His Little Ones

A new favorite quote of mine:

“Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. . . . Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley (emphasis added)

[Note to self:  Be patient with them.]

[Second note to self:  Be patient with me.]

[Last note to self:  Remember I, too, am a "little one" who has parents.  Be gentle.]

Finding Peace and Balance By Choosing A Healthy Lifestyle

In today’s society, especially with the media and the ever present entertainment industry, it is easy to become obsessed and overly preoccupied with body image.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my own health and the lifestyle I currently lead … partly because of some blog posts I read here and here, partly because I have a MRI scheduled for next week, but mostly because I know it ties into having a calm, peaceful, alert and not-so-quick-to-react demeanor (I have been insatiably craving these attributes lately) for indeed the body and spirit unite to form a soul.

Consequently I have been taking a personal health and wellness inventory.  Am I exercising?  Am I exercising for the right reasons?  Do I make healthy food choices?  Do I emotionally eat?  Am I teaching my children how to take care of their bodies in a positive and healthy manner?  Am I teaching my children and family how to find balance in their lives?  Do I get enough sleep?  Do I take care of the body I have been blessed with?  Do I show my gratitude to my Father in Heaven for the gift He gave me or do I covet other body shapes and sizes that I see around me?

I want to be a healthy me. I want to achieve an optimum level of health and wellness that is just right for me and tailored uniquely to me.  After all, taking care of our bodies should not be about being a certain size or weight or shape or trend.  And it definitely should not consume all of our time, thoughts and energy.  There is so much more to life than that!

I know I want to be more grateful for the body I have for it is a gift given to me by the Lord.  I want to be grateful that it works. I want to take care of it and not berate it and wish it looked like something or someone else.  I want to love and be grateful for who I am, for the talents and weaknesses I possess, for I know I am “imperfectly beautiful.”

Because my mind has been focused on health and wellness lately and how it affects my moods and how I treat others and myself, I decided to do some research on what it means to live the Word of Wisdom as found in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  I wanted to better understand the blessings that come from abiding by its precepts.  Here are many of the gems I found.  I think the last quote by Elder Perry is exceptionally powerful and that it sums up my findings rather well:

“The Word of Wisdom does not promise you perfect health, but it teaches how to keep the body you were born with in the best condition and your mind alert to delicate spiritual promptings.” ~ President Boyd K. Packer (Ensign, May 1996)

“This revelation has such far-reaching effects on so many aspects of our lives, and on the social behavior of those in our communities, that I firmly believe most of the ills of society today could be cured by the acceptance and observance of the Word of Wisdom… Surely the Lord gave a revelation and a promise for the benefit and blessing of his children.” ~ N. Eldon Tanner

“Bringing into your body substances forbidden by the Lord in the Word of Wisdom will prevent you from feeling and recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost.” ~ Joseph B. Wirthlin

“What a blessing! What a blessing is the Word of Wisdom, that the Lord would set before His Church a pattern of living which would bless our lives.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

“The Lord’s commandments in the Word of Wisdom regarding the care of our physical bodies bless us first and foremost with ‘wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures’ (D&C 89:19). Furthermore, they lead to a generally more healthy life and freedom from destructive addictions. Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create. Of course, age, accident, and illnesses inevitably take their toll, but even so, our obedience to this gospel law enhances our capacity to deal with these challenges.”  ~ Elder D. Todd Christofferson

“Guard and protect [your body]—take nothing into it that shall harm the organs thereof because it is sacred. It is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character.” ~ Patriarchal blessing of Boyd K. Packer (“Ye Are the Temple of God”)

“I found in the Word of Wisdom a principle with a promise. The principle: Care for your body; avoid habit-forming stimulants. Such addictive things do little more than relieve a craving which they caused in the first place.  The promise: Those who obey will receive better health (see D&C 89:18) and ‘great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures’ (D&C 89:19).” ~ President Boyd K. Packer (“Ye Are the Temple of God”)

“We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body. The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man. … All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not.” ~ Joseph Smith (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 181)

“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16–17

“When any unworthy desires press into your mind, fight them, resist them, control them (see James 4:6–8; 2 Ne. 9:39; Mosiah 3:19). The Apostle Paul taught, ‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’” (1 Cor. 10:13; see also D&C 62:1) ~ President Boyd K. Packer (“Ye Are the Temple of God”)

