Answers to Prayers

Mr. Elephant.  This stuffed animal you see in this picture is Emily's BEST friend.  He was given to her as a Christmas present when she was only three months old by her Uncle Chad.  It was love at first sight!  This little guy has rarely missed a nap or bedtime without being held by Emily.  I can't even begin to explain how much she loves this little guy!

About four days ago, Mr. Elephant went missing.  He has lately been nicknamed "E" since we have been working on the ABC's with Emily.  She had snuck him out of bed and suddenly, he was gone!  This made Ms. Emily super stressed!  Every time it was time to get ready for bed, she would walk around asking, "Where E?  Where E?"  It just broke our hearts as parents.  After three nights of searching, Troy and I took the house apart to look for this elephant.  We finally gave up and got Emily in to bed.  We said a simple prayer that E would be found.  That night, I was putting Carter to sleep and was just praying and asking Heavenly Father that this simple little toy would be found for little Emily.  Later that evening, as Troy was getting in to bed, he was moving the blanket around and there he was!  Mr. Elephant had been tangled in our bed sheets and had somehow managed to go unnoticed for three or four nights!  We were SO excited to have found this little guy!  I was so happy that Heavenly Father would answer this simple prayer that our child could have her stuffed elephant back.  It was another reminder to me that He hears and answers EVERY prayer.  From the big to the small, they ALL matter to Him.  I am so grateful that we were able to find this little guy.

When I gave him back to Emily in the morning, she was SO excited!  You would have thought that she had just won the lottery.  She grabbed him and ran down the hall shouting, "E! E! E!!" She ran in to our bedroom and said to Carter, "Cahtah, Cahtah!  Look!  E!!" while he was peacefully sleeping.  Life is happy in the Hackett home at bedtime again! :)

Some thoughts in my mind..

I had a thought tonight while looking at this painting. I have seen this painting hundreds of times in my life but never really stopped to look at it until tonight. It is based on a story we read in Mathew 19 where the rich, young man asks Jesus how he can gain eternal life. He is reminded to keep the commandments. The following conversation then happens:

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

I have always thought of this scripture as the Savior asking this man to, literally, give away everything he owned (which he was)..but then I looked at this painting tonight. My attention was brought to the old man in the corner. The old man looks sad, hungry, and doesn't even have a shirt to wear on his back. We don't know his story, and most of us have never (and hopefully will never) walked in this man's shoes.
The Savior doesn't only require this rich man to sell all he has, but also asks him to give to the poor. I thought of how many of us are like this rich young man. We may not be wealthy, but how many of us live a comfortable life with a cozy car, food for our families, clothing to keep us warm, and countless other luxuries and riches. The Savior is asking us to see this man who is in the shadow and to care for him. We are asked to love our neighbor. We are asked to love and look out for our brother and sister. We don't have to have worldly riches to give riches to someone in need of a smile.

Sometimes, as The Book of Mormon states, we simply need to, "Mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.." (Mosiah 18:9). Other times, we may need to give of our supply. We are taught that what we have done to the "least" of our brethren, we have done it to the Savior. The Savior also reminds us in Mathew 25:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

A lot of words, I know, but just a thought I had from a painting tonight. May we all love our neighbors a little more and care for our fellowmen.

Motherhood.

Motherhood. The dictionary defines it as: The kinship relationship between an offspring and the mother.  The last seven months have taught me what this word really means.  In seven months we have experienced sleepless nights, many budget changes, illnesses, messy rooms, big toys that take up so much of our house, carseats in the cars, children's music everywhere we go...really the list could go on and on. 
Seven months. 
I can't even believe this has happened.  She is SEVEN MONTHS old!  Let me just say....these seven months have honestly been the fastest and the best in my life.  Motherhood has changed me into something new.  It has taught me how to love SO much more than I ever thought could be possible.  Everyone always said that this would happen before Emily was born.  I had heard so many stories of these moms who had their whole world turned upside down and changed for the better.  It is the truth.  All throughout my pregnancy, and even my labor, I don't think I ever understood what was really going to be happen.  So much of me was worried that I was going to be a terrible mother because I wasn't sure if I was ready for these crazy changes that would happen in my life.  Then suddenly she was here. 

It was such a surreal experience.  One minute I was a woman who was pregnant.  The next, she was here and I was a mother.  Due to the fever I had during labor, we were only able to hold her for a few minutes before she was taken up to NICU to have some tests run on her.  It was about three hours later that she was brought in and were finally able to hold our little girl.  For me, this was when it really hit me.   Oh my goodness, this little girl was ours.  We came here as husband and wife, and are coming home as a family.

