Still Swinging

No School?

2008-05-19T17:18:00.002-06:00

With school winding down up the street, Adam asked me the other day when school would be done for us too.

"Sooo," I asked him, "just because it gets hot outside we're going to stop going to the library?"

"No," he replied.

"So we can go to the library, but we won't read the books we check out anymore?"

"No."

"Well, we read a lot of other great books together. Are we going to stop that?"

"No." By this time he had a grin on his face.

"Well then, I'm not exactly sure I know what you're asking me?"

He just chuckled and went on to some other topic.

Today was just a really, really nice day. Nothing too out of the ordinary except that Adam pitched a baseball while I was catching that whammed me in the leg (I've got some nice bruises forming). We had a picnic outside under the quakies and read in the shade for a while. Just nice. It's all reminding me of some of the fun things we did last summer, like making candy with mint leaves. During the picnic Melanie asked me when "Do a Good Turn" day is this year, which is funny since she had such a fine experience last year. I told her even if there isn't a big deal about it this year, we'll still celebrate.

"School" in the summer is definitely different, but learning nonetheless. I've probably mentioned it before, but that's one of the biggest lessons I want my kiddos to learn - that learning happens all the time, not just in the classroom.

In the Backyard

2008-05-13T22:57:00.006-06:00

We've seen some exciting things in the backyard lately! A few weeks ago we were watching a robin in the backyard when Adam pointed and said, "Look at that house!"

Amazingly, Melanie had checked out several bird books at the library that week, so we whipped them out and quickly learned we were looking at a Great Blue Heron. We watched him for quite a while before he flew to the top of the house across the street, then on to another house, and away.

A weekish later a neighbor called and asked if our windows were open. I told her yes, and she said to go look outside. I didn't know what I was looking for, till she told me look up, that there was a hot air balloon outside! We watched it float around for quite awhile.

Then earlier today I noticed some apricots growing on our trees (hooray!) and went to check out a different apricot tree to see if it was too. Right next to it is a skinny pear tree, and I noticed it had a good sized nest in it.

Carolyn was with me, so I sat her on my shoulder and helped her peek in. She said there was an egg! We didn't see any parents around, so I ran in the house to grab the camera and see if we could get a quick peek inside.

Shortly thereafter mommy and daddy robin showed up. Mom headed right for the nest and dad kept watch. Erin headed over to check him out.

Here's another of him patroling. We watched him take on another bird that got a little too close.

Carolyn and I had a great chat about how eggs hatch, and I had her promise that she wouldn't bug the nest. It was a bit windy outside, and she was concerned that the nest was going to get blown out. I told her the nest is in a nice strong spot, and that the little egg will be just fine.

Makes me wonder all that goes on around us that we never notice.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-10T22:55:00.005-06:00

Just have to tell you all what a wonderful husband I have. This is what I got/am getting for Mother's Day.

Fertilizer - Yes, I asked for it. Husbands take note - even if it sounds like an odd gift, if your wife tells you what she wants, get it for her! I'm looking forward to a lovely lawn.

Brakes - Isn't that thoughtful? My van inspection is coming up so last Saturday he and his dad checked out the brakes. Yes some needed replacing, and when I got home he told me Happy Mother's Day, LOL. I'm glad he cares about our safety (oh yah, and that whole passing inspection thing).

A Clean Fridge - Our fridge has needed some cleaning out for quite some time, not just tossing old food, but a down and dirty cleaning. Earlier today Jamie tossed something nasty out and I mentioned that I've been meaning to tackle the fridge, and that it would be soooo wonderful if he did that. He did! And it looks great! Knowing I don't have to work myself up to dealing with all the nasties has me positively glowing inside.

Dinner - Jamie is making dinner for not only me, but he put out an invite to both our families to anyone who would like to come so the moms don't have to cook. Jamie is an excellent cook, but guys, even if you just throw a roast in the crock pot with some spices on top, buy some rolls and salad, that would be a great meal!

Mother's Day Card - Every year I get a handmade Mother's Day card with a poem written by Jamie. I look forward to this more than anything else, because I know he puts some time and thought into it. Not that they are anything fancy, dripping with romance and such, but they are all him. And I love that.

