I just LOVE this time of year… planning, organizing and anticipating a fabulous school year! What could be better???
I love planning our school schedules, meals, devotionals, co-ops, outings, read-aloud books…the list just goes on and on. I thrive on the excitement and the energy that I receive while working so closely with the Spirit to have the “perfect” year ready for all of our kiddos.
That perfectly-planned-year always begins “perfectly” and then something happens (usually just after the lovely month of September comes to a close.) LIFE gets in the way!!! I don’t know why this has to happen time and again ~ completely frustrating!
Up until a couple of years ago, I couldn’t even identify “the problem,” I just knew it lingered year after year and usually showed its ugly head at the close of each September.
After many years of trial and error, I am finally able to put my finger on it…
The “problem” is simply Lack of Balance…
We, as homeschooling Momma’s, are doing one magnificent balancing act! To visualize all the many things that we are responsible for, I like to see each as a single balloon in a very large, beautiful bouquet...reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens, yellows and oranges…all floating about. I see myself down below them, giving a little pat here and a little pat there, and then running to catch a straggler or two, then before I know it there are another twenty million or so that are about to drop to the floor. It is during those exhausting moments that I find myself wishing for an extra hand or two! But wish as I may, I’m pretty certain that an extra arm isn’t going to spring out of my body. So how do we find that peaceful balance in our lives when this is what we face day after day?
“Fifty” children needing attention (all at the same time,)
Mountains & mountains of laundry,
Fantastic Home-Schooling Time,
Ever-Hungry Kiddos ~ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and more snacks and MORE snacks,
Meaningful Devotionals with our families and for ourselves,
Paying the bills, Grocery Shopping,
Running Errands, Visiting Teaching,
Planning time, Busy Callings,
Household chores ~ those toilets don’t clean themselves,
Running kids here and there and everywhere,
Time for Friends, (both for kids and MOM,)
One on one time with kiddos,
Family Time, Hubby Time,
and hopefully a little “Me Time”…
Okay, just the above sampling of our lives “balloons” seems BIG; our lives all resemble this list, along with many additions for the “season of life” we find ourselves in. When you think of all that is at your hand, does it make you flip out just a tad inside? Of course it does, but instead of being flipped out, take a big refreshing deep breath and look at the ins and outs of Motherhood in a different light. This is how I see it…
I am not responsible to keep all of these balloons floating by myself ~ I am just responsible to make sure they stay afloat and that our home and family function on a daily basis. I must simply oversee and manage “life” around my home. I don’t have to do all the cooking and cleaning and laundry and chores and running here and there and everywhere. I don’t have to be the all-knowing, do-everything, be-everybody’s-everything all day long, every day! It took me a while to realize this and at times I still find myself falling into that little trap of trying to fix everything for everyone. It is my job to teach our kiddos to be productive and active in the realities of family life.
If I attempted, day after day after day, to do all of these things on my own I would no longer have a lovely balance in my world…I would be a wreck physically, emotionally and spiritually!
Now, please do not get me wrong, I do believe that all these things still need to be happening around me. My home MUST be clean and well-managed. My children MUST be learning and functioning. My household bills, errands and such MUST be handled. Meals and a million snacks each day MUST be available. A little time for me to do my own study and exercise and pondering MUST present itself somewhere in the day. Time for my hubby MUST happen and time to love, cuddle, play, and interact with all of my kiddos MUST happen! The reason for the MUST’s is that these things bring happiness and joy to me and without them that all important balance is missing.
Sooo, how do we keep ourselves from dropping one (or many) of our “colorful balloons” during this amazing balancing act of ours???
Below is a list of some ideas that you might find helpful in keeping balance after September has come and gone and reality has rocked your little homeschool world!
Regular Planning time -- Many of us plan like crazy during the summer months to have a wonderful school year; do we continue to have that same drive and desire throughout the year? Do we have a time either weekly or monthly, whatever is needed, to re-visit those plans, finalize them, put them into action, or to go in prayer about anything that may need altered to meet the ever-changing needs of our kiddos? With a little planning on a regular basis we can be Successful and Happy the whole year through. We can keep a peaceful balance as we continue to assess what might need a little fixin’!
Learn to say no -- This may be the very hardest one for me… It has taken me many years to be able to realize that by saying no to others, I am saying YES to my kids. YES that they are my first priority. YES that their education is important to me. YES that I value them enough to be there for them and with them. I believe that we have to treat our homeschooling just as a paid teacher at a school treats hers. She cannot babysit a host of other kiddos while performing her task of teaching. She cannot leave to go visiting teaching in the middle of a class. She cannot drop class time because someone thinks she should be doing something of greater importance. She is there for those kids and they must be her priority. We are no different! The only difference is that we are not away and others may not recognize that we have a very, very full-time job within the very walls of our homes. Learn to say YES to your kiddos by saying NO to others. (I know it’s hard, just give it a try, the first 50 times you say No are the worst, then it gets a little easier—I think)
Don’t over schedule yourselves or your children -- Do we over schedule out of fear that our kids might be missing out on something? We need to be careful that we don’t find ourselves goin’ crazy enrolling our kids in every available program on earth! There are some fantastic opportunities for our kids and for us out there; just be a little picky on which ones will benefit your family most and be the least intrusive on your sanity!
Perspective -- In which perspective do you view your life? Is it in pieces, such as a puzzle? One little piece being the mom, another the homeschool mom, another the cook, another the maid, another the taxi cab driver, another the wife, another the friend, another the mentor, and so on. Or do you view your life as one big whole? When we live our lives not trying to fit school into our days and just let our lives be all about teaching our kids, it is easier, it flows, it is real and alive. Many times I have thought that homeschooling is our lifestyle, now I prefer to think of it in this way; our lifestyle is homeschool and what we do and focus on are the teaching moments of life. This is simply a change of perspective, not a change of educational standards or expectations.
And speaking of Expectations, we need to regularly evaluate our expectations of others, namely our husbands, children and even ourselves. Expectations play a powerful role in relationships, especially in marriage. They influence the way we relate and respond to each other. I often need to take a step back and question whether or not my expectations are unrealistic or unfair. I have a bit of a problem with needing perfection…I cannot attain the level of perfection I’d like to see in myself and it is unfair and stifling to expect perfection of my dear hubby or kiddos. On the flip side of this, it is vital that our kids understand our expectations of them. They need a clear, concise view of what we wish to see of them so that they can meet, and more than likely, exceed what we dream for them.
Time for fun – We need to lighten up and have more fun! Yes, it is possible to have fun with our kids during our days of homeschooling. Not all school work needs to be drudgery, some of it just is, but it doesn’t all have to be. It is so important for our kids to see their Momma have a great time, laughing, playing and enjoying life. We need to model these things for our kids, so in your planning time make sure you leave ample space for these wonderful moments!!!
