blessings...

On Monday evening we all made cookies together after dinner... Of course there are recipes that we keep making every Christmas, and this is one of them. Some of our other favorites are swedish strips (raspberry jam and walnuts on bars of extra rich brown sugar shortbread), pumpkin pie (Mom's awesome recipe :), orange rolls ( like cinnamon buns- but with orange zest, butter, and sugar rolled into it....) - I know traditional treats aren't the meaning of Christmas, but they help with feeling richly blessed! And I am so grateful to live in this out- of- the-way little place wherethe wind blows ( that's not why, though!) ... Because it's the kind of place where everyone who wants to gathers at the community hall and sings carols and enjoys such a fun- and a fine evening of music with choirs, a band, and even teenage kids reading us the Christmas story from the Bible!

I am so grateful for these true words from the prophet.They fill my heart with peace, and at the same time with a strong desire to be like this. So many people have shown me just such love, and do every day. Thank Heaven for this pure, selfless love that comes into our hearts from Jesus Christ. We so need it, and I know one day we will be happy we have learned to live this way, when we face Him after our life. Then I am sure we will feel such grace- such charity from Him. I couldn't live without this hope. I thank heaven for it! "There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere…. the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient…. that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, a...

This morning my husband was a little extra loving. He and I were up too late just talking up in our room, and even though it's not so good on the 'good night's sleep' side of things, it really works on the 'feeling close' side of things! Hearing him tell me he loves me so much, and feeling his embrace in the kitchen with a honey pot in my hand, seeing his smile; I feel like this can only be a good day.

This morning Emma was sitting on the couch in the living room with me, getting her hair done before school. She said the sheepskin 'doesn't smell good'. I pressed my face into it and inhaled deeply. It smells great! It smells a bit sheepy, which is perfect. It reminds me of our sheep when I was little, on the farm. My sisters and I each had one named after us, which I'm pretty sure didn't even begin to matter to the sheep themselves, but made us feel pretty good. My crafty Aunt Mona carded and spun the wool, and wove us scarves from our very own sheeps' wool. And there are few smells that please me better than the warm, dusty scent of a barn. It reminds me of hugging horses, and cuddling a baby goat... watching cows chew their food, and playing in the hay barn. Dad and Uncle Shawn tied a huge thick rope to the rafters, and we got to swing off the top of the calving shed in the barn, and land in the straw. We also had a fort up there, made of small square bales. ...

It always seems to be a better day when I play the piano for a while. I finally took a little time on the weekend and played a couple times. And I helped my children with their own music as well. It feels so good, kind of like a little glow. I haven't been practising much, and I have missed a lesson as well, because of some mysterious (hopefully short-lived :) medical concern. I only have about half the time I am used to- and I have to choose really carefully what I do while I am up and about. This has made me really think about what matters most for me to do in a day... It's not the vacuuming! I am trying to find a tricky balance between work and pleasure; I could read and write and play music all day, but then there is my work to consider! I think it's like this for everyone! (Almost everyone I know, at least :) So I have discovered, by communicating with (read: listening to :) my family, that the most appreciated and valued work I can do for them is making food. Should t...

This has been an important priority to me all my life. I am so thankful that my grandparents, and their parents... left the places they'd called home and braved it all to find and make a place where their families could be raised in peace and freedom. I love peace more than anything else. It's always been that way for me. Getting along with people, having a clear conscience, teaching my children to be peacemakers, - even trying. I will never be able to thank all the soldiers who willingly left homes and families to protect the innocent citizens of the world. I don't know many of them, but I think that making a good and peaceful life with the freedoms and opportunities they've protected and created for me is a thank you. I can try.

What I am surprised and happy to say today is that I feel just fine about winter coming! It's cold and there's some snow on the ground. The sky looks extra clear, and very blue outside. There are patches of ice on the roads, and somehow it's all just fine with me. Maybe it's because I can exercise in the house, and don't have to brave the elements when the great outdoors is a bit intimidating! Or it could be that I am still feeling the glow of my husband's love. We had a good weekend, up visiting his family... He's been so kind, and I love it. Yes, I think that when so many things are just right, I can handle the idea of winter coming to visit for a while.  :) I read a story about a boy whose family escaped from Rwanda when the genocide happened about 15 years ago. His survival of all he endured, and his ability to live so long on a flicker of hope for a better future... these really inspired me. I think I'll keep hoping, too. One anecdote in his book w...

The other day one of my dear children had a bee in her bonnet. Actually, I think a swarm of bees would come closer to explaining the attitude and behavior I was treated to! It was one of those precious moments that invite parents to assume the fetal position and rock in a corner. But somehow I didn't... I know I was blessed with a measure of grace right then, because I was able to 'keep calm and carry on'! Of course I had to be firm, and offer some correction- that's the not-so-fun part of raising children. :( But I let some time pass, and listened to the sad that was sparking the mad. I could love and comfort her, - so she knows that in spite of the consequences of her rotten choices, I am her friend and she has my unconditional caring. We have talked a bit since than about how we stop and correct ourselves when we realize what we are doing wrong, and how it affects others (especially our loved ones). We do not persistently defy ethics, just because the mood is upon...

This morning I walked with my little Mary girl to school. It's hard to believe she is in junior high already! The most beautiful part was that she let me hold her hand while we walked together into the sunrise. Until we met up with her friend...  :) The first bits of brilliant gold light were shining intensely in some windows we saw, and she had Jasper on his leash in her other hand. He loves her because she spoils him whenever she can! After I said goodbye at the corner by the school I headed back home, taking a different route- I walked up the hill and along the road by the field. I bathed my eyes and face in the morning light on the snowy mountains just ahead of me to the west, and it all seemed a little prettier when I saw my flowers still blooming in their pretty dress colours as I walked up to the front door.

I think I am a bit of a home-body at heart. I like being here, whether I am up taking care of housework, or resting, or sitting at a desk connecting with the world and my loved ones through reading and writing and pictures and sound... It's my favourite place to read a book, or watch a film, or make and share and eat food! My favorite, of course, is when I can be here with the ones I love best- but even the quiet hours alone pass so quickly and are never empty for me. So many people don't have a home. So many who have a roof and walls have only that. We who have a cozy refuge full of security and comfort are so richly blessed. Here I can be and do just what I choose, and do it in freedom and privacy and comfort. And warmth! The world is big and beautiful, but so complex, and I feel grateful for the simple pleasures and peace of our home- our sanctuary.

Thank Heaven for Heaven! I actually found myself saying this today. Writing it, that is. To an old friend I hadn't caught up with in a while... I heard today that my littlest daughter was just elected student council president at her school! I am thankful that she didn't give up before she began. She had decided to run for this job, then changed her mind when some older kids told her how hard it would be to win such a competitive position... But she can be pretty determined. She reconsidered her 'second thought'! (This sounds like Tevye! On the other hand... :), went ahead and ran her campaign, and her peers were wise enough in knowing her to be confident that she will do a great job! I like her example of fearlessness in the face of fear.

