Friday, July 25, 2008

A Little Wisdom...

“Indian wisdom says our lives are rivers. We are born somewhere small and quiet and we move toward a place we cannot see but only imagine. Along our journey, people and events flow into us, and we are created of everywhere and everyone we have passed. Each event, each person, changes us in some way. Even in times of drought we are still moving and growing, but it is during seasons of rain that we expand the most-when water flows from all directions sweeping at terrifying speed, chasing against rocks, spilling over boundaries. These are painful times, but they enable us to carry burdens we could never have thought possible.”

Lisa Wingate, 1st paragraph in her book, Tending Roses. Lets just say she had me at “hello”. The book is great. I just tried to read, “Pray, Love Eat”. I would highly NOT recommend it. It started out great! Then after the second cuss word that starts with the same sound as fun, I was done!!!! {hey, that rhymed!} Too bad, it probably would have been a great read. There’s just something about reading that word and having it go through your brain because you put it there, yucky!!!

O.K. back to the purpose of the post. I guess I’m a sucker for a good quote! Especially one that starts with “Indian wisdom says…”. Who doesn’t love Indian wisdom? Isn’t the above true? It’s the tough times in life that we “spill over our boundaries”? That’s what we must be doing right now, “spilling over our boundaries.” I do love that term. It’s prettier than the words I would have come up with. {Hee! Hee!}

I do want to be able to “carry burdens I never thought possible”, I think. 

I just received a calling Sunday. I need a calling. It will keep me from hiding from the terrible monster known as the Spanish language. Every time it comes around I hide. Oh, yeah, I’ve learned quite a few words. I can communicate, but only because I use one word and raise my voice at the end so it becomes a question. See how I hide? If I want to ask how old a child is I say, “Anos?” Now you know my secret.

In the states when I would talk to my gardener, I would tell him what I needed done. He would nod like he understood then wouldn’t do what I asked. I finally have empathy for him. I find myself nodding when people speak to me. I’ve already told them I know just a little Spanish. I guess they don’t believe how little I really know. They just keep trying to communicate. The next best thing is to nod and hope they stop talking soon so I can get away. Hopefully they aren’t saying anything important like, “please give my child CPR because she’s dying”.

Anyway, I will be 1st counselor in the Primary Presidency and secretary and nursery leader. I’m basically taking over some of the work our poor president has been doing by herself for so long. She’s amazing. I will have to give lessons in Spanish, which I think I can do, I just can’t take any questions. One of my best qualities is that I don’t mind making a fool out of myself. I don’t take myself too seriously which means I’m not afraid to mess up. It’s a rather nice quality to have. {Although if I were more of a perfectionist I would know the language better by now.} This Sunday is my first Sunday and our president will be out of town for 2 weeks. The only other counselor only speaks Spanish. I guess I’ll be “spilling over my boundaries” this Sunday.

I thought I'd throw in these recent pictures.


Paige and I made paper dolls last Wednesday. (Please do not comment on my skills as an artist. I don't claim to be one.) We had a great time. It was one of those memories I will tuck away. The one with the short hair is her. The other doll is one of her best friends, Sadie. The third is Cinderella and as you can tell, I didn't have anything to do with the creation of that one.




This is funny. Every once in a while my sweetheart spoils me with a massage. They cost about $30 for an hour with a reflexologist. Landon sat on my lap once and then the women gave him a little massage. Now he loves them. He actually falls alseep while getting them. Is he spoiled or what?



I don't have many pictures of Troy so I thought I'd throw this one in. This is his pre-teen look for the camera. He really is a sweetheart and spoils me quite often with hugs.


Another shot of the treacherous road we took a few weeks ago. It was pretty slick and steep but oh so much fun!!!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Have You Ever...

Have You Ever…

put your ear to your child’s chest just to appreciate that their heart is beating?


closed your eyes as you were holding your little one's hand so you can better remember how their small, chubby hand fit in yours?

stopped doing your “chores”, dropped on the floor and wrestled with your kids?


opened your eyes to watch your three year old pray to his Heavenly Father with eyes scrunched so tight and had to hold yourself back from interrupting with a huge snuggle?


changed your attitude about having a screaming child awake at 3 am and spent the next few hours cuddling and enjoying the moment much more than you would sleep?

been so mad at your pre-teen and in the middle of ranting about the error if their ways, you notice him trying his best not to laugh. You suddenly remember when your mother was doing the same to you and find it extremely funny and burst out laughing yourself?

been in an argument with your child about who loves who more that went on for over 30 minutes?

thanked Heavenly Father for each healthy child and knew what a blessing it was that their body worked?


sobbed and sobbed for another family as illness took their little one back to heaven?

had such a precious moment with your child you knew you should grab your camera to capture it, but were too selfish to leave the moment?

realized that you do have everything?

Monday, July 21, 2008

Summer Surf Camp has Started


Summer surf camp, summer surf camp, summer surf camp. Say that three times fast!

The older three started surf camp on Monday and my life keeps getting better. It goes for a month and they attend Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Can I get a hallelujah? It was a special moment for me to be adding an event to my computer calendar. I even highlighted it in purple, the color that represents an activity for the kids. In my previous life I had our events color coded so I could see in a glance who needed to be where and when. Now Im just happy to have an event on the calendar.
Here are the pictures. All three of them fell in love with surfing. Its all they talk about. I know its a little early for this relationship, its probably only a case of puppy love, but its been great for our family.


My oldest really enjoying himself in Costa Rica. I'll have to tape this to his wall to remind him he does like it here!




The two oldest "surfers" in the class.


I love this shot of Dallin running with his board. He was in a contest and determined to beat Troy. Oh, that brotherly competition.



Paige was just so stinkin' cute.



Paige again.




Younger brother hanging ten.



I love shots like these. Can you tell life is getting brighter for us? How many times have I used the word love in this post alone?