His Yoke is Easy

I remember my first year of girls' camp when I was learning how to start fires with flint and steel wool. when they taught us how to make a latrine and do all sorts of knots and lashing. We learned how to dig a hole in the ground to collect drinking water from a piece of plastic with a bucket under it, how to cook something using a solar oven, how to make sumac tea. I loved learning that stuff. But there was something that stuck very profoundly in my twelve year old mind. Something a leader said to us while we were in the woods somewhere in Virginia. We were sitting around whittling with our cool red swiss army knives when one of the leaders said, "you young ladies may have to use these skills some day. You just wait, you may have to take your families in the wilderness and you will have to keep them clean, safe, and alive. Everything you are learning here will help you survive." I took these words to heart! My active imagination had me in all sorts of doomsday scenarios caring for a bunch of kids, singing songs, while hiking through the mountains. I decided at that point in my life that I was going to be prepared for anything!

Fast forward twenty-two years...


nearly two years ago I had a small personal revelation about the future. Just for my family. The words were very clear to me: There is a storm coming are you prepared? Physically, spiritually, temporally? Be prepared! I was taken back by these thoughts that I knew had to be inspired. I wrote them down and dated it. Then, I proceeded to analyze my current station in life and tried to make efforts to eliminate debt, store food and clothing, read scriptures and pray multiple times a day. Not too long after this personal revelation, my husband lost his job. It was made more clear to me that the words that came so clear to me that day in January were truly an admonition to take action. I felt very close to the Lord and waited for his guidance in all my daily comings and goings; He also guided me in how to spend money, how to save money, and of course I relied very heavily on Him for strength and courage to not lose sight of the goal: to make it through this difficult time intact! It was quite difficult, at times, to stay positive and not be discouraged with my husband home looking for work. It was tense at times. My husband has a very deep desire to provide for our family. We sent out resumes daily. In all, I believe we applied for over 500 jobs in a six month period. We were very blessed to find a job in August last year. He has been working extremely hard to keep his job. That means he is rarely home. But we still find tidbits of time to be together and sing in the evenings. We are currently working on some Christmas music that we plan to sing tomorrow at a rest home nearby.

Getting back on track... tonight, I remembered my little personal revelation about a "storm". Anyway, some things clicked in my head tonight. I got it! I finally understood the storm thing. There are some very serious issues to ponder right now. A lot of terrible things going on in our country and abroad. I can feel and see negative forces working against those around me. The winds and the waves of this storm seem too much for some to bare. I see people sinking almost daily. They are the people that do not know the Master. They don't know to call to Him when they are up to their necks. I know that He is the answer! I know that "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." If we yoke ourselves to Him and follow Him, He will help bear the weights of our burdens and make the way easier and lighter.

Long time passing

It has been way too long since I have taken the opportunity to post here. Somehow, I forgot to blog about my fabulous summer vacation, the start of school, the coming of Fall, but I must take this opportunity to write about the two birthdays we have just finished celebrating. My oldest and youngest sons celebrated their birthdays this weekend. We had my father, my in-laws, and some cousins to help with the festivities. And today, my oldest son was ordained a deacon. I really am having a hard time coming to terms with having a child so old. He is so awesome! He is just a jewel of a kid...I mean friendly, loving, polite, funny, smart, happy, straight A student, good to his younger siblings, helpful at home...I could go on and on! I love him so much and I am so proud of the good choices he is making. We decided to give him his own digital camera because he is so interested in photography. He loved his gift and has already put it to good use.

Now, for my youngest son, who turned seven this weekend. What a funny guy! He is really fun to watch at the park. He is constantly climbing poles, swinging from bar to bar, doing chin-ups, and all sorts of crazy tricks. I truly think he could become a world-class gymnast with his raw strength. He also loves to draw and is always drawing special pictures for me. He is able to reproduce pictures from a book as well as ones that pop into his head. He is also getting better at reading. He got a Lego set for his birthday and has had a fun time putting it together.

