Hope-- I'm Working On It

"Never Give In
Never Surrender
Never allow despair to overcome your spirit..."




"Because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations..."

I can't wait for General Conference this weekend.

Completing the Impossible

Over the last several weeks, I've had many a task that has seemed too great to bear.



I've whined.



I've complained.



And I've even cried about said tasks.





Exactly five weeks and one day ago, I began a 'Family Contest'. It was inspired by Jill and I pitched the idea to my family. Many of us signed up to compete. And what a competition it has BEEN!



Here are the rules to the contest. For everything you complete, you earn one point with a total of 42 points a week.



No eating past 7:30 pm

7 hours of sleep a night

At least 30 minutes of exercise a day

No overeating of any kind. No seconds.

No treats

8 - 8 ounce glasses of water a day.



The competition ends this coming Saturday (the 25th). So far, I have only lost a total of three points. Sadly, it looks like I won't be winning. I chose to eat past 7:30 one evening to attend a bloggers' dinner (totally worth the point sacrifice, by the way). I chose to share dessert with John at our favorite restaurant on his birthday. And I chose to have dessert at Easter.



I don't care that I'm not going to win. And I mean that. I don't think I have ever in my LIFE been as healthy as I feel today or done as well with my eating as I have done as of late. I never thought it would be possible. Even when I did Weight Watchers, I'd have days where I'd totally binge (remember the Saturday Splurge?). NOT GOOD! The only time I can think back where I was probably as healthy as I am now was when I was engaged to be married. I worked out constantly and gave up treats. Until... we went on our honeymoon cruise and I gained a whopping 8 pounds. Yowza!



But like I was saying, the 'win' for me has been about doing something I didn't think I could do. I've stuck with the contest and the exercise and the monotonous water drinking (with the constant peeing included) and... I did it. I completed the impossible task. Or... at least what I thought was impossible.





But wait! That's not all...



I was recently called to be the 'Choir Director and Ward Music Specialist' for my church. I have to admit that I wasn't the tiniest bit thrilled. But I know the calling came from the Lord and for 'whom the Lord calls, He qualifies'. I put my faith in the Lord and went to work. Leading the music in church (which I feel anyone can do) is a lot easier than directing the choir--let's just put it that way.
My mom is an accomplished composer who has her own choirs. I grew up watching her lead and direct her music my ENTIRE life. She made it look SO EASY!!! Well, guess what??!!!

IT'S NOT!

Luckily for me, she agreed to come help me once a week. She gave me lessons in directing and helped me through all the hard moments. She even filled in when I was without an accompanist. She gave of herself and for that I am SO GRATEFUL! I couldn't have done it without her.

The week before the Easter choir performance, I was literally sick to my stomach. And besides that, who in their right mind wants to lead the choir with their butt facing the audience? Talk about adding insult to injury!

But guess what? I pulled it off. With the support of the choir members, the accompanist, and so many others, we actually sounded good! Even GREAT, dare I say! It was such a relief to sit back down and have it OVER WITH (and to also have my butt not facing the audience anymore). And not only that, but I was just so pleased with myself that I did it. I accepted the calling and pushed through. I completed the IMPOSSIBLE.

And one more thing? Our Stake Conference was on Sunday. Stake conference has been an element in my life that I have avoided numerous times because of the sheer pain it is to manage two small children for TWO LONG hours. Was Faith horrible? Why, yes! Did she color all over John's white dress shirt? Why, funny you should ask! Yes. Yes, she did. Did she chew up 5 crackers at once in her mouth and then spit them all out in a wet cracker heap?
Why, that would be a big, fat 'Yes'.
Oh, but surely Levi was well-behaved, you're saying. Surely that sweet boy wouldn't cause any trouble whatsoever!! Well, you would be mostly wrong, my friends. Mostly WRONG! Though Levi is actually a pretty great kid, he must have announced his boredom and sheer exhaustion from sitting there at least 20, 000 times. And at one point, he put his hand on Faith's forehead while Faith's arms were outstretched trying to reach him so that she could slime her boogers and chewed up cracker paste on his shirt. I can't say I blame him, really. I used to do the same forehead trick with my very annoying little brother. It works every time!

Did we make it the full two hours? YES! I even think I may have come away with tiny tidbits of goodness from the meeting!

Miracles can happen, friends.

And do I say any of this in a braggy tone? If you knew me AT ALL, you would know the answer to be a big fat 'NO'.

Because if you know me, you KNOW the following about me:

• I have never in my life been able to turn down treats. No second helpings? Um, what's that you say?
• I am horrible at stepping out of my comfort zone. I'd rather die, in fact, than do something I'm not used to doing. Any time I EVER started a new job, I'd be ill for the first month. It's a fact.
• Stake Conference? Yeah, I've used it as an out many a time. If there was an excuse, I'd think of it. If the kids sneezed the morning of stake conference, I would announce to the entire family that surely we were MUCH TOO sick to attend Stake Conference. And after all, us not going would surely be for the good of everyone else. I mean, we certainly wouldn't want to make others sick, now would we?

