Perspective

Mom's - It's early morning and an unexpected rain comes during my 3 mile walk. It is great fun getting wet in the rain knowing I have the luxury of going right home and taking a shower. I get back to the car in the church parking lot as seminary is just ending. So Kellie doesn't have to get wet because she has to go to school, I move the car closer. I park in a place where she may not see me so I move the car again so I can be within her view. As I move the car I see a YM I know who is sitting in his car and wave a friendly hello. Then I wait happily listening to country music and reflect on the exilerating walk in the rain. Kellie comes to the car a bit earlier then I expected. So I asked, "why so early?"

Kellie's - Kellie gets out of seminary and is enjoying standing in the rain chatting with friends. Sees that I have moved the car and continues to chat with friends. Sees me move the car again and wave, she hurries to the car. Her answer to my question, "Why so early?" You moved the car close to me and waved me over so I hurried.

The moral of the story; try to remember there is ALWAYS more then your side of the story. Before we rush to conclusions, try to look at things in a different way. It may elemenate so much 'stuff'.

Have a great day everyone!!

Grateful for Service

So yesterday was one of those cleansing days...not that my house got super clean but my soul. I cried at every little thing and cried at nothing. By the end of the day my eyes were super swollen and I was exhausted. I was productive during parts of the day however, I caulked and painted door frames in my house that was started over 2 years ago. So basically I caulked, cried and was productive. Today with all the tears gone something great happened...opprotunities to do service. The Elders called and needed dinner. After dinner a great friend called and needed a ride home from work because her car was in the shop. These were simple things that allowed me to serve. What a great blessing after feeling so yucky yesterday to feeling so grateful today. A good cleansing helps put things in perspective and opens the way for a grateful heart.

That kind of day.

Today should be a Pride and Prejudice day. All my girls should be home and we should hang out in our sweats, make cookie dough, close all the blinds, giggle about silly things and then watch Mr. Darcy...well do his thing. I'm not talking about the 90 minute version. I am talking about the only good version, the 6 hour one. We could remind Paul there are sports in this version too. You know the hunting and fishing part, those are sports and then watch him roll his eyes and get out of the room as quickly as possible. After the movie we could have some Orange Chicken and go to Kellie's concert and watch her blow her horn. Sounds like a perfect way to spend the day. Girls, are you ready???

The Girls

Today was one of those days that reminds me I'm a mom of 5 girls. I was blessed to talk with each of them today. Each daughter is full of life, lots a good stuff and a bit of yucky stuff. That is to make sure they don't get bored with their lives. All live outside of the home now except one, the youngest. Each daughter is great. Each has unique talents and gifts that make them wonderful and so different from the other. People would ask me if it was easy raising 5 girls because they must be all the same. I think my girls have a few things that are similiar but have LOTS of things that are so different. And that can make things kind of spicey around here for all of us. But today I was reminded, that even though we are different there is one very important thing that we all have in common. We are a family, an eternal family. And even though we may not always agree with eachother or like some of the stuff eachother does....we all love eachother. What an amazing gift. And in the end we all support eachother. That too is a gift. So thank you to my girls for reminding me that this life is filled with challenges and things that make us stretch and grow but that we will ALWAYS have eachother to help us through the stuff.

