Let us take the RIGHT way!

Justin and I spoke in church today. I really like speaking in church because it gives me the opportunity to learn more about the gospel and apply it in my life as I prepare to teach others about what I have learned. So, for your reading pleasure, here's my talk!

One thing that you need to know about me is that I am terrible with directions. It’s even worse when I move to a new, unfamiliar place. Since moving here, I have learned to rely heavily on my google maps app. The other day I was trying to get to the church. It wasn’t long before I found myself going around in cirles and the church was nowhere to be seen. I had thought, the church is close enough. I don’t need to plug it in my phone. I know how to get there. But it was obvious after I had passed Browning multiple times that I had no idea where I was going. I had taken the wrong way. So what else do you do in these situations but call your husband who knows the way really well because he’s the one who usually drives us to church. I was on 13^th and 9^th. Justin was a little surprised at how lost I had gotten but he stayed on the phone with me, giving me step by step directions until the church was in sight.

Where are we headed in life? What’s our end destination?

Nephi taught 2 Nephi 31:18

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son , unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hat made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

By being baptized, we have entered the way and we are all headed for Eternal Life. That’s the whole reason that we are here on the earth. We want to return to live with God again.

A desperate Thomas asks the savior, John 14:5

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not wither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus responds John 14:6

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ, our Savior is the way. He came here to be a perfect example and we are to follow him and his ways if we want to have Eternal Life.

It isn’t always easy to stay on the right path. Lehi makes this clear when he shares the account of the tree of life. There will always be great and spacious buildings full of people trying to distract our attention from the Tree of Life, from the Love of God. Fortunately, Heavenly Father did not send us here to earth to walk in darkness with no direction. Much like my google maps app, He has inspired the prophets to record the scriptures as our spiritual maps. They give us direction and show us the right way.

In Lehi’s dream, the people are described as 1 Nephi 8:24 clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

Nephi interpreted the meaning of the rod of iron for his brothers. He said that the rod of iron 1 Nephi 15:24

was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

In my story, I had thought that I knew the way. I thought that I could do it all by myself. I didn’t seek direction from my google maps app. How often do we do that in life? How often do we decide that we don’t need direction. We try to do it alone. When we go our own way, it is easy to get lost.

The scriptures are not the only source of guidance Heavenly Father has given us, we  can also communicate with him directly through prayer. Luke 11:9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

When I was lost, I eventually ended up calling Justin to get directions. He knew where I was and was able to help me get to the church easily. He led me back to the correct path and stayed on the phone with me until the goal was in sight. Heavenly Father wants to give us direction and all we have to do is ask. He will lead us back to the right path if we depart.

There was once a girl who joined the church as a teenager. She loved going to church. It made her feel good and she loved the things she was learning. With time she gained a desire to serve a mission and was called to serve in a place not too far from where she lived. She loved her mission. She loved sharing the gospel with those around her. When it was time to come home, she felt that she had done her best and was excited to continue to apply the things she had learned and taught on her mission. She came home and things went well, for a little while. But eventually, sin led her away from the church. She went to college, she graduated and she even got married. Time passed and a little voice in her head kept tugging at her to go back to church. But she wondered if the sins she had committed were too bad for the atonement to fix, she wondered if God would even accept her back after all she had done wrong. She started reading the scriptures again, she started praying again and those led to her having a desire to return to church. She met with the bishop and began the process of repentance. It was a hard road for her but she knew it would be worth it. She is now an active member of the church and it continues to bless her life.

I know that there is NEVER a point when we are too far gone for the atonement of Jesus Christ to have an effect on our lives. There is yet hope for all of us sinners. Christ told the Nephites: 3 Nephi 9:13

Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted that I may heal you?

Christ stands with open arms, ready to take our burdens and heal our hearts. He loves you. His love is unconditional. It is all encompassing.

Satan would have you believe that there is no hope. He wants to bind you and take you with him to everlasting death. 2 Nephi 10:23

Cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

2 Nephi 25:28

…for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not

I know that God loves His children. I know that he wants us to follow him. I know that he will accept us back with open arms if we repent. We are never too far away to return to His path. 

