I need to Ramble!

This blog post is entirely for journaling purposes, so if you just like pictures...scroll on down!
This week has been long. Wade has been out of town for a week now. He was in Chicago for the National Championships for his mock trial competition. Big news. HE WON! National Champ! woot woot. I sent him with my camera so I hope he took pictures. He was supposed to fly in today. It didn't happen. Lubbock had a serious wind storm today which cancelled all flights arriving in Lubbock. So him and his team hopped in a van and drove. Hopefully they will be home soon. I need a break!

I wanted to write down some things about today. And some things I have been thinking about. To go along, and prevent a boring post, I included pictures of the kids!

I don't think I ever mentioned on here about me loosing some lbs. I started in Aug and lost 13 pounds. I worked so hard. Exercised with intense cardio 3 to 4 times a week and logged all my food and kept my calorie intake to 1368 every day. I hate that I don't loose weight easy, but I am proud of my self for working hard and being dedicated. During the holidays I was careful but didn't worry too much. Lucky for me I didn't gain a pound. This week I am starting back up again. I really hate worrying about weight. I have never worried or struggled with my body until having these cute kids. So my goal is another 10 by graduation in May :)

I had such a good day at church today. Despite not having Wade there to help me keep Weston in control, it was a really good 3 hours. It was ward conference, so our Stake presidency came and spoke. It was really wonderful and exactly what I needed to hear. At one point I got really really sad and started to cry as Lubbock got brought up. It all the sudden hit me that my time here is almost up. In one of their talks they mentioned seeing the lights of the temple. I drive by our Temple on a daily basis. At night we see it's light shine. I may never live so close to a Temple. Our temple is in the parking lot of the stake center so we see it every single day as we go to Walmart, school, ect. It has been such a blessing to so frequently drive by and the opportunities it presents as I get to teach my children about the holiness of the Temple, who Joseph Smith was, who Angel Moroni was and why we go to the Temple- conversations that arise as we drive by every day. I love Lubbock. I know for sure I will never live in a ward or stake like this ever again. The spiritual growth that has happened to my family has been amazing. To participate in so much missionary work, service, and activities is unique to Lubbock.
I cried as I thought about me being released from my calling. I am not too sure how I am going to be able to move away. The yw leaders and the yw are some of my most cherished blessings and friendships. I really get emotional even journaling about it now. ahhhh! moving on.

One other part that got me all crying during Sacrament was at the end. We were all singing , I Know my Redeemer Lives. I look over and Brooklyn is singing all the words and singing loud. She didn't know that I was watching her, but she sang so beautifully and I felt the spirit as I listened to her singing about knowing that her Redeemer lives. Sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough in terms of teaching them more. But then those moments happen and I know we are doing enough.

I am feeling so sad. I guess I am not really ready for life to start again for us. We have been so blessed here in Texas. When Wade was praying about which out of the 16 law schools to choose, he got a firm answer that it wasn't about which law school was best for his career. In fact he got better scholarships and got into higher ranked schools then Tech. But his answer was not about any of that. The Lord told Wade that Lubbock is where we were needed. And, where we needed to go to spiritually grow together and as a family. We had no idea what that meant really. But it didn't take more then a year for it to become very clear what that meant for us. See why I am having a hard time letting go of Lubbock? For us, there was no place on earth better then living here. The thought of moving away from these people, my yw, our friends, our drive by the temple each day... is really hard for me.

I think that is enough. :) I think in a few years when I re-read this I will be happy that I documented it, despite it being public(which always makes me feel awkward :)