I am reading a book called "Contentment...Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers". I am only on the second chapter. I wouldn't say that this book is an "easy read" so far. Not to be mean to the author...but I have read more interestingly written material. That being said...the material she has written IS good. Very good and things that all mothers need to hear I think.

I have learned some lessons about the purpose of Motherhood over the past years...and more so lately I have learned that being "mom" isn't supposed to be easy. I like how the author, Maria Cole, put it. She said,

"As daughters of God, when we acknowledge His goodness and mercy in our lives, accept that life is not meant to be easy, and learn that motherhood is by divine design, difficult and testing, we will truly be content with the things the Lord has allotted to us." (italics added)

I feel like I am slowly learning that trials in life are not meant to be merely "endured" but to be "endured well". If all we are doing is "waiting for the storm to pass"....then we probably aren't learning what we need to be learning from that particular trial.

When I first became pregnant with this baby...I was scared! I know that I have had a hard time adjusting to adding another child to the family in the past and that I don't do well without sleep...and we all know how little sleep newborns let us get. Over the past months, I have felt peace as I have realized that having a hard time adjusting to these changes is a trial that Heavenly Father has given me. One that can help me come closer to being the person He sees in me. So...now that I have gained that knowledge...I feel like having this baby is putting that to the test. I am nervous and also excited to see how I do. And I really should say, "How WE do"...because Brandon is such a big support to me.

Anyhow...aside from what I said earlier....I still recommend THIS book! I got it at Seagull Book in Mesa for $3.99!

Spring Break 2010

I am super tired...which is typically the case lately. I haven't felt like doing an update in a while....and I haven't really taken any pictures. Blog posts are always more interesting if there are pictures! But, oh well. Here's my LONG update for the past week!

Last week was Kaitlyns Spring Break. We decided to head on down to Mesa. Brandon's mom is very gracious and let us stay at her "Granny Flat" down there. I hadn't wanted to make the trip to Mesa again while pregnant because it's just too uncomfortable....but we ended up having a good time...so it was worth it! Plus, the people who did our cabinets back when I was pregnant with Weston said that they would come and refinish the cabinets. The paint job they did was wearing off already. They/we decided to do a "shabby chic/antique" finish. Since we've been home, I have come to like it more and more. I am a perfectionist about these kinds of things though. "Shabby chic" is supposed to be a finish that makes things look old and used. They accomplished that. The cabinets also have a "dirty" look to them. So, although I really like the over all look, it is hard for me to not have things look clean even when they are. BUT....as a mom of 3 little kids, I know this "dirty" look will be a blessing because you all know how dirty things really DO get with kids...and now I might not have to spend so much time wiping down the cabinets because I wont know that they need it! So, anyhow...that's what got me to leave for the Valley....the cabinets.

 I left with the kids Monday afternoon. We went to my parents house and had dinner with them that night. Then I let the kids stay up and watch t.v. until they fell asleep at Grandma Flakes.

Tuesday morning my great Aunt Deanna called and invited Katilyn over for a sewing lesson! First, we stopped off at my moms bakery for lunch. (yummiest chicken salad sandwiches!) Plus, one of my kids touched a loaf of bread that hadn't been bagged yet, so I "got" to buy that too! Kaitlyn had fun with Aunt Deanna. She made a little purse and sewed buttons onto it. While they did that, I took Addie and Weston with me to return something to Kohl's, then went to Target. I found a cute dress for Kaityn for Easter there! Then we went back to Aunt Deanna's and picked some grapefruits an oranges. (The oranges blossoms smell SO good in Mesa right now!)

Wednesday was Adelin's turn for some "Aunt Deanna" time. She make a purse with buttons on it too! While she did that, I took Kaitlyn and Weston to the mall. I was looking for a short sleeve, white, button up shirt for Weston. (I never did end up finding one). That morning, Weston had gone out in Celeste's back yard (the "Granny Flat" is in her back yard) and since it had rained the night before, he splashed around in the water and soaked his tennies....so he was wearing cow boy boots with his shorts....which is a normal thing for kids here in Snowflake....but down there, I felt a little conspicuous (sp?) so we bought him a cute little pair of flip flops. Then we went and picked up Addie and went to my parents house. Brandon got into town that night!

