Recent Developments

So it is time to post some happy news.
First, Mackenzie is doing great in her classes she has moved up a level in gymnastics and in swim. Also she is signed up for preschool this coming fall. Where does the time go! She is very into the Wizard of Oz right now and we have even began reading the book. I am amazed at how she sits still and listens to the whole chapter. They are only about five pages long but that is still a long time for a three year. She loves, burying her testimony on church and also in our monthly family fast and testimony meeting. It is funny she has to have a microphone, so I had to go digging in her toy box and pull out. She then made it very clear everyone had to burying their testimony. It was fun and cute because all Hyrum did was grunt. This next week she is giving her first talk in primary. It is exciting but hard to see them grow up.
Hyrum is growing like a weed. He had is 15 month appointment this last week and was 33 inches long, which puts him in the 97th percentile! I was shocked. If he keeps this up he is going to be over six feet tall and we will need a bigger house. This news also means that we will be switching him to a twin bed instead of another toddler bed, oh yeah, we have transitioned him to a toddler bed and he loves it! He is so cute. Every morning he knocks on his door to let us know it is time to let him out. He is loving life and is not only walking but climbing and running. In other words keeping mommy on her toes.
As a family we are doing pretty good. We are getting ready to finish our basement and getting ourselves organized. We have a monthly meal plan, where we cook every meal and are loving it. I have to take a moment and brag about Eric. He makes the most delicious pancakes and he is really getting into cooking. Sunday we make baked brown sugar ham steaks with swiss potatoes. He was shocked at how easy parts of the meal were. I love having someone to cook with! We have also been working hard to do scripture study every night and so far so good. Mackenzie and Hyrum seem to pay attention as long as it is short and full of songs as well as scriptures. Mommy is starting to get a big selections of church songs. However, it could be bigger.
Finally, school is almost done! I am getting ready to register for my last summer semester and then my last fall semester of course work. I still have one year of student teaching after that, but the light at the end of the tunnel is near. My Spanish is coming long. It is getting easier to speak and write in Spanish and I can understand a lot more of what I hear and read! There is still a lot of work to be done but it is coming along. I have to give thanks to my father in heaven for all the help his gives me and my family.
Finally, this year we have a goal of being constant in all we do and that includes this blog. I am hoping to post at least once a month if not once a week. Thanks for all of your posts I love reading about your families and I hope you enjoy reading about ours. We are some what boring but we love every minute of our lives together.
Have a wonderful March!

Life

I am not sure how many people actually read my posts but for those of you who do, I am sorry I have been gone for so long. There has been a lot going on with the Winslow family in the past few months. Both good and difficult. All the while we have grown closer as a family and I have grown as a person.

First in December, we were excited to discover that we were expecting again but within days we suffered the tragedy that so many other have, we miscarried. While it was heartbreaking, it was a beautiful heartbreak. In all of this, I had the opportunity to see the strength and compassion my dear sweetheart as. He knew there was not much that he could do to take the pain and disappointment a way, but he did what I need, held me. I now understand why we are commanded to marry when the opportunity presents itself. He truly is my missing half. While we were only about five six weeks along the heartbreak came from having to explain to Mackenzie what was wrong. She has been talking about her baby sister being ready to come since June of last year. However, again I found beauty in the mist of the heartache, she has displayed such kindness, love and faith. She told me that it was ok, her baby sister would come when it is the Lord's time. I truly believe that this trial has been great. I have been very private about this until now because I know that there are many others who have experienced this situation as well. However, now I know that the strength and faith I have gain through this. However, with the trial comes the joy too.

In January, our sweet Mackenzie became a Sunbeam. With this she has also helped our family to become better at doing family home evening every week along with family prayer and scripture study every day. She is truly an priceless gift that I become more and more grateful for everyday. Along with this milestone in Mackenzie life, I have to officially say, watch out world, Hyrum Eric Winslow is walking!!! He is also dancing and laughing. While I miss my baby boy I am loving this stage too. He is a challenge, getting into everything and outsmarting us all. However, I love it when he smile and laughs. He is my sunshine.


This month, we encountered more joy and sorrow. First, we have finally done it! We have started doing the temple work for my family. This has been an amazing opportunity for me to see my ancestors as more than just names and also to glean all the oral history available from my dad and my grandmother. However, with this, I have also had to say good-bye to one of my dearest family members, my Aunt Esther. She is my great-aunt but I have learn so much from her about divine womanhood. She truly followed the Relief Society motto all her life "Charity Never Faileth" even though she never had the opportunity to hear the fullness of the gospel in this life. While there is a hole in my heart where is has left this life, I know that I will be with her and my Uncle Dick again one day. All I can do now, is hope that I can live in such a way as to make her proud.

Well, that bring you all up to date with the Winslows. I hope to do better about posting thoughts and also pictures and videos. I hope you all have had a wonderful valentine's day with your loved ones.