Lucky

Though I would much prefer not to experience the trial of money woes, it seems to be a recurring one in my life, so apparently I need to learn to endure it well rather than fight it so hard. One of the things that always helps me when I'm struggling is something one of my BYU professors said one time, she said that she realized later in life that the trials she experienced made her empathetic towards those she served and that she was grateful for them for that reason. That thought always comes to mind, and though I keep telling the Lord, "I'm empathetic, I'm empathetic, please stop making me relate!" I know that everything I've experienced is for a reason.


So Amie read my post and emailed me after making 3 comments (which I enjoyed) and asked if there was anything we needed.


She is a couponing queen and had just posted this picture of her $1.67 score on her blog the day before, so I said we were on our last roll of paper towels and almost out of dish soap.

Here's what she brought me about 5 hours later! The bag was so heavy I thought it might break! I was rushing off to meet Claudia at Thanksgiving Point, so I didn't get to see what was inside right then, but I was touched by Amie's kindness and generosity and once again so grateful to have good friends!

This is what she managed to fit inside that bag! It's like Christmas, but better!

**Are you being trained to be empathetic?
Do friends save your bacon regularly?
What are you out of right now?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I am loving these cool nights and mornings we're having and really love having the windows open. I like to think that helps freshen the place and air out any old people smells we've got going on, but I'm probably fooling myself.

Quick Post

I'm working on a big post from last weekend's events, but I need more time so instead I give you this.


I had lunch with my dad today and we discussed the cruel realities of life in this economy. I had already started applying for jobs a couple weeks ago, and am feeling more desperate than ever before. I teared up multiple times at lunch, all the while thinking "keep it together man!"

I'm just not loving adulthood right now and am having uncomfortable growing pains. I need to let go of any and all expectations I had for this stage of my life, because they're just not happening. I need to embrace some sort of new normal, but I don't even know what that is yet.

**Are you making ends meet?
Are you having growing pains?
Have you had to embrace a new normal?**

Comment Window Tidbit: It felt like a cool, Fall day today and I loved it!

Sunday Thoughts

Today we had a fabulous Sacrament Meeting because we had 2 return missionaries reporting. The thing that made it even more special is that they are brother and sister and the children of the Bishop and his wife. They both served their missions in Germany, and ended up in the same mission for the last few months because the 5 German Missions were condensed into 3. How cool is that? They even ended up flying home on the same flight and team taught the woman sitting near them!

They both gave such fabulous talks. They are clearly glowing with the Spirit and oozing goodness.

• Lauren said that when she felt overwhelmed or frustrated she was envision the scene at the airport at the end of her mission, coming down the escalator and into the arms of her family. She knew she wanted the feeling of returning with honor, and said this got her through all the tough times. (I think this is brilliant and totally applicable to all of us as we make our way through our mission in life.)
• She also said that she felt like her entire mission was an unveiling, because everywhere she went she knew that the Lord had prepared the way, so it wasn't a situation being created it was an experience being unveiled.
• The Lord loves to bless us.
• Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thin own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

• As they prayed for the Lord to pour out His spirit upon the people of their city they saw more and more tender mercies each day.
• "Prayer is the key to missionary work and to life really."
• When you're humble enough to pray, it will change your life.
• "I love putting things in God's hands, I'm just glad he's on our side."
• When we pray, the Lord answers.
• "The scriptures open my eyes."
• We are here to bring souls unto Christ.
• Sometimes the Lord is just waiting for us to ask Him for His blessings. (I found this reassuring and exciting, and made sure to ask when I said my prayer last night.)
• The Lord puts us in the right place at the right time, and often His plans are very different than ours.

Today was also special because it was Landon's first time passing the Sacrament! Our chapel was packed with tons of friends and family for the return missionaries (including their aunt Sister Beck) so it was a big crowd for his first day. He did great, looked very dignified and reverent (especially in his new suit jacket), and took his job seriously.


He also had his first temple recommend interview, and will be going with the youth to do baptisms there early Thursday morning.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: I was so grateful it was Sunday today. I desperately need to regroup and replenish my soul.

Creative Friday--Many Visitors Edition

Claudia was in Park City for a week with her family for a reunion, and decided to stay in Utah for an extended vacation after her parents (and ride) went home. She has been staying at her cousin's house, and is now at her friend Hilda's, and then will be staying with us a few days next week.


I invited her to join us for Creative Friday this week, so I picked her and her boys at South Towne mall Friday morning.


Eva was excited to play with the boys, and luckily they cooperated!


When I asked Claudia if she wanted a diet Coke, her son Alexei ( age 7) said, "I thought you were off diet Coke!".

One of our self-portrait attempts.

Michelle had this cute, framed photo Claudia had recently sent us out on display. The photo was taken when Claudia joined us for Creative Friday 2 years ago.


Claudia's purse holds a vast array of very random items, this time she pulled out a thesaurus and a dictionary! What the?!

This is blurry, but captures the kids playing the Wii.

Michelle grilled burgers for lunch. I love the way the Swiss cheese wrapped itself around the patty.


Michelle gave Claudia an enlargement of her fabulous Paris flea market photo of French letters. Claudia was totally thrilled of course.


Michelle worked on a fabulous embroidery project using these supplies (the project is a gift, so I can't show it to you).


I brought some tasty chocolate-chip cookies for us, and managed to eat more than anyone else. I blame the plate's proximity to me.


We had some bonus visitors when Michelle's aunt Denise, daughter Emily and their friend Linda stopped by (they're in town bringing Emily back to BYU).


We had some failed attempts at fitting us all in for a self-portrait, but then Max got home and took this one for us.


It was rather comical that we were all standing right there when he got home from school.


I found this self-portrait of Claudia and Alexei on my camera.

