School is in session!

Our kids started school last week...

Coleman is a big first grader and couldn't wait to eat lunch at school and have more than one recess. Lucky boy :).

Liv is a big fourth grader and is excited to be participating in Service Club this year.

Both of them have great teachers and we are looking forward to a great year.

(I'd be lying if I said that I didn't breathe a big sigh of relief when they were both safely dropped off on the first day. So far though, my planned daily naps with Sophia haven't happened... I haven't started exercising yet... I still can't keep up on housework, laundry, blogging, or dishes... and we've already had a few stressful mornings, but we are going to find our groove soon and I'll accomplish so much, I just know it.)

**Were you excited for school to start?

Real Life Heroes

I was checking out at my favorite store this morning (Costco :)) and caught a glimpse of this wonderful lady. She is Mary Ellen Edmunds, author, speaker, and person extraordinnaire. She taught at the MTC while I was there preparing for my mission and I grew to love her humility, humor, and down-to-earth attitude about life and trials. I debated for about a millisecond whether or not I was going to say anything... after all, I don't know her personally, but I sure feel like I do.

I approached her and she got a big huge smile on her face.

I said, "I'm sure you get this all the time... but you're Mary Ellen Edmunds, right?"

She kept smiling (that was encouraging) and nodded. I blurted out, "I love you!" and she gave me a big hug.

I told her how she was a teacher at the MTC when I was there and she indulged me by asking when I was there, where I had served and we shared a few more comments about the wonderfulness of the MTC. She was just as gracious and kind as I have gathered from hearing her speak and from reading her books.

In the following moments, I thought a bit about real people (not celebrities, superstars, or characters in books or movies) that are my heroes. There are so many. When my granddad passed away I got to meet another one... Anne Osborn Poelman... who authored a few books that I love and was a family friend. I approached her too to tell her that I loved her.

I am sure both Mary Ellen and Anne (we should be on a first name basis, right?) thought I was a little bit nuts for my enthusiasm.... but these are two women who have helped shape me. I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to tell them so.

**Who are your real life heroes?
**If you saw one of them in a public place would you approach them?

Moving Forward with Faith

This last week things have been hard. We are still trying to make sense of it all and find some normalcy in life. I admit that I have spent a lot of time and shed a lot of tears wondering how I could have changed things, or asking a whole slew of "what if?" questions. I know that we can't hit the rewind button (how I wish we could!) and that we need to heal and find peace.

I have been amazed at the goodness and kindness of people near and far who have prayed for us and with us, who have sent notes or called, and who have served us. Many have asked if there is anything they can do, and your prayers and kind words have been so helpful. Tim and Laura are facing many unexpected medical and funeral expenses, and if you want to contribute in any way, there is a button to the side of my blog where you can make a contribution. Every dollar will help. Most importantly, they have felt uplifted and blessed during this difficult trial from friends and family and strangers who have reached out to them.

Ryan's sister Traci wrote a beautiful obituary:

Our sweet Mikayla Lynn Harper (Mikkie), born November 10th, 2008, left her earthly family to return to her Father in Heaven on August 14th, 2010, after a tragic accident while vacationing with her family.

Mikkie is survived by her parents, Tim and Laura Harper, and sister, Faith. In addition, she is survived by grandparents, Bruce and Terri Harper (formerly of Tooele) and Lyle and Tina Jessee (of Riverton), great-grandparents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her great grandmother Lucille Harper and great grandfather Clayton Wilbur were among those who welcomed Mikkie to her heavenly home.

Mikkie had a special, sweet little spirit and brought joy and laughter to all those who knew her. She loved watching and playing with her older sister Faith and her cousins.

If you would like to join in support of the Harper family, a viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 17th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Broomhead Mortuary at 12590 S. 2200 W., Riverton. Another viewing will be held at the LDS Meetinghouse located at 13400 S. 2700 W., Riverton on Wednesday, August 18th at 10 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Riverton city cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to help, a trust fund has been set up to help cover unexpected medical and funeral expenses at Zion’s Bank under Mikayla Harper Donations.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of her presence while we remain apart from her. We love you. Until we meet again sweet Mikkie…

Every morning when I wake up I am reminded that Laura and Tim are waking up and trying to get through the day without their sweet baby, and I can't imagine how that must feel. A good friend reminded me that often we look for the big miracle (that Mikayla would be healed) but that we need to look for the little miracles (that we were blessed with Mikayla in our family, even for a short time).

