I have always loved General Conference. It is the powerful spiritual boost that helps keep me on track (as close as I can get stumbling along) for 6 months at a time. Well, the love has been tempered the last 3 years or so with the arrival of subsequent beasties. It seems so much more difficult to glean the meaning and spiritual thoughts I NEED to help me grow stronger, better. However, my heart received its needed message amid the chaos of color crayons, building blocks and other random paraphernalia issued to keep my beasts quiet (at least to a dull roar). I know my Savior died for Me. I know He lives. Elder Holland's talk touched me to my heart and I wept (secretly-to avoid tiresome questions). It is the remembrance of the Atonement that helps me to plug along in life. I trudge along...seeming to never rise above my nose in the dirt, but at least I know my Redeemer knows me and knows the feelings of my soul. He knows I am often sad and discouraged at my many faults and yet, He felt it worth it to die for me. There must be hope that I will succeed with the purpose given to my life.
Another truth I managed to soak up was the truthfulness of a latter-day prophet. My heart burned with the closing remarks of President Thomas S. Monson. I knew he was the chosen prophet when he was called, but the Spirit testified again to me that it was true. How truly wonderful our Father in Heaven sees fit to bless us with a speaker of His words. I know it to be true and I am so thankful for him.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Brotherly Luuuv...
So, I received a text message from my brother this afternoon telling me he loved me and had been thinking of me. It warmed me from the tips of my cold toes (for some reason, my toes have been quite chilly today) to my heart. It is so nice to hear/read your family loves you. I love my brother(s) (and sisters) so much. I am so thankful for the strength they give me to keep me buoyed up and trugging (yes, I meant trugging (not trudging) it seems like such a descriptive word, even if it isn't a real one) along the strait and narrow. Life is hard, full of ups and downs. Sometimes the strait and narrow is a path with cliffs and shear drops down one side and other times the path widens and you know it won't be too difficult to clomp your way along. The primary theme this year is our Eternal Family. How wonderful we have the blessings of families that can be together forever and the Lord saw fit to put us in units of strength and love.
My sons are FULL of love for each other. Sometimes it is expressed in clenched teeth and too tight hugs...other times it is Josiah lifting Gavin up from a fall and carrying him, stumbling, to the house simply to make sure he's alright. Love is expressed in the desire to emulate, in which Gavin and Gunnison excell, much to my dismay at the potty-talk, sword fighting and silly jokes that abound in my house. They want to kneel together to say their prayers, brush their teeth and read the scriptures. Gavin wants to sit reverently by Josiah in primary (unfortunately that lasts for only a few seconds) and share his testimony simply for the reason he sees his brother doing it. I am thankful for the gift that is our family. May my little one be a strong as Kit's and mine were growing up.
My sons are FULL of love for each other. Sometimes it is expressed in clenched teeth and too tight hugs...other times it is Josiah lifting Gavin up from a fall and carrying him, stumbling, to the house simply to make sure he's alright. Love is expressed in the desire to emulate, in which Gavin and Gunnison excell, much to my dismay at the potty-talk, sword fighting and silly jokes that abound in my house. They want to kneel together to say their prayers, brush their teeth and read the scriptures. Gavin wants to sit reverently by Josiah in primary (unfortunately that lasts for only a few seconds) and share his testimony simply for the reason he sees his brother doing it. I am thankful for the gift that is our family. May my little one be a strong as Kit's and mine were growing up.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rainy Day Blues...Sunny Day Fun
It has been dreary and rainy the last couple of days. I find I move slower, get tired easier and feel a little down when the rain falls. To combat the rainy day blues, I turn on loud music and think of good things. A couple come quickly to mind.
