Saturday, June 13, 2009

A Nice Reminder

This morning I read a blog post of a friend of a friend. Her post was about surrendering and being in the moment with our kids (you can read more here). As I read her post I was reminded of an experience I had when Alex was 2 or 3 years old. I was in a hurry to get Alex to her babysitter and me to work. As I was rushing down the walk way of our condo to get to my car I noticed Alex was not beside me so I stopped and looked back to see her crouched down looking at the ground. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm waiting for the bug to walk by, I don't want to step on it." I was a little annoyed as I grabbed her hand and said, "Mommy is in a hurry you can walk around the bug." Later that day as I was driving in the car that morning's incident replayed in my mind. I was immediately overcome with emotion and realized that I needed to slow down and be in the moment with Alex. Taking 30 seconds to stop and embrace her concern for God's creations would not make me any later than I already was. A lesson was learned that day!

Then life goes on and bombards us with "stuff" that needs to get done our priorities shift and we forget the lessons and experiences that we have had. Thank you friend of a friend for reminding me of the lesson I learned 7 years ago and over time lost sight of!
"What can ...young mother[s] [do]...to reduce the pressure [of raising young children] and enjoy [their families] more?

"Recognizing that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: 'The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less (Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11)."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Cousins

I loved hanging out with my cousins growing up. Unfortunately this only happened once a year at Christmas when my family would visit our extended family in the Bay area. Even though there was 12 months between each visit we would pick up right where we left off like it was yesterday. What I remember most about our visits was all the laughing we did together. I always felt a special bond with my cousins even though I didn't know them very well.

Our kids are fortunate that they have cousins who live close by but they don't get to see each other very often. This weekend schedules were rearranged and we were able to have Lyndsey come stay with us for the weekend. The girls had so much fun together. They had a camp out in the back yard, laughed, went swimming, made breakfast for us (eggs, sausage and chocolate chip pancakes...yum!), went to the movies, played, laughed some more, watched a scary movie got scared and decided to spend the second night in the house. They kept themselves entertained all weekend and created some awsome memories. I love this picture even though it's a little fuzzy!

Alex 9.5, Rachel 11 and Lindsey 11.5

Can you picture these girls at 16, 17, and 18? Oh man, we are in trouble!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

40

1. I survived turning 40 and it wasn't painful! It might have been for Seth, I had to shove him a few times during the night to get him to stop snoring.

2. 40 doesn't feel any different than 39!

3. I don't have any new gray hair. (ok, I wouldn't know I started coloring my hair last year)

4. I have lots of friends on Face Book.

5. I have someone to grow old with.

6. I have kids who can be wonderful.

7. Senior Citizens discount is around the corner. I'm more excited about the discount than the old age--who can't use a discount these days!

8. I have great friends.

9. I have all my teeth. Except for my wisdom teeth.

10. The last day of school was yesterday. Yeah! I get to sleep in for the next few weeks!

11. I have a wonderful husband who made my BIG day very special! Seth made dinner and a birthday cake with lots of candles that would not blow out! Thanks Jeremy...very funny! Word to the wise...never put 40 candles on a cake the frosting will melt off!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Happy Birthday Evon!!!


Evon, as you predicted last month, you reached the ripe, old age of forty today (though you still look thirty!) Our children and I are only a few of the many people blessed to have you in our life. I feel especially privileged today to be your husband.
I hope that this milestone will not cause you to regret the number of years behind you. Instead, feel grateful to each of those years of joy and pain and experience for shaping you into the gentle, generous, strong, loving woman you are today.