Fill a Bucket

I found this book that apparently is fairly popular, but new to me.  This is what its about in a nutshell:  When our invisible bucket is full, we are happy. When it is empty, we are sad.  It teaches us how to fill other's buckets by doing nice things... and in turn filling our own bucket.  I thought it would make a nice family night, since that is something we always need to work on, and it did!  So, here are a couple of  ways people have filled my bucket since I last wrote.  (Parental Warning: some children may inform you that you are dipping from their buckets when you discipline- very annoying)

1.  Easter Morning
Easter Saturday we had an egg hunt with way too much candy.  On Sunday, usually the Easter Bunny brings a little something in the kids' baskets.  Well, as I was lying in bed Sunday morning, I realized that the Easter Bunny didn't come- shoot!  While laying there thinking and worrying, I heard little whispers by my door.  I got up a little later and this is what I found outside my door:  "Holly folloe this trale"... a trail of candy for me that led to.... well, nothing really.

Aww- that filled my bucket- and I didn't hear a word about the Easter Bunny.  Now that makes a mom happy.  Of course, the Easter Bunny surprised us and came while we were at church... during Sunday school.  I know- bad Easter Bunny working during church, but I guess he had to do what he had to do.

2.  Tavish

A couple of weeks ago I went with Sara's class to the Zoo- with my other kids too.  Tavish had to go to a scout camp (He's the new scout master- lucky him, and me).  While the zoo was fun and all, I'll admit that it was totally exhausting to me, plus I wasn't feeling well.  Taking 3 kids by myself wore me out, especially when Mac threw ROYAL fits when we didn't go where he wanted, or when it was time to get off the train and the carousel- embarrassing.  Then going home and getting kids ready for bed... battling... all by myself, it was tiring.  I know some people might be saying: "Waa waa I do that by myself all the time".  I'm sorry.  I really admire those single moms who can do this day in and day out.  They will be blessed.  I'm grateful to have Tavish.  He's one that is very good to help out with the kids.  Through out that day, night, and the next day I kept thinking, "Oh, Tavish would have taken care of that. Tavish would have helped me with that... "  Tavish is a bucket filler.  What a good husband.  I sure appreciate him.  

So here's the thought of the day (if you want one): Go and fill someone's bucket, and be grateful for those who fill yours.  

  

New Dinosaurs at the Zoo

My little monkey watching the monkeys

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Monkeys

A Lesson from Dad

The longer I wait to post a blog, the harder it is to decide on what to write about.... so I just put it off longer.  So, now I'm finally doing it- yay for me!

As I think about the past month, I think mostly about parenthood and the challenges that come with it.  Tavish and I have had many power struggles with one of our strong-willed children lately.  I'll spare you all the details (there are many), but just to tell you- it has been exhausting.  I've had many people and experiences that has helped me cope with it all, so I thought I'd share just one of them.

A while ago we went to St. George.  On Sunday we go to all 3 meetings of church there.  The one particular strong-willed child doesn't like this idea.  I understand that; I'll admit that it isn't something that I always totally enjoy either.  It's hard going to new classes as a stranger... all of that.  Anyway, this was a battle I decided to fight.  There was no choice in the matter: he was going to his class no matter what.  So... he was defiant and decided to run away after putting him in sharing time... Ok- that isn't something to make Mom and Dad happy.  I was sooooo mad inside; we found him and put him back into sharing time...

While he was sitting in the back in sharing time (probably ready to bolt again), my dad, who is the bishop, had a small part to do for the kids.  He was planning on telling a scripture story to the kids.  Instead, my inspired dad decided to tell his story of going on a mission.  He told about how he was so afraid to leave on a mission and how he didn't want to do it... and how he decided to go despite his fear... how to overcome our fears... etc.  Then, my stubborn child suddenly got up and walked right up to my dad in front of everyone and said, "Grandpa, I'm ready to go to class; where's my class?"  He then willingly went to class and stayed the whole time.  What?!! After all our fighting and battling, it just took a story (and probably the Spirit) to help my boy decide to make the right decision.

So, once again, I learn a lesson from my dad.  Growing up, my dad rarely lost his temper with us and was never one to force us to do anything.  He was so good at talking with us, telling us stories, and inspiring us (rather than telling us) to make the right choices.  We always knew that he loved us and we all wanted to please him.  So many times in life I have thought, "What would my dad do in this situation, what would my dad say?"  And now, I find myself thinking the same thing.

This month, I'm thankful for my dad and the many other people who have helped me learn to be a better parent.  I know this motherhood thing can help me be a better person (or worse I guess, depending on how I react- I'm shooting for better).
Thanks Dad; I'm trying to be more like you :)

Sara and Andrew with their grandparents

Family Photo Book

Last year I made a 2009 family photo book, and liked it so much decided to do it this year.  Photo books are great, because I'm not a scrapbooker and not good at printing and organizing all of our pictures.  I make my photobooks from a company called Winkflash because they have this deal where you can get a 100pg book for the price of the 20 pg book- oh yeah!  I love good deals.  Of course, it isn't the best site with all the really cute backgrounds... but I'm too impatient and indecisive for that anyway.  Alright- I'm sure you, (all 5 of you who might read this) don't really care about all of that, so I'll get to the point.

