Happy Homes do exist!

As I knelt in my room, admidst the noise of lunch prep in the kitchen, I prayed to end my fast. I was starving (I'm not used to fasting) and had a headache. But somehow, I wasn't ready to eat yet. I wanted to savor the opportunity to unite with Saints and Christians worldwide.  I wondered if I had really done enough to help. I took some time to write in my journal and re-read some verses in The Book of Mormon that I had read recently. And I felt the Spirit comfort me that God knows all.  He knows how hard this is for some, and even how wonderful it has become for others.  He knows my simple frustrations. And my deep gratitude.  During our sacrament meeting at home yesterday, in our living room with my small family, I had the opportunity to bear my testimony.  I cried. And I almost never cry when I bear my testimony. I'd been crying earlier in the morning- mostly out of frustration that kids weren't listening when I asked them t...

Today was a better day. There were still some tears (mine). But it was better. It's funny how right when you think you're getting this parenting thing under control, something happens to remind you otherwise.  Remember those cloth diapers I bought?  They came today, and since Anna (now potty trained, when she's awake) has been waking up dry, I decided to put one in her for bed tonight.  Bedtime is a whole different issue that I don't feel like getting into it tonight.  But after quite some time sitting in the little girls' room, I was playing the piano trying to be calm. (I've started doing that more lately!) I went back in to give Reagan her pacifier (alas, another battle that needs fought) and smelled something stinky.  Anna, still wide awake, had pooped.  I lost it! I screamed. At her. WHY!? Why didn't you just go in the potty, you're awake anyway!?  And a whole bunch more that I'm embarrassed to admit. 😕  I stomped out, and hid in...

Here we are. Week two off from school. Our originally planned spring break starts at the end of this week. We survived week 1. We missed a 3rd grade music concert where Derek was supposed to have a solo. We missed a Relief Society paint night activity (I helped organize), where we were going to socialize, paint, eat and be spiritually uplifted. This week we're missing Honk Jr, a musical play that Christopher was supposed to act as the ugly duckling's father. And his State Geography Bee is now officially cancelled (not even online like they were going to try to do). It's all good though. We're managing. It's worth it to slow the spread of this virus. We held church in our home the last two Sundays. There was a time when I would've dreaded that. But because of the recent emphasis on home-centered worship, it's been more of a blessing and an exciting adventure. What's really getting to me though, is to have FIVE extra people home. All day. Eve...

We made frosted sugar cookie bars and delivered them to a few friends. Don't worry we washed our hands and kept our visit short.  And enjoyed yet another chilly walk.  I'm in awe of the beauty around us.  Homeschool is a bit of a joke at our house. It's why I don't do homeschool on a regular basis.  I'm not an organized person. I don't like being on a schedule. I don't like controlling (or attempting to control) what my kids are doing all day. Except for electronics. I'm kind of a tech-time control freak. And a lot of homeschool involves using a computer.  So, needless to say, it's been a rough start.  But I'm not so naive as to have thought that it would be easy.  And I do recognize the benefits of stepping back from learning when necessary to just have a little fun.  Or a lot of fun.  Today was one of those days. We didn't go bowling, or out to the movies. Or even out to lunch. We didn't even leave the house this afternoon. ...

Here are my pupils. This morning I tried to be a bit more organized for some homeschooling, and it was fairly successful. I joined a program recommended by a friend, that usually costs a bunch of money, but right now is offered for free until June because of all the school closures. It's based on teachings from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, kind of.  Anyway, this lesson was about Christ's parables. My kids are all on different levels scholastically, and smart little cookies. I figured teaching the gospel was one thing I can do well that will truly benefit all of them.  On day one, yesterday, we made it until about 10:45 am until somebody broke down in tears.  That someone was me.  It's all good. If you're a mom, you get it.  Anyway, today I did my first real doomsday prep. When I read an article that Amazon was going to stop shipments to their warehouses except for essentials and medical supplies, I decided it wa...

