I' just did this on my friend Amy's blog. So I think it might be fun to see what (if anything people say!)
Here are the directions:
1. In the comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.
So let's have it! Don't be shy! What do you remember? Anything funny, embarrassing, silly...
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
YOU"VE BEEN TAGGED!
If you're reading this you've been tagged! Seriously, I mean you. The tag- Top 100 Things About You. After you've finished leave me a comment and I'll come see it. Its fun to think of all the little things that are you.
Friday, July 11, 2008
How Well Do You Know Me? Top 100 Things About Me
I've started this list to see how much I am aware of myself and my uniqueness and quirks. This is My 100 things about me! We'll see how long it takes. I'm starting this on July 11, 2008 and will keep adding to it. LOOK FOR A LITTLE ANNOUNCEMENT AS YOU READ.
1. I am 5'4" and 1?? lbs. and have brown hair and blue eyes.
2. I am the 7th of 9 children in my family.
3. My husband is the second oldest son as is my dad.
4. I've been married nearly 8 years-woah.
5. I used to be very shy.
6. That changed when I read "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
7. I decided I didn't like being shy anymore when other girls could talk so easily to the guy I liked. (My thanks to him for changing my life.)
8. I grew up in one place for 16 1/2 years and I went to nursery with my best friends.
9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE chocolate chip cookies! It's my favorite treat.
10. My Grandpa sealed my husband and me in the temple.
11. I will try just about anything if it's not morally wrong.
12. My brothers taught me how to dance.
13. I love people. I find nearly anyone I meet fascinating.
14. I always wanted to be a Mom.
15. My brothers told Jake I didn't want him to kiss me and Jake believed them!
16. I hypervenilated and would have literally passed out if I wasn't already laying down when the ob-gyn told me "Ohp, there's another one!"
17. I always knew I'd have a bunch of boys.
18. I love that Jake always teaches me new things. He taught me how to snow ski and even taught me to love football because he's an excellent teacher and I understand it now.
19. I adore my dad.
20. I want to be more like my mom - kind, gentle, and patient.
21. I want to take voice lessons.
22. I would love to learn to fly an airplane.
23. I love that my husband has dreams and is passionate about them.
24. When I deep clean, I always start upstairs in my bathroom and move out and then down to the main floor.
25. I love having a baby sitting co-op to drop my kids off when I need a break.
26. My nick-name growing up was Doober.
27. I'd rather weed than water my garden.
28. Someone in my kindergarten stole my bracelet my sister got me at Disneyland.
29. I love sweatshirts but only have two.
30. One I bought two days ago.
31. Both are Boise State sweatshirts.
32. Of all my siblings I think my nature is most like my oldest brother Gary's.
33. My first bicycle was stolen at my school.
34. My newest favorite color is tealish blue. I'm using it in everything.
35. I'm going to the Twin Falls Temple Open House Saturday morning.
36. Out of 9 children in my family, I am the only one who didn't serve a mission.
37. Germs don't freak me out unless someone is sick.
38. I'm not a worrier.
39. Being spontaneous, to me, is just as important as having a game plan.
40. My ultimate favorite color is red.
41. I'd like to use animal prints in small doses in my home.
42. I'm patriotic and love the American Flag.
43. I used to be a Boys Scouts of America.
44. I lived in a tent for two months of my life.
45. Never been to Europe.
46. Only owned two cars in my life
47. I too, lick the salt off the bottom of a pringle-thanks Angela
48. I love to travel places with Jake.
49. Controlling people frustrate me.
50. I love late-night talking.
51. I want to be more of a project person.
52. But letting go of daily chores keeps me from venturing into projects.
53. I've studied way too much about allergy ellimination.
54. My shoe size is 8 1/2
55. I like to buy bargain deals.
56. I think this list is getting difficult to finish.
57. I spend way too much time on Craiglist.com looking for furniture
58. Its rare that I wash my face before bed.
59. We could be moving to Houston next month (Update: We are!!!! Oh my HECK)
60. My favorite sitcom is Everybody Loves Raymond
61. I love it when my fridge is full of food.
62. My first soccer coach is now a famous golfer.
63. Don't like it when children stand on my feet.
64. I'm very grateful for dishwashers and vacuums
65. Both of mine broke in the same week.
66. I'm a fish in the water.
67. Favorite thing about newborns-when you unswaddle them and hold them up-they stretch their back and arms and fingers while bringing their knees up-love that!
