I was crafty!

Before camp, I got crafty! I stumbled upon a few tutorials on Pinterest for bracelets made with buttons, and I loved them! I also found a lesson idea to tie them in to camp. It talked about how each bracelet is made with several different types of buttons: some big, some small, some antique, some brand new, etc. It went on to say that even though we as individuals may be different, we all have a place. We are all important.

Be Brave!

I've been a bit MIA lately. It's been a really busy few weeks. But don't despair; I haven't forgotten my blog! Here I am to play catch-up!

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Girl's Camp! Every year, our church puts on a week-long camp for all youth girls, ages 12-18. They learn survival skills, like tying knots and cooking over a fire, and most importantly, they learn about Christ and His love! It's awesome!

This year, the theme was B.R.A.V.E. - Bold Righteous Amazing Valiant Examples.

I was assigned to be a cabin leader with the about 12 4th year girls, who are all about 15-16 years old. We had a blast! We stayed up late giggling about boys and telling silly stories, hiked and crafted and performed a skit, and listened to the awesome speakers and leaders!

When it was time to come home, I was covered with a solid layer of grime, sunburned, and my voice was completely gone, but I'm ready to go back again next year!

Happy Easter!

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

Because of Him, families are forever.

And I get to be their mother!

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

Mormon Prom

This past Friday night was the Youth Prom for our church. I had the pleasure of planning it, along with my friend, Genelle. We've been brainstorming, meeting together, shopping, and building for weeks now, and we were so excited to see our vision come to life!

The prom was for all youth in our area, ages 16 and up, and it was Hollywood Glam themed. Genelle and I had a ton of help building and setting up the decor, and running the dance itself!

Our photo booth, complete with every prop you can imagine:

The youth had a blast, and so did we!

My awesome mother-in-law, Sherrie, and I.

Thanks to everyone who made the night possible!

Happy Sunday!

Welcome home Brian!

My brother-in-law gets home from his mission tonight!!

Two years ago, Brian left for New Zealand to serve a mission for our church. He has sacrificed and worked so much for the last two years, teaching the people of New Zealand about Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Now, he's coming home! We are so excited! 

I've never picked up a missionary from the airport before, and I can't wait to see Brian again!

To learn more about Mormon missionaries and what they do, click the link!
http://mormon.org/missionaries

Keep Calm and Become

I had the awesome opportunity to go to our church's girl's camp last week. You should know that I LOVE camp. I went every year that I could as a youth, and now I got to go as a leader! 

It was soooo fun! I was the cabin leader over a delightful group of 12 first-year girls. They were so cool. I laughed harder with them than I have in a while! We played games, did nails, and stayed up all night! 

The great thing about camp is that it's not only about identifying poison ivy and tying knots, but it's also about building testimonies of Christ. We spend a lot of time singing hymns, praying, reading scriptures, and learning with the help of the Spirit. It's wonderful to get away for a week, and focus on what's really important.

This year, the theme of camp was "Keep Calm and Become." We focused a lot on Believing, Becoming, and Being Converted. It was fabulous! We had incredible teachers who brought the Spirit into every moment of camp.

I can't wait for next year!

The lovely ladies of Cabin 1!

Day 14, Things I'm Lovin Today!

May 14th- 10 Things That Make You Really Happy

Man, I do this all the time! Only I call these posts "Things I'm Lovin Today."

Usually on days where I'm extra tired or cranky, or just need a reminder of how awesome my life is, I write a post about things I love. 

So here, for your entertainment, are Things I'm Lovin Today, Life Edition:

1. My family. I have the best husband in the world, and the most amazing little girls!

2. Dr. Pepper. It's smooth and bubbly and delicious and caffeinated.

3. Music. Moves my soul and makes life better.

4. Driving down the highway with the windows down and the music loud. Instantly boosts my mood. 

5. The Ocean. Man, I love the ocean. I seriously could live there.

6. Fireworks. The rumble-your-heart, shake-the-ground big-boomers. I actually just giggle the whole time.

7. Two words: Harry. Potter.

8. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Knowing that there is a plan for me and that there is always hope is very comforting.

9. Naps.

10. Doing hair. I love meeting lots of people and making them feel better about themselves. Cheap hair products is a plus too!

