The Six of Us

Mondays are a struggle for me.  Not because I hate my job but because I love my kids.  I loved spending time as a family this weekend and I know that next weekend while we will be together as a family there will be little family time.  The kids don't have school today and so it will be even harder to work.  I got up at 5:30 and went running.  It was fabulous.  It was refreshing and a great way to start the day.  Now I am off to shower and get a new driver's license,  Here is hoping I pass. 

I got an i-phone.  I love it.  When I explained to Lee why I felt that I needed one.  He said okay.  I don't feel obligated to go into the reasons but I feel as though it is something that will be a good thing.   I finally got some validation that I wasn't looking for on Thanksgiving.  It came in the strangest way. But it made me feel better that some people see a family member the same way I do.  That it doesn't matter how hard I try it will never make up for what has happened.  But not living in the same town helps with the situation. I am looking forward to a trip to Utah.  It will be a good time I am sure.  Lee is going down a day ahead which means the kids and I are driving alone.  I have checked the weather reports and it looks like clear roads there.  I am not so worried about on the way back because I will have Lee with me.   Still waiting for the go ahead to start my new job.  Maybe this week will bring some answers. 

1) I am thankful for my many miscarriages because it makes me appreciate my children more. 2) I am thankful for my husband's unemployment because it means my children have a stay at home parent. 3) I am thankful for the fact that I am driving to Utah solo because it means my husband has family who loves him. 4) I am thankful for lots of laundry because it means that my kids have more then enough clothes. 5) I am thankful for my house payment because it means that my kids have a home to call their own. 6) I am thankful to get up at 5:30 in the morning because it means that I am healthy enough to work out.  7) I am thankful for life. 

Church was good today although I almost didn't go.  We have a new teacher in Sunday School.  She just got back from her mission.  It was a good lesson for sure.  The part I got out of it was enduring your trials and enduring them well. Then we heading into the third hour.  I wish people would not comment on things they know nothing about.  I wish people would not say that things are church doctrine when they are in fact not.  Somebody made a statement and they could not back it up.  Just focus on the lesson.  It was way emotional of a thing for me and I almost walked out.  Once you start just making random statements that are not doctrine the spirit leaves and people get way too riled up.

Today is one of those day where I stand amazed at where life has taken me.  As one child plays in the bath tub and another is down stairs doing math homework I am in awe. That somebody thought I could do this.  That my Father in Heaven sent me these two amazing spirits who are strong.  Who are stubborn to a fault.  Who make me a better person because I am their mother.  With the help of their father here on earth we are raising amazing children. I love my children. I no longer take them for granted because I know that they may be the only two children we have.  

Once again I find myself up hours before the rest of the family.  I got a work out in and folded some laundry.  I told the kids we would have breakfast burritos this morning.  Okay they will have the burritos I will have a smoothie.  Something happened this week that maybe we take notice of just how much healthier I am becoming. Once breakfast is over we will do some chores and head over to rake leaves at my parents house.  Then we told the kids we would take them to a movie.  

It is only when you are in the service of your fellowmen you are in the service of God.  Yup I know that it isn't word for word the scripture but I got the point.  We have started doing service once a month as a family.  This weekend was full of service.  We gave food to Scouting for Food and we went and did another project this weekend.  It was good.  In December we will pull a few names off the tree and buy presents for kids.  I over budget for Christmas every year for this very reason.  I remember my mom doing the 12 days of Christmas for a family she felt was in need.  Not necessarily financial in need but emotionally and spiritually in need.  I went over our fiances tonight.  We have some debt but we also have quite a bit in savings.  We are about half way to my (1st) savings goal.  Once the debt is gone I would like to have five times what my goal now is.  

Of things to do today.  Pretty sure they all won't get done.  The kids have lists as well and then we are heading over to do some secret service.  The pizza with a good friend at their amazing house.   The morning started out rough lets see if the rest of the day will be as productive as I want it to be.  

I was just sitting here posting on some online discussion boards and updating my blog.  Then I got an email.  Things aren't good in Seattle but they could be far worse.  Praying that things don't end up like they were last year.  Lee said I should go up if things get bad.  I love him.  He never cares about how often I go up there.  He said I should plan a trip up there in the next few months.  Looks like January at this point.  Everything was going so well they had a family plan.  Now this.  I wish I had Lee here to cry on his shoulder.  

Friday, November 11, 2011 It's 11/11/11, make three wishes. 1) That Lee finds a job. 2) That this new job works out 3) That Victoria can learn her letters.

