Yin and Yang and Christmastime

Christopher is an interesting study. How he manages to be so maddening and so lovable at the same time is amazing to me. He is fiercely independent, extremely curious, and intense in feeling. One neighbor said that "he just keeps 10 steps ahead of you, doesn't he?" He knows what he wants to do, get, or be, and he moves forward, without regard for time, convenience, or rule. And if you are not 100% consistent, 100% of the time (any parent knows consistency is important, but knows being perfectly consistent is impossible, due to unforeseen circumstances), watch out!! He has constantly made me re-evaluate my parenting skills and has brought me to my knees in frustration (which is where Heavenly Father would like us to be when figuring out how to raise His children anyway. . .). He was the first child we've had that made me sigh with relief instead of tears when he started school.

He has also reminded me of the pure joy of life and the wonder of creation and just being. He has lit up my heart with smiles that fill his whole face, hugs that practically crack your ribs, and tender kisses accompanied by the words, "I love you, Mom." As I have watched him shower his intense love on others and live his life with zest, it has made all the countless times I've had to tell him to stop doing something he already knows he's not supposed to do, drive around the neighborhood looking for him yet again, or helping him clean up another "creative" mess he's made all worthwhile.

School has been interesting. He has been blessed with amazing teachers that know just how to work with his personality. (I am so grateful for the power of prayer!) He has had some incidents in which he had to re-evaluate his philosophy of dealing with frustration and other people (and even a visit to the principal's office. . .), but they shower him with praise and love and help him work constructively through his problems.

As any mother would, I look back on my not-so-shining moments and worry about how they may have affected him and his behavior. So it was really nice to get a note from his first-grade teachers (yes, his class has two; they team-teach because one is an administrative intern) telling me of a recent class activity.

The class was discussing Christmas and talking all about getting presents, Santa Claus, and so forth. Christopher raised his hand and said, "You know, Christmas is really about baby Jesus being born. That is why we get presents." It made everyone stop for a moment, and then they said, "Oh, that's right." I don't think his teachers know how much this little note means to me, but maybe they have an idea. It means that our efforts are not in vain, that all we've tried to teach him is absorbing somewhere. Something is sinking in. I am so proud that my son would remember our Savior at Christmastime when so many exciting things can distract us, and that he would talk about Him in front of his entire class. I am humbled beyond measure to be this little boy's mother. (And, in true Christopher-fashion, as I read the note and cried, I discovered that he was trying to lock his younger sister in her room!)

Merry Christmas everyone!!

The Spirit of Christmas

I loved this beautiful message and I hope you will too!

Catching Up

Why is it that life has a way of going faster than you can keep up with it? I had hoped at this point to post photos of all the things my kids have been doing (activities and growing up), but it has not happened! I hope I can be forgiven as I get my feet back under me. I promise I will post pictures of birthdays, soccer, baby, and more soon!

Introducing Rebecca

We are so excited to introduce the newest member of our family! We are sorry we are so slow at getting this posted--we've been a little busy!

This is Rebecca! She was born on July 24, 2009 at 7:47 A.M. at Davis Hospital in Layton, Utah. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20 inches long. We are so thankful for this sweet little girl! Her siblings all absolutely adore her, to say nothing of her proud parents! She has beautiful dark hair and dark eyes that are just penetrating, and we are really enjoying getting to know her. We are so grateful for her and all the tender mercies in our lives.

It is always amazing to me how they just know Mom and Dad right from the start. Whenever I would pick her up in the hospital after she started to fuss, her cry would change to an almost happy whimper and her face would look almost smiley, like she was saying, "I know who this is and that she's going to give me what I need." Whenever Daddy would visit, she would get very quiet and just stare at him for the longest time. We got some real grins out of her the second week, and it is just so fun to see those little smiles that are just straight from the heart. (I know all the grandmas tell you newborn smiles are from gas, but who ever smiled when they had gas?!) She has smiled more and more every week, and she has even started giving grins to her siblings!

Here are some other photos of our little sweetheart and her adoring crowd:

Does Jeremy look a little confused? Actually, I think he was more confused by Mommy being gone from home for the first time in his life! He would hardly look at me or touch me in the hospital bed until a few days later! He is adjusting fairly well, but he has a hard time being gentle. He is absolutely fascinated by the baby, saying, "Baby!" all the time, and wanting to watch her and touch her. He has also discovered that if he is too rough, he gets a reaction, which is also fascinating to him, unfortunately! I've tried to find a balance so that he can still touch his sister and "talk" to her but not hurt her. Not easy with a child this age. I'm so glad that he likes her, though!

Christina is so excited! (And shaggy!) She has such a motherly personality, and she loves being able to do anything for Rebecca. Christina makes frequent visits to Rebecca no matter where she is in the house. She has also been such a big help!


Proud oldest sister, Ashley! Ashley can now be trusted to hold and entertain the baby, and she loves carrying her around the house like a little mother. She loves to coo at Rebecca constantly!
Ashley and Christina have had a daily "buddy" to help--Jeremy or Emily--and Ashley has become really good at doing Emily's hair, something she has enjoyed.

Christopher loves his new sister. . .

and so does Emily!
Emily is constantly giving the baby hugs and kisses and loves to get down by her and talk to her!
Christopher loves to talk to and sing to her and can't wait until he can play with her a little more! He keeps dumping toys in her cradle and saying in a high voice, "Look at this! Look at this!" I had to remind him that she will be able to play soon, just not yet.

I love this picture of Justin and the kids--I think it captures in part what a great dad Justin is!


Justin and I celebrated our twelfth anniversary on July 26th at the hospital! At least it was a happy occasion. . .
Justin always has to remind me how much he loves having his picture taken. . .

Our "candlelight meal", courtesy the hospital. The food's actually pretty good at Davis! When I first started having babies there, it was atrocious. The only decent meal there was breakfast, and even that wasn't so great. I think they got a lot of complaints because they hired a fancy chef and the food is SO much better! So our meal was actually like going out to a nice restaurant. I highly recommend the cheesecake (not that I want anyone to end up in the hospital, but if you happen to be there. . .).

One of the pediatric nurses got Rebecca's hair to go all curly with some gel--I took so many pictures trying to capture the effect, I think Rebecca was beginning to wonder if I'd ever stop (as this next photo illustrates). . .

Getting ready to go home on July 27th! Every baby we've ever had has screamed as soon as it's time to go home, no matter if they've been fed, changed, and are happily asleep just before. Maybe it's the clothes. Anyway, it's kind of funny!

Rebecca's home! The whole family together. Aunt Kristin so kindly took this photo for us. She was at our house busily planting a flower garden in honor of Rebecca's arrival--and all after she'd stayed up super late multiple nights in a row at their company, Climbing Holds. (And this was supposed to be a vacation, as she was visiting from Dallas!) What a woman!

Home in my own bed!

They Just Keep Me Chuckling. . .

Lately our kids have been going to church in stages--when they're ready, they go (unless they must be accompanied by an older person). At least some of them get to 9:00 A.M. Primary on time that way! This past weekend, Ashley left second-to-last, then Justin left last with Emily. Justin joked that he and Emily were going to beat Ashley to church, and Emily turned to him and said, "Daddy, this is not a race. There are no racing cars and no winning flags."

------

After church, Christopher was reading an older edition of the Friend to Emily. He turned to an article by Gordon B. Hinckley, and said, in an affectionate voice, "It's Gordon B. Hinckley!" Emily immediately replied, "He's out of this world!" (To top off that little gem, Christopher replied in a very matter-of-fact voice, "He's dead, and now we have another prophet.")

