W.O.W.

It's amazing the difference a year makes!

The last few days I've been astounded at how the human mind works. This isn't anything new, but this particular time I'm amazed by the mind's ability to not fully understand the gravity of a situation until MUCH later.

Many of you who have followed my blog for a while now remember this post...

http://thebeckerbunch.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-fireworks-needed.html

and this post...

http://thebeckerbunch.blogspot.com/2008/07/we-busted-out.html

from last 4th of July.

Reading back on the post, I realize it was a difficult time for us, however...I don't think it really hit me until VERY recently...like a few days ago recently.

I have spent the last few days finding myself remembering him in the hospital or having to leave him to get stitches because the Dr. said it would be hard to watch or seeing him suffer and I can't keep the tears from coming. I have a renewed and strong testimony of Heavenly Father's love for us and for how precious children are.

I have also learned quite a lesson from Keaton this past year and that is of the body's ability to bounce back and move on. On Friday, we went to the splash pad at the park to let the kids run around. At one point I saw Keat playing with some other boys, older boys, who eventually walked him over to a bench and the group sat and talked and played around. This is NO surprise because Keaton has an amazing ability to make friends ANYWHERE he goes. I was a tad worried as they started walking away so I followed from a distance. When they sat down, my mom worry went away but I stayed and listened to them talk. They talked about what they were playing and the other boys seemed to really think Keat was awesome(so do I). Eventually a lady with a VERY large dog walked by. The other boys jumped up and asked her, pleaded with her to let them pet her dog. She agreed and the group surrounded the dog, each boy scratching an ear or it's head or any other part they could reach. Keaton stayed back, but eventually got up and timidly touched the dogs nose, smiled and laughed as he did so, sat back down and VERY matter of factly told the lady, "I DON'T LIKE DOGS". :)

How much better would we be if we lived our lives in such a manner...notice he didn't tell her he didn't like dogs and THEN find the courage to pet it. He may have talked himself out of it had he reacted that way. Instead, he rode the roller coaster, got back on the horse, faced his fear and then was happy to report that maybe it didn't CHANGE his feelings, but he wasn't going to LET THEM change him.

Keaton is just amazing. I love that boy to pieces. I'm SO grateful for him and that a year later, he's okay, not only his face, but I believe he is okay too. I don't think there will ever be a FEAR of dogs, nothing that will go so far as to keep him from finding them funny and lovable. He may not jump to pet them or play with them, but he'll always love them. I'm grateful for that.

I know this post is a bit of a rambling, but I truly have been reminded that I am lucky this week. Lucky to have such wonderful little people to learn from and strengthen me. They keep me on my toes, but they keep me dancing!

I'm PROUD to be an American

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

May God bless this wonderful Nation and those who fight to ensure our liberties!!

If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.- Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.- Judge Learned Hand

The Star Spangled Banner

By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:'

Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Broox' Photo Shoot

Here is a photo shoot we did with Broox when he was about 4 weeks old. I can't believe how much he's grown and changed already from these pictures. He's really starting to pack the weight on. At his ONE MONTH WELL CHECK, here were his stats.

He weighs in at 9 pounds and 10 ounces
He is 22 inches long

He's a little over 50% in each category. He is EXACTLY the same weight as Lilee was at this time, but an inch shorter. However, he is over a pound heavier than Keaton was, but an inch taller. Looks like Keat will be our string bean, Lilee is our "big boned" one, and Broox may be our pudgy guy! Who knows in the end!!

Here are our photos...I LOVE our new camera!! I think the pictures look like they were taken by a professional!

Some of these I couldn't flip, so you'll have to turn your head!! :) He's already for winter...so am I!!

