As a young girl I dreamed about being a store owner. I wanted to own and run a store, maybe a gift shop or a book store, it didn’t matter which.


As a young mother my dream became reality as I opened a “virtual store” and made baby products out of my home that were then shipped around the world. Baby Bintz has brought me much satisfaction as a young stressed-out mother. It occupied my mind, day dreaming of what my next great product would be as I changed diapers and fed babies. It gave me an escape from the realities of a stay-at-home mother. It has been a fulfilling part of my life over the last 9 years.

A few years ago while serving as a Primary President in my church and having 2 babies within 13 months, I realized that my life was a little too full. I wondered if I should ask to be released from this calling. I had served well for 2 years, had a baby at the time, was suffering from morning sickness 24 hours a day and was ready to deliver another baby. How would I care for 2 babies, neither of which were old enough to attend nursery while I was doing my Sunday job? My husband was also teaching during church. As I thought about this idea, the thought came clearly to my mind that if I can run a business while being a mother, I can hold a calling also. If I wanted to be released I should also be willing to give up my business, which was more for my personal fulfillment than a means for my family. I wasn’t ready to give up my business so I decided to stick out the calling also.

5 years later as I sit here at my computer I am filled with emotions. Next week I will set up my booth at the Holy Cow Boutique for the last time, something I’ve done 36 times over the last nine years. I have again felt prompted to give up my business, and this time I listened. I will be turning over the majority of my product to a girl who will start a similar business of her own the week after my show. The rest will be phased out by the beginning of the year. I wondered what I would fill my time with once my business was gone but the Lord has already shown me the way. Over the last few months I have felt a deep desire to embrace my callings as mother and homemaker.

I am so grateful for the Lord’s abundant blessings for our minimal sacrifices. He asks His disciples to abandon the world and follow Him. When we show our willingness, He changes our hearts and desires. My anxiety for giving up my creative outlet has been changed into excitement for my role as mother, wife, and disciple. I want my children to grow to have a relationship with their Savior. These desires are much stronger than my need to be creative ever were. I thank the Lord for His willingness to shape and mold me and point me in the right direction.

(the "babies")

The Canyon

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be." -Anne Frank

A few days ago I was feeling overwhelmed. Suffering on my children's behalf. School started and a
few of my children are having real struggles. These trials are small in the scheme of things and will pass before we know it, but in the moment they are encompassing. I went for a bike ride one evening, wanting to escape for a minute. I returned home after an hour as a new person. Being outdoors renews my soul. It helps me see things with an eternal perspective. I heard someone once say that being in nature can change us because everything around us testifies of Christ. I can feel its truthfulness. I love that I live somewhere I can ride a bike
and escape to nature.

Come Join Us!

Call or email me if
You need my address.
Carlie@babybintz.com
801-602-0981

Last minute

I whipped these up last minute for the show. Aren't they cute?

Holy Cow Boutique

runs tomorrow through saturday. 9-8 wed-friday and 9-5 on saturday. come
see our booth!

Claim to Fame- haha!

I've been driving our dog around like she's one of the kids needing a ride to her after-school-activities. My kids
found out that she was invited to be in "12 Dogs of Christmas II" and they wouldn't let me hear the end of it. So far she's been on set at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and this old barn in Heber. I'm not cut out for the show business life even if Tessa is!

Inquiry

As we were creeping down the freeway in traffic my 4-yr-old asks, "are those Jesus' kids?"
I love little minds.

Connected

My kids have been begging for me to buy a new kindle charger since we lost the ones they got for Christmas. I decided it was time for me to find them. I went through my house in search of the missing cords and came across these. All these cords and no kindle charger. How in the world am I supposed to keep track?

Families of the Dump

We were able to spend our Christmas-Eve-eve feeding the people of Magisterio, Mexico. It was a lot of fun and really good to see that my kids can work hard all day without complaint. Our contribution was so small in comparison to what we came home with. I feel like I need to adopt the saying, "Give more, want less."

I am so touched by the volunteers running this program. They are such Christ-like examples of service. They give and give and all they get in return are hugs. Brenda, in the hot pink has been living in Puerto Vallarta for 5 years running this program with her husband Jon. They left their family in Canada to service this community.