Time with our hubbies -- Just so you all know, this one certainly should not come last on your list…it just so happens to as I am writing. Without that sweet man in your life you wouldn’t have all these kiddos to be worrying about homeschooling, you wouldn’t have the balancing act to be contending with, your life would be less than what it is. We must be intentional about our marriages – intentionality is more than scheduling time together. It is finding meaningful ways to connect emotionally to one another. It is more than just going out and gazing across the table at one another. It is so many things…it is about loving and cherishing your time together. Our marriages must come first so that our families can be strong and happy. Too often, homeschooling mothers get so wrapped around their kiddos’ lives that they forget that wonderful man that helped to bring those kids into the world. He must be the center of your world…date him as much as you possibly can, kiss on him, dance with him and let him know he rocks your world…YOU and your kids (and your hubby, but that goes without saying) will be better because of it.
In closing, I pray that you will have a perfectly-lovely-balance in your home and heart.
Not every day will be blissful and easy,
but if we have the perspective that our lifestyle is homeschool
and that our families are always at the center of our heart
life will be joyfully abundant!
Here’s to an amazing September & beyond...
Saturday, September 3, 2011
August Message
"If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we're apart… I'll always be with you.” Winnie the Pooh
I absolutely LOVE this quote…makes my heart swell with joy each time I read it. I would love to put it on vinyl or paint it up and hang it in our boys’ and girls’ bedrooms having it come from “Mom” so that they always remember how deeply I love them. When I read this little gem, I can’t help but reflect on motherhood, specifically, my role as Momma and how well I do or do not fulfill this all-encompassing role.
A few of the thoughts that have been running through my mind…
“What is it like to be my child?”
“If I were a child of mine, would I be happy?”
“Would I love being around me?”
“Would I feel loved by me?”
“Would I feel special?”
“Would I feel worthy and important?”
“Would I want to be with me?”
“Am I the kind of Mother I would wish to have?”
“Do they feel welcome, wanted, valued?”
“Can my children see the love I feel for them in my eyes and in my countenance?”
I love the following scripture; I added a couple of things that I feel help in fully understanding the significance: (When it just says “brethren”, it doesn’t do it for me, but adding in those that are “real in my world” makes it such a strong & deeply important scripture for me to pay attention to)
“Therefore, strengthen yourbrethren (Husband, Sons & Daughters)
in ALL your conversation, in ALL your prayers, in ALL your exhortations, and in ALL your doings. (D&C 108:7)
It is up to us, up to ME and YOU, to strengthen these little families of ours in ALL that we do…this scripture points out four areas of focus: I plan to address how to strengthen our children (hubbies will have to be covered at another time)…
First, Strengthen (your children) in all your conversation~ As we converse with our children, we have the ability to build them up or tear them down…let it be our goal to always lift them, to help them see the beauty and the potential they each possess. As I think of this, I also wonder if I am the kind of listener that they need, that they deserve. Do they feel that what they have to say is important and worthwhile to me or do I shut them down, making them feel less than important? Body language is another major form of communication that we must remember ~ are we standoff-ish toward them or do we portray a welcoming, approachable attitude toward our kiddos? Hopefully, they feel like they are walking into a Giant Momma Bear Hug when they see us!
Second, Strengthen (your children) in all your prayers ~ As we pray for these kiddos of ours, as we pour out our hearts in their behalf…I so firmly believe that Heavenly Father will hear our prayers and that he will come to the aid of our babies…they need our strength, our hope, our faith, our belief – especially of them! We must always pray for these special little spirits that have been sent to us!
Third, Strengthen (your children) in all your exhortations ~ As we address these little people of ours, we can do so emphatically, we can urge them in doing “something”, whatever that something may be, but again we can do this in a manner that is strengthening and not damaging to their little spirits. As mothers, we are sure to exhort our children numerous times in their lives, let it be felt with love and tenderness, leaving harsh and abrupt feelings behind, always remembering that we are to strengthen & uplift them.
And finally, the scripture says “In ALL your Doings”…Strengthen (your children) in all your doings~ well, that pretty much sums it up…IN ALL THAT WE DO, in all of our moments with our kiddos, or in thought of them, or in prayer for them, in each and every moment of each and every day we have the opportunity to bless the lives of our children by strengthening them and building them and assisting them in gaining their own living testimonies.
It is my prayer that our children will see and feel the love that we have for them
…that they will never have cause to doubt the love of a mother.
That if there is ever a tomorrow when we’re not together…
they will know we will always be right there with them.
Wishing you a fabulous end to your summer days and a splendid beginning to your adventurous school days!
I absolutely LOVE this quote…makes my heart swell with joy each time I read it. I would love to put it on vinyl or paint it up and hang it in our boys’ and girls’ bedrooms having it come from “Mom” so that they always remember how deeply I love them. When I read this little gem, I can’t help but reflect on motherhood, specifically, my role as Momma and how well I do or do not fulfill this all-encompassing role.
A few of the thoughts that have been running through my mind…
“What is it like to be my child?”
“If I were a child of mine, would I be happy?”
“Would I love being around me?”
“Would I feel loved by me?”
“Would I feel special?”
“Would I feel worthy and important?”
“Would I want to be with me?”
“Am I the kind of Mother I would wish to have?”
“Do they feel welcome, wanted, valued?”
“Can my children see the love I feel for them in my eyes and in my countenance?”
I love the following scripture; I added a couple of things that I feel help in fully understanding the significance: (When it just says “brethren”, it doesn’t do it for me, but adding in those that are “real in my world” makes it such a strong & deeply important scripture for me to pay attention to)
“Therefore, strengthen your
in ALL your conversation, in ALL your prayers, in ALL your exhortations, and in ALL your doings. (D&C 108:7)
It is up to us, up to ME and YOU, to strengthen these little families of ours in ALL that we do…this scripture points out four areas of focus: I plan to address how to strengthen our children (hubbies will have to be covered at another time)…
First, Strengthen (your children) in all your conversation~ As we converse with our children, we have the ability to build them up or tear them down…let it be our goal to always lift them, to help them see the beauty and the potential they each possess. As I think of this, I also wonder if I am the kind of listener that they need, that they deserve. Do they feel that what they have to say is important and worthwhile to me or do I shut them down, making them feel less than important? Body language is another major form of communication that we must remember ~ are we standoff-ish toward them or do we portray a welcoming, approachable attitude toward our kiddos? Hopefully, they feel like they are walking into a Giant Momma Bear Hug when they see us!
Second, Strengthen (your children) in all your prayers ~ As we pray for these kiddos of ours, as we pour out our hearts in their behalf…I so firmly believe that Heavenly Father will hear our prayers and that he will come to the aid of our babies…they need our strength, our hope, our faith, our belief – especially of them! We must always pray for these special little spirits that have been sent to us!
