Smart Habit Saturday(updated)

*Updated* My friend suggested that I look at my habits and really see where I am. Those small habits that when used effectively make a big difference in your life. So, I thought about these;
*Clean off my counter before going to bed---I am actually doing quite well with this. I would say that I am probably doing this 5 out of 7 nights. I think that it is a habit that will always need a bit of motivation. However, my morning is so much nicer when I walk into a clean kitchen. It also seems that the messes don't add up as quickly throughout the day if I don't start out messy!
*Read my Church magazine-I have been listening to these talks on my ipod-I was trying to listen to at least one talk a day. I have not done as well this past week, however, I am almost through!! That is appoximately 48 talks! I will finish these talks this week because we get a new set this next weekend--I am excited for our General Conference!
*Exercise--this is a habit that has to always, always be thought about! I had a week that had me quite busy so I honestly didn't make it to the gym one time. I can feel it in many ways--my pants, my gi track, and my mental health.--So, I am trying to have a less hectic week, I am hoping to go at least 3 times to the gym and then try and run at home the others. The weather is so nice!
*Read scriptures-personally and as a family-we have always struggled with this. My little Missy is a big helper on this. I am going to try and read my own(or listen) every day. I am also going to try and read as a family at least five days. I think that if I have Missy make a chart and have her be in charge of it, we might do better!
*Have big kids practice piano enough-we struggle with this, they don't want to do it so they won't if I don't remind them. I am thinking about some type of chart for this also. Not sure-any ideas-these are big kids-stickers don't help!



Here we are at Saturday again! The weeks go too quickly for me! I have really been focusing on my Lifestyle goals this week. I have made progress for Smart Habit Saturday! It may be a tiny, tiny improvement but it is still significant!
I have purchased more baskets for my pantry declutter project.
I have purchased the materials for the built in desk in the big girls bedroom!
I have gone through one large rubbermaid bin full of old coloring books and gotten rid of most of them!
I have gotten rid of three years worth of scrapbooking magazines!
My house still looks like a train wreck but it is getting better!

My friend Lara had a quote on her blog today that I really liked. I have often felt these sentiments but I struggle daily with the day to day. I feel so behind that I don't do some of the "other" things that I would like to do, for myself or the kids. Here is the quote.

“Waiting for the chores to end before I take time to teach, mentor, plan, prepare, inspire, and study is like standing at the banks of a mighty river waiting for the water to finish going by so that I can cross to the other side!” Diann Jeppson

Here are Lara's thoughts on this;
Are you waiting for the river to pass before you cross over to become the brilliant, inspiring, competent person you were meant to become? No!!! We know you are building a bridge and already on your way to the other side because you are participating in Smart Habit Saturday. We are all working together here, pulling each other along, to make simple and often mundane daily tasks a little easier by creating life changing habits. This will give us more time to find our greatness within. Whether you want to become a great mother, wife, teacher, or leader, thank you for taking the time to inspire me!

So here is my list! It is not in any order-of importance or of need. It is just a random list that I worked on all week. I had a paper by my phone and I would write the thoughts down. This is by no means a complete list. This list also has nothing to do with personal improvement goals. These are things that need done around my home to make me feel less fragmented so that I can enjoy my life and be a better person!
I hope that by doing this list it will help me to actually start accomplishing some of these things. This will be an ever evolving list because I know already that I didn't include any of my outside needs on this list!!!

*Move washer and dryer downstairs
-call for cement cutter
-get long exhaust hose
*Put all decorations away in furnace room. Christmas/February/Easter etc.
Make sure they are all marked well.
*Move both freezers
*Build Desks in bedrooms(one almost finished!)
*Completely go through pantry-everything put where it goes. (This was major-I worked on it for an entire week)
-containers-label all baskets
*Studio/Scrapbook room-go through all the piles, dejunk, put everything in working order.(this is a huge project) (can see floor-a start)
*Clean garage-
-Winter stuff put away
-shoes-throw away old
-snowboards/skis up on brackets
*Re-organize hall closet
*Coat closet
*Clean fridge (looks so nice, icky-sticky gone!)
*sort toys-parts with parts(donate many)
*Go through each child(4) bedroom and sort all clothes and toys
*Hang up shelves in kids bedrooms
*Hang up name plaques and letters
*Sort books
*Clean off bulletin board (This has to be done ALL the time, it is the catch all and art gallery)
*Back up photos
-burn cd’s
*pictures into albums
*print digital photos
*go through lazy susan
*sort/discard old scrapbook magazines (my friend was thrilled to have them!)
*go through craft boxes in pantry (I went through every sack-reduced from 2 totes to 1)

If you are still reading you deserve a medal! Stay tuned and hopefully together we can make progess!!

70's Child!!

You know that you were a child in the 70's when you come across things like these! These coloring books were in the huge pile that I went through for my pantry declutter. They make me laugh! I remember all of them!

Bell-Ringers of Spring!

Look at what I found in my flower garden!!! Happy little crocus flowers! They are the earliest thing that blooms around here. I was so thrilled to see these little bell-ringers of spring!

Tuesday-already?

It is Tuesday-does it ever seem that the week goes so quickly that it has passed before you have caught up to it? I do all the time! So, because of my SHS lifestyle goals I am trying to overcome my procrastination habit. Just do it! Well, my friend Lara came by yesterday and we discussed how to do a built in desk, measured etc. I am hoping to go and get some of the supplies soon. I would like to have it finished before I go on my trip-if I just DO it instead of waiting until I get back I will have made progress!
I have also made a tiny bit of progress in the messy pantry. I bought some larger baskets that hold more, so that they can stay a bit more organized(I hope). I need to go and get some more, I bought all they had-baby steps!

What projects are you working on? I am going to write one of those longs lists--then perhaps it will make me want to finish them!!!!

I posted another picture of my awful pantry so that when it looks better I will have proof!

Sick Wee One!

Today was a strange Sunday. I got up and showered quickly, got kids moving, etc. We were on schedule until I went and got Little Boy blue out of his crib. He had bright red cheeks and was feverish. So, that changed all of my plans. I did manage to get the other three out the door to Grandma's so she could drive them to church. Little one and I just held each other all morning. I hope that he will be doing better soon. He was warm again tonight, he has been doing the motrin rollercoaster. Poor little baby! I miss church when I don't go. I also really enjoy going to the singles ward. It is a different feeling where they are not so family oriented yet.

My big sweetie came home from church today wiped out. It was a rough day as Bishop(congregation leader-LDS church). I wish that there was something that I could do to help him but there isn't really. So, I keep praying, and making sandwiches. He is such a good man. I am often reminded about how lucky I am to have him in my life. Now, don't get me wrong, he isn't a saint or anything. He has a few faults, but all in all I got one of the really good guys out there.

I am going to Germany very soon! I have many things that need to be accomplished before I go. I am not really worried about clothes or that type of thing(although I need some pants badly). I am more worried about getting this house so that it isn't so difficult for my Mom. Also, Easter will be while I am gone- So, there are just a lot of things that we Mom's just do.
I have thought about writing one of those lists--you know, the ones that list every project you want to accomplish. I have done these lists before and I don't think that they really help. I am such a procrastinator! However, I have plans to make some progress! Lara is coming over tomorrow to help me figure out a desk in the big girls bedroom. Lara is so handy with tools and she won't procrastinate if it is at my house! So, tomorrow it is!

What plans do you have? A paint project, a pantry declutter(oh, yeah, that is mine also). My garage is also in desperate need of some attention. I have 7 chairs that need painted(Shh, don't tell Lara) and the list goes on and on and on!

One step at a time!

Beautiful Saturday!