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My mom and dad took Ashley for a little shopping trip for her birthday. When I was growing up, one of my dad's favorite things to say as we pulled out of our driveway to go anywhere was "We're off like a herd of turtles!" He still says this when we're around (I'll have to ask my mom if he says it when they're alone. Come to think of it, I say it sometimes too. . .). Well, as they pulled away from our curb with Ashley in the backseat, like clockwork, my dad exclaimed, "We're off like a herd of turtles!" Ashley replied, "Grandpa, you are entirely too predictable!"

For Cryin' Out Loud. . .

Okay, I'm already somewhat of an emotional person. But when I'm pregnant, watch out! Especially towards the end. It seems like I just keep falling apart, bit by bit, piece by piece, until there's nothing left but a dysfunctional puddle.

Justin knows we're getting to the end when I cry about seemingly everything. Here are some examples:
--Coming home from a weekend of little trips (a trip to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and my cousin's missionary report in his sacrament meeting) in the van, I realized that this was the last time we would ever go on a family excursion in it. Sob. . . (Justin told the kids we should just head straight to the hospital after this episode!)
--After spending too much time that I didn't have trying to get large car seats strapped into the Suburban the proper way (and mixing up the instructions), and realizing that the way I had envisioned things wasn't going to work, I was in tears and wishing not-very-nice things to whomever decided that built-in car seats shouldn't be the standard in all vehicles (like in my van!). Oooh, teary and testy!
--After spending a very long day getting the Suburban registered and the van signed over to someone else, I went out to turn off our water main (long story) and saw the van just sitting there by the curb waiting for its new owner. Memories flooded through my mind, and I just stood there, weeping, with my hand on the van. I am so sappy. Then, as I went into the house, I told the Suburban "welcome to the family." I am so sappy and dumb.
--Watching the van drive away for the last time, I cried again.
--My apple tree had to be cut down to make room for the new shed which has had to be postponed, but will be built soon. There was no other way to make it work unless we spent horrendous amounts of money, which would be ridiculous. Sniff.
--I thought about how Jeremy is so young and will not really understand why suddenly his mommy cannot pick him up and is constantly holding this little baby all the time. What will he think? Will he think I don't love him anymore? Oh, the tears!
--I took the kids to Davis Hospital (mostly for the youngest kids' sake) so they could see where I would be staying and where they would meet their new sibling. A dad brought his new child in while we were looking at the other babies. I lost it, of course.

I could go on, but going past a sampling of the things from the past week would take pages and pages and would be totally boring. And, unfortunately, it's not going to stop anytime soon! You gotta love hormones!

Baby's "Official" Birthday

We finally know Baby's "official" birthday! I say "official" in quotes because she could still come when she feels like it before her scheduled due date, which Emily decided to do. (I guess she didn't like the day we picked; don't blame her, it was the day Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S.)

I went in for a doctor's appointment last Thursday, and the doctor came in and told me that instead of the 27th, the baby will be delivered on the 24th. The hospital keeps changing their rules, and this time, they have decided they will only let doctors schedule the O.R's a month in advance. So Dr. Farley called at 8:00 A.M. on June 27th to schedule my c-section and found that his friend and former practice partner, Dr. Sumsion, who usually assists with my surgeries, had called at midnight! (I guess I'll have to razz him a little. . .) So Dr. Farley took the next best available day, which was Pioneer Day. Dr. Farley doesn't usually do Friday surgeries for his family's and ward's sake (he is a bishop also), but he told me he made an exception for me. Gee, thanks!

So unless Baby decides differently, she will be born on July 24th! We are really looking forward to it, and I am scrambling to finish everything I can before that day. Life is not cooperating with me, but I think everything will work out just fine. We are all looking forward to meeting our little girl!

Recharging Our Batteries

I loved a story that was shared by our former stake president on Mother's Day. As I've mentioned before, he spoke specifically to younger mothers still in the throes of it all, and gave us some amazing encouragement. I was reminded of this story tonight and wanted to share it with you.

One of the things President Nelson talked about was that mothers need to make sure they get some scripture study time every day. He told us that his wife, the mother of nine children, had a difficult time finding adequate time to study the scriptures every day, but she made a valiant effort. She found that she could usually get a little quiet time right after breakfast, and so that became her scripture time. One day she was reading a chapter in one of the Four Gospels in the New Testament; the story of how the mothers brought their children to see the Savior, and the Apostles told them He was too busy to see them. However, the Savior said, "Suffer the children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He reminded them that we all need to become as little children, or we cannot hope to join Him in heaven someday. The house was quiet, as Bernadelle's children were outside in the backyard. All she could hear was faint, sparkling, joyous laughter, which enhanced her study of this particular chapter. Feeling refreshed and spiritually fed, she stepped from her bedroom to check on her children. Entering the backyard, she discovered the source of their laughter: she and her husband had recently purchased several large boxes of tomatoes so they could bottle them, and her precious children were throwing them all at each other!

She was very upset by the incident, but she later told her husband that she was able to handle the situation with calm and wisdom that she knew she would not have had otherwise if she had not studied her scriptures. She testified of the power that the scriptures can give to parents, and to all of us, as we prayerfully study and ponder them. I also testify of their power. The scriptures contain great teachings that apply in every situation we will ever encounter, but there is also an unseen power that enters our lives as we continue to feast from the scriptures daily. Maybe some days we don't get as much out of our study as other days, but by keeping the commands of the Lord to study the scriptures, and trying as best we can to listen to the Spirit as we do so, we will be given power beyond our own to handle life's challenges, big and small.

Moo, Moo, I'm A Cow. . .

The former stake president's wife pulled me aside after the last stake conference (in June) and exclaimed, "You're about ready to have this baby, aren't you!" I replied that we still had until the end of July, and she gave me some words of advice.

She reminded me that the last three weeks before delivery are crucial for a mother's rest--she has every right to slow down and take care of herself. "Look at a mother cow," she continued. "Do you see her jumping a fence right before she has her calf? Look at a mother cat. Do you see her running as fast as she can down the street?" She also illustrated her point with the behavior of mother dogs. "So you see," she finished, "you need to do the same thing. And when you get to that point, just remember that Bernadelle told you you're a cow." Thanks, Bernadelle!

(So what do we have going on these last few weeks before Baby comes? A shed being built in our backyard on the 17th--finally (long story)! Moving things into it. A husband who can only lift light things. Major organization that has to wait until the things that are moving into the shed are moved. Why do I do this to myself? I just hope Bernadelle, who lives down the street, doesn't find out! Hee, hee!)

Counting Down. . .

Wow, I can't believe it's July already!! My baby counter says we have 30 days left from today, but, unless for some weird reason the OB couldn't get the O.R. scheduled (I always thought that was kind of dumb, because if I go into labor they have to get me into the O.R. anyway. . .), or she has different ideas, this little girl will be coming on the 27th of this month! Yay! We're looking forward to it!