I have been thinking blessings-blog thoughts and feeling blessings-blog feelings so many days when I haven't been typing blessings-blog words! I have so much, and hope for so much more... Jesus Christ is my Friend, and He is everything to me. I love Him and I am so blessed to feel His powerful and gentle love bringing me peace from day to day- especially when I need it most. I feel just right when I find time to read His words in the scriptures, hear them in church, and feel them in my own heart and mind... The leaves are turning gold on the trees and the flowers are dying in our gardens. The wind is stronger and mornings are pretty chilly. Kirby and I have had some good talks lately, making my future look brighter in love. Jack and Mary and Emma are happy in school, and I so enjoy my piano music. I love my new opportunity to work with the teenage girls at church- they are easy to love, and I feel so inspired in what we are doing and teaching them. The apple man came to town - his...

Today was the second last day of school, and it was hot! I was walking around town on a field trip with my littlest one's class and when we got home- I was done. I know there is an awards assembly tomorrow morning- but really- I feel done! So we raced off to Waterton after school; my children, the dog, and I... I just felt a bit greedy and impatient for the glorious summer days at the lake, when we have our time and each other all to ourselves... So now that we've had our sneak preview, my appetite for summer holidays is properly whetted and I hope Environment Canada was right when they predicted a hot summer. I am good and ready!

I think there is no sky like it. Not anywhere, not anytime. So blue, and so clear and deep. It looks like autumn when I look way up, but if I only look up a little, to the treetops, it's still summery! The leaves are graciously still green. :) So here is the special blessing that makes me glow a little in my heart- a couple nights ago I was sitting with my Mary, tucking her in with a chat and a little cuddle, and she told me that she is just so happy and feels so blessed! She said she looks at her life and is amazed at how wonderful it is. Lovely, yes. But why so very precious? Because this joy is in her heart and on her lips in spite of the real challenges life holds! It's not easy, and we all know it, but someone who has figured out how to look and see what's good shining right through what's not- that someone has a good hold on joy. And I love her, so of course I am happy to hear her tell me this! Now I am grateful I get to go learn a new recipe! I am going to try ...

Summer was a beautiful dream come true! I can't say I maintained a lot of 'balance' in my life... For instance I don't think our poor piano has been dusted since school let out in June! But this is ok with me- I have been filling my days with family and sunshine! We played days at the lakes and the garden and going places to visit far-off family... Now everyone but me is back at school and I wonder how my days can still be so full...? I am actually stealing this little moment, and I can't stay long- I am happy to think I will be finding more time to write and play the piano and cook! Thank Heaven I can enjoy the quiet busy hours, with the assurance that my offspring are happy at school- I hope! So far so good!

I am really enjoying the hot sunshine, especially after a cold wet spring! We go camping and enjoy the beautiful places around here as much as we can, and I have my children around so much more- it's one of my favorite pleasures. These things do have a tendency, though, to keep me from writing much- or often. So tonight, I appreciate that I can simply sit here with the evening air sweetly cooling me through the open windows, as the sun sets and the birds start singing... Speaking of which, I made a mistake. In an attempt to treat myself to a sweet taste of spring while waking up early on cold, not-yet-light-out mornings, I set my alarm to call me to consciousness each day to the sound of little birds singing. It was lovely, a charming way to wake up, really. Still, it has had the drawback of conditioning me to wake up to birdsong. Now that summer is come, and our little feathered friends excitedly greet the sunrise around 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., I wish I could sleep through them. Alas-...

Tonight after my daughters went to bed, I went for a luxuriously long and glorious walk with a friend. I was warm, and the grass in the hills was so high... everything is alive now- (but the frogs on Broadview were silent when we walked past them...? Don't know a lot about the lives of frogs, really- but I was kind of looking forward to hearing them. Oh well. ) The mosquitoes couldn't very well keep up with us, because we were really walking- it felt so good. I am so truly grateful that I can walk. In a free and beautiful place. With a good, dear friend. Knowing, as I move my body at will through the town and countryside, that my family are all well and safe and happy. Feeling safe and not cold! Just right. As we walked the sun set and as we were coming home, we seemed to leave the open field's coolness behind, and come into a warm pocket of air in our community. It was magical. Then we enjoyed some well steeped rooibos... Mmm. Life is mine, and it is good. Jack planted out...

I was putting away some groceries this morning when I noticed a little pencil drawing on the side of the fridge. I has been there for so long that I hardly ever look at it, but today I am happy to say I did... It is a portrait of me, drawn by my youngest child. On the front of the shirt I am drawn wearing, is a flowery sunshine, and the words 'bright light', accompanied by up-arrows. It just struck me as sweet and very rewarding that she perceived me this way. Now I have a little bit of -oomph- in my desire to be a happy and loving person! Thank heaven for my children!

About half a century ago, a family was blessed with a beautiful and sweet little daughter. She had red curls on her head and blue skies in her large eyes. She was the last child in her family, and what a dear little baby she was... She grew up to be a compassionate, resourceful, and determined woman. She learned to value and even love good hard work. She became a woman of great faith and learned to be happy in the good moments and resilient when life required it of her. She raised her daughters better than she thought, and continues to be a loyal and supportive advocate for their happiness and well-being... and that of their families. Time and time again, she becomes whatever she needs to be, learns to do whatever life demands of her, and is a shining example of how to be a good daughter. She is eloquent in the art of forgiveness, and will always stand out as an exceptional person in my life. She had a birthday this week, and I am just grateful today that my little gift package arrived...

Miracles By Walt Whitman   (my Aunt sent this to me. I appreciated especially the line about sleeping with loved ones, as I woke up this morning with a little daughter cuddled up beside me, after a bad dream. I am so happy I was there for her...) 0 Why, who makes much of a miracle? As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky, Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of    the water, Or stand under trees in the woods, Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night    with any one I love, Or sit at table at dinner with the rest, Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car, Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer  ...

Jack and I have made a perennial garden on the south side of our house, and I am so excited about it! (Strange, but true. Growing food and flowers and trees has to be one of the most surprising of delights out there! :) Happily, my boy was ready and willing to share his brute strength and tough energy for this whole process; I think I will keep him, even if he does eat such tremendous amounts of food, not to mention his milk consumption! :) We put in all kinds of beautiful plants, and it's already so pretty. I know it will become more and more so over time. Especially if the sun comes out one of these days!! Rain is lovely, but as the wise ones say,  'all good things in moderation'! I have more tiny little perennials to add to our little garden- pretty things that will fill in spaces until the big plants grow up a bit. Then we can split and transplant things. Oooh, I can hardly wait to get out there again. And in the backyard we have little gardens, where we've just ad...

About 12 years ago, I first heard a friend talk about this idea from a book she'd read... She explained that sometimes a little thing like some red pears in a bowl on the table could actually make her happy in a sweetly simple way. I too am a fan of red pears. They are beautiful. And this idea has settled comfortably in my mind since then... I am grateful that in this busy life and often crazy world, there are small and easy ways to add a smile- even, and especially when there is so much that is wrong and beyond our power to change. I like that this little notion has dual application; not only can I find and create moments of pleasure, but I can give other people the same kindness. I hope! It's at least as satisfying to give someone a pretty potted flower on a rainy day as it is to bring one home. And my family don't usually mind too much when I steal the hugs and kisses and smiles that are so satisfying to my soul.  :) Sometimes it's nice just to look out the window o...

After a week of rain, it was pretty sweet to wake up to a clear sky and sunshine this morning! Not that I mind the rain. It's refreshing, and makes things green, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing! So the grass is very green, the dandelions are racing out onto the lawns, and now we have some blue skies. (Nice color combination :) Plus, it is Sunday, so we had time to relax together and Kirby and I just came home from a little stroll in the evening sun. Enjoying our big dreams and the little plans we have for along the way. It's a treat to be able to just talk together! From day to day, almost all of our practical discussions seem to be emails. This seems a bit strange to me since we are married and live together. And maybe it really is strange; who knows? I think this is just how it happens because Kirby often works in the evenings, marking papers or going to meetings. Between that, and soccer for three children, etcetera, we don't actually have a ton of...