Saturday already! It is hard to believe that we have been home from our fabulous vacation 2 weeks already!

A few weeks ago I wrote about Saturday and how I needed to use it to prepare for Sunday. Well, here goes again! I hope that I can get better at this--you would think after almost 14 years of parenthood that I would feel better equipped!

Smart Habit Saturday has rolled around again. What to do, what to do? I am still working at all the habits that I have set up to this point! Perhaps the things that I have selected as habits are not truly habits but a lifestyle. So in light of that, what lifestyle do I want?
*Peaceful
*Healthy
*Happy
*Orderly
What do I need to do to maintain or achieve these four things?
Peaceful-Invite the Spirit of our Heavenly Father into our home. Try to maintain that Spirit. Sometimes that is the hardest thing of all.
Healthy-exercise,exercise,exercise and eat healthy. I also need to help my children learn about healthy eating-that needs work!
Happy-this goes along with peaceful. "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" that old saying is so true! I have to be the guide to my own happiness--my entire family almost always follows suit(the teenagers do not follow these rules!)
Orderly- this is my weakest link. I feel that all the others are affected by my lack of orderly skills. Almost all of my habits thus far have been based on this aspect. I read a thought once,
"If my outsides(house) are a mess my insides are a mess" That is how I feel. When my house is more orderly and neat all the other aspect of my life seem to flow more smoothly.

So, by looking at those things---the messy house is still my weakness! So off to work again! Smart Habit Saturday---work on those four things with an emphasis on getting more orderly.

Anyone have any suggestions about really getting children to want to help---they know how!!

For more ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Bits of JOY!

What brings you joy?
(in no real order)
1. Little Boy blue! He is sweet and yummy and is becoming a tease.
2. Sunshine
3. Clean clothes(put away is even better)
4. My sweetie(he just smells good)
5. All my angels tucked into bed at night.
6. Budding plants
7. Puppy greetings
8. Giggles
9. New Crayons
10. New scrapbooking tools that I hope to someday use!!!

Just a few totally random thoughts on this beautiful day.

What are some things that bring you joy? Write them down.

SUNSHINE!

I have flung open almost every window in my house! SPRING-GLORIOUS SPRING! I need spring. Every ounce of my being needs spring! I need to sweep out the cobwebs, out of my house and out of my soul! Every surface, closet, drawer, etc. needs some spring cleaning.

What are you doing for your spring cleaning? I am also feeling much more motivated to do some personal spring cleaning. You know-those things that we want to do, need to do to improve us but we wait. Why do we wait?

So, one of my Smart Habit Saturday goals for this week was to keep my house tidier, be more motivated and finish things. There are others but I will save that for another post. So I have been going through rooms of my house with a garbage sack and a laundry basket. All sheets have been stripped from beds, the washer is running and my house is a mess! I purchased some baskets for my pantry so I am working on that mess also. It is a happy, motivated mess! I feel progress!(that is a good thing)

What are some ways that you teach your children to work? I have often(daily) felt that I have not taught my children how to work. Well, that isn't true. They know how they just don't want to. So, my question and quest is this--How to get the ability to work to move to the desire to help because it needs done, not because Mom told them to do it.

Okay, off to the mound of laundry! We all need clean sheets to put back onto the beds tonight!!!

Miracles

I looked out my kitchen window and saw this. It is no small miracle.

These two fight, a lot. The big one is too big for the little one and the little one just wants to belong-no matter how loud she gets.

I had to go and get my camera to remember that occasionally, they do get along.

Dentist Woes!

My poor little Missy had to go to the dentist. She had FOUR baby teeth pulled out. The dentist had to really numb her up. She was so brave but she still screamed because it tasted yucky! She is in bed with a very numb, fat mouth. She tried to drink some chocolate milk and it ran down her face. Poor little toad!

THE FAT CAME BACK!

My pants have turned against me! I attempted to put on my smaller jeans today. I have been wearing these jeans for six months. They are a smaller size than I have had in years. Well, today, they just didn't fit! THE FAT CAME BACK! (yes, Mom I can imagine the roadshow of that song years ago!)
This is the first time since I started really exercising over a year ago that I have had a real big set back. I have vascillated up and down a pound or two but it was usually on the down, even if only by an ounce. I really haven't lost much weight in the last year but I dropped 3 pants sizes. Muscle weighs more than fat I guess!
Well, my body rebelled! I feel like a fat blob!

How do you get remotivated after a huge setback? I need suggestions! Yes the first one would be to STEP AWAY FROM THE TABLE!

Now that spring is here it should be easier, the dark, dreary months of Jan, Feb. are behind us. The overwhelming craving for carbohydrates(the more refined the better) is hopefully on the downswing with more sunlight.(did you know that men produce twice as much seratonin as women and that is why women crave sweets/chocolate-to increase the same feelings as serotonin-which sunlight also creates.)

Well, I better go and drink some water!

Reality bites!

Reality hit at the gym today! I got on the scale(first mistake!) I have gained at least a solid five pounds. The cruise did it to me this time! I told my sweetie and he didn't feel sorry for me at all. He told me (truthfully) that I didn't do anything! Well, I did do something, I SLEPT IN every single morning! On our previous cruises I did go walking on the upper deck a lot and last year I even used the ship's gym. Well, not this year!
So, instead of beating myself up I am hoping that I can drop this load quickly and not let it make permanent residence on my butt! I will also have to actually exercise! Two weeks + without exercising is murder on someone who has been exercising almost daily. It does prove that those calories burned while exercising DO add up---quickly!

On to a more positive note. SPRING HAS SPRUNG! There is just a change in the smell of the air! The sky is a beautiful blue and things are melting. I looked out my kitchen window at my flower bed and was anxious to go and cut down the old growth. I haven't seen any little tulip head yet but I am sure that they will be out soon. I need to go out front and see if my little crocus have popped yet, they are always the very first.

So, go and find some proof of Spring-it will certainly brighten your day!

Smart Habit Saturday!

Habits, Habits, Habits! I am often feeling that mine are all bad-that I don't actually have any good habits. So--to get back into gear for Smart Habit Saturday(a bit early) I am going to review my positive habits.
*going to the gym--a pretty solid habit(sick baby this week-so feeling flabby)
*brushing my teeth-(okay I know but I am trying to be positive with myself)
*making my bed-I am actually really good-it is almost always done. Suprise to my mother, I never did it until the day I went away to college!
I am sure that there are others, just can't really think of them! What are some that I want to work on?
*exercise harder
*eat healthier
*have kinder thoughts
*be more generous
*notice the positive
*read my scriptures
*play more
*keep my house tidier
*finish things
*be motivated
That is just a few-so what to start with?
* I have been trying to keep my counter clean--that is a never ending job. It gets dirty pretty quickly, but I am trying to look at that as a blessing-we have food to eat and a place to gather!
*I have been working on the bathroom-it is NOT a habit yet.

*I can't even think of all the things-so I will just start again with baby steps!! This week I am going to renew my exercise, reduce the sugar intake, try to be motivated, and actually pick up my own stuff(hoping that someday my family will realize that they have arms and they can pick up their own dirty socks).
I am also going to try and listen to one talk a day from General Conference(The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints , LDS or Mormons) I have them on my ipod and want to get through Sept. conference before April conference!

What are you doing to improve your life? If we just keep doing what we have always done we will have what we have always had. We have to make concious decisions to change.

Write it down!

For more ideas about Smart Habit Saturday check out my friend Lara's site.
(for those of you new to blogging, when you look at a post and it has a word that is highlighted, if you click on it, it will link you to another post-just a little info!)

Love Notes!