“The Lord has commanded you to take good care of your body. To do this, observe the Word of Wisdom, found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. …  We do not want to harm our mortal bodies, for they are a gift from God, and part of our Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness is the reuniting of our immortal bodies with our spirits.” ~ Elder L. Tom Perry  (“Let Him Do It with Simplicity”)

And even though the following isn’t a quote I found while researching,  it is still something that really struck a chord with me.  It is one of the comments I recently read on a blog post about health.  She said something simply profound in a very clear and concise manner:

I have struggled with eating disorders since I was a [young teenager] and I can confirm that the adversary wants us to be preoccupied with our physical appearance. The more we are consumed with the fleeting aspects of our bodies, the less we are able to feel the Holy Ghost and follow his promptings. And when we are focused on ourselves, we are not able to serve others as we should. ~ La Yen

Wow.  So incredibly true.

I now have a myriad of thoughts floating around in my head, thoughts about goals and choices I want to make so I can be more calm, peaceful, alert and not-so-quick-to-react, so I can be more healthy and well and so I can promote health and wellness in all aspects in my family.

But those goals and ideas will be saved for a later post.

Sisters

A couple of weeks ago I sent my sister a rather bleak email.  I didn’t necessarily intend to spill out all my horrible life woes, but it had just been one of those days, one of those weeks.  At the time I was feeling lonely and discouraged.

I wrote the note at night.  Things are always worse at night, especially when it is already past bedtime.

But I knew I could trust my sister and open up my heart to her.  It helped to write out and share my inner feelings, even though I knew I was simply caught up in a dark and exasperated moment.

Little did I know that not only would she just listen to me, but she decided to show me her love and concern in an even bigger and generous way.  This is what arrived on my doorstep today.

My eyes became misty as I read the letter she also sent.  Part of it touched my soul, and part of it was quite amusing.

That afternoon I was telling “Sydney” [her 4 year old daughter] what we were going to do while “Hannah” was in her reading class.  I said, “We are going to go to Trader Joes and get some chocolate for Lucy.  She was sad today and I want to send her a package.”

To that Sydney responded, “Lucy is sad because she ran out of chocolate????”

I couldn’t stop laughing, it was very cute.  If only life were as simple as our kids make it out to be.

Very true indeed.  If only life were as simple as kids thought it were.  But then again, I know the Lord has admonished us to become more childlike.  How incredibly fitting.

Since I sent that email a couple of weeks ago, I have been doing better.  I have been learning to navigate this life experience I have been given with dignity and with a cheerful heart.  What a difference this kind of attitude makes.

This post is dedicated to my sisters, all 6 of them.  And to all my dear friends and family members who are as close to me as sisters.  Thanks for all you do for me!

There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me.  ~Mary Montagu

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.  ~Author Unknown

A sister is a forever friend.  ~Author Unknown

Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.  ~Carol Saline

Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.  ~Benjamin Disraeli

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.  ~Isadora James

An older sister is a friend and defender – a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights.  And sorrows too.  ~Pam Brown

Four Year Olds

Even though a 4 year old can be exasperating much of the time … in fact there are days when I adamantly exclaim that I detest the age of four! (but only when all little ones are out of ear shot ) … I must admit I dearly enjoy their passion for life and their inquisitive natures.  They are so eager to learn and their wonder and awe for the world around them can serve as great examples for us to slow down and not always be in such a hurry.

My current 4 year old little man.

At this age, they are incredibly observant and quick to share their honest opinions with you.

Some recent quotes by my sweet yet always energetic Cory:

“I want to be a kid forever. Mommy and Daddy do boring stuff.”

“Sorry I got so out of control on you.”

“The whole world is full of Honda’s. There are tons of Honda’s. They’re everywhere.”

So silly and so fun.

And as you can tell, Cory is OBSESSED with cars!  (I think I need to find a stronger verb than obsessed.) He has had a strong affinity for them ever since he was about 13 months old when we handed him an old Hot Wheels car to play with that used to belong to his Daddy.

His love for cars continues to grow and grow.  Not only does he like pointing out all the brands of cars he sees, but he is also smitten with classics.

Cory at a local classic car show we went to this summer.

Lately he has also been quite curious about the nature of life and death.  Recently we had two beta fish die which makes him pretty concerned about growing old and when and how things pass away.

Here is a conversation from earlier today:

Cory: “Where are all the fruit flies?” (We have had too many of these pesky critters in our apartment this summer. Ick.)