Mountains to Climb

What a beautiful message.

He took my licking for me

Today in church, a story was shared that touched me. I found it from a talk given by President Hinckley in Dec. 2000.

“Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.

“A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’

“‘I will risk it,’ he replied.

“The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’

“The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’

“One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard.

“‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the class.

“‘That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!’

“In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!’ the teacher said.

“The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take my coat off!’

“‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“‘Oh, teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.

“‘How can I whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.’ Everything was quiet as death.

“‘How come you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’

“He replied, ‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’

“The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’

“Off came Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’”

To lift a phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken “my licking for me” and yours for you."

What a wonderful story! I was so blessed to hear it today!  It brought tears to my eyes, and I know that Christ really did "take my licking for me."

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Today was Portia's first Sunday as a Sunbeam. For those of you who don't know, Sunbeams are the class of kids at our church who have just graduated from the Nursery program.
I was a little worried about her; she loved Nursery. I was concerned that she would look around, see no toys, and lose it. But she seemed to do just fine!
Just now, as I was making dinner in the kitchen, Portia came in holding a family picture. She looked at it for a moment and declared, "Heavenly Father knows me and my family." I asked her if that's what she learned in Sunbeams today, and she told me it was.
I am very impressed. She listened to what her teachers said, and took it with her! I am so grateful for this program!

the real world

In the third grade, we learned how to write in cursive. My teacher told us time and time again that in high school, if your teacher sees that you didn't write in cursive on an assignment, they would simply throw it in the trash. She said she was preparing us for the real world.
In high school, I had a tendency to be late to class. My teachers reprimanded me, and warned that in college, if I was late, the professor would kick me out of the classroom without even asking for an explanation. That's how the real world is run, they said.
The "real world" seemed so harsh and unforgiving; no second chances! One mistake and you're outta here! But it's not like that at all. Sure, there are instances where those principles apply, but not when it really matters.
I've made lots of mistakes in my life, some not so big, some huge! So have you, I'd wager. But want to know something wonderful? I have always been able to fix them. I've always been able to recover and move on.
I love that I am able to repent of my sins. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a marvelous thing! The Savior bled for us in the Garden, died for us on the cross, and rose again, all so that we can fix our mistakes and return to Him. What a beautiful plan! What a true manifestation of love! 
2 Nephi 10:20 says "let us remember Him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off". My friends, we are never cast off from the Lord. He is not harsh or unforgiving. We are His children and He will always provide a way for us to return to Him.
In high school, no one cared that I never mastered cursive. In college, no professor dismissed me from class. And in the "real world," I have never been denied the opportunity to correct my wrongdoings and feel my Heavenly Father's love.

25 reasons why i am awesome

Remember a few years ago, when everyone and their dog did these lists of 25 things on Facebook? Here's a few things about yours truly.

1. I hate being cold. I hate snow, ice, cold hands, etc. 

2. I cant comprehend math. I still dont know my multiplication tables. 

3. My favorite pickles in the world are Vlassic Zesty Dill Spears. They are to die for. If you hate pickles, you will most likely hate them. 

4. When I was in in kindergarten, I thought my name was "Kaffleen" because that's how all my peers pronounced it. I think Daisy and Jeannine corrected me after a long debate. 

5. I hate being pregnant. I would rather do labor and delivery every day for 9 months than be pregnant for 9 months.


6. My daughters are the prettiest little girls ever.


7. My family is full of sets of multiples. My dad is a twin, my sister has twins, and going back through the generations, there are a lot of multiple births. 


8. My sisters and I are somewhat odd, we associate colors/personalities to certain letters or numbers. For example, in my brain, the numbers 1-10 all have a personality. 6 is compassionate, but 5 is ornery. I always thought everyone did this, but apparently not. 


9. I love naps. 


10. I hate wearing shoes, if I could go barefoot everywhere, I would. 


11. One of the happiest days of my life has been when I married my best friend for all eternity! I am a very lucky girl! I couldn't ask for a better husband than Brandon. 


12. I would live on the beach. I love the ocean! 


13. My biggest guilty pleasure is watching america's next top model. 


14. I love Audery Hepburn, I think she is a spectacular actress, and a wonderful lady. Plus, she was stunning. I think she looks like my sister Daisy. 