Gettin' A Bigger Car

Well, we have reached the point where we need to graduate from a mini-van. Yes, I know there are vans that seat eight instead of seven, but we're tired of cramming stuff in, around, and under people, and our kids are getting bigger, so we're cramming them in, too. People usually ask us how many kids we're going to HAVE (yes, usually with that emphasis), and our answer is always the same. (No, it's not "none of your business," though it probably should be :), but rather "it's not up to us.") We think we're probably towards the end of the child-bearing years, but we just don't know, so it's really hard to decide what kind of car to get. Maybe we should just go all out and buy this beauty:

Yee-haw; transporting the family in style! Seats 20 comfortably. But that might be a LEETLE too much for our budget. Maybe we should consider something like this baby:

It's vintage; it's cheap; it seats 14. AND it has really cost-effective air conditioning (just roll down those windows)! SWEET! (This Sub's for real! Justin and I found this for sale on KSL while looking for Suburbans late one night. I can't remember exactly what year it is now; I think it's a 1946 interurban bus model. When we found this, I had been having the worst, most excruciating rib pain I had ever had in any of my pregnancies. I swear my ribs were almost dislocated, if not totally. When we found this we laughed so hard I cried, and the next day I could hardly stand the pain--I think I totally dislocated my ribs! But it was worth it! And, thank heavens, the baby turned and dropped, so she is totally out of my ribs.)

Life's Like That Sometimes. . .

Update On Justin

As I mentioned in my previous post, Justin spent Father's Day with the flu and in pain from back problems. We are not sure if he had swine flu or not, but he definitely had some variety of influenza. Apparently they're either not testing anymore or they ran out of tests, but they told us to act as if it was swine flu and keep everyone in the family out of public for several days. So, after a late night trip to Walgreen's (sorry if we took germs to anyone there, but Justin was too sick to babysit) for Tamiflu, we pretty much kept the family quarantined until the following (this past) Thursday, including Justin. He was pretty sick, which he hardly ever is, and it took him a few days to get back to feeling decent. But that Tamiflu stuff is amazing! I came back from Walgreen's with it after 11PM, he took it, and 15 minutes later he started to feel better. Not great, just better. He was still pretty sick after that, but I think he was a lot better than he would have been without it (he gave me a pretty good scare earlier in the day with his airways beginning to feel constricted, but that disappeared after a little while). I really appreciate Justin's prayer that the rest of us wouldn't get it, and I am grateful for the prayers of others that helped Justin to get better and protect the rest of us, too. I was a little worried because pregnant women and little children are more vulnerable to serious complications, so I thank all who combined their faith with ours and helped us all get/stay well.

Justin spent the first few days after Father's Day trying to work from home (and wearing himself out--I kept telling him to go to bed, but he wouldn't until he got a headache and got dizzy. . .). He was also nursing his back, so he had to keep standing up and sitting down in different positions and places. We discovered that the passenger seat in the van had just the right amount of recline, so he spent the rest of his home confinement working in the van! We plugged his laptop into an extension cord, plugged it into the outside outlet, and he had internet access from the wireless router in our house! We opened all the doors and windows we could, stocked him up with water, and, since he doesn't mind the heat as much as most people, he was just dandy out there.

The first day back at work was miserable, and he only stayed half the day. He had been in a lot of pain all week, and I was really getting worried. After talking about it, we determined that he was overcompensating for his back and stressing other parts of his body, as well as the bad part of his back because he was trying not to put too much pressure on it. After he stopped overcompensating, he has felt much better since then, and has been able to do full days at work. He would still like a more supportive office chair, but other than that, it seems like things will be fine.

Now, about Justin's back and neck: he has four degenerated discs in his necks, and two bulging discs in his lower back. We don't know what we're going to do for his neck, but he's having spinal decompression on his back in the hopes that we can avert degeneration in that area (it's a newer machine that works better than the old ones). We really want to avoid surgery, which has the potential to be debilitating, and we don't want to do nothing, either. Justin's a strange guy: he's never really had the classic symptoms of degeneration, but his back did keep giving him problems lately (after he started an exercise/weights regimen). The chiropractor finally sent him for an MRI and that's when we discovered his problems.

For the first part of the treatment, probably a little more than half, Justin cannot lift, bend, twist, or exercise! Being very pregnant and scheduled for a c-section, this was not news I wanted to hear! However, if Justin is able to schedule his visits for three a week, he should be past the worst part before we have the baby (he is going to really push for it). I know our families and our neighbors will help out wherever they can, but I know Justin would really like to be functioning well when that exciting event arrives (especially since we have five other kids to worry about). I have to admit that I about lost it when he told me about his back and the treatment and stuff--I was absolutely overwhelmed and exhausted that day, and feeling that way and thinking about all the stuff we needed to accomplish this summer made me feel that it would be impossible. But I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. He reminded me that he never gives us more than we can handle and that he always "strengthens the back to bear the burden." I thought of my wonderful family members and neighbors who will be willing to help with what is needed, and I knew that things would work out just fine. I am also grateful that my two oldest are becoming great lifters, diaper changers, etc. Things will work out.

I have been blessed to be able to do what has been needed, and I didn't think it would be possible, considering how low my energy seemed. I am so grateful for the blessings I have been given. I also appreciate the insights I've been given into how worried Justin must be about the cost of all of this on top of the cost of my surgery and the baby and the new car we need, what his health condition means for his future, and so on. But wouldn't you know it, I think the thing that has made him the maddest in the short term is that all his work at the gym will be going "completely downhill," as he put it.

In true Justin-fashion, when his company paid for part of our Rec Center membership, he determined to use it to the utmost. He did so much research, trying to determine the best methods, exercises, and lifting techniques to get his body in shape and stronger in every aspect. He charted his progress faithfully, noting each improvement or stagnation, and marking those exercises that didn't seem to do much good or that seemed to aggravate problems. He would then look for a new exercise/technique to replace it. I wanted to spank him, though, when he decided to do a deadlift (you know, the thing you see weighlifters on TV do, except with more reasonably-sized weights). I was worried it would give him or aggravate back problems. Sure enough, it did! We're not sure if this is when the bulging discs occurred, but a couple times since he's hurt himself again doing other things, so it either aggravated a problem waiting to happen or caused the problem. The big stinker! Anyway, Justin is kind of upset that he will have to start all over again. I know how he feels. After I have surgery, my muscles go to pot because I'm not allowed to lift anything heavier than the baby, go up and down stairs, or push things. It's frustrating after I'm given the go-ahead from the doctor to go home and try to go back to normal--everything seems so much heavier, and I'm already tired and drained from taking care of a new baby. It won't be easy for him, but I think he'll get back up to speed faster than he thinks.

So that's how Justin is doing. He just keeps plugging along, and I'm so grateful for him! But aren't we too young for this?

Happy Father's Day!!

My dad is an amazing father. He has been totally dedicated to our family from the moment he and my mom were sealed for time and all eternity, doing whatever was necessary to support our family. Through financial hardships, my mom's many health problems, and all the stresses of life, he kept moving forward, always taking time to make sure each one of us felt loved, and always making sure we were taken care of. He has been so supportive of my mother through her health challenges and her return to full-time work, cooking and cleaning and helping wherever he saw a need. He always finds time to help others, even though he's so busy himself. I am so grateful for such a patient, loving, dedicated father. I couldn't help but think of him as I watched this incredible video--a true story about another dedicated, amazing father. I know you'll think of fathers you know and love that have touched your heart in a similar way. I am so grateful for my dad and for all the other dads out there that step up to their responsibilities and make this world a better place!

(I also want to express my love and appreciation to Justin, who is also a very dedicated and wonderful father. He has gone through so much to provide for and take care of our family. He worked almost full time through his entire stint of schooling, driving 2 hours to and from work in Salt Lake while attending school full time at BYU in Provo. His life was full of studying and work and not much else, though he always found time to help with the children and create great memories with them. He also served in a singles' ward bishopric his last year of grad school, which was a great experience, but also meant even more time spent working hard. Over the years, he has worked and prayed to provide for our family, and has listened to the Spirit about the direction we should go with his work and where we should live, and even though sometimes the answers have not been exactly what he would have liked, he has followed those promptings and we have been so very blessed. Lately it seems he's been so busy he hardly has time to sneeze, but he somehow finds time to be a great dad and husband anyway. Right now he's laying in bed with influenza and 2 bulging discs in his back which he's undergoing treatment for. He means more to us than I can even express. I love you, Justin, and I'm so grateful for your dedication to our family!!)