Just a little bit of love! It seems to me in this hustle bustle world that often it is too easy to overlook the tiny little joys that come into our lives. I know that I am often telling my sweetie that I don't "feel the joy". Well, sometimes that is true but others I just need to acknowledge the bits of joy that come my way.

So today-here is some "love notes" from little Missy. I am trying to really love these because they will soon start to get fewer and fewer until the only thing they write is a note that they need money!

Try and find some little bit of joy today. Perhaps a cute mug that your cocoa is in or the blossoms at the grocery store(which I think we should buy ourselves more often). Just be aware of the little love notes around you!!

(I don't want to take the time to re-scan the picture the other way-so, turn your head!)

One big mess!

Oh where to begin? I have been home from our fabulous trip for almost an entire week. One would assume that that would be enough time to get caught up. Well, I keep working but it doesn't ever seem to change! My friend Lara and her family came by last night and got to witness the mess first hand. She looked in my messy pantry to help with organizing it.

Do any of you just wonder how those other people seem to keep everything neat all the time? I do? I keep trying but basically just keep my messes at a dull roar, ready to burst into flames at any moment!

So, with that I am going to go and try and get something accomplished. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to actually keep children(and parents) doing the things that they have been taught? Mine are getting worse, not better!

We Are Back!!

What a great week we had! It was perfect weather--WARM!

We went snorkeling, on two catamarans and PARASAILING!!! That was so fun! I was really scared but it was great! I actually got to go up twice!!!!

So now I am back to real life. I have a very messy house that smells like burnt plastic(easy mac in micro with no water-bad combo!) and a little boy with a gooby nose. He looks like he grew a foot while we were gone!

So, trying to get back to "normal" (whatever that means around here)

Outta Here!

We are on our way to the SUNNY SOUTH! I am excited to sit on a beach, have other people cook and clean for me and to just be with my sweetie!

Be back in a week or so!

The Tree

The tree.

Does this tree look like any of you feel? It actually looks a lot like me lately. This poor tree has been in my basement. Ignored. Neglected. No one has given it any attention for much too long. It has patiently waited for someone to care about it. It held on to it's leaves as long as it could. It then decided that maybe it could lose a few and it would help it. Well, it finally was ignored so much that it started losing lots and lots of leaves.

Yesterday I decided to bring the tree upstairs. I was going to decide if it was going to be able to be saved or if it would have to be thrown out.

Have any of you ever felt like this poor tree? Like you have been ignored, abused and left to fend for yourself?

Well, let's take a good look at this poor tree. It has been ignored and abused. Most of it's leaves are gone, the ones left are bedragled and barely holding on. You must look more closely. This poor tree is trying to repair itself! It is trying so hard to hold on and do what it was put here to do. Grow leaves!

As I brought the tree up I really looked at it to see if I thought it was "worth the effort". Well, that poor little tree with 2/3 of its leaves on the floor has new little tiny leaves trying oh so hard to bud from the dry, dry, dry branches.

Maybe this tree is a reminder to all of us. We need to remember why we were put here. What is our calling, our job, our reason? The tree has inside of it to grow leaves. We were put here to magnify our inner light. To help others find their light. It is deep inside all of us. We need to let it out.

So if any of you are feeling like my poor tree, withered and neglected, remember that we all have that light within us. It is just up to us to let that light out and find ways to help it grow. We can't hang out in the basement waiting for someone else to water us. We must do it by ourselves. No one else has the ability to change us, only we can do that. So get out of that dark basement, find something that waters your soul. Find something that will help you to let your little green leaves grow.

(watering the tree wouldn't be a bad idea either!)

Sunday-Peaceful? Still waiting!

Sunday, a day of peace. A day of worship, a day of feeling the Spirit.

Well, that is the goal of any Christian mother---does it always happen? Not at my house. I want to say that I failed miserably at my Saturday preparations. Well, I actually did average. I did get all clothes ready and children bathed. Packing the bags- no, getting up extra early, no(set alarm and layed there!). We did make it to church on time. However, we had a very tense teenager moment while at church. I won't bore you with details. Not a huge deal but a huge reaction. Mostly from me, probably more than necessary.

To say the least the Spirit was not strong for me or my child. I have no answers as how to touch or reach, I am at a loss. It is a lonely and scary place to be. I am sorry to all parents that have already raised children and to all who are going through it now. Mom, I am sorry that all your children were mean and ugly and that everything was your fault.

Sometimes don't you just want to go and take a long, long nap and wake up when they are pleasant and you are not stupid and the reason for every problem in their lives is not yours? I do. I also want someone to really tell me what to do instead of smurking because they have been there. I want someone to actually have some guidance, true wisdom that actually helps. The smurking just makes me realize that I am part of a club. A club that most have gone through. A club that we join involuntarily. I don't want to just be part of the club, I want to have some guidance to get us to the other end of the club.

Not the best Sunday at my house.

Saturday Is a Special Day

Saturday is a special day, it is the day we get ready for Sunday. We clean our house, and we shop at the store, So we won't have to work until Monday. We brush our clothes, and we shine our shoes, And we call it our get the work done day. Then we trim our nails, and we shampoo our hair, So we can be ready for Sunday!

Do any of you remember this song from when you were little? I do! I sure do wish that I was better at really preparing myself and my life for Sunday. We go to our church meetings early(9:00am) so there isn't a lot of time in the morning to get extra things done-it is difficult enough to get 5 bodies dressed and combed and in the car on time.

What are a few things that would help me prepare for a more peaceful Sunday?

1. Children bathed(most of them still like to take night time so--if I just remember it is great!)
2. Have church/diaper bag packed.(Books for baby, snacks, scriptures, paper, pencils, manuals etc) When I don't have this done(usually) I am rushing about and it makes us late.
3. Make sure everyone's church clothes are clean and ready---socks and shoes are a nightmare!
This is harder than it sounds. My angels are getting big enough to really do much for themselves and they balk at doing anything early!(wish me luck!)
4. Get myself up earlier than I think is necessary! This is SO hard for me. I struggle with mornings anyway so I just don't get up and moving like I need to.

Do any of you have anymore suggestions that would help me to have a peaceful Sunday? I can use all the help I can get. I am trying to go to my sweeties church after ours so it is a long day. The angels are really very good, so it works out mostly well.

I am going on a cruise next Saturday! So, this week I am not going to add any new habits for Smart Habit Saturday. I am going to try and get ready for our trip--and get my family ready. For those interested check back in--Lara, the Lazy Organizer is going to look at my pantry mess and give some suggestions. Who knows she may start hiring her services out!!! Here is a sample of my messy pantry! (Yes that is a pile of organizing bags from Lara-they are wonderful if you use them!)

HAPPY MAIL!

Do you remember when you were little and lots of letters came in the mail? I do! I remember being in college in Hawaii and going to the post office daily. We would wait with our friends to see who got a letter from home, who got one from a missionary(always the favorite) who got a care package. I was one of the lucky ones. My Mom and my future Mom in law wrote me lots of letters.The missionary--not so much(but I still have every one of them!) I also received care packages. I would receive coloring pictures from my little nieces. They would do leaf drawings, pictures of their family. They were very little. I still have those pieces of art that came in the mail. One time I was really missing the fall leaves so my smart Mom sent me a baggie full of dry leaves. It was the best smell in the world for a homesick girl.

Today snail mail is a thing of the past. Children today do not have the sheer joy of opening a little note from a friend. Email has taken over. Blogs and web pages have replaced handwritten notes.

However, Good Old Fashioned Snail Mail is still the best! I am lucky because occasionally my sweet Momma still sends a little note in the mail. Sometimes she even sends my angels a package.

