Elder Whitmarsh

there has been so so much fun on our trip to america.

there has been so many highlights.

but there is one memory that will stand above the rest.

i was able to watch my nephew be set apart as a full time missionary for our church,

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

this is a journey that he is going to grow immensely in.

he will be challenged, he will be tried, he will be pushed to his absolute limit.

but he will overcome all the obstacles faced him, this i am sure of.

his faith will grow, his testimony will strengthen, his love will deepen.

it has been two years since jevan and i saw him,

and we can't believe how much he has grown in the last two years.

i am so excited to see what he will be like in another two while in service of our saviour.

he is leaving a boy but he will return a man.

i am so proud of him, i am so proud of his commitment.

i watch braydon with his mother and the relationship that they share with one another,

i am in awe of the love that he has for his mother.

she did alot right with that boy,

i hope that i can follow her footsteps and have that relationship with my boys as they continue to grow and reach new stages in their lives.

being a mother is hard but moments like these give me the courage to keep going and persevering along this road of motherhood.

it sometimes is a thankless and lonely road that we find ourselves on, but the little things along the way,

the smiles,

the laughs,

the hugs,

the jokes,

to be able to see the growth in your child as he accomplishes tasks that are difficult or challenging,

to be able to have them come and confide in you when the rest of the world has turned it's back on them,

for them to be able to come in and sit on your bed after an activity or a dance and tell you all the excitement that happened, or just simply whats going on in their life,

i think these moments make motherhood all worth it.

Obnoxia

so makai turned four about a month and abit ago.

and oh my goodness has is suffering from a bad case of obnoxia which is an extreme case of being obnoxious.

my question to mums out there who have four year olds, 

will it pass, will it get better?

PLEASEEEE, tell me it's a yes to all of the above.

oh man, all the stages of ages.

you get through one start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and 

BAM

a new stage begins.

i have literally never been so drained or tired in my life.

raising kids are the best and HARDEST thing i think i will ever do in my life.

it does have its benefits.

like when i play with the boys on the trampoline ninja turtles 

(we are completely i boy household so i've had to embrace that i'll never have tea parties or barbie time)

and they give a really good belly laugh, those moments make it worth it.

New Start

today makai started at a new preschool.

i don't know whats with me but i was so so so nervous for him.

it's not like it was his first time EVER going to preschool it was just his first time at a new preschool.

as i drove him to preschool this morning he was telling me how excited he was to go to his new school and all the friends he will make.

we drove past the cemetery and he gave a big hello to his uncle mark and papa.

he then said mum i love them so much, it was a tender moment for me.

i drove up the the preschool and parked he was abit anxious by now, if you don't know makai he gets very very anxious in new situations and surroundings.

i told him we would wait here until he was ready to go in.

a couple of minutes went by and i heard this little voice say "Ok mum i am brave now i can go."

i wanted to literally BALL my eyes at that moment.

we held hands walking into the school,

(not sure who was holding who's hand tighter.)

i could feel him starting to walk slower and slower as we approached the door.

but they had him at "Do you like cars makai?"

then he totally didn't care if i was with him or not.

i really felt the love ;).