Believe it or not- these, too, can be a blessing. Here's how I felt it this weekend... We went to Waterton with our children (and the dog- of course). This was yesterday. Naturally, I brought a small variety of fleece, rain jacket, windbreaker, down vest-type protection against the almost inevitable wind one expects to find in this beautiful place- especially at this uncertain season of the year! Imagine my delighted surprise when we found ourselves visited by these insects. It was a little peace offering from the usually gusty weather. I took it as such, and soaked up the warm sunshine. Ahh. I should add that the rest of the day out was pretty perfect; it wasn't just the mosquitoes that made my day! We'd brought bikes, and my family really enjoyed riding there... I enjoyed one of my favorite pictures- my crazy children on a playground... I had that lovely strawberry ice cream in a waffle cone so freshly made that it was a little chewy in one of the folds. :) We roasted s...

Not only do we walk together, blown all over town on the creek path, we chat and do other things together. For example, today she came in and helped me hang some pictures that had waited too long to make it up on to the walls. And we looked at wedding pictures, and we share little things, like hand-me-downs and beauty products and tips! (Keep watching, I am learning! ;) She is very crafty, and gives me nifty little things she's been making. We shop and exchange recipes, and so on. It's nice to have friends who care, support, and are interested in me and my life. We all have people whose kindness and company we can easily get used to and take for granted... But a real and trustworthy friend is too good a gift to enjoy without a thankful heart, if we stop and think about it for a moment! And I am going to say it- I am grateful for the fierce wind, if only because it keeps this awesome little town from becoming overpopulated, and it blows the bugs away.

When our children were little, they were early risers. That is putting it mildly, actually. Imagine our delight, hearing their little bellows from the crib, or voices at our bedside after an adventurous night of being up with the little dears. And they still wake up early most mornings, relatively speaking... Except Jack, who is growing so fast that he is often happy to sleep as long as he can. I, myself, have a great appreciation for the little luxury of waking up slowly. Naturally, I am regularly obliged to deny myself this small pleasure, which is fine. However, I sometimes get up and become 'functional' for all practical purposes, while remaining rather sleepy. Between 6 and 830 am, all I normally manage to meander through on a typical school morning is prayers, scriptures, and various culinary activities performed in a very random-abstract fashion. That's it. And don't misunderstand me; when I say culinary activities, I am referring to the early morning type- putti...

Yes, I'm afraid I am still raving about the glories of 'spring time, the only ring-a-ding time'... :) I remember a sad book, I think some kind of WWI chronicle? (is that right Dad?)... called 'And No Birds Sang'. It's a simple little thing, easy to not even notice. But when I heard that book title it hit me pretty hard; that says a lot. I seldom hear birdsong during the winter. I suppose they are all wiser than the rest of us and get as far away as they can from the cold. Or maybe the wind just blows them away in the November gales? This morning, though, I felt my heart light when they were singing outside. It seems so say 'Be happy!' I notice I'm sounding like Snow White or Cinderella in a Disney film, so I'll move on... The frogs are next on my list of happy spring sounds! First, I am amazed at how loud they are, being small enough to sit on a penny. The other night Emma and Kirby were out riding bikes, and stopped by the big frog pond, in the...

I had the pleasure this morning of opening my sleepy eyes to sunshine in a beautiful blue sky... So I feel pretty rich today. And I am thankful for the emotional anti-gravity drug- hope! I can take it as often as I choose... I can bravely face anything hard or scary, as long as I can maintain hope that it will get better somehow, sometime. I came into my life with a pretty hefty dose of this, and it has only been pretty recently that I've realized how renewable a resource I have here! I am also grateful for our dog. He is sweet, easygoing, and really funny sometimes. Like when his favorite ball is on the scene! Plus he's easy to look at- tall, blonde, big brown eyes... Hee hee. (As Katie says,  "Who's a good boy?" Jasper is.  :)

Today I am happy enough just because the sun is so warm that I went out with no jacket, or even a sweater, and I was warm!!! Can I even say how delightful this was? (Probably not :) Then, I got even happier because I made some headway in my house, which had been a while coming. I hadn't really 'recovered our home from spring break. I think I am the only one concerned about this, and everyone else helps out and thinks it's all just peachy. But I felt unsettled and, honestly, a bit incompetent when I didn't have a handle on keeping house like I like it. So now I'm satisfied that the ball is rolling here...  And to top it all off, I am grateful today for the family garden we planted last night! It was so enjoyable because the sun was warm, the evening breeze was gentle, and the birds made it all sound pretty idyllic! (Even the crazy woodpecker, who just kept making us laugh :) We are almost done eating the last of our dill-pickled carrots and beans from last year...

Naturally, I am grateful for my amazing mother. It has only been in the past few years that I've realized how exceptional she is and always has been. Her to-do list for a day looks a bit like mine does for a week; the difference being that she actually gets through hers! We have a pretty tidy, fairly clean house- but finding a safety pin can require a little sleuthing. (Case in point- yesterday morning getting ready for church- what fun:) Mostly because I don't always remember just where I keep the baby food jar containing safety pins. In my mom's house, these things are not adventures. This is one reason that she finds time for so many worthwhile things. But she is very understanding with me. I think her sense of humor helps. She wrote the book on how to laugh at life's little surprises and quirks. However, I am inspired by far more than her ability to locate a safety pin in her immaculate house, and her ready laughter... I am grateful and eternally blessed by her lovi...

Yesterday Kirby got results for a masters course/paper that had just about done him in... He had felt so frustrated with doing it, and hopeless about success with it that he had actually considered 'writing it off'. (I know- very punny :) Of course when he talked to me in despair, I simply reminded him that he had often felt less than 'up for' the task, and assured him that he would pull through and do well this time- as he always does. He wasn't sure how I 'knew' that this was what he would do, but it worked. My prediction came true! ;) He has earned an A+! Of course. When I told Mary and Emma, they were so excited and proud of him, they set right to work; Mary baked and decorated him a beautiful cake, and Emma pulled out papercraft stuff and made him an awesome card! "A son is a son 'till he marries a wife; a daughter's a daughter for the rest of her life!" Old, but possibly containing a grain of truth..?..! Our little daughters are so ...

Tomorrow is our 15th wedding anniversary! I am so grateful for my good husband. When we were in Salt Lake he bought me a beautiful gift I have been wishing for since I first saw it over a year ago... It's a smaller copy of the Christus statue that I saw on Temple Square. I'd actually forgotten about buying it, but he remembered how much I loved it, and that I wanted one for our home. That's what he's like. So thoughtful, and his gifts come from the heart. We started out young and naiive; I remember thinking to myself, 'People say that over the years we will love each other more and more, but I don't see how we could ever be more in love than now...'  Now I know. How could we not love each other more; living together, sharing a family and home, loving and forgiving and helping each other....? Of course we do. I am happy to say that we are enduring the tough parts and enjoying the beautiful parts of our marriage, and our relationship means more and more to m...

