We have internet [can you tell I'm excited about that?], and library cards [big bonus for Walker, who wants to camp out at the library now], and some vegetable plants for our container garden. We thought about digging up the sod in one of the back corners of the yard. We even got permission to do this from our landlord. However, after looking at the soil, we realized it is mostly rocks. We would have to buy topsoil [not going to happen in a rental house], and build containers to hold the soil, in order to get any sort of a good garden. So, we decided to skip the 'pull grass up' step and the 'buy topsoil' step, and move directly to 'plant veggies in containers' step. I have 2 rooms with boxes: my room and the craft room. There are also a bunch of boxes in the basement, but that is what basements are for :) so I'm not too worried about that yet.
Gratitude List:
* fresh homemade wheat bread
* wheat grinder is out of storage and in use once more
* nice friendly neighborhood
* lots of friendly kids to play with mine
* cool sunny weather to play outside in
* water walls to protect my tomatoes from freezing temps. Our average 'last frost date' is June 1st.
* family get-togethers
* my children
* my husband
* my faith in God. He is good!
* internet access to friends, old and new, which helps me keep in touch.
* meditation time to mellow my temper. It isn't a miracle cure, but it helps so much.
* my health
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Good and Bad
We're all moved in now. Still need to unpack boxes, and decide where to put the contents, but I have internet again. Now to answer the 328 emails in my inbox.
My mom, sister, and 2 nieces drove up to visit us today. I was pretty excited to see all of them- especially my nieces, since last time I saw their family, Charlotte was still in utero :). My kids were thrilled to have cousins to play with, and I was talking with my sister, catching up on their lives, when we heard Rachael screaming from the backyard.
We'd put one of our dogs in the garage before they came, because she loves kids and will jump on them and lick them, which usually scares them. Our other dog was in her kennel, being quiet, so I thought we could leave her there. Big mistake- she wasn't feeling well, and bit Rachael's finger hard enough to draw blood. Jared took her to the vet to have her put down. This breaks my heart. She has been such a good dog, and biting like this is so out of character for her. At least Rachael's shots are up to date, so she won't need another one as a result of the bite.
Gratitude List:
* that Rachael is all right.
* there are a million girls on our new street, and they have all been over to play with my kids since Tuesday :)
* family visits, and a picnic in the backyard.
* books to read.
* our basement is sheetrocked and ready to go- we now have a bedroom for the boys as well as a storage area next to the laundry room.
* my husband's rockin' skills with sheetrock. He can do anything.
* an unpacked kitchen. There are boxes in every single room of our house, except that one. :) I need a little bit of order in my chaotic life.
* scriptures.
* God's grace.
* the "cooties" game as played by my niece and younger son. Very interesting rules a 3 and 5 year old will come up with.
My mom, sister, and 2 nieces drove up to visit us today. I was pretty excited to see all of them- especially my nieces, since last time I saw their family, Charlotte was still in utero :). My kids were thrilled to have cousins to play with, and I was talking with my sister, catching up on their lives, when we heard Rachael screaming from the backyard.
We'd put one of our dogs in the garage before they came, because she loves kids and will jump on them and lick them, which usually scares them. Our other dog was in her kennel, being quiet, so I thought we could leave her there. Big mistake- she wasn't feeling well, and bit Rachael's finger hard enough to draw blood. Jared took her to the vet to have her put down. This breaks my heart. She has been such a good dog, and biting like this is so out of character for her. At least Rachael's shots are up to date, so she won't need another one as a result of the bite.
Gratitude List:
* that Rachael is all right.
* there are a million girls on our new street, and they have all been over to play with my kids since Tuesday :)
* family visits, and a picnic in the backyard.
* books to read.
* our basement is sheetrocked and ready to go- we now have a bedroom for the boys as well as a storage area next to the laundry room.
* my husband's rockin' skills with sheetrock. He can do anything.
* an unpacked kitchen. There are boxes in every single room of our house, except that one. :) I need a little bit of order in my chaotic life.
* scriptures.
* God's grace.
* the "cooties" game as played by my niece and younger son. Very interesting rules a 3 and 5 year old will come up with.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Moving Day!
