Just for Baka

Baka asked me to find these pictures of Kami that I took a while ago. I am glad she did...Just looking at how much she has grown reminds me of how valuable time is, especially in the realms of motherhood. I love the phase that Kamila is in right now; but I also miss the days of chubbier cheeks, random ramblings, and a little babyface.

My little pea is beginning to look like a little girl now.

Hookups

Have I mentioned that I have the best friends ever? All of these friends of mine are so talented, in one way or another. My friend Jessica is super crafty, a go-getter, and giving. She is being so kind to offer an awesome giveaway: tickets to the  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus!! She absolutely loves the circus and is super excited to share her enthusiasm about it with one of her lucky readers. Check out her blog here. Good luck!

Goodbye, Nana & Alexa

We managed to squeeze in time to visit Temple Square grounds before my mom and sister headed back home. It was a brief stroll through the beautiful gardens with fountains. I love the Salt Lake Temple. Every time I am there I am taken back to our wedding day; needless to say that I never pass up a chance to visit this special place. It was a special moment to be with four of my favorite people at possibly my favorite place of all on such a beautiful day. Las extrañamos mucho.

Sometimes you just have to let go...

...and let things get messy. Now that I am a mother, I am more than ever acutely aware of my tendency to be a stickler for perfection. I wanted Kamila to see and touch the flowers...not yank and eat the flowers AND soil. Instinctively I wanted to quickly remove her from the alluring, soiled flower pot, but...I suddenly realized that we would both survive from dirty hands, soiled clothes, and possibly an "I-just-ate-an-Oreo" looking mouth. I stood back and delightfully observed.

She started off ecstatic about her granted freedom...

Let her hands touch previously forbidden territory...

 Was so grateful that she even thought of offering me some of her new found treasure...

I 

And decided to try some of it herself after I respectfully declined the offer...

I think now she might have an idea that not everything that glitters is gold and that maybe Mom says no for a reason.

I suppose sometimes we have to just learn lessons ourselves, take the good from the bad, and that in the end, regardless of what has happened, a smile is always better than a frown.

As I observed Kami's adventure unfold, I realized that I don't have to micromanage everything in my life (which I tend to do A LOT). Sometimes it is perfectly OK to just let go and let things happen, even if things may get a little "messy", or (for the sake of this analogy)  for things to not go according to plan. There will be times ahead where things will not play out the way I envision them to according to my parenting plans, but at the end of the day, things always work out. Dirty hands can be cleansed, soiled clothes can be washed, tears can be wiped, and in the end,  happy hearts and smiles can remain.

Not only in Texas..

I honestly have never seen more beautiful sunsets than those in El Paso; not in Cancún, Florida, or even Arizona. I grew up hearing about how photographers from all over the world traveled to El Paso to witness these sunsets. Consequently, I always thought that they must be right: the most gorgeous sunsets had to be in Texas. Who would think that yesterday's sunset in Provo, Utah would point out the fallacy in my very subjective thinking? The colors in the sky, the wispy clouds delicately placed above the mountains, the orange lighting all around me may in fact be, the closest next big thing I have ever seen.

Day at the Aquarium

Kamila LOVED it! She kept saying "wow!" accompanied by big, wide open eyes.

Days like Today

...make me feel like I can conquer the world. There are so many things I want to do, to try my hand at, rekindle forgotten passions, discover new ones. I am so grateful for these magic moments of clarity when all the pieces fall into place. I realize that there are times when I feel appreciative of others gifts and talents, which is good, but at the same time I can't help but to ask myself why I wasn't given talents of such caliber. A couple of months ago I came across this quote:

  "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the 

glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

I realize that I am the one who decides what I can and cannot do. I am so grateful for inspired leaders, for women who are bright, strong, caring, and who radiate charity. I love the new ward that we are in. I love belonging to His church. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father's bounteous love. 

I am so grateful for the wonderful people in my life who inspire me to become a better person, wife, mother, daughter, friend. 

I am convinced that there is a purpose behind crossing paths with every person that enters our lives.