I love you, Jamie! Thanks for all the wonderful things you do not just on Mother's Day, but every day.

Happy Mother's Day!

Super, Middle, and Falling Stars

2008-05-01T21:54:00.005-06:00

I read Monday Morning Leadership by David Cottrell this past week (about time, since I borrowed it from someone over 6 months ago, and he has since moved, so now I get to mail it to him). This book contains a lot of great leadership suggestions in a very clear, concise format.

From the time I officially started learning about leadership when I went to Wood Badge as a participant, I was easily able to see how the lessons taught could be applied not only to the scouting 'teams' I worked with, but my family as well. This book was no different. It is intended for teams at work, but it brought out something really interesting that is definitely one of my family leadership weaknesses.

Cottrell talks about how there are three types of members on our teams - superstars (those who want to do their very best), middle stars (working along, but not superstars), and falling stars (those doing as little as they can to get by) - and that our tendency is to pile more on the superstars because we know they'll do it, and reward our falling stars with less, while still allowing that their lesser standard is acceptable. More encouragement and praise is given to middle and falling stars. I'm sure you are seeing what is wrong with this picture. Unfortunately, when superstars realize the treatment they receive vs. middle and falling stars, they lower their expectations and perform where they are going to get recognition.

Rather than spilling my terrible flaws, I'll let you think about how your own experience applies to that. I took plenty of notes on many other areas I can improve like focusing on the 'main thing' and being sure the team knows what that is, giving feedback, and using my time (and others' time) wisely.

The Great Sunflower Project

2008-04-21T21:54:00.004-06:00

This looks fun! I signed us up earlier today.

Great Sunflower Project

...and a House

2008-04-20T23:22:00.002-06:00

I just happened upon a quote by C.S. Lewis from "Mere Christianity" that I would like to add on to my bush post. I've read it before, and it is a perfect conlusion for that.

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house than the one you thought of--throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be make into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace."

'Nuff said.

The Power of Positive Speaking

2008-04-19T12:54:00.001-06:00

I have been having some issues with one, okay two, of my children (not that the others won't bring new things up, but they usually take turns) and I was skimming through one of my parenting books looking for some inspiration. I came upon a chapter on positive reinforcement, and decided that was an area I could probably really work on. I praise my children, but there plenty of days when it's one thing after another and I wouldn't notice anything positive if it jumped out of my Cheerios. Nevermind, that would not be positive either.

I focused on one child especially for about a week, praising like crazy. We had a really good week! I felt wonderful all week, noticing positives everywhere. Our home felt wonderful. But the next week, not so good. Rather than getting positive results, I was getting shot negatives left and right in return. I got discouraged, sooooo discouraged.

Strangely enough, all these other sources on positive reinforcement started jumping out at me, like hello, you can do this!

This is something I saved recently. It's got some lists of positives we should use more and negatives we should use less.

I came across this article about a family that wanted to combat the negatives in their home and one way that they did it.

Jeffrey R. Holland addressed this topic so well during his talk on speaking with the Tongue of Angels.

"We must be so careful in speaking to a child. What we say or don’t say, how we say it and when is so very, very important in shaping a child’s view of himself or herself. But it is even more important in shaping that child’s faith in us and their faith in God. Be constructive in your comments to a child—always. Never tell them, even in whimsy, that they are fat or dumb or lazy or homely. You would never do that maliciously, but they remember and may struggle for years trying to forget—and to forgive. And try not to compare your children, even if you think you are skillful at it. You may say most positively that “Susan is pretty and Sandra is bright,” but all Susan will remember is that she isn’t bright and Sandra that she isn’t pretty. Praise each child individually for what that child is, and help him or her escape our culture’s obsession with comparing, competing, and never feeling we are 'enough.'"

My biggest worry is sounding insincere or fake. I was happy to read the "I've done it and you can too" thoughts from Nicholeen. Maybe I'll try actually keep track to see how I'm really doing.

All these "you can do it!" pats on the back were just what I needed. Jumping back on track!

