Conference weekend

I love conference weekend. No rushing around to get everyone ready for church and out the door on time. No Sunday clothes, shoes, or scriptures to find.

The kids are out playing on the trampoline and I'm still in my jammies and don't plan on getting out of them today. We'll turn on the radios downstairs and the kids can listen while playing legos. Upstairs we'll have it playing on the internet. Wishing conference came around more often than twice a year.

Savor It Sunday

What a nice afternoon. A yummy lunch of French Toast with strawberries and whipped cream, a Sunday afternoon nap followed by time to read the Conference Ensign. While I was sleeping the kids put together a "circus" performance for us to watch. Now off to check our roast that's cooking for dinner and play a few board games with the kids. I love relaxing Sunday afternoons!

Savor It Sunday

What a peaceful day today was. I got up early to prepare a Sunday school lesson. I substituted for the 15 year old Sunday school class today. I'll gladly substitute there anytime! I usually get asked to substitute teach in primary but teaching the 15 year old class was a lot of fun. Maybe I should have got my degree in secondary education instead of elementary education because I've enjoyed it when I've had the opportunity to teach older kids.

I spent the afternoon reading and enjoying this day of rest. The kids played outside on the trampoline & swing and had a blast gathering up every blanket in the house and sliding and jumping down the stairs. We had leftover pizza in the fridge so I didn't even have to cook today.

Brian left tonight to head to Spanish Fork to attend our niece Crystal's wedding on Tuesday. He'll head south on Wednesday and I'll head north to Women's Conference at BYU. Thankfully Brian's parents are coming to stay to help take care of the kids.

Savor It Sunday

We're 4 weeks into our new chore system and already starting to fizzle out. I made some tracking charts for the kids and offered a reward at the end of this week for the kids who make a diligent effort. Hopefully I can motivate them to stay on top of their chores on their own without me having to nag and be the bad guy.

Life is so much easier now that the kids are growing up. I actually find a few minutes of peace and quiet occasionally. Those are my favorite moments, you know the rare occasions when it's quiet and the kids are playing happily together, no noise from the TV or computer, no whining or complaining or fighting. No noise at all. Just peace and quiet. Gotta wonder how long it will last or what they are up to that they are being so quiet?

I've come to enjoy morning church. We start at 9:30 which is so much better than 9:00! It's nice to have the whole afternoon to relax. My goal is to NOT take a nap today. I've got to get back to getting up early and if I take a nap I won't be tired enough to head to bed before 10:00. And if I don't go to bed early then I won't get up early.

I love Saturdays

I really think Saturday is becoming my favorite day of the week. At least Saturdays like today when there is nothing going on. Brian has been home working in the yard trying to get sprinklers set up in the area we are turning into a garden. I've been happily listening to a book on tape and cleaning bathrooms, folding laundry and doing dishes.

My house is usually overrun with friends. It's not uncommon to have 8 to 10 extra kids in my house and several more in our yard. I don't mind it and am actually grateful. I'd rather have my kids and their friends around so I know what they are up to. However I have declared Saturday to be a friend free day. At least as far as the house goes. They are welcome to play in the yard but no friends are allowed inside on Saturday. Keeps me sane and means a lot less interuptions as I attempt to get the house clean.

Oh and a special thanks to Porter Oliver for the great book recommendation - I'm really enjoying listening to The Lightning Thief!

Savor It Sunday

Today has been a nice Sabbath day. The kids have all been getting along and it makes the day so nice. The upstairs was totally clean this morning when we woke up and so far it has stayed fairly clean. It maybe the first time in a long time my house isn't trashed on Monday morning.

After nearly 5 years serving in the Young Men's program Brian got released today. It was so nice that he didn't have to get up early for Sunday meetings and had no meetings after church. I actually made breakfast this morning for the family and Brain took Brett to church at 9 to set up chairs. I barely made it out the door by 9:20, 5 minutes later than my goal but we'll call it good since I made breakfast.

