Nipping at my Heels

Yesterday our sweet friends watched our kiddos, so Buns and I could hit up the temple.  We hadn't been to the Provo City Center Temple yet, and I was more excited than I thought I would be!  Can I be horribly truthful?  Sometimes when it comes to the nights we dedicate to going to the temple, I get bugged because I'd rather use our babysitters for time that we could go do something fun. Lol.  But every single time we go, I walk inside and feel immediate relief.  Peace and comfort.  All worries left at the door.  I feel close to God and Christ when I'm in the temple.

I feel a greater love for the people in my life, especially for my husband and babes.  I leave feeling uplifted and inspired to do and be better.  I see more clearly my identity as a daughter of God.  His child.  

Buns and I did baptisms, which I hadn't done in ages.  We brought some family names that my father-in-law gave us...ancestors from Tennessee!  I felt my testimony strengthen.  I have a very simple testimony.  But a testimony that won't be shaken.  I believed that in the temple yesterday.  And even when I don't have answers for everything, I have enough.  I have faith.  I have hope.  I believe in that burning in my heart that God is real and hears and answers my prayers.  I am his beloved daughter.  We are ALL his beloved children.

In the temple, they had the current issue of the Ensign out in the pews, and as I was perusing, I came across a little article entitled "You Are Royalty."  If you know me at all, you know I was all about that article in T-2 seconds.  Haha.

"While our family was in Argentina on assignment from the Church, our son and I often visited sites of interest in our free time. Among them was a zoo unlike any zoo we had seen before.  Rather than wander past cages of sleepy animals, visitors were invited to enter the pends and pet the animals.  Following the trainer, we made our way into the enclosure prepared for the large lions and petted them while they seemed to ignore us.

I asked the trainers how they had convinced the lions to not eat us.  They called my attention to several little dogs that likewise inhabited the pens.  When the lions were small, those yappy dogs chased the lions mercilessly and nipped at their heels.  The lion cubs became accustomed to cowering in the corner, afraid of dogs.

When the lions grew, they continued to cower in fear.  With the flick of a paw, they could easily have sent those dogs flying, but the lions didn't see themselves as they really were.  They were unaware of their regal identity and potential...

We have God's spiritual DNA coursing through our veins.  We are His sons and daughter and His heirs.  Swat away any deceiving messages, beliefs, or habits that cause you to cower in the corners of your life.  Don't let them nip at your heels and make you feel fearful or hurt.  Rise to the level of your eternal stature.  You are royalty."

(Kathy Kipp Clayton)

Goals for the New Year {2016 Edition}

I've been trying to set a time to write this post for a while, but every time I think about doing it, I hadn't really known what to write yet!  Usually I feel like I'm right on the bandwagon with all sorts of New Years Resolutions, and jump right into it.  This year felt a little different/  I had so many freaking things swimming around in my brain that I wanted to improve on, work on, and change, but I couldn't decide what was most important or what the best use of my time was.  I have a tendency to overload myself with a bunch of ideas and then only a select few remain on the bandwagon.  I always think of how much more time I could've focused on those select few goals if I would've taken the time to seriously think about what I wanted to focus on.  SO...

This year, I decided I wouldn't set my resolutions until I had thought through what I wanted to improve on personally.  What spaces needed to be filled in my heart and mind.

I wouldn't say this is a solid list or that I spent hours upon hours deciding on it haha, but when I thought about it this morning, it just felt so right!  Like I was finally able to put into words what I wanted to improve and focus on.  Our family theme for this year plays a huge role in my goals and our family goals, "Put Loving Arms Around Them." (Mosiah 18:21)

Buns and I both feel like we could do a little bit better to think of others before thinking of ourselves.  The "Me, Myself, and I" ship has docked too long in this household.  Especially with the last couple of weeks with very sick kiddos, tempers were quick and patience was nowhere to be found.  That's honestly what sparked the theme, but once we thought about it more, we decided it genuinely was something we wanted to improve on not just in our home, but in our relationships with friends and family.  We love our friends and family so much, but feel like we don't show just how much sometimes!  Just an overall effort to think more outside ourselves.  And then there's the more personal goals for me...

