Sunday, October 24, 2010

Which One Are You?

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready and listening to tunes, some Disney music popped up on my iPod and significantly lifted my mood...not that I was down, but I began dancing around the bathroom and singing with my kids. I love Disney Music and Disney movies. I love that there are some situations that can only be described or experienced with a song or awesome score. The Princesses are perfect, but not annoyingly so, the princes are handsome and so gentlemanly, even when they have their beastly flare-ups. And the side-kicks are cute and funny. And I got to thinking, if I were a Disney movie or song or character, what would I be?

Be Our Guest
I love cooking and serving delicious foods to my family. The idea of a whole song where the dishes sing and dance is so awesome to me...and let's be honest, the rest of my house looks dusty and ripped to shreds much like the Beast's palace.

So these days, that's me...what about you?

And any other thoughts on who I am?

Monday, October 18, 2010

Soccer Star


Today was Max's first day of indoor soccer. U4. He was SO excited. We pulled out Lucy's old shin pads, socks, shoes and shorts from when she played U4 and were surprised to see that it all fit him. Have my kids really grown that much? Then the count-down to 4pm was on. Oh the waiting. When we first got there, the gym was full of kids and parents in a bit of chaos. I'd like to say that the chaos subsided, but it didn't really. It's a big group of kids and most of them seem to be about Max's size, but there are a few bigger and a few smaller. There's a new coach who is all business and yet is SO great with these little kids. He explained to the parents that he didn't want to see any of us forcing their kids to be there. Some kids will just sit and listen and observe for a few weeks before they get the nerve to join in...and that's fine. If they get hurt, they'll run to you. If they're thirsty or need to go to the bathroom, they'll run to you...and that's fine. (I like this guy). He has a strong UK accent and is no nonsense, but it was fun to see him give Max some one-on-one time and really encourage him. I kept emphasizing to Max that the best soccer plays always listen to their coach...and so he tried SO hard to listen and do exactly what the coach said. I also explained that if something is hard at first, he doesn't need to get upset, and he'll just keep practicing each week and will get better and better. When the coach said, 'hands up - no touching the ball' Max took it so seriously and ran around the gym with his hands in the air.

We found out a few weeks ago that one of Max's friends, Oliver, was also registered for soccer too. It was awesome to have a friend.

They started off sitting as close to each other as they could get and kind of hanging back a bit, and then both ended up having their own moments of confidence where they would break away from each other and try something on their own.
He's so awesome. He told me the best part was kicking the ball into the net.

Can't wait till next week!

Lucy had a bit of a tough time sitting still and watching her brother. I had to explain to her that for years he has had to sit and watch while she got to do things that he was too young for...now it's his turn and she needs to be patient too.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Relief

Yesterday, my sister had a great day. This is an understatement. In other words, she had the best day of the last 10 years of her life. (if I can be so bold as to make that assumption - but she told me so herself). It was the culmination of years of heartache, stress, laughter, tears and a whole schwack of prayers...from a whole schwack of people. She has spent much of her adult life in turmoil and stress. And now, there appears to be some relief. This has been her struggle and her fire and much of us who have been observers have grieved for her and over our inability to make it right. I have been SO immensely proud of my sister. Her life has been rougher than anyone I've been associated with. And she has done everything in her power to continue to choose the right and remain faithful to the Lord even when it seemed easier to choose a different path. She struggled to feel forgiveness for those who hurt her instead if seeking revenge which the world would have her believe was justified. She has put her kids first and foremost in all things. She IS a warrior mother. And i hope and pray that the relief she felt yesterday will remain with her for the rest of her days. That she will be able to walk through these next few years with focus, now that this mountain has faded. I love her. She is my older sister, my best friend and my great example.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

iPhone

Last night, the kids and Tyler 'surprised' me with a new iPhone 4 for my birthday. My birthday isn't until the end of the month, but the phone was available now...so now it was. They sent me the following text:

Mom,
We love you very much and hope you enjoy your new phone. Happy 30th Birthday
Love,
Lucy, Max, Logan & Dad

And I took a few photos to commemorate the occasion.


I think they're excited for me because one of their favorite things to do is play games on dad's iPhone, but he takes it with him to work...whereas mom's will be at home ALL the time!

I'm excited either way.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Aunties


My kids love their Aunties and Uncles. It's pretty special. It's great to see your kids cherish the family relationships that you already cherish so much. Lucy and Max pray for their Auntie Sarah and Auntie Janeen at every prayer. Most especially now that they are both gone (away from Grandma and Papa's home). They're constantly praying that Janeen will have fun at BYU and that Sarah will drive safe.
A few weeks ago it was Auntie Sarah's birthday and then shortly after, Grandma and Papa were taking a trip down to Utah for General Conference and to visit with Janeen. For those two weeks, my kids worked tirelessly on little art projects for their aunties, pouring their heart and souls into them. Choosing the perfect color combinations, writing just the right words to express their love (Lucy loves Janeen, or Lucy loves Sarah). As I watched them work so hard I wondered if I made and still make a big enough fuss over my own nieces and nephews when they do special things for me. My very first nephew will be turning 12 in a few weeks. 12. That's big. He's getting the priesthood and graduating from primary. He's nearly a teenager and I still remember visiting him in the hospital when he was born. I remember rocking him to sleep when he was a baby, or playing silly games with him while I was babysitting. I remember his little sister painting pictures for everyone in the family for Christmas and storing them in a cereal box so they wouldn't get bent. She passed each picture to each member of the family and explained what she had painted and why she had chosen to paint that for you. I don't remember what I said to her when she gave me mine, but I hope I gushed. I didn't have the luxury of being a mom before I became an Auntie...so I hope I did a pretty good job despite that fact. Because now they're getting big and the moments are slipping away.
I must say I was pretty pleased the other night when my big-boy nephew decided to come and hang with me while I gave my baby-boy a bath. Maybe I'm still a little bit cool. He talked my ear off about Star Wars and Mexico and turning 12 and passing the sacrament. I think he'd feel silly if I gushed now, but when he asked me if I could be there the first time he passes the sacrament I gushed on the inside, but simply said, "Of course!" And so now that he's getting big, I will have to show my lovey-dovey gushy support by just being there when he asks me to be, and a few times when he doesn't.