Brian got called as a ward missionary and as the Scout Committee Chair. He'll do great in both callings.

Brett is in the kitchen making pancakes. His favorite food to make. I'm convinced that both his legs are hollow. He can eat so much food and is always hungry.

Bryce, Kim, Brad & Kylie are over at the park playing. It's nice to have a park so close to our house and to have beautiful weather where they can go out and enjoy the park in February!

Savor It Sunday

Today has been a fabulous day. I'm happy and content. Great feelings. The kids are all getting along great and I hear them out playing together nicely (wonder how long that will last?) It's always nice to actually feel the spirit at church. I'm embarrassed to admit that most of the time I don't. Attempting to keep 5 kids quiet and not disrupting others tends to zap me of the ability & desire to ponder, listen and feel anything during Sacrament Meeting. I set a goal to not let the kids keep me from listening and feeling today and I succeeded.

Kylie has a runny nose. I didn't want to send her to Sunbeams needing it wiped every 3 minutes so after Sacrament Meeting she and I came home. I had a Time Out For Women video I had wanted to watch for a while so I popped it in the DVD and Kylie & I laid on the couch and watched it. We'll I watched it and Kylie cuddled up beside me and had a great time being snuggled, loved & tickled. She made it for almost an hour and then I filled up the bath and let her take a bubble bath for the last half hour of the DVD.

Today I'm working on Chore charts. I've been such a slacker in the chore chart department. I've been reading another great book that has finally motivated me and given me some great ideas on what might work as far as chores go. So the goal for the afternoon is to get everything typed out and ready to go for tomorrow. Growing up we had A, B, C & D charts that we rotated every week. I just realized that what I'm attempting to do is almost exactly what my mom did when we were little.

The book I've been reading is another book by Merrilee Boyack The Parenting Breakthrough has given me some great ideas and motivation to be a better mother to my children.

Right now I'm focused on the questions: What do my kids need to know before they leave the house? What do I need to teach them so they can be independent, self reliant adults who move out of the house and take care of themselves? This month I'm focusing on 2 things: Laundry & Cleaning Bathrooms! Vital life skills!

Sunday Celebration

I've officially met all my weight loss goals! It hasn't been easy but it has been simple. Basically cut out the white refined foods, count calories & exercise. A huge thanks to all my friends who took part in several Healthy Living Challenges with me. If there is one thing I have learned it is that I can never go back to eating junk & not exercising or the weight will come right back. So hopefully I'll be disciplined enough to maintain the healthy lifestyle I am now living.

Savor It Sunday

First Sunday of the New Year means new classes for everyone and a new schedule which means church starts at 9:30 now. I'm dang proud that we were all out the door at 9 a.m. Brett has to go early to help set up chairs and I couldn't see running him up and then returning home to pick everyone else up and head right back up so we all went early.
Brett had his first chance to prepare the Sacrament today and had to bring the bread. (We have a great story about that but we'll keep that locked away in the hall of what will "someday be funny" memories!) Now that Brett is a teacher I need to make sure I hit the bread store regularly so I have a loaf of bread on hand each week, just in case. Not much I'd have been able to do at 8:45 a.m. Sunday morning when the reminder call came if we didn't have bread already in the freezer.
Kylie moved up from Nursery to Sunbeams. She'd only made it the last 3 weeks in Nursery without me and wasn't thrilled to be going to Sunbeams. I'm so grateful we have wonderful primary leaders who worked with her and got her to stay! She was upset to begin with but settled down. She was in the hall for a while coloring with a member of the primary presidency and then went into her class. Huge sigh of relief from me!

Savor It Sunday

Today I savored our last day of sleeping in on Sunday. Next year church will start at 9:30 instead of 1:00. It's a whole different thing to get 5 kids to church on time when we start in the morning. I'm just grateful we are starting at 9:30 instead of 9:00. Those 30 extra minutes will help a lot! I've loved sleeping in on Sunday and just staying in bed once I do wake up.

