Pillar of Strength

A week or so ago, a long, long time family friend was sure to let me know just how lucky I am to have Erin as my wife. That Sunday, Erin had taught Relief Society for her second time. The friend mentioned how Erin is a pillar of strength.

Since that day, we have often used that commonly and jovially throughout random conversations. Yet, this morning I dug a little deeper into the meaning of the phrase and have a stronger conviction of just how lucky of a guy I am.

The first search result for pillar of strength on the church website returns an audio recording about the history of Lucy Mack Smith (the mother of Joseph Smith). Through the recording, several life experiences between Lucy and Erin were quite similar. Each had mothers that were the spiritual leaders of their home. Family religious values of duty, faithfulness, and love were instilled by the mothers as their fathers were out earning to provide for their families. As both Lucy and Erin were converted into the Church, they developed a sincere relationship with the Savior that continually gave them strength as they experienced trials and tribulations. As we know, Lucy raised her children whom would later accomplish marvelous things. Erin, unwaveringly, has already begun raising our children with love and tenderness with a future of endless possibilities.

Day and day out, as a wife and as mother, she provides support to those around her. Upon returning home each evening, I approach the door knowing that on the other side is a place of peace, cleanliness, fun, and love. Though my efforts at work provide a monetary reward, Erin's everyday triumphs attract eternal blessings.

Each day, she helps me grows stronger as my love for her is greater than the last.

Hey guys, wanna come over?

So most everyone knows now that our house fell out of escrow. A pipe broke and the house flooded. They weren't willing to really fix it so we had to cancel escrow and walk away.



But guess what! We're in escrow again! You'd think I'd learn my lesson and not share until we had those keys in our hands but nope. So here we go again.

It's a big, beautiful house in Yucaipa. Big spanish tiles thought, redone kitchen and bathrooms, a huge covered patio, pool and spa, fire pit and a huge side yard for RV parking but we'll grass it. Oh and a large peeping Tom dog next door.



Keep your fingers crossed!
Click to see!

Personal

I'm not really one to go on sharing my feelings to the world, but something has been bouncing around in my head for a few days so I thought I'd jot it down.

I'll be honest, sometimes I get jealous of Kevin. He leaves every day to take on the world. He goes to school and work work works. Now he is working on putting together a new charting system for Loma Linda, could that be any more perfect for him? Nursing, but no bedside care+computers=love for Kevin (just a little basic math for you). He's in Wisconsin as we speak, talking to his co workers about computers and needles and HTML and Windows whatever-number-they're-on and iv's. I'm at home looking for new recipes and trying to get my grocery bill under $150. I just feel like they're all SO much smarter than me, that HE'S so much smarter than me. He has places to go and people to see. He goes there and has so much in common with everyone he works with, he comes home and I inform him that Sawyer has poop 4 times, 4! And that I need help putting the sheets on. Such a contrast. And I know he's grateful for every little thing I do, it's not about that. I just feel like it's not as important, and I am envious of all the people he talks to all day and their shared knowledge of something he loves.

But I look at my little Sawyer, and I think to myself that I made that. I grew him, like a pumpkin, in my tummy for 9 months (actually, 10, google it if you don't believe me). I'm the one who figures out what he likes to eat. I find out what scares him. I kiss boo boos. I'll teach him his animals, colors, numbers. To wave hi an bye, and to have manners. I'll teach him to love mama and daddy the same (but to always hug mama a little harder). You know what, most days that sounds pretty ok to me.




Ok and here's a picture.
We take eating pretty serious around these parts.