Third, Strengthen (your children) in all your exhortations ~ As we address these little people of ours, we can do so emphatically, we can urge them in doing “something”, whatever that something may be, but again we can do this in a manner that is strengthening and not damaging to their little spirits. As mothers, we are sure to exhort our children numerous times in their lives, let it be felt with love and tenderness, leaving harsh and abrupt feelings behind, always remembering that we are to strengthen & uplift them.
And finally, the scripture says “In ALL your Doings”…Strengthen (your children) in all your doings~ well, that pretty much sums it up…IN ALL THAT WE DO, in all of our moments with our kiddos, or in thought of them, or in prayer for them, in each and every moment of each and every day we have the opportunity to bless the lives of our children by strengthening them and building them and assisting them in gaining their own living testimonies.
It is my prayer that our children will see and feel the love that we have for them
…that they will never have cause to doubt the love of a mother.
That if there is ever a tomorrow when we’re not together…
they will know we will always be right there with them.
Wishing you a fabulous end to your summer days and a splendid beginning to your adventurous school days!
My July Homeschool Message
The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the Oak Tree’s leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs
and pulled its bark
until the Oak was tired and stark.
But still the Oak Tree held its ground
while other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
“How can you still be standing oak?”
The Oak Tree said, “I know that you
can break each branch of mine in two,
carry every leaf away,
shake my limbs and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see
they are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
of just how much I could endure.
But now I’ve found with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.”
As I contemplate the beauty and truths found in this simple poem, I feel a deep appreciation for the freedoms that we all share….
Living in the United States is a blessing, and we have the added blessing of living in Idaho ~ freedoms abound here!
We have the freedom to help our kiddos establish the strongest, deepest roots during our days with them. The powerful influence that a homeschooling mother has is beautiful and can help to sustain our kids through the most difficult of times. Mighty winds will surely challenge our will, our strength, our endurance; we may feel helpless as these storms torment and try us ~ BUT it is in these moments of struggle that we and our children will recognize what this little oak tree so tenderly stated, “I’m stronger than I ever knew!”
For the Little Oak, it was the mighty wind that finally, through complete exasperation, became weary as the Oak never wavered and continued to stand tall and firm. For us, the challenges come in many forms, but just as that little oak, with its deep roots was able to endure, so are we able to push through anything that may come our way. My prayer for our children is that we, as mothers, will help them in establishing (and recognizing) roots that will make the most horrendous, terrifying storms weaken at the sight of their strength and ability to endure ALL!
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the Oak Tree’s leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs
and pulled its bark
until the Oak was tired and stark.
But still the Oak Tree held its ground
while other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,“How can you still be standing oak?”
The Oak Tree said, “I know that you
can break each branch of mine in two,
carry every leaf away,
shake my limbs and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see
they are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
of just how much I could endure.
But now I’ve found with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.”
As I contemplate the beauty and truths found in this simple poem, I feel a deep appreciation for the freedoms that we all share….
Living in the United States is a blessing, and we have the added blessing of living in Idaho ~ freedoms abound here!
We have the freedom to help our kiddos establish the strongest, deepest roots during our days with them. The powerful influence that a homeschooling mother has is beautiful and can help to sustain our kids through the most difficult of times. Mighty winds will surely challenge our will, our strength, our endurance; we may feel helpless as these storms torment and try us ~ BUT it is in these moments of struggle that we and our children will recognize what this little oak tree so tenderly stated, “I’m stronger than I ever knew!”
For the Little Oak, it was the mighty wind that finally, through complete exasperation, became weary as the Oak never wavered and continued to stand tall and firm. For us, the challenges come in many forms, but just as that little oak, with its deep roots was able to endure, so are we able to push through anything that may come our way. My prayer for our children is that we, as mothers, will help them in establishing (and recognizing) roots that will make the most horrendous, terrifying storms weaken at the sight of their strength and ability to endure ALL!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
MY stuff...
I have a super amazing friend who wrote me a little email just yesterday...as I read it, I couldn't help but laugh out loud...I wasn't laughing at her, I was rolling inside because I couldn't count the number of times I had felt the exact same way during my years as Mom.
Her was the jest of her "complaint"...
Nothing is off limits, everyone is into everything all the time, there is no privacy, they are always into my stuff,.. (she said it much more eloquently and precisely than I have, but I think you can visualize this, especially if YOU are the Mom)
Throughout my (almost) 26 years of being the Momma,
I have often wondered if anything really is Mine?
Do I have MY STUFF?
Or do I simply think I have stuff that is all mine?
Hmmmm....Well...here is my conclusion,
when you are the Mom,
nothing (nope, not a single thing) is really all yours.
I'd like to think so, but nope, not one solitary item is safe from all these kiddos...
not my clothes,
or my makeup,
or my tweezers,
or my favorite pen,
or my shoes,
not my favorite chocolate,
not even the stamps in my drawer that are for mailing bills or invoices ~ they are used as stickers,
not my bed or my pillow,
not my food or my drink,
not my socks ~ I'm certain I did not put those grass-stains & holes there,
lotion gone when I need it,
the shampoo and conditioner from my shower -- nope that's not mine either,
chap stick or lip gloss -- must not really be mine,
jewelry, belts, hair ties,
my car keys,
nothing is safe from those little people ~
They all believe that My stuff is fair game...
Community Property...
Not Mom Property ~
it's really here for the entire world to share.
Aaauuugggghhhhhh --
And while we are at it, why don't we just go into the hovering child...they want to be in on every conversation, they usually have a little tid-bit to add here and there, they want to be with you always, they must not realize that they are not adults. Not so sure what must be going through that little mind???
Sadly, I must admit, I have been found guilty of yelling out ugly little phrases that might sound something like this,
"That is MY Stuff, stay out of it!"
"No, not the stamps again, those are mine, your stickers are in this drawer!"
"Where are my tweezers, why do you need them, why do you have to take them, WHY can't YOU put them back?"
And from the shower, "Where is my conditioner???? OR Shut off the hot water, don't you know I am in the shower and this hot water is MINE?"
"Where is MY paper cutter,
or MY scissors,
how about MY tape?"
From my little ones all the way up, I have been heard to say,
"Those are my shoes, why are the covered in MUD?"
...even to my boys who will grab my flip flops to go run outside and then leave them heaven knows where!" (Thank goodness everyone has bigger feet now than I do, with the exception of my two little ones...)
My desk is another one,
it is no longer my desk,
it has been taken over my the masses!
I thought I had fixed that little problem and put a nice little table up in MY room,
well, now they all love that space too, and it's MINE!
