12 on the 12th--October Edition

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1. Cathy is in town from Saudi Arabia (!) so we planned for an early morning walk but I only had a half hour so we sat at McDonald's and talked.
2. Whitney's illustrated birthday card for Randy.
3. Randy's box of birthday Raisin Bran...he can have this any time of course but I bought it special for his birthday since no one else will eat it.
4. Family photo in the car before heading up to help Adam and Amy move.
5. Lori and I boxed up stuff from the kitchen...moving is overwhelming even when it isn't my own move!
6. Lori and I stopped at Einsteins for a snack before heading over to the help unpack at the rental house. We don't have an Einsteins close to us so this was a treat.
7. Adam and Amy's "new" house has a pool!!
8. Upon arriving home Whitney immediately drew this picture of a cat using her water bottle...she's got skills.
9. I started a new book in the cozy (A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons).
10. Randy took a birthday nap.
11. The four of us went to Chili's for Randy's birthday dinner.
12. We stopped at the church to pick up all the primary teacher bags so I could clean them out and put the new class rolls in them (it took me 3 hours!).

Checking Off My List

Last week ended up having 3 big things that had been weighing on my (I hadn't even realized how much until they were over with!), Sunday the 29th was my talk in church, Tuesday the 31st was the Scout Court of Honor and then Saturday the 4th Randy and I were in charge of lunch for 65 people at Youth Conference. I'm not really a worrier, but I am a mental reviewer so these things ended up occupying more of my brain than I would have liked, especially figuring out the food for so many people.

Luckily the menu had been chosen by the woman in charge of youth conference, so I had some pretty specific guidelines about what to get at Costco, but it still made for a lot of scrambling on Saturday morning since we couldn't wash the fruit or put the sandwiches together too early.

We drove up to Tibble Fork to meet up with everyone (they had stayed over night at Mutual Dell) and made it in plenty of time to set up before they arrived.

Landon looked like he was having a pretty good time. It's so great that there are so many boys in his age range to have fun with.

We ended up having a surplus of food! We had made more than enough sandwiches, had 5 huge bags of chips, tons of grapes, birthday cake and treats.

It was such a pretty place, though the water was pretty low.

It's fun to see Landon socializing.

We stayed for the beginning of their relay-canoeing game (they had to paddle out to marked buoys to retrieve puzzle pieces with scripture clues on them), but it was super hot outside so we fled home to watch the Olympics in air conditioned comfort.

Sunday Thoughts

I feel blessed. I think about my blessings all the time, but especially at the end of the day as I say my personal prayer and mentally review my day. With every inconvenient, painful, frustrating, discouraging experience there are good things to accompany them. I have seen this over and over again this week as Landon has spent the week on the couch recovering from his surgery. We have received 2 fantastic dinners, lots of visits and phone calls, kind words, a card in the mail and so on. It has really been heart-warming and humbling.

Landon's friend Russell brought over this funny note and treats.

The Rasbands brought donut holes (a true weakness of mine) and cookies! 

James, Jackson and Dallin showed up at 7:15am Tuesday morning with a half dozen Krispy Kreme donuts! They had gone to the Provo Temple at 5:00am and stopped for donuts and to share with Landon (he usually goes to the temple with them on Tuesdays) on the way home. So nice!

Amie brought Landon and I lunch on Tuesday and also brought Landon a BYU t-shirt and a box of white cheddar Cheez-Its (both his favorite things).

Spencer, Jackson and Dallin stopped by to check on Landon on Friday after school.

Sister Bangerter brought Landon (and us) this huge tray of her delicious, homemade rolls yesterday!

 

The Wilcox family brought us a huge dish (this photo really doesn't show how big it is) of homemade macaroni and cheese, ham slices, bread, green beans and rootbeer float fixings! This meal will feed us for days! When Tracy called on Friday to offer to bring us dinner she said she wanted to wait until the dust settled a bit because it's easy to feel forgotten after that...I cried.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: It was so weird to only be 12 minutes early for church today and to be able to easily get a soft seat! It feels like we lost half our ward to the split. Oh the pain!

Sunday Thoughts

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. --Mosiah 2:17

This is our new scripture mastery for the month of November, so we are memorizing this as a primary and as a family. I got all choked up in primary today as I introduced it because we had such an amazing service project earlier this week, and many of the children had been there to help.

A 55 year old man from our ward died suddenly of a heart attack 10 days ago, so as a show of support and love to his family, about 130 of us gathered at their house last Tuesday to work in their huge yard.


Someone had rented a cherry picker so the men could trim the huge branches that were too close to their roof.