Yesterday was a HAPPY MAIL day! My sweet niece, Brittany sent us a valentine. It was full of sweet nothings and had No words of any kind! This sweetie has been in a rough place in her life for a few years. She is just not sure of who she is or what she wants to do or should do. She is our little lost girl. She is in many a prayer. This little envelope of goodies from her brought tears to my eyes because it was so sweet, so Brittany. I hope that it is a good sign.

Think about someone you love and actually get out an envelope, a piece of paper and a stamp. It may be the very best $.39 you will ever spend. It could change a life!

Really Yummy Brownies!

If you haven't had enough treats for Valentine's Day here is a yummy recipe that is sure to please! Make it anytime, it is easy and wonderful! (the picture doesn't do it justice!)

Texas Sheet Cake (or-Really Really Yummy Brownies!)
Preheat oven to 375*

Brownies
2 Cups granulated sugar
2 Cups flour
½ tsp.salt

1 Cup butter or margarine(2 sticks)
1 Cup water
3 Tbsp. dark unsweetened cocoa

½ Cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. cayenne pepper (yes-really! It is good!)

In a large bowl combine sugar, flour and salt. Set aside.

In a small saucepan bring water, butter and cocoa to a boil, remove from heat.

Add liquid ingredients with dry ingredients. Blend well.

Mix sour cream, eggs, baking soda and cayenne pepper (mix well)
Add to the cake batter, blend well.

Grease and lightly flour large jelly roll pan.

Bake at 375* for 20-25 minutes—Do not overbake!

While brownies are baking make frosting to put on top while still hot.

Frosting
¼ Cup butter or margarine (1/2 stick)
1/3 Cup cocoa
2 Cups powdered sugar
¼ Cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla

In small saucepan, heat butter, milk and cocoa. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until free of lumps.

Spread frosting on warm/hot cake. (It is a glaze type frosting)
These are really yummy so be prepared to eat too many!

This is why we keep doing it!

Do you ever wander around your house picking up other peoples stuff, mopping the floor, doing dishes, laundry etc. etc. etc. and wonder why? Well, I listened to a song on Lisa Bearsons blog(she is the founder of Creating Keepsakes magazine) and it made me cry. This is why we keep doing it!



Click here to listen to song
Keeping Sheep
I have a little flock of sheep
And they are mine to tend and keep.
And I must guard them every day
For little lambs, when left alone,
Will lose their way.
So many voices say to me,
A sheep fold is no place to be.
Your time in there is dull and slow,
And lambs leave very little room
For you to grow.

Chorus:
So if I ever start to stray,
Deceived by thought of greener pastures,
Remind me, Lord, that keeping sheep
Will lead to happier ever-afters.
Will lead to happier ever-afters.


Oh, surety there will come a day
When all the lambs have left my side,
And I am free to roam about,
And go exploring other meadows,
Green and wide.

Yet something whispers in my heart
That when my sheep have left this pen
I'll long to stroke their little heads,
To draw them close to me
And have them young again.

Repeat Chorus

So while they still are in my care
I pray that I will clearly see
These little lambs within my fold
Are tender gifts the Master Shepherd
Has given me.

You can learn more about the CD here

This little gem is worth a lot!

Little Missy brought this little gem to me--am I a blessed Momma or what?

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

give all your sweeties an extra hug and kiss!

4 1/2 miles!

I am getting stronger! I hope that it lasts!
Today I ran 4 1/2 miles! I am still slow but I did it and didn't die! I hope that I am not sore tomorrow!

Scary thoughts

Thought provoking---I read an entry today that caused me to really stop in my tracks. These blogs are open to anyone. Good and BAD. Is it a good idea to have pictures of my children available to any nut out there? I am considering this seriously.
I have also realized that this strange cyberworld can become addicting--and why? I have many many projects and ideas that could use my time. This seems to be another thing that takes too much time. Just a thought. I may not be back for awhile and I may remove what is already here.

Smart Habit Saturday!

Here it is almost time to think about how our goals are going. I have really struggled with my goal of writing my blessings down. I am not sure why that has proved so difficult, yet is has. So, I am going to keep my little notebook nearby and try to incorporate it. This may take many, many SHS to become a habit.
I have decided to revert back to some very very basic things. My bathrooms are disgusting! I used to be so good about swishing and swiping daily. I actually would make sure that I went to all the bathrooms(4) in my house sometime during the day so that they would all be cleaned. I am a true believer in the swish and swipe. Running the toilet brush around the bowl and wipeing the rim with a wipe or a piece of t.p. makes it so that the toilet is never really dirty. Lara has been working on her toilets for a few weeks now. So, I am going to take that on this week! Go to the Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habit Saturday ideas.

Letting go of Perfection!

Wow 100 posts! That is a lot of words!



I have been thinking about my last post-about not shrinking. Well, here goes.



I am a picture taker(I would write another word but creepy men do searches). I am not a professional. I love to take pictures. They are not always perfect. For a long time I have thought that I needed to get better and better before I would hang them on my walls. Well, I found a quote that made me think differently.



The answer is sacrifice. You have to give something up in order to get results that excite you and inspire the artist within. You must give up perfection! Perfectionism only provokes fear and fear is what holds us back in pretty much every area of our lives. I love the way Joe Buissink puts it when he says "There is no such thing as a perfect image, only a perfect moment". He is so right. If we allow our creativity to be tied up by the "rules" of photography, we'll find ourselves bored; creating those mediocre images that look just like everyone else's. Tara Whitney



So, I printed out a few of my less than PERFECT pictures. I even put one that isn't in sharp focus but yells of my angel baby's personality into a large frame.



Guess what? It made me happy!

Never Shrinking

During this crazy week of mine I am trying to find things to eliminate to reduce stress. It is difficult to do, however, I am getting better at saying no. Do any of you have problems saying no? Do you want to please everyone? I was reading today and came across a quote that I have had on my fridge for months. It made me look at it again. It is rather profound. You may need to read it a few times over a few days to really understand it.


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves “who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson


I showed this to my friend Lara and she asked if I really believed this. She said that she feels that we are all insecure and don't feel good about ourselves. I agree with her. However, I think that life may actually cause us to have those insecurities. We all get so hung up on fitting in that we forget who we are. We allow other people to be our voices. I really wish that I had an answer that would help us be able to raise our children so that they wouldn't have to go through the rediscovery of self. I don't know how. I have a child in middle school. It is a difficult age. She wants to belong so much that she may be willing to perhaps do things that she doesn't really believe in. She is just so fragile that she doesn't know which way, so whomever is loudest she might follow. People will give you the line "teach them the correct ways and principles and they will make the right choices." I do not always believe that. I believe that this world is difficult and sometimes we make bad choices even when we have been taught better.

I hope that I can teach my children that they are Children of God. That they have a special purpose on this earth that only they can accomplish. I hope that they will grow and develop and know that they are loved, even if they choose poorly. I also hope that I teach them that I will love them even if I don't like their choices. I think that for young people that is a hard concept to grasp. How can someone love me if I have done something wrong? Because you are my child. Think about this from our Heavenly Father's perspective. He loves us despite our failings. We are His children. He is disappointed and saddened by our choices but He loves us still. He also provided a way for us to repent and change and come back into His light. His light radiates from anyone who has it. It shows in their countenance. It is that sparkle in someones eyes. It is what draws us to certain people.

I am going to really try and focus on not shrinking. We all have gifts to give. It may be making someone else laugh. It may be a simple note in the mail. We all have a special gift that we need to use. We are all CHILDREN OF GOD. He has a grand plan for us. I hope that I can have His light in my countenance.

Monday already!

