Clean

I was tired and wanted to go to bed, but then I remembered what Wes always says that his mom always said, "You'll sleep better after you shower." True. Not much better than being squeaky clean and settling into crisp sheets for a long snooze. I needed to shower after running 2 miles to Target and back pushing a double jogging stroller. BUT, I just returned home from a month in sunny warm Florida. It is April in Minnesota, which means I'm cold. I wore fleece pants and two thermal shirts today. I didn't want to shower. Not much worse than getting out of a warm shower when it's FREEZING.

Well, I showered. I bribed myself with a big bowl of chocolate icecream if I'd do it. Now I'm going to go eat it.

JOY

What are you passionate about? What stirs your soul? What gives you joy...not just happiness, but joy? "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have JOY." (2 Nephi 2:25). JOY is part of God's plan for each of us.

JOY is...
TIME with my little FAMILY taking in the EARTH'S BEAUTY. It's evening. The sun casts warm orange light signaling the day's end. There is white sand, blue water, a slight breeze. My baby is in my arms. My two oldest children are diving in the chilly ocean (because it is Spring) and my brave, selfless, handsome husband is with them despite the temperature. I stand back and soak it in. I feel JOY.

JOY is...
MUSIC. I'm 15. My voice is one among others singing, "Come thou fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing thy grace Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise...... Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above" My throat is tight with emotion, my eyes wet at the power of the words. I feel warm, passionate, moved. I feel God's love. I feel JOY.

JOY is...
A deep friendship. An answered prayer. Spring. Kindness from a stranger. The miracle of birth. Answering to "Momma".

JOY is...
When I lay in my husband's arms for hours talking with him about everything. Cuddling with my children at night. Watching the pure delight my children experience when with cousins and grandparents. Seeing the love my siblings and my husband's siblings show for my children. Soaking in every moment with my mother when she came to the Midwest after the birth of my third. It's amazing how my heart needs Mom while I adjust to being a mom myself.

And the best part of all is that these JOYFUL relationships will last for ETERNITY. Families can be together forever because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is true JOY.

Red Hat

As a kid, I'd keep myself entertained during General Conference by crocheting long, long chains of yarn. One Christmastime, I locked myself in my room and spent the day crocheting bracelets for EVERYONE in my family. I'm pretty sure they were all thrilled.

In my maturity,
I've taken crochet to the next level. With my extra time here in Florida, Kara and I crocheted some pageboy hats during her visit. Doesn't Ivie just perfect the hat? Too bad she won't wear it. It interferes with her long flowing tresses of hair. Oh well.

Ivie's Prayer

"Please bless that Emily Russon can't learn how to snap her fingers for a long time because I want to be the one to teach her how even though I'm younger...and please bless Grandpa Glenn's fake eyeball that he can finally go to a doctor and see out of it a little better. Amen."

Grossness

My kids don't have many limits for what they will say regarding all things gross. Scott and Kara can attest to this...sorry for contaminating Will. I guess I don't have many limits for what I'll write about either.

Tonight, Ivie got out of bed for the hundredth time and this is what she said:
"Momma, I had a big hiccup that made throw-up come to my mouth. Then I needed a drink. Then I had to go potty. Then I washed my hands all by myself. Then (and this is finally the reason for her coming to me) the water made the duct tape on my thumb lose it's stick. I need some more."

Nothing she says is to the point.

Why the duct tape? Our Dr. recommended putting it on her wart. Somehow it makes them go away sometimes. He also told her to talk to her wart and tell it to go away....so she does. The wart is getting smaller...

On our way to the beach today, Ivie (in all seriousness) said:

"Momma, sometimes I pick my nose and get a big booger, then I don't know what to do with it."
Don't most kids just wipe it somewhere?
She carried her nose treasure ALL the way from the car, across the beach at low tide to the ocean to wash herself of the grossness. Good Girl Ivie!

Childhood

I love hearing stories of Wesley's quintessential childhood. Brothers, camping, fishing, beloved pets (Tiki, Thunder, Kelsey), best friends that lived on his dead-end street, swimming, playing in the band. Every child deserves a wonderful childhood. I'm thankful for my own laid-back childhood filled with hours of time to do whatever a kid wants. Cucumber boats in the ditch, night games at Grandma Ruth's, homemade icecream, ceramic class during the summer, night swimming at the local pool. That's what I want to give my children.

Hairdos

Norah had her first hairdo the other day! Time ticks by all to quickly in some respects! Although I thought she was very cute with her hairdo, I quickly took it out. It made her look too old.


Caleb often does his own hair. It takes a great amount of effort on my part to let him out of the house with one of his hairdos. I often slick things down as he heads out the door for school, hoping he doesn't notice. This hairdo went with him to Kindergarten. He reported later that one of the kids commented on his "mohawk". Yikes.