Jayah's Example

Jayah and I went to my bridal shower yesterday and I promised Jayah that if she was good, she could pick what we did after the shower. Well, she was good, so she got to pick, and she picked... shopping.

She's four, and she picked shopping. Specifically for makeup and nail polish and "hot heels". We are in for some interesting teenage years.

So we went to Old Navy to shop. I'm a bargain shopper, I almost never even look at anything besides the sale racks. So I found this cute little pink romper for $7.00, and some cute matching flip flops for $1.00 that I was so excited about. So I bought them. Next, Jayah just HAD to go to the mall. So we drove down the block to the mall. I was so excited about the outfit that I wanted to change her into it before we went into the mall. You can tell by the look on her face in the picture below just how much she loved it. But it's the reason that she "loved" it that surprised me.

I put it on her and was gushing about how cute she was in it and how her daddy was going to love it, and she started crying! I was so surprised because she loves wearing pink, and she is usually the easiest little girl, but she was crying! I asked her what was wrong, and her response was "I don't want to wear something without sleeves."

Holy moly, did I feel like a terrible parent. My little four year old was being the example to ME.

Modesty was never an issue to me because my mom pretty much never gave me any other option. I had a really good group of friends with the same standards as me growing up, and it was just never a question that I was going to be modest. After high school I went to the temple very quickly and have been wearing my "g's" since, so it has never really been an option since either.

Now I've been put in this unique situation where I buy a child clothing on a regular basis. I've been buying her clothing for close to a year and a half, but this specific situation has never come up. Ironically, the lesson in primary last week was on modesty. And Jayah wasn't even with us last Sunday!

Needless to say, I am truly impressed, and so proud of Miss Jayah for knowing the difference between modest and immodest, and being strong enough to tell me so. I hope that she will always remember that feeling, and strive her whole life to continue to be an example to others.

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Well, since today has been especially boring, and all I've done so far is work... I think I'll talk about what a normal day for me feels like.

Wake up
Get ready
Drive to work
Work
Work
And work some more
Talk to Jaymeson
Work
Work
Wander around the office a little bit
Talk to Jaymeson some more
Work
Work
Wander some more
Work
Drive home from work
Jaymeson
Jaymeson
Jaymeson
Sleep
:)

I snack on a few things here and there too.

But that's pretty much what every day in the life of Heather Sampson consists of. Every once in a while there are a few extra things, like grocery shopping, getting gas, writing in my blog and/or journal, talking to my dad on the phone, or cooking dinner/doing laundry for the above mentioned boy. But mostly it consists of 6-8 hours of work work work, and then a few hours of laughter, conversation, and maybe a movie with Jaymeson.

Here's a picture of us! :)

Isn't he so handsome? I am one lucky girl. :)

Here are a few things I love about Jaymeson...
-He can ALWAYS make me laugh.
-He's a very hard worker. He spends most of his time working 40+ hour weeks, doing hard, manual labor. And he doesn't even complain about it!
-He's the most non-judgmental person that I know. He's taught me a lot about what it's like to loosen up and understand that others may think differently than I do.
-He's so smart! I learn the most random, useful things from him every single day. Like, did you know that cows will lie down when it's going to rain? (haha)
-He does THE cutest things. (ie, random dance moves, bursts into song, perfect impressions of anyone and everyone you can think of, etc.)
-He's so passionate about things he likes, such as fish, plants, pit bulls, music, etc.
-He loves his daughter more than anything in the world. (Plus, she's super cute too!)
-He takes longer to get ready every day than I spend in the shower in a week, and I spend a lot of time in the shower in a week. (Ok, so most of the time it annoys me, but I love that I know, no matter what, he's going to be an hour late.)
-His laugh when I tickle him.
-The way he looks at me when he thinks I've done something really cute.
-The fact that he is the most genuine and trustworthy person that I know.

Wow, I just realized how super cheesy this post is. Haha, well, hopefully it embarrasses him, at least a little bit. :)

P.S. If any of you see him, will you remind him how handsome he looks... WITHOUT a beard? I miss his face, literally. ;)

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

So, I already posted today. But I am really excited to do this next post...

...and I'm super bored waiting for a certain someone to get off work...

...so I'm going to go ahead and post it anyways. :)

Someone who INSPIRES me.

In this case, there are two someones. And they just happened to be married. 

And they just happen to be part of my family. 

 

Photo by: Tiny Bird Photography

Please meet my brother and sister in law:

Zach and Catherine Christensen

I love these two with all of my heart, and they truly inspire me.

Zach and Catherine have been married for almost seven years, and every time I see them, 

they are just as in love as ever.

Zach is my oldest brother. 10 years older than me. And as he says it, we are the most similar out of all 7 of our siblings. That's funny to me because when he graduated from high school, and went off on a two year mission to Thailand, I was 9. That's 3rd Grade. And when he came home I was 11, and he went straight off to school in College Station, TX. I don't remember much about our time at home together. Well, except that I was hung upside down above the toilet on several occasions, and even above the washing machine a time or two. I even remember him being chased around the house by my mother at the age of 19. Oh dear. But I don't remember much else.

And yet, I miss him and his beautiful wife more than anything. 

The biggest reason they inspire me is this sweet example:

blog post by Catherine.

I'm pretty sure their blog is private, so I'll insert a few quotes here. Hope that's ok, Cat. :)

"Do you ever have those days where you just feel like "You know what? I'm doing everything I can do, the rest is out of my hands"?