I've had a tiny little thing waiting for me to make my recent hellish (but also very REWARDING) weeks worth my time.

I have a picture. And it was taken with my cell phone which doesn't do it justice.

(My lack of a camera has been another thorn in my side. I recently found out it is LOST at the facility that is supposed to fix it. Nice.)

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Thanks again for the candy rocks, Jeanelle! I've been eyeing them since Easter.

And don't worry. There will be no Saturday Splurges (Or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday splurges either). What impact would all this work I've been doing the last few weeks have on me if I ate all this in one sitting? I'd erase it, I tell ya. So... I plan on having a tiny treat now and then.

And I'm going to start wtih the Marshmallow Easter egg I've been hoarding since they first came out.

Oh my goodness!!! I can't WAIT until Sunday!

Just Stuff

A few things...

I taught my RS lesson for the first time ever today. I think it actually went okay. But let's just say that I'm happy I don't have to do it again until July. The preparation kept me lying awake at night wondering if I was going to be short on the time allotted or if I was going to keep everyone too long.

I have a very large bump inside my right nostril. I hope it's not a tumor. That would suck. It's painful. I know this because I keep touching it to make sure it still hurts.

I'm going to the dermatologist this week in a desperate attempt for him to fix the skin problem that won't go away unless I take the medication I can't take while I'm breastfeeding and/or pregnant. So, you can guess how long I've had this skin problem. I'm going to ask him about the tumor in my nose. I have a quandary: Is that an ENT question or a dermatology question? It is a bump on my skin after all. But, it's on my nose skin so does that make it an ENT problem? I'm so confused.

I fell down the stairs today. Typical. My ankle hurts like a mother.

I'm mostly over my sickness, but I have the lingering cough. We all know how pleasant that can be. I also have the hereditary mucous membrane and the problems that go along with it.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

I have nice friends and neighbors who brought me stuff like apple cider and dinner for the sick and afflicted. I'm convinced that my friend Stephanie who brought the dinner was sent down to me from heaven. It's like she reads my mind and knows what I always need. I adore her. She has no blog so I can't share her with you. Thanks Steph and Thanks Kim for the apple cider. Kim has a blog. Click on her name.

Faith likes to play peek-a-boo and also has a scrunchie face smile that I'll be posting soon.

(hint, hint for the pictures, Joyce)

Peek...

A-BOO!!!

I'm going to bed on a Sunday night and the house is clean. Miracles DO HAPPEN.

I Opened The Window And INFLUENZA

We're all sick around here. I think it started with Faith, but I'm still not sure. Baby symptoms are hard to read because they can always be mistaken for teething symptoms. So, let's just say that if she hasn't had this, I sure hope she doesn't get it. Then I got sick and now poor little Levi is sick. Whenever there's that much sickness in one house, I feel like sterilizing everything. But the trouble is that I feel too much like crap to do it. Thankfully, I'm past the worst of it and now I'm stuck with the dregs. It doesn't help that I have to teach the Relief Society lesson on Sunday and I've barely even started. I'm having stress about it. Maybe if I don't do anything, it will just go away. Do you think?

My definition of the flu is body aches, chills and fever. If I'm barfing I say I have the stomach flu. I've told a few people that I have the flu and they automatically assume it's the stomach flu. So what's the correct terminology?

I wish I had a cooler pic with this post. I was going to take a pic of Levi but it was just too mean. I feel so bad for him when he's sick because, like most kids, he's looking at me like I caused it (which I sort of did, I guess) and I should be able to snap my fingers and make it better.

We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet

1910-2008

I will miss you, President Hinckely.

When I heard the news that our beloved prophet for my church passed away, I was so saddened and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I was also so happy that he could be with his beloved wife again. He hasn't been shy in saying how much he has missed her.

He has done such remarkable work for the church especially in regards to temple work.

President Hinckley has always sort of been "My Prophet" simply because I remember him the very most and he was the prophet in my teens and through adulthood during my most influential years. I have loved and looked forward to listening to him during General Conference and also hearing his cute sense of humor. He has been such a profound influence in my life. I had the opportunity to go to women's conference at the conference center a couple of years ago. When he walked in, there was a hush and an instant feeling of peace. I'm so grateful that I've had the privilege of listening to him speak and letting his words and guidance strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ. You couldn't help but be overwhelmed with the spirit when you heard him. I will miss him so much. He has been a very dear prophet for me in my life.

