What Are You Doing?

Today was a sad morning for my oldest. She was really upset at us as we began removing all of the "Christmas" paraphernalia from the house. I was sad, too. I love the decorations. I love decorations for any holiday/celebration, but we also have to be practical and get things in order as my sister is arriving tomorrow. With terror in her eyes as we dismantled the tree, Emily cried, "What you doing?" She was so distraught. Eric, lovingly, placed the blame on me.
Emily is just like me. I love to have the decorations. Any holiday needs to be celebrated: Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, whatever. If there are decorations, I want to have them up. We are slowly progressing to gaining our decorations and celebrating more fully after our spartan years of nothingness as missionaries.
I have fond memories of the decorations my mother had. From the big Pumpkin Man and Witch face that decorated for Halloween to the angel tree topper and Nativity set on the TV, those images are forever embedded in my mind. I want my children to grow up with the same satisfaction in celebration decoration. So, what am I doing? I'm ensuring that the decorations make it another year and we keep the joy and happiness unfolding.

Little Scotty, You Are So Cute

We have our annual Relief Society party tonight, which means we also have our annual Christmas decoration exchange. I didn't have anything and luckily my friend Kelli just shared this idea on her sewing blog. It was simple to make and turned out pretty cute. I left the edges rough because it's a Scotty Dog!! Isn't he adorable?

Project Cuteness

I purchased the girls these really cute sweaters last weekend and envisioned them wearing them with cute neutral skirts. I can never find what I'm looking for when it comes to dresses, and skirts of a good length for little girls are practically impossible to find. So, I got out my creativity and created these:

I'm pretty proud of them, but even more so because Emily couldn't get enough of them. I fixed Gianna's first but Emily just couldn't wait to have her own flower on her skirt. Now I can't wait until Sunday to dress them up and take pictures of them in the completed outfits!!

You Cheat ME!

Somehow, growing up, I got tagged with a sometimes nickname of "Mahana". For those of you unaware of "Mormon pop culture," there is an old film that basically spells out that when you treat people well, they blossom and become their potential. Mahana was a girl who was viewed as not only ugly, but worthless. Her father and her community treated her poorly. However, along comes Mr. Fantastic that everyone adores, except his name is Johnny Lingo, not Mr. Fantastic. Anyway, he loves Mahana and pays a great price for her in order to marry her. After the wedding, he whisks her away on a long honeymoon only to return with a very beautiful and charming wife. Mahana blossomed under his love.
I am Mahana in so many ways. I think I brushed my hair a lot more than Mahana did in her younger days, but I often felt less than plain. I struggled throughout my youth and young adulthood to feel beautiful. When I met Eric, or rather, when we started dating, I found myself blossoming. I started carrying a purse (which, ironically, takes a backseat to the diaper bag these days). I started caring about his preferences and wanting to please him.
Today, he made me feel even more beautiful. It's simple, really. I needed to take something to him at work. No big deal, right? However, he took the opportunity to introduce me to all of his new co-workers and kind of showed us off. I don't feel like a trophy wife, but I do feel beautiful like a trophy wife when Eric does this. I felt like I have the two most adorable blond haired, blue eyed girls on the planet and that I, too, am beautiful.
I love my husband so much. He was truly sent for me and I appreciate all of his love and affection. I just hope I can be as good to him as he is to me.

A Day, Different

Any of you who know me well know that I just can't cope with cold weather. At ALL. I shiver and shake and end up with sore muscles and a back ache because of it. I just can't keep warm. AND, once I have gotten chilled, it takes FOREVER to get warm again.
We spent a few days of cold and it required that I finally give in and turn on the heat (if the house temperature drops below 60 degrees, it's basically my limit).
I was so pleasantly surprised with warm weather this morning. When I took Hannah out this morning around 8 am, it felt like a summer day. Warm. Moist (aka humid). Wonderful. I immediately unclosed every window in my house.
Ah, the gloriousness of warm weather, especially a week into December. It's like an early Christmas present for me from God. I just want to say that I really appreciate it, even if you have to turn it cold again tomorrow. We played outside and enjoyed a bike ride. Thanks!

Santa Spoiler Alert

I have a problem. I want truth spoken in my home. Therefore, I don't want to encourage my children's belief in a fairytale. I just don't want to have to tell them one day, "I've been lying to you for x-number of years. There really isn't a Santa Clause. Daddy and I give you gifts and pretend they are from someone else." I'm not knocking anyone else wanting to do this. I just have this personal feeling about it.
Mind you, I was raised in a home that had Santa and we left food out for Santa and all. I don't know how old I was when we were bad children and discovered the "Santa" gifts in my parents' closet (you are right, we shouldn't have been snooping). I was fairly young. Anyway, Christmas kind of lost it's joy after that. I didn't rediscover the joy of Christmas until I was an adult and serving a mission for my church. I guess this lends to not wanting to live a lie about the holiday characters to ruin it for my own kids.
So, in a effort to do this, we have tried to reconstruct Christmas. It's a celebration of Christ's spirit, really. Yet, Christianity has deemed it a celebration of Christ's birth. I love all of Christmas, really. I love it more and more as I re-experience it through a child's eyes (Emily is a Christmas fanatic...her favorite song is Jingle Bells and her favorite movie is Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer). I want the magic of Christmas, but not the lies.
Really, Christmas should be celebrated in April. You know, actually for Christ's birth? If we did THAT, there would be no "confusion of the season" remarks.
I want to celebrate Christ's birth, but I want to do it correctly. I also want to celebrate family togetherness, the spirit of giving, and another good hearty meal. I want, basically, to have my cake and eat it too...just at different times so I can enjoy both admiring the work that goes into it and the joy of the consumption, too.

Princess Rosa

Emily has been infatuated with making up not only new names for herself, but new languages, too. Last night, after tucking her in for the night, she declared, "I'm Spanish, Mommy." I nodded my head and tried slipping out before the storyteller in her started. Not getting the response she was looking for, she further explained, "I'm Spanish in my mouth!" This got a chuckle out of me. I clarified with her that she meant that she spoke Spanish. When I understood this, she started spouting off what she deemed to be Spanish words. I must admit, when I hear a native Spanish speaker, it rolls together and I can't follow at all. It's beautiful and I'm sure if I took the chance to learn it, I'd appreciate it. Instead, I'll just enjoy the creation of my daughter. Who knows, maybe it's a hint that she should start learning it. I mean, Dora is one of her "best friends" and we have several bilingual toys for her.
I had more of this Spanish Rosa (a few weeks ago, she informed a nursery leader that this was her name...including the rolling "r") this morning as she dressed herself. She looked very festive in her tutu, wings, and mix-n-match dress-up paraphernalia. When she completed her ensemble, including make-up, she announced that she was a Spanish fairy princess. She went to the library in her getup and was complemented. Upon hearing the words, "She is so cute," she whispered to me, "Am I cute, Mommy?"

Tears Guaranteed

It happens every year. I can't help it. And, it happened again today.
As I was driving around town today and listening to my Christmas-all-the-time station, a version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" started playing. I can't listen to this version and drive. I don't know if the vocals are good. I don't know if the accompaniment is any good. All I do know is that the meaning behind this song is amplified a million times for me as soldiers speak their Christmas wishes to their families (here, I'm even choking up thinking about it) is plugged into the song.
BAM! Total tears. It just rips my heart out to think about these men and women that have made the decision to support our country in this manner. I sometimes feel selfish because I know I couldn't do it. These moms and dads and brothers and sisters are out there because of me (and the rest of the millions of people in the United States). They give me a gift 365 days out of the year; year after year. I truly do wish I could say thank you to every single one of them. Of course, they'll have to excuse the continual downpour of tears, but I'm seriously that grateful for them.
Any of you armed service personnel or relatives of such individuals, know that I am truly grateful for the sacrifice and service you provide! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Grattitude