We pulled weeds and planted pansies in their flower beds, and even the youngest of kids helped. Seriously, how cute is it that he has his binky and a shovel?


We cleared tons of fallen branches and filled an entire dumpster with green debris, and made an enormous pile of dry wood, plus filled their entire wood pile for winter and rototilled their garden.


It was particularly emotional for me to see the kids from this mourning family there working with all of us when they had just suffered the huge loss of their father. Their mother came out for a bit to talk and be comforted.


Their backyard was bursting with helping hands. Some of the kids played of course, but many of them took turns pulling weeds, planting flowers and carrying dead wood.


It was quite touching to see this scout troop from our ward with their leaders (and Whitney and Madison) planting pansies around this tree; their leaders did such a good job of showing them what to do and then letting them do it.


I absolutely love how service is such a big part of being a member of our church and I love it that kids learn that from the earliest ages. This little guy is no stranger to hard work since he comes from a very hardworking family; he has his own tiny pair of work gloves and they even have a hole in them from getting so much use (I'm sure he wasn't the first child in their family to wear them).

It was so moving to be a part of this service project and I was very thankful that I took kids there to help. We only had an hour to be there before we had to leave to get ready for Landon's Band Bash, so it would have been easy to skip it. But I have never regretted my participation in any service project and more than anything I wanted the kids to be a part of it and to see so much service in action (though I had no idea so many people would turn out for it). So it's no wonder that I was too moved to speak as I recited our new scripture mastery verse to the primary today and looked around at the many sweet faces of kids who had been a part of it.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: We had some fantastic homemade rolls from a lady from church today, I really must learn how to make those.

Sunday Thoughts

Lately I have been devouring back issues of The Ensign, which is funny because I've always liked it but haven't ever been good about reading the entire issue (except for the Conference issues). But since I seem to be craving all things spiritual these days, I am going back and reading our back issues cover to cover.

There was a great article in the July issue from President Eyring about being Faithful Friends to Christ and to those around us. As I read it I kept thinking about us as visiting teachers and the power we have to lift each other by being faithful friends.


"In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden.

When we reach out to give succor and to lift a burden. He reaches with us. He will lead us to those in need. He will bless us to feel what they feel. As we persist in our efforts to serve them, we will more and more be given the gift of feeling His love for them. That will give us courage and strength to reach out again and again in faithfulness. And, in time and in eternity, we will feel the joy of being welcomed to the company of His faithful friends."



I don't know about you, but just reading this makes my heart swell with emotion and tears come to my eyes. I can think of so many people I know who are struggling with things ranging from difficult children, depression, unemployment, cancer, spousal issues, life in general and on and on. Who among us couldn't use a friend? And sometimes a gesture, kind word or compliment from someone unexpected is what touches us to our core and reminds us that the Lord is mindful of our needs. I would love to be that person for someone else! I feel driven by that sometimes as I go visiting teaching or as I wrote a note to someone who pops into my mind.

This post popped up on Amy M.'s blog yesterday as one of those "You might also like" widget suggestions and it goes so well with this thought. I am such a such a sucker for a thoughtful note so this one got me (though somehow I missed it when she posted it back in 2008).

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: I'm looking forward to church today and having our first regular (non primary program-related) Sunday in over a month!

Five for Friday--My Last Work-Free Week Edition

When the kids were little, we always went to the pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins and to take photos. But the past few years have found us purchasing pumpkins at the grocery store, which is far less picturesque.


I thought we might be past the stage of getting cute photos while shopping for pumpkins, but these are alright.


Since Whitney turned 10 last week I feel like it's really official that I am the mother of BIG kids. Gone are the days of little-kid cuteness, now we've moved on to big-kid amusingness and independence which isn't bad either.


When we arrived home from church last Sunday we found this big box of goodness waiting on our porch. It was not your typical October Boo Treat that goes around the ward. This was a full on chocolate bundt cake with raspberries (somebody's signature fruit) and homemade whipped cream in a jar. We've been eating it all week.


I finally got caught up with my coupon clipping the other evening while watching "Lark Rise to Candleford". It was a big job!


I babysat my friend Cathy's kids for a couple hours this week as part of our Relief Society Service Auction. Cathy went to the temple, so I played with her kids at their house for awhile then we walked over to the church for a presidency meeting. They did really well and were quite funny. Her little girl said several amusing things like, "Are you a girl?" and "Girls are princesses." I have never thought that my gender was in doubt, but maybe from down where she stood it was unclear.

