Running again

Okay...I feel like I am coming out of my 2+ month long funk thanks to some great friends. Just wanted to shout out to Rita and Mandy for running with me this morning. I didn't even mind the hills (and believe me, they were icy and steep), not to mention it was fureeeeeezing. It just felt good to do something just for me and I have really missed that. So thank you, chicas, for thinking of me and encouraging me to come out for a great run!

Thanksgiving Festivities

Man, has it been a month....again? Not much has happened in the last month, except for Thanksgiving. We had my family over and Dave, Shar and their kids stayed the weekend with us. We had a great time. The food was good (except for my quite soggy dressing. I do not recommend making it in a crockpot).

As you can see, my family is a very interactive bunch. Above is proof that the boys just love to get together and discuss world events, have deep spiritual discussions or just get caught up on eachother's lives. We did pull the gaming devices from their hands long enough to play a few games with us. We stayed up pretty late, full well knowing that we would have to get up at a quarter to 4:00 a.m. to go shopping.

As soon as Ty and my dad sat down to watch a movie they were out. In my family it is a definite rule to get a picture of whoever has fallen asleep in full view of the family. We were pretty tame this time. We usually like to decorate our victims before snapping a photo.

Here are the younger cousins in their traditional stair pose. Every year we get them on our stairs. It's fun to see them grow and fill up the stairs. My kids are the goofy ones. Tyler is in that wierd "I have no clue how to smile" stage and Ainsley decided having an orange in her mouth would be hilarious.

We went down with Dave and Shar to the lights at Temple Square. They were really beautiful and the kids loved seeing them with their cousins. This is the last picture we took down there and the kids, I think, were done with having our picture taken. We rode frontrunner and trax and, although it took a lot longer than we thought, it was a fun experience for everyone.

3 a.m. thoughts

I woke up with a migraine and after taking a handful of medication, I am waiting for it to kick in. Whilst doing so, my thoughts are racing towards this Sunday, when I have to give a Relief Society lesson. I chose Adversity and the Atonement a while ago, and am now lacking inspiration to give it the umph it deserves. So, I wanted to ask you, my friends, if you have anything I can use during my lesson. Is there a story from your life about how the Atonement has seen you through a rough patch (I will change names if necessary)? Do you have a brilliant scripture that illistrates how the Lord is always by our side in times of need? Anything....please! I don't think it is fair to ask and not give so I thought I would share. When I was a teenager, I went through an extremely self-inflicted and severe trial. I was in over my head and had no clue what to do. My testimony, if anything, was weak at best. My confidence in myself was shattered and I was in a very lonely place. However, I was fortunate enough to have people rally around me. Out of sheer necessity, I turned toward my Heavenly Father, both for forgiveness and strength. Both seemed to come slowly but surely. My eyes were opened to the power of the Atonement. It was a concept I had been taught in primary and Young Womens, but it was a bit too abstract for me to really "get". I finally understood that the Lord really does give us trials for a purpose. I believe he also gives us tools to see us through those trials. For me, it was supportive family and friends. In a situation where I could have been shunned (a much too severe word for lack of a better one), I had people all around me that defended me, lifted me up and offered me unending support. Without these people, I know my trial would have been much darker and more difficult to endure. I am so thankful for the power of forgiveness. I am so thankful for the love that Heavenly Father shows me everyday. I am truly a blessed child of God.

Other early morning thoughts:
Thank you, Rita, for asking me to run "today"! It kicked my butt, but I am so glad to get going. You were so kind to think of me. I am having a bit of buyers remore with the shoes, but oh well. By the way, I think bangs would look fabulous on you.

Watch the Price is Right today if you can. My cousin, Myrna, is on it today!

I am so glad to have my brother and sista-in-law so close again! We look forward to chillin' with y'all more often.

Anyone know how to make curtains (and be willing to teach me)?

Well, better get back to bed. The medication is kicking in.

I am TAG

I saw this cute tag on my friend's (and soon-to-be running buddy again....right?:) blog and thought it too insightful to pass up. I like an excuse to look into myself every once in a while. I tag YOU because I want to read your answers.

