I'm going 'unplugged' for a week. No internet, besides checking my email periodically, and no phone, except for phone calls.
My daughter in yellow pretty much sums up how I feel about it.
Adios!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
out of the mouth of babes
Every Monday night, our family has Family Night... or Family Home Evening. Sometimes Family Fight even works. We reserve the night for our family to spend time together, pray, have a spiritual thought or lesson, have an activity (like 'duck duck goose' or Simon says, etc), and a special treat (thankfully a special treat for our kids can even be a handful of mini marshmallows or chocolate chips).
This last Monday we had a discussion on safety. We were talking about what our family plan is in case there is a fire in our home. Naturally, the kids started in on the "what if..." game. Some were legitimate, some were silly. We came to the conclusion that there could be a million 'what if's and that we'll just do the best we can if it ever happens.
And then my 7 year-old says in a giggly serious kind of way, "What if Mom is grumpy when we wake her up to tell her there's a fire?"...... (looking at me cautiously and still giggling)...."Because sometimes you are really grumpy when we wake you up." We were all laughing..... because it's TRUE. Okay, not always true... I can be really patient and kind and compassionate to my kids, but... apparently... that must be the exception.
It was funny, yes, and I still think it's funny, but it definitely made me realize that I need to do better. I actually have been doing better, but I've still got a long way to go. I don't want them to remember me forever as Ms. Grumpy Pants in the morning. I want to help their morning be bright and cheerful. When I'm up before them, I have time to fully wake up and feel ready to go... and I'm happy... most of the time. ;)
My mom always tells me how grouchy I was when I was a little 3 year old. Here is my 3 year old now. I can see the resemblance.
This last Monday we had a discussion on safety. We were talking about what our family plan is in case there is a fire in our home. Naturally, the kids started in on the "what if..." game. Some were legitimate, some were silly. We came to the conclusion that there could be a million 'what if's and that we'll just do the best we can if it ever happens.
And then my 7 year-old says in a giggly serious kind of way, "What if Mom is grumpy when we wake her up to tell her there's a fire?"...... (looking at me cautiously and still giggling)...."Because sometimes you are really grumpy when we wake you up." We were all laughing..... because it's TRUE. Okay, not always true... I can be really patient and kind and compassionate to my kids, but... apparently... that must be the exception.
It was funny, yes, and I still think it's funny, but it definitely made me realize that I need to do better. I actually have been doing better, but I've still got a long way to go. I don't want them to remember me forever as Ms. Grumpy Pants in the morning. I want to help their morning be bright and cheerful. When I'm up before them, I have time to fully wake up and feel ready to go... and I'm happy... most of the time. ;)
My mom always tells me how grouchy I was when I was a little 3 year old. Here is my 3 year old now. I can see the resemblance.
Monday, May 19, 2014
four nothings
My cousin-in-law shared this on her Facebook wall a few months ago and I really liked it! It's actually what got me really thinking again about waking up early and making some good changes in my life.
This came from a 'life manifestos' blog... here.
The story is told of a sparrow and a dove perched on a branch in the winter.
“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” the sparrow asked the dove.
“Nothing more than nothing,” the dove answered.
“In that case I must tell you a marvelous story,” the sparrow said.
“I sat on a fir branch close to the trunk when it began to snow. Not heavily, not in a raging blizzard. No, just like in a dream, without any violence at all.
“Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,471,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch — nothing more than nothing, as you say — the branch broke off.”
Like snowflakes accumulating on that branch, your life does not change, your greatness is not unleashed by monumental actions, but by small, daily habits.
Here are four specific habits whose value will accumulate in your life like “nothing more than nothing” until, after years of steady discipline, will break your limitations and emerge as greatness:
1. Read
Reading the best books immerses you in the thoughts of the best thinkers, saturates you with the courage of the greatest souls.
Whatever you put into your mind emerges as behavior. You can’t read C.S. Lewis without grasping for heaven. You can’t read Viktor Frankl and not exercise your power to choose more wisely. You can’t read Rabbi Daniel Lapin without changing how you think about and spend money.
Every great book read is a snowflake falling on the ceiling of your limitations. Read one per week for five years and watch that ceiling crack.
2. Meditate
You are not your body; you have a body. You are not your mind; you have a mind. You are the “I Am” that observes the thoughts in your mind.