Laura has started a blog where she shares her thoughts and feelings, which she titled "Move Forward with Faith" referring to their older daughter Faith and her faith in God. I know that we can never move on or go back to the way things were, but I have faith that we can move forward, being better for having known and loved Mikkie.

Sweet Mikayla

We are devastated and heartbroken with the passing of our sweet niece and cousin Mikayla. Just a few minutes can change everything. Please, please hug your babies and loved ones and cherish every moment that you have with them.

Sitting Pretty

Cutest. Chair. Ever.

(Cutest. Baby. Ever.)

Family Birthday 2010

Some of our friends have always used their wedding anniversary as a day to celebrate their family birthday... which I think is a wonderful idea! This year we celebrated 11 years!


Cute family, eh?

It's More Than Just the Milk

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about breastfeeding thoughts. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!

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My mom nursed all eight of the children in our family but other than that I grew up in an era where bottle feeding was the norm. I babysat for many families as a young woman and prepared formula and enjoyed feeding those cute babies. I really didn't think more about infant feeding until I was a student in the dietetics program at Utah State University. We had a short unit on breastfeeding. and my eyes were opened. My commitment to breastfeeding was born. My sister Lauren was just ready to have her first baby. I bombarded her with pamphlets and photocopies and statistics.

I graduated from school and left on my mission for the LDS Church in Chile where I saw women nurse their babies without embarrassment or shame. It was just what they did to feed and nurture their babies.

When I returned home I began working for a social program that promoted breastfeeding as part of it's strategy to improve the health of babies and mothers. It also saved the program a lot of money if women chose to breastfeed rather than use formula. I attended a week-long course about breastfeeding. We discussed in detail the composition of breastmilk, how to teach about breastfeeding, and how to help moms with problems. I was committed to helping moms nurse their babies. It was all about the milk.

Breastmilk is what babies are designed to get. It contains the right amounts of all nutrients that babies need. Babies who don't get breastmilk are at a higher risk for so many illnesses and diseases--as infants and later in life--because of protective factors and immunoglobulins in the milk. Moms who don't breastfeed their babies are at a higher risk for certain cancers and other illnesses. Breastmilk changes to meet the needs as a baby grows. Using formula is expensive and puts a strain on the environment. Preparing bottles takes time and effort and is way less convenient than breastfeeding. There are moral issues with companies marketing infant formula in doctor's offices and hospitals and third world countries. It was still all about the milk.

And then I became a mother.

Breastfeeding came to be about so much more.

It is not just about providing the right nutrition or immune factors, although that is important too.

It is about nurturing.

It is about really connecting with my baby.

It is about fulfilling my role as a mother and parenting in a loving way.

It is about looking into my baby's eyes and knowing that although she can't express in words how she feels, she loves me.

It is about feeling full of love and emotion as my baby places her hand on my breast and smiles.

It is about protecting a mother's right to nurse her baby in any place or situation.

It is about feeling empowered to do something for my baby that no one else can.

My journey with nursing has not been an easy one. It has required more effort than I ever thought possible. There have been tears and frustration along the way. Ryan and other friends and family members have supported and sustained me, even when they might not fully understand why it is so important to me. It is worth it. My babies are worth it.

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Here are more posts by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

• Amy @ Anktangle—just ONE thing


• Sylko @ Chaotic Mama—Breastfeeding Carnival: The World


• Timbra @ Bosoms & Babes—Ho Hum EXTRAordinary


• Shelly @ Lousy Mom—What does breastfeeding mean?


• Renee @ Just the 5 of us!—Amazing


• Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl—The Best Start Possible


• Sarah @ Most Revealing—One thing


• Natasha @ naturalurbanmama—Breastfeeding Thoughts: A Letter to my Kids


• Kimberly @ Monkey Tales Mama Thoughts—Do You Remember?


• Mamapoekie @ Authentic Parenting—Breastfeeding: What It Means To Me



• And of course the guest poster on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Blog today is Marilee Poulson—The Normal Course of Breastfeeding