Following Christ

"To follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Christlike Attributes—the Wind beneath Our Wings", Ensign, Nov 2005, 100

Sebastian Grey Harrison

Aunt Jackie with Baby Sebastian

Sweet Sebastian

Rabeka & Sebastian

Family portrait before delivery

Alexander, Rabeka & Cj

We want to welcome Sebastian Grey Harrison to the world! He was born on September 25th at 1:03pm. He weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and was almost 21 inches long. We are all so excited to meet this precious and very adorable baby. We are so thrilled that Cj and Rabeka have brought this sweet boy into our lives. Its so wonderful for Brandon and I to have a new nephew and for the boys to have another cousin. As we all know its absolute heaven to hold a newborn baby. I just love it!

Darcy's Slumber Party

My time

A little Weezer.... some Everclear... throw in some Buck O Nine.... and you have a fun way to get up in the morning. There's something about bass guitar... and listening to music you love that just brightens your day!!! I have been going on these energizing walks with Aj in the morning not only is it a great workout and good for the dog but it gives me time to just let go!!! And I love it!!! Sometimes its a throw back to when I use to watch shows (live bands) on a Friday night other times its my hip hop/dance music that immediately sends my mind back into a club. I can see it so vividly its just exciting and fun! You need fun!

My Sweet Noah

Though its the middle of September it still feels like summer here in sunny San Diego and of course Noah has to wear socks and shoes to school. When I picked him up today he said "My toes are so hot they feel like little sausages on a BBQ" it was the cutest thing I ever heard! Then we went to the pool just the two of us and he said "I like it when nobody is here its so peaceful and quiet- I like being peaceful and quiet with you it feels like heaven" My sweet Noah, who is only 5, is such a joy to be around. I will always treasure moments like this!

San Diego Temple

This picture was taken with my friends cell phone which is why our eyes look a little odd but I am so glad that we were able to capture this moment as we were leaving the temple.

On Saturday September 18th Jordan was able to go to the San Diego temple for the very first time. The youth in our ward were going to do baptisms and he was invited to go. I was so excited that he would be going inside to actually perform an ordinance not just visit for an open house and that it would be in the same temple where Brandon and I were married. Our family was supposed to go to a work party that night but I was not going to let this moment pass me by. Since there was also a dance that same night most of the older kids had a previous commitment but I felt that that made it even more special since it was going to be a small group. Just 2 deacons, 2 young women, the bishop, Bro. Graham wright (counselor in the bishopric) a young women's leader and me. I of course also wanted to do baptisms right along side my son instead of simply being a witness. It was so beautiful, so pure, the happiness that we felt ..sigh.... the two of us together sitting side by side waiting for our turn to go into the baptismal font. So many memories flashed through my mind. I remember when I was first baptized, at 18, and finally able to go myself. I had so many vivid memories of Darcy and I going together, my friends, my family and then later all the memories of Brandon and I here in this temple and all that we had done there and experienced. Its a miracle really. I use to dream of getting married in the temple, having children and now years later I am in the temple sitting next to my 12 year old son feeling the spirit so strong and feeling incredibly blessed. I tear up now just thinking about it. It was wonderful, peaceful, pure and I want to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible. Jordan greatly enjoyed the experience and says he can't wait to go again. As mother and son we were closer than we have been in years. It reminded me of when he was born and all the visitors had left and it was just me and him in this quiet hospital room snuggled together on the bed. He has grown up so fast and I love him more than words. Thank goodness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ it brings us so much joy and I am very grateful!

The Optimist Club Creed

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Happy Birthday Dad!

A BIG happy birthday to my amazing energetic father Frank Szeles! I met him at 6:40 this morning- went to the optimist club meeting with him which was incredible! To the gym to swim 40 olympic size laps and now off to play tennis! I hope I can keep up with him! 71 years young and going strong!!!

Lego Competition

Its another beautiful day in LEGO City! My 3 boys just finished competing in the Jr. Master Model Builders Competition at Legoland! It was wonderful seeing their creativity in action!

