Friends

I feel blessed to have great friends. I know that they are hard to come by and I have had to lean on them quite a bit the last year or so. I am thankful that they have been there for me.

I know that sometimes I am not the best friend. I don't do high maintenance well. However, the ones that I have stick with me through thick and thin.

I also thought tonight while I was passing out the brownie sundae dessert at the baby shower for Katelyn that I have quite an odd personality too. I guess that most of you already know that though. Just tell me to be quiet when you need to. Deal?

New rule

Chris and I decided to implement a new homework rule at the house. We are really trying to help Brennan and all the kids for that matter be successful in school.

So the rule is, that you come home from school and sit at the table to do your homework. Brennan and Kerstyn are to devote one hour to homework and or reading time.

Lauklan, Greyson and Aislinn are to do their homework, read and or color for at least 30 minutes and then the other 30 minutes they are to go outside to play or play quietly in their rooms as to not disturb the older children as they finish their work.

Well... you would have thought I was killing Brennan when I told him the rule. He did NOT want to sit at the table. But, he did it. He even survived to live through the night.

Now, will we see improvement? I pray so.

Wow, parenting is hard, hard work! It pulls at heart strings that I didn't even know were there.

Relaxing Sabbath though busy

We all got up and made it to church on time. Clean, dressed and fed! I told the kids after we were all in the car that they did a good job. I don't think I even raised my voice!

Church was great except for the pouring rain that was trying to ruin my straightened hair! ;)

I lead the music in primary since Debbie is out of town and Lurlene played the piano. I always love to work with the children, so it was a lot of fun for me.

After church, we came home and ate grilled cheese that was hold us over until dinner time. The Shaw's came over and ate with us which was fun.

Chris had a meeting at 6 and Brennan had a fireside at 7 so the evening was busy, but good.

I hope we have enough charge in our batteries to make it through the week. Spring Break isn't that far away...

Cycle, chores and EPCOT

I got up this morning and had a bad attitude, again. Ugh. So, Chris sent me off to cycle class at the gym and for a better attitude. I came hope with a better attitude, it worked!

Chris and the kids did some chores around the house while I was gone and when I got back, I did some too then we finally headed off to EPCOT for the afternoon and evening. We met Disney Grandma there too.

We headed straight to ride Soarin which was an hour and a half wait but quite fun once we finally got on it. After that, we walked around the countries and ate, of course! Don't forget that we stopped at practically every bathroom too!

There was only a 5 minute wait to do Mission Space, which we did and some of the kids did twice, then we headed to the Test track where the wait was only 30 minutes.

It was after 9:30 when we finally got to the parking lot and we were all tired, but happy.

Getting up tomorrow and showered and ready for church should be interesting. To top it off, I won't have Chris to help because he needs to be in Belleview. We did it last week, but I had Grandma's help, so we'll see how I do tomorrow all by myself.

Can you hope for this?

I think I can. There was even one speaker at Time Out For Women that talked about it.

I hope today, for a better attitude. Yesterday, I had a rough day. I was down on myself, discouraged, gloomy, you name it. Sad.

I know that life is crazy sometimes and certainly not like the rosy picture that I would love to see. However, I also realize that my life is nowhere near as bad or rough as some. So, why do I get discouraged? Why can't I just see the good and focus on that. It's all about perspective really and I should just choose to be positive.

I need to go back to my hope focus, at least internally. Things aren't perfect, they never will be and some things that I worry about I can't possibly change, so I should stop.

I'm going to try.

Today, I'm looking for the good. It's all around me, I'm going to focus on that and move forward.

Pictures from the Magic Kingdom on March 13

I'm finally posting the pictures from Magic Kingdom on March 13. We really had a good time, but it was SUPER busy!

All of the kids after our first bathroom stop of the day.

Me

Disney Grandma on the monorail. I think this is a really good picture of her.

Monorail of Lauklan and Kerstyn

On the monorail on the way in to the Magic Kingdom.

Brennan in his Mad Hatter hat. The people in the park loved it and he got many, many compliments.
Kerstyn and Greyson with Eeyore.
The Mad Hatter and Eeyore.

All of the kids with Eeyore and me.

We ate lunch at Crystal Palace to celebrate my birthday. That is one of our favorite places to eat at the Magic Kingdom.

A little perspective

A distraught Aislinn today, "Mom, Gavin and Gabe told me today that I do NOT have an "S" in my name! I told them that I do. They are being mean to me. MOM, DON'T I HAVE AN "S" IN MY NAME? I write it A I S L I N N. See, there is an "S"." As she cries to me...

I respond, "Aislinn, yes you have an "S" in your name. Those boys are just not being nice. Don't you worry about it. You know how to spell your name, "S" and all."

To which she replies as she sniffles, "I knew it!"

Man, if all I had to worry about was the spelling of my name!

I love being a mom. (most of the time) ;)

Ward Conference

The choir sang the prelude music. We warmed up by singing Come Follow Me then stood and sang For All The Saints followed by Lord, I Would Follow Thee.

Bishop Saunders spoke on the blessings of the atonement followed by President Carter speaking. President Carter spoke about 7 sources of learning that we need to do to be better prepared.

I am going to list below so I can look back at this to remember his talk years from now.

1. Daily prayer - family and individual

2. Daily scripture study

3. Attend all church meetings

4. Magnify your calling.

5. Follow the prophets and your priesthood leaders.

6. Attend the temple

7. Family Home Evening

I feel blessed to have been able to attend and be spiritually fed. Now, if I could just hit more right notes on the piano, that would be nice. Is that too much to ask? ;)

Magic Kingdom

Apparently everyone and their brother was at the Magic Kingdom today. However, we still managed to eat about every hour and use practically every bathroom in the park! I call that accomplishment!