There was so much hustle and bustle while in the hospital between nurses, doctors, visitors, and lack of sleep.  It was honestly in the quiet moments at home when it really hit me that this little girl had stolen my heart.  I don't know when "that" moment happened, but I do remember rocking her to sleep within a day of bringing her home and just crying because of this new-found love I felt for her.  I remember being so happy that this little sweetheart had come to our home.  I remember feeling so sad that not all babies get to come to a loving home and a loving family.  I remember just rocking her and feeling so grateful that this little girl had come into our lives.  That was when I also realized that, despite all kinds of messes, struggles, troubles, and frustrations we would have with this girl, I would ALWAYS love her.  I would always do anything for her.
Flash forward seven and a half months, and that feeling has never changed.  If anything, it has grown even more.  Our little girl has learned to smile, laugh, hold her head up, sit up, splash in the tub, eat solid foods and many other things.  Right now, she is even working on crawling!  My favorite moments are when I get home from work and she jumps up and down from her bouncer and squeals as soon as she sees me.  I love the way that she smiles with this LARGE grin whenever I come to get her in the morning.  I love the way that she will lay her head on my shoulder when she gets tired.  I love the way that she is starting to say, "Mamamama" and "Dadadadada" all the time (even if she doesn't realize completely what she is saying yet).  She is a funny and curious little girl.  It is so fun to see her little personality just bloom.  I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything.  Being a mom is so much fun, and the goods outweigh by a LONG shot SO much the frustrations.  We are so grateful for the pure love and joy which Emily has brought into our home.

Reflecting on the past nine months...

So, we have finally reached the end of the pregnancy.  I have had a lot of questions about this pregnancy...so I thought now would be a good time to review what the last nine months have been like for me.

January 22nd 

 This was the day that I found out I was pregnant.  For the week before, I had a feeling that I was; however, I was somewhat in denial about the whole thing.  That entire week, I kept on having (TMI) "period" like feelings: the cramping, the stomach aches....and that wasn't normal for me.  When I had missed my period by one day, I had to take the test because waiting the recommended four days would have killed me.  Troy was at school that night, and so I decided to take it.  Within seconds, I had a confirmation of what I was feeling.

I was completely in shock!  It took me a second to really take in what was going on! When Troy came home from school, I had dinner ready.  Right before we started eating, he asked me if anything exciting had happened at work that day.  I said, "Yeah...something happened today".  That was when I showed him the pregnancy test....and he was so excited!

March 12th: 11 Weeks!

March 12th!  This was a day that seemed to take forever to come!  We were dying to share the news with more than just our family members and a few close friends.  We wanted to wait until we saw our healthy peanut and make sure everything was ok with the baby before making it official to the world.  At this point, I was nearing the end of the dreaded 1st trimester.  I was blessed to not have severe morning sickness; however, many things did make me nauseous.  I was very picky about what I would eat because nothing sounded good.  I was also pretty much a zombie because I was SO extremely tired.  I would come home from work every day, sleep for a few hours, then go back to bed a few hours after that.  

We finally made it to our first doctor's appointment.  After what seemed an eternity, our doctor finally pulled out the ultrasound machine.  I was so nervous because it took her what felt like an eternity to find out little peanut.  After about a minute, she finally found our little one...who was about the size of a little fig (about 1 1/2 inches long).  It is the coolest thing to watch your little baby for the first time.  We could see already at this point that there was the head, legs, arms, and hands.  We were able to watch her move and dance all around.  It was the cutest thing to be able to watch her stretch with all the room she had (Little did she know that in a few more months, she would have barely any room to get herself comfortable)!

April 1st

Thank goodness this was no April Fool's joke!  We had finally made it to day one of the second trimester.  I had come to a point that I would honestly forget I was pregnant half the time.  I wasn't showing yet (although I did have to buy maternity pants around this point).  Besides the fact that I felt like I needed to start doing situps, I felt like my normal self again!

May 14th

20 Weeks!  We had finally made it half way!  This was the big day!  What were we having?  A Boy or a Girl?  At this point, our baby weighed around 10 1/2 ounces, and measured to be about 6/12 inches long (About the size of a banana).  We had very strong feelings that it was going to be a girl; however, we would have been just as happy if she was a boy.  At our ultrasound appointment, we were able to see our healthy girl still moving around all over the place.  She was bound and determined to keep herself covered.  Toward the end, the ultrasound technician even had me get up to go to the bathroom to see if that would get her to move enough so we could see the gender.  Just as we were wrapping up, she opened her legs up just enough to get a clear picture to confirm that, yes, she was a girl!  Not only was she a girl, but she was healthy from what we could see.  She was measuring and developing just as she should be.  Those are some of the most reassuring words I had ever heard in my life.

