I'm Back

Sorry about the long absence. I don't seem to have a lot of time anymore to sit and "play" on the computer. Kind of a good thing and a bad thing. Let's get the gratitude rolling again.

#1 I am grateful that school has started again
#2 I am grateful for the school bus that drops my children off a block away 10 minutes after they get out. In the time they get off the bus, I would still be trying to get out of the school parking lot! It's fabulous and they don't have enough time to get the "bad bus experience". (My first kiss was on a bus and let me tell you it is NOT a good memory. Ewwwwwww)
#3 I am grateful for a husband who works his buns off to provide for his family. He's the biggest, strongest provider I know (the smartest and cutest too).
#4 I am grateful for Mothers who give listening ears and offer their years of wisdom.
#5 Did I mention I'm grateful that school has started again?

K, of course there's a lot more but I have a lesson to prepare for and just wanted to recommit to my blog. I solemnly swear to do better.

Grateful for Yoga, NOT grateful for Yoga+Children

For the past year I have been dabbling in Yoga. It all started with Priscilla Patrick on PBS. Her little 15 minute stretches every morning got me hooked! Then I started doing the Yoga that's on BYU channel in the mornings and began studying yoga and meditation on my own. I used to try to do it after I went jogging or walking but it was taking up too much of my day. I started to do it twice a week but my kids were making it near impossible. Can you imagine me in some weird contorted pose with a 3 year old directly next to (or underneath me) trying to do the same thing, and a 1 year old trying to sit on my head at the same time? Now imagine me trying to do 5 minutes of relaxation after my practice with someone crying in my ear, a high energy 8 year old yelling throughout the house while he chases his screaming sister, and a baby in his high chair making obvious sounds that he is done by the clattering sounds of his bowl on the floor. It usually involves me taking a deep cleansing breath and then yelling so hard my face hurts DO YOU MIND??!! I AM TRYING TO RELAX!!! Let's just say it's not pretty.

I realized that Yoga is scarily bringing more stress to my life. When I am trying to concentrate so hard for these poses and get distracted by these little buggers it raises my stress to levels I didn't know existed! I then decided if I wanted to continue my new hobby I needed to make sacrifices. So....on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have decided to get up at 5:45am to practice Yoga in peace. Wouldn't you know it, at least 2 of them have been getting up at 5:50am since I started this. They pitter patter out, say in loud non-morning voices "Doing your Yoga Mom?!" And then proceed to open all the squeakiest cupboards, or slurp cereal, or dump out legos. If I try to make them stay in their rooms they play which usually ends up in playful screaming (or not so playful) waking up the other half of the kids. Whatever....So much for R&R. I tell you they have some sort of Yoga radar! Anyways, I guess there is a time and a season for everything...I just really wanted this to be my season for Yoga! *Sigh* I'm not giving up yet. I may have to sacrifice some precious evening adult time for Yoga (sorry bout that Jay).

Namaste

The Lucky One

Listen, my life just isn't that exciting but I can still be grateful right??

Right now I'm grateful for Allison Krauss. I could listen to her for hours.... I'm also grateful for the Leinwebers. They made me laugh today when they shouted the words to "who let the dogs out" at me while sitting and waiting for Payton to come out of his class. I'm grateful for good friends who let me hang out at their homes and eat their food when my house is full of boring stuff. I'm grateful for Anne Wadman, she made me good soup yesterday :) I'm grateful for a good book, and sleeping children.

I'm grateful for my husband who blasts the Beastie Boys while doing robotic dances making us all laugh. I'm grateful for Bella who said to me at least 5 times today, "I love you mom, do you love me?" I'm grateful for Tyson who seems to be the only person in this house I never raise my voice to (unless I'm saying, "The Dude!" in my high baby talk voice). He's not just "A" Dude. He's "The" Dude. I'm grateful for Katrina and her beautiful art she makes for me at least twice a day. I'm grateful for Payton and his willingness to help all day long. I'm even grateful for Cody when he cleans the food off my floors so I don't have to sweep so much.

