Simple Pleasures

1. A good heartfelt talk with my mother-in-law. Those don't happen enough.

2. A full fridge, freezer and pantry after a day of grocery shopping. Its the first time since before Thanksgiving!

3. A day spent with my husband. A trip to the temple and Costco. And Cafe Rio. Yum!

4. A fun and successful relief society activity pulled off! A no sale garage sale to swap all our stuff. We filled up half a DI trailer with what was leftover!

5. Feeling like I am finally getting to know some friends at church in a new ward.

Big Rocks

Today was our ward conference and our stake president, whom I dearly love and look up to, told a familiar story that strengthened my resolve. He told the story of the professor who filled a jar with rocks and then asked the class if the jar was full. When they responded in the affirmative, he added gravel to the jar. He repeated this lesson with sand and finally with water. Then he asked the group what the object of his lesson was. An eager student responded that it shows that, no matter how full our lives and schedules are, we can always find time to fit more things. (that would have been my answer.) But the professor replied that the real lesson to be learned was that if we do not put the big rocks in our jars first, they will never fit.

What are my big rocks? Well, some of the answers would seem obvious -- family, scriptures, prayer.... I also remember something that I read that Michelle Obama said when she was asked what the secret was to her success, particularly as a wife and mother. The first lady responded by saying that she always put her kids first and herself a very close second. She said that too many women put too many people and things above themsleves and then they run out of fuel and energy to give and serve and love and care for. She explained that, by putting herself near the top of people she took care of, she found she had more energy, more confidence and more ambition to serve and love and care for others. She felt that she was able to accomplish more because she felt good about herself.

Selfish? I had thought so, but her explanation made me think again. For example, if exercise is one of my big rocks, I will not only accomplish goals to look better but I will feel better about myself, be healthier, and have more energy for those I love.

Also, at our extended family Sunday dinner today, we talked about the devastation and need in Haiti. We decided that if we want the Lord to bless us, we need to do what we can to bless others. Rather than just sitting around enjoying each other's company on Sunday afternoons, we could work together on projects that would benefit those in need. So next week we are assembling 12 hygiene kits to send to Haiti. In the future we can make hats, tie quilts, make cards, sew burp rags... It sounds fun! And it sounds like making a difference and being the Lord's hands in a small way to help His children.

Here's to doing better at the "big rocks" every day!

Simple Pleasures

In college my roommates and I would often make lists of what we called "Simple Pleasures". These were just little things in our lives that brought us happiness and that we didn't want to forget. This year, in an effort to better notice how blessed I am and to be more grateful, I want to end each week with a "Simple Pleasures" posting of three little things that brightened my week.

1. A new haircut can give you a whole new outlook on life.

2. A phone call from my favorite teacher/friend that was not related to school

3. A sleepover with my whole family (minus Jessica) at my dad's apartment

A Capitol Day!

We went to Boise this weekend to attend the rededication and open house of the Capitol building. It is 100 years old and has been closed for the last two years for renovations. In addition to cleaning and restoring the existing building, the basement was finished and two wings added to the basement level for committee meeting rooms.

Tears were in my eyes as the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance together and sang our National Anthem. How grateful I am to live in the United States of America where we are free to govern ourselves! I am thankful for the judicial process and for the men and women who work in buildings like this to maintain our freedoms and operate our governmental offices.

It was a cold morning as we met in front of the Capitol for the rededication.

Here are Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and his wife, Lori.

Inside the Capitol rotunda

And here is the Chief Deputy to the Secretary of State in his new office. I get to call him 'Dad'.

Ache

The holidays were a difficult time for me this year. I had so many things to be thankful for and many fun and exciting events to look forward to, as the holiday season usually holds. But this year I was especially excited, as I had a little secret. A secret I planned to share at Christmas.

After a surprise pregnancy ended in a miscarriage in early September, I was now pregnant with the baby I hadn't realized I so desperately wanted. This time we were being more cautious. The kids didn't know. We hadn't said anything to anyone. That made the holidays more challenging as we traveled and spent time with family while trying to hide my nausea and tiredness.

My time was filled with daydreams of having a new little one in our house. We had previously bought a new van to accomodate another child. In my mind I was rearranging the house, refinishing furniture, buying the needed supplies and dreaming of names. It seemed I had already been pregnant for so long, having conceived not long after my miscarriage.

And then, on a Thursday, I spotted.

Blessings were given, prayers were said. I was praying every minute for God to please let me have this child. A doctor's visit five days later confirmed that I was pregnant but the subsequent ultrasound told a different story. I would miscarry again.

