Livin the best Timeline

So Joby and I were watching the latest episode of Community last week where a simple roll of the die created a whole different timeline and chain of events. Afterward both Joby and I pondered where we would be had we chosen different roads in our life.
The following is the timeline I contemplated:
5 years ago I had just graduated in Broadcast Journalism. I was working with my friend Michelle at Fox 6 San Diego in the Photog department as we put together our field reporting resume tapes.
This was her:


This was me:


Both of us were offered Field Reporting positions in small markets to begin our career. Both of us were beyond excited to be News Reporters.

Here is where my timeline changed...

Michelle took the position.

I did not.

This is her 4 and a half years later:


An Anchor in a large news market in Texas

And this is me 4 and half years later:

40 weeks pregnant with our third kid. Living in a small town that resembles Radiator springs where winter lasts 8 months out of the year and sucks every last ounce of moisture from my skin and hair. Living in a house whose outside makes it look like it was transported from West Valley and I can't forget our amazing view of the trailer park. Did I mention I look and feel like a cow?

Michelle is wearing cute pant suits, interviewing political candidates, great authors and world renown scientists. Shes jumping out of planes with her photog, reporting on scene at major events meeting influencial people, getting major recognition and awards and enjoying the adenaline and excitement that working in the news brings.

I am wearing dresses that look like muumuus because I cant fit into anything because of my belly. I play at the park, get mac and cheese thrown at me, change diapers, change cloths, do laundry 24/7, referee fights, clean up messes, never get sleep, endure tantrums and whining...etc In conclusion I am a Mom

So obviously, my life could have been alot more glamorous. So why did I not take the Reporting Position? I like to blame Joby as I was offered the positions right after we were married and he did not want to move for my career. However, ultimately if I truly wanted the position and conveyed how important it was to me I have no doubt he would have moved.

I didn't realize it, but I had made my decision not to be a field reporter right before I was offered the career. See, you enter the news field thinking you are going to change the world, but as you are more exposed to the organization of the media you realize you are simply a puppet to the stations agenda. I was in countless producer meetings where reporters would offer excellent story ideas. Never once were they accepted. They were always assigned the stories that were approved by big media conglomerates and basically those who funded the station. I would have to report on things I didn't agree with and not in my tone, but the tone of the station. I began to realize journalistic liberty did not exist. Additionally the adrenaline in news is very addicting. I wonder if this would have made me put career above having children.

It was then that I made the decision(with the promptings from a loving Heavenly Father that knew it was difficult for me to give up what I thought was my dream) that I could be much more influential in the world if I raised a family in the Gospel so they could go out and be examples to others.

5 years later I am grateful and confident I chose the best timeline because I have these precious irreplaceable gems. Life is good




“Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.” It will often be necessary for all of us to choose between having a good time and leading a good life. -President Harold B. Lee

Bridal showers can be fun

Ah.... fun Times. So great when all the girls can get together, especially if its in celebration.

Sums bridal shower and advice Part1


Part 2

The Archer DNA "wuss strand" surfaces again.

So a little over a year ago I posted this:



Sadly, Crus bravery has not improved as seen below.



Somebodys genes are to blame and I can confidently say they are not mine as I have seen Joby cry like a little girl when he accidentally steps on Crus plastic farm toys.

Motherhood and the regression of my intelligence

I and Cru's ongoing argument:

ME: "Cru do not unlatch your seatbelt." (it doesn't really matter what I say his response is still the same)

CRU: "Mom you just said poopies!"

ME: I did not say poopies or anything reminiscent of it I made reference to your seatbelt!

CRU: " You said poopies!"

ME: Cru! I did not!

CRU: Yes you did!

ME: "NO I DIDN'T! Nor have I ever said poopies! Stop saying that!

CRU: (laughing) You said poopies!

ME: I DID NOT SAY POOPIES!!!!!"

And so the intellectual battle continues.....

And in other news....so does the confusion...

Sage will not walk and its frustrating me. The confusion is that she won't walk,

but she will do this:

Open the toilet lid, climb up and sit in it.

I don't understand.

"as they walked and walked and walked AND WALLLLked"

We just returned from trek 2 weeks ago and this is the first year Pioneer Day has meant more than parades and fireworks.

Joby and I were called as Ma and Pas for trek back in February, to give us time to prepare, and were told the experience would change our lives. Walking in a bonnet and dress through Wyoming is going to change my life?

Right

Well it did.

