Learning

I've started a "faithbook" post and it just didn't work. It was too private, too sacred and too much involved with telling other peoples' stories.

To be brief, I've learned a lot in the last couple of days. I've learned that I have a lot more friends than I could have imagined.

I learned that some of the most trying challenges we go through may just be the easier way to learn the lessons we need to learn in this life. I don't want to have to go through something like this, again, but it has got to be better than learning the lessons by making poor choices: addiction, infidelity, abandonment, incarceration. I really don't want to know what those things are like, EVER.

I've also learned a bit about the Atonement. Christ suffered not only for sin, but also so that He could know what our other suffering was about. He knows what the pain is like. He can heal our hearts.

Along with that, goes the understanding that to fully empathize with another person, we need to have gone through hard things in life as well. We can listen and love them, but if we've never had heartache, we can't really understand.

Basically, even though I'd never wish pain on anyone or myself again, I know that it is a necessary part of this life.

Sad News...

So, I am designing some crocheted socks for my dad. I got him to measure his foot from various points since I don't have him here to try them on.

Well, I also measured my foot for a reference. My feet are only slightly smaller than his. This is not so say that he has small feet, but that I have large ones!

I wear a women's size 10 shoe. Wide width is usually not wide enough for me and I have never found a cute strappy pair that worked. It is a curse that I have sadly passed to my children.

At least so far, they haven't had trouble with it. Maybe they didn't get them SO wide.

Actually, when Doodle was born, rather than counting her toes, I made sure her feet were narrowish. She may have missed that bullet!

Picky Eaters Breakthrough

Link has been a really picky eater since he could choose. It has been a huge battle and we didn't know what to do. He was starting to influence Princess, who has been a wonderful eater. I didn't want that and I didn't want the example for Doodle, either. Now, with three kids, I am really tired of even having to make a sandwich for someone (or two) doesn't want to eat what I made. What's worse is that usually, he wouldn't even taste, or look at what I had made before he rejected the meal. Now, I am a pretty good cook, so it is really frustrating when he won't try things that I know he would like.

Finally, Captain Marvelous came up with a brilliant idea. He suggested that we take away video game time depending on how well he eats. If he eats a portion that we give him, he gets all of his time. (One hour) If he at least tries the food without complaining, he could still have half of his video game time. (We didn't want him to have to eat it if he truly didn't like it, but we didn't want that to be an excuse either.)

It has been amazing! For almost a week, now, he has tried and eaten at least a little of every meal I've made for them. He hasn't been complaining and he has been eating so much better. He has also become more patient in general, but I don't know if it is related at all.

Link even got some extra game time since he has been doing so well! We love this!

Recognized Obsession

I was sitting at the park with some friends and we started talking about the things that we just have to have and spend money on. I realized that mine is having a project, especially a crochet project. I spend a lot of my extra money on yarn, ribbon and other craft related items.

I finished another project on Wednesday and I found myself project-less. I felt wrong. I simply needed a project to feel okay with the world. I quickly started looking for something to crochet. It's a sickness, I know. I realized that I had an idea waiting for me. I'm now working on a pink crown for Princess. She is excited. I just hope it works out. And, all is well with the world, again!

Fine Tuning

I have decided on a new goal for myself. I want to be less critical, negative and judgmental. I know, I've tried before, but this time I really want to work hard at this.

We had a Sunday School lesson in which a really good analogy was made:

When you hit a tuning fork and then move it close to another object, the object resonates with the same sound.

When we are negative and "vent", we not only don't feel better afterwards, we usually lead the person we are talking to down to further negativity, as well.

I don't want to be that kind of influence on others anymore. Heck, I don't want to be that kind of influence on me anymore!

So, I think it would be more effective to replace a bad behavior with a good one. What better than if I feel the need to be negative or share a story that would only make me and the hearer more negative, I'll say something good. I suppose keeping my mouth shut would also be effective if there isn't anything nice to say!

Aaaaaahhh!!!

So, I think I may have solved a little of my stress issues!

I have been taking care of a friend's 9 month old, my SIL's dog and my own darlings. It was really hard at first, but then I thought I had it under control.

That was until I wigged out on Aaron. He totally didn't deserve it and I owe him some big and fancy dinner or something to make up for it.

The night before last, I had had my fill of being mauled by children and dogs and I was completely stressed out. It carried over to yesterday and I blew up at Aaron. He has been working so hard at teaching, trying to finish his masters' degree and being a great husband and father, that he didn't deserve the added stress I gave him.

