end, when they find out that you knew better and didn't try to help them they will feel hurt, confused at the least, and lose trust in you.

How much better could we all be if we were honest and helped each other, even if we knew it would cause a little pain along the way?

The people we trust and care about the most are usually the people that were honest with us, there for us, and cared enough to help us. Are they not?

Obviously, I'm still not "perfect in love" - probably won't be for a long time - but I'll definitely try harder to be.

MoVe iT

So we're movin next weekend! Nice place, eh? $495 a month for 2 bed, 1 bath basement apartment and an extra storage room with our own washer and dryer! Aren't we just so lucky? Oh yes!

We'd been stressing about finding a newer nicer place with cleaner air vents and carpet as opposed to a house built in 1940 with disgusting air vents that are constantly clogging up our noses (including the baby's) and wood floors that give you splinters.

While sitting with the new landlord to sign the contract for this place, we mentioned that we were surprised that the place wasn't snatched up by someone else first. She then said that she believes the place was meant for us. She told us the following:

The last guy got kicked out of the place in November because he was living in filth (trash all over the floors and never cleaned). December they cleaned the place, and all of January and February they had the For Rent sign up, but everyone who called about it wanted to rent the entire house, not the basement. They finally decided to get a more obvious sign saying BASEMENT FOR RENT and put it up the following Monday. Within a few hours we drove by it and called, and the rest is history!

Talking to David afterwards about it, it turns out we were both fasting and praying for a place at the same time. Prayer works. Fasting and prayer REALLY work. We were also able to find a washer and dryer quickly and for cheap ($25 each) by the same means.

Now all we need is a vacuum, broom, and queen size bed frame...

EveRyOnE's HaD a TuRn

Well, as of last night, everyone in our little family has had a turn in the hospital in the past three weeks. Dec 3 - me having the baby. Dec 6 - David Jr. getting a billirubin test for jaundice, and Dec. 20 - David Sr. checking into the emergency room.

He'd been having sharp pains in his lower right abdomen near his appendix all day Saturday and they still weren't gone Sunday so he called our home teacher for a blessing. He told us not to hesitate going to the hospital because if it is the appendix it could be life threatening. Hence, we took him to the emergency room since it's the only place in the hospital open on Sunday.

They drew blood, which David doesn't do well with - he almost passed out and broke into a cold sweat - so they put him on an IV of fluids for an hour. They gave him a cat scan as well.

Turns out he has an inflamed small intestine due to virus so all they could do was send him home with Lortab and a list of instructions. At least it wasn't appendicitis! It'll be interesting to see the bill when it comes. I'm not sure much of it'll be covered...

BUT for some reason David's financial aid was increased $800 for this coming semester... The

Lord is definitely watching over us ~

Final Decision

After reviewing our accounts just barely we've noticed that we're barely even going to be able to make rent this month... and David is working Christmas Eve as well. We're definitely not going to be able to make it to Salt Lake for Christmas - We're so sorry!

What's HAPnin

Baby's doin great - I'm doin great! Christmas is coming - both of our birthdays are past and went well - we're having fun with visitors, etc! Still up in the air about whether we'll go up to Salt Lake for Christmas, but we're leaning pretty far to the probably not side... LOng drive for a new baby and healing mom, lots of stress, lots of people, possibly uncomfortable sleeping areas, more possibility of sickness, lack of funding for gas, lots of packing... but it would be great to see family and let them see the little man. Choices choices...

ANyway - here are more picture updates

Gettin ready for Christmas!
We love to sleep!!!

Mavanee in from Book of Mormon and Sermons on the Atonement class made us this blanket

Our favorite most bestest Christmas present!

Dad's so proud of his mini him :)

He just loves to lift his head up and stare - looks like he's having a conversation with me - except for the huge thing in his mouth, ha ha.

Dad's a good Daddy! He changes diapers and everything!!!

Grandma talks so much to the baby - he's getting really good at staring and listening, ha ha.

David gave me the movie Up for my birthday! YAY!! I lOVe it!! He kept telling me I had already seen my present in plain sight, etc... we watched the Jackson's copy a few times before. What a dork, ha ha. Look at him knowing he's just so funny!

PiCtuReS WoRtH a ThoUSaNd WoRdS...

This the story of how we came to be three ...


Mom got some pain and then baby came out.


Baby was so cute and had a healthy strong cry -

Then mom and dad made phone calls and were tired and happy!

Daddy was so excited and wanted to play with baby but baby took a raincheck till he was old enough to smile (Dad's still waiting and trying to play).

Mom loves to cuddle selfishly with baby!

Baby has a nice bump on his head from posteriorness... and he makes a dang cute naked baby!

Dad and baby are often caught in their favorite father-son bonding activity - sleep

Baby got tortured again by the hospital on Sunday for a Billirubin count. But this time was worth it - never again shall they poke you for that my son! Never again.


Daddy found a way to have fun with baby! Burping!!!!

As each day comes to a close,

It's almost as if he knows...

Someday he'll be quite the heartbreaker.

OuR MiRaCLe

Well, it happened! Wednesday I had irregular contractions ALL day - Sheila Bealer was with me half of the day, the wonderful soul! We went to the hospital at midnight when the contractions became more regular, but all that had happened was more dilation of the cervix. So - we went home.

Lying down trying to sleep I started getting them every 2-4 minutes apart again and WAY more painful so we went to the hospital again where Dr. Gray's wife, Tami, met us to help. In that hour I dilated to a... 2+ or 3+? But they decided to keep me and I walked around, etc., - the rest became kind of a blur. I'd have pain, then fall asleep and wake up to another contraction somehow. I have no idea how I slept so much...but it was a sure blessing! There's no way I would have had the energy to make it if I didn't.

Anyway, the baby was born at 6:32 PM - that was amazing & crazy! Such a sacred experience - David cried more than I did of course - he loves his little man so much. Not that I don't, I'm just not usually much of a cryer. I was in shock, ha ha.

David's parents drove down as soon as they were told I was in the hospital in labor. My mom was pretty concerned we wouldn't have the help we needed, so that helped a ton! David's oldest sister, Mandee, and her husband and kids came down Saturday to visit and bring more gifts, then my Grandma, & Grandpa Henderson and Candace showed up unexpectedly with gifts and well wishes. They drove down just for that and headed straight back. That was awesome -

Anyway, we're enjoying our time with our little one - David says he looks more and more like me every day. Ha ha, Shalae's baby has the same blessing. ;) We had to claim our babies somehow!

- Jr's telling me I really need to go to bed... So ...goodnight!