I use to think the Pioneers were just "some people that did something hard a long time ago." Luckily being called to this gave Joby and I the desire to study these great Saints and what we learned and experienced will forever inspire the best in us.

There were moments walking on the trail where they walked that were so sacred not one person in our company of 250 could contain their emotions. A wave of humble cries slowly broke out and you knew you were on hallowed ground.

The pioneers reached some of the greatest character possible in this life. They came to know the Savior personally on earth and their examples of Faith, love and sacrifice will continue to be a compass through my own challenges.

If you ever get the chance to go on trek...take it.

Great read:Fire of the Covenant

Great Movie: 17 Miracles...(even Joby cried ..don't tell him I told you)

Hands down...Best Holiday

The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday.

Maybe I like independence and my Country...

Maybe I don't like the British or their teeth...

Maybe I like fireworks, festivities and family parties..

or maybe I just like Joby who happens to have been born on the 4th...

The culmination of all of these makes for a delightful experience.

Family BBQ/ Pool party and fireworks at my parents and then onto the Archers for more fun!

Cru got his first pair of Boots from Grandma and Pop Archer this year!

We are on Day 4 of him refusing to take them off for bedtime.

A couple months ago Callie told my nephews, when we were out hiking, to pick some flowers and give them to me. Both Landon and Kason picked a flower and handed them to me saying "Here Julie!" Cru must have wanted the smile and hugs I gave them because ever since that day if Cru sees any flowers he will pick one for me and while reaching say "Here Julie!"

its the only time he calls me Julie instead of mom and its so ridiculously cute.

In the words of Will Ferrell..."AMERICA!!"

I'm one and ridiculously cute

I like the the pool, the beach, eating sand,

wrestling with my brother and...

cake! And I just turned one!

Easily amused

Ah...if only we were all so easily amused as children.

Maybe Florida is our next move....

I married into a crazy awesome family!! (Archer/Colmans.) Yet another wonderful family reunion and so great to have Katie and Evan come with us! I wish I had footage of everyone. After this trip Florida is in the running for I and Joby's next move.

For 10 years I went to the beach almost everyday. Since moving I haven't been in 2 years. It was beyond refreshing...

It will never lose my affection.

Sidenote: katie and I are both 18 weeks prego in this video. look how AMAZING she looks and how "not so amazing" I look. (ugh.) luckily, these pictures grossed me out enough that I got back on live the life and have lost 5 of the 10 pounds of overindulgence in the first tri-mester. I miss my metabolism from my 20's....

Stuff

It is extremely easy just by looking at a toy to decipher if it is from China or the U.S.

China's English branding is delightfully bad. It typically lacks punctuation, prepositions or plural forms of nouns.

This is one is our favorites, so far, because it incorporates all three grammar mistakes listed above. It is a bucket of little plastic safari animals...I mean animal.

It makes Joby and I deliriously happy when we discover China toys in Cru's toy collection because we get to incorporate the new lingo into our daily conversations for the rest of the week. For instance, today I followed Joby around the store with random items stating "Lovely and fun (whatever I was holding) these are what you want."

I have been searching to see if they also have other lines like "The world of insect" or "The world of person."

I also like that they inform me that "these are what I want" because it takes the annoying decision making process out of buying toys.

In other news.. I was giving my Relief Society lesson yesterday and we were discussing the dangers of carnal security. After people had supplied some examples of carnal security I began to move on to the next subject when randomly someone just said

"boats."

And I don't even know who said it, but it was so funny because it was said out of the blue and with complete disgust. It was said in such a way you would think boats were the downfall of society. I just started laughing and I couldn't move on unless I addressed it so I just stated "Mark my words if you own aboat you are being lured by the adversary into carnal security." Everyone was laughing, but I wish I would have found out who it was so I could ask for some background on her animosity towards boats. For the rest of the day anytime there were breaks in conversation I would just say "boats."

In other other news.. Cru pushed Sage in the bathtub. So she got right next to his face and screamed the most high pitch shrill scream I have ever heard in my life. It literally hurt my ears.Cru started crying hysterically because it scared him. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breath. Nice to know my little chica can already fight back.

candy confidence

I received this picture and text today...

"Hey Julie remember us????

You can't hurt us anymore!!!!!!!!"

Apparently the candy community is getting a little cocky knowing I have quit them.

Juice puppy era

Cru loves to dance. We typically designate 7:00p.m. after hours at the Archer house and we blast the salsa music and dance until I pass out on the floor. My endurance currently gives up at 7:45. I don't know how I use to dance until 3, sometimes 6, in the morning.

