Are we the people we are trying to keep our kids away from?

Tonight at the grocery store there were two cute boy scouts standing outside selling Scout-o-rama tickets. (Probably around 14 years old I would guess- not exactly defenseless little kids.) Their mom was talking to them- "checking up" on them, I'd imagine. I had to laugh, though, because of what she was telling them.

"Now, don't talk to any crazies. And most importantly, if anyone wants to film you they gotta pay me first!"

Yes, let's get our priorities straight: Money is what REALLY matters kids. Crazy people aside, if they want to film you, get their money first!

Hmmm..... pot calling the kettle crazy???

What's really important...

Today a woman spoke church and it made me feel better about myself.

She taked about how she studied music in college and could have gone on to have an opera career, but she chose being a wife and mother instead.

That is EXACTLY what I did.

Sometimes I sit and have a pitty party for myself and say, "Oh, wo is me...(ok, I don't actually say that, but you get the idea.) I have nothing to be proud of, no career, no income of my own..." and it's usually while I'm sitting here folding laundry.

However, the speaker reminded me today that being a wife and mother is a very important job, and something to be especially proud of. I am shaping a life, guiding a soul to make good choices, supporting my husband who provides for our family and works hard. I am a cheerleader, a counselor, a baker, laundress... (sounds glamorous, huh?), nurse, technician, plumber, electrician, problem solver, doggy groomer, etc.

When I get to Heaven, I don't think they are going to ask me at the pearly gates "Did you make it to the Met?" I think they'll say "Did you make time for your child? Did you support your husband? Did you serve where you could? Did you sing at every funeral you possible could stand?"

I can answer sincerely that I certainly tried my best to be a good wife and mother. I dedicated my life to my family. If that isn't worth more brownie points than being a fameous opera star, then I don't know what is.

I'm glad I went to church today. It made me remember what is really important.

Born to be on crutches....uh....can that be right?

We have hit a new milestone here at our little household.

I knew the minute I saw on that little ultrasound monitor that we were having a "he" and not a "she" that this day would come.

And probably MANY others with it.

Yes, folks, my son has fallen out of a tree and sprained his ankle.

Luckily for me, and him, and... well.... him, again.... he didn't get a broken leg. I would have had to severely be upset with him for that! ("Have you no sense for my poor nerves?")

I debated taking him to the doctor or not. It happened about 5:00 pm, so, of course, the dr's office was closing. We decided to wait until the next day and see how it was doing. I didn't think it was broken because he could put weight on it (albeit painfully)but I've never broken anything, so probably I'm not the best judge.

Anyway, it turns out he has a pretty bad sprain, but he's going to live. He has to be on crutches for a few weeks, though,(which, it turns out, he is a natural pro at. Let's not make it a habit now.) but hopefully he'll be healed enough to go to Disneyland when we go. (I use it as leverage to get him to stay off his feet with his leg elevated! "Mickey Mouse doesn't like children with crutches, you know.")

In the mean time, I am stuck fetching and carrying for the invalid on the couch. (And not just my husband, my son, too!)

I hope I make it through this injury!

Counting the many blessings...

Today I was reminded how blessed I am.

Today I was reminded how the Holy Spirit can touch our lives in subtle ways, allowing us to be reminded that Heavenly Father knows who we are and cares about us.

Today I saw my son "inventing" a peanut butter ball recipe and was overwhelmed with gratitude for him and his interest in cooking like his mommy.

Today I pulled up to our little house after church and was grateful for all the hard work we put into cleaning our yard up yesterday- it looks so good. Hard work is good for the soul!

Today I took a nice nap with my hubby and fell asleep to the warm breeze coming through our open window. I just took a deep breath in and smiled.

Today I was reminded that it doesn't matter how far off the beaten path you get, you can always find your way back, and there will always be people who prayed you back, waiting for you with open arms.

I'm grateful for today.

Needing therapy and getting my roots done...

Ya... so, the "girlie" day didn't happen yesterday. I ended up cleaning up the mess I had created while getting ready for the activity on Saturday.

Oh, and cooking a big lunch for my hubby and a friend at the last minute...(because I just can't feel good about putting a plate of PB&J sandwiches in front of hard working men, you know...)

Oh, and making cupcakes.... because a woman on the edge needs chocolate, and frosting!

The girlie time isn't happening today either because I get to go to the dentist! (You know how much I adore the dentist!)

Still, it is a beautiful morning. (despite the fact that my dog was having "difficulty" last night and needed to be let out 3 times!) I am going to pray, put my faith in Heavenly Father, and plow through. I have a lot to be thankful for! There are always going to be down times like this, and there are always going to be ups afterword. I can look forward to the "up" moments to come soon, right?

For now, getting my roots done will help significantly, I think!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Last week was.... well.... there are no words.

It was Spring break.

Spring break has always been a week of going to museums, visiting my mom, playing with friends...

Although we did some of that, last week was mainly about STRESS for me.

I was planning and tying up loose ends for my Relief Society Birthday Party that I was in charge of since I was put in as the new "Enrichment" counselor in my ward a month ago. (Yes, a month... new calling... huge activity... no committee.... you got it!)

I don't normally stress out about these things too much. I can throw together a dinner for a crowd with narry a hiccup. But, for some reason, this activity started to freak me out at the last second. I was stressed about there being enough food. Then was there too much food? Did I get enough gifts--- too many? Are the ladies going to freak out that we aren't using utensils???(some did, by the way!) Are they not going to know what to do when there are only a few tables set up and you're mainly supposed to eat on your lap??? (which, by the way, didn't happen. EVERYONE huddled around the few tables that were set up.... I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks.)

