apples and pumpkins

I have so much to be thankful for, right now it's the beautiful weather! I LOVE the Fall season and I LOVE it even more in New Hampshire. The leaves are just starting to change and the weather is PERFECT! I love the trees dropping their leaves so Caleb and I can crunch them as we walk, I love getting out a new set of Caleb's Fall clothes, sweaters, and jackets. I love taking a deep breath outside when the sun is setting and breathing in the crisp, cool air. I love making homemade hot chocolate and drinking it in the morning or at night snuggled up in a blanket. I love getting out my jackets, boots and cardigans (although my maternity fall clothes aren't as cute as my "skinny" ones :) I love Apple Cider Doughnuts, hot chocolate, pumpkin carving, wassle...I could go on and on. I've told Paul at least daily how much I love this season.  In less than a month is my birthday, Paul always makes them something I look forward too even though this is the age that birthdays aren't usually exciting, mine are.

Two weeks ago for Family Home Evening we went to an Apple Orchard. I LOVE that about New Hampshire. There are so many fruits/veggies you can go pick your own. In the summer it gave us something to do in the mornings and also gets me creative for how I can use them; freezer jam, applesauce, frozen yogurt blueberries...Anyways, as Caleb played with the countless cars, lawn mower toys and playgrounds at the Apple Orchard Paul and I snuggled up together and looked at the orange, yellow, red and green trees surrounding us, a pumpkin patch in front of us, kids laughing, and the sky was a perfect blue with white clouds. It was so picturesque. I wanted to freeze time. I am REALLY going to miss New Hampshire next fall!

My mind is full of thoughts this week. Thoughts I should write in my journal but for now, typing them here is much faster and convenient. So I am at the mercy of our blog readers.

Five weeks ago I began working at WIC, part-time, thank goodness. But it has been a huge adjustment for us all. Caleb and I have suffered greatly. I don't believe a mother is meant to work outside the home, something I've always felt strongly about, especially for my family. But the Lord teaches us in many ways. I often realize he teaches me when I'm too judgmental and proud. I'm then put in the same situation I was judging others about; being a working mother. I wish I could tell Heavenly Father I've learned my lesson and now I should just stay home with Caleb, but unfortunately I cannot. As for Caleb, he will eventually adjust, and as for me, I will live through it. I will continue to love Caleb as much as ever, I will appreciate the time we do have together even more than before, and I will have an appreciation for other working moms. The tears I shed will be wiped away by a loving Heavenly Father who is always there for us (and also by Paul). I tell myself daily, "It's just until May, I can do it until May."

A quick update on Caleb. He is such a sweetie! Although I have complained to many of my family members of his disobedience, he is learning and he is my beautiful toe-head boy. I often catch him singing primary songs during the day. Sometimes if I start to sing along with him he'll say, "No mom! Caleb do it! Now start over." (meaning now he has to start over) He has many favorites, but lately at bedtime he's been asking for "Follow the Prophet" and since he could talk he has asked for "I am a Child of God" There are few things that are more sweet that to hear your child sing "I am a Child of God". I'm amazed daily at the amount of knowledge Caleb can fit his his tiny little head. I can't use the excuse, "he's just 2, he won't understand" so I try to challenge him and he learns quickly. I just love that kid!

Oh...and pregnancy is going great! I feel good, our baby girl is perfect and active. We love our midwife and we're looking forward to birth. We are debating between giving birth in the Birth Center or at home (that may be some breaking news for some:) Caleb is so sweet to his "baby sister". He kisses my tummy, helps me take my prenatal vitamins, and talks about holding her once she comes out. He is a tender, sweet and sensitive boy, those make the best big brothers.

Courage

Last night we watched the CES fireside with Elder Jeffery R. Holland and I would like to relate an experience about the subject of his talk. Elder Holland spoke about always living your religion and having moral courage to do what is right , he stated "You do not EVER check your religion at the door".  With that in mind here is my story.
This semester I am taking a behavioral science class where we discuss psycho-social aspects of health care and how we should act with patients dealing with these type of problems. While my professor was going over the schedule she stated that there were a number of movies tht we would be watching that were rated R. She stated that if you dont watch those kind of movies to talk to her after class, an the entire class laughed like she had said some kind of joke. My heart began to race, what would I do? The thought came accross my mind that  could simply do nothing and watch the movies because no one knew that I dont watch rated R movies. This thought left rather quickly and I knew that I must tell her I wouldn't be participating in those movie days.  My teacher was fine with my decision but she proceeded to try and convince me that there were a few of the movies that would be very benefical to me as a PT and they were only rated R because of their language. I dont care why things are rated R, I simply wont watch it either way.
This past wed. was the first movie that I didnt watch(crash was its title). My class starts directly after another class so I needed to leave right after. As I was leaving about 5 people asked me where I was going and I told them that I didnt watch rated R movies and they looked at me with dumb struck faces. They didnt know what to say, they might have thought I was joking with them because who doesnt watch rated R movies right?
 It was kind of funny to see their faces, but even more gratifing was standing up for what I believe. What matters to me is my standing my God not what my friends think of me. They might have shared a laugh at my expanse after I left but I dont care , I know what I did was right. Living here on the east coast has been a great testimony builder for Amelia and I. We get the chance to interact with people who know nothing about our beliefs and we get te great opportunity to teach them. Hopefully our words and actions make a lasting impression upon someone!