Your mind is a fabulous servant but a horrible master. It tends toward negative thinking and is plagued by fear, doubt, and worry. It holds you captive to your emotions.
To access your greatness you must transcend the negative-thinking mind. Meditation is the single most powerful tool for doing so.
Sit still in a quiet solitude and meditate for just ten minutes a day and watch the snowflakes fall…
3. Change Your Morning Routine
Leadership expert John Maxwell said,
“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
The most important thing you can change in this regard is your morning routine.
Make it a habit to get up an hour or even a half hour earlier than usual. Start your day with a prayer of thanksgiving. Meditate. Read. Exercise.
Do that every day for three years and you’ll feel branches of limitations snapping in your life.
4. Follow Spiritual Promptings
Call them whatever you’d like. Hunches. Intuitions. Sparks of inspiration. Whispers of conscience.
You feel them. Do you follow them?
You once had the thought to write a book. Have you written it yet? Something told you to stop when you saw that car on the side of the road with its flashers on. Did you stop?
The more quickly, courageously, and zealously you follow those promptings, the more of them you receive. The more you receive and follow, the faster your acceleration to greatness. Conversely, the less you follow these, the less you receive, the more you stay stuck.
Like the weight of one snowflake, the impact of any action taken one time is “nothing more than nothing.” But the impact of wise, daily actions cultivated into habits and lived for years is enough to break your limitations and change everything.
I really like all of these suggestions, but in place of meditation, I would say 'ponder,' which is basically the same thing. I remember several years ago a lady who I really look up to was giving a presentation. She is a brilliant woman and has studied the lives of many great leaders of our nation and church. She said that one of the things she found they had in common was that they were all early-morning risers. They would get up early and take time to pray and ponder before carrying on with the rest of their day.
I have a long way to go before these things become habits for me, but I'm working on it. Some mornings go well and some mornings are total flops (like this one today). Tomorrow morning will be a good one.
The kiddies enjoying some morning Miami rain.
It doesn't snow in Miami, but it rains a lot, so I'll have to think of my daily habits as raindrops instead of snowflakes.
I really like all of these suggestions, but in place of meditation, I would say 'ponder,' which is basically the same thing. I remember several years ago a lady who I really look up to was giving a presentation. She is a brilliant woman and has studied the lives of many great leaders of our nation and church. She said that one of the things she found they had in common was that they were all early-morning risers. They would get up early and take time to pray and ponder before carrying on with the rest of their day.
I have a long way to go before these things become habits for me, but I'm working on it. Some mornings go well and some mornings are total flops (like this one today). Tomorrow morning will be a good one.
It doesn't snow in Miami, but it rains a lot, so I'll have to think of my daily habits as raindrops instead of snowflakes.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
little gum adventure
This girl came home from Kindergarten today so happy she'd received a piece of gum from a friend. Food = Happiness for her. I'm the same. Gum's not food, I know, but anything yummy in the mouth brings joy.
A few minutes after walking in the door, she comes to me with a little bit of an 'oh no' look on her face, and of course, I see the gum in her hair! How in the world? She told me she thought it would be fun to roll it on her forehead. I had to take a picture before trying to get it out, because it was just funny and so typical of her... She is my mini me.
Coconut oil took it right out, thank goodness!
Good as new. Just a little greasy and tropical-smelling. Love this girl!
A few minutes after walking in the door, she comes to me with a little bit of an 'oh no' look on her face, and of course, I see the gum in her hair! How in the world? She told me she thought it would be fun to roll it on her forehead. I had to take a picture before trying to get it out, because it was just funny and so typical of her... She is my mini me.
10 wonderful years!
I just love this boy so much. (And this baby girl... wearing her party-favor sunglasses for a moment.)
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10 years ago I tricked him into marrying me, and I will be forever glad I did.
He is just my favorite person ever. He has taught me so much about love, patience, kindness, service, selflessness, and parenthood in our 10 years of marriage, all through his example. Not only is he sensitive and thoughtful and respectful toward me and our children, but he is a peacemaker and makes us laugh all of the time, even and especially when there's contention in our home. He is rarely too busy to voluntarily help with diapers or dishes, fixing something, or whatever... even though he really is so busy.
