Choices - Mother's Day 2009

I could chose to rant and rave about what a disaster today has been, I could choose to curl up in a ball and cry while waving a white flag. Instead, I choose to remember this on Mother's Day 2009:

"Mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island....You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, even - no, especially - when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and weep over the responsibility as mothers, 'Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.' and it will make your children whole as well". Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "Because She Is a Mother"

And this:

"In our society, we give motherhood plenty of lip service. We pat moms on the head, bring them flowers on Mother's Day and honor them before crowds. But at the end of the day, we don't extend them the same respect we would a professor, a dentist, an accountant or a judge.
I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is. To create an environment that's stimulating and nurturing, to pass on a sense of responsibility to another human being, to raise a child who understands that he or she is created from good and is capable of anything - I know for sure that few callings are more honorable. To play down mothering as small is to crack the very foundation on which greatness stands.
The world can only value mothering to the extent that women everywhere stand and declare that it must be so.... We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as 'just a mom'. It is on her back that great nations are built". Oprah Winfrey "What I Know for Sure"

I am a mother. I am honored to be a mother. We have our good days and our not so good days. But with the knowlege that I have that I have a Father in Heaven who has entrusted me with these 3 amazingly beautiful children I can do this!!! I can try to make today better than yesterday and the next day even better. I am a mother, I am blessed, I am honored. I am extrememly grateful for my mom, her mom, my dad's mom, John's mom and John's step mom. I come from a line of exceptional women - exceptional mothers. I am so blessed. Happy Mother's Day. (Thanks John - for being the BEST companion a girl could ask for! I LOVE YOU!!!)

Lost

Ummm, yes, we are still alive. However, I've lost my camera. It's sad. First I lost the battery (don't ask me how Jackson got the battery out of my camera in the first place!). Finally after searching for a week with no luck, we bought a new battery. Now where is that darn camera!?!?! It's time to find a new hiding spot for my camera, even higher than the last hiding spot! I'm missing out on great photo ops!!! "You're killing me Smalls...." (quote from "The Sandlot")

All he wants for Easter is his two front teeth!

Finally!!! That darn tooth is out!!! Thank heavens!!!

Unfortunately, Mom didn't know that the tooth was sitting on the kitchen counter.. so in her rush to clean up I think the tooth either ended up in the trash or down the drain. Thank heavens the tooth fairy will accept a letter with a photo attached! Ü

Kind of hard to read. It says: Dear tooth fairy, I lost a tooth but it got lost somewhere in our house. Love Joseph

Mom ran her first 5k

I know, I know, to most of you this is not some kind of spectacular feat. But for me... this is HUGE! It has been a long time coming... all my health issues over the years and especially my heart issues which have defeated my attempts at any and all types of exercise for the past 10 years. Well, in January as everyone was setting their new years resolutions... I set mine. I decided I was going to do this for myself. It was my time. So, with my dear friend Betsy, I am on a quest to conquer a half marathon in September. John called a few connections and set me up with the most awesome trainers ever. (We've learned over the years that husband and wife mixing trainer/trainee just really doesn't work for us! Ü hahaha!) So, here I am, 3 1/2 months later, 17 lbs lighter, running my first 5k. And - no heart problems! Not once have I passed out! It's a miracle!!! Seriously! I'm so happy!!!

Saturday, amidst the 31 degree temperature, rain/snow mix falling down, I did it! And as I neared the finish line and saw my wonderful husband, beautiful kids (all 3 crammed in our jogging stroller trying to stay warm- poor things!), my mom and my brother - I got so choked up I could barely breathe!

This is just the beginning for me....

My trainers... Greg and Rich.

A Not-So Happy April Fools

I love Family Fun magazine. I am always happy when it arrives in my mailbox. I love all the fun crafts, games, gifts and funny articles about parenting and kids. So, when I received my April issue I found this great idea for a fun April Fools idea for my kids. I've never really participated much in April Fools day, just because I never think of anything fun to do until after the fact. Then, by the next year I've completely forgotten my good ideas. Well, I got this fun idea and I went for it!

So, for snack time I told the kids I made them a special fruit punch drink for snack time. They were so excited, practically licking their lips! This is what they got:

Jello.

This is what they did:

And then:

Mahlia is just devastated... she did not think this was funny at all! Joseph is just plain furious. Jackson, well, he was pretty unemotional... he was just wondering what the heck was going on.

I even tried to make up for it by adding whipping cream.

At least it made Jackson happy!!!!

Guess April Fools just isn't our holiday. Which is just fine by me!!! Ü BTW - I am laughing so hard as I write this... this could have been the funniest thing ever!