#1 Run a 10K

Here we are, the crazy turkey trotters!  Thanks Tish for running with me, even though I nearly died at the end.  We ran every step of that 6.2 miles.  Time: 1 hr 6 mins 48 secs

#56 Brine a Turkey

I brined this baby.  And to my pregnant stomach, it tasted pretty awful.  Everyone else seemed to like it though.

To Be a Mother in Zion...

I've been having a rather difficult summer.  My plans have not been adding up the way I wanted them to, with my husband's knee surgery, preschool complications, and other unexpected things, I've been feeling a lot of stress.  Life is tough, and I am dealing with a lot of raw emotions.  Sadly, my mothering skills are too often in slacking mode.  I feel as though I am in meet-basic-needs mode and I can't get out of it.

While sitting in the "Family Relations" class at church the other Sunday, we were asked to read a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson titled, "To the Mothers in Zion" for our homework.  My first instinct was to ignore it since I felt guilty enough already but I started it anyway, and then spent the next several minutes reading it in class.  It is a gem.  I don't remember a lot about President Benson's time as Prophet (1985-1994) since I was pretty young, but from reading the words he said, I feel that he speaks quite directly.  I usually enjoy that, and it was no different in this talk.

President Benson begins directly with a statement that is so true, it rings in my bones.  "Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all."  That's it.  T-I-M-E time.  Precious and fleeting though it is, and perhaps because that is exactly what it is.  My eyes start to well and my chest tightens because I know that this is the important thing, and yet is so easy to run out of.  However, he then gets specific and gives ten ways to spend effective time with our children.

1. Be at the Crossroads
2. Be a Real Friend
3. Read to Your Children
4. Pray with Your Children
5. Have Weekly Home Evenings
6. Be Together at Mealtimes
7. Read Scriptures Daily
8. Do Things as a Family
9. Teach Your Children
10. Truly Love Your Children

So, to help me internalize these principles, I'm giving myself an assignment.  For six weeks I will read this talk each Sunday and try to incorporate the ideas into my weekly activities.  Then I will write a summary report.

As I said in the beginning of this post, it's been an emotionally draining and difficult summer for me.  I feel that I often get caught up in the monotony of dishes, laundry, cleaning, wiping faces/hands/feet, cleaning muddy footprints/shoes/hands/fingernails/faces, cooking, and dishes again and forget to enjoy where I am.  My small children, the joys of their small triumphs and failures, the excitement of dirt/shovels/water/bugs, and their growth that is a seemingly indirect result of all the pure grunt labor and sacrifice I make every day.

And then, as I write this, I remember that times we played in the hose, watered the garden together, went to the park, read books or just talked.  Those are the happy times.  I want more of them.  And that is purely up to me.  The kids will find those imaginative opportunities.  But if I want to be a part of them, their imaginations, their joys, and their triumphs, I'll have to take that time, let other things go and BE a part of it.

#26 Build a Sandcastle

Here it is.  The kids especially loved the hole inside.  I officially got my hands dirty and sculpted some sand.  It was more fun than I thought it would be.

Blessings

It's been an interesting day.  I've had three extremely late nights in a row due to a combination of insomnia and my skin issues, and woke up this morning feeling rather angry at the world and sorry for my tough lot in life.  After a morning full of poopy diaper changes, getting three breakfasts, doing last night's dishes, starting a load of laundry, and helping mow and clean up the back yard, I stood at the counter making sandwiches (Two peanut butter and jellies on white bread for the husband, two soynut butter and jellies for the girls, and one soynut on a bagel for the allergy boy)   for everyone's lunch.  Wallowing in my self-pity, nasty thoughts came to mind of how not one of them would even care that I made three separate lunches for them so they would each like it/be healthy/safe and it was almost positive that they wouldn't realize I still have one to make for myself since I don't even like pb&j (or the allergy friendly variants) and even if I did want one, I'm not sure if I should eat that bread since I still have baby weight to lose.  


At that moment, I had a moment of recognition that I was wallowing and I decided to stop.  But, my own will was not strong enough at that moment to do it.  I said a prayer.  It went something like, "Dear Father-in-Heaven, please help me.  I don't want to make these sandwiches out of spite or duty.  I want to do it out of love.  Please help me to do that."  And, I forced a smile and kept spreading the jam.  

