Love

This is it.

No really, it is.
This picture makes me laugh and shows me that my husband loves me.
It reminds me that no matter what I look like,
how unsatisfied I may be with my post-babies body,
he thinks I am attractive, sexy, and still squeezes my tush.
That, to me, is love.
And I love him all the more for it!

Content

–adjective
1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
TG: filled with peace

I have a quite a few blogs that I read of people I don't know. They all have something to do with parenting, being creative with your kiddos, etc. Every time I go to take one off my reader I just can't do it. Because even though I skim most of the posts, every so often one pops up that has a must-do art project with West, or a great idea of a place to visit with the kids, or something perfect that was meant just for me that day.

Like today.

The Artful Parent has some awesome ideas on fun art projects with kids. Because of her, an art studio in my future house is a must. It can even be a little closet, but it will be somewhere the kiddos can go to paint, get messy, spill, smear, and have fun.

So today she talked about being thankful for the stage of life you are in. She just had a darling little girl* and is having to put creativity, sewing, cleaning, and such on the back burner while she savors these precious newborn moments.

I was reminded of my own sweet boys at that age. Of how precious each stage really is and how quickly it passes. How Weston & Tave's desire for me to be their playmate/action hero/puzzle doer/art projecter/musical mommy and basically the center of their days will someday come to an end. And I will be left with more time than I want, to do all of those things that seem so important right now.
But truly, those things pale in comparison.

I was reminded of one of my favorite scriptures- Phillipians 4:11: ...I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know there are days I want to do me things. Days I'm tired of the cars everywhere, the messes, the piles of laundry, the bathroom that never gets cleaned.
But there will be time for cleaning later.
Right now I get to be one of the stars of the show.
And I am content.


*named Daphne, oh isn't it the cutest name ever?! I would use it but I am praying that my friend's get their next little girl someday and she's had dibs on that name waaaay before me. ;)

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?

Dear Stephanie,

Tonight I curled up on the couch with my crocheting in one hand and a tissue in the other. My sweet husband sat beside me as I excitedly pulled up the recording of today's Oprah. After hearing me talk about you for the past year, my husband thought it would be worth it to watch.
The minute you walked onto the stage I gasped- not for the reason you would think, but because you looked gorgeous and stunning. You were calm, confident, and had a peace that comes from facing your trial with determination and acceptance. You hadn't even started talking and I was already crying.

I know I am one of thousands of women who are inspired by you. By your example as a woman, wife, and mother. These are not simply roles you fulfill, they are the roles that define you. It is a privelidge and honor to be these. How often I take that for granted.
I had not read your blog prior to your accident. But I have loved it since. Your simple way of describing your life, your love, and you is beautiful.
Over the past year, as I have read your story and followed your family, you have made a difference not just in my life, but my family's. You have inspired me to change. To make the everyday moments magical. Maybe one day when I have the courage to print this and send it to you, and after the thousands of other letters you have read, you will come to this. And you will know that there is another little family out there who thanks you. For showing their mom that that is the best thing for her to be.

I thank you.


Stephanie on Oprah.
NieNieDialogues

Early Continued...

Don't you love when you spend $100 on new glasses and when you're whining to your mom about it she reminds you that she told you to go to a glasses repair shop becuase they were very inexpensive but at the time you just wanted your glasses now and just weren't thinking right?
Yeah, me too.

Don't you love when your dishwasher breaks so you have to hand wash all your dishes? Which might not have been a big deal when it was just you and your hubby, but now that 2 kiddos are in the mix it's a lot more dishes?
Yeah, me too.

Don't you love when you run all of your errands thinking you looked somewhat presentable only to get home and find snot smeared all over your black shirt?
Yeah, me too.

Don't you love when your 1 year (1 year old, this is not supposed to happen until he's 2!) throws a major major tantrum and you try everything you can think of to help him be happy and he still screams. (But wait, it gets better)
Then when you're out shopping with the still screaming child, you finally finally calm him down only to have the store clerk say to this child "Oh are you having a bad day" which starts another hour of screaming all over again.
Yup, me too.


Don't you love when your hubby walks in the door with a big smile on his face, ready and willing with a hug and a kiss to make everything better?
And then your little boy snuggles up close, squeezes your cheeks to give you a kiss and says 'I love you.'
And your little tantrum thrower wraps his arms around your neck, lays his head on your shoulder and just cuddles into you for a long long time.
Me too.

Early

Jeff's class was cancelled tonight.
That means instead of getting home at 730 he arrived home at 430.

This of all days when I have had
2 sick little kiddos
waaaay less than normal nap time by these little kiddos
a 1 1/2 hour tantrum from one of them(it was so sad, and so hard on both of us)
And 1 very tired momma.
It was an answer to prayer.
I love how wonderful of a daddy my husband is.

Conference

"What we love determines what we seek

what we seek determines what we think and do

what we think & do determines who we are."

~President Uchtdorf

I love Conference weekend.
I love being taught and uplifted and edified.

I love knowing that when I act on the impressions I received I can become better.

And I am.

Really?

As I was leaving a store today, my arms full of bags and two busy kiddos, a man held the door open for me.

(which deserves a huge huge Thank You ...that doesn't happen often)

I said "thank you" and then he smiled and told me I looked like Jennifer Garner.

Well, that's a compliment I'd gladly take any day!

A double Thank You, sir, for making my day!!

To market to market

I'm so excited to be a vendor at the Bijou Market in November!!
I've already started crocheting like mad to get a wide variety of inventory there and I can't wait!!
My first boutique. We'll see how it goes...

Here's the latest, what do you think?