One last thing worth mentioning is I got a job at the middle school as the librarian. I start in one week from tomorrow and will be working every day for three hours a day. I have mixed feelings about this new opportunity. I am very excited to have such a great job in the school where all the kids will be at some point in the next ten years, but I am sad to have to leave my littlest one for that time. We are having such a great time just the two of us:( I am sure everything will be fine, but I still worry. I guess we shall see soon enough.

my mother's hands

a small, soft hand grabbed her mother's hand,
and found it rough;
little eyes studied each line and crack,
touched callouses very tough.
her little voice asked, "Why are your hands
so wrinkled and dry?"
"They are always working, washing, cooking,
and cleaning," was the reply.
the little one ran off to play, not thinking
of it a moment more,
until the day her own child asked,
"Why do your hands look so sore?"

I remember studying my mother's hands as a kid and wondering how they could get so worn out and cracked. It was such an interesting moment for me the other day when my little Sarah asked me about my hands. I looked at them and found that two nails were broken, there was dirt under my nails from gardening, there were three bloody knuckles from washing my hands so much, and they were wrinkled and weathered. I looked at my hands and saw my own mother's hands. I finally understood the work that goes into making your hands look as hers did. I thought about how her hands were never idle. Always busy gardening, cooking, sewing, cleaning, playing piano, doing crossword puzzles, driving us to practices of all sorts, conducting music, painting, etc.

I truly appreciate the many things my mother has done for me.
I appreciate the hard times she endured in raising my siblings and I.
I appreciate her strong faith and firm testimony of the gospel.
I appreciate her love for my father.

My mother has been on my mind a lot lately. In my daily trials as a mother, I often remember the hardships that my mother faced. As a child, I was aware of some of her trials, but only now do I truly understand what she went through. I feel that I can finally appreciate her unconditional love and devotion to her family. And now I know she was over-worked, over-stressed, and under-appreciated.

Early on in parenthood, I wanted to teach my children how hard it is to be a parent. I wanted them to appreciate the sacrifices a parent makes for their kids. But how do you convey this to a child? We have tried to teach them to be responsible for themselves, and I feel like they help out a lot here in the home. But I don't think they can grasp what a heavy weight sits upon the shoulders of a parent. The responsibility of seeing to it that every need is met spiritually, physically, mentally, socially and emotionally for five children is enormous. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this knowledge cannot be gained by being told, by reading a book, or simply observing. It must be acquired by becoming a parent and feeling this burden for yourself!

In realizing this, I am so humbled to know that I am getting a first-rate education in parenting. I feel that, thanks to very differing personalities in test subjects, I have had such a diverse training thus far. Some days I feel that I am passing with flying colors, others I am just average, and some days I feel I am flat-out failing. And can you believe that graduation is in approximately 14 years?! (Where does the time go?) Even though there aren't many breaks, I feel that I'm hanging in there. And the nicest part of it is that on the rare occasion that I get discouraged, my little people are there to pick me up again!

I love this time of my life!
I love my mother!
I love celebrating the role of Mothers! It is a job like no other!
I love the perspective I am gaining on eternal progression.
I love that Heavenly Father has layed such a wonderful plan for us to have the experiences that will mould us into the individuals that we set out to become prior to our Earthly lives.
I love all the little cards and trinkets my kids gave me for mother's day. What a wonderful life! I feel so blessed!

(Due to many of the complications of motherhood, this post wasn't finished until 11:34 PM Tues. May 18, 2010=)

declutter-ring

okay, i lucked out yesterday at a garage sale.
EVERYTHING was $1!
That's right, ONE DOLLAR!
Everything was in excellent condition, too.
I got:

several sets of Legos: $1 each
several pairs of Nike and addidas sports pants i have been wanting: $1 each
several beautiful blouses and various tops
several new DVDs: a buck each
ONE suit that fits Bill perfectly: Can you believe it? One dollar
18 recorders and several books to teach you how to play the recorder (do I have to tell you?)
I got several other things for the kitchen and other various items.

I was so happy to have found so many useful items. And once the guy saw that I was willing to take a whole bunch of stuff off his hands, he told me he would give all of it to me for twenty dollars.

WHAT A DEAL!