In a few moments, I looked out the window and saw B. playing with her little brother.  He was laughing, she was laughing.  E. was walking slowly in front of Dad pushing the small handle of the lawnmower while Dad, arms stretched long, walked behind her as they cut the grass.  I had a very different kind of moment.  It started out peaceful and happy and quickly turned to awe.  I thought, "We are a family.  We all do things that aren't convenient to help each other out.  We do it from duty, from need, from kindness, and above all from love.  That is what makes our family work, and why I cycle through the never-ending practical necessities--including making sandwiches.  I bowed my head there at the kitchen counter again, this time in gratitude for an answered prayer.

Then, a little bit later, I had to bite the bullet and call the credit card company to take care of some incorrect charges.  I thought that I would have no chance of having them removed, though I had done everything as correctly as I could.  As I said a prayer for strength and courage to make the call, I remembered that we had paid our tithing on Sunday.  I stayed after church and deliberately made the payment, though a big part of me wanted to just take it home and then turn it in next week.  However, I decided not to be lazy and did it.  Remembering that instance right before my phone call, I felt that I would see the blessings of paying an honest and timely tithe.  I made the call and everything was resolved quickly and easily.  As I dissolved into tears of gratitude, I knew in my heart that this blessing was a direct result of tithing.

I write this today in hopes that my future self or children will be able to look back on these experiences in a time of need.  It was greatly needed by me today and I am so grateful to know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me, who knows my needs, and who answers my most humble prayers.  

#51 Hang a Shelf

  And to top it off, I hung two!

Golden

I'm not sure when or where I heard about golden birthdays and golden years, probably in Elementary school. All I remember is that the year you turn the age of your date of birth is your "Golden Year". One of the best years of your life. I remember being annoyed that mine was so far in the future and have looked forward to being 27 almost as long as I can remember. Today is that day. The beginning of my Golden year. However, rather than sit around and expect this to be the best year of my life and ending up disappointed, I've made a few plans. First, I want to remember this year I've waited so long for. So, I will be taking a picture each day. Hopefully something good and memorable. Second, I want to write in my journal once a week reflecting gratefully on my blessings. And finally, I want to give thanks to my Father in Heaven each night. I hope and have faith that doing these things will help me make this anticipated year well worth remembering. Allez!

#24 Do a Cleanse

Three Days of Apple Juice and Water later and I was cleansed.  I guess.  It was an interesting thing to do, but I think next time I would just eat raw for a while.  Healthier and less extreme.

Gratitude

I am grateful today for three things. 1. The very tolerant people at Target today, especially in the checkout lines who smiled as my worn out kiddos cried in the cart. I felt encouragement and good humor and even recieved a few nice words/stories instead of mean looks. Thanks for your patience and understanding folks! 2. The extremely nice gentleman who bought my girls a treat in the checkout line yesterday after asking if it was okay with me. The kids were ecstatic! 3. That Kirkland brand is smart enough to put their white collared shirts in plastic so that when it is dropped multiple times on various not-at-all clean surfaces (while the colored shirt manages to remain in my arms despite all gravity's best efforts to the contrary) is still sparklingly clean and white! It's the little things that can help keep a crazy day a positive experience.

#19

  Visit Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey.  Since it was such a gorgeous weekend and Brooklyn was out of school, we made the trip down to visit the park.  It did not disappoint.  From the giant train engine, to the bushy maze, and rope bridge to the roller slide.  It was a good time!

#25

 Take the kids to the beach by myself.  Check!  It was a lovely January day with a high of 68 degrees in Santa Cruz.  Not only did I take the kids without Dad, but I even overcame my fears and let B. play in the water.  She had so much fun and got completely wet--waves crashing all around her.  The key to solo beach going...don't bring very much stuff to carry, and bring warm clothes/snacks for afterward.  Also, having friends around doesn't hurt!

#33

Yay!  I finally finished up these chairs.  Now they don't smell like cats and I can bring them inside.  Thanks for getting me started Mom!

