Memorial Day

In her prayers last night Talia thanked her Heavenly Father for all of the holidays she could think of. We had a talk earlier in the day about what makes a holiday. I think what she retained is that it's a day when Daddy doesn't have to work and we get to have a big party at one, or both of the Grandma's. Christmas is still her favorite, but she and Ruby did really enjoy all the pretty flags in our neighborhood today.

This is what my view from the patio looked like this morning.

Check out that snow! We got pelted with hail while trying to have a moment at the Hyrum cemetery with DJ's grandpa Marion. Wind and rain all day. You know it's really cold when the girls only spend about 10 minutes on the trampoline at Gma's.

No need for the lawn furniture this year. Happy Memorial Day!

Up To

Guess what we've been up to? Almost every night, till 10:30, for weeks!

This is a sampling of the excitement going on in unit #2. Things are looking up considerably. The new windows are enough to make me think that I could live there again should the occasion arise. (I hope it doesn't!) New door in, laminate floor is almost finished. I can't wait for the painters to come in and transform those yucky walls.

I'll post an after shot. I know it will be worth all the effort, it's going to be a sweet place to rent. I wish that I could stage the place like they do on "Income Property" on HGTV. That would really feel good.

The girls have ingested a lot more penny candy from the Island Market than I would care to admit. Watched a lot of Tinkerbell on the portable DVD player too. Real renovation champs.

Know anyone looking for a great apartment? The landlords are really swell.

What I've Learned, 5/22/11

A little Sunday inspiriation, a little late.

For Real?

Our laundry lady is terribly underpaid. The washer needs a wash after a load like this. If only this were a once in a while type thing. In our house it's more like, once in a while it's not this bad.

Good Times

Bad weather today. This post took me forever. Here's what we've been up to for the last week.

Working out in Petersboro with the Boot Camp club. Yeah, that's MUD!

GNO! (girls night out) with Bunco friends in Bear Lake. This shot was taken at about 1:00 'ish a.m. I know it's not the best ladies, but twas such a fun night I had to show it off. Thanks Jaci!

Derby action! The very first of the year. Loud, smokey, crowded fun. DJ is in the orange, 232. It was a team derby so his buddy Bronson in in the matching orange car.

Swing'n

Daddy fixed the swing set. Big fun for all, including the neighbors. (No fun for the birds we kicked out of the loft.) We have gazed upon the broken structure with longing for many months. Now we just need a cessation of the rain for more than a day so the mud will be done. Good for the lawn, bad for the laundry lady.

T's Big Day

Talia graduated from preschool today. Wow! My baby girl. Her teacher hosted a little program in her very tidy, very large, garage. It was the cutest thing ever. (I am allowed to think that about anything my kids do right?) Mrs. Rigby told me afterward that she thinks T is especially bright for her age and will do very well in kindergarten. She also said that she was continually spouting Spanish and telling her all kinds of other things she knew. "Guess what teacher . . . ."

We thought the T-ster broke her foot on Tuesday. Running down the Boehme's front lawn without shoes, just like I told her not to do. There was wailing and shrieking. I am never sure what to make of her cries. Like has been mentioned before, there is no difference in decibel level between the real and the 'not-so-hurty-I-just-want-attention' ones.

Low and behold, a real owwee. Swelling and everything. She wouldn't put any weight on it for an entire day, crawled around like a baby. We got a free X-ray at the hospital. (Thanks LOTS and LOTS aunt Jamies dad the plastic surgeon!) No breaks, just a sprain. Still tender today, but as you can see from the photo, she as standing like a champ.

Another all girl sleep over in Mommys bed is being planned for tonight. Last evening DJ was at the shop until the wee hours doctoring his derby car. Tonight he will be in Reno, NV. Why, you ask? The man can not turn down a road trip. It's an illness he has. Curt Pinder needed a driver to haul flat steel. Good enough reason.

DJ promised to come home with a sizable check in his pocket, and convinced me that taking the occasional load for Pinder would be a good way to help pay for little Grange the 3rd. Can't say no to that logic. Babies are pricey. Wish that he didn't have to be away from us so often, but I appreciate his willingness to care for us. We both sacrifice, but he is the one who is most often away from his favorite pillow and warm food.

Talia Reads

T and Roo are in bed reading stories. I cannot believe the sweet sounds I hear coming from the room. Talia is reading to her sis! I am amazed that she can remember so many of the words to her favorite books. Children are so amazing.