Thursday, Brandon had his seminar...so it was me and the kids again. I think we went to the bakery again. Weston touched a cupcake...one that is $3 (for ONE cupcake)....so I had to buy that...and I ate it...and didn't share! :) What else did we do that day? I really don't remember. OH yeah! I called my neice NaElle and we went over to her house. She is so cute. She's been married for about 8 months and visiting her just reminded me of when Brandon and I were first married! Things were so much more simple in those days! Well, NaElle gave Weston a cute little hair cut (she's a hair stylist) and she also trimmed Adelin's bangs. I had trimmed them and they were kindda crooked! We visited for a while....until the kids got too out of control...then we left to pick up Brandon  for dinner, who was at his mom's house by then. The girls talked him into letting them go swimming. They stayed out there for a while...then finally came to their senses and decided it was too cold! We went to dinner at Panda Express. My kids LOVE Panda Express!

Friday we took it easy in the morning....then left to run a few errands (Brandon had his seminar)....stopped by Sonic for "Happy Hour" slushes then the bakery (it's just right next door to Sonic...so I got some cookies and brownies...seriously....if you live near "Whole Grain Natural Bread Company" and don't go there at least once a week...I admire your self control! My kids LOVE to go visit Grandma there and get a cookie...or Weston's favorite, "Chuncky Monkey Bread"!) Anyhow we took our goodies to Freestone Park where we met up with my friend Skye and her 4 kiddos. Her oldest and Kaitlyn are the same age and we used to do things together all the time before we all moved away from "The Townhouses". OH! And I had picked up Ty...who is also their little friend (Angela...we missed you and your girls!) Her mom Jami (we were neighbors in the townhouses...Ty and Kaitlyn shared a bedroom wall)....anyhow...Jami's little baby has RSV and needed to be home...so we kidnapped Ty and took her to the park with us. It was a little windy, but we stayed there for a couple hours. The kids played great and it was so fun to visit with Skye. (I miss you!)

Saturday morning, the girls and I went to Ty's baptism. It's hard to believe that little girl who once sat on Kaitlyn when she was in her bouncy seat and was so light, Kaitlyn didn't even notice...is now 8 and baptized! We're glad we got to be there for that! Then we hit Target on the way back to the "flat" to buy new church sandals for the girls. After that, we went and packed up our things, cleaned up the house and left to meet my paretns for lunch before leaving to drive home to Snowflake.

All in all...we had a fun Spring Break. It was nice to get out of the house every day. The kids were behaved for the most part too...so that helped!

Oh...something else that wont mean anything to anyone else but our little family....but whenever we drive "to and fro" from Snowflake to Mesa and Mesa to Snowflake, we always stop at the Giant station in Payson to use their "facilities" and get a snack. I am pretty sure that when our kids are older...this will be something they remember about our many trips back and forth! I can picture them pointing out that Giant station to their kids someday...and maybe even stopping there like we do....if it's still around.

 I love you mom L  o  t


(I was looking in my "edit posts" file and saw this in there....typed by Kaitlyn)

Pregnancy

I need to talk a little bit about proper pregnancy etiquette. (How do you even spell that word and why don't I have spell check on here?)

Where do I began and how do I say these things tackfully? Okay...so, let's forget about tack...and I will start with telling you about an incident from today that happens to me EVERY time I am in public.

Picture me at the check out counter of Dollar General. (don't laugh, we're a small town and proud of our three dollar stores.)

Cashier: "When are you due"

Me: here we go again "May"

Cashier: Really?

Me: no, I made that up "Yup!"

Cashier: You look like you're about to pop!