Goals as a Momma for Reese:

//Routine.//

//Get on the floor more to interact.//

//Smile, encourage, love, empower, and TEACH. Lots more of all these things.//

//ACT instead of REACT.//

//Never turn down when she reaches out to spend time together.  Whether that's reading, playing with her princesses, or playing hide and seek.//

Goals as a Momma for Riggs:

//Hold my lil boyfren more. #secondbabyprobs//

//Eye contact and laughter.//

//Baths.//

//Be in the moment.//

Goals as a Wifey for Buns:

//Think before you speak.//

//Small acts of love everyday.//

//Listen without thinking of what I want to say.  TRULY listen.//

//Weekly date nights. At least two of those weeks getting out of the house to do something fun!//

Goals as Ashton:

//Commitment.  To self.  To family.  To God.  To friends.//

//Things will not go perfectly.  That is OK.  Live and let be.//

//SERVICE. Put loving arms around them.//

♥, Me

Family Night: Walk around the Provo Temple

Family Night this past Monday we showed Reese pictures of the temple and talked about "forever families".  It was super short, involved paper puppets that she was more interested in than the temple, and a walk around the temple that ended in tears.  I loved every second of it.  Probably my favorite thing about the night was watching Reese and Buns interact.  They have such a special relationship, and I hope she always feel as close to her daddy as she does now.

Snuggle Bug

Snuggles from our baby girl when she was sick earlier last week.  Reese has never really been a snuggler.  Never been that baby that just rests on your shoulder or cuddles up with you.  She's always on the move and likes her independence.  But when she's sick, as much as it breaks my heart, I gotta say I love the cuddles.  The picture of me and her was taken by Buns while we were watching Sesame Street.  Have I mentioned Reese's love for Sesame Street?  We watch one show each day when she wakes up from her morning nap, and it's hysterical how she smiles SO big when the song for Sesame Street comes on.  Elmo's her favorite.  It's pretty cool to see how she's making connections.  Like for example, this chick LOVES books.  She could sit entertained for a solid hour just me reading her books.  Lately she picks out the two Sesame Street books we have EVERY time.  As we're flipping through the book, she points to Elmo whenever he shows up!  It's pretty cool to see her little mind making those connections!  

We sure love our girl and are glad she's back to her normal self!  Now off to the doctor's for shots.  #holla

4 more days 'till Friday!! Can't it be the weekend already?

♥, Ashton Tilton

Reese Recently {At Home Edition}

Today I put Reese down for a very early nap.  I don't know if it's remnants of being sick earlier this week, but girl has been clingy and teary.  This mom's at a loss of what to do!  Haha.  So here I am posting some pictures of my typically very happy girl from a couple weeks ago to remind myself that this is her normal disposition! Lol.  

Reese has a buddy that comes over a couple times a week, and whenever she walks through the door she get the biggest smile on her face.  It's pretty dang cute.  Her pal is 6 months older than her and gets excited to see Reese too.  When she walks through the door, she smiles, points, and yells, "EESE!  EESE!  EESE!"  Does a little number on my heart.  Buds are the best.  

Typically the first plan of action is to dump out all of the small toys in her toy bucket, so they are strategically placed all over the front room creating an ankle-breaking zone.  I have learned to embrace this.  Let them be little, right?  So they go to town, while I read, journal, or finance (ew, that's very rare) on the couch next to them.  They keep themselves busy and are seriously the best of friends.   

Most times when Roni is waddling around our living room, I just watch her and chuckle at her growing body.  How she moves her arms and legs, how she's learning balance, how she learns what she can pick up and what's too heavy, how she tries to squeeze through the rungs of the desk chair, etc, etc... Toddlers have the funniest mannerisms, and I love it.  Her little fingers are the best!  That little pincer grip gets me everytime.  Lately she's been very aware of her head.  Either she's just discovered that it's attached to her body or she's finally aware of her lack of huuur.  It's okay baby girl, one day we will rock the piggies!  She also pats her belly a lot which is daddy's favorite.  Kills him.

And then there's that smile.  That toothy grin.  There are no words.  

And anyone who's met Reese, knows this face below.  Her infamous meet and greet.  You see...my child likes to give you a disgusted, get-out-my-face look instead of a smile upon first meeting you.  Thankfully this is usually accompanied by a smile right after.  I promise my child isn't a sass.  Or maybe she is?  Dang it.  In any event...it's hysterical and keeps us laughing.

Can I get a HOORAH for the fact that it's the weekend?!  I have big plans of running errands, doing laundry, eating ice cream, and crafting.  And trust me....all of those things I'm stoked about.  Except laundry.  Duh.  Hope y'all have a great weekend!!

♥, Ashton Tilton