Chocolate Teeth

Most days Max and I drive with my husband Devin to work and then I take the car back home. We only have one car, so by doing this, we use a bit more gas, but then I don't have to be at home without transportation. Today on the way, I was watching Max eat his breakfast, which happened to be yummy chocolate banana muffins. He looked so sweet takin big bites. Then I asked him to smile, and he had a big piece of muffin stuck in between his two front teeth. It made me giggle! 

It is the small smiles and yummy muffins on a rainy morning that make me happy. It also makes for good day when Max wakes up happy ready to play with puzzles. 

I think it's going to be a great day. 

"Heavenly Father is Watching Over Me, and Everyone Here"

I really have enjoyed the idea of this blog in recognizing the Small and Simple Things, so I thought I would join in. My name is Parker Hamrick, and Erin Garner is my sister. There is a pretty big age difference between us, I am only 18, and she is already old enough to have a family! For the past few years I have gone through high school with the passion for music, and will continue to chase after those dreams in music. I am going to be leaving for my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 5th 2014 in the Brazil Fortaleza East Mission for two years. Anyways, enough about me, this is about the simple things.

This past week I had the opportunity to volunteer at a Farmstead for kids near my house. To be completely honest,  I was reluctant at first. I woke up at about 8:30, and it was just another day. We arrived at the farmstead and were given some pretty cool vests (you will see those later on). We walked down to the "Pumpkin Hollow" event where there were multiple activities set up for the little kids including: A big hay slide, a train ride, a mini corn maze, a bowling area, and many more. Once the kids arrived you could see the joy in all of their faces.

At first I wasn't really assigned to any certain position, all of the areas that specifically needed someone to watch over were taken. I'm not going to lie, boredom hit me pretty fast and pretty hard, it just seemed like there was nothing for me to do there. I decided to go around and just see what the kids were doing, whether it was running from their parental advisors/teachers, or going down the slide, they were simply having fun. Then one of the sweetest things happened. A little girl who had apparently just fallen down was being asked by her mom "are you okay?", the little girl replied "yes, I'm fine. Heavenly Father is watching over me, and everyone here". I couldn't help but smile. This little girl, the age of a preschooler has a better line of thought than most people do. Whenever we are having a bad time we need to remember this small thought  "Heavenly Father is watching over me, and everyone here". Something Small and Simple.

From that time on I just kept looking for little things like that, and for opportunities to help out. I started to notice that some of the parents and leaders were struggling with the bowling pins, while trying to take pictures and just take care of the little kids. I decided to go over to the bowling pins and set them up every time the kids would roll the bowling ball. As soon as there was a system and the bowling pins were being set up at a good rate, the number of kids wanting to bowl largely increased. The bowling station was right next to the front, and right next to the slide so it became quite the popular place. Kid after kid would come through getting so much joy out of simply rolling a ball down the slide and hitting some pins down. I couldn't help but smile because of how happy they seemed to be. A lot of adults stood there watching saying "man, looks like you got the hardest job here" and "I hope you're getting payed the big bucks". All I could do was look at the smiles on the kids faces, smile back at the adults and say "no I'm volunteering".

I had been there for about two hours when I started getting tired, it was quite a hot day in Kansas, and the kids kept me moving fast. I feel like young children know when people are upset, or are in need of help. Basically as soon as I started getting tired I felt like the kids would just come out of nowhere and just start helping me. They were happy with helping set up pins as well as bringing the bowling ball to their friend who was next in line. Observing kids in everyday life can make us enjoy the Small and Simple things even more.

There are always little things there, we just need to open our eyes.

Chip, Tip Top and Doggie

Max has some stuffed animals that he loves. Today I washed them and I only gave him a couple for his nap. When he woke up the first thing he asked for was Chip (the monkey). I told him he was in the dryer and that I would go get him. Max's response was, "Chip clean." He then said very happily, "Thank you!" I am so grateful for my good boy. He is very polite and I love that about him. 

Max pretending to be asleep. 

