April Little Things | 2

It's nap time... But Logan and Emery are having a squealing contest from their rooms. Early bedtime tonight. Ha! I love them. Logan's prayers include blessing Heavenly Father, Jesus, and Easter. Emery is nonstop smiles when you say her name and talk to her. 

Today is the last day of April. Wow! Justin had a crazy amount of away games the last two weeks. He's currently on the road for his last away game of the regular season. I'm so proud of him and of us. Almost three German basketball seasons down. 

After this weekend, he won't have to leave until the end of May!

Here's our April little things part two <3 

So grateful when trips to the pediatrician happen to line up with Justin's off days! More shots for Emery this time.

& a promised trip to the big slide for Logan right after. I was happy he only wanted to go down it with me.

More sunny days like these! Logan loves to do big lion passes with the soccer ball. Before this, we were at a park with a small slide. Logan made a little friend and told her, "You can go."every time he finished going down the slide.

Our last Supper Club all together. I love these people so much. Walli is heading to the States next week so we'll be saying goodbye to her soon. It's going to be a very emotional upcoming month with all of the goodbyes and "lasts".

Had to document the cars getting their tummy time in. Thanks, Logan!  

We got to have Hadley, Greta, and Louie over for a morning! Logan was so excited and happy to have them over. & to try out Greta's new cute bike.

We got to have brunch with our Aversas on a Thursday morning. Such a treat! I don't think I could ever get enough time with them. <3

& visit the Neukölln ward to hear Limhi give his homecoming talk! I am so proud of him. Serving a mission is such an accomplishment & I could just feel how much he loves the Savior and Heavenly Father as he shared his testimony in Portuguese.

Lunch at the Bean House with one of my favorites. I love Sister Wardle. She is pure light and goodness and makes you feel like the best person in the world when you're around her. They go home to Carlsbad just one week before us. 

What a month, what a month! I missed Justin lots these last weeks, and wished he could share more of these memories with me... but in the end, I just have so much gratitude for what April looked like and can't wait to see what May and June hold. 

Lots of big and good things to come. 

2 Nephi 4:15-35 - Nephi + the Natural Man, Faith & Trusting in God

My scripture journals are all over the place and I really want to remember this scripture study. 

I'm slowly reading through the Book of Mormon along with the Old Testament for Come Follow Me. Today, I read 2 Nephi 4:15-35. 

Emery still isn't sleeping great yet. Some nights are really good, and others, she's breaking out of her swaddle like crazy. Due to that, I'm usually tired and not super present when it comes to scripture study. 

I'm grateful that today, for whatever reason, these verses stuck out and I was able to relate to Nephi. 

Vs 15-16:

Nephi is writing the things of his soul. I love that wording and that these are truly the most important important impressions he could share with us and his people.

My soul delighteth in the scriptures and the things of the Lord.

My heart pondereth continually the things which I have seen and heard.

Vs 17-19: This is the reality of the natural man. We all live in a fallen world and are subject to sin and temptations. We all make mistakes no matter how hard we are striving to choose the right.

Vs 20-24: But... Nephi comes back and remembers the blessings he's received because of Heavenly Father's love and Jesus Christ's Atonement.

- Filled with His love

- Confounded mine enemies

- Heard my cries

- Given me knowledge and visions

- Angels came down and ministered to me (because of being bold in mighty prayer

Vs 27: Back again to the natural man. Even with all of ^^^ blessings, why do I let Satan take my peace?

"Why am I angry because of my enemy?" really stood out to me. I know many who have anger and hate toward certain people. It's so easy to get sucked into news (that is mostly untruthful) and let it control your thoughts. 

I'm a worrier and let media I intake sometimes have more power over my emotions than I want to admit. 

This is Satan taking my peace away. I'm a covenant daughter of God. I know in Whom I trust, yet I live in a fallen world and sometimes the natural man takes over. The fear rises above my faith.

Vs 28-29: Nephi has his realization of what matters most and regains his eternal perspective. This happens to me usually in the form of talking about my worries with Justin. He listens then reminds me in Whom we need to put our trust in. 

"Give place no more for the enemy (FEAR) of my soul."

Vs 30: Remember the Lord forever. This is what I covenant to do every single week when I take the sacrament. Pray unto & praise him. Don't let this enemy have power over you during the week. The promise for remembering the Lord is having His Spirit with us. 

I've never felt fearful when I'm feeling the Holy Ghost. <3

Vs 32-33: "Walk my path", walk with God. Include Him every day while you walk your path. Using our covenants to call down His power. Asking our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to escape our enemies (FEAR). This happens through his atoning power.

Vs 34-35: My favorite part. I have and I will trust in thee forever. Constantly thinking of Christ and praying prayers of praise and repentance is the key to overcoming this natural man and forgoing the negative feelings of worry, doubt, and anger that can influence us. 

I loved reading this chapter. I helped me to see Nephi more presently and relate to him. I can be so back and forth with my emotions in situations like this & yesterday, I felt like these verses were written for me. <3 I love the Book of Mormon!

April Little Things | 1

I can't believe I'm writing about our April. Sometimes time passes slowly and I wonder how we will fill up our days until we go home. 

Then little by little, invitations are made, texts sent, things get planned, and I feel so blessed to have spent the last month with these people I love so much. 

April 1!! Limhi returned home from his mission in Porto, Portugal. Such an accomplishment and a life-changing experience. I have literally thought about Brazil and my own mission every single day since 2019. <3

I also love that Emery got to be in the hug. :)

This sweetie girl turned 4 months old, which also means 4 months of Logan being the best big brother. He is so helpful and sweet and loves her. She loves him too. Logan's new thing is singing You are my Sunshine to Emery when she's crying in the car and telling her, "It's okay, Logan is here."

Talyn's surprise bachelorette party with the Alba girls. I'm grateful for this group. They're all so kind, fun, helpful, and build each other up. 

Justin had been dying to get to a theater to see the new Super Mario Bros movie. I suggested a daddy/son date and they looked so cute all ready to go!

Then they came home about 40 minutes later after being turned away since Logan is under the age of 6. Boo! Oh well. Justin had spent the whole car ride telling Logan about the characters so they watched clips from the first movie on YouTube. 

I spotted a Luigi car at Kaufland and now Logan yells, "I am Donkey Kong!" in his crib when he doesn't want to take a nap.

We got to go to another Alba game with the Stephens! & Logan fell asleep in the 3Q. First time that has ever happened. Ha! 

We love slower mornings when Dada doesn't have to go to work. Basketball life is a grind. Justin averages 2-3 off days the whole month. Even with the rigorous basketball schedule, he's 100% in dad-mode when he walks through the door. & Logan knows it. He adores his dad and loves to do everything with him.

We got around to opening our Easter egg dye kit. Definitely no Red 40 on those bad boys haha. We used rice in paper cups to "shake on" the dye.

My walk to the eye doctor.

Soccer in the courtyard! Logan loves to do big lion passes. 

Now that the sun is back and it's slowly warming up, I have more energy to get these kids outside and to the park!

& to Rewe for a croissant afterwards, of course.