Pretty As A Princess

Audra and Claire have had this week off at school- I LOVE fall break! It has been awesome! We (I) have slept in, and we (I) have really just taken it easy. It was a break we (I) really needed!

Anyway, because of that Audra came with us to Claire's dance class. While there, several parents and Ms. Muffie commented on Audra's dress and shoes. They kept asking her if there was something special going on.

They obviously don't know my girls! Every day is a "dress" day at our house! This outfit? Just a typical Thursday outfit- nothing special:

 Then, two moms asked me where I got Audra's shoes. I was a little embarrassed to tell the truth and say, "Goodwill," so I just said, "I think they were hand-me-downs, so I don't really know." If they saw all the shoes Audra has, they wouldn't be at all surprised that I might forget where we got a pair or 10 of them.

I wonder what dress the park will require tomorrow...

Time Our For Women

This last weekend I had the opportunity to rejuvenate my soul, so to speak. I flew (by myself!) to Seattle and met with my mom and all my sisters. Together we attended a women's conference put on my our church. I needed a break, and it really was fabulous- and needed- for me. Plus, I got to sneak in an evening with my best friend- thanks for meeting with me, Danielle!!!

One quick short story from before we left.

As we were driving to the airport, Audra was sobbing in the backseat because she was going to miss me. As she is sobbing, we hear Claire saying, "Audra, mom has to go. She's leaving soon and she will be gone a long time. She needs to be gone." It was hilarious as she rubbed the pain into Audra's heart.

Anyway, the rest of this post may be very boring. I want to write my notes from the conference down so that in the future I can look back and remember the uplifting spirit I felt while in Seattle. So it will be very boring for you, but I want to remember my thoughts.

Mary Ellen Smoot
-You can't plant anger in your heart and expect compassion to grow
-Ponder, meditate, think about good thoughts in your heart
-How do we cast our the weeds of angers, hate, and doubt? Change your mind! Put in good thoughts.
-A mighty change of heart includes a mighty change of mind
-Meditation is a form of prayer
-Find a time (pray about when) to think on purpose. Write down impressions.

Hillary Weeks
-Rice science experiment: Two jars, each filled 1/2 way with rice. Put jars in separate rooms with the same conditions. Say "love" things to one jar, "hate" things to another. After two months, one rice is still perfect (the love jar), and the other one is moldy and liquified. Words matter! The science? The vibrations from your voice cause the "hate" jar to turn moldy.
-Hillary says "I am a beautiful, healthy, capable, courageous, dynamic daughter of God." She doesn't say it because she thinks she is, but because she WANTS to be those things.
-What are my words for who God wants me to become?

Emily Watts
-Check your perceptions. Fair and equal are not the same thing.
-If you're perfectly balanced on a segway you aren't going anywhere. To go somewhere, you have to lean in (but if you lean in too far, you will crash)
-I trust Him to act in accordance to the bigger picture. God guides and protects His children more than we will ever know. He needs you to use the gifts He gives you.
-God intends for us to use our gifts today. Now, with our young kids.

D. Kelley Ogden
-We are not here to be comfortable. We are here to be challenged.
-Christ was made perfect through suffering. Us too.
-Life is what happens when you're making other plans. And if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.
-Sometimes the Lord has to bring us down so He can raise us higher. Rise to your destiny!

Hillary Weeks (again)
-Dancing In the Rain (Great song!)
-When's the last time I had FUN????

Richie Norton
-Life is SHORT. We don't know how long we have (his son died). Gavin's (his son) law: Live to start. Start to live. Don't wait because we don't know how much time we have.
-"Don't save something for a special occasion. Today is a special occasion"- Thomas S. Monson
How to embrace authenticity:
1.Recognize authenticity moments
2. Know yourself by knowing HIM
3. Don't be afraid of looking stupid (Noah, Davie, and others all looked stupid). Our important contributions may be disguised as something stupid
4. Crush fear- break it- literally- into small pieces and then tackle it piece by piece
5. Destroy the waiting place- don't waste your life WAITING to do your life. Start somewhere. What would I regret when I'm 80 if I didn't do it?
6. Clear the clutter and make room for your dreams
7. Replenish- make time for yourself! Russell M. Ballard- Daughter of God
8. Turn to the Lord
9. Not what I will, but what Thou wilt. By small and simple things, great things shall come to pass

Kris Belcher
-God is always watching over our hearts. He doesn't ask us to forget that we have a broken heart. He askes us to put our broken heart on the altar.
-Our heart condition can lead us toward or away from God.
- We can find JOY in our lives. The difficulties will come. Our hearts can be broken and hurt and given to Christ.

That's My PETA!

I know I have been incredibly annoying.

Like unreal, you hate me, you can't stand me anymore annoying.

There's a 125% chance you have banned me from your FB wall and a 150% chance you are thinking of ways to politely "unfriend" me.

Believe it or not, I get it. I really do.

I would hate me, too.

Nobody likes a one trick pony. A person who can only talk about one thing. Over, and over, and over again.

Shouldn't people have more than one interest?

Yes.

Shouldn't people have more than one hobby?

Absolutely.

SO WHY AM I SO ANNOYING?

Especially when I know that I am?

I have come to the conclusion that the answer is quite simple: The school board election is my PETA.

