Not too bad of an April

Even though celebrations can be stressful, It was nice having so much family time and celebrations this month. Joseph turned 19 years old right after a spirit filled General Conference. We got him insurance so he was happy to get out a little for soda runs and help me with my job getting groceries for Spencer.  We have been so productive this month as well.

Emmy came to visit onthe 7th and we reorganized two bedrooms and closets. Emmy found enough space for her stuff she keeps here to fit in the cupboard under the stairs( or full bed) we have in the guest room. Joe like a gentleman let Emmy stay in his new room for the entire time she was visiting. (21/2 weeks)

We loved Easter and had our fill of candy, eating steak, and being outside in the backyard. We enjoyed the Sabbath at home and bearing our testimonies to each other.  The schedules each day were layed out for Celia and I and we did excercise, art, chilling and a lot of reading for class.These classic books are cornell notes for them are no joke! Emmy played the guitar for real and guitar hero and she sketched my garden on the side of the house. And if that wasn't enough we went for walks around the neighborhood and in nature. We saw the golden hour and sunsets together and celebrated two more birthdays.

 Emmy and I did DYI ballon swags and had many yummy cupcakes and cakes from various stores. We did pickup at our favorite resturants this month as well. I heart teriaki, CJF's and of course Little Caesers. For Celias birthday we even hit Boudin's since mom needed a break and we had gift cards for there. Most of the time we have been home cleaning and playing games and doing a lot of school work. Joe started Spring semeester remotely at BYUI, Emmy continued her grad program and work in research which inclueded a lot of Zoom meetings while she was here and work training videos. Emmy and I set up school videos at Spence's house for him and we zoomed a few meetings for Celia. Celia does zoom each friday for homework passes in math and socratic deisscusion weekly for humanties. We are getting in the groove of using more technology to socail distance and have been enduring fairly well. Some days I feel really down, but for the most part, it has been better days and beauty in the home and in the community.I have loved going out to get groceries and seeing people I know even if it just a wave from a far, I need that interaction with others.

I had my mom make masks for Brian\s workers and the comminutity of quiters she knows helped fill a tall order of 25 masks. I gave one to my minsteree family as her husband is high risk, and I love that my mom made cute doggie ones for the granddaughters. We use our masks and wear gloves when going out. We are really trying to help out and stay safe.

Spence doesn't go out with his people since he is high risk and he is homebound, but what a blessing that he has been happy there. It is a gift from our heavenly father that he isn't freakingout during this time of change. I told him yesterday on his birthday that he isn't going back to school and that he is graduated and is too old for school now, and he just smiled and giggled. We went and took him for a long ride in the mountains on his birthday. We went through grass valley and took hiway 20  to smartsville and down through a bunch of meadows to Linda. It was nice to stop for a pit stop off at Brian's work and then went our way.

I feel grateful to have so many family members in town and nearby, to have so many friendly and home like places to stop at and to shelter in if needed. Our home is open and spacious and if we have to be confined, it it best to be where we are comfortable. It may been for a while that we are like this, but I am trying to take it slow and enjoy all the good things in life, remembering to self care and to reach out to all those who I care about who would need or want my help at this trying time.

Good, Better, Best

It's been a few weeks being at home and it can be challenging. Celia's school has given us a bif challenge. I call it us because I am involved with every assignment in the many classes she is taking. The work load is stimulating and immense, but we make it through. I can see why my girl has been stressed with her work load this year. We have learned so much and it has been great time together. I read to her the classics and we learn about art history and I'm exposed to latin as a language. Dad helped with the logic asssignments and helped knock those out in no time flat. I am taking pictures of her activities outside and Celia is translating the actions into Latin. I'm glad Celia is so good at the computer, she is navigating quite well through zoom, google classrom and many other avenues. I'm glad my experience uploading pictures to this blog has come in handy in helping with her school work.

There has been more going on at home these past few weeks other than school work. We have Joe back and we are playing games. We had one game of Pandemic with Celia, but we've played Wingspan with Joe and a lot of Magic the Gathering. I am cooking more and having curbside takeout last week was quite the treat (I  Heart Teriakyi).  Sunday worship has been special and I've felt the sipirt very strong. Joe blessed the sacrament to Spence on our ride. I loved that Joe could do that and that Spencer responded with and smile. He folded his arms and kind of had a look of "Hey, I remember this"!

