Really Sick

On Friday morning, I was surprised to find Abigail and Sophia ready to go while Bella was still laying on the couch in her jammies. LG explained that he told Bella she could stay home from school as she had thrown up minutes before.

"Alright", I said, "but you look fine to me Bella, maybe you should try to go." Bella was having none of that. I let her stay home. She acted fine all day long.

I picked up Abigail after school; Bella was at home with Daddy and wasn't in the car for the conversation. Abigail felt it pressing to explain to me that Bella had succeeded at faking it. I told dad this morning that she did not throw up.


All she did was burp and spit.

As Abigail tattled away, I was thinking to myself that I wished I was a morning person so I could catch these things better. I was also thinking it was o.k. because Bella entertained her baby sister while I went back to bed for a few more zzz's. And this mom can never get enough sleep. So if you don't like how I roll, just pretend I was sick. I can also burp and spit on demand.

My voice

A friend had this video posted on facebook tonight.

It didn't make me want to sing; it made me want to listen.

It made me want to use my voice better as a mother.

No more screaming. Only loving.

No more criticizing. Only encouraging.

No more frustrations. Only moments to embrace.

I am blessed by God to raise four beautiful daughters.

Sometimes I fail miserably, but because of God's grace, I still have a shot every day at being their biggest fan. I get every day to become the kind of mother I want to be.

I hope someday when I am gone, and they are hanging with their children or grandchildren, my girls will have a moment when they say to themselves: "That was the voice of my mother coming out of my own mouth." And I hope whatever they said was something that I would be proud of.

Not so glee

I have this problem.
I can hardly admit it.
It's an addiction that a Mormon doesn't like to talk about.
We try to keep it in the closet as much as possible.

Once in a while it just comes bursting out though.
I need to rid myself of the guilt.
The Glee induced guilt.
It doesn't feel glee.

Yesterday I was sitting watching the show after school.
Hulu is my best friend, ever since Caroline lost our digital converter remote.
The girls gathered around.
I always get nervous about this.
I know I shouldn't let them watch such trash.
This episode was particularly trashy.
I try to justify saying it gives us an open communication
about the evils of today's world.

Well the show was all about under-aged drinking.
Just as the girls gathered around,
the main characters were gathering at a party.
Before I knew it, they were all drinking heavily
and doing stupid things associated with intoxication.

I said, "See kids, this is why Dad and I won't allow you to go to parties where there is drinking."

Later, Bella wandered off for an after school snack.
As she came walking back towards our TV viewing via PC,
she immediately noticed that the characters
had advanced to drinking at school.
Without missing a breathe, she hollars,
"See Mom, this is why you shouldn't allow us to go to school."

Work

My friend Aimee gave the women of our congregation 
a wonderful lesson on Sunday.
It was about the eternal principle of work.
Work is something I have thought a lot about lately. 
Which is funny given this quote I just read.


You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.  ~Author Unknown


Looking at the quotes on the internet today allowed me to hang myself. I am guilty. I admit it. I think too much and work too little. Especially at times when I am under a lot of stress.
Maybe I should say that I eat too much and work too little. That might be more accurate.


I thought that you all may enjoy some of my favorite quotes about work. 


Some people dream of success... 
while others wake up and work hard at it.  ~Author Unknown


Be not afraid of going slowly; 
be afraid only of standing still.  ~Chinese Proverb


Things may come to those who wait, 
but only the things left by those who hustle.  ~Abraham Lincoln


Opportunity is missed by most people 
because it is dressed in overalls 
and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison


The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.  ~Author Unknown


I am also attaching this cool little video. It's inspiring. And let's face it, I need some inspiration so that I can get off this computer, put the oreos away, and get the laundry done.

For those of you not familiar with the Latter Day Saint (Mormon) culture,
watch until the end when this kid goes on his Mormon mission.


Think about what it would be like 
to send your kid off for two years 
knowing you would only be able 
to talk on the phone twice a year.
And tell me that your mom heart doesn't just burst into tears.

Inspiring people of my faith work and sacrifice every day. 

First of all, every position in our charge is filled by lay ministry (for lack of better terms). Nobody gets paid.