WHAT?!?  (I know you are asking yourself that, don't lie.)

There is a contingent of people out there who very much love animals. So much so that they will throw paint on people and yell and scream and (I can't believe I'm going to say this) who actually don't eat ANY animals AT ALL. Ever. Not even on Sunday. Or their Birthday.

I don't get it. I don't really care about PETA or their efforts.

But I'm glad there are people who DO care about animals. I'm glad that people are willing to help abused animals and who want to try and keep animals from getting hurt.

I just don't want to be a part of them. But I really am glad they exist out there. Far away. Doing something for animals. Because I don't want to be out there protecting animals. I simply don't care that much about them.

The school board is my PETA. I am annoying. I post a lot of things on FB about what is happening. I attend rallies, go to school board meetings, knock on strangers doors, and paint my car with all sorts of campaign slogans. I even have a handmade sign in my front yard and I made two huge banners for others to hang from their decks.

I'm PETA crazy when it comes to the school board election.

A lot of people don't like me for that. I have been called a lot of names and accused of many things.

And I have tried to stop posting things. No, really- I have! I'm not lying! I have said, "No- wait a week. Don't post anything for a whole week!"

But then something crazy happens in regards to the election and the PETA forces inside of me take over my brain and any sense of control and I literally MUST type the annoying, passionate, frustrated plea BEGGING people to understand what is happening in our schools and why it MUST stop, or I truly might die.

And sometimes my passionate pleas sound angry. Probably because I am angry. It's not intended to be angry. I have tried to be civil- honest. I thought I was doing a good job, but I have been told otherwise. But I can't help it- I have tried! I have tried desperately to be sane and reasonable and normal...and it doesn't work. I've seen too much. I'm watching the torture (what is happening) of the innocent animals (children) and as an honorary member of the Crazy PETA Alliance I simply cannot stay silent. Fur coats must be painted!

I know that this school board is not everybody's PETA. Most people in our county don't even know there is a school board election taking place.

But it is my PETA.

And I hope that even though it isn't everybody's PETA, that there are parents, community members, and students who are glad that there are some of us who do have this as our PETA. Not everybody can attend rallies and paint their cars, but I have to believe that people care about schools and about education and about teachers and about kids. They may not agree with what I have to say, but if they are willing to listen and get informed- then my PETA craziness has been worth it.

Right???

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Tomorrow I am going away SANS kids to visit my family. All of my sisters and my mom are getting together to go to Women's Conference in Seattle. I am very excited to go- and I very much look forward to flying on an airplane without coloring books and fishy crackers. And poopy diapers and tantrumy kids. And read a book. Alone. Uninteruppted.

Did I mention I was excited about this trip?

Anyway, I told the girls that I was leaving in the morning and Audra burst into tears.

Me: Audra, I'm sorry that you are so sad. Why are you so sad?

Audra: Because I know how it feels when you go.

My heart rips open, even though she really doesn't know how it feels when I go- it's not like I leave her very often.

Audra: Do you know how I know how it feels?

Me: No, how does it feel?

Audra: Like I'm melting. My heart melts inside me.

Oy. Maybe I should cancel the trip.

Cheeky Camille

Every once in awhile we really get to see Camille's personality come through. She can be quite the ham- she loves to make her sisters laugh.

Today during snack time she stuck her spoon in her mouth, let go, and swung her head around again and again. We all got a good laugh!

You can see she is smiling (can you tell?) and having a blast with this. We sure do love this girl!

The Claire vs. Camille Conundrum

The other day Claire insisted that Camille sit on her lap. And, indeed, it turned out pretty cute- Camille kept going over and sitting on Claire's lap again and again. Audra got a little jealous, but overall it was just fun- and Claire LOVED it.

Later I said, "Claire, you sure love Camille, don't you?" and Claire immediately replied, "Not really."

I was a little surprised by her response, since she is always obsessing over Camille. She even tried to carry Camille up the stairs (causing them both to fall backwards down the stairs). She always wants to touch/bug Camille. She pats her constantly.

I asked her why she said that and she simply said, "Because Camille takes my stuff."

Well, I can't argue with that. Camille is learning how to defend herself with two older sisters. And Camile does know how to take toys and how to exert her will.

But, even with that, I am quite certain that Claire loves her baby sister quite a bit. Can't you tell by the pictures?

I'm Not Dead Yet!

Awhile ago I read in the BYU Alumni magazine that Janice Kapp Perry (a very successful and well-known composer in our church) didn't write her first song until she was 38. And the only reason she wrote the song was because she broke her ankle and the TV was broken. I'm not joking!

I read this and I thought, "Hey- I'm only 34, I'm not dead yet!"

Well, today I turned 35 and I'm still alive and kicking!

Reading this article changed my perspective about many things. And one of them is the idea that because I'm now in my thirties it's too late to learn and develop new talents.

I have concluded that Satan tries to tell us that if you don't speak Mandarin by the time you are 4 or learn to play the piano at age 6, you can never excel at anything. That's not true! No matter our age we can always learn and develop!

I have no idea what the future holds. Or even what talents I want to develop. Maybe cake decorating. Maybe photography. Maybe writing. Who knows?

But I'm excited for what the future holds!