Right before Easter, a friend of mine lost a close friend, and a week later- her husband. When I talked with her about her courage and strength in facing all this, she said to me, " When it happens to you, you'll have the same strength, because you have the same foundation." There's nothing like faith. We took our children to Salt Lake City for Easter. It was a great time; inspirational and so interesting. We loved all the religious history and the lovely Christian art. Especially the Christus statue. Awe-inspiring! The friendliness of so many people we met was heart-warming, and there was green grass and flowers everywhere... :) It makes me so happy to be with my family, and it was a special treat to have a vacation like that together. We stayed a few blocks from Temple Square, and walked almost everywhere we went. And it's ok that it took us until now to 'afford' such a trip- our children are old enough now that they'll never forget it! I also had ...

It could be the winter weather outside, or any number of other things, or nothing at all- I don't know. But I feel pretty low this morning, and it's uphill work to just be up and doing the many things I have to do. I've decided to avoid stopping to contemplate my mood, and just push right through it, hoping that momentum will keep me going once I get in the groove of being productive...? We shall see. However, as I was hard at work with some house chores, I happened to notice a paper in my pocket. How it got there, I don't know, because these pants were freshly washed and folded, but there it was. When I pulled it out, I was surprised and delighted to see a little scrap of paper- the top corner torn from a sheet of lined looseleaf. One of my children had penciled on it,'I love you Mom have a good day'. Just like that I found I could smile, and I thank Heaven for the tender little mercies the Lord sends our way, like a little note, just where and when I needed it...

This is the day Kirby came into the world, so the first person I am grateful for here is his sweet mother. I appreciate her tenderness and caring- she taught Kirby how to love and give selfless service in his family. I think she is a saint and an angel, and I am so happy she had this last child. I also appreciate his father who taught his sons to work hard and provide well for their families, to take good care of their homes, and to be ambitious in their careers, fulfilling their potential through dedicated effort. You see, Kirby is one of those delightful men who feel a strong interest in things like gardening, cutting the grass, fixing up and repairing the house and vehicles, and so on. It's also ok with me when he cooks, (and cleans our bathroom once in a while :), shovels snow, and pays bills. A very useful man. And a romantic one- that's good too! I love the nights when he reads me to sleep, or slow dances with me in the living room... I love my husband. He is a good man...

Jack got his learner's licence this morning... Yikes! He is doing fine so far, but it seems a little strange to give him the keys and hop into the passenger seat, let me tell you. It was awesome to see him laughing with the sheer joy of being the driver, and laughing about our 'conversation' as he drove around town on the snow and ice that covers our wintry roads! What a good time. So far, so good. This last weekend one of the Apostles came to our church and spoke with us. He testified of Jesus, and encouraged us to follow in the Lord's footsteps... He was actually quite an unconventional speaker, inviting a lot of interaction with us in the congregation. Mary and Emma each took opportunity to step up to the floating mike and tell about their personal scripture study! We all met him personally, and I took copious notes for my poor Kirby, who is still rather laid up with his back injury. I think I will always remember feeling the Spirit I did with an Apostle of the Lord...

Last night a friend called, needing a bit of help... I am so happy that she dialed my number, and for the great opportunity it was for me, to give her a hand. I feel especially blessed that my children jumped at the chance to help, too! I just can't tell you how happy that makes me. I think they're good kids. Our friend is all right, and we are richer for the experience we had with her and her family yesterday evening. Thank Heaven for those chances that come along unexpectedly- to get outside of myself and my life for a while and focus on someone else. And there was another great friend who helped out last night too, coming right away to provide assistance only he could give. I am thankful for the good people I am blessed to call friends. We live an a good community full of decent individuals and families... This makes sunshine after another snowy night just icing on the cake. ;)

I must say that I have a huge and very sincere appreciation for my children's good teachers... I'm thankful for their hard work, patience, and caring for the kids they work with. I know it's an incredibly demanding job, and thank Heaven for teachers who are dedicated enough to go the extra mile and provide awesome support to individual students when that's needed. Especially when they're mine, and I can only do so much... I am grateful that this morning I could place my trust in a teacher to do what I cannot do for one of my children- my power sort of ends at the school doors. Thank you to good teachers to whom I can confidently 'pass the torch'; the young ones I value most in this world. Kirby has slipped a disk in his back- again. The same one; L5S1. It happened 12 years ago, which resulted in back surgery... then again 6 years ago when we lived in England, which resulted in constant and high doses of morphine and brutal physiotherapy- during months of ly...

My piano teacher is one amazing lady. I keep learning more and more about her life's experiences, and the more I know, the more I admire her. She is very little, tiny and slim- but iron strong. She has been through so much that I hope I never have to endure, and still has her act together more than most of us. And you should hear her play! I am constantly amazed at her power and talent. I am grateful for her, and others who willingly share with me their talents, so I can try to grow mine.

One thing I love a lot is when my daughters come home for lunch. Sometimes one, sometimes the other... Not all the time, but it's a treat for me when it does happen. Sometimes we plan it, other times they just decide to run up the hill and eat lunch in the kitchen. Then it's a nice surprise! We chat about their day, and they get to process what they think of things at school, then they feel refreshed when they head back. And Jasper loves it, because he gets a run with his ball when they come in! Also, I am grateful for the fine art of puttering, which I am slowly mastering! It's my favorite way to do a day. I think I learned it first when I had my little ones here at home with me every day- there was no such thing as uninterrupted tasks, because the tasks were the interruption! It was my little people I was there for! The house was a sideline. And it's still like that really; only I now lack the excuse for my random-abstract meandering... so I call it an art. :) They ...

I got to pass this day with my sweet and charming little daughter Mary.  She is adorable! I just love her so much... We had her piano lesson here at home, then went to do some shopping for the family in the city. Her caring energy and happy enthusiasm are like butter on bread- just so satisfying. It was a delight for me to walk through Costco holding her hand. (Jack kindly pushed the extremely heavy cart, which was weighed down with sacks of flour and sugar, etc, etc... :) She did ask me to refrain from singing 'My Girl' to her. I obliged her, but I think she knows I'm crazy about her. I hope so. She is one amazing girl, and I'm so glad she's mine.

Thank you for the precious gift of my birth, without which there would be no birthday! Or any day at all for me. Your devotion to my well-being and happiness is undying, and I honor you for this. I know and appreciate that you have always tried to give me more than you'd had; to make my life better than yours was, and to teach and give me everything you can. I think you are a hero because you just keep trying; your determination and courage prove to me your faith and love. Thank you for my life, for taking good care of me when I could do nothing for myself, (before I can even remember :)... Thank you for reading to me, and cooking for me, and making that awesome homemade bread for me all those years. Thank you for making me take my vitamins and floss my teeth and practice the piano...and for making my home so bright and cozy. Thank you for driving me around and giving me good clothes and supporting me; and for standing up for me when I needed that. Thank you for loving my husband ...

I usually take a walk bright and early, or in many cases, 'barely light' and early. It works well, to get out the door with my children at 830 am. But this morning my walking friend was ill, and I looked out the window at the stiff breeze passing through town... I decided that it would be a good idea to wait a while. So I did. I enjoyed the morning sunshine in the living room, reading my scriptures and talking on the telephone with my little sister. (who is taller than me :) By the time I had meandered through a bit of housework and gotten my wind pants on, it was 10 o'clock! I really enjoyed my walk, and stopped a few minutes at the library to do some 'book business' (my favorite kind :) and peeked in at Mary in her school swimming lesson. Walking home, even though I was going uphill into the wind, it felt good in the sunshine. Sometimes I feel like I am too often in a hurry, and I am usually happier, and accomplish everything just fine- when I take a breath now a...

