I go two weeks without blogging and here I am posting two days in a row. Not much else to do here in the office today, I got everything done that a fill-in can do. The women who work here have a LOT to do, glad I am only temporary.
Last night I was able to go to a meeting with some friends of mine, it was so good. Every now and then it helps to meet with other moms and find out everyone struggles and everyone succeeds too. We really share a lot of similar experiences in this life and world. The topic was keeping our homes clean, learning to work with our families, teaching them the value of work. Of course I am over simplifying things. And maybe some would say the topic of housework is frivolous or cliche'. But I think our homes are the training grounds for life, which is a scary thought for my poor kids! We discussed so many ideas, I came away with some specific goals I want to implement. Like it or not, I think the feeling and mood of a home starts with the mom. We are important aren`t we! That is a big responsibility right there.
In other ground breaking news. One of my college kids went on a real date with a girl he hasn`t known his whole life. He called to tell me about it but then cautioned he wouldn`t always be calling and giving me details. I laughed, but like I have said before, this is a good time of life. It is wonderful to become friends with your kids. You can`t do that as much when they are young, they need parents more than friends. Now we can be friends, the parenting is different. Now, did that make sense to anyone at all? One thing I miss with all of my kids is bedtime, nothing is better than putting a freshly bathed toddler to bed at night. And than sneaking in to watch them sleep. Now I go to bed before everyone but Brigham, and sometimes we go at the same time! Maybe I shouldn`t admit that? Oh well, life is pretty good, well rested or not.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Good Intentions.
I started this blog thinking I would update at least every other day, how hard could that be? Ummmm....HARD! I can`t believe it has been 2 weeks since I posted. And really I have no valid reason, just tiredness from school starting.I have only subbed a few times.And I think a fear of realizing I am boring and really have nothing great to say!
This week I am filling in at our city offices. The 3 women who work here are in Boise for training. People are so rude to me, I don`t take it at all personal, but it makes me wonder and cringe at the times I have lost patience and/or my temper with people serving the public. A common complaint here seems to be that their utility bill is too high. Well, I know that no one is cheating them, and I know no one is singling anyone out to pay an extra high bill. But I am not sure many in the public realize that! So I am going to work at being kind and grateful for the office staff, the front desk person, the guy on the phone. Chances are they are trying to do their best and hoping people understand.Of course we have the right to question our bills and charges, but I am going to work at being kind! I have also learned that filing is just awful. Didn`t like that at all. I did like the hugely satisfying feeling of accomplishment I had when it was finished. But I am grateful it is not my full time occupation.
Our 3 college kids seem to be adjusting quite well. They call me quite frequently, I LOVE that. I try to remember they are adults now, and to treat and speak to them as such. Probably need to work harder at that.One of my wishes for my children has always been that when they grew up and left home that they would be friends and communicate independent of me. And they seem to be doing so, it makes my heart sing. In fact, they went to the BYU-Utah game together, there is a picture of the 3 of them on Facebook that I HOPE they will frame and give to me for Christmas. HINT HINT,actually no hint, outright telling them. I am excited to watch them become adults. Ok, there is some fear too, I am not sure I taught them all they need to know. But too late for that I guess. Anyway, it is a rewarding time in our relationships.
The crew at home is good too. It is strangely quiet at our house. Not sure how I feel about that.When they are home it awesome. I love having teenagers in the house, mine and any who wander by. I am trying to get used to feeding 6 instead of 9.And everyone has their own room!
Well, I have fulfilled my duty to blog, I am not sure if anyone even read this? But I know Porter and Hannah will, so that is enough for me I guess. Love you two!
This week I am filling in at our city offices. The 3 women who work here are in Boise for training. People are so rude to me, I don`t take it at all personal, but it makes me wonder and cringe at the times I have lost patience and/or my temper with people serving the public. A common complaint here seems to be that their utility bill is too high. Well, I know that no one is cheating them, and I know no one is singling anyone out to pay an extra high bill. But I am not sure many in the public realize that! So I am going to work at being kind and grateful for the office staff, the front desk person, the guy on the phone. Chances are they are trying to do their best and hoping people understand.Of course we have the right to question our bills and charges, but I am going to work at being kind! I have also learned that filing is just awful. Didn`t like that at all. I did like the hugely satisfying feeling of accomplishment I had when it was finished. But I am grateful it is not my full time occupation.