On Facebook there is a thing going on that everyday you post things that you are grateful for during this month in honor of Thanksgiving. I thought I'd do a blog post on the same subject.
1. I'm grateful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It isn't enough just to believe in Jesus Christ. There is more expected from our thoughts, actions, as well as ordinances mandated by our Savior. I am so grateful the gospel has been restored and that we are looking forward to the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for modern prophets to keep us on the right track. I'm grateful for my copy of the latest General Conference addresses both in the Ensign as well as the DVD's that arrived yesterday.
2. I am grateful for my patriarchal blessing. This is a special blessing (prayer with hands laid on my head) I received at the age of 17. There was no way the man speaking these words could have imagined what would happen to me and the choices I would need to make and the people with whom I would come in contact. There is great counsel within those pages that helps me to make correct decisions and recognize the Lord's hand constantly guiding my life.
3. I am grateful for my wonderful husband. I went through some rough times in my dating years and had trouble finding someone who could compliment me so perfectly. I am grateful to know the Lord guided me to Eric and confirmed His approval in my decision to marry Eric. He's the best man in the world for me. He brings out a better me than I would be by myself. We are truly, best friends.
4. I am grateful for my opportunity to be a mother. My girls are the world to me and I have so much fun raising them and discovering/rediscovering the world through their eyes. Daily I am able to find the little joys in life and to truly become more like a child in the simplicities that lead us back to God.
5. I am grateful for my extended family and the support they give me. Although I am not in close proximity to my siblings and parents, it is wonderful to have things bring us together, such as the Roe's sealing earlier this year. I love the random phone calls I get from my parents and siblings...or text messages or emails. It's nice to be sent love from all over the country. I'm also grateful for my in laws and the relationship we've been building for the past 4 years. They are great grandparents to my children, too!
6. I am grateful for answered prayers as well as unanswered prayers. The Lord truly knows what He is doing with my life.
7. I am grateful for good friends who can handle my specific personality. Sometimes I can be offensive, unintentionally, and it is through these friends that I can become a better person but still have my feet grounded because they can see that I am trying to be good.
8. I am grateful for my husband's job in these tough economic times. The Lord truly blesses us with his continued success at work. We are also amazed, through his job, to have amazing other benefits that make the company even more valuable as an employer. Health insurance and education are made possible through Verizon, and they do a great job of providing those!
9. I am grateful for my home and my van. I know we were led to this home and feel such peace and joy in being a homeowner. We have a clean and spacious environment to raise our small children. Although I wasn't very fond of the idea a year ago, I am also glad we were able to trade in our cars for my van. It's been a blessing on so many levels that I hadn't even considered. My back is appreciative!
10. I'm grateful for my body. I have always had a bit of a body image issue. I never truly felt beautiful until I married Eric. He has brought out more of my beauty because of the way he sees me. I am more confident in other aspects of my life because of it. I truly feel like Mahana...the post-marriage version.
11. I'm grateful for the country I live in. No matter the problems I may have with different political ideas and policies, I am still grateful that I can disagree with those things and have my free life. I am not in any danger for my views and am given the liberty to express said ideas.
12. I'm grateful for talents. Not just my own, but those that are shared by individuals who are confident enough to let their light shine. I love to listen to people play the piano and other instruments. I love to look at works of art and evaluate the way they make me feel. I love to read books and discover new and old truths about past and current societies and humans of all ages, race, nationalities and creeds.
13. I'm grateful for modern conveniences. I am grateful for whoever discovered how to make formula and the ensuing improvements to make it more like mother's milk. I'm grateful for disposable diapers because I just don't like to mess with the dirty aspect of raising an infant. I am grateful for baby wipes for the above mentioned as well as having something to wipe hands clean away from home. I'm grateful for running water, electricity, my washer and dryer (even if I don't like folding the laundry), and refrigeration. Thank goodness I don't have to figure out how to keep things cold living in the South!
14. I'm grateful for my calling at church. There is nothing like randomly running into the kids in my class and having them give me a big hug. It definitely brightens my day.
15. I'm grateful for my education and my continued desire to learn and find new skills and talents. I know that not everyone enjoys formal education, but I thrived in it. I also love discovering on my own with the skills I was taught in school. Reading and writing about literature is such a passion and I'm grateful to have found a group of women interested in this pursuit so I can share this.
16. I'm grateful for you because you are still reading this. There are so many things to be grateful for in this day and age. I'm still thinking about what I am grateful for, but I think I'll leave the rest to be recorded in my journal.

Re-rating Movies

I hear LDS people say things like "I can't watch rated-"R" movies," and then leave the reason to be that the "church" doesn't let us. Or, I've had non-member friends comment in a similar manner. I'd just like first, to correct this misnomer. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn't BAN anything. The whole concept of being a LDS revolves around being given good and sound counsel and then CHOOSING what to do with that counsel. The actual advice as given by the leadership of the Church is "Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable." (For the Strength of Youth)
I think over the course of my lifetime, it has become easier to classify what is acceptable and what is not as an adult. However, I have found that there are movies that I thought were okay and later found that my memory of that movie appears greatly different from the perspective as "mother". So, I am currently sorting and classifying our "G" and "PG" films so I can teach my children by example that there are things that are not suitable to watch even when the rating appears "appropriate".
There are websites out there to assist parents in this discussion, such as Common Sense Media. However, I think that simply borrowing someone else's views and opinions can be just as damaging as relying solely on the ratings marked on the box. I encourage parents to view and come to their own conclusions before allowing their children to watch movies. Children are such sponges!

Substitution, Please!

I volunteered to make cookies for a church activity that was held tonight. Part of the yumminess of cookies is for them to be fresh baked, so I set myself an alarm to start baking with enough time to get cooled cookies to church. Things were going well, especially since both of my girls were napping. After mixing most of the ingredients together, I realized that I was an egg short of the recipe requirements. Uh-oh! It's Sunday, so there is no going to the store to purchase more eggs. I quickly call a couple of neighbors, but don't reach anyone. So, what would any desperate girl do?
Call Mom. Sure enough, Mom had all the answers! She gave me a couple of choices, but the one I went with was flax seed. Seriously? Flax seed can replace an egg? Doesn't that seem unlikely? Well, it did and it was beautiful! No one would even know my substitution story, but I just had to rave about this new discovery, BECAUSE, you can actually store flax seed whereas eventually, eggs DO go bad and there aren't many things that are worse than the smell of a bad egg.
So, tonight, I pay tribute to my Mom who knows everything and to the power of flax seed.

Stares in the Grocery Store

No, my kids weren't misbehaving. No, I didn't go in my pajamas. I just experienced great amounts of incredulity from the cashier and the two bagger boys assisting me today at Kroger. It was pretty funny from my standpoint.
I don't like shopping. It's one of my least favorite things to do, but it must be done. So, I try to do as much at one time as possible. This means that when I go grocery shopping, I am NEVER thinking about the week. I am ALWAYS thinking long-term and "in bulk" (not necessarily bulk items but bulk in quantity).
Today, I just couldn't pass up the sales on canned goods. I've been paying attention to prices and they FINALLY had cans of veggies for fifty cents a piece. As I pull the annoying uncooperative "car" cart up to the conveyor belt, I begin unloading and not thinking anything more than, "Man, glad I came shopping today!" A bagger boy approached me and asked if I'd like help. SURE! Let your young manly back bend over and pull them out for me! Of course, after about 10 cans, I noticed he shot the cashier a look and she raised her eyes back at him. I know they were thinking, "Man, this lady is CRAZY! What does she need all these cans for?" To prove my point, when the poor boy completed his task, he turned to me and said, "Looks like you'll be good for a year." Smiling at him, I replied, "That's the idea!"
Now, there is no way that what I bought truly would last us a year, but it did bring our food storage back up to where it should be. It was a good thing to have the supply when money was short awhile back. It's even better now that we can replace it all. Isn't modern revelation wonderful!

White Towel

We aren't rich and fancy. We aren't melodramatic (at least, I don't think we are). Yet there is something almost "uppity" in Emily's requests for a "white towel" to clean up messes. All items used to clean messes are referred to as such: a napkin, a tissue, toilet paper, bath towel, hand towel, whatever. It is always called a "white towel". For some reason the image evokes the same illusion of prosperity defined by the white telephone movies of yesteryear. And, that's all it would be: an illusion! haha

What Do You Get....

What do you get when you combine 2 empty diaper boxes, 4 toilet paper rolls, some elastic, 6 old CD's, packing tape, sewing needle and thread, a couple cans of spray paint and Eric's brain?

A Wall-E costume made out of recycled items!!