I'm touched by the multi-millionaire who owns Paradise Village, Graziano. He is a self-made millionaire who seems the benefit of helping others. He is building a 92 unit housing complex that will take these squatters off the dirt roads and give them a roof. He also donated these 2 truck loads of food we passed out.

There are so many organizations trying to do good, yet the major problems of this world are still so present. So many people deal with dirty drinking water, hunger, lack of education, poverty, sex trafficking and slavery, political unrest, war, disease, lack of health care, and on and on. If only there were good solutions. After reading books and watching documentaries and learning about some of these problems, real solutions seem fleeting. I secretly wish I could pick an issue, say clean drinking water, and fix it. I know its not possible, so I've resolved that I just have to do what little I can and hope it matters. One goal for 2012 is to spend a little less time "consuming" and a little more time "sharing."

home for the holidays

Tessa is our Old English Sheepdog. She was bred by an ultimate dog lover in Texas. He decided to take her back this summer to train her and winner her a championship free of charge. All we had to do was get her there. She was gone seven months. My kids and husband had a hard time with that. She's home now. She's very different than when she left. She's behaved. She's pretty. She's calm. I've started to get how dogs can be part of the family. I'm not a natural animal lover. They're cute and all, as long as I don't have to touch them or smell them. I'm feeling differently though. She's kinda fun.

We've been trying to decide what to do with her. We got her thinking my 8 year old would like to "show" her. She just makes you smile when you see her. She attracts people everywhere we go. She's very unique here in Utah, and too much fun not to share somehow. We're thinking we might start by making her a therapy dog and taking her places like the children's hospital. Lucy had a dog visitor while in primary children's. She would definitely break up the monotony for kids who are in the hospital long term. I'll keep you apprised.

It's been a while

Blogging has been unappealing to me lately. I feel strange posting about frivolous things when there are so many more important events happening in life. I feel that way towards my business too. It's so unimportant in the scheme of things. I guess I'm an all or nothing kinda girl. I feel weird posting about meaningless things I do with my time/money when people are going through such hard times. If you want blogs with more substance than mine read my sister's and my cousin's blogs. With that said, here's the meaningless things I've been doing around my house...

Old: New:

Old:

New:

Are you ready for this?

Cause ready-or-not here it comes!

In case you were wondering...
1. no I don't have my tree up yet, this picture's from last year
2. yes, that's a diet coke on the mantle.

Costume Blues

We went to look for costumes tonight. It's 5 days before Halloween. There was nothing left. I guess it's time for the DIY route. I wish my kids would be cute little owls and flamingos. But no, they want to be Captain America (x2), Rapunzel and an old lady.

Tutorials to help...

Rapunzel wig

Old Lady

Captain America

She Changed Me

My sister and her husband lost their beautiful baby girl yesterday. She was only on this earth for a short 15 months but she was such a presence. Everyone who knew her fell in love with her. Her spirit was so strong and vibrant.

Lucy's short life has brought so many people to their knees, pleading to their Father in Heaven. She has brought me so much closer to my Savior. I believe one of Lucy's missions while on this earth was to teach us to see life through our spiritual eyes. To turn to the Savior to find answers and understanding. As section 101 says, “Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me (Jesus Christ), your joy is full.”

I remember hearing stories of when our brother passed away. My oldest sister and I were were most likely to understand our mother’s pain. But Eliza, the baby of the family, was the one who would sit by her side, day after day offering comfort; understanding her pain. She helped our mom through an extremely painful time. She is so empathetic. During the darkest hours of Liza's life she offered those around her comfort, and said so wisely, "Lucy was not just mine."

I'm so grateful we know the plan of happiness. This life is not the end for their little family. Lucy will be with them again. This life will be extra long for Chuck and Eliza, but someday they will be together again. I can't imagine anything harder than what they have and will yet have to go through, but I know they will get through it. My prayer is that we can learn to see with our spiritual eyes so that veil which separates us from Lucy can grow thin.

Joseph Smith teaches us, “All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it.”

Thank you Lucy for changing me. Through my minimal sacrifices in your behalf the Lord has changed me. He has softened my heart and brought me closer to Him. I am changed after holding you in my arms and partaking of your sweet little spirit. I am changed from the countless times I dropped to my knees to plead with Him in your behalf. My journal is laced over the last year with spiritual experiences that have happened to me and my family because of your little life. Lucy, you have changed me in ways no one else could and I am eternally indebted to you for that. I will always love you. xoxo