Fall Activities

Even though my children are getting older, the involved parenting is still going on. Brian and I were able to bring Spencer for a fall festival for his school. It was about 2 and a half hours of us being with him and walking in public and car rides, but he did great and there were no behaviors. I went to a meeting for him and was happy to hear the report on how well he is doing. He is gaining more independence and learning new skills in his new placement. Last Sunday, we went and rode around with him like we do almost weekly and he took some time to warm up to us. By the middle of the ride he was giggling and smiling and singing and moving back and forth., I even got to give him a kiss on the cheek and a hug on the way into Chevron to get popsicles. It is hard to have him away, but hearing how he is doing well makes it all worth it. I do have quite a bit of responsibility for his decisions and commitments which I like. It keeps me in the know. 

In Woung Women's I've had the opportunity to go to pumpkin farm with the youth and we've made bath bombs and I even chaperoned a youth multi stake dance. My highlights were being mistaken for a youth trying to get into the kitchen and dancing along with some girls into the ward to a song from my generation. This calling keeps me young. I did attend a stake leadership meeting and like the simplifying ways the church is going. If only we can implement it all effectively, which I will definitely be an advocate for. I feel we are asked to be more Christlike and to serve others. It is more practical for daily life. I want to work hard and be a good example and I have plenty of opportunity for that with Celia and Joe home.

 It looks like Joseph will be moving to a more independent school approach with blended online and in class curriculum. I feel the weight of trying to teach him to study and manage his time, yet he is choosing this path and he usually does better when something is his idea, even if it is difficult and stretching. I am crossing my fingers and praying and working like crazy to help him to be successful and educated. I am glad he has his little transporter job to take boys to school from the seminary building. It gets him to seminary and up and out of the house early doing his responsibility which I recognize and appreciate.

Celia is growing a lot. She had to go to the insta care from a screen projector screen falling on her finger at school. She was brave and it wasn't broken. She has had trouble with her springs in her mouth from orthodontia and gums getting in the way and her tongue needing to be retrained to not push on her bottom teeth, but she is a trooper. We went to the Doctor recently after that and she is 5'5 and a half. She is growing like a weed. I had been advocating for her at school and she has done a math assignment at home to measure a Frankenstein. She has a great teacher that softened the assessment heavy curriculum with projects that test their math ability,  Celia has been changing so much, her likes and her favorites and how she spends her time changes daily. Celia is wanting to be more independent too. She stayed at home ( wouldn't even let the grandparents come in and visit) and chilled while Brian and I got to go to Napa for Celine's Forty birthday picnic. 

It was 89 degrees out, but we were blessed to be dressed in layers and to have avoided accident and injury on the way there. I had half a piece of cake and although  it was very fancy, I shall not partake again. That is way too much sugar for me and my health deteriorated right after I ate it. Happily, on the way home I was able to get some protein (salmon at Outback) and it helped the whole situation tremendously. I'm glad my health is good. I really don't have much to complain about and it is nice that avoiding certain things helps me so much. I'm excited for my three month mark from when I checked my sugar last. I want to check again, I'm sure I will be way within the normal range and no where near the pre-diabetic range ( which is even far from the diabetic range). I've enjoyed walking more and making better food choices and feel great.

I'm excited for the holidays. Halloween was fun at the grandparents with my friend and family. Celia went trick or treating with me around my folks house and we had a great time. I was given candy too which I gave away. It was a great night. Celia had three costumes all together. One unicorn one she wore to the junior high social and the trunk or treat, a Griffindor costume for spirit day at John Adams, and an owl on Halloween night since it was colder out. We carved our pumpkins right before trick or theaters came, but weren't late, it counted.:) The patterns were tricky, but we had a good time.

Emmy planned and executed a great birthday yesterday. I'm so glad she went and got a carmel apple after school and going by the mental hospital that she volunteers at. She visited puppies and went to Outback Steakhouse and a concert in Salt Lake. She sure knows how to have fun. I am so proud of her and all her endeavors with taking the GRE soon, applying for work, and studying for all her classes. It is so nice to learn to juggle life's demands and our own well being. Balance is everything yet the Lord helps so much when we do things that improve the lives of others.

I feel so blessed that all my needs are met time and time again. I do try hard and pray so much and the Lord helps me out. I have enjoyed attending the temple more and the peace and inspiration I receive when I am there. It seems counter intuitive to loose your life in service, yet I see that it brings fulfillment and blessings. It also brings growth that would otherwise be very difficult to find because we wouldn't choose the harder way. 

I felt I should visit my folks yesterday and I went by and we had such a great time talking and going shopping. It really put me in a good mood. I even found 2 dozen red roses,(the last ones) for two dollars at the thrift store we went to. They smell and look amazing and it was perfect to have around to celebrate Emmy's 22nd birthday. I took the picture of 22 of them and sent it to her so she could see the beauty and the number of developing flowers bvlooming so nicely, like her!  I'm happy to blog and remember all the wonderful things in my life and not dwell on the less positive things that come. Our fridge after a year is finally working, yay. Things do work out working and waiting is how we do it.