Okay, we're moving on Saturday [May 23], and I know I'll be unpacking for a few days after, so this is the official "I'm offline until sometime next week."
I need more boxes...
I need more boxes...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Little Miracles
I'm still a bit in shock about how quickly our house sold. We prayed that the house would sell quickly, but left the timing in God's hands. We got an offer last Monday, countered with a higher price and later closing date. They countered with the same closing date but accepted the higher price. That means that after we pay closing costs, the realtor, and replace the money we used to buy new carpet and paint, we still make money. Really. And it's more than half of what we need to pay off Jared's remaining student loans. WOW.
The new owners want to move in before the end of May, so I was praying we could find a rental that had everything we needed [3 bedrooms, fenced yard big enough for dogs, garage, and storage space] in the time we had. I also had to work around Jared's TDY- he left today and will return late on May 22 [a Friday]. As of yesterday, we are the proud new renters of a 3-bedroom rambler with an unfinished basement [lots of storage space], and a fully grassed and fenced yard [and they had dogs, too, so the door to the garage has a doggie door installed in it]. Plus, the yard has a sprinkling system already installed [have to water grass 3+ times per week in the Utah desert], AND the owner told us we could dig up a corner of the grass in the backyard to plant our garden. How cool is that?!? Oh, and she will let us move in on the 23rd, which will give me a few days to clean up our old house before the new owners take possession.
I didn't really want to leave my neighbors and friends. My dream [in a perfect life] is to stay in one house until I die, getting to know neighbors and watching our kids grow up, get married, and bring their own kids back to 'the neighborhood.' But what I most want is to have a home filled with love and warmth, and I can move every 3-4 years to follow Jared's career, since he is an integral part of that loving home I'm working towards.
**I have our new address. You can email me [ jgailey4@hotmail.com ] and I'll send it to you :) but we won't actually be in the house for another 13 days.
Gratitude List:
* God knows me and loves me. Over and over, the events in my life speak this truth to me.
* Music, especially music that lightens my soul.
* Having easy access to that music through Itunes :)
* Good neighbors and friends who have come up to me quietly and offered their help in our move, even though they don't want us to go.
* Keeping a journal.
* Our house sold quickly :)and we found a rental that will meet all our needs.
* My husband goes out of his way to cherish me.
* Kids were good almost all day today.
* Time to play card games with my kids today.
* The beautiful tulips and irises growing outside my front door.
* Memories- good and bad, pleasant and painful- I am so grateful to have all these experiences as part of my life.
The new owners want to move in before the end of May, so I was praying we could find a rental that had everything we needed [3 bedrooms, fenced yard big enough for dogs, garage, and storage space] in the time we had. I also had to work around Jared's TDY- he left today and will return late on May 22 [a Friday]. As of yesterday, we are the proud new renters of a 3-bedroom rambler with an unfinished basement [lots of storage space], and a fully grassed and fenced yard [and they had dogs, too, so the door to the garage has a doggie door installed in it]. Plus, the yard has a sprinkling system already installed [have to water grass 3+ times per week in the Utah desert], AND the owner told us we could dig up a corner of the grass in the backyard to plant our garden. How cool is that?!? Oh, and she will let us move in on the 23rd, which will give me a few days to clean up our old house before the new owners take possession.
I didn't really want to leave my neighbors and friends. My dream [in a perfect life] is to stay in one house until I die, getting to know neighbors and watching our kids grow up, get married, and bring their own kids back to 'the neighborhood.' But what I most want is to have a home filled with love and warmth, and I can move every 3-4 years to follow Jared's career, since he is an integral part of that loving home I'm working towards.
**I have our new address. You can email me [ jgailey4@hotmail.com ] and I'll send it to you :) but we won't actually be in the house for another 13 days.
Gratitude List:
* God knows me and loves me. Over and over, the events in my life speak this truth to me.
* Music, especially music that lightens my soul.
* Having easy access to that music through Itunes :)
* Good neighbors and friends who have come up to me quietly and offered their help in our move, even though they don't want us to go.
* Keeping a journal.
* Our house sold quickly :)and we found a rental that will meet all our needs.