This video is a couple months old but I love it because it shows his sweet complex arm movements. Additionally, this was the juice puppy era so he would randomly say "juice" or "puppy" the whole time he was dancing. You can kindof hear it on the tape.

His current motivation is still puppies but he's added horses to the mix.

Mr. Mom

So I've decided I'm going to slowly delegate all my responsibilities to Cru so I can do whatever I want.

forgotten payback

Joby and I like to try and out embarrass each other. It somehow deepens our bond.

For instance if I ever get up to go to the restroom after finishing a meal at a restaurant Joby likes to yell "If you go throw up your meal again I'm not paying for it!" He waits until I am walking past a table of people.

I like to make up things Joby says in conversation with people we have just met like "See Joby they aren't stuck up like you said or mid conversation with them turn to Joby in disgust and say "STOP farting!" Or when he makes a sarcastic remark about someone if he has made me really mad I will tell them. "Joby thinks your hair looks like a mushroom exploded"

This is just a small taste of our sick little game, but more often we end up laughing to the point of urination as opposed to getting angry in our attempt to out embarrass each other.

However...

I just remembered an uneven score we have from a flight we took shortly after I had Cru.

I was emotionally vulnerable due to just having a baby and couldn't retaliate.

Everyone had boarded and it was unusually quiet. No one on the plane was really talking

No one except Joby who loudly stated "Ewwww why don't you put on extra deodorant when you know we are traveling!"

Luckily we are planning a trip this year that will require a plane ride.

There will be recompense.

Once upon a time...

A little over 5 years ago we went to Costa Rica.

At the time Joby and I were just friends.

You would have thought Jason and Joby were the ones to hook up after the trip...

(see video)

But the night before we left Joby and I stayed up late and talked on the balcony.

He expressed how he couldn't wait to get married so he could spoil his wife and treat her like a princess.

It worked.

2 months later he moved from Florida back to San Diego by me.

I gave up latinos

Joby gave up his bank account.

14 months later we were married.

And four years later we are still living happily ever after

Happy Anniversary!

I've been thinking....

For the past 3 to 4 years I have felt the strength and urgency more than ever to purify my life and cleanse myself of any and every weakness that would prevent me experiencing the spirit to the fullest. I'm sure becoming a parent is an influential part as you want to be the example of the principles you are teaching your children, but there is more to it. We all know we are living in the last days. I remember being referred to as millennial children in talks growing up and we know the Apostles and possibly the Prophet who will be the Apostles and Prophet during the millenium are here. (see talk). We can see mens/ womans (maybe our own ) hearts failing as prophesied in our daily encounters. Analyzing my own mind I see my own worldly snares I am vulnerable to. I feel like I have had things come into my life that have helped free much of my captivity so I could further prepare myself and family. One being the revelation to leave California and move to Utah. (I also find it interesting that so many people are flocking back to Utah. Even those without family here)That blessing not only brought us closer to family, but has taken us almost completely out of debt. Something that I believe would never happen had we stayed in California. Another is emotional healing, through the Atonement, from some heartaches in life. I feel like a whole person again. Another is Live the life. Its aprogram that gave me the proper formula for taking care of ones body and perfectly following the word of wisdom. I felt addicted to sugar and had many failed attempts at alleviating it from my life. Since following live the life I have not only almost completely absolved my addiction to sugar but also to preservatives and every unnatural craving induced food source in our society. I eat for sustainability not for the serotonin high. Its a powerful feeling. It wasn't easy but so worth it. I had always admired John the Baptist because he lived off of locust and honey. He ate purely for sustenance and that was because he didn't want to have any societal appetites that impede his communication with God. I have never understood 3:7 to the degree I do today. "for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save heshall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Heavenly Father has placed many people, books and things in my life to help me accomplish things he has commanded me to do. I also know the Saviors spirit has been poured more abundantly across the earth as I have never felt the strength to accomplish thesethings as I have these past 3 years.

Through Study we know the signs and they are all around us. We know that the seventh seal was opened in the year 2000 (one reference)signifying the last days and the half hour of silence in Heaven before Christ comes. And thanks to John in Revelations we know what will happen during the half our of silence and its definitely not a glamorous time(Revelations chapter 8) In Millennial messiah Bruce R McConkie claims we can calculate what a half and hour is in gods time. He stated that if 1000 years is one day to God then you divide 1000 by 24 to see if you can find out how long one of God’s hours is, and it’s just under 42 years. so according to McConkie a half an our is just under 21 years. Additionally that is only correct if our calandars are correct. We know that they are correct and God goes by our calandar(gregorian) by D&C 20:1. So his speculation is that we may not know the time or hour....but we know the year of the millennium. If this is true, the next 10 years should be interesting....

