Yesterday when Bret came home, he went out into the backyard. While the big boys picked up the fallen sticks off the lawn, Bret took all the backyard furniture out of its winter storage.
That simple action seems to have flipped a switch.
The sun shines brightly.
The open windows are chasing out the stuffy air.
The boys are running around with smiles outside instead of jumping off the furniture and yelling at each other like they do inside.
My spring bulbs are a couple inches high.
The grass is beginning to green up.
The trees are starting to bud.
Spring is just around the corner and I am so thankful to be seeing the end of this winter.
Plus, we're taking two short road trips in the coming weeks. Easter is just a few days away. General Conference is next weekend.
And my baby is trying to roll over.
It's such a gorgeous time of year!
What are you thankful for today?
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
What matters most
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise…Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Jenkins Lloyd Jones
Life is stressful. And though that's the way of it and I try to hitch up my britches and get back to it, it's so wonderful to get reminders of what truly matters.
Like when Jonz gave me the opportunity to have fun pretending with him. He dressed like a cowboy and came into the kitchen to "order a rootbeer." The thrilled look on his face when I surprised him by diving into a story (complete with accent!) that led to an adventure outside gave me both joy and guilt. He shouldn't have to be so surprised, I should do fun stuff like that with him all the time. Yet it was still so fun to have that moment with him and see that while he's growing fast, he's still my little boy.
Then there was the time Al and Goose busted out some sweet moves with me while we rocked out to Billy Joel tunes.
Or laughing at ridiculous movie scenes with Bret last night.
And you know I can't post lately without bragging about my Trooper. I tell you what, this boy is such a timely gift from heaven! Just a couple days ago I was sitting on the couch with my computer, stressing about some church stuff that needed to get done asap. Trooper was playing on a blanket and started to get a bit fussy. "Gah," I thought, "nap time." I absent-mindedly spoke a "hang on juuuust a sec, bud" while I continued my work. A few minutes later I got up to go find a paper I needed and stopped short when I saw that Trooper was asleep on his blanket. He'd put himself to sleep and with hardly a peep! As I looked at his sleeping face, I suddenly felt all the stress leave my body (not just the small stress over a deadline, but ALL the stress of life I was feeling) and be replaced with such a sweet peace.
God has blessed me beyond measure. He blessed me to join paths with a loving and respectful man that I get to call my husband and he has blessed the two of us with four amazing sons. They bring me more joy than I ever conceived possible. Throughout my life, I have been blessed to be surrounded by fantastic people.
I am thankful for these reminders and for the peace they bring amidst the stress and trial of life. And at the same time, I am thankful for the stress and trial that remind me to "cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you" (Jacob 6:5).
What are you thankful for today?
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Thankful?
Things I am thankful for- lately, historically, futuristically, and all or most of the time...ly:
A wireless internet connection (though I'm getting fed up with Comcast messing with my speed to try to get me to pay for an upgrade. Scammers.).
Praying every night with my husband.
That Grandpa taught me how to make a proper milkshake.
My flippin' awesome camera.
(Somewhat grudgingly) Opportunities to learn forgiveness.
70 degree weather and sunshine.
Little boy voices pretending elaborate stories.
Baby voices, too. I melt every time Trooper "talks" to me.
Parents. I hope I'm as cool as my parents someday.
Faith.
Rootbeer.
Bret.
Bret.
And Bret.
And just what are you thankful for today?
A wireless internet connection (though I'm getting fed up with Comcast messing with my speed to try to get me to pay for an upgrade. Scammers.).
Praying every night with my husband.
That Grandpa taught me how to make a proper milkshake.
My flippin' awesome camera.
(Somewhat grudgingly) Opportunities to learn forgiveness.
70 degree weather and sunshine.
Little boy voices pretending elaborate stories.
Baby voices, too. I melt every time Trooper "talks" to me.
Parents. I hope I'm as cool as my parents someday.
Faith.
Rootbeer.
Bret.
Bret.
And Bret.
And just what are you thankful for today?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Amazed
My little Trooper is nearly three months old.
I find it amazing how easily I slip into a feeling of normalcy with whatever patterns of life I find myself in.