Brett got ordained to be a Teacher today at church. It really hit me that he won't be around for much longer. We have less than 5 years with him at home.

I rarely capture a cute smile on Bryce but I just love this smile of his!
We don't allow video games on Sunday but since grandpa was here and had given me the Wii Fit we were showing him how it works.
I love my dad! It was so nice to have him spend a night with us on his way back to CA.
Kylie in her favorite spot. Watching Nickjr on the computer. She'd spend most of the day sitting her if I let her.

It was a nice Sabbath day. Since I am no longer in nursery I actually get to go to Sunday School and Relief Society and enjoy it. I haven't always been able to say that. There have been many times in the past I've enjoyed hanging out in the hall.

Savor It Sunday...Keeping Warm

It's cold out this morning. Just this past week we've had the first cold mornings of the season. I made it until the end of November before having to turn the heat on which was a huge blessing to not have to pay an inflated electric bill. It was so nice to lay in bed buried until a pile of warm blankets and not have to get up this morning. We have 1:00 p.m. church until the end of the year. Beginning in January I won't have the luxury of sleeping in on Sunday but I'm sure going to enjoy it for the next 3 weeks. I love when the kids come climb under the covers to snuggle with me. Brett seems to have gotten to old but the others still come in a get warm and snuggle.

Savor It Sunday... Magnifying Callings

About every 5 years the bishops in LDS wards get replaced. Today was the day for the change to be made in our ward. We have had the most wonderful bishopric. Bishop Daniels is an amazing man. He was the perfect example of someone who served faithfully, loved everyone he served and magnified his calling. I had the opportunity to meet with Bishop Daniels on a couple occasions and shall cherish those memories and the counsel and blessings he gave me. He had two great counselors Brother Emett and Brother Postma who also served faithfully by his side. It was a sad to see them released but they have definitely earned some time off for faithful service. At least a week or two until they get called to their next calling!
It was wonderful to sustain a new bishopric today. Bishop Cooper and his counselors Brother Stewart & Brother Davis will do a fabulous job. Knowing the bishop was going to be released Brian and I did a little guessing as to who it might be. We didn't guess correctly but as soon as Brother Coopers name was called I got a huge smile and knew he was perfect for the calling and that the Lord had called him to be our new Bishop. He has been Brett's scout leader for the last 2 years and has faithfully magnified that calling and has to be one of the best scout masters around. He took Brett & the other scouts on a 50 mile hike this summer and a couple of months ago took them 20 miles in one day to complete their hiking merit badge. Brett has learned a lot from Brother Cooper and I know will continue to learn from Bishop Cooper!
Thinking of these great men has made me reflect on how I magnify the callings I have been given. I was recently called as the activity days leader in my ward for the 8 & 9 year old girls. It's a great calling. Plan an activity twice a month for a dozen girls. There aren't many callings that are easier or funner than this one. So far we've had 2 activities. During the first one we played kickball (Rachel's idea- the other leader I was called to serve with) & toilet tag (the girls' idea), talk about a great workout. For our second activity we learned how to make bread. The 3rd activity will take place this week and we're talking about how to be a good friend and making friendship bracelets & friendship bread. When I was set apart the bishop gave me a fabulous blessing telling me how important this calling was and how I could make a difference in the lives of these young girls. I'm determined to love these girls and help them come to love the gospel in their lives and have a lot of fun while doing so!
The biggest problem I have is "enduring to the end" in callings. I tend to start off so excited and then burn out after a while. This was especially true in nursery. After over a year and a half despite loving the calling I was burned out and ready for a change. I don't know how long I'll serve in this calling but I intend to put my heart into doing the best job I can with these beautiful children of God and not burn out in the process. So here's to having fun activities with a purpose and enjoying every minute of it.

