EmmaLee and Maycee have been keeping life interesting- to say the least. BOTH girls lost an earring today. The only reason I realized it: I stepped on Maycee's earring back. I had no idea she was missing one! I thought it was Emm's, but when I found the earring itself, it was Maycee's! yikes. So, then I realized that they both had lost one. *sigh* I had serious flashbacks to when I was little and had lost one of my Peridot birthstone earrings- on multiple occasions- and how Mom had made me stay in my room until I had found it. After about 30 minutes of THAT nightmare being passed on to my own daughter, I went in to help her look for it. A very clean room- but no earring- later, I realized that a $5 pair of earrings was NOT worth this stress. So, we changed to a different pair and called it done.
Well, things only got more exciting from there. I always take my earrings and rings off when I sleep, so today for naptime, I did my usual routine. I was woken suddenly by my phone, and when I went to answer it, I didn't put my jewlery back on. I passed them on the bedside table and had a fleeting thought to not leave them there, but ignored it. I went on about my business- cooking dinner, cleaning up, etc, etc... went in to put my rings back on after doing the dishes, only everything was gone except one hoop earring. I panicked!
I found the other earring & my sapphire ring by moving things around and searching dilligently, but couldn't find my wedding ring- anywhere. At this point, James came in. I was sobbing! He must've thought I was nuts. He kept promising me as he held me that he'd buy me a new one and that it'd be ok... it didn't help. I'm a woman! Doesn't he realize what our wedding rings mean to us?!
We tore our bedroom apart and didn't find it. The impossibility of our task kept hitting me again and again. James asked if I wanted to pray, but I didn't answer. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was such a dumb thing to pray for... surely He wouldn't find it important enough to help us with finding it. I eventually whispered a fervent and short prayer, begging Him for help. Five minutes later in our searching in different rooms, James came up and handed me my ring. Maycee had taken it and dropped it on the kitchen floor when something else had caught her attention and it had rolled under the toe kick to the sink cabinet. Again, I started sobbing. I immediately thanked Heavenly Father. Lesson learned a little more. Will I ever stop being stubborn and turn to him in all things as he asks us to? I'm not sure why I keep thinking he won't listen or will be to busy to help me. Apparently he DOES listen and help in little things too. Thank goodness for that. And next time, I'll listen when I'm told not to leave something within reach of an 18 month old. Another lesson learned a little more.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thanksgiving...
This year, Thanksgiving will be extra special! On top of all the things that have been presenting themselves for me to remember to be thankful for, I received a surprise today that completely made my holiday.
At the end of August, my Dad was forced to make a move to Minnesota to accept a good job- something hard to find in his specialized field. My parents began to search out places to live and a house to buy... and I was left with the hollow realization that my parents are moving 1500 miles away. I'm not a dependent child, but it's a hard idea to swallow when my family is as close as it is.
Because funds are tight and flights are so expensive, we accepted the fact that Dad wouldn't be here for Thanksgiving this year- a first since I was a little girl and he was deployed in the military. Every time I thought about it, I would tear up. I couldn't get past the thought of him sitting alone in some dimly lit Denny's style restaurant eating a half decent representation of what he normally gets on this holiday that is so special in my family. Not to mention the empty chair that has been vacant for these past months that would be reminding us constantly that our family wasn't complete- something so very frustrating since we just got Ian back from his mission to Paraguay last month and filled his empty chair.
So, today we invited my family over for Sunday dinner and there I was in the kitchen, baking holiday goodies that had been requested... and my mom shows up early for dinner. She says her friend had dropped her off. We chatted a few minutes and I finally asked her who her friend was that had dropped her off. She said "that one" and pointed behind me. I turned around, and there stood my Dad. He'd been standing behind me the entire time my mom and I were talking.
I immediately burst into tears. :)
Needless to say, I'm happy right now! His being here was made possible through a chain of events through his current job- seriously a holiday miracle for our family. Talk about having a full heart. Thank you Heavenly Father!
At the end of August, my Dad was forced to make a move to Minnesota to accept a good job- something hard to find in his specialized field. My parents began to search out places to live and a house to buy... and I was left with the hollow realization that my parents are moving 1500 miles away. I'm not a dependent child, but it's a hard idea to swallow when my family is as close as it is.