Modesty

How can we teach our children about how important being modest is? I think it is so easy to justify what we and others wear because that is the norm to see girls and boys dressed immodestly. However, I have a problem with that... Ever since I was young (in middle school) it has bothered me to see girls and boys; but mostly girls dressed immodestly. 

I guess the reason I feel so passionately about it is because I think these girls know better. I feel that they have been taught the correct principles, but aren't really applying them. I think another reason it is so important to me is because I want them to know that they don't have to dress like that to get attention. Our bodies are temples and we need to dress them like temples. To me this doesn't mean dress from head to toe, but dress to the standards they were/are taught. 

I'm sure there are many parents out there that don't think it's a big deal. But hopefully there are some that do think it's a big deal. 

To answer the question: I think we as parents need to teach our children. Talk to them about why its important to us and why it should be important to them. My boy is not old enough to really have a deep conversation about modesty now, but I can still tell him it's important to me. 

Another thing we can do is start young. As far as I know my mom didn't dress me in immodest clothing when I was a baby. When I was a little girl my mom didn't allow me to dress immodestly. That's just how it was, and I was okay with that. (I'm sure I asked my mom a couple times to wear a tank top, but I don't think I pushed her too hard, because I knew the rules.) 

The last idea I have is to be an example. Most children want to be like their parents. I know I did. If you dress modestly then hopefully your children will want to as well. 

Imaginary Friends

Last night Max told me he found a baby ant. He was walking around with it for a minute. I didn't hear anything else about it. This morning, as we were listening to music; dancing and singing, Max told me he found a sad baby ant. He went around the room trying to comfort it by saying "shhh shhhh shhh". It is simple things like this that make me smile...

Two minutes later he tells me he ate the ant... But don't worry, the ant always comes back. 

The Challenge to Become Something Better

It is only Wednesday, and yet I have felt the pull of idleness like crazy this week. I enjoy relaxing but it is more than "just relaxing".

This weekend I had the wonderfully opportunity to watch a conference that my church puts on for two days. In my church we believe that there is a living prophet on the earth today and he has apostles that share the gospel; just as Christ did when he lived on the earth. It is broadcasted live on television as well as in church buildings and the Conference center in Salt Lake City. At the conference certain members are selected to speak on a subject that they feel needs to be talked about. It is a wonderful experience every six months and it is very spiritually uplifting.

So back to why I think it is strange for me to feel this pull for being lazy... Satan has a funny way of getting into our lives; something so simple as watching one more show on tv.  You would think I would be ready to take on the world after watching conference; but not so. 

Tonight I was preparing for my lesson that I will teach to young women at church this Sunday. What I read was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I will share just a quote that stood out to me. 

"The gospel challenges us to be "converted", which requires us to do and become." - Dallin H. Oaks

This is such a simple phrase. All I need to do is pick something that I can improve on. If I continue to be idle and lazy, I am not going to make any progress in my life. So I will spend my day "doing" tomorrow instead of being idle. 

Life is wonderful and we all have the opportunity to make it the best it can be. However, every day is not going to be perfect. That is why we can always try again tomorrow. 

Best Friends

I grew up in Kansas City and have very fond memories of my childhood. When we first moved there, I met a girl who became one of my very best friends. 24 years later we are still the closest of friends. 

Now we are both living in Utah and our boys play together. I hope (and I think she does too) that our boys can become very close friends too!

I am amazed at the bond that friendships can create. I know we will always be friends no mater how close or far away from each other we are. 

Today we met up at a great museum and as always it was very fun to see our boys interact and play together. 

I challenge all you who read this to talk to a friend today. If you are close, go visit them. If you're not close give them a call or text. Let them know you are thinking about them. 

Cami and I during our college years 

Max 26 months Asa 18 months 

A New Start

This weekend I was blessed to be with my husband's family and I have made a new goal to focus on the small and simple things that make life worth living. My little boy who is two years old takes up most of my time during the day. He is one of the main reasons I decided to start this blog. The smallest things make him happy like dancing, coloring, playing with cars and singing. I hope to inspire you who read this to take time and do the small and simple things that make life amazing.