Savor It Sunday... Temple Puzzle

I decided to start a puzzle today. I love doing puzzles. I've had this puzzle of the Salt Lake Temple sitting in my closet for a long time. I've never taken time to put it together. I decided I'd take some time and relax and enjoy doing something I love today.

Speaking of temples... I'd plan to go to the temple yesterday but was thwarted in my attempt. Although I'm ok with the reason. I had got out of the shower and was getting ready to go when Kylie asked where I was going. I told her I was going to the temple and she begged to come with me. It was so dang cute I just didn't want to resist her. After several pleadings similar to: "Please mommy I go to temple too?" I finally told her if she wanted to go to the temple she had to go get her church dress on which she did. I did her hair and got her all ready and then drove to the temple. Kim came with us too. The big nativity was already up so we looked at the baby Jesus and the manger scene. They had recently decorated for Christmas so we walked around the grounds and then through the visitors center for a while looking at the Christmas trees. She walked up the steps of the temple and wanted to go in the doors at the top of the stairs. I certainly hope that desire to enter the temple remains with her and that she lives worthy to be able to enter the temple when she is older.

Savor It Sunday...Pondering

Today I am thinking about the word Ponder. Last night at the adult session of stake conference one of the talks was on Search, Ponder & Pray. The key word President Hinton focused on was ponder.
Um reality is I am a terrible ponderer. I'm fabulous at going through the motions. I've been reading my scriptures and saying my prayers every day for weeks now. But rarely do I ever take the time to ponder. Brian is a fabulous ponderer. He ponders things all the time. I on the other hand get so caught up in my checklist of things to do and the hustle and bustle of running the house and keeping the kids on track that I don't take much time to ponder. So my goal is to take some quiet time to ponder more often. The problem is where to find this time and how to make this goal into a reality.
The question was asked - How many minutes do you have to ponder? We were challenged to set time aside to ponder. I spend too few minutes pondering, very often no time at all in a day. To find time to ponder I need quiet time and there isn't any of that when the kids are awake so I either have to stay up later or get up earlier. Nights are when I spend time with Brian so I'm opting to get up 15 minutes earlier than I have been so I have a few minutes alone that are quiet to ponder each morning.

There is a great message from President Benson from April 1988 Here are some of my favorite quotes from it:

Ponder the significance of the responsibility the Lord has given to us. The Lord has counseled, “Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.” (D&C 43:34.) You cannot do that when your minds are preoccupied with the cares of the world.

We must always be responsive to the whisperings of the Spirit. These promptings most often come when we are not under the pressure of appointments and when we are not caught up in the worries of day-to-day life.

The following statement by President Spencer W. Kimball illustrates how we may develop more spirituality in our lives:
“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel.”

This latter-day work is spiritual. It takes spirituality to comprehend it, to love it, and to discern it. Therefore, seek the Spirit in all you do. Keep it with you continually. That is our challenge.

Savor It Sunday

I was released from the nursery today after more than a year and a half in there. It was time. I've loved the calling and the kids but it is such an isolating calling. I'll be glad to attend Relief Society once again.
I was called to be an Activity Days Leader for the 8 & 9 year old girls in the ward. I'm really excited. The bishop set me apart today and gave me a lot to think about how I can magnify my calling with these special girls. Kim is so excited to have me as her leader!

I spent the morning laying in bed reading my scriptures and finishing the book The Mother In Me. While I was reading all of the kids ended up coming in at one time or another and climbing up on my bed by me. It was an enjoyable morning.

We planned to walk to church today but it started raining so we didn't. I love the rain. It always reminds me of my mother. I talked with the kids about the day of my mom's funeral when it started raining right as we arrived at the cemetery. We talked how it could have been a coincidence but none of us really believe that. I believe it was a tender mercy from the Lord.

I love this song. I have been listening to it over and over again. Now I'm off to read books to the kids. I hope everyone is having a relaxing, peaceful Sunday.

Mother, Tackle, Wash, Thwart, Fix, Scour & Savor IT!