I'm Just a Bush

2008-04-19T01:35:00.003-06:00

I've decided that I really can't become who I need to become until I let go of the reigns, stop trying to run things, and go along for the ride, wherever it seems to take me.

I've been asked to be on a Wood Badge staff again (leadership training through the Boy Scouts of America) with the awesome Snake River Council out of Twin Falls, Idaho. I'm excited for another opportunity to join all the great people on staff, training scout leaders in advanced leadership techniques so they can take those skills home to use in their own unit, family, and career. This will be my third time on staff, and it is an amazing experience every year.

Still, last year when I came home I told myself I didn't need to do it again for the time being. Now is my time to focus on my family rather than all these other things they pull me away, even if it isn't very often. I was perfectly happy with that until I got the phone call a couple weeks ago, asking me to fill a position that someone else had to drop out of. I really really wanted to do it, but I still had the feeling that it isn't my time for things like that. Jamie and my dad were asked to go as well, but both their work schedules won't allow it right now, so I figured that was an easy out too. Long story short, after some prayer, fasting, and a temple visit, I know I need to go.

Still, it hasn't been easily to reconcile what I know I need to do with what I had been telling myself I need to do. I talked to a friend a couple days after committing to be on the staff and told her I don't get it - I keep doing all this leadership training, yet opportunities to use it are not very often.

While stewing over it later that day, I remembered this little story from Hugh B. Brown.

"President Brown remembered a lovely currant bush in his yard that he had carefully trimmed to be attractive and to produce the best fruit.

"One day, noticing that it had started to branch out again, he reached for the pruning shears. As he approached the currant bush, he imagined it to say, “Oh, please don’t cut me back. I’m just getting started, and I want to be big like the shade trees.”

"He imagined his response to be: “No, my little bush. I am the gardener here. I have planted you to be a source of fruit and an adornment in this part of my garden, and I am going to prune you back to size.”

"Many years later, as a colonel in the Canadian forces during World War I, Hugh Brown hoped for an illustrious military career. The next promotion to general should have been his, but when the vacancy occurred, his superiors told him, “We are promoting someone else.”

"He retired to his quarters, crushed with disappointment, and knelt in prayer, asking fervently: “Heavenly Father, why couldn’t my prayers have been answered? Haven’t I lived up to my covenants? Haven’t I done everything I was supposed to do? Why? Why?”

"And then he seemed to hear a voice, an echo from the past, saying, “I am the gardener here. You were not intended for what you sought to be.” Humbled, Hugh Brown then prayed for patience to endure the pruning and to grow as the Lord would have him grow."

(I took that from an article by Robert E. Wells here, but to read it in Elder Brown's own words, you can find it here. Brian K. Evans also mentions it in a talk from Women's Conference 2007 called "We Do Not Take Counsel From Our Fears." I KNOW I also read it in the Ensign last summer, but I can't find it.)

Julie of mental tesserae wrote beautifully on the same topic in a guest post for just an orange:

"Michelangelo talked about God as the 'divine hammer' –one who sculpts us into who we are and polishes away our imperfections until he has managed to release the soul within each block of stone. Saint Augustine wrote about the patterns in his own life (after the fact, of course, because it’s always easier to see them in retrospect) as signs of God’s hand in the writing of his story. In Rabbi Harold Kushner’s books, he uses the metaphor of a tapestry: God is weaving his masterpiece in each of us. We only see the messy underside—the broken threads, the knots and confusing imagery. From above, the divine work that is our lives takes shape with full purpose and beauty."

Jane Clayson Johnson adds another thought. She was speaking on giving her time to her children, but I think it applies any time we go the direction God sends us. "Rather than losing my identity..., the irony is, I actually feels as though I have further identified my true self."

Strange that I've had all these quotes jumping out at me lately. Makes me wonder what's up. If I had more time to think about it I would probably get really worried. I guess if I can't be in control of things, who better to trust my life with than those who know me better than myself.

More Decluttering Benefits

2008-04-10T19:21:00.003-06:00

My decluttering efforts have slowed down during the past month (Jamie hasn't been out of town so I guess I haven't had to keep myself busy after the kids go to bed). I wrote about some side benefits before, but I was surprised by yet another benefit I just realized the other day.