* My husband goes out of his way to cherish me.
* Kids were good almost all day today.
* Time to play card games with my kids today.
* The beautiful tulips and irises growing outside my front door.
* Memories- good and bad, pleasant and painful- I am so grateful to have all these experiences as part of my life.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Peace
**I have to preface this by stating that our trip home from Reno on Saturday was the shortest trip I have ever enjoyed along that road. Not that the distance or time was any less than at other times, but the quiet peacefulness [we had a book on cd we listened to the entire drive home] made it feel like a short journey instead of an 8-hour torture session.**
Now, I recently ran across this quote in my readings:
"There is a world cry for peace; everybody wants peace. In newspapers, magazines, books, [and] from the public platform come cries for peace. As far back as I can remember, there has never been such a worldwide appeal for peace among the children of men.
It is a curious commentary on human nature that men who cry for peace look upon peace as something that may be picked as an apple from a tree, something that lies about within easy reach of humanity. If I pick an apple from a tree, I have first planted the tree, cared for it, watered it, brought it to maturity. Then in due time I may have the fruit.
So with peace. It is not a thing by itself to be picked up casually; but it is the fruit of something precedent. Like the tree, something must be planted and nourished and cared for if we are to obtain peace."
:) I thought about writing a huge essay on how I feel about this quote, yada yada. But really? While I think it is a great reminder to ME to plant peaceful seeds, it may mean something different for you. So I'm going to move on to another subject.
Today in church Jared got to sit by me! Yep, last week he was released from his calling as first counselor to the bishop [he had to sit in front of the congregation for this]. I'm glad he accepted the call, and grateful that he worked hard in it. I'm also happy that he got to sit w/us in the congregation today. I've missed him. He's leaving next Sunday to attend a 3 week training course held in Pennsylvania. *sigh*
Here's a few pictures from our Reno trip:
We visited Animal Ark, and the kids LOVED seeing the animals and reading about them as well.
We visited the park, and the auto museum [lots of car pics I will spare you], and we officially celebrated Walker's 11th birthday on April 30. Just a few days late ;)
The ducks were a hit, as was watching kayak practice in the Truckee River. No pics of that- I was too busy watching. Also, no pics of the trip home.
Gratitude List:
* audiobooks that the kids are interested in listening to.
* sunny weather for the trip home.
* cake balls for everyone!
* our car had no troubles of any kind on the trip.
* family that let us visit, and entertained us as well.
* Jared can sit by me during church meetings again.
* gorgeous tulips in my front yard :)
* rainstorms that water my plants for me [like the storm that just blew in].
* Peace in my heart that is a gift from God.
* we're home again and back in our daily routine.
* some easy sewing projects to do with the kids.
Okay, so the source of the quote? A Norwegian immigrant to the United States; an educator, author, and academician, serving as president of Utah Agricultural College and the University of Utah. He was born in 1872, and died in 1952. He was also a religious man, serving as an Apostle in my church- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His name was John A. Widtsoe.
Now, I recently ran across this quote in my readings:
"There is a world cry for peace; everybody wants peace. In newspapers, magazines, books, [and] from the public platform come cries for peace. As far back as I can remember, there has never been such a worldwide appeal for peace among the children of men.
It is a curious commentary on human nature that men who cry for peace look upon peace as something that may be picked as an apple from a tree, something that lies about within easy reach of humanity. If I pick an apple from a tree, I have first planted the tree, cared for it, watered it, brought it to maturity. Then in due time I may have the fruit.
So with peace. It is not a thing by itself to be picked up casually; but it is the fruit of something precedent. Like the tree, something must be planted and nourished and cared for if we are to obtain peace."
:) I thought about writing a huge essay on how I feel about this quote, yada yada. But really? While I think it is a great reminder to ME to plant peaceful seeds, it may mean something different for you. So I'm going to move on to another subject.
Today in church Jared got to sit by me! Yep, last week he was released from his calling as first counselor to the bishop [he had to sit in front of the congregation for this]. I'm glad he accepted the call, and grateful that he worked hard in it. I'm also happy that he got to sit w/us in the congregation today. I've missed him. He's leaving next Sunday to attend a 3 week training course held in Pennsylvania. *sigh*
Here's a few pictures from our Reno trip:
We visited Animal Ark, and the kids LOVED seeing the animals and reading about them as well.
