I have taken it easy the last couple weeks and I have loved it. My mornings home alone have been Heavenly, I'm not sure if I'll come out anytime soon. I can't say I'm being completely selfish, I'm being mom. {and next week I have a little buddy 3 of the 5 days, I'm building up a reserve :)} Laundry, dishes, chores, hugs, and snuggles, and helping Miss Weed get caught up in school, that's plenty right now.

Homework time is my least favorite. For the ones who have asked for help I've taken time, for the others who have slipped behind the chaos, we are paying for it now. All I know is I can't help them all at the same time. Yikes! Formulating a plan to make sure they each have equal mom/aunt Heather time.

Yesterday, four hours later I enlisted the help of my homework monkeys to get dinner on. Don't you ever claim boredom muahahahaha!

Hailey's Tooth

Gramps pays $20 for the opportunity to pull teeth. Whenever Hailey wants to buy anything she starts wiggling.

Grandma and grandpa have been out of town, but Hailey hung on to the tooth. Not quite sure how.

No root at all.

So Hailey, how about a trip to ColdStone?

I love Math.  I love working on homework late into the night.
But I REALLY love Hailey time!

Ballerina with attitude

Facing the "Me"

I feel those around me seen and unseen, who have armed me with tools.  They wait for me to choose, to turn.  I mentioned recently that I'm stuck in the "me."  I know it's not a good place to be.  This week I've learned many truths from study, from visits, and from a wonderful tri-stake rs conference {we were blessed by Sister Beck and Sister Thompson of the RS General Board, but not THE Sister Beck and not THE Sister Thompson but women also of great testimony, and great experiences.  We were truly blessed, I was mean't to be there today}
*   In our quest to become holy, we need to have clean hands and a pure heart.  Clean hands in refinement and putting off the natural man, a pure heart in going about doing good.  Having a pure heart, taking on the Character of Christ brings sweetness to the process of refining.  I have forgotten the latter part and thereby missed the joy.

* The ultimate objective and outcome of a mighty change of heart is a turn from looking inward to looking outward.  I'm very much in the salt brine of the pickling stage -  where I must observe covenants, feast upon the words, pray with all energy of heart, and serve with all our heart. Powerful action words, eh?

* Satan is the author of discouragement.  Am I listening to the wrong voice?

* A pattern to Thrive by:
{From Sister Julie Beck}
1. Begin each day with prayer {it arms you with power}
2. Read your scriptures {you'll be intune with the individual needs of your family}
3. Make your bed {you tell the Lord you're not going to get back in}
4. Get dressed {you are ready to face what comes and ready to receive promptings}

* One phrase stuck out to me today, Lay aside "weapons" of rebellion.  Truly, they are weapons.  What are mine?  Besides me, who else is hurt?

*President Hinckley October 2003 Conference
You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price.
                                                                               *****
     Armed with the pattern to thrive by, I am choosing to have power.  I am doing until I become {thanks Ronda}.  I will have the strength and courage to follow the promptings I receive - looking to examples {you know who you are} of others who exemplify service, finding examples in the scriptures and emulating my great role models.  I'm not giving up on those I love.  Loving is rescuing. Love casts out all fears.

My mom texted me this week and told me they pray everyday that I can be a good strong person. (I'm sure I'm not exclusive on the list). Today she invited me to come down sometime to drink lemonade and admire the gift Sister Beck gave them.  Just like a mom to truly understand my needs, * prayers * strength * and someone to be with.*  Don't mind if I do.  Maybe I'll follow her lead, and break out the deck of skipbo with a girl or two of mine.
                                    .  .  . More Savior like thee . . .

True Blooded Aggies

Tonight the boys came back! The game was a great way to end the season!

RV Show Family Date

Last Saturday Dad took us on a date to see the RV show in salt Lake.  He even took us to the Cheese Cake Factory.  Raquel thought were going to eat in a factory they make cheese in.  They were surprised.  Mommy hint #1:  Girls don't belch in fancy restaurants when they drink water instead of soda. {plus you save $3.50 a head}  I'm so over the belching thing, they're girls!!!!  Dad even let the girls pick out a couple cheese cakes to share.

