Author Archives: Amanda

Here am I, send me

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I was reading some blog posts and I came across one from a sister in the church that she had gotten from a talk given by M. Russell Ballard on March 13, 2001. You may click that link to read the entire talk.

The part she took out of it and posted on her blog is beautiful to me. I like to think that before I came to Earth and we were assembled talking of God’s great plan that I stood up and said, “Here am I, send me.” I imagine myself standing proud saying, I will be a mom to your spirit children, and I will love them and care for them.

“Here am I, send me.”

“Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come. Every sister who makes and keeps sacred covenants becomes an instrument in the hands of God.

I have been drawn to an interchange between God the Father and His eldest and Only Begotten Son, who is the ultimate example of living up to one’s premortal promises. When God asked who would come to earth to prepare a way for all mankind to be saved and strengthened and blessed, it was Jesus Christ who said, simply, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27).

Just as the Savior stepped forward to fulfill His divine responsibilities, we have the challenge and responsibility to do likewise. If you are wondering if you make a difference to the Lord, imagine the impact when you make commitments such as the following:

“Father, if you need a woman to rear children in righteousness, here am I, send me.”

“If you need a woman who will shun vulgarity and dress modestly and speak with dignity and show the world how joyous it is to keep the commandments, here am I, send me.”

“If you need a woman who can resist the alluring temptations of the world by keeping her eyes fixed on eternity, here am I, send me.”

“If you need a woman of faithful steadiness, here am I, send me.”

Between now and the day the Lord comes again, He needs women in every family, in every ward, in every community, in every nation who will step forward in righteousness and say by their words and their actions, “Here am I, send me.”

My question today is, Will you be one of those women?”

My First Purse

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I know I haven’t talked about our Christmas yet, and I promise I will get to that. I’ve just been sewing and sewing and thinking about sewing and I thought I’d share one little project I’m working on.

I’m making a purse. This is my first purse and absolutely sucks for a first – I haven’t put the handles on yet, but I had to share. Also – these pictures are taken from my camera phone – so they’re not the best quality 🙂 I’m not a purse person. I know that most girls out there buy a ton of purses and have these obsessions, and honestly I’ve never understood it. HOWEVER! I’m sensing a new obsession for me. I am having so much fun learning about purses and being able to make my own will be SO MUCH FUN! And I personally will like it better than I would any $1,300.00 purse that’s out there, because buying something like that is INSANE to me! Searching online and seeing all the beautiful homemade purses out there are so inspiring and make me want to be a purse girl… just a homemade one.

So, I know this isn’t the best purse in the world, but it’s my first purse – all that I need to do now is make a fun purse organizer for it and make some straps – and I’ll wear it proudly because it’s the first purse that I’ve ever made. Hopefully someday and someday soon I’ll be able to make ones like the beautiful ones I’ve been seeing on so many wonderful blogs.



Another Inspiring Day at Church

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I missed the last 2 weeks of church. Today I finally went back and couldn’t be more happier that I did. I think that the talks that were given today were absolutely wonderful.

During Sacrament the topic that was talked about was how to deal with people questioning and basically hating our church with a Christlike attitude. It’s such a difficult thing to do, because I personally get very defensive and upset when people mock my religion, especially when they have NO CLUE what it’s about. Half the people in this world don’t even think that Mormons are Christian. It baffles me since Christ is what are religion is all about, and isn’t being Christian believe that Christ is our savior?

I am horrible at being Christ like. Today opened my eyes in areas that I wish I could be better at and gave me some goals to work towards. I want to be a better example for all of my friends and family. I want to be that person that people look at and wonder…. hmmmm, how is she so happy? What is it that makes her life seem so complete. Maybe some people already think that, but sometimes I don’t feel like that, and that’s the point I want to be.

I’ve been slacking in a lot of areas. Personal scripture study, family prayer, family home evening. That’s just to name a few. I feel like things have been so hectic that I’ve stepped off my path a little bit. It is a good feeling to know that I can get right back on it, and I have the power to do it all by myself. I feel like my life has been a little chaotic, and I need to get it back to where the chaos wasn’t effecting us.

Early Christmas for Ella – Elmo’s World

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Yesterday I took the entire day to myself. I shopped, spent time with one of my sisters (one of the daughters of my dad… the 16 year old) and got my teeth cleaned, checked in w/my orthodontist…. it was a BUSY BUSY day. I absolutely loved every single second that I was out of the house without my kids.

While I was gone Gino had the kids helping out around the house. He told me Ella even had the swiffer and was mopping for him. Excuse me, but why don’t my kids do this for me??!?!?! Why is that my husband can get them to be productive but I can’t? Ridiculous!

Anyways… Gino went into our garage, which is nightmare beyond nightmare beyond nightmare to try to find my stocking that I’ve had since a baby. No luck, but he found a ton of other stuff! One of those talking Elmo’s that Jayden had as a baby that Ella now has fallen in love with. It’s like Christmas for her! So tonight she’s been going around pressing Elmo’s hand so that Elmo will sing Elmo’s World to her. He found tons books and their Finding Nemo movie… little did he know that I bought the movie yesterday for Ella. Now I have to take it back LOL.

