I love my girls

Each day I want to be Evie from the 80's show and stop time. They are growing TOOOOO fast. I just love them!

For “The Girls”

As I was cooking a pot roast, like my Momma does very couple Sundays I started thinking and that lead to this post.

It seems like as I grow older, or mature, whatever you want to call it, I realize more and more the daily blessings I am given and have been given throughout my life.  Two of my riches blessings are family and friends.  I have been surrounded by wonderful people my whole life.  In fact I think I have done various blog posts about many of them, but yet I feel the need again to express gratitude.   I feel like it doesn’t matter what I look like, if I have the trendiest clothes, cleanest house, or finished my latest craft, it doesn’t matter.  What matters most is relationships. My family was and is always there for me no matter what and whether or not I realized I needed them.  When I thought I didn’t need them (aka junior high and high school) I turned to wonderful friends.  Luckily my friendships were rich and still to this day these girls bring me joy. 

While I was cooking I was thinking about some old emails and photos I ran across this week.  Some from when Dave left on his mission; others from high school and college days (yes, I still have LOTS of old emails, but now I am glad I kept them.)  It was “the thing” to do, email.  It kept us in touch when many of us were at different colleges or halfway around the world. Whether they were group emails or personal, we sent many.  We could be ourselves, we shared silly college stories about our teachers, classmates, or boys.  We shared our emotions and when an email couldn’t suffice, I remember MANY long conversations on my first, pink, cell phone.  

It was a time in all of our lives when we were starting to make larger choices like degrees, careers, more serious relationships, and marriage.  We  had different opportunities and lived with different people, but yet I think our relationships always were a safety net, at least they were for me.  I was always thankful that when I didn’t like going to sorority or missed Dave or didn’t want to work at the fruit stand any more that I had friends who knew me  for me and cared about me.  Even if we hadn’t talked for weeks we talked on the phone as if we had just hung out at one of our parent’s homes the day prior.   They knew how to lift me up and I loved them for it.

Now, we have all moved on, most of us married, some even have 3 kids.   Many of us have lived out of state, some since a year or two out of college.  We have blogs, post on Facebook, still have our high school email address (among other ones acquired through work or marriage), and still have our first cell phone numbers.  We have made new friends and I think most of us talk to our family members more now than ever before (interesting how it circles), but I still feel an attachment.  I still wish we would email or talk on the phone more.  But it seems like different stages of life call for different things.  Talking on the phone isn’t the easiest when you have toddlers and babies begging for attention.  Or, when quiet time at night begins and you think you might have a moment sometimes it’s nice to have peace or you need to FINALLY get to those dishes or bins of laundry or perhaps catch up with the busy working husband. 

Today I don’t intend to send out guilty signals, I just want to send the message that I am grateful for many wonderful moments in my life where I needed that phone call or email and feel thankful to this day for those memories.  Life as I know it will continue to change,  and we will always be busy.  in fact I am grateful to have things to be busy for.

Though I don’t see you girls or talk to you, I am thankful for the moments we shared. (okay I seriously didn’t mean to go there but that sentence took me back and now I’m singing, “Looking back on all we shared, the laughter and the tears… know throughout the years, we’ll still remember this…all the days, the ways we showed each other that we cared….”)  You are and always will be a huge part of my life.  I hope you know how amazing you all are. Again, as I mature I realize that these girls I felt like I really knew are continually growing and changing for the better.  I love reading your blogs or Facebook posts and continuing to get to know YOU and all the talents you have.  Thanks for being good examples to me.  Love and miss you!

Motherhood

I happened upon a random show called “Motherhood” while I was trying to do a few things today. Basically it is about a writer who became a Mother and her trials with balancing everything.  There were a couple great one liners, including the child saying, “Mom’s do everything, Daddy’s only do somethings.”  (nothing against Daddy’s, because they are also amazing, but it is true.)

I liked this quote the best:

“Motherhood is about accepting your limitations of time and energy which stretch beyond you, even though sometimes they feel like they consume you. Search for and hold onto your own true self. If you loose that, what kind of mother can you be?