We went to the show with a vision of what we want.  Fiberglass exterior, fifth wheel, double bunks in a separate room.  Storage.  We found it first in the $60,000 range, which was absolutely fabulous.  But a little outta our range.  However, like finding the puppy in a pet store that belongs to you, when we came across OUR camper we all knew we had found the one.  Even Miss Olivia was excited for our summer camping season.

Decision making post show:  After we sell our camper we will look at used ones, but if we hang onto ours I really wouldn't mind.  Many memories have been made there.  Thanks Daddy for the best getaway ever!

Mommy Hint #2 Plug your ears when your hubby announces the calories in a single slice of cheese cake!

Tools

Yesterday, as I did not feel well enough to attend the temple, I sat on temple grounds awaiting my ballerinas.  I noticed beside me a woman standing at the hood of her car.  I pulled over to her and offered my jumper cables, but without the heaven sent man who helped me attach them to my car, I would have been no help.  I've never jumped a car with Sergio before.  I had the tools necessary but I didn't know how to use them. 

This week I have become aware of other tools I do not use enough, or that I do not know how to use.  But they are a power and a healing that I need right now to bring my life into harmony. 

I see miracles.  Today I see that the magnitude of the miracles often are equivalent, if not greater to the magnitude of our trials.  I am blessed with amazing friends.  Friends that will be there whenever I need them.  Friends that bring me treats.  Friends that offer great gifts of example and wisdom.  Friends who listen.  I would like to share words of a dear friend of mine, a friend that has been a great listening ear to my insecurities, my fears, and garbage I've carried for way too many years, she is helping me heal.  One can address emotions without specifics.

She has seen very hard times but still looks outward. {I'm stuck in the "me."} That is her story to tell, friend her on FB HOPE FOR ALLISA.     Elise Berry shared this on facebook but I would like to pass it along to my cyber friends.  Someday when I climb out of the "ME" phase, I hope to return my gift of friendship.

Words from Elise - 

In studying the works of Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve this last week I discovered some amazing insight that I did not catch the last time Elder Scott spoke, and it has changed my life. He said…

“Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate healing.”
Did you all get that?!?! The study and pondering of scriptures have the POWER TO ASSIST IN HEALING!!! We all have something that we need help healing! No one is exempt! Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and He knows that we are going to face tough stuff…some stuff that is JUST TOO BIG to do by ourselves and so He has given us tools that will help us access the power of Heaven to help us through. The scriptures are one of those tools.
Who ever you are out there in Cyber Land…know that you don’t have to do this all by yourself. I know that there are times that you fall to your knees and pour out your soul weeping, and rise later still feeling alone and aching inside. Perhaps the Heaven’s are not silent, they are just waiting for you to pick up the tools that you have had all along and begin to use them in faith. Maybe the answer you are so desperately seeking is already here, you just need to discover it. Perhaps the dark you are feeling is just your spirit’s way of letting you know that something is not in harmony with the Source of Light from whence you came.

Stop your life for a moment and pull out your scriptures and just read. Sometimes you need to READ OUT LOUD so that the grungy spirits that are around you and bringing you down are forced to leave. Read the same verses over 50 times if you need to. Read until the darkness fades and the answers come, and know that one of God’s anointed has promised you POWER TO HEAL!!!

Cherakie found this pic this morning. Today I celebrate that these are the happy days of my life. I am blessed.

I observed behaviors in my girls this weekend that burden me. This storm is wearing on them and I cannot take it away. I too am tired. Survival rests upon my shoulders, peace is dependent upon my vision. This experience is a blessing!!!!!

Time to break out the dancing shoes, royzgirlz will dance while it is yet raining. A renewing vacation is without my reach (I'm missing our summer escape up left hand), so we must find renewal within.

Time to make our journey fun, on a budget of course!

