Miserable Monday #20

Do not pray for easy lives.

Pray to be stronger men!

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.

Pray for power equal to your tasks.

- Phillips Brooks

Oh I feel like this is becoming less about sharing the miserable love and in so doing helping you not to be miserable and becoming more about my weaknesses. I wish with all of my heart that this was a strength of mine and instead of sharing my lack I was sharing my experience and wealth in this area of prayer. -Quote John Bytheway- The happiest people pray early and often, while the miserable often postpone prayer to be used only as a last resort. -end quote.

MY LB and I have an unfaltering love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we teach the ideals of the Gospel to our children and the importance of keeping the commandments, choosing the right, reading scriptures, praying daily, following the prophet and preparing for the Temple I feel a tug at my heart. OK more like a YANK. It is telling me to listen to the things that I am teaching and understand. I wonder how and when my children's salvation became more important to me than my own.

-Quote Johnbytheway- Happy people stand tallest when they're on their knees, but the miserable haven't got a prayer. Wow is that the truth.

I do have a testimony of prayer and I know with all of my heart that my Heavenly Father hears me and helps me. So why don't I do it more often? When I see my Father in Heaven again I want to be able to say, "I know we just spoke last night but I have so much more to say to you". Starting with thank you, ask for some blessings and end with I am sorry. I want Him to really know me and know that I love Him.

I don't think it is any coincidence that one of my favorite scriptures is found in this miserable book. Here is the story... For some time (and still) I struggled with those early morning thoughts that cloud your mind and make you feel like you aren't good enough. There is so much more you could be doing that your aren't or there are things that you are completely neglecting. For some reasons they POP in my head and keep me awake in the wee hours of the morning. One Sunday a wonderful women in my ward was speaking in sacrament and mentioned these early morning thoughts and I thought HALLELUJAH I am not alone. I could possibly still be human. And then she did it, she gave me my weapon to defeat the thoughts and become stronger than them. She read this scripture; Romans 8:31 "if God be for us, who can be against us?" It was at that moment that I realized I was fighting a war against myself. I let Satan in and in so doing I became against myself. So if God is for me than why am I against me. It just doesn't make sense.

Now when I am lying in bed and the war inside my CRAZY head begins I just close my eyes and remember that God wants me to win at the game of life and I choose to win too. Not to beat myself up and focus on all of the things I lack but to say a prayer and as Johnbytheway puts it; "just knowing the Lord is there and watching over us is a great remedy for misery." -end quote.

Thanksgiving

I love when I get to busy to blog or to even sit down at my computer for that matter. It is a wonderful reminder to my all to "smug computer", YOU DON'T OWN ME. Ha ha ha ha HA!

Thanksgiving was so wonderful this year we were delightfully busy and happily STUFFED.

It started with a cafeteria lunch at the school (not to promising I know but it will get better) with my three kiddos. In all honesty I tried to talk the kids into letting me pick them up and go out to a restaurant. Unfortunately the school ice cream cups won the deal, but I must say the ice cream was tasty. PLUS, I guess the experience is important and it was Maggie's first Thanksgiving lunch at school. My mommyness is sliding a bit and convenience and good food is taking over.

The week of Thanksgiving MY LB was home all week and it was so good to have him home. The first day he woke up made breakfast and packed lunches. When I came down stairs he said, "It wouldn't be fair if you didn't get a bit of a vacation too." Isn't he great? Well we found out when you have two adults trying to get three kiddos off to school things get left behind. On Tuesday I had to drop off, Matthew's Trumpet, Spencer's homework and Maggie's folder. Two is better than one, right?

MY LB worked in his wood shop for most of his days (making a dollhouse, shhhh). I could tell he was LOVING it. He did take a timeout to go to lunch with Maggie, to watch a Barbie movie with Kendal and to spend time with me. He said multiple times that he loved being home with me and Kendal. I spent most of that week cleaning for our Thanksgiving guests. I wasn't trying to trick MY LB into thinking that I clean all day and NEVER sit down to the computer, I just had things I needed to get done. The tricking part was just a "bonus".

Thanksgiving day arrived and everything was wonderful. We went on a family hike, had a wonderful feast, played games, ate dessert and ended with some good quality WII time. I love spending time with family and taking the time out to be together. The kids had a great time with their cousins, Jeremiah was able to spend quality time with his parents and brothers, the kids also got grandma and grandpa time and I spent time with my sister in-law (who is great). We were also blessed to have the Missionaries over and I must say, they are NOT smarter then a fifth grader. It was a wonderful holiday.