My mother and father-in-law came to visit for their spring break. We had tons of fun. We spent an afternoon in New Orleans, ate more food than we should and had a picnic at the beach. I enjoyed visiting and hearing all about my sister-in-laws and their families and my boys spent MANY happy moments jumping on their Papa and playing games (all the ones their meanie mommy neglects) with their Grammy. Josiah was ecstatic Grammy and Papa tasted the "best macaroni in the world" when they took the time to eat lunch with him at his school. Quite a feat when lunch starts at 10:30 am. Who eats that early?! I guess little kindergarteners do. Gavin spent a lot of time doing "guy" things with his daddy and Papa and searched for treasures while geo-caching. Gunnison fell in love with Papa. If he wasn't around, a little voice calling "Papa" , quite loudly, could be heard. I enjoy how the love "Grammy" and "Papa" have for my boys shines through their eyes. They wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to my red-headed beasties and I adore it. When they are around, Josiah, Gavin and Gunnison are SPOILED. Despite that, my boys tried to be good and make their grandparents proud of them.
Another fun thought to think about is my sweetie's birthday. He is now 32 and more handsome than when we first met. He makes me complain and get oh-so frustrated, but he makes me smile and laugh more than anyone else I know. Maybe he could even be a stand-up comedian! (inside joke, sorry) We went out to dinner with his parents (and no children, hooray) to a hibachi grill. It was a blast. Talk about dinner and a show! Yummo! and the sushi was fab. I love Kit and it makes me happy thinking about him and all of his funniness. I only hope he chuckles as much about my quirks (and pulls his hair less-if he had hair).
The sun is peeking around the gray clouds and I have a smile on my face. Isn't it nice what happy thoughts can do!
My mother and father-in-law came to visit for their spring break. We had tons of fun. We spent an afternoon in New Orleans, ate more food than we should and had a picnic at the beach. I enjoyed visiting and hearing all about my sister-in-laws and their families and my boys spent MANY happy moments jumping on their Papa and playing games (all the ones their meanie mommy neglects) with their Grammy. Josiah was ecstatic Grammy and Papa tasted the "best macaroni in the world" when they took the time to eat lunch with him at his school. Quite a feat when lunch starts at 10:30 am. Who eats that early?! I guess little kindergarteners do. Gavin spent a lot of time doing "guy" things with his daddy and Papa and searched for treasures while geo-caching. Gunnison fell in love with Papa. If he wasn't around, a little voice calling "Papa" , quite loudly, could be heard. I enjoy how the love "Grammy" and "Papa" have for my boys shines through their eyes. They wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to my red-headed beasties and I adore it. When they are around, Josiah, Gavin and Gunnison are SPOILED. Despite that, my boys tried to be good and make their grandparents proud of them.
Another fun thought to think about is my sweetie's birthday. He is now 32 and more handsome than when we first met. He makes me complain and get oh-so frustrated, but he makes me smile and laugh more than anyone else I know. Maybe he could even be a stand-up comedian! (inside joke, sorry) We went out to dinner with his parents (and no children, hooray) to a hibachi grill. It was a blast. Talk about dinner and a show! Yummo! and the sushi was fab. I love Kit and it makes me happy thinking about him and all of his funniness. I only hope he chuckles as much about my quirks (and pulls his hair less-if he had hair).
The sun is peeking around the gray clouds and I have a smile on my face. Isn't it nice what happy thoughts can do!
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Attraction of Batman is Strong...
Gunnison has recently upped his speaking quota. It is, of course, only understandable via Mommy Translation Services, but the increase HAS been noted. One of my favorite words he has acquired is Batman (pronounced batba). Gavin received an Imaginext BatCave from Santa and Gunner loves it. He will come up to me and request "Batba" with the intent to play. This morning I got to see a fun brother-love moment and I thought to share it with you. --- Gunner came running up to me and requested "up". Once I was holding him, he grabbed my cheeks to make sure I was looking at him and asked for "Batba". I said "Sure, I'll get Batman for you" and he quickly wriggled his way to the floor. He headed for the boys' room, but stopped after a couple of steps. He turned around and ran to Josiah, who was standing a few feet away. Gun grabbed his shirt tail and garbled "iah, Batba?" He was asking Jos to play with him! Totally cute!! Josiah said yes, Gunner got a HUGE grin and ran to the boys' room with Josiah following. Ahhh...makes all their goobery-ness this morning okay.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Who can complain?
