My Hope and Faith

Well, I have a confession to make.  I had the longest lasting crush from Junior High through High School, and even into college.  Many of you know this youth crush of mine, as Ben Thomas.  Ben moved when I was still in Junior High (and we went to different schools, so I really didn't know him all that well, but he sure was cute!), so it was the perfect, safe set-up.  As the years went by, and little crushes came and went, Ben stayed faithful in my mind.  No, we didn't keep in touch, it was very much a one-sided crush.  When all other boys ended up being jerks, I was sure Ben was better than them all, and it gave me hope.  It was much to my surprise, when I was walking to church during my first week of college in a different state, to look to my side, and who should be walking by me, to the same place, but Ben!  Of all the coincidences, this was too much!  I was so shocked, I completely ignored him.  Through the years, I guess this person became superhuman to me, and I couldn't let myself get to know him well because I was afraid my dreams and hopes of him would be crushed.  I can imagine that I must have been rude, even mean at times, and offensive which I will forever regret.  Obviously, the years have gone by and I have found myself a wonderful man, and am very happily married with wonderful children.  I'm giving all this background info because last night, my youth dreams of this superhuman boy were crushed.  I guess Ben is human, just like the rest of us, and subject to life's challenges and illnesses as well.  He was on abc during a fundraiser for muscular diseases.  Ben has lou gahrigs disease, and isn't expected to live to see his daughter grow up.  My heart hurts for him and his family and my prayers go out for them.
I guess this was especially hard because I'm dealing with something even closer to home.  A few months ago my younger sister was diagnosed with brain cancer.  She was 32 weeks pregnant when they found a rather large tumor in her head that was causing her seizures.  Three weeks later she had a beautiful baby boy, who is doing very well, and had brain surgery.  Only 10 days after, she began radiation and chemo.  It has been a hard road for her and her family, but she is doing it!  She is my hero as I've watched her be so gracious, loving and kind during a time that is so hard.  She just recently finished her treatments Friday.  Becky is amazing. 
Through these past couple months I have come to understand what the plan of salvation is all about and how to apply Christ's atonement a little better.  I remember telling my mom when I was young, "It isn't fair!" and Mom always replying, "Life isn't fair."  I don't know why things aren't more fair and more predictable, I only know that's not what this life is about.  This life is about love, and when things that seem like they should be constant fail us, love can shine through and bring us peace. 
I also know that motherhood and fatherhood are eternal callings, and death doesn't put an end to those callings when we are sealed together in the temple as an eternal family.  When death takes a loved one, they can still be with us on the other side of the veil and help us.  Death is every bit as much of a miracle as life. 
As I have struggled these past months I have felt angels helping me along and comforting me, and I know I am not alone.  I know my Grandmas, Grandpas, Great Aunts and Uncles are tending to their posterity and are there for me when I need them.  God has shown me his love so many times by sending me angels, both those who have passed on as well as neighbors and friends.  My husband has been another one of those angels.  Forgiving me quicker than I deserve when I get angry, helping extra with our children while I visit my sister, and being my constant support.  I have seen so many of God's tender mercies, and I know that this life is bigger than death.  I have come to cherish time with my family and children more.  I am realizing that this life isn't about a long to-do list, but about loving and serving those around me.  
I love my sister and I know Heavenly Father loves my sister, just as he loves all his children, and He is taking care of each of us in his many different way.  There are angels watching out for her, both in the spirit and in the flesh.  I am forever grateful for the temple and eternal families.  These truths have given me strength and peace and I am grateful for the knowledge I have of them.  This is my hope and my faith.

Ultimate Spring Highlight

Okay, so I've been waiting to post  "The Ultimate Spring Highlight" until one of my sisters did, so that I could steal their pictures, seeing as I'm a major mooch and have no pictures of my own to share.
Back in April, my sister, Michelle, graduated with her masters in speech pathology.  I am so proud of her because she worked SO hard and endured SO long.  Life after schooling is so different, and wonderful.  There is no other stress in life that replaces that of taking a written test during a set time, of being weighed and measured, proving yourself, and stretching your mind to learn new things in a way you've never thought before.  It's a great life lesson, and a great one to move on from as well.  Good job Michelle!!! 
So, for a graduation gift, my sisters met up with my parents and we all surprised her (one sister had to fly in from out of state, the greatest surprise).  Surprised, she was, and fun we had!  Some great friends and a wonderful hubby helped watch my kids so that I could do this.  I owe them a huge thanks!  It was fun to be with my sisters, but I must say, when we all get together, I feel like the biggest party pooper.  I was the first to fall asleep every night, and lacked the ability (aka, know-how) to play with my phone, so I wasn't in on their bakery games and what-not.  Oh well, they're good to roll with me any ways.  My mom was great - she came with 2 pounds of yummy chocolates for late night chats and relaxing in the hotel room. 
After all the graduating festivities, my sister found a sitter for all the kiddos (I brought Anna with me), and we all went to the temple together.  This was a highlight of a lifetime.  The temple is a special place, because it's a place of reflection and peace, where one can feel close to others who may have passed on.  It is a place where we do ordinances (such as baptism) for those who have died before receiving the opportunity to do so.  This was especially memorable because my dad worked really hard and brought some family names for us to do, including my Grandma Elsie (my daughter's namesake).  What a neat experience it was.  I felt a lot of closure and connectedness, that I never thought possible.  It's a feeling that has stayed with me, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.
Thanks Michelle, Mom, and Dad for all your hard work and providing an opportunity for us all to get together!  It was great.

