Blog Worthy

This week has been an especially hard week, wow and it's only Wednesday. Take aside that Scott is traveling and that Emmett is having surgery. I just feel like I am floating and can't seem to get a grip. You'll see what I mean as I add more posts from this week.

Anyway, I have noticed as I am floating and not seeming to get a grip, that the Lord shows me tender mercies for me to remember: God loves me and knows who I am. For that I am thankful and I get through each day.

I received the below in an email from my dearest friend, Deidra, who seems to know when to pick me up. I found that this woman truly got it right.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me..
It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood... But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

Can you believe it???

Our little peanut is 18 months old today: June 7, 2009. Can you believe it? I know I sure can't.


Today Emmett went into nursery at church. He did fabulous. Most 18 month old kids are frightened and notice that their parents have left them. I think Emmett was more elated to be left with kids and toys instead of being corralled by his parents during Sunday School and Relief Society. Remember that in the doctor's/therapist's eyes Emmett is just 16 months old, which in my eyes is the perfect age for nursery because they don't care about leaving their parents. Ask me again in a month or so if he's still so excited to go to nursery.
I have to admit that I was the paranoid mother today. I felt like it was my first child, well that's not true, cause I didn't feel like that with Garhett. Maybe I should have but Garhett was in daycare during the day, so nursery wasn't a big deal. Anyway, back on topic. I felt nervous to leave Emmett because nobody knows Emmett very well.
So I was a Nervous Nelly, checking on Emmett throughout Sunday School and Relief Society. The first time I peeked through the window, I noticed Emmett sitting on the floor eating something. So I rushed in and immediately started fishing out a blue crayon from Emmett's mouth. He had chunks in his mouth. The men that are the nursery leaders asked me what he had eaten, I explained a crayon. One of them said, "Well I told him not to do that?" (REALLY???? I don't know what world you live in, but generally an 18 month old doesn't stop when you say don't do that. Just my thoughts, I didn't say it out loud.) No worries, my first thought was to take him out, but I didn't. I cleaned him up and left.
Then a little bit went by and I checked on him again. Now it was snack time. All the kids were sitting around the table so nicely. I noticed that Emmett was sitting half on the chair, oh wait, there he goes, he fell off on to the floor. So I rushed in again. The men said, "Oh he's doing great, he's fine." I said, "Well he hasn't ever sat on a chair by himself before." One of the men said, "Where is he?" I said, "Oh Emmett, he just fell off the chair and is under the table". "OHH!"
Okay, so I left. I am sure the men in my ward, think I am crazy (or probably some other words), but you know what I don't care. Emmett seemed to do well. As soon as I picked him up at the end of church, he clung to me. He passed on lunch and went straight to nap time.
I still can't believe Emmett is old enough for nursery.
Emmett remember when you were just a little peanut.

• Remember when you were taken out of me at 31 weeks 6 days.
• Remember when you only weighed 3lbs 3oz.
• Remember when we could only touch your head and the bottoms of your feet for the first 5 days of your life.
• Remember when dad put his wedding band around your hand, and we both cried.
• Remember when you fit in your Christmas stocking and you wore a Build-A-Bear outfit.
• Remember when you came home from the NICU after 5 long weeks.
• Remember when you weighed a whopping 5 pounds.
• Remember when you came home from the hospital with an apnea monitor that would go off several times during the night and so many meds that we became a pharmacy.
• Remember when you had 3 different therapists working with you 3 different days in one week.
• Remember when you found out your bones were fused together at your elbows and there was nothing the doctors could do to fix it.
• Remember how amazing it was to watch you learn how to maneuver your shoulders to accommodate your bone fusion.
• Remember when we took you on a family vacation to Disneyland - you did awesome flying and being transported everywhere.
• Remember when you started wearing a helmet to help reshape your head.
• Remember when you kept failing your hearing tests until tubes were put in your ears at 9 months old.
• Remember when we took you to Primary Children's Hospital in Utah for a sleep study.
• Remember when the pulmonoligist was appalled at your sleeping/breathing and recommended that you now sleep with oxygen.
• Remember when you saw every doctor under the sun so it seemed.
• Remember when you had every procedure done under the sun so it seemed.
• Remember when you sat up first before laying on your tummy and rolling over.
• Remember when you laid on your tummy, rolled over, and pulled yourself up within two months time.
• Remember when you turned one and you were still thriving.
• Remember when you proved the doctors/therapists wrong when they said you wouldn't crawl, but would go straight to walking - AND YOU CRAWLED.
• Remember when you walked on Mother's Day.
• Remember when you went in for your 18 month check up and you weighed 22lb oz and were 30 1/4 in long.
• Remember when Dr. Ally told you at your 18 month well check - you were in the 10% for your length, 30 1/4 and 12% for your weight, 22lb 12oz.
• Remember when you lived with Heavenly Father and Jesus and chose us as your parents

Remember that dad and I are thankful everyday for your sweet spirit joining our family
We love you Emmett!!! You are such a blessing and a strength to me.

