{A Whole lotta thinking...}

 My view never gets old:)

Well I guess my great plan of be a good blogger again kinda slipped but that means I'm keeping busy and moving along with this new phase of life. I sometimes have a lot of things on my mind and no place to vent them but thats not really true this is my space and I intend to keep venting because if we all shut up and never stand up than thats how we get to be a minority which actually looking around people with values, tradition and thoughts contrary to the world........ are already in the minority;)....

Thought 1:

Why is it that we constantly compare ourselves to others?? I heard my 11 year old compare herself to the "other" girls in her grade and it made me sad that its already started so we had a good talk about .......someone will always be...... fill in the blank baby...... because thats life we can't all be rich, famous, beautiful, tall, skinny, fat or what have you..... there's all kinds of us here and we need to love ourselves and others for what GOD gave us..... JUST BECAUSE the world is a terrible example of if "you don't like it get surgery" or whatever it may be or whatever you think you might be be it..... there are rules and consequences in life and there will always be someone more talented, skilled, skinner and more powerful, beautiful but we all gotta find our own inherit beauty and divine nature....

"You are free to choose but you are not free from the consequences of your choice."

Thought 2:

So the world didn't end last night with the blood moon ... I was a little disappointed I mean I really thought this was it ...totally kidding but I do realize that a part of me wishes we could get on with things and how long can this wicked world keep rolling..... But then I think of the beautiful things like sunrises and sunsets and blood moons that remind us daily, that there is someone up there who loves us and sends us reminders constantly to be prepared for whenever that time may be and not to worry so much. I mean this world has been wicked many many times over and over patterns and years of peace and wickedness can be seen throughout history and we have a duty to teach our own kids and be the refuge from the world...  

 

Thought 3:

I never really thought how much a bishop gives of his time how much sacrifice he makes..... until I became the bishops wife... You get used to things and the kids do to. But it makes me wish I had appreciated all my past bishops more for the secret times and hours they give to their ward members at the drop of the hat. OR the times they come home with shoulders drooping and say I wish I knew how to help more..... or the times they hold you tighter and appreciate you more for the love that you share because they see so much sadness and ache because of the choices people make..... the small and big....They spend hours on their knees and they are constantly on the phone trying to help, organize and resolve issues that we never know anything about.  So not really any point just a thought:)  ITS also this Husband, bishop, father, friend, son, uncle, boss, employee, cousin, grandson's birthday on Wednesday Sept 30th:)  We all have titles and responsibilities and this guy does a great job of all of them. He is the hardest worker I know works long days and hours is a great father to our children he makes me laugh daily......and  drags out bedtime with the kids when he's home for more than an hour sometimes they love it...he is the husband I always dreamed about growing up and he is that and more. I count my blessings daily.

pic from our san diego trip this year:)

Thought 4:

With Thanksgiving coming it always makes me so aware of the blessing I have and so grateful for the things that sometimes we don't think about the small things and big things....

I'm Grateful for :

-water when you don't have it for a day you realize how much you use it and how much you don't have stored 

-or simple things like toilet paper;) you realize how important it is when you don't have any left in the house haha

-grateful for the small things we teach our children that we don't think come across until someone tells you what you child said or did that you've been trying to teach them....

-grateful for D's job that provides for our family and the steady dependable job it is and most importantly that he loves it and thrives at it as hard and demanding as some days bring...

-grateful I have my health that all my children are healthy and strong you never know and there are some heart wrenching things families go through who didn't ever think about it either...

-grateful that ms. L loves her dad so much that he takes time with her when he can because every daughter needs a father who loves and cares and takes time.....

-grateful for life lessons that our children learn sometimes tough ones by accident or because of choices that they learn to be more obedient or to listen more that mom and dad do know what they are talking about.....

- grateful for the gospel knowledge that leads and guides my life ....of a Savior who loves us and wants us home that died for us so that we can use the Atonement in our lives should we need it ...when we stop and listen and care enough about more than just this life........ thats big.

-grateful for the examples of others who inspire me to be better and do better...