Me: “They all died.”

Cory: “How did they die?”

Me: “They got old.” (And also because Mommy squished a bunch of them.  I am getting pretty adept at clapping them to death.)

Cory: “Oh.  They got old?  Oh.  There are classic fruit flies.”

Classic fruit flies, just like vintage and classic cars.

That gave me a good chuckle this morning.  I love the parallel lines little kids make between things.

Time For Some Giveaways

For the time being, my husband and I are still patiently standing at our next gate and waiting to see which way it will swing open.  We are doing everything we can to figure out which path to take, but in the meantime, I thought I would take a little break from the stresses of life and post a couple of quick giveaways .

First up is a $100 “Security Blanket”  which has been provided by First Alert.    I must admit when I opened this kit I was impressed with all the goodies they had tucked inside.

The winner of this kit will receive a:

• First Alert Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray (which is much easier to use than an extinguisher)
• First Alert SA710 Photoelectric Sensor Smoke Alarm
• First Alert CO 400 Battery-operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm
• Cordzilla bungee-like stretch rope to secure items in closets or garages (very handy!)
• Crawford Duramount Multi-purpose Arm Hook to safely store strollers or other heavy objects in a storage room or garage.

The other giveaway I am hosting comes from the Sunsweet Growers company.  Recently they added a Philippine Pineapple to its dried fruit line up.  My husband is a connoisseur of dried fruit and when he tried this product he thought it was amazing! It is surprisingly sweet and very tender and juicy.

The winners of this prize pack will get a Sunsweet reusable shopping bag (which is very sturdy,  it works fabulously for heavy items) and a VIP coupon good for any Sunsweet product, up to a value of $5.50.

So how do you win one of these giveaways?

Merely leave a comment on this post before Tuesday September 22nd … which is the first day of Autumn, my absolute favorite season!

One winner will be selected for the First Alert Security Blanket and ten lucky winners will be selected for the Sunsweet Prize Pack.  If you have a preference for which product you would like to receive, then please indicate so in your comment.

If you want to be entered into this giveaway three times, then in your comment tell me what season is your favorite and why.

If you want to be entered into this giveaway five times, then write about this giveaway on your blog or your Facebook status or your Twitter account. Make sure you indicate in your comment that you did so.

Both of these contests are for U.S. residents only.

Now get out and enjoy your last week of summer .

[Editor's note: In case you were wondering, whenever I host giveaways on my blog, unless otherwise indicated, the prizes are supplied by the company. They do NOT pay me to promote their product.  Furthermore, they do NOT have any input on what I say about their product.   I always give my honest opinions and feedback. You rarely see any negative reviews on my site because I simply choose not to post items I think won't interest or benefit my readers.]

Standing At The Gate

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!’
And he replied:  ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.  That shall be to you better than [a] light and safer than a known way.’” ~ excerpt from Be Of Good Cheer by Thomas S. Monson

Throughout the last week I have fielded dozens of inquiries on whether or not we have made the decision.  The decision to move or not to move.

Before I get to the answer, though, I want to give a HUGE thank you to all who commented on my conundrum post.  The advice, tips and wisdom I have received as we strive to make this decision have been more than helpful.  So thank you, thank you kindly.  I am thoroughly grateful for all of our  concerned friends and family members who are willing to share their thoughts and help us out.

So the decision?  I wish it could be a simple yes or no.  But when is any situation in my life ever answered with such ease?!

My husband and I firmly believe we need to move.  We need more space. Our kids need more space.  We believe we will be a happier family if we had a little bit more breathing room … nothing luxurious of course, just more space.  The question comes down to timing.

We still really like the 1300 square foot apartment we recently found.  In fact at times I find myself planning how everything will be situated there.  Most likely a unit will be available in that building in the middle of November.  At first we thought we would move then, but things keep getting in the way.

All of the sudden my husband has a week long business trip he needs to take the last week of October/first week of November.  My husband also needs surgery to remove a sizable ganglion cyst on his right inner foot.  That just got scheduled for November 4th and it will have a 3 week recovery period.

And to add more to the mix, Keri started third grade yesterday with a more than phenomenal teacher.  My deep down gut feeling tells me she is supposed to finish her third grade year where she is at.

So what do I know?  Like I said earlier, I have a strong conviction we need to move.  And I think we will be moving sometime before next summer is over.  Where and when are the big questions.