Where to start?  Lee left yesterday morning to help my dad and his dad with projects.  It worked out because I was off today and could be home when the kids got out of school.  It was a great day although not really productive.  I made bread and potato chowder.  I got some Christmas shopping done.  I am probably half way done with the kids shopping.  For Lee's present I am going to have to do some research.  Probably emails to my brother in law will do it.  Maybe I can have this wrapped up by Thanksgiving.  I am not sure that I am going to get Christmas cards done this year.  I have a new job but I probably won't be able to start until the first of the year.  But I can most likely move before then.  I am excited about the change.  But it is going to be something way out of my comfort zone. Today reality hit me like a ton of bricks.  It is official.  It is over. But life is good and we are moving on. 

Thursday, November 10, 2011 What is your secret (or not-so-secret) passion? Kids are my passion.  I want to save them all.  I want them all to go to bed feeling safe and secure.  All children have the right to education and health care.   To not give these things to our children is short changing them. 

The kids watch way more TV then they normally do on Sunday.  That is because we have no TV rule on Sunday.  But this day was way off.  We didn't go to church and then Lee went to help my sister and his cousin with a projects that took up most of the afternoon.  I got a headache that made me want to throw up.  I still made apple butter and dinner.  Well apple butter is still cooking.  It is so an all day project.  But my house smells so good.  We took the kids window shopping for houses.  There were some really nice ones that we walked in. We have no intention of moving.  We love this house.  The payment is is relatively low.  Lee got an offer to go up and help my dad on his cabin but we are not sure if it is going to work.  The good thing is I am off on Friday the bad thing is I would have to be off of work on Thursday in time to get the kids.  Not sure if that would work.  

It is 11:17 and I have manage to do yoga, three batches of wash (one is still in the washer and one is the dryer but the first one is folded and put away), make applesauce, do dishes, make breakfast for the kids, make bread.  I put off taking a shower because I am pretty certain the washer and dishwasher used all the hot water.   I am going to let the kids watch a movie and then we will work on bedrooms and the downstairs.  The kids cleaned their own bathroom.  After my shower then we will go help unpack Lee's cousins house who just moved in across the street.  Lee has been over there all moving helping move. Then we are going out to dinner for my mom's birthday.  It is nice to have a Saturday with out soccer.  Break's over.  :)

http://www.votenoon26.org/ This is going about 100 steps too far. 

Friday, November 4, 2011 When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer? My laptop.  If I am in church then a pen and paper will work but I really prefer my laptop.

There is nothing like listening to the teachers rave about my kids.  The school and teachers are really working with Tori to get her to grade level. Jake is a totally different story and I think that he will be struggle in his own way.  But the kids are respectful and they are getting along well with their peers.  That made me more proud then how they were doing academically. 

Thursday, November 3, 2011 Can you listen to music and write? What song did you hear today? I love listening to music while I am writing.  I usually like to listen to Pandora and have a variety to listen to.  Today I listened to "Surpasses all my Understanding" by Cherri Call.   Totally inspirational.

Maybe one day I will get around to discussing the whole thing. I thought some thing was going to happen that would have been a change for good.  At least I would have thought so but then it all kind of unraveled and now I am not sure what is going to happen.  It was disappointing because it would have been a good change.  Since Monday I have been getting up and working out.  It isn't for a long time but long enough to get the blood flowing and to start my day.  I have also started reading scriptures and praying in the morning.  I have been drinking a ton of water too.  Plus by getting up early I can start the wash pick up the house and just enjoy a quiet moment.  There is a down side which is I get so tired at night.  Last night I was out on call until after 11 and then spent some time with Lee before calling it a night at 12:30.  I was still up at six   I am considering a half marathon in May.  I won't start training until January but I want to be in pretty good shape when I

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 If you knew that whatever you ate next would be your last meal, what would you want it to be? I am really a steak and potato girl.  Maybe chocolate cake for dessert. Somewhere in there I would love broccoli.   Honestly I would not care what it was as long was I with people who cared about me and I was surrounded by love.    I love being with friends and family and good food which is one of the reasons that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

So November is National Blogging month or something like that.  So I am going to write a new post every day this month.  Maybe next year I will actually join the competion.  Every day there is a prompt.  So here goes day one.  What is your favorite part about writing? I love that is therapeutic. I love writing all my feelings down on paper and getting them out of my head.  I can focus better once they are done floating around.   I love that I can look back and see who I was and where I came from and how I have changed and evolved over time.