Sunday, June 30, 2013

Thankful Sunday

Busy as life is these days, it picked up in intensity on Thursday. 

It's been a full weekend.

And so I am here to say, on this last day of June, that I am super thankful for Sundays and the day of rest God gives us.

I got to sleep in this morning, thanks to my lovely husband.  I got some church stuff done and we all got ready for church.  We spent a rejuvenating three hours with our ward.  Bret brought the boys home while I finished up some work at church.  Trooper took a nap.  I made dinner (tacos, widely praised by my finicky sons) and now we're about to start the bedtime routines.

It's been exactly what I needed.

Thank you for Sundays!!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

That's it. It's time to get uppity.

It's hard to live here.

Hard to live in a world with people that I just don't understand.

I try. 

I am an open minded person.  I think and process and ponder before I come to any conclusions; especially about people.

But try as I might, there are just some people who mystify me.

People like this:


I saw this picture this morning.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  It scares me. 

To bring you up to date, Texas was trying to pass a bill last night.  A bill that "would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and would have required all clinics to be graded as surgical centers, with all doctors required to have admitting privileges at hospitals."

Apparently, this would have closed most of the abortion clinics in the state.  (Why they would just close instead of bring themselves up to snuff is beyond me, but I don't want them here anyway so what do I care?)  And closed clinics would force women "to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures." (Why they would travel to Mexico or stick a coat hanger where they shouldn't instead of carrying the baby to term or hmmm, not having sex if they're not prepared to have a baby is beyond me, too, but obviously that's my close-minded bigotry and misogyny talking so pay no attention.)

A Texas senator staged a filibuster, trying to keep the vote from taking place.  They had to vote by midnight for this to go through.

She was fairly successful throughout the day.  Getting close to midnight, the other senators managed to stop the filibuster.  Much time was wasted in parliamentary procedure.  As they were taking the vote and creeping closer to midnight, people in the gallery started cheering and shouting.

These people:


The disruption cost precious minutes and prevented the vote.

Bill not voted on, whatever.  Millions of people will continue to be murdered every year regardless of what laws Texas passes.  (Would have been a nice step forward, though!)

What bothers me is that there is so little respect for life that we cheer and applaud the ability to freely commit homicide.

This is the world I must live in. 

It's a tough place to be.

As we say in my family, "huuuuhhhhhhhhhh."

And so I leave you with this:


"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Sticks, snails, and puppy dog tails

Things I am learning to accept as a mother of these little boys:

If it can be said, it must be shouted.  Louder is always better.

"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye."

Checking pockets before doing laundry will always be an adventure.

"Please give that to me" or "Can you get ____ for me?" is translated as "please throw that at my head."  Always say "please hand that to me."  This does not guarantee it will not be thrown at me, but it does lessen the odds.

The bathroom will always smell...off...I'm sure you can guess why.

Stitches.  Blood, bruises, bonks, falls, bandaids, scrapes, cuts, splinters, black eyes, concussions, and injuries in general.

Silence is silly.  Why be quiet when there are explosion, gunfire, and fighting sound effects to be made?

No.  They can't sit still.  Stop asking.

They will always think it is time to eat, whether we just finished a meal or not.

Nothing should only be used for its intended purpose.  A soccer ball serves just as well as a pretend bomb.  A couch works just as well as a trampoline.

The walls, carpet, furniture, etc. will never look pristine for more than an hour.  (My walls...my poor, poor walls.)

Hitting with a smile on your face is funny.  Hitting with fire in your eyes is a capital offense.

It is not common sense to wash one's hands.

Sleep is for sissies.

And I am a sissy.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Spent

All is fine.  All is well.  All is jim-fine-dandy, or however that phrase goes.

I'm just spent.

I'm trying to look forward to the weekend (because we've got lots of fun planned), but thinking about it makes me tired already.

Because I'm spent.

That's all:)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Because all I can give you is random

Viruses stink and I hate them.

Essential oils are great and I love them.

Little league baseball is too fun for words.  I love the look on those kids' faces when they make an awesome play.

Little league baseball coaches seem to be in one of three camps- 1) teaching the kids the rules (written and unwritten), how to have fun, how to win and lose with grace, and how to appreciate this awesome game.  2) teaching the written rules and the most important thing is to have fun (except it's really to win at all costs).  3) What's baseball?/I don't have time for this.
I am super grateful that this year we finally have a coach from camp 1. 

Sleep is important and I can't seem to get my children to understand that. 

Apparently, you're never too old or too young to fall down the stairs.  I slipped yesterday and fell hard.  Still sore today.  I think this incident was meant to teach me to have more sympathy when my boys get hurt...Or maybe I'm just clumsy.

Baby voices are pretty much the sweetest thing in the world.

Ice cream makes the world go 'round.  When we move, I'm really going to miss the mom and pop shop here that makes wicked good Almond Joy ice cream and hot fudge.  But I'll still have ice cream from the grocery store.  So all is not lost.

Summer vacation is a beautiful thing.

Flies in the house, melted popsicle on the floor I just mopped, and wet towels everywhere are not.

It's five o'clock.  I should probably go make myself lunch...oops.

Take a moment to think about something you're grateful for.  It makes a world of difference:)