Zara Mack.





So... we had a baby! Zara Mackenzie Geddes was born on January 31st at 3:56PM after an amazing labor at the hospital. There are really no words to describe her - she is simply flawless.

I feel like I should write her birth story, and maybe I will in the future, but for now, the thought of trying to put into words the miracle of becoming a mother is just too overwhelming and personal. So for now, just some pictures and tender thoughts that have been on my mind.

Lately, I've had ample time to just think - not just thinking about to-do lists or schedules, but really pondering and letting myself become aware of the feelings of my soul. My mind has been contemplating just how delicate and precious life is. Once my angel-of-a mom left after Zara was born, I have been at home alone with Z while Jeff is at school or work. It's different. The past few years have been wonderfully chaotic, but chaotic nonetheless. I didn't know what it was like to be at home all day talking to someone who cannot communicate except through crying, or to not only have to worry about planning around my needs and wants. I didn't really know what to expect as a stay-at-home mom, who was done with college, giving my full attention to something so tiny. I heard lots of mixed advice and opinions on motherhood (mostly about full-time motherhood). Many would remark on how little sleep you get, or how your body will never be the same. Others told me to get in all the time I could with Jeff because my life would practically be over once the baby came.

Life is different. SO different. But let me tell you, it is good. SO good.

I'm still so new at this whole mom thing and have so much to learn, and days aren't always peachy, but I am certain of one thing: I have never felt so complete, happy, and capable of loving and being loved as I do now.

The other night as Zara began to stir in her bassinet, I waited in the dark silence for her sweet cry. I knew exactly what she was crying for- she was crying for me. Crying because she was hungry and knew I could make things better. The thought came to me, "This is what life is all about." I picked her up and fed her. I began rocking her back to sleep as her little hands graced my neck the way they always do when we snuggle. The sounds of approaching sleep now audible from her teeny lips. Her head burrowing in my chest. This IS what life is all about.

Our lives are so beautiful. So precious. Subject to be taken away in a flash. When my time is up here on Earth and I go to meet my grave, I hope that I can leave behind a legacy; not a legacy of beauty, charm, talent, fame, prestige, or wealth, but a legacy of things that leave permanent prints on society. I want to change lives through love, help build a future full of promise, lift heavy hearts and help mend broken spirits. I want my husband to be loved better by me more than anyone on earth possibly could be. I want to fill minds with knowledge and the power to impact the world for good and for right. I want to be a steadfast believer and a mover and shaker for God's kingdom. I never want a day to go by without my friends and family knowing that I love them. To me, this is what being a mom is all about. Changing little lives which morph into big lives, which then continue the cycle of leaving legacies. Legacies of love.

Most of the things many moms had warned me about are true. My body has changed. It was morphed for 9 months into a house to create and is now sustaining a living being more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I am tired, and yet somehow I yearn to hear those perfect whimpers that remind me I am needed. Lastly, Jeff and I don't have time to do everything we used to because we are too busy making a lifelong best friend. A best friend who somehow has also transformed our love for each other to a whole new level. Sounds like a pretty good trade to me.

My life is not over. It is only just beginning.

XO,
Aurie

 

 

 

 

 

One Year!

Woohoo! Today was our one year anniversary!

This week I have been thinking a lot about all the blessings and wonderful experiences Jeff and I have had this first year of our marriage. I feel so humbled by the man Jeff is, and that I get to be his wife. Most days I think he definitely got the short end of the stick, but yet he loves me more than the world.  There is so much I could say about why I love him, but that would be an awfully long post. So for now, I just want you all to know how grateful I am that the Savior overcame death and was resurrected so that we can be sealed together forever with our families. I wouldn't want to spend eternity with anyone else. Life isn't always perfect. All of us have bad days, and storms will come and go, but with faith in the Lord and those we love by our side, I know we can come out conquerors.

As some of you may know, I reallllyyy love taking pictures to preserve memories that are dear to my heart. I thought it would be therefore fitting to create a slideshow of our first year as newlyweds. Just a heads up- like I said, we really like taking pictures so it may or may not be 7 minutes long...

I also realized I never uploaded any of our wedding pictures, and don't have the patience to upload a bunch of files individually, so if you want to see a slideshow of our favorite day ever, I will include it on this page as well:).





Happy watching!

JAG

Wedding Day:

(Dallas, TX LDS Temple)

Our Year in Review:

RESPECT! Find out what it means to..us.

CAUTION: This post isn't about vacations, traveling, the cute shoes and clothes that Asos currently has, or about make-up and hair tips that will help you look just like the self-proclaimed blogger models of this era. To be quite honest, I've seen enough of those to last a lifetime as of late. Today we want to write about a few things that have consistently been weighing on our minds, and are of great importance to our little fam. Lately I feel like I have seen so many blog posts on the crazy ways of our society, and how they are affecting us as individuals and families. Blogs are exploding with articles about the filth that media is becoming (and mostly has always been), and how natural human decency is quickly being erased from daily life. It's good to be aware of all of these things, but the question we should be asking ourselves is, "What am I going to do about it?"