68. I'd rather have money than look like I do.
69. I hate it when my paper piles build up.
70. I love hearing my door bell ring-when its not my kids.
71. My great great great grandmother and I share the same birthday, 150 years apart.
72. My favorite holiday isn't Christmas.
73. It's Thanksgiving-weird huh?
74. Someday I'd love to be a great speaker who can think clearly on my feet.
75. I adore old men.
76. No desire to go into space.
77. I think I'd love rock climbing.
78. No desire to scuba dive in deep, dark waters.
79. I want to go to the Olympics with Jake when they're in Sochi, Russia-the first city where he served on his mission.
80. Phone numbers stick in my head.
81. I remember faces really well, and even names.
82. Mere acquaintances think I'm a stocker or obsessed when I tell them details I remebered. I don't try.
83. I love wathching my boys say goodbye to Jake every morning. Its a huge ritual at our house.
84. I love to watch my husbands face lit up and a huge grin on his face when he's laughing or telling a story.
85. Favorite thing about my house is its location, on a culdesac, with a great backyard.
86. Jakes brother and sister in law are my neighbors, and they've been our neighbors once before.
87. I read how-to and self-help books more than novels.
88. Novels are too much of a commitment for me. Even though I love them.
89. In h.s. I interviewed for "Girls State". After tons of girls interviewed, I went in and a panel of women asked me who sponsored "Girls State". I didn't know the answer but I looked down at their papers in front of them and saw my answer. "It's the American Legion Auxillary isn't it?" They all were so excited. I was the first who knew the answer. I got to go to Girls State. Many more qualified girls couldn't figure out why I was selected over them.
90. I'm a fish in the water. Being in water makes me feel younger.
91. After asking my philosopy professor for help on a term paper, he ended up writing it for me. I still have the proof. He gave me an A and told me it was the best paper he received!
92. My favorite time of day is bedtime-or just after my kids are all asleep.
93. I've never had braces.
94. The only time I've ever lost a lot of weight is when I gave up dairy for 7 months and was going to the chiropractor twice a week. (Not excercising)
95. I never lost weight when I ran everyday.
96. I love a dinner invite!
97. I love having people in my home and sharing my food.
98. I love being out of my comfort zone - I feel the most alive then.
99. I love my girlfriends.
100. This summer is my 10 year class reunion and I don't think its happening.
1. I am 5'4" and 1?? lbs. and have brown hair and blue eyes.
2. I am the 7th of 9 children in my family.
3. My husband is the second oldest son as is my dad.
4. I've been married nearly 8 years-woah.
5. I used to be very shy.
6. That changed when I read "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
7. I decided I didn't like being shy anymore when other girls could talk so easily to the guy I liked. (My thanks to him for changing my life.)
8. I grew up in one place for 16 1/2 years and I went to nursery with my best friends.
9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE chocolate chip cookies! It's my favorite treat.
10. My Grandpa sealed my husband and me in the temple.
11. I will try just about anything if it's not morally wrong.
12. My brothers taught me how to dance.
13. I love people. I find nearly anyone I meet fascinating.
14. I always wanted to be a Mom.
15. My brothers told Jake I didn't want him to kiss me and Jake believed them!
16. I hypervenilated and would have literally passed out if I wasn't already laying down when the ob-gyn told me "Ohp, there's another one!"
17. I always knew I'd have a bunch of boys.
18. I love that Jake always teaches me new things. He taught me how to snow ski and even taught me to love football because he's an excellent teacher and I understand it now.
