Wednesday 31 October 2012

A Needed Reminder

Have you ever had a day when one moment can change your whole outlook?  I had that kind of a day today.  I woke up feeling pretty good.  How can you not be happy dressing up for Halloween.  Got Tristan and Ethan off to seminary and Brian and I headed in a bit later.  I got to work and everything changed.  One conversation made me question who I am and what I am doing.  I don't know if I was on the "verge of sadness"  (that is what I call it when I can look into the deep abyss that I don't want to enter again), but I have had a hard time shaking my sadness all day.  It is like it is a blanket covering me.  I hate days like this.  Nothing gets accomplished.  I feel like I am walking around in a fog.  Once I am in this mood, it seems like I attract other conversations or experiences that cause me to question.  Am I a good mom?  Maybe I can't do this job.  Maybe my prayers weren't answered.  I am not good enough to work with the beautiful young women of my ward.  I am fat, I am ugly, I am stupid.  My house is a mess...a multitude of negative thoughts fill my head.
I am sure that my emotions have been affected by the weather and all of the sadness and devastation of the past few days.  But it has been a sad day none-the-less.
Lucky for me, I was on lds.org and found a mormon ad that reminded me that I AM a daughter of God!  I am of eternal worth.  I am blessed.  I am a MOM, a daughter, a sister, a friend...nothing else matters.  I don't care what people think of me.  I do care what God thinks of me...and I know that He loves me.  Tonight, that is enough.


Watch this link.  It reminded me of who I am.

Daughters of God


Saturday 6 October 2012

Multi-tasking Master

I don't know if many of you know, but I am an expert at multi-tasking.  In reality I think most women are.  I can talk on the phone and cook supper; help with homework and correct wrong notes on the piano (the piano is even downstairs--I know, you're impressed); every day my life if filled with too many things that need to get done, too many places to go to or get the kids to-so I have learned to adapt.
Well, last night was my crowning glory of multi-tasking.  I have just recently discovered the wonderful cleaning power of Norwex cloths.  I love them so much I have even become a consultant (call me if I've inspired you after reading this post!)  Norwex cloths clean, polish and disinfect using nothing put WATER!  The cloths have silver woven into them which is a natural antibacterial and cleaning agent.  Anyway...enough with the commercial.
Last night I was freezing(I am fighting a cold).  I just couldn't get warm.  Dan suggested a hot bath.  Now usually I'm not a fan of baths, but I was desperate.  I got into the bath and noticed how grungy the tub was...you must know what's coming!!!
Yep, you guessed it.  I called to Dan to get my green Norwex Enviro cloth and got to work.  These cloths are so wonderful, you can clean while enjoying a bath.  I hope you don't think differently of me, those of you that know me well, know that I am a little bit (okay, a lot a bit) weird, but what an accomplishment.  By the time I left the tub, it was shining!  The chrome was sparkling, it was dust free and the ring around the tub was gone; plus I was toasty warm!  It may be a little bit gross to think I was bathing in that...but that is the reason I don't bath that often in the first place. What do you think you are bathing in anyway...your own dirty water.  Don't mock me people...I have a clean tub and I am still a multi-tasking master!

Saturday 29 September 2012

In the midst of the multitudes, He knows me by name.

I just got home from attending the annual women's broadcast of my church.  It was filled with wonderful teaching and the spirit that attended the meeting was amazing.  I was once again struck with the knowledge that even though there are billions of God's children that are on the earth today and have been on the earth, He knows each of us individually.  He knows my name, He knows my pain, my sorrows, my trials, my grief.  He also knows my joys, my triumphs, my successes.  This was reinforced again today through the experience of a friend of mine.  It was such a powerful reminder to me of the compassion and the love that the Savior and our Heavenly Father has for each of us, I just had to share it.  I hope my friend doesn't mind.

