A Baptism fit for a prince...

My first miracle was baptized July 18th by his amazing father. Savien has and will eternally be my life's joy. His decision to be baptized was something he took very seriously and he magnified his choice. As his mother the one thing I pray for day and night is for my children to walk in truth and serve God all the days of their lives. July 18th was an amazing day and the begining of a lifetime of righteous decisions for my baby. He is and will always be my first miracle. The day was perfect and this is the custom cake he had made for his special reception held after his baptism. (that isn't a zoomed in shot-that cake was huge and tasted like heaven!)

ANOTHER HOME SWEET HOME

If there is one thing the Pressley's do well, besides make beautiful sons, it's MOVE! And this year included another move for our family. We moved only 3 miles from our old home so we're still in Sacramento but we have a two story now. Our old house was on a super busy street. And we now get to enjoy a quiet tree lined street. Much to Marlin's happiness and we are so far enjoying our new 'home-sweet-home.' We have even been blessed to have had many visitors and we are hosting Thanksgiving this year. But honestly, in this day and age we're more than abundantly blessed to have not only a new house, but a loving home! May God continue to Bless this home.

AMERICA'S 44TH PRESIDENT

I have to say that I feel so privileged to live in a time where America has come together in unity for change and created something so magnificent as electing the first African American president; Barack Obama.
I voted November 4, 2008 and helped to elect the first African American president because I felt he was bar none the best candidate, I felt he represented issues very important to me and I felt that I had a unique opportunity to participate in history. When I think about the history of this country which includes the shadow of slavery, oppression that lasted 400 long years and still has devastating effects on the culture of African Americans today it is hard to devote your heart completely to a flawed and often indignant country. Despite the opportunities offered here. However, when you see the change that has come and the progress that has been made from the abolition of slavery to Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement to now it is undeniably and overwhelmingly magnificent to finally be able to ’put down your suitcase’ and embrace the country you always wanted to but weren’t quite sure if you could and have it embrace you back. I feel so completely American today. Not African American, but American. I feel sweet down to the marrow of my bones. I feel whole, powerful, hopeful and probably most of all thankful. Thankful to God for truly blessing America to allow something of this magnitude to happen. To live to see it and to be able to see the readiness in America’s spirit to let this come to pass at this moment in history. A crevice has been made in the fabric of America’s history that will remain eternally. And I am thrilled to be in that crevice. I am thrilled to be able to raise my two African American sons in a time when they don’t even know why this moment is historical. They will grow up always knowing that an African American could have always been president because Barack Obama was. It will never be a question if they could be president because there was a president, Barack Obama. That fact gives me chills in to the depths of my soul and I say with enthusiasm, reverence and abiding gratitude I am proud to be an American-God bless this great country of the United States of America.

I DIDN'T KNOW MY OWN STRENGTH....

Who knew that a year and a half after I stepped foot back in school that I'd actually finish? Who knew the days that I missed my kids desperately, the days I was sick, the days I was depressed, the days I wanted to be at my kids karate practice, the days I missed a church event, the days Marlin wasn't feeling as supportive, the days my kids ate fast food day after day after day, the days my kids had to go to childcare, the days I didn't see Marlin for days at a time, the days Marlin and worked opposite shifts to keep the kids out of childcare, the days I missed my favorite t.v. finale, the days I had to endure profanity, immaturity, deceit, spite fullness from others at school or days that I wanted it all to be over. Who knew that I would not only graduate with an A average, but 95% attendance in the presence of my sons, husband, father and both directors there to wish me well. Who knew that I was this strong? I guess you did!

I did it I did it I did it! I am a graduate and I have a trained and marketable skill. A mother's dream. It makes being the mother to my miracles more special. I have options and I chose them. It was always my dream to be home with them, I was blessed enough to be actually living my dream, but it makes my dream bigger now that being here with them is really what I want to do. Nothing can turn my head now, or make me question my devotion to being home. Because I did it! I actually did it.

LARRY, CURLY, MOE & OUR BOYS

I am so blessed to have two of the best friends I've ever had. Heavenly Father knew that friendship would be a challenge for me that it was mentioned in my patriarchal blessing. And over the years I've definitely been blessed with good friends; my sisters, April, Rebecca, Suzanne, Vanessa. But we know that in life we move and our friendships endure but it's hard not to have that person that totally gets you close to you logistically. But Heavenly Father definitely extended a tender mercy when he sent me Catherine and Kristi. They more than get me they accept me-neurosis's and all! They understand and accept my constant need to hand sanitize, my super fast speech, my need to be on time to everything, my need to call and vent random annoyances and mostly the meet my needs equally as I strive to meet theirs. Although I'm sure you've guessed that they're considerable less than mine. The point is we are the three musketeers. We have lunch every month without fail and it helps that our boys are also best friends. One time at church someone new didn't know who I was and asked one of the ladies who I was. After thinking how to best describe me she replied the lady always glued at the hip with Kristi Sharp. Then she exclaimed "Oh I know exactly who she is then!" If that tells you anything-Yep, I'd say I'm definitely blessed!!