Life has been sort of like that lately but that's not the emphasis of this post. It's really about the fact that I am grateful to have a husband that helps me feel like I can rest in the assurance that we're doing everything we can do and can leave the rest up to the Lord. I don't think of myself as especially "preachy" so I apologize if this post comes off that way. I have my beliefs and I love them and I appreciate that I married a man that does too. I love that I have a husband who will stop, as he's on his way out the door in the morning, so we can kneel down and say a prayer together and that will lie in bed with me at night to read scriptures and say another. I love watching him shave and dress up for church on Sundays, looking so handsome and prepared to go someplace special. I love that on payday, the first check he writes is tithing, without a grumble or begrudging it. It's so special to me, knowing that my children will see him putting such import on faith and responsibility. Knowing that the man I chose to lead my family is strong enough to not care what the world thinks or that these days you're considered a loon if you use the word "God", "blessings", "sin" or "righteous" in daily conversation. When life gets a bit hard, like it has been of late, I am so glad that I married this wonderful man who helps me be able to say "we're doing everything we can do so we know that God will take care of the rest" and really and truly know that it's so.

On a different note, he also has an exceptionally cute butt."

So, I took the whole thing. Sorry. It was too good to cut short.

Another reason they inspire me, is this:

 

another blog post by Catherine.

Why I Love Bedtime. . .

"I was thinking the other day about some of the things I love about Husband and starting laughing when I realized how many of them center around bedtime. Just some little things he does that make me smile and will help you to know him better.

When I fall asleep on the couch (about every other evening) he carries me to bed and only grunts just a very little.

When I was ALMOST asleep on Monday after a 7 mile run I heard him come into our room, give me a kiss and then he rubbed my legs for a minute, even though he thought I was sleeping.

A few months ago I was going to bed and sometimes I get grumpy if I'm real tired so I demanded that if he was not coming to bed with me he had to lie down and sing to me till I fell asleep. Of course he did 'cause 1) he's sweet and 2) he knows better than to argue with me when I'm tired. He sang the traditional "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and a few other favorites and then, just as I'm drifting off, I hear him whisper "I feel pretty, oh so pretty. . ." I woke up laughing. :) A song I love from West Side Story, that he also loves thanks to Adam Sandler and Anger Management. :)

Lastly, my favorite part of any day is when we go to bed and I lie there in the crook of his arm and we just talk. We tell about our days, what we had thought about, life, etc. All our best discussions happen between going to bed and sleeping. I look forward to it every night.

See why I insist on saying I'm a lucky girl whenever I talk about him." 

Seriously? How stinking CUTE is that!?

Is it weird to say that I hope to marry somebody like my brother, Zach? And that I hope to be a loving, grateful wife like my sister in law, Catherine?

Luckily, at the rate I'm going, it's a possibility.

Zach and Catherine are two of my most favorite people in the world. They are both kind and loving, and extremely protective of me. They are so helpful, and hardworking, and everything I can only dream to be. They have been a huge support to me, through everything. And it's been a hard road, but they made it so much easier just by believing in me, and letting me know of their love for me. I am grateful for them and their prayers on my behalf, and their texts reminding me that they love me. I miss them dearly and hope that I can see them soon. :)

Tiny Bird Photography

Here's to you guys! I love you!

Day 9 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

I have some of the best friends any girl could ever ask for.

Literally.

This particular award, was a toss up, but I have other plans for Raven...

So the WINNER is....

Jessie Lynn Smith

Jessie is my best friend, my companion, my confidant, my soul mate, and my sister.

It is not a lie when I say that she has gotten me through EVERYTHING.

I have only known Jessie for about 2 1/2 years, but those 2 1/2 years have been probably the hardest I've ever had in my life, and she has been there every step of the way, even when it became difficult for her.

I could not ask for a more perfect friend for me than her.

Jessie, you are the most loving, caring, helpful, genuine, beautiful, smart, and good hearted person that I know. I am so grateful to have you in my life, and I can't imagine my life without you in it! I hope you know how much I love you, and I hope that we are friends forever. And that someday, when I am married, you and Justin can be great, lifelong friends of me and my husband. You are amazing, and an inspiration to me! I love you so much, Jess!

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with... Cue Raven. :)

Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory

Remember how I have a terrible memory?

...yea.

After trying to review my brain to remember a favorite memory--

I've settled on my 9th Birthday. December 30, 1997.

My dad is a cool guy. He's been in rock bands and country bands my whole life.

While my mom was pregnant with me, his band

(High Velocity, right Dad?) was on tour in Galveston, TX.

My mom went out to visit him, and while she was there, went into labor.

This picture is from a special trip I got to take with just my dad, back to Galveston.

Geez, look how nerdy I was.

I had never been there before, besides for a few days

in the hospital after I was born.

My dad and I went down that direction for a funeral

of one of his family members.

I think it was one of his uncles, or something.

On the way back, we spent a couple days in Galveston.

My dad showed me around everywhere.

We rode the trolley, he took me to the beach,

we toured the ship that I'm named after, The Elissa.

We rode the ferry, and watched for dolphins.

Speaking of riding the ferry... this picture is hilarious!

This is me being scared of the seagulls on the ferry. Haha!

That was an awesome trip. It was one of the few times I got to spend

with just my dad, and I loved every second of it!

P.S. My dad is a nut.

On the way home from Galveston, I remember that he

got pulled over while I was sleeping.

When he stopped, it woke me up, and I asked him

what we were doing, and he told me that

the cop just wanted to stop by and say hello.

Thanks Dad. Haha!

Next...

Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day