Spring Break

I love this time of year when the world around me is starting to wake up from its winter nap. I know it is our rainy season but I tend to look at that as what wakes everything up. Today is beautiful outside. It was beautiful at the beach this morning. After spending 7 days there and four of them stormy and rainy it was wonderful to wake up to the sun. I went for a three mile run on the beach and wow was that refreshing as I took in the salt air. I did run two other times but it was cold and very windy and I did not enjoy it as much as this morning. What a way to start a day. As the children slept and I got ready for the day and packed up to come home I was just thinking about how many blessings I have in my life and how I don't always look around at what is right in front of me. After my run I walked a little ways looking for "glass balls" on the beach. I was not successful but as I was searching I saw so many things that I would have walked right by. The beach front changes constantly depending on what time of year it is. This time of year it is generally sandy and not a lot of rocky areas but the tide was out this morning uncovering some rocky areas full of life. I did not find a lot of shells or agates but saw other kinds of rocks and listened to the birds as they flew by looking for their breakfast. This world is amazing, there is life everywhere and things are constantly changing and growing all around me. I am so glad that Heavenly Father created this kind of a place for us to be tested in. My trials and hardships can be endured much easier as I look at the beautiful world around me.

Side note: Autumn did find one of the mystery "glass balls" that are put out this time of year for people to find. She says you just have to use your brain and you can find them. We have often looked for these things ever since they started doing it lots of years ago. We are the first in our family to find one - and wouldn't you know it - the one not even looking found it.

Side note #2: Hayden and I had a little flu bug for a couple of days. But even that did not put a damper on things. We got to cuddle together and hang out because no one wanted to get sick so everyone stayed out of our hair for 24 hours! Hayden really is a clever little girl even when she is very sick. She was a little sicker than me - so when she did sleep I "beaded" away and created some beautiful bracelets and I am working on a really cool necklace.

I am glad that the schools let us have a week to celebrate the coming of spring. As important as school is time spent outside and experiencing our world sometimes teaches us a much greater lesson!

Autumn's list

Last week we had our "Glitz & Glam" Pinewood Derby for our Birthday Enrichment.(side note: this was a very fun activity and I loved the cute cars and Sheila you did and excellent job on the food!) So Thursday was spent decorating at the church and getting all the last minute things done for that. Autumn was my helper for the day. We had several errands to run and I kept telling her all the things that we needed to do when we got to the church. While I was checking messages and emails in the morning she was busy drawing and creating. I did not pay much attention to what she was up to. All I noticed is that she was not pestering me every two minutes for a snack:) When we got to the church she handed me these cards.

"What are these, Autumn?" "Oh, this is our list of all the things we have to do at the church. You said we needed eight tables and three balloons on each table. Chairs set up and the silverware put on the tables. When we get done then we can check it all off and then we will know that we are finished with all the things we need to do today."

Now anyone who knows me knows I am not a "list" girl. There are times I make a list after the fact just so I can check things off - but in reality it is my sweet husband who makes lists. All kinds of lists. Every evening when he comes home from work he empties his pockets of the little notes he makes to himself all day. Sometimes it just drives me nuts because he seems to have to write down even the simplest things to remember. My kids are used to him doing this and some of them are list makers. But most are more like me. Maybe I resist lists because of his list making - that's one for a therapy session:) Anyway, Autumn is apparently like her dad. She often likes to have things listed (like her job chart a few weeks ago). I just thought it was so clever for her to be organized for my busy day. It really did help and she knew just what I wanted her to do and because she was so helpful I got through my very busy day and did not forget anything! Well, I did not get my car all the way finished and then I did forget to bring what I had done to the dinner and so did not race and I was late because of traffic coming in from town. But the things that really needed not to be forgotten all got done because of Autumn's list!

"I'll Love You Forever"

An old friend (she is not old, I have known her a long time:)) shared a sweet story with me. When her kids were little I had shared a book "I'll Love You Forever" with her. At the time I thought it was the sweetest book, still do. Anyway, she had read it to her son when he was young. When that son left on his mission a few months ago she had bought a new copy of the book and slipped it into his bag. While he was at the MTC he found it and was in the hallway reading it when he started getting teary eyed - other Elders noticed and wanted to know what he was reading - pretty soon all these young Elders were reading and crying in the hallway. I was so glad she shared that story with me.