It had been long time since I'd pushed a stroller uphill while hefting my big, heavy church bag, so I was worn out by the time we made it back to the house. Phew!


After babysitting, I treated myself to a Pork Tostada from Cafe Rio and then finished watching North & South on Netflix streaming. Oh how I love these BBC movies!


My mom dropped all her plans for the day in order to go to the temple and take me to lunch on Wednesday for one last hoorah. We did a session then went to Chili's and then shoe shopping for a little while. It was rather painful to be bending over trying on shoes (boots to be exact) after stuffing myself with chips and salsa, salad and soup!


Michelle and I had our last, official, weekly Creative Friday yesterday and I am at a loss as to how to post about it. This is pretty much the sorest sacrifice for me with going back to work.


And finally, my blogging friend Lindsay emailed me last week to see if I was interested in having her backlog of coupons. Apparently she was receiving 5 papers (for the coupons) for awhile there, but then realized it just wasn't for her. She held onto them in the hopes that she could give them to someone who would appreciate them...hello! I jumped at the chance to get them and stopped by her house last Saturday. I was overwhelmed with the amount of them (they go all the way back to June) and her generosity in thinking of me. Then she completely undid me when she offered me her coupon binder full of baseball card sleeves. I've known I needed to get one of these to organize my coupons, but didn't know where I'd find the sleeves or how I'd pay for them. This was a HUGELY generous gift and came so out of the blue. I immediately started crying as I gushed my thanks (I seriously don't recognize myself anymore, what is with all the crying?!). It was a miraculous gift and was truly thoughtful and humbling. It was yet another reminder that the Lord is mindful of me and that we just never know who He is going to send to help us out!

**Where do you get your pumpkins?
Did you get "boo-ed" this month?
Has anyone asked you if you're a girl?
Have you seen North & South?
Did you cry this week?
Has the Lord helped you in an unexpected way lately?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Every Halloween I find myself wishing I had a costume or at least some Halloweenish clothing to wear. I'm wearing an orange shirt with a black tank top under it, but I wear that regularly so it doesn't really count.

Moving Slowly

You may or may not have noticed that I didn't do a Sunday Thoughts post yesterday (which is highly unusual for me) so I'd like to tell you why.

We had Stake Conference which meant having the 4 of us ready and at church by 10:00, which was embarrassingly difficult for us because we've been so spoiled by our 2:00 church time all year. We love it!

Anyway, we had a thoroughly enjoyable time watching Stake Conference on the big screen at our building from the soft seats (a Stake Conference first for us), then went home and ate a few chocolate donut holes (whim purchase from the day before) and settled in for some quality reading and napping.

Four hours later Randy and I woke up feeling well rested and a bit smug. But then I felt a tell-tale rumbling in my guts...oh no. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say I spent the next few hours in and out of the bathroom (thank you modern plumbing) and back and forth to my bed. I thought I had matters under control until I started feeling nauseous as well, what the? Not good. We managed to have Family Home Evening on our bed and I was able to surface later to watch The Amazing Race with the family, but that was it. Sweet Fancy Moses, what is up with the universe?

This morning I was down 8 pounds! If only there was a more pleasant way to lose this much weight in such a short period of time.


I was feeling dehydrated, dizzy and weak but was too afraid to eat anything, so when Michelle called to check on me (she knows there's something wrong when I don't post) and offered to bring me something I took her up on it. She and Eva kindly brought me a bag of ice, some Gatorade and some rolls for when I felt like eating again.


What a relief it was to be taken care of like that and to have supplies. I spent my day on the couch reading and napping while eating the ice and the rolls (so far so good).

Look at their cute ensembles and shoes!

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: Why is it so hard to ease back into normal life after being sick? Part of me feels like saying, "Do you have any idea what I just went through?" Maybe that's why, I'm in shock that I recovered yet still have post-traumatic stress going on.

Five for Friday--In Like A Lion Edition

1. Remember our beautiful, spring-like weather earlier this week?


Well, this is what it looked like this morning! I have no doubt that Mother Nature is a woman!


2. I got a call from a friend desperate to find someone to watch her daughter for a few hours yesterday, so I spent some time with a funny 5 year old yesterday. She was so well behaved, totally happy to entertain herself with play-doh for 35 minutes and to watch our Care Bears dvd. We had macaroni and cheese for lunch and she was totally baffled that I knew all the kids in her family and all the neighbor kids who live by her, but I know them all from church so there was really no trick to it.

Her mom gave me a yummy smelling candle, some Life Savers and 2 hugs to express her gratitude, it was sweet.