I sent an e-mail to my bracelet mailing list two days ago that started with, "StylinBaby.com has really taken off in 2008! I don't know why suddenly I'm getting so much more business there, that I've decided to slow down listing on eBay and focus more on the website." I've been entirely surprised by the website business I've been getting this year. Usually January is TERRIBLE and I stress all month about sales because I'm trying to restock beads and other bracelet makings I've run out of from Christmas with not much coming in to do that, but this January was so busy I hardly had a break from the big Christmas rush. And it still really hasn't slowed down much. I haven't done any extra advertising to explain the extra business. It has just come.

A short while later after sending my e-mail I was catching up on a few blogs and came across a recent Lazy Organizer post that linked to this post from last year.

I guess it really is true, what goes around comes around.

Mothers

2008-04-07T16:27:00.006-06:00

Our book club is reading "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson this month. Nothing against Jane, but I hadn't read it before now because I worry that books like that are more fluff and back patting than anything. I already enjoy being a mother, so I really don't need anything like that.

The doctrine in this book has been exciting and wonderful. One favorite quote so far (there are many) is from Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?"

I wonder about the greatness and leadership and love placed in the hearts of some, and the prejudices and hatred placed in the hearts of others, guiding both to act according to the things they had been taught. Was it because of a mother?

The hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rocks the world.
--G.S. Weaver

I was going to share some disturbing quotes in the news I've read recently about how gender isn't important, but I'm not. Still, it is another testimony to me of prophets that the Proclamation on the Family was given to prepare us for things to come and that it has been taught so much since, that it declares that gender is important, and that mothers and fathers have their own divinely designated roles and responsibilites to fulfill.

Maybe I'll write more on this another day. It's already been sitting on my screen for 3 days waiting to add more, but the children keep calling, and I (usually) love to answer.

April is National Poetry Month

2008-04-04T07:20:00.005-06:00

I learned about poetry month from Farm School a few days ago, so I'm keeping my eyes open for poetry to share with the kids. Yesterday during our morning devotional I read the kids this poem that I found in one of our library books.

This Is Just To Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

--William Carlos Williams

They had me read it three or four times, they thought it was so funny. The simplicity tickled them, and they enjoyed the wording, especially "and so cold."

We also read Oliphaunt (at the bottom of that link) by J. R. R. Tolkien and The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.

The Farm School post lists a bunch of poetry sites and talks about the poem "Keep A Poem in Your Pocket." Periwinkles and Pines has a cute poetry post on clouds, including a few other poetry links.

My Wallet

2008-03-31T21:39:00.008-06:00

I am not a purse carrier. I am not a diaper bag carrier. There are few things that I need at a moments notice. Whatever I need either goes on my person in a pocket or stays in the car where it is easily retrieved if needed.

What you can usually find in my pockets:
- keys
- variety of cards
- cell phone (when I remember it)
- fingernail clippers
- lip junk
- a bit of change

Back before I found my fabulous wallet I use to carry my cards loose in a back pocket. Since they slide around a bit, I didn't feel too safe about that, figuring one might work its way up and out of my pocket sometime. I looked around here and there at different wallets/purses, but for what I wanted to carry I couldn't find something that I was excited about.

One night after brushing my teeth I noticed my birth control pills case.

Small. Thin. No frills. Just about the right size. I pulled the cards out of my pocket, and wonder of all wonders, they fit beautifully. Perfect! Now I could happily carry my variety of cards in a convenient little carrying case. Even better, I get a free monthly replacement so when one wears out, I've got a ready replacement (and since they don't wear out monthly, I've got plenty of backups). When I first started using them they only came in gray, but now I've got them in purple and sea green. Lovely!

I've been packing my cards this way for a few years now, and the idea has been well-received by a few others (including my mom). My sister even stocks up on them for me, which has been a help a few times when I either wasn't getting the monthly refill or the prescrip I was on had the wrong kind of case.

The simple things truly are the best, aren't they?