If you're having trouble watching the video on my blog, here's the link to it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhqRMP9meMc

When Life Gives You Lemons. . .No worries; this is not a post about something going wrong. I am the proud recipient of the fabulous Lemonade Award! Thanks to Jaymie, an amazing, wonderful friend, and an amazing example of gratitude, for this show of confidence in my apparent abilities to make lemonade out of lemons. I am really trying to be grateful no matter what my circumstances, and even though I fall short and end up whining sometimes, I am trying. I find that when I look for something to be grateful for, even when it's hard, my life is filled with joy and peace that carries me through rough waters (big or small). I wish I could say that I am always this way, but I hope someday I will be!

I nominate the following blogs for this great award:

Jaymie at Mislaid Musings: I know you nominated me, but I just couldn't not nominate you! Jaymie is a great example to me of gratitude and unconditional love for others.

Kristin at Mormon Fury: My amazing little sister who finds so much joy in life no matter what life throws at her.

Becca at The Johanson Family: Justin's sweet and talented cousin who sees the good in everyone and everything.

Tara at Aaron and Tara West Family: Justin's "cousin-in-law" who listens to the Spirit and looks for the positive even in great adversity.

Starla at The Packer Family: Another of Justin's awesome cousins who has an amazing attitude and sweet spirit, and loves life.

Stephanie at The Finlayson Family: Another West "cousin-in-law" who adores her husband and children and shows gratitude in everything she does.

Melissa at Mooneroid Universe: Another amazing, wonderful long-time friend who radiates gratitude and a zest for life even amid trials that would make other people hide under their beds.

Kayleen at Our Family Feil: Yet another fabulous long-time friend who sees the beauty in everything and everybody.

Holly at The Cherry Family: I have known this gal for umpteen years, and her ability to stay positive and smiling amid life's "circuses" have my deepest admiration.

Grandma West at Roy and Lorna West Family (a blog with multiple contributors): Justin's awesome grandma who takes a licking and keeps on ticking, with more energy and ability to accomplish than just about anybody I know.

Angenette at The Incredible Imblers: An amazing person we met while young marrieds at BYU who has been through the wringer the past few years and still manages to keep going and creating joy and peace for her family despite immense grief and trials. I seriously don't know how you do it!

If you would like to gift this award to anyone you know, here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or on a post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post (I was too lazy, but the links are on the right of my blog--if you would like a link removed, please let me know. . .I do want to respect your privacy. The links are so I can keep track of people, but I don't want to intrude on anyone.)
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award
6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Through my own experiences, and through the experiences of others, I have found so much to be grateful for. I thank the Lord for His many blessings to me and for amazing friends and family who teach me so much!

Christian Courage

I have made it to the war chapters in the Book of Mormon (Alma 43-63). I used to slog through them, looking for the "gems" hidden in all the blood and treachery. Things like "if all men had ever been and would be like unto Moroni. . ." and "we do not doubt our mothers knew it." Great scriptures, and great evidences of faithfulness in times of great adversity.

But it occurred to me several years ago that when the prophets said this book was for our day, and that everything in the book is there for a reason, they really meant everything. Even the war stuff. And so I started reading the chapters differently, trying so hard to understand the reason these things were included. I still love all the "gems" in the chapters, and I appreciate the meaning that those scriptures give me. But I have also discovered important truths that we need so desperately in these challenging times, and they include ways to strengthen our children for the adversity they will face, how to strengthen the members, things we need to watch out for so that we are not deceived by Satan, and so forth.

I just read about Amalickiah and his treachery, and it's a pretty depressing chapter, watching this guy get exactly what he wants through evil means, and reading about his supporters--how they were taught the gospel just like the other Nephites, but because they started to love power and prestige more than the truth, they became even more wicked than the Lamanites. I read about how Amalickiah got Lehonti, leader of the portion of the Lamanites that didn't want to fight the Nephites, to eventually come down from his safe place to meet with Amalickiah. Amalickiah was able to then trick Lehonti into doing something that would eventually bring great sorrow to both Nephites and Lamanites, and Lehonti was eventually "poisoned by degrees" until he died so that Amalickiah could have full power. It is sad to think of what could have been avoided had Lehonti not allowed himself to be lulled into thinking that everything would be fine, and that he would be strong enough to leave his safe place.

After reading that particular section, and pondering what I needed to learn from it, I thought I remembered two Church leaders talking about that very section in Alma 47. Upon visiting www.lds.org, I found my memory was correct. Elder Hales and Sister Dalton both referenced this very section in their wonderful talks given in October 2008 General Conference, both so very needed in this day and time. (Just click on the links to read them, if you would like.) Elder Hales spoke about Christian Courage and being a true disciple of Jesus Christ as we interact with others. Sister Dalton reminded us that the value of virtue is more important than ever, and that we cannot allow ourselves to be "poisoned" through gradually accepting the world's values and standards and by being distracted from the true purpose of our existence.

I am so grateful for personal revelation and revelation given by Heavenly Father through living prophets and inspired leaders so that we can avoid the many pitfalls that surround us and so that we can avoid being "poisoned by degrees" until we suffer a spiritual death. The world is so full of half-truths and distractions that we desperately need to cling to the tools our Heavenly Father has given us to help us stay on the path that leads to eternal life. I know that He lives and loves us, and wants us to return to Him someday, and I am grateful for all the tools he has given us to help us do this, including the gift of the Atonement, made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ, who also lives and loves us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy Mother's Day!

"By small means are great things brought to pass. . ."
"You are laying the foundation of a great work" that will bring you much joy and great blessings.

Thank you to all mothers everywhere who have had the courage to bring children into this world and raise them! I love you and salute you! (And thank you to William O. Nelson, who gave the most empowering and uplifting talk on motherhood I've ever heard in a Mother's Day sacrament meeting!)

Tolerance

I don't usually like to get into social issues too much on this blog, but I was so proud of Miss California in the recent Miss USA pageant. I didn't watch the pageant, but I read about it in the newspaper.

What a courageous answer she gave the judge, especially when she knew what the consequences might be! I don't think she was expecting to be attacked the way she was, though. It really got me wondering--why is it that people with certain views say that we should be "tolerant" of their views, and that we should allow them to say what they think, and do what they want, but when individuals with opposing views try to do the same, they are attacked and are told that they cannot speak that way, act that way, or express their beliefs? The judge who asked Miss California the question was basically baiting whomever drew the question, and had no reason to ask it other than to gain support for his views. And he later went on the internet calling her horrible names and saying mean things about her. What does tolerance really mean? Is it today's definition of "a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own?" Is it merely "putting up with" others who are different and believe differently? And does it go both ways?