-grateful for the blessings my children are to me how much the thank yous and the hugs and the I'm sorry means to me. If they had any idea how much we love and want the best of life for them!!  They would know that we do know what we are talking about..... that we have been there that obedience really truly is happiness:) but I'm also pretty sure we thought our parents didn't know anything back in the day either;)

- grateful for friends who know just when you need that shoulder or that listening ear grateful for in tune souls out there.....

-grateful for warmth that comes in so many forms 

Grateful for my life I know that we all go through trials thats what we are here for right  I watched womens conference saturday night and loved this beautiful quote :

"I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling, sisters, that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, 'Was that all that was required?' I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of the love that our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything They asked to be back in Their presence again. What will it matter, dear sisters, what we suffered here, if in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with Them." —Linda S. Reeves

Grateful Eternally for these four:

L's dreaming of how grateful she is for brothers too;) I know it;)

What are you grateful for above all?

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

Randomness

1. I am a little lonely here all day by myself.... I find myself wondering what to do some days....or wondering what I actually even like doing and wondering when all the kids are moved from home what am I going to do??..I have a husband who works 24/7 almost between all he has to do....I know I've already blogged this somedays I have to much time to think..and it gets away on me.....and you know where that gets anybody...feeling sorry for themselves;) some days...

2. My little man k2 is learning to read already with all my kids we have used the Dick and Jane readers from back in the day.  They love them. I love them and I love the repetition that makes them feel successful as they sound things out! Hard to believe he is to reading age:) But he is.

3. Football is in full swing kinda of exciting watching K give his all getting big and growing up. Friends become more important this year and an awareness of right and wrong becomes more apparent in choices to make and the friends you keep. I enjoy being able to see him grow and learn and love the things he choosing to do.....interesting watching our little people become who they are. We teach and nurture them but in the end how it all processes and comes out is fascinating to watch nature vs nurture in our case beautiful all the same:)

4. Fall is in full too.... boots cardis plaid bring it on:) I love the changing seasons but I think fall and spring are my favorite.... there is great symbolizes in both. Cleansing and renewing much like life.

5. We got our family pictures done last friday night by this talented girl I have so many friends who are photographers so its fun to switch around each year different styles, techniques and talent:) love em all ......and I cannot wait to get them back:) 

6. So I'm at my K's football game chewing gum and my tooth shatters and splits four pieces in my hand huh! what the heck! Not sure what is happening to me:( another root canal :(( ahh not fun!

7. I've worked hard over the years to raise money towards my Europe trip and cannot wait to go! I have a good friend there now and her pics are killing me okay so I'm a little jealous but all happy for them:) soon soon....

8. IF you have not taken the time to watch any of the 12 steps to change ...overcoming addictions one of the best series I have seen put out by our church... the LDS church they are raw, touching and not for children  if you have a few minutes take the time to watch them found here

9. Great on the run recipe ...Oven baked fajitas Found here 

have on rice or tortillas:)

 

10. "Often when we think of calamities foretold in the Latter-days, we think of earth quakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, war, and financial collapses. These are all calamities and all foretold of in the scriptures. Yet there has been one calamity in the Latter-days that overshadows all others. It has caused the most pain and heartache for the most people. 

That calamity is the break-down of the family."

{So true its affecting so many every time we turn around}

 

   Have a great rest of the week:)

{Tuesday's 10 rambling thoughts}

1. pet peeve.... why are companies starting calenders with a Monday instead of a Sunday? just plain confusing to me or anyone born since like last week really why? why?

2. Miss L has an official name for her eye color called "glasz" who knew Google it its legit she has beautiful eyes yellow gray and green and her's has a dark gray ring around her pupil........ which she inherited from her birth mother who has the same color and they are uniquely beautiful:)

 Looking forward.....

3. I had my first job interview yesterday an hour after my babies went off to school just as a sub for the schools here. Grades 8/6/4/1 its weird being in a new phase of life watching them all run off excited to start another year, as excited I am for them......there were a few tears.....

4. I sit here wondering what after 14 years do I have to offer? I am a mother a women of many talents all at the same time you know cook taxi keeping the ship afloat..... BUT What do I like to do? Who exactly am I? Do I still got it? I feel old? Am I ? How did we get to this point? I'm halfway to dead this year ha ha j/k but 40? whoa what? Makes one do a lot of thinking. YET there's nothing I love more than my kids and family..... being here for them while they are young it's what I want and can do.  