Our Bishops (equivalent to Baptist pastors) work full-time jobs, are married and usually have kids, and administrate and shepherd the whole congregation.

We currently have over 50,000 full-time missionaries 

serving 18mo-2year missions all around the world. 

And they work so very hard. 

I know because I was one of them.

We worked every day from 6:30 in the a.m. until 9:30 in the p.m.

The schedule was grueling.

Even on the Sabbath, missionaries didn't get rest from their full-time missionary service.

We would take 8 hours of one day a week to accomplish 

letter writing, grocery buying,  laundry doing, and apartment cleaning.

We were lucky to sneak away an hour or two for actual rest, 
which I would usually try to find some kind of physical challenge. 
I was very happy when I had companions 
who liked to hike or play volleyball or basketball.

I need to rediscover the work ethic I had back then. 

Of course the only picture I have scanned is when I wasn't actually working.
Hey, but at least there are no oreos in the photo.
Even though my vest and white shirt getup is making me obsess over the creme filled centers.


Man, I am stressed out.
It's no wonder why I am avoiding work. I don't want to do it.


I wonder why we could never get this guy to come to church with us. Check out his resemblance to Jesus.

Hiking with Maria

This is Maria.

Maria loves to hike.

She also loves our family,

even though she has threatened to never speak to us again

since we are moving to Utah, and leaving her beloved Tennessee.

Yesterday

we called Maria,

so she could take us to one of her favorite local trails.

She said it was kind of steep,

but I convinced her we could do it.

We headed to House Mountain.

Where the only trail condition is steep.

We all wore out our calves packing 30 pound Caroline.

Maria tried really hard to get a nice family photo for us.

I think she did a pretty good job. Given the incompetency of her models.

I am certain we would have quit before getting to the top without Maria's help.
Or one of our kids would have fallen off a cliff.

 Look she got a great shot. If only LG was looking at the camera this would have been the perfect photo to say goodbye to our life in Tennessee.

Even our dog  loves Maria.

Maria said it all would be worth it
when we got to the top.

 I believe she was right.

My Really Important Stuff

If your mom tells you that you can only have one treat.

And you really want chocolate AND caramel.

Just buy rolos.

Hokey Pokey

Jordan, my brother-in-law is funny. I really really love hanging with him and his wife Meagan. In fact, they are some of my favorite people to hang with. Jordan is one of the only stay at home dad bloggers that I know. Read this recent funny post. He is teaching his kids well. The shirt that Jordan is wearing in the above photo says "I work out every day", and it has a wii controller on it. This shirt goes perfectly with the theme from Jordan's background on his blog: Super Mario.

So, a funny story about my dear Jordan. It is completely inappropriate and that is why he will love this post. Another thing I love about Jordan is that he actually reads my blog; even my own family doesn't do that.

One night a while back we were all sitting around a campfire at my in-laws. We got talking about stuff. I can't even remember how it went. I waited too long to blog it. I think that somehow we got talking about the love life of my mother and father in law. Not in specifics, but just in general fun. I said something about hanky panky.

Jordan then chimes in with, "No, you know they don't call it that when it involves a Virgina Tech grad?" My father in law is a proud Hokie. My mom and dad don't do the hanky panky...they do the Hokey Pokey.

I know I am not doing the real incident justice, and I am sure that Jordan will clarify the details, but all I can say is that I have not laughed that hard in a very long time. I couldn't breathe.

And it's moments like these that bond Jordan and I together. We thrive on impropriety. And really, life would be so boring without people like us.

Oh yeah. This joke went on forever. Put your right hand in. Put your right hand out. Put your whole self in. Put your left hand in. Still laughing.

The World Is Just Awesome : Discovery Channel

Do you remember this old post?

Here is another great video about the world that I love.

Why do kids make me so emotional?

I love great teachers. hmm. Maybe I should write a song about it.

Bella and I spent our date night watching Boom De Ya Da videos.

Here is one of our favorites:

Go here to watch all kinds of entertaining videos:

The World Is Just Awesome : Discovery Channel

This one is for the guys:

I like Books.

A person who won't read

has no advantage

over one who can't.

~Mark Twain