Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mitt for President!

I have been totally sucked in by this 2012 election.  I find myself listening to KSL all day, watching the news, reading reports online.  I'm hooked!  And, after lots of research, I've made my decision.  Mitt is the guy for me!  I agree with his political views. I appreciate that he is a moral man. I like his responses in debates.  I think that he talks to a higher power about decisions.  
I really like Santorum, although I don't think that he is electable this race.  I love his family values. I love his stick-to-his-gun-ness.  I agree with his political stance.  I think if more Americans were like Rick Santorum, this country would be a very different place.
I think Ron Paul is hilarious. Honestly, he's probably my favorite one to watch in the debates.  He doesn't stand a chance to win, but he sure offers some great comic relief!
I think Newt Gingrich is a really great liar and a smooth talk.  Actually, some not so great phrases come to mind, but I don't think that they should be repeated.  In fact, he sort of makes my blood boil. Although I agree with his political views--in some cases, even more then the views of Romney or Santorum, I think that moral character counts for more than politics and if it comes down to a choice between Gingrich and Obama, I'm voting Obama. Aside from everything that I don't agree with--I believe Obama to be a moral, honest, God-fearing person and that counts for a whole lot more in my book.

So, in case you were wondering, Mitt Romney is my vote, and I'm watching the polls today like a hawk. I hope he wins by double digits!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Bathroom Re-do

I spent one day last week painting bathrooms at my besties house.  We had a great time--I had to leave before the tape came off one of the bathrooms, and before everything got put back together so I can't wait to head her direction and check it out totally finished! Yeah for color!!
This got me thinking about MY bathroom--I think it needs a re-do too!  Bathrooms are not on the organization list until later in the year, but I'm thinking they should move up on the list and that the list should now include a little painting party! 
I'm also thinking stripes...what do you think?

My bathroom has this GREAT towel rack, I LOVE IT!  This will be staying--everything else can change.


The headboard, rugs, and shower curtain (which, btw, since the time of this pictures has been ironed, as well as goobered up by baby hands) are that sort of green-blue color that big this year.  The other decor I have, which I really don't love, is black and some chocolate brown.  So, what color would YOU do stripes? 

I like these ones in the gray/blue family...

Pinned Image


Pinned Image

But, I also love brown with my whole soul...
Pinned Image

Pinned Image

Pinned Image

Pinned Image


Pinned Image

And then, everytime I look I see something totally out of left field that might be fun--but might be just crazy?!  Yellow?

Once I finally decide on a color, now I have to decide on direction, and on how many, how thick, design, etc.  Whew!

Obviously not green, but up and down stripes?  I did this in my guest room in our Houston house and LOVED it, but maybe the bathroom is too small? And too short of ceilings?

Pinned Image

Or like this? Neat!
Pinned Image

Or this?
Pinned Image


Oh man! Decisions!! Send me your thoughts!!  Anybody want to come and play painter? :)



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Kairos

I loved this article I read this morning.  So applicable to my current day-to-day.  Glad to know I'm not alone in the fight! ;)  And I'm especially glad for those 'Kairos' moments...such a great thing to remember!  



Every time I'm out with my kids -- this seems to happen:
An older woman stops us, puts her hand over her heart and says something like, "Oh, Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so fast."
Everywhere I go, someone is telling me to seize the moment, raise my awareness, be happy, enjoy every second, etc, etc, etc.
I know that this message is right and good. But, I have finally allowed myself to admit that it just doesn't work for me. It bugs me. This CARPE DIEM message makes me paranoid and panicky. Especially during this phase of my life - while I'm raising young kids. Being told, in a million different ways to CARPE DIEM makes me worry that if I'm not in a constant state of intense gratitude and ecstasy, I'm doing something wrong.
I think parenting young children (and old ones, I've heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest. Brave, adventurous souls try it because they've heard there's magic in the climb. They try because they believe that finishing, or even attempting the climb are impressive accomplishments. They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it's hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. These moments are so intense and unique that many people who reach the top start planning, almost immediately, to climb again. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up.
And so I think that if there were people stationed, say, every thirty feet along Mount Everest yelling to the climbers -- "ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF!? IF NOT, YOU SHOULD BE! ONE DAY YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DIDN'T!" TRUST US!! IT'LL BE OVER TOO SOON! CARPE DIEM!" -- those well-meaning, nostalgic cheerleaders might be physically thrown from the mountain.