I don't even have legs that belong to me...my lap is used up most of the time holding little bodies or big bodies
(BUT, I am not even going to complain about this one! At least they love me and want to sit on top of me!)
Which brings me to my true, deep down feelings about MY STUFF...
and the kids who think MY STUFF is THEIR STUFF!
IT IS WONDERFUL...
It is a blessing...
I believe it speaks of the safety they feel...HOORAY!!!
It is okay to use all of my stuff or eat or drink all of my stuff, it is okay to mess up all of my stuff and sometimes even lose all of my stuff, because they know I am still gonna love 'em all just the same, because they rank way up at the top of all my stuff! I may go off in a tyrant sort of way, flipping out that My Stuff isn't the same as it was before, but that's about as bad as it's ever going to get.
Oh and let us not again forget our little hoverers'...
Those adorable little people wish to be with us, they love our company, they must love what we have to say, we need to soak these moments up and treasure them...I know while in the moment of a hovering child, sometimes we feel a little "crowded", BUT we are actually really sweetly blessed ~ they will not always wish to hang around ~ there comes a few years when we don't rank up there quite as we once did...those are the days you'll wish you would have allowed, even encouraged a little more hovering.
If my kiddos tip-toed around worried about what was okay to touch or do or eat or drink or listen in on; that would be the real problem...(I still wish they'd stay out of my chocolates)... but, I would much rather they felt safe and free to enjoy ALL the good things in life. (Alright, even my chocolate!)
Soon enough, they'll all be grown and gone;
and then I will walk around wishing those little someones would mess up and move about all the stuff that I now wish I didn't have to call just "MY STUFF".
Her was the jest of her "complaint"...
Nothing is off limits, everyone is into everything all the time, there is no privacy, they are always into my stuff,.. (she said it much more eloquently and precisely than I have, but I think you can visualize this, especially if YOU are the Mom)
Throughout my (almost) 26 years of being the Momma,
I have often wondered if anything really is Mine?
Do I have MY STUFF?
Or do I simply think I have stuff that is all mine?
Hmmmm....Well...here is my conclusion,
when you are the Mom,
nothing (nope, not a single thing) is really all yours.
I'd like to think so, but nope, not one solitary item is safe from all these kiddos...
not my clothes,
or my makeup,
or my tweezers,
or my favorite pen,
or my shoes,
not my favorite chocolate,
not even the stamps in my drawer that are for mailing bills or invoices ~ they are used as stickers,
not my bed or my pillow,
not my food or my drink,
not my socks ~ I'm certain I did not put those grass-stains & holes there,
lotion gone when I need it,
the shampoo and conditioner from my shower -- nope that's not mine either,
chap stick or lip gloss -- must not really be mine,
jewelry, belts, hair ties,
my car keys,
nothing is safe from those little people ~
They all believe that My stuff is fair game...
Community Property...
Not Mom Property ~
it's really here for the entire world to share.
Aaauuugggghhhhhh --
And while we are at it, why don't we just go into the hovering child...they want to be in on every conversation, they usually have a little tid-bit to add here and there, they want to be with you always, they must not realize that they are not adults. Not so sure what must be going through that little mind???
Sadly, I must admit, I have been found guilty of yelling out ugly little phrases that might sound something like this,
"That is MY Stuff, stay out of it!"
"No, not the stamps again, those are mine, your stickers are in this drawer!"
"Where are my tweezers, why do you need them, why do you have to take them, WHY can't YOU put them back?"
And from the shower, "Where is my conditioner???? OR Shut off the hot water, don't you know I am in the shower and this hot water is MINE?"
"Where is MY paper cutter,
or MY scissors,
how about MY tape?"
From my little ones all the way up, I have been heard to say,
"Those are my shoes, why are the covered in MUD?"
...even to my boys who will grab my flip flops to go run outside and then leave them heaven knows where!" (Thank goodness everyone has bigger feet now than I do, with the exception of my two little ones...)
My desk is another one,
it is no longer my desk,
it has been taken over my the masses!
I thought I had fixed that little problem and put a nice little table up in MY room,
well, now they all love that space too, and it's MINE!
I don't even have legs that belong to me...my lap is used up most of the time holding little bodies or big bodies
(BUT, I am not even going to complain about this one! At least they love me and want to sit on top of me!)
Which brings me to my true, deep down feelings about MY STUFF...
and the kids who think MY STUFF is THEIR STUFF!
IT IS WONDERFUL...
It is a blessing...
I believe it speaks of the safety they feel...HOORAY!!!
It is okay to use all of my stuff or eat or drink all of my stuff, it is okay to mess up all of my stuff and sometimes even lose all of my stuff, because they know I am still gonna love 'em all just the same, because they rank way up at the top of all my stuff! I may go off in a tyrant sort of way, flipping out that My Stuff isn't the same as it was before, but that's about as bad as it's ever going to get.
Oh and let us not again forget our little hoverers'...
Those adorable little people wish to be with us, they love our company, they must love what we have to say, we need to soak these moments up and treasure them...I know while in the moment of a hovering child, sometimes we feel a little "crowded", BUT we are actually really sweetly blessed ~ they will not always wish to hang around ~ there comes a few years when we don't rank up there quite as we once did...those are the days you'll wish you would have allowed, even encouraged a little more hovering.
If my kiddos tip-toed around worried about what was okay to touch or do or eat or drink or listen in on; that would be the real problem...(I still wish they'd stay out of my chocolates)... but, I would much rather they felt safe and free to enjoy ALL the good things in life. (Alright, even my chocolate!)
Soon enough, they'll all be grown and gone;
and then I will walk around wishing those little someones would mess up and move about all the stuff that I now wish I didn't have to call just "MY STUFF".
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Yep, I got it good!
Okay, so I need to thank whomever has been praying for us...
I'm kinda thinkin' that maybe Heavenly Father just wanted me to pay attention, to re-focus (AGAIN), to search for the blessings that surround me.
Anyway ~
Last night I wrote a post and was waaayyyyyyyyyyy to whiny...so sorry...
But some days are just like that...
Well, my mini-van is up and running! Yippee!!!
Drove it a couple of times this morning and it seems to be doing okay.
Big van ~
still in the works ~
hopefully tonight this miracle man of mine will be able to work his magic and we'll have two cars that run again...
(keepin' my fingers crossed)...
if not tonight, I know he'll have it as soon as possible ~
that's just the way he is...He never gives up!
He is a wonderful example to me and to our kiddos!
I felt so sorry for him last night and felt a tremendous amount of guilt...
he came in after working on the vans, not sure what time it was and saw that I was writing away on my blog.
He read my words and then as we were snuggling and talking, he said,
"I'm sorry your life is so hard."
I wanted to cry...
My life is not hard...it is beautiful, just some days are harder than others...