Weekend Review

So I'm following in the tradition of Jessica and Celia and trying this weekend summary thingy out. I can't guarantee that I'll always do it because, let's face it-there's just not always something very interesting to blog about on the weekends. But today I thought I'd give it a try.

My friend and neighbor April felt sorry for me because I complained on her blog after she posted about making gingerbread cookies with her son, that poor Levi has never done anything like that with his mother. The very next day, she brought over a little mini-gingerbread kit with her own baked cookies on a REAL Christmas plate with all the stuff to do gingerbread men with. I was floored. Who does that? NOT ME, I assure you. I'm much too self-centered. But Levi thought it was the greatest and next year I plan on making them with him because he had a lot of fun. Here he is below pictured with the original kit. Don't ask me what he's doing with his lip because I have no idea:

And here he is with the finished product. Ain't he the cutest?
John was out of town this weekend hunting... AGAIN. I think this puts an end to the hunts for the year though so I'm a relieved wife. We miss him when he's gone. On Friday night, Levi got to have his friend Dean spend the night. We rented 'Meet the Robinson's' for them to watch. Have you seen that show? We watched it with Levi last night and I cried at the end. It's a good show that teaches about letting go of the past and to "Keep moving forward" to the future. We really liked it. The kids got to eat pizza and stay up late. Levi finally came to me and actually told me that he was ready for bed. The next day was Sunday and going to church alone with two children; one of whom is a nursing baby, was on my mind. I decided to brave it and even went to choir practice first. I was proud of myself. Here's a picture of the two kiddies being couch potatoes:
After church was over, Faith got to have her first baby food-SQUASH! She acted like she liked it at first and then she started spitting it out of me and little particles of it went flying. I think she hates eating in her car seat. I have a perfectly good high chair buried downstairs but I'm debating on using that or buying one of those chairs that attaches to the counter top. Any opinions on this? I just find the whole "high chair cleanup" a bit exhausting. I remember hating it with Levi and would occasionally be so exhausted that I would leave the high chair there to crust for several hours before finally cleaning it up before I went to bed. Of course, that never happened very often. I was mostly perfect with an immaculately clean house most of the time. Of course. Here's a picture of Faith actually enjoying the squash.
After the squash was eaten, John soon came home much to our relief. Levi became a hyper spazz as he does after he hasn't seen his Daddy for a while. We put Faith to bed, watched 'Meet the Robinsons' as a family, put Levi to bed and then John and I went to stare at the baby like we do. We could stare at her for hours while she sleeps. She really is an angel.

I have to mention that Faith has begun patting me on the back when I hold her which is now my favorite thing in the world. And I also need to mention how surprising it is how much a 5 year old can entertain a 5 month old. Things that drive me crazy that Levi does will make her laugh hysterically. It was a good week.

Family with Special Needs

Pictured above is my Uncle David (my Dad's brother). He has Downs Syndrome, but has always managed to be independent and not reliant on others to care for him. He has a job and lives in a special community. When he was young, he wanted to be baptized even though my church doesn't require people with special needs like this to be baptized because they're already innocent like a little child and don't need it to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. He wanted to be baptized desperately, however so they made an exception and baptized him. I'm doing a post about my Uncle David because he's so special to me. Whenever I see him, I'm always lifted up and I always feel happy in his presence. I believe people like my uncle David and my handicapped nephew, Carsten bring us closer to our Heavenly Father just by being around them. They humble us and teach us. You can't help but feel the spirit when you're with them and be touched by their sweet spirits and tender hearts. By serving them we become closer to our Heavenly Father.

My nephew, Carsten

If you want to be uplifted, click here.

General Conference & Family

I just finished watching general conference for my church and it was so enlightening. I just love it when conference time rolls around. It IS hard, however, to listen when Levi seriously CANNOT be quiet. Even when he's seriously trying to be quiet, he's still not quiet. Even his whispers are loud. Nevertheless, it was nice to sit down in my jammies and curl up with John and watch as much as I could. The Relief Society president spoke on being a good homemaker and preparing for the future of our children. Wow. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of a mother. And... of course her talk happens when my house is an absolute disaster and unorganized mess. Okay, it's not that bad but still... It could definitely use some work. I love it when the prophet speaks. I love how he has a great sense of humor too. I love my family so so much. I'm so grateful for all they do.

Oh, I forgot to mention: Levi said the funniest thing! He saw the tabernacle choir singing and said, "The girls are on the blue team (because they were wearing blue dresses) and the boys are on the black team (because they were in black suits)." TOO FUNNY!!!

On another note, just to prove that I have the greatest husband and son in the world, here they are doing the dishes together. Every woman's DREAM! Okay... so our dishwasher is totally broken and has been for more than a week. I haven't minded too much though because John helps me more now that it's broken than he did before. Not that I'm saying I don't want it fixed though. Because... I DO.