Good and Beautiful

Life is good and beautiful right now. My heart is feeling full and grateful. It helped that I was able to get away and go to the temple yesterday. I did initiatories - 

The flowers are lovely there and everywhere. There was some rain and a RAINBOW tonight - 

I guess I usually have really awesome weeks when I'm preparing to lead the lesson at church (I do the 3rd Sunday of each month). I also led the discussion in Study group this week, so that is a good warm up for me to give it a run though and attempt to be a bit less scattered than usual. I've been meaning to share a quote with the ward probably since February or March, but I keep forgetting (it gets lost in all my papers and books and displaced thoughts) but THIS TIME I'm going to share it for sure, first thing. It's the quote I shared here on Monday as I was talking about Victoria Ruvolo and forgiveness. We are recording machines - we are each the record of our own lives. The Mormon Doctrine topic under Recording Angels was good too and talked of the same thing, thanks to Lili De Hoyos Anderson for bringing this quote to my attention (can't remember which podcast episode she mentioned it in, but it's from her podcast "Choosing Glory") So that was good, and I also went to a Mental Wellness class tonight that I really enjoyed. Our Stake Relief Society President is the mom of Joel, who was Ethan's best friend in Elementary school. She is a professional counselor something, and has done a few free classes for us and wow, what a blessing and a great resource she is! She taught us about the 4 F's of Survival: Fight - Flight - Freeze - Fawn (like deer in the headlights). The best place to be is in the SCC - Safe, Calm, and Connected. Otherwise it's usually in the 4F's area - it was good. A few other items - Sophi went to Boondocks today as a Safety Patrol reward. She loved that. Mel got home from Spain. Lily babysat some neighbor girls - 

She let them give her a makeover. They might have been going for a hobo look? 

If so, they did an excellent job! For exercise, Corey and I are still biking. Yesterday I did the fish tail by myself and I'll brag to myself: I got a PR on the approach hill! 5:20 woo-hoo. 6.23 miles, 31:45. Today Corey and I rode past 3rd bridge, then I headed back but Corey went all the way to the top. I got a PR for the coalpit area descent and silver for the fastest section alive 5:24. PR for up and back from Power Plant to 2nd river crossing and back to Power plant - 39:59. I also did some handstands and headstands. I did the monkey bars at Daniel's soccer practice, I did good but got a flapper on my left hand near the end, so then I was done. We got invited by some neighbors to go see a night light lantern thing tomorrow and they hooked us up with free tickets, so we're going to go to that tomorrow! Should be fun! We have such fun and awesome neighbors. 

Walking with a Painting

Another day, another afternoon of Katharine being so cute. 

She was practicing walking for like 20 minutes, and as she practiced she insisted on holding this painting of Natalie's. 

It's a picture that Natalie painted for the school art contest, and she didn't win (snifff) so she brought it home, and Katharine was very drawn to it. 

She kinda used it as a cane a few times, or like it was like a balancing pole for a tight rope walker. It was so cute and funny to see her do her little workout. I just enjoyed watching her walk around with it and took too many videos. I loved her balancing and jabber, her stumbles and little squeeks and grunts, heavy breathing as laughs... so adorable. Two short videos here and here, and a 5 min video, 

I'm in love with this adorable baby. I wish that everyone could have all the babies that they want. She gives us such joy. 

Watching her try new things and learn is so fun. 

Being a mom is the absolute best. 

Katharine was enjoying a fun and easy part of growing up today. Peter's been having a harder time with his growth lately. He fell on the trampoline and hit his head super hard on the metal frame and had a big goose egg. The bruise is still visible, but the swelling has gone down. Then tonight, Corey and the kids were all in an intense game of soccer, and the game ended when Wes did a super hard kick that went straight into Peter's face and knocked poor Pete off of his feet. 

Corey was calling out kids' names for recognition tonight, and said "And let's hear it for Peter who was so tough when a ball hit him in the head!" and Peter was so sad at the memory of it, he just shriveled in Wesley's arms. He's on the functioning human level, and that puts him out in more dangerous terrain than Katharine faces on the fuzzy carpet. It's tough, but he survived another day! We love you Peter! Kids are the best.

