Ten things I am loving right now...

My family........


My new antique sewing find......

That I get towatch these adorable grandchildren all the time....

That the flowers are blooming....

That I believe......

This plant that I have had since Autumn was born.......

Did I say the flowers blooming?.......

Birds........

Tea parties.........

My new typewriter...........

What are you loving right now?.........

The last couple of weeks

I've been so busy the last couple of weeks and finally feel like I have some time to sit down and catch up on my blog. First off a couple of weeks ago now my sister came to visit for a week. We had such a wonderful time. We were busy creating and exploring from the time we got up until we went off to bed at night. We hunted through all the junk shops in town and found some treasures. We sewed and worked on our "scrappy journals". We cooked and watched the little ones (grandkids). We made jewelry together and talked and talked and talked. I so enjoyed my visit with her. We had been waiting for so long for her to come and the week just flew by! Things have worked out that she might get to come again in the fall (her flight got canceled so they compensated her with a free ticket! - yeah for me) This was a Monday night and I baked a fabulous Lasagna. Everyone was there except for Paige who could not come. Andrew and Adrian had already left when we took the picture. What a wonderful Family Home Evening it was! I had been some time since that many children had been home for FHE. Missy really enjoyed seeing everyone.


Last week was busy watching the little ones and getting caught up on cleaning that I let slide while Missy was here. David was at the beach with the two little girls so it was a very funny week for me with only big ones at home in the evenings. With our silly weather we still managed to get in all the ball practices and track meet. Friday I took off for the beach with some girlfriends and had a great time. It was so nice to get together with them as it had been a while since I had seen most of them and it was fun to just relax and not be in charge of anything. I got home Saturday night and found that I had been missed very much by my Autumn. She had not seen me only for a few minutes on Thursday - since that is when she got back with her dad and then I left Friday morning. It was nice to be missed!

Today in church I did my first sharing time in my new calling. I had lots of fun playing the game I had made -"I will follow Jesus Christ's Example". What smart and fun kiddos! I am going to love this new calling working with all of the little ones. I also enjoyed the talks today in Sacrament meeting - I thought the sisters did a wonderful job and I loved their messages. I can hardly wait to get the Ensign and study the conference talks and highlight those things that really stuck out for me.

I am full of joy this evening as I think back on what a blessed and wonderful last couple of weeks I have gotten to live!

Piles

I have always loved how in our church we are asked to serve and work and do so without any monetary compensation. I have had many callings and loved all but a couple (I do have to say den mother was the hardest one I had and ended up doing that one three different times - guess I needed to learn something:)) Now I get serve in the Primary Presidency again and work with such wonderful ladies as we teach and serve the young children.



But with the acceptance of this calling I find I am forming a new "pile" of stuff. There are little "piles" all over my house. Most are organized in such a way you would never know it wasn't supposed to be where it is sitting. I have creative piles, sewing piles, seminary piles, girls camp piles, piano teaching piles, jewelery making piles, studying piles, books to read piles, and of course children's things piles, laundry piles, toy piles, shoe piles....it just goes on and on. I know the purpose of each "pile" and when it needs to be cleaned up and cleaned out. I am happy to add to all this a primary pile. Some of these piles will have to sit a while longer as I dig in and learn my new responsibilities. I am OK with that. I will learn how to balance this new pile in amongst all the others I have. I will still create, learn and do housework as I also learn to love with all my heart about 80 children who will touch me and teach me in a way the Lord knows I need right now. I just love how He works in my life. He blesses me and is there beside me every day. Like he promises in the scriptures "I will be in your midst" I feel His love as I take on yet another "pile" in my life!

Grumpy morning

So I thought that yesterday with daylight savings time would be a rough day. Actually this morning proved to be an unusually grumpy morning from everyone! Last night I was trying to get the little girls to bed and they were giving me all kinds of excuses like usual but finally we got them all tucked in and prayers said. We were headed to bed when Autumn told us that she thought she would just go back to "old time" and just stay up a while. David went in and had a talk with her and got her to finally admit she really was tired and soon she was asleep. But getting everyone up this morning was a bear! Autumn especially was very tired and cried over every little thing. Taylor and Hayden were fighting like cats and dogs - Noah was running more than a little behind - I had a head ache by the time they were all out the door and off for school. I hope they are kinder to their teachers today than they were to each other. The only bright side to all of this is that spring and summer are just around the corner - I can hardly wait!!!! Happy Daylight Savings to everyone!

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,


And sings the tune-without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.
~Emily Dickinson


On this snowy day I wanted to share one of my favorite Emily Dickinson poems. I am going to make some sort of craft with these words - still thinking about - The picture also reminds me that Spring is just around the corner........

Snow Day

We have been anticipating a "major" snowstorm for a couple of days now. Yesterday it snowed off and on all day but never stuck. This morning we woke up to a snow covered yard. Initally the schools were just two hour late opening but then an hour later we got the call for an official snow day. So with that a very lazy morning and then soon everyone wanted out in the snow to play. It has mostly melted now but they had fun for about an hour before they were too cold and wet. Now after such a weird morning trying to get them to do their jobs has been next to impossible. I guess all the "conflict" going on right now is worth it for the beautiful snowy morning!

California trip

I just got back from visiting family in California this week. I had a great time and got to see all my brothers and sisters who live down there.


While there my mom and John and sister Kelly went to San Diego to see the visitor center for the Mormon Battalion. Here they are panning for gold. I think they have done such a fabulous job at telling the story and keeping you interested in it. It is very interactive.

We got together one of the days for a barbecue at my mom's house. Everyone is doing so good right now and it was just fun to sit around and talk and visit with each other. I just had a great time relaxing and going to antique stores and hanging out with my sister Melissa quite a bit. I am so excited for her visit up here next month. I am glad to be back home because I do miss my kiddos when I leave but I do treasure the times I get to take off for a long visit down south!