Of course they don't have pants on yet. It's 12:30 in the afternoon. T had a charge to go and change her undies and only got partly done. Distracted by books. Could be a lot worse. I love the days when our TV is off.

I was paying bills and doing paper work for Nomad Properties when I got distracted by this post. Need to keep things rolling along, we slept in this morning and it took we girls a while to get the day started. Daddy is coming home to join us for lunch today, and even though we have been just lolly-gagging about there is no need for him to see the evidence laid plain. Better go get the colored pencils and paper fans off the table.

Today I learned. . . .

Today I wore my favorite blue dress and sparkly gray heals. Roo wore a little Polo number in the sweetest shade of yellow. Talia wore her hand made Mexico dress and leather sandals. Daddy was in purple shirt and sharp gray slacks. Mmmm! Handsome. Great color scheme too, I must say! This is us, (-Dad, he's home teaching) happy to be home from church and going to "Ah-ma's" house for a hamburger fry and chocolate dipped strawberries.

I have often (a lot often) been sitting in a meeting on the Sabbath, bathed in light and peace, and felt impressed to go home and record what was particulary touching, or what the Spirit wispered to my mind. This will be the first that I actually head the prompting. So, guess what I learned today?

• I have often been one of the lost. I have been among the sheep to have been placed on His shoulders and carried home with rejoicing. Just because I have lived my life in the shelter of the Gospel does not make me "one of the ninety and nine that need no repentance." (No such person exists, Jesus was stabbing at bit at the Pharisees when he used this phrase because they assumed they were without sin.)



• Each soul is off immeasurable value. In a business or practical application it would never be wise to leave 99 good sheep to look for just one, hoping that he might be found. But to Christ, each one is worth the effort, because he is a precious soul for whom a ransom was given, not a sheep or a coin.



• In relief Society we talked about talents. I remember my Grandma Rhodes taking time on each of our birthdays to have everyone gather around and tell us something that they admired, appreciated or especially liked about just us. (We always complained and whined of course, after all, how lame is sharing love?) But I see today how influential my families praise was on my behavior. I recognized that I was good at things and that I had lots of 'cool things' about me that others noticed. So, what I felt impressed with today was that we need to SHARE or admiration and praise for one anothers talents. Especially those of our own family. It is often hard to see our own good qualities or talents. I think when those who love us share thier praise in honesty then our faith in self will grow and we have a greater desire to be even better.
  


• "Improve the shinning moments, don't let them pass you by. Time flies on wings of lighting, we cannot call it back."

Ruby and Talia have learned to fold paper fans. They are everywhere! Roo was trying to fight off the camera with hers in this shot. I wish I could capture my adoration for my children in a photo or a word, they were absolute sweetness and beauty today.

One of my friends wrote this on her blog a few weeks ago, "is it possible to be intoxicated with your child? Because I am. Whole wit and full force. I savor every grin and goofy laugh, every foot wiggle and hand-holding moment."

I am intoxicated with my own children. I really do love Sundays. I'll try to share a little more of "What I learned" in future.

Happy Inspiration

I just spent a moment reading through a few of my latest posts. Have I been being a total downer or what? Sheesh! Perk up Sar! Growing babies is hard work. So deal with it. And be glad.

Anywho - since I am feeling rather light today I thought I would quickly share one of my favorite "Happy Places." (You know that place you take your mind to when you are feeling low, or you can't sleep.) This little house has been the inspiration for many a happy hour. Is it not the cutest dwelling ever!

I like to imagine how I would build the same floor plan. Maybe change the window configuration a bit, a sweet lantern over the front door, board and batten in the gables like the English houses? White I think. With a little gray and some red. Shutters? So many possibilities. I allow my mind to design the inside too. I would make it bright and modern, but true to it's cottage roots. Hardwood floors, window seats, lots of wainscoting, rooms that flow into one another but are not one giant space. Smallish and comfortable, the kind of home that feels good around you. Can you just picture the delicious details?

I think this home was built in the 40's. But I am not sure, when I stopped by to ask, no one was home. I stole a few photos. No fear people, they shall only be used to inspire my happy place.

When DJ and I build again I would like our home to have this kind of vibe. Lasting and classic. Not a copy cat - I hate those. I want my home to have this same kind of presence though. So sure of itself, graceful in it's own place, competing with no-one, friendly and true.

There is a garage in back. DJ is cool with any look as long as there's a place for the things that go.

The Refresh

Yo!

I am in a good mood this afternoon. The day has been thoroughly refreshing.

