Identity and Teeth

Strange title I know, but some are bound to notice that I've changed the names of my girls. I have always been careful about not mentioning identifying details in my posts, but I read an article about how easy it is for an identity thief to get your info, by piecing together info from blogs, Facebook, email, etc.. and hack into your email and bank accounts. It was  surprisingly simple, birthday from one site, hometown, and maiden name from another, kids names, etc... so I maybe paranoid, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, because getting your identity back and undoing all the damage is really difficult.  So now you know.

Now on to teeth.  Saw this and love it. An official tooth fairy kit complete with letterpress documentation, ummm, can you say beautiful. I know I'm crazy, but I love letterpress. I think I just may need to order this before the teeth start coming out. FUN! Here's the link in case you think it's as fun as I do. The Official Tooth Fairy Kit

EFY High

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• Just returned from a whirlwind three days at EFY for the FNS youth. It's been 12 years since I was at this same EFY as a youth and it was just as amazing, actually more so!! I feel so blessed to have been asked to return as an adult, and serve with my husband. We partook of the overwhelming spirit that was there, enjoyed interacting with the youth and being uplifted by them.  It was a joy to hear Kenneth Cope speak and sing every day we were there. I am exhausted, but renewed in my dedication to my family, the church and my testimony of the gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ.  My parents were wonderful and watched the girls, serving us as we served elsewhere.  I am filled with gratitude for them and all they do for our family. I feel overwhelmingly blessed, and I am so thankful for the many blessings my Heavenly Father has given me.  Happiness abounds!!!!!

This is a clip of the theme song from EFY.  

"Scratch at the Veil" explained:
Scratch at the veil, It sounds so odd, I know. I thought I would explain since Janelle asked and I'm sure it will appear like an odd phrase to anyone else who reads it and was not at EFY. It was a phrase Kenneth Cope used. He told a story about when he had kidney stones and was crawling across the floor in severe pain, not knowing what it was at the time and he had this image come to him of the savior in the garden of gethsemane crawling, scratching at the ground, and crying out "Abba" or Papa in agony. He spoke of the veil covering our minds but that it didn't have to be permanent, others like the Brother of Jared and Joseph Smith had broken through the veil because of their faith, their commitment to truth. He challenged us to "scratch at the veil" doing everything we can to be faithful, constantly scratching our way through trails and challenges, crawling if we have to, closer and closer to our "Papa" even through the veil. Of course the full impact of his talk is lost in my few short words, but hopefully you get the idea.

Fun P.S.: Ryan forwarded my wordle to our stake president and he liked it so much that with a few requested changes for the upcoming year,  I sent it off to be printed onto envelopes that each YM and YW in our stake will get to help them save for next year's EFY. Fun!

Lots of blog thoughts, not enough time.

So we've had lots going on and I have often though hey, I should blog about that, but do I ever get to it? Nope! Good intentions, right?  I'm all about enjoying spring right now, hope you are too!!!!

Here are a few highlights of what we've been up to.

Montessori Activities:

The shelves I set up at home in our office. Which I am painting and decorating, YAY! 

The office, not the shelves!

Beginning Letter sounds and matching pictures.

Working on the knobbed cylinders, 

"No, No, No, No, Yes" as she tries to place each cylinder from left to right, till she finds the right spot.

The moveable alphabet I made from die-cuts and fun foam, this has been a big hit!

The knobbed cylinders and letter puzzles I checked out from the Children's Services Network, an amazing lending library for parents and daycare providers! Amazing Find!!!

We welcomed two new baby girls to our family, Ryan's sister and mine each had little girls within a month of each other. Welcome, Maddi and Alli!!!

And now I'm out of time, so to be continued....

Desire, Trust, Rely, CREATE

Moved to tears,

Inspired,

Watch it, you will be too!

"Mom, This Is How Nephi Wears His Shirt"

Let's just say that this phrase was uttered quite often recently in our house, usually with a pulled down shirt collar and bare shoulder. But this outfit was by far the best one to match the statement. This was taken during Lovebug's "Nephi and the Brass Plates" animated video phase, back in December, but I just took the pic off my camera and thought you all would enjoy it as much as I have!!!