We visited the park, and the auto museum [lots of car pics I will spare you], and we officially celebrated Walker's 11th birthday on April 30. Just a few days late ;)
The ducks were a hit, as was watching kayak practice in the Truckee River. No pics of that- I was too busy watching. Also, no pics of the trip home.
Gratitude List:
* audiobooks that the kids are interested in listening to.
* sunny weather for the trip home.
* cake balls for everyone!
* our car had no troubles of any kind on the trip.
* family that let us visit, and entertained us as well.
* Jared can sit by me during church meetings again.
* gorgeous tulips in my front yard :)
* rainstorms that water my plants for me [like the storm that just blew in].
* Peace in my heart that is a gift from God.
* we're home again and back in our daily routine.
* some easy sewing projects to do with the kids.
Okay, so the source of the quote? A Norwegian immigrant to the United States; an educator, author, and academician, serving as president of Utah Agricultural College and the University of Utah. He was born in 1872, and died in 1952. He was also a religious man, serving as an Apostle in my church- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His name was John A. Widtsoe.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Vacation
This trip has been interesting. Some good, some bad, but all interesting. :)will post pics after I get home and upload them. For now, I am looking forward to the kids' fishing trip with Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle Jon.
Gratitude List:
* A good night's sleep
* A nice slow day yesterday- I did laundry and knit and read a book. Kids played w/my in-laws' enormous collection of legos.
* The "Quick After-Battle Triple Chocolate Cake" turned out well.
* Audio books. I used to avoid and delay car trips because of the fighting in the car [I know, mine are the only kids who do this]. Listening to books keeps them quiet and calm and WOW so much more fun to ride with!! Thanks to my MIL for the great suggestions: the idea, and the books to try.
* Cake balls. Yes, they are 'heavily addictive.' And I'm making them AFTER everybody goes fishing today.
* My mother's patience with me. There are so many skills that she taught me: cooking, cleaning, sewing, patience. I'm sorry I was a slow learner.
* daily meditation time. I notice the difference when I miss a day.
* hugs from kids- even the 'stealth' hugs [which always surprise and sometimes startle me]
Gratitude List:
* A good night's sleep
* A nice slow day yesterday- I did laundry and knit and read a book. Kids played w/my in-laws' enormous collection of legos.
* The "Quick After-Battle Triple Chocolate Cake" turned out well.
* Audio books. I used to avoid and delay car trips because of the fighting in the car [I know, mine are the only kids who do this]. Listening to books keeps them quiet and calm and WOW so much more fun to ride with!! Thanks to my MIL for the great suggestions: the idea, and the books to try.
* Cake balls. Yes, they are 'heavily addictive.' And I'm making them AFTER everybody goes fishing today.
* My mother's patience with me. There are so many skills that she taught me: cooking, cleaning, sewing, patience. I'm sorry I was a slow learner.
* daily meditation time. I notice the difference when I miss a day.
* hugs from kids- even the 'stealth' hugs [which always surprise and sometimes startle me]
Friday, April 24, 2009
Math with kids
1 Walker in living room, practicing piano
+ 1 Morgen in bedroom, sulking
+ 1 Hyrum outside, playing because he's finished his schoolwork
= 1 knocked-down "for sale" sign in the front yard with 2 weapons [sticks] lying on the ground next to it.
I wonder, who could be responsible?
"Hyrum! Come here, please!"
**Added to my super-deductive reasoning skills was this response**
"I know." [big sigh] "I'm in trouble."
1 Walker, still inside, now working on last math assignment
+ 1 Morgen, still in bedroom, still sulking
+ 1 Hyrum, now in bedroom, crying because he's in trouble [no punishment beyond the solitary confinement, just feeling terribly guilty, I guess]
= 1 fixed "for sale" sign in the front yard. 2 weapons now in backyard. I really should have thrown them in the garbage. Maybe tomorrow...
