It's a 4 Ring Circus!

the ups and the downs

This has been one of those busy seasons of life for our family.  I haven't really been sure exactly what I wanted to write about it, either.  Delaney has been having some profound struggles and we have been working as a family to figure out solutions, being stretched all along the way.  I think I am getting better at not completely shutting other people out as I hunker down through a difficult patch, which I guess is an improvement!  There have been some great things happening along with the hard things, too.  Ava and Sadie continually surprise me with their eagerness and capability when it comes to their schoolwork.  Josh has been enjoying his start into Boy Scouts.  All of the girls are thorougly enjoying their time at dance class.

Another interesting tidbit is that we are awaiting news about a home we are trying to buy as a short sale.  Still in the neighborhood but already has most of the upgrades we were wanting to do to this house, so it would save us a lot of labor.  It is on a much better lot, so that would be nice, too.  We probably won't find out if we get it for another two months or so.

I am really looking forward to General Conference this weekend.  I was reading an address from the last one that was timely for me.  "We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most."  I think that Heavenly Father gives me that test over and over.  Maybe I'll pass it one of these days.  ;-)

i really like brownish/blackish trees

{did a family trip to McKinney Falls State Park this weekend}

The last few days have been pretty good around here.  The l-i-c-e seem to have departed again (love the magic comb, by the way, and haven't needed to use the magic potions yet) and I've been able to make some progress on other projects, including planning a garden, getting stocked back up on coupons, food storage planning/inventory, etc.  Some major changes are likely on the way with Ryan's job, and he's known several people that have been laid off now, so that of course gives reason to ponder.  Our church had stake conference this weekend, and I was able to go to the Saturday evening session alone (Ryan home with the kids), which was nice -- with our current situation, I get almost no alone/regrouping time, and I'm the type of person that really needs that sometimes.  So, like I said, it was nice to have some time to ponder.  I am really blessed -- my kids are healthy and happy, my husband has a job that he loves, and we have such great family and friends that even with Ryan gone a lot over the last many months, I have never felt like I was going at it alone.  We have strong testimonies of our faith that sees us through the hard times.  So, no matter what lies ahead, I am confident that we can face the challenge.  In my ponderings I realized that I can do better in my study of the gospel and in my parenting, so I will be working on that.

Life is good, and I am grateful for it.

{this little muffin -- who was freezing her tail off on Saturday morning -- gets her cast off on Wednesday!}

farewell, strep

Tonight for FHE we celebrated the fact that no one had a fever and no one new has contracted illness by burning the "S" sparkler that Ben brought over for Sadie's birthday (but we forgot to use).  We watched the S burn and cheered the fact that we seem to have beaten strep again! 

I hope that this will be enough to ward off the strep till next year.

And I hope that my kids won't need TOO much therapy when they grow up.

(We invited Uncle Ben & gang to come join our celebration, but alas, they were too sick to attend.  Boo, strep, boo....)

Sunday thoughts

We attended our old ward in Encinitas today.  There are some pretty great people there, and they are always so great to us.  One of the speakers today was talking about the importance of mothers and fathers, and it got me thinking about our family's particular situation.  It seems like Heavenly Father has guided me into some strange places and circumstances, but it always teaches me something that I couldn't have appreciated any other way.  Certainly I have been seeing for myself how important the ideal is of a family with a father at the head and a mother to nurture.  We have been managing ok with Ryan out in CA during the week, but it is so much better for everyone when he is home with the rest of us.  (And, AHEM, I can see that he does better with a wife around to make a house into a home.)  It was always meant to be that way.

rapid fire weekend update

We had a good weekend.  Although Mee Mee and Don did not get to visit (Mee Mee was sick), Ryan and I still got to go on a short date Friday night after I picked him up from the airport.  We doubled with the Elmer's to eat at Pappasito's, where I had THE best enchiladas I've ever had (try the "Riviera" plate!), then we picked up Delaney & Sadie from a fake sleepover birthday party at a friend's house.  Saturday and Sunday we lazed about and watched Conference.  Sunday night we had an impromptu potluck dinner at our house that turned out pretty darn yummy if you ask me.  We took Ryan back to the airport this morning so that he can get back to the earning the bacon, however long that may last (which may or may not affect my travel plans for the end of the month).  Now my Sadie is running a fever and looking generally ill, although she only seems to feel a bit tired.  She is scheduled for routine bloodwork this week, so if she has any crazy infections, we'll find out.

(picture taken a couple of weekends ago, playing in the backyard with her sibs and cousin while the big boys took my car apart and then put it back together!)

name that tune!

Ava has been wanting to sing "the Pom Wad song" to me.  Here it is:

Not sure about that one?  Here is Sadie's clarification for you.

(It is a song they've been learning in Sunday School, "Called to Serve.")

for our fellow LEGOists

Why not combine Bible stories with your beloved LEGOS?!

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

Sunday is a day for rest, no?

It's a tough job bein' the cutest dang kid in the church nursery, but someone's gotta do it.

dad's day

I'm a lucky girl.
Somehow between the two of us,

,

we came up with this

and I've never been happier.
Ryan is a really great father, so tender and loving.  And we've discovered he does a great night shift at the hospital.  He works hard to provide for his family and loves to see his kids happy.

Have you read the report from the Church's February Worldwide Leadership Training -- Building Up a Righteous Posterity?  Really good stuff in there!

After pondering that and Father's Day, I think that one of the lessons my kids will learn from watching their parents is that two people can come together with similar goals, and even though they will go about things in totally different ways, they can work together and with God's help, make something beautiful happen.

that quote

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.  It all works out.   Don't worry.  I say that to myself every morning.  It will all work out.  If you do your best, it will all work out.  Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.  The Lord will not forsake us.  He will not forsake us...If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Gordon B. Hinckley

That is the outlook I like to have on life, and it really does help me to keep things in perspective.
Listening to U2 kinda loud (the kids are in bed after all) and eating a Cadbury creme egg also help.
Chins up!