Son up to Son Down

The alarm goes off at 6am and I just lay there for a few minutes trying to feel peace when really anxiety fills my mind and body. My dear son will have his 2nd day of 7th grade and neither one of us is happy about it. Its so hard to start your day so worried and so sad. I know what it is like to sit by yourslef at lunch and my heart breaks for him. To be in a brand new school without knowing anyone is hard. period. It would be so nice to at least see a familiar face in the sea of 1100 students most of which are way taller than expected for this age. I try to stop worrying. Jump in the shower, do strength training exercises, sing to the kids "Good morning Good morning , ITS A HAPPY DAY today..." with an enormous smile despite my concerns. We eat breakfast as a family, I make all 3 their lunches for the day, we gather papers, backpacks, sweatshirts etc, we style hair because after all you do need to look cool in Jr. high, Jordan and I hug in the bathroom and swear that we will both get through this and we are going to try and have a happy day regardless of what happens, we read scriptures and sing songs as a family, we kneel and have family prayer and we are off. I walk Noah and Aidan to school. I continue to smile and say hello to new faces in hopes that I too can make some new friends. I drop Noah off at kinder where most of the new kids and some parents are crying- luckily I am passed this stage and Noah feels confident and secure -we hug, give a kiss, and he wants no help what so ever getting settled in the class- finding a seat, putting lunch box in the proper place, turning in papers etc he does it all himself as I leave the door. What a relief! I take Aidan to line up with his class on the playground, I am amazed that there are 31 kids in his class. He is nervous but I smile, reassure him and introduce him to another girl who is also brand new to the school- his confidence rises and he tells his life history to this girl. Talk to the teacher about finding him a buddy , explain to the teacher that she also has another new student. Kiss Aidan all over his face- he is not embarrassed at all - he is holding on so tight and doesn't want to let go - I tell him to have an awesome day and what an amazing kid he is and walk away. I peek into kinder classroom and see that Noah is happy. A parent from the Jr. high sees me and asks how it is all going - I form a game plan with her to help Jordan find friends. I feel like throwing up. I can't stand to see my confident and out going kid sad - we must do something! I walk home. Jordan and Brandon are playing silly games trying to get each other to laugh and start the day on a positive note. Brandon takes Jordan to school. He tries to be tough. I write and check emails- wrote to the principal, counselor and 2 teachers asking for their assistance with Jordan and reminding them that he is brand new to the school and doesn't even know which building is which- thank goodness they gave him a map. I still feel like throwing up. I decide I can't just sit here and worry. I take AJ on a 45 min. walk trying to work through my emotions and talk with God. Brandon catches up with us. We talk about if moving here was a good idea - it would of been so much easier to stay in Utah. We walk in the door I need to feel good so now personal scripture study, I ask Brandon for a blessing. I feel at peace all worry and anxiety leave me and I decide to smile again and be a good mom and wife and move on with my day- I un load the dishwasher, start a new load, bake oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, go over my lesson plan for scouts tomorrow and look at the clock its ONLY 11am!!! Its going to be a LONG day! So back to cleaning I go, then lunch mingles with helping Brandon with work, pick up the younger ones from school, go over their day- homework, concerns, events of the day etc. Then snack time and time to pick up Jordan - go over his events of the day and deal with any emotions or concerns that may arise, snack for him, homework, dinner then off to guitar lessons and piano, with grocery shopping, errands, library and then the bedtime routine. Wow! I think I could of used one more week of summer! I realize this is ALL for our good and we need to progress so here we go from Son up to Son down. I pray this will be a good year!

Big Day!

Noah's First day of Kindergarten
Jordan's First day of Middle School

Aidan and Noah's first day at their new school in San Diego

Jordan at the orientation

BIG Day today! First day of Kinder for Noah, First day of a brand new school for Aidan, first day of Jr high for Jordan and our Anniversary!!! I told the boys its not just about mommy and daddy but this is the day we started our family!!! So we've been a family for 14 years and it has been wonderful! It was a very emotional day but after tears and laughter we made it AND we look forward to even better days ahead!