I washed a BIG load of whites last night. It feels good to wash all the dirty clothes. It makes me feel so...oh, what's the word....starts with an "m".....shoot....ma....mmme.....dang....it's not coming!
So tonight, I start pulling out all those nice, clean, white, fluffed clothes. And I start seeing traces of red. A little red here, more over there....
What.Is.That.????
Then I find Anna's sock. The whole toe is covered in red and the sock is stiff!!!
What in the heck is that??????
I had to go through that huge, ginormous load of clothes, searching for the mysterious item that bled all over my nice white clothes. Nothing. Then Russ sniffed the stiff sock. When in doubt, or ever confused, just give it a whif! You want to know what it smelled like?
Crayon.
Do you ever have times where your kids did something, and you can't figure out what possessed them to do it?
Who just thinks, "Hmmm, I am going to take this RED crayon, and put it in this sock...just for fun!" Cuz...yeah....that's what happened.
So my next question is...
"How in the world do you get melted and dried RED crayon out of white clothing?"
Thanks Crayola...making this mom's life....laundry.....bright and beautiful.
Sorry, but I won't be hanging up the red masterpieces on the fridge this time...
Lately, I have had Carter take a nap in the afternoon. He seems more tired during the day than usual, yawning non-stop. He goes to bed on time, so I am not sure what the deal is. Carter and Kya are both taking their naps right now, Anna doesn't get home from school until about 2:40, so I am taking advantage of my free time to get some things caught up before life gets too busy.
Next week is Thanksgiving. I always feel the need to do deep cleaning before a big holiday, so today I have been making mental lists of all my "to do's". Of course we have lots of cooking to plan for to celebrate Thanksgiving, plus we want to plan something special to do on that day with family, like a family devotional or something, so we aren't just getting together to eat. The day after Thanksgiving is my sister's bridal shower in Twin Falls, which I am helping host, so lots to get done for that. She is also going through the temple that morning, which I am so excited about! I haven't had a chance to go through the Twin Falls temple yet, and I am greatly anticipating that! Russ and I want to have all of our Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving as well...we've got a list for that too. Then I have to teach the first Sunday of December in Relief Society, and so I really need to get started there, plus I have sewing projects to finish! Kya's quiet book, a dress-up doll for Anna and two neices, and a cousin...(who is more like a neice to me since she's the same age as my kids), ornaments for our kids, a notebook and crayon holder for Anna and Carter...plus a few more sewing things. I am also doing a collage of paintings for the backdrop at my sister's wedding reception December 30th, and I am starting to stress over those, since it will take me about a month to get them all done! Yup...if you do the math, that doesn't leave me with much time!!!
Lots to do! I am just trying to take it one day at a time! Anyways, I came across some things over the past few weeks and I wanted to share.
I loved this message. It is something I have been thinking about alot. I think it is a great message for people of any age. I have been pondering for weeks about how I want to use my time, I have been making changes, and I feel better about my life because of those changes. There are still more changes to be made, and this video just reinforces in my mind the importance of families coming together and working out their kinks, and learning how to function in better ways...taking out what is not needed and replacing those things with something better.
A little over a week ago, one day I had a ton of things to do. Because of that Carter watched t.v. all throughout that day. As much as I could justify to myself and others why it happened, I could have done better. It's hard. And you have to make sacrifices. But I know, at the end of the day, and I knew at the end of that day, that I owe my kids more than that. I can be better.
Next...
The weather has been cold. I haven't gone running for a month! So, I have got to exercise inside for the rest of the winter...which isn't my most favorite thing to do...but I am going to do it consistently, darn it! I came across a really great link that helps you figure out your Body Mass Index, as well as gives other useful information too. If you are interested, click HERE!!!
I calculated mine, and it told me my daily caloric intake should be: 1,380
I watched a previous episode on Biggest Loser, where the contestants had to guess the calories of their favorite meal. One of the contestant's meal was over 3,000 calories...and if I recall, it was over 4,000! Wow! I know I am uneducated about certain foods and the calories, but I am trying to be more aware. This week's episode of Biggest Loser I learned that if you put 2 tsp of cream and 2 tsp of sugar in your coffee, you can gain 10 lbs in a year! From 2 tiny little TEASPOONS! That's crazy.
Changes I am making in the way I eat are these:
Drink plenty of water
Don't snack after dinner
Have you tried Greek Yogurt? It's a great source of protein, and I put granola on mine. The brand I like best is called YoCrazy...and you can buy it with granola included.
Whole wheat bread
Healthy cereal that has whole grains and fiber. Click HERE for a list of some healthier choices to try. I have tried the Kashi brands and I REALLY like them.
I try not to snack between meals
I have been trying very hard to not eat sugary sweets and drinks, candy, ice cream and so on. I know this sounds crazy, but the longer you go without eating sugary stuff, the less satisfying it is when you do eat it. I am serious!