To tell the truth, I can always find reasons to complain. Leaves covering my backyard, children with perforated ear drums, squeaky brakes, chubby clothes and saggy body, a black thumb=dead favorite fern and you know the list goes on...
BUT- I have so much to look to the positive. It has been absolutely beautiful here. High 70s the latter part of this week and the azaleas are fabulously in bloom. I planted a few pansies (my absolute favorite flowers) in my flower box, put up my yellow wreath and yellow wooden flower. Our pseudo-landlord came over and fixed our kitchen light so we are no longer cooking, dish washing, etc. in the dark. Kit was my mechanic and changed my oil and replaced my burned-out bulbs in the car. Kit and I have been good about working out every day this week and really watching what we've been eating. We're good at lifting the other if we're drifting (we're also great at suggesting pizza to the other and agreeing...thankfully less of that lately). Drum-roll here...Kit and I actually had a date (with none of our children accompanying us). It has been FOREVER since that has happened. We a wonderful time talking, laughing and just being alone (thanks Whit and Spence for the gift-card & baby-sitter $). We have beautiful, if crazy and mischievous, little boys who always make us laugh, groan, pull our hair and make eyes turn towards us in Sacrament Mtg. Three little warriors who are making their way back towards our Heavenly Father in this life. So many things that bring a little smile of contentment to my lips.
Things can always look brighter, happier. Kit attended a meeting today and the stake presidency member asked each of the auxiliaries to tell the group their positives. He didn't want to be informed of their negatives. What have they accomplished or at least were working on accomplishing? What have I? Many of you, like myself, can find ourselves bogged down with what we're not getting done in our hour, day, month, 5 years...but if I look, I can find fabulous accomplishments for myself and my family.
BUT- I have so much to look to the positive. It has been absolutely beautiful here. High 70s the latter part of this week and the azaleas are fabulously in bloom. I planted a few pansies (my absolute favorite flowers) in my flower box, put up my yellow wreath and yellow wooden flower. Our pseudo-landlord came over and fixed our kitchen light so we are no longer cooking, dish washing, etc. in the dark. Kit was my mechanic and changed my oil and replaced my burned-out bulbs in the car. Kit and I have been good about working out every day this week and really watching what we've been eating. We're good at lifting the other if we're drifting (we're also great at suggesting pizza to the other and agreeing...thankfully less of that lately). Drum-roll here...Kit and I actually had a date (with none of our children accompanying us). It has been FOREVER since that has happened. We a wonderful time talking, laughing and just being alone (thanks Whit and Spence for the gift-card & baby-sitter $). We have beautiful, if crazy and mischievous, little boys who always make us laugh, groan, pull our hair and make eyes turn towards us in Sacrament Mtg. Three little warriors who are making their way back towards our Heavenly Father in this life. So many things that bring a little smile of contentment to my lips.
Things can always look brighter, happier. Kit attended a meeting today and the stake presidency member asked each of the auxiliaries to tell the group their positives. He didn't want to be informed of their negatives. What have they accomplished or at least were working on accomplishing? What have I? Many of you, like myself, can find ourselves bogged down with what we're not getting done in our hour, day, month, 5 years...but if I look, I can find fabulous accomplishments for myself and my family.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A Little Bit of Everything
So...as I was reminded by a little bird, I haven't posted in well...quite a while. I was a bit ashamed to note it has been a month. Uggh. It is not that I don't want to post, but when you get out of the habit and have a lot to talk about, it seems so INSURMOUNTABLE! But, if you will stick with me, I will attempt to make my way through this past month.