We have seven kids ages 1-12. There is rarely a quiet moment at our house.  It's loud. Chaotic. Crazy. Messy. And hectic. But that doesn't mean I can't feel peace.  "Be still and know that I am God."  My peace usually looks like a hoard of kids playing with blocks in the living room- which is clean after a hard-work-spring-cleaning-day on Friday.  My peace involves small moments when I sit back and smile, realizing that this life is truly a gift. It comes in fleeting moments of a toddler's laughter. Or hysterics in the kitchen when my oldest builds a meringue volcano on his lemon meringue pie for pi day. It doesn't come freely. I ask for it daily. And I have to seek far and wide for it.  Sometimes I have to lock myself in the bathroom to find it. But not always. I don't find it on Facebook. I sometimes find it on Instagram. Today it was in the form of a sneakily taken video of my brother playing the piano in his Harry Potter pajamas pants w...

Everything is cancelled.  Before I went to bed last night I vowed to stay off the internet today. I knew I would see and read way too much about the Coronavirus.  Of course I failed. Though I did manage to only catch bits and pieces of all the cancellations.  We stepped outside to walk Oliver to his preschool bus. Would you believe the sun was shining and the world was at peace?  When we got home I saw two emails about cancellations. Then got a phone call about another.  When Brant called from the school at lunch he mentioned two more. I joked that everything was cancelled.  But it was still early in the day.  NBA. NHL. High school basketball tournament. NCAA tournament.  Church.  I don't want to claim that I knew this was coming. But it almost seems like I could feel it would come.  I don't think I'm the only one either.  And although part of me feels frustrated and annoyed with all the cancellations (even the missionar...

This was after driving home from church this weekend. Thankfully she transferred to her bed and napped a little longer than the five minute drive home.  I wanted to share a brief story from a few years ago.  I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Every six months they hold a general conference that is broadcast in multiple sessions.  In October, 2018 Reagan was one month old. Brant needed to use that Saturday to work on the roof of the house we were building.  I planned to let the kids play; do whatever they wanted- while I attempted to watch a few of the talks and try to enjoy it by myself.  Early that Saturday morning the older kids came to me and said, "Mom, we'll clean up the house and get ready for conference while you run to the store to get anything we might need."  I've tried a number of traditions over the years to get them interested- and apparently they've stuck.  I followed their lead, walked down the road ...

I only took videos. And they're blurry. Because I couldn't help but dance too.  I hope my kids remember these moments. I hope I do too.  I love the quote from Enrique R. Falabella: "A child who sings is a happy child."  Most of the time the singing in our house comes from the bathroom. Very loudly. But really, I agree.  When there is music, singing and dancing, there is happiness in the home.  I even got my oldest son on video doing some pretty funky moves. And when he caught me recording him we both broke down in fits of laughter.  And my heart smiled.  Sometimes, when I'm feeling this happy and lighthearted, it's hard to remember the moments that are tough. I think to myself, "Why am I ever frustrated?" Of course that doesn't last forever, and sooner or later I remember the why. I have a lot of children. I'm human. That's the way it's supposed to be.  If every day were Christmas, it would...

It's PIRATE Day at the kids' elementary school. Part of literacy week. They do fun things to promote reading!  The kids love it.  And I'll admit, I enjoy it too! It's always fun to dress your kids up in costumes. And it's even more fun when they're not planning to go around asking complete strangers for candy and then binge on it for days. Win- win! Oliver is five. He goes to a kindergarten readiness preschool at the elementary school. They are also participating in the literacy week- and he had his pirate costume all ready.  Only problem was, he was wearing shorts.  Not a huge problem for everyone's kids. But where we live there is 3 feet of snow on the ground. And although the predicted high temp for today is 40*, I still have a policy of no shorts at school until the snow is mostly gone.  Mean Mom huh? I should have said something to Oliver much earlier in the morning. I definitely should not have waited until 20 minutes before the bus would b...

I've been thinking a lot about the technology we have today. It's so cool that if we have a question we can say, "hey Google, what's the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?" And we have an answer. (Please note, my older kids would never need to ask this, they already know. They love tortoises!)  I'm not up and up with the newest technology by any means- but I do have a smart phone. We have the internet, a smart TV (thanks to my Dad!), and computers, tablets and iPods.  I remember when I got my first iPod touch (back when we were newlyweds and our cell phone was a prepaid flip phone). (Actually, that was still the case even just six years ago!)  I loved it because it meant I could read my scriptures easily while singing little boys to sleep. I would take a picture and immediately share it with family and friends via email, and later Instagram.  And now, here I am, almost wishing I could go back. I was so grateful for it then. What happened? ...