Our 3 college kids seem to be adjusting quite well. They call me quite frequently, I LOVE that. I try to remember they are adults now, and to treat and speak to them as such. Probably need to work harder at that.One of my wishes for my children has always been that when they grew up and left home that they would be friends and communicate independent of me. And they seem to be doing so, it makes my heart sing. In fact, they went to the BYU-Utah game together, there is a picture of the 3 of them on Facebook that I HOPE they will frame and give to me for Christmas. HINT HINT,actually no hint, outright telling them. I am excited to watch them become adults. Ok, there is some fear too, I am not sure I taught them all they need to know. But too late for that I guess. Anyway, it is a rewarding time in our relationships.
The crew at home is good too. It is strangely quiet at our house. Not sure how I feel about that.When they are home it awesome. I love having teenagers in the house, mine and any who wander by. I am trying to get used to feeding 6 instead of 9.And everyone has their own room!
Well, I have fulfilled my duty to blog, I am not sure if anyone even read this? But I know Porter and Hannah will, so that is enough for me I guess. Love you two!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
And now what?
School started today. Last night we had Family Home Evening. I gave one of my "go and learn and work hard and do your best and set goals" lessons. Even if they never seem to listen I always hope on maybe a subconscious level some of it is sinking in.Maybe even a little bit? At the very least they will remember I did try to inspire them to greatness, so I did my part, right?
I went in to the high school this morning to help with registration. My job was to take the fees. Nathan spoke in the assembly but I was too busy/nervous to go in and listen. So, anyway, now I am home alone for the first time in 3 months. I have HOURS of peace and quiet stretched out in front of me. And I gotta clean the house! One thing I have learned the past two days is that Hannah was definitely the housekeeper whenever I was gone. I didn`t know this til we returned home Sunday after taking her to SLC. But WOW. She always made sure it was clean when we got home. When I mentioned this Emily said all sad like that they had done their best. Well, their best was not good enough in this situation!!!! So, I have lots to fill the hours today. Not to mention a lot of lessons to give on how to keep it clean. One of the jobs Emily and Natalie had was to keep the laundry going and to fold that laundry. For some strange reason I keep finding piles of clean laundry in various rooms. In no discernible order. It will be a little like a scavenger hunt. And if you wonder why I did not do this yesterday it is because we spent the WHOLE day cleaning out Hannah`s room and moving in Natalie. That was an adventure in itself.
So, I`m going to turn up my music, fill my mug with ice water ( oh yeah, that reminds me, the desk clerk at our hotel had a 100 oz mug! Never saw one that big) and get to work! I figure to be done about 3 o`clock.......Thursday!!! Happy New School Year to everyone. If you need a good motivational lesson, I got one for you. Results NOT guaranteed!
I went in to the high school this morning to help with registration. My job was to take the fees. Nathan spoke in the assembly but I was too busy/nervous to go in and listen. So, anyway, now I am home alone for the first time in 3 months. I have HOURS of peace and quiet stretched out in front of me. And I gotta clean the house! One thing I have learned the past two days is that Hannah was definitely the housekeeper whenever I was gone. I didn`t know this til we returned home Sunday after taking her to SLC. But WOW. She always made sure it was clean when we got home. When I mentioned this Emily said all sad like that they had done their best. Well, their best was not good enough in this situation!!!! So, I have lots to fill the hours today. Not to mention a lot of lessons to give on how to keep it clean. One of the jobs Emily and Natalie had was to keep the laundry going and to fold that laundry. For some strange reason I keep finding piles of clean laundry in various rooms. In no discernible order. It will be a little like a scavenger hunt. And if you wonder why I did not do this yesterday it is because we spent the WHOLE day cleaning out Hannah`s room and moving in Natalie. That was an adventure in itself.
So, I`m going to turn up my music, fill my mug with ice water ( oh yeah, that reminds me, the desk clerk at our hotel had a 100 oz mug! Never saw one that big) and get to work! I figure to be done about 3 o`clock.......Thursday!!! Happy New School Year to everyone. If you need a good motivational lesson, I got one for you. Results NOT guaranteed!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Has it really come to this?