At first all this talk of moving came on merely to find a bigger place in the area we currently live in.  But now that talk of moving has morphed quite significantly.

Now there is talk of my husband trying to somehow attain that elusive Ph.D.  Probably at a different university.  Which will probably be out of state.  And the Ph.D itself might be in a different field, albeit closely related.

Sigh.

Big sigh.

I wish I had a light right now.  Or a compass to tell me which direction we are supposed to go.

Right now I find myself questioning and doubting a lot.  An awful lot.  Have we been making the correct choices for our family over the last 11 years?  Are we supposed to get even more school? And go into more debt?  Aren’t 5 degrees enough?  [My husband has 2 Bachelor's and 2 Master's and I have 1 Bachelor's.]  Is there something in our life we are doing wrong?  Is that why we just can’t settle down and start a more stable chapter in our life?

I know some of those questions are a bit silly, but I can’t help it.  Those are the things plaguing me right now. If we are supposed to still get the Ph.D, then really I am OK with that.  But are we?  Will I ever know that for sure? For sure, for sure?

Yes, I have been praying.  A lot.  And trying to sincerely search and ponder out the solution and path God wants us to take. But I am afraid I am mostly hearing silence right now.  The only answer coming is to be patient.  Be patient and still and eventually all will work out.

In the meantime, though, what am I supposed to be doing while I wait?  There are decisions that unfortunately still need to be made.

But I will wait.  And try to be patient. And try to increase the tiny faith seed I have.

I will try and be of good cheer.  I will even play The Glad Game like Pollyanna did.  [We just watched that old school movie as a family and loved every minute of it.  Keri ate it up!]

And while I do this, I will stand patiently at our next gate as we wait to see where it will take us.  I might wish for a light to lead me “safely into the unknown,” but instead I will try to place my hand into the Lord’s so He can lead me on His way.

My Wicked Day

“ONE SHORT DAY
IN THE EMERALD CITY
ONE SHORT DAY
TO HAVE A LIFETIME OF FUN”
~ Wicked

The escape I got from reality today was just what I needed.  I am not sure if I am ready to float back down to earth.

** Seven hours of child-free time.

** A yummy lunch with the husband.

** Seeing a show that easily EXCEEDED all my expectations.  The set, the music, the costumes, the talent, the story line, the special effects … WOW! What an amazing show, one of my absolute favorites.

** Holding my husband’s hand while taking a leisurely stroll in the afternoon sun.

** Indulging at the Chocolate Box.

It was a positively delightful day.  And I am more than grateful for the break it gave me.  (A big heartfelt THANK YOU to those who watched my children!)

I think I might be dreaming tonight with Wicked music floating through my head.

(I am already planning on how I can manage to see this show again. I really should take Keri.  She would adore it!)

Luxury or Necessity

I have a conundrum.

To move or not to move.

For years now … YEARS! …  I have been craving more space to raise my family.  We currently reside in a two bedroom/1.5 bathroom, 830 square foot, 3rd floor apartment. For some this might seem huge.  To others it might seem minuscule.

Trying to raise 3 kids in this amount of space, especially when one of the kids is an overly spirited and energetic 4 year old, has been downright challenging.  Poor little Eli sleeps in the living room.  I think the lack of space can partly account for some of my short fuse with the kids and with life in general lately.

For the last little while we have casually been looking at other options.  This last week, though, we finally decided to get more serious about our searching.

We actually found a place we think will be a good fit for our family.  It definitely is not ideal or perfect – for that to happen I would want a decent sized fenced back yard and a garage for more storage space – but we think it is an improvement.

Instead of 830 square feet, this new place has 1300 square feet. All on one level. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  It is the second floor of an apartment building that has huge grounds full of grass and trails.  It is relatively quiet, in a good location, and there is even a swimming pool and a decent fitness room at the complex.  Those are truly just bonuses, not necessities.

How are the schools in the area? This was a big deal for me because I positively adore the school Keri is at right now. It is fantastic!  The new school she would be going to is actually going to be quite comparable.

So what is my problem? Why am I hesitant?  A lot of the hesitancy stems from the fact that this new place will cost about $100-$130 more a month.  And that will be a little bit of a stretch for our tight budget.  We feel like we should be able to get by, though.  As long as no huge catastrophic thing hits us.

Then why am I still dragging my feet?  It feels right, at least I think it does.  In fact I get down right giddy at times when I start dreaming about all the space we are going to gain. I even have started planning how the rooms will be arranged and which kids will get which room.