I am blessed with four stress indicators and one extra sensitive one, and one kinda big one. Yesterday Raquel called me from school wanting lunch money. I figured she was at least six dollars negative and would go hungry.

Upon paying I learned she was just at zero and would have been fed. She came out to see me in the hall and I asked, "did you just need a hug?" She squeezed me super tight, the way Raquel does.

Today Ck called me from school and asked for a lunch, she can't stand pepperoni's. As I handed over the lunch she too hugged me tight.

This week has been a needed quiet one. Quiet enough that I can hear in Cherakie's refusal to read to me, "mom, I am sad when you aren't home with me after school. I am gone with Chantel at the rink on Wednesdays and in the temple while Raquel and Olivia dance ballet on Thursdays.

Life just works when we abide by the chore list, read our scriptures, and have family prayer. It is just that simple!

On a side note, Raquel asked this morning why we shut our eyes when we sneeze. I replied what I've heard forever not ever questioning, "So your eye balls don't pop out!"

In her sweet little authoritative voice and head bobble she inherited from Grandpa D, she replied, "Mom . . . That is not probable, our eyes are stuck in our heads."

Well miss Raquel, I'm not the smartest but this mom has google. Closing your eyes when you sneeze is a reflex. There you have it.

Superbowl Partay

I intended to watch the game I think.

 The Dad's were grateful these monkeys didn't.

 There was just so much good food.

  . . . and conversation . . .  sitting at the table and playing each other on our phones is conversation right haha?  We cussed Sherrie for thinking she could move.  Mandi fessed up to borrowing food when Sherrie's not home.  LOL!

 The kids and Blu entertained us in my zumba skirts dancing to what the girls call my song, IM SEXY AND I KNOW IT! 

  Congrats to the super bowl champs - who ever you are.  Wait, who was playing?

Cherakie's Baptism Day

Cherakie celebrated her special day Saturday.  She awoke early and asked me to help her fill out her tithing envelope.  Then started whining at the thought of being mature enough to fast.  These last couple months choosing to fast before her time wasn't so bad.  Now however, she wasn't going to fast, she was going to starve.  She liked being the only one eating on fast sunday.

As Roy and I set up for the luncheon, I received a call.  Normal.  I usually don't make it out of Hyrum to go anywhere before she calls me.  Cherakie was at home making a scrapbook for Amee so she would be good at her baptism.  That brought tears to my eyes.  On CK's special day she was thinking of making someone else's day better.  Truly understanding the meaning of being baptized into this gospel - bearing one another's burden and standing as a witness of Christ.  She was going about the more needful thing. 

Because Beauty knows no pain :-).  And yes we did forget the hair do medicine (advil)!

CK shared her day with her friend Kyson (and Benji haha).  They shared a special day once before.

Ck and her friend, (my other daughter) McKayslin

Cherakie cried while I dressed her.  The water was so cold.  It wasn't until she heard Kyson come out and express how cold it was that she started giggling. 

We had many friends and family visit and celebrate with us. 

This is my buddy Brit.

The great Grandmas - Norma Seamons and Joan Humpherys.  I think Ck has her mouth full in every picture.

Ck and Nana D.

Cherakie I am so proud of you for choosing to be baptized.  I am grateful for the testimony you bore to me while we got ready.  You truly knew what this day was all about.  Love you.

Love shakin it

I'm pretty sure I look nuttin but hot shakin it at Zumba! Lol! I love it!

I jump and I land. I jump and I fall, in skill and in confidence but I will never stop loving the sound of the blades on the ice.

I made a difficult choice to postpone my test. Instead of telling myself I couldn't do it, that I couldn't push myself just that much harder, I am believing that I am reassigning the pressure and applying my efforts to little monkeys (and bigger ones too) who need an extra boost of mommy love right now (and groceries and laundry).

As far as MY extra boost of love, that comes from inside when I focus where focus is needed. I will still lace up next Wednesday, I'll still jump and spin and fall, and jump and spin and fall, but without the stress for a short moment or two. The end.