He is the greatest father to our children, blessing their lives with his example of wisdom and strong character... and his time. He'll come home from work, stressed and feeling weighed down with work issues and pressured with many many things to do, but he'll put a smile on his face, take the kids outside to play with him or just hold them and talk with them or let them climb all over him. He doesn't have much extra time, but he makes good use of the time he does have, because he wants to have good relationships with them and create happy memories for them. It's no wonder 'Daddy' is the favorite in our home, and I love him for it.
He is my inspiration behind the changes I am trying to make. Just the person he is has always given me a desire to be a better person, and he still does. He never ever makes me feel bad about my weaknesses or struggles; he always tells me I'm doing a good job... even when I'm not. I just love him more and more all the time.
I know I'm making him sound too good to be true, but he really is this good and so much more. He amazes me and makes me so happy. Like I said, I tricked him into marrying me. I know he knows it and I tease him about it all the time, but we sealed the deal, and there's no turning back now. :)
Love you, my Clint. Happy 10 years!!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
i love the sounds of morning
Last week, while Clint and I were up early one morning, I opened the windows in our kitchen to let some fresh air in. Birds were chirping and peacocks were yelling out their really loud mating calls. Clint reminisced about how his mother would always open up their windows, letting fresh air in, as well as the sounds of morning. My mom always did the same, and I loved it. Something about those sounds and the fresh air seemed to breathe new life into a new day.
Having grown up on a ranch far away from any busy streets or stores or anything, the main sounds I can remember in the mornings, besides my alarm clock, were our neighbor's rooster crowing at 5am, my mom in the kitchen, my dad or sibling(s) getting around the ranch on the 4-wheeler to feed our horses, and our horses whinnying in anticipation of their arrival. I didn't think much about those sounds. They were just the norm. I didn't appreciate them nearly as much as I do now when I go home to visit. I LOVE the sounds of country living.
After our first year of marriage, Clint and I moved into a teeny tiny little house in Clint's uncle's backyard where we lived for 3 years. Uncle Jim and Clint's dad had built it, and it shared a wall with Uncle Jim's workshop. It wasn't unusual to wake up to the sound of a chainsaw at 5am, and because it was just on the other side of the wall, it sounded like it was in our same room. Best alarm clock ever. For the whole family. As much as it was an unpleasant sound to hear that early in the morning, I did appreciate it a little, because I loved Uncle Jim and how hard-working he was and how it motivated me to get 'up and at 'em.'
The neighborhood we live in now has at least 15-20 (maybe more) peacocks (peafowls, peahens, and peachicks). I love them. They are so much fun to see every day, but many people find them to be pests as they are known to peck cars, be really loud, and leave big droppings (large bird = large dropping). Maybe I won't like them so much if they peck our cars, but they haven't yet. Anyway, they really are so loud, especially during mating season, and especially at about 3 in the morning... and then continue off and on for several hours. It used to wake me up; they sound like a woman yelling for help, which was a little disturbing at first, but now I mostly sleep through it. When I wake up early, though, I love hearing them call.
And, of course, for several years now, the main sounds I hear in the morning are my kids/babies. Sometimes they're my very favorite sounds... "Momma, can I turn on a movie for everyone while you stay in bed?" "Mom, you stay in bed... I'll make oatmeal for everyone." On Saturdays... "Daddy, can you come downstairs with us?" "Mommy, can I snuggle with you?" And sometimes they're my not-so-favorite sounds. "Mommy, I wet my bed." "Mom, can I get in your bed?" "Mommy, I'm scared. I had a bad dream." "Mom, I just threw up." "Mommy, so-and-so woke me up!" "Mom, I don't know why, but I'm all wet."
When I get up and going a couple of hours before my kids wake up, all of their sounds are so much more pleasant to me. And if their sounds are not very pleasant, at least I am more pleasant in my response. I am one of the morning sounds they hear that set the tone for their day, and I want them to enjoy the sounds of morning just like I do.
Having grown up on a ranch far away from any busy streets or stores or anything, the main sounds I can remember in the mornings, besides my alarm clock, were our neighbor's rooster crowing at 5am, my mom in the kitchen, my dad or sibling(s) getting around the ranch on the 4-wheeler to feed our horses, and our horses whinnying in anticipation of their arrival. I didn't think much about those sounds. They were just the norm. I didn't appreciate them nearly as much as I do now when I go home to visit. I LOVE the sounds of country living.