I had three sweet little nieces here for the weekend, and I am so grateful for their cuddles and smiles and expressions of trust and affection. There's just nothing like children to take my mind of our Narnian climate- 'always winter and never Christmas'. (well, not Christmas very often :) But Jack turned 14 his weekend, and he and his friends went out to the mountains to play in the snow; he didn't mind that it's still winter, and really, why should I? There is a lot more to life than weather. I am happy to know that there are ways we can help the disaster victims in Japan- I can give to the humanitarian aid fund at church, with confidence that every cent will go straight to the care of those in need. The powerlessness is too painful if we must witness innocent suffering and not be able to reach out with any help...I think that is the only way our loving Father in Heaven can allow us to endure life on earth with all its pain; He knows that one day He can heal and ...

One of the best sights and sounds out there has to be the children out on their bikes; their voices are carried on the breeze (read:wind!), and the spring evening light illuminates these sweet moments. I know that robins and flowers are among the first signs of spring in many places, but here, the snow has a rather un-salutory effect on flowers, and robins would be in danger of blowing away on the western winds! So for me, it's kids on bikes. They are hardier than robins and flowers. And they are mine. :)

I'm happy today that I can see signs of real improvement on the tip of Jasper's poor tail, which is about the size and color of my finger. Very few bits of scab remain, and I can only hope that the new skin will actually grow hair on it! Yikes. This is all very yucky, but really, so exciting! In a sort of yucky way. Meanwhile, he still spends all unsupervised time wearing his lampshade, which Jack has thoughtfully labeled in green permanent marker 'the cone of shame'. He is a charming boy. And this useful device is serving a dual purpose; not only does it keep Jasper from chewing the skin off the end of his tail again- it has the added advantage of wrecking our walls, especially the corners of the walls. We had often considered painting our walls a lighter shade, and now that looks more likely than ever.  :)

We have some good old friends here with us for a visit this weekend. Our children played together when they were wee little ones before we moved to England, and it's amazing how they just pick up where they left off whenever they see each other since those happy days! We took them all to Waterton today to play in the snow, and we had SO MUCH FUN! It was great... The breeze was gentle, and the sun was warm, even through the clouds that came and went. The snow was made for good times; we made some cool snowmen, and a big snowball wall which became the dividing line for a pretty intense snowball fight. We played under, on, and in, some huge drifts which were best accessed from the rooftops! I am so happy whenever I am there- the place seems to be magical to me... And the best part is the joy of seeing my children play out there; it's powerful. I am blessed to have a heart (and iphoto :) full of such delicious memories.

I don't know why it seems so hard to believe the difference they make- they're good supplements. I started taking them at Christmas, through the kind concern of my sweet mother. Now, three months later, I have accidentally tested them; I ordered too late, and ran out for about a week before the next shipment arrived. Amazingly, my joint pain was up and my energy was down... When they arrived, I wasted no time in swallowing some, and I don't think I want to let that happen again! I read a saying years ago, which I have quoted to my family a few times over the years. It says, 'Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.' I say it to encourage them to eat plenty of oranges when they are fighting a cold, and so on. Now they say it to me, because they think it's pretty funny how many pills I swallow with my meals. I wish I was a bit more robust, but I am grateful that I have medicines, both natural and pharmaceutical, that help! And I watched a co...

After all, what do we really expect? Of course there's a snowfall warning for this week! Naturally, it looks like Christmas outside! It's only late March- the first week of 'calendar' spring! I actually really enjoyed my walk this morning. The snow fell constantly, but it was neither cold nor windy. We trudged around in our snow gear, and Jasper shook off once or twice. What I am grateful for in all of this is that I am ok with this weather... When we moved to Alberta I was 10, and it was February. I recall thinking that my parents had brought us to the north pole! ;) I didn't think too much about it when I was growing up, except when my April birthday was almost always snowy... As an adult, though, I haven't fared so well. Until very recently. I found the long cold winters with extreme temperatures and conditions almost unbearable. I'd still go out walking, but I felt like curling up and waiting for winter to pass- quickly! I eventually got low moods over ...

(This is what I wrote yesterday on a word document when I couldn't access the internet because we were in the middle of switching providers. That was fun, let me tell you.)    There is just nothing like a sunny day. When the sky is bright everything seems a little better. Problems are simply challenges I can face, and cheerfully handle. Going outside to take a walk feels blissfully mandatory. Not only the curtains, but the windows have to be opened to let in the pretty light and fresh air. And the snow is melting so fast! And once again, I am so grateful for the loving and ready support of family… Some of my nearest and dearest live far away, but when I call for a little help, love, even rescuing, my family are caring and more than willing to reach out their loving hearts and hands to us. I know and feel how precious these gifts are. Plus, I think food is a real blessing. I am enjoying some steamed broccoli with butter for my lunch, and let me tell you- it’s yummy! ...

Here is what I actually did after we got ourselves off the couches this morning, instead of going back to la la land. I made the oatmeal we love best. Here is how: I boil 3 cups of water with a little sprinkle of salt, then stir in 2 cups of old-fashioned oats. (not the quick ones I use in cookies) I turn the heat down to about medium and stir it once in a while, stopping the heat when there's no more water left on the bottom of the pot when I pull back the oats with the spoon. It's so chewy (not mushy :) and filling and hot. And fast to prepare. Jack stirs a little nutmeg and cinnamon into his at the table, and adds a spoonful of brown sugar with all the rest of us. It's the perfect breakfast. No wonder it's been such a favorite for so long. Yay for oatmeal!

I went to sleep sometime after midnight last night. And the alarm went off at 5 o'clock this morning. I was grateful that it was a mistake, and we could snuggle in and go back to sleep for a while. Once I accomplished this (no small feat :) I fell into a strange dream. All scrambled and mixed up. I woke up Kirby and myself by crying out in fear of a huge bug that had bitten me (in the dream!)... Kirby was telling me that it's ok because I am in my real life now. Thank Heaven we live someplace too cold for most big bugs! We only have to consider cougars and bears, of which there are relatively few, really! Thankfully the chapter we were reading in the scriptures with the children this morning was a short one, because we had overslept a bit by then, and were all ready to head back to bed when we were finished reading together! Yikes. I am going to have to get a little more strict about bedtimes for my girls. It's hard to tear myself away from their cuddles and chats and book...

Japan. Lybia. My heart aches for these, and so many other people who suffer things I cannot even really imagine. This world holds so much anguish. And then there is an outpouring of compassionate support. It's always there. A good friend of mine recently suffered a stroke. She has six children, and some of them are just little. She is facing her recovery with courage. Another recently suffered a traumatic miscarriage, during which she lost copious quantities of blood, and almost died. She is strong and still full of love and gratitude. Someone I love very dearly is enduring lingering pain from a failing romance. She remains caring and holds on to her integrity. And the mountains are so beautiful. And spring is coming. These small and simple things bring me a renewed sense of God's constant and powerful care. On their own, the rainbows wouldn't be enough to soothe the clouds and storms with their rain of tears. It's our faith that one day, some way, all the suffering ca...