We brought Hannah to Utah this weekend. More about that in a minute. Earlier today we picked Bear up at his apartment and drove down to Provo to watch the BYU-Ole Miss game. They have it playing on a movie type screen in the Wilkinson Center, kinda like the student union building. It is fun to see all of the students wearing their game day shirts and cheering. My head hurts, it COULD be from crying, so I am sitting in the Memorial Lounge. This was here when I was at BYU. And as I watch the students come and go I can hardly believe it has come to this day. The day I have 3 children in college. I sat in this lounge a LOT because it has an awesome bathroom nearby. Important because I threw up multiple times while pregnant. Both Bear and Porter were born while we attended school here. As I watch the students I notice some things haven't changed. They all look squeaky clean, even the wanna be rebels with their saggy pants. Sorry boys, the clean cut face and haircut give you right away! The girls are all "shiny"---- that is how my mom described the sister missionaries on Temple Square. There are a TON of pregnant people here! That hasn't changed a bit. And lots of very young very lovable couples. And I swear that was just Gary and me. Some things have changed. The CougarEat is now vendors, kinda sad. The step down lounge where many of us gathered every day at 3:00 to watch Days of Our Lives is gone. Every one has a laptop and cell phone. The freshman look waaaaay too young to be in college! But it still feels like BYU. I think everyone loves their alma mater, I know I do.
This weekend has been something I have been dreading. Bringing Hannah down to Salt Lake to start at the LDS Business College---LDSBC. In fact I have shed many tears, and probably will continue to do so. It is so hard to let your children go. Admittedly some days seem easier than others! As we were packing her 18 years of existence up I kept thinking about the curly haired little baby girl and toddler. And the little grade schooler who struggled in math and reading and speech and then overcame it all. And how mean the other girls were in junior high, those were tough years. I always wanted my daughters to be strong and opinionated and able to stand up for themselves and what is right.Well, I got that! But I worry I haven't taught Hannah enough. Does she know how great her worth is? To both her earthly and Heavenly parents? How to depend on prayer? Not to walk alone after dark? I think she knows how to clean a toilet? No one tells you, or at least I didn't listen, that from the very minute they place that innocent infant in your arms you start to prepare them for the day they leave home. Maybe I should have read the fine print! I am so proud of her and while I joked that she should consider that online Stephens Henagar college and we could spend all of our days together I am excited for her opportunities. The great fun and learning ahead. I am relieved she has at least one nice roommate. We have only met one. I can't begin to express how grateful I am we won't be leaving her alone. She has big dreams and big goals. It is just a little sad she will be calling me to share them, instead of me living them right next to her. But as Disney has taught us, it is the circle of life! So I will tell myself hakuna matata,wipe my tears and let her go! But I ask again, has it really come to this?
This weekend has been something I have been dreading. Bringing Hannah down to Salt Lake to start at the LDS Business College---LDSBC. In fact I have shed many tears, and probably will continue to do so. It is so hard to let your children go. Admittedly some days seem easier than others! As we were packing her 18 years of existence up I kept thinking about the curly haired little baby girl and toddler. And the little grade schooler who struggled in math and reading and speech and then overcame it all. And how mean the other girls were in junior high, those were tough years. I always wanted my daughters to be strong and opinionated and able to stand up for themselves and what is right.Well, I got that! But I worry I haven't taught Hannah enough. Does she know how great her worth is? To both her earthly and Heavenly parents? How to depend on prayer? Not to walk alone after dark? I think she knows how to clean a toilet? No one tells you, or at least I didn't listen, that from the very minute they place that innocent infant in your arms you start to prepare them for the day they leave home. Maybe I should have read the fine print! I am so proud of her and while I joked that she should consider that online Stephens Henagar college and we could spend all of our days together I am excited for her opportunities. The great fun and learning ahead. I am relieved she has at least one nice roommate. We have only met one. I can't begin to express how grateful I am we won't be leaving her alone. She has big dreams and big goals. It is just a little sad she will be calling me to share them, instead of me living them right next to her. But as Disney has taught us, it is the circle of life! So I will tell myself hakuna matata,wipe my tears and let her go! But I ask again, has it really come to this?
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