We bought a house! And other odds and ends.

Well, life is always exciting and is keeping us busy. A big item on the new and exciting list. We have bought a house! It is in the Calgary community of Copperfield which is way deep Southeast. We decided a long time ago that when we were ready to buy, we would buy in the SE because it is close to my parent's farm. I work in the SW at the Rockyview hospital as well and Chris is all over the city with his work so we needed to stay in Calgary. There is a new hospital really close to where our new home is so I hope to work there someday. We actually decided on this house back in February (I believe) after two weeks of house shopping. We went out a lot those two weeks with our realtor and when we saw this house, we felt it fit us just right. It has been a long 3 months waiting for possession but we made it to that date last Wednesday and we got the keys. It is a cute small house and we sure love it. It is relatively new - built in 2005. It feels almost brand new as it has been well cared for. It has a nice big back porch perfect for Nathan's BBQ and some outside chairs and a table (when we get them) and a little front porch that I could put a couple of chairs or bench or old fashioned rocking chair (a little thing I want). The main floor is open and you can see from the front living room window to the back kitchen window. There is a 1/2 bathroom as well and a gas fireplace on the main floor (living room area). I have a window over my kitchen sink so that I can see into the back yard and watch the kids play. That was a must for me to have in my own house. There is a garden area out back and a place that we will build a garage but for now we will use it as an outside spot to park our car and Nathan's jeep. The back and front yard are well landscaped with a small  raspberry bush in the back, a type of Korean bush (I will have to get the name of the exact type for you mom and dad), two small trees (one in the front yard, one in the back) and some other flowers and bushes (maybe even a lilac bush). I am excited to plant my garden as soon as we settle in there. Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. The basement has a small family room for the TV and a small room for Nathan and another bathroom with a shower. The laundry room and storage are down there as well. Down the street is a big pond (with ducks in it of course) and a paved pathway all around it and a huge playground, tennis courts, community center and skating rink on one side. We officially move in next Saturday but we have been there a lot already this last week moving some boxes over and hanging up pictures, etc. We love our little home and community and feel so blessed to move onto this next step in life.

Other odds and ends going include watching the children grow and learn. We love to watch them discover new things. They are so cute. I wish I could write down everything Caeleb says. Here are just a few things. When he gets upset and crys, he calls out, "yi yi yi yi yi..." between sobs. Don't have a clue why but it is funny to hear and adorable really. Today, when we were driving back to our current home (from the new home), Caeleb randomly breaks the silence in the truck (Nana and Papa's truck) by saying, "Daddy is Chris (kiss), Mommy is Katherine (Kathin), I... Caeleb, Elva is sister." Wow, I was impressed. I know I have told him my name before but that was a while ago and I am impressed on how well he remembers things.

Elva continues to grow and interact. She is not much of a napper. She likes to take many 10 minute "catnaps" throughout the day. She always wakes up during the night but I am used to it as Caeleb was the same way. He sleeps through the night now and she will too eventually. I am not a worried mom when it comes to that. She loves to smile and laugh that little laugh. She loves her hands too. She will stare at them for a long time and it kind of makes her go a tiny bit cross-eyed which is adorable.

Sunday was our last time at church in the 17th ward. We are going to miss that ward!!! I loved my calling as Primary teacher (I had a hard time being ward chorister in 3rd ward - it didn't come easy to me at all but I learned). I love 17th ward because there is such a mix of people in that ward. The old, the young, the established, the less established (whatever that means), the singles, the marrieds, etc. I love diversity. It was funny, I had a feeling that the Bishop was going to call on Chris and I to bare our testimonies in sacrament meeting. Low and behold, the speakers' talks did not cover the whole time. I was in the Nursery with the loud Caeleb and Elva as it was my turn to take them out, when Chris comes running into the room with a note. He gives it to me and runs out. The notes said, Chris and Katherine to share testimonies." So I head on back to sacrament meeting while someone else watches Caeleb, I hand Elva to Chris after he is done his testimony, and I proceed to the pulpit. I bore my testimony on personal revelation. Funny how the Lord will let us know things even if it is a simple as the fact that I was going to be asked to bare my testimony. I am not perfect at listening but I do know that we can have so much personal revelation in our lives if we read our scriptures, pray, ponder and listen.

Anyways, enough of me talking. I want to continue but will stop for now. Life is good.

Potty Training story

So we have been working little by little on potty training with Caeleb. It is not consistent yet. Not in the least. Caeleb usually refuses to go to the potty. He is just too busy playing to take time for that. However, the other night, after a long day of play, he really needed to and wanted to use his potty. I congratulated him afterwards and he proceeded to pick up his potty, walk it down the hall to uncle Nathan's room, knock on the door, and show Nathan what a good job he did in the potty. It was so funny and cute. Nathan and I were scrambling to find some sort of award to give him (to let him know he did a good job and to want to try it again). No such luck since but soon enough I am sure.

Things I know.

I am just reflecting on life as I go to bed tonight. Life can be confusing and bewildering. I lack so much knowledge, confidence, faith... I am slowly working on those things. But there are some things I know for sure and I want to tell you the ones that come to my mind before I go to sleep...

1). There is a purpose to life. There is a purpose for Eternity!

2). Heavenly Father loves us all individually and he knows us individually.

3). It is okay not to understand everything. We are not expected too. We learn line upon line, precept upon precept.

4). Reading the Book of Mormon will make you feel peaceful and good inside. There is an amazing power in that book!

5). Each person has his/her own potential and purpose in living this life and living throughout eternity.

6). Living in the moment has it's significance. It may be hard to understand but each moment in life can have such powerful and everlasting meaning.

7). Heavenly Father remembers the good moments in life and makes those moments infinitely outweigh the hard moments.

8). We will one day understand the hard moments in life. They have their place and meaning and actually can be turned into good.

9). Newborn babies can see past you into the heavens. They smile at the angels and people up there. The veil is so thin when babies are born and it slowly thickens. (I think it can get thin again if one gets close to the spirit).

10). Little children have a pure form of happiness that can cleanse the world from sadness. Heavenly Father intends for all his children to have that type of happiness and trust.

11). We can all be given opportunities in life to rise up and be a great support, teacher, friend, leader to another person. In doing so, it creates a glimpse (and practice) of what awaits us throughout eternity.

12). Life may seem incredibly complicated but in trying to understand little by little, and in accepting Heavenly Father's plan and the Saviours Atonement, it can be beautifully simple.

13). The knowledge and attributes we gain in this life continue with us and we can somehow eternally add upon them and perfect them.

14). The relationships that we make in this life will continue on into the next life. Family bonds will be everlasting and even those friendships we have will continue on.

15). Heavenly Father and the Saviour understand us completely. They know our weaknesses and insecurities. They know how to make them into strengths. We can trust in them to help us do so.

16). This is the plan of Happiness. Eternal Happiness! It is a perfect plan.