I want to raise these littles to be amazing contributions to society, life and faith... To be strong, intelligent & hard workers who have convictions and a burning testimony for what is right in a world gone so wrong. 

Being here leading, guiding and walking beside them is my biggest goal. We waited a long time for these children and we have a big job I intend to look back on and know that I did all I could for them. Of course its all about improving along the way none of us is perfect especially not me I'm working on patience and being calmer and being a better example because we all know its not what we say its what we do and how we do it.. thats our job:)

"OUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS"

5. Sometimes its hard being a bishops wife not complaining here just stating facts.... people ask me a lot what its like if its hard and sometimes honestly it is. You lose friends... people say to much .......or assume you know their problems for the record I honestly know nothing!  You get invited to a lot less. People watch you, expect you to be perfect .....expect things of you like if you didn't smile, talk or sit next to the right people and leave no one out ..... chances are you probably offended someone never intentional that is for sure! I sometimes find it hard carrying on a conversation if I don't know you that well just me not you. We aren't all made the same I could serve more, take gifts, meals and serve all day long. I wish I was more like that. I try but I'm far from perfect. BUT I also have a family to care for who have a father who dedicates his time and talents to a ward family and that TAKES A LOT of time. I love our ward family and pray for them daily but I have my four littles to watch teach and protect too.... I'm where I'm needed filling in the gaps and helping things to run smoothly while my kids have less dad time.

6. I get to be be a vendor in the WHAT THE JUNK Vintage Market in a few weeks so I'm changing a few things..... upgrading..... and have lots of new stuff I'm working on:))  I even ordered business cards for my non business haha:) But it will be lots of fun!  Mark it one your calenders:) Come:)

7. Made these for the kids yesterday on their first day home from school snack all of them loved them they did not turn out pinterest pretty but they weren't to shabs:) {not my picture}

8. Found these daily questions on the blog house of smiths.... to ask the kids after school so we made it our dinner conversation material last night it was amazing like actually they talked, K2 got sad for a minute because he missed mom at school but it was really helpful and informative and made them really think about their day. I'm excited to keep it up everyday its important to get them talking and for all of them to listen to each other. I think having more empathy for each other only cultivates an awareness of looking out for each other and in turn feeling more love for each other and understand each other a little better in the process.....
 

- What was the best part of your day today!?

- Where you ever frustrated/mad/annoyed at anyone or anything today?

- What was your favorite thing you learned?

- Did you ever feel scared today?

- When did you practice being kind or helpful?

- Was today a good day, or a bad day - and why?

- See more at: http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2015/08/my-after-school-routine-that-really.html#more

1.What was the best part of your day?

2.Were you ever mad/annoyed/frustrated at anyone or anything today?

3.What was your favorite thing you learned today?

4.Did you ever feel scared  today?

5.When did you practice being kind or helpful today?

6.Was today a good day or bad day? Why?

- What was the best part of your day today!?

- Where you ever frustrated/mad/annoyed at anyone or anything today?

- What was your favorite thing you learned?

- Did you ever feel scared today?

- When did you practice being kind or helpful?

- Was today a good day, or a bad day - and why?

- See more at: http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2015/08/my-after-school-routine-that-really.html#more

- What was the best part of your day today!?

- Where you ever frustrated/mad/annoyed at anyone or anything today?

- What was your favorite thing you learned?

- Did you ever feel scared today?

- When did you practice being kind or helpful?

- Was today a good day, or a bad day - and why?

- See more at: http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2015/08/my-after-school-routine-that-really.html#more

- What was the best part of your day today!?

- Where you ever frustrated/mad/annoyed at anyone or anything today?

- What was your favorite thing you learned?

- Did you ever feel scared today?

- When did you practice being kind or helpful?

- Was today a good day, or a bad day - and why?

- See more at: http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2015/08/my-after-school-routine-that-really.html#more

9.  My favorite quote right now.....

10. This is what its all about..... nothing is more important or of more worth.... because the most important work we can do is within the walls of our own homes....we need to strengthen the foundation..... walls..... and spirits within...so thats what we are doing everyday.........everyday.

its worth it.

Have a great week:)

your thoughts? any body actually still read blogs ha ha?