During the last month, we had gone through a lot of change in our household!  Troy and I finally finished our long search, and built a town-home in Herriman, Utah.  We moved in on April 13th.  It was a long day, but we were so glad to get it over with!  The next day, April 14th, we went back to our Apartment in Midvale to finish cleaning out the place.  I didn't realize it at the time, but when we were done with cleaning, we were sitting on the floor in our old living room, and I felt our baby move for the first time.  It felt just like someone was tapping their fingers on my lower stomach, but from the inside.  I thought to myself, "That is a new feeling!".  Little did I know that over the next few weeks, I would realize that this was our little girl dancing around in my belly!

July 8th

28 Weeks!  We had finally made it to the home stretch!  We had reached the 3rd trimester.  It was around this time that I finally started to look in the mirror and think, "Wow, I am starting to actually look pregnant".  All throughout my pregnancy, people have made comments about how small I am.  I shouldn't complain about that....but after being pregnant for seven months, I was excited to be at a point that people could finally look at me and realize that I was pregnant!  I was still feeling really good at this point.  The best part of this part of your pregnancy is being able to not only feel your baby move, but see them move.  There were so many times I would just laugh because my belly would look like it was just dancing around.  She was still spinning in circles at this point and moved all the time.  As the weeks continued, that movement started to come higher and higher up my stomach.  The first few times I felt it, it was around my belly button.  At this point it was about halfway between my sternum and my belly button.  It is the strangest and coolest thing to sit and watch your belly contort into different shapes because your little baby just can't hold still.  The good news is, she was kind enough to quiet down at night and let Mommy get her sleep!  A week before this, we had gone down to St. George for a family reunion and had a wonderful time.  We enjoyed having our last mini vacation before the two of us became the three of us. :)

August 7th

32 Weeks!  Up until this point, I felt as if pregnancy had been a breeze!  I was going for walks/runs every day, and was enjoying my summer vacation.  A friend of mine had just stopped by and mentioned how you really aren't half-way through with your pregnancy until you have about 6 weeks left.  I just laughed and thought to myself, "Hmm...it has gone by pretty fast so far, I'm sure the last few weeks will be just as blissful!".....haha...boy was she right!  Now that I had hit 32 weeks....the dreaded swelling had begun!  I could no longer wear my wedding ring, nor the fake ring I had purchased in a bigger size.  One night, I even noticed that my ankles were slowly disappearing behind this bulging joy we refer to as "water retention".  Not only was I facing this, but my back was in severe pain, and our baby was working her way up into my diaphragm.  Any time I have sat down since then, she will just stick her foot right into my rib cage and remind me that she is running out of space.  At 32 weeks, our baby was about 16.7 inches long and weighed around 3.75 pounds.  At this point, I also began to realize what being pregnant feels like.  Suddenly, it became more difficult to reach things that had fallen on the ground.  I don't know if I have always been clumsy, or just suddenly started dropping things constantly.  Either way....bending over had become quite the task!  8 weeks to go!

 September 28th: The Due Date!

It is still so crazy to me that we have reached this point.  The past nine months have been extremely long!  At this point, I am really ready to be done and to meet our girl.  At this point, she seems to be taking her time to arrive; however, we also know that she will be here some day.  As I think about the ups and downs that come with becoming a mother, I am honestly terrified!  I am nervous because this will be a whole new experience; however, I also know that my Heavenly Father will be there to guide Troy and I as we start this new adventure together.  

To our little girl:

We promise we will do everything we can to be the best parents we know how to be.  I know that it will be a learning curve for all of us, but I also know we will become a stronger family every single day.  Our goal as parents is to raise you in righteousness.  We want you to know that we will love you with an unconditional love forever.  No matter where life takes you, no matter what choices you have made....know that we will always be there and will always love you.  There are going to be times in your life when you will be faced with some decisions that you feel will make or break you.  We want you to know that you will always be able to turn to your Father in Heaven in prayer for guidance.  He loves you with an unconditional love.  He wants, more than anything, for you to return to live with Him and be a part of an Eternal Family which will never end.  We will do all we can as your parents to make you happy.  Your family will always be a place for you to turn to.  Always depend on these relationships as people come in and out of your life.  Your family will always be there, no matter what.    

Throughout your whole life, do what you can to dream big.  Find what makes you happy and go out there and get it.  Stand up for the weak, and be a good friend to all.  Be happy.  Life is too short and goes too fast to waist it on the miserable times.  Life is meant to be enjoyed, even during your trials.  As you discover your talents in life, pursue them.  They are what God has blessed you with and what will make you unique from everyone else.  Find your passion and pursue it.  We will always support you in the endeavors you choose to follow.