Dance Dance Dance

This weekend was Paige's dance recital. Thursday we had pictures at the studio. We started Saturday morning off with a dress rehearsal. The girls were a little nervous; they started off with their tap routine and by ballet, Paige was in the groove.

Paige's Professional Picture










Tap routine

Ballet

Saturday evening was the actual performance. Paige did awesome. She danced so well. Here is Paige with her Grandma and Grandpa. She received flowers and a ballet bracelet. Here is Paige with her brothers, who were excited to watch the performance, but not excited for pictures. Garhett knew quite a few of the girls dancing (a few were in his school class). Trent knew a gal from his preschool class last year.

Memorial Day

A tradition of my parents on Memorial Day is to go to the graveside of their parents and clean the headstones and put flowers out. I haven't ever had the opportunity to do this since we are usually with Scott's family during Memorial Day.

Today was such a special day. Scott and I were able to discuss the importance of Memorial Day, death, and respect for the dead with our children. We explained what a cemetery is, we talked about death and why people die. What happens after people die. As we were walking around Paige noticed a statue of Christ and asked why Jesus was at the graves. This was a perfect opportunity for us to discuss the importance of the savior and what he has done for us. I explained that when we die our spirit leaves the body and goes to the spirit world; and our body, lifeless without the spirit, is usually buried in the earth. We talked about because we are mortal, we do not have the power to reunite our bodies and spirits by ourselves. Jesus the only one who could save us. He was sinless; he was Heavenly Father’s Only Begotten Son in the flesh and had power over death.

It was very spiritual for me to go and visit where my grandparents were buried, my great aunt, and other relatives. I felt very close to my Heavenly Father as I talked with our children and explained how wonderful the plan of salvation is. We truly are a family and will be together forever. I could feel the bonds beyond the grave.

Paige and Trent were standing at a graveside admiring the headstone. They both were looking down and looking like they were paying their respects. I felt compelled to capture them.

Memorial Weekend 2009

Memorial weekend is usually the time when we make our 10 hour drive to Bridgeport, California for Scott's family camping tradition. This year we weren't able to make it with the family (it actually has been two years since we've attended the family tradition). We are hoping to get there next year with the whole family.

This year, we spent Memorial weekend with my parents, my brother Shawn and his son Jacob. We arrived at my parents house on Friday. I kept telling the kids that we were going camping. They were so excited to sleep out in the 5th wheel trailer with just Grandma - no parents.

Today we went fishing at the hatchery. Grandpa is the only one who caught any fish (3).

After fishing, we had a picnic and swam at Thousand Springs hot springs.

We had a great time swimming. Emmett loves being in the water. He didn't want anyone holding him, he just wanted to be on his own. Obviously he couldn't because he doesn't know how to swim. Emmett loved to float on his back. At the pool there was a high dive, a low dive and a tube slide. Finally after a monetary convincing, Garhett jumped off the high dive. He was so brave jumping in 12 feet deep and then swimming to the side. Great job Garhett! Now mom has to pay up! (it's worth it, I love to see my children overcome their fears and try something new).

When swimming came to an end, we met up with my brother Shawn and his son Jake and went to Hagerman, to see the fossil beds. This weekend happened to be Fossil Days in Hagerman. So after visiting the center, we walked down to the festivities and enjoyed an elephant ear!

What a great day! We went back to the house for some fried chicken!

Today we played some lawn games. We started out with lawn darts, bocce ball, and then some crochet. Our kids learned today that they come from a very competitive family (starting with their grandparents, parents, and uncle). We had a lot of victory dancing, trash talking, and awhole lot of fun going on!

Today we decided to take a drive to see Shoshone and Twin Falls and hoped the water was pouring over like a couple of weeks ago. No such luck.

Paige had enough today and I couldn't resist taking her "melt down" picture.









We ended our fun filled day with roasting marshmellows and making smores over the fire.

Mother's Day

The kids each made something for me and were so excited to give it to me this morning. Garhett made a book, it started out with my name, the beginning letters were cut out of a magazine and then the meaning was next to it:

C aring
I ntelligent
N ice
D aring
I ncredible

The next part of his book Garhett answered questions about his mom; here are some of the questions.
List 3 adjectives to describe your mother: kind, caring, helpful.
Who feels: happy when I don't fight.
Who Needs: a break.
Who gives: me love.