This was so fun to watch Eric make and to see Emily trick-or-treating in it (although, she couldn't maneuver steps very easily)! It was a blast...even if I didn't take pictures to immortalize the event. The whole costume only cost about $4...what we had to pay for spray paint. Not too shabby for four bucks!

His Image

On my mission, I encountered a woman in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, who shared her conversion story with us. She said that when she opened the door to the missionaries, one of the elders was different. She said that his countenance glowed and that she truly felt he was a messenger from God. I have tried to have that same image in my countenance since that day. It is a constant struggle because it means that my actions need to be the same as if Christ were performing these tasks and daily works. It also means that it cannot just come from actions. It must begin in the heart. If I forget my goal, I can get upset and frustrated. When I truly am trying to be like Jesus, I must have a pure heart focused on doing what is right and for the correct reason.
I reflect upon this again as I am reading Uncle Tom's Cabin. There is a lot to ponder religiously as you read this novel of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In the section I am currently reading, St. Clare, a Southern slave owner, is pontificating on the evils embodied in slavery, and also in himself. He comments upon his twin brother and mentions that this brother is exactly like their father, not just in appearance, but also in personality. In fact, he states, "My brother was begotten in his image." I had never considered the scripture "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27) in this way. Of course, I have always been of the opinion and understanding that man is in the appearance of God. I just never applied "image" to pertaining to our personalities, desires, actions, and hearts...those things that truly account for who we are.
This understanding brings greater light and understanding to the reason we are taught to discipline ourselves and become master over our will and desires. We know we are to follow the commandments and "be good" because God has commanded this of us. I just never thought about us actually changing that nature from the pureness we began with. This gives me more appreciation for the true gospel of Jesus Christ, as there is no "original sin" and that children ARE born innocent and completely sinless. We are born into mortality to gain a body, and we remain alive in Christ until we become accountable for our actions and can actually commit sin (see Moroni 8). Committing sin is not possible for infants and young children, which is why they feel so pure and innocent: they are still in possession of the image of God.

Talents and Responsibility

For the past few months, the concept of "talents" has been on my mind and I have definitely been pondering talents and the reason God's gives an individual such gifts. After conversing with my husband over different matters, an epiphany came to me concerning The Parable of the Talents. I shared similar thoughts with my church congregation today and felt that I should also share with you, my friends.
God gives us all of our gifts and abilities. One of the greatest spiritual gifts we are given is the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift is only given after an individual promises God to obey and follow Him by entering the waters of baptism. This gift is God's part of the baptismal covenant. In like manner, the parable references a man "calling his own servants". Thus, the Lord has called his servants and those who have heard and covenanted are then given gifts. Even the "lowest" servant is given a "talent" which we will refer to as the gift of the Holy Ghost. This lowest of servants hid away this gift by not sharing his knowledge, understanding and experiences of the Gospel and eventually, even that was taken from him as he truly did not love the Lord.
As we develop our relationship with the Lord through the gift of the Holy Ghost, we gain the ability to stand before him and have our "confidence wax strong in the presence of the Lord." As our confidence grows, so does our willingness to gain skills and talents; to do better and help those around us. At no point in time are we allowed to hid away our talents. They are only given to us to build the kingdom of God; not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify Him who gave the gift.
Each one of us has a responsibility to God and toward our fellow man to seek out the gifts God desires to give us and find the way to develop the gifts and build the kingdom of God upon the earth.

Taking a Gander

I was just sorting through photos trying to pick my favorites of the past year and realized that I have been blessed to take some pictures of some amazing people. In fact, in my craziness, I even forgot to post anything from a wedding reception I got to photograph back in July! So, here's a couple of my fav's.

















You can find more here.

Vacation--GO!

So, we had these plans to go to Florida, see my "Greenie" from the mission, go to Disney World, swim in pools, go to the beach, relax, enjoy the family and celebrate our anniversary.
We opted not to go to Florida since the forecast predicted not just rain, but thunderstorms for the week. It's a good thing, too, because Emily ended up getting sick yesterday afternoon and we didn't sleep much last night anyway.
Now our plans for the week consists of getting those things done around the house that we just never have time for...all that "winterizing" because it seems we may actually have to remember what cold weather feels like this year....getting things up in storage that we won't be needing for another couple of years and that jazz.
Oh, and btw, Gianna is finally (occasionally) crawling on all fours, which means I have hope that some of her clothing will survive to use for another future child after all. We also believe in the use of a "deconstructed" bed to transition between the crib and a regular bed (no toddler beds for us)...so, she is enjoying sleeping on her mattress and I'm happy to have the crib put away. Now, to figure out how to remove the weird stains on the wall from her touching the wall between slats. =)

True Love

It's a few days late, but I had to find the picture on the computer first...

My visiting teachers dropped by this week and one of them made a comment on this photo:


She said, "Now this (indicating the photo in a frame on a shelf) is True Love." This is one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive.
Eric and I are so in love with each other...even more-so four years later. I am so glad to know that others see this in us. We know too many couples that don't demonstrate their love or you don't feel it from them. We know even others who have given up all together and have separated permanently. We hope that our children will grow up knowing how much their parents love each other and will find a companion whom they can love and is equally able to love that person. Love is a rare quality in this world, but it is worth searching for and hanging onto. I'm so grateful I found my husband who IS my True Love.
Happy Anniversary, Eric! (a few days late)

Princess Party

Emily was invited to a friend's birthday party, a la Princess/Fairy. It was SO fun to take pictures of these adorable girls decked out in their finery. This one I just adore (you know me and that whole anonymity affair). Though I am pleased to say I have many favorites from today, this one just says to me something of the Victorian era novel...she looks like a damsel in distress, doesn't she? The princess someone in shining armor and on a noble steed needs to save!

Here are more...

Book Club

Book Club was SO awesome last night. Although some were unable to finish reading the book (long book, plus the logistics of actually obtaining a copy of an unusual book), we had great conversations.
Yes, I probably talked too much, but I'm learning that I really, REALLY like to talk and that I need to just shut my mouth sometimes and let other people think...especially when what they are saying gives me an epiphany...if I can just wait a second to let them finish their thoughts!! Other people mentioned that they feel an affinity to Annette, but I think I'm more verbose than she!
I got so much more out of the discussion and appreciate the book even more now.
So, any of you wanting to give the gothic novel a chance, try Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho! She actually has quite a bit to say that you have to kind of read between the lines. And, any of you that are local, please join our group. If you are long distance, please feel free to read with us and make comments as we go!
I am incredibly excited to have such a great group of friends to get together with once a month and discuss literature. It's something I have missed doing since I finished college.

Then the Pumpkin Rotted

By no means am I complaining about today. I'm just sitting here and so grateful that I'm in a good place because otherwise, I might be REALLY short-tempered right about now.
Yes, the pumpkin rotted...on my counter. I just discovered it after coming home from a hectic day at church.
So, to start with, I already knew the day was going to be a bit crazy. However, I was not expecting all that happened. However, it makes for a good story...especially because I like to laugh at myself and the crazy things that tend to happen to me. (Yes, Trouble IS my middle name...we just put an accent over the "e" so I can be cool like the French.)
Once every month, Eric has to leave in the middle of sacrament meeting because of a meeting at work (trust me, even the church leaders have said that this is a necessity if your employer demands it: priorities go "family, work, church"). No big deal: I recruited a sister in the ward to help me (I LOVE YOU, Sister Vicki!!) We got through sacrament meeting (the big, everyone-in-the-church meeting) with only a little loud jabbering and complaining from Gianna.
Next, off to Nursery we go for the remaining 2 hours. I love Nursery and the kids are fairly well behaved for 18 month to 3 year olds. Okay, so they are probably EXTREMELY well behaved. Due to other circumstances, I ended up being the only nursery personnel today. No big deal, because, like I said, the kids are well behaved. I just had to think how I was going to get Emily to the potty since I needed to be there to receive kids.
We had a couple of visiting children, so departures from parents were a little shaky. Sadly, I ended up with 3 cryers (one poor girl just got all upset b/c 2 others wouldn't stop crying). I gave up about 10 minutes into the crying and resolved that I would just have to take the entire nursery on a field trip finding parents of crying kids AND make a potty stop.
So, here we all go trooping out...one crazy lady in heels with a baby on hip, 3 crying children and 5 mostly quiet ones in tow. Drop off crying child 1, 2, and 3...then the potty. Hmm...line up against the wall, kids! Thankfully, another one of my favorite people saved me in the hallway and took the one boy who needed to potty with him (Yes, Bro. Barber, you are ALWAYS a knight in shining armor!). Potty child 1, 2, and 3 finished!
Now, back to the Nursery!!
AMAZINGLY, we actually had a decent lesson where ALL the remaining kids stayed focus and in the seats (seriously, this is HUGE as it rarely happens even with 3 or 4 adults present...ah, the Lord knew I needed that!).
Help during coloring time and singing time from some other wonderful women came at just the right moments. Sadly, I did not escape ONE first today...I did have a child have a potty accident and no way to really address it since it happened about 2 minutes until the end of church...no use trying to round up kids to find her mommy when other classes were getting out (and, no worries, Mother of My Sweet Little Trooper....it was just kind of ironic that it would happen today).
Sure, the kids ran a little amok today, but at least we got through it. Of course, only to go to choir, which I love, but can be exhausting when my children don't want to be reverent for yet another hour. But, we got through it.
Gianna mercifully fell asleep on the ride home and stayed that way as I put her in bed. Emily has been playing nicely with her "Tea Party" set and play-doh this whole time. I was just sad that the pumpkin rotted on the counter since we hadn't gotten a chance to actually carve it and set it outside yet (it was gutted a week ago at a church activity).

