Proof that I'm breeding geniuses over here:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wiping the slate clean~
I've learned or re-learned some lessons this past weekend. The tutorial has been on going for quite sometime and it, I'm sure, will continue for a while but I wanted put down what I have learned in the past few days.
I have been having a battle with the dark side for a few weeks due to changes at ELRey's work that are really taxing our family and requiring a lot of faith on our part. I have also often felt completely out of control of myself and my selfishness and my other many vices so that has all come to a head in the past few days. To top it all off I have had an altercation with someone in my life and it seems that it will never be resolved to this person's satisfaction. I did something thoughtless, and it was purely that-I didn't think, and someone was hurt. I didn't realize that I had done anything until this person called me on it. We talked about it, I apologized, said I wouldn't let that happen again and I thought it was resolved. Alas, no. Sunday morning just as we were going to church, I was sucker punched again. So here is my lesson:
My initial reaction was to wallow and be angry and just stay home. But the night before I told myself I was going to try to change my attitude about Sunday's and try my hardest to make them more holy. I couldn't let this change that. It is MY choice how I will react. I told ELRey I needed to be alone and went in my room to say a prayer. I was so upset, I literally thought I was going to puke! I hadn't felt that awful since junior high, I felt like I was visiting there again in my 30s!! I just laid it all out at my Savior's feet. I knew I had made a mistake, I wanted to make it better and I felt that I had made that clear to the offended party. So I just said in my prayer that I don't know what more I can do to make this person feel better and begged that Heavenly Father would take away these feelings so that I may go to church and at least try to feel the Spirit. My nerves and stomach calmed down and I went. And I sang those hymns (even the ones that said we are all brothers and sisters and I wasn't really feeling it!!!) as loud as I could without windows shattering.
During the sacrament I pulled out my scriptures because all I wanted was to vacate my soul of the anger and hurt I was feeling and fill it with light and I was willing to do anything for it! The first thing I thought to read was in Moroni 7:45-48:
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
I read those verses over and over again as many times as I could. And it helped. I realized I am far from having charity but I am trying. In spite of how this person made me feel, I still care for them and I want them to be happy. I am so sorry that I caused this person any pain but I feel that I have done what I could do and I hope things will get better and they can one day forgive me.
I am so grateful for the scriptures! They are truly God's answers to us! That scripture helped me to be able to put it out of my mind so I could do my calling and deal with my cute 4 year old who happens to be in my class-that truly takes all my energy. But you know what? Yesterday was the best Sabbath day I have had in a long time! I can't even remember the last time I was able to enjoy the hymns, talks and the quiet of a sacrament meeting. I know that had a lot to do with my attitude-I didn't come to church knowing from the beginning it was going to be a long 3 hours. I went ready and WILLING to be edified. And because I was able to fight my urge to do what comes naturally (go to my dark place and wallow), I came out feeling renewed and strengthened in a way I haven't been in a very long time.
Here is the second lesson:
Because of that I was able to do the next 2 hours of primary and I didn't even want to hurt anybody!! I know! I am growing!! Annie makes it difficult to be her teacher and her mother. After the 3rd time I told her to be quiet so I can get through the lesson, I finally dragged her down to the teeny tiny room our high priest group meets and threw her in there with a dozen innocent priesthood holders-my husband right in the middle. All of the sudden I could teach my lesson!! I actually gave a spiritual lesson to my CTR 5's!!!! Miracles do happen!!!
I have to say that my patience was waning thin. By the time we got out and I had to pry the extra piece of candy from Annie's hand that she wasn't supposed to take from the bishop's stash and driving home with her AND Lily screaming. I had given all I could and here is my 3rd lesson(busy Sunday, right?!?!):
NEVER, EVER, EVER decide that Sunday is a good day to quit your Diet Coke vice!! Without fail every time I don't replenish my stash on Saturday because I KNOW I can just go without one on Sunday, guess who is scouring her house for change and finding herself at a vending machine in front of Ream's!!! Not me!!! I swear!!!! It was as though all my energy went into trying to make church a pleasant experience again and I couldn't deal with my little habit! Apparently I can only strive for perfection-not even that, just to change a smidgen-for a few hours at a time!