Sewing Scout Patches Tips and Tricks

2008-03-29T21:52:00.005-06:00

Any scouters out there know that sewing on patches isn't always thrilling, but hey, we want to look snazzy, right? So it must be done. There is always the patch glue, but that looks terrible if you ever have to take patches off.

I had to add some patches on to my sons' shirts, and got to try out some patch tips I'd been given. They are so fabulous, I have to share.

TIP 1: When sewing unit number patches, sew them together first, and THEN sew them to the shirt.

This saves you from sewing 3 separate small patches. Bigger patches are way easier, plus then you don't have to keep trying to get them all lined up. This could work for the knot patches as well.

TIP 2: TAPE!

I noticed some tape sticking to a patch on one of the roundtable staff's shirt a couple months ago and asked her about it. She said she uses tape instead of pins when she's trying to put on smaller patches. I tried this out when I had to sew a couple arrow points on Sammy's shirt. First I taped over the whole arrow point and sewed right over the tape. This was fine, but the tape kept breaking apart while I was trying to peel it off. Then I tried keeping part of the patch untaped, sewed that part, and then peeled off the tape to finish. I liked that much better.

Both were excellent helps that made the whole patch sewing experience a lot happier with less unpicking. Try them out sometime!

** I've noticed I've had a lot of traffic from this. If you try them out, let me know what you think! Since writing this I tried the tape on merit badges as well and it also worked beatifully, much better than trying to pin them on.

Perfect Post for Easter

2008-03-23T21:54:00.002-06:00

You have to read this.

'Nuff said.

Telling Myself No

2008-03-20T22:20:00.001-06:00

I read something a few weeks ago about telling your children "No" sometimes for things that are good for them, but the no is to make sure they are really ready for it. They were talking about kids wanting to really dive into studying, and that telling them no helps you to find out if they are really ready for it. If they forget about it after you say no, then they weren't. If they keep at you and beg and beg, then they are. This could easily be applied to something like piano lessons. Most people think it's a great thing if their children want to take piano lessons and jump at the interest. If you tell them no and they keep pestering, you know that the desire is really there and not just a whim.

In my decluttering journey I'm learning the value of telling myself no. Decluttering my bedroom really scares me. I don't entirely know why. Maybe partially because I know that to really do that, a lot of things will need to move elsewhere, but where? So then I think I need to finish the basement first. I think I'm also assuming that because they are in my bedroom I NEEEEEED them. I've had a hard time even thinking about it too much, and feel myself getting stressed when I start to consider different ideas. It stresses me even more because I know it stresses Jamie as well. So I've just tried not to think about it, figuring when I'm ready, I'll know.

Jamie left town again this morning dark and early (the sun was far from up), so I started thinking what I could work on while he's gone. I immediately thought of our bedroom, and started thinking, maybe now is the time. "No," I told myself, "it's not. I'm not ready." Immediately this feeling welled up, reminding me of my own childrens' "But Mooooooommmmmmm! I waaaannnnnttt toooo!!!!!" This is good, I thought.

I might do some minor here's and there's, but I'll keep saying no for a while if that's what happens.

Some Updates

2008-03-18T22:21:00.004-06:00

I updated my 'Blogs I Like to Read' list, which I haven't for a while. You might find something interesting there.

While you're checking those out, be sure to take a gander at Clint's Washing Machine post. I don't often check back on comments after I comment, but this one I am. By the way, Clint is one of my awesome Wood Badge Raven brothers. I would love to see your interpretation of the washing machine there.

I found a FAR FAR easier way to check on the number of subscribers on your blog and other people's blogs than the way I shared in this previous post. Still in Google Reader, at the far right side of the long blue bar at the top of the screen just about the reading window, there is a little link right on the bar that says "show details." Click on it. Just like that, there it is.

I also added a shameless ad for my website to the sidebar. Tell all your friends.

Our Rockin' Blue and Gold

2008-03-17T22:53:00.005-06:00

I'm posting this by request of one of our den leaders since he couldn't be there. I'm sorry if this makes other cub scout dens out there feel sad. Our pack rocks. Our boys rock. Our cub leaders rock. We even have a den leader named Rock. That's all there is to it.