Then, I overheard him talking to another customer, who was bewildered by the cheapness of all these goods, as was I. The man's response floored me. My heart sunk when I heard him explain that his wife had died a month prior in a drowning accident. And now he had to move. I immediately thought of the devastation this must be to he and his three children. I thought of the fragility and brevity of life. I thought also of the things I was buying. The good deals no longer seemed extraordinary and took on a new significance to me. I saw them for what they were: things that would be used by our family for a time and then passed on. Then I thought about the cost to the man selling them. He clearly paid top dollar for the things he was selling, many of which seemed virtually unused. And to what end? To be sold for a fraction of their retail value to opportunistic, good deal vultures like myself? What if his family had lived slightly more frugally? Would they be able to weather this unexpected turn in life's road a little more comfortably? Would they have been able to stay in their home?

Now, don't get me wrong. I appreciated the fact that I had chanced upon this man's sale after taking a route I don't normally take to the school. I appreciated the opportunity to reflect upon the purpose of life. I appreciated the fact that I had been raised to be thrifty and not turn my nose up at second hand wares. But mostly, I thought of the wonderful counsel we have been given over the course of many years, to live within our means. I am also very grateful for a husband that is also thrifty and refuses to spend money that we don't have at our immediate disposal. The last thing that was impressed upon me was the reality that material things are for making our lives more comfortable and convenient, but there is NOTHING that we purchase that will help us get through the pearly gates. (except for really good books i.e. SCRIPTURES!!!) The most precious things are those that cannot be purchased.

Okay, I am sure you're really wondering what any of this has to do with my post title! I'm gettin' to it!

Such a simple thing, but I think I was about 7 or 8 when it really sunk in that we couldn't take any of our earthly treasures with us. At the time, it made me sad because I had some things that I truly valued. (dolls, dresses, doll house...you know! really important stuff!) It made me really sad that I wouldn't be able to keep these things FOREVER! After I got over the disappointment that all we could take with us was our families and whatever was in our brains, I attempted to always fill my mind with useful information. I honestly remember thinking I should learn all the hymns so I would be able to sing them after I die. I definitely think learning this principle early in life helped me be more frugal and not so caught up in worldly pursuits!

BUT don't let this lead you to believe I am a minimalist! I definitely think we have too much! My problems in this area are:

1~I have a hard time turning down anything free
2~I have trouble walking past a good deal
3~I have a hard time getting rid of stuff.

(It is most likely a genetic thing...thanks DAD!)

So, finally getting to the point...DRUM ROLL...I have come up with a little reminder ring that I call my "Declutter-ring". I wear it when I go shopping at one of my favorite thrift stores, helping me to not buy things I don't need. It helps me when I am cleaning to help me discern which things are being used, and which things are just cluttering our home. It comes in handy when I find freebies on the roadside, helping me leave most treasures in their place. It has helped me so much in the last month, I think I am going to eventually overcome my addiction to stuff! (yeah right! That is a long shot!)

But I do feel like my declutter-ring has helped me be more aware of what things are useful and enhance my life, and which things are frivolous and unnecesary! Because I truly feel that too much STUFF keeps me from being happy. How do I figure that? The more stuff you have, the less space you have to store it, the more the kids get it out and don't know how to put it away, because there isn't a set place for it, so the bigger piles of useless stuff clogging your entryway, hallways and rooms, the less room to walk, the more you trip and fall and nearly break your neck, the more you yell (lots more yelling), the higher your blood pressure, the bigger the head-ache, until you have it up to HERE, and realize something has to give...that is when you give it all away, and keep only that which is useful. Okay, I do keep some things because of sentiment:)



Some great quotes I really like...

“Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.”
~Plato

“Grant that I may become beautiful in my soul within, and that all my external possessions may be in harmony with my inner self. May I consider the wise to be rich, and may I have such riches as only a person of self-restraint can bear or endure.” ~Plato

“A little House well fill'd, a little Field well till'd, and a little Wife well will'd, are great Riches” ~Benjamin Franklin

“I have not observed men's honesty to increase with their riches.”
~Thomas Jefferson

Seeking for Happiness
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Seeking for happiness we must go slowly;
The road leads not down avenues of haste;
But often gently winds through by ways lowly,
Whose hidden pleasures are serene and chaste
Seeking for happiness we must take heed
Of simple joys that are not found in speed.