Well, here it is Monday again. I actually like Monday but sometimes I seem to need a rest from the weekend! Today has felt like one of those days! My family went skiing on Friday night and all day and night Saturday. Sunday I attended church from 9-3:30. I just can't quite get the energy to have my Monday be as productive as I would like!
Perhaps it isn't only the weekend. I was looking at my planner and realized just how busy my week is. It is one of those weeks that I have something going on every single day-more than normal. I have something every single morning when I usually go to the gym. That I do not like! How am I ever going to get faster if I can't actually get there?
How do you stay focused when you are so busy? I know that we all create some of our schedule problems. I also realize that sometimes we are busier than others. So, my question is how to we stay focused on our family, our faith, when we are so busy that the messes just have to wait?

I have been thinking about my Smart Habit Saturday post--since it is Monday. I really had an emotional week last week. I did not really incorporate writing down my blessings. So I am beginning again! I do want to report (to who I am not sure) that my counter habit is getting better! Mom, you would be so proud of me!
If you want some entertaining reading follow the link Smart Habit Saturday for some more great habits.

Slow, slow, slow!

Ever have one of those moments that you really feel stupid? Well, today I had one of those moments that I just felt SLOW. As the three of you who read regularly know, I have been trying to run. I am getting stronger. I can do 2 miles without misery, some days I can even do 3 miles. I thought I was doing so well. Then I noticed him. An older gentleman. He speed walks, runs, walks. I noticed that his speed walking is almost the speed of my running. That is embarassing! Well, today, he was coming in the same time as I was so we started talking. HE IS 80 years OLD! An 80 year old man can walk almost as fast as I can run, and when he is actually running he is faster than me. I decided that I better ask a few more questions. Yes, he has been a runner his whole life. He was a sprinter at Utah State. That made me feel a tad better, but he is 80 years old, more than twice my age. Okay, I am going to go and feel sorry for my slow self!

Answered Prayers

This quote came from this month's visiting teaching message(women visiting women). I was very touched by it. My dear friend and I have had a conversation this week about this very subject. Do we listen when we are prompted to stop and visit a friend? When a old friend comes to mind do we ignore it to later find out that something significant was going on in their lives. I am trying to be more aware of my little feelings I have about other people. Trying to know when to share or when to drop a note. In this modern day there isn't anything much more thrilling than getting a note the old fashioned way! Hand written also!!
So, I make a challenge to myself and anyone else who would like--look for opportunities to help and do something. Something as small as a note, taking someones mail in. Noticing a glance, let's pay attention.

Bonnie Parkin:
"The Lord has touched my spirit time and again, and more often than not, His touch has reached me through the hand of a friend. . . . Perhaps [we] would feel more of His love if [we] looked for His hand in the actions of those who care for [us]. . . . God knows the needs of His children, and He often works through us, prompting us to help one another. When we act on such promptings, we tread on holy ground, for we are allowed the opportunity to serve as an agent of God in answering a prayer"

Sunday Blessings

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. Well, that is unless your husband is the Bishop of a Young Single Adult ward(18-30yrs old, LDS church congregation)! My little ones are young enough that they need to go to our own ward so that is three hours in the morning. I then drop the kids off(thank goodness some of them are a bit bigger!) and drive to Ogden and go to three more hours of meetings.
It sounds awful but really except that it is 6 hours it is actually really wonderful. Today a young man spoke and I just kept thinking about how his countenance radiated the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is just a really great guy and his spirit was so strong. I just want to find some cute gal that realizes how strong and valiant this young man is!

I am going to go and write down my blessings- I will share one. The closing hymn was Families are Forever. The couselors left the stand to go to the doors, the first counselor looked at his wife while we were singing the song and I could just feel the love that these two have for each other and for their family. I looked at his wife and she was crying because she felt it also! I was honored to have witnessed such a loving moment. (married 30+, 6 children, grandchildren). A blessing indeed!

New Habit-Blessings

It is Saturday again. Tomorrow is Sunday and we get to start anew! My friend Lara has been doing a thing called Smart Habit Saturday for a few weeks. I am not very good at really getting a new goal going but I am trying!
The first week I decided to keep my counter clean---well, that is much harder for me than I like to admit. I have done alright. There have been nights that I have gone to bed with it dirty. I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen. I am struggling with this. It will continue to be a habit that I work on.
I have been working on just keeping up-well, I have decided that that is a lifetime goal. Do any of you feel like you are caught up? I am trying to come to grips with the fact that caught up only happens at death. Life is for living so there will always be dishes, laundry and messes. I am going to try and embrace my imperfect life and try to find the tiny blessings that I fear I am overlooking. So my SHS goal for this week is to find hidden blessings in my everyday life, I am going to try and write down at least five blessings everyday.

Wish me luck!!

Ice Fishing 101

Ice Fishing 101

Go early-like 6:30 am early. Why? because it is super super cold and you won't relize you are frozen because your brain still thinks you are asleep!

Ok, I really have no other lessons for ice fishing. We went with Dave's ward this morning. It is the strangest sport in the world! Why do grown men like to sit on a bucket in the middle of a frozen lake, cut a hole with a very expensive ice cutter(ogger) and then stick their fishing pole in the ice, wait 10 seconds and have to scoop the slush out of the hole. They sit and do this for hours. Why? I do not understand!

Now, I understand the point of our activity! We are trying to get these young people to mingle with each other so that they will find someone to date!!! I really understand that, as did the 11 kids that were there! However, how do we get the other 185 ward members to realize that the event is not the point! We could be sitting on a bench wittling and the point would be the same! Come, there might be a guy or a girl that you might be interested in. You might be able to become friends! THAT IS THE POINT TO THESE ACTIVITIES!!

I have been informed that blogger was having issues so noone could post comments. Not that there are so many of you who do but you could try again!

Sick little pumpkin

My little Missy is sick today. She woke up in the night with a fever and screaming that her finger hurt! She actually cut it quite badly Sunday so I was worried that perhaps she had staph or something! She is resting comfortably and the finger hasn't fallen off.
It is so interesting when a change in my normal schedule happens that it seems to throw everything off a bit.

I am becoming more aware every day that I really don't have anything profound to say. My life is a normal wave of activity, dirty dishes, laundry, driving, schedules. Let's celebrate our ordinary lives. What do you do that is just so ordinary but it matters to someone else?
*I put all important dates into Dave's calendar
*I put all important dates into My calendar
*I paid lunch money
*I emailed my elderly Uncles
*I took one late girl to school
*I signed permission slips
*I changed little man's diapee! (ordinary but necessary)
*I poured many a glass of milk

All of these things are basically just normal, ordinary things that will never make it into any published magazine, however, they matter to my little family.

What if?

Do you ever wonder what you would be doing if you weren't doing what you are doing? Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had married that one guy? Or what about that other guy? What if you had gone to college in a different state? If your parent hadn't died?
Ok, am I the only one out there who sometimes wonders what if? This sounds strange but I really don't think these things very often. I feel that I am so lucky to have found the man of my dreams. I am lucky that he knew immediately that he wanted to marry me. Four years later we did get married! I have never questioned that I made the right choice. However, sometimes I get that really sick feeling, what if I had married that other guy? Where would my life be? Would I have children? Would we still be married---it is a strange thing to think about!

Ok, wierd post!

Perspective

I was reading Nitty.Gritty.com blog. She has had many trials in her young life. She made a statement that I have thought almost word for word many times.
"The perspective that guides/shapes my parenting is this- When you begin to see the day to day as a delight, rather than a drudgery... When serving my children is seen as a privilege rather than a chore... Knowing that my actions are, slowly and through repetition, shaping them for the rest of their lives... then it becomes a task of enormous and lasting consequence. It becomes a 'higher calling' and the reality sinks in that demanding my best, giving it my all, and expressing love in everything I do, is the least I can offer to those who mean the most to me."
Those are my sentiments exactly. Now to be able to do this. To look past the messes and be grateful that they are healthy enough to make them. To be grateful that I am able to have them. Grateful and blessed.