What I wanted him to know the very most was that my worry and my stress were for him...
He works so hard, does everything he can to provide for our family, I've never seen anyone work like this wonderful husband I have ~ He is simply willing to do whatever it takes, nothing is beneath him and I love that about him, yet it seems that the troubles he has to face are never-ending, I just wish I could protect him from all of that...just wrap him up and not let anymore yucky stuff enter his bubble. But we all know that's not gonna happen ~ so instead I'll just wrap my arms around him and hope he always knows how appreciated and loved he is.
I am just filled with an overwhelming love for him and for my life...
I have a very sweet friend, Jeneen, who just wrote a beautiful post and I would like to ditto all of her words...
I really wouldn't change anything about my world ~ I have the best life...struggles, trials and all...
And if I had all the money in the world and could do anything I would wish...
Guess what??? ~
I wouldn't change a thing...I'd still wake up each day and dance in the kitchen with my hubby and play around with my kiddos, spending the day learning and growing together, and hopefully at the end of each day go to My Heavenly Father in prayer thanking him for all of the goodness that surrounds me!
Yes, life really is that good; broken down cars and all! :0)
I'm kinda thinkin' that maybe Heavenly Father just wanted me to pay attention, to re-focus (AGAIN), to search for the blessings that surround me.
Anyway ~
Last night I wrote a post and was waaayyyyyyyyyyy to whiny...so sorry...
But some days are just like that...
Well, my mini-van is up and running! Yippee!!!
Drove it a couple of times this morning and it seems to be doing okay.
Big van ~
still in the works ~
hopefully tonight this miracle man of mine will be able to work his magic and we'll have two cars that run again...
(keepin' my fingers crossed)...
if not tonight, I know he'll have it as soon as possible ~
that's just the way he is...He never gives up!
He is a wonderful example to me and to our kiddos!
I felt so sorry for him last night and felt a tremendous amount of guilt...
he came in after working on the vans, not sure what time it was and saw that I was writing away on my blog.
He read my words and then as we were snuggling and talking, he said,
"I'm sorry your life is so hard."
I wanted to cry...
My life is not hard...it is beautiful, just some days are harder than others...
What I wanted him to know the very most was that my worry and my stress were for him...
He works so hard, does everything he can to provide for our family, I've never seen anyone work like this wonderful husband I have ~ He is simply willing to do whatever it takes, nothing is beneath him and I love that about him, yet it seems that the troubles he has to face are never-ending, I just wish I could protect him from all of that...just wrap him up and not let anymore yucky stuff enter his bubble. But we all know that's not gonna happen ~ so instead I'll just wrap my arms around him and hope he always knows how appreciated and loved he is.
I am just filled with an overwhelming love for him and for my life...
I have a very sweet friend, Jeneen, who just wrote a beautiful post and I would like to ditto all of her words...
I really wouldn't change anything about my world ~ I have the best life...struggles, trials and all...
And if I had all the money in the world and could do anything I would wish...
Guess what??? ~
I wouldn't change a thing...I'd still wake up each day and dance in the kitchen with my hubby and play around with my kiddos, spending the day learning and growing together, and hopefully at the end of each day go to My Heavenly Father in prayer thanking him for all of the goodness that surrounds me!
Yes, life really is that good; broken down cars and all! :0)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Some days are just like that...
Do you ever think to yourself thoughts that might resemble these:
"Really? How much more can I take?"
"WHY ME?"
"I'm tired of this testing thing!"
"I'm obviously not very bright, if I were...You probably wouldn't have to keep trying to teach me the same lesson over and over and over!"
Well, some of these not-so-nice thoughts raced through my mind this evening...and then a beautiful thing happened!
But first...
A little background to help set the stage for this beautiful moment...
~ a few weeks ago, our truck died after we had leant it out to someone...okay, we can deal with that, not a happy moment, but certainly not the end of the world.
Shortly after the truck incident, our desktop computer (which is our BUSINESS computer) decided it's life had come to an end.
A few days ago, our big van was on its last leg, so my hubby went to work fixing away...well, it has been a major pain the tushie for him...as I write, he is STILL diligently working away on it. Last I checked it was still spraying fuel all over the place...not a good thing, especially when gas costs what it does...we don't want to be wasting that precious stuff!
Today, while this dear man of mine is working on the big van, our mini-van overheated and died, leaving myself and 6 of the Young Women I teach stranded (only momentarily) on the side of the road.
Add to all of this the fact that work is not nearly as busy as would be desired...
school is right around the corner and I want so desperately to stock up on school supplies
(not gonna happen...again, really not a big deal)
but I am just feeling a tad bit displeased with our current situation...
I guess I just really don't like trying to decide which bills can be paid
and which ones simply cannot,
or having to budget too tightly when I'd love to just go blow a huge stack of bills on some delish groceries,
or having to wait on that very much desired curriculum I'd love to add to my kiddos schedule...
Well...
all of this is running rampantly through my mind
as I sit on the side of the road...
now mind you...
I cannot have my little melt-down,
that just wouldn't be appropriate as I have this adorable group of girls in my van...
so I have to keep it together
even though it is the very last thing I really want to do.
I want to jump up and down
and have myself a little tissy fit,
or maybe rolling around on the ground
hitting my fists
and stomping my feet down
might be a better release.
Instead, I just smiled,
made a phone call to take care of these girls,
and then reluctantly dialed my hubby to give him even more bad news.
His reply was simply, "Find a Match!"
Okay, so are you ready for the beautiful thing that happened?
I am,
I now need a reminder of how amazing life is after that big ugly list!
Well, we had a couple of leaders in other cars show up to retrieve the girls and take them to our activity...
A little testimony fireside...
And then a friend picked me up...
I couldn't decide if I should just go home and
wallow in self-pity
or go on with the evening as though nothing had ever happened.
I decided on the latter and am very grateful for that decision.
In the car, I vented just a smidge, okay maybe a little more than a smidge...
I was frustrated and the very last thing I was thinking was anything of a positive, uplifting nature.
So how does it happen,
that during moments of desperation,
the Spirit can just touch our hearts and bring peace to us?
How is that through all of the hard things are happening around us,
the Spirit helps to point out to me all of the wonders that are right before my eyes on a daily basis?
How is it that before I know it,
I am standing to bear testimony to all present at this little fireside, of just how mindful my Savior is of me...
even though we have these struggles and these trials,
I know we will be okay,
we will make it through.
We are just that strong...
we have been through worse...
we have survived...
we will survive!
I walked away from an evening that could have brought me a restless night of turmoil had I chosen to focus on the difficult things at hand...but instead, through the examples of others and through the touching and promptings of the Spirit, I was able to come away feeling whole and strong and confident in the fact that ALL will be okay with our little family.