I took some cute pictures and so did Grandma, that I will put on later.

We had a great day.

Hope, Day 6

Today I have hope in:

1. The ability that I have to be blessed with great friends that I KNOW are there for me, no matter what.

2. That one day, I will look back on all this 'craziness' that I'm in the middle of right now and actually MISS it.

3. It will stop raining in time for all of us to celebrate my birthday tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom.

Hope, please!

I hope that we get our issues fixed with the septic and drain field so that I can actually use my house as designed.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

Not fun

Can I just say that it is not fun to have to stagger your showers and anything and everything that deals with water in your home!

Our drain field is apparetnly not sufficient to support our family size so we have been having issues since the fall.

Well, I've hit my limit!

We can't flush the toilets.

I can't just run the washer or dishwasher when I need to.

I have to instruct the children on where they can use the toilet in the house.

Not fun.

Not fun at all.

Hoping some more

I have hope that I can be the person that my Heavenly Father knows I can be.

I have hope that I can be kinder and more patient.

I have hope in the fact that I can be carried by my Savior when I can't carry myself.

Day 3 of hope focus

Today I have hope in:

1. The possiblities of eternal families.

2. That I can continue to try to raise my voice less.

3. That my children will not 'really' drive me crazy!

Hope, Day 2

Today, I have hope in:

prettier weather to come,

attempting to not raise my voice tonight with the kids,

staying positive when I try to discourage myself.

Good start, right?

Hope, Day 1

Today was fast and testimony meeting. I really enjoyed listening to the testimonies and I procrastinated so long that I missed my opportunity. Maybe next time...

Since Time Out For Women's theme was Infinite Hope and all the messages were centered around that, I have been pondering many things in my life and things that I have hope in.

Today, I have hope in my ability to be a good primary pianist and choir director. I went home and practiced piano tonight and this afternoon, we had our last choir practice before singing prelude next week for ward conference. The choir is really progressing and I was really encouraged. My piano skills, well, I have hope that they will improve and carry me as needed. I am practicing though and I am thankful for Debbie and her ability to have patience in me.

I felt prompted this evening to have Chris call his mom. I was just sitting there reading something and the thought came, we need to call. So, I told Chris. He said, "Okay". I then replied, "We need to call now". He picked up the phone and called. I am thankful for the blessing of the holy ghost in my life.

Time Out For Women, Day 2

Kenney got up this morning at 6:30 and I woke up then too but stayed in the bed until 7 when I started to get ready. We were supposed to get to the convention center early, since we stayed down there, and save seats. However, Danette and Debbie got there before us and they drove down from here. What great friends they are! I couldn't even seem to get my tired self out of bed across the street and they came from an hour away. Go girls!

We had a wonderful spirit filled day and here are some pictures to prove it!

Dannette and Debbie

Kenney and me
Ashlea and me. I was really glad to get to see her. She and her family used to be in our ward for several years and we served together for most of that time. She is an amazing woman!

Stephanie and me. All I want to say about us is that I LOVE her! She is a blessing.

Following the meeting, Kenney headed back to Tallahassee and Danette, Debbie and I headed to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I believe that it was the FUNNIEST dinner I have ever had. I'll leave it at that.

I can't wait for next year...

Time Out For Women, Day 1

Danette and Debbie picked me up at 11 and we headed to Orlando to do some shopping before needing to arrive at Time Out For Women at 5 something.

We went to eat at Zaxby's and then to Nordstrom Rack where I found a pair of jeans, a shirt and a sweater that I just couldn't live without!

Following my little shopping spree, we headed to the mall where we walked around and looked for Crocs, but were unsuccessful and then we ate some very tasty ice cream while we people watched. I must say that we had fun doing that. I wonder if people work?

We headed to the convention center where we waited for a few minutes for the door to open. Wendy Watson Nelson and Sherri Dew spoke to us. Kenney arrived late, due to traffic, so she missed Sister Nelson, but she at least got to hear Sister Dew.

When the meeting was over, around 9:30, Danette and Debbie headed home while Kenney and I headed across the street to the Westin. I was exhausted!

I have learned from past experiences that Time Out For Women weekend is wonderful, but NOT restful! Tomorrow morning is going to come fast!

Wow! 36 today!

I can't believe it, but it is in fact true. I am 36 today! Here's the picture to prove it!

I feel truly blessed today with birthday cards from Chris and the kids, phone calls and Facebook messages. It certainly makes the day seem happy instead of sad that I'm getting older. Guess it doesn't really matter that I'm getting older because we all are and there is nothing we can do to change it.

Happy Birthday to me! Aislinn is very glad that it is my birthday today because now she knows that she is next! That is what she's been worried about for months. ;)

Relief Society Meeting

I love that the Relief Society meeting in March is always right around my birthday and that we celebrate Relief Society's birthday then. Why? Because I get to eat cake and visit with my friends and have my own little birthday party while at the meeting. See, it's good for everyone!

Last night, about 4 or 5 of us were asked to share about service and how it affected our lives. I was asked to share and I of course, told about all the service provided to our family while Aislinn was sick in the fall of 2008. It changed my life. To have people love and care for you and your family without any expectation of anything in return is truly amazing.

I am richly blessed and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to share that with my sisters and to remind myself of what a miracle it was.