I believe that everyone has the right to believe what they feel is right, and that they have the right to express how they feel or believe in a respectful manner. And, as such, everyone has the obligation to agree or disagree in a respectful manner. I try so hard to listen carefully to the diverse viewpoints of others, knowing that I will gain perspective and understanding as I do so. I may not change my mind about my beliefs and feelings (I will not when it is a moral issue), but I will understand others better and will be able to show greater respect to others who live differently. I would hope that others would show me the same courtesy. Unfortunately, the trends today are not towards "courtesy." Sadly, "political correctness" dictates that the "cause du jour" must be "tolerated," even embraced, or anyone who opposes that cause is "wrong," "hateful," and even a bad person. Just look at the recent Proposition 8 decision. People supposedly against "hate" suddenly turned their preaching of tolerance, acceptance, and love into hateful, vindictive actions and words when things didn't go their way. The same thing keeps happening for those who believe in God and want to worship him when and where they choose, and especially for those who believe in Jesus Christ. People who do not believe in God feel that everyone must cater to their beliefs (prayer in schools, the Pledge of Allegiance, elimination of Christmas programs, etc.) or others are "forcing religion" on them. What they fail to realize (or maybe they don't fail to realize it. . .) is that they are forcing their beliefs on others in the name of "tolerance." We must have "moments of silence" or "inspiring thoughts" instead of prayers, lest we offend someone who does not pray. We must have "Winter Celebrations" instead of "Christmas Programs" or parties lest we seem intolerant of those who do not believe in Christmas or Christ. Yet every other religious holiday and set of beliefs is trumpeted, celebrated, and encouraged. It is so discouraging. "Tolerance," or the greater term "respect," should go both ways, not just the socially popular way.

We have been very blessed, so far, not to have this trend infect our local elementary school and city council, but it's happening close by. I talked to a father who lives in our school district a couple of years ago while we waited for our daughters to finish ballet class, and he said the above situations are alive and well at their schools.

As I wonder in amazement at the ways Satan finds to deceive people, I am really not surprised. The scriptures are full of warnings about these very things. It is no wonder the prophets have worked so hard to teach us about how important it is to read the scriptures every day, to pray always, to listen to and follow the prophets, to be faithful, to follow Christ. If we do not, especially in these perilous times, we will be in serious danger of believing half-truths and full-out lies. We will start making excuses for our beliefs, become ashamed, and get lost in the darkness that surrounds us. I am so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I desperately hope that Justin and I are teaching our children what they need to know to get through these confusing times.

My sweet elderly neighbor, Dorothy Call, stopped me at church the other day and told me how much she fears for the children growing up today. She grew up in such a relatively safe time, and she sees the things that surround the children of today, and just weeps. She told me that she prays so hard all the time for the little ones and those who are raising them and having any contact with them. I was so touched by her faith and her desire to give us young moms her faith and strength. I felt like I was being endowed with extra power and "armor" in this battle for souls. I love my children, and I want them to be safe. I appreciate all the extra help I can get! All of you who have children or grandchildren growing up today--know that you are important enough to our Father in Heaven that prophets and faithful Saints alike are praying daily for you and your little ones!! We will win this battle, with God as our protector and help.

Definitions

Oviparous: "it means baby animals that are born from eggs!" --Christopher, via kindergarten
Flabbergasted: "it means that you're really surprised!"--Christopher, courtesy Oscar the Grouch's ABC's
Onspensiverous: "it means you grow up, put on panties, and go to ballet."--Emily, invented after hearing Christopher define big words

Becoming As A Little Child: Grateful For Snow

I know I should be grateful it's been so rainy and now is snowing--in April. The snow in the mountains is our water supply, and we really need all we can get. Plus, the more it rains, the less I have to water the lawn, which saves water, too. But spring is such a tease. We get gorgeous, sunny, perfectly warm days, and we drag out our capris and tees and sandals. Then the temps drop and it rains and even snows (love spring in Utah. . .), and we have to drag the cold weather stuff out again (this is not good for the space-challenged, like us).

Yesterday I was in a rebellious mood and wore my favorite black maternity tee and my black flip flops. It wasn't too bad when I went to the doctor, but by the time I took Ashley to ballet and headed to Albertson's, I was regretting my decision. The clouds were thick and plunking lots of thick raindrops down on us, and my kids were SO slow in getting out of the van. I was soaked and freezing going into the store--which wasn't heated at all, it seemed--and totally soaked and freezing trying to load all the groceries into the car (they had some really good sales this past week--got my free milk and $10 off my total order!). "I am such a dork." I proclaimed to nobody but myself. Apparently my built-in pregnancy heater has its limits. I will not make the same mistake today.

So I am trying not to grumble at the snow, and I am smiling at the example of my 18-month-old, Jeremy. Jeremy loves to go "bye-bye" and loves to go outside, and he absolutely LOVES the snow! He finally learned to walk 3 months ago, and when he discovered he could look out the front window, he loved to look outside as much as he could to see what was going on. He liked it even better when I'd open the front door and let him look through the screen door--the window is lower and looks out over the steps, not through a vinyl railing like the other window. When he'd look out on snowy days, or we'd go outside, I'd point to the snow and tell him what it was. About a month ago, we were leaving to take one of the girls somewhere, and he kept saying, "No! No!" In a family our size, it isn't unusual for our little ones to learn that word early, so I thought he was just being contrary. But I soon realized that he was saying it in an excited manner and pointing at something. Slow mommy that I am, I finally realized that since the sky was dropping big, fat snowflakes Jeremy was saying the word "snow!" It was exciting!

Ever since then, Jeremy has pointed at the window and said, "Uhts zat?!" And then he'll wait for me to answer, or just answer himself, "Snow!" (Or "No!" in Jeremy-language). Then he'll repeat it over and over with a tone of adoration in his voice, and usually will accompany his exclamations with giggles and happy sounds. Or he'll run to the window and point outside, standing on his toes, and squealing, "No! No!!" Today, as I took him to his crib for his nap, the sky was dumping big, fat flakes again, and the snow was sticking to some degree. I pointed out the snow, and his face lit up with pleasure. I love seeing the light in his eyes, and the pure love and gratitude he has for Heavenly Father's creations and blessings. It's at times like these that I can see why Jesus asked us to "become as a little child."

An Easter Message

Please enjoy this beautiful Easter message from an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. We wish you the most wonderful Easter, and express our tremendous gratitude for the incomprehensible sacrifice of our Savior. His incomparable gift gives all mankind deliverance from death and also the possibility of deliverance from sin. It is so amazing that we will all live again after we die, and so wonderful that we will have the opportunity to be with those we love again someday. And in this life, we can have the help and comfort we need because of what our Savior went through. He knows our pain, sorrow, and loneliness perfectly, and He is just waiting for us to reach out to Him with open arms. We know that He lives and loves us more than we can understand. We love each and every one of you!

Everyday Food Storage

I am a big fan of having things in storage that my family will actually eat, and making it part of our daily lives, as I'm sure all of you are, too! If there were a financial emergency, a several-day power outage, or a natural disaster, I hope that I could still feed my family things they are familiar with, and do it well. Thinking about the different situations we could find ourselves in cause me to re-evaluate what we have in our storage and think about what we should be storing. We're doing pretty well in some areas, but not so great in others.