Germany!!! Here I come!

It is now Tuesday and I seem to have the same messes that I had on Thursday, Friday etc. etc. So, I won't bore you with that! It is freezing cold here. We haven't had the snow that some places have had. We need snow! Skiing is lousy because it is mostly ice!
Exciting news! I am going to Germany in April! My best friend Tina's Mom lives in Germany and we are going to stay with her! I am so excited. We are going to have so much fun!
If you have any suggestions let me know!

Blessings

Do you ever feel like you are running alongside a merry-go-round and everyone else seems to be on and all buckled up but you just can't seem to get your footing to jump on? That is how I am feeling! Not a new feeling but a feeling just the same!
I have been looking at the same messes for an entire week. I am trying to make progress, and some of it has been put away but it is still there!
How does one get to the point that we realize and truly understand that these things are blessings?

New Habit

What a cold weekend! Yes, I realize that it is now Tuesday, however, being gone for the weekend, through Monday-it messed my week up! Ok, what to start for a new goal? I haven't even mastered last weeks goal of cleaning my counter every single night. It is getting better, so I am going to continue that. I am also going to continue my running. I am trying to make it a part of my routine. The new habit I am really going to work on this week is to control the sugar in my diet. There is just so much sugar in everything. White bread, rice, cereal, treats. I really feel better when I control the amount of sugar. With the holidays I didn't watch too carefully. I have finally gotten to where I don't crave bread type products, so that is a huge step. My friend Larahttp://www.laragallagher.com/blog/ has been cutting sugar for awhilenow, perhaps I will get some tips from her.

Moments to treasure

Last night was no different than most nights around my house. Homework, dishes, more dishes, piano practice. Bedtimes that are slow.

This is what I walked in on, and didn't mind so much that they weren't in their beds!

Junk Collector

January--it is typically the month that we make resolutions. Often they consist of losing weight and getting organized. Well, I am no different. After the beautiful messes of Christmas are put away snug in the beds it is time to look at our other messes that seem to have mutated and multiplied over the holidays. Am I alone in this nightmare?

Do you have a place (or two or four) that are just hotspots for stuff? Perhaps a chair by the door, your counter? Well, I have numerous but one that makes me crazy is my utility room. I use the term ROOM loosely. My utility "walkway" is the most poorly designed room ever! I didn't know it when we built the house-I was naive! It is directly hooked to the garage and the kitchen, sounds great except that you have to go through it to get to the garage or kitchen. It isn't a room of its own. So, it is a dumping ground.

This is a picture of what I think the top of a dryer should look like.

This is the picture of all the stuff that was on top of the dryer.(I should have taken a picture first, I am learning)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep a surface from becoming a catchall?

*I did get my counter cleaned off again! Numerous times actually. It is another family hotspot!

Are you Sweaty?

Just a strange bit of information. Are any of you out there excessive sweaters? Okay, I know that is not something that any of us like to talk about. I am! I have been since I was a teenager. It has nothing to do with being hot. I did some research on it and it actually has a name. Hyperhydrosis. Now don't you feel better knowing that it isn't just you. It is actually a documented problem?

Well, I was listening to the radio and heard about a product that you can buy at your pharmacy or sometimes in places like Walmart or Target. If it isn't in the normal deodorant section ask the pharmacist, sometimes it is behind the counter. It is not a prescription however.

It is call Certain. It has made a huge difference in my life. Those of you that are not sweaters just stop reading. Those that are you understand. Everyday you have to look at your clothes and decide if the sweat will show. If you are going to be in a situation that you know it will be worse,(nerves are the main cause) you have to think about a jacket or a color. You have to change your clothes. It really does control much of your life.

Try this stuff! You put it on at night. It is not an antipersperant in the normal sense. It is more of a medication. It actually shrinks the overactive sweat pores. I noticed a change the very next day. Not solved but better. 4 weeks later and it is amazing! I am starting to not worry about my problem!

Okay, a weird post but I just thought I would share--I have bought a bottle for my brother. He understands the nightmare!

Just for information-hyperhydrosis can affect people in different places, not just the armpits. People that have really sweaty palms, foreheads, even crotch area are also suffering from this problem. This antipersperant is only for armpits. There are other products available online that work the same way that are designed for these other areas.

A clean counter

A clean counter. Is that too much to ask? I am trying to decide a habit that I want to work on. I have more than enough for the rest of my life, so many that I can't decide where to begin.

Kitchen counter--is yours always covered? Mine is! I am going to try and have it completely cleaned off before I go to bed. I hate waking up to yesterdays dishes and messes. It makes me feel like I am already behind and the day has just started!

Why is my counter always messy? Well, it is the center, the hub, grand central station! It is where many meals are eaten, homework done, mail dropped, everything is dropped(what doesn't hit the floor). I am going to try and look at my counter as a BLESSING. Why a blessing? We have food to eat, children to eat the food, children that are healthy enough to do homework, we are blessed to have a reason to have a messy counter! Ok, please help me remember my blessings when I start complaining again about my messy counter!

I will take a picture, sometime!

(edited-I took the pictures!)

Still thinking!

My friend Lara has been encouraging us to start some new habits. The truth is I just don't want to! I feel like I am swimming in a sea of crazyness and I don't even know where to begin!

I did actually get up and make my kids a healthy breakfast and then go to the gym. I almost talked myself out of it. Then I went one step further and took my stuff to shower and get ready before I came home. If I wait and do it at home it takes me HOURS to actually get back to showering. I feel like I wasted my entire day, even if I have been busy.

While at the gym I forced myself to run 3 entire miles! I was ready to stop at 1/2 so I feel pretty good about that. I just want to get where it is easier. Does that happen?

I have decided that basically I am a really lazy person. I do not like to push myself. Comfortable is fine. Well, I just don't think that we really grow and change if we don't push ourselves out of our comfort zone, whatever that zone is. Status quo---that is not a growing place to be.

So, my new habit has to be something involving pushing myself to do things that I would normally do but just enough, not the extra that I am capable of.

What should my new habit be?

Habits? Should I commit to some good ones? It makes sense but I can't seem to make sense. My blogging has been quite challenged lately. I hope that I will get back into business. If you have any suggestions about motivating oneself let me know!

Welcome 2007

2007! Wow! It is strange to say, it sounds so futuristic. I sent my babies back to school today and the little baby is still sleeping. Not sure if he is just worn out from all the playing or if he is under the weather. I chose to let him sleep.

We need to get back into a routine. I love having time off with the kids, they need it. However, our routine gets shot to pieces. I am not that great at routines anyway so to have none starts to wear on me.

What does a New Year mean to you? I like the feeling that we get to have a new slate. We can start again with things we want to try, things we want to improve upon. I have never been one to sit down and make a list of resolutions. However, I do think that it is good to think of things that i would like to work on. Goals are so powerful, most of us do not use them to their advantage. If we are working towards a positive goal we are improving. Isn't that the point of this life? Improving daily. I had an interview once with a wise man, I was struggling with my role of mother. He told me that we keep going. We try to be better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. We keep trying. Isn't that what is so exciting about a New Year? WE get license to really think about what we are going to work on.

I am trying to really think about some goals that I want to work on. I know that the same ones are always there. Work on my spirituality, read my scriptures more, be more patient. These are standard goals. However, I know that to truly make much of a difference I have to actually set a program to establish those goals. How am I going to meet these goals?