Walker's 11 years old now. Whew. Not a huge celebration- with Jared gone, we decided to do the big party/cake/presents thing next week while we're in Reno. But we did go out to eat w/some family, and the wait staff sang a Happy Birthday song to Walker ;) and we spent a few hours walking around Thanksgiving Point, admiring the gorgeous flowers- mostly tulips, since they're currently having the tulip festival- and watching my kids rough-house with their cousins. Last week we walked around the gardens w/Jon and Melinda, and this is what they looked like:
This week, there is a bit of a change in the temperature:
Does anybody have a bulldozer I could borrow? I think that this:
would look perfect in my backyard right now.
Gratitude List:
* Jared will be home Sunday morning!
* texting him reminds me why I married him- great sense of humor ;)
* family in town
* playing games w/relatives
* hanging out and talking after dinner [except for Walker's repeated "can we GO now?!?" after his food was gone]
* sunny weather today after a forecast of heavy rain.
* scripture reading
* faith in God
* allergy shots so I can [hopefully] go camping this year
+ 1 Morgen in bedroom, sulking
+ 1 Hyrum outside, playing because he's finished his schoolwork
= 1 knocked-down "for sale" sign in the front yard with 2 weapons [sticks] lying on the ground next to it.
I wonder, who could be responsible?
"Hyrum! Come here, please!"
**Added to my super-deductive reasoning skills was this response**
"I know." [big sigh] "I'm in trouble."
1 Walker, still inside, now working on last math assignment
+ 1 Morgen, still in bedroom, still sulking
+ 1 Hyrum, now in bedroom, crying because he's in trouble [no punishment beyond the solitary confinement, just feeling terribly guilty, I guess]
= 1 fixed "for sale" sign in the front yard. 2 weapons now in backyard. I really should have thrown them in the garbage. Maybe tomorrow...
Walker's 11 years old now. Whew. Not a huge celebration- with Jared gone, we decided to do the big party/cake/presents thing next week while we're in Reno. But we did go out to eat w/some family, and the wait staff sang a Happy Birthday song to Walker ;) and we spent a few hours walking around Thanksgiving Point, admiring the gorgeous flowers- mostly tulips, since they're currently having the tulip festival- and watching my kids rough-house with their cousins. Last week we walked around the gardens w/Jon and Melinda, and this is what they looked like:
This week, there is a bit of a change in the temperature:
Does anybody have a bulldozer I could borrow? I think that this:
would look perfect in my backyard right now. Gratitude List:
* Jared will be home Sunday morning!
* texting him reminds me why I married him- great sense of humor ;)
* family in town
* playing games w/relatives
* hanging out and talking after dinner [except for Walker's repeated "can we GO now?!?" after his food was gone]
* sunny weather today after a forecast of heavy rain.
* scripture reading
* faith in God
* allergy shots so I can [hopefully] go camping this year
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Oh, the busyness
I have to say that the advent of spring [with no snow this week to dampen our spirits] has certainly cheered everybody in this house right up. We currently have a lawn in our backyard! It's some type of seasonal grass, and usually goes away in the summer, but always reappears in September. Weird, but pretty for now :)
Jared's in Idaho this week, saving the world one training manual at a time. His kids are currently: practicing their Tarzan yell from a tree in the backyard [Walker], picking grass to make a nest for an as-yet-unchosen animal [Morgen], and choosing some weapons [sticks] to chase his siblings with [Hyrum]. I really LOVE my backyard. Just add kids, and you have instant fun and games! Well, sometimes you get mud, too, but only if you're really, really lucky.
Did you know that my kids yell at each other? As in, *first name, middle name, last name*, this is my *unusual name for a house* and it has a *weird name for protection* to keep you *monster name* out!!! Yep. They yell at the dogs, too. I'm trying to decide if this means they are treating each other like pets, or the dogs like siblings...
Gratitude List:
* family visits- sorry about the sparse accommodations ;)
* more family visits this week
* another family visit next week [we'll be heading to see my in-laws]
* spring weather
* Library day!
* kids decided on their own to have a contest to see who could finish the most schoolwork before recess. Weird, but cool.
* I baked on Sunday- chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm!
* Daily meditation time and the peace it spreads through my whole day.
