Catching Up

January 21,

1) An evening to hang out in my PJ's and play in my scrap room with Lissie and Natalie.

2) The cheerful attitude my kids had while we were sorting laundry ~ lots and lots of laundry ~ some of it excavated from scary corners in their rooms.  We survived, with smiles on our faces.  They worked so hard, I am picky about how it is sorted and they have learned well.  A little prep goes a long way to actually getting it done. 

3) I put on a jacket I haven't worn for ages and not only got it buttoned, but was able to breath.  :-)

January 22,

1) An ENTIRE day spent at a mini-convention...stamping, watching demos...loved it.  Rejuvenated my creative juices!

2) Coming up with an sewing a bonnet pattern for Teresa.

3) My activity day girls coming over for dinner and a project.  We ate pancakes, bacon and eggs.  My friend Diane donated little wrapped chocolates and tootsie pops centerpieces for the girls.  She had placed them in flower diecuts...so cute and made the girls feel special.  We then used recycled plastic juice containers to make sewing kits. 

January 23,

1) Trek fireside.  I don't even know what to say about this.  It was so amazing and humbling to listen to these stories of hardship and joy.  Fear and courage.

2) Hugging my children good night instead of consigning them to a grave and knowing that the wolves were barely held at bay, just waiting until the pioneers crested the hill to tear the graves apart.  So many little children lost. 

3) The chance that my children have to go on this journey.  I have been reminded through our trials that we are part of something bigger and it helps me to keep things in perspective.  (generally) Now my kids will be able to walk along these paths, and be open to the sense of history, hardship and triumph that saturates the ground there.  I hope that it connects them with their ancestors. 

1) Yay! My cute boy is home safe...and clever thing that he is, he fixed the car!!!!

2)Stamping with my girlfriends tonight.  I have missed them so much!  I was so proud of how chivalrous my boys were, carrying bags for people and escorting them to and from their cars so that they didn't slip on the ice.

3) Rearranged my living room.  Love to shake things up. I did it before Shon got home because he hates it  when I do this.  He walked in and exclaimed...."I love it!

1) Being able to get our van out of the middle of our street so that it wouldn't get hit.  First it took Alex and I 45 minutes of hard awful painful work to get it to the side of the road.  I was really worried about it still being hit, because our road is horrible, but didn't say anything.  Then while the kids and I were planning our next several FHE's, our good friend Matt showed up to check out the van.  He helped me get it in the garage so that it would be safe and offered to come be an extra set of hands for Shon while fixing it. 

2) Alex made chocolate chip, oatmeal walnut cookies today.  They are my favorite.  I like to freeze them, luckily because they are so good, it only takes one to satisfy the craving.  :-)

3) Have now lost 8 consistent pounds.  11 "bouncing" pounds.  Hope it continues, not sure how it is happening, stress maybe?  I have tried to change my snacking habits and reduce carbs (unless at a restaurant, then it is all rules off. )  Now I need to start exercising.  Would love to hit my 40th at a much lower weight, but done in a healthy way. 

1) Getting the bit back between my teeth with Day Camp.

2) My heating pad, warming my cold, cold feet.

3) Going through my scrapbook room and putting everything away. 

1) Shon is safe in Bozeman for the next several days.

2) Joey's sweet and thoughtful nature.  Even though he is quick with a sometimes ill timed quip, he has a huge heart and watches out for me. 

3) Knowing how to craft.  What peace creativity brings. 

1) Sitting in my nice comfy bed, listening to my kids play together downstairs.  I am so glad that they like each other...Shon is on the couch reading a book by his favorite author....and I am alone.  I wouldn't want to be alone all of the time, but right now in this moment, knowing that my family is safe and happy...it is bliss.

2) My sweet friend who has a paper route and delivers the Sunday paper to us for free.  She gets extras and refuses all of our efforts to pay her.  I really like the Sunday paper, and it is so not in our budget.  I had never even mentioned it to her, she just decided to start doing it. 

3) The reaction of my cute activity day girls when they found out I was back and that we had an activity this Wed.  How heartwarming.  I love those girls.  It makes me wonder why I still don't feel like the calling is mine.  I will have to pray more about that.