So I love Tackle it Tuesday. It so works for me. There are so many things I just don't get done and having just one project to take on has really worked for me. Unbelievable my office is still clean! It feels so great.

My good friend Yoga drove down to visit me on Saturday. After and early lunch at Durangos a couple hours of shopping and then a late lunch at Outback I left feeling rejuvenated. I love you Yoga and am so grateful you went out of your way to spend and afternoon with me!

One thing we discussed briefly was Tackle It Tuesday. Yoga had been trying to come up with something for the other days of the week. She'd come up with Wash It Wednesday and Fix it Friday. It got my brain going and I wanted to come up with something for each day of the week because I thrive with motivation and love the sense of having something that I can accomplish and be proud of.

After church today with the help of a dictionary I enlisted Brian and the kids to help me come up with something for everyday of the week.

So we already had:
Tackle it Tuesday - Tackle any project that you need to get done.
Wash it Wednesday - Dishes, Laundry, your car, the spots on your walls...Lots of possibilities for something that desperately needs washing.
Fix it Friday - Fix something that needs fixing, mend clothes, repair something, replace something that is broken, etc.

The remaining ideas come from my husband and children. We brainstormed and voted on them and this is what we came up with.

Mother It Monday - We had lots of ideas from Mend it to Make it to Move it to Muster it... but it was unanimous that Monday should be Mother It Monday - Do something to be a better mother, read a book, take a walk with the kids, a bike ride, go to the park, sit and talk... Anything to better my relationship with my children.

Thursday was nearly impossible to figure out! Throttle it, thrash it, throw it, thrice it, through it... Ultimately we decided upon Thwart it Thursday. The definition of thwart included: to oppose and defeat, to hinder or prevent. We decided on picking some area of the house needed to be defeated. Clutter or chaos or even bad habits in any form that need to be thwarted.

Scour it Saturday - Anything that needs scouring or to be clear or rid of what is undesirable. Some sort of deep cleaning task from the oven to the soap scum to anything that is needing a good cleaning and scrubbing.

Savor It Sunday - Obviously not a day of work but rather a day to reflect on all that is good in life. A time to appreciate and relish and enjoy what we have been blessed with. (Brett says we should call it Sit it Sunday so we can just "sit" and rest all day).

I don't promise to tackle all of these each week but my goal is to accomplish at least several of them each week. I know there will be days when simply meeting the basic needs of my family is all I will be able to accomplish. But I hope to be able to get a better handle on thing by simply setting a small goal each day and accomplishing it.

Savor It Sunday!

Savor: To appreciate fully; enjoy or relish!

Each Sunday I am planning to spend a few minutes savoring the good in my life. I have so much to be thankful for but often I get so caught up in the craziness of life and I don't take the time to stop and savor what I do have. It's so easy for me to focus on what is missing and what I wish was different that I can lose focus on what I do have. There is so much I can and should be grateful for. Changing my blog background to a Thanksgiving theme reminded to I need to be more grateful for what I have. I found a few poems online that remind me I truly am blessed. I'm going to spend this month trying to be grateful for all that I've been blessed with!

THANK GOD FOR DIRTY DISHES; THEY HAVE A TALE TO TELL.
WHILE OTHER FOLKS GO HUNGRY, WE’RE EATING PRETTY WELL.
WITH HOME, AND HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS,
WE SHOULDN’T WANT TO FUSS;
FOR BY THIS STACK OF EVIDENCE,
GOD’S VERY GOOD TO US.

I am thankful...
For the teenager who is complaining about doing
dishes, because that means she is at home & not on the
streets.
For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am
employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means
that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it
means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I
am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need
cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it
means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government,
because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the
parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking
and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key,
because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means
I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the
day, because it means I have been capable of working
hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning
hours, because it means that I am alive.
And finally.......for too much e-mail, because it
means I have friends who are thinking of me.

So today I am grateful for my dirty dishes, dirty laundry & gross bathrooms because I have a houseful of wonderful children making those messes!