Karate Kid

Last night we enjoyed a good trip down memory lane by watching Karate Kid. It brought good memories, but, being an amateur critic, I realized a lot has changed since it's debut!
The intro scene was incredibly long. "Back in the day," a director was permitted to take the liberty of conveying an appropriate setup for the movie. In Karate Kid, John G. Avildsen did just that. The movie starts without even SEEING the star until a few minutes into the movie, yet we have watched all the opening credits and been given the long visual intro of the huge move they made across country (Jersey to Cali). I'm afraid that in today's society, we've become so accustomed to jumping right in on the action that if we watched this film for the first time today, many would have walked out before meeting Daniel Larusso, great underdog of the decade!
Aside from the story boarding/filming techniques of this classic, the casting also made me realize the huge changes in our culture. Ralph Macchio (Daniel Larusso) starred with Elisabeth Shue (Ali Mills). Yeah, Macchio definitely got the part because he was IMMENSELY skinny...helps with that image of the triumph of the underdog, but Shue seemed more plump next to him. Now, poor Shue, had this been cast today, possibly would have been forced to drop some pounds for the role. I'm not saying that it makes a person less beautiful by being of a more healthy weight. What I AM saying is that it is completely shocking to compare today's "highschool stars" to yesterday's. It's unbelievable! I've been desensitized into thinking that it's always been skinny, beautiful girls co-staring with muscular hunks.
If we think that society has not had it's influence on us, it's time to take a reality check. It makes me realize that Dove has a point in their efforts to help girls develop better self-esteem. I, too, have been walking down the middle of the road on these types of things. You know what Miyagi says about that...

My Girl, the Actress

I love that Emily has such a great imagination. It makes life so incredibly more entertaining! She can stay in character so well that it's almost like she has really taken on that persona as her own.
Last night she decided that she was "Mommy" and I was "Emily". She uses this kind of ethereal voice to portray mine and it is hilarious! I don't think I sound like that, but this is her interpretation, not mine.
In taking on my persona, she informed us that we needed to have scriptures and prayer. She picked up The Friend and read us a story about Jesus. When she was finished, she told us we needed to pray. She even gave instructions that we needed to "fold our knees" and "fold our arms". She then gave a prayer in this same voice. She did our entire evening routine as if she was "Mommy," never forgetting to speak with that voice and hold her body just the right way.
We didn't have the heart to argue that we needed to read from the scriptures or anything. We just let her be the "Mommy" and she went to bed very peacefully last night.
Oh, I love my little girl! She's a riot...even when she is being so calm and collected in her imaginary play.

A Random Memory

This just popped in my head and got me laughing...although I'm not sure it will be as funny to everyone else, so I will just dedicate it to Sarahann.
While attending BYU, my best friend and roommate was Sarahann. We chose to live in apartments just south and east of campus due to accessibility. Sarah had the awesome opportunity to work at the newspaper as she was a journalism major. Sometimes she would be late up on campus and would need an escort home. I typically got some wonderful guy friend or another to drop me off where I could meet her and then we'd walk home.
There was a large hill at the south of campus that was a ramp, so we could go down. Stairs, I am afraid are not good for wheelchairs. I'm not sure how the psychotic thought came into our heads, but we would shut off the electricity to the wheelchair and then I would run behind it, gaining speed until I would have to come to a crazy forced stop before we ran of the edge of the sidewalk at the end.
I know. Crazy. I was very dangerous with my poor friend. But, we had fun and it is one of those memories that I will always cherish because it was completely random and hilariously fun with a bit of fright mixed in. I mean, that wheelchair was heavy so I was always just a little afraid we'd get going too fast for me to stop it.
Again, I'm not sure why this completely random memory came to my head. I guess I just miss you, Sarah!!

*Disclaimer: Do not try this at home or under any other circumstances...I already pointed out that it was dangerous and I could have really hurt my friend!*

The Golden Fleece

Some of you may know we adopted a pound puppy this summer. She is cute, but frustrating. Eric made the observation that she needs a LOT of positive reinforcement (seriously, she would be better off if she belonged to an older lady who could dote on her and give her TONS of affection).
Anyway, Eric decided (after the previous night of no sleep b/c of Nani's whining) that he'd try to have her sleep inside again. She lost that privilege a couple months ago because she ate a book. We're hoping to prevent this by closing our bedroom door at night.
Hannah has a "bed" made up of an actual dog bed with one of my old blankets on top. She wouldn't use the bed unless the blanket was on it. In fact, wherever the blanket goes, so does Hannah. It's as bad a Linus! Well, we've discovered that it is the same way with Nani. Wherever we put that bed last night, Nani was trying to get on it. We set up a different one for Nani, but she was NOT having it. So, we unfolded the Golden Fleece and spread it over the two dog beds so they would have room to sleep.
I still don't know why dogs love this blanket, but it is the only blanket/bed they want. My mom made the blanket for me probably 10 years ago or so and yet it is the preferred bedding.
And, guess what? No whining AT ALL from Nani. So, I guess we'll be sleeping with two dogs in the room from here on out. Not exactly a fan of that, but I am a fan of uninterrupted sleep.

Excited for Halloween

I love the fall. I love the colors, the temperatures, the food, the holidays.
Our Fall Festival (aka "Halloween Party") at church is tomorrow night. I got all excited and wanted to practice Tinkerbell's makeup on Emily tonight. After that, I had fun taking some snapshots of her. Mental note: always brush your child's teeth before doing this. Sadly, lunch is still visible in several of the cute shots. Go figure.
But, this one was just cute. (And, I really think the photography classes are starting to pay off!)

"Holy Spirit Yard Sale"

Seriously. I came across this posted sign today while driving. It made me question what I really read and what the purpose of the sign really was.
The thought came to mind that yard sales entice the bargain hunters and the frugal. I know people who yard sale with strict specifics in mind. I know others that are looking for general items. Still others who are just browsing. However, each yard sale purchaser is going to pick and choose what they want, leaving the rest because it has no value to them. If a person is doing this with God's word (or his Spirit), that person will never find a fullness of joy. I understand that some things seem to be hard, but as we allow the Lord to lead us instead of our pride or whatever, the way becomes easier. We may only be ready one step at a time, but we can't discount or ignore any part of the gospel without leaving a hole in our spiritual armor.
Thus, I feel blessed to live in this generation. Twice a year we are blessed to hear from God's prophet and apostles during General Conference. This conference was especially good for me. I've had some things on my mind and pondering certain circumstances and the speakers at these meetings answered those thoughts and were able to be God's messengers in answer to my prayers. I feel so fortified and uplifted because of it. I may not be perfect. I know there are many things I need to improve upon and do, but at least I know I'm on the right path and that I've been given the tools necessary to change. Instead of going to the "Holy Spirit Yard Sale" I was able to sit down and partake of the Spiritual Feast offered by God through his prophet and apostles this weekend. What a blessing in my life!