After our first year of marriage, Clint and I moved into a teeny tiny little house in Clint's uncle's backyard where we lived for 3 years. Uncle Jim and Clint's dad had built it, and it shared a wall with Uncle Jim's workshop. It wasn't unusual to wake up to the sound of a chainsaw at 5am, and because it was just on the other side of the wall, it sounded like it was in our same room. Best alarm clock ever. For the whole family. As much as it was an unpleasant sound to hear that early in the morning, I did appreciate it a little, because I loved Uncle Jim and how hard-working he was and how it motivated me to get 'up and at 'em.'
The neighborhood we live in now has at least 15-20 (maybe more) peacocks (peafowls, peahens, and peachicks). I love them. They are so much fun to see every day, but many people find them to be pests as they are known to peck cars, be really loud, and leave big droppings (large bird = large dropping). Maybe I won't like them so much if they peck our cars, but they haven't yet. Anyway, they really are so loud, especially during mating season, and especially at about 3 in the morning... and then continue off and on for several hours. It used to wake me up; they sound like a woman yelling for help, which was a little disturbing at first, but now I mostly sleep through it. When I wake up early, though, I love hearing them call.
And, of course, for several years now, the main sounds I hear in the morning are my kids/babies. Sometimes they're my very favorite sounds... "Momma, can I turn on a movie for everyone while you stay in bed?" "Mom, you stay in bed... I'll make oatmeal for everyone." On Saturdays... "Daddy, can you come downstairs with us?" "Mommy, can I snuggle with you?" And sometimes they're my not-so-favorite sounds. "Mommy, I wet my bed." "Mom, can I get in your bed?" "Mommy, I'm scared. I had a bad dream." "Mom, I just threw up." "Mommy, so-and-so woke me up!" "Mom, I don't know why, but I'm all wet."
When I get up and going a couple of hours before my kids wake up, all of their sounds are so much more pleasant to me. And if their sounds are not very pleasant, at least I am more pleasant in my response. I am one of the morning sounds they hear that set the tone for their day, and I want them to enjoy the sounds of morning just like I do.
Monday, May 5, 2014
sleep. strength. study. spirit. simplicity.
For now, this is what I'm working toward...
Sleep: Getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
Strength: Exercising... Giving myself an energy boost for the day. (I've severely been lacking energy.)
Study: Study the scriptures... Take time to ponder.
Spirit: Praying with intent and inviting the Spirit to guide me in my day and then follow promptings I receive. This goes right along with Study.
Simplicity: Keep life simple. Focus on what's most important.
My morning hours are far more productive than my late evening hours... when I'm awake for them. The goal is to accomplish sleep, strength, study, and spirit all while my kiddies are still sleeping. It's not easy, but when I've done it (only a handful of times), it makes my entire day go so much better.
Last night I got to bed at 10:00, which is pretty good for me, and I had my alarm set to wake me up early, but then my sweetie Ruby woke me up 3 times. I'm pretty sure she's teething. So... I reset my alarm for 6:20am. Clint leaves around 6:30 and I like to be up at least a tiny bit before he goes, and my kids are up at about 6:45. It's tricky when there are so many things I can't control, but that's okay. Maybe tomorrow morning.
One day at a time.
My favorite little boy at South Miami Beach
Sleep: Getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
Strength: Exercising... Giving myself an energy boost for the day. (I've severely been lacking energy.)
Study: Study the scriptures... Take time to ponder.
Spirit: Praying with intent and inviting the Spirit to guide me in my day and then follow promptings I receive. This goes right along with Study.
Simplicity: Keep life simple. Focus on what's most important.
My morning hours are far more productive than my late evening hours... when I'm awake for them. The goal is to accomplish sleep, strength, study, and spirit all while my kiddies are still sleeping. It's not easy, but when I've done it (only a handful of times), it makes my entire day go so much better.
Last night I got to bed at 10:00, which is pretty good for me, and I had my alarm set to wake me up early, but then my sweetie Ruby woke me up 3 times. I'm pretty sure she's teething. So... I reset my alarm for 6:20am. Clint leaves around 6:30 and I like to be up at least a tiny bit before he goes, and my kids are up at about 6:45. It's tricky when there are so many things I can't control, but that's okay. Maybe tomorrow morning.
One day at a time.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Progress is sloooow...
Obviously.
