for the purpose of documentation.

it wasn't enough that hazel woke up, wide-eyed and ready for the day at 6:30am.

she also had to have a blow out on john right as we sat down in our first church meeting.

and, after being changed, i had to take a spill in the drive way with her in my arms (don't worry we are fine, hazel especially since i broke the entirety of the fall with my body, she was practically unscathed.) as i hurried to get back over to the church.

then, she needed a nap during sacrament meeting (because she woke up at the crack of dawn) and i had to take her out in the middle of the sacrament due to she was throwing a fit (taking half of the sacrament still counts, right?)

and then a bishopric member sees me leave and texts john, "are you guys okay to get set apart today after church?"

bah!  church is not easy some weeks with an 8-month old.  but, of course, it's no fault of hers.  and i have thought a lot about what more of a blessing and a sacrifice it is to attend church each week since i have become a mother.  no matter what time our church is, hazel always needs a nap during some part of the 3 hours of it.  i look up to all those moms (including mine) who do church with six kids consistently each week because they believe it is true and want to follow God's commandments.  even if you aren't a member of the LDS faith, i hope you can take this post for what it is - a realistic and honest look at what lengths we go to to exercise our faith.  i am grateful for the knowledge that i am one of God's children and that he loves me.