I AM: tagged!

Tagged by my darling niece Angie

I am: a daughter of God.

I want: a new camera.

I have: many wonderful friends.

I dislike: picking up after everyone over and over and over and over......

I miss: fitting in my clothes

I fear: ants, the economy, ants, big ants, lots of ants....

I feel: happy when my house is in order and frazzled when it isn't

I hear: quiet (and I LOVE it - no crying Hallee Babe tonight :)! (oops spoke to soon :(

I smell: laundry soap

I crave: sweet and salty yummies

I cry: when I am tired, happy, overwhelmed, grateful - (frequently)

I usually: hit my snooze button in the morning

I search: for good deals and don't buy anything unless it is a steal

I wonder: what challenges and joys these next few years will be bring

I regret: it when I eat at night because I always get a tummy ache :(

I love: my kids "all the much"!

I care: too much about stuff that isn't so important

I always: say my prayers

I worry: about Ryan alot, but less about other stuff lately

I am not: 35 yet!

I remember: how different life was before we had a house full of kiddos

I believe: that Heavenly Father can ease our burdens and strengthen us so that we are able to bear them well

I dance: all over the house (and our neighbor kids always giggle their heads off)

I sing: off tune

I don't always: eat breakfast or lunch (and then I'm ravenous by 400 - eek!)

I argue: with Parker when I shouldn't and always feel horrible after

I write: to witness God's hand in my life and the tender mercies we receive

I win: many fun things on blog contests - hehe!

I lose: my keys all the time and my mind daily!

I wish: Ryan would feel better.

I listen: to Addi sing her lungs out from sun up till sun down.

I don't understand: how to live in our home and still keep it clean and orderly

I can usually be found: in front of the computer after the kids are in bed.

(maybe that's my problem to the question above - oops!)

I need: a new muffin pan, griddle, cooling rack, and rice cooker

I forget: to use my Love and Logic principles with the kids too often

I am happy: I really am!

I tag Abby, Denni, Heather D., My mom, Vicki, Kristy, and Sheri and anyone else that might happen across this post :)

Random Funny Courtesy of Hallee Babe

(Hallee went with her preschool class to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point last Friday).

Mom: Hallee, how was your fieldtrip today?

Hallee Babe: Oh, I loved it! I wish I lived there!

Mom: Lived there?

Hallee Babe: Yep, I wish I was a dinosaur bone!

Whatchya Been Up To?

So you may have noticed that I kind of dropped off the map for a while, I have had very little contact with a lot of my friends recently because there are only so many hours, and I tend to spend as many as I can with the kids, now that I am not able to be home with them as much! So inevitably I will run into someone or finally catch up with some dear friend and they'll ask so "Whatchya been up to?" So here's a little summary of the past month(ish)!
1. We painted the girls' room, which led to the girls' beds getting painted, which led to new base mouldings being installed, which led to a new "holeless" door being installed and painted, the lovely large shelf being painted, AND a new curtain being made. I still need to make pillows and hang some stuff, but it is on it's way!
2. Painted the shed - woohoo! This was definitely a family affair, the kids were so proud of themselves and I was proud of how patient Ryan was with them, it was a great family project!
3. Had a Yard Sale with Heather & got rid of all my baby items (yep, it's time)!
4. Stained the playset (Thank you Katena!!!)
5. Canned some peaches - mmmmmmm!
6. Working 9-5! Well really it is more like 830-??? It is such a blessing that I have been able to pick up so many extra hours! Ryan is adjusting temporarily to the Mr. Mom routine and I am adjusting to my new role! Though not ideal, I think we make a pretty good team, and the kids are happy (perhaps not as well groomed, but happy)!
7. Stretching!!! Not so much the physical kind, although I always do a little of that too (I am in the business and all)! But a lot of the spiritual, emotional stretching that we all get to experience at different times in our lives. I seem to be a lot more reflective this time through and definitely feel that I am getting better at remaining calm/peaceful in the midst of the storms. Currently, I have been trying to figure out how we demonstrate faith in a way that allows us to lay claim on the blessings and power the Lord can provide us with. Conference was awesome for me, I am anxious to study several talks and see specific things that I need to do to so that I may receive the answers and blessings our family needs. I recently read one of the most empowering books, Left to Tell. It is the account of a Rwanda holocaust survivor who demonstrates such amazing faith in God through horrific events. As I read, I couldn't help but compare some of her actions to the scriptural account of the Brother of Jared who went to the Lord with a very specific plan and then had the faith necessary to allow God to help in carrying out the plan. I so want to be like that someday, I am sure that will require a whole lot more stretching, but for now I am learning and trying to demonstrate trust in "the trainer".

You Like???

So here are just a few of the many pics I took of Lizzy's little one Ella.... You like???

The End!

Blog Catch - Up!!

Life has been too busy lately and consequently I have had very little time to document it. I did journal some events that have happened and never actually posted them, so I am posting them now, so that I won't forget all the crazy, blessed moments that make up our daily lives!

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

(7/27/08)

I had the most amazing opportunity this past week to be present at the birth of Lizzy's 5th child! She called and asked me to come several weeks ago and I just started bawling(I know, surprise, surprise)! Lizzy is amazing and delivers her babies at home with the assistance of a midwife. I expected to be a very quiet fly on the wall, but instead I got to take video, pictures, and help out Lizzy and the midwife as necessary! It was the most amazing experience not only to witness the birth of a new life, but to witness the control that Lizzy has. She never moaned, cried, or grimaced even during hard labor. She somehow gets herself into a quiet zone and is able to let her body do what it was designed to do! She is beyond amazing!! And the little bonus of the night was.....it's a girl!!! Lizzy has 4 darling boys, but that house was so needing some little girl lovin'!! We are all already in love with baby Ella!!