I also want to continue my exercise program. I actually ran 3 miles last Saturday! I didn't even die! I want to be able to run a 3K and then move on. I am not sure why I have decided that I want to run. I don't think that I really love it yet--just going with it. I do feel like it was the change that I needed in my exercise program. Anyone want to run with me? My sweet hubby bought me an ipod so now I can listen to music and also conference talks. A rolled her eyes when I told her I had almost 8 hours of talks on my player! Now to get those shoes on and get moving!

What are your goals for this 2007?

What a Merry Christmas We Had!

Wow, the big day came and went. It was wonderful and chaotic. The children were so overjoyed with their treasures. We had few unhappy moments, no fighting for two entire days(a Christmas miracle) and lots of good food and fun.

The biggest blessing of all? Being with my wonderful husband and beautiful children celebrating our Saviors birth. Warm, safe and connected. What more could I ask for? A Christmas blessing indeed.

Trying to focus

Do you ever just wonder where the time goes? We have been running in overdrive for a few weeks. I feel like I am six weeks behind! Can you believe that Christmas is only a few days away? Unfortunately for me, I still have much to do. I am so behind at home that I stayed home from the gym yesterday to do laundry and just put things away. It is amazing that my house still looks so messy after spending nine hours working in it. I am hoping that I can make a difference today and get to town to do some last minute stuff. I need to make a list-I have avoided it because it is too big!
I am trying to think of this as a blessing, I have the means to get the things on a list. I have people on a list. We are blessed. I will try and remember that as I am vacumming and picking up the same messes over and over again!

Merry Christmas!-let's remember the reason!

The Terrible Family Picture Day!

The words that bring fear into grown men and children alike. FAMILY PICTURES!
We attempted to have pictures this past Sunday. We were all dressed for church and Grandma was here to take the pictures. It sounds perfect. It wasn't. We went outside, it was bright so we were squinty, we came in and the old family picture was behind our heads. We went to sit down and all Hell broke loose. Mr. M started whining about sitting up, being stubborn, then baby was through. Finally Momma lost it. I went out of the room crying, Grandma then started in on them about their bad attitudes and how bad they have been treating me. Poor Husband, trying to feel the Spirit and watching Satan walk around his house. Mr. M mouthed off just too far, Husband lost it too. The two big kids went into hiding. Husband left, Mother threatened the kids. We went to church in silence--not the way to go to church on a very special day.

I tell you, that the family pictures were not the reason for this terrible scene. It was Satan. He didn't want to let Dave and our family feel the Spirit. Perhaps keeping Dave from being sustained as Bishop. It was strong and it was real. I have heard other people tell of these stories. I haven't really had one so strong before. It was horrible. However, it made me realize how much Satan is trying to stop the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He doesn't want it spread. He doesn't want people to know the truth and to teach other people. Satan will use anyone and anything he can to stop the work. He tried with us. He had us for a moment but he didn't win.
We have to remain strong and keep on keeping on. We have the light within us, we need to let it shine so that other people can feel the light.

What a weekend.

Bishop Carrigan!
My sweet hubby was made a Bishop in our church(LDS) on Sunday. It is in a University Stake so it is a single's ward. All the ward members are between 18-30. There are about 200 of them!
I know that he will do super. I am not so sure about myself. I worry about my ability to take care of these four people that live with us! I just keep praying that we will have extra blessings that come from serving. I know that it is a good thing but it is also a big change, for all of us.

My kids have really been having some behavior issues lately and I think it is in direct relationship to this new calling. I believe that Satan doesn't want good things to happen so he will attack people any way that he can. I believe that he has been working on our children. Particularly Mr. M man. He has always been so mild and respectful. I pray that this will improve.

Please add us to your prayers, we need all the help we can get to help those in this new ward and to keep our family strong.

What a weekend.

Bishop Carrigan!
My sweet hubby was made a Bishop in our church(LDS) on Sunday. It is in a University Stake so it is a single's ward. All the ward members are between 18-30. There are about 200 of them!
I know that he will do super. I am not so sure about myself. I worry about my ability to take care of these four people that live with us! I just keep praying that we will have extra blessings that come from serving. I know that it is a good thing but it is also a big change, for all of us.

My kids have really been having some behavior issues lately and I think it is in direct relationship to this new calling. I believe that Satan doesn't want good things to happen so he will attack people any way that he can. I believe that he has been working on our children. Particularly Mr. M man. He has always been so mild and respectful. I pray that this will improve.

Please add us to your prayers, we need all the help we can get to help those in this new ward and to keep our family strong.

Time keeps on moving.

December 6th already! The month is flying by!
We went and cut down our tree on Saturday, it is HUGE tree that is still in our garage! We are going to hopefully get it in the house today. I am not too stressed about it but it is making Miss E nuts! She is so excited this year. I am glad that I still have one that is still in the magic!

I am headed to Idaho for a Collin Raye concert with my Mom tomorrow! That should be really fun. It will be a quick trip and then Mom will come back with me for a few days.

Thanksgiving update

Time flies!
It seems like an eternity, not that many are reading but those two who do are tired of my old post!

It has been a nutty two weeks! We went to Idaho for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful/awful time! It is always so much fun to go to my Momma's house. It is one of those houses that seems to just wrap its arms around you. I want to just sit in the chair and look at magazines by the fire. There is one really big problem with this, those four little people that think I AM THEIR MOMMA! They get rather bored, the two bigger ones are no longer able to entertain themselves with blocks, coloring, books etc. So, they watch t.v. for hours and hours which makes everything worse. After they have watched more t.v. than their brains can absorb they have to come up with other things to entertain themselves. Those things are usually things that just shouldn't even be talked about. The things that make nice Moms say really bad words. The ones that make nice Moms come close to child abuse. It is getting to the point that my children are almost not invited any more. I want to go by myself. They can eat cereal! I was so exhausted after returning that it took me an entire week to emotionally recover from their nasty fest.

Ok, now for the good parts! We had my Uncle come spend Thanksgiving day with us. He is in his seventy's and quite frail. He never married so has no children, etc. The family(my Dad's family) is not close at all so he is really really alone. When I invited him he was nervous about the weather, slipping etc. I just told him that we were coming and my husband would throw him over his shoulder if he had to! I think that he had a nice time. I know that it was nice to know that for at least a few hours he was part of a group, part of a family again. He has always struggled with relationships so I think it was probably a bit overwhelming but still good. I know that it was good for me and also good for my children. They didn't really have conversations with him but I hope that when they are older they will remember when we went and got their Great Uncle for Thanksgiving. Isn't that what this entire experience is all about? Helping and loving each other? We seem to forget and only worry about ourselves.

After a great day we hit the craziness on Friday morning! It was insane. I don't usually go, I don't like the nuts! It was alright, and we got a few things we wanted and nothing to stupid!

A busy holiday with lots of memories, good and bad! Hopefully, I will be able to focus on the positive and forget the negative!!!


Now lets start celebrating!!!!

Thanksgiving memories

Thanksgiving is almost here! Have you already started thinking about pies and turkey? We had our family dinner on Saturday and it was nice. The food was good and the company was also. We played games and visited.

What are some of your favorite holiday memories?

I remember going to my Grandparent's house in Driggs, Idaho. They would have the big table all spread out. Many times I got to sit right next to my grandpa. I remember thinking that I was the very favorite -later I realized that he was just like that, we all felt that way! I remember the first year that we stopped going to Driggs. It was a really hard change for us. We went to an Aunt's house and it just wasn't the same. We started doing it at our house after that and have been doing there ever since. My family always goes to Idaho for Thanksgiving. It is as much a tradition for our children as Driggs was for me. My little Miss E is counting the days to when we go to grandmas house.