Eager for noon-time’s large effulgent splendour,
Too oft we miss the beauty of the dawn,
Which tiptoes by us, evanescent, tender,
Its pure delights unrecognised till gone.
Seeking for happiness we needs must care
For all the little things that make life fair.

Dreaming of future pleasures and achievements
We must not let to-day starve at our door;
Nor wait till after losses and bereavements
Before we count the riches in our store.
Seeking for happiness we must prize this -
Not what will be, or was, but that which is.

In simple pathways hand in hand with duty
(With faith and love, too, ever at her side),
May happiness be met in all her beauty
The while we search for her both far and wide.
Seeking for happiness we find the way
Doing the things we ought to do each day.

I remember...

I remember being 7 years old.
I remember we lived in a huge old house in Low Moor, VA.
I remember all three of my brothers and what they looked like and how they acted.
I remember wanting a little sister very desperately.
I remember praying for a sister.
I remember begging my parents for her.
I remember how excited I was when my dream came true.
I remember my eighth birthday (sort of).
I remember my baptism being postponed because my mom was about to deliver my sister.
I remember right before my sister was born my brother Jay and I were in a school play.
I remember my grandparents coming to stay with us when my mom went to the hospital.
I remember this day 27 years ago.
I remember how anxious I was to meet her after her birth.
I remember how nervous I was when it came time to go see her at the hospital.
I remember I wore my favorite outfit (matching peach floral shirt and skirt).
I remember all my plans to play with my new sister and teach her.
I remember my parents telling me it would be a while before she could do those things.
I remember being disappointed that I would have to wait to have her interact with me. (but I was still very happy to have her)
I remember when she began to walk.
I remember how good she was at talking.
I remember how well she could memorize poems and scriptures.
I remember her curly hair.
I remember how she would put her little hand over her heart every time she saw the flag.
I remember playing dolls with her.
I remember fighting with her (how immature to fight with someone so much younger than me!)
I remember when she was baptized.
I remember how she would write little notes with hearts and say she loved me.
I remember sharing a room with her.
I remember how silly we were sometimes and how we would laugh for no reason. (miss this!)
I remember not seeing her much through high school.
I remember her coming to help us move and taking care of our kids when I was put in ICU and Bill was defending his thesis in 2003.
I remember her moving to CA with us briefly.
I remember she potty trained my oldest daughter at 13 mos.(I thought she was crazy, but it worked)
I remember when she fell in love and got married.
I remember when she had each of her children.
I remember being so proud of her each time.
I DON'T remember a day that I haven't thought about her.
I DON'T remember the last time I told her how much she means to me.
I DON'T remember the last time she and I got to do something just the two of us.
(Cary, one day when one of us gets rich, you and i are going somewhere really fun all by ourselves!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARY-COO-COO
LOVE LORI-LOO-LOO

LAMRON

Maybe you already knew this about me, but I love a good bargain.
I look for bargains all the time and don't buy anything unless it is a certifiably good deal.

That is just a part of who i am.

For some reason, I can remember most of my really good deals...like my Crate and Barrel dining room table $$ = free from the roadside (needed a minor repair to the extension tracks but had all the leaves), my favorite simmons couch bed $$=25 at an estate sale (i didn't mind that it was old and needed to be recovered, i found some old drapes at good will for $7 to cover it with), matching white-washed book case and entertainment thingy $$=75 from a thrift store in WI.

Well, you get the picture.

Bottom line, I am constantly looking for a good deal.
Lucky supermarket has their General Mills cereals on sale right now for $1.49/box. Since that is all my family will eat in the morning, I stocked up. I bought $89 worth of cereal for a savings of $280. Boy does it feel good to save that kind of dough!