All in all the activity turned out pretty well I think. Not very many people came, which was dissappointing, but the ones that did seemed to enjoy themselves, and nearly all the sandwiches got eaten! (Which made me happy because I didn't want to be eating ham salad and egg salad sandwiches for the next week!)

HOWEVER... I also had to turn around and teach the lesson today which I hadn't had time to prepare last week, so last night was spent doing that, and all this morning, too! Again, I don't usually get nervous about teaching, but today I felt so scatterbrained, and to top it all off I had to conduct the meeting as well, while pretending to sound like a mature grownup. I felt like it was the "Erin" show! Seriously! (In my defense, I think I managed to keep the embarassing comments to a minimum, and only mentioned my c-section once... I think...)

Needless to say, I got home today, fixed dinner (meatloaf, at that. It was a desperate day, but it turned out ok. It was better than just edible... and for meatloaf that's pretty good!) and tried to take a nap. IT was then that it really hit me. I lay awake in the bed for an hour and a half, my heart beating so fiercely I could almost see it coming out of my chest. I recognized the symptoms of anxiety and said, Ahhh.. yes... NOW it hits me! I finally have a moment to breathe and my body says, what have you done to us????

So, tonight I am in knots! I need to do some yoga or meditation to calm myself down and tell myself it is over. IT probably didn't help that when I sat down in church today to read the upcoming events, there in bold black and white print said "Relief Society activity, May 1st".

That is only 3 weeks away! Who planned this??? Luckly, I found out it had been submitted by the previous presidency and wasn't really an actual activity I needed to hurry up and plan. (Lucky thing, too... because I was already planning how I was going to find some hard liquor, and fast!)

Tomorrow, I am going to take the day easy... watch girlie movies all day in bed, drink gallons of hot chocolate, and turn off the phones! I need to turn my brain off for just one day!!!!

Speaking of....

Goodnight! I'm off....

Child of divorce... where is MY 3 month long rehab, huh????

*Warning: following post contains some strong emotion about divorce. If you disagree, I don't want to hear it! I know what I'm talking about!

I am sick to death of reading about all the movie stars and sports icons and music stars who have suddenly been discovered having an affair! First of all, doesn't "Famous" mean "prone to excessive behaviour including rants about politics, wild party nights, and adultery"? I mean, are any of us really surprised when we hear so-n-so is getting divorced because their spouse was discovered texting a model? Then, you read that they've checked into some million dollar rehab facility to figure out their lives.

Ok, whatever. People can make their own messed up choices. However, I get REALLY irritated when there are children involved. I mean, super, heart-rate-goes-up, blood-boils, kind of irritated! And when the parents involved say "Oh, our children are taking it really well," I just want to say Molarky!!!! (is that how you spell it?)

I am a child of divorce. My parent's divorce was very unique in that they stayed friends. We went on trips together, had many holiday meals together, did a LOT of things together as a "family" even after the divorce. I was lucky- for a child of divorce. People said we kids handled it soooo well. And we did.... as kids.

What no one realized is how all of that stuff would affect us in our future lives. Sometimes I feel someone should write a book about being a child of divorce. (I don't know, maybe they have.) I just don't think parents have ANY real idea how the situation is going to affect their children for the rest of their lives! True, you can make it as painless as possible, but that doesn't mean it is going to be painless, and it certainly won't be without its lasting effects.

Maybe I'll start a blog someday about this. Probably no one would read it. Probably I would get alot of flack from people who've been divorced about how I can't possibly know how awful it is to be stuck in a bad marriage, and how much better it was for the children to be away from all that fighting. Ok, I get it- there are certain circumstances where divorce might be the best option for the kids (such as an abusive relationship) but I think there are far too many divorces that happen because parents just "don't love eachother anymore" or "can't make it work".

I'm sorry, but maybe if you could see into your children's futures at the heartache you are causing them, and the difficulties they will have in their own lives because of your decision to divorce... well, maybe you might find a way to make it work!

So,what I wanna know is where is the rehab facility for the victims here- the children? (Or rather, the children when they've grown up and realize how messed up they are because of their parent's divorce.) When do they get their 3 months in a serene place where they figure out how messed up their parents were and that they aren't necessarily going to be that way, too?

And when is the media going to stop plastering everyone's business over every means possible??? I really don't want to hear/ read/ see/ it anymore!


end of rant!!!!

Can't please 'em all!

The Easter Bunny apparently didn't leave enough candy this year. I heard this, NOT from my 9 year old, but from my "other" child.

"How come we didn't get any Cadbury Cream Eggs this year?"

"Well, I told the Easter Bunny to cut back a bit this year- we don't need all that candy."

"But... I liiiiiike cream eggs...."

Luckily they were on clearance the next day at the grocery store.

Now everybody's happy!

Quiet, but nice.... I hope!

We have decided to celebrate Easter at home this year. We usually go to be with our family (one or the other) and do egg hunts, eat yummy food, watch Easter-type movies, etc.

This year, we are doing it all at home with just us 3. I had a hard time with it at first- am I robbing my only child of the opportunity to enjoy an egg hunt with other children? Well, yes, I am. The pure and simple answer. There is no dressing it up in pink frills and making it anything other than it is. He will NOT be doing anything with other children this year.

HOWEVER.... we are still coloring eggs, watching Easter shows, enjoying General Conference without interruption, and eating yummy food, (Prime Rib, asparagus with lemon sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and homemade rolls)... all in the comfort of our little home. That can't be that bad, now, right?

I think sometimes the quiet of our little family can be just as enjoyable as celebrating it with the extended family, only in a different way.

Happy Easter everyone!