It still was the best Sunday I've had in a long time and I went to bed grateful for this much needed gift from my Heavenly Father. It is times like this where even though trials may feel very lonely, He is always there. He made that very clear to me yesterday.
I have been having a battle with the dark side for a few weeks due to changes at ELRey's work that are really taxing our family and requiring a lot of faith on our part. I have also often felt completely out of control of myself and my selfishness and my other many vices so that has all come to a head in the past few days. To top it all off I have had an altercation with someone in my life and it seems that it will never be resolved to this person's satisfaction. I did something thoughtless, and it was purely that-I didn't think, and someone was hurt. I didn't realize that I had done anything until this person called me on it. We talked about it, I apologized, said I wouldn't let that happen again and I thought it was resolved. Alas, no. Sunday morning just as we were going to church, I was sucker punched again. So here is my lesson:
My initial reaction was to wallow and be angry and just stay home. But the night before I told myself I was going to try to change my attitude about Sunday's and try my hardest to make them more holy. I couldn't let this change that. It is MY choice how I will react. I told ELRey I needed to be alone and went in my room to say a prayer. I was so upset, I literally thought I was going to puke! I hadn't felt that awful since junior high, I felt like I was visiting there again in my 30s!! I just laid it all out at my Savior's feet. I knew I had made a mistake, I wanted to make it better and I felt that I had made that clear to the offended party. So I just said in my prayer that I don't know what more I can do to make this person feel better and begged that Heavenly Father would take away these feelings so that I may go to church and at least try to feel the Spirit. My nerves and stomach calmed down and I went. And I sang those hymns (even the ones that said we are all brothers and sisters and I wasn't really feeling it!!!) as loud as I could without windows shattering.
During the sacrament I pulled out my scriptures because all I wanted was to vacate my soul of the anger and hurt I was feeling and fill it with light and I was willing to do anything for it! The first thing I thought to read was in Moroni 7:45-48:
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
I read those verses over and over again as many times as I could. And it helped. I realized I am far from having charity but I am trying. In spite of how this person made me feel, I still care for them and I want them to be happy. I am so sorry that I caused this person any pain but I feel that I have done what I could do and I hope things will get better and they can one day forgive me.
I am so grateful for the scriptures! They are truly God's answers to us! That scripture helped me to be able to put it out of my mind so I could do my calling and deal with my cute 4 year old who happens to be in my class-that truly takes all my energy. But you know what? Yesterday was the best Sabbath day I have had in a long time! I can't even remember the last time I was able to enjoy the hymns, talks and the quiet of a sacrament meeting. I know that had a lot to do with my attitude-I didn't come to church knowing from the beginning it was going to be a long 3 hours. I went ready and WILLING to be edified. And because I was able to fight my urge to do what comes naturally (go to my dark place and wallow), I came out feeling renewed and strengthened in a way I haven't been in a very long time.
Here is the second lesson:
Because of that I was able to do the next 2 hours of primary and I didn't even want to hurt anybody!! I know! I am growing!! Annie makes it difficult to be her teacher and her mother. After the 3rd time I told her to be quiet so I can get through the lesson, I finally dragged her down to the teeny tiny room our high priest group meets and threw her in there with a dozen innocent priesthood holders-my husband right in the middle. All of the sudden I could teach my lesson!! I actually gave a spiritual lesson to my CTR 5's!!!! Miracles do happen!!!
