Dandelions

On Saturday Emmy, Addy and I spent some time out on the deck in the sunshine!

It was so nice.

At one point, as I was feeding some rice cereal and peaches to the babe, Em wandered down the steps to the lawn. A few minutes later she approached with a fist full of dandelions. "Hea Mommy....feowas (flowers)."

Oh my.

Right then and there my heart grew and burst! It was my first bouquet of dandelions picked with love from my first born. I wish I had a photo of her sweet face looking up at me with her fist full of flowers held above her head!

I filled a tiny glass vase with water and attempted to arrange them. It was difficult considering most of them were just dandelion heads with no stems, but I displayed them proudly all weekend.

This morning I am left with their shriveled remnants and a beautiful memory!

Thank you baby girl!

Plumperoni

Okay....this is me.

Well actually this was me about three years ago, but this is a shot of me at the height of my plumpness and glory.

I am learning to embrace my soft squishiness, but it is not really the look I want to sport for the rest of my life.

Though I believe that it is important to be happy right where you are....in your current state, I do not believe we should ever be completely satisfied with our current state. Dissatisfaction initiates progression and creativity and I am at a point where progression and creativity are needed and welcome!

I am on a journey of self reclamation! I am not going to settle any longer for the lower version of myself that I have befriended for many many years. In fact I don't really know if befriended is the right word for it, because speaking ill of, lying to, and mistreating someone isn't friendly at all! The truth is I've been belittling myself for far too long!!

There is a mighty obstacle in the way though.

Food.

I love food!! And when I say love, I'm talking a capital L-O-V-E. That coupled with any emotional baggage I'm hanging on to makes for a long shot at permanent weight loss. So.....here it goes. I'll be testing some new ideas and techniques I've got up my sleeve.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Who doesn't love a picnic?

I've added a new button to my sidebar!

It is for the Provo Picnic Club.

Is this an awesome idea or what?

I don't live anywhere near Provo, but for those of you who do, I strongly recommend joining the club. I mean aren't you dying to throw a couple of sandwiches in a bag and head to the park, make some friends and enjoy the sunshine?

I know I am.

Where has the sun gone?

Remember the good ol' days when spring used to come and stay for a while before summer made it's grand entrance and the sidewalks got too hot to walk on with bare feet? Remember those days?

Right now otter pops are just chillin' in the freezer waiting for a hot day so they can come out and refresh us with their sweet goodness. But, it seems the cold and snow are not going down without a fight. Just when you think they are down for the count, they throw out a limp arm and wave off the whistle.

What? No! Not again.......give up already! Geesh!

We've been waiting for a good day, so we can go out and plant our garden and do some yard work without blowing away in the process!

Hmmmm. Maybe tomorrow.

To Be A Mother

"In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island."

"Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Husbands--especially husbands--as well as Church leaders and friends in every direction, be helpful and sensitive and wise. Remember, 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.'"


"In light of that kind of expression, it is clear that some of those Rhode Island--sized shadows come not just from diapers and carpooling but from at least a few sleepless nights spent searching the soul, seeking earnestly for the capacity to raise these children to be what God wants them to be. Moved by that kind of devotion and determination, may I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. HE knows that your giving birth to a child does not immediately propel you into the circle of the omniscient. If you and your husband will strive to love God and live the gospel yourselves; if you will plead for that guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit promised to the faithful; if you will go to the temple to both make and claim the promises of the most sacred covenants a woman or man can make in this world; if you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do."

Elder Jeffery R. Holland

I saw these quotes on my cousin's blog this week and thought I would post them as well. I also saw this funny and awesome version of "the bather" on Snippet & Ink and thought it would be appropriate in celebration of mothers and the role they play in our lives.

Today we celebrate motherhood! You all know how much I love a good celebration! I am overwhelmed with emotion and awe when I think of the magnificence of motherhood! I take this sacred role most seriously and find confidence in it like nothing I have ever done. It makes me sad to know I am imperfect and so often fall short, but there is a peace that comes to my heart that I know every mother has if they will look for it. It is that peace that reminds you that you are doing it!!! You are living your highest calling! I wish more women would take mother's day as a day to honor themselves as well as each other. Don't let it be a day you allow the guilt of all your imperfections to wash over and depress you.

You are a "Wonder Woman"!

Let's think of our Heavenly Father, who, as Elder Holland says, has trusted us with this most awesome opportunity! He, the ruler of the universe trusts us because He knows what we are capable of!!! Wow. If that doesn't make you feel better about yourself......I don't know what will!

Happy Mother's Day!

The Fairy Blog-Mother

If you have not heard of Stephanie Nielson that probably means you have not read her blog! If you haven't read her blog that might mean you have not been exposed to the beauty that is available to you as a woman.

About a year and a half ago, I was introduced to The NieNie Dialogues. I was smitten. I felt as though I had found a soul sister, someone who shared the dreamy romantic view of life that I held in my heart and soul. I felt freed. I was inspired. I was moved. To focus on the good, and to create the good. That is what NieNie taught me.

I've decided that blogging is powerful and here's why. It is a record of your thoughts, your dreams, your observations. It causes you to focus on the things you desire and the things you believe. You realize your capacity to love, you observe and feel gratitude for the love you receive. It exposes your complexities and simplicities. When you step back and really think about it, your blog is a portrait of yourself...........whoever you are, whatever you are....it is captured and thrown out as a ray of light in the darkness.

Writing is a creation process, but I am starting to believe that it helps in physical creation as well. When you write about life, you allow yourself to imagine something even greater.....as a result greater things come about. I know it has happened in my life. Perhaps it will in yours too!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Henry David Thoreau

The Cake

So my sister emailed me the other day

to tell me she just got the new Cricut Cake!!! If you are familiar with the original Cricut, you know that it does amazing things with vinyl and paper........cutting out shapes, flourishes, images, and millions of fonts. The Cricut Cake is basically the same thing but geared to cake decorating. In a couple of weeks I am heading to her house for a long weekend of rest, relaxation and fun, (Thank you my love) and together we are going to practice cutting things out of fondant and gum paste!!

I recently did the cake for my sister-in-laws wedding (pictured above) I was up late into the night trying to finish it up. I really had no idea what I was doing which is obvious if you look closely, but luckily for me it looked pretty good from a distance! It is kinda risky offering to do a wedding cake when you have no training and not much experience. Fortunately Bethany is really sweet and easy going!! I did find out that cake decorating can be really fun, and an expensive way to express some creativity! *wink