I was Googling for Texas Tumblers--you know, those indestructible plastic glasses that came in all kinds of funky colors, and that you always see at the old diners or Mexican restaurants--and realized that they are pretty hard to find. I happened to find a blog that mentioned them (they went to Smith and Edwards and couldn't find them). But the blog also talked about a website they had found that helped you learn how to use your food storage more effectively and use it everyday! I really would like to learn more--I always like to hear new ideas or new applications of principles. I also found some ideas for kids and General Conference (always looking for those, too) and some cool recipes (with videos). I didn't spend a ton of time at the site, but I'm planning on going back to see what I can learn. Here's the link if you're interested:

I also have a cool book that a lady named Karen Gilmore ("The Wheat Lady") has put together to sell after she does Enrichment presentations on using food storage. She has recipes that use more of your long-term items like wheat, honey, beans, dry milk, and things like that. (Justin is really wary of the "bean fudge!") I think it's going to take me awhile to get to the point she's at, though--she sprouts her wheat to use in snack mixes, makes her own hot cereal, and uses her hard beans in all kinds of things (like the above-mentioned fudge). I'm still stuck on using canned beans. I guess I need a little more motivation and time! Anyway, if you have any food storage ideas you love, books you like, or websites you enjoy, post it in the comments--I would love to hear about it, and we could all use some more ideas in that area!

It's A Girl!!

I am so lame--we found out on March 11, but for some reason, anytime I want to post pictures, I put it off and put it off. We are so very excited! (We would have been happy with either gender, seeing as how we have a goodly number of each kind. . .)

The Sunday before my ultrasound, Justin asked each of the children what they thought the baby was. Ashley and Christina were hesitant to say for sure, but Christina wanted another brother "like Jeremy", and Ashley, annoyed by Christopher, finally voted for a girl. Then Justin asked Christopher and Emily. Christopher immediately said it was a boy, and Emily said the baby was a girl. They were both pretty adamant about it.

So on ultrasound day, I was trying to find a good time to tell Christopher about his new sister. He sat down next to me, and asked excitedly, "Did you find out about the baby?!" I cringed, then smiled and said, "Yes! The baby is a girl!" Christopher's face immediately melted into the biggest frowny scowl (with angry eyebrows) I've ever seen (well, at least on anyone but him. . .). I chuckled and said, "What's the matter? Don't you want a new little sister?" He turned away from me, folded his arms, and with the same frowny face, shook his head deliberately back and forth. I had to laugh! (He is getting more used to the idea now!)

Then I went to tell Emily. She listened to me tell her that she would be having a little sister, and she said, "I already told you." Yes, you did! (These little ones always do seem to know. . .)

So now we look forward to meeting our new little girl at the end of July!!

This ultrasound picture was taken in February.

And here's one from our most recent ultrasound:

Whine? Never Mind. . .
(Note: This entry is in no way intended to minimize the suffering of someone with lasting depression, whether it be clinical or caused by other situations--another reason I have no right to whine!)

I am a person who tends to get depressed as winter drags on and on, especially when winter happens to fall in the first part of pregnancy (always a time I struggle with depression). Naturally, I've been looking forward to spring, so I've been a little whiny lately because of the "teaser" 70's weather we had before plunging back into winter-like weather. However, sometimes I just need a little perspective. . .

Ah, spring! The sun is shining, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and I hear birds singing in the early light of the morning! I can go outside without a coat! I love to feel that fresh spring air on my arms, and I love sending the kids outside to jump on the tramp and swing on what's left of our swingset!

On a beautiful-and-in-the-low-70's Saturday, I am heading to Great Clips to get my hair (which has reached the middle of my back) chopped off like a sheep being shorn. Ah, the sun, the breeze, the wonderful day! We are going to Draper to meet some friends for delicious pizza at Nevole's (if you ever have a chance to stop there, DO!!). Justin asks if I'm bringing a jacket. "What for?" I laugh. But as we head toward Draper, the dark clouds loom over the mountains ominously. I nervously hope that they'll stay over the mountains--I really don't want a storm again. As we head further south, the day turns darker and the breeze turns into a brisker wind. I begin to grumble.

In Draper, the wind has really picked up, and the temperature has dropped dramatically. We grab the kids and run into the restaurant. We sit toward the front, where every time someone opens the door, the wind whips through the place and blows all over our table (and that's pretty frequent, considering it's the one of the best pizza places in the valley and it's a Friday night). I scowl at the weather and growl when Justin's friends tell me that Phoenix (where they live right now) is in the 80's and even the 90's. Grrrr. By the time we leave, the wind is blowing an arctic blast right out of the ski resorts and the clouds are almost black in the east. "Welcome to March in Utah! I don't know why I'm surprised--it's always like this!" Justin's friends laugh, and tell us about the homes they've been looking at in Draper. They miss the snow. I snicker.

The next week is filled with storms. Woe is me! The kids have to stay inside, the sky is gray, and I wish for this to just END. The week ends with a beautiful, slightly chilly day in which the kids can finally play outside for a little while and get their wiggles out just in time for. . .

. . .the next day's "light snow," which turns out to be snow dumping so hard I can hardly see the neighbor's house diagonally from us! We get at least 3 inches of snow. Spring? I hardly think so! We wear boots and coats to go to Grandma West's to visit the grandparents and also Uncle Reed and Aunt Sherrie who are visiting from Sutherlin, Oregon.

It's dark, it's cold, it's wet, it's muddy; it's not fair! I want sunshine, I want warm days, I want the birds not to freeze, I want glorious weather with moderate temperatures!!

But then I think of my Aunt Martha and Uncle Mike. . .in Fargo, North Dakota. They are hoping their home doesn't flood from the record rise of the Red River. Aunt Martha's filling sandbags at the Fargodome. Their neighbors and fellow-citizens are riding around in boats and traipsing around the city in below-freezing temps to put up sandbags, pump out water, and to man the dikes to make sure all is safe. They could be flooded out at any time in winter weather that is still pretty bitter. I see a picture of a man with sandbags. He is bundled up in layers of clothing, and his legs and arms are covered in ice from water spraying all over him. I am sitting at my kitchen table in my warm and safe house, not having to worry about a flood or to fill sandbags in the snow or to wade through almost-frozen water. I feel pretty blessed.

Just heard on the radio this morning: after a brief hoped-for respite, Fargo is now being inundated with a two-day blizzard. I will whine no more!!

Dinner Update

I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath (ha, ha) to hear how our desperate dinner attempt (post below) turned out. . .

It was pretty good! I doubled the recipe (in a 9X13 pan) and substituted the head of cauliflower I had sitting in the fridge for the broccoli; I just made sure it was in smallish pieces before using it. I also used cheddar cheese and added a little onion and black pepper. In addition, I lightly salted the hashbrowns and baked them for about 10-12 minutes, as suggested. My casserole took about 10 minutes less to fully bake (my new oven--a story for another time--seems to be a little hot) than the lowest suggested time. I liked the casserole, and I thought the cauliflower complemented the different flavors nicely. My kids liked it OK, and Justin, after dousing it in hot chili sauce, pronounced it "edible," as in, "I'd eat in again, but I wouldn't ask for it." I think it would be even better with some nice chopped ham or a little bacon in the future. The recipe seems to be something that you can enjoy as is or use as a springboard for additional ideas.

Ah, the joys of dinner done! Unfortunately, there's always tomorrow. . .

What The Heck Should We Have For Dinner?!

That's exactly what I typed into the Google search box (minus the punctuation). Don't you ever feel like this? Sometimes I just get in a rut, or I simply just hate food. And for some reason, when I'm racking my brain to come up with dinner, the only things that come to mind are: tacos, chili, taco salad, enchiladas, fajitas, chicken enchiladas, or eggs and what Justin calls Super Pancakes (I'll post the recipe sometime). Boy, what a repertoire! Mexican and breakfast. Those must be my comfort foods or something.

We just had chicken fajitas last night, and I don't want anything with ground beef in it, seeing as how the majority of what I made last week contained that ingredient, so I had to go back to the drawing board, so to speak. I have a picky husband, didn't think far enough in advance to take some of the larger cuts of meat out of the freezer, and I'm pregnant, so that complicates matters. I forced my brain to think harder about things we like, and either everything sounded yucky, was too much work, required a trip to the store, or it was too much like something we'd eaten recently. Urgh! What to do?!