"It's Spanish"

Emily loves to make up words. Lately, they have definitely sounded more Spanish than Chinese. I may have to start studying, because when I ask Emily what something means, she looks at me, with all seriousness and declares, "It's Spanish, Mommy."
We recently found some books that are re-tellings of old tales...with a Spanish twist. They are so fun and have some Spanish words in there, so we get a good laugh at Emily saying "Tortuga" or "manana"..and even more at "fefsana".

The Power of an Apology

I am a work in progress. One of those improvements is in being willing to say I'm sorry and recognize that, intended or not, I am accountable for the way I make people feel. There is a power in apologies. I can honestly say that nine times out of ten (you'd be surprised at how that is NOT a cliche but an actual ratio), when you apologize, it softens the actions/words that caused the initial conflict. What an amazing power! This power comes not of itself, but from the humility that is contained behind it.
I am working on being less offensive to others and mindful of the words I use that may unintentionally cause friction. Until I perfect that, I will also be working on apologizing sincerely so others may be free from pain caused by me.

Happiness

I just wanted to say...I am so happy! It's been a fairly constant emotion for a few months now. I think at this stage, there is so much joy to be found. Emily entertains herself and is amazing in her grasp of concepts, yet loves to be held and read to. Gianna is discovering life more each day and growing, literally, before my eyes. Eric may be busy with school and work, but we are used to it and know how to capitalize on his days off to better enjoy our family. I am happy with myself and feel like I'm involved in some great things to make my life more full (being a mother and wife is amazing, but I also love doing photography and book club and whatever other "hobby" comes up!). I enjoy going to church and my new calling...who knew taking care of 8-10 small kids would be such fun! I am still making new friends and have great "old" friends both near and far. It's just an amazing time of life. I feel so blessed and incredibly happy. It isn't hard to feel this way...I just have to remember the next time there is a trial knocking down my door.

Hannah the Hunter and Herder

As many of you know, we've had some issues with neighborhood dogs. Since Animal Control doesn't do anything about it AND they don't work on weekends in our area, we've taken it into our own hands to discourage dogs from coming onto our property.
I'm the proud owner of a Daisy BB Gun. When I was little, I really wanted one but never received one as a gift. So, I am really using the one my husband got us.
We pull it out to pop whichever dog or animal needs to be discouraged from our property. I've gotten to be a pretty good shot with it. Hey, and all of you wondering about cruelty to animals, it's such a low-powered gun that it won't penetrate skin AND it's more cruel for these dog owners to be letting their dogs run loose in the neighborhood. The BB gun is MUCH less dangerous than a vehicle.
Anytime Hannah sees me pull the gun out, she gets all sorts of excited. She knows there is some kind of "prey" out there. It's quite hilarious. This morning's prey were two squirrels running across the roof of my house. She doesn't bark at them, but she basically points them out to me.
Also, she will herd other dogs off the property. When we first moved in, we had a perimeter collar on her which trained her to her property line. Now, she won't cross that line without us, though there is no physical barrier. A few nights ago our neighbor's dog got loose (this one can't be helped, I understand). So, Hannah kept herding him off and wouldn't return to the house (remember, just over a yr ago, she was attacked from a K-9 police dog coming on our property) until he had crossed that line and was headed back to his home. Eric knocked on their door to notify him, while Hannah returned to our house.
So, my little Hannah-banna, you are a crack-up. It also goes to show how much influence a "parent" has on their "child" (not that I think I'm her mama, but I am her alpha...basically the same authority).

Law Enforcement Phone Call

If (whatever county) Law Enforcement appears on your caller ID, what thoughts come into your head? I admit, I was a bit concerned (as it was the general time that Eric would have been on lunch break) that I was getting notified of an accident. I quickly checked my answering machine. This is a big deal since I just normally ignore the thing...which is filled mostly by hang-ups or partial messages for this or that telemarketer. I figure, anyone really wanting to get in touch with me will call my cell or text me. If you don't have my cell, we probably aren't that close; nor would you need the secondary number (which, if you are reading this and find yourself w/o that number and realize that it would be beneficial, here's your opportunity to leave a comment!).
Back to the story...
As I kept deleting through the messages of dial tones and clicks, I came to what matched up with the time of the Law Enforcement call. Totally NOT law enforcement...I mean, unless libraries have really gotten serious about overdue books (none of which I have) or limiting the number you have out at one time (which can tend to be excessive for me). For some reason, our local library has as it's caller ID "----- County Law En"...thus leading to either panicked grabbing of the phone on the last ring or piling through annoying amounts of ridiculous messages on the answering machine only to discover that, oh, your book is in.

A Sampling of Eric

I claim this is our family blog, but it isn't. Let's be serious. I always write. So, for a treat, here is Eric. Now, a little background. He has a class this semester that is requiring him to keep a journal of his encounters with "interactive devices and their interfaces." So, he came home with this one and I thought it was funny. Remember, this is to be turned into to his college professor, a 60 yr old computer teacher.

Journal Entry 3:
Today I cooked a corn dog in the microwave at work for my lunch. The corn dog is a simple, yet complex tasty treat that is ready for consumption after forty five seconds of heat application from the microwave. The microwave was just as simple as the corn dog, yet not as tasty.
The microwave that I used for my food preparation was a Magic Chef MCB780W. It is simple in design with a numeric keypad, a single line digital timer readout panel and a few more keys, preset for certain types of foods and their designated cook times.
To cook my meal all that I had to do was open the microwave door, place the corn dog on the rotating glass cooking platform, and close the door. With the corn dog placed in the oven portion, I then pressed the “4” key followed by the “5” key, and finished my entry by pressing the “start” key. The microwave immediately began to emit its heat-filled waves of preparation for the demise of my future meal.
After forty five seconds my meal was ready for its doom. My corn dog was cooked evenly and displayed a thin stream of steam. I was thoroughly grateful for the effectiveness of the microwave in cooking my corn dog and its efficiency and ease of use in data entry to hasten the process of consumption and digestion.

Death vs Unconscious

Judge me as you will, but I swear, we weren't watching anything terrible, though, I can't remember what it was. Anyway, one of the characters accidentally got hit on the head and was knocked unconscious. Emily immediately turns to me and says in an empathetic voice, "He dead, Mommy." I stiffle my giggle (I mean, really, why does she think the person is dead? and, have I mentioned that she plays CPR?) and reply, "He's not dead. He just got hit on the head and is sleeping." She gives me a questioning look, seems to process something and then asks, "Like a monkey?" Yes, like a monkey, my dear.
It took me a few days to figure this one out. I couldn't understand why she would associate a monkey with being unconscious. I then realized, after we played Mario Party, that it was the getting hit on the head part she was actually referring to. There's a game w/i that game that has a race of getting your monkey up the pole the fastest. The difficulty being the coconuts that are dropping from above and not knowing which side of the pole you need to swing the monkey to prevent it from getting knocked on the head, throwing the monkey back down the pole and freezing movement for a moment.
So, in case any of you are wondering, if you get knocked unconscious, it's "like a monkey" and you'll be okay.

On another note, Emily's comprehension of language astounds me! When offered something she doesn't want, she'll tell us, "No, I not want _____. I want _____, though." Really, "though?" Or, tonight she wanted to do something that wasn't a good choice. When we told her that it was bad to do that, she whipped out a pretend picture to show us "someone" else doing this (okay, so it is also the depth of her imagination). Where did the concept of "evidence" come in to justify permission for a desired action? Definitely, by raising kids, you learn more about yourself and the magic of learning/discovery than by anything else!

What Is Truth?

Is truth even something that can be qualified? I'm not sure. Now, I'm not talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am talking about life in the general sense.
Seriously, how do you KNOW what is truth? You can't take a single person's telling of "the truth" to be such as it is already tainted and twisted from their unique perspective. You can't take it from a mass of people as there will unfailingly be too many different situations within an occurrence to know what, again, was said and done and for what purpose. I know we have a system of law to defend the truth, but we all know that system if flawed.
So, again, how can you know truth in any given situation? You can't. You just have to trust pieces of the truth to exist and let that be enough. Hmmm...perhaps that is why we are told "judge not lest ye be judged." Kinda sucks for someone who wants to know the truth.