For years I was afraid of having more children. I always had this feeling, though, that if we did have more- surely, surely God would give me a break and bless me with a peaceful baby. But...would he really...? And so that fear stuck around, right through the first couple weeks of Trooper's life.
He was calm, his cry was not hysterical screaming, and anything he cried about was easily discovered and remedied.
Yet I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; waiting for him to behave in the ways I was used to babies behaving. That exhausting, frustrating, insanity-creating way that I was used to.
I don't know why I was waiting for that shoe fall. I'd prayed my heart out that Heavenly Father send us a peaceful baby. I knew asking for such things was petulant. But I didn't think I could handle another newborn phase like the ones I'd known. I do know that he would have helped me and the baby through it should come to that...but...
But oh-so-thankfully, he sent us Trooper.
A calmer, more peaceful, happy presence I have rarely known. Never have I known it in an infant. I mean for goodness' sake he's only gotten the hang of smiling in the last month! And yet, just to be in the same room as him is soothing to the soul.
I love him.
And I am thankful for the reminders I get that I am so lucky to have him. Life with him seems normal already. He's been sick in varying degrees for the last couple weeks. Even through that he was true to his blog nickname. But yesterday and today, he's finally up against a symptom he can't handle alone. My poor boy's throat is congested, and sometimes his sinuses as well. He just wants to be held (preferably upright so he can breathe a bit easier). And all this holding, and back-patting, and bouncing, and swaying to try to soothe him throughout the day reminds me of all those months where Bret and I did this constantly.
I am so blessed to be this boy's mom. I am so thankful for the peaceful existence he's had so far and for the confidence I have that he'll return to that once he's better. He's a treasure.
What are you thankful for today?
FYI- Much focus has been placed on the subject of Trooper in this blog for many a month. Don't fret about my other boys, my husband, or any other aspect of life that I have neglected to write about lately. I love them all as deeply as ever. It's just that this preoccupation with Trooper is like any new love. I am smitten (and much of my time is consumed by his needs), and I write what's on my mind most, so obviously he will be my most frequent topic. Deal;)
I find it amazing how easily I slip into a feeling of normalcy with whatever patterns of life I find myself in.
For years I was afraid of having more children. I always had this feeling, though, that if we did have more- surely, surely God would give me a break and bless me with a peaceful baby. But...would he really...? And so that fear stuck around, right through the first couple weeks of Trooper's life.
He was calm, his cry was not hysterical screaming, and anything he cried about was easily discovered and remedied.
Yet I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; waiting for him to behave in the ways I was used to babies behaving. That exhausting, frustrating, insanity-creating way that I was used to.
I don't know why I was waiting for that shoe fall. I'd prayed my heart out that Heavenly Father send us a peaceful baby. I knew asking for such things was petulant. But I didn't think I could handle another newborn phase like the ones I'd known. I do know that he would have helped me and the baby through it should come to that...but...
But oh-so-thankfully, he sent us Trooper.
A calmer, more peaceful, happy presence I have rarely known. Never have I known it in an infant. I mean for goodness' sake he's only gotten the hang of smiling in the last month! And yet, just to be in the same room as him is soothing to the soul.
I love him.
And I am thankful for the reminders I get that I am so lucky to have him. Life with him seems normal already. He's been sick in varying degrees for the last couple weeks. Even through that he was true to his blog nickname. But yesterday and today, he's finally up against a symptom he can't handle alone. My poor boy's throat is congested, and sometimes his sinuses as well. He just wants to be held (preferably upright so he can breathe a bit easier). And all this holding, and back-patting, and bouncing, and swaying to try to soothe him throughout the day reminds me of all those months where Bret and I did this constantly.
I am so blessed to be this boy's mom. I am so thankful for the peaceful existence he's had so far and for the confidence I have that he'll return to that once he's better. He's a treasure.
What are you thankful for today?
FYI- Much focus has been placed on the subject of Trooper in this blog for many a month. Don't fret about my other boys, my husband, or any other aspect of life that I have neglected to write about lately. I love them all as deeply as ever. It's just that this preoccupation with Trooper is like any new love. I am smitten (and much of my time is consumed by his needs), and I write what's on my mind most, so obviously he will be my most frequent topic. Deal;)
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