Forgiveness

It's been a while since I read a book that wasn't a self help book. But last week I started to read the book "No Room For Vengeance" by Victoria Ruvolo and Robert Goldman (and Lisa Pulitzer) and I just finished it late last night. I believe that I bought this book in June 2021, which date I deduce from the date that I wrote at the beginning of the book in pencil. Don't know why it took me 2 years to get to it, but I'm glad I read it. I finished it last night, er today, at 12:15 am. (I've been thinking lately that I might need to start pulling late nights and/or early mornings if I want to get anything done from my personal wishlist/checklist). I remember hearing about this story in the new years ago. 

The book is mostly about Victoria and an unfortunate accident that came to her - 

"Holiday season 2004, A snowy night. Two friends driving home from a family event. Teenagers on a joy ride, out for a night of mischief. And an incident that makes front page new in New York and beyond." 

I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, like from chapter 12 -

"It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution." - Oscar Wilde

Or this from chapter 14 - 

"Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer, and nothing is more difficult than to understand him." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

I'm so inspired by her compassion to look beyond her own pain and how her life was affected and to instead think of Ryan and how prison would affect him. She did not want him to emerge in 25 years from a long sentence and be left with little prospects in his own life for personal happiness or much opportunity to have a life that contributes to society. I think she acted in a way that was consistent with Christlike behavior and I KNOW that God is pleased with her! I wish there were more stories of forgiveness like this in the news. I hope that I would follow her example in similar circumstances. We can do it. We can choose kindness & forgiveness. 

"Everything we do and everything we give will eventually come back to us." - Vicky Ruvolo. 

That quote above reminds me of this quote from Bruce R. McConkie, in the book Mormon Doctrine, under the topic Book of Life - "

"In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word and deed has an effect on the human body; all these leave their marks, marks which can be read by Him who is Eternal as easily as the words in a book can be read.

"By obedience to telestial law men obtain telestial bodies; terrestrial law leads to terrestrial bodies; and conformity to celestial law - because this law includes the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost - results in the creation of a body which is clean, pure, and spotless, a celestial body. (D&C 88:16-32.) When the book of life is opened in the day of judgment (Rev. 20:12-15), men's bodies will show what law they have lived. The Great Judge will then read the record of the book of their lives; the account of their obedience or disobedience will be written in their bodies." 

I just learned that she died in 2019. This book was really good, a quick read, and touched me. I give it two thumbs up!

So that was good. I stayed up late reading, and finished it, then had a hard time falling asleep cause K was nursing the whole time, then at 3 AM I decided I was fed up and done with that, which Katharine didn't like, so then she started to scream her head off, so then I went out of our room (so that she wouldn't bother Corey, cause actually DOES need to get up and put in a full day of work) and I went into Abi's room where K and I layed down on the bottom bunk and K kept Abi and me awake while she cried until 4:30. The other kids said she woke them up too. When the alarm went off to go on a bike ride, I was happy to go. I think I had been building up a lot of pent up energy during those late night hours and was ready for that night to be over. I got up right away and told Corey I was going - we left earlier that usual (at 6:20) and Corey and I made it all the way up to the top of the trail! Yeah I must have been pretty ready to run cause I got another PR on the climb to the 2nd bridge! 26:05, also PR on Mile 2 - 15:22. I got a total of 11 achievements, lots of 2nd fastest times. Good stuff.  

So after got back, I did some cleaning and listened to podcasts before I teach church next Sunday, and I was also tired and took a nap with K while Peter watched Spidey and his amazing friends. Katharine, you weren't nice last night, but I'm not surprised, you are, after all, just a baby. I forgive you and I shall move on. Then there was violin and Owen's soccer practice, I'm glad that the school year is almost done. I think biking in the morning is good for our mental health. :)

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to me and my mom and all you mothers out there! We had a nice family bbq up at Corey's brother's house with all of Corey's family. The kids waiting on the swing for the dinner bell to ring.

They are good kids. In case you don't know my children, the kids in order above are Sophi Abi Natalie Lily Wesley & Peter. Also known as SANLWP. We had a nice visit, kids played on the trampoline and swing, Wesley sang and played the piano with Lily admiring his talent. I think he was singing "Peaches" from the Mario Movie. 

