Sunday, October 2, 2011

Fall Conference

Today was general conference- one of my favorite times of the year.  We cooked a big turkey dinner and all the trimmings.  It was a lot of work!  I think next time we'll just toss in a frozen lasagna.  The talks were wonderful.  I choked back tears as I listened.  The Spirit touched me and whispered to my soul some things I can and must do better in my life.

We invited Andy and Carter to join us, as they usually do on Sundays.   Mark took the opportunity to teach and testify to them, as he usually does.  He has a gift of reaching people.  He is so wise.  He is so good.  During the second session, we snuggled on the couch and listened to the speakers.  I closed my eyes as the warm autumn sunlight shone through the windows, my head on his chest and his arms around me.  I reflected on the happiness of it all.  The joy of the Gospel.  The Savior and His love for us.  Families and the eternal links that bind us.

Last night we were visiting next-door while all the guys attended the Priesthood Session.  Tiffany said the funniest thing.  She talked about President Samuelson (of BYU) getting released as a general authority.  She said when she heard that news, her first thought was, "Maybe Mark will be the next President of BYU!"  She said it with such seriousness that it took all of my strength to hold the laughs in.  Later when I told Mark we laughed and laughed.  He was quite flattered and I agreed that it was a nice compliment.

Rachel faithfully took notes on all the talks today.  She is amazing.  She is stalwart and virtuous and strong.  Linc is not too far behind her.  He is a good boy, his friendship and example may be what saves Andy.  I really could not ask for better kids, I feel so very blessed.

  Our baby turns four this week.  We told her that we are not having any of it.  We want her to turn two instead.  She said, "Mommy, you turn what you turn and you don't throw a fit".  I told her I might throw a fit anyway and she said, "Just go down to the baby store a get another baby- I am turning four!"

Life is good.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

A Typical Sunday

Today marks the day of a new start with this little blog of mine.
Today I begin to write just for me.
I can brag about the amazingness of my three joys and not even think twice about it.
I can share the most intimate desires of my heart, complain if I feel like it or just write boring stuff that no one else would really care to read.  This is going to be great!

Today is Sunday.
It was a good Sunday.
Mark started at 6:00 am as he does most weeks.  Tonight he got home at 8:45 and announced that he was done for the day and that he would now be taking off his tie.
He is a rock, my Mark.
I love him.
He is absolutely true.

The twins taught their Sunday school class today.  Their teacher, Brother Oliver, asked me to substitute for him and so naturally I assigned Lincoln and Rachel to teach the lesson.  They were fantastic!  They tag teamed it like old pro's.  They engaged all the other kids, asked thoughtful questions, validated class comments, they were just so great.  At one point, kids were sharing personal experiences about a time when they each felt the Spirit.  A few of them got emotional.  Lincoln said to the class, "Feel that?"  "Feel that peaceful, good feeling we have in the room right now?'' "That's the Spirit"  Devin related that a new boy moved in next-door to him.  He said he felt prompted to introduce himself and invite the new boy to walk to school with him.  He talked about how good he felt about reaching out to the new boy.  Rachel then commented, "Devin, I'll bet he really appreciates having such a nice kid like to you welcome him here and be his friend".  She was so sweet.

We came home and had out usual Sunday dinner and Lincoln invited Carter and Andy to join us.  Mark had them go downstairs and do a Duty to God and then report back to him.  They did great.  Mark is trying hard to teach them what it means to be a priesthood man.

Our little Sam Girl played dress up all afternoon.  She went from one outfit to the next.  She brings us plenty of smiles!

Now it is time to close the day.
How blessed I feel.

Kimberly

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Sami:  (Handing me a piece of paper written on and cut out) Sing this.
Me: What do you mean?
Sami:  Sing this, just read the music.
Me: (Upon closer look, she had drawn music notes!)  Sam!  You wrote music!  Sami!  You're brilliant! And she is.  She. Really. Is.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Saying Goodbye Is Hard To Do

Well today I got out the old laptop and dusted off my blog.  I have a hundred things to write about.  A hundred things that have been floating around in my head, only to be placed on a shelf until that magical day arrives.  You know the day I'm talking about, the one loaded with time and nothing to do but write.

 But days keep ticking by, turning themselves into weeks and then months and still THAT day never seems to get here.  Things I want to remember about this season of life seem to quietly melt into days gone by.  My patriarchal blessing specifically tells me to keep a journal so that I can hand it to my grandchildren for their learning and benefit.  So with that being the real goal of writing, I have made an unusual decision.

