early morning reflection

I was so tired last night; I went to bed thinking that I would sleep forever. I laid down and fell asleep fast, which is odd for me. When I woke up this morning I was surprised at how noticeably refreshed I felt. To my amazement I soon realized that I was up very early, before 5 am. This is unfamiliar territory for me, as I am usually pretty automatic about waking up right around 7am. Being foreign to me I felt a little frustrated with what to do. So I sat for a while. As I sat I began to ponder and to reflect, this I have not done with much regularity since returning home from my mission. My mind began to consider where I am in life. It quickly dawned on me that I am about to turn 30. Upon this realization I immediately reviewed my mental list of "goals before thirty". Questions filled my mind, "have I fallen short, is there time to make things happen, am I living the life that I wanted when I was five years old?" I'm sure we all have thoughts like this, well don't we? Maybe we all don't.

At first I thought of the things I have fallen short on, weight loss, salary, savings, and of course the challenge of saving my hair. Yes, I have stressed many hours over my ever growing forehead. Have I failed myself with these goals? At this point in this morning’s reflections I was not feeling very proud of myself. But, there is something amazing about the gift of the Comforter, comfort is always delivered when one is in need of being comforted. Just as the depths of failure and regret grabbed a hold of my thoughts and attitudes, the comforter came. A memory flashed through my burden laden mind just in the nick of time.

She was beautiful, she was kind. Even better is she was mine. She love me, no she adored me. I was everything to her, her own hopes and dreams. The greatest feeling in the world was knowing that she choose me. She said no to all the others and she choose me. She made the choice to let me be her preverbal "knight in shining armor". With her I was empowered with confidence I had never before known. I felt control over my thoughts and ownership for my actions. I was changed, as if in the twinkle of an eye. She made me a man of accountability, of honor, of self worth. Her love validated every sacrifice I had made and would ever make to win her heart. I was made forever hers.

That morning was also a very early morning; it was a morning of deep pondering and reflection. As we kneeled across the alter we were instructed to look away at the sweet brother who performed our sealing. I could not, my eyes were locked in her gaze. Her beautiful, warm and compassionate eyes held my own. I was forever hers. That moment is the moment of my life. All else will pale in comparison.

I am grateful for the comforter, and for the quite moments of the morning. I am grateful that my mind was allowed to wonder down the path of self reflection. I have fallen short; I have failed at many of my goals before 30. However, I have been reminded that failure is part of success. I have been blessed today. Memories are the molecules of eternity. My favorite memory saved me from myself today.

I know that God lives! He is my Heavenly Father. He wants the best for me, he loves me. He wants me to remember the moments he has blessed me with, good and bad. He wants me to find purpose in each moment of the day. I know that we are His children. We are here on earth to learn and to grow, to overcome the natural man and all the imperfections we each have. We are here on earth to be in a family, to learn to get through anything. "Those who flee the family flee the world", Elder Neal A. Maxwell. Our Heavenly Father sent his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to help us know that we are not sent to earth to try and to fail only. We were sent her to fail then to be lifted as many times as we need. He has not left us alone. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley taught that "God does love us and He watches over us, but it is usually through the hands of another that He meets our needs." Who am I to not help my brother? I have been lifted after failure of my own doing by others. I hope to be there for you.

Another post!

I'm on a roll!! Two posts in one day, not heard of for me. Actually I just forgot to include in my last post the biggest news thats taken place in our home most recently. Our new addition to our family, our new boy . . .


Welcome Boozer Harris, our new mini poodle puppy. And yes, in case you are wondering Thomas is getting a lot of grief over owning such a girly dog.
He doesn't seem to mind all that much, cause he sure loves him! So do I and so do the boys. KC and Xander are very helpful in helping with the dog too, that makes my life easier! Having a puppy and trying to potty train him can be very exhausting! And no, he is not named after Carlos Boozer, so no we will not be changing his name now that he is moving on to play for the Bulls. The boys just liked the name for some reason.

Finally a post!!