Our delightfully messy table.

I provided Claudia with Paper Source cards and a new batch of good mail labels, but she brought postage and her fountain pen so she could work her magic.


Things started to deteriorate for me at the end of the day when the chaos quotient went up. Lucas came home from school and immediately started practicing piano right next to us, meanwhile Max was downstairs practicing cello, and Claudia's boys and Eva were going in and out of the sliding door near us every few minutes!

Every time the door was opened the damn dog had to race in or out, usually before the door was all the way opened, which meant he had to squeeze himself through. Aargh! The boys found the dog's antics enjoyable, but of course it wasn't their activity that was being interrupted for the millionth time, they were just on their way to more trampoline fun.

Serenity now!! Michelle took this picture of me "handling it well".

Claudia gave me this little message.

Apparently it was too much to ask for a peaceful day of creating with friends. I should be a well-seasoned pro by now, but I got bugged this time instead. C'est Ma Vie!

**What's the most random item in your purse?
Have you ever had an extended vacation with no car or plan?
Would the kid chaos have gotten to you?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I've decided I can't take being in the sun, even when I think I'm enjoying it. I ALWAYS end up with a killer headache. I must find an acceptable hat situation or take to carrying a parasol!

Five for Friday--Catching My Breath Edition

1. I have to rewind to last week for this one, but I got to meet my blogging friend Amy W., her daughter Sophie, 6 month old twins, and her niece (and blogger) Meghan. I handed the camera to Whitney and she went crazy taking pictures of those cute babies.


2. Last week this tiny bottle of medicine would have cost me $125, but this week it only cost me $5! Sweet fancy Moses my scalp is on the mend!


3. My mom took Landon and I to lunch this week and she got to hear all about his first day of Junior High.


4. Landon had a soccer game at a field that was new to us, and once again I was totally smitten with the view. As long as I have some shade to sit in, I am totally content to sit on the sidelines cheering him on.

I think this is a cool shot.

5. I am enjoying being the "real coach" to Whitney's soccer team even though it often feels like I'm the only one listening to myself; I think the screaming across the field is therapeutic for me.

**How was your week?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Crazy Claudia is visiting today!

Junior High?!!

Thank heaven I experienced all my anxiety about Landon going to Junior High back in March when I first received mail from the school regarding class selection, immunizations and an open house. Landon had been giving us some attitude at that time, and I was feeling seriously panicked about this next stage of his life (and ours as parents).

Fortunately, we went to the open house at the Junior High which put my fears to rest and made me excited instead of worried for him. Also instrumental in putting my mind to rest, was the life-changing service project that turned Landon from a lippy pre-teen to a super sweet, service-oriented, almost too good to be true sort of boy. Phew!


So when Monday morning rolled around and we had to go to the Junior High to pay $51 in class fees (#$@!), I was cool as a cucumber (they are notoriously cool).


Then again that evening when we went to the Junior High for back-to-school night I felt totally calm. We familiarized ourselves with the map, found all his classes, tried out his locker (at least 4 times for good measure) and felt the energy of this new adventure.


It's amazing how quickly my locker-opening skills came back to me, even though it has been 20 years since I've had to use one, I was able to walk him through it like not a day had passed.


The classrooms were all in order and Landon was very happy to see the BYU football poster on the wall of his history class.


So Tuesday morning was his big first day and he was READY! He had woken up on his own at 6:00am, showered, eaten breakfast and was all but out the door when I got up at 7:15.


We had plenty of time for some early morning photos, including this one of his very faded name on his backpack which he has had since kindergarten!


It seems just like yesterday that Randy and I excitedly got him ready for his first day of kindergarten.

I'm going to O.D. on nostalgia!

The backpack was laughably ginormous on him then, so seeing it on him now really hit me with how much he has changed (cue tears).

Obviously he was excited!

I love it that he knew I'd still be taking pictures as he walked away.


I ended up driving over to stake out the bus situation. This is the first time he has ever had to ride a bus to school, so that seemed noteworthy. Not a bad view eh?


I made our traditional first-day-of-school chocolate chip cookies for him and Whitney made this cute sign with acorn paper weights.

He had a great day and came home feeling like he knew where everything was already (it's a BIG school).

**Do you remember your first day of 7th grade?
Do your kids ride a bus?
Do you have a tendency to O.D. on nostalgia?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Writing this post and being able to reference two of my previous posts made me feel overwhelmed with happiness for the beauty of blogging. All of these things would have been forgotten if I hadn't written them down, and since I'm not a dedicated journal-writer when it comes to traditional journals, it is amazing how blogging has made me a dedicated documenter and I love that!

She's a 4th Grader

Getting home from 5 glorious days in Denver and having to jump right back in to real life was a bit crazy. We had soccer practice at 9:30 that morning, junior high registration stuff, Lucas' birthday party, then both kids had back-to-school open houses in the afternoon. I was running around all day!


Whitney's open house meant she got to visit her classroom, find her desk and meet her teacher.


She's most excited because her best friend Madison is in her class this year after not being together the past 2 years.


I'm excited for her to have Mrs. Atwood because I've heard good things about her and know she'll push Whitney to work harder. Whitney would prefer to have a school schedule that involves Art, Drawing, Recess, Coloring, Lunch, Recess and then Crafts. Um...not gonna happen.

Today was the big day for her to start 4th grade!

She loves the new messenger bag we got instead of a backpack this year. I think it's hilarious that she will mostly carry one folder and a lunch back and forth in that big bag.


Landon had the day off, since he had gone to the 7th graders only day yesterday, and offered to walk her to school. I'm sad that they'll never be in the same school at the same time again because I loved having them be able to walk together everyday.

**Do you remember starting 4th grade?**