Because funds are tight and flights are so expensive, we accepted the fact that Dad wouldn't be here for Thanksgiving this year- a first since I was a little girl and he was deployed in the military. Every time I thought about it, I would tear up. I couldn't get past the thought of him sitting alone in some dimly lit Denny's style restaurant eating a half decent representation of what he normally gets on this holiday that is so special in my family. Not to mention the empty chair that has been vacant for these past months that would be reminding us constantly that our family wasn't complete- something so very frustrating since we just got Ian back from his mission to Paraguay last month and filled his empty chair.
So, today we invited my family over for Sunday dinner and there I was in the kitchen, baking holiday goodies that had been requested... and my mom shows up early for dinner. She says her friend had dropped her off. We chatted a few minutes and I finally asked her who her friend was that had dropped her off. She said "that one" and pointed behind me. I turned around, and there stood my Dad. He'd been standing behind me the entire time my mom and I were talking.
I immediately burst into tears. :)
Needless to say, I'm happy right now! His being here was made possible through a chain of events through his current job- seriously a holiday miracle for our family. Talk about having a full heart. Thank you Heavenly Father!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Time...
It's time for me to write. It's time for me to focus. It's time for me to get back to it! Why does life seem to get so crowded with "good" things that we can't seem to make time for those things that we should be doing?
I promised myself that this week would be the start of something better for me. Workouts back on schedule, homecooked dinner (however simple) gracing the table each night, storytime and homework with the girls, playdates that I've been craving (but putting off) would be set up and enjoyed...and yet, here it is, Monday, and my "simplified" week has already been filled with stuff. Where is the happy medium? I don't want to be lazy or unproductive, but even without working outside the home full time anymore, my days are full to the brim.
Being a scheduler, I thrive on getting everything fit into the time that I have and making it work. I CRAVE knowing what's coming next. And that old saying that we teachers live by: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" is so completely true in my life. I get distracted so often by other good things as I'm trying to get basic things done that I ultimately end up feeling like I did nothing. Not good when I already struggle with staying at home... why does it feel like when I was working full time I was able to get all that outside work done on top of everything else that I wanted and needed to?
I wonder if I'm allowing myself too much freedom. There was a GC talk last month about weeding through all the "good" things to reach the ones that are the most important and sticking to them. So I guess my gardening gloves will be coming out... this life needs a little pruning!
I promised myself that this week would be the start of something better for me. Workouts back on schedule, homecooked dinner (however simple) gracing the table each night, storytime and homework with the girls, playdates that I've been craving (but putting off) would be set up and enjoyed...and yet, here it is, Monday, and my "simplified" week has already been filled with stuff. Where is the happy medium? I don't want to be lazy or unproductive, but even without working outside the home full time anymore, my days are full to the brim.
Being a scheduler, I thrive on getting everything fit into the time that I have and making it work. I CRAVE knowing what's coming next. And that old saying that we teachers live by: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" is so completely true in my life. I get distracted so often by other good things as I'm trying to get basic things done that I ultimately end up feeling like I did nothing. Not good when I already struggle with staying at home... why does it feel like when I was working full time I was able to get all that outside work done on top of everything else that I wanted and needed to?
I wonder if I'm allowing myself too much freedom. There was a GC talk last month about weeding through all the "good" things to reach the ones that are the most important and sticking to them. So I guess my gardening gloves will be coming out... this life needs a little pruning!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Maternity Shoot
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Colorado & California
Life comes in huge swells sometimes it seems.
James and I were able to take our "babymoon" to Breckenridge, Colorado last week. After flying through tornado turbulence over Denver (seriously), I was in tears because of the effects. We were pretty much strapped to our seats for hours and I was incredibly uncomfortable. We eventually made it to Denver after being diverted to Albequerque. It was a crazy day to say the least.
Our condo in Breckenridge was amazing. With all the crazy weather we have been having on the West Coast, we had SNOW in June while we were there! The temperature didn't rise above 65 degrees. I was in heaven. I tried to soak up every last moment so I could think back to them when I was miserably hot and pregnant in Phoenix. 
We hiked almost every day while we were there and saw some pretty incredible views. Wow. We hiked along
the Continental Divide a few times and drove on the highest road in North America, at 12, 200 +/- feet. We hiked to 12,005 feet (me at 7 month pregnant!) and saw conditions that parallelled the Arctic.
We hiked almost every day while we were there and saw some pretty incredible views. Wow. We hiked along
the Continental Divide a few times and drove on the highest road in North America, at 12, 200 +/- feet. We hiked to 12,005 feet (me at 7 month pregnant!) and saw conditions that parallelled the Arctic. It was an amazing week to spend with my favorite person in the world.