As I sat down in the chapel, I "caught up" with a friend whom I hadn't chatted with for awhile.  I knew that her mother was in the hospital and wanted to see how she was doing.  She talked of her struggle with knowing that her mother would probably not come home to live with them again and that she was trying to come to terms with putting her mother in a lodge.  This sweet lady has had her sweet mother living in the basement suite of her home for a few years.  Her mother fell during a visit to Waterton on the September long weekend.  The fall was either caused by a stroke or caused the stroke that has now lead to this trial in her life.

The meeting started and I sat enjoying the speakers.  Their faith and testimony brought tears to my eyes many times as the shared council they felt we, as woman struggling to live Christ-like lives in the world today, needed to here.  My heart leaped when President Henry B. Erying, 2nd Councillor in the first Presidency of the Church stood and spoke of trials and the relief we can be to each other.  He then spoke of those who serve members of their family who are sick or otherwise afflicted and the struggle they can have to know when they need to hand over the care and service they have rendered to others more able to do that.  He spoke of how many times we feel the need to serve others, sometimes to our own detriment as we strive to do all that we can for those around us.  I watched the tears stream down my friends face and I knew that this wonderful man was answering the questions that were secretly asked in her heart.  As those closest too her hugged her and held her hand I thought to myself, I am witnessing a miracle.  God has chosen to answer someone's prayer through one of his servants.  There were many in the congregation that were touched by this great man's words.  But I was reminded once again, that God knows us.  He knows each one of us by name.  He answers prayers.  He knows what we need and what we are going through.  We just need to ask, to let Him in, and then watch for the miracle to take place.  Maybe the miracle is the good Samaritan who helps change a tire at the end of a week when everything seems to go wrong.  Maybe the miracle is we found a moment to laugh or cry with someone that understands the craziness of our week.  Maybe the miracle is that quiet moment when you sit and feel like a warm blanket has been draped over you and you know that you can carry on, that someone other than yourself is routing for you and has "got your back".

Now some of you sceptics may think  this whole experience was just a big coincidence and that President Erying wasn't speaking to answer my friends prayer, or calm her fears, or quiet her troubled soul.  You may think that it was a general topic that would appeal to many people there.  And you would be right about that, many of the people in the congregation would have been able to relate to the things he spoke of.  But I know, with all of my heart, that those words were of comfort to my friend and on some level were meant just for her.  And that was a reminder to me of how much I am loved by God.

Not just me, but you too!

Thursday 23 August 2012

Where Has The Time Gone?

On August 24 Dan and I will have been married for 21 years.  I was married when I was 21, so that means that I have been married as long as I was single.  I seem to celebrate or acknowledge different anniversaries.  We didn't really celebrate our 10th, but our 18th was an important one for me cause my Mom and Dad didn't make their 18th anniversary; 20th year came and went, but this one has caused me to reflect.  I don't know if everyone gets wedding jitters, but I had my doubts.  I thought that I loved Dan, but mostly I knew that he loved me and I didn't think anyone else would so that was good enough for me!  Over the last 21 years, I have learned what love is and what love does; and most of that I've learned from Dan.  I don't think that I am an expert, but let me share what I have learned with you.

1. Love is supportive
Dan has supported me through depression, bulimia, and low self-esteem.  He has supported my religious convictions, parenting styles, decorating schemes and he has even supported my recipe disasters!  I know that I can always count on him.

2. Love is kind
I don't think that Dan has ever said an unkind word to me (he may have thought it), but he has never said it.  I know that there have been times when I've made him mad, but he has NEVER done or said anything to me that was unkind.  He lives the motto: "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".  Because of this, there have been moments when we haven't said anything to each other, but those have been few and far between and are quickly sorted out.

3.  Love is fun (and sometimes funny)
If you can't have fun with the one you love-what are you doing with that person?  We have fun together and have had some funny things happen to us.

4. Love is listening
I'm kind of a talker.  I especially get yappy late at night, when I am sure Dan has other things he would rather do (sleep mostly-get your mind out of the gutter!).  But he listens to me go on and on and on and on and on.  He doesn't even comment much-maybe he IS sleeping!  Can people sleep with their eyes open?