Some other changes I've noticed is that the house is getting a little more organized and straight. The yard is looking a little more put together with more time spent on it. It is hard work for me to cook and clean and teach more than before, but it is making a positive difference. I miss the reward of playing, traveling, and going out to eat. I can focus on more intrinistic rewards and hope for a time when the growth from this experience can really manifest well.

I can't help but remember the church empahsizing focusing on the things that mattered most.  Happily, I feel glad that I had productive time in the temple right up until the closure. I feel happy for the work with teaching the Sunday School class that Celia attended. I am happy about all the time I've tried to  make the family a priority and to be prepared in all things. It definitely has been hard, but I have much to be grateful for. I feel the Lord's loving influence in my life and I am comforted as I try to listen to the spirit and come closer to him.

All the reading in I've done in my Mindfulness book, and in Come Follow Me and other speeches has acceleratied my understanding and growth in this difficult time.  I miss my friendships and closeness with others, but I am so glad to have time to reflect ann teach with the wall of my own home. I am now hoping to fall in love with being home and growing my talents. We shall see how it goes.

New Chapter? Permanently closed?

It has been an interesting couple of weeks. Celia has been begging to be home schooled, for over a year. On Friday We learned that school would be closed for a month due to Covid 19 concerns. Church has been postponed which was hard to her to attend, so this is great for her. All this time at home and plenty of one on one time with the family. I have had my anxiety about being home all the time. but yet we are so prepared. With Brian's foresight we aren't in need of things

 I am glad I was set apart to be Celia's class teacher in Sunday school. Maybe, we can learn a thing or two together in this time of rest from most of our daily structure and routines for her. It was so sunny a few days before this weekend winter storm. I am seeing so much opposition in all things right now. Yet, doors are being opened and prayers answered. Celia is changing Doctors and we got in when they aren't accepting anymore patients. Celia did so well with getting her braces off and having a teeth cleaning the same day.

I am trying to focus on what I am grateful for and the tender mercies I see with the Lord guiding my life. I needed to lose my calling then get this one to teach Celia before there was no church meetings to attend. I needed to have no as an answer for Spencer's next day program. I went to the temple recently and did many sealings.

I thought about how the Lord does things that we don't understand and how we need to trust him. I know he loves me and I'm grateful to be in the temple recently with Brian for Ward Temple Night and to have done the sealings for my ancestors just this last week as now it is closed to do proxy work for a season. I hope the earth can rest and that the world will be less tumultuous as we stay at home more and care for each other.

I love that I got to go to Stake Relief Society Conference. It was unusual and more musical . I felt the spirit strongly and I felt like my sacred grove or place of revelation was in my home. I'm glad I went to our Relief society Birthday dinner as a last hurrah. I will not be seeing these ladies weekly anymore, but I glad we got to talk and eat and friendship with them. I'm grateful we got to go to Disneyland and LA. I'm glad we got to go to Emmy's BYU graduation and convocation last year. I doubt they will have those gatherings this year.

I'm glad Joe got to go and experience BYUI on campus. He seemed to have made great friends and got himself a part time job helping his entrepreneur friend. I still cant believe Academics are going online only. Hopefully that is temporary, but We have enjoyed to the fullest those campuses and had our time.


I have felt peace and I have had fear too, but I am grateful for all my wonderful wonderful blessings and really I feel doing the best I can everyday to teach and preach and learn is the best approach. This always has been my desire anyway. We will see Spence more trying to get him out and about in the car as community outings will be scaled back a bit. I hope he can continue to do amazing and be calm without too many behaviors. He has come so far and we are so proud of him and his growth.

Whatever these next few months bring as far as transition in life goes, I feel it will be a good learning experience. There are things to gain from things getting changed up. I will exercise faith and work hard to help my family and others and we will do great things.