What am I supposed to eat?

Madelyn has had eczema pretty bad for the past two months (poor baby!) It never seemed to bother her too much until last Sunday. We have an appointment at Primary Children's Pediatric Dermatology for April 22nd - I guess that's how medical specialists go - but when our normally happy, smiley baby woke up crying and scratching and would only stop if she was eating or sleeping we knew we needed to get her some help as soon as possible. So we went in to the after hours clinic at our pediatrician's office and the nurse practitioner was able to help us out.

She gave us some creams and also told us that she thinks Madelyn is allergic to something I'm eating. She said to cut out wheat, dairy, eggs, and citrus and she said there was one other thing she couldn't remember so she left to get the list. In my head I'm thinking what am I going to eat??? Well I can still have oatmeal, fruit- mmmm strawberries... then she comes back with her list and says, "There are actually 9 things." What??? "Wheat, oatmeal, nuts, eggs, dairy, citrus- including tomatoes and strawberries," I can't have strawberries??? "corn, soy...and...chocolate." Then I asked her, "What am I supposed to eat?" her single suggestion was rice. Once the eczema gets better I can start reintroducing the foods into my diet.

So now I'm on the strictest diet I've ever been on in my life, actually the only diet I've ever been on in my life. Let it be known that the only way I am able to do this is 1. I am absolutely in love with my baby girl and I would do ANYTHING to make her feel better and 2. I have said a lot of prayers for strength. I know that as Easter approaches, the church is asking the members what they are able to do because of our Savior. #BecauseOfHim I know I can eat like this and that Madelyn can be healed. It'd day 3 now and Maddy is already looking and feeling better. Her happy, smiley self.

I'm open to yummy meal suggestions, comment below with a recipe or a link to a recipe online. I can have meat, vegetables, fruit, and rice.

My Divine Role

I didn't ever think I would love motherhood his much. I didn't know that I would laugh at all the squeaks and grunts of my baby girl. I didn't know that sometimes I would go to bed at night excited to wake up and feed Madelyn in a few hours. I didn't know that  would love rocking her in the rocking chair while singing 'Give Said the Little Stream' over and over and over. I didn't know that her diaper changes wouldn't gross me out. I didn't know that  I would constantly think about her if I was away. I didn't know that I would be obsessed with taking pictures of her and videos of her. I didn't know that her little personality would be so cute and fun. I didn't know the joy that would come as I watched her grow. I didn't know that her little smiles would melt my heart. I didn't know that I would be so proud of her the first time she rolled over. I just didn't know. 

So with all that unknown why did I want to be a mom? 

Justin and I were married almost 3 years ago. At that time the idea of being a mother scared me to death. I didn't feel ready. I wanted to finish school. I wanted to enjoy my newly married time with Justin. And then Elder Andersen gave a talk in the October 2011 General Conference called Children. It made me feel anxious. The talk prompted me to pray and fast to know God's will for me. I told Him that I would accept His will even though I was nervous about being a mom. And after a few days I received an answer. It wasn't time yet. But my fears were gone. I felt at peace and I was confident that God would help me fulfill my duties as a mother when the time came. 

When the time was right, Madelyn joined our family. I know that God prepared me because I asked Him to. He answers sincere prayers. He wants to help us fulfill our divine roles. There are still many unknowns ahead of me in my path of motherhood but I'm not scared. I trust that Heavenly Father will guide me as I seek His guidance. I am His daughter and so is Madelyn. He is our Father. He won't give up on me. Ever. So I'll keep praying and trusting. I know that He lives and He is aware of all of our individual situations. What a blessing. 

Photo Shoot

When Madelyn was 2 weeks old we took her to get some photos taken. She didn't like it at all. 

We did however manage to get a few of her where she wasn't crying.

I love her little toes in this one!

I can't believe that she is almost 8 weeks old. Time has gone by so fast. Maddy and I have become good friends and I love spending time with her.

Change

2014 has already brought the biggest change of our life.