19. I adore my dad.
20. I want to be more like my mom - kind, gentle, and patient.
21. I want to take voice lessons.
22. I would love to learn to fly an airplane.
23. I love that my husband has dreams and is passionate about them.
24. When I deep clean, I always start upstairs in my bathroom and move out and then down to the main floor.
25. I love having a baby sitting co-op to drop my kids off when I need a break.
26. My nick-name growing up was Doober.
27. I'd rather weed than water my garden.
28. Someone in my kindergarten stole my bracelet my sister got me at Disneyland.
29. I love sweatshirts but only have two.
30. One I bought two days ago.
31. Both are Boise State sweatshirts.
32. Of all my siblings I think my nature is most like my oldest brother Gary's.
33. My first bicycle was stolen at my school.
34. My newest favorite color is tealish blue. I'm using it in everything.
35. I'm going to the Twin Falls Temple Open House Saturday morning.
36. Out of 9 children in my family, I am the only one who didn't serve a mission.
37. Germs don't freak me out unless someone is sick.
38. I'm not a worrier.
39. Being spontaneous, to me, is just as important as having a game plan.
40. My ultimate favorite color is red.
41. I'd like to use animal prints in small doses in my home.
42. I'm patriotic and love the American Flag.
43. I used to be a Boys Scouts of America.
44. I lived in a tent for two months of my life.
45. Never been to Europe.
46. Only owned two cars in my life
47. I too, lick the salt off the bottom of a pringle-thanks Angela
48. I love to travel places with Jake.
49. Controlling people frustrate me.
50. I love late-night talking.
51. I want to be more of a project person.
52. But letting go of daily chores keeps me from venturing into projects.
53. I've studied way too much about allergy ellimination.
54. My shoe size is 8 1/2
55. I like to buy bargain deals.
56. I think this list is getting difficult to finish.
57. I spend way too much time on Craiglist.com looking for furniture
58. Its rare that I wash my face before bed.
59. We could be moving to Houston next month (Update: We are!!!! Oh my HECK)
60. My favorite sitcom is Everybody Loves Raymond
61. I love it when my fridge is full of food.
62. My first soccer coach is now a famous golfer.
63. Don't like it when children stand on my feet.
64. I'm very grateful for dishwashers and vacuums
65. Both of mine broke in the same week.
66. I'm a fish in the water.
67. Favorite thing about newborns-when you unswaddle them and hold them up-they stretch their back and arms and fingers while bringing their knees up-love that!
68. I'd rather have money than look like I do.
69. I hate it when my paper piles build up.
70. I love hearing my door bell ring-when its not my kids.
71. My great great great grandmother and I share the same birthday, 150 years apart.
72. My favorite holiday isn't Christmas.
73. It's Thanksgiving-weird huh?
74. Someday I'd love to be a great speaker who can think clearly on my feet.
75. I adore old men.
76. No desire to go into space.
77. I think I'd love rock climbing.
78. No desire to scuba dive in deep, dark waters.
79. I want to go to the Olympics with Jake when they're in Sochi, Russia-the first city where he served on his mission.
80. Phone numbers stick in my head.
81. I remember faces really well, and even names.
82. Mere acquaintances think I'm a stocker or obsessed when I tell them details I remebered. I don't try.
83. I love wathching my boys say goodbye to Jake every morning. Its a huge ritual at our house.
84. I love to watch my husbands face lit up and a huge grin on his face when he's laughing or telling a story.
85. Favorite thing about my house is its location, on a culdesac, with a great backyard.
86. Jakes brother and sister in law are my neighbors, and they've been our neighbors once before.
87. I read how-to and self-help books more than novels.
88. Novels are too much of a commitment for me. Even though I love them.
89. In h.s. I interviewed for "Girls State". After tons of girls interviewed, I went in and a panel of women asked me who sponsored "Girls State". I didn't know the answer but I looked down at their papers in front of them and saw my answer. "It's the American Legion Auxillary isn't it?" They all were so excited. I was the first who knew the answer. I got to go to Girls State. Many more qualified girls couldn't figure out why I was selected over them.
90. I'm a fish in the water. Being in water makes me feel younger.
91. After asking my philosopy professor for help on a term paper, he ended up writing it for me. I still have the proof. He gave me an A and told me it was the best paper he received!
