Redefining the Family

The definition of a family has been under attack for years. Like everyone else I have been struggling with my own definition of a family, but not in the way you might think. Bradyn and I took family pictures this past weekend. When I mentioned this to a coworker, confused she asked "wait, I thought you didn't have kids". I was kind of embarrassed as I answered "uh, well I don't. I just mean my husband and I took pictures". In my mind, the steriotypical family consists of parents and children. I used to fit into that definition as a child and then I formed my own family as a newly wed. Lately though, I've had to reconsider what it means to me to be a family as I suddenly find myself a willing parent without any children.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the line "everyone is a mother" (you can ask Aubrey, she can vouge for my numerous noncense rants). I am bothered by this statement because first being a mother is a very special and unique position in a child's life. I believe a child has other important relationships like aunts, teachers, neighbors, childcare providers and what-not. Second, these relationships are also unique and can't and SHOULDN'T be compared to being a mother. These relationships are still nurturing and influential and are no less important but they are just different. I'm very lucky to be an aunt to the best nieces and nephews (the Sirrine and Bishop siblings happen to make perfect, adorable, brilliant babies). I love each one of the them for who they are and what they add to our family. I also love the kids in my nursery class and I love my friends' kids. A few people where shocked when I accepted a calling into nursery weeks after my fourth miscarriage. I was actually surprised myself. I honestly thought it would be painful. I've realized that being around children isn't a painful reminder to what I don't have but rather an important reminder to the amazing role I play as a woman. 

In this last General Conference Elder Neson said "We need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world. We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly".

While I've been "harping" on the differences between a mother and the other various roles, this statment from Elder Nelson is what these roles all have in common. As women we need to stand up for, defend, teach, and protect children and the family. And I'm learning that you don't need to be a mom to do that! My definition of being a woman and being apart of a family is still rocky but taking these family pictures was a huge step in accepting me and my family for how we are! (Special thanks to Leslie Leavitt Photography for sharing your amazing talents!)

Kitchen update

I love fall break! We wanted to go on a trip but we decided to have a stay-cation. What better way to relax than to work on some projects ha ha. Rather than building something we decided to actually update something in our house! We added some molding to the cabinets and applied a fresh coat of paint. It took twice as much time and we used twice as much wood and paint than we thought we would need...that's how projects go I guess.

This is before. We already like the hardware and the white cabinets which where updated by the previous owners but wanted to add some molding and paint it a brighter white. 

When buying the molding we didn't account for the wasted wood from cutting the 45 degree angels so we ended using twice as much wood. It came out to about $60. We spray painted the cabinet doors and hand painted everything else. If we did it again we probably wouldn't spray paint because you can only apply a small coat at a time so it took forever and used a lot of paint. We probably used 3 spray cans and a quart of paint- $20 total. And a lot of hours. We helped Aubrey and Aaron update theirs at the same time so lots of helping hands made it go by quickly. 

We are very excited by the end result! 

*update...Aubrey and Aaron's transformation is even more impressive! I can't believe the difference if made.