Nature Lovin'

It is seeming more like fall now. We have been fighting the flu a little, and enjoying the clouds and changing weather. For conference weekend, we went up to Tahoe with the folks. I enjoyed the messages and family time together. We enjoyed walking along near Emerald Bay and in King's Beach. We went to the Blue Agave and enjoyed a yummy mexican meal to celebrated a belated birthday for Brian. Celia had a hard time after seeing a dog that looked like it needed help or might die. Brian took her for a walk and everyone tried to comfort her. Eventually, a stop at 7 Eleven for a toy candy combo and a pink donut seemed to help the situation.\

 We had an unusual place to stay. It was very 70's style and it had a big tub in the middle of the front room. We had fun and Celia got to use the real Jacuzzi out by the pool as we BBQed with the folks. They had a game room Celia liked and we tried playing pool. We shopped and visited the Ridge and Marriott areas. Celia and I got matching cozy pajamas( I had been looking for some) and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Chart House to end off our days there. We keep teasing the grandparents that we need to go tot Mammoth, but Tahoe really is so beautiful, clean, clear and so close. Joe even drove he and Bri up there in his car. I feel happy and blessed to have this little get a way and regroup before the new demands come with school, health, and whatever else comes my way. Today I am ending my 30 day fast from sugar.( obvious sugar) and I don't have a desire to have any special treat. I guess it is good to know I can if I want to, but better to not crave it. It wasn't without difficulty, but I feel it has been a good thing and any replacement sugar items are especially for me rather than I am missing out on what others are partaking in. It has created a perspective change!

I

Sunday, a time to reflect and write

I can't believe September is more than half over. Things have changed and are continuing to change, but for the most part things are good. I just finished giving a lesson to the beehives. I am pleased to be with these great girls., I love their open eyes, their comments and the way they talk with me. I love having a positive influence on them and having a relationship with them. Sharing experiences makes me happy and I am glad they are willing to listen. I love the Lord and his way of helping me out when I desire to do his will. I have felt so much gratitude this weekend. For my husband that is so loving and kind and for our rich lives together. I truly need his support with the family. I also love the time I have to be still and quiet and try to be mindful. I am glad for my health and abilities.

 I did feel overheated and upset on Saturday after walking at the auction and the sunrise mall. I'm glad that isn't a feeling I experience very often. I mostly feel loved, grateful, blessed and happy. Sure things happen that get me down, but the bounce back is so fast. I saw myself having joy as I attended church in the same car with all the family at home last week. I have so much joy when the kids are doing well and when we do the things that help others and bring meaning to our lives. Joe brought sacrament to a lady in the ward that needed it. Joe and I also went and visited his friends who had a choir performance in Rocklin. We looked at old cars all fixed up and explored the fair. He ditched me, but Brian came to my rescue and took me to Chipotle and later took Celia out for a fun time and I rested. My job as a mom is being redefined.

I'm glad I have written in my journal in my life. I feel like I know who I am and was because of it. The spirit touches, me tells me things I should know and do and I keep it in my heart. I need to write it down more often. I use the memo portion of my phone as reminders of goals I create, or feelings I have while listening to the spirit. Quiet time writing makes me happy, as well as photography, yard work, visiting while eating with others and riding in the car. Oh and Sugar free hot chocolate from Starbucks:) It can be so easy to think we have to do or be something other than we are. We can take who we are and remember others and love God.

I need to write to remember. I feel like the days and weeks so go fast and are full of good things, but sometimes I forget to see my happiness or enjoy the blessings that are there. I feel blessed to have each child of mine benefiting from the Lord's watchful care of them.

I got a borderline bad test result for my A1C this last month. I am determined to keep my sugar intake down.to prevent any health issues. I am walking more and making more of an effort to go to the gym. I have found I love walking by miners ravine. It really improve my mood and my day. I took my folks to walk there this week too. I hope I always remember to make nature a part of my daily schedule.  I am on day 14 of really watching and tracking myself. I feel healthier already knowing I am taking care of myself and watching my health and habits.

Joe is swimming for school, planning golf with the priests, going out for birthday parties and hanging with friends on top of work and school. He is tired, but he is growing. We have time with him to help him grow and I'm so glad for that. I may have let him lay by me instead of go to seminary the other day. Babies don't keep and he will be turning 18 soon. Time does go by and they grow up, I'm glad we have a good relationship. I realize Celia may even grow up someday, I will use wisely this time and enjoy her around. Bri got a new family game for Celia to play and we are on day two of playing it. Aquarium is perfect for her and she beats me at it. We are still the same, but yet changing routines and working out our progression through life. I'm pleased for the good things in life and being able to see and write a glimpse of it on Sundays.

A different time.~

It is surreal to me that our buddy has moved out. I think we have kept ourselves busy trying to come up with new things to do. The dynamic in our family has shifted. It has been a blessing to have Emmy in town. We went to the Oakland temple the first Saturday to fill the void of driving our buddy around everywhere all the time. We have visited him a few times, but it seems to upset and confuse him a little bit.  His best helper Chris says Spencer seems to like the freedom. He doesn't have to many demands and has a lot of help when it is on his terms.

We have played card games together and gone out to eat, shopping and everything we weren't able to do before. When  Joe and Celia needed to go to the dentist, I had a conflict at that time. I needed to go to a meeting for Spence. I was torn and concerned. It was so nice to see someone from the meeting at the dentist. Se let me know she had me covered and didn't need me to come. Joe and Celia hugged me and said they were happy I was able to spend more time with them now. Joe said another sweet thing. I told him I was missing Spence and he said I'm sure he is missing you too, I know I would. 

The Lord has been in the details of my life lately. I went to the temple and felt of his love and awareness of me. I was even blessed to feel the peace of seeing an apostle. I am amazed by the great commitment to exactly keep the commandments the apostles must have. It makes me want to do better and become more Christlike. At the Oakland temple, we learned of families and we were asked if we thought the family was important. I kinda laughed to myself,. That missionary representative has no idea how much I care about family and always have. It is in my very being to love and cherish the family. I was so pleased to see Emmy is doing some volunteer work over at UVU that helps strengthen families in the area. I thought the videos she was training with were corny, but what wonderful precepts they taught. Mindfulness, positive parenting, and respect for one another. I will miss Emmy, but I am so excited for her senior year and all the growing up she will do. I sure loved the BYU time of my life. Learning, growing, meeting Brian and doing exactly what I was supposed to do for that time in my life and relying heavily on the Lord.