92. My favorite time of day is bedtime-or just after my kids are all asleep.
93. I've never had braces.
94. The only time I've ever lost a lot of weight is when I gave up dairy for 7 months and was going to the chiropractor twice a week. (Not excercising)
95. I never lost weight when I ran everyday.
96. I love a dinner invite!
97. I love having people in my home and sharing my food.
98. I love being out of my comfort zone - I feel the most alive then.
99. I love my girlfriends.
100. This summer is my 10 year class reunion and I don't think its happening.
Friday, July 4, 2008
WHAT DISNEY PRINCESS ARE YOU?
You Are Pocahantas!
Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.
Which Disney Princess Are You?
Is Pocahontas really a princess? My first reaction was "WHAT?"
Well, of all the women characters in Disney movies she doesn't seem to be a princess to me. But then this all makes sense because I've never felt settled on seeing myself as a princess. A princess somehow seems entitled and spoiled-two things I am not.
All in all, I'm surprised at how close the description resonates with how I see myself. Just weird, though.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A WEEK OF FIRSTS IN OUR FAMILY
LIST OF "FIRSTS" this week:
1. Jabren learned how to ride a bike without training wheels on his first try.
2. Joshua and Jamesen flew in an airplane.
3. Debbie flew an airplane!
Pictures of Our Firsts:
1. Jabrens first ride.
2. Joshua and Jamesens first flight.
Don't ya love how cautious Jamesen looks and how skeptical Josh is.
3. Debbie flies an airplane! (No actual picture-Dad wouldn't take one.)
1. Jabren learned how to ride a bike without training wheels on his first try.
2. Joshua and Jamesen flew in an airplane.
3. Debbie flew an airplane!
Pictures of Our Firsts:
1. Jabrens first ride.
2. Joshua and Jamesens first flight.
Don't ya love how cautious Jamesen looks and how skeptical Josh is.
3. Debbie flies an airplane! (No actual picture-Dad wouldn't take one.)
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
We had a great time with my parents over for dinner Sunday afternoon. There really aren't perfect words to describe what I feel for my dad and mom. My dad is perfect for me. He's a wonderful man. And I married someone a lot like him.
I'm glad there is a day set aside to truly focus on the men in our lives! I love the look of any man in a white shirt and black slacks on two wheels. Dad looked so cool!
We had so much fun convincing Mom to get on. It was awesome! We got a good kick out of watching her speed off.
Actually, as my brothers and sisters can attest, Mom is a great sport about trying just about anything, and I love that.
She shared a memory with us about her brother Vance, who died flying his plane cross country when she was 18 years old. She told me that he had made her a little bike a lot like this one when she was about 10 years old from the engine of an old washer machine. She loved this bike and would use it to ride up the road to her friend, Janeen Youngbergs house.
Jamesen loves this little scooter, as do Jabren and Josh. But he freaks out when his turn is up and demands to be the first one to ride. In this picture I was standing talking to Jake and my dad, while I had my hand the throttle and the engine kept revving up. Finally it clicked that Jamesens hand was on the throttle with mine and he was trying to get this show on the road and giving it a little gas. He may be two, but he sure knows how to get what he wants.
Anyways, we don't get to have my parents to ourselves very often so we were grateful they could steal away for the afternoon to be with us. These pictures capture the relaxing afternoon at our house.
I'm glad there is a day set aside to truly focus on the men in our lives! I love the look of any man in a white shirt and black slacks on two wheels. Dad looked so cool!
We had so much fun convincing Mom to get on. It was awesome! We got a good kick out of watching her speed off.
Actually, as my brothers and sisters can attest, Mom is a great sport about trying just about anything, and I love that.
She shared a memory with us about her brother Vance, who died flying his plane cross country when she was 18 years old. She told me that he had made her a little bike a lot like this one when she was about 10 years old from the engine of an old washer machine. She loved this bike and would use it to ride up the road to her friend, Janeen Youngbergs house.
Jamesen loves this little scooter, as do Jabren and Josh. But he freaks out when his turn is up and demands to be the first one to ride. In this picture I was standing talking to Jake and my dad, while I had my hand the throttle and the engine kept revving up. Finally it clicked that Jamesens hand was on the throttle with mine and he was trying to get this show on the road and giving it a little gas. He may be two, but he sure knows how to get what he wants.