Yesterday afternoon I had the joyous experience of opening windows to let in a bit of fresh air, as we were finding that even with the thermostat down to 19, it was 24 in here! And when I opened the front door, I heard the beautiful sound of snow melt dripping water everywhere! Yay! Meanwhile, Jack was skiing in the mountains with his school, where he had plenty of snow to enjoy... And I feel nervously blessed by a serendipitous turn of events, which has me taking on a big challenge. With my piano lessons. I will tell you this- I am definitely going to need the increased practice time I was planning on!! And I am excited. Really. The other good thing that springs to mind this morning is that we've had yet another good Baden Powell night with the cubs and their families. Lots of chili, and the best ever homemade buns. Brought by a talented friend who luckily has a boy in our cub pack! ;)

Since we have lived here Kirby has taken our children skiing several times, and they also do school ski days. I, however, have never gotten any closer to these slopes than the lodge. Or maybe just outside when I take pictures. The point is that I have been quite happy to find any reason I could- not to go skiing. I don't like to be cold... It costs a lot... I sit in the front windows with lunches... I haven't been for about 20 years... Excuses have been easy to come by. Until today! It was so beautiful up there. Lots of gorgeous snow, and not too cold. I walked the dog, looking up at these incredible peaks and fell in love with it all. So I will have the opportunity to find out how well my body remembers how to downhill ski. I hope this will bring more pleasure than pain! I feel so blessed to live here with the rocky mountains just down the road. Wish me well in my attempts to make the most of it. :)

Kirby has really been encouraging me to take more time for playing the piano... It can be hard for me to carve out time for my personal enjoyment when there is always so much to do. But now we have spread around more of the responsibility for house and home- to make time for me to practise as much as I really should. The children can be a little more responsible, and that may be a good thing for everyone. I am so happy that things keep changing. Even though Jack is six feet tall, and not nearly as cuddly as he once was, good things keep happening... Little people with rolls on their knees are now big and sometimes a bit mouthy. On the other hand, they can help out- so I will be more able to pursue another passion which will help fill my mind and hands with something fulfilling while they are doing big kid things like going to school. I feel like a cross between Peter Pan and Tevya! Still, there is nothing like a sweet squishy little baby.

It's been a while since I have written here, and I am happy for a few moments tonight... I'll give the abridged version before I go to bed; I feel grateful for time off from school when I enjoy my family, visits with old friends, great books for my children to love reading, gorgeous sun on deep snow on a mountain lake, my fingernails growing a bit at last, forgiveness that mends broken hearts, good medicine, creative children who daily amaze and delight me, the dog's tail hair starting to grow back!!, delicious food to cook and eat, houseplants, jeans that fit, a cold but sweet walk around the temple grounds with my son and daughters, roadside assistance for locked-in keys, good conversation, and constant daily learning- from what I read, people I know, films I watch, and sheer beautiful inspiration. Plus, my dear little sister and her dear little daughters who are here to visit. Little Grace fell asleep cuddled with me this evening- simply adorable. Life is good.

Have I ever mentioned my love of BBC? It's the best world news online; amazing pictures, and good background information on events and places. More of a broad worldview than I've found on other news... I also like the movies and TV shows I've seen by them. It's cool to watch a good drama of a story I've enjoyed reading in a classic novel. Bleak House was hauntingly brilliant... Last night Kirby and I watched the last of a mini-series we'd gotten through AppleTV. So satisfying... aahhhh. :) The other happy thing I'm thankful for today is that we just received glowing reports for Mary and Emma's Royal Conservatory of Music exams, which they did last month. I am their teacher, and I am still a student myself, so I wasn't sure how we'd do... My own teacher is brilliant. She has been asking me about my girls' results, and I will be pleased to tell her at my next lesson that they both received First-Class Honors!

Thank Heaven it's over for 10 days... no school! And for once, Kirby isn't snowed under with papers to mark! No 6 am alarm clocks, and no sending my family out the door in the mornings... Yes, I am definitely good with reading week! I am, of course grateful for the work my husband can do every day at his job, and the educations our children are receiving at their schools... But mostly, I really like it when we can be together! Kirby says he will support me to try and finish with insomnia and sleeping pills while our schedule is so relaxed for the next week and a half. I am pretty excited about that- we'll see how it goes! I am looking forward to experiencing a night of un-drugged sleep! (Still, thank Heaven for sleeping pills in the meantime! :) Tomorrow night we are all going to a university basketball game, which is always a good time. Nothing could entice me to run and sweat and struggle for a ball, but it's fun to watch and cheer people who are motivated and skill...

This afternoon Emma's grade 5 basketball team, the Canyon Cougars, are having their first game. I, however, will not be walking down the hill to watch. I will be getting a lift with a good friend who will be leaving my home at the same time I need to go down to the school. The reason is that we've had a few calls this morning- one from the elementary school, and two from concerned friends who know of my walking habits- telling us that there has been a cougar sighted very close by. In the winter we are safe from the hibernating bears, but not these cats. :( Needless to say, the children were driven to school!) And I am thankful for the silver lining on this large feline cloud that has fallen over our little neighbourhood... :) I can't take a walk today. I am very tired, so I will happily take this opportunity to replace my morning exercise with another healthful activity, and take a little nap before I fold the laundry.

Simply this- I love the shelves Kirby put up in the family room last weekend. This afternoon after my piano lesson and some housework (I am somehow still amazed at how messy and dirty a house can get in a day...?) I arranged books and pictures and some other beautiful things on the sturdy pine. It is very simple, and matches perfectly with the other trim down there. The books were heavy- as books are- but I felt kind of artistic, placing everything just so. A few years ago in a conversation with my aunt, she said (and I quote), "Yes, men are useful..." Truer words were never spoken. I suppose we are all useful in different ways, especially if we decide to be. I am very blessed to be with Kirby, who is terribly useful in many ways I am not. Thank Heaven for relationships in which people fit together like puzzle pieces... :)

This is all true. On Monday afternoon we all went (our family) out to the hills with the dog, and rambled around. It was great fun, especially the part where Jack and Emma showed us the treacherously steep incline down which they like to run/slide into a ravine. I really liked how they expected me to join them in this refreshing sport!  Heh heh. :) But, really, it's wonderful to have the hills so close. They love it, and I love it. And the dog loves it... Speaking of which, Jasper got tons of burrs in his hair, and when we came home, Jack and Mary decided to clean him up, which was fine. Good that they felt inclined to go the extra mile, when all I required was some heavy-duty work on him with the dog towel. They got right into their grooming and decided that they should use some scissors (which were easier to locate than Jasper's tangle/mat comb). So they went to work on his tail. I am serious. It was butchery! They hacked off most of his plenteous tail hair, and left him lo...

In grade 11 our English teacher, Mrs Sonnenberg had us each write a sonnet. It was a challenge, but I really liked it. I don't know where it's gone now; I probably don't have it anymore... but after 16 years I finally made another attempt. I still enjoy it. :) I wrote it for Kirby, as a Valentine. He likes it, too. I picked it because sonnets have 14 lines, and the day of love is the 14th... awww :) I feel blessed to have words and language and poetry... It's a way for me to know what I feel and think; sometimes when I feel all muddled, I can talk (pity the listener :) -or write. When I do, it seems like I am untangling a big ball of wool from out of my head, through my hand and pen, and onto the paper in a line that makes sense. It's a relief when I can sort myself out like that. And it's a sweet pleasure to be able to express myself in a personal and meaningful way to my husband. I like knowing that what I gave him is one-of-a-kind, just from me to him.

