Teddy Moose

A dear friend of mine gave me a stuffed-animal moose when I was going through a rough time, and as I kept it over the years I decided to give it to my little one in her crib. It is now among her must-have-to-sleep-at-night things. We saw it only fitting that our next kidlet should also have a moose of his own. It was so fun shopping store to store to pick the perfect one out for him! Every kidlet that we get will have their very own teddy moose and that is that.

Heaven's slice is creating traditions for your kids.

The Luckiest Kids

For Family Home Evening we recently went over this particular Ensign article below. Needless to say, I absolutely loved it! Definitely a must read, so click below and read it will ya?!!


Blessing Our Children by Improving Our Marriages - Lori Cluff Schade


"The quality of your marriage is influencing your children, whether you realize it or not. As you and your spouse work to improve your relationship, your children will be blessed." 
                                                                 - Lori Cluff Schade

I've always thought that children that know their mom and dad love each other were among the most luckiest kids ever, but this article truly drives the blessing it provides for the children to a hole in one! It also has a lot of great ideas on how to improve your marriage from whatever scale you think your marriage is at - Here they are below, but they explain them more in depth in the article... just read it K?!

• "Articulate and share what you want your marriage to look like in 5, 10, or 20 years. 
• Write down and share a positive memory in the marriage.
• Share a memory of a time that you were able to overcome a challenge together. 
• Create small but meaningful rituals for when you part and come together again. 
• Introduce an element of novelty into your dating. 
• Tell your children regularly what you admire about your spouse. 
• Actively seek uplifting marital improvement resources. 
• Ask each other regularly if you are more or less connected as a couple than before and discuss what you can to do bridge the gap. 
• Counsel with your bishop to access professional resources if necessary. 
• Pray. "            

        - Lori Cluff Schade

Pretty sure my kids are the luckiest kids. Not because we go galavanting all the time doing crazy fun things, not because they get all the candy they want when they want, not because they get every toy they have eyes for, not because they have no bedtime and can watch whatever they want (because none of that is true for one)... but because their parents are pretty smitten with each other.

(too steamy?)

I heart us :)

Heaven's slice is giving children the best life they can have.

The Littlest Foot

The littlest foot gurgled then gave a big yawn,

His mother held him tightly, it was just before dawn.

In the backyard of the suburbs with his father playing catch,

A yell to come in for a Saturday noon stretch.

A college graduate, listening to his girlfriend sing;

A ring in his pocket to give to her that evening.

Then the littlest foot grew into a man,

In that hospital room, holding his wife’s hand.

The wonderful sound of a small cry breaks through;

In the still of the night his baby born new.

…

But the littlest foot never got to grow up,

Because  a choice was made for his life to stop.

A mom never got to rock her barren miracle to sleep.

A father never got a son, for his last name to keep.

No, that littlest foot never got to crawl or grab hold of a finger.

He never got to marry or feel a kiss that would linger.

He never got a blanket to keep him warm at night.

He never got snuggled after an experience of fright.

He never got to be a daddy. He never got to see.

He never got to speak, for he never got to be.

His perfected life’s mission was never made full,

Because the littlest heart chose pride over a soul.

                                       - Julie J.

Heaven's slice is adoption and defending the defenceless.

Why you should date plans, but NOT marry them

You don't know what specific trial or adventure is coming your way that will change your plans, and I feel that our hearts can handle breakups so much better than divorces. God is in charge and we simply are not.

I've always found it funny how some people plan the big life experiences right down to the month, like marriage and pregnancy. Other than the mandatory high school year book "future plans" frivolous blurb I wrote at 18, I've never really voiced a stone set plan to my life.  I guess I've always had a sense of the truth that I have no idea what will be sent my way or when it will be sent. It's not to say I haven't imagined in great detail different ways my life would or will go, but I've never committed my heart to them. I think it's imperative that we learn to protect our heart from plans. Plans change, they always have and always will. I don't think anyone can honestly look back on their life thus far and say, "Yep, exactly how I planned it." You know why? We live in a world ever changing, with people and choices and things creating an unstable whirlwind of an environment. Not to mention a Heavenly Father with a perfect eternal perspective on us that we have yet to master for ourselves.

Basically, you marry and commit to a person and then spend your lives courting plans together. Sometimes you get serious with plans going on multiple intentional dates devoting lots and lots of time together. Sometimes they're just flings, a one time deal. Sometimes you get to continue dating them through out your life. Sometimes they dump you out of no where. Sometimes you've got to break up with them, declaring we are never ever getting back together. And sometimes you can't help starting to fall head over heels, but still - never ever should you marry them, like ever. (I heart T. Swift a little)

It's not to say that it doesn't hurt to say goodbye to a plan, especially if it's a passion you have, but so long as you don't commit yourself to marrying that plan the sting of the breakup is far less damaging than a shattering fracture that is divorce. Fields burn up, houses flood, employers downsize, accidents can lead to physical dismemberment, illnesses spread... plans change. The stability and happiness that plans try to chase will never come close to the actual fulfillment of happiness that happens when commitment is made to a person.



Heaven's slice is marrying a person, not a plan.