Regardless if the millennium is in 2021 or 2091 I know there is a storm coming as I can feel the urgency to get my house in order. Additionally John spoke in Revelations of the beast that will rise up and place us in a under a totalitarian government. (Revelations 13) It has been speculated that this beast that was "wounded to death" but then "healed" is making reference to the Soviet union. Which I agree with. The evil soviet union empire was crushed under Reagan, but I saw this the other day and it was unnerving "Restoring the Soviet Union" I find it interesting that John refers to the powerful beast in Revelations as a bear and so does this article. I thought to myself, "And it begins..."after reading this and their talks of restoring the scary KGB.

I loved this video. Its was very nicely done. It doesn't induce fear or contention like most "warning" videos. It brings peace through the Savior. Because ultimately we should not fear but have faith in our Savior. He is "the only way"

Additionally I love this artist. Jon Mcnaughton. My sister introduced me to him. You can click on any person or image in his painting to see information behind his symbolism.

Not really a fun post....just something thats been on my mind

I learned it by watching you dad

Like Father...

Like son..

Sage is almost 6 months. Time to have another one!

I'm not pregnant, but if Joby knew I said I wanted to get pregnant again he would probably get a vasectomy.

He thinks two is perfect.

I think six is perfect.

This should be interesting...

Look at me!

I'm sixth months in a week!

And I'm ridiculously cute.

Its strange, I have opposing forces working within me. I get stressed just watching my sister handle 3 under 3 yet I have this pull to keep having kids fast. I occasionally watch The Duggars. I am fascinated with the amazing patience and laid back disposition of the parents. I'm pretty sure it would be impossible not to acquire great patience after 19 kids. I love how their family functions like a small corporation and everyone works together on different levels for the success of the individual and family as a whole. Everyone is happy and loves to serve their brothers and sisters. Its actually quite inspiring. And you can tell the parents have crossed that difficult threshold of living the law of consecration. Its not "all about them" anymore. It is about their family and serving others. Its hard to give ones life completely to the Lord as people such as they have. You almost question if by doing so,by losing your life in service to others, he can make you happier then you yourself could. I loved Apostle Christoffersons talk reflections of a conscecrated life in which he states, "True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes."

Having children puts you on the road to living the law of concecration. Through challenges and looking beyond your own happiness as a parent you gain eternal character that can't be achieved merely by attending to your own needs and happiness. That character blesses your family, friends and communiy. I love being a mom...have i achieved that spiritual growth where I forget about me in leu of others needs... not even close. Do i sometimes look back to my exciting life before kids? Yes. Do i want to go back. No.

Little prince and princesses make life sweeter.

Bring on the terrible twos!

Cru is pretty much the most hilarious person Joby and I know and we love watching him grow up. He's 2!!!!

In other news, I just happened to see this facebook message chain my friend commented on. I don't know any of the people in this post but one response to the girls status made me do a double take.....

Though Erica was always suspicious of Elly it was her use of the Facebook "like" status that,like so many others, finally revealed her true sinister nature

Grass is cool...the legal kind

We finally have grass!! Just in time for it to snow on it and kill it. Yay!!

Whatever, we will enjoy our 6 or 7 days of green grass.

We pretty much spent last night sitting on our porch staring at it and waving to neighbors who offered grateful salutes for fixing the eyesore of our street.

(Sadly this is a crappy overexposed pic, and yet my skin is still pretty much that same pasty white color. Bring on the orange-ish hue mist on tan! When we were dating Joby use to make fun of my mist on tan saying he understood our chemistry as he was always attracted to basketballs.)

I remember before I was married and actually owned property, my brother sent me pictures of his freshly laid sod at his house. I remember thinking "whoo hoo grass...I could care less." It's interesting how your enthusiasm for different things in life increase as you experience it firsthand. I now understand. I was nieve to the joys of owning grass. Don't be surprised if you receive a text with a picture of our yard.

I think Cru and his cousins would prefer a dirt Yard. They have had a blast digging, pushing their dump trucks, eating and tracking the dirt all through our house.