* Jared's Idaho trip is only a week long.
* sunshine and blooming plants and HAPPINESS in my daily life today.
Jared's in Idaho this week, saving the world one training manual at a time. His kids are currently: practicing their Tarzan yell from a tree in the backyard [Walker], picking grass to make a nest for an as-yet-unchosen animal [Morgen], and choosing some weapons [sticks] to chase his siblings with [Hyrum]. I really LOVE my backyard. Just add kids, and you have instant fun and games! Well, sometimes you get mud, too, but only if you're really, really lucky.
Did you know that my kids yell at each other? As in, *first name, middle name, last name*, this is my *unusual name for a house* and it has a *weird name for protection* to keep you *monster name* out!!! Yep. They yell at the dogs, too. I'm trying to decide if this means they are treating each other like pets, or the dogs like siblings...
Gratitude List:
* family visits- sorry about the sparse accommodations ;)
* more family visits this week
* another family visit next week [we'll be heading to see my in-laws]
* spring weather
* Library day!
* kids decided on their own to have a contest to see who could finish the most schoolwork before recess. Weird, but cool.
* I baked on Sunday- chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm!
* Daily meditation time and the peace it spreads through my whole day.
* Jared's Idaho trip is only a week long.
* sunshine and blooming plants and HAPPINESS in my daily life today.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter
It's probably a deep psychological problem that causes my procrastination. Either that, or my short-term memory loss. Sunday last week somebody mentioned it being Palm Sunday, which meant I had one week to figure out what we were doing for Easter. It took me a few days, and an emergency shopping trip with a friend [thank you Rebecca!] but we did celebrate Easter this year.
Thursday the kids and I drove to 3 or 4 stores [memory's blurred, shopping with kids does that to me]. We ended up with 4 clay pots from Target's dollar spot, 3 6-packs of flowers to put in the pots, some potting soil, a pair of gardener's gloves [mine are either packed or lost- same thing at this point], and several toys to put on Myles' grave. Some of the toys may look familiar to you, if you own a dog. The big blue pretzel, for example. Or maybe the wacky-looking grey squeaky dog toy. :)It's all good- my dogs and my kids are great at sharing toys.
The kids pulled tags off the toys while I potted the flowers. Into each pot I put a white alyssum, a not-blooming-yet-but-soon-will-be-yellow snapdragon, and a pink-n-white dianthus. [and I actually remembered all the names- wow]
We put the flowers and the toys out, then placed flowers on my grandparents' grave, my great-grandparents' grave, and on Laura May's grave as well. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for planting flowers. The extra plants went into our front flower bed.
Friday, Rebecca and I went looking for Easter presents. I knew I wanted to get "Bohnanza" [it's a card game], but I was also looking for easter outfits, and some other last-minute supplies for dying eggs. We ended up at Walmart [home of the great deal], and here are my children in their outfits:
I love that, on Easter, we celebrate how Jesus Christ broke the bands of death, making it possible to live again. I love the reminder that death is not the end. I'm glad that God loves me enough to want me with him always. I am trying to enjoy my life right now, with all of the messiness that it includes.
Gratitude List:
* fudge :)
* friends who will buy fudge with me so I don't have to eat it alone.
* Easter
* Easter egg hunts [no pictures, but I was glad we did it]
* my daffodils are beautiful
* green grass
* meditation time makes me much more mellow
* feeling God's grace in my life
* this video:
Thursday the kids and I drove to 3 or 4 stores [memory's blurred, shopping with kids does that to me]. We ended up with 4 clay pots from Target's dollar spot, 3 6-packs of flowers to put in the pots, some potting soil, a pair of gardener's gloves [mine are either packed or lost- same thing at this point], and several toys to put on Myles' grave. Some of the toys may look familiar to you, if you own a dog. The big blue pretzel, for example. Or maybe the wacky-looking grey squeaky dog toy. :)It's all good- my dogs and my kids are great at sharing toys.