While I was shopping today for the mammoth load of cereal, I got some strange looks and funny comments like: "Do you run a daycare?" "What are you going to do with all of that??" "You must REALLY like cereal!" Even the cashier was a little put out at scanning all those boxes. Maybe all the people I encountered had never seen someone buy so much cereal all at once. Maybe they just can't imagine what it is like to feed a family of seven. Maybe they think I was being greedy taking such advantage of a good deal. To me it was perfectly normal! And like I say, maybe i am a little backwards for some things, but I am LAMRON (that is Normal spelled backwards)!

managing

i am barely managing my household right now...Mir and I are SICK with some nasty strain of flu. i don't want to dwell on that, but we have been ill since Saturday.
i hate the flu and how it ties you down.
i hate being restricted.
i like to be free to do
what i want,
when i want,
how i want.
to shop, play at the park, go to the library, etc. being THIS sick, really slows me down. and it is times like this that i truly appreciate the freedoms we are blessed with in our country.

it made me lol today when i thought about what was triggering my gratitude. 1: feeling helplessly tethered to my home right now, 2: the fact that we have more than one throne.

i would not do well in a society that dictates how i spend my time, energy and money. i am so grateful ours is still a free nation! there are things that bug me about the current trend in politics. things that make me panic at times. i watch glenn beck at night. most nights it puts me to sleep. when i am able to stay awake, i am very encouraged to know that glenn is educating all that will listen about the foundational values our country was built upon. also from watching glenn, it has become a goal of mine to teach the kids about the constitution and the history of our country. a friend of mine introduced me to this excellent website. my kids love it and it has been a great way for all of us to become better acquainted with the principles on which our nation was founded, and how our country is supposed to function.

other things i am grateful for:

+having great memories of when my brother and his family visited from utah last week
+having a wonderful visit with my parents
+having the best birthday ever (thanks again mom and dad!
+getting sick sat after taking my parents to the airport (there is no time to feel sad about them leaving when you are hugging the throne)
+having my husband take care of the kids while i slept all day sat (unfortunately, he forgot he had been assigned to give a talk on missionary work at a mission farewell sun. luckily, he remembered an hour before church and was able to pull it off)
+having kids that will do their homework, practice piano, fix dinner, and entertain themselves when i am out of commission.
+having friends call to check on me

i feel so very blessed...despite barely managing and feeling crummy.

good morning...daylight savings

My "wittle wamb" woke me up this morning at 4 a.m. (pre-daylight savings time) and asked if she could sleep with me. She hasn't come to our bed for about six months, so I figured it would be alright this one time. I love to snuggle with my kids, but I just can't sleep with them. So, I was up thinking about some things, with her legs across my belly.

That made me think of when I was young, my sister and I shared a bed sometimes. She propped her legs on my tummy every night! I am not going to say it didn't drive me crazy, but I will say that I was really grateful to have a sister! I can't imagine my life without her! She has always brought so much joy to my life!

Yesterday, my sister ran the Rex B. Lee 5K run in Provo...can I say how proud I am of her?!!! I am just so amazed that she was able to commit herself to this goal, train, and then run the race!

I ran on the track team in High School and always thought that she would follow suit. Since she was home-schooled through her High School years, she didn't have that opportunity. It has made me sad that I never got to cheer for her in a race. And even though I wasn't able to see her run yesterday, I was cheering for her across the miles. Love you so much Cary!!! You are so AWESOME!!!!

Daisy

This morning, Sarah told me she was my "wittle wamb". Then, at Target she informed me that she would like for us to call her "Daisy" for now on! I asked her, "Why Daisy?" She said it was because, "it is the name of a be-ooo-tiful flower." Then I remembered my great-grandmother's name is Daisy, and I thought, "why not!" So I have been calling her Daisy. What a funny bird!


"my wittle wamb" (taken in Feb)


"Daisy" (taken last year)



One last thing: In Sarah's world Corn Flakes=Snow Flakes and KIX=Pixie Dust

squeaky wheel

The weather has been absolutely beautiful for the last couple of days, so the kids have been living outside during the day (don't worry, this is their choice, not mandatory for the sake of my sanity). They use our back patio area as an outdoor play room and take all sorts of toys out there to play different imaginative games. It has been an absolute pleasure for me to watch and listen to their little kid games and stories.

