5 year old baby

While walking in to Costco today I was carrying Carter cause he was tired and whiny.  There was a baby somewhere around one year old I would guess sitting in a cart.  She points to Carter and says, "baby, baby mama!"  Carter heard just as I did. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye to see if I had heard.  He could tell I had so he looked away with a little smile on his face.  I started laughing and so did he.  Maybe hearing it from someone smaller will help him realize he doesn't need to be held- he is 5!  Its funny cause at home if anyone says he is small, short, skinny, or looks younger than 5, he gets so mad and offended.  Because he is so small, it is even hard for me sometimes to remember to treat him like he is 5, not a toddler.  Okay, I guess part of that is that he is my baby right now! 
It was pretty funny though!

Patience

Never pray for patience.

End of story.

Day of Good Luck

Lucky the Leprechaun paid a visit to our house leaving us with green toilet water, green milk, green pancakes, and treasure hunt full of green goodies.  The kids are just grateful he is a nice leprechaun because apparently there are some not nice ones around too.

Reading Lucky's clues

We found the treasure! Green drinks, treats, and bubbles, and
of course some chocolate golden coins!

Jazz #2

Even if the Jazz SUCK right now, we are still fans.  Thanks to their losing streak we were able to score $5 tickets.  Although they didn't compare to our complimentary amazing seats a few months ago, the kids were still thrilled.  In fact, more thrilled. When we had lower bowl row 16 seats they wanted to sit up higher, they got their wish.  When we got there, we found our seats- at the VERY top row.  Not Steve's idea of good seats, but it was still fun.  They even gave out free Jazz beenies, pretty much paid for the 5 buck tickets right there! It made for a fun night with Kevin, McCall and Neisha!

Fan of rookie Gordon Hayward

He is a fan of anything his dad is a fan of.

Our AMAZING view

Free beenies!

Blessing learned

Why is it that sometimes it takes not having something to understand the blessing behind it? We take for granted so much without realizing it.  I think we all have times of comfort and  unrest, times of health and sickness, riches and poor, faith and doubt, the list could go on.  It may be far between, but all it really takes is moment of reflection to realize the strength in determining our blessings. This week has been one of those for me. Not that the week has been eventful, but it has reminded me of so much, and the lack of gratitude caused by not reflecting more often. For me its not just on what I have right now, but what I have had and never realized were blessings, not entitlements. I have decided that,

I WILL NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED: (now or later)
- a supporting job (we have been without for too long)
- my education (higher education is a privilege)
- a loving husband (I have lived without)
- a good nights sleep (they are few and far between right now)
- my health (one small cold I can handle. I don't have a terminal illness)
- my neighborhood (I took a walk outside yesterday and forgot how much I love this area)
- technology (one day without internet or TV and it is clear how reliant on it I am)
- the time with my kids (especially given I have to share it)
- a good week (even a bad one, we could be in Japan?!)
- my body (may not look as good as it used to, but it could be worse)
- my garden (takes to much work to take it for granted)
- our extended family (it's not very often you find as strong of relationships as we have)
- a hot shower (took a cold one the other day. Not fun)
- restful legs (I have RLS and it rarely gives me a break)
- my home (I don't need bigger or fancier. It more than suits our needs. Just look at the homes in the Phillipines)
- my school professors (I love them all. How often does that happen?)
- a nice bed (I have slept more bodies in smaller)
- a dinner from Grandma (she is alive, capable, and caring. I love and admire her)
- no food allergies (I have friends who do. Its tough)
- hayfever (it means spring has come!)
- a dirty house (it hold evidence of children enjoying life)
- my white noise machine (I have tried sleeping without it. Doesn't work well.)
- my membership in the church (so many have still not received the Gospel)
- my culture (learning about others at school makes me realize I am where I am meant to be)
- a note from my daughters (they care about me enough to write one. I should keep them.)
- a child snuggle (someday they will outgrow it)
- my friends (they have loved me through all my weaknesses)
- visits from family (I hate when they leave)

I guess I look at my list as things that I sometimes forget, or have forgotten until I have done without. Perhaps that is why Heavenly Father allows us to do without sometimes, or gives us the experience of the good and the bad, to be able to compare for ourselves, the ways he has blessed us and the ways he will continue to. 

The Friend

On Sunday Bailey was home sick throwing up.  Because we had a baby blessing of a family friend to go to, Steve decided to go and take Elli and Carter and I stayed home with Bay.  I had her lay in bed by me for a little while and read The Friend while I read the Ensign.  We was whizzing through reading it and came to the story called, "The Ministry of Christ". It told the story of when Jesus was tempted by Satan.  She was so excited because she had learned about it in our ward the last time she was here.  She proceeded to tell me the whole story and how it was her favorite scripture story.
We spent the next little while discussing spiritual things like patriarchal blessings, the temple, and overcoming temptations.  It was a sweet experience. I love moments like this.

Family

I have been thinking a lot about how lucky Steve and I both are to have such amazing parents and siblings.  It rarely happens in the world as it has with us. We are truly blessed to have the relationships we do. 

Recently I have been going through old journals, photos, and videos for a school assignment.  Many brought tears and laughs.  I lay in bed the other night thinking about my childhood, in particularly the relationships that I have with my siblings from then until now.  I wanted to share a few things so that I can easily be reminded of my immense wealth in relationships in my family.

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."  ~Clara Ortega