That's when I visited all-knowing Google. But did I find anything? Heck, no! I did find a good blog on the Woman's Day website, but if I was going to attempt to make any of the dishes posted there, I would need to go to the store, something I really don't want to do (I just love packing all my kids in and out of the car and the store just to get one or two things, don't you?). And none of the other choices really yielded any results. I'm sure other people have asked themselves the above question a time or two--why can't they be responsible citizens and post blogs containing the above words so desperate people like me can get dinner ideas? I mean, come on! :)

I finally went to Allrecipes and visited my recipe box, which is usually full of dessert recipes, so I wasn't expecting much (I mean, I would love to eat dessert for dinner, but that's not too nutritious. . .). To my surprise, at some point, I had actually picked some recipes besides dessert ones at some point! Good thinking, me! I scrolled down and found a few quiche recipes! Yes! I have a pie crust in the freezer! We haven't had an egg-based dish too recently! I have cauliflower I can sub for broccoli! We have cheese! We don't have cream on hand, but we have sour cream, which one of the recipes calls for! We have hash browns, which one recipe uses instead of pie crust. That sounds yummy! I love you, Allrecipes!

So here's what I'm going to make tonight, with a couple of substitutions! I'll let you know how it turns out. . .

Broccoli Hash Brown Quiche
Submitted to Allrecipes by Joy Vincent

Joy says that she likes to vary this quiche by adding ham or bacon sometimes.
Ingredients:
3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 1/2 cups frozen broccoli cuts, thawed
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded Colby-Monterrey Jack cheese

Directions:
Press the hash browns onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-inch pie plate, forming a shell. Sprinkle with broccoli. In a bowl, beat the eggs, sour cream and salt; stir in cheese. Pour over broccoli. Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-65 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

Note: A couple of reviewers suggested baking the hash browns for about 10-12 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Back From Arizona

Justin arrived home from Arizona on Thursday (yes, I'm slow), and the kids absolutely loved going to pick him up at the airport. I was fascinated by the technology at the airport that enables you to stick a credit card in at arrival and departure, and you are charged for how long you've been there (which is usually zero, since we try to be as quick as possible), and also whatever device makes it possible for them to be able to tell you how many parking spots are available on each level of the parking garage. Pretty cool and very useful! (Yes, I'm thrilled by weird things-- and we obviously don't go to the airport much.)

Justin brought home little gifts for each member of the family, one of which was a scorpion encased in resin for Christopher, which he got a huge kick out of! He took it for show-and-tell on Friday! Justin was going to get himself a t-shirt with a picture of a skeleton on it that said, "It's only a dry heat," because he's a humidity fan, but he didn't.

Justin's favorite activity of yesterday, before coming home, was at the F1 Race Factory in Phoenix. They divided everyone into teams of five (with people they didn't know well) and had them compete in fun things like changing all the tires on a real race car and racing in these cool race cars that were low and wide so you could go fast and not tip over. Justin ended up on a team with three women, so after he and the other guy raced, their team's possibility of winning slowly went downhill (I'm sure some women wouldn't have been so timid, but I guess these gals were). Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun! Justin says someone took pictures, so hopefully I'll be able to post them later. (These are just from the F1 website.)

Justin is hoping that Caremark takes them back there next year! (His dad used to race cars, so I guess he got a little of that gene in him.)

So, in case you're wondering, we are NOT moving to Arizona (at least for now), and, so far, it seems like Caremark will keep RX America as just another one of their locations. Every time they've bought a company, they keep the buildings and many of the employees in whatever location the acquired company is in. They have offices in many different places, and the company seems to function well that way. They have a lot of teleconferences, fly where they need to, and it saves them the exorbitant cost of moving all employees to either Rhode Island (where CVS headquarters are) or Arizona (where Caremark headquarters are) and trying to accomodate all the new employees at one of those locations (buying or leasing more land, building more offices). We have uttered a small sigh of relief, but are keeping in mind that nothing in life is certain but death and taxes, so we will keep one figurative leg on moving on with life and one in the possibility that Justin will need to transfer to a different department, look for a new job, or continue with the new company in (gasp) a new location. RX America has actually acquired new plans this year, and is growing even more, while Caremark, like most other companies in this lovely economy, has lost revenue, so that could be very positive for them. Also, Justin's rebate team (with only five employees) has managed to process as many rebate submissions as the rest of Caremark's rebate arm (pretty impressive, though very stressful!). In addition, when Justin gave a presentation to the Caremark execs after the merger, they told Justin that the rebate database he built himself was very similar to their big, expensive database, and one of the VPs likes Justin's submission process better than Caremark's! (Yes, yes, I am very proud of my husband--I am sorry to brag!) But hopefully these things will help him in the future.

I am just so grateful that Justin's hard work and perserverance are paying off in little ways here and there. So many times, he has reminded me of George Bailey from It's A Wonderful Life (one of the best movies ever!) in the way that he has plugged along where he's supposed to be, doing the best he can, even though other opportunities would have been so much more satisfactory in so many ways. I am so grateful beyond measure that he has kept doing what he should and that little by little opportunities have opened up for him along the way. Now, with the economy so uncertain, things could still go a different way. But I am so grateful for the tender mercies!

My Heart Is With You

Last night, after all my kids were finally asleep, I "visited" some friends at their blogs and discovered, to my great dismay, that two of my dear friends, women I admire more than I can express, suffered great losses.

The way they have handled their situations, the strength they and their husbands have shown, have touched my heart immensely. I am inspired by their faith and by the eternal commitment and deep love these couples have for one another.

I know that mere words can never express feelings of the heart adequately, nor can they heal or comfort alone, but the Holy Spirit can convey the deepest and most needed things, the tenderest mercies our Savior has in store for us. To my friends, I love you. My heart is with you; my prayers are with you. May God continue to bless you as you recover and heal from your experiences.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."

--How Firm A Foundation, Hymns 85, attr. John Keith

Arizona Update

Just thought I'd let you know how the "team building experience" is going. First of all, I'm not really as bitter as my last post may have sounded, although yesterday was a terrible day (compounded by some news I'll allude to later); it was mostly in fun.

Justin had a good day, and spoke with every single member of their team (all 60 or so). They all know who he is, because somehow his department is linked with every aspect of their operation. That's a great sign, and a pleasant surprise for Justin. (Hey, these days, you need all the contacts you can get!) They had some great presentations to familiarize them with Caremark and the way they do things, and, to Justin's great pleasure, the food was all awesome! (He is really picky, as many of you know, so it's nice that he is enjoying the cuisine.) After a full day of meetings at the resort, Caremark took everyone out to dinner, and the food was great--at a bar!! Who'da thunk it? Justin was glad that Arizona has a clean air act like Utah so he didn't have to choke the night away. He got back at a reasonable hour and is looking forward to tomorrow's wrap up. Can't wait to hear about his go-cart race!

Where's The Justin. . .I Mean Justice. . .

I am stuck inside my house, freezing (no, my furnace works fine, just not my body temperature regulator) while outside nature is dumping thick, wet snow on the ground, and while Christopher is about to drive me up the wall.

Justin is. . .

. . .flying into beautiful Phoenix, Arizona.

I am shoveling wet, heavy snow with a kid's shovel because I can hardly push or lift the snow with the manly shovel. Slush slops onto my head from the overhanging trees. My hands are turning into icicles.