Anyway, the theme for this year's Blue and Gold (held last month) was Chinese New Year. Our amazing and talented primary counselor created this awesome dragon head so we could have a dragon dance. This is proof - no one has a primary counselor that cares as much as ours (thank you Christy!). Here is Sammy modeling it so I could get up close and personal shots:

As for the real dragon dance, picture this: not only did we have the awesome dragon, each of the dens had decorated part of the 'tail' (which is why each section is different), there was real dragon dance music playing, and real fireworks sound effects (bubble wrap being popped in front of the microphone by our den leader Caleb, bummer I didn't get a picture of that). All together, an effect too amazing for words.

The picture with the cubmaster inside is one of my favorites of the night. :)

Of course we couldn't have Chinese New Year without authentic Chinese food. Well, I guess we could have, but since we have Amy in our ward, a Chinese lady we all love, we definitely couldn't. She was more than willing to spend tons of time preparing food with us a few days before and the day of. We had spring rolls and pot stickers...

...three kinds of sauces on chicken, and of course, rice.

One of the more comical parts of the evening, three of the babies present playing in our cub scout fire that we light at the start and douse at the end of every meeting.

Sorry there aren't many pictures of all the people and especially the boys. Permission and all that. But if you happen to see this and you happen to have been there, I would be happy to search out pictures of you and your family members to add them on. Though if I post them and you happen to have your mouth open eating and don't like the world seeing that, I would again happily remove them. :)

Review - Stories of Jesus

2008-03-17T19:07:00.004-06:00

I'm subscribed to an interesting podcast called The Cricket and Seagull, hosted by Steven Kapp Perry. In it he "features the unique voices of authors, artists, musicians, scholars, and fellow Saints." I've learned about some great books and music through the Cricket and Seagull.

About a month ago I listened to a podcast on the CD "Stories of Jesus" by Melanie and Roger Hoffman. Follow the link to hear it yourself, where Perry talks with the composers and they share samples of the music. I was so impressed by the short samples that I had to buy it for our family.

As the title suggests, the songs are all about the life of Jesus, starting with his birth and ending with remembering Him and His life. In a way I guess this could be like Handel's Messiah for children. All the songs are so beautiful it is tough to pick a favorite. I asked the boys if they have one - Adam said "the run one" ("Run to Egypt") and Sammy said "the news one" ("Good News!"). I'll ask the girls in the morning and add them on. One unique song is "Gethsemane," a song about the atonement. Like the composers mention on the podcast, there really isn't a children's song about the atonement.

The CD insert quotes Melanie Hoffman: "I know that as children learn who Jesus is, they will look to Him, anticipate His coming, and want to be like Him, because they will know Him and love Him."

The music and lyrics are done so well that it is a CD our whole family enjoys listening to. Learning more about the Savior's life through this music has been a great testimony strengthener for all of us. I highly recommended buying this for your home or as a gift.

Every Website Should Have This

2008-03-14T17:18:00.004-06:00

I just found the best wait-while-things-load toy ever. Go to Jamba Juice and look to the bottom right corner. Pick up the chalk. Draw with the chalk. Does it get more fun than that??

Mommy Oops

2008-03-12T15:18:00.006-06:00

What happened you ask?

Melanie has a bit of a fever and sore throat. I went to get her some medicine, shook it up, untwisted the top (but left it on), set down the bottle to get the medicine measuring thingy, picked up the bottle and (not thinking) gave it another shake... Oops. There was lots more coverage than shown in the picture. Dripping down the oven door, splashed across some clean drying dishes. You get the idea.

The thing I don't understand - if ANYONE else here had done this I would have jumped in to help them clean it up or entirely clean it up. Why is it that everyone came in to take a gander when they heard me burst out laughing, but I don't get the same???

At least my hands have a pleasant bubble gummy smell now.

P.S. on Time

2008-03-11T22:32:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I wrote that last post, went to work on some jewelry orders (Easter is coming) and couldn't stop thinking about time. So here are a few more thoughts.

We know we all have the same amount of time, and that it is our choice on how we use it. Yes we are busy, but I doubt there is anyone out there that doesn't have SOME free time they have a choice over.

