A Wonderful day in Wintery Waterton

Last week, while the kids were off school we spent some kid free days on a "Staycation" thanks to our awesome moms who took a few kids each (cuz unfortunately I know how dang difficult all five of them are together ;)

We had such a great time, got a few home projects done (not nearly as many as I over-zealously planned for), went to lunch with friends, went to yoga, did a break out room (of course) and just enjoyed being just us. 

My very favorite day we spent in Waterton, snowshoeing up to Cameron lake. I was pretty much giddy the whole time, soaking in all the vitamin D filled sunshine gleaming off the picturesque snow.

I've been so bad about getting my "big camera" out, but I was very glad I did-- though my rusty photography skills definitely won't do justice to the winter mountain's beauty. 

Ben's brother Dan and his lovely wife Kendra came along for the adventure.
They were total troopers, as it was all our first times snowshoeing.  Dan even let us take pictures....okay he didn't really have a choice.

I was just trying to adjust my settings but I love this ready-whenever-my -wife-points-her-camera-my-way-smile that my hubby has totally mastered.

Not gonna lie, I sure love that I can hand my camera over to Kendra and 
get some good shots of us too. She's the best.


And I sure love to return the favour!

Such a cute couple, right?!?!?

"Please Daniel? Chelsea's only gonna take a hundred more!"

He was a good sport. 

Meanwhile, Benny had a great time playing with his drone.

And I had fun playing with my camera and the amazing light as the sun sunk behind the mountain.

Just testing my exposure

So I could take a selfie with my gorgeous sister in law 

Having been around Ben's family for half my life now, it's so interesting to have new in laws join the family. It's been so fun getting to know them and having fresh perspectives and ways of thinking being added in to our family's existed dynamics.

I have totally hit the jack-pot with all my sisters in law, and Kendra sure is included on that list I feel so grateful for.

She is SOOOOOO good with Daniel, I love watching how their relationship works, and a lot of that can be contributed to Kendra's incredible balance  she maintains between her patient-accepting side with her ain't gonna-take-no-crap spunk,  both of which I adore. I can tell she is fiercely loyal. And perhaps because of this extreme commitment to those she cares for, she doesn't just let anyone in. There's no half ways to love in this girls world.

On the way back in to Lethbridge, Daniel decided he had definitely earned himself some Ming's. We ran into Kendra's Dad during our stop and it was so sweet to watch the love--so obvious because there was no holding back. Car doors were swung open and out loud "I love you's"  followed big enveloping hugs.

We have so much to learn from this girl's fearless way of loving.

And I can't wait.

Can't wait-- for all I'm gonna learn from this "new sister" of mine, and for the many, many  more adventures yet to come! 

PS snowshoeing is really fun...so glad I jumped on the bandwagon!

Lovely Baby Evelyn

This sweet baby girl is joining one of my fav families. Man, it's so interesting getting "older". It's so interesting seeing a little human and loving them, just because you love their parents. Wondering about her little life, just because so many highlights of your own life are tied to the people who created her. 

I knew Meg in high school. She was the "girl next door" that Ben crushed on as a kid. She was fun and always so inclusive, in a way that set her apart. When Ben suggested we room together in Edmonton while we went to school, I wasn't so sure, but man alive am I glad we did. Even though I was a total stick in the mud and rarely joined in for the late night escapades her and some of our other roommates regularly embarked on (I still look at some of my studious-ness with a slight feeling of waste) she still made me feel a part of it. I was an early bird and she was a night owl, but when every so often we actually did end up in our  shared bedroom, both awake at the same time, she was so willing to let me in, without the normal pretences. I always appreciated that about Meg, despite her talent for fun she could be real, so fast. 

It's still like that. And it leaves me always wishing we were a more regular part of each other's lives.

But then, I guess I've been spoiled. When we first moved to Lethbridge, young couples with a baby each, we hung out pretty non-stop. She knows how to gather people, whether it's a big elaborate party, or just a last minute get together, she has a genuineness and a generosity that I'm still trying to learn to emulate.  We did a road trip up to Edmonton one time (a story I always tell to give an example of how tight we were) and even though we had spent the whole weekend together and only lived 5 minutes away, we ended up sleepover, just cuz we didn't want the fun to end.

It wasn't only fun. Meg was with me the summer in Texas we prepared to diagnose Aaron. I'll always remember the day I confided in her that we had him on waiting lists back at home, and her expressing such relief, "Oh! I'm so glad you know! I didn't know how I was going to tell you!" Having worked with kids on the spectrum before, she had totally recognized his behaviours but didn't know if we had come to the same conclusion. She talked me through soooo many things that summer. I will always be grateful that it was her that was with me as I tried to wade my way through so many new emotions. She helped so much, and still to this day I rely on some of the realizations and opinions about being a special need parent that she helped me come to.

