How to spoil your husband in 4(ish) easy steps (G rated)

Step 1: Bake a Ninja Turtle cake for his birthday, outline with chocolate frosting.

Step 2: Pipe in and smooth eyes and tongue.

Step 3: Using the color for his favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, pipe in stars for the mask.

Step 4: Use green frosting and pipe stars in to fill out the rest of the turtle's green skin.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of my happy birthday boy with his cake. I'll have to remember that next time. (I doubt I'll be making another one just so I can get a picutre!)

A heavenly birthday

Heavenly told me a week or so ago that he doesn't want to get older. It was funny to me because men usually aren't conscientious of their age, especially because, to me, 27 seems like such a "whatever" kind of age. Some of you may know, I had my birthday last month and am already 27. I'm already older than Heavenly and always will be, but if he stays 26 and I keep getting older he'll never grow old with me. (sort of Twilight-esque) After I mentioned that to him, he agreed to this one last birthday, and we'll both stay 27 forever.

So, my heavenly hunk, here's to today, your first 27th birthday. And here's to celebrating an eternity filled with 27th birthdays to come.

He knows

When referring to the Savior's atoning sacrifice, we often remember it as a sacrifice for sins. We forget, I forget, that His perfect sacrifice did more than pay the price for sin. He also experienced pain in all its forms so that we might turn to him for all our problems.

The perfect thing about a perfect atonement, no one, no matter what the sin, no matter what the trial, is exempt from it! So, if you're feeling like no one understands how you feel,(and trust me, I've been there... I'm there now!) He knows.

For our benefit, the poet wrote:

In golden youth when seems the earth
A summer-land of singing mirth,
When souls are glad and hearts are light,
And not a shadow lurks in sight,
We do not know it, but there lies
Somewhere veiled ’neath evening skies
A garden which we all must see—
The garden of Gethsemane. …
Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams
Bridged over by our broken dreams;
Behind the misty caps of years,
Beyond the great salt fount of tears,
The garden lies. Strive, as you may,
You cannot miss it in your way;
All paths that have been, or shall be
Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.

Sensitivity comes through awareness

Ana Nelson Shaw, “Being Sensitive to Couples without Children,” Ensign, Aug 2000, 61

• Remember that the circumstances in which infertility occurs vary greatly from couple to couple. Infertility may result from a health condition on the part of either or both spouses. Sometimes couples become infertile after they already have a child or children. Some have married later or waited to try to have children, and some have not. Regardless, all deserve compassion and freedom from stereotypes.
• For some sensitive situations, such as baby showers, it might be wise to ask first whether a person wants to be invited. You don’t have to handle infertile people with kid gloves; just ask how they feel and if they are up to certain events. But be sure to include them in Church and family activities.
• Try not to second-guess a couple’s medical treatments or other actions. They have most likely been careful and prayerful in making difficult decisions. Trust that they have learned what is best for their family. Remember that decisions about building a family are between a husband and wife and the Lord.
• Recognize positive contributions that are not related to childbearing or rearing. Everyone needs to feel valuable, and this is sometimes hard—particularly in Latter-day Saint culture—when one cannot become a parent.
• Realize that infertile people can be sensitive to the undertones of your comments, and try to be careful about what you say. For example, saying “You’ll get pregnant if you just relax” implies that you think infertility is the couple’s own fault, when in reality it is usually a medical condition not caused by stress. “You’ll get pregnant as soon as you adopt” implies that you see adoption as merely a path to having a biological child, when it is actually just as valid a path to parenthood as pregnancy. Even reassurances such as “It will happen in the Lord’s time” can be painful for people who are preparing themselves for the possibility that they will not have biological children during this lifetime.
• Express your support and love with simple, positive, nonintrusive comments such as “I love you” or “I have been praying for you.” Your genuine care and concern are needed by those experiencing the trial of infertility.