But, I also start to wonder about the things we will be losing.  Where we are now we have a covered parking garage to use.  The new place doesn’t.  Here we have an elevator which makes hauling groceries, and Costco runs and 3 kids upstairs much more doable.  There we won’t.  Here we have bike racks and an outside area to store our wagon.  There we are not quite sure what we will do with the bikes and wagon.  Perhaps they will get stored on the balcony?

These complaints are pretty petty and insignificant, but they are still weighing on my mind.  I know when we moved into the two places we have lived during our 11 year marriage we had issues with certain things, but of course we found solutions to the problems. And I am sure we can do the same thing with this new place.

That is if we move.

When push comes to shove, overall we feel good about moving.  BUT … lately there is always a but … I still wonder if it is all a luxury and not a necessity.  After all, we are managing to survive in our 2 bedroom apartment.  And everything in it has a place.

Any thoughts?  Please sound off, but sound off gently .

Liking The Child You Love

**Keep reading – book giveaway ahead. **

Liking the Child You Love:
Build a Better Relationship with Your Kids—Even When They’re Driving You Crazy

The title of this book definitely caught my eye.

But the subtitle of the book grabbed my attention even more.

For me, parenting has been a real struggle lately. Deep down I know I still relish motherhood, but lately I feel like I have been at my wit’s end with my children.

A lot.

And I mean A LOT.

My patience has been razor thin.  My tolerance for noise, chaos and silliness has been at an extremely low threshold.  And I feel like I have been an overly angry, snappy, yelly and  flying-off-the-handle mother.

I know my children can definitely learn to listen better, but I know the real problem lies within me.  I am the one who needs to change.

Consequently, when I was informed about this new book, I was immediately intrigued.  I was so  intrigued that I asked one of the marketing managers if I could have a free review copy.  She willingly obliged.

When I received my book, I chuckled at a quote on the back cover.

“For all those parents who want to run away from home or hide in the bathroom until their child outgrows a difficult stage, I highly recommend this book.” ~ Karen Deerwester

I knew this book was written for me.  I can’t tell you how many times I have ran and hid in the bathroom just so I could have a moment of solace.

At first I started reading this book casually, but once I was a chapter or two into it, I realized this book was going to be life changing.  I started reading it again, this time with a pen in hand. I needed to mark all the helpful tips I was learning and I also wanted to write down key ideas in the margins.  I even started reading parts of the book out loud to my husband so he, too, could benefit from this amazing knowledge.

So what is this book about?  Here is a pretty accurate description:

Author/psychologist Bernstein (10 Days to a Less Defiant Child), aka “Dr. Jeff,” delves into “the dark thoughts of anxious parents” who love their kids, but can’t figure out how to like them. Bernstein claims millions of parents suffer from an affliction he calls Parent Frustration Syndrome (PFS), characterized by negativity, resentment and frustration regarding one’s own child. According to Bernstein, PFS is caused by toxic thinking; to combat this habit, he provides parents with the tools to identify and transform their damaging thoughts. Such toxic thinking patterns as using labels or sarcasm, blaming, emotional “overheating,” or employing the words “always,” “never” or “should” are among the ways parents contribute to problems with their kids, the author argues. Bernstein guides parents down a more “mindful” path, helping them to reduce stress and alter negative emotions by changing their thoughts. He also suggests ways to use “collaborative logical consequences” instead of empty or damaging threats. Frazzled adults may too often be tempted to blame their discontent on their child’s behavior, but Bernstein places responsibility for the relationship squarely in the hands of parents, while simultaneously offering support and practical strategies for reducing parental stress. In a conversational style, he also shares his clients’ stories, along with his own challenges as the father of three.

I am only 1/3 of the way through this book, but so far what I have read has really been helpful.  It is amazing how much calmer,  happier and more loving relationships can be when one learns how to identify and change certain toxic thought patterns.

This is a book I will definitely be referring to over and over again as the years go by.

Because this book has been so empowering for me, I asked the marketing manager if she could provide me with a copy to do a giveaway on my blog.  She was more than happy to help me out.

So if you live in the United States and would like to be entered into this giveaway, then please leave a comment on this post before Thursday September 3rd.

If you want to be entered into this giveaway five times, then in your comment tell me something you do to help you not get so exasperated with your kids.