I am...tired.
I think...way too much at 1:00 a.m.
I want...my kids to be happy and kind.
I have...a great husband.
I miss...running. I never thought I would say that and mean it.
I fear...I'm going to "found out" and all confidence in me will be lost.
I feel...great appreciation for the gospel in my life.
I hear...my kids playing with their cousins.
I smell...bleach and lysol (bathroom cleaning day)
I crave...some sort of chocolate almost every night before bed.
I cry...very little in public, even though I want or need to.
I search...for patience all the time.
I wonder...how long Ainsley and Ty will want to hang around with me.
I regret...way too much.
I wish...I could travel to Oklahoma whenever I wanted.
I love...the look on Ainsley's face when I go to volunteer in her class.
I care...about what people think of me.
I always...have wished I had a tangable talent.
I worry...I am doing this mom thing all wrong.
I am not...a perfectionist.
I remember...my older sister tormenting me (making me pee my pants or throw up) growing up.
I believe...I have been blessed with the best people on this earth. I have an incredible husband, caring family, and amazing friends. I am a lucky girl.
I sing...very badly.
I don't always...act on those small whisperings, and I always end up wishing I had.
I argue...too much for Blake's comfort.
I write...too little. There are people I intend to write to, but...
I lose...my temper too easily with my kids sometimes.
I listen...to Video Killed the Radio Star way too much.
I can usually be found...babysitting one kid or another.
I need...to learn to say yes with a more willing heart.
I forget...almost everything if I don't write it down.
I am happy...when my kids come home from school.

What to do, what to do

This evening Ainsley came inside crying. She was upset because a couple of neighbor girls were outside riding their bikes up and down the street and told Ainsley that she could not play with them. These girls are her age and are in her class at school. She really wants to be friends with them, but more often than not, they choose to exclude her say mean things to her like her hair isn't pretty or her coloring is bad (two things Ainsley takes pretty seriously). So tonight one of the girls said she hated Ainsley. It really broke her heart to be told that. I don't know what to do about it. Do I go and talk to the girls mothers? I know if Ainsley were treating other kids that way I would want to know. On the other hand, I don't want to try and fix every problem Ainsley has. I know that is the way little girls are, like it or not. I have tried to tell Ainsley to walk away from them when they start to be mean, but she really wants them to like her and doesn't understand what she has done to them to have them treat her so badly. So, I'm asking for advice. Should I let the other mothers know what is happening or should I just redirect Ainsley's attentions to other friends that do treat her well. What are your thoughts?

just yadda-ing

I just felt like getting on and rambling a bit today. Can I just say how excited I am for conference this weekend? This is the first time in my entire life that I have thought or said that. I have always looked forward to conference, but more as a "weekend off". I have looked forward to being able to watch it in my jammies in the comfort of my home. I have enjoyed conference, but more often than not, it has been for aforementioned selfish reasons. This time is different. This time I am looking forward to the messages I will get to hear. I am excited to be counseled by people that have our best interests in mind. I have been trying harder lately to understand the gospel. Right now, I still feel like I have the spiritual comprehension of a sunbeam, but hopefully I will continue to grow. I have felt the spirit so strongly on recent occasions, and it makes me realize that I have known that the gospel is true for a long time. I just have never taken the steps to find out before. Yesterday was Ainsley's primary program. She memorized her line and was so proud of herself. They sang a few of my very favorite songs and it was hard to keep the tears from flowing. Their message was so simple and sweet and it really touched my heart. The thought of Tyler being up there next year is so exciting.
On another note, I have been feeling the stresses of life in the forms of many headaches and stiff shoulders. The sad thing is I know my life isn't that stressful compared to many, many people I know. I haven't been running (need new shoes), which I know has been a huge factor it the way I have been feeling. I guess that I have been a lazy bum for so long, that I have a hard time adjusting to the normal rigors of everyday life. Blake thinks I should go see a doctor about my headaches, but I don't know what he can really do about it except perscribe pain killers. It bothers me that I am this way and I hate it that the kids see me laying down and immediately ask me if I am sick. I just don't want to be that kind of mom, always sick. Maybe this is a good excuse to get a weekly massage. Now that is something to think about.
Well, this week is full of activity. I have our Fall Social for enrichment this Thursday. I will be glad to have that one under my belt....only to move on to Christmas Social. I hope everyone's week is great!

Cute HSM

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