Me: I'd like to POP you in the face for saying that! "That's what everyone says"

I am so tired of people telling me how BIG I am and seeing how shocked they look that I am out in public and not in a hospital bed doing lamaze breathing!

So, here's what I think: You should treat a pregnant woman the same way you'd treat an over weight person. Would you tell a stranger that happens to be 40 pounds overweight that they looked like they are about to pop? Would you tell an over weight family member or friend EVERY time you see them how much bigger they are then the last time you saw them? It's not okay to say that to a person who could use to lose a few pounds and it's NOT okay to keep saying it to me OVER and over...or any other pregnant lady for that matter! (there...I said it! *sigh*)

Brandon consoled me by telling me that I look cutier and cutier as my belly grows. Love ya Honey. I really do appriciate it. He also told me that I need to not take offense because people are not meaning to be offensive. I rebuttled with my "over wieght vs. pregnant" comparison. Just because something is true, it doesn't mean you need to say it, right?

Oh...and never, EVER call a pregnant woman "fat". Unless you are suicidal.

TOFW

I just looked at the speaking schedule for the Time Out For Women that will be held in Phoenix this October! Before looking....I didn't really care to go, not with a baby....but now...I would take a nursing infant just to get to hear this one speaker! Her name is Miriama. I shared a story about her with my Laurels during a lesson I gave a month or so ago. (To read it, click on "a story".) She tells of her struggles as a youth in war torn Sierra Leone, losing her family...and how she watched her sisters legs get cut off by the rebels...and her life being spared. So many things in her story could make one bitter, resentful,  feel lost and forgotten...but she found hope through the gospel....just like we all have to do no matter what our trials may be! ANYHOW.....she is speaking at TOFW and now I REALLY REALLY want to go....just to hear HER!

Group rates are $47 for Friday and Saturday....I haven't asked Brandon if I could go....(heck, he probably would love to go too...maybe we can borrow a dress from someone and sneak him in?)...but I am gonna ask (remind me to ask you when you read this Honey, in case I forget)...and if I go....who wants to come with me or at least buy their tickets with me so we can get the discount???? Let me know and  we will keep in touch about it!

P.S. Group rates apply to groups of 5 or more. If you have a group together and need another person to get the discount, let me know!...oh...but I still need to ask Brandon first! :)

***later***
I asked Brandon and he said, "yes".....about me going, not him wearing a dress. :)

Dear Brandon:

I saw this blog mentioned on Melissa Ballards blog! It's called KnockOffWood. Check it out! There are tons of things I would LOVE for you to build on there...I mean that you would have SO much fun building! I am pretty sure the plans are free. Could you build us this....or this....or maybe this???? ...you know...in your spare time? :}

It's snowing...and I mean SNOWING! If this doesn't give us some snow accumulation, I will be surprised. It looks like someone is dumping out a big bag of feathers from the sky....and it's March...and I want it to be warm. We got a BIG storm in March the year that we moved here...then we got the biggest crop of apples on our tree that Fall. I wonder if the same will happen this year.?

So, I haven't mentioned this on the blog yet....or to very many people either....but we put in an offer on a house back in December. It's a short sale, so we hadn't heard anything from the sellers bank...until yesterday. I just dropped off an earnest money check to the title company today. We still don't know if the house is "ours" yet....and who knows how long it'll take until we do....but I am excited at the idea of moving into a bigger house. We'll have a million projects right off the bat....but it's been that way for us for the past 5+ years (one project after another). The house is new....but it has no landscaping done and needs an new exterior paint job. Let's hope that's all it needs right? Buying a house can be SUCH a pain....but right now I am very willing to endure it. The fact that we have a baby coming makes me not really care how quickly the sale takes place because I'd rather not be in the middle of moving and then have a newborn. Chances are, it'll happen that way huh?

Weston is stnading here by me and he's so sleepy he's nodding off. Poor boy needs his momma. Better go!