It's All in the Voice

I was always charmed by the "southern drawl" as portrayed in the film "Gone with the Wind." As I encountered other cultures and regions, I was just as intrigued with other various accents. It wasn't until earlier this year that I received a compliment on my own accent.
Being from Missouri and small mid-western towns, there didn't seem to be too much exciting about the way I spoke or did anything (just ask the Beach Boys...they seemed to like all girls but marked the mid-west as only being "alright"). I'd grown accustomed to that fact and got over myself. But, then, one day, a gentleman who, lets just define as being one who hears a lot more than just words in a person's voice, commented that he likes to hear me speak and sing because he can hear the gentle rolling accent from my roots in Missouri.
What? You can identify me, little old me, by a particular way of speech? I thought that was a great compliment. I've had a few other people who have commented about the way I speak (particularly the phrasing I use) and have thought that was a cool compliment, too.
Anyway, using this story-teller voice of mine, I was reading books to my daughter. I use different voices for different characters when I get a chance to do so and was thus reading (btw, I once was offered a job simply by the way I read a book aloud) this afternoon.
When I finished, Emily asked to read the book back to me. She does this a lot and remembers quite a bit of what she heard. However, this time it was different. Not only did she "read" it back to me...she used different voices! It was so cute to hear her interpret the story and recreate voices of the animals.

Treasures Found

 

This is from this summer, but I just came across the image in my photo files. There was an estate sale going on in our neighborhood, so we thought we'd drop by to see what they had. We found a great cedar chest that we now use as game storage (although I really intended to use it to store blankets...ah, well, this works for now) and all of these vintage dress patterns. I had so much fun sorting through the patterns but didn't purchase all I wanted (had I known she was basically giving them away, I probably would have grabbed more!).
Anyway, my dream is to make these dresses at some point. If not, they will sadly sit in the drawer and wait and wait and wait...

Gianna the Bulemic and Other Fun Stuff

Motherhood is two parts inspiration, one part forgetfulness. I do not remember Emily being such a Vomit Comet. Every bottle Gianna drinks ends up with at least one spit-up somewhere on the floor. I don't mind the hardwood floors, but the area rug in the living room is going to need to be seriously cleaned at some point. At least she is happy, though, right?
She also loves to torment her sister. Already!?! Yes. She sees whatever Emily is playing with and wants in on the action...as destructive and slobbery as she can be. So, I occasionally use myself as a barrier. Most often, this is only a deterrent for a moment as she skillfully climbs over anything in her path. I end up resorting to pretending that I am a floating log in a bog and try to turn slowly enough not to tip her over but quickly enough to keep her on the designated side.
Emily also likes to keep me busy with races in the backyard and constant bubble blowing. Do you know how much lung capacity it takes to be a successful mother? I'm just glad I developed some lungs in my years as an athlete and musician.
Oh, and just a tip to pass on...when mowing the lawn, remember to apply ample sunscreen and wear gloves if you want to pass off on Sunday that you are a lady.

Trying to be Like Emily

My daughter inspired this in conjunction with my reading the talk by President Uchtdorf in the September 2009 Ensign entitled "The Influence of Righteous Women." A thought came to my mind that there are certain talks and articles that I have heard or read that have given me the testimony I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can I expect my children to understand where those testimonies came from if I do not prepare them with the same materials which brought that Spirit to me?
I am creating a Spiritual Notebook. I want to keep a binder with talks that are important to me and/or Eric. These talks will be a "quick" reference for us to use to teach our children specific aspects of the gospel. This will also require us to read more diligently the talks given by our Church authorities as we will select those talks that have greatest impact upon our lives. On my mission, we had "training binders" which had a small catalog of selected talks with different emphases. So, in like manner, I want a book to help my children understand important aspects to be a sort of companion to the Standard Works.
We continue to gain further insight as we grow, so this will be an ongoing project. I am excited for such an important purpose to my study of the words of the prophets.
What are some of the most impacting talks/articles you have heard/read?

Genealogy

I haven't done much of anything with my genealogy or that of my friend's for quite a few months. Other things have taken precedence or my attention. However, I am looking forward to preserving the autobiography of my friend, which he is entrusting me with in a month (he currently has visitors staying with him). I am so excited to get my hands on it and get to read this man's incredibly interesting life.
I also just got a message from a lady who has more information on this man's maternal grandmother's line. I mentioned this before, but this is also the line that goes back and ties into my own family line. How incredible to make those connections. I'm really excited to receive the documents she has which verify the pedigree charts I have already found and pieced together.
The internet, computers, and technology are amazing as they continue to connect me with such a varied amount of information. It's incredible to be able to post information and have a complete stranger in a location you would never look to be able to answer the request!!

Hi, "Offense" is My Middle Name

At different periods of time, I have unintentionally offended different individuals. I promise, it is never with the intent to offend. Perhaps I just have a knack for it. Give me a break! At one point in my life, I thought I would be interested in taking a semi-political stage. =)
Really, though, I do try to look at things from different perspectives. I try to educate myself and look at the future effects of decisions we make in the present. I know that my ideas are not perfect and not always popular. However, I am trying my best. Sure, that best can be lacking, but that's all I've got to work with.
I respect the right of each individual to see things from their perspective. I don't expect people to always agree with me, but I think the opposite should be true as well. Don't become angry enough to end friendship over it. Most likely, I had these ideas before while we were "friends". It just never came up before. If that one difference of opinion terminates the friendship, sorry to say it, but it wasn't really much of a friendship, then, was it?
In saying that, please know that the ideas contained in this blog are my own. I chose this forum and recognize the opportunity of others to create other forums to push forward their ideas. That, my friend, is the beauty of free-speech. Ain't it grand?!

Inspired

Let's just see how long it lasts.
A friend of mine just let me in on a "secret". She is currently writing a novel. She's one of my heroes. This woman is seriously amazing. What I love about her: she accomplishes her dreams and ideas because she DOES. That's it. She just actually says she wants to do something and then she does. No procrastination. No self-doubt. She just DOES. I love that!
Now, to work on it myself. I am going to start a bit smaller, but I have so many ideas for children's books (I know, who would have thought!). I just need to sit down and write them out. Of course, I love to type, but there is something so rewarding and, dare I say it, magical about the pen and paper. So, if I seem to be a bit of a recluse in the next months, blame it on the rain....but really, I don't think I'll stray to far from this forum (even if I'm talking to myself). =)

UPS Brings a Smile

I just watched a UPS truck (and trailer...how exciting!) drive into our little cul-de-sac. I couldn't help but feel those wonderful butterflies of excitement. Perhaps there was a package in that big brown truck for me!!
There wasn't. He didn't even slow down in front of my house. Still, there is joy in the air because someone is receiving something good. I just know it!
On the mission, district meetings were ended with the doling out of the precious material known as mail. If you were EXTREMELY loved, you would get a big, squarish box taped on every end and sealed with a packing label. Ah, to be so lucky!! Mail was the one outlet to your "old" life and the "real" world that was happily going on without you. Don't ask me how this actually makes you feel good to know you are "left out"...it just does.
Anyway, (and not complaining) I didn't receive very many of those highly anticipated envelopes. Even fewer packages. However, each one I received was like the Christmas orange: devoured yet trying to savor each piece. In fact, some of my companions and I chose to share our mail and would read our treasures aloud to one another. Oh, the wonderful words of a companion's letter shared on a disastrous week of enforced mail fasting!
Thank you to both those who sent letters or packages as well as those companions who shared their wealth with me. And, thank you, UPS man, for brightening my day even without delivering me a package!