The kids pulled tags off the toys while I potted the flowers. Into each pot I put a white alyssum, a not-blooming-yet-but-soon-will-be-yellow snapdragon, and a pink-n-white dianthus. [and I actually remembered all the names- wow]
We put the flowers and the toys out, then placed flowers on my grandparents' grave, my great-grandparents' grave, and on Laura May's grave as well. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for planting flowers. The extra plants went into our front flower bed. Friday, Rebecca and I went looking for Easter presents. I knew I wanted to get "Bohnanza" [it's a card game], but I was also looking for easter outfits, and some other last-minute supplies for dying eggs. We ended up at Walmart [home of the great deal], and here are my children in their outfits:
I love that, on Easter, we celebrate how Jesus Christ broke the bands of death, making it possible to live again. I love the reminder that death is not the end. I'm glad that God loves me enough to want me with him always. I am trying to enjoy my life right now, with all of the messiness that it includes.
Gratitude List:
* fudge :)
* friends who will buy fudge with me so I don't have to eat it alone.
* Easter
* Easter egg hunts [no pictures, but I was glad we did it]
* my daffodils are beautiful
* green grass
* meditation time makes me much more mellow
* feeling God's grace in my life
* this video:
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
No snow
for two days now, and now that I've pointed that out it will probably snow tonight, ruining my spring yet again. But, some of my crocuses are still blooming- their little purple heads are drooping and yet they haven't given up. The daffodils are budding all over my front flower beds, and I am excited to see them open soon.
Just to keep some economic perspective, here are some stats:
2009
8% unemployment rate
4.5 % interest rate
27 years ago, in 1982:
12% unemployment rate
17% interest rate
So, seriously? I'm thinking that the less TV/Radio "news" I listen to, the more optimistic I feel. Because I can look at the stats and see for myself that it really isn't as bad as CNN claims. I mean honestly, we aren't even CLOSE to 30% unemployment, which was what the stats were in the 1930's, during the Great Depression.
And on to more important [:) at least in my life] things: Hyrum finished his reading workbook [goodbye Little Critter, we will miss your stories about lost kittens and naughty puppies]. He is reading out of the beginning books that my mom gave me, and needs very little help with the words. This is a good thing, as we are reading words like "garden" and "four furry feet" instead of "max sat on a mat." So his reading practice now consists of 3 of these little readers a day. I also ordered cursive writing workbooks for Morgen, which she's added to her school schedule, and math workbooks for Hyrum, also now in his school schedule. Depending on how quickly we finish up Walker's math [currently about 50 lessons/tests left], we should be finished by the end of May. :0
Gratitude List:
* good weather
* treats ;)
* outside walking
* text messaging my husband, just because I can
* knitting projects
* peace in the house
* hope is slowly creeping into my soul
* podcasts to keep me optimistic
* good books, especially Good Books [scriptures]
* my family
* my friends
* we finished school with no complaints and excitement about new workbooks.
Just to keep some economic perspective, here are some stats:
2009
8% unemployment rate
4.5 % interest rate
27 years ago, in 1982:
12% unemployment rate
17% interest rate
So, seriously? I'm thinking that the less TV/Radio "news" I listen to, the more optimistic I feel. Because I can look at the stats and see for myself that it really isn't as bad as CNN claims. I mean honestly, we aren't even CLOSE to 30% unemployment, which was what the stats were in the 1930's, during the Great Depression.
And on to more important [:) at least in my life] things: Hyrum finished his reading workbook [goodbye Little Critter, we will miss your stories about lost kittens and naughty puppies]. He is reading out of the beginning books that my mom gave me, and needs very little help with the words. This is a good thing, as we are reading words like "garden" and "four furry feet" instead of "max sat on a mat." So his reading practice now consists of 3 of these little readers a day. I also ordered cursive writing workbooks for Morgen, which she's added to her school schedule, and math workbooks for Hyrum, also now in his school schedule. Depending on how quickly we finish up Walker's math [currently about 50 lessons/tests left], we should be finished by the end of May. :0
Gratitude List:
* good weather
* treats ;)
* outside walking
* text messaging my husband, just because I can
* knitting projects
* peace in the house
* hope is slowly creeping into my soul
* podcasts to keep me optimistic
* good books, especially Good Books [scriptures]
* my family
* my friends
* we finished school with no complaints and excitement about new workbooks.
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