And of course, I try to go for more fruits and veggies vs. processed foods
Finally...
I watched this Mormon Message last week. It makes me feel good inside. I watch it every Thanksgiving because I love it and it helps me get in "The Spirit of Thanksgiving"!
7 years = one 6 year old, one 4 year old, and one one year old! When Anna was born, we had been married 9 months and 6 days!!! Doesn't get much closer than that! (She was 2 weeks early)
"Find joy in your children. Don't over-schedule them or yourself. You may not be able to take them on exotic vacations. It doesn't matter. When the day dawns bright and sunny, take an excursion to the canyon or the park. When it's cloudy and wet, read a book together or make something good to eat. Give them time to explore and learn about the feel of grass and the wiggliness of worms." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley``
7 years= 5 moves, members of 3 different wards, lots of callings...primary teachers, nursery workers, Elder's Quorum and Primary presidencies, Scouts, choristers, teaching the young men, subsituting...lots of hard work, lots of fun, lots of frustrations too! Yesterday morning, right before church started, Russ got called in to visit with the Bishop. I came a bit later with Kya. Russ helped pass the sacrament, so we didn't talk. Announcements were made for new callings, since our ward and another were recently split and a third ward was created, and Russ stood as they called him to be the first counselor in the Young Men's! Russ was watching my reaction, and I guess it was pretty funny! Just a few weeks ago I got put in as the second counselor in our Relief Society! I am in charge of Enrichment activities....I am excited and a bit anxious....and I have to give the first lesson in Relief Society for December...and there's no topic. Whatever I want. Yikes! Wish me luck! So much to learn from each new calling...
"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley
"For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man (and woman) is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." -D&C 46:11-12
7 years= A few failed meals, like "Favorite Macaroni" with a new spice...lemon pepper!!! YUCK! What was I thinking??? Years later we still laugh about that...and laugh about when I turned the oven on with a bowl of caramel popcorn in it! I ruined Russ's favorite Tupperware bowl. I also ruined our griddle. I put it on the back of the car while I was buckling Carter into his carseat. Then I got into the car and so did Russ. He turned the corner and heard "SMASH!" as he saw pieces of something bouncing all over the road! Oops...it was the griddle!!! I loved that griddle. Russ got me a new one for Christmas! I don't feel so bad about the griddle now, because this year, he forgot to put his backpack in the car, shut the strap in the door, then dragged it down a dirt road, and ran over part of it before he realized what happened! It had his laptop in it. Yeah. He can thank his lucky stars that the laptop was completely fine! We have some pretty darn good luck! Especially when I left my purse on the back of the car in Salt Lake City. It fell off into the road. We had no idea. Some guys in a big truck grabbed it, chased us down, and gave it back! I really try not to leave things on the back of our vehicles anymore.
...don't ask me why I am admitting this to everyone...
7 years= all body parts still here and in pretty good shape, minus one gall bladder from Russ, I got my first cavity and filling, and amazingly, we still weigh about the same as we did when we were married! We were told it would all be downhill after marriage, but somehow, we have managed to dodge that ball! Whew! We are really trying to get into better shape, eat well, stay active, and make better choices overall than maybe we have made in the past.
"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." -Mosiah 4:27
"Choose carefully each day that which you will do and that which you will not do, and the Lord will bless you to accomplish the important things that have eternal consequences." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley
7 years has included 32 months total I spent breastfeeding. It actually doesn't really seem like a whole lot. Do I dare even try to figure out how many diapers we have changed? Probably over a thousand! Nights of little to no sleep? I would have to say we've been lucky there, our kids are good sleepers, minus baby #3 who I will affectionately call "Little Miss Stinker!" Our marriage just wouldn't be so awesome if the past 7 years didn't include the ups and downs of raising little ones...and we always feel so blessed to have healthy, happy children...despite the difficulties.
"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley
"Marriage is still very much a living institution, worth all the time and patience invested in it. Marriage is the stable structure that encircles and supports two clumsy individuals, learning to love and live with each other." -Ronna Romney and Betty Harrison, "Giving Time a Chance"
7 years we can look back and see that we have experienced so much life!!! We have been given so much! So much generosity from family, friends, and anonymous givers too. How much it means to us to this day to think back on the times when my grandparents would fill up our car before we headed back home, the night when someone left Christmas gifts by our front door, when my sister and her husband unexpectedly gave us $100...just because they felt like they had been given so much through their struggles raising their firstborn son, who suffers from some pretty extreme physical disabilities, and they wanted to "pay it forward." We can never forget the time when we had my brother Ben, and the strength we received from the prayers of family members. When we got married, we received great sums of money from Aunts and Uncles and loved ones. Thank you so much! Russ recently had a few dental appointments. The work done on his mouth would have cost us about $3,000.00. Our bill was $0.00 and we were told to use the money to get my wisdom teeth out instead. Words cannot do justice or explain our gratitude.