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Least of These

Tonight for FHE we decided to take it easy and kick-it at home. We told the kids the story of Jesus washing the Apostles feet and then we talked about service. We have been reading in the Book of Mormon about King Benjamin and how he said, 'when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.' After we read, we decided to wash the kids feet and talk about ways that we can serve each other. It was quiet and sweet as the kids sat and let their dad wash their feet and put cream on them. We asked them each how they could serve each other and mom and dad. We talked about how Jesus said, 'if ye love me, keep my commandments' and the best way for them to serve mom and dad is always just to listen. It was a sweet and powerful evening. It was nice to get back to a traditional Family Home Evening after a few weeks of 'other' activities. Logan enjoyed having his feet washed too, but mostly just tried to steal the washcloth away.


It's working...so far

I just had a great General Conference weekend. I decided the easiest thing for me, would be to invite all my family out here to watch the sessions, that way my kids would still be in their own surroundings and I could control the watching of conference, as well as letting little Logan have his naps in his own bed, where it is quiet and uninterrupted. (If you haven't noticed a trend in my blogging yet, you're out of it...I like control!) So, the easiest thing (yes, it's true) was for me to welcome everyone here and host a sleepover with cousins and aunts and uncles as well as providing good eats for everyone while they were here. It meant a lot of time in the kitchen for me...but it's where I like to be. Plus, I had a super supportive husband who helped me out a lot. I was physically and emotionally exhausted by Sunday night, plus the fact that sleepovers mean less sleep for everyone! We're talking muscle ache and joint pain, exhausted. It was go-go-go from sun-up to sun-down...but it was SO MUCH FUN! People were around, we ate, we laughed, we listened to the prophets and apostles, we played games, we heard exciting news, we watched cousins play and do silly things. Seriously, it was SO MUCH FUN! But I'm glad it only comes twice a year! I've often wondered what traditions I would set up for my family surrounding the major holidays. Where will we spend Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving? When will I start being the one that cooks those amazing holiday meals...but as we focused this week on preparing for general conference by doing lots of grocery shopping, getting fun but quiet activities for the kids prepared so they could participate, and having people in my home I realized that this is the event that I want to be focusing on. My mother-in-law often tells the story that she once heard President Hinckley's daughter speak and she had said that in their home, their entire lives revolved around those two conferences. Much more than Christmas or any other time of the year....it's a good philosophy. My life should revolve around those times too. So I would like to propose that this will be my tradition. Not sure if it will always include everyone, but my plan is to make General Conference weekend a huge family event. Lots of food and hanging out and fun times as we get together and listen to the prophets and apostles. I want it to be a big deal. I want my family and I to look forward to it more than any other time of year. I made an effort this week to make lists and do a lot of prep work as far as meals and stuff went so that I wouldn't have to do so much as conference was actually going on. I was very mindful the entire weekend of the Mary/Martha mentality. Better and Best. Anyway, I'm rambling. It was a great weekend. Most especially because I felt lifted. No one's talk in particular...just the whole thing. I had been talking to the kids all week about how we can prepare for conference. How we need to be praying for the prophet and apostles even more than we usually do that they would be sustained and that the messages they have for us would be carried into our hearts and also, if we had any specific questions, we could pray about those and wait to receive the answers during conference. I really noticed that a lot of people seemed to talk about following the prophet and listening to the Holy Ghost...as if there's something we should be preparing for and we need to be better at listening to those two sources of guidance.
Anyway, the real point of this post was to talk about how 'it's' working. I've been down. Somewhat due to circumstance and somewhat due to my own lack of doing what I now is best. So I've determined to be better. I fasted last Sunday that I could turn around. That I could make a change. I know that I need to be better at praying, reading my scriptures and preparing for my life the way I do for speaking in church or having a calling. Being a mother is my calling...forever...and I need to work just as hard at it, in fact harder, than I do at anything else. Harder doesn't mean filling up my life with to-dos. My to-do list does not define me. But my attitude definitely does. So all this week I've been trying. I can't boast that I've been stellar, but there's a difference. My attitude is way better. I'm trying REALLY hard to not let little things get blown out of proportion...and most things are little things. I feel more at peace. I feel better. I still get overwhelmed with anxiety (had such a moment Saturday night), but I worked through it instead of pleading to be relieved from it. I hope my kids are noticing too. Mom's not such a cow all the time. Only half the time! Like I said, it's still a work-in-progress...but I guess that's the most that Heavenly Father expects of us...that we keep working, and we keep making progress. There is no sense of perfection here. It's just not attainable, but I am working and I'm progressing...bit-by-bit. And I hope I can maintain this momentum.