I have to say that my patience was waning thin. By the time we got out and I had to pry the extra piece of candy from Annie's hand that she wasn't supposed to take from the bishop's stash and driving home with her AND Lily screaming. I had given all I could and here is my 3rd lesson(busy Sunday, right?!?!):
NEVER, EVER, EVER decide that Sunday is a good day to quit your Diet Coke vice!! Without fail every time I don't replenish my stash on Saturday because I KNOW I can just go without one on Sunday, guess who is scouring her house for change and finding herself at a vending machine in front of Ream's!!! Not me!!! I swear!!!! It was as though all my energy went into trying to make church a pleasant experience again and I couldn't deal with my little habit! Apparently I can only strive for perfection-not even that, just to change a smidgen-for a few hours at a time!
It still was the best Sunday I've had in a long time and I went to bed grateful for this much needed gift from my Heavenly Father. It is times like this where even though trials may feel very lonely, He is always there. He made that very clear to me yesterday.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
New Do's for the Princesses
My two older girls have been needing a trim for quite some time and since the greatest hairstylist ever decided her husband's dental school was more important than mine and my girls hair (sigh), I caved and went to Fantastic Sam's. I was going for a few inches but my girls were thinking just a bit more than that and I figured, what the heck! Then that requires less wrestling and torturing for all of us on the hair brushing front! So here they are in all their glory:
Princess 1
Princess 2
Princess 3-no haircut, she's just cute!!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Feel the Love~
I have never been a fan of Valentine's Day. Before it was because I usually didn't have someone to share it with but then when I found ElRey, we seemed to never really get it right! Our anniversary is just a couple weeks before so V-day is overshadowed. I have realized in my old age and wisdom that romance has become something completely different for me. I don't need the flowers or diamonds. I don't need an extravagant date. All I want is to know I am loved and that I love, a kind gesture or a surprise back rub. I know, I'm a cheap date-just do the dishes for me and I'm all yours!! And all that can be done anyday-our whole year is a love-fest!!! So, V-day is kind of pointless for us. :)
As my kids get older, I've been wanting to just make it fun for them and this year I was actually on top of it and asked my bff Amber how she does her yearly treasure hunt. She's done that for her kids for a while and I wanted to see if I could pull it off. Her kids love it so much that V-day is her daughter's favorite holiday. Audrey and Annie went to a birthday party and so while they were gone I came up with some clues sending them all over the house (I even got a bath in the clues so that was genius!!!) and they found a bag o' fun out on the grill. It wasn't anything amazing, just stuff they needed, but I got a better reaction out of this then I did for the Christmas presents they got! And only a fraction of that cost!! I kept getting "Thank you, Mommy!" and "This was the best day ever!!" or "Can we do this every year?" and my favorite, "I love you, Mom and Dad!" It made for a beginning of a fun evening with ribs and Wii!! Definitely our best Valentine's Day ever!!
As my kids get older, I've been wanting to just make it fun for them and this year I was actually on top of it and asked my bff Amber how she does her yearly treasure hunt. She's done that for her kids for a while and I wanted to see if I could pull it off. Her kids love it so much that V-day is her daughter's favorite holiday. Audrey and Annie went to a birthday party and so while they were gone I came up with some clues sending them all over the house (I even got a bath in the clues so that was genius!!!) and they found a bag o' fun out on the grill. It wasn't anything amazing, just stuff they needed, but I got a better reaction out of this then I did for the Christmas presents they got! And only a fraction of that cost!! I kept getting "Thank you, Mommy!" and "This was the best day ever!!" or "Can we do this every year?" and my favorite, "I love you, Mom and Dad!" It made for a beginning of a fun evening with ribs and Wii!! Definitely our best Valentine's Day ever!!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tag-o-rrific!!!
I was tagged twice and haven't gotten to them-so many tags on Facebook......Oh, yeah, and I am way super busy being the best mom ever!! Anyway, I thought I would put both in one post so they balance out each other. :)
I've been tagged by Erin to write 6 things that make me happy. Here are the rules: Link to the person who has tagged you. Write down six things that make you happy. Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. Then tell the person when your entry is complete.
1. Unicorns
2. A quiet house
3. Really talking with my kids, I mean a real conversation not screaming and whining and disciplining.
4. ElRey and I laughing together.
5. Moments of clarification and/or edification.
6. This one time, I rode in a short-bus all the way to Baja Mexico-that made me very happy!!
Tag: 6 people who haven't done this yet. You know who you are.
