Mothers who Know

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.        Julie B. Beck     Mothers Who Know

I have lots of changes going on in my life.  All Good!!!!  I've had the best most wonderful summer filled with so much love it was almost too much.  Spending every waking hour with my children didn't make me tire of them, just the opposite.  I love those kids dearly and want to be the best Mom I can be so............ I am making changes, because really isn't that what life is all about?

-Glenn is a little more than halfway through the Academy.  He's in the best shape of his life and doing great on all tests, including physcial and shooting, but is anxious for it to be over and see what his life as a Sheriff will look like.

-My oldest daughter Emry was accepted into a very prestigious Prep School in a town close to us.  The commute is a sacrifice but it won't be so bad once the other 2 are accepted and they're all on the same schedule.  Although I am excited about her rigorous academic work, there were a few days my stomach was in knots, questioning if this was the right decision.  Now that she's settled in and is getting to know her teachers and make friends and familiarizing herself with how the school is run, I am at peace and happy.

-As of last night Lila is on the Pre-Team in Gymnastics.  She is beyond thrilled and is ready to learn all the new tricks of the trade.  She works really hard at Gymnastics and takes it very seriously.  One of her dreams came true last night and seeing her excitement makes my heart burst.

-Ethan is busy being a kid.  Reading, playing basketball, starting school, passing off scouting goals, kinda the same ol' same ol', but honestly it never gets old.  Seeing him immersed in a book, or feeling proud of himself for making a basket. It's so fun being his mom, I adore that little boy.

-As for me, it seems ever since the kids started school my job has been taking care of MYSELF!!!  I've spent 3 consecutive Mondays at the dentist, had a Cyst removed for the 3rd and what better be the final time from my leg, getting an eye exam and new glasses because my old ones broke and wearing crooked glasses is no fun and somewhat embarrassing and..........the big news is I am starting school in a few weeks.  I am taking online classes to finish my Bachelors degree started another lifetime ago.

So is my life CRAZY busy?  No.  My life is great and full, homemade dinners are eaten and the dog is fed.  The children have clean underwear and fresh fruit in their lunch.  We have time for silliness and laughter, chores, homework and peaceful nights.  It's just how I want it.

That leads me to the excerpt from Julie B. Beck.  She is a Leader in our church and her talk is so touching.  It makes me want to be a better mother and in order to do that I need to constantly be moving forward.  Making sure GOOD change is happening.  Checking myself.  Am I patient, am I teaching, am I kind and loving, am I the person I want and expect my kids to be? 

That said there will be slight changes in my blogging format, but I am not stopping, no way!  Shut my mouth about those incredibly genius kids of mine?  Impossible.  But I do need to streamline my life in order to make the best possible use of my time. 

I love my life right now.  I am grateful & humbled.  I have more love than I know what to do with.  Thank you to all who are a part of it.

I

I took this picture in L.A. I feel it gives me the street cred I've lost since living in Utopia.
I didn't blog once this summer.  I didn't want to.  I didn't miss it.
I applied sunblock to kids like it was my job.  My job location being the beach.
I saw all of my brothers, sisters & tons of family and friends who are close to my heart.
I visited L.A. and S.F. and would be happy to never return to either.
I didn't get enough sleep.
I watched my kids ride horses, go on roller coasters, surf, explore, laugh and exhaust themselves daily.
I drove to Utah for my cousins wedding and danced all night.
I made tons of crepes & waffles.
I hardly saw Glenn.
I found our swing set covered with graffiti.  My kids did it.  They're looking for their own street cred.
I went weeks without exercising.
I watched my kids fall more in love with their cousins.
I fell more in love with family.  The word, the people, everything it means and everything I feel.
I loved & felt loved.

The Happiest Place

We all played hooky on Monday & went to Disneyland!!!!   Glenn has a tax client that has a really cool job as a diver fixing the underwater rides there.  In lieu of payment he met us after his night shift & let us all in for the day.  How cool!!

I love Disneyland!  When we first moved here 9 years ago I had 2 little girls, an unfinished backyard, not many friends and days to fill.  I bought myself and Emry season passes (Lila was under a year & free) and we went 16 times that year.  I had to get the kids out of Glenn's hair so he could put in our backyard, and I also wanted us to have some fun, win-win!

I have SO many memories of taking the girls, Lila on my lap, on Peter Pan, It's a small World & Pirates of the Caribbean.  Now all these years later it was fun to experience it all together.

All the Halloween decor was brought out and the Haunted Mansion was especially fun decorated with everything "The Nightmare before Christmas".

Because we're cheap & didn't want to fork out 20 bucks for a photo we did the next best thing - take a photo of the grainy photo on the screen, classy.

From the back, Glenn, Ethan (next to Glenn, can't see him, too short), Marie, Lila Nathan, Kylee, Emry.  Jeannette & her kids met us there.  Seriously a dream day for my kids.

Emry went to Disneyland in the Spring with her school choir and has all the ride cameras dialed in, can you tell?

And because you can't not see Mickey, we waited in a 10 minute line in Toon Town to see the Mouse.  The kids were all antsy to go ride more rides but I really wanted to wait it out because Ethan wanted to see Micky but wasn't really letting on as his cousin Nathan thought it was lame and Nathans opinion usually trumps all. 

I packed snacks & lunches which we ate in lines so as to maximize time and money.  But after standing and walking all dang day, oh my goodness our legs were all on fire by the end of the night.  The last ride of the night we were all squatting or sitting, rubbing our legs ready to throw in the towel.

Until we meet again Disneyland.  Thanks for a wonderfully Happy time!!!!



* edited to add -  just an observation, but my 11 year old is almost as tall as me!!!!!!??????  When & how did this happen?  It's like watching a cuter, smarter, way more talented version of myself grow up right before my eyes.  So strange.