Let me sum up

We are coming to the end of very eventful year, not just at my house but in the world at large.

All I can think about is all the things I should be worried about, but am not.

I think I've actually grown this year or something.

I'm not worried about whether I'll get all my Christmas shopping done or not... Christmas will come anyway and all the material stuff seems so unimportant.

I could be worried about the economy and all the stuff people are going through... but I'm not. We'll all get through it and we might just learn what really matters most is not the stuff we may sacrifice but the people.

There are so many other things I will not list to worry about. But...

I'm so grateful for my enchanted life, even so grateful for the really hard things my family has been going through this year. We always seem to have major changes occur right after we have another baby. Always big adjustments, huge joys, huge stress and mind set changes. I'm glad I'm getting older, I'm glad to be facing my weaknesses, I'm glad Heavenly Father lets me see new perspectives and calms those seas in our lives.

I feel blessed to know and love such good people, to have grown up in such a great home with tremendous educational opportunities. The friends I keep make me and my life great, and I feel so grateful they regard me enough to be my friends.

I know Thanksgiving is this week, but even if it wasn't I'd still just feel grateful.

I wouldn't change a thing... 

and here is us all stepping up to the plate and showing how good we can be, even in difficult times. We can do it.

Election Day

There is something about an election that makes me feel all patriotic. So many emotions, who will win? How close will it be? Anger over the government and yet excitement and pride for those whom I feel do a good job. I enjoy taking my kids to see me vote and talking about how lucky we are and how many died for this freedom.

New subject... Granty is growing, sitting, almost crawling. Ackk.. I thought I had more time.

Eli and Wyatt have been playing house. Eli is the dad, Wyatt is the boy.

Anyway, here are some pics.. halloween too.

one of the longest weeks of my life

So I know you think I've fallen off the face of the earth, and I don't know how to say everything there is to say, so I'll sum up.

7 trips to the doctor.- do the math: 2 for Grant, 1 for Eli, 4 for Wyatt

$105 worth of co-pays

3 bottles of ibuprofen

1 five month old with croup= no sleep for mom

1 ear infection for Eli- bubble-gum medicine - he likey.

104 degree fever for Wyatt with no understood cause

SO... then we get blood tests, antibiotics in shot form, more blood tests, wondering if he had appendicitis, but right before we head to the hospital we get an x-ray and find out it is....Pneumonia! (never even a cough). so, more antibiotics...

Now we are recovering and figuring out what needs to be done.. and to think Jason even had a birthday last week. Happy 29 babe! 

My fun

I've been taking an online class at big picture scrapbooking. I'm so excited about the results. My favorite scrapbooker of all time is teaching the class- Cathy Zielske. She is totally hilarious and very simple about her layouts. The class is about design. Anyhoo... here are the layouts so far.

Finding my inner chi

Ahhh... I really just don't know where to begin. My life has been super busy, but I can't honestly say with what. I can think of 5 times in the last week where I have done something stupid, let someone down, forgot something, or been late. And I can't let go of it. Its not like I believe I'm perfect, I just expect to be able to run my life, and now I'm worried I may never have my sanity back. So I'm spending the afternoon remembering what is important and moving on from disappointments. The best way I've found to do this is to write down some of my blessings. So here it goes...(not in order of importance).

Showers on most days, a body that works, a Heavenly Father who listens and answers my prayers, a great husband, great kids, very supportive parents, my friends, good-for-me food, a car that runs and is cute, my iMac, my printer, my scanner, my camera, my cell phone, my general intelligence, this beautiful world...

I'll just leave it at that for now.

(the above picture was taken on the Oregon coast by my step-father, in slide form, probably circa 1980ish.)

Back to school

Wyatt started Challenger this week, this year it was Eli who was sad to be at home. After we dropped Wyatt off he stated, "I'm gonna miss him, Mom." Other than that they've been tired and using "thems fightin' words." As per tradition, I did make them the first day of school cake, which I didn't even have a piece of. 

Eli and Grant both got shots this week. Eli's bled pretty bad and hurt for quite awhile, so he claimed he needed to be carried everywhere--unless a friend came to play and then he was fine.

Eli had his kindergarten assessment, the teacher said he did well, and he came home knowing a new poem.

I have cut white sugar, white flour and cow products out of my diet, and Grant and I are feeling pretty good. I've learned goat milk is pretty good, though a little expensive.

Jason and I are hoping for more good things on the horizon this week. Spirits are up and things are moving along.

life themes

Sometimes I find that a recurring theme sticks out in my life and others' around me.  Lately its been about the difference between saying and doing things and success. So many people believe life just happens to them and they forget just how powerful their choices are. Have you met people that will forever say I'll start working out tomorrow, or I'll be friendly tomorrow, or I'll  follow through later? Those of us, me, too, at times, find out that with a little bit of planning and doing, accomplishing things makes us feel alive.

Of course, then the many choices we have can be an entirely different problem. When there are too many choices some people become petrified to make the "wrong" choice-- maybe there aren't really so many wrong choices. I think if one takes that step, in some direction, it is better than never making a choice at all, because after you wait too long, some choices just happen, and then you have to take responsibility for your lack of choice. Better to do something you at least thought over. I'm really just talking about our little daily choices, but aren't those the choices that make us who we are? Even the big things start as little things.

So, I'm committing myself to find my power, be more conscious, and follow through, with those things I really want to do in my life right now. Feel free to join me.