Most importantly, know that we will forever LOVE you.  We were sealed as a forever family in the Salt Lake City Temple before you even came to this earth.  We may drive you crazy at times, and you may think we are the meanest parents for some of the rules we set...but know that they are for your own good.  Know that we want you to grow up to be the greatest person you could ever be.  Know that we want to guide you and help you make good choices in your life.  Don't ever be afraid to come and talk with us about your worries and concerns.  We will always be here for you and want you to have the greatest life possible.  We love you.

Love,

Your Mom and Dad

PS...we can't wait to meet you! 

I'm a Girl!!! :)

Being the AMAZING blogger I am...I figured it was time to update on what is new in our lives!  The last few months have been pretty busy!  Back in March, Troy and I officially purchased our first home.  We moved in the middle of April and have absolutely loved our home!  We are still working on getting out of boxes...but, for the most part, are moved in. Pictures of that will come as I (finally) get things decorated.  Even greater news than that is that Troy and I are having our first little baby at the end of September! 

We found out we were pregnant back in January.  As for the pregnancy symptoms, they honestly haven't been too bad.  The first trimester made me into a zombie who would do anything to lay in bed and sleep all day rather than work; however, second trimester has made that much better! :)  The best part so far was when we found out on Tuesday that our "it" we have been referring to for the last five months is actually a GIRL! 

Troy and I had strong feelings we were having a girl since before we found out we were pregnant.  When we went in for our ultrasound, she was doing everything she could to keep herself hidden.  She had her legs crossed in front of her body and was determined to stay that way.  The ultrasound technician even had me get up and use the bathroom to try and get her to move.  When she was about to wrap things up, our sweet little girl finally opened her legs just enough for the technician to grab a quick picture of her anatomy.  We were so thrilled to see that we are having a girl!  The doctor said that everything with the baby looks great...and it is so reassuring to know that they baby is growing and is healthy. 
It is such an amazing experience to know that we are going to be parents in a few months.  Never in my life have I been more grateful for eternal families.  I am so grateful that Troy and I were sealed for all of time and eternity in the temple back in 2011.  We have an eternal family, and I can't think of any greater blessing than that! 
Until next time...here is an update on the "bump".  The first picture was taken the day I found out I was pregnant, the second is from this week at the half-way mark of 20 weeks. Hope all is well with everyone!

California Dreaming

On July 30th, Troy and I celebrated our first anniversary.  We decided to take our honeymoon we never had and went to California.  We stayed at Hotel Huntington Beach for a couple of days.  We had no idea, but this same weekend happened to be the weekend of the US Open Surf Competition.  I have never seen Huntington Beach so busy...but we had a lot of fun!
Our first day, we left Salt Lake and drove down to St. George to stay with my Aunt Wendy.  The next morning we got up early and finished the drive down to California.  We checked into our hotel and immediately headed down to the beach. 

That night, we decided to eat out, and we ended up at this delicious pizza place right off the pier.  All of my California friends should check it out next time you are in Huntington. :)

Our second day, we woke up and headed straight to the Beach.  We had fun laying in the sand, watching some of the surfers, and of course wake boarding.  We decided to hit up Jack-in-the-Box for dinner (HEY...they don't have those in Utah...except in St. George...so we had to get our Breakfast Jacks).  We made a spur-the-moment decision and headed to the Angels game.  They played the Rays...and unfortunately lost. :( ....but it was still a LOT of fun! :)  After the game, the Goo Goo Dolls performed for the crowds.

....and did I mention that we both severely sun-burnt our backsides?!  We made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to purchase some Aloe Vera to sooth our pain haha. :)

On Sunday, we made the drive up to Wrightwood.  It felt soooooooo good to be at my home town.  We drove past the home I grew up in, went to church, then had lunch at Inspiration Point.  To my Wrightwood Ward friends and family...it was SOOO great to see all of you guys.  Hopefully we will return soon.  After lunch, we headed to my Grandparent's home in Moreno Valley and enjoyed dinner with my Grandparents, some cousins, and some of my Aunts and Uncles.

...ok...so my house picture I found online...but still...picture it without the snow. ;)

Our last day spent in California was our actual Anniversary.  We decided to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain.  It was the PERFECT day to go!  Most of the lines were so short and we were able to practically walk on to most rides.  Besides the heat...it was an awesome day!  Our first ride we hit was Goliath.  I was proud of Troy....for those who don't know....Goliath has a VERY large drop...and Troy is not a huge fan of heights.  He made it on the ride....and survived!  ;)  We had a lot of fun!!!

Our last day, of course, was spent driving from Huntington Beach back to Salt Lake City.  It was a lot of fun!  The past year has been the best of my life!!  I am so excited to see what our future years will hold.  It is a wonderful joy to know I will be married to my best friend forever!! 
Well, here are our current adventures!  Until next time...we hope your life is filled with joy and happiness! :)  We love you all!