Real Life

So...today I got a little bit of a late start on my busy day. Dang it! After I got the kids off to school I read my scriptures, walked on the treadmill and showered-caught a glimpse of the clock and decided to just have a pony tail day-no time to get ready! I fed Sawyer his lunch and took him to school. Jaycee & I went to The Coke Store ;), the credit union and Lowes then came home to spackle the floor boards & casing Casey hung in the basement lastnight. I made dough for rolls to go with dinner before I went downstairs. Picked the kids up from school, rolled out the rolls, made dinner, helped them with their homework & put the 4th load of laundry for the day in the dryer and started the 5th load. Casey came home and we sat down for dinner before Alyssa had to go babysitting. Here's our conversation:

Me: "Do you hate it when you come home and your wife looks like this?"

Casey: "Nope-you look relaxed."

I am totally thinking-wow-I really am so lucky to have a husband who defines his scroungy wife as looking relaxed. No expectations here. He totally gets it.

BUT THEN after a short pause he adds:

"I love days like that!"

LOSER!!! He realized what he said and started to laugh-sort of a nice way of saying, "Honey-my day was super busy-what did you do all day?"

Here's to pony tail days! Glad he doesn't have one! That is a pony tail OR a pony tail day! ;)

The Bully

Yesterday I went to pick Shaylee & Sawyer up from school expecting the same crazy experience. After school at our elementary school-just like every other elementary school-is chaos. Tons of kids, teachers, safety patrol, moms, cars...everyone trying to get home at the same time. It can be nuts. There are 2 lanes in the pick up zone-the inside lane is where you pull next to the curb and your kids jump into your car, the outside lane is obviously to help you get to the curb and get out of there!

As I was sitting in the outside lane waiting to get a "curb spot" I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart completely break. Sawyer was standing next to a bench with a group of kids, a boy that was atleast a head taller than him shoved him. I could see Sawyer say something to him and he shoved him again. Then he shoved him a 3rd time. My Sawyer never fought back but I obviously couldn't hear what was being said. Time sort of stood still as I sat in my car and watched this all unfold. I felt so completely helpless-Jaycee was in the back seat strapped into her booster and I couldn't leave my car until it was parked to go help him. I knew that by the time I could get to him it would be too late, the boy would be gone and the situation would be over. Completely helpless. The thing that made me totally sad is that there had to be atleast 75 people within 25 feet of him and none of them saw anything happening...they were completely distracted...but I saw because Sawyer is my son.

I thought about this all night last night. Sawyer was fine-not a scratch-but I couldn't get over how I felt. The helplessness. Then I realized something that has been so powerful to me. We experience hard things every single day-some days harder than others-these experiences are kind of like bullies. We are surrounded by so many people who love us and care about us but they are usually distracted because life is so busy for all of us, they usually don't notice what we are going thru. BUT someone does notice. It's our Heavenly Father-because we are His sons and His daughters. Our Savior who has felt every single thing we have felt through the miraculous Atonement also notices. I am sure the helplessness I felt yesterday watching Sawyer is a very familiar feeling to them. They watch as each of us struggle to make it thru this life and hope someone will pay attention-to see what is happening to us-to reach out and help. They can't physically be here to stop our "bullies" but they can prompt those around us to be there...the Holy Ghost is such a precious powerful gift.

I've had some awesome experiences with the Spirit. They are precious and powerful. They have molded me into who I am. The most powerful experience of my life was being prompted to ask Chick Fil A to donate a gift card for a family who could use it rather than buying it myself. Long story. Miraculous story. I had NO IDEA why I was supposed to ask but I did. It unfolded into the most amazing experience of my life. The awesome thing is Heavenly Father knew all of the details that I didn't know. He makes miracles happen. It's always through us. What a blessing to be an instrument in His hands. To do things for Him that He just can't do. I'm sure I've missed just as many opportunities if not more than I have taken to follow the promptings of the Spirit-because I am busy and don't pay attention, because I don't understand the "why" so I just don't wanna, or because I feel stupid. I hope you've all heard President Monson's story about rescuing a child from a river when he was only 12ish? Can't remember for sure. He said he hoped the Lord knew that if He needed an errand to be run that Tom Monson would do it. I think we all feel the same way. We want Him to know that He can count on us. (He shared that story during A Brand New Year last New Years...find it if you haven't heard it!)