Home Economics

I had an interesting conversation with one of my nephews yesterday. After arriving at my home, he asked me, "Aunt Liz, can I ask you a question." I accepted. "Why don't you ever have your air conditioner on?" Not realizing that it was possible to have had it on, I replied, "Because we po'." I then corrected my statement and was a bit more honest and serious with him. "No. Actually, I'm just cheap. It's comfortable to me, so we don't run the AC because it costs so much and it isn't necessary." We then had a conversation about conserving energy and money.
What an important conversation! A few months ago I taught a lesson at church about the same concept. It takes time and maturity to learn this principle. However, just because you can have something/do something/pay for something, it doesn't mean you should. This is another form of what the scriptures refer to as "bridling" our passions.
How many of us have a passion for having "just the right" temperature in our homes? We have to have new clothes or a certain brand of clothing? We have to drive a certain type of car or live in a certain type of house? I think a lot of these things have driven this country to the point of the economic issues currently facing our generation. It's a sense of entitlement rather than reward for working and saving for something. This sense of entitlement has driven so many of us to purchase before saving or, at times, researching to know a good deal on a planned purchase.
My daughter loves watching School House Rock. One of these is a segment about interest. You can either have interest pay you or you pay interest. Either way, interest is working constantly. You just have to choose which end of interest you want to be on. It takes hard work, patience, and a lot of sacrifice, but it is worth it to be on the side of interest paying you.
Another movie I will cite is "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Such a funny movie with such an important message. If you haven't seen it, I apologize for the spoiler. However, the message is important. In the end, no one can bail her out of her huge debt. She must take control and sell everything she has to pay back her debt. When she realizes her self-worth is in no way entwined with the items surrounding her, she is able to break free from the cycle and take control of her financial freedom.
It is so extremely important to learn from this time of economic downturn. We can all be more frugal. We can all spend more wisely. Be wary of the traps of "sales" and offers. Take time to think about your purchases (contracted or uncontracted) and evaluate the true necessity of the item/service. Find ways to do things yourself. Know your limits. These are all keys to financial success and the way to bringing our society out of the hole we have decidedly jumped into.

Walkie-Talkie vs Texty-Wexty

I remember being facinated by walkie-talkies when I was little. It was so cool to push a button and talk to someone you couldn't see. No wires. So cool. Then came the age of cell phones. Push-to-talk phones seemed so cool because I am NOT a fan of talking on the phone. We were first with Nextel and I could quickly connect with someone else, but only on the network. Still, it was a bit unnerving to suddenly have a voice speaking from the phone.
Enter text-messaging. I love texting. It's perfect. I can quickly send a message or carry on a lackadaisical conversation without worrying about being on the phone when I need to be doing something else.
If I could have a service that was strictly texting and no calls, I would so be a customer! Why can't I just have a texty-wexty?? (I'm sure there is probably some toy out there that does it, but I want a real product.)

New Profile Pic

It's ridiculous. I know. The reason I like photography is that I can be behind the camera.
The first "assignment" for the photo club (to join, click here) is a self-portrait. Hello! Hard!! I have a remote, so it isn't even as difficult as the timer, but I still couldn't remember to smile! Instead, I got this weird, quirky smile on my face and just had to go with it. I think I probably tried to get a "good" picture for about an hour. My one hour of freedom Saturday and I spent it frustrated with attempting a self-portrait.
Oh, did I mention that I don't even have any training/education in photography? Yeah, it's just a hobby that I would love to improve upon. I have dreams (though, distant) that one day it can become a paid-hobby, but until I get some formal training, I don't think it would be fair to charge.
Sure, read books, get experience. All that good stuff. Still, I am a firm believer in pedagogy. I'd love to be able to attach myself to some "real" photographer here and be their apprentice, but let's be reasonable. I am a mom and it's Eric's turn for education right now.
So, in the meantime, this is what I am doing to try to educate myself a little.

What Makes You Drool?

Eric and I want to buy/restore an old '69 Camaro...such as this:

But tonight, I drooled over this...

Yes, I am a sucker for the rumble of a muscle car. Oooh, baby!

A Bit of Work

Don't get me wrong, I am very excited and not at all bothered by it, but the book club I am in charge of has definitely filled my time. There are so many aspects to consider and prepare, especially since I've never even participated in one before.
My latest endeavor: making selections thematically for the club. I've compiled a list and organized titles into large-scale genres (ie: novel, short story, play, essay, etc.). From this, I now need to select a couple of titles for the club to choose from for the next few months. It's difficult to choose as there are such great pieces of literature out there!! Some of these titles I have read or am at least familiar with; while others, I am not so acquainted. However, I have to become at least informed as I am, in the end, accountable for what is contained in those pages when read in a church-sponsored book club.
I am so grateful for a friend who directed me to this article as it helps me to know that the discipline with which I am preparing for this book club is what my Heavenly Father would have me to do. It is not lightly that we should consider the words with which we fill our minds. Therefore, you won't find literary french fries on the menu!

Missions and Marriage

I must say that I have seen some wonderful reasons for me serving a mission. It has made me a much better wife and mother than I could have been without serving.
We were discussing these things tonight and Emily announced that she was going to serve a mission. This, of course, delights us.
Eric turns to me and says, "Emily won't serve. You know she'll get married first." I didn't even have time to protest. Emily got all mad and got as much in his face as possible denying that she would get married first. She WILL serve a mission and THEN get married. In that order. Just ask her.

Austen to Brother

I finished reading Jane Austen's Persuasion today and exchanged a book for "holding hands" with my brother (sewing machine) for my next project: this bag.

I need something to cart books and items to and from church now that I have a new calling and Eric has to leave for work before the third hour.
Awhile back, a friend of mine put a bag on her sewing blog. I glanced at it and got a general idea of it before taking my own variation-on-a-theme with it. To be honest, I've been so distracted with all my other endeavors that I have neglected the projects on her blog. It's constructed of wool and linen (two random material blocks I had received from a friend at church over a year ago!), so my books and the eventual puppet will stay warm during transport.
It still needs the handles attached as well as the butterfly appliques, but not bad for a quick project.

Bob the Builder...I Mean, Emily

I have been collecting as many images of Emily's creations as possible. Eventually I will make a book out of her designs. It is truly fascinating to watch her build. She doesn't just put the pieces together. She may put a block down and then kind of back up to look at it and then she may move it or adjust it. I am convinced she is creating from images in her head.
It's not this building, but the other day she created something that very much resembled Stonehenge. When she finished, she announced, "Mommy, I made a circle!"
She also informs me of the name of each construction. It varies from a "something" castle to a stable to a farm to whatever. She definitely feels that these buildings have purpose.

No-no Mommy

Anyone who has spent enough time with us knows that Gianna definitely has a set of lungs. Strong, full lungs. She loves to hear herself project her voice into volumes and notes unsuitable for enclosed rooms. I don't really know what to do with her because she IS happy. She has just gotten to the "this is really annoying" stage. I typically have to remove her from the room to let her know this is not acceptable behavior (come on! She's just over 7 months old!).
This evening, after yet another session of her screaming and her "time out" period were finished, I let her rejoin us in the living room. She began again. As she was sitting behind me, I turned my head and said, "Gi-an-na" to which she immediately began shaking her head back and forth. I didn't even know that she knew how to do it. She repeated it several times with her mocking smile as if she really intended for me to know that she was NOT going to stop screeching.

(On a side note, just so you know how bad this has gotten, Emily has also started correcting Gianna with a firm "Jonna 'leese!" her form of "Gianna Elise". Also know that Emily doesn't even yet recognize that she herself also has a two-name-you-are-in-trouble name.)

New Adventure

I've never participated in a book club. I'm just an avid reader as well as a student of literature. So, this is a completely new adventure for me.
Through my church, I have started a book club. If you aren't local, feel free to read along with us and make comments/observations! You can never have too many people contributing thoughts to a discussion. We all have such different views and approaches to life that it opens new ways of understanding what an author may have been trying to convey.
You'll find the link on the side entitled "Great Works Book Club."

Potty Break

I get a kick out of this every time!
If I make Emily take a potty break, she'll get on the toilet and then inform me, "It noesn't work." I've never thought of it as "not working" but I guess that is correct. It just cracks me up as she says it so matter-of-factly.

The Best Summer Ever

Summer ended for us yesterday.
We spent the past two months or so hanging out with my youngest sister who came down to visit us. It was a blast! I'm not saying we did anything truly out of the ordinary, she just made every day a bit more fun. I had no idea someone could fit into our little world so perfectly and am very glad she did!
Some great memories:
BoPeep in da house!
Ax Murderer Inn
Spankings at any game played (yes, we're such losers, Susan)
Mary Poppin's Umbrella
"A dog walker would be the best job!"
Crazy-talk Emily
Rock Band
Driving, driving everywhere!
Help on the homestead
Big Balls
Sweet Biscuits
Scrunchy-face Gianna
Seasoning the food
Movie Marathon
FB quizzes
All-night (almost) Mario Party
Baking Powder vs Baking Soda: who wins
BoPeep, because it deserves mentioning twice
We miss you, Susan! Come back soon!!!