One of the books I'm reading right now talks about how "less secure children can become more secure adults" and how "healthy friendships" can play such a huge role in that process. My friendship with Megan is for sure one of those security increasing relationships that I am deeply indebted to.

There are parts of me (my inner-hippie for instance, my theatre enthusiast, actually even my love of photography) that I totally owe to Meg! Her own confident and whole-hearted approach to life has so completely inspired me in so many little ways to live more true, more fully. She knows who she is and not only accepts people for who they are but with that love, invites them to be brave enough to give themselves permission to be their best selves too.

And this is the women you get as a mother, Evelyn. You lucky, lucky girl. 

Love you Meg.

Primary songs: I just love em!

For the last couple weeks, after we lost our AMAZING music chorister 
I've been filling in and doing the music in primary.

I love the primary songs. 

They are so powerful. 
So pure and simple. 
Eternal doctrines are set forth, carried into the hearts of our little ones by the beautiful melodies, nestled in their minds, ready to be recalled by the Spirit in time of need, 
or strength or comfort. 

Primary songs have been and integral part of my own conversion and I am continually grateful for their influence on my life and that of my family. (For those less familiar with these beautiful songs, I've provided links with lyrics as well as the option to listen to children's voices singing them)

I remember walking to my first day of university, so nervous, feeling so insignificant in what was the largest crowd I'd ever been a part of. I remember envisioning the Lord's hand in my and singing in my mind "Heavenly Father are you really there?" And knowing He was, knowing He knew me personally even if my professors would not.

I remember, as an EFY councillor singing the words "We will be the Lord's missionaries"and knowing that very moment that I should serve a mission, a decision I'm grateful for everyday.

I remember driving to the temple on my wedding day, singing "Teach me to walk in the light of His love" and "I will follow God's plan for me" knowing the I was on His path and feeling His love as I took this step towards the plan He had for me.

The primary songs served as my repertoire of lullabies and I have rocked my babies to sleep humming "Jesus once was a little child" and reassuring their little spirits, so fresh from heaven's realms, that they were still "a Child of God", that He had sent them here dn given them this home, and that I was determined to be the kind of parent the Lord intended them to have.

I remember one particularly challenging night. I had already been up for hours with Aaron, when baby Levi awoke, needing more from his already depleted mother. I was exhausted, from more than one night of this routine, and when I get over-tired, my brain goes into overdrive and I'd started contemplated all of my perceived struggles now and in the future. I was slowly giving way to thoughts and feelings that told me, I just couldn't do this, that it was just too hard. Just as I started to get completely overwhelmed, I started singing "He sent His Son" I thought, to help settle my fussy baby. Instead I was the one calmed, and soothed by the simple lyrics, testifying of the Saviour and all He has done for us. When I sang the closing line, "What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, 
help others on their way." It was so clear. This was what the Lord required of me, all He required, and He would  help me.

Now I lay with my "big boy" Levi and we sing together every night, 
"Lead me, guide me, Walk beside me."

I smile when I hear McKye beating his drum in the playroom drums to a rather rocking version of  "We have been taught and we understand, that we must do as the Lord commands!" 

I feel so good about Ben wanting both of us to lay with Aaron each night and let him pick songs from the singalong App, for us to sing to him while we cuddle and he watches the little ball bounce on the words, he may not sing, but he still can feel.

And I chuckle every time I'm trying to get my rambunctious  boys to be obedient by singing "I will go! I will do!" complete with muscles poses to represent spiritual strength (and appeal to their testosterone ;) 

I'm pretty sure there is nothing that brings me as much joy or hope as hearing my children singing primary songs.

Yesterday in Senior Primary, I asked the children to tell me which songs really helped them feel the Spirit. As we sang each of them and talked about how thy made us feel and what truths each taught,  we enjoyed a sweet but powerful Spirit.

Love was Spoken Here was one a few children mentioned. 

1. (Girls) I see my mother kneeling with our family each day. 
I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray. 
Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears, 
And I am thankful love is spoken here. 
2. (Boys) Mine is a home where ev'ry hour is blessed by 
The strength of priesthood pow'r, 
With father and mother leading the way, 
Teaching me how to trust and obey; 
And the things they teach are crystal clear, 
For love is spoken here. 
[3rd ending] I can often feel the Savior near 

When love is spoken here.

This morning on my walk, I listened to the mormon-tabernacle choir sing this beautiful song.  And was inspired all over again.

I was impressed with how it's musical arrangement into parts is very much like the roles of mother and father. Distinct, each with a different melody and feel, 
 but together, that much more powerful as the harmonies combine and highlight one another.




I want my children to "see their mother kneeling" to have their fears quieted by my faithful whispers to my Lord I love. 

I want our home to be blessed every hour by the Lord's power.  I want to lead with Ben in united, loving ways that make our commitment to the Lord evident, even "crystal clear" so there can be no doubt that we trust and love the Lord and that they can too.

I want to feel the Saviour near-- often.
And singing beautiful primary songs sure helps.