Of course there was some Black Friday shopping. I was at Kohls at 3:20am and waited in line so I could run in grab what I wanted and run out in time to make it to Wal Mart for more sweet deals. This year I was not flying solo, love ya Lori, we had a crazy great time and saved a load of money. It was definitely team work!

Saturday my best friend from California and her family came to visit. We had such a great time reacquainting ourselves. We always have such a great time when we are together I just wish they lived closer. After letting the kids and the husbands with their RC cars play at the park we headed out for a no kids double date. It was AWESOME!



I hope Maggie and Olivia become great friends just like their mommy's.

AND LASTLY, our home is decorated for the holidays.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

New Moon at Midnight

Last year while awaiting the Twilight movie and voicing my anticipation people would ask, "So you are a Twilighter?"
I would reply very quickly, "NO, NO, I just enjoy the books and I am looking forward to the movie but I AM NOT A TWILIGHTER".

So this year comes and I am awaiting New Moon and voicing my anticipation and just hoping someone, anyone would ask, "So you are a New Mooner?" No one asked!
Which is a REAL BUMMER because I decided very early on that I definitely am a "NEW MOONER"
Seriously, the movie was fantastic and drool worthy. It made you really rethink team vampire. I mean really, scrawny and cold verse brawny and hot. Dieing and selling your soul for bony or living and keeping your soul with robust. WOWSER!!! Anyway the thought of Bella choosing the hubba, hubba werewolf died with the last book. I mean Jacob can't imprint on his own kid, right? Twisted books.

I had the best time with great friends. Thanks Amy for the great night and letting me help out with the festivities. You are awesome to put this together for everyone. All in All 2 thumbs up for New Moon at midnight.

Lori and I sat together and screamed like little girls at that hottie Werewolf pack. All in good fun!!

DADDY

I am a bit behind on my postings, bummer. Bigger bummer because my behind postings are DADDY postings. MY LB is the best ever so he really deserves on time postings. I guess if we want to go there he also deserves clothes in his drawers, big fat welcome home smooches, a little R&R and probably dinner on the table at dinner time. Poor guy!

Happy Birthday
Yesterday was Daddy's birthday. The day was so busy that I fear MY LB may have been cheated. So I will start with an apology, I am sorry that your day was such a busy day. I thought about you all day even if my New Moon actions didn't reflect that. I love you!

We did have time to make a trip to Cabellas, go out to dinner and stop at Golden Spoon for some yummy birthday goodness.

Happy Birthday LB! I truly am the luckiest!

Daddy Daughter Camp Out

Last weekend was our wards Daddy Daycare (that's what Maggie calls it, so funny), it is actually pronounced Daddy Daughter camp out. It is always difficult to post about something that I was absent from so together we will explore pictures and take a digital trip to Daddy Daughter camp out.

From the top
Apparently Kendal took Matthew's tiger. He was in good spirits though, he just asked if Bubble had a good time.


This was the movie theatre that received raving reviews. Shows and show time were as follows. The movie Up was shown before bed time and Myley Cyrus movie was showing after bed time.



Oh my children are so bright!

Or not, no wonder she was saying, "mommy blue, blue I see blue" , just kidding .


There may have been a UFO sighting.


Looks like dad was just having fun with the camera.

It is morning right? Graham crackers for breakfast, SWEET!

This next picture may be disturbing to some, or just me.

Maggie talked about this tree A LOT. Most of her stories ended in someone having to rescue her because she just couldn't make it down. Oh the drama!

Time to clean up and hit the trail. Good work Magpie!

MY LB is so creative! Plus if they ever loose their shadows in true Peter Pan fashion I will have a picture to show the authorities. I LOVE IT! (maybe I will do some fun editing with them)

Looks like we may need to take it easy on the photo shoots.


Photo from a GREAT hiking adventure.



Of course we can't forget the pony rides at the park.


Thank you for taking that digital adventure with me and THANK YOU MY LB for being such a great man.

Recycle, Renew, Reuse.... RE-ally

My newest recycle project

This is the first time that I have put together two great pieces of already made clothing to produce something even greater. Normally I start with one piece and create my own additions. While searching for ideas for my next project I was inspired by some dresses that I came across on the Anthropologie website. I love when the light bulb goes on and all of the pieces come together. And this time I do believe they came together better than I imagined. So well, I thought it deserved a flower on top.

BEFORE:

It was a shirt

A dress

and

Vintage fabric that I picked up from the Goodwill.

I cut the shirt right above the ties because I was not going to be using the ties for my dress. Next I cut the top of the dress off. The back of the dress has an elastic waste so NO ZIPPER or BUTTONS necessary, WAH HOO. I sewed the top of the shirt to the bottom of the dress making darts in the shirt where necessary (that's where the making things smaller works into the equation). Next I added a ruffle with fabric from the bottom of the shirt. Last to make it modest (that is the hottest) I added a ruffle at the bottom made from the vintage fabric.
FUN!FUN!FUN!