5.  Love sacrifices
Dan would do anything for me...well maybe, not anything, but pretty close.

6. Love is patient
I know it is surprising to find out, but I am probably not the easiest person to live with.  I am a little bit crazy, I don't know how to say "no" (Dan would say that I say "no" to HIM all the time) so I am always volunteering for stuff which means that Dan is voluntold for stuff.  And I have a lot of baggage that keeps popping up every once in a while.

All in all, I'm a pretty lucky gal.  On top of all of these great things he is the BEST house cleaner I know (lucky for me cause that is not something I like to do), he can fix or build anything and he can cook (only if you like BBQ and beans)!

I'm sure if he had a blog he would be raving about how wonderful I am, but he doesn't; unfortunately.

Whatever fears, doubts, or worries I had 21 years ago have faded.  What I didn't know about love then; I have learned and I am sure will continue to learn.  The last 21 years have brought us 3 children, 11 moves, 2 careers for Dan (still searching for a career for me), 3 dogs, numerous cats, 1 bearded dragon, assorted fish, frogs and 1 hamster.  We have lived in Vulcan, Coaldale, Fort St. John, Taylor, Mackenzie, Lethbridge and now in Lethbridge County.  I can't wait for the next 21 years.


      I still love my dress...I wonder if it still fits?  I wonder if it is still in the air tight box?
Maybe I should open it.




                                     We all look so young!  I can't believe it!


Monday 23 July 2012

Whiplash and Weggies

We had a wonderful time in Salt Lake City with family this past week.  But we did have an incident at the water slides.  My idea of a good time at the water slides is a beach towel, book and dip in the water to cool off!  The whole idea is to let the boys run wild while I RELAX!  Alas, it was not to be.  Brian isn't as much of a daredevil as Ethan and there was one slide he refused to go on called "THE BOOMERANG".  (I have since learned that Brian is wise beyond his years)
"Come on, Mom.  Come with me."  Ethan calls.
"Sure, why not."
Ethan carries our two person tube up the stairs.  I should have been warned when I heard the disclaimer playing on the speakers, but it really wasn't loud and there were other moms waiting in line so surely I could handle it!
Let me tell you a bit about THE BOOMERANG.  It looks like one of those skateboard ramps that you skate down and then go up the other side.  But this one you sit in your tube.  You are told by the experienced lifeguard (who looks twelve and I'm sure would not be able to lift me if I were to be rendered unconscious on this ride) to keep your chin down and your bum up.  Is this some weird form of pilates I don't know about?  She informs us that the heavier person goes in the back.  Ethan looks at me smugly and says: "That would be you."
Into the tube I go, still thinking that this will be okay.  I tuck my chin in, squeeze my but up (no small feat!), and close my eyes tight!  (Do you think I really WANT to see this?)

The next thing I remember is my neck snapping back so hard that I actually HEAR the cracking sound.  I am sure I have been in an accident.  Where is my protective air bag?  But we are not done.  I feel my body whipping up the next part of THE BOOMERANG.  Snap of the neck again and back down.  Up, down, up, down...slowly coming to a stop in the centre;  where another twelve year old tells me to exit quickly.  Exit Quickly?  Does she not know that I have lost all ability to keep my head upright?  And that is when I realize my other problem...I dropped my bum!  My swimming suit is so firmly shoved up my butt that I am certain the jaws of life will be needed to retrieve it.  And there is Ethan standing there, waiting for me to climb out of the tube.  I take a few seconds to find my swimming suite because really, no one needs to see that! and then some how managed to get out of the tube.

Ethan grabs the tube and grins, "That was great!  Do you wanna go again?"

Are you kidding me?  I feel like an infant with a wobbly head and I can't walk in a straight line cause my equilibrium is still messed up.