I have come to find that Some days are just hard...
But we have the power within ourselves to come out on top of the world,
IF we choose to.
I'm grateful for the sweet reminders that I received this beautiful night and hope that I can keep a good perspective and remember ~
Some days are just like that...and it really is okay...
"Really? How much more can I take?"
"WHY ME?"
"I'm tired of this testing thing!"
"I'm obviously not very bright, if I were...You probably wouldn't have to keep trying to teach me the same lesson over and over and over!"
Well, some of these not-so-nice thoughts raced through my mind this evening...and then a beautiful thing happened!
But first...
A little background to help set the stage for this beautiful moment...
~ a few weeks ago, our truck died after we had leant it out to someone...okay, we can deal with that, not a happy moment, but certainly not the end of the world.
Shortly after the truck incident, our desktop computer (which is our BUSINESS computer) decided it's life had come to an end.
A few days ago, our big van was on its last leg, so my hubby went to work fixing away...well, it has been a major pain the tushie for him...as I write, he is STILL diligently working away on it. Last I checked it was still spraying fuel all over the place...not a good thing, especially when gas costs what it does...we don't want to be wasting that precious stuff!
Today, while this dear man of mine is working on the big van, our mini-van overheated and died, leaving myself and 6 of the Young Women I teach stranded (only momentarily) on the side of the road.
Add to all of this the fact that work is not nearly as busy as would be desired...
school is right around the corner and I want so desperately to stock up on school supplies
(not gonna happen...again, really not a big deal)
but I am just feeling a tad bit displeased with our current situation...
I guess I just really don't like trying to decide which bills can be paid
and which ones simply cannot,
or having to budget too tightly when I'd love to just go blow a huge stack of bills on some delish groceries,
or having to wait on that very much desired curriculum I'd love to add to my kiddos schedule...
Well...
all of this is running rampantly through my mind
as I sit on the side of the road...
now mind you...
I cannot have my little melt-down,
that just wouldn't be appropriate as I have this adorable group of girls in my van...
so I have to keep it together
even though it is the very last thing I really want to do.
I want to jump up and down
and have myself a little tissy fit,
or maybe rolling around on the ground
hitting my fists
and stomping my feet down
might be a better release.
Instead, I just smiled,
made a phone call to take care of these girls,
and then reluctantly dialed my hubby to give him even more bad news.
His reply was simply, "Find a Match!"
Okay, so are you ready for the beautiful thing that happened?
I am,
I now need a reminder of how amazing life is after that big ugly list!
Well, we had a couple of leaders in other cars show up to retrieve the girls and take them to our activity...
A little testimony fireside...
And then a friend picked me up...
I couldn't decide if I should just go home and
wallow in self-pity
or go on with the evening as though nothing had ever happened.
I decided on the latter and am very grateful for that decision.
In the car, I vented just a smidge, okay maybe a little more than a smidge...
I was frustrated and the very last thing I was thinking was anything of a positive, uplifting nature.
So how does it happen,
that during moments of desperation,
the Spirit can just touch our hearts and bring peace to us?
How is that through all of the hard things are happening around us,
the Spirit helps to point out to me all of the wonders that are right before my eyes on a daily basis?
How is it that before I know it,
I am standing to bear testimony to all present at this little fireside, of just how mindful my Savior is of me...
even though we have these struggles and these trials,
I know we will be okay,
we will make it through.
We are just that strong...
we have been through worse...
we have survived...
we will survive!
I walked away from an evening that could have brought me a restless night of turmoil had I chosen to focus on the difficult things at hand...but instead, through the examples of others and through the touching and promptings of the Spirit, I was able to come away feeling whole and strong and confident in the fact that ALL will be okay with our little family.
I have come to find that Some days are just hard...
But we have the power within ourselves to come out on top of the world,
IF we choose to.
I'm grateful for the sweet reminders that I received this beautiful night and hope that I can keep a good perspective and remember ~
Some days are just like that...and it really is okay...
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Tea Parties, Tangled, 4-Wheelers, Boats & Temples...
I'm back from my little sabbatical...every time I am away from YOU, my dear blog, I miss you terribly. Life has been full and I needed a little re-grouping time. So much to catch up on...
Guess I'll just hit this week's highlights ~ what a magnificent, but crazy full week!!!
Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to enjoy a VERY SPECIAL DAY...this is a yearly treat...2 of my very favorite people in the whole world and I have birthdays all within a very short time span...soooo, each year we get together and go do something fun.
I look forward to this day every single year!
It's just a really special time to share with people who mean the world to me!
LOVE YOU BOTH...
This year we had a scrumptious breakfast at Miss Tami's Tea House in Meridian...if you've never been, YOU MUST GO!
It is really all about us girls...hubbies wouldn't love it nearly enough to go, so grab your sweet friends and make a date!
Some day I think we should gather a big ol' group of us,
rent the whole place
and dress up in our favorite little party hats
and throw the best tea party ever...
when I sit in this lovely little tea house I secretly wish to be a little girl again...
all dressed up...
so that is the reason for the hats ~
oh, and maybe we should all have the dainty little lace gloves that go up to our elbows...
who is with me on this one??? Let's make a plan!
Okay, moving on...
Monday evening we had the missionaries over for dinner...they spent a little extra time with us and gave such a beautiful lesson on Faith, Prayers & Un-answered prayers, Feeling the Spirit and identifying it...such timely and peaceful words to hear. I felt so pleased and happy with all that they shared with our family. What a treat to have them in our home on a regular basis! Such sweet young men doing such a special work!
This week has been full of planning for SCHOOL ~
cannot believe it is just around the corner.
I really love this time of year...I feel that I just come alive...so many "things" just come to me...everything falls into place and new pieces find their way into my hands! I always walk away feeling so blessed and so grateful for the opportunity to have our kiddos home with us!
Tuesday was a mighty full day around the Lytle House...we cleaned like crazy!
We started working on the classroom ~ this was good and bad.
The good was that I was quite excited to get things ready for a new year,
the bad was that we started it and had a very short deadline in which to have this room ready for use. Tuesday evening, I had all of the Young Women in our ward over for a movie night...TANGLED...Love this movie!
What a great night! ~
AND the classroom was even presentable.
(Much thanks to my kids for all of their hard work...especially Danielle!)
The boys hooked up the laptop to our projector and voila ~ huge movie screen...
the girls quoted line after line after line of the movie..
it was delightful to have them all here.
I REALLY LOVE MY CALLING with all of these sweet girls!!!
Just this past month I gave a talk on "Tangled"...I will have to do a little writing on the significance I found within this gem of a movie...coming soon! :0)
Thursday night was another marvelous time in my week!
For those who do not know this about me...
