Graduated!

Well that sweet little boy that I wrote about yesterday passed away this afternoon.  He left behind a three week old little brother, his parents, and a very loving family.  My heart just aches for his family, but I also have been able to see their strength and their faith.  They know that they will have their little boy again some day.  That is truly the greatest blessing of the Gospel.  Families are Forever.  We are never truly separated from them.  I look up to this family so much at this moment right now.  They are truly hero's in my eyes.  I cannot imagine their feelings right now, but I do know that they are enfolded in Christ's love.  Please pray for them.

On a lighter note, I have been wanting to update my blog for a long, long time.  (Remember how I said it was a goal of mine this year to update my blog more often?  Ummmm....yeah....)  So much has happened, but first and foremost....I AM A COLLEGE GRADUATE!  WOOOHOOO!  Finally after five long, long years, I have graduated from college, and I can finally just be a mommy to Hudson.  Being a mom is the greatest thing I can ever do in this life, and after the emotional state I have been in these past few days I cherish my role as a mother more than ever.
      I was really excited to graduate, but also really scared, I don't know how to be a Mom full time.  So far, being a mom has been heavy competition for being a student, and sad to say, most of the time being a student won.  Thankfully, Hudson is such a patient little boy and he has put up with a lot.  He plays by himself very well which has been a huge blessing.  My in-laws also helped me with Hudson so much and often played with him when I couldn't and took him out of the house when I really needed to study.  I will forever be grateful for their help these past two semesters.
     Joe also graduated from BYU-Idaho with his Associates Degree.  I am so stinking proud of him!  He worked so hard in the fall while working over thirty hours a week, and being enrolled at two schools at the same time.  I am so lucky to have such a hard working man.  He does so much for our family and I just feel so blessed that I found him.
     Hudson is growing more and more each day!  He really loves to play chase, and often will stomp his feet and run away so that we will chase him.  He is so dynamic!  And sassy!  Go figure that I would have a sassy child.  He is starting to think deviously, and it often gets me into trouble.  Who knew that an 18 month old little tyke could think things through so well.  He is learning his animal sounds and it is the cutest thing in the world to hear him say "arf," (doggie)  "moo" (cow), "sssssss" (snake), "oo-oo aa-aah" (monkey), "beep beep!" (car), and "choo-choo" (train.)  He also is saying a lot of words and I just love, love, love it!  This morning I asked him if he wanted a bite of my bagel and he replied "bit!"  I was so proud!  He loves his shoes and is constantly bringing them to me to put them on.  He also loves going outside and running around the circle of houses in our neighborhood.)
     Joe started clinicals a few weeks ago and he is loving it!  I am so glad that he has found something that he loves to do!
      Now that I am a graduate, I have lots of time!  (yeah right)  Just different time.  It is so refreshing not to have to worry about homework, tests and due dates!  I am working on indexing (my goal is 5,000 by the end of the year), family history, some fun stuff for Hudson, and building my studio.  Who knew it would be so hard!  I really want to start a summer choir, but I don't know if there would be a lot of interest in it, and I tend to be getting some mixed feedback about it.  What do you think?  Yay....nay?   If you feel like it, we could definitely use some prayers to help me build my studio.  It is kinda stinky having a college degree and then not being able to use it.  And it would provide a lot of extra income.
     Finally, I just want to say that I love this Gospel.  I tend to go through cycles of strong faith and cycles of not so strong faith.  This week has been a journey of faith for me, and I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us.  He has provided a way for us to find eternal happiness, and that is through families.  He gave his Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could be with out families forever, and so that we can return to him one day.  I know without a doubt that this is the true Gospel of Christ.  This is his church, and the way to happiness is found in it.
(sorry this was such a long post, but when you don't write for a few months that is what happens. I have a ton of super cute pictures and videos, I just need to collect them from the many different cameras and phones in order to upload them...Mom, they are coming soon!  I promise!)