Guess I had a lot more to be grateful for than I thought :)

Proud to be an American

K, sorry for the long absence. I solemnly swear to do better. Payton came home today from school and said "Mom, have you heard of the song, 'Proud to be an American?'" I said, "Ummm.....let me think...YEAH." Apparently they are practicing the song for a Spring Concert they are performing. So I start singing dramatically, and he joins in with me. But let me tell you when I heard that high little, non-pubescent voice sing
"There ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA"
it brought tears to my eyes. I told him about how I quoted that song in a talk I gave the weekend after 9-11 in Stake Conference (my talk was on the effects of music), and how my favorite line in the song was "The flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away." and what it means. He said, "Yeah, I like that line too. They think Betsy Ross made the flag." (Always Mr. Facts just like his Dad.)

Then we talked a little about 9-11 and why these men would want to kill themselves while killing others. Things I truly wish my son did not have to contemplate.

I love this land. I love my freedoms. I love that my son is singing "GOD bless the USA" in a public school performance. This country definitely has flaws but there is no other place I would rather be. Tonight I am giving thanks to my Father in Heaven for this country and all that it represents. I'm definitely proud to be an American.

Jack of all Trades, Master of None

Thanks to some encouraging words from my mother it's my new motto. Aren't we all like this in some things? I have to say that being a mother, although I don't have time to perfect any one subject, I study many different things that interest me, or in order to educate myself about something. I am a pianist, a guitarist, a singer, a parenting expert (I know the skills, however I don't always use them), a baker, a dog trainer, a nurse, a counselor, a financial expert, a gardener, an organizer, a chef, a personal trainer, definitely a maid, most certainly a servant, unfortunately for my husband a comedian, a nutritionist, a beautician, a coach, a martial arts student (that's right...I've got a yellow belt!) a chauffeur, a decorator, a story teller, a writer, a yogi, a teacher, a mediator, an advocate, a scriptorian, a disciple, and best of all a daughter of god.

There is no time (for now) to become a master of any one of these things, and for now I am content with just "dabbling" and learning about anything that interests me. I love being a mom. I may not work in the "working world" but it gives me all the more time to study and refine talents and skills that benefit myself as well as my family. Lucky me!

What are your skills? I was surprised I could come up with so many. Make a post on your blog...I want some new skills! (You know like nunchuck skills....computer hacking skills)

Thoughtful Friends

I'm so grateful for thoughtful friends who make me desire to be better. My friend Kristi Brausch asked me one day for the birthdays of all of our family members and since then has never failed to send a card. Not only to send a card but a card that arrives on TIME! My kids always get so excited to get mail (I have to admit so do I). My Dad and his wife are also very good about this.

Now me? I remember that I should have sent a card the day before their birthday, I then either throw my hands up and say "Oh, well! There's always next year!", I make excuses about how I've already done my weekly WalMart shopping (yeah, I don't get out much) and don't have a card, or I give them a lame phone call. So here's my plan of action:

1. Gather a few birthdays starting with your own children (I mean I need to start small or I'm going to fail..I know myself too well)

2. Buy your first real "your a grown-up now" planner to record such dates. I like this one from Franklin Covey

3. Quit being a scrooge and buy cards ahead of time so you already have them on hand (Note here: I personally am a little "anti-cards". I hate paying $3-$5 for something that someone will probably throw away within a week. HOWEVER, I have a Mother-in-law who LOVES receiving cards and always gushes over them. Point is: It's the thought that counts!)

4. Eventually become world famous for sending cards for the birthdays, weddings, graduations, losses, new jobs, new babies, new puppies, great haircuts and blemish free days of my family, friends, and that one really nice lady at the library. (Ask Kimberly Cardon why she'll stand in her line and wait for 10 minutes even though that OTHER librarian is totally available)

Wish me luck!

Ok, so lately I've just been kinda a party pooper about life in general. This cold, miserable weather just makes me want to curl up in bed and never do anything. When I do have to do something I'm cranky and whiny about it. No more! I have decided that I am changing my thoughts and that I am going to try to have a positive outlook on whatever I am doing. Going to Wal-Mart to grocery shop for 2 hours? Woo-hoo! Changing my 4th diaper at 10am? Suh-weet! Going to the dentist? Can hardly WAIT!

Boyd K. Packer says that "our thoughts are the switchboard, the control panel governing our actions".

"I think therefore I am"

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don't count on harvesting golden Delicious."

The thoughts that I think effect DRAMATICALLY my outlook on life and the way my day goes. There are enough people in this world that think negative thoughts. I for one am going to contribute more often to the ones who think positively.