This year we are having my Dad's brother come. He never married and lives alone. He is homebound. I had to bully him a bit to get him to say yes. I told him we would just throw him over Dave's shoulder and bring him. I hope that he has a good time. How lonely it would be to have no one to visit.

A Beautiful Lady

My Mom!

I am thankful for her in my life. As I do the zillionth load of laundry I remember that she averaged 35 loads a week, I am not there yet. As I make goulash I remember her making it(hers still tastes better!). As I pick up my daughters skirt from the floor I remember her saying that if you hang it up you can wear it again! As I really quickly wipe the bathroom I remember her saying "A lick and a promise". A lick is better than nothing!

My Mom is quite a lady. She went to college with four children while helping my Dad build a business. She taught school for 20 years and was a great teacher. She has had some terrible heartache in her life but she hasn't become a bitter person. She has gone to church alone for almost 20 years, many widows would have quit going. She accepts callings in church and does them well. She has been to 3 of my children's births and taken care of us after and many other times. She is willing to watch my herd while I have gone on trips. She is encouraging but doesn't give too much advice. She alway knows something special to get for someone, she is a great gift giver. She is a caring person. She helped my Aunt in her dying hours, she helps another sick friend, she fed her brother when he couldn't feed himself. She is willing to help, whatever that may be.

I am so proud of my Mom, she is a role model for me. I know that if she survived my brothers, my sister, my Dad and me that I will probably make it also!

Thanks Mom, I love you! 

I'm weird!

Strange things give me thrills! Today I decided that I am going to work in my studio. It has become less of a studio and more of a JUNK ROOM! Well, I started just getting rid of garbage, it is amazing how much actual garbage is strewn around in a room that is a disgusting mess. I decided that the pile of really old magazines had to go today! I was tempted to start looking through them-I did not! What a way to get sidetracked!!!

I took a HUGE pile out to the dumpster and threw them in! I considered calling a few friends to see if they would like to look at them, then I decided that noone else needed my clutter cluttering up their house! Amazing how thrilling that thud was!!

Off to more dejunking. My soul is in need of some calm so I have to get rid of some more chaos!

Bubble Time!

Little boy blue isn't afraid of the tub anymore! He even asked to get in this morning! Yeah!!!

Aren't bubble baths just the best thing? With a big big tub that makes lots and lots of bubbles who wouldn't want to get in?

My Yummy Guy!

I had the pleasure of going to the Temple with my sweet hubby. We had a very nice session, we hadn't been for awhile so it was nice to be somewhere so calm. Sweetie was quite emotional, he feels the Spirit so strongly sometimes.
After the session we had lunch in the cafeteria and then came home. My house was a wreck. I keep wondering when it isn't a wreck! Anyway, I put the kiddos to work(not happily). We are just not that great at really making them be responsible for things. That is something that is our fault. I have to make them do things now. Mr. M is constantly telling me, "I'll do it later" well, as we all know what that means is "I don't want to do it, I will tell you I will do it later and then you will leave me alone and I won't have to do it!" Well, I am tired of that! I know for myself that it is hard to always "JUST DO IT" but, it is quicker and it gets done!!!
Okay, enough of my Momma drag!

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that my sweetie is still my sweetie! We have been married for 161/2 years, with 4 dating and I still just want to eat him up most days! He is a calm figure for my raging storms. He is a constant. He has the gift of listening. People have come to him for years to talk. They tell him their troubles like he is a counselor. He is just a really great guy and I am just so glad that I get to share a life with him. He is a great Daddy also! What more could I ask for? Only more time with him.

Fun Little Books

Creating! It feels good!

I made the flower covered tablets the other day. The little one is my portable calendar. It had little dogs on it, it just screamed to be altered! The other is just a plain spiral notebook. I am still trying to learn what to do to cover the color on the edge--any ideas?

The cute little tag book was made today by the cub scouts. Isn't it darling? I think that there are more of these in my future. Think of all the possiblities with this idea. Alphabet books, mini albums, recipe albums, teacher albums.

I was in my studio and it felt good. The room is a nightmare. I am going to have to start 15 minutes at a time sorting, junking, organizing. I just have this urge and need to make things!

I hope that you are thankful for something beautiful today!

Best Friends

Today I am thankful for Best Friends! I got to spend the entire day with my best friend Tina. She and I met 8 1/2 years ago. We have each had two more children and moved far away from each other. We still talk almost everyday. Thank goodness for mobile to mobile minutes on our cell phones. It has improved our phone bills!

We usually go to cute little shops and spend way too much money on scrapbooking supplies and home decor. She actually decorates her house and I just add one more thing to my to do list!

I am so glad that we became friends. She enriches my life more than she will ever know. She makes me want to be a better Mom and person. She teaches me about kindness and tolerance. She puts up with me and loves me.

I am lucky she is my friend.

Thankful!

Thanksgiving is on it's way! So in a traditional way--what are you thankful for? I think that I am going to try and remember at least one think I am thankful for everyday!

I am grateful for my healthy body! Today I went to the gym and ran two miles! That is almost a miracle! I didn't die or need oxygen. Having the strength to exercise, play, take care of my babies, husband and home,these are all blessings. Often we take our health for granted, in fact, almost always.

Busy Day

What a busy day! We had no where to go! We stayed home and did this and that! I cleaned(what's new?) the kitchen, behind the fridge, really got the counters. Sweetie worked hard, he emptied the freezer, defrosted it and all! He went through the storage room that was full of junk, he put some electrical switched back on, he put the blow up Christmas decorations up and cleaned out both cars! He was a working machine!

There are days that it is nice to be home and have everyone milling around. Luckily for me, they weren't fighting(too much).

Ok, I finished reading "The Artists way" It is interesting. I believe that we as humans are creative. Most of us just don't realize it. We get stuck in the thinking that creative is for "real artists". We are all life artists. We decide how we decorate, what to wear, what to plant in the flower bed. We decide these things because they feel right, well, this is creative energy. I have been feeling creatively stiffled for many months. I am hoping that somehow I can find that creative energy. I am discovering that I stay busy with all the normal things in my life that keep me busy, I wonder if it is to avoid my possible creations. Am I not comfortable with it? Do I not think it is good enough? Good enough for who? So many questions!!!

So, this week I am going to try and notice the creative things in my life and actually give myself some time to explore!

Avid Readers Beware!

Remember when I said that I was interested in the book "The Artists Way"? Well, I went into Barnes and Noble bookstore and bought it!

Barnes and Noble---have you been there lately? I have only been in there 2 times in 13 years because I am mother and those are places that I do not take my children. It is too easy to become "That Crazy Lady". I was with only little guy(bad enough). This place is to a reader like a bar would be to an alcoholic! I just want to go and spend five hours just looking at all the possibilities!

I did get my one book. I have been reading it. It is very interesting! It is actually a process book. With assignments and such for 12 weeks. I am reading the entire thing and then plan to go back and actually try to do the course. If any of you feel that you could lead a more creative life or would like to encourage your children I recommend getting it. You might find it at the library to browse through, however, if you are going to really do the course I recommend purchasing it. I will keep you posted. I do know that I have been a busy bee around my house trying to get the mundane things caught up because I am very aware that when I have chaos in my house I have chaos in my soul. I am grumpier when there are big messes! So, I am on a quest! I hope that it works! Socks are folded(for a day) and that is almost in miracle zone!!! Downstairs bathroom is clean--13 yr olds just don't care about health issues-"it isn't that dirty Mom!"

If little boy would get over his cold I could get back to the gym. It is a must with all the Halloween candy around! I have done pretty well, I realize how long I must work for every little piece that goes in my mouth. Most of it just doesn't taste good enough!!!