I am turning this blog private.  Private as in just for me.  I want to climb into bed at night, type a few thoughts down, upload a picture or two of the day's events and keep this blog as a personal journal.  Every once in a while, I'll get it printed into a book to save for those little red-headed grandchildren that will start arriving in about 15 years or so.

Saying goodbye is hard to do and I want to thank you for taking the time to read.  I have loved your comments, advice, and most of all, your friendship.  Keep posting on your own blogs!  I love hearing about your adventures and I will remain a fan.

Your friend,
Kimberly

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The High Price of Parenting

We all know what Mr. Save For A Rainy Day would do with roughly $7,880.00.










But what Could a girl like me do with that kind of mullah?

Make a decent down payment on a brand new one of theses babies?
Did you know that the new Acura MDX pushes the luxury SUV to new levels of refinement?  With its super handling all wheel drive, a plethora of luxury appointments, and room for SEVEN, and their gear???


Sadly, no that's not what I did with the cash.

Take the entire family on a magical vacation aboard Disney's New Dream Ship?  Where all our needs will be anticipated and carefully attended to- where we will eat ourselves sick, sunbathe, swim, snorkel and explore- basically, have the experience of a lifetime on the high seas with Mickey & Company?


Nope, unfortunately, regrettably, distressingly, this was not an option either.



How about a visit to my favorite place for home furnishings .......






Oh Pottery Barn how I lovey you....  
But (sigh, sniffle, weep)  it was not meant to be.

No new car, fabulous vacation or beautiful new furniture.

Instead, 7,880.00 was our portion of the 15,760.00 original bill, (choke) that bought exactly:
2 sets of braces (4,500 x 2), 
two retainers (190. x 2), 
2 Maryland Bridges to hold in place the new teeth the dentist had to make to put in place of the missing teeth that never grew in (3,100 x 2).

Warning-- vent coming on...

*HONESTLY, did they both have to be missing the same teeth in the same spots??? I mean really, where did that come from, Mark and I both have all of our teeth--- SHEESH.*

Thank you, I'm done now.

And finally, two new retainers to go with the new teeth. (190. x 2 again).


And that my friends, is what a girl like me did with 7,880.00.

PS, recent dental x-rays show that the little one in the middle does indeed have all her future teeth.
Can I get a Hallelujah?! 

Friday, May 6, 2011

The Magic Spell of Love

Mom.
Mother.
Mommy.
Mama.

Those words mean love.
Love in its strongest, most tenacious, unyielding, purest form.

The first moment you look at your child, Heaven reaches down and casts a magic spell over your soul.
You fall so intensely deep in love, that you have a super natural ability to withstand nights of
no sleep, messy diapers, spit-up, a diaper bag that could double as a mid-size piece of luggage and a waist line that is never quite the same.

That love stays with you as you learn how to deal with tantrums at the store, potty accidents, snotty noses and vomit at 2:00 am.  It swells and grows as you read bedtime stories, watch them run, play, laugh and learn to pray.  

Motherly love overrules that urge to make them change clothes because the ones they picked out don't match and celebrate accomplishments like putting their own shoes on, even if they end up on the wrong feet.

It's the kind of love that leads you to sob when they go off to kindergarten and then 3rd grade and then jr. high.

It brings tears to your eyes when they hand you a homemade card or Christmas ornament or ask you to snuggle at the end of a long day or lie on the green grass and look at the stars together.

It causes your heart to ache and weep when they strike out in a big moment or get left out by their friends.  You wish you could take away the pain of not making a team or ease the sadness of being rejected by a first crush.

Sometimes they do things that disappoint you.
Sometimes you do or say things that you regret but that certain strain of love, wraps itself so tightly around your heart,  you are moved to humbly apologize and ask for  forgiveness.

You find yourself with the uncanny ability to give them the benefit of the doubt.  Every. Single. Time.  You see the best in them, ALWAYS.

You have your Mother Bear Moments and understand when other Mother Bears have theirs.

You see the goodness of their hearts like no one else, even their dad. And while you treasure the memories of childhood, you can't wait to see what's around the next corner.

And the best thing about this unique, extraordinary, unparalleled kind of love?
It never ends.

It evolves and grows and expands.

And someday, you hope to have a front row seat when someone places a little piece of heaven in your child's arms and the magic spell of love begins again.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Chicks Dig Him

Well...
Apparently Chicks really do dig scrawny, pale guys-
and
Dudes with cute little sisters.






Congratulations on the election, Linc!
You'll be an awesome great 8th grade Senator.