Their banter is absolutely hilarious, and it is so funny to hear the different voices they use. Voices with accents, rough raspy voices, squeaky voices, and even made-up foreign language gibberish, ...but most of all, it is so nice to hear their hysterical laughter! The type of laughter that lets you know they are having a good, happy, and perhaps carefree childhood.

When they aren't pretending to be circus clowns, or store owners, or famous singers, they are zooming around on their bikes, trikes and scooters. And the sound that I hear the most while they are making circles on the cement is the squeaky wheel on Sarah's trike. It is a nice steady squeak that is loud enough to be heard inside with the windows shut, but it isn't the type that makes you cringe. It actually has a sing-song sound much like a squeaky swing. And truly, over the many years we have owned that trike with the squeaky wheel, it has never bothered me until Friday.

The noise didn't get to me in the way you would think, though. What bothered me was the thought that suddenly entered my mind when I watched Sarah lazily cruise around our yard, singing a little song. The thought brought me to tears. The thought that she is the last one of my children to ride this trike with a squeaky wheel. That there will come a day when she will ask for a bicycle like everyone else and she will be too big for the cute, little, red, radio-flyer trike that has been a part of our family for 10 years. I thought about how the trike would eventually have to find a new home of little people, because my little people aren't little anymore. I thought about how quickly this phase of my life is passing. I thought how I would miss these lazy play days full of laughter and merriment. I thought how I might have to capture the sounds of their play (especially the squeaky wheel) and listen to it when they are grown. Or better yet, incorporate it into a song for them. Then I thought about how, if I keep the trike in the shed, maybe it will be around when I have grandchildren come for visits. Then I thought about how my own children aren't able to visit their grandparents (my parents in VA) as often as we would like. This profound, nostalgic moment lasted for a half hour. And I have pondered these things many times since then. I love that squeaky wheel! I love the little legs that power the pedals that turns the wheel that squeaks!

ebb and flow

these are not the names of any new pets. lately, i have been quite discouraged with some things in my life. it isn't anything major, just a lot of little things all adding up. i can usually find a way out of my frustrations by finding humor in the things at hand, but it just ain't happening. while i was having my pity party today, i remembered what my mom used to tell me about life and how it is like the ocean. i wish i could describe this like she would. there was such motion in the words she would use that i could see myself, in my situation, and picture myself ebbing and flowing like the ocean. but since i am not able to quote her exactly, i will just say what i remember.

there are times that we become down and emotionally low. we "ebb" backwards, or even under, sometimes rolling in the undertow of the water. continuously drawing back, this is the time that we are contemplative, pensive, low on energy. don't fight against this down time. experience it fully, using this time to ponder deeply, gather strength. getting ready to build ourselves up, preparing yourself to be ready to "flow" forward. the ocean is never constantly moving forward. neither can we. when we "ebb and flow" we can find more joy in all aspects of our lives

why is it that:

-i can always think of lots of things to blog about while i am sitting in church, driving in my car, cooking dinner, or working in the yard? BUT i can't think of anything as soon as i sit down to blog?

-my youngest thinks it is okay to wear six different outfits each day, and leave all the other clean sets of clothes on the floor in various parts of the house?

-i get tired every day right when i am supposed to pick the kids up from school? if i had felt tired even a mere 30 minutes prior, i would have taken a nap!

-all my kids have to be reminded to brush their teeth in the morning?

-the kids have to go to the bathroom as soon as we get to the back of costco?

-i crave strawberry newtons and nutter butters still? are there any gluten free equivalents?

-my kids snicker at the bagger at Safeway? i know he sounds like michael jackson, but they don't know who mj was!

-my husband decides to teach the kids really interesting stuff after they have been put to bed? i really like that he is teaching them neat things about science, but they need sleep, too!

-i can't have two perfect days in a row? it seems like if today was "perfect", then tomorrow will certainly be a bust!

-i can't bring myself to take craw q. mcgraw (our crawfish of three years now) to a local creek? i feel so bad for the critter, but yet i can't part with him.

-i am stuck singing the tenor part in our ward choir, when i prefer singing soprano?

-my kids fight only when i am on the phone?

-my most productive thoughts about anything occur when i suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep?

i guess that is just how life goes!