I haven't come back to this blog since I started it 5 weeks ago. Hmmm.
I was actually doing pretty well, too, for about 3 days. Not bad, huh? My kids and I have been getting hit with all kinds of sickness. Not fun. I think we may be in the clear, though, and I am SO ready to get going again.
So here we go!
Confession: I feel like I've been floundering in my life these past several months. I've just barely been making it. I want to feel like I am excelling, though. There is a lot of fulfillment in progress and purpose and I know I have the potential for both. I've just been holding myself back. I struggle with sooo many things, but I feel like several of the things I struggle with could be helped or remedied if I went to bed earlier at night and woke up earlier in the morning. It sounds so simple, but for me, it's not. It's a huge weakness of mine. I just enjoy the peace and quiet and relaxation of the evening waaay too much. Kids asleep, time with my husband, movies, ice cream, Facebook, etc. Sometimes even dishes and laundry if I'm feeling really good.
It may seem like such a trivial, silly issue, but I feel like if I were just better at this one thing, I would have more energy for my family (and home), more patience, more productivity in the zillion things I feel like I could be doing, etc.
But mostly... I could be a better mom. I just want to be a good mother for my kids whom I love so much. (Did I use 'whom' correctly?... I really do want to know.) :)
This verse of scripture inspires me...
"Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:124
At certain times in my life I was doing this... going to bed early and waking up early, and it was amazing the difference it made in my entire day. I love staying up late, but I allllways regret it in the morning when I am a grumpy zombie mom barely making it in the morning and day. I do not do well on little sleep.
Night time comes and we get the kids ready for bed, and I'm thinking, "I am so going to bed as soon as they are asleep. I am sooo tired. It'll be so great." And then, like clockwork, they fall asleep and something magical happens. I wake up. And I'm ready to dance the night away. :)
I do think an hour or so is good to just decompress, talk with my husband, and relax. I need that. I just have a problem with keeping it to only an hour or so.
The purpose of this blog is to help me be a little more accountable for the choices I make. I have so many changes I need to make. Going to bed early is just the tip of the iceberg.
At least Barney is catching some good z's.
As my roommate, Becky, would always say, no matter the time of day...
Good morning!
I haven't come back to this blog since I started it 5 weeks ago. Hmmm.
I was actually doing pretty well, too, for about 3 days. Not bad, huh? My kids and I have been getting hit with all kinds of sickness. Not fun. I think we may be in the clear, though, and I am SO ready to get going again.
So here we go!
Confession: I feel like I've been floundering in my life these past several months. I've just barely been making it. I want to feel like I am excelling, though. There is a lot of fulfillment in progress and purpose and I know I have the potential for both. I've just been holding myself back. I struggle with sooo many things, but I feel like several of the things I struggle with could be helped or remedied if I went to bed earlier at night and woke up earlier in the morning. It sounds so simple, but for me, it's not. It's a huge weakness of mine. I just enjoy the peace and quiet and relaxation of the evening waaay too much. Kids asleep, time with my husband, movies, ice cream, Facebook, etc. Sometimes even dishes and laundry if I'm feeling really good.
It may seem like such a trivial, silly issue, but I feel like if I were just better at this one thing, I would have more energy for my family (and home), more patience, more productivity in the zillion things I feel like I could be doing, etc.
But mostly... I could be a better mom. I just want to be a good mother for my kids whom I love so much. (Did I use 'whom' correctly?... I really do want to know.) :)
This verse of scripture inspires me...
"Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:124
At certain times in my life I was doing this... going to bed early and waking up early, and it was amazing the difference it made in my entire day. I love staying up late, but I allllways regret it in the morning when I am a grumpy zombie mom barely making it in the morning and day. I do not do well on little sleep.
Night time comes and we get the kids ready for bed, and I'm thinking, "I am so going to bed as soon as they are asleep. I am sooo tired. It'll be so great." And then, like clockwork, they fall asleep and something magical happens. I wake up. And I'm ready to dance the night away. :)
I do think an hour or so is good to just decompress, talk with my husband, and relax. I need that. I just have a problem with keeping it to only an hour or so.
The purpose of this blog is to help me be a little more accountable for the choices I make. I have so many changes I need to make. Going to bed early is just the tip of the iceberg.
As my roommate, Becky, would always say, no matter the time of day...
Good morning!
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