“Things are always changing no matter how much you want things to stay the same.  You could take a picture of your kids every single day and every single day they would just be getting older.  That’s a fact, a heartbreaking fact, still a fact. 

“So seize your days and dwell in them fully.  Look to your children because they know how to nab brief periods of time with  extreme passion and for nothing more really than the sake of those moments.  They can help you remember that, if you only slow down and let them.  Feel fortunate because chances are good, you actually might be.” 

nine eleven

I am not a writer, nor am I good with words, however I feel the need to type a little something tonight. I have been wanting to scrounge up my journal and letters to and from Dave on his mission from this time. Perhaps another night.

NINE. ELEVEN. Who would have thought that those two numbers could mean so much to many around the world. Feelings of sadness, grief, remembrance, sacrifice, patriotism, love, kindness, and so much more.

I cannot watch footage, see photos, or hear songs from that time without getting a little shaken up. Those images from that day are now history, but history never to be forgotten.

I woke up early that morning and headed to the U of U campus for my 7:00 am Business class. I remember having an eerie feeling on the way. The roads were quiet and my radio said something about a bomb at the world trade center. I had been to NYC before and seen the twin towers, but for some reason it didn't click that they were the same thing.

I went to class, it was the same as usual. But when I came out I ran into John Bradley, a friend from high school, outside the room (as we did most days at this time). He asked if I had heard about NYC and I said I heard something about the bomb. It was then that we turned to the tv's in the business center's cafe. Showing footage. Looking back now I don't know where I was when each tower fell and when the pentagon and flight 93 fell. But I remember all day long being glued to the tv or radio. Trying to figure it all out. I went home and hugged my family, took Natalie to a music lesson, but didn't want to leave anyone's sight. When I returned home I headed straight for the tv. For days we watched and watched and couldn't put words to it.

I will remember that eerie feeling from that morning and the rest of the day for the rest of my life.

When I visited the site of ground zero that feeling returned to me among other feelings indescribable.

To all Americans and others who lost loved ones, or have to deal with the pain associated with that day, I wish I could take the pain away. Ten years later, we haven't forgotten and still pray for comfort and love to be with all of us.

Cabin moments- Part I- The kids

This Summer we had a few weekends up at the cabin.  We always  love being there and definetly missed it last year when we didn’t go once! It is usually a place of relaxation, LOTS of food and treats, and good sleep.  WELL, with 8 kids and 3 babies all under the age of 11 it is not AS relaxing, and the morning are usually full of SHHHHs and don’t wake up….., but makes for some fun times and memories.  Here are a few favorite snap shots from the summer of the cousins.

Hangin’ around the cabin, being creative with whatever was around. Emily and Hannah are the oldest cousins, they help out a LOT with the youngins.  Maddie adores them.

The porch swing, a favorite seat for as many as can fit on!Looks like there is room for more!

Dave beating them up… or playing good uncle, take your guess.  Playing out front.  We love this area.  This last time we were up there the kids played tag for HOURS.  The grass/shrubbery was pretty matted down when we left.  (Brynn did not cause the damage, but quietly cheered them on.)

Swinging is another favorite, it is also a good lesson in sharing and watching out for others. There are usually a few bumps and bruises.

Going on walks is one of my favorites.  It can be a little stressful when the younger kids go close to the river,  (or I am just a worry wart) but it is always beautiful and great to get out.

Eating. Eating and more Eating.  I feel like we OVEREAT at the cabin, but there is always too much good food to pass up!  I love this little table, the classic orange placemats, colorful dishes, church bench and boosters for the kids, and the way we cram all of us in.  Cabin breakfasts seem to taste so much better than any other breakfast! AND you don’t have to dress up fancy, in fact jammies and scruff are usually the way to go!

Throwing sticks and rocks over the bridge. (or being creative like Chels and Chase and making a fire in the middle of the road.

Racing down the Road.. Logan, the oldest, won.  (can you tell how excited he was?)