This is something I have struggled with in my life- The ability to share my opinions and testimony of how we can have eternally happy families, without offending someone who may share  different beliefs than I hold. However, on certain topics I feel I need to be more vocal. 

GIRLS: Let me start off with the messages that media is screaming at us: Sex is dirty, violent, animalistic, non-committal, spur of the moment, casual, and inconsequential. Guys only want girls who are "sexy"(whatever that means), and will show a lack of respect for themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. Hollywood will tell girls they need to have thicker eyelashes, bigger breasts, smaller hips, skinnier legs, and more volumptuous lips.These things make you valuable and desired. Blogs everywhere are telling you that if you are physically beautiful your life will be full and complete. That you need to show off your body, because after all, that's what grabs people's attention. It doesn't matter what kind of person you are, the goals you have accomplished, or that you are one of the most intelligent generations this world has ever seen. 

Being preggers has caused me to do a lot of self-reflecting about my purpose in life, and what things really are going to matter in the end. Embarrassingly enough, I have to admit that gaining weight for this little diva growing inside of me has been an interesting experience, and I have found myself looking at other moms who seem to have gained like 2 pounds on their pregnancies and become a little envious at times. I think I can finally say though, that even though I really can't wait to get to wear jeans that have a real button on them again, I couldn't be more satisfied with the way I am choosing to use this sacred temple God has given me. Knowing that I am going to be the mom to a precious, perfect little baby, makes everything oh so worth it. God doesn't care that I'm not a size 2 right now, and neither does my awesome hubby, so why should I? 

The same should go for all you girls reading this right now. You are beautiful simply because you are, and that will never change. Isn't that the coolest? Your opinions matter. Your contribution to society matters. You are a future mother and/or wife. You are intelligent and beautiful because you know Who's you are. You are a best friend. A role model. You are a problem solver, a bad day listener, and a fixer of hurt hearts. You can change the world through your kindness and your love. Please don't settle for less than your best.  

GUYS: They tell you that porn is cool, that everybody watches it, and that the pinnacle of the human experience is sex. Take a minute and imagine, what if those pictures you are viewing were special girls in your life? Would you still be supporting this industry? They lure you in with catchy songs, funny movies, and clever advertisements. Pornography is poison. It is as addictive as any illegal drug. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, this virtual drug takes over your body and changes you. It takes away your ability to love one person and be devoted to her. After viewing pornography, you feel ashamed of yourself. Just like a drug, you are brought down and the only way out is to view again. The spiral down is pervasive among men young and old. If you are caught in this trap, you can get out. Shun pornography like the plague, talk to someone you trust, and get help. Don't wait. Marriages are falling apart, children are losing hope, families are deteriorating - don't let this be your story. As a man, you have so much to offer and can show the people around you how to respect women. Happily ever afters really do exist.

ERRYBODY: We owe it to ourselves to start acting against the grain. Starting with rejecting the disgusting songs that are currently on the radio. How can we possibly hate on Miley, call her a disgusting female, and then go listen to her song that was obviously talking about everything she did on stage that was so repulsive at the VMA's? If it's not appropriate to act out, it isn't appropriate to listen to either. Not to mention she currently has 2 songs on the top 20 in itunes right now. Like, what??? Apparently we didn't care too much. Sorry Miley, we don't want you to act out your songs, we just like listening to them! Poor girl. No wonder she's so confused.

Everything we see, hear, and participate in, affects who we are. So next time a song comes on, or a TV show starts playing, ask yourself,  "Is this promoting the culture we so desperately need to change?"

PREACHIN':I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, and that the only way to live happy lives is through following Christ, and using the atonement in our daily lives. None of us are perfect. We all fall short, and sometimes feel like we are alone in this chaotic and loud world, but the Big Guy Upstairs is always looking out for us and loves us more than we can really fathom. 


Peace and Buhlessings!!!

-JAG 


(Jeff and Aurielle Geddes)

1+1=3

Since our last post, quite a bit has happened at the Geddes household. One thing I have learned this summer is that life can seem bland, especially when work and school never seem to end. However, as I look back on the past few months, I realize life is as vibrant as we paint it to be. We are SO blessed, and what a shame to pass by all of our blessings without ever acknowledging they are there. It really is the little things in life that bring us so much peace and happiness. We love our families, we love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we love our new little baby Geddes to be. Most of all, we love that this family can be together forever.

Welp, without further adieu- heres our rockin' summer of 2013:

 Provo City Half Marathon

Rock Climbing for FHE

 Hanging out with baby chicks at the Duck Dynasty party

On our way home to TX for my sissys HS graduation

 

One of my two favorite four legged Texans

 Temple date night

 My beautiful, wonderful sisters.

 We found out we are having a BABY!!!

 Went paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe during Brad and Camille's wedding

 Weddings and more weddings...

 My first breakfast besides rice cakes and crackers:))

 So thankful for this loyal lady right here.

 Lake Tahoe

 Decker Geddes outing

 Geddes Wedding

 How cute are these two?? Love them!

 Goodbye HS- Hello A&M

Andddd I'm now 14 weeks prego. Ta Da!