This week I'm going to pay closer attention to the Spirit. I'm going to reread Elder Scott's talk "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance" again-so awesome. And I think for family night we might just reenact the David & Goliath story just for fun. I won't tell Sawyer to kick the bully but a little sling shot might not be a bad idea. ;)

My Boys

I am a very lucky girl-I married my best friend and he's awesome! It's still breath taking to see him be a dad to our kids...he makes me laugh and teaches me a ton. Sawyer wants to be just like his dad-he totally worships him. He wants to hunt like him. Play baseball like him. Anything Casey does is awesome to Sawyer. Tonight Sawyer wanted to help Casey in the basement so he had his first lesson on mudding. He mudded all the screw holes in the closet and did a pretty good job. He has no idea that the closet is where the inexperienced mudders probably work ;) he was just happy to be helping his dad. When he was putting his pajamas on he said, "Mom, don't wash my mudding pants. I'll just wear them again tomorrow when I help dad." Too funny. I'm grateful that Casey sets such an awesome example in all areas of his life for Sawyer to follow-Casey truly lives what he believes and is such a selfless person-Sawyer can't go wrong watching him! I'm already proud of the person Sawyer is-it will be awesome to see who he becomes throughout his life.

Time Out For Women

I am a huge Hilary Weeks fan-love her. She is amazing and talented and seems so down to earth...love her testimony-love her voice-we always have her cds playing & I love her blog. You'd think we are best friends-we totally are not-I wish she thought I was as cool as I think she is. It'd be cool if she knew my name and called to borrow a cup of sugar! ;) My kids even know and love her music. Sheri Dew is also incredible-I have all of her books and they are completely marked up. She is so awesome-I quote her all of the time to my Young Women, I have a quote from her hanging in our bathroom...she's amazing & her words are so powerful. It says (because I know you are wondering what it could possibly say!):

"Each experience with the Savior leads to greater faith, and as our faith increases, our vision of and confidence about who we are grows clearer."

My fav-totally Sheri Dew. Powerful. Simple. So true. SO Time Out For Women has always been a dream of mine-they just never do it in Salt Lake. This year they did and a bunch of us went. It was life changing for me-I love the moments when you can listen and learn and be prompted by the Spirit to become something better. I love to be among women-there is power when women stand together. A very real tangible power. I love it. The contrast of my weekend with the gloomy times we live in was overwhelming. Sheri Dew & Hilary my bff were incredible...of course!!! But today we heard from a woman named Kris Belcher. AMAZING!!! Wish I could describe this incredible spiritual giant-she's my new hero. Incredible trials-incredible story-incredible testimony. Funniest. Lady. Ever. FOR REALS! Heavenly Father has a plan for her and she has no idea that it was to be an inspiration to me and so many. Google her name-buy her book at Deseret Book-attend Time Out For Women next year....you'll never regret it! Personally I'd love to go to lunch with her and have her for my friend also-or atleast be able to give her a hug. Spiritual Giant. LOVE HER! She makes me feel like I can tackle any trial that comes my way-and makes me realize that even though I've had some tough things happen in my life I don't have a clue what a trial is.

I laughed that they referred to my favorite part of life-that we all have a story. I guess I'm not so crazy BRIAN & ERIN!!! Kidding-sort of. I love the stories of people. I love that we are all in this journey together. That we have free agency. We have the Spirit to guide us. We have trials to mold us. Heavenly Father places people in our paths to help us learn who we are and help us find our way. We eventually CAN become someone amazing if we have the Savior by our side. I love the glimpses we get of eternity with the pinpricks of the Spirit-I love to be an instrument in my Heavenly Father's hands. I know He can do a lot more with my life than I ever can-I wish that I always remembered that and never lost my vision...it gets so confusing! ;) I truly love my life and am grateful for every precious experience-I'm truly grateful for the momentum this weekend provided-I'm ready to conquer once again!