Anyways, we don't get to have my parents to ourselves very often so we were grateful they could steal away for the afternoon to be with us. These pictures capture the relaxing afternoon at our house.
NAMPA AIR SHOW
Just a few pictures from last weekend at the Air Show. We love airplanes at our house. The boys got to watch motorcycle stunts while the pilots took a break.
Grandpa Youngberg and his flying buddy Frazier Peterson went with us. Then we met up with Jakes brother Scott and his family. While we were there we saw Dave McNeil from our ward and neighborhood and he invited us to a BBQ at his home that night. I love having lots to do when it come to family time.
In this picture the pilot turned off the exhaust and just spinned in circle after circle. I couldn't even tell you how many times. The propeller starts to actually turn the plane; not just the propeller spinning. It just stayed there.
To me it just looked incredible.
I love these pictures of Jake with his brother and Jabren and his cousin Connor. These four get to do a lot together because we're also neighbors. Gee, I wish I got to live next door to my cousins when I was growing up. What fun!
Grandpa Youngberg and his flying buddy Frazier Peterson went with us. Then we met up with Jakes brother Scott and his family. While we were there we saw Dave McNeil from our ward and neighborhood and he invited us to a BBQ at his home that night. I love having lots to do when it come to family time.
In this picture the pilot turned off the exhaust and just spinned in circle after circle. I couldn't even tell you how many times. The propeller starts to actually turn the plane; not just the propeller spinning. It just stayed there.
To me it just looked incredible.
I love these pictures of Jake with his brother and Jabren and his cousin Connor. These four get to do a lot together because we're also neighbors. Gee, I wish I got to live next door to my cousins when I was growing up. What fun!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS WILL GO-I'mThinking Outloud
First off, do you like my newest gadget. I love it and it works great! Just Joking, but funny, huh?
Okay, so day in and day out as a mom, we do the same things over and over and over again. I'm so used to this, right, that it doesn't even phase me most of the time how truly insanely crazy having two two year olds can be. I just do what I have to do to keep bringing my world back to center and to peace and calm. (Or at least thats my goal.) Then days like today I step back and look at everything it takes because I guess I'm searching to validate that I'm actually accomplishing something because I have been working so very hard and yet nothing in my world would indicate this and everything seems to be falling apart.
It took me over an hour to finish my email to my sister on her mission while she was online. I was hoping to correspond a few times before she got off. Well, every other sentence I typed I was up taking care of: messes, fights over a stool, over cookies, over chicken nuggets, and who got to hold the sprayer while the other scrubbed dishes. (They really think they can do dishes.) All I want is to say hi to my sister, because its been 6 weeks since I have. So I weigh the costs, and then decide that I'm willing to clean up the water mess if it means sending my sister some support. Heck, the kitchen needs to be mopped anyway.
So, they're done "doing dishes" and they start taking their pull-ups off. I'm not really potty training I'm just exploring it with them. Maybe its not a good idea, yet. So anyway, they're stripping down, so I set Jamesen on the toilet and quickly walk away to help Josh who's trying to get undressed too. I'm thinking Jamesen's done because he's standing up to the counter pushing the soap dispenser down, making a mess all over my newly cleaned sink. As I'm rinsing that, he takes his still soapy hand and smears soap all over the mirror. "Uhhh, stop!" I set him down as Josh decides he wants to sit on the potty. Mind you, all day I've been maintain great emotional distance from the previous events we've encountered, and I'm being patient and using calm mental feedback in my head. So, I put Josh up and let him try while I finished rinsing and drying Jamesens hands. By now Josh is already off and starting to do the same thing with the soap that his brother just did. So I hang the towel and work with Josh for a second. When we finished washing I set him down and looked for Jamesen who was proceeding to pee all over the tile just outside the bathroom. I'm saying to Jamesen that thats pee and it goes in the toilet or a diaper, as kindly as possible with a tone of "STOP IT"! I don't want to ruin potty training. Trust me, today was a "kind mommy day." I'm trying hard not always yell, but be more soft spoken. In the background Josh is demanding I dry his hands "ALL wet, Mommy, all wet. Dry et. Dry et." He'll have to wait because Jamesen gets that he shouldn't have done what he did right there so he's trying to make it right (as I'm grabbing the sani wipes) by spreading pee all over the tile, splashing it up on to walls saturating his hand in it. No concern whatsoever. He's just helping mom out. All the while Josh is freaking out about his clean hands, not Jamesen in pee coated fingers.