  If I can mooch any more pictures, I will be sure to do so! 

Renaissance Fair

 Mike and I took the kiddos to a Renaissance Fair this Friday.  We watched some great amateur jousting and ladies dancing on trotting horses.  We also saw some great costumes (some wore less costume and more skin than others), ate some great food, and learned lots about the time period.  My kids all loved it and wore themselves out.  Mike and I agreed it was an interesting experience that attracted some really interesting people.
Elsie LOVED the opportunity to dress up.  She wanted to be a fairy, and I'll have to admit, I thought she was the cutest little sprite hopping around at the grounds.  Kimball dressed up as a knight, and Peter as a pirate.  Even I found a Renaissance dress from my mother-in-law's Halloween closet and joined in the festivities.  It was great.  Here are some pictures.  
 
We took lots of pictures of our favorite "jouster" (is that a word?).  There was another guy who was dressed in chain mail and had the whole regalia.  Impressive!

3rd Times a charm!

Well, Spring has Sprung!  With it is Elsie's apparent favorite fashion accessory.  Okay, not really.  A couple weeks ago Elsie jumped off the bunk bed and broke her arm.  I was pretty quick to catch that it was broken this time, because I'd seen it when she was 2 1/2, and 18 months old.  It's been the same break every time - cracking her ulnus because of the way she tries to catch herself when she falls.  Elsie is very tiny for her age, and it must be hard to have such a bursting spirit in such a tiny body.  She has some big ideas of her physical stamina and forgets about her small build.  Anyhow, she's taken to her cast quickly, and running around just the same as always.  It's been super hot, though, and she's shed a few tears that she can't go running in the sprinklers with the neighbors.
When we came home from the doctor, I asked her if I could take a picture.  This is how she posed....

 

Cinderella Ballet

This all began when a good friend of mine, Steffanie, told me about a storytime at the local libraries she had written out promoting the Cinderella Ballet performed by our local ballet company.  It sounded fun, especially since Elsie has taken an interest in Ballet.  Well, Elsie LOVED it!  They had the ballerina come, who was playing the fairy godmother, and dance beautifully and then she read some great books.  One book was called Elsie Times Eight.  It was delightful.  At one point in time we put our names into a drawing for free tickets to the ballet.  When we walked out of storytime, Elsie said, "Mom, I am going to practice lots so that I can be really good too."  She was definitely inspired.
Well, low and behold, a couple days later, I got a phone call saying we had won 2 free tickets!  Elsie was so excited, and I was excited for her.  We got another ticket for Grandma and had a girls-only afternoon while we went to the ballet. 
As we got ready to go, I went to check on Elsie.  She was supposed to be getting dressed, instead I found her dress-ups all over the floor, and Elsie naked.  She insisted that she needed a purple dress.  When she realized her options didn't include a purple dress-up, she chose the one pictured down below.  I tried to talk her into one of her church dresses, but she insisted it be a fancy dress-up.  Rather than turn a fun afternoon sour, I agreed.  When we got there, 95% of the little girls attending had the same idea.  It was cute to see all these little Cinderellas running around.
Elsie loved it.  She got all silly and was bouncing around afterwards.  I was glad she enjoyed herself so much.  It's fun to do things with just the girls sometimes.  In the pictures below, Elsie and I are doing a ballet pose (in case you couldn't tell) before we head off to pick-up Grandma.

Cute Anna

Here are some cute pictures of Anna.  She was loving watching the bubbles Elsie was blowing.  I loved to hear her laugh.  Babies are so captivating as I watch them see and learn things for the first time. Anna has some great facial expressions.  I love this one in particular with her wrinkled nose.  What a character!

Overdue tid-bits

It's been a while.  I was just downloading some pictures from my camera, and I thought I would share some of them with you with some explanations, opinions, and memories to go with.  These are pictures from our every day stuff.  It's informative to look back on our normal, routine days  through random pictures and see how inspiring (or uninspiring) our home is.  These first two pictures were taken at Biography Club.  Peter and Elsie learned about Beethoven and were each presenting a part of what they knew about his life.  Peter looks pretty comfortable up in front of everybody (a group of 10 to 20, ranging from 3-year-olds to 40-year-old moms).  It was Elsie's first time presenting.  She loved learning about Beethoven and wanted a chance to talk about him.  She did great!

 Here is yet another week of colored foods.  Peter said for the week of Purple lunches, he wanted eggplant to be the grand finale.  It wasn't such a hit at our house, despite the anticipation.  I was trying to make sure the kids liked it, and instead I added too much salt in the process.  I don't think the complaint was that it had too much salt, however.  Oh well.  I did find out they LOVED cabbage for lunch. 

 We have a jar the kids work hard to fill with beans.  When it gets all full we do something fun as a family.  This time we went to the Jump Zone.  Kimball especially had a fun time.  For the first 10 minutes he kept running back to Mike and I and giving us big hugs, grinning wildly.  It was fun to watch them play so hard!

 This is our Kimball.  These pictures were taken within a minute of each other, and they reflect the state of our home.  Kimball is a fireball, and we are constantly trying to keep up with his feelings, frustrations, energy, and off the wall ideas.  He truly amazes me.