sweet baby corbyn

Isn't he the cutest little guy ever?

Baby Corbyn passed away unexpectedly 

this past week on October 18, 2013. 

He just had his first birthday.

My heart truly goes out to our cousins

Brock and Krystle Cordingley.

When I heard the news on the Facebook, I decided to look on their Facebook and look more closely at the pictures they had of their family. To my surprise, they had a lot! And they were all so cute. My mommy heart just ached for them. My mind turned to a video I just found of a young girl  {Millie Flamm}who just passed away from cancer. I watched it over and over again, and found strength by watching their family interact with each other and the happiness that radiated from their faces. It reminded me again that I CAN DO HARD THINGS. I also thought of a sweet mother, Ashley Sullenger whose blog I have followed for a few years now. Her daughter passed away from an accidental drowning, and she inspires me with her strength, insight, perspective, and experiences. I have learned so much from her. My mind turned to a post she had written-about what others had done for her for the funeral. I got on Ashley's blog and searched for that post. I finally found it and the one thing that stuck out in my mind-is that someone had made her a video of Preslee for the funeral and then made copies for others to get if they wanted. A strong feeling came over me, that I needed to do that for Brock and Krystal. I was nervous though, because I had never made a video by myself. I knew however, that I knew most of the basics because I realized a month ago we had the program on our computer-and I had been playing around with it. After asking for permission, I downloaded pictures from Krystle's Facebook page and started working on it whenever I had the chance. I listened to music over and over again, trying to find the right music that fit. I listened to each word, how I felt, if it went with the pictures, etc. In my opinion, that was the hardest part. I didn't want to put anything on the video that would take away from this perfect little man, or have the lyrics say anything that might hurt those who were suffering from his loss. I found myself praying over and over again for the spirit to guide and help me to know what to do. When I finally completed the video {it took me about two days} and  got to the point to download it, my heart was filled with so much JOY. Just like those who helped Ashley, I decided to burn videos for them to pass out to their loved ones. And I really hope they will. :) 

I can honestly say that creating this video strengthened my testimony about my Savior Jesus Christ, how Families truly can be Together Forever, and how Cobyn is living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the eternities. I am so grateful for this knowledge, and I am grateful that my family has this understanding too {even though it's hard}. I have found this experience to be a missionary opportunity to share the gospel, to strengthen testimonies, and to sit back and analyze my own life in what is important and what is not.

Corbyn is truly a gift to us...

whether we new him really well or not.

He is bringing others unto Christ,
and helping our family on earth
become closer together.

You can find the video I made

right here.

Nebo Loop

One of our favorite places to go

in the fall is Nebo Loop.

The kids absolutely 

(( l.o.v.e.d ))

it this year!

It is truly a magical

place to be!

It's so funny to

see what their 

favorite things are

each year.

This year it was:

FALLING LEAVES!

The Payson Temple

We are ((so)) excited for
"our temple"
to be built!

This past week,
the angel Moroni
was put on top

of the Payson, Utah Temple

and it looks absolutely beautiful!

Even though we didn't get the word

of the actual day,
we were able to find

a few pictures online

(but were unable to find information 

about the photographer). 

Gardner Village

It was the witch festival at Gardner village, 

so we took the kids over for the first time. 

We absolutely loved it! 

There were so many witches walking around, 

and then witches that were stuffed in creative ways. 

It was so festival and fun, 

that we want to do it again next year! 

Picture 1: A witch riding her bike
Picture 2: Our family with the "kissy" witch
Picture 3: The pumpkin house.
Picture 4: The cousins with a witch
Picture 5: Maddie and Sydney are the best buds
Picture 6: Kissy cousins with the kissy witch

the pumpkin patch

The kids have been begging us to pick our Halloween pumpkins. Since grandma and grandpa James, Jenny and Tia were coming down for Dillon and Dani's wedding, we thought it would be fun to go together. The kids were so fun to watch this year, they walked up and down the pumpkin patch isles to find the perfect one! I am so grateful it's getting easier to go out and participate in activities like this!

Something to remember: There was a free hay maze and the kids loved it! They got into a hay fight and were throwing hay everywhere. Cousin Kaylee picked up a huge pile of hay and threw it at a lady with long black hair. It got stuck in her beautiful hair, eyelashes, and clothes. She was not a happy camper. I'm not sure if Kaylee meant to do it or not, but I thought it would be a story worth writing about.

a new discovery

I hesitate writing so much information

about myself, 

but I do this with hopes

that it might help another

person in need.

. . .

I went to my 3 month check up

to Dr. Lundell the

other day and I told him

my main concerns were

a very upset stomach

and heart burn.

After talking for a minute or two

he asked if I had a lot of

yeast infections

or yellowing in my toe nails.

I said that I use to have 

a lot of yeast infections,

but not so much anymore.

And I have never had 

yellowing in my toenails.

He looked at me and said,

"I wonder if you have too

much yeast in your body.

Tomorrow morning I want you to do

the Saliva Test.

This is where you get up in the

morning, and before you put

anything into your mouth

spit into a cup full of water.

Within 1-30 minutes, look into the glass.

If there are strings coming down

from your saliva, it is an

indicator that you have

too much yeast in your body.

So I woke up the next morning

and did the little test.

And to my surprise again,

My glass looked like the picture below:

The following things are what I need to do.

#1: 

Complete a 15 day Yeast Cleanse

I will be using the products

*Exodus GI Cleanser

*Yeast Beaters Plus Immune Support

*Glutamine

*Probiotic

You can get more information

 right here .

#2:

Start a diet called

Slim for Life

that was designed

by Dr. Lundell.

It is basically like the

South Beach Diet.

It is eating a

low glycemic diet.

#3

Exercise

#4

Drink a lot of water

...I have been reaching out

to a support group on

Facebook.

My friend 

Angela (Laub) Shaner

created this group,

and I have been blessed

because of it.

I have been able to ask 

many

questions about what

I am going through,

and within minutes I

receive messages of

ideas and 

encouragement.

I am so thankful for these

women and their

willingness to comfort 

and guide me.

From what it sounds like,

I have CANDIDA.

(Another word for yeast).

They recommended these

sites you can find 

here and here.

It strengthens my testimony

to know that I am never

alone in what I am going through.

There will always be

someone who is going through

similar circumstances,

or someone who 

has already been there.

It also strengthens my testimony

of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am learning over and over

again that His atonement is real.

That He suffered all that I suffer.

That He can personally be there for me.

That he cares and loves me 

more than I will ever 

comprehend.