After a very short letter and a long hour later I finally had to hit send on my letter. It was in sending this email that I could calculate what time I got online with my sister and I realized this: When you become a mom to more than a few small children anything that used to take 10-15 minutes will now typically take over an hour. This seems to not be right. Aren't I doing the most important work on this earth. Being a mom. Why am I spending so much time doing damage control! Yeah you could think "That wouldn't happen to me because I'm so on top of my kids, but seriously, I was right there for all of it.
I'm not searching for sympathy or kudos, or anything except to document this that I might remember and have gratitude for someday. Someday for when things change, for someday when I miss these days, for someday when I'm being sentimental and sad for the days gone by. Then, maybe I'll read and recall a glimpse of my past. I truly comprehend it not always being this way.
My mom tells me a story of a much older woman who had finished raising a large family. This woman spoke in stake conference about raising her family. My mom was in the thick of those years of raising her large family. The woman gave a comment that her kids never gave her "a lick of trouble." My wise mother did not believe her, she just believe her memory had been kind to her.
That is why I am here to say to all you moms out there. . . You must be amazing! You have to be. Even us who seem so very ordinary and unamazing and uncapable. You are the very most amazingly accomplished women. Heck, you cook dinner, get laundry washed, pay bills, hope to decorate that area of your home to bring something new to your space, you put sunscreen on your kids, read them books, mop your floors, and get to cleaning the bathrooms once in a while. You try hard to teach them good behavior thus hoping to hide your weakness as a mother when really they were born with such strong spirits and we're working so hard to mold them into such wonderful and delightful humans and you've done such a good job, really-just not everyone will ee it. You make sure they brush their teeth and say prayers. You pray for guidance for when those teaching moments come- and that you'll recongnize it when it hits ya. Then there's being there for your husband when he needs your support. And we haven't even covered your needs. You have 'em don't you-or at least you used to. Also there's keeping yourself somewhat presentable and refreshing so you can drop off a casserole to a friend who just had a baby. Or for the off chance you may run in to someone you know when you do a last minute run to the store.
Everyone else seems to do their lives with simple effort. Really underneath, some of us use great motivation to accomplish all that must be done. Along with all that we'd like to do.
Another lady once told me each child brings 24 hours of work a day with them. I thought she was over dramatic. Gosh, my mother raised nine so whats her problem. Ohhhh, I now comprehend her statement.
So kudo's to each and every mother under the sun who cares about succeeding at her precious role. It is a most priceless time in your life. You are striving. You have infinite worth and you have your own divine mission which you are striving to fulfill.
So this is where my thinking outloud leads. We are all of great worth. Just hang in there. You will succeed 198% Guaranteed.
Okay, so day in and day out as a mom, we do the same things over and over and over again. I'm so used to this, right, that it doesn't even phase me most of the time how truly insanely crazy having two two year olds can be. I just do what I have to do to keep bringing my world back to center and to peace and calm. (Or at least thats my goal.) Then days like today I step back and look at everything it takes because I guess I'm searching to validate that I'm actually accomplishing something because I have been working so very hard and yet nothing in my world would indicate this and everything seems to be falling apart.
It took me over an hour to finish my email to my sister on her mission while she was online. I was hoping to correspond a few times before she got off. Well, every other sentence I typed I was up taking care of: messes, fights over a stool, over cookies, over chicken nuggets, and who got to hold the sprayer while the other scrubbed dishes. (They really think they can do dishes.) All I want is to say hi to my sister, because its been 6 weeks since I have. So I weigh the costs, and then decide that I'm willing to clean up the water mess if it means sending my sister some support. Heck, the kitchen needs to be mopped anyway.