My family and I were so excited to have my mom, my sisters and their children (minus my nephews Cooper and Greyson {who were missed dearly!}) come stay with us for a visit. Gavin and Josiah could barely contain their glee. As Jos said, "I can hardly wait. It is like waiting for Santa to come!" I shared his opinion. No matter how often I'm blessed to see my fam, the excitement doesn't wear off! I was so excited to soak in sister and mom-ness, kiss on my niecies and nephew and meet baby Scarlett for the first time. Just thinking of them makes me smile. Poor Kit was outran by estrogen (a first in my house-hold) but he held up well with a grin. We spent a lot of time shopping (of course) and made a fab detour over to New Orleans for a day trip. It was fun to show Steph around, she was the only one who hadn't taken the 2 hour trip with us. We walked up and down the French Quarter and munched tasty, sugary beignets at the Cafe Du Monde. Despite the rain, we had a blast.
With the arrival of my family, however, an unwanted virus decided to take up residence in Josiah's eyes...bleh...pink-eye. First Josiah, then Gavin and Gunner and on to our sweet visitors to take the gift home with them. Fair is fair, when they left behind a nasty cold. (I don't care, girls...I'll still take you and all your germs as long as you come!!!) I use this cold as one of my excuses for not posting. Josiah was out of school for 3 yucky, tiresome days and the house was full of tired, whiny children...but who's complaining...
Josiah welcomed a visit of the tooth fairy. Yes, at the age of 6 he has lost his very first tooth. Kit and I were reminiscing our treasured quarter when Josiah blurted out he was so excited to get his five dollars. Say what! According to Jos, his friends from school were paid $5 for their teeth. That had to be one rich tooth fairy coming around their houses. I guess our fairy was feeling the effects of the economy. Josiah earned a beautiful, if crumpled (carrying around a large dollar is difficult, it must be folded down to fit in her pocket), green 1 dollar bill. Cute boy was still very excited thinking of the multitude of ways he can spend it.
A fun tradition we've aquired is the Mardi Gras holiday. The first celebrated Mardi Gras of the United States took place here in Mobile (not New Orleans like one might assume). And believe me, it is honored here. Mardi Gras parties, balls and parades take place all month long. In fact, the school systems gave 3 days off for the children to share in the celebrations. We love every minute of it. King cake, gold green and purple, beads, beads, beads! Or as my boys shout, "Give me some beads, please!" The enthusiasm is effusive and the air swells with school bands marching, rock bands playing on floats and people whistling and cheering. They throw handfuls of beads, stuffed animals, cups, balls and of course, Moon Pies (bleh...um, I mean yummy). We spent the day in Daphne walking the gator walk, driving around, playing at Chick a' Fillet then hanging around for their parade. It is our favorite parade. The boys ran around, danced and cheered the evening away. We filled 3 Wal-mart bags of goodies and made our way home. This is one tradition that will be greatly missed when we move. We're glad we'll be able to enjoy at least one more.
For Valentine's Day, we each received a travel bug for geocaching. It is similar to a dog tag that you attach to something and give it a mission to fulfill. People pick it up from one geocaching site and after checking what its mission is online, deposit it in another one closer to its destination and job. For FHE on Monday, we decided to go to the dollar store and purchase items to attach our bug to and send them on their way. It was interesting and fun to see what the boys chose and listen to what they wanted their bugs to do. Josiah chose a plush frog and wanted to see how many times he could travel from Alabama to Oklahoma and back again via geocaching sites. Gavin chose a little rubber alligator and wanted him to reach Africa. He wanted his gator to visit the crocodiles over there (what an imagination!) so we have him getting pics with people seeing any kind of croc-in zoos, on wildlife preserves or pretend ones. Kit's is still a work in progress, but he wants his to be a little toy skeleton off to get pictures in cemeteries all over the world. Gunner's/mine is a little shoe. We want it to take pictures of any monument, anywhere. We're excited to track their progress wherever they go.
If you made it through this post, hooray for you! You must have fabulous endurance. We have an exciting month ahead of us...Grammy and Papa are coming to visit, it is Kit's birthday and the weather warms up and gets balmy. Ahh, again, the benefits of living down here.