I love the feeling of waking up to the howling wind shaking the whole house, especially when a sweet little girl comes and curls up with me for a cuddle.... and deciding when to rise and shine (without the unwelcome aid of an alarm clock :) It's such a luxury to all be home together for the day, even though we have things to do here; that's just part of living in a house. And to tell the truth, I have to agree with Marjorie Hinckley, that ironing is the most pleasant of all household tasks! Except maybe watering the plants- that's pretty relaxing. Most housework isn't actually so bad, except cleaning bathrooms and scouring the stove with all it's nasty burner trays and those yucky bits. I don't like that. The nice part today is the energy I feel when we are all here, puttering at our responsibilities at our own pace, (and quite randomly, on my part! Who says I have to finish one job before I begin the next one? :) I am teaching Mary and Emma their piano lessons ...

One good thing about the place I live is that the air is so pure. This morning we were all sitting together in the living room, when Kirby cupped his hand to his ear, tilted his head toward the window behind him, and dramatically said, 'What's that I hear...? No wind??' We've had a few days now of the kind of wind that separated our car door from the handle panel once, when trying to close it in a local parking lot after grocery shopping. It's great. It's mellowed out a lot just now, but yesterday morning when I was standing on one of the boulders at the top of the canyon, watching for my girls on the school playground below while I waited for my walking partner, I had to catch myself from being blown right over in the howling breeze. Delightful! Looking on the bright side, we can get a pretty intense workout from a simple walk by the creek... if we're going west. And then, if we are heading east, it's power assisted walking, so even hills are relatively...

I have some good new medicine and some great new vitamins, so I haven't had such frequent or severe migraines recently. But yesterday afternoon one came. Thankfully it's over now, but it amazes me how quickly I get used to feeling well, and how easy it is to take it for granted. We all have some complaints with our bodies, but I think I should appreciate a little more often the life I have in mine.

Sadly, I am not much of a home office person. I rarely tackle desks or other little out of the way areas, which can very quickly become a bit cluttered with 'all manner of paraphernelia'... as Dad would say. It's not that I like messiness- I just don't really prioritize these things. For example, I will make the startling confession; on this very desk there is a wooden filing/drawer thing, on which sits a Christmas angel ornament, a small orange car with no people in it (from the Game of Life), a pin-on poppy left over from Remembrance Day, and other such important and timely objects that are very useful to our family as we pursue our day-to-day life. Sometimes I wonder if I was switched at birth- my mother is easily the most organized person I know. I, on the other hand, have several mysterious spaces in my home, wherein a wide variety of items may or may not be found at any given moment. I have little to no interest in most of what comes in the mail, what numbers awai...

Yesterday Kirby and I went with Jack and Mary to the temple. It was beautiful to be there together, and it won't be too long before Emma will be old enough to come with us, too... Mary loved it- it was her first time- and she told me this morning that she wishes she could go every day.  :) I feel very blessed to have a holy place where we can go and feel such peace. It reminds me of how Heaven must be. I am grateful for such a sanctuary... And I hope and believe I can and should make our home as much like this as I can- Life can be tough, and I think we all need a rest from our cares sometimes. Now we have a little extra strength and eternal perspective to bring into our everyday lives this week...  :)

Outside the wind is howling like crazy, but here inside it is cozy and quiet. Except for the sound of the howling wind... ;) I am so grateful this morning for the gift of time... to think, and keep in touch with loved ones, and play happy homemaker all the while. I love my plants that make me feel like I am in a balmy green climate, and the beautiful furnace which keeps us warm right through gale-force, blizzard temperature winds. Really, I was thinking the other day as I luxuriated in the steamy shower, of how many people in how many places have never had that simple pleasure. How blessed we are. I wish I could share these comforts with everyone. I can wish naiive things like that, if I want to. And I do... Yesterday I watched my sweet little daughter sitting with a very old lady she had happened to meet in a local old folks' home... she was so intent and caring. She listened to Eileen's stories of hiding in bomb shelters in London during the war, when Eileen was 12. I cannot...

I am happy today that I could have a chat with my sister-in-law. We are both pretty busy with our lives and families, so we don't talk as often as we'd like, but when we do connect, it's like we are right there together. We talk about our children with each other, and it feels so good. We listen to one another and   understand each other... It's great. I think it's refreshing to connect with another woman who walks the same kinds of roads and shares the same perspectives... And I love her children... the ones who are now grown have been such a blessing, so loving and such good friends and examples to my own Jack and Mary and Emma. And, of course, little Carli is so much fun for my girls to hang out with whenever they do get together. Looking forward to the end of the month- hopefully they will be here for a visit! Thank Heaven for family... :)

I am slowly seeing the truth emerge; there never will be all the time I want or need to do all the things I wish to. There is always, however, enough time to do what I need to. When my children were little, always home and with me, I thought that when they were in school I would have time for the creative projects I was interested in. I was convinced that I would suddenly have 6 hours a day in which I could delve into absorbing work and play. But my children are definitely the most absorbing work I have ever done, and I have more to do now than I ever did! In the last few years I have noticed myself laboring under the same kind of fallacy... only this time I have been trying to make myself believe that once my children are grown and gone I will have loads of time and all the flexibility in the world. Alas, I am gradually becoming aware that this, too, is only wishful thinking! So, all I really have to work with is the moment I am actually in... I can plan and hope and dream, and if I a...

Kirby has been away marking provincial exams for a week... Late last night he came home, and he was up at 5 this morning to meet his work day early. By lunch time Jack was gone, too. They are at a basketball tournament out of town until tomorrow night. Mary was looking after a friend's little one here today... she is wildly excited to be old enough to babysit on her own now! She had another little visitor here with her in the late afternoon, and she and Emma have had a very busy, very helpful evening...! I had a lot to do this afternoon, very unexpectedly, and my girls took everything in stride. I am proud of them. They love to play, and they are so happy and energetic. I was happy to have a moment to dance with my little Emma this afternoon, before things got so busy. Anyway, what I want to say today is that I feel richly blessed to have home. A place where we can all come to and go from... Whether we are here to change clothes and rush off to the next pressing moment life has fo...

It's exam week for Jack, and he's pretty well done for the week. So, apart from basketball practice, he is more or less his own man this week. It's a treat for me to have him kicking around the house. Somehow, I feel relaxed and still energetic when my children are at home. I love it, because I miss having them here most of the time for school... :( But it's great for me today to have a day at home, with the boy somewhere in my general vicinity. I am actually having quite a productive day... I have been doing lots of housework, and some scout badge stuff with Jack, and lots of other little tasks that make me feel like a bee in a hive making honey. Which reminds me, I have to go get warm laundry form the dryer and put the bread in the oven. Happy, happy me. AAAhhhhh.

I had a conversation with a good friend today that has inspired me and, I hope, left me a wiser, and stronger person. I feel like I want to be a hero in the way I face my life, like she is. Thank Heaven for good friends.