15. When my Carrie-sister and I worked at Sonic together, we would tease each other all the time, and everyone we worked with thought we were serious. We basically had to sit them all down and convince them that we only tease each other in fun, and we really do like each other a lot. 


16. I can't tell you how many times I have been stung by jellyfish. We went to Pensacola one year for a family vacation, in the middle of jellyfish season. Ouch. 


17. I have had stitches 7 times, not including the 4 plus sets in my mouth. 


18. I would love to go skydiving or bungee jumping or something like that. I would be so scared that I would probably cry, but it would be so awesome.


19. I love sushi, I could probabby eat it every day. 


20. I hope our kids are like Brandon and never have to go through an awkward stage, mine was horrendous. Buck teeth, bad haircut, big coke-bottle glasses, hand-me-down clothes from my sisters (which were actually hand-me-downs from someone else). Middle school was hard. 


21. When I would go trucking with my dad in the summers, I used to ask him to tell me how things worked, like a toilet or a carberator, so that I could fall asleep. I never could understand what he was talking about, but it put me right to sleep! 


22. I love being LDS. I don't know where I would be without the Gospel of Christ.


23. I am seriously arachnaphobic. I am always embarrassed when I see a spider in front of people I don't know very well, because my reaction probably makes me look like a lunatic. 


24. I love the city New Orleans. I haven't been since Katrina, but I hope it hasn't changed too much, just maybe all that water made it a little bit cleaner? 


25. One of my legs is longer than the other.

our little orator

Portia is funny. Today was testimony meeting at church, and she put on a show.

She had been bugging Brandon to take her to change her diaper, which in reality means that she wanted him to take her out in the hall to run around the church; her diaper was fine. So when he stood up to go bear his testimony, I think she thought he was going to go out in the hall. Naturally, she started yelling for him to take her with him. He did.

At first, Portia just sat in Daddy's arms, watching. But about halfway through his testimony, she got a sneaky little smirk on her face, leaned forward, grabbed the microphone and started talking. She didn't say anything in particular, just babbled.

Brandon pulled her away, and she might have been done after that, but everyone laughed. She realized that she was being cute and funny. So she did it again. And again.

Finally, Brandon turned to her and asked if she had something to say. He then whispered to her to say "Thank you for Jesus," and clear as an adorable little bell, she leaned forward again and said "keenku Jesus!"

It was pretty cute.

inspired today

I heard a story a few minutes ago about an incredible woman. Her name is Stephanie, and I just watched this short video about her:

I feel as though I have been over-worried about silly things lately; my clothes/hair, our apartment, money, school, to name a few. I need to stop and remember the important things in my life; my husband and daughter, my abundant blessings, the Gospel of Christ. I need to slow down, take things a day at a time, and I will be happier.

Here is the link to Stephanie's blog, for those of you, like me, who want to read more:

http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Zumba

Today i went to my first Zumba class! It was SO fun, and really a workout! I think the last time I sweat that much, I was in labor! I will totally be back!

In Norman, classes are at 10:30 on Monday mornings at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:30 at Trinity Baptist Church, and they're free!!

Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Hxw_Jf2B4

Sacrament talk

today, Brandon and I gave talks in Sacrament meeting, here's mine:

Good morning,

We have been asked to speak on the Conference talk: To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, by Elder Richard G. Scott. When we first received the call to speak, I immediately felt overwhelmed. Public speaking is something that I generally don’t like to do. After a few days of hyperventilating at the thought of today, I started to try to think of ideas, but I was stumped. I had no clue what to speak about. Before going to bed one night, I prayed for guidance and for confidence. The next day, I happened to come across one of my old friend’s blogs online. Miraculously, she had just posted some of her feelings on personal revelation. After reading her simple but profound thoughts, I not only felt a little less frightened, but also had a few thoughts of my own. The Lord answered my plea for help in a most unconventional way.

Personal revelation can come in many different forms, and can come at any time. It is up to us to be continuously ready to receive that strength and guidance from the Lord. If we are not prepared, we will miss something.

Elder Scott said:

“I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.”

He goes on to say that if receiving revelation were easy, we would become weak. We must work at it, having faith and patience, only then can we grow spiritually.