Thanks Garhett, I love you.
________________________________________________
Trent answered questions about what he thought I liked the best and then he drew pictures of the answers. Trent is in kindergarten and just learning to spell out words, so he writes them as they sound. So precious!!

My Mom's favorite food is: Salmon
but she doesn't like: Ha
She spends most of her time doing: shopping, cleaning
Mom helps our family by: She duz wash mi cloz
The thing my Mom likes to do for fun is: go to movies, swimen
When my Mom daydreams she things about: camping
If Mom could have one wish come true, she would wish for: tralr, capen, shoden str

Thanks Trent, I love you.
___________________________________________
Paige's preschool class, made handprints with paint and attached them to this poem.

My Handprint

Sometimes you get discouraged because I'm so small
And always leave my fingerprints on furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing big and soon I'll be very tall.
Then all my little handprints will be hard to recall.
So here's a special handprint just so that you can say
This is how my fingers looked when I placed them here today.

Paige then wrote her name the best she could. Thanks Paige, I love you.
____________________________________________
Now for Emmett, what can I say, but today he showed me how big he was by taking steps all by himself, yes he walked. I was so excited that I started to cry, oh the progress he has made.

__________________________________________
I was very happy to be able to go to church with my family and listen to several talks on motherhood. I have missed church for the past couple of months due to sick kids, vacation, conference, sick kids and sick kids. Today has been a time of deep reflection of what it means to be a mom. Here are some thoughts that a friend and I share about being a mom.

Maker--The woman really is a maker of everything. She is a maker of the home, a maker of the food, a maker of the mood in the home. It’s amazing that when I'm happy, peaceful, and calm, so is everyone else. The days when I am not, it is incredible how everyone else is magically following my mood. Why is that? Why does the mother set the mood for the home? How come when dad comes home in a bad mood, the mood of the home isn't affected as much? Therefore, mothers have the responsibility of being happy from within, and work at making it so. As she does this, the rest of the family follows. I have found this to be a blessing, not a curse, as the Lord places much responsibility on us to be a Maker in every sense of the word.

True -- We have a responsibility to be true to ourselves and others, and to teach that truth to our children. What a daunting task that is. The responsibility, along with our husband, of teaching our kids how to be true, while also trying to be true to ourselves. It is so overwhelming, it is no wonder we get extra help from Heaven when we ask for it. And, sometimes when we do not.

Helpmeet --Eve is so valuable to the Plan of Salvation. She truly was created as a helpmeet and companion to Adam. Together, they would lead each other through life and all the problems they were expected to encounter. Adam, as the Priesthood holder, held the power to activate God's power, and Eve was created to help him use that power in the right way. His true equal. As are we. We are meant to be our husband's equal, and to teach our children in a similar manner. The Lord would have it no other way. It is our responsibility to not squander each other's power, but to share it equally. The world, in the past, told us that men wielded that power over women's heads. Now, the pendulum is swinging in the other direction, where women do not need men, and we hold all the power. That is simply not the plan of God. He created us to be equal in every sense.

Expectation -- We have huge expectations placed upon us. We are expected to teach our children how to survive and serve others in this ever increasing evil world, to be happy when our husbands come home, to be sexy to our husbands, to exercise, be healthy, serve our neighbors, get along with our family members and friends, learn a new skill, study the scriptures, be available to all of our children's demands, and of course, find time somewhere in there to actually get 5 minutes to ourselves to recharge our batteries. And yet, we miraculously find time to do it all. We prioritize and organize in every possible way. We place these burdens on the Lord, and He helps us get all of it done, many times doing about 5 things at once. A true miracle.

Recognizes -- As mothers, we recognize where we are needed, and recognize the Lord's influence on us. We recognize the Spirit's whisperings when a friend is in need, our husbands are being neglected, or when one of our children are out of sorts and sick. Finally, we recognize where our extra strength and increase of love is coming from, and we thank Him a thousand times a day because of it. We recognize the good influences and get rid of the bad influences in our lives, so that the Spirit can dwell in us.

What a wonderful time to be a mother. I am so grateful for my mother in helping me be a better mom to my children. Thank you mom -- I love you! Happy Mother's Day.

Fabulessly Frugal meets Shandy Vogt Photography

Here is a plug for two fabulous blog sites!!!

The first is Fabulessly Frugal - a blogsite that provides such valuable information on saving money with coupons and providing information on free items and other sales that you may not know about. Check it out - even if you don't do coupons (you never know you may change your mind).

The second is a very talented woman who just started in photography, introducing Shandy Vogt Photography!!! Check out her blog - she has captured such great shots. I am entering a contest to have Shandy capture my family in the outdoors. Wish me luck!!!

Two great sites so please check it out. Just click on their names and it will take you right to their blog!! Enjoy! Shandy Vogt Photography and Fabulessly Frugal.