During my brother's 2nd tour of duty in Afghanistan I remember something my sis-in-law (his wife) said about the soldiers - that what they do with their free time largely determines who they are when they get back. I know two people that made poor choices with that time, and they and their families have suffered because of it. Every letter we got from my brother was inspiring. I know he spent his time well.

How am I using my time?

We give our lives to that which we give our time.

With so many people demanding my time, I've tried to cut out more and more extras that I know don't benefit me or my family. Some of those are actually things, because it takes time to take care of things, and I've noticed a big difference because of their absence. I've also cut out some time wasters, and again I've noticed a difference. Unfortunately, other things are always trying to jump in to fill the void.

A cluttered life is a life that you do not have control of. It is a life in which the things you have surrounded yourself with, and allow to use up your time, are controlling you and negatively influencing your happiness and eternal progress.

I've heard in so many instances that when you're trying to get rid of a bad habit, you need to replace it with a good habit. I didn't think about that applying until now, but I've had some not so busy afternoons when the house is decently clean, the kids aren't needing me for a few moments, and I find myself wondering what to do with myself. My first inclination is to use that time to study something or to read, and it's always a pleasure, knowing I'm doing it without taking away from anything else. I must admit that the computer is always a draw and it's easy to rationalize that I need to check on orders and such. But being honest to myself, a time waster.

A mother should never allow herself to become so involved with extras that she finds herself neglecting her divine role.

(He shares more on mothers and fathers, but you can look that up.)

Are my 'basics' being taken care of? Are the things I truly value the first things I spend my time on? I truly believe, more than ever, that I can have help answering this, and making changes as necessary.

Quotes from Elder William R. Bradford, "Unclutter Your Life." I plan on reading his talk a lot more closely.

Missing the Blogging Boat

2008-03-11T21:49:00.003-06:00

So much to do, so little time.

For about a month I was waiting to share the great question, "Here we say that if March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb, and if it comes in like a lamb it goes out like a lion. Soooo, in the southern hemisphere do they say the same about September?"

I have all these great pictures of the kids swinging away on February 29, then the swingset covered in snow March 1.

I've been meaning to write a post about Sammy and his amazing Lego creations for a month or so. I keep adding more pictures for that one.

I want to write about how our first week of trying out household jobs went.

I've got a post in my head with pictures to go along about our past homeschooling week (it's been a fun one).

Posts with pictures are fab, but it takes more time to pull them off the camera, crop, etc.

So many things I want to be reading.

And I need to prepare a class on the Family Life merit badge for Thursday night.

Not to mention the 500 other heres and theres.

Book Review - Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes

2008-03-03T21:50:00.005-07:00

I learned about this wonderful story while reading this book (thanks Lara for posting about it). I'm so happy our library had a copy!

"The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes" (written in 1939) is about a little country bunny who wants to be one of the five Easter Bunnies someday. Low and behold, she ends up with 21 children, which means a lot to take care of. She realizes that she can't do it all alone and be the Easter Bunny, so she teaches her children how to help around the home so she could fulfill her dream. When her chance comes, originally she is told she can't because of all her responsibilities at home, but she explains all the things her children can take care of on their own, and she is given a chance. Of course she is wonderful at it, and she returns home to find the house entirely in order.

It is one of the most beautiful and enchanting stories I've read, and it is definitely one that will be joining our home bookshelf before long. I thoroughly enjoyed it as a lesson to me, that I need to allow my children more opportunities to grow and learn by teaching them how to help take care of our home. The kids loved the story as well, and after reading it together it was an easy sell to get them to sign up for things they would like to be assigned to do here at home.

I thought it was quite interesting that a review on the book cover calls it a feminist book, and another says she "managed to realize her ambition in spite of her twenty-one children." I don't see it that way at all! She embraced her role as a mother, teaching and training her children to be self-sufficient while she fulfilled her dream one night a year. She became the Easter Bunny because of her children, not in spite of them.

Run out and find this one. It's a keeper!