Birdnest

So I happened upon this blog http://birdnest.typepad.com and the following post. It put into words so beautifully the feelings I have often felt as a mother. So I thought I would share. Mothering especially is all about perspective, and I find myself continually stepping out and eventually back in, to proper perspective with every change in life, especially the constant change that comes with growing children. On second thought, stepping out implies, I am conscious of the change and willingly take steps to leave the proper perspective, which is not the case at all, in fact SO far from it. It's more like I blink and suddenly I hear myself yelling in frustration at a child who has written on the wall for the umpteenth time, in spite of the many conversations (some in the same day) where she readily states that we write only on paper and not walls, or for a myriad of other situations where I probably should have kept perspective and found a more patient, quiet tone to deal with such situation.  I found comfort in the words of this woman who's face I couldn't pick out of a crowd and yet who's words I know and understand as if they were my own.  It's the comfort of commonality that I am sure many of you will find as you read her words as well. Sometimes all it takes is knowing your not the only one to help you step back in.

Happy Reading!!

November 21, 2008

Cells Divided

I started this post at the beginning of the month, and then the days just passed over like thick, daily clouds before I came back here to catch up. Seems it's still relevant, still appropriate. Even more so when I count the days between last posting.

I barely write anymore. I barely think either. It's just that it's not that kind of life right now. For now, it's in the active details, it's in the moment, it's in the gray space where there is no time for reflection and insight. Instead it's all about care-taking. It's nursing. It's dressing, diapering, washing, cleaning, guiding, peacemaking, gathering, driving, pushing, holding, picking up, chopping, simmering, serving. Oh and a bit of yelling, stewing, glaring and festering. And when all that is done, it is time for rest, or at least something like that. My brain needs to be massaged and my heart needs company and community, but god help me if that takes one more bit of doing. One more ounce of effort that I just can't find very often.

I go out to escape, to force a breath, take in the fresh air with no children clinging to my arms, following me. And yet, I find nothing out there, I feel like I'm just wasting time until I get back, only to have make-ups to do. Back to the house, just in time to catch up on the laundry, the organizing, the care-taking and taking care. It's as if the outside has lost it's color.

I'm not sure how to write this without it sounding as if it's a burden, or that it's "bad." It seems our culture is so quick to make it black and white. That if it's not glorious, it's somehow crap. That if life can't alternate between different states of being, different moments of identity. Isn't that what we are all doing, complaining without meaning to complain, just voicing the drudge to see past it, just sharing the moments when our eyes tear up or our arms feel heavy, just to know that it is true, it is now?


My oldest boy, Jbird, is transforming every moment I see him. Children transform before your eyes. I will say it a million times. It's really not a cliche. Most days you are so sleepy and so frustrated and so busing care-taking that you just can't see it. But if you stop and observe, you can actually see the growth inch along, their small beings spread wider and deeper into the world. Every morning Jbird will stand up in the bed, or in front of the mirror and expresses with joy "Look how much I've grown" "Look how tall I've gotten" "Look how big my belly is today." And yes. It's true. It is apparent. I can see the cells divide and multiply at this very moment.

Posted on November 21, 2008 in day to day, rambling, the little birds | Permalink

FAMILY FUN

Check out these fun new LDS Videos. I aspire to this kind of creative family fun, but it's a work in progress! :) What's your favorite family fun time?

By the way, Thanks for all the blogging comments, they were so fun to read and gave me some new thoughts and ideas on blogging. I liked the thought of a blog being a sort of journal/memory book to help me remember the things we are doing right now as a family and as a means later for my kids to know my thoughts on the various subjects and activities.  I am terrible at keeping a journal, which is really sad since my weak memory is a major source of frustration, but this may be a good 1st step in solving those two problems. Hmm, something more to thing about.

BloGGinG wiTh a PurPosE

So I've been thinking lately about my purpose for blogging and realized I didn't have a specific purpose. Maybe that was the reason I just wasn't "feeling it" and didn't write anything new. Some people blog to share ideas about a particular subject, some blog to keep family and friends updated on life happenings, some blog I think just for the sake of blogging. Hmm, not sure I want to be in that last category. I've decided I need a purpose to my blogging to keep doing it. I'm trying to simplify, and use my time wisely, because lets face it, I can't fit it all in. Sooooo, if you read my blog, why, what keeps you coming back, what do you come here for? Life update, montessori ideas, craft ideas, my witty writing (ha! J/K), boredom, are you really interested in seeing the stuff I just make up, what? And lastly tell me why you blog? This could get interesting.

Time Off

I have been chastised for not updating lately. Okay, it's been longer than lately, I was surprised to see the thanksgiving background myself. Ooops. I just wasn't feeling it though and when you don't feel it, it's really hard to blog. I have lots of things that I thought may be blog worthy but just couldn't get the motivation up. Well I'm starting with updating the background and hopefully will post again soon. Perhaps something a little more interesting than this post to any one who reads this, if there is anyone left at this point. Ha!