I was going through some of the pictures that I took and found this one of Jayden… what the heck was going on with that expression? He is a crack up.

Pictures with Santa

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We knew this is what kind of a picture we’d get this year. We already went to see Santa once and Ella was not very happy about him.

So, we let her scream and got the picture anyways…

It’s funny, because we have a framed picture of Jayden’s 2nd Christmas – roughly around the same age take away a month, and we were ALL sitting on Santa’s lap, because Jayden too was not very happy about the situation. Back, then I was a first time mom and wanted Jayden to be smiling and happy, now I’m like…. OH YES! Picture of the baby screaming….. at least we’ll have some good laughs about it one day.

I’m DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE with my shopping!!!! Feels so good. What doesn’t feel good though is the fact that in my garage is a ton of presents that need to be wrapped. *sigh*

Ward Christmas Party – and more sewing talk

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Last night was our Ward’s 1st annual Nativity Scene Christmas party. We had a live nativity scene outside and it was beautiful! They even had a tamed turkey.

They had a buffet of soups and then right before the primary singing started Jayden came and told me he had an accident. Man! Right when I thought he was better. So, we had to leave.

To be on the safe side we didn’t go to church today. Which kinda sucks because it is the Sunday before Christmas. Instead, my husband is out breaking the sabbath doing Christmas shopping and I’m sewing. We will maybe do a lesson together as a family tonight. Funny thing is, Jayden’s fever is gone and he’s completely fine today! The lab called though and said that Jayden’s culture came back positive for strep, but it’s not the strep that they worry about and treat.

I finished all the rows for my niece’s quilt. I now get to sew them all together and I’m nervous about it! My Grandma said that this is one of the hardest parts. Gino’s out buying me pins so I can pin the rows together. I never knew sewing could be so therapeutic and addicting! I think for my next project I’d like to make Ella a patchwork skirt.

Our first 3D movie!

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Last night Gino came home from work and had stopped by Walmart to pick up more Tylenol for Jayden and a few other odds and ends. So, he comes in and wakes up Jayden with a surprise! Gino bought Jayden Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D!!! If you have a bluray you can watch it in 3D!! So, we all sat in the living room with our 3D glasses and Ella laughed at us and we all watched our first 3D movie.

IT WAS AWESOME!!! It really looked like things were coming right at you.

I can’t believe that Christmas is in 5 DAYS! Where oh where did the time go? I had plans on taking the kids out today and getting my shopping for Gino done, but Jayden’s fever is STILL lingering on. This morning it was at 99.9… so we’ll see what happens with that.

Tonight is the Nativity Lighting over at the church. We’ve been looking forward to it for a while now, and Gino even has a friend that was going to come, and I’m scared that we won’t be able to make it. I hope my Jayden starts feeling better soon!

Went to the doctors

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I took Jayden in to the doctor’s. Unfortunately, his doctor was gone for the day and Jayden had to see another doctor. I really didn’t care for him. Jayden told him that I was going to take him to McDonald’s to get some chicken nuggets (this is the first thing Jayden has said he’s wanted in days) and the doctor told him that it wasn’t a good idea and he’d probably end up on the toilet. Great! So, Jayden decided to listen to the doctor and not eat. So, I went to Dairy Queen and got him a banana, chocolate milk shake. He hardly touched it and has been sleeping ever since.

Ella’s been quite the handful today. She’s jumped on Jayden and has refused to leave him alone. Then when I’m at the sewing machine trying to practice she thinks it’s her’s. It’s an issue. Tonight I heard Jayden start to moan (he was asleep… still is) and I knew Ella was over there buggin’ him. It actually was so sweet. She had the thermometer and was trying to take his temperature, then kissed his forehead. I love how they love each other.

I started sewing my niece’s quilt today. I practiced and practiced then decided – wth, I might as well just go for it. I did, and so far so good! I’m on the 4th row and pretty proud of myself.

Day 3 of a sick Jayden

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Today is Day 3 of having Jayden home. Today’s the last day of school before his big 2 week Christmas vacation. He still has a fever, and I just feel so bad for my little guy.

Ella’s saying cool now. I guess she’s been saying it for a while, but it sounds so much like cold that I thought she was saying cold when she was saying cool. She still says cold, but about 5 minutes ago I put on Barbie Mariposa and when the menu came up she sat up and looked at me and said, “Cool!” *sigh* where did my baby go?

I’m doing the 15 minute house cleaning tip from Flylady today. I’m going to spend 15 mintues in the kitchen, then 15 minutes in the living room, then I’ll take a 15 minute break and probably head over to Etsy and dream about the day I’ll be able to make stuff like the girls over there. Then I’ll continue on w/the bathroom for 15 minutes then folding clothes for 15 minutes. When I’m done with that…

I’m sewing. And that’s how I’ll be spending my Friday…. sewing.