I LURVE LURVE LURVE his hair in this photo. He's already lost so much of it...but it looks so cute here!
Truly a gift!
I love the color contrast in this picture!
Already for church...heehee! He has "dancing legs" don't you think?! So graceful looking!
Here is the Build a Bear the kids got him. I'll have to take a photo to show you how small it is, but it looks HUGE next to Broox. I love his little smile...and those crossed eyes!
As with an eternal circle that goes on forever, so too will our family! What a blessing! (PS...my fingers were still so swollen that I couldn't get my ACTUAL ring off, so this had to do)
So new...
So precious!
This is Seth's favorite picture I think...If this isn't an ad for PEACE, I don't know what is!
I love these munchkins SO much! This is SO their personalities...Lilees showing off, Keat being cute and shy, and Broox sleeping through it all!!

We went up to Estrella Hills a couple weeks ago and got some great pictures there also!

Here's Lilee...I love the "architecture" of this picture!
They are such good friends...I love it!
I LOVE this picture...it looks like she's grumpy, but she was really just running REALLY hard and concentrating REALLY hard...but this IS the face she gives when she is being sassy, so there ya go!
He's such a goof!
Here's my beautiful lady...those EYES!!!
The kids are LESS than amused!A BIT more into it with daddy
The BEAUTIFUL sunsets that we are blessed with here in Arizona...not sure if it makes the heat worth it though...but you can truly see God's hand in this...it's amazing!

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

While I'm sure MANY of you have seen this...I am posting it because Seth needs it for his team meeting at work tomorrow. They don't have access to direct YouTube...so this was the best way we figured to do it! If you HAVE NOT seen this...do so NOW! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Enjoy!

O Remember, Remember

I have decided to start a new blog entry based on a talk by Elder B. Eyring. A clip can be found here.

*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF01BQAcj8E&feature=channel

*

These posts will always be titled "O Remember, Remember"

*

"I realized trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done"

*

I most likely won't do this every day, but I am hoping that by attempting this as often as possible, I will be more aware of Heavenly Father's hand in my own life.

*

Last Sunday, as we were driving home from church, we asked Keaton what he had learned in nursery that day. In the past, we are usually given his typical answer..."we played play-dough, ate grapes and fruit snacks, and colored" Sometimes he remembers to tell us that they played with cars and other toys. Seth and I usually look at each other and smile. It has become so humorous that when he doesn't offer a lot of information up, we usually ask what he had for snack, since that is typically what he remembers most.

*

However, on this particular Sunday, when we asked him what he learned in nursery, Keaton said, "I A CHILD OF GOD" As surprise was overcome by happiness and pride, I became very aware of the individuals teaching my child such precious and simple truths. How grateful I am to them. How grateful I am for the innocence and quiet reminders that come from my perfect little man. I hope I will be able to more deeply instill this truth in all my children and remind myself each day that "I, too, A CHILD OF GOD"

P.P.S.

Day two of P90X...

.

.

.

I want to die!

My arms are more sore today than they were yesterday from Monday's shoulder and back workout.

Waking up last night to cater to the Broox Man proved to be TERRIBLY difficult after the hour long cardio workout...which, by the way, was so horrendously difficult, I truly thought I may keel over and die right in the middle of "Bringing It". 3 months of this, huh?! At least the cardio is only once a week...whew! Tonight is arms...huh?! Why do my arms already hurt?! Tomorrow is YOGA and I'm PRAYING that there are some relaxation yoga techniques in there somewhere amidst the GRUELING hour long intensity. BEACH BODY, BEACH BODY, BEACH BODY...that's my mantra...that and...ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING FOR 30 SECONDS!

If you have NO clue what I'm talking about, ask...I'd be happy to share with you what Seth is "determined" we try. I'll tell you this much, I'm DEFINITELY "feeling" the burn! Hopefully in a few weeks time we'll see some results! I'm excited to lose this baby chub once and for all...at least until I get pregnant again! Sheesh...let's hope that doesn't happen anytime soon!! :) I cannot IMAGINE what my "fours company" post would say!!

This will be us in 90 days...heehee, a girl can dream, can't she?! But these ARE real 90 day results...gives ya a goal at the least, right?! :)

P.S.

Seth and I started P90X last night. If you don't know what that is, go here...

www.BeachBody.com/P90X

Wish us luck...

.

.

.

.

.

.

we're gonna need it!!

If we're brave...we'll post before, during, and after progress photos!