BTW-all 4 of you that venture to our little blog should really buy Hilary Weeks amazing new Christmas cd Christmas Once Again...you will love it! I also LOVE "God Bless Your Way"-the book but especially the song with the same title. Best Christmas song ever-LOVE IT! Ask my kids-they loved it the first 1000 times they heard it-they'll be glad we have the new cd to give some variety because I replay "God Bless Your Way" quite a few times a day...check it out!

www.deseretbook.com/hilaryweeks

Spelling lessons

Jaycee is starting to sound out words-she loves to repeat the first sound of a word and try to figure out which letter it begins with. This morning she was saying, "C-c-c-coke. Coke begins with c." Casey is such a cute dad and was talking to her about this. He said, "You know what is funny?

C-c-c-cat begins with K. It sounds the same, huh?" Casey & I looked at eachother and we both busted up laughing. He KNEW that cat didn't begin with a K, he just sort of forgot for a minute.

My Unique Jaycee

Her choice of PJ's a couple of nights ago....she really wanted to be warm and cute!?
I really did send her to school like this today. Humiliating? Good mom? Not sure I care what anyone thinks anymore! I understand the phrase, "Pick your battles!" with Jaycee! After she got herself dressed she informed me, "Curly hair really does go with this outfit but I think I'll take 2 braids today." All I said was, "Huh!" She thinks she's going to be the next Taylor Swift-she has enough attitude and determination....we'll have to wait and see if she has any musical talent!

Birthday Lunch

My favorite thing to do on our kids' birthdays is to take them lunch at school and eat with them in the cafeteria. Since Shay was sick all last week we had to wait until this week. Here's Shay with some of her cute friends-silly girls! Sad Shay's birthday was such a let down for her~she gets so excited about it every year! Last year she made her own Happy Birthday Banner (pathetic!) so this year I had crepe paper and a banner ready to go-she didn't really get to enjoy them. Dang it! Hopefully next year!

Happy Birthday Shayders!!!!

I absolutely LOVE the first few minutes with each of my babies....most precious memories of my life. It's always like catching a little glimpse of heaven~they were just there. This is one of my favorite pictures ever-I remember sweet Shay just staring at me...time just stood still for a few minutes. Shaylee was a beautiful baby and is a beautiful girl-I have no doubt she will grow up to be a beautiful woman. She's always been so awesome.
We took this picture last week at Utah Lake for her county report on Utah County. This is so her-simple, pony tail, just Shay. Love it.

Our awesome Shaylee is 10 today-so hard to believe she's reached DOUBLE DIGITS!!!! We are so grateful to have her in our family~she is such a great example to me and to each of us. I honestly don't think I've ever met someone who is naturally more loving and selfless. She is amazing! I have to admit she is ALL farts and burps-makes me crazy & can be embarassing sometimes but she makes us laugh! She looks so sweet and innocent-she's not-such a tom boy! (Love you Shay!) Soccer defines her-she loves it-and she's a good soccer player. It's been so fun for her to play competition this year-it's a little more intense than her mom can handle but it's been neat to see her learn and progress. Shay is super giggly most of the time...sadly she is sick today and laying on the couch dealing with a lame fever. She's pretty bummed that she's sick on her birthday AGAIN (happened last year, also!) but we will celebrate her special day when she feels better. It will give our indecisive girl a few extra days to decide what she wants me to make for her dinner-she can't decide between hawaiian haystacks, enchiladas or french dip sandwiches. If she was smart she'd simply request to have her dinner cooked by someone other than me...it'd taste a whole lot better! hahaha We sure love this girl!