When we are spiritually strong, we can not only receive inspiration to know what to do, but also the power to do it. In high school, my English class read a play based on the story of Job. Beforehand, my teacher had all of us bring our Bibles to class, to go over the story together so that we could understand the play better. I felt prompted to bring my Book of Mormon as well, and being the only member of the church in the class, I was nervous that a lot of attention would be turned my way. But I brought it, and after a few minutes of quietly studying our bibles, some of my classmates began to ask me questions about the church. And after a while, the teacher and every student in the class were listening intently to me. I was petrified that I would say something wrong or that I would be confusing, but I was given the power and courage to answer the questions and bear my testimony to my class.

The Lord also comforts us in times of grief or fear. He has given us this gift out of pure love. When I was a little girl, I had quite the overactive imagination. It didn’t help that I had seen the move Hocus Pocus, which scared the living daylights out of me. I would lay in bed at night and imagine witches coming to steal me away to turn me into a cat, and I would never get to see my family, or play with my barbies ever again! I would terrify myself to the point of insomnia, at which point I would usually remember from Primary, that my Heavenly Father loves me. I would say a prayer to help me be less afraid and fall asleep. Every single time, my silly childhood fears were dispelled, and I did this quite often. Because of this, I learned at an early age of the infinite and abounding love of my Father in heaven.

We must all remember that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us. He rejoices when we are happily following the gospel of Christ. Moses 1:39 states that the Father’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. He will reveal to us the help and guidance we need, as well as His incredible love for us, as long as we remain worthy to receive such.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What to Expect the First Year

Today was a hard day for us here in the Rawlinson household. Portia didn't sleep well at all last night, and woke up very early this morning, about 15 minutes before Brandon's alarm went off for school. He graciously took Portia to the living room so I could get a few more minutes of sleep, but came to wake me up as he left. Here's were the real trouble started. I didn't wake up. Wednesday is early morning mowing day for the maintenace crew, and I didn't hear him over the roar of lawn mowers, weed eaters, and leaf blowers outside. Portia was playing contently as he left, and he thought I was on my way out to play with her. An hour later, when the mowing ended, I was jerked out of sleep to the sound of screaming in the other room. Portia was all alone and not happy about it. The rest of the day has been along the same lines. Portia is exhausted, but won't sleep for fear of being put down by herself. It is 11:0, and I haven't eaten dinner yet, I haven't even had the chance to go pee in hours. The house is filthy because Portia hasn't let me clean it, and Brandon is off studying for a big test tomorrow. Definitely a hard day. But amidst all the fussing and wails, I have yet to feel regret for the choice we made to start a family.

I have the opportunity to spend time with several young moms at my school, and it is interesting to listen to them talk about their kids. Usually they mention them in congruence with complaints. Their tones are rich with comtempt, and sometimes even disgust, as they blame their children for extra pounds, lack of sleep, and a diminishing social life (as it turns out, binge-drinking and clubbing is a little difficult with a 2 year old at home). I marvel that they can overlook all the innocence and wonder in their children and ignore the pure joy that easily comes with spending time with them.

I am grateful that I belong to a church that teaches the importance of families. The countless General Conference talks, Relief Society lessons, and examples from leaders and fellow members of the church have taught me from childhood that being a mother is the most rewarding and important job I could ever hold. I firmly believe that my purpose on this earth is to raise my children to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

So as I sit here, hungry and tired, typing one-handed and balancing an angry 5-month old in my lap, I am happy and I feel overwhelmingly blessed.

General Conference

General Conference is this weekend, and I am beginning to get excited! I love listening to the messages from our priesthood leaders, and feeling the unique spirit that comes from their words. I love joining with family to learn and grow together, not to mention playing conference bingo! But my favorite part of General Conference is by far the music. Music is such a huge part of my life; the choirs stun me.
When I went to BYU, I had the opportuninty to attend conference once. I was thrilled to listen to the prophet speak in person, but listenening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "Come Thou Fount," with the perfect accoustics of the conference center, took my breath away. The Spirit was so strong, I felt my heart singing along with the choir.
I can't wait for this weekend, to hear our beloved prophet's voice, and the hear the many voices joined together in hymns of praise.