Hyrum was able to call - it's always great to see him! Waving to me and Peter - 

Peter made me (although it was mostly his church teachers) this lovely potted flower of him! I had him hold it in front of his face to see if I could get it in line. The head is too big in my illusion, but pretty good.

And at Church we had such a wonderful lesson - our Bishop shared a special message with the sisters, encouraging and inviting us to "Lead out in nurturing themselves, each other, their families, and perhaps their neighbors--in creating peace, unity, refuge, ZION." It was so wonderful and got me really excited about how helpful life coaching can be to people! His lesson went along with so many thoughts I've been having regarding getting our thinking straight! Here are other notes, scriptures, and talks referred to from his slides - 

D&C 45, Romans 14, Sermon on the Mount - 

• Whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgement.
• First be reconciles with thy brother, and then come unto me.
• Agree with thine adversary quickly.
• Ye shall not resist evil.
• Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 
• If any man will sue thee at the saw and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
• Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
• From him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.
• Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you. 
• Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged.
• Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye. 
• All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

And this quote from President Nelson's recent talk "The Power of Spiritual Momentum" - from the April 2022 General Conference "None of us can control nations or the actions of others or even members of our own families. But we can control ourselves. My call today, dear brothers and sisters, is to end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life. Bury any and all inclinations to hurt others—whether those inclinations be a temper, a sharp tongue, or a resentment for someone who has hurt you. The Savior commanded us to turn the other cheek,1 to love our enemies, and to pray for those who despitefully use us." 

Marion G. Romney quote from the talk "Price of Peace" that I can't find online, but here's a link to the audio - here is the slide - I'll try to come back and type this up - 

April 2023 General Conference - 

Elder Christofferson's admonish for us to become one

President Nelson's plea for us to become peacemakers

It was great and got me on fire and so excited. I was feeling like Katharine was when she woke up this morning!

She had the goofiest little smile, haha

We love her! 

I am excited to learn more and I want to dive deeper into those scriptures and really learn how to nurture myself and my family. I want to have a heart like Christ and desire the things that the Savior desires. We can do it!

First Trumpet Recital

Owen performed in his first trumpet recital today. 

It was a spring recital with a lot of very talented performers!

Cute kids. 

Owen was the 10th performer out of 27 on the program. He played Old MacDonald. You can listen to his performance here! 

His trumpet teacher, Kyra, is great and we love her. If you're looking for a trumpet teacher in Utah, we give her 5 stars and two enthusiastic thumbs up. 

Natalie came along because she wanted to support her younger brother. Aaaand cause I told her that, yes, there would be refreshments afterwards. 

Peter saw me walking out of the house and he came along too. We went to pick up Owen from his soccer game, where he was with Corey and Daniel. Daniel's game was at 11 today and Owen's was at 11:20, so that was helpful that they were close to the same time today. Corey took them, I ran to the store for refreshments for the recital and for a dessert for dinner tomorrow with Corey's family. It was a bit of a busy morning, and I was feeling a bit stressed out during the recital because K was super noisy and restless. It's hard to take kids along to things, but I'm glad I had Natalie to help. She took K out for me, but then Peter was just as wiggly too - and he was having some non-verbal scorn battle with the 3 year old girl on the row in front of us. 

Also, since we had also come straight from Owen's soccer game, his head was so sweaty, and he kept leaning it on my shoulder and I was starting to feel claustrophobic. I tried to grit my teeth and breathe through it. Soon it was time for treats and I ate some cookies in too much of a hurry... I could tell I was using it to take the edge off of my negative emotions, and that is ok. I feel asleep nursing K after we got home, so that short nap helped. I haven't taken naps much this week, but I probably need them, since I am honestly woken up atleast 4 times every night. I'm grateful for naps. I need rest. It was a great week biking, but we took a rest with that today too - cause 1) it was a little drizzly and 2) Corey left early to take Abi to the bus for GMS (only one more Saturday after this, she's excited) and Wes to the front runner so he could go do yardwork at his Uncle Mark's house. So I went on a walk after Corey was back - the spring flowers are beautiful! 