Now. I'm not suggesting that the sweet old ladies who tell me to ENJOY MYSELF be thrown from a mountain. These are wonderful ladies. Monkees, probably. But last week, a woman approached me in the Target line and said the following: "Sugar, I hope you are enjoying this. I loved every single second of parenting my two girls. Every single moment. These days go by so fast."


At that particular moment, Amma had arranged one of the new bras I was buying on top of her sweater and was sucking a lollipop that she must have found on the ground. She also had three shop-lifted clip-on neon feathers stuck in her hair. She looked exactly like a contestant from Toddlers and Tiaras. I couldn't find Chase anywhere, and Tish was grabbing the pen on the credit card swiper thing WHILE the woman in front of me was trying to use it. And so I just looked at the woman, smiled and said, "Thank you. Yes. Me too. I am enjoying every single moment. Especially this one. Yes. Thank you."

That's not exactly what I wanted to say, though.
There was a famous writer who, when asked if he loved writing, replied, "No. but I love having written." What I wanted to say to this sweet woman was, "Are you sure? Are you sure you don't mean you love having parented?"
I love having written. And I love having parented. My favorite part of each day is when the kids are put to sleep (to bed) and Craig and I sink into the couch to watch some quality TV, like Celebrity Wife Swap, and congratulate each other on a job well done. Or a job done, at least.

Every time I write a post like this, I get emails suggesting that I'm being negative. I have received this particular message four or five times -- G, if you can't handle the three you have, why do you want a fourth?


That one always stings, and I don't think it's quite fair. Parenting is hard. Just like lots of important jobs are hard. Why is it that the second a mother admits that it's hard, people feel the need to suggest that maybe she's not doing it right? Or that she certainly shouldn't add more to her load. Maybe the fact that it's so hard means she IS doing it right...in her own way...and she happens to be honest.


Craig is a software salesman. It's a hard job in this economy. And he comes home each day and talks a little bit about how hard it is. And I don't ever feel the need to suggest that he's not doing it right, or that he's negative for noticing that it's hard, or that maybe he shouldn't even consider taking on more responsibility. And I doubt anybody comes by his office to make sure he's ENJOYING HIMSELF. I doubt his boss peeks in his office and says: "This career stuff...it goes by so fast...ARE YOU ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT IN THERE, CRAIG???? CARPE DIEM, CRAIG!"


My point is this. I used to worry that not only was I failing to do a good enough job at parenting, but that I wasn't enjoying it enough. Double failure. I felt guilty because I wasn't in parental ecstasy every hour of every day and I wasn't MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT like the mamas in the parenting magazines seemed to be doing. I felt guilty because honestly, I was tired and cranky and ready for the day to be over quite often. And because I knew that one day, I'd wake up and the kids would be gone, and I'd be the old lady in the grocery store with my hand over my heart. Would I be able to say I enjoyed every moment? No.

But the fact remains that I will be that nostalgic lady. I just hope to be one with a clear memory. And here's what I hope to say to the younger mama gritting her teeth in line:

"It's helluva hard, isn't it? You're a good mom, I can tell. And I like your kids, especially that one peeing in the corner. She's my favorite. Carry on, warrior. Six hours till bedtime." And hopefully, every once in a while, I'll add -- "Let me pick up that grocery bill for ya, sister. Go put those kids in the van and pull on up -- I'll have them bring your groceries out."


Anyway. Clearly, Carpe Diem doesn't work for me. I can't even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question.

Here's what does work for me:
There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.
Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.
Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful.Kairos.
Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.
Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.
These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.
If I had a couple Kairos moments during the day, I call it a success.
Carpe a couple of Kairoses a day.
Good enough for me.
-Glennon Melton




Far too many moments of the day are like this:



but the ones that are like this make it all worth it!


 








Monday, January 16, 2012

Agency--

Katelyn got to give a talk yesterday.  She rocked it!!  So proud of my little girl!! :)

Sorry for the screaming in the background...! Here is our last run through before church.  In case you can't hear past the Luke-ness monster, Here's what she says...

"Agency means we get to choose.  Heavenly Father and Jesus are happy when we make good choices. Heavenly Father and Jesus are sad when we make bad choices.  I can make good choices when I go to church. I can make good choices when I serve. I can make good choices when I pray.  Heavenly Father and Jesus want me to Choose the Right."



She and another little girl in her class were fabulous--each giving their part mostly unaided (I held the pictures up; Millie's mom pointed to each line of the scripture).  It's amazing what the little tiny people are capable of! :)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Organized in 2012!