"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious;and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." -D&C 78:19
Grandpa Meredith always takes time to give special attention to our kids, taking them outside for walks in the backyard, and because of that, our kids have a great relationship and bond with him. My dad gives me great advice and wisdom about life, family, and what is most important. He has helped me to make different choices in my life that have benefited my family. My grandma, Nanny, has never forgotten my birthday. Jan Stubbs, one of my old Young Women leaders, always remembers my birthday too and sends me the cutest homemade cards. It means so much...those small kind acts. The past 7 years wouldn't be anything if I didn't have my sisters there with me. Sometimes, we haven't gotten along, or treated each other the way we should. We face bumps along the way. But my sisters are willing to forgive. When someone withholds forgiveness...it hurts. I am blessed with some pretty awesome sisters. (and brothers too)
We have been blessed over the past years from many, many, MANY, manymanymany expressions of love from family and friends around us. We could never count them all. And I have been blessed from all the wonderful expressions of love from Russ. When he comes home from school, the first thing he does is hug his kids, give em all kisses, and then he attacks me!!! "I love you" are words he uses multiple times a day. He has a love for family history and the scriptures. He gets so excited about growing food in the garden, canning, and building up food storage. He is always encouraging me to write more, paint, sew, and run...because he knows those things are what bring me more happiness in my life. We have really struggled over the past 7 years to consistently have FHE, family prayer and scripture study...but I think we have FINALLY figured it out and have realized the great blessings that come from making those priorities and doing them everyday and every week. (even when we have nights where we TRY to read scriptures and it ends up more a disaster than success!) We for sure are not perfect. We have had moments where we certainly weren't proud of our actions. But we just try to move on, learn from our mistakes, hope others are willing to look past our faults, and improve upon our life circumstances and improve ourselves.
"The test, then, of our soul's greatness is rather to be sought in our ability to comfort and console, our ability to help others, rather than our ability to help ourselves and crowd others down in the struggle of life." -Joseph F. Smith
With everything 7 years has brought us, we are excited to live through many more.
Alma said, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." -alma 37:6
"When we look back on decades of life we see that the seemingly insignificant things we do over and over actually weave the pattern of our lives. And if those small and simple things are good, we will end up having lived a fulfilling life-and that is a great thing!" -Marjorie Pay Hinckley
"Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside."
"Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes."
"The most effective form of birth control I know is spending the day with my kids."
"A mother who navigates the waters of the terrible twos can weather any storm"
"Laughter is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for awhile."
"Never tell a child anything you wouldn't want the whole neighborhood to know."
"There are only two things a child will share willingly-communicable diseases and his mother's age."
"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."
"A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after."
"Child rearing means taking a big bite out of your life."
"Surrendering to motherhood means surrendering to interruption."
"Darwin actually had mothers in mind when he came up with the "survival of the fittest" theory."
"Motherhood is not for the fainthearted. Used frogs, skinned knees, and insults of teenage girls are not meant for the wimpy."
"I don't know why they say 'you have a baby.' The baby has YOU."
"A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
Happy Birthday Miss Kya Lyn!!! You are becoming our sweet but fiery little girl...full of life, fun, tantrums and squeals, busy as can be getting into everything you shouldn't and telling us, "Nooo, no, NOOO!"
A few years ago, as I was sitting in the Celestial room of the Rexburg Temple, I knew there was a spirit waiting in Heaven to become a part of our family. And everything I went through to bring this little cutie pie to this earth was worth it...and I would do it all over again....except maybe not the whole being in labor with a posterior baby....that part I could do without....can I add GERD and Colic to that list too? Thanks.
You are the poem
I dreamed of writing
the masterpiece
I longed to paint.
You are the shining star
I reached for In my
ever hopeful quest
for life fulfilled..
You are my child.
Now with all things
I am blessed.
Upcoming posts...if I can manage to find the time:
Halloween
7 yr wedding anniversary
Quiet Book
Baptisms
Church Callings
Family Pictures
Things yet to happen like:
Thanksgiving
Paintings and projects
My baby sister's bridal shower
Christmas
Baby sister's wedding
I know I don't comment enough on the blogs I love, but comments are the best! Some of you have made my day by your simple comment. Thank you for those who have taken the time. Be a follower and if you have time, take a moment and share your thoughts with me.
Those who make my heart happy:
Anna Belle-9 years old!
Carter John- 7 years old!!
Kya Lyn- almost 4 years old!
Brennen James- 2 years old!
Married 10 years this October!
BEING HAPPY doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.