# 16

I finally did it!  I had made a goal in January 2011 to make these little things and so when December 30 rolled around I got started.  It was a long process, with overnight refrigeration, and lots of rolling involved, but it was really fun too!  The process of rolling out the butter was incredible!

 First, you make the dough and chill.  While it chills, you make the butter (1 lb of butter mixed with some flour so it doesn't run as much)  Then you roll the butter into an 8x8 inch--yes I measured it--square and chill.  Finally when both are chilled, you roll the dough into a 12x12 inch square and place the butter square on it like a diamond.

 Then comes the cool part.  You fold the edges over and seal them with the butter inside and roll into a long 20x13 I think rectangle.

 After the rectangle is there, you fold that rectangle in thirds like a letter and then rotate it 90 degrees so it is like a book.  Then start all over again.  Refrigerating 20 minutes when the dough got soft (after 2 turns max!)

After four turns and a rest, you have all the butter layered in between the dough.  That is how you get the shatteringly crisp layers in a pastry.  I thought it was pretty cool.  

 Anyway, then you get to cut,  fill, and bake them!  I did chocolate and blackberry cream cheese.

  Voila! Half the batch made 16 little pastries and I still have the other half in my freezer to make again sometime soon.

Indulgence

Life is tricky.  It is difficult to manage our many different responsibilities--wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, teacher, cook, chef, laundress, to name a few--without finding an outlet.  And I have mine.  Through happiness or despair, excitement or disappointment, thick or thin, my favorite comfort is always there.  Unfortunately, this particular outlet tends to make one thicker rather than thinner.  Food has been my one and best coping mechanism.

Now I'm not now, nor do I think I'll ever, want to completely sever that relationship.  There is something wonderful about coming home to a yummy smelling home, and celebrating with the people I love while we enjoy our various goodies.  However, I think I need to add a little more balance.  Perhaps allow other partners to cut in on my ever spiraling waltz now and again.  Find other ways to relax and rejuvenate myself so that I can continue to give my best to those that I love each day.

But I confess I'm at a bit of a loss on this subject.  Uh...what else is there?  Okay, I'm not that bad, but I really do want some ideas.  Not expensive ideas (though they have their place) but rather, inexpensive options that can be done on any given evening or nap time when needed.

I'd love some feedback.  What are your favorite non-food indulgences?

A New Year

Wow!  I try to set goals each year.  I usually set very lofty ones, and I'm going to try and avoid that.  I already have my 101 goals to keep me going on projects etc., so this year, I'm going to keep it simple.

As I was out running the other day, I took out my earphones and tried to figure out some things in my life.  I feel as though there is so much that I want to be--loving wife, put-together-woman, loving/fun mom, excellent housekeeper, so on and so forth.  As I was going through all the things I wanted to be in my head, half praying for help to become and half feeling overwhelmed by the weight of not already being those things, I realized that I was missing something vital.  That something missing was my Heavenly Father.  I'd been wishing and hoping mostly for things that I wanted.  Not bad things, but what bothered me was that the things I worried most about were not the most important.  My priorities were out of whack.  As my thoughts turned, I began to really pray.  And I feel that I was given some wisdom.

What and who do I want to be most of all?  More than being pretty and in good shape; more than being patient and loving as I raise my children.  More than maintaining a spotless home.  More than being the best wife.  I want to be the kind of woman that God would have me be.

I realize that a lot of the things, maybe even all of them, I listed are in line with being a Woman of God.  My problem is that I had taken Him out of the picture and was trying to do it all myself.  Naturally, I wasn't succeeding.  Thankfully, through Jesus Christ, I have an opportunity to begin again today.

This year, my number one priority is to build a strong relationship with my Heavenly Father and with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I will do this by:
        Saying my prayers every morning, first thing.
        Reading my scriptures/Sunday lessons daily.

I have other goals, which I will list below, but this is going to be my major focus.  I need to have that relationship as a strong one in my life so that I can be the best Me that He knows I can be.

Goals:
1. Build a Strong Relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior through prayer and scripture study.
2. Lose my last 20 lbs and adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
3. Strengthen my relationship with my husband by communicating more effectively and going to the temple.
4. Strengthen my relationship with my children by turning off noise and spending more time with them.
5. Incorporate a housekeeping schedule into my life.