Anyway, I think a lot of what it comes down to is hormones and not getting chances to calm down and de-stress throughout the day. (Also, my current crochet project has been frustrating me. Crochet is a great de-stressor for me, so that just made things worse.)

Anyway, lately, I try to relax while the two little ones sleep and Luke has some video game time. The dogs have been wrestling, growling and barking like crazy!! I get so frustrated with them and I yell to try to make them stop and not wake up the kids.

But, the good news is that Daisy will be here in the mornings rather than the afternoons, so I can have some peace and quiet during the day!! I think I can be a much better wife and mommy, now!!

Note: I am usually not a stressed out person. I let most things roll off my back or sleep them off and I am great and relaxed again in the morning. Therefore, I don't think I handle stress very well since I've not really had to very often...

I choose to be happy, dangit!

Why do some of us feel corny when we talk about how much we love our children/husband/family/God? There is no reason to be ashamed of being happy and loving life and those that are in our lives. I have been guilty of it as well and right here and now, I am refusing to be embarrassed to say that my kids are adorable and are little joys in my life! I am VERY happily married and my husband is awesome! I love God and I am not ashamed to be a christian, a Mormon and a follower of God!!!

What is it in us that makes us feel less than what we are? Why do we sometimes doubt ourselves and what we are worth? Every person on this planet is a child of God and that alone makes us worth more than we can possibly imagine! We each have wonderful talents and things we are good at. We are not all the same. That would be SO boring. We don't have the time to be good at everything, and we just don't all have the same gifts. We should all be here to help each other and learn to get along.

Now, I'm not saying that I don't need to be knocked down a few pegs. I'm pretty sure that's a big reason why I have the challenges in life that I do. I just think that it is too easy for me to make excuses for the way that I feel. I shouldn't have to do that and neither should you!

LDS General Conference

I have been listening to the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (The church I belong to.) It is great! I will have to read it when it is printed, since it is really hard to listen with two young children.

One talk that I really liked was by the former Relief Society general president Bonnie D. Parkin. She spoke about gratitude. The first thing that she said that hit me was that murmuring makes it difficult for the Spirit of the Lord to work in us. I am generally a very positive person, but I have a bad habit of complaining about some people in my life. I really need to work on that. I need to be more loving and understanding of people's faults. She also read a scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 59:7, I think). It says "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things." I don't think I do that enough. Especially in the adversity I have. She said we should. I suppose I am thankful for the things that I learn when I go through adversity. She made another comment that I really liked near the end of her talk. She said that our gratitude is an expression of our faith. If we have faith in God, we will be grateful to him and thank him for the things that he has given us!

Then, we got to witness a historic event. I wish we could have been in the Salt Lake Tabernacle as they spoke about it and rededicated it for use for many more years to come. I am also really amazed that they can redo the foundation and not have the whole building cave in.

Aaron and I were at the last session of conference (before this one) held in the Tabernacle. It was really neat. We were probably the last people to get ticket since they had closed the ticket office and we were late. They took us back and still let us pick up our tickets! I remember an usher making fun of us for kissing before the meeting. We had just gotten engaged and he was telling us he was going to kick us out.

I really like the effect that the Tabernacle Choir used in the closing song. They sang The Spirit of God. This song is used a lot for dedications. They started by having one man singing a solo, then adding another and another. The three were then joined by the men and then the women. It was as if it were Joseph Smith bearing testimony then a few then the whole choir as if it were the entire Church bearing testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It was awesome!

I can't wait for the rest, tomorrow!

Control

Aaron and I have talked a lot about the control that people try to have over their children. Kids who have every move and choice they make overseen, eventually rebel. They are a lot more deceptive and sneak around to do the things they know they are not allowed to do, even at a very young age. I'm not saying that I want to have no control over my children, but I think there is a point where you never bend and let them be children. The point of being a child is to learn and play, not to be little adults!

The control thing goes for adults, too. How many of us have dieted only to binge and end up fatter than we were before? Only to do it again when the next diet comes along...

Money can be the same way. I was reading a recent post of Lara's and it got me thinking about this. If you budget yourself into complete control over your money, you may end up splurging and spending way more than you intended to.