Last night Kira and I (and many other Boot Camp friends) tackled Old Main Hill in the rain. It was surprisingly fun. I know you think I'm lying. But seriously, stairs are a good time. I slept all night. Also a good time.

This morning I woke to miss Roo coming in my room, she was saying, "wake-ah-time Momma!" She grabbed my curtains and walked them open. The sun was shinning . . . . what? Odd. "Wake-ah-time." Then she went looking for Ya-Ya. (Talia) Look at that lip of hers, she busted it open on the corner of my bed on Sunday. Poor lamb. Still

I took the girls with me to our apartment complex to do some touch up painting and dusting. Hoping to have new tenants in just a few days. Being there brings back good memories. (Mostly good, folding laundry while seated on the John wasn't always convenient. Every now and then though . . .) It was a happy place to live. However, when I spend time there, then come home to my new house I always have a renewed sense of how very fortunate I am. I really live in quite the palace.

We did Burger King take out on the clean empty carpet of #4 with our Daddy. He has spent so much time there since our tenants moved out last week. I feel bad that he does so much of the work himself. Last night while I was at BC he put new sheet rock in #2. And, he has spent several hours removing an immensely overgrown hedge from the yard, only about 1/3 of it's is gone. We have yet to replace windows, replace finish work, lay new carpet and paint before we can get a new tenant down stairs. Whew.

T and I mowed the lawn for the second this afternoon. I am terribly proud of it, my baby lawn actually filled a mower bag this time! Then we swept the drive and the gutters. Pulled weeds and planted peas. The sun peeked out for just enough time. No rain today, THANK HEAVEN. Check out what the deer have done to our Tulips. No one told me last fall that Tulips are Bambi's very favorite treat. $35.00 worth of bulbs yields one purple blossom.

Feeling good today. Like a new woman. Monday was the pits. Monday night was the worst I've had yet. So, to enjoy a day like today was a like a breath of fresh air. Literally, the newly mowed grass smelled divine!

Being the Mom

This is my Mom and Pop.

Today is Mothers' Day. I feel like crying. My eyes have been brimming for a good portion of the day. Sometimes for joy, several times of desperation.

I will not make this a long post. I am too tired for that. But, I felt like I must share a little of what made my eyes blur with emotion today:

• Talia sings with the primary in Sacrament Meeting. So big, so beautiful. I watched her in wonder - "That is my child!" I thought.


• The heat in our church house. I wore long sleeves, and too tight pantie hose today on account of the driving rain. Mistake! All hose are banned until post-baby.


• Thinking of my own mother, and her many years of love, patience, gentle care and sacrifice on my behalf. Knowing that it still, and will always continue.


• Coming home to a filthy house.


• Reading Tali and Roo's Mothers Day cards and 'Oohing' and 'Awwwing' over their sweet little creations, just for me. I decided to keep a book of them, every years' little offering, to cherish always.


• DJ whipping up some Mac and Cheese for lunch.


• Snuggling in bed between Roo and DJ for a nap.


• Roo busts her lip wide open on the edge of the bed while rescuing "Pen-win," the beloved penguin who fell out of bed during the nap. Holding her tight for 15 minutes, being bled on. Having her cling to me, her whole self wanting nothing but my comfort.


• Tammy's homemade soup and bread sticks, ready and waiting. (THANKS Momma Grange!)


• Holding my tongue while the Grange family had yet another, "If it's a girl . . . ." conversation.


• Strawberry cheese cake, wanting too, but not enjoying it on account of the new one.


• Driving home in the rain, knowing it will not stop for days.


• Reading inspired mothers' words. And Sheri Dew's "Are We Not All Mothers?" (Read it, I guarantee warm fuzziness.)

Today, along with so many others, I must remind myself that Motherhood is not just a 'to-do'. But a high and holy order, a calling, a commission, a sacred trust. One from which we will never be released. It is trying, and difficult. It is glorious and full of the deepest and most lasting kind of happiness.

I remind myself that I walk each day hand in hand with God in creating, shaping, leading and loving prescious souls. (One of which is mine.) I want this Job! I want this role, this special commission.

Even when there is Macaroni on the floor, and purple crayon on the fireplace. Even when my homes inhabitants are all brushed, jammied, rocked, kissed and tucked, (yea, even Dad!) and I alone remain awake to battle heartburn.

Expect some fresh photos tomorrow. DJ dipped into his very own stash of derby winnings to buy me a fancy new camera. The battery is charging as we speak.

Happy Mothers Day to all!