I was so angry! And this anger couldn't be directed at any person. For the first time in my life, I found myself angry with God. I knew He had plans for me. Plans that included blessings and happiness. But I didn't understand what was wrong with MY plans. Wasn't my plan His plan too? Wasn't being a mother what I was born to do?

But Christmas found me weeping over the familiar stories of a mother who gave birth in a stable and of a tiny babe that changed the world.

It seems I am now surrounded by babies. Seven new babies at church, six pregnant women in my family. Unexpected tears at the sound of a baby's cry or the roundness of an expectant tummy. A big lump in my throat when my little girl brings me a shirt that no longer fits and tells me to save it for the next baby.

It has shaken my carefully planned world and has brought me to my knees to cry to my Savior. And He has been there. With comfort, with love, with His arms opened to me, gently loving away my anger and letting me grieve. I know this, His plan for me, is necessary to shape me to what He needs me to be. I know that someday I will understand. But my arms still ache to hold a baby.

And so does my heart.

An end and a beginning

We are now entering a new year and a new decade and with that comes the opportunity to reaffirm ourselves to become the people we want to be and to live the life we have always imagined. Easier said than done, of course, but I am thankful for the chance to try...and then try again. Along with the same goals that are made every year (say my prayers more, read scripture consistently, lose 20 pounds -- which has somehow become 30 this year) I have a few new ones. Maybe if I put them down for all of you to see, my motivation will be greater to work harder at them.

1. Be on time. I hate the idea that I could be one of those people who are habitually late. I'm always thinking I have time to do one more thing before I head out the door.

2. Yell less. Enough said.

3. Develop an attitude of gratitude and contentment. I have so very much to be thankful for in my life! I am so blessed and I need to take stock of those blessings instead of wishing that my life was different in some way. I need to feel greater contentment -- not complacency but happiness in what I have right now in this moment.

Wish me luck!

Master-minded

My little sister, the one I had to drag, crying, to the school bus every morning, has now graduated with her Master's degree in Engineering. Timbri graduated from BSU on December 18. I am so proud of her and, I admit, a little jealous, too. I have always dreamed of receiving one of those cool hoods in a graduation ceremony. As it was, I sat and bawled through hers. She is a very intelligent and talented girl -- and my best friend.

Christmas '09 -- a photo essay

a snuggie new blanket from Grandma and Papa
Our nativity had to have two babies Jesus, as both girls wanted the role of Mary

Some happy Christmas faces!

The children were nestled all snug in one bed

I love the way the tree looks on Christmas morning -- almost makes me want to not let them open the pretty gifts!

Our nativity starring a donkey, a joseph and two marys

Making a gingerbread train for our school's Wonderland of Gingerbread activity

Festival of Trees

Emily is still doing Irish Dance. She really has a talent for it and I love to watch her perform!

Thanksgiving at the condo

We spent the week of Thanksgiving at the condo this year. It was not the optimal time to be there; the kids were sick and it was FREEZING cold, but we still had a good time. We had to take our own entertainment as everything was closed. We played lots of games, worked on some Christmas projects, watched movies, went 'swimming' in the hot tub and sat in front of the toasty fireplace.

And, of course, like years past, we spent a good deal of time making and floating little boats on the lake. Some of us spent more time at it than others. This year Kevin came prepared. He packed a little bag of boat building materials; saws, boards, glue, dowels, drills...
The best part of the week was that Papa got to spend some of it with us! He drove up with us on Friday morning and stayed until Sunday afternoon when he had to go back to Boise. We had so much fun! We don't spend a lot of time with just Papa and usually my kids will gravitate to Grandma, but since she wasn't there, Papa got all their attention! I love my dad so much and am so grateful for the fantastic example that he is. I don't get to spend time with him enough. But I will always be Daddy's girl.

The hot tub was the only thing open. It was big but it was also quite hot and the air was very cold so our times in it were short.

It was a great lazy vacation as we just hung out together. And here is a picture of my Aleise, just because she is adorable!

We spent Thanksgiving at Kevin's parents' house in Bountiful as they just returned from their mission. It was great to see them again! As for them, I think they were a little shell-shocked with ALL of us there at once. They kept finding excuses to go to the store or hide in their rooms. Apparently the adjustment isn't just difficult for the young RMs!

Abracadabra!

Noah is quite the magician! He loves to dress up, make tickets, and gather everyone he can think of to watch his show.

Pulling a rabbit out of his hat is only one of many tricks he is mastering.

Thank you, thank you very much.