Highlights and Peak Times

I was excited to go to my new calling today to teach Celia's class Sunday School. It is the 14 to 15 year old youth. I know I'm going to love it in there. I'm excited to be thinking about the content throughout the month as I only will teach once a month. I am glad to be at church to after our wonderful vacation in So Cal. We regenerated as we would say. The warm and positive vibe was helpful in us all having a great time. The Hotel was so big and nice. We loved the waterfall, see through elevators and koi pond. Out room was big and had a homey feel. We had a nice warm breakfast each as as well.

 Disneyland was wonderful. I was glad Emmy could come and we were fortunate from beginning of the day to the end. There weren't long lines, the weather was perfect and we got to see fun characters and have yummy snack food. The turkey leg was a classic and the rides were great. we saw just about everything we wanted to see. The shuttle from the hotel was our first ride hehe. It was a bit fast paced. I was able to handle a few calls about my boys while at the park and we loved our experience. I was proud of Celia and how much energy she had and how willing she was to go out and have fun. WE went out to downtown Disney the next night with Brian and it was fun to feel the Disney excitement on a lesser scale, again.  Celia liked the Legos and the Disney store and the girls each got a Disney baby from Lilo and stitch that were so soft.  We went to Huntington beach that day too and Bolsa Chica. since I know where to park that is free.
WE used my gift card on restaurants on the the trip too. We hit Boudins and Macaroni Grill which were both so yummy. Emmy got us a discount with her Disney visa and I got use a discount with my AAA card,. We even got a discount for Brian\s conference registration. I also got us a discount from Expedia or tickets to Knot's berry farm. I loved all the deals.

The weather was wonderful and the family had a great time at Knot's berry farm too. We started with the Ferris wheel, which is scary for me, but without yoga breathing, I  was able to do just fine. Next we went to Montezuma's Revenge. Lol I forgot how fast it goes. I liked it and the rest of the family started on my adventurous rides after that. some were a little to adventurous like Ghost rider, but we went on the log ride a lot and the river rapids seemed to be a hit with all. The girls did their school work and it turned out to be a wonderful mud week pick me up for the semester. On Saturday we went to Laguna Beach and it was so gorgeous and nice out. We got to go to lunch at BJ's even though our favorite one in balboa is permanently closed. It was nice and we sent Emmy off on a plane bacl to Utah and Brian drove us home while Celia and I dosed off a bit. I'm so grateful for the family memories and the time spent together.
\

Still embracing motherhood

Its been a busy month even with all the newness. I helped Joe with a few pages of his 25 page  autobiography for his English class. I like looking up old photos of him and remembering his youth. It was therapeutic for his leaving home for the first time. I've taken care of his car, gassed it up and registered it and am taking great care for him. He can be pleased to be reunited with it again someday.  As soon as we were back from Idaho, Spence needed us for purchases and fixing his swing. He now needs his heater worked on. We go and see him at least once a week. It is good to have ties with him and I am working on the next step for him as he graduates from Odyssey learning Center in June. He is very happy right now and it just warms my heart.

I went to a meeting yesterday for a behavior intervention plan for Celia. They do a great job with scholar services at John Adams and I love how supported she is there. She is doing much better this semester after a humanities teacher switch. I hope she stays there for High School. Olivia her new bestie has been coming over each week. I taught them how to put on some natural looking makeup and then they went to Celia's first youth dance. It looks like a well attended one. Celia wanted to come home home a little early. Maybe it was over stimulation, but they had fun. The girls love to play roblox and role play as they play it. Celia has really taken to her nerd roots and is proud of it. 

I am proud of being a stay at home mama. I found a book I wrote and published through blurb called 2009 A year of blessings. It was sweet how much I wrote about testimony of the gospel and how wonderful the family is and how important motherhood is. Also, how it is so beneficial to have the gospel in our children's lives. I think I will embrace Motherhood and teaching them the gospel and not worry so much about the next step after Celia leaves and just work hard on teaching her before she goes. 

Emmy and her friend Abby came to visit and it was fun. I like hosting a bit. Brian seemed to like switching up the house this past month. We've been to IKEA and he has moved his card room around. We got Celia to move into Joe's old room and the front room and bathroom are now the guest area. I like this because it stays clean.  Little by little we are getting the house more organized and orderly and its fun. Dad is on a food storage kick now, so I feel a straightening of the garage coming soon so we can organize all the food storage. It'll be fulfilling and nice, I bet.