Her name is Madelyn and we are obsessed with her. 

My sister-in-law asked me the other day to tell her about Maddy and it made me realize how much I already know about her. She likes to stick her tongue out, she has the cutest belly button, she loves to snuggle, she hates tummy time, bath time, and the hiccups, she loves her binky with the heart on it, she smiles after she wakes up and after she eats, she grunts in her sleep, she has lots of hair that sticks straight up no matter what I do, she loves spending time with her grandmas and grandpas, she gets sad when Justin plays the bagpipes, she is a good eater, she likes staring at the clock and the lamp, she falls asleep when she's in the car but wakes up as soon as we stop moving, she has a stong little neck, she is curious about her surroundings, and we think she is adorable, funny, and smart.

I can't believe how much she's changed already. She went from this:

To this:

To this:

All in just 5 short weeks. 

And I know there's more change to be had. 

Another big change in store for our little family is that Justin will be attending the University of Utah's dental school starting in August! We are beyond excited. It all started last winter as he prepared for the DAT, he took it in the summer, submitted his application and then it was the waiting game. He was invited to interview at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, University of Colorado in Denver, Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, and finally at the University of Utah in good ol' Salt Lake City. He was flying all over the place last semester. We found out right before Christmas that Justin was accepted at the U. It has been a long process but we feel very blessed and grateful to be able to stay here in Utah for dental school. 

Change is good.

Elephants

Last year for Christmas I was given this T-Shirt.

I love it. Because obviously the huge elephant face on it is incredible, it is comfy, and it is fashionable (wouldn't you agree?) It is also among the 3-4 of my T-shirts that still fit me with my growing belly. 

The other day I was wearing my T-shirt and I told Justin that I like wearing it while I'm pregnant because sometimes I feel like an elephant. And his response has brought me to laughs multiple times : "Well Cami, at least you don't have to be pregnant as long as an elephant." He is so right. At least I only have to be pregnant for 9 months. Did you know that elephants have to be pregnant for 22 MONTHS????? That's almost 2 years people! So anytime I feel bad for myself, I think about the elephants. 9 months isn't so bad.

If you want to learn more about elephants and their babies we found some valuable information at this website: http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/endangered-species/how-long-do-elephants-stay-pregnant/7445

Not only am I grateful that I don't have to be pregnant for 22 months, I'm grateful that my baby won't weigh more than 9 pounds. Poor elephants deliver babies that weigh 230 pounds. I will never complain again.

Why I Like Being Pregnant

Though there are reasons that I don't like being pregnant (heartburn and morning sickness to name a few), I can sincerely say that I like it more than I don't like it. Here's why:

I love feeling my daughter move in my tummy. She especially likes to kick me on my left side. When I lay down she goes crazy and starts moving a lot.

I love that I'm never alone. As noted before, my little girl doesn't let me forget she's in there.

I love my baby bump. I have loved it since day one when it didn't even exist. When I was in my first few months I would ask Justin if he could tell if I was pregnant yet. He would always say no... though I was certain that I was getting bigger.

I love that I can eat whatever I want and people don't judge me because "oh... she's pregnant." That's right. I'm pregnant and that chocolate is way too tasty for me to only have one bite! When I was 28 weeks along I took the glucose screening test where they test for high blood sugar/gestational diabetes. I failed my first test and had to take a longer 3 hour test where they took my blood 4 times and I had to be fasting before I started it. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to have treats during the holidays. Fortunately, I am diabetes free and I sure do take advantage of it, ask Justin.

I love ultrasounds and seeing the baby moving inside of me! Every time I see my baby I get so excited!

And one more thing that I love (this list is not comprehensive) is that I get to have baby showers. I love baby showers because it gives me an opportunity to see people that I love whom I maybe haven't seen for a while. I also love how generous people are. It astounds me every time. It makes me feel so grateful for the many friends and family members who have played a huge role in my life. A few weeks ago my  neighbor Sheri did a shower for me at her house and then today my sister Grace did one at her apartment for me.

7 more weeks until we get to cuddle with our little bundle of joy. Can't wait!