A few years ago, when I'd been ill, my sweet Mom gave me a pale pink blanket. It's really soft and warm, and has a texture like a lamb. I love it. The man I sleep with at night always seems to go to bed nice and toasty warm, and wake up a bit chilled. I, on the other hand, find that I am rather on the cold side when I retire for the night, and by rise-and-shine time I am all cozy. So, I often take my baby blanket to bed with me at night and cuddle up with it under the duvet. It really works. I get warm fast, and Kirby doesn't have to cook. Today when I was resting, fighting a migraine, I was very grateful for this blankie of mine, let me tell you! I feel better now, and that's happy too. :)

I know we all think our children are the best thing that ever happened. It's only natural. I feel so blessed to have each one of my precious children. I hope I am learning every day from their shining examples and willingness to learn! Here is why I am grateful for my son, Jack... At about 7:30 this morning we received a call saying that school was canceled due to inclement weather and roads. (See, it's not just me being a wimpy baby about the winter weather- the wind really is atrocious sometimes. That's why we have all these wind farms!) Anyway, during the day Jack was such a good brother to my girls. He was still a boy, but the kind that makes me think, 'This is why I wanted a big brother for my children.' He gave them a hand with some helping-out jobs they were doing, and showed them he likes them. A little attention and time spent together can go a long way. They were so happy around him, even though his ways of showing love weren't quite as quiet or gentle...

This morning I had to run Jack up to the store before school to replace a missing calculator for a math test. On the way we saw the beautiful sunrise glowing brilliant gold against the mountains in the west. It thrilled me, and it might have thrilled Jack... he did say he was impressed. :) Something like this can make up for a lot of cold wind and blowing snow! I am happy I can go to my piano lesson this morning, and also that Jack is having so much fun with basketball. It makes me happy to see how much he enjoys the game. And he's good.

Kirby lived in South Korea for two years on his mission, and we still have the scriptures in Korean... Emma has gotten to know a couple of boys from there in her grade at school, and she is fascinated with their language. So she has started having Kirby give her lessons, and she is learning it so fast! It's kind of weird, seeing my little 10-year old daughter learning things so completely foreign to me- especially so easily. Yikes. (But in a happy way :) So tonight when I came home from Cubs, bringing Jack and Mary from their fun and games up at the church, this is what we saw: my husband and my littlest girl stretched out on the living room floor with flashcards, papers, stickers, books, and smiles! Of course I had entertained a small hope that Emma might be in bed by the time we got back, but how could I complain about a dad who so selflessly gives his time and energy to his children, that he loses track of a little time... ? Exactly. This is after he finished coaching Jack'...

This morning I walked for a long time in the hoarfrost with my friend, and my dog. It was energizing and invigorating, and possibly the best part of my day. We wear our ski pants, and I wear my crazy warm hat. Our exposed hair and even the wool on her hat was white with frost by the time we got home. So pretty, and no wind, really. We saw four deer down the hill, when we were on a path at the top of the canyon. They were pretty , and nervous about the dog, so they kept turning around to look at him even when their bodies were facing the opposite direction... it was funny and cute. (They needn't have worried. Jasper doesn't have a vicious bone in his big hairy body!) Later, when we were down along the creek path, I tried to match my pace to the energetic and brisk stride of my partner, and realized I am pretty out of shape. Tomorrow we will go again.

Mary is changing quickly into a blossom from a bud. Very quickly. It seems to be happening overnight... I feel blessed to have had the precious cocoon of her childhood... Now it's fun to watch her coming out into a butterfly before my eyes. We gave her a little make-up for her birthday, and she and I 'made pretty' together in my bathroom this morning. She doesn't need it, but it's a little fun- just a cherry on top.

The fact is, I can be just a wee bit absent-minded at times. It surprises me when things slip my mind, but I think it surprises other people more. This morning I was missing my walking partner... (Our lives haven't lined up for our morning walks this week.) I was also wondering how I was going to get the house decorated, the food prepared, and myself from 'pajama mama' to 'pretty for the party mama' - all in a matter of a few hours. (If this sounds like a piece of cake to you, perhaps you will bear with me; we all have our strengths, and we all have our weak areas, right?  : ) I called my partner, to see if she would like to come decorate with me. I will spare you the details of the conversation in which it became clear to me that she was then driving to meet me for our (scheduled, but forgotten!) walk..., and in which it became plain to her that I had completely blanked our plans. She came in and we did streamers and balloons, angel food cupcakes and whipped cream....

Thankfully, I can always munch on some almonds! I am not a huge fan of milk or eggs or cheese, all those good sources of protein. The mood has to be just right, which doesn't often happen, to tell you the truth. So I am happy there are lots of almonds in the kitchen, which almost always appeal, and always satisfy when I eat them.

I think this is a Latin word that means 'enough'...? Well, that is what I feel blessed with today. Sometimes I think there isn't enough... time, energy, etc... I worry that I can't do and be all I need to... I feel inadequate and anxious... that I am not resilient enough for real life, and can't really cope, never mind thrive. I want to be happy for my children, and supportive for my husband, and good to my other loved ones. I want to make life cheerful and sweet for the precious children I have; this is their only childhood, and the memories and sense of hope needs to last them the rest of their lives. I want to improve the power of my mind and the skills in my hands. And this morning I read something that encourages me... There is enough. I don't have to do it all by myself. And what I do have to do, I can do. I am capable. What energy I need, I have. It's somewhere within me... not always easy to locate, but I can find it... :) Usually. What joy I want t...

I've missed writing while I've been so busy lately, but the things that I am busy with are many of my sweetest blessings... Last night I just sat down and talked with Kirby. He'd had a hectic day, and I listened to him and made him smile. I wouldn't have traded that long talk in the living room for any amount of writing- or reading in the bathtub, for that matter. I could go on about what has been given to me in the past few days, but I want to say two things instead; I am grateful for this place to write. It's so good for me, to come in here and consider, and express myself... and sometimes people I love tell me they enjoy reading what I write. That makes me really happy. Also, I was just tidying up the pillows and blankets on the couches in the living room. I had just made my 'daily' pass at vacuuming up the dog hair and dust from the rug, and the cold winter sun was streaming in through the windows... (This bright sunny room is another one of my favorite ...

I feel happy and refreshed, not only because I just came in from a walk with Jasper through a lot of fresh snow and a lot of fresher cold... It was the best weekend I can remember. Kirby asked me out for a dinner date at a little local restaurant on Friday night, and Saturday night we went to a fun party, with a good dj... it was a surprise birthday for a friend, and our whole family had some very good fun on the dance floor!  I loved dancing with Kirby and my girls, and a baby... and the most exciting moment for me was when Jack took Emma out jiving! That's it- we didn't go anywhere far away or warm. We did stay in bed a little longer in the mornings, and walk the dog together late one night. We did plenty of house cleaning while Kirby had to mark papers most of Saturday, and just relaxed with our children a lot. Kirby and Emma played some crazy game of dollies yesterday afternoon... something involving flashlight fireworks and an action-packed plot... I was helping Mary learn...

I was under general anesthetic this morning for some delightful procedures at the hospital. Thank Heaven for that! But what I am really even more grateful for tonight is two friends... I'd asked one of them to give me a lift home from the hospital. Two showed up together, and brought me home with a delicious home-cooked dinner in a crock pot, home-baked buns, and home-made brownies! They then proceeded to walk my dog, clean up my kitchen, and bring me water where I lay on the couch... wishing the general anesthetic had killed the 2-day old migraine! These are the same two angel women who come every month to visit me, caring and listening, and building my faith each time. I am so blessed by the Relief Society- they sure provided relief to me today! I only want to be so kind and give such meaningful and heartfelt service to others, as they give to me. Thank Heaven for Jesus, whose love fills our hearts and inspires us to take good care of each other.