Justin is in lovely Tempe, Arizona, hanging out at a mall with some friends and will soon be heading to a fun local restaurant to eat out with the friends and the rest of his team from work.

I am dragging five kids to the store and ballet and putting up with complete uncooperativeness that spirals downward into two kids refusing to come to scriptures, and another child blasting the Beach Boys multiple times as I alternate between trying to change diapers, brush teeth, get people in bed, and finding a secure place to hide my iPod. (Wheeeee, Dad's not here! We can drive Mom absolutely bonkers!) As I am finally changing the last diaper and everyone else is at last in bed, Justin calls from Scottsdale sunny-and-in-the-70's Arizona, where his hotel is. And guess where he's staying?!

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort! In a patio suite!!

This is only part of the suite!

Two people wearing the lovely robes you can take

home for only $45--don't worry, that's not Justin!

Two rooms and a bathroom! Two TVs! A sectional! What in the heck is Justin going to do with all of it? I snorted and said, "And we didn't get a babysitter why?"

So why is Justin in the lap of luxury while I slop around my messy house trying to get kids to mind me? CVS/Caremark bought RX America's parent company, Long's Drug Stores, and now they're having a "team-building" session in Scottsdale, Caremark's main headquarters, to get all the various satellite locations together and "bonding." Justin's team, from Salt Lake, and various groups from Irving, Texas; Northbrook, Illinois; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; as well as Scottsdale, are all meeting together through Thursday afternoon to help them all feel more like one "team." (At CVS/Caremark, everyone is a "colleague," and they are grouped into various "teams" according to their departments and management. Isn't that lovely?) They will be fed three meals a day and their session will end with a fun-filled trip to a go-cart race track. Hoo boy!

Actually, Justin has been looking forward to this session for several months, and he is feeling like it will be really productive and positive for all of them. He will be able to meet people he'll be working with even though they're far away, establish relationships, network, and feel more a part of the whole Rebate team. And, honestly, nobody deserves a little change-of-pace like Justin, who goes to work faithfully every morning at 6:30 A.M., deals with so much responsibility, works through frustration as all the little details of this merger get worked out, works from home if he thinks I might need to go to the doctor, helps me get caught up on the dishes if we get behind (which he did last night so I wouldn't be left with even more to deal with), often goes shopping for me, takes such good care of our finances, puts up with our chaos, tries so hard to be understanding and patient, and loves me no matter what I look or act like (and some days are pretty bad, especially when I'm pregnant).

--And besides, he won't get to go swimming, visit the whirlpool or the spa, or really get to enjoy his room because he'll be so busy, so heh-heh!! Just kidding! I love you honey, and we're all looking forward to picking you up from the Salt Lake Airport on Thursday evening!

Long Time, No Blog

Yes, I cannot handle my life. The holidays, my house, my kids, my hubby, and other things, have all taken precedence over posting. So sorry! But I think you probably understand. After all, this blog is here because we have lives, not the other way around!

I hoped you would not all think that I am not grateful for all my blessings (which include all of you) because I didn't post at Thanksgiving (I am VERY grateful for all I have), and I hoped you would not think I am a Scrooge because I didn't post anything during December, either. I want you to know I thought of every one of you and even peeked in on you from time to time, and I enjoyed seeing how your holidays were treating you. I am not a Scrooge, rather, I absolutely LOVE Christmas, and I love the reason we celebrate it--our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful beyond expression for His choice to come to earth to serve us and save us all from the woes of sin. I am grateful for His Atonement, which enables us to repent and be with our loved ones forever, and for His Resurrection, which frees us from the bonds of death, making eternal life possible as well. I love thinking about his earthly mother, Mary, and the things she must have gone through and thought about, and about the miracle that birth is, made even more miraculous by that special Baby, who came to be our Savior.

The Sunday after Christmas, one of the sisters I work with complained about the talks that were given the Sunday before (which were about Christ's mission and Atonement)--she said something like, "Why can't we just celebrate Christmas and leave Christ a baby at Christmastime?" I didn't know how to reply without sounding critical, but I was surprised at the way she felt. There would be no Christmas without the Savior's life, His Atonement, or the Resurrection--there would be nothing to celebrate! That's why He came! I feel that we can celebrate His birth and His life and mission all at once, and it will make our Christmas celebration that much more meaningful and whole.

I was kind of disappointed that we didn't get to do a lot of the unimportant, temporal things that make this season memorable. I longed to sit in front of my Christmas tree every evening, holding a steaming mug of hot cocoa, and listening to Christmas music. I longed to go caroling to the neighbors (my husband would never do such a thing), bake Christmas goodies, build gingerbread houses, read a new meaningful story every night, make homemade Christmas stockings, and on and on. . . But unless I can hire a nanny, with all the things we had to do to continue normal life and get ready for the holidays, most of this stuff wasn't going to happen, and didn't. However, we did do one thing which I consider imperative (unless illness or new babies come to our house)--we went to Temple Square to see the lights and the nativity scene. It was wonderful, memorable, and I forgot the camera. I loved standing in front of the life-sized figures and listening to the Christmas story and the music and remembering how I felt as a child, and then watching my children experience the same wonder and joy. I choked up when I heard President Hinckley reminding us that the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection are the reason for all our rejoicing and celebration. And I was quickly reminded that all that other stuff is fun, but it isn't important, and my children are not going to be scarred for life if we don't do them all. We played plenty of Christmas music, as much as possible, and we spent time together trying to focus on Jesus and the things He would have done if He were here. Yes, my kids fought more than I would have liked, and yes, our tree didn't get put up until the week before the week of Christmas, but as long as my children know why we celebrate Christmas and why it's so important, none of the other stuff matters.

They have loved playing games with their dad, snuggling under fluffy blankets in our freezing basement family room to watch Christmas movies, they loved seeing their aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents, they LOVED Temple Square, their eyes sparkled as they helped us with our family service project, they enjoyed reading all the great Christmas stories in our book basket, and they were so excited when we finally put up their favorite Nativity set, which is starting to fall apart a bit, but that we will always patch together and keep. Yes, in retrospect, it was a good Christmas, and I hope they have felt a little more of the Reason for the Season (even if Mom was a little grumpy).

Part of the reason our holidays were a little more simplified (ha!) was because of this:

7.31.09

Confused? Don't blame you. Yes, it is Harry Potter's next "birthday," and though we're Harry Potter fans at our house (thanks, Santa, for completing our Harry Potter book collection--we only had book seven--by ordering from a clearinghouse the old six-book boxed set. . .what a thrifty guy you are!), that's not why this date is meaningful to us.

Just before Christmas, I paid a visit to my OB/GYN and he confirmed that we are expecting our sixth child, with a heartbeat, (because I've had four miscarriages, I have to see that heart beating before I will tell anyone or stop freaking out) on July 31, 2009! I had taken a test a couple of weeks before, and I just couldn't make it through Christmas without knowing what was going to happen.

Now, technically, because I have planned C-sections (ever since #2 decided to try to come out face first, and I'm not a big risk-taker, so no VBAC), this child will not be born on that day. Rather, this child will most likely, unless I go into labor sooner (which has happened before), be born on the 27th of July, because it's the week of my due date, and that's usually how things get planned. Well, we are excited, and we are looking forward to July! We'll keep you posted on how things are going--and hopefully I'll be better at posting than I have been the last month or so!

I hope each of you knows how much you mean to all of us, and how much we appreciate your love and support. Happy New Year to all of you!