I absolutely LOVE homeschooling mothers and I LOVE events with them!
Fills my cup to overflowing!!!
Earlier this spring, the Spirit was overwhelmingly present in my heart that I should lead DHSA, our local Homeschooling Support Group...I fought it pretty hard...but have learned that it does me no good to ignore the Spirit...I do my best to listen and to act when I am asked to do so. I cannot tell you how very grateful I am that I followed this prompting. We had our first Mothers' Meeting of the year and it was wonderful...so many amazing women in one place at one time...there is nothing quite like a group of women, with the same purpose at hand, all bouncing ideas back and forth. You walk away from times like these feeling like you are floating about on a big fluffy white cloud surrounded by a whole bunch of best friends! What a beautiful night ~thank you to all who were there who made it such a bright spot in my week!
And then I have to cover Friday...it was my birthday...I am tellin' ya' it was quite a celebration around here! I am one lucky wife, mother and friend! First I woke up to a bunch of sweet kids and an adorable husband...that sweet man of mine took me out for the day...we had a super yummy breakfast together and then headed out for an adventure!
He is always great for an adventure...life with him is an adventure...always exciting, never dull, never boring! Not sure how I got so lucky!!!
We took the 4-Wheeler up the trail to Silver City...
what a perfect day...the weather was outstanding, the scenery breath-taking and the company could not have been better!
I love it when we just take one 4-wheeler to share because then we can talk and point things out to one another.
There were so many beautiful wild flowers,
and sweet little butterflies all about,
we saw several hawks soaring overhead,
amazing rock formations
and trees everywhere.
I counted every water crossing we came upon...16 of 'em...well, one I probably shouldn't have counted, it was more like a puddle, but hey it was water and we crossed it, so I counted it! This trail was a little more challenging than it had been in the past, due to the water that must have roared down the mountains and through the canyons...the ruts in the middle of the trail were at times a little more intimidating than I was prepared for and the rocks and boulders were everywhere, but we managed through all of it just fine. It's actually pretty exciting to make it through a "Scary area" and then look back at it knowing you had easily conquered it...might sound kinda silly, but it was mighty fantastic!
And I have to tell ya'...I think maybe I should just take up riding 4-wheelers everyday...my muscles were more tender and sore after our day out than they are after a day of cardio and weight lifting...didn't expect that. Must have been all that holding on for dear life that got me!!! Another little tid-bit of info on me...
some of you may already know this,
but I have, well,
let's call it issues...
I cannot sit on the back of a 4-wheeler and ride behind anyone...
scares the tarnation right outta me!
I still cannot decide if this is a
control issue or a trust issue...
BUT, today, I did it...and I have to add it was on some pretty treacherous terrain...
I just had to keep reminding myself to breathe...I am so lucky to have such a wonderfully patient husband...he just "gets" me and still loves me!
Well, after we made it up to Silver City,
we went into the Idaho Hotel, the 2nd oldest building in all of Idaho...they had freshly baked homemade pies...We just had to have some, after all it was my birthday! Oh my goodness, might have truly been the very tastiest homemade pie I've ever enjoyed....the crust was perfect!!! I think I might need to add this to my list of to-do's...MUST learn how to make tremendous Pie Crust...if you have a super recipe....please share!!!
Well, after our delicious pie eating moment (which had an extra little bonus...right outside the window from our seats, we watched an adorable little hummingbird), we headed back on that same trail we'd come up...the hardest part of this is that YOU KNOW what is ahead of you and you have to go back the same way you came...I held my breath a few times and buried my eyes in my hubbies back, YES, I was on the back, behind him, trusting him the entire time! I think I may have just about squeezed the life right out of him a few times, but he didn't complain too loudly! :0)
I probably should have paid attention to the fact that he was much more interested in his watch than normal...we arrived home to find a driveway filled with cars and a back yard filled with happy people ready to finish off this perfect day!
I remember looking at my husband
and saying something to the effect of,
"Do you see me?
I've been on a four wheeler all day
and you've thrown me a surprise party?!
I must look terrible!"
Well, he is MR.WONDERFUL himself,
and he just smiled at me and told me I look beautiful,
so I got out of the car and enjoyed a perfectly wonderful party!
Okay, there is one thing that made him not so wonderful...
on my birthday cake, he put on the number candles --
Probably because there were too many to count to add single ones...
,
BUT he didn't do it right...
what I saw was the number 122!!!
He got a good laugh outta that one,
but all I could say is "Man, I look down right amazing for that age!"
Well, you'd think this week should come to a close at this point, but it just keeps on going!
Saturday, we had a boating trip for the Youth in our ward...great, great day! I think they all had a wonderful time. Again, I have to say how much I love my calling and how much I enjoy all of these sweet kids...I think I ate a bit too much watermelon and maybe a few too many cookies! I came home last night and sat down...felt like the first time I'd sat all week...then I spent a little time on Facebook and found sooooo many wonderful birthday wishes...I'm tellin' ya, I feel pretty loved!
And now we come to this day, Sunday...Sundays are Sundays around here...each morning we wake up, rush about like a bunch of crazy people to make it to church on time and then sit and enjoy a day of renewing ourselves...Today was fantastic... Our son, Bryce, gave his first Sacrament Meeting Talk....he did such an amazing job! He wrote a beautiful talk on Temples...I am always so surprised and pleased at what young people can come up with...We really do not give them credit for how simply amazing they are! I really love being a Mom and love watching my kiddos shine!
I have a truly wonderful life! Thank you for being part of it! :0)
Guess I'll just hit this week's highlights ~ what a magnificent, but crazy full week!!!
Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to enjoy a VERY SPECIAL DAY...this is a yearly treat...2 of my very favorite people in the whole world and I have birthdays all within a very short time span...soooo, each year we get together and go do something fun.
I look forward to this day every single year!
It's just a really special time to share with people who mean the world to me!
LOVE YOU BOTH...
This year we had a scrumptious breakfast at Miss Tami's Tea House in Meridian...if you've never been, YOU MUST GO!
It is really all about us girls...hubbies wouldn't love it nearly enough to go, so grab your sweet friends and make a date!
Some day I think we should gather a big ol' group of us,
rent the whole place
and dress up in our favorite little party hats
and throw the best tea party ever...
when I sit in this lovely little tea house I secretly wish to be a little girl again...
all dressed up...
so that is the reason for the hats ~
oh, and maybe we should all have the dainty little lace gloves that go up to our elbows...
who is with me on this one??? Let's make a plan!
Okay, moving on...Monday evening we had the missionaries over for dinner...they spent a little extra time with us and gave such a beautiful lesson on Faith, Prayers & Un-answered prayers, Feeling the Spirit and identifying it...such timely and peaceful words to hear. I felt so pleased and happy with all that they shared with our family. What a treat to have them in our home on a regular basis! Such sweet young men doing such a special work!