The next day after returning home, EmmaLee and I set out for California to attend a family reunion for my side of the family. We played on the lake and pretty much had a blast. The only downer was when EmmaLee stepped off the boat toward the dock and the boat shifted, causing her step to land in mid-air and she fell down between the boat and dock. She banged herself up pretty bad. She had a scraped up nose and lip, 2 black eyes and a fat lip. Her tummy and shins were scratched and her arm was scraped and bruised where she was able to catch herself from 
falling all the way into the water (thank heaven!). We stripped her down and bundled her up in a blanket. She fell asleep for an hour while I rocked her in the swing, but she woke no worse for wear, commenting on the ducks floating on the lake! We took her out for a ride on the boat and she was totally fine. Whew! I felt so bad for her! Thank goodness for uncles that were there to pull her out.
falling all the way into the water (thank heaven!). We stripped her down and bundled her up in a blanket. She fell asleep for an hour while I rocked her in the swing, but she woke no worse for wear, commenting on the ducks floating on the lake! We took her out for a ride on the boat and she was totally fine. Whew! I felt so bad for her! Thank goodness for uncles that were there to pull her out.What a wonderful week! I am very blessed (and very tired! lol!)
Friday, May 22, 2009
EmmaLee's 3rd Birthday
"Princess Marianne"... it was actually supposed to be EmmaLee wearing the crown, but the weather was windy and I used it for a headband since she wasn't really interested in wearing it until cake and presents time. This is pretty much the only picture I have from this pregnancy so far...All of her friends were so sweet.
Joshua Fenstermaker was there
and EmmaLee obviously loves him! :)
For EmmaLee's 3rd birthday, we bought her a "big girl bed".
She was thrilled and took right to it. (Yeah!)
I love how she is so content with simple pleasures.
Names...
This one has us stumped. We're having a girl. This we know. What we don't know is what in the world to name that girl! With EmmaLee, we had her name picked out from the time that we were dating. EmmaLee Anne. I had always wanted that name for a girl and James had always wanted Ryan James for a boy. I guess we just assumed that we'd have a boy next and we didn't pick out any girl names because we were so convinced that this one was a boy. Surprise! Now what do we do?
Every name that I pick, James shoots down. Every name that James picks, I don't like. We have tried out Meg, Addyson, Addylyn and Marguerite, but we're not agreeing. We asked EmmaLee what to call her baby sister and she thought about it for a moment and then replied, in all seriousness, "Baby":) How simple that would be until about... Kindergarten!
James likes what I term as "cheerleader names". Names like Brittany, Tiffany and Ashley. I have a hard time imagining her in 50 years being called "Grandma Brittany". It just doesn't sound right. But the names that I have submitted for his approval he says are too short (Meg) or sound strange for a little girl...
My biggest hangup in the naming process is that I want it to be something different, but not weird. I want a name that isn't popular. I had a name like that- I've met only one girl in my life that was my age and had my name. After we named EmmaLee, we heard that it was the most popular name for girls the year she was born. Ugh. Being a teacher, I know how much it stinks to have multiple kids with the same name in a class and having to call them Ashley C. and Ashley R. and I don't want that for my kids.
Maybe we should open it up to everyone else in a name pool or something like that. Everyone submit a name and if we choose yours, you win the pot. Any takers? :)
Every name that I pick, James shoots down. Every name that James picks, I don't like. We have tried out Meg, Addyson, Addylyn and Marguerite, but we're not agreeing. We asked EmmaLee what to call her baby sister and she thought about it for a moment and then replied, in all seriousness, "Baby":) How simple that would be until about... Kindergarten!
James likes what I term as "cheerleader names". Names like Brittany, Tiffany and Ashley. I have a hard time imagining her in 50 years being called "Grandma Brittany". It just doesn't sound right. But the names that I have submitted for his approval he says are too short (Meg) or sound strange for a little girl...
My biggest hangup in the naming process is that I want it to be something different, but not weird. I want a name that isn't popular. I had a name like that- I've met only one girl in my life that was my age and had my name. After we named EmmaLee, we heard that it was the most popular name for girls the year she was born. Ugh. Being a teacher, I know how much it stinks to have multiple kids with the same name in a class and having to call them Ashley C. and Ashley R. and I don't want that for my kids.
Maybe we should open it up to everyone else in a name pool or something like that. Everyone submit a name and if we choose yours, you win the pot. Any takers? :)
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