The only bad thing about biking is that I don't take as many photos of flowers when we're speeding by on our bikes. Pics of more of today's flowers here on my glorious earth blog. It was a good day, I'm glad we got everything done and then some. Corey played soccer with the kids outside, they rode their bikes and played with friends, and I did a little bit of my online life coach course. I also applied to teach a class/volunteer to present at the county library. Might not be good to try to take on more, but I figured it would help move two things along - one of which is my goal to apply to teach at BYU Education week next year, and the other thing is to help Corey and I work on our outline for our book that we're writing for our kids. :) We decided to do that a few date nights ago but haven't done much on it yet. I'm hoping it can turn into a fun Sunday project for us (not that we find any free time on Sundays... hopefully this will help us to maybe make some time).

Patriotic Program & Parade

Daniel was so excited about his program today - American Symbols On Parade! 

I knew today was going to be a busy day at the elementary school - Sophi and Natalie had their Patriotic program at 10:30, and I am grateful that the 4th and 5th grade are combined for that. It is one less thing to do for me since they were both in the same program. I started to get ready at 9 (getting little kiddos awake and fed) so that we could be on our way at 9:30, cause I wanted to get a good parking spot. We got there at 10, with a few parking stalls to spare. The school wouldn't let us into the gym until 10:15, cause the AM Kindergarteners were still clearing out from their program. So DPK played at the playground for 10 min, then we went in. Since we were over at the slide instead of in line, we didn't get a good seat inside. But that's ok. Sophi and Natalie both saw me, so I get participation credit. Natalie in a red USA shirt - 

Sophi in stars - 

Not a great close up of either of them, but that was the view I had. Can you believe I have two teenagers AND two elementary girls that ALL steal my clothes! 5th pic here. Steal might be too harsh, especially since I for Sophi to wear this star shirt. They usually borrow, BUT sometimes they never return, and then I find the clothes a few months later as I'm looking through their donation piles! The part of the program where they sing all the songs from the different branches of the armed forces is always a tear jerker, especially as the different people stand up who served in that branch. After the program, they handed out awards to the kids. Sophi and Natalie both got  

After the patriotic program, then it was the state float parade. Natalie scooped up Katharine to go sit with her and her class. Waiting for the parade of kids to begin...

This was our best "float" yet - all I had to buy was two poster boards, and some ABC stickers from Dollar Tree. I'm happy if we do this kind again next year for Natalie's float.

After the parade was over, we headed back inside to kill a few minutes before the kindergarten program. 

Peter was hungry, I hadn't brought food, and I didn't have a car, cause I asked my friend to pick up carpool for me today, since it was at the same time as the kindergaraten program. She has a 4th grader too so she was over at the school with us for that, I gave her my van key, she left to pick up carpool. So without any means of getting Peter food, I ended up going inside to Sophi's classroom and asking her to give Peter her graham bear crackers, which she had just received as part of her treat bag for earning the Gold Granite Grizzly Award. Both she and Natalie got that award (some things you had to do were to enter Reflections, to have all Cs and Us on your report card, and stuff like that. (Might be good if we do a family "granite grizzly"-ish challenge for summer, or for throughout the school year? Hmm.) Sophi willingly gave her grahams to Peter, in exchange for an IOU payment from me for one chocolate donut. Daniel's program was great and short, perfect. Video of him singing and dancing here. 

Cute kindergarteners from years past - when Sophi was Lady Liberty, Natalie was an eagle, and I guess they didn't do it Owen's year? Cause we were still kind of in Covid mode? Just looking things up on the blog here... he had an outdoor picnic but yeah, no program. After the performance today, we went to the kindergarten room for refreshments. Daniel showed me his desk.

We read a book - 

The kids were happy to gobble up cookies, and play in the kindergarten classroom. 

Soon school was our and my friend was back with carpool and the van. Natalie had a friend coming over for a playdate, and they wanted to walk, so I put P&K in the car with my friend and Lily and she went to park the car while I walked home with kids. Then I took a short nap with Katharine, and kids were calling "MOOOOM" for the next three hours until we left for our date tonight. Corey and I went to Aubergine again. We ordered the same dishes as last week (Cashew melt and Spicy Curry Bowl) but also ordered a Mediterranean Salad and got two Nice cream desserts this time, not just the Brownie Layers. It was yummy. Congratulations for us for surviving the day. Tomorrow is going to be busy too. I think this might be our busy-est Maycember week this year, so good job surviving another day. I woke up this morning and took a deep breath, knowing how busy it would be. Corey and I went on a ride and took it nice and easy. It's great going on a ride together. We talked a little bit as we rode up the trail, but usually we are both listening to podcasts (Unshaken or Follow Him). I listened to Follow Him on the way up today, and then listen to my music on the fast ride down - which right now is mostly Take on Me and Venus (so fun!) We did stop and stretch briefly today too. Looking at the rocks kinda seemed like life - it's crazy and fast and swirling by and all around us (video here). Can we be calm in the storms of life, like the rocks that are firm in the river? It reminded me of this quote from a talk by Elder Richard Maynes "The Strength to Endure" 