A few weekends ago, we enjoyed exploring the Slews by the bay






Last Saturday, I woke up to these cuties entertaining themselves. This is the very reason we DON'T have tv or video games! They WILL find a way to have fun WITHOUT media!



We had gluten-free pancakes, fresh whipped cream and strawberries to celebrate Miriam's birthday. We will have a cake and party when Grammy and Grandaddy come for the baptism!



Ben and Sarah decided to have a "snow day". They threw plastic bags all around the room, piled it up and rolled in it, picked them up and dropped them on each others' heads pretending it was snow!

broadcasting

Tonight, I realized something that hadn't crossed my kooky mind before. Every night, I put the kids down listening to the primary songs they are learning for the year. I also leave a baby monitor on for the case I decide to go work in the garage after they are asleep. Tonight, I went out to the garage really quickly to grab something and realized that we are broadcasting primary music to whomever is on channel B. I know that other people around us use the same frequency, at times, because I can hear their kids playing if I turn my monitor on. So all of our neighbors (with kids) have been listening to our wonderful music every night at 8 pm! Maybe I will turn the monitor on before scripture time tomorrow and broadcast a little devotional before we start our music! I have always wanted my HAM Radio license, this is my chance!

random thoughts...

...while scrubbing the tub...

Sometimes, I think of weird things while I am doing various menial tasks around the house. a few nights ago, I was scrubbing the bathtub and had a few thoughts I felt like adding to the archive of my blog.

this tub is really dirty
two boys with ichthyosis=very grimy tub
i don't mind cleaning the tub
hey, it is actually fun
or at least satisfying
soft-scrub is awesome
it sure dries my hands out
and my hands always get cracked and bleed
i really should use gloves
i hate gloves
it would be a good idea to wear gloves even though i don't like them
but i can barely stand to wear a ring on my finger
or wear glasses on my face
or makeup
feels like a mask
maybe that is why i can't stand lotion either
wonder how i can stand clothes
must be some sort of disorder
i liked cleaning the tub when i was a kid
i liked organizing the linen closet
i must have been a strange kid
maybe i have ocd
it is nice to be a little obsessive
wish i could be more obsessive about other things in my life
like reading scriptures and exercising
oh well, at least the tub is clean

like i said...r a n d o m! What goes through your head when you clean?

Orange you glad?

Missed church today 'cause the girls are sick. I really wanted to enjoy that extra spiritual boost I always get from Stake Conference, but here I am at home, taking care of my sweet little girls! I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to feel of the spirit today, but boy was I wrong! The rain is really beautiful! The birds are singing, the flowers are nodding in the gentle rain, the sun is completely hidden so it is darker than it should be. Inside, we are eating day-old burritos from taco bell, tangerines and oranges, and marshmallows.




While cutting the oranges, I thought many things, that may or may not be worth sharing, but here it goes...
First thought: these smell great!
2nd: i love the color of oranges!
3rd: isn't it beautiful how symmetrical oranges are!
4th: isn't it cool that they are packed with good fiber and nutrients for our bodies!
5th: how did God know we would need oranges during the winter season?
6th: He is so thoughtful and mindful of our needs.




I turned to look out the window and saw a white bird fly by. (most likely a seagull) The beauty of the white bird against the dark sky, the trees waving with the gentle breeze, the small dots of rain on the window...it all spoke to me that He does love and care for us! I am grateful for these simple reminders of His love!




I sure am glad for oranges!

cyber plates

Have you seen how many mormon bloggers there are? I was curious and did a google search and found this:



I believe it is called the "Bloggernacle"!

I am sure this doesn't even come close to representing all the mormon bloggers accross the globe! What a wealth of interesting information. Some funny, some not. Some educational, some not. Some spiritual, some not. But most are just the personal records and histories of faithful LDS members who have been told, since childhood, to keep a record of their lives. {That's what I'm doing!}

Can you imagine someone, somewhere in the future of our Earth's existence trying to recover all of these cyber-records and trying to compile them into a record of our time? Weeding out all the goofy stories from the testimonies? It is a funny premise for a book that I will never write, but still think it would be, could be funny!