To top it off I added a flower that I created all on my own with an idea I got off of a flower making tutorial (it needed some Christy adjustment).

After:
It became a dress

Coupled with my new boots that I am scheduled to marry next fall it is definitely a dress worth loving.

BECAUSE I DO LOVE IT!

A Little Something New

I have been working on getting a good Retro looking photo which has opened totally new doors to photo editing for me. I love playing around with the pictures and just when I think I love it I find a new tutorial that helps he take it one step further. It really is a fun hobby!
Why the retro pictures? I am also trying to take a new avenue with my interior design and redecorating in my front room, trying for vintage/retro but I always have trouble steering away from Country. So I guess ultimately it will be Country with a vintage/retro flare. We'll see how that works out. I will post pictures as it progresses.

Here are my final edited pictures.

Veterinarian's Day?

Yesterday was tiring, busy, demanding, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC and absolutely PERFECT.

This is how it began....

Tuesday evening Maggie declares that tomorrow is Veterinarian's Day. Mom not remembering the upcoming holiday declared, " How fantastic are you going to have a Veterinarian come visit your school?" Matthew the smarty pants that he is declares, "There is no school tomorrow." AND we all bust up with laughter (except Maggie). We kindly (after laughing, bad mom) explained that the correct pronunciation is Veterans Day.

Some quick planning from mom and a couple free kid admissions tickets to the Wild Life Zoo and VIOLA, a great day off from school. To find out why the World Wildlife Zoo was a great choice click here: Adventures in Afterschooling.

Morning came and it was overcast! Mom has been aching to take some pictures of her kiddos and that is how the next idea formed. We woke up got dressed for pictures so we could stop on the way to the zoo. Busy, but worth it.

I have been wanting to practice some of my new retro photo editing and I thought desert pictures would make a great background. A little 4x4 action in the minivan, one big ugly scorpion and 4 cute faces later we were finished and on our way to the zoo.

What do you think?
I still have lots of work to do and I am not sure the coloring is right yet.

I will post more when they are finished.

The zoo was amazing as always only this time it was a little bit MORE amazing because now it has an aquarium. Wow I was impressed! It didn't have that same down the street zoo feel like it used to. However the aquarium was quite full and not so easy to explore. AND that is how the next idea formed. We would come back at dinner time, eat at the restaurant, go on the log ride and visit the aquarium again.

Leaving home again after a full day at the zoo to go back to the zoo again was not easy. I was so tired and was reminded that MY LB had Boys Scouts so he would not be joining us. Everything in me was pulling me in the direction of staying home but I fought the feeling and we were out the door again.

The restaurant is really nice (but expensive) we sat right next to a huge aquarium filled with tropical fish and sharks. The kids loved it! Spencer and Matthew went on the log ride in the dark (a bit scary) and they had a blast. Best part of the evening, we were the only ones there. We stayed and explored for as long as we wanted. Touched the horseshoe crabs, weird lobster things, Star fish and Sea Urchins without waiting or hurrying. Read about the fish, laughed at the crazy fish, picked out our favorite fish and waited for the Octopus to move until we just couldn't wait any longer. We also had the Sting Ray tank all to ourselves and that was COOL.

Here are some pictures

Here are a few of our favorite things

Flamingos, feeding the giraffes and the parakeet feeding

We also love (ok this is going to sound mean) getting these birds all stirred up.

They are easily stirre and really funny when they are angry.

Petting Zoo

The baby goats weren't even a week old yet. Some of them still had their umbilical cords and there were lots of mommys still bleeding and in pain. I sure am glad I talked to my kids about labor and delivery already AND nursing. It could have been an awkward experience (OK it still was).

This is Matthew trying to enjoy holding the baby goat and get his picture taken but very worried about the turkey behind him. What you must think of this mom that laughs at the expense of others, IT WAS SO FUNNY!

Kendal was so excited and full of energy all day. When she could finally touch some of the animals she talked to them in the cutest most endearing voice and made the best faces. I tried to capture it, you just have to picture my baby talking to the animals like they are babies and she is caring for them. So sweet!

We didn't get home until after 8:00, just in time for baths and bed. For the kids that is, MY LB rented a movie that I have been wanting to see and bought me Golden Spoon. So we cuddled for movie night and I relaxed from my tiring, busy, demanding and TOTALLY FANTASTIC DAY.

I LOVE BEING THE MOM

(and spoiled lover girl)