* Here is more from Lara and Talk about Tuesday. *

Bedtime Woes

2008-03-02T21:06:00.005-07:00

I don't know if you've gathered it or not from some of my past posts, but I love reading to my kids. I just discovered a wonderful book I plan on writing a review about (sorry to keep you in suspense, but you don't even get the title yet, and no it's not anywhere else on here). I love discovering new gems like that and sharing the stories and lessons they hold for us.

I've been reading "Holes" with the boys. I've read it before, but the three of us are deep into it. The chapters are short, making it very easy to get sucked into the "One more chapter, PLEEEEASE!!!" Especially when I want to keep going with it too!

Last night we read for over 1/2 hour past their bedtime, but of course they can't jump their little hineys into bed as soon as we're done, even if they are already pajammered and brushed, so by the time lights were off it was at least 45 minutes past bedtime. And boy, did I pay for it this morning. I don't think I heard one kind word from either all morning. Sammy especially doesn't do well on less than normal sleep, and since we were in the getting-read-for-church rush it made it all the worse.

Tonight I said they had to be jammered and brushed AND on their beds before I started reading, and that I was going to quit 10 minutes before actual bedtime in case there was anything extra they needed to get up for after we were done. When everyone was ready and we could finally get going, we had 7 minutes to read (we watched a movie tonight that finished just after 8:00, so getting the girls ready for bed pushed back them getting ready). We had one longer chapter that actually took us 8 minutes to read, so when I was done with it I closed the book and got them settled in.

While Sammy was getting ready I told Adam that I love reading together even more than they do, and that it makes my heart hurt to have to cut the time so drastically, but that no way no how am I going to have them up if it means that I get punished the next morning the way I did today. I don't mean this to be a whiney post, but a lesson hopefully finally learned. We've run this cycle before here and there. Maybe I've got it now.

Even if I do hate it.

I feel like I'm the one the law is being laid down for. That stinks.

I've Been Tagged

2008-02-29T17:38:00.003-07:00

My sis in the sticks, April, tagged me to answer some questions. I decided that I'm just going to answer the ones that I think would be the most telling about me.

Typical time of wake-up: Erin is the best alarm clock. She's usually got me up just before 7:00am.

On a good night when do your kids go to sleep: Erin goes down about 7:30pm, Carolyn and Melanie @ 8:00pm, the boys are supposed to go down at 9:00pm, but they keep learning new ways to weasle to stay up later. "Mom, can we work on this for scouts tomorrow? And this and this?" "Will you read this with us tomorrow Mom?" Things that get me interested, and not just the usual "Can I show you something REAL QUICK?" because I know read quick at bedtime means at least 30 minutes.

How long have you been a momma?: Almost 11 years. One of these days I'll figure out what I'm supposed to do.

How old were you when you became a mom? 21

Favorite chore: I like to vacuum. I hate it when the floors have stuff on them, and to me the whole house looks cleaner if it's vacuumed. Maybe that has something to with the fact that you have to clean up the floor to vacuum...

Least favorite chore: My cleaning attitude has changed immensely over the past year, so none of that seems too bad anymore. The thing I really dislike is deciding what's for dinner.

5 Things that make you smile about being a mom: snuggling in the morning, reading together, when the kids share their thoughts with me, playing with them (catch, swinging, board games, whatever), working together.

Favorite thing your husband does with your kids: When he spends one-on-one time with them, and when he reads with them (he's much funnier when he reads than I am).

If you could take your kids anywhere where would it be? The eastern states so we could see some of the historical places we've been learning about.

Favorite pasttime/activity with your kids: Definitely reading together. It's always fun to start a new story, even if we're not entirely sure about if we'll like it, because we are usually pleasantly surprised. Right now we're listening to "Witches" by Roald Dahl, which, as the case says, is "deliciously disgusting." For the first bit I wasn't too sure about it, but we are HOOKED.

Best advice for a new mom: Enjoy them. Think of the big picture, and focus on that. Most of "today's" problems won't be problems "tomorrow."

Scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom: I've had several moments when those of small vision can only see the problems and not the potential. I hate that.

Most joyful moment as a mom: Honestly, how can I choose???