This one is for you Kalyn, I know you are sick of reading about KC's shark teeth, so I thought it was time to get going on updating what's going on in the Harris family. A lot has taken place over the last 3 or 4 months, so I'd like to take a minute to catch you up.
Back in March we joined the ranks of many other families of 2 or more kids and bought our first minivan. Tom hopes it's the first and last time we buy one. It needed to be done though, and we actually are really enjoying our Sienna and the extra space that it provides. I especially like it now that I am watching a few extra kids this summer, and we can get out of the house and go somewhere in it. I couldn't do that in the Malibu. I have to admit though, I feel very motherly in it, in a good way though. We call it the Swagger Wagon, for those of you have seen the commercial/music video that Toyota put out. Maybe, if I get around to it, I'll post a link to it, pretty hilarious.
Xander, turned 4 in March also. He has had an eventful spring/summer so far. We noticed that he had quite the lazy eye in his right eye, so we went in to have him checked. Sure enough, he needed glasses. His right was very week, and his left eye was doing all the work. The right eye has an astigmitism and he has a mild case of Amblyopia, which runs in the family. He got his glasses, and he sure looks studly in them. He doesn't have any problem wearing them either, and looks very handsome too! There have been some bumps here and there, and he has needed several adjustments, and one frame replacement already. I get all worked up when they get bent or broken, but Thomas reminds me that he is 4 and to get use to it because it's just going to happen! I know he is right, but it's the mother hen in me that gets stressed and starts to see $$$$. He's had one check up since getting them, and his eyes are doing much better and as of right now, does not need surgery or an eye patch for the left eye. Way to go Xan Man! Aside from the new glasses, Xander became the first member in our family to break a bone. Let it be known on the record of this blog that he was in the care of his father while breaking his elbow too! Thomas let him go down a very long, and pretty steep hill on his bike. I'm not sure what Thomas was thinking, because Xander doesn't use his brakes . . .at all! Sure enough he flew down that hill in record time and luckily landed on grass at the bottom. I'm sure injuries could have been a lot worse if there weren't grass there. He handled it like champ though, and had his cast on for only two weeks. He got it taken off just in time for swimming weather.
KC passed the Kindergarten with flying colors! He's such good kid and I'm so proud of him. It was fun to volunteer in his class this past year and observe him in his school enviroment. I look forward to it in the years to come as well. KC was one of the few kids in his grade to participate in the talent show. He did great and performed some of the karate moves he learned in his class. I'm so glad he is brave, and dared to get up in front of everyone and do that. I hope he keeps that up! Xander passed the first year of pre-school, but not without some mornings where he tried to fake sick, and thought he could stay home. I have a feeling, it's going to be a long 12 years for him, hopefully he'll start liking school at some point.
I can't believe that in just a year, I will be sending both my boys to elementary school. Don't get me wrong, I really do look forward to it, but it makes me sad to see them grow up so fast. I need to have another baby soon, so I don't go throught major withdrawls!
Thomas and I (okay, mostly Thomas) have been busy in the yard this year. We planted many new bushes and flowers and covered the beds with woodchips. It looks very nice too, if I say so myself. In the backyard we put down sod to cover up many of the flower beds that I just was sick of and couldn't maintain. I love going back there now, and not having to see the ugly overgrown, weedy beds now. Just pretty green grass, and I'll we have to do is mow it. Beautiful. I'm so glad that Tom obsesses over the yard, because it's one of the things that I don't have to worry about. Thanks honey.
We have been kept busy with work and church responsibilities, but we wouldn't change it for anything. We feel blessed to have the employment that we do. Thomas is the EQ Pres, and in my opinion is doing great at it, if great equals being gone many hours away from home to attend meetings and visit people in the ward. He works so hard, and I'm very grateful to have found someone who honors his priesthood like he does. I am really enjoying being in the Young Women's. I had such a great time at youth conference, and look forward to Girl's camp this week.
The last few weeks, we have spent many hours playing at grandma's pool, boating at Utah Lake with Grandpa, or just running through the sprinklers in the back yard. We are sad that summer time passes so quickly around here, but look forward to some fun trips with both the Washburn and Harris families this season. Last week, during the 4th we were invited by our good friends to their cabin, and it was a blast!! They have a beautiful family cabin on 400 acres and a private lake, who could ask for anything more!?! We enjoyed endless fishing, canoeing, hitting floating golf balls into the water and then fetching them with the paddle boat, great food, smores around the fire, great food (did I say that already?), and heavenly 4 hour naps in a comfy king size bed! It was the greatest nap I think I've ever taken! KC beat us all and caught two fish, and it's the first time he's ever fished! I don't know what Tom and mines problem is, but we just couldn't catch a fish to save our lives! Good thing we've got KC! Thanks Steph, Clair and Noah for another great trip!

We thought this was a great photo op!

Xander, Noah, and Carter playing in the sand.

The boys being boys and throwing the floatable golfballs in the lake.

One of KC's fish that he caught!

Uncle Alex helped KC get his fish unhooked for him. KC was just a tad nervous to stand too close to the fish.

Our good friends the Alleman's at the cabin.

Us at the cabin.

And our good friends the Rosenberg's.

Me fishing with Aria. She was suppose to be my good luck charm to catch a fish ...it didn't work! That sweet little thing caught 2 fish!! Of course her momma was helping a little bit.

The boys and I in the paddle boat.

Xander disgruntled about something going on. What a sweet face.

In two weeks, we are going with my family to Lake Powell and are looking forward to our annual trip there. Then, in August we will go to Fish Lake with Tom's family. Something that's a first for me and my boys (Tom's family went a lot when they were younger), and we are excited for that trip also. I hope you are enjoying your summer also. Sorry if this post was dreadfully boring to any of you, I'll try to update more often, to avoid long posts.