8 is great!

Hard to believe it has been eight years since this sweet little bundle came into our lives! After having two boys, I was so thrilled to have a little lady join the bunch! Immediately, I saw the many differences between boys and girls! And it wasn't the difference in the colors they wore!

Just for fun, here's the story of Miriam's birth:

Three weeks before she was born, Miriam was presenting in the breach position, which inspired our very c-section happy doctor to plan for us to deliver our baby by cesarean. She explained to us that doctors do NOT deliver breach babies in the old fashioned way anymore! We also learned, at this time, that some doctors are very proud of how many women they have sliced and stitched, and like to brag about their high number of successes, and look for any opportunity to add another tic to their slates! But we weren't interested in this form of delivery, unless it was an absolute emergency! We had good cause too! Since William was in his final year of grad school and didn't have any extra time to help me at home for the six weeks following the surgery, this was NOT an option for us! PLUS, We had two kids aged 3 and 2, lived on the second floor of a four-plex, it was icy outside, it was a long time 'til spring, I didn't want to be stuck inside unable to go anywhere for six weeks, I didn't want the epidural, I didn't want a sore belly, I didn't want to not be able to lift things,... the list goes on!

The doctor gave us one last option: VERSION! We waited one week and went back for this procedure, which is painful and a waste of time! This form of mommy abuse is where the doctor pushes and prods your pregnant belly to get the baby to move. Like I said, it's very painful, but still better than c-section! The doctor did her best, but Mir just wouldn't move, so we reluctantly scheduled a c-section for the following week. I didn't lose hope, though! I just knew she would turn on her own! The night before the set surgery, William gave me a blessing and promised that I would not have a c-section. We went in to prep for the surgery and really disappointed our dear doctor when she saw that Mir had flipped. William and I WERE SO RELIEVED! But we were also sad, in a way, that we didn't get to meet our little girl, yet. So, we walked to the chemistry lab from the hospital (fyi:January in Wisconsin=cold) talking about the slight let-down of not being able to hold her already! But mostly, we were in awe of the wonderful answer to our prayers and special blessing. We felt so blessed and loved!

Then, we waited patiently for labor to finally begin. I remember walking all the malls in Madison with my mom and my two little guys, waiting and hoping for things to get started. It seemed like weeks, but it was only one week later that she decided to come. Labor pains woke me up at 6:30, admitted to the hospital at 8, and delivered at 10:30am. In my opinion, it was a picture perfect, natural delivery. And I will never forget the first time I saw my sweet little girl. I felt an instant bond with my precious little babe! I was so glad she had been a good girl and turned so I wouldn't have to endure the cesarean. I was also glad that she let me get plenty of sleep the night before showing up! See, she has been an example of obedience even before birth!

Of course, in true Thomas tradition, she didn't get her name until right before we left the hospital. Both Aaron and Jacob thought she should be named Gowwee for no apparent reason. We all laughed about that for a while, but then we got serious and decided to name her Mary. Then we finally decided that Miriam was more fitting.

Since that day, eight years ago, we have thoroughly enjoyed this funny, spunky, smart, sweet, loving, obedient, did I say funny?, adorable, thoughtful, soft-spoken, book-worm, I mean girl! Since that day, we have been so blessed to have Miriam in our lives! Love you Smeeks and Happy Birthday!



Just look at that sweet little face!






Maiden Miriam~Halloween 2008 in the costume I made for her



She's my girl!



Miriam turns eight tomorrow!

Catchup!

NO, not the red sauce you dip your fries in! Just need to catch up on what is going on over here. You know, Christmas, New Years, etc. We did celebrate, and we had a great time! Here are some photos of our fun! they are in reverse order with New Years first and Christmas last.

celery for breakfast

yep! you read right! I am eating celery for breakfast. It is plain and simple:

GLUTEN free diet=not much fiber

Despite eating really healthy lately, I still need more fiber. I have tried beans, raisins, salad, carrots, sweet potatoes, the list goes on. AND nothing works better than celery! nothing! BUT maybe I will try some of these:






BUT what I really wish is that we still had some of these:



Can't wait to start the garden again!