So, they're done "doing dishes" and they start taking their pull-ups off. I'm not really potty training I'm just exploring it with them. Maybe its not a good idea, yet. So anyway, they're stripping down, so I set Jamesen on the toilet and quickly walk away to help Josh who's trying to get undressed too. I'm thinking Jamesen's done because he's standing up to the counter pushing the soap dispenser down, making a mess all over my newly cleaned sink. As I'm rinsing that, he takes his still soapy hand and smears soap all over the mirror. "Uhhh, stop!" I set him down as Josh decides he wants to sit on the potty. Mind you, all day I've been maintain great emotional distance from the previous events we've encountered, and I'm being patient and using calm mental feedback in my head. So, I put Josh up and let him try while I finished rinsing and drying Jamesens hands. By now Josh is already off and starting to do the same thing with the soap that his brother just did. So I hang the towel and work with Josh for a second. When we finished washing I set him down and looked for Jamesen who was proceeding to pee all over the tile just outside the bathroom. I'm saying to Jamesen that thats pee and it goes in the toilet or a diaper, as kindly as possible with a tone of "STOP IT"! I don't want to ruin potty training. Trust me, today was a "kind mommy day." I'm trying hard not always yell, but be more soft spoken. In the background Josh is demanding I dry his hands "ALL wet, Mommy, all wet. Dry et. Dry et." He'll have to wait because Jamesen gets that he shouldn't have done what he did right there so he's trying to make it right (as I'm grabbing the sani wipes) by spreading pee all over the tile, splashing it up on to walls saturating his hand in it. No concern whatsoever. He's just helping mom out. All the while Josh is freaking out about his clean hands, not Jamesen in pee coated fingers.
After a very short letter and a long hour later I finally had to hit send on my letter. It was in sending this email that I could calculate what time I got online with my sister and I realized this: When you become a mom to more than a few small children anything that used to take 10-15 minutes will now typically take over an hour. This seems to not be right. Aren't I doing the most important work on this earth. Being a mom. Why am I spending so much time doing damage control! Yeah you could think "That wouldn't happen to me because I'm so on top of my kids, but seriously, I was right there for all of it.
I'm not searching for sympathy or kudos, or anything except to document this that I might remember and have gratitude for someday. Someday for when things change, for someday when I miss these days, for someday when I'm being sentimental and sad for the days gone by. Then, maybe I'll read and recall a glimpse of my past. I truly comprehend it not always being this way.
My mom tells me a story of a much older woman who had finished raising a large family. This woman spoke in stake conference about raising her family. My mom was in the thick of those years of raising her large family. The woman gave a comment that her kids never gave her "a lick of trouble." My wise mother did not believe her, she just believe her memory had been kind to her.
That is why I am here to say to all you moms out there. . . You must be amazing! You have to be. Even us who seem so very ordinary and unamazing and uncapable. You are the very most amazingly accomplished women. Heck, you cook dinner, get laundry washed, pay bills, hope to decorate that area of your home to bring something new to your space, you put sunscreen on your kids, read them books, mop your floors, and get to cleaning the bathrooms once in a while. You try hard to teach them good behavior thus hoping to hide your weakness as a mother when really they were born with such strong spirits and we're working so hard to mold them into such wonderful and delightful humans and you've done such a good job, really-just not everyone will ee it. You make sure they brush their teeth and say prayers. You pray for guidance for when those teaching moments come- and that you'll recongnize it when it hits ya. Then there's being there for your husband when he needs your support. And we haven't even covered your needs. You have 'em don't you-or at least you used to. Also there's keeping yourself somewhat presentable and refreshing so you can drop off a casserole to a friend who just had a baby. Or for the off chance you may run in to someone you know when you do a last minute run to the store.
Everyone else seems to do their lives with simple effort. Really underneath, some of us use great motivation to accomplish all that must be done. Along with all that we'd like to do.
Another lady once told me each child brings 24 hours of work a day with them. I thought she was over dramatic. Gosh, my mother raised nine so whats her problem. Ohhhh, I now comprehend her statement.
So kudo's to each and every mother under the sun who cares about succeeding at her precious role. It is a most priceless time in your life. You are striving. You have infinite worth and you have your own divine mission which you are striving to fulfill.
So this is where my thinking outloud leads. We are all of great worth. Just hang in there. You will succeed 198% Guaranteed.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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