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Years ago I had to make the decision whether or not to perpetuate the myth. The holiday myth so many children associate Christmas with....Santa Claus. Growing up I knew as young as four that he didn't exist. I never had the blind faith, the giddy excitement, the eager hope or the anxious sleep that comes to many children every Christmas Eve. So later in life when I discovered the true meaning of Christmas it was one of the best gifts I'd ever received. The knowledge that the true spirit of Christmas is the Pure love of Christ in the hearts of those willing to serve those so less fortunate at Christmas-which was always my family. I loved that I had something I could believe in all year round and that gave Christmas true meaning for me.

So when I had my own four year old, without warning assuming strangers would tell him in stores "is Santa bringing you toys this Christmas" or "Be a good boy for Santa" or other annoying quips about this fable. Initially I hesitated and about my decision to spare him believing in the myth but after careful consideration decided that the right decision for my family was to tell him why Christmas was special to me and that meant telling him at four years old the true meaning of Christmas without the Santa part. It's something he has always accepted and we have adopted two things that really help our children celebrate the season without Santa but with the most important part our Savior Jesus Christ.

First, we have begun collecting nativities and we get atleast one every year but many times we get more than one each year. We designate a special place in our house for them and set them up. The kids get to set them up and we make a special pile of 'baby Jesuses' so that Christmas morning before we open our gifts we play our favorite family Christmas song "Go Tell It On the Mountain" and we put all the babies in the mangers.

Secondly, we have adopted the tradition of giving our kids 3 gifts just like the Savior received. We tell them that it was good enough for the Savior to receive 3, it's good enough for you. It really helps our family to stay focused during the holidays while teaching my kids the true meaning of Christmas and just like my favorite scripture, "...We talk of Christ, we preach of Christ that our children may know whom to look for a remission of their sins." 2Nephi 25:26 For me there is nothing greater than to teach my kids this lesson.

As a mom you're always second guessing your decisions and I felt a surge of hope when Amani my four year old said as we decorated the tree with gold hearts, "I'm putting on the heart for the love of Jesus." May you each have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world-Jesus Christ.

P.S. One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do every Christmas is to watch the movie The Nativity released a few years ago. We watched it this year as a family & the kids loved it! They were riveted. I cry every time! Watching it I am awe struck at the divinity of our Savior. I love it-a must see!

U TURNS

Life is so unpredictable. And from someone that loves a list, a plan and then a detailed guarantee of the outcome life with it's unpredictable moments can really challenge someone like me. But thankfully, in life there are moments where we can make much needed UTURNS! For example just a few weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting my new nephew in Del Rio TX. Well, Del Rio is almost 3 hours from San Antonio off of highway 90. I had directions, but the girl at the rental car place gave me a 'better' set of directions, so I followed her directions 50 miles south of where I needed to be. That was a HUGE mistake. I couldn't get to Del Rio from where she had me going unless I drove an additional 5 hours. That would be like someone telling you that to get to LA from Palm Springs to go South to San Diego. Insane that would never work, you'd still have to drive 3 hours north to get to LA. So, going south in Texas just to then go another 5 hours back west to Del Rio was a detour I didn't want to take. My only option was to make a u turn and basically eat those 50 miles (turned into 100 miles round trip) of wasted gas and time. Fortunately I did still get to my destination and learned a valuable lesson in the process. What is my point of this story,.....well, originally I posted this blog to celebrate the addition of our 'daughters' we were hoping to adopt. Well it turns out that we won't be able to due to circumstances beyond our control (like the fact that they are not available to be adopted at this time and are likely going to be returned to their parents) so, we are left with the only option we have which is to make a UTURN and return to our family of four. Unlike with the trip this UTURN will not be wasted gas or time. But a return to familiar and loving territory. I love my husband and two sons more than the seconds have passed since time began. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity, the lesson, my family and an opportunity to make a UTURN. Our happy thoughts are with the girls in their new foster home and I want to thank all our friends and family for their unconditional love and support. And don't forget...it's never too late for a UTURN. Even when you're lost in rural Texas alone with no GPS. :)