I've got the fever....

Baby fever that is....not beiber fever. lol!

(thought this was funny!)

So i got this new calling in our ward. In the compassionate services. I'm the pregnant moms leader. So basically, I keep in contact with all the preggo moms = Make sure they have everything they need, if not make sure the Relief society can step in and help where they can. Set-up meals for when they deliver. Visit them once a month. And anything else I feel like I need to help with, or to direct the RS's attention to.

I love it!

I really do.

It's hard because you never know who is pregnant....and you can't just awkwardly ask someone....rude?

yep. don't want to be that girl.

Luckily, I've seen where people have announced when we first moved in and remembered them. Or there are those who are so obviously preggo that you can't miss them. Or just asked here and there....and they actually have a sign-up sheet in RS that goes around...(unreliable since last I saw there was 2 on this list and I counted in sacrament meeting on sunday.....about 11-12!!! seriously!)

That's alot of preggos!!

Wow!

Before I came here I prayed that I would meet lots of people and that I could have the opportunity to serve and that I could be more involved. Most importantly was the more involved part. I wanted to really be 110% in everything. It seemed like, in my old ward, since it was my family ward, I was Rose's Daughter and not our own family. We didn't quite fit in. I was too young or too old, or felt left out for being the single one. It wasn't anything that anyone else did, just my own self-conscienceness (?)

Now....we are the Lawrence's. We are our family and there isn't a pre-conceived notion that responsibility will fall upon my mom since she is the matriarch. (does this make any sense??? i think i'm confusing myself here. lol) that was a random tangent....

So here is my opportunity....I was called to serve in this area and I know I can help these ladies. I'm so excited! I've already got meetings scheduled, meals planned, and my own notebook with each lady having their own section so I can remember things about them.

(Everyone is having a boy, btw. so far.)

All these preggos are giving me baby fever thou. i'm not gonna lie.

no i am not preggo, so please dont ask :)

Nauvoo and Carthage Jail

Pictures from our drive across the country.....

there are lots.

tons.

sorry, but I like to take pictures and cant seen to decide which to put on the blog.

so i add them all.

These are are mostly from our intentional stop at the Nauvoo temple and carthage jail.

I wanted to go more places but the hubs just wanted to get the drive over and done with....So I got to go to one place. I was very happy with my choice.

the nauvoo temple

I didn't adjust my settings completely before taking this picture so it was totally blown out...this was my attempt at saving it.

you can see on the clock, it's 5:00

we weren't dressed for a session. I was sad. I wanted to throw something on and just run inside for a quick self tour. The hubs laughed and said no. Oh well. Next time, when we have more time.

it was a gorgeous clear day. very mild and nice.

the tulips were out and looking lovely.

i love this photo

(click on the picture to make it larger)

I love this plaque.

Reading it, I feel closer to the Prophet Joseph Smith. I can see him doing this. See his love of the gospel and love for the people in Nauvoo. The temple was only half completed by the time he was killed at carthage jail.

trying to get all artsy.

he didn't like this photo because he hadn't shaved. lol.

(can you see us in the glass?? lol)

this is one of the original sunstones that was on the original temple, before it got destroyed by fire and then a tornado. It was in use for less than 3 months. There is also another one on display in the Smithsonian in DC.

I wish I knew that.....I was just in MD. I never saw this there.

love this! I wish we could have went inside....everything, the visitor's center, all the sites were closed at 5... just missed it.

A wanted this picture to remember how the saints saw the temple in their time.

Carthage Jail-the place where Joseph and his brother Hyram were martyred.

(click on photos to make them bigger, so you can read them)

there are about 12 of these plaques on the grounds. i only got to see these two.

The Prophet and his brother, Hyram.

i just love this picture.

i am so glad we were there while no one else was. it was so quiet. so reverent.

the two of us... <3 him!

This is the place....Joseph Smith fell out of that window there after being shot numerous times.

to learn more visit here. Or go there and visit it for yourself....when it's open, of course. ;) we have to go back for that too! lol.
this tree is huge!
this was where we stopped for a late meal, at ihop. lol. his favorite. plus, he won some bet or something and we had to go. I guess because we went to white castle for me :)
You can't see it but that sign says welcome to Utah :)
the mountains in utah

77th Ward

(pic is from year ago)

So we went to our very first young married ward today. It was tons of fun. There was about 7 other new families in the ward as well. We had a new family meet and greet thing during sunday school, there was lots of laughs. We start out with Relief Society/Preisthood at 9 am. I missed most of RS since I was busy trying to get K set up in nursery.
Poor Girl.
She cried.
But then was distracted by feeding the babies and eventually was ok!!! YAYYY!!!
Bridgette is the nursery leader, super cute and bubbly. BUt....I believe she just got called into the primary. BOoooo!! K actually liked her!! Hope next week goes well....better even! When we picked her up, she was fine.
silly girl. she's such a drama queen. lol.
Our ward is quite large, the largest in the stake, and it is *only* for our apartment complex! WOW!! That's so cool. Only our neighbors go there.
Our building has 8 wards that meet there on Sunday!
WOW!
Amazing....
In our meetinghouse, there is actually 2 chapels! whhhat? crazy! So many people. Everyone married. Some have children. K has 2 other girls with her in nursery Brooklyn (glad I didn't name K that. lol) who is 2 1/2, and Emelia (?) who just turned 18 months today! FUN. they are super cute. There are also a bunch of babies as well, and preggos. lol.
There is a luau on Saturday with a roasted pig, we are super excited for it. We both couldn't wait to go to church, to get ourselves established here. To be involved in our ward. It's so great that basically no matter where we move to we can go to church and it's THE SAME!
Same values, same scripture, same prophet, same lessons, same formats, same priesthood, same relief society, everything. The people are going to be different, and I miss the people in my old wards. But I belong here right now. I belong in this town, with these people. I am so very blessed to be here. So blessed to be married to such a wonderful man! So blessed that he is a worthy priesthood holder. So blessed that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and my family, so much that He sacrificed His Son for us, so we could have eternal life. This song from the LDS Children's Songbook says it all:

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.

I know that my redeemer LIVES, he truely does live. Just as this song says:

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

This Easter Sunday I have a better appreciation of the atonement and of the resurrection. I am so thankful for my life and for my many blessings. I love my family and friends and my Heavenly Father SO much.