We try to avoid these problems at my house by fitting in small amounts of food and money that we really don't have to explain. At the grocery store, we each get a treat that is up to each of us alone to choose. The idea is that we get to eat it alone, but we usually end up sharing. It really helps. We know that we can get a treat that we don't have to prove is worth getting. It is just something that we wanted. We then don't constantly have the house full of sugary, salty and greasy treats. When it comes to our budget, we get mad money that is up to each of us to spend however we want. It really does help. We don't get so many urges to spend random money.

Side note: I have learned that the real way for me not to over spend each month is to change my mindset. If I think we have plenty of money and I can get random extra things as I am shopping, then I spend A LOT more money than if I think of it differently. If I realize (or convince myself) that there isn't a ton of money to be spent (which there isn't) then I don't spend as much.

Bottom line: Our minds are very powerful! If you feel trapped and controlled, at some point, you will rebel and splurge. I think the goal is to have a balance of control. This is really what discipline is all about. We have to learn to control ourselves in a way that works for us. And, back to kids, if we control their every move and choice, then they can't learn to be disciplined.

Okay, so now I am going to get off of my soap box and have a fun day with my kids!!

I've been thinking...

I read Kim's post and it got me thinking. I spend way to much time checking my email and blogging. I finally decided to only blog once a day. I'll still get around to all the posts, but it will have to happen at one time instead of many times during the day. Of course, when I get online, I waste time on other things as well.

So, I tried it out yesterday and I got so much done. I craved my computer many times, but I only got on to blog once. I checked other things, but I didn't go around and spend a lot of time wandering around. It felt really good and I got a lot of stuff done!!

It may not look much different, but I'll notice!

Babywearing

I have been looking into babywearing. I don't think I'd do it all day long, but I want to see if it would work for the times when I need my hands at home and the baby just wants to be held, and when we are out and about. I don't like carrying a car seat around for 8 months...and I have read recently that it isn't safe for babies to sleep in them at all anyway. So, I have found some sites with a lot of good information. I just wish I had someone who could show me in person what I need to do. I wouldn't even mind using one for my 19 month old.

So, here are some sites I ran into in my searching:

Adventures in Babywearing is a blog that has a lot of really good information and is fun otherwise as well.
AskDrSears.com is a site with tons of information about babywearing and many other parenting issues as well.
Here is a site where you can buy a sling. (Though I want to try to make one myself)
WearYourBaby.com has tons of articles about babywearing, slings, carrier, ways to carry...it goes on and on.
TheBabyWearer.com is another site with tons of resources!!

So, go check it out!! I really think this could work for me!

Teaching Horticulture

I have really enjoyed teaching this community horticulture class. I have learned that I like teaching. I have learned a lot about horticulture. I have found so many websites and books about gardening. I have had a lot of fun. I have about 2 1/2 weeks off and then I'll start up another session. I am excited to have most of the information ready. That way, I don't have to spend the whole day stressing about getting notes ready. Now, I can focus on drawings, a few minutes here and there that need to be added and other things to embellish and make the class a little better. I hope I get enough people to go again!

Horticulture Class

I just finished and posted the notes for the last night of teaching my horticulture class. It is a really good feeling! I have really enjoyed teaching this class. I have learned a lot and I hope that the people who came did as well! I especially learned that I really enjoy teaching. Aaron and I were talking last night about maybe having me get a teaching certificate in one of the sciences. It sounds like fun, but a lot of work. I wouldn't do it until the kids were all in school, though.

I am glad for a little break, too. I'll have a little more than two weeks off and then I am going to teach another, as long as I get enough people to join it!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Okay, so Luke is only four and Belle is 18 months old...but I decided tonight that no matter what I am ALWAYS going to parent/teacher conferences with our kids. I guess Aaron and I decided that a long time ago and so this decision is useless, but I made it anyway. My reason is this horrible classroom where I teach the horticulture class! It is in the photography room of the local high school. You'd expect to find pictures all over the walls and he has those, but they are awful!! They are weird, grotesque and COMPLETELY inappropriate for a public high school classroom! I don't know why no one has complained. I can't imagine that even one student or other teacher or SOMEBODY isn't bothered as much as I (and many of those taking the class) am! It is just horrible. There are LOTS of nude pictures. Some are wearing nothing but a camera or only tattoos. I understand that people take nude pictures as art, but my children should not be subjected to that just because they like to take pictures. I think there is a point where people need to realize that there are people out there who don't share the same tastes.