This mornings walk

Almost every seminary morning I drive with Kellie to seminary and meet Aunt Janie and we walk for 3 miles AND talk for 3 miles. After we walk I go another mile to my house with my shuffle(music). It is great fun and I love that my excercise is over before 7AM. The "subject of the day" was medical stuff because my nephew Brent just had some teeth implants put in because he is missing 2 permanent teeth. It has been a long process for him, a few surgeries, and they only have one more thing to do and it will ALL be done. Janie asked me some questions about when Julie was having her 5surgeries, what the tons of Doctor appointments were like, what the family went through, etc. I started to tell her one story about Julie's experience and began to cry...I couldn't even talk for a bit....silly me. I shared with her the time we all went to pick Julie up from the hospital to take her home after she had been there for a week when she was 8 years old. The doctor wanted to take one more x-ray before we left. We wheeled Julie down the hall to the day-room. The whole way there Kellie, who was 3 at the time, had her hand on top of Julie's being very gentle and rubbing her hand which was on the wheel chair arm rest. To me it really shows the big heart these 2 girls had and still have. Julie was willing to let her sister hold her hand and Kellie wanted to show her sister the whole ride down the hall that she loved her. If that moment could get any better, it was Easter time. The local firemen and policemen (dressed in uniform) came to the hospital that day to give the children stuffed animals and high fives. All of them were lining the hall when we were wheeling Julie to get her final x-ray. They all had smiles on their faces and were sending Julie good wishes. She couldn't smile because her face was swollen... she did wave to them and show her appreciation....Julie in her pretty pink nightgown. These 2 mental pictures will stay with me always. And now..typing it....tears. Tears that our family is so blessed with a Julie, Kellie, Holly, Shelley and Carlie.

Disneyland

You all know I love going to Disneyland. Especially when I take my girls and their friends and I know they are having a great time. Last Friday I had a very new and enjoyable experience at Disneyland. It really warms my heart. My nephew Brent wanted to surprise me and go to Disneyland the same day I was going. It was a GREAT surprise and we met for dinner and chatted for almost 3 hours. He told me a bunch of stuff and he asked me tons of questions. It was truly magical.

So here is the break down of the day. I picked Emily L., Jessica Adcox and Kellie up from school. We got into the park around 4:30. The girls ran off to play and I sat and watched the ceremony that they do when they take down the American Flag. (If you haven't seen this I highly recommend it.) I love the marching band playing and the quartet singing patriotic songs. They encourage the audiance to sing along too. They honor the men and woman who have served our country and invite them to circle the flag pole. Old and young come and stand military style and salute our beautiful flag. I love this and am a bit silly and get teary every time. Then I met up with Brent at the Hungary Bear and we chatted. A wonderful and inspiring talk. By the time we finished it was dark. So I walked over to get a mint julip (with extra cherries) and then waited for the fireworks. Again, I get a little teary even though I have a huge smile on my face because I love the fireworks...and then I try not to have too silly of a look on my face when I see Dumbo fly!!! After the fireworks I went to buy some Mickey Mints (very delicious) to share with the ladies at work for being so sweet to me around my birthday. Then waited for the girls looking down main street near the train station. It was a very special trip and I am so grateful for family and friends who enrich my life.

The youngest has her license.

2 big things happened today. Caleb and Holly celebrated their wedding anniversary. What a BIG day for them!! Congratulations...your gift is in the mail. (sorry it's late)

The second BIG thing that happened today is Kellie got her driver's license. Some moms might be thrilled at this happening because they don't have to drive their children every where, etc. I however was always a little melancholy when each of my girls got their license. That means we won't get to have chats in the car as often. I loved picking my girls up from school, church, or any activity and instantly knowing their moods when they got in the car. I loved hearing thier stories and simply enjoyed being with them. It seems that once they can drive themselves, from the time they leave shool and get home the activities of their day seem less intersting to them so they feel I won't want to hear....and if they do tell stories it is way less animated. However, when I got my license and could get myself places and didn't have to rely on others I was super excited. So although it changes things for me....I love that they want their independence and that they are growing up to be competent young adults.

The thing that really is strange about today is that this will be the second to last thing that kellie does before she has total independence and of course the last thing will be when she graduates from High School. This is definitley a mile stone...and one that changes my life forever.

So what did I do this evening while Kellie went driving over to people's houses (and yes, one of the visits was to Marshall's)? I scrubbed my kitchen floor grout. Paul was at meetings and Kellie was gone...so I cranked up 5 for Fighting and scrubbed away. It looks amazing by the way. I have a feeling with all my free time while Kellie and Paul are gone I will clean and organize. Fun times. =/ I am happy to report that Angela and Emily came over to visit me and we made some fun plans for the group...so all is not lost.

So here is to changes...and to exciting things in the future.