Carlee tagged me! I'm supposed to name 10 things that bug me! Seriously, only 10???
1. When I pick up my daughter from school and I get to deal with an hour long fit almost every day!!!!
2. When I think I'm looking pretty good then catch a glimpse in a mirror and realize I don't look like Jennifer Aniston AT ALL!!!
3. When people are unnecessarily mean to servers/fast food workers/customer service in general. They are doing their best and they are only human. No one knows how hard it really is till they have done it themselves!!
4. When I ask someone how a movie is and they pretty much tell me the whole plot and everything!!
5. I hate that I wake up in the morning in pain!! What is that??? Am I 70????
6. BILLS!!!!!
7. That Bob Harper doesn't train the Biggest Loser contestants without his shirt on!! And when he wears sparkly pants.....
8. The only way to lose weight is to stop eating and that just sucks cuz that ain't living!!
9. That I am not smarter.
10. I hate it when I am unhappy because there is no good reason for it!
I Tag: 10 bloggers who haven't done this one either!
I've been tagged by Erin to write 6 things that make me happy. Here are the rules: Link to the person who has tagged you. Write down six things that make you happy. Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. Then tell the person when your entry is complete.
1. Unicorns
2. A quiet house
3. Really talking with my kids, I mean a real conversation not screaming and whining and disciplining.
4. ElRey and I laughing together.
5. Moments of clarification and/or edification.
6. This one time, I rode in a short-bus all the way to Baja Mexico-that made me very happy!!
Tag: 6 people who haven't done this yet. You know who you are.
Carlee tagged me! I'm supposed to name 10 things that bug me! Seriously, only 10???
1. When I pick up my daughter from school and I get to deal with an hour long fit almost every day!!!!
2. When I think I'm looking pretty good then catch a glimpse in a mirror and realize I don't look like Jennifer Aniston AT ALL!!!
3. When people are unnecessarily mean to servers/fast food workers/customer service in general. They are doing their best and they are only human. No one knows how hard it really is till they have done it themselves!!
4. When I ask someone how a movie is and they pretty much tell me the whole plot and everything!!
5. I hate that I wake up in the morning in pain!! What is that??? Am I 70????
6. BILLS!!!!!
7. That Bob Harper doesn't train the Biggest Loser contestants without his shirt on!! And when he wears sparkly pants.....
8. The only way to lose weight is to stop eating and that just sucks cuz that ain't living!!
9. That I am not smarter.
10. I hate it when I am unhappy because there is no good reason for it!
I Tag: 10 bloggers who haven't done this one either!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Mama needs her mouth washed out!!!
Last night as we were driving to my brother's house, Annie all of the sudden said, "Some nuva pitch!" (Spelling exactly like it sounded) ElRey and I were so shocked and we were trying so hard not to laugh but I have to say we were both bouncing in our seats with tears running down our faces!!
Mom: Annie, you shouldn't say that.
Annie: Okay, mom.
M: Do you guys know what swear words are? They are words that are not nice and we shouldn't say them. That is one of them.
A: Only mommies and daddies and grown-ups can say Some nuva pitch, huh!
ElRey: Sometimes mommies and daddies make mistakes. But no, no one should say that.
Annie: So I shouldn't say Some nuva pitch?
Mom (peeing her pants from silent laughter): No, no one should say that.
I blame it on SpongeBob.
Mom: Annie, you shouldn't say that.
Annie: Okay, mom.
M: Do you guys know what swear words are? They are words that are not nice and we shouldn't say them. That is one of them.
A: Only mommies and daddies and grown-ups can say Some nuva pitch, huh!
ElRey: Sometimes mommies and daddies make mistakes. But no, no one should say that.
Annie: So I shouldn't say Some nuva pitch?
Mom (peeing her pants from silent laughter): No, no one should say that.
I blame it on SpongeBob.
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