Big or Small?

I've been thinking lately about all the "little" things that I am asked to do to be closer to God. I think most people look at reading scriptures, saying prayers, attending church, fulfilling callings, having a testimony and many others as things that are easy to do. Since they seem so easy and simple, I tend to let them slide. It is easy to skip small things. In Sunday school, before we got into the lesson, we were talking about the need for work, in this process. If we had to physically work to build an alter to pray on, we'd probably pray harder and not take it for granted. I think that we do need to work for productive prayers and all of the other seemingly small things. If we didn't have to work for anything, we'd get nothing. Take reading scriptures for example. If I just open my scriptures and read a couple of verses and then put them down, I'm not going to get much out of the exercise. On the other hand, if I start with a prayer, read and ponder, REALLY study, then I can learn things that are there to be taught to me. I think it works that way with all of the "small" things we are asked to do to be close to God! They aren't little things. They aren't as simple and easy to do as sometimes thought! These things are worth working for! As I was typing this, I thought of the verse that says "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." (Alma 37:6) Things can be simple and do great work in us if we work for them and allow ourselves to be lifted up by them!

Saturday SMART Habit

This week, I want to learn or practice something new everyday. Whether it is the piano (which I really want to be able to play), a new crochet or knitting stitch, or a new topic in a book, I want to keep learning and make it a habit! This should be a fun habit to take on. I think it'll help be out of my habit slump as well!

If you want to join, go see Lara's blog!!

We got our bedroom set last night!! It is so nice. I really like it. I'll take some pictures when we get everything cleaned up and orderly in there.

Married Versus Single

There is a woman I go to church with who has never married or had children. I was sitting next to her, today and thinking about the different things that married vs. single women learn and know. Once, I had to change Belle's clothes at church because she had a blowout. She had never thought about having extra clothes on hand in an emergency. Today, I was thinking about the things she must have time for that I don't. She can sit down and read a book without having to put an action figure's hand back on or getting a drink for a toddler. There must be so many things that she has the time to learn, that I simply don't. On the other hand, I know the joy of putting a sweet baby to sleep on my shoulder, getting up to put him/her in bed and slowly, quietly leaving the room so they can sleep and I can get something done. Then, going back to check on them and seeing their chest rise and fall & and the relief that he/she is still asleep for a little longer. Then, I hear the little cry of "Mama" and I go get a sweetheart out of bed for more play.

There are so many things that a single woman can do, that I have to bring an entourage along for or not do at all. I would take my mini entourage any day!!

Crocheter at Heart

So, I have been trying to teach myself how to do knitted cables. Between instructions from the owner of the local specialty yarn store and online guides & patterns, I figured out how to do it. It was fun, but I am ready to go back to my crochet project. I tend to get bored when I work on a large project that I can't finish in a few days, so I end up adding little projects along the way. My current big crochet project is the double-sided baby blanket for my niece-to-be. She is due at the end of the month, so I need to get really busy. It takes longer to do, since I has two sides. Both sides are worked together, but it makes it slower. I hope I have enough yarn...

I learned that I really don't want to get into knitting all that much. I really enjoy crocheting so much more.

Learning

If you are handed something and you don't have to work for it, you aren't going to learn anything from it (except maybe how to be lazy).

How often have you learned anything when you didn't have to do something for it. If you are given a book, but you don't read it, you won't have a clue what is inside. If you are taught a lesson, but you aren't prepared to hear it, or don't listen, you won't learn it either.

How many easy, laid back days have taught you anything?

How have you learned and grown? Did you learn the most when you were prepared to hear something? Did you learn when you went through a tough time? Did you learn when you worked, read, studied and pondered?

I think some of the times that I have learned the most were the times when I had to go through a really tough time. I grew and changed and came out a better person.

I think you have to work to improve and learn anything in life.

Ahh, Sleep...

I feel so much more like myself, today. After a good night sleep (Luke didn't wake up at all & Belle only woke up 20 minutes before the alarm), I feel normal!! I like normal, or what goes for normal around here, so much better!

I loved this article! It is by Lara, who's blog I love!

I find myself apologizing all the time for the way my home looks. I really shouldn't. I should never feel bad about the way it looks. Either I have been trying really hard and so have my children, or I have tried hard to keep it clean for too long and just need a break. Either way, I try and that is enough! I'd rather have a happy home, than an immaculate one!!!