I will get organized this year!  Room by room, month by month, this year I am cleaning out, getting rid of, saving, storing, using, and making things accessible.  We are off to a good start, and I thought I'd share my plan with you!  Send me your favorite ideas, links, blogs, and stories!  Keep me accountable! :)



Get Organized in 2012!!

January-Family Room
February-Office
March-Closets--sewing, 2 hall closets
April-Kitchen (if I have the $ saved for the remodel by then!)
May-Katelyn’s Room
June-Our Bedroom
July-Josh’s Room
August-Carport
September-Shed
October-Bathrooms
November-Storage Room/Laundry
December-Free

Family Room List

Move hutch to office
Clean out/sort/set up rotation for toys
Remove shelf with printer
Set up new print server
Battery in clock
Sort and organize DVD’s
Return borrowed DVD’s
Curtains up
Desk Re-do
Hide all electronics
Sort blanket closet
Replace light bulbs
Decide on couch placement
Re-do bookshelf/bench
Clean out end table
Update pictures
Finish Flylady
Office

Clean out, alphabetize, sort books (all fit in ONE bookshelf)
Sort through gift bags and wrapping paper.
Organize Files
Start a file drawer for each person
Clean out/sort vinyl scraps
Hang pictures
Change light bulbs
Sort closet
Make a timeline for unfinished craft projects
Totes and boxes for misc. items--all fit in the hutch bottom.
Hanging solution for airplaines
Closets

Sewing Closet-
Fabric wrapped on the foam
Scraps put into jars
Notions in jars
Stuff in drawers etc.
Place for sewing machine
Light installed

Coat Closet-
Install shelf
Install Coat hangers/rack
Bathroom organizer on the back of the door
Repaint (in stripes, polka dots, something fun...?)

Hall Closet-
Install a lock doorknob
Sort/DI/garbage
Multi-tiered units
Label
New hall air returns
Kitchen
Katelyn’s Room
Our bedroom
Install new lighting
Clean out hope chest
Clean out nightstands
Organize closet-multi shelving units
Sort/DI/garbage clothes
Clean out under the bed
Clean stickers off the lamps
Josh’s Room
Carport
Hooks on the walls and ceiling for bikes, shovels, trellis’s.
Organize tools
All wood to shed
DI/Clean
DI/sort attic
Shed
Run power
Set up woodworking stations/camping station/gardening station
Tools on pegboards
Bathrooms
Repaint upstairs in stripes!
Storage Room/Laundry


You'll see 'DI/garbage'  a lot on that list (obviously, I've got more to fill in!).  I'm am convinced that the answer to less craziness is less stuff. The pictures that I love to look at--the pictures of beautiful kitchens, or clean closets, or organized offices--are pretty because they have less stuff everywhere. So this year we are going to be streamlining, throwing away, DIing and making sure the the things that we choose to take up space with are the things that are really adding value to our life.  Wish me luck!!

      

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Home

I came home last night from Relief Society to a sweet little video Mike had made.  It was a good reminder of how much I really do love my life. Love my home.


Yesterday wasn't a bad day. It was a good day--but still, it's good to have the reminder to really take in each and every moment, cuz I'm pretty sure they are fleeting.

 


Pinned Image


Primary Program, 2011

I missed a lot of updating in 2011, but one thing I knew for sure that I would come back to was the Primary Program.  Last January we set a goal to have Katelyn learn all the Primary Program songs in time for the program. Mostly, she did this herself, with help from a great song leader at church, but we also worked on the songs for FHE. She learned them all!  This year, we have the same goal, but have decided to make sure she knows all the verses to all the songs. (We've already started by making a CD of this years songs. Did you know you can download them all from LDS.ORG.  This year there is a song I've never heard!)
This girl loves to sing!
We practiced and practiced her part and she got asked to sing the 2nd verse of "I Love To See The Temple" with some other girls in her class...so we practiced and practiced that too.  And then, at the Saturday practice of the Primary Program, she got asked to sing "I Pray in Faith" all by herself.  Solo. Just her.  Both verses.  I was so excited. And nervous. She was just excited--and did great!
So, check out this video of her the morning of the Program doing one more practice before the big event.



Primary Programs are always one of my favorite Sundays. They are even more great when your own kid is in them!  

Monday, January 2, 2012

15 minutes a day...


"This is a lifetime habit your children will thank you for starting...today!"

This year, we are going to spend more time outside.  In fact, the hope is to get 15 minutes a day, everyday, outside...rain, snow, or sunshine! Wish us luck!!


I know we aren't going to make everyday, but hopefully we will make most.  

We're excited!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!  I feel like 2011 may have kicked my hiney--ring in 2012~!!