3. This is how Whitney spends a lot of her time, she watches/listens to Dinosaur Train and draws...I like her style.


Whitney drew this at art class this week. I love it that she put the shoes and sock on a welcome mat.


4. Ashley was here this morning while Robyn was at a training session (she's a personal trainer) and asked me all kinds of questions about Whitney's toys (i.e., their names and such) as if I was as I was as consumed with the history and back story of Whitney's toys as she is.


5. This kid is turning into a teenager before my eyes and I'm NOT ready for it! I realize I've had almost 12 years to baby-step my way into it, but I was under the impression it would be a gradual process and not one that happens over night. Oh the humanity!

**What's your weather like?
Did you tend any kids this week?
Have you ever drawn shoes?
Do you know the names of all the toys in your house?
Are you aware your children will turn into teenagers one day?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I am totally loving the book I'm reading right now (Prodigal Summer) and wish I had such an eloquent way with words.

My Life of Crime and Other Tidbits

This morning I drove Whitney and 3 of her friends to choir at 7:45am just like I do every Wednesday and Friday morning, but today I gave all the choir kids a thrill by receiving a ticket for my expired car registration (AGAIN!!) in front of all of them. It was utterly humiliating to sit in the car waiting for the officer to process my license and registration while all the kids pointed and stared, and all the moms (many that I know) dropped off their kids and watched as well.


I could see the humor of it enough to take a couple pictures, but the longer I sat there, and as I saw several kids with their faces pressed to the class staring out of the school at me, the more upset I became. I was tearing up as he gave me my ticket and told me what I needed to do. He really was very nice, but that hardly cushioned the blow.


I drove away in tears of frustration and embarrassment, and fought the urge to call Randy and dump it all him. Instead I calmly made my way home to take a shower and get ready for the day. Amazingly, I was able to get over it without saying a word about it to anyone.


Then I babysat a couple kids from church while their mom went to the school to read in her son's kindergarten class. It was a quick half hour and proved amusing as the 3 year old showed me his tricks (i.e., running while clicking his tongue, running backwards, singing the itsy bitsy spider). The baby is a delight and oh so tiny for a 5 month old so he is very fun to snuggle with.

Next I had a presidency meeting at the church which involved a 2 year old pulling the fire alarm which caused a big ruckus.

Then I picked up Cafe Rio for lunch, a bag of ice from Sonic then came home to eat in peace while I blogged and watched The New Adventures of Old Christine (I think this is my 3rd time with Season 1).


Later, I put on my darling, new apron that my friend Cathy made for me to help with my new Brain Box cleaning system. The teacher of the organizing class suggests wearing an apron with 2 pockets in it so that while you're cleaning you can have a pocket for the trash you find and a pocket for the "treasures" (i.e., little toys and things) you find.


I kept finding things (I vacuumed under the couches and under the couch cushions) and kept going to put them in the trash can and then had to remind myself that I could put them in my apron. This is the stash of stuff I found, trash in the left pile and treasures (including my earring woohoo) in the right.


I also used my new microfiber ($3 at Walmart) dusting mitt (also recommended at our organizing class) which I love. I just squirt a tiny bit of water on it and then dust everything. The surface area of the mitt is huge so I cover a lot of area with it, and everything sticks to it, then I can just rewash it and start over next week.


I took Whitney to art class later in the afternoon and was only able to stay awake reading for 15 minutes before having to surrender to the process of fitful car sleep, it's better than nothing but an odd way of resting for sure.


The school passed out free tickets (2 per child) to the Flash game (minor-league basketball) for tonight (oh joy) so we went as a family. I didn't take my camera or purse because I didn't want to mess with it, so this picture of Whitney's creative, Flash-inspired mess will have to do. She cut out an "F" and taped it to her shirt (oh that I had a picture of that) and made 2 small paper flags that said "Go Flash" on them (which involved dismantling a small American flag to use its handle, and taping Popsicle sticks together).


There were a couple fun moments, but otherwise it felt like I was doing time in a really loud, really bright place. I kept thinking about how I could be home in my pajamas watching American Idol. Then I tried to retrace the steps of my life that got me to this place where I am such a poop. I blame the children, no wait, I blame my girth, no wait, I blame the stupidity of the lame basketball game in an overheated arena, no wait, I just blame me. Aargh!

**Did your Wednesday look anything like mine?
Have you ever been given a ticket in a very public place?
Do you like the idea wearing an apron while you clean?
What's under your couch cushions?
Are you fun?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Why must everything turn into a cause for self-inspection? I can never seem to just be.