Picture mania

So during our trip to Colorado this week the kids keep harassing me about my fanatic picture taking. Today it occurred to me that the reason I take so many pictures is that I am trying to capture the moment--not just the actual picture, but the emotion and love that the moment holds.

So with all my picture taking I can save the image, but the memories, the laughs and love will just have to be tucked away safely in my heart....and right now, my heart is very full!

**pictures of our fun time in CO will be posted soon.

Worse than a kid at Christmas....

I am so stinking excited to see my missionary in two days I can hardly stand it. Here I am at 3:30am wide awake and wishing the minutes would pass more quickly. Maybe if I keep peeking out the window I'll see him fly by.....

I am so blessed

I just feel so very grateful today. Yesterday was Lynn's birthday (yes, Friday the 13th). I was thinking of what I could do for him besides bake his favorite apple pie--the crust of which is a blog worthy experience of it's own....but I digress. And I thought, "I'm going to write him a list of all the reasons I am thankful for him...(don't tell him though because he hasn't gotten it yet...Shhh.)

And it's carried over into today. I have so much to be thankful for. A wonderful family of people who love and appreciate me, a safe warm, beautiful home that I feel so blessed to live in, friends who enrich my life just by being a part of it, the gospel and a testimony....my list goes on and on.

But it also made me realize how much I don't stop to be grateful and appreciate those things all the time. I always have them but they are so easily taken for granted. Even in my hardest times I have had so much, and just wanted to share that today.

Now I've got to get back to cleaning that whole house, because those great kids keep making messes---

Is this a commentary on the sad state of affairs around my house?

I cleaned my fridge and freezer today.

The sad thing is that I feel like that was such a major accomplishment. I keep wanting to walk in the kitchen and open the door just to look. Maybe I should try to clean it more often, then it wouldn't be such a big deal. I even felt the need to warn my sweet husband via email so that his heart wouldn't give out on him when he discovered it on his own.

Now I've always had a theory for cleaning the fridge, and it's worked for me, but maybe it's not the best....give me your opinion. Once in a great while I open the fridge door and put the garbage can in front of it. If it can walk out under it's own power it goes, if not, it stays.

If the health department were ever going to make a surprise visit to my house, I sure hope it's today!

Gettin' the Party started...

We had a camp planning meeting last night, and while so many things had been up in the air pending some major changes, the dust has all settled now and I am SO stinkin' excited for camp! This enthusiasm this early is probably not healthy, but I can't help it. I love camp! I cannot wait for it this year. We had such great leaders and have so much fun together, which just feeds down to the girls and makes it all great.

Today's Memo

Dear lovely jogger man,

When jogging in the neighborhood it is normal to lap an older lady (me)who is moaning and groaning as she works to put those miles behind her. Lapping her twice is not nice, it is in fact down right demoralizing. Making a comment on said second lap is even more rude.

Next time you and your 2% body-fat jogging self do that don't be surprised when I trip you.

Thank you.

FINALLY!

That could be said about many things in my life, like specifically, "Finally I'm updating my blog." But what I am personally referring to is that I FINALLY feel better. It has been so long since I've had energy and or motivation and I am finally on the upswing. I'm so thankful for Lynn's patience while I've struggled, but I feel like my health is almost back to normal.

I have let the cleaning lady go and am doing a pretty good job of staying on top of my house, I am cleaning out all the clutter that has accumulated around here, finishing projects that have been sitting idle for months, and am eating well and taking care of myself again.

Having the health and energy to do those things is something that we so frequently take for granted, but right now I am VERY thankful for them. Hopefully it's going to last for a very long time.

Roller Coaster Ride

I knew when I signed up to be a Make A Wish volunteer that there would be times when the adorable kids I work with would not make it. That knowledge however doesn't make it any easier when one of them passes away. This summer we have lost two of our wish kids. One the weekend before he was scheduled to travel for his wish, and a second one this weekend....just three weeks after returning from Orlando. Thankfully he had a wonderful time, and was able to enjoy riding the roller coasters, but yesterday he lost his battle with cancer.

In this job I meet amazing families. People who have faced the Goliaths in their lives with grace and tenacity, and still have great hope. People who are so grateful for what we do for them, and don't want to ask for too much. It's a real privilege for me to have a part in facilitating these wishes. I am a better person for having met and worked with them.

Fly free little Ryan....

"Uncle" Already!

Okay, I know I live in Texas. It's hot in Texas...every summer I am horribly reminded of this fact. But this is ridiculous. Seriously, we've been over 100 for like 25 days already this summer. The last time we had measurable rain was over a month ago. My flowers have long since given up the ghost, and my lawn is quickly following.

Lynn has given an ultimatum...either it rain in the next 7 days or he's moving! And I just got a pool---please someone do a rain dance for me.

My Lightbulb Moment

I was at the gym yesterday and ran into a member of the church (at the time I go there are tons of Mormons in the gym--it's pretty funny since I do not live in a very LDS populated place, but I digress). Anyway the guy was saying how he hadn't seen me there much lately. Sadly, true. I said how I always seem to find good reasons for not getting there. Then he said something that really hit me. He said, "I feel like taking care of my physical body is as important as taking care of my spiritual self. If I don't get to the gym I feel just as guilty as if I missed church."