Anticipation

I mentioned awhile back that I felt something in the air about a new calling at church. For those of you who may not know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a volunteer church. There is not a paid ministry, so positions are extended through inspiration and revelation and you only serve for a relatively short amount of time (most callings only last a few years).
I was asked earlier this week to come in to speak with a member of the bishopric (well, technically, he asked if my husband and I could come in and speak with him before church starts on Sunday). I'm a little anxious to find out what position it is.
I've debated with my immediate family (Eric and Susan) what the potential calling could be (anyone remember being a missionary and casting your "picks" for transfers?). There are some "definites" involved due to current events and the person extending the calling. I know the Lord will confirm this for me when I am asked, but it doesn't mean that there won't be sacrifices along the way. I WILL be glad to get to church tomorrow morning and find out what exactly the Lord would have me do at this time. In the meantime, I'll ponder about what the Lord trusts me with and the things I need to improve upon. I'm sure I'll be confronted with both with this new calling.

Birthday Gift...Sew WHAT?

I have no idea what to get as gifts for other people's children. To be completely honest, we don't hang out with anyone enough to know particular likes or dislikes. I hate getting generic things that might work. And, as a parent, I am already disgruntled with the way all the toys keep piling up and are never played with. Taking my likes and dislikes as a parent, I chose a different route.
Tomorrow we have Emily's party in the morning, and one of her friend's party in the evening. After hunting around for something that didn't cost an arm and a leg but that was also worthwhile and the kid would enjoy it...I opted for this instead.
This is a non-patterned, make-it-up-in-my-head kind of project. It's a bit wide for a 2 yr old and probably too long, too, but I had fun making it and am so in love with it that I have to make one for Emily soon.
Hey, and Kiki (Lori)...no peeking!

Dare I Say It?

I know this is a public forum. I know someone is not going to see this the way I do. Scary. Perhaps tomorrow I will wake up with FBI agents on my doorstep...it wouldn't be the first time (although, it would be more threatening this go-round)!
When I first read this, I was shocked, and, to be honest, scared. This might be the single most frightening thing I have heard or read about the health care reform. Seriously, if someone wanted to be intimidating, they accomplished it. If not, well, someone went about this in an incredibly wrong way. And, by the way, I HAVE sent inquiries to Obama's Whitehouse in regards to this issue and have not been answered, not even the cordial "we've received your email but due to the amount of inquiries we've received, it may take awhile before we can get back to you."
What, you ask, am I talking about? The latest briefing on The Whitehouse blog. Now, I can guess that they didn't really want this to come across as being a new twist on McCarthyism, but that is what it did. Tell Big Brother about your friends, family, and neighbors who are anti-HCR so they can investigate and document those involved in the proliferation of these sentiments and alleged evidences hedged against the passage of this bill.
What happened to the First Amendment to the US Constitution? This infringes upon those rights. We are allowed to disagree with bills and proposals. We are allowed to congregate and discuss our pleasure or displeasure with current affairs and ideas. We are allowed to publish (paid or unpaid) our thoughts and feelings. All of these are permissible through the First Amendment of the Constitution. Do not restrict us, or you are disregarding the reason for the establishment of this country in the first place. Things taken out of context happen on both sides. Perhaps there are things that have been misconstrued on one end, but they can be held up legally in court due to interpretation of those same words. Yes, Pres. Obama makes promises (verbal are the only ones advertised) that we can keep our private insurance/private doctor and all, but, assuming this is true, what is the cost? How much MORE does the average John Q. Public have taken from his paycheck to cover the cost of this program? We've already been paying into one that apparently hasn't fulfilled the need. There is more to this issue than a quick full-court press.
Those I have encountered in my life who have insisted upon a "now or never" deal were people who knew that what they were trying to push or sell was not worthwhile in the long run, and, given the chance to research, ponder, and pray about it, I would discover the whited sepulchre it truly was. I can only feel that this is much the same way. Don't force it. If it is all it is cracked up to be (or not to be) it will become apparent in the long run. So, my advice to Pres. Obama and his Whitehouse, relax. Enjoy the "game". Don't pressure sale the public. Don't intimidate. Don't make YOUR public feel as if they are under the Nazi regime unless that is where you want this country to be.
And, if making a statement like this qualifies me to be imprisoned, I hope someone will claim my children while I spend time emulating some heroes of mine.

My First Love

When I broke up with my first boyfriend, his mother told me, "You never get over your first love." I think this is true...but, he was NOT my first love, so I got over him fast, thus, the break-up.
My first love is literature. I grew up with a hunger to learn. I was only 3 when I learned to write my name. I remember standing behind my brothers as my mom held up flashcards of their vocabulary words and trying to blurt them out before they did. I loved the Letter People and quickly learned to devour books. I read tons of classics (thanks, Mom! It helps that she graduated with a BS in English!) as a youth. It continued on into high school and college, ultimately leading to my bachelor's in Humanities: Comparative Literature.
I have never gotten over this first love and am happy that I already see the evidence of my infatuation in my children's lives.
I've grown a fondness for historical fiction and love to read history mixed in with semi-fairy tales. Today I finished a wonderful book loaned to me by my good friend Stef. It's called Mary and Joseph, a novel by Robert Marcum. I recently finished a series called The Kingdom and the Crown by Gerald N. Lund which was about people living during the time of Jesus' ministry. This book precedes that series by talking about what Mary and Joseph might have experienced. If you are looking for a good book and to understand more of the traditions held by the Jewish nation of the time, I highly recommend it.
Now that my Reading Rainbow advertisement is finished, I really wish I had a book club with whom I could devour the "good books" of the earth. How I miss the discussion with others over classics and good reads!

School Days

I have fond memories of my first days of school. Mom packed our necessary items into large paper bags. I'd get excited at seeing the unopened box of unsharpened #2 pencils, the new binder with all the edging intact, a perfect pencil box, and the mandatory box of kleenex! Oh, and to have it all sorted into my very own brown bag which I would fold neatly for a good hand hold as I walked to school!! The smell of summer coming to an end and the beginning of that slightly musty book aroma.
Yes, it is tax-free weekend on school supplies!! I love this time of year. I get so excited. I'm not currently in school, nor do I have children of school age yet, but I can't help picking up a box of new wooden #2 pencils, a ream of paper, glue sticks and folders. It's like getting a fix. I just need it. And, I didn't mind forging through the mosh-pit of parents and students filling the needs on their school lists either. That for sure proves that it is an addiction!!
Emily is all about school, too. She loved shopping as much as I did today. I've decided to have some structured time with her this year and teach her some "preschool/kindergarten" concepts. For the past month she keeps talking about school (and some random rope that apparently is at school...I don't know, so if you can figure out what rope has to do with school, let me know) and has a sincere desire. Now for me to get ready to do this, I'll be trying out different things I've learned as a teacher in various situations. Wish me luck!

Chutes and Ladders and Schwispshurs

Emily has just discovered this game. For the most part, she understands the game, although we don't make her get the exact count to win the game. She has really picked up on right vs wrong and understands the pictures on the game: do a good thing and get a reward, do a bad thing and get a punishment.
This morning we were playing again and she landed on the image of the kid reading the comics behind the book he was supposed to be studying. She went down the slide and said in a disappointed/shamed voice, "Oh no, I not read schwispshurs."
She has begun taking various forms of the scriptures (The Book of Mormon, the children's magazine: The Friend, a children's Reader for the scriptures, etc.), climbs up in the recliner and reads the scriptures aloud. Of course, I wonder at the stories she reads from them. I know you are supposed to apply the scriptures to your life, but I think she's done this in reverse. =)

Gianna's Scrunch Face

Believe it or not: she is very happy.

We've been trying to capture this in a photo for at least a week now. It's been nearly impossible (props to the Rebel. One of the things it CAN do better than the Elph.). Of course, this cute, crazy little scrunch face is much more humorous in person, but at least you get a taste of it here. I had to be a little strategic in capturing it as she won't do it if she sees a camera but I had one of her favorite toys semi-hiding the camera...and yes, full-on red eye, too.