my little man

Look at this little bugger.
His favorite things include placing his hands on his hips when he makes statements...which is often,
running like a line backer.. or a gorilla [with his arms swinging by his side], 
being a man's-man playing with cars and "killing" all the girls with his screwdriver,
and enjoying being the youngest grandchild and only grandson in the last.... 14 years?

Needless to say, we think he is DARLING. 

But really... can you blame us?
Homeboy has my heart.
Aside from daddy, of course...

Love you Always.

Taylor Ann

el bautismo

Baptism days are some of the happiest days.

Over break I went to my little Miss' baptism.
As we all took pictures of her inside
[not that scratchy brown wall with butcher paper doesn't make for a lovely background...]

I had the thought that the occasion called for a bit better lighting and scenery.

Boy, am I glad I had the thought.

Doesn't she just glow?
It was such a great experience to be there,
and see this little family together.
It made me think about all the things I love and the gospel that I am so grateful for.

I believe in Christ.

I am consistently blown away at the effects of Christ and his gospel in people's lives.

And in my own. 

I am a genuinely happy human being.
I am not happy because my life is perfect, though I am fully aware I am blessed.
I am not happy because I'm ignorant or naive, I know the world is hard.
I'm happy because I have the gospel, and I know my standing with my Heavenly Father.
I know that he loves me, despite my shortcomings.

Last week I took one of my very best friends in the whole world to dinner for her birthday.
We talked about high school and life and the way we are. Our similarities, our differences.
She and I were very different in high school, and as we giggled about it, she turned to me.
"You're just.... it's different than just maturity.... I think you're an old soul"

Would you know, that's exactly what little Miss' mother said about her at her baptism?
That, she truly is. Very aware, very sweet. Somehow very much older than 8 years old.

I will gladly be placed in her same category.

I bring this all up for lots of reasons.
1. It all is exactly how I feel a lot of the time, so it belongs here, right?
2. Those pictures make me happy every time I look at them.
3. My roommate just got called to serve a mission and share all of this with the people of Los Angeles for a year and a half. I can't imagine a more wonderful, sincere person to do the job.

I'm so proud of her :)
Everyone deserves this kind of happiness.
I just want to share it with the whole world.

Love Always,
Taylor Ann

Magic.

You know those happiness moments?

The ones where the weather is perfect,

the sky is the right shade of blue,

when nothing seems to be the matter,

and you curl up with a blanket and a book,

or take a hot bath.

Those moments when you feel so content,

where everyone around you is smiling,

and you just can't seem to wipe the smile off your face.

When you sing loud in the car,

or catch a glimpse of something breathtaking,

when the snow is falling so magically,

or you feel loved perfectly despite your imperfections.

I love those moments. 

I live for them.

Magic is real,

I just know it is. 

I remember walking home from class my freshman year on my birthday.

It was in the end of February, and weather is never very good then.

But the sun was shining and it felt so good on my face.

I can remember exactly where I was at that moment, and I remember how it felt.

Magic.

I remember seeing my kids waiting for me at the front of the orphanage when our bus pulled in.

I remember dancing with them all night to the sounds of Peruvian voices and guitars.

I remember Jerry holding my hands and walking on my feet and smiling up with that toothless grin.

Magic.

I remember coming home for a weekend in the summer of 2009 and sleeping under the stars with my family.

Magic.

I remember driving down dirt roads this summer with the music up loud...singing at the top of our lungs,  and catching frogs in the muddy banks of the pond.

Magic.

Life is never perfect. 

But I think He gives us moments in which we glimpse for a moment what pure joy feels like.

It's that peaceful, calm, happy moment when nothing else seems to matter. 

Where even if all other things are wrong, you just know it will be ok.

I think that might be what eternity feels like.

I suppose I'll have to wait to find out.

These are some of my favorite "magic" pictures on my pinterest account.

I think the older I get, and the more I make the distinction between what matters and what doesn't,

I have more and more "magic" moments.

It's more of the feeling than the circumstance or action.

That swelling in your heart. 

Magic.

In those moments, and always....

truly, my cup runneth over.

tender mercies

I'm sorry I haven't really been a real blogger the past couple of days.
You see, right now I'm a little overwhelmed.
[With all the having to be a real person and make real choices about life and stuff, you know]
And I still have 3 midterms left this week.
So thus... it's not over yet.

But don't you worry, Heavenly Father has not forgotten me.
The other day I had to wear a pencil skirt to school,
[cue "having to be a real person" remark found above]
so I didn't ride my sweet penelope.
I thought I might die. The walk home is fifty times longer without a bike.
But then mama called and I decided to set down my heavy backpack and lie on the grass.
As I talked, I looked up.
The sky to my right was painted all light blues and pinks.
And the tree above my head was turning rich yellow around the edges.
My phone died, so I let my mind be quiet for the remainder of my walk home.
I saw green summer touched with the fiery hues of fall.
I could smell the water on the pavement.
I thought how ironic it is that to smell the best scents you have to breath deep.
Gratitude takes some effort from our part.
There's so much wonder that you miss if you don't open your eyes- or take a deep breath.

So, aside from the stress, these are the things that make me happy this week.
These are my tender mercies.

(1) friends and BYU football
(2) boys that strap sheep pillow pets on their bikes
(3) pizza and soda with General relief society meeting
(4) home evening at the bishops house: fingerpaints and haystacks

Let's make it through this week :)