Wow. I thought about that. I don't wake up every Sunday and check my list of things to do then decide if I'll go to church or not. I got to church every week unless I'm sick. Period. I can't imagine not doing it that way. So why don't I feel that way about my body. I have been given a literal stewardship over this physical body. I shouldn't have to decide again every day if I'm going to take care of it.

Epiphany.

I walked 4 miles this morning.

It's all about ME

That's what I love about Mother's Day. I can totally get away with anything I want for one day of the year, and man do I milk it. In fact, I can stretch it into three days if I play my cards right.... Sat evening: "Man I'm sure tired and this kitchen is a mess. Wouldn't it be nice for me to wake up to a clean kitchen on Mother's Day?" (giggling as I head off to my bedroom with a bowl of ice cream).

Sunday all bets are off. I don't have to fix food unless I feel like it. If I do and they don't like it they can't say anything about it. I don't have to carry my cart load of nursery stuff because after all, "Don't you love me?" No bargaining for a nap, I get to hold the remote, and if I want two bowls of ice cream really, who's gonna argue?

But let me tell you, all manipulation is out the window when that phone rings and you finally hear your missionary's voice again. It's the best in the whole world. You spend the next hour being reminded why it is you do what you do. Seeing (or hearing, as the case may be) how much your young man has grown, how his testimony is blossoming, how he loves the people and is starting to dread each day that brings his time as a missionary closer to an end, is the best gift a mom could ask for.

All those days of teething, tantrums, driving to and from whatever sporting event was in season, patching dry-wall from teen years of frustration, and even those early morning seminary fights were all worth it for those sixty minutes. Life doesn't get much better than that.

You know, don't worry about it kids I'll do the dishes tonight. Really, I don't mind.

Sounds Like Life to Me....

I'm a country girl you know. I love my country music, and for good reason. It's all about life. The songs tell the stories that we all live. Darryl Worley has a new song out called, "Sounds Like Life to Me" and it's so true. He's talking to his best buddy who's complaining about how hard things are....car's dying, parents are aging, he's got bills to pay, three kids, another on the way, and Darryl just says, "It sounds like life to me."

Well sadly that just resonated so strongly with me. I know that so many times I feel so overwhelmed and life is so crazy I want someone to stop the ride for a minute so I can get off. So here's my life lately---

Lynn has been really swamped lately teaching his killer six week/ six hours a day class. He's also had youth conference which required any spare time he had. Heidi is in the midst of graduation preparations, prom, college decisions, study and work. It's also birthday season--Jacob, Jeremy and Heidi all in six weeks. Yard work is piling up, camp is getting closer and closer, I have two teenagers and one pre-teen, nursery--don't even get me started here---house, carpools, shopping, workouts, etc......I could go on for days, but guess I just need to take a little advice from Darryl.....

"It sounds like life to me, this ain't no fanasty, it's just a common case of everyday reality. Man, I know it's tough, but you gotta suck it up. To hear you talk you sound like you're caught up in some tragedy, but it sounds like life to me!"

So thanks again to country radio I've got my boots back on, climbing into the saddle and ready to ride.

I'll chat with you later, I've got some life to deal with today.

Remembering Sporty Dog

Feb 4,1999-April 7, 2009



"...he will be our friend for always and always and always." ~ Rudyard Kipling

Sport

Someone once said, "Good things come in small packages."

I think they were talking about Sport.

Baby boomers taking over Facebook???

So I've been hearing a lot about the Baby Boomers taking over Facebook. I'm the first to admit that I think it's one of the best things to come along since sliced bread. I've found old friends from college, from high school, reconnected with family members, and even got friend requests from my own kids!

While I don't 'technically' fall into the Baby Boomer category I am over 40 and so do not fit the demographic facebook was launched to reach. My mom is also not a Baby Boomer and is on facebook, and while I will not divulge her age let's just say I'm not her first born.

So what if I like to give my kids a poke now and then. I've even been known to make my own flair. I don't play Mafia Wars or Scrabble, yet at least, but I do enjoy connecting with people who have impacted my life.

And I don't mind being able to keep tabs on my teenagers who can't make it through the day without their facebook fix. Sue me.

Cougar Pride

Heidi was accepted to BYU last night and has been just bouncing off the walls ever since. She was really hoping to get in and also found out that three of her good friends have also gotten accepted. Now she's just waiting to hear from one more friend and her cousin Haley. I'm really happy for her and will have another reason to come to Utah and visit.

Family 'Love'

Okay, okay, I know it's way past time to update my blog, but while there seems to never be a dull moment, I just haven't known what to write about.

So I'll write about Family Love. Yes Love, as in love-15, love-30, love-40, game point. We have been having some amazingly beautiful weather lately (my apologies to those of you who have been house-bound for months due to winter--we'll get ours come July). Anyway, we took the kids yesterday out to play tennis. Lynn played tennis in high school and has occasionally enjoyed a rousing game with friends. Travis took lessons last year and will be trying out for the school tennis team in a few weeks, but other than that we are a tennis-skill-free family. But we had a blast despite any lack of skill. It was so much fun. Most of us did more chasing of the balls than actually hitting, but it was great. We decided that it's something we want to do more of and plan on getting back out there again soon.

While I probably had the most 'love' of the family, I think they will keep me all the way through game, set and match.