“You must become the rock the river cannot wash away.”

It is 1 am, and I stayed up blogging this until. I need to catch up on Feb/Mar/Apr. I did finish January though! I finally finished it a week ago on May 9th, yay. It's nice to be able to get some stuff done though. Hoping to do more tomorrow. Goodnight.

Past Few Days

Hello. It's been a busy past few days. Let's see if I can give a qrecap of some things... tonight Katharine was looking so sweet and beautiful playing in the tub - 

And another pic that is almost the same of her sweet face, and I'm loving her little ears - 

Oh isn't she so cute?!? And then after her bath, the kids were playing with her and putting stickers on her face...

and I don't know why/how they had my phone but they were taking a video at the same time, and then Natalie put Katharine on the table, and Katharine slipped off and Natalie caught her but she still got bonked and that gave her a fat lip. 

The kids were sorry. They were also and are surprised that a fat lip can change a persons look so much. 

So that was the most recent happening of today. We also went to Daniel's soccer practice tonight. After it was over, the kids were all playing in the volleyball sand like it was the beach. 

Getting nice and dirty.

Dig dig dig - 

And Katharine is like "Hey guy's, let's eat this stuff!"

How does it taste, K? She also took a few bites of blossom petals - it looked like there was white snow all over the ground by the car where we parked at practice today. 

Spring is here and in full white and pink bloom (and more pink). 

I've been able to enjoy the flowers a little bit in the mornings when we pass them on our bike rides, (which we've taken each morning!) but I haven't taken as pics of flowers like I used to on walks, cause we're going too fast to enjoy them. I haven't minded taking Daniel to his soccer practices, cause I can do the monkey bars, which is all I can do since we cancelled our Momentum membership last month. It's sad :( sniff, I miss climbing, so do Lily and Wes. Everyone else seems ok. This morning Katharine was holding Natalie's old "baby" and I thought "aww..." 

The stuffed animals that are special to the kids come to hold a special place in my heart. I've been keeping them on a shelf in my closet once the kids out grow them... Natalie's Baby is in my room now, except for when Natalie or someone gets it down for Katharine to play with. Owen still keeps Louie on his bed, and Daniel still has his bear, and Peter sleeps with Tiny. What else... On Tuesday and Wed was carpool, flute and clarinet lessons for Abi and Lily, Lily also had a spring concert at school. Things are busy with all the usual stuff that come with a large family. On Tuesday, when Daniel went to the kindergarten bus stop, he wanted to ride his bike, so I attached the bike trailer and put Peter and Katharine in that and we were able to get them and the bike all back home, slowly and carefully so the bike wouldn't hit them. 

And of course Katharine has been practicing walking more and it's so fun! She doesn't get discouraged, she just keeps practicing and trying! Short video here, and a longer one below, both from Tuesday.

Also from this past Tuesday - Sophi had some friends come over to play, and they wanted to play with Katharine. They used her like Katharine was a real live baby doll! 

One of the friend has a smartphone, and so they did a photo shoot of K. This one was probably their most professional looking shot.

Some of the others had a bit too much of the "behind the scenes" in them.

It seems that Katharine was being patient with the game.

Dressed as a strawberry - from her Halloween costumes.

And an old outfit from the 70s or 80s that my mom gave me that my sisters (and I?) used to wear.

I thought their pictures turned out really cute! That was all from Tuesday. Fun. 

One other thing from last week that I hadn't documented yet - Wesley and Ethan went to Arizona on May 1st to go rafting on the Salt River with some of our neighbors. 

They earned their keep by being the muscle to putting up the tents and packing up the raft every day.