Don’t fret, though, if you happen to be in a parenting funk at the moment.  If you are, then merely tell me about your current parenting woes and I will commiserate with you and still give you your five entries .

Here’s to helping us all detoxify our thoughts so we can become happier and healthier individuals!

AWOL, MIA and CA

I suppose after publishing 500 posts, one is entitled to a bloggy break.

Even if it was a bit unintentional.

It has been so long since I wrote a post, that I find I am struggling with writing. How do I form a sentence?  What voice do I normally write in?  How does this work again?  My brain is stuck in Facebook status update mode.  I have a feeling I am going to have to break myself back into blogging kind of slowly.

I definitely have missed writing.  It is therapeutic for me.  It keeps me grounded. It helps me process things. It gives me a broader perspective.  It reminds me of the purpose of life.  And lately I feel like I have needed a lot of reminding in that department.  (Perhaps the lack of blogging has made this problem worse?)

Our summer has been an adventurous one … boating, tubing, swimming, going to a “real” beach in California, hanging out with lots of friends and family, consuming way too much chocolate and calories in general [the new Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake, the red velvet one, packs in a whopping 1500+ calories a slice!], playing games galore, losing a laptop in the airport security lines and not realizing it until we landed at our destination [thankfully it was found and is in the process of being returned] … but I think my love affair for summer is coming to an end.

Though I am sure I will be longing for it again real soon.

I certainly love the warm rays and the plentiful sunshine it offers, but I am fondly looking forward to school starting up in a couple of weeks.  I think my body, heart and mind are craving a more predictable routine and schedule.

But I am grateful for the summer that has been.  Grateful we have had a good summer, even though I haven’t been the nicest or quietest mom lately.

I am especially grateful that just a few weeks ago, my precious daughter was able to celebrate her 8th birthday.

And on that very same day, she was able to get baptized.

In the same font I got baptized in.

And her loving Grandma, my mother, made her gorgeous dress.  She even made the sash by sewing lace onto the ribbon.

A Sliver Of A Peek

Here is a sliver of a peek from our outdoor family photo shoot last weekend.

Feel free to visit Marie Photographie to see just a few more pictures.  I positively ADORE them!

And of course I have some posts in the works.  I have been reading a life changing parenting book and I have a few fun giveaways to tell you about as well.

But those posts will have to wait a couple more days because we have a daycation planned this weekend.  Much thanks to the gracious “Bon Voyage” fairy who left the **PERFECT** little gift bag on my doorstep today.  My heart is full from this simple act of kindness.  It truly helped send my day in a better direction.

P.S.  How is this my 5ooth post already?!  Wowsers!

Needing A Lazy Summer Week

I am hoping this week will be a slow one.  A true lazy it’s-the-middle-of-summer kind of week.

For the past couple of months, July 18th has been a day that has given me a bit of anxiety.

Granted nothing outrageously huge was going on, but I still had two things to oversee.  Two things I really wanted to go well.

In the morning I had a card making birthday extravaganza for the almost 8 year old and nearly 20 of her sweet, giggly girlfriends to put on.  After that, I needed to hurry and get home so I could get everyone ready for a family photo shoot. And that family photo shoot was a little over an hour away. (I have been wanting to get a good family picture taken for years now.  Years!)

Normally I don’t like to plan two biggish events on the same day, especially since we have 3 little munchkins and their wants and needs that are constantly changing and shifting to deal with, but there weren’t many options this time around. I just hoped and prayed that the stars would all align and things would go relatively smoothly.

Unfortunately the night before the party … and on accident! … I found out the room we had booked for the party was double booked. (Originally it had been triple booked?!)  Talk about creating undue anxiety.  And then the morning of the party, poor Cory woke up with a high and unexplained fever.

Thankfully, with the help of some dear friends, the party went smoothly.  And gratefully Cory was feeling quite a bit better once the afternoon rolled around so we could still go on our picture taking adventure.  A picture taking adventure that lasted over 2 hours.

But those two hours were amazingly fun.

I must admit I can not wait to see the outcome of this photo shoot.  The pictures were taken in the gorgeous late afternoon/early evening sunlight on a vast farm.  A farm that had an old barn, lots of rustic fences and a gorgeous field.

And the photographer, Marie of Marie Photographie, was fantabulous to work with.  Not only does she have a great eye for detail, but I also adored her enthusiasm and persistence.

Needless to say, my eyes are feeling droopy.

And my tired feet would be tickled pink to have a massage.