First of all, I love the message of the book and that it holds such sweet memories for all moms who read it with their boys (or daughters) but most of all I love that as she sent him off to serve the Lord she still wanted him to know that no matter what she would "love him forever"! This is a special young man who has a wonderful mother who has tried hard to raise him strong in the gospel and I love the example she has set as a mother in Zion.

Reading to our children is so important and I treasure every minute I have taken to do that! Anyone who knows me knows I read a lot and I read lots to my kids. The moments of joy that I felt while reading chapter books to the older kids or nursery rhymes with my babies are tucked deep in my heart. I hope that when they are older as they read certain books and share them with their children they will be flooded with memories of the love I had for them as we read together.

I have noticed that Toshia is now doing that same thing with her boys. It is so sweet to watch her as she reads to baby Jonathan or as Luke and Adrian sit on the couch listening to "Harry Potter". What a wonderful tradition she has started that will create sweet moments of joy with her kids!

Mission Organization

"THREE RULES OF WORK:

Out of clutter find simplicity,

From discord find harmony,

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

-Albert Einstein

For the last couple of weeks I have been working on my office. I totally emptied out everything as if starting from scratch. I moved bookcases upstairs and moved my desk to a wall instead of the middle of the room. I reorganized shelves, drawers, bookcases, paper, and all my crafting supplies. This was a big task for me. I tend to be a pack rat and also when I use something I don't always put it back where it belongs and then can't find it again. I do have to confess there is still a small pile of things (very small compared to what was there) left to find a home for but that soon will be done. I now feel like I can work in here and create again! During the holiday season when I was making things like crazy I just kept it messy so kids would not really notice the projects. When my mom and John came for Thanksgiving I said to keep out of this space because I knew was such a mess. I also knew that one of my goals for the new year was to create a better working space. That is why the quote I have from Mr. Einstein is going on my wall above my desk! When I am troubled with things I take my mind off of it by creating. What better way than to simplify my work space by controlling the clutter of it all. The best thing is David now feels like he has his space as well in here. A corner dedicated to Mr. Weitzel and his collections of "stuff"!


So even though there seems to be a lot of "stuff" it is now organized and easily accessible! Love it! Now on to the fun part - creating!

I took the day off

Yesterday I stayed home from church due to a sick child. A few of the kids have had that really bad flu that has been going around. I got everyone else ready and out the door. Then I settled in to watch some BYU television. Taylor did not need me to much and before I knew it everyone was home from church. When David came in the room he said, "Why are you still in your pajamas?" To which I replied, "I am taking the day off". He told me I could not do that because who was going to cook dinner? I just said there is plenty of food in the kitchen I am sure that no one will starve. I just kept working on my puzzle book and watching a BYU devotional. Soon after Toshia came over with her little family and she came upstairs to see where I was. She looked at me funny and said, "Dad says you are taking the day off, I am OK with that but does that mean need to cook for everyone. I brought some broccoli salad so I can add chicken." I told her thanks and that would be very great of her. But I was not coming out of my room. I just needed to have some time out. I think everyone thought that was so weird. I don't remember ever not getting dressed for the day. David kept asking Toshia if I was sick or what was up - I think he was worried something was seriously wrong and I was mad at him or something. Not the case at all - I just needed a mental day off from all the worries and cares of my sweet family. Lots going on with Paige at the moment and I was drained! The saddest part was that when all was said and done Toshia had put soy nuts in the salad. I am very allergic to those and so she said she was sorry but guessed I wasn't going to eat. That was OK I had a back up plan. I got Chad to make me a "just right" meal from safeway. And I successfully did not leave my room from the time they all came home until early this morning. I ran this morning and went into town, nursed Taylor, listened to Paige, cleaned my shower and bathroom, did laundry, worked in my office (still organizing, almost done!) managed some reading and snuggle time with Autumn and now I am off to a little league meeting and fixing dinner and doing FHE. I am 100% on duty today but yesterday.......I needed some time off!