For three days I had to support my head to lay down or get up; and what did my sensitive boys do?  They still call me "WHIPLASH MOM" and giggle every time we talk about it.  Really, I blame Dan.  If he had come to Utah with us, this never would have happened.  He would have gone on THE BOOMERANG and I would have laid on my beach towel, read my book and dipped when I got too hot!





Thursday 12 July 2012

Summer Time...I'm Bored

We are only in our second week and I already am seeing boredom in the eyes of my boys!  Well, not all of them...Just Brian!  Tristan has been busy with work.  He is lifeguarding at the YMCA (following in his mother's footsteps!)  He is really liking it!  Ethan has been busy with basketball, practising every day for the Alberta Summer Games.  But Brian is needing something to do.  Everything I suggest gets the roll of the eyes.  I want to go to Park Lake or Raymond Pool and no one wants to go with me.  I think I need to rent some kids 8-11 cause my kids don't want to do any summer fun stuff.  NO WONDER THEY ARE BORED!

Tuesday 8 May 2012

I love my teens...but some days!

Have you every had a day when you blurt out to your teenager, while your on the phone with your hairdresser, in front of colleagues "I am going to kill you!"  No? Really?  Well that was my day today!  Shall I start from the beginning?  The whole thing took place in a matter of 1/2 hour, but the frustration lasts much longer.

It starts out as a typical day after school.  E walks to my school from his, and does his typical teenage annoying stuff, but it is all good hearted.  All three boys have haircuts after school, so T is going to drive them over there.  I ask E to wait outside as there is not very much time between after school and haircuts and there is not time to come in and find him.

E comes outside with the bell and gets frustrated for having to wait for T for 1 minute.  Before I can stop him, he starts walking across the street.  I am supervising school patrol and can not run after him, although I do start yelling at him-which he can't hear do to those FREAKING HEAD PHONES!  I also notice he does not have his backpack with his basketball stuff in it that he will need for after haircuts.

Do you see that it is quickly going from bad to worse?  I txt him and ask him where his backpack is and that he needs to get back here.  He txts me to send his backpack with B.  Meanwhile I am wondering where T is cause it is now 3:25 and he should be at the school by now.  I go to find B who hasn't showed up yet and T pulls up.  I send everything with T and send him off to go find E.

By this time I know that they will be late, and am a little frustrated, but am confident that they will be on there way.  Here comes the "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU" part.

I am in the library, on the phone and in walks who? With a smile on his face...all casual like he has all the time in the world?   You guessed it...E.  Here is the conversation as I can remember it

M:  I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!  Oh not you, (hairdresser), but my son.  I've got to go, call you later.  What are you doing here?!?!?!?
E: You told me to come back and get my backpack.
(why does he pick this exact minute to  listen and do what I say?)
M: Why did you leave?
E: I was looking for T.  Why didn't you stop me if you didn't want me to go?
M:  I DID, BUT YOU COULDN'T HEAR ME!!!
E:  That's cause I was listening to my music.
M:  (ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???-that was my thought) Your kidding! we need to get going, you're going to be late.
E: Why did you tell me to wait outside if T was going to take so long?
(I don't even answer that one...I am afraid to open my mouth!)
E: Where's my backpack?
M: B
We are walking outside at this point to go find T and he asks me
E: Where's my runners?
M: I don't know, where did you put them.
E: In the van.
(Are you kidding me?  Can we not get things together?)
M: Go get the keys and get your shoes.
He walks away like he doesn't have a care in the world.  Meanwhile I am txt and phoning T; who won't answer of course because he's driving...stupid obeying son...I run over to the other side of the school and flag down T, go get E, grab the keys and go back to my meeting a little stunned and stressed.
The ladies who are so nice say...
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who says they want to kill their kids!"
Thank you friends who laughed at my frustration and to Dan who listened to me rant when I got home (even though he tried to escape and I had to tell him..."I'm not finished yet, sit down and listen to my day!")

E...I still love you and if it wasn't for you, what would I have blogged about today?