My family and I were so excited to have my mom, my sisters and their children (minus my nephews Cooper and Greyson {who were missed dearly!}) come stay with us for a visit. Gavin and Josiah could barely contain their glee. As Jos said, "I can hardly wait. It is like waiting for Santa to come!" I shared his opinion. No matter how often I'm blessed to see my fam, the excitement doesn't wear off! I was so excited to soak in sister and mom-ness, kiss on my niecies and nephew and meet baby Scarlett for the first time. Just thinking of them makes me smile. Poor Kit was outran by estrogen (a first in my house-hold) but he held up well with a grin. We spent a lot of time shopping (of course) and made a fab detour over to New Orleans for a day trip. It was fun to show Steph around, she was the only one who hadn't taken the 2 hour trip with us. We walked up and down the French Quarter and munched tasty, sugary beignets at the Cafe Du Monde. Despite the rain, we had a blast.
With the arrival of my family, however, an unwanted virus decided to take up residence in Josiah's eyes...bleh...pink-eye. First Josiah, then Gavin and Gunner and on to our sweet visitors to take the gift home with them. Fair is fair, when they left behind a nasty cold. (I don't care, girls...I'll still take you and all your germs as long as you come!!!) I use this cold as one of my excuses for not posting. Josiah was out of school for 3 yucky, tiresome days and the house was full of tired, whiny children...but who's complaining...Josiah welcomed a visit of the tooth fairy. Yes, at the age of 6 he has lost his very first tooth. Kit and I were reminiscing our treasured quarter when Josiah blurted out he was so excited to get his five dollars. Say what! According to Jos, his friends from school were paid $5 for their teeth. That had to be one rich tooth fairy coming around their houses. I guess our fairy was feeling the effects of the economy. Josiah earned a beautiful, if crumpled (carrying around a large dollar is difficult, it must be folded down to fit in her pocket), green 1 dollar bill. Cute boy was still very excited thinking of the multitude of ways he can spend it.
A fun tradition we've aquired is the Mardi Gras holiday. The first celebrated Mardi Gras of the United States took place here in Mobile (not New Orleans like one might assume). And believe me, it is honored here. Mardi Gras parties, balls and parades take place all month long. In fact, the school systems gave 3 days off for the children to share in the celebrations. We love every minute of it. King cake, gold green and purple, beads, beads, beads! Or as my boys shout, "Give me some beads, please!" The enthusiasm is effusive and the air swells with school bands marching, rock bands playing on floats and people whistling and cheering. They throw handfuls of beads, stuffed animals, cups, balls and of course, Moon Pies (bleh...um, I mean yummy). We spent the day in Daphne walking the gator walk, driving around, playing at Chick a' Fillet then hanging around for their parade. It is our favorite parade. The boys ran around, danced and cheered the evening away. We filled 3 Wal-mart bags of goodies and made our way home. This is one tradition that will be greatly missed when we move. We're glad we'll be able to enjoy at least one more.
For Valentine's Day, we each received a travel bug for geocaching. It is similar to a dog tag that you attach to something and give it a mission to fulfill. People pick it up from one geocaching site and after checking what its mission is online, deposit it in another one closer to its destination and job. For FHE on Monday, we decided to go to the dollar store and purchase items to attach our bug to and send them on their way. It was interesting and fun to see what the boys chose and listen to what they wanted their bugs to do. Josiah chose a plush frog and wanted to see how many times he could travel from Alabama to Oklahoma and back again via geocaching sites. Gavin chose a little rubber alligator and wanted him to reach Africa. He wanted his gator to visit the crocodiles over there (what an imagination!) so we have him getting pics with people seeing any kind of croc-in zoos, on wildlife preserves or pretend ones. Kit's is still a work in progress, but he wants his to be a little toy skeleton off to get pictures in cemeteries all over the world. Gunner's/mine is a little shoe. We want it to take pictures of any monument, anywhere. We're excited to track their progress wherever they go.
If you made it through this post, hooray for you! You must have fabulous endurance. We have an exciting month ahead of us...Grammy and Papa are coming to visit, it is Kit's birthday and the weather warms up and gets balmy. Ahh, again, the benefits of living down here.
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