In the Spring Time

Distractions

 

I do this:

“Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle it’s demands in distractions.  Instead of stilling the center, the axis of the wheel, we add more centrifugal activities to our lives—which tend to throw us off balance.” - Anne Morrow LIndberg.

I don't want to do that. I want to SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY.

I need to BE STILL. 

 "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a asepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."

 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Happy Easter!

A Whirlwind March

Older sisters do strange things to their little sisters.

We took a quick trip to MT for a funeral...I was really happy my kids got to get in lots of Granny Time. I am pretty sure you can't put a price on Granny Time.

Being in the van for long periods of time tends to bring out the weirdness in us all.

Playing in the snow at Granny's house. THe girls were excited about the snow, but they were excited to get back to where it is spring.

We live on the edge of the field where rainbows end. It is wonderful.

Gracie

 I realize that I spend a lot of my time with Amelia since she is a baby and needs me to do everything for her. And then I spend a lot of time with Katie because she is so vocal about her needs. And poor little Gracie has fallen into the classic fate of all middle children: neglected. So the last few weeks, I have been making an effort to "see" Gracie, and love her the way that she needs to be loved. 

Sometimes I think I take her easy-going nature for granted, and I count on her to be so. But I shouldn't. 

Sometimes I forget that even though she's not as expressive as Katie, that she still has needs that I should meet. 

And she is so SPECIAL. I knew when I carried her in the womb, she was very special and every day if I take time to slow and down and pay attention, I remember what a very special gift I have been given by having her for a daughter.

I love her little quirks...her grumpy faces and her tip-toe walks and her love of all things tiny. I love that she doesn't want to grow up but wants to stay little. I adore her pretend games.

She can be the girliest girl, and the next minute be rough-housing like the toughest boy.

But most of all, I love her tender, generous heart. What a precious little spirit.

Mothering

I have a confession.

The laundry is in piles
there are dirty dishes in my sink.
And I didn't sweep.
I haven't touched a vacuum
 in over a week.

But I did hold my baby
and count her precious toes
and made her laugh
by tickling all her chubby rolls

and I nursed her and snuggled her
for how long, nobody knows
and that is all that matters today
and that is all that will matter
every day.

Sunday Activity

I thought of a Sunday Activity that we are going to give a try. I will call it "Scripture Theater." Every Sunday we are going to pick a scripture story and act it out or do a puppet show of it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm having a hard time focusing because Amelia is distracting me with her sleepy and most adorable smiles.

see how adorable she is?

never a dull moment

she was making a "tadpole"

Long jump (we instituted physical activity time a couple weeks ago, and it is the BEST part of our day. We do soccer or dancing or tag or races. It is so good for us in the afternoon.)

 Making an effort to be "in the picture" with my kids.

Classic Grace

For Justin's birhtday we ordered a model rocket, but we had to wait several weeks to get all the accessories, and then nice enough weather to shoot it off. Fun family outing.

My Valentine

The Best Way to Walk through Life is Holding Hands

at Marcie's wedding

our 2nd Date (rice crispy sculpture)

day I received my endowments

I don't know if he will ever forgive me for that.

the night he proposed

trip to meet his family 

Justin is gone this week for work. Man oh man, do I miss him. Things have gone smoothly, but I miss him lots and lots. We get to talk on the phone, but it's not like seeing him or hearing his footsteps, or smelling him, or snuggling up to him. 

I was reading in my journal from the first few weeks we were married, and I was laughing about it...Oh man, I talked about how much I loved him, and wanted to serve him, etc. And looking back now it's like skimming the surface. And those of you who read my blog who have been married much longer must be laughing at me  thinking the same thing. There is so much more depth there. I just LOVE this man. 

A few years ago I read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. And he describes how one of the main characters feels about his wife. He says that it was horrible arguing with each other because it felt like he was arguing with himself. He didn't know where he ended and she began because they had become one. I loved that, and think of that often. Justin and I rarely have disagreements, but when we do, it's torture, because we are usually one. 

Justin and I didn't date long before we got engaged, but I knew he was a good man, and I could be who I wanted to be when I was around him, and that's why I married him. I knew I was getting a good catch then, but as time goes by, I realize more and more just how special my catch is.