This week has been full of planning for SCHOOL ~
cannot believe it is just around the corner.
I really love this time of year...I feel that I just come alive...so many "things" just come to me...everything falls into place and new pieces find their way into my hands! I always walk away feeling so blessed and so grateful for the opportunity to have our kiddos home with us!
Tuesday was a mighty full day around the Lytle House...we cleaned like crazy!
We started working on the classroom ~ this was good and bad.
The good was that I was quite excited to get things ready for a new year,
the bad was that we started it and had a very short deadline in which to have this room ready for use. Tuesday evening, I had all of the Young Women in our ward over for a movie night...TANGLED...Love this movie!
What a great night! ~
AND the classroom was even presentable.
(Much thanks to my kids for all of their hard work...especially Danielle!)
The boys hooked up the laptop to our projector and voila ~ huge movie screen...
the girls quoted line after line after line of the movie..
it was delightful to have them all here.
I REALLY LOVE MY CALLING with all of these sweet girls!!!
Just this past month I gave a talk on "Tangled"...I will have to do a little writing on the significance I found within this gem of a movie...coming soon! :0)
Thursday night was another marvelous time in my week!
For those who do not know this about me...
I absolutely LOVE homeschooling mothers and I LOVE events with them!
Fills my cup to overflowing!!!
Earlier this spring, the Spirit was overwhelmingly present in my heart that I should lead DHSA, our local Homeschooling Support Group...I fought it pretty hard...but have learned that it does me no good to ignore the Spirit...I do my best to listen and to act when I am asked to do so. I cannot tell you how very grateful I am that I followed this prompting. We had our first Mothers' Meeting of the year and it was wonderful...so many amazing women in one place at one time...there is nothing quite like a group of women, with the same purpose at hand, all bouncing ideas back and forth. You walk away from times like these feeling like you are floating about on a big fluffy white cloud surrounded by a whole bunch of best friends! What a beautiful night ~thank you to all who were there who made it such a bright spot in my week!
And then I have to cover Friday...it was my birthday...I am tellin' ya' it was quite a celebration around here! I am one lucky wife, mother and friend! First I woke up to a bunch of sweet kids and an adorable husband...that sweet man of mine took me out for the day...we had a super yummy breakfast together and then headed out for an adventure!
He is always great for an adventure...life with him is an adventure...always exciting, never dull, never boring! Not sure how I got so lucky!!!
We took the 4-Wheeler up the trail to Silver City...
what a perfect day...the weather was outstanding, the scenery breath-taking and the company could not have been better!
I love it when we just take one 4-wheeler to share because then we can talk and point things out to one another.
There were so many beautiful wild flowers,
and sweet little butterflies all about,
we saw several hawks soaring overhead,
amazing rock formations
and trees everywhere.
I counted every water crossing we came upon...16 of 'em...well, one I probably shouldn't have counted, it was more like a puddle, but hey it was water and we crossed it, so I counted it! This trail was a little more challenging than it had been in the past, due to the water that must have roared down the mountains and through the canyons...the ruts in the middle of the trail were at times a little more intimidating than I was prepared for and the rocks and boulders were everywhere, but we managed through all of it just fine. It's actually pretty exciting to make it through a "Scary area" and then look back at it knowing you had easily conquered it...might sound kinda silly, but it was mighty fantastic!
And I have to tell ya'...I think maybe I should just take up riding 4-wheelers everyday...my muscles were more tender and sore after our day out than they are after a day of cardio and weight lifting...didn't expect that. Must have been all that holding on for dear life that got me!!! Another little tid-bit of info on me...
some of you may already know this,
but I have, well,
let's call it issues...
I cannot sit on the back of a 4-wheeler and ride behind anyone...
scares the tarnation right outta me!
I still cannot decide if this is a
control issue or a trust issue...
BUT, today, I did it...and I have to add it was on some pretty treacherous terrain...
I just had to keep reminding myself to breathe...I am so lucky to have such a wonderfully patient husband...he just "gets" me and still loves me!
Well, after we made it up to Silver City,
we went into the Idaho Hotel, the 2nd oldest building in all of Idaho...they had freshly baked homemade pies...We just had to have some, after all it was my birthday! Oh my goodness, might have truly been the very tastiest homemade pie I've ever enjoyed....the crust was perfect!!! I think I might need to add this to my list of to-do's...MUST learn how to make tremendous Pie Crust...if you have a super recipe....please share!!!Well, after our delicious pie eating moment (which had an extra little bonus...right outside the window from our seats, we watched an adorable little hummingbird), we headed back on that same trail we'd come up...the hardest part of this is that YOU KNOW what is ahead of you and you have to go back the same way you came...I held my breath a few times and buried my eyes in my hubbies back, YES, I was on the back, behind him, trusting him the entire time! I think I may have just about squeezed the life right out of him a few times, but he didn't complain too loudly! :0)
I probably should have paid attention to the fact that he was much more interested in his watch than normal...we arrived home to find a driveway filled with cars and a back yard filled with happy people ready to finish off this perfect day!
I remember looking at my husband
and saying something to the effect of,
"Do you see me?
I've been on a four wheeler all day
and you've thrown me a surprise party?!
I must look terrible!"
Well, he is MR.WONDERFUL himself,
and he just smiled at me and told me I look beautiful,
so I got out of the car and enjoyed a perfectly wonderful party!
Okay, there is one thing that made him not so wonderful...
on my birthday cake, he put on the number candles --
Probably because there were too many to count to add single ones...
,
BUT he didn't do it right...
what I saw was the number 122!!!
He got a good laugh outta that one,
but all I could say is "Man, I look down right amazing for that age!"
Well, you'd think this week should come to a close at this point, but it just keeps on going!
Saturday, we had a boating trip for the Youth in our ward...great, great day! I think they all had a wonderful time. Again, I have to say how much I love my calling and how much I enjoy all of these sweet kids...I think I ate a bit too much watermelon and maybe a few too many cookies! I came home last night and sat down...felt like the first time I'd sat all week...then I spent a little time on Facebook and found sooooo many wonderful birthday wishes...I'm tellin' ya, I feel pretty loved!
And now we come to this day, Sunday...Sundays are Sundays around here...each morning we wake up, rush about like a bunch of crazy people to make it to church on time and then sit and enjoy a day of renewing ourselves...Today was fantastic... Our son, Bryce, gave his first Sacrament Meeting Talk....he did such an amazing job! He wrote a beautiful talk on Temples...I am always so surprised and pleased at what young people can come up with...We really do not give them credit for how simply amazing they are! I really love being a Mom and love watching my kiddos shine!
I have a truly wonderful life! Thank you for being part of it! :0)
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