The point is... my photo book is a book of blessings.  Through keeping a journal, photo journal or regular, we really can see the blessings we have.  I'm not sure that makes sense.  But as I went through all the pictures and organized it, I kept thinking, "That was so fun, my kids are so cute, I love my family..."  Now, I know that all those times in the pictures (the vacations, events...) weren't totally full of  fun.  I know there were many frustrations, hard work, sleepless nights, and naughty kids in there, but I didn't really think of them, just the good times.  I went through my book and was grateful for our family, the places we get to go, the experiences we get to have,  and just how blessed we are.  It makes me want to make the most of this coming year too.  (I went through my mission pictures for a RS activity we're having, and the same thing happened to me.)

So- If you're having a bad day and having a hard time recognizing your blessings, take a look at your old pictures and journals.  I bet it will help you recognize your blessings :)

R.I.P. Onyx

Once again, rather than cleaning and organizing our disorganized mess while Mac is asleep, I'm writing a blog.  I just had to document one more blessing that happened a few weeks ago.  It was a blessing amid a trial.

We had a little black cat named Onyx.  We got him from a neighbor who moved about 4 years ago.  Onyx was old and slow, but very sweet and gentle.  He put up with kids holding him by the hair (or the tail), throwing him off the porch, laying on him, hugging him (really tight), giving him rides in tonka trucks, spraying him with water... about everything.  So, one very cold morning I thought that I had better check on the cat and give him water that wasn't frozen.  I went outside and he could barely move and had a broken leg.  He was suffering and would barely even open his eyes.  Can I tell you how upsetting this was to me?  I really, really, hate seeing animals (or people) suffer.  I was so upset I even swore... under my breath... to myself...twice.  Then I cried and cried... all day.   I knew it was time to put him to sleep.  This was one of those moments that I had been dreading.  I had always hoped that Tavish would be home when the cat died...  I didn't want to be the one responsible for ending his life, but I also can't let an animal suffer.  (The kids were taking this a lot better than I was, by the way)

 That was the trial, this is the blessing:

My mother-in-law was coming over that day to pick up Sara to play with her cousin.  They were going to play the day before, but we changed it.  It was a really snowy day, and I was contemplating going out with my bad tires and all the kids to go put the cat to sleep.  Doesn't that sound fun?  My mother-in-law came over in her all-wheel-drive car with studded snow tires and told me that she would take the cat in to be put to sleep.  I would never ever ask anyone to do that for me, "By the way, will you go kill our cat for us?"  But I debated for a while in my mind and finally consented.   I didn't know if I could really do it, and I didn't want to get in a wreck on the way.  She took the cat to the animal shelter for me.  I can't tell you how relieved I was.  What a great lady; I know it wasn't something she wanted to do, but she did it anyway because that's how she is.  Thank you Grandma Bobby, you are my blessing for the day... for the month.... always.

PS- Onyx, please forgive us for our cruel ways.  We'll do better with our next pet, if we ever get one.  And... sorry we are such bad owners that we don't even have a picture of you.  That one above will have to do.

A Christmas Carol

Darn, I hate it when I wait so long between blogs.  I sit here and try to think of ways that I've been blessed during the time I haven't written, and there is just too much.  So- here is one of the many things I'm grateful this past month.

The first week in December I gave a lesson in Relief Society (that freaked me out as usual) about how to have the spirit of Christ over the holidays and throughout the year.  That made me think about keeping the true Christmas spirit in our home.  I thought about it, but didn't do too much about it (hypocrite).  I feel like Christmas just snuck up on me.  We were so busy finishing our basement, , going to parties, baking, making peanut brittle, eating peanut brittle ... that I just wasn't feeling much more than exhaustion (and fullness).   I finally felt that true spirit of Christmas when we went to a play with the in laws. (It also helped not having the kids with us, so I could feel the peace :)

We went to The Christmas Carol.  I've seen the play before, watched the movies, heard the story... many times.  But this time I really liked it. (The music was good too)  I realized what a good story it really is- that it truly  illustrates the spirit of Christmas and what it's about, even if it doesn't directly mention Christ.  It's a story of repentance.  Is that not what Christ is all about?  It made me think how lucky we are to have the chance to repent and become better.  So, that's what I've been grateful for this past month- repentance.

  I love starting a new year too; I feel like it's a new start- a time to repent and do better.  I know we really get a new start every week in sacrament meeting, but I like looking back on the year- what we did or didn't accomplish- and make new resolutions for the next year. We accomplished about 1/2 of our family and personal goals this year.  Slackers?  Yes.  But I figure making the goals helps us accomplish more than if we hadn't made the goals at all.  Time to repent and do a little better this year.

Happy new year and may God Bless Us Everyone!
(Getting cheesy, time for bed.  Goodnight)

Here are a couple pics of the new nephew- Russel- so cute!

A Time of Thanksgiving

What I've been grateful for this month (since it takes me a month to write something):

1. Parents and Parents-in-law

The kindergarten had grandparents day this month.  My parents came up from St. George just for the occasion, and Tavish's parents came too.  How many kids get to have both sets of grandparents there for Grandparents Day?  She felt pretty special.  After school my mom was talking all about how great it was to be with Sara... on and on.  Andrew came up to me and said, "Mom, I'm sad... Sara is getting all of the attention."  I asked him who usually got all of the attention and he said, "Me- so I'm sad".  We both decided that it was Sara's turn to get some attention.

Here Sara is showing her grandparents how she can skip rope.

2.  Good Family and Friends

This was the first year of having Thanksgiving at my house.  It was nice to have the whole family there, and a couple of good friends too.  I was worried about getting everything ready and made, but of course, the family helped me a lot.  I couldn't ask for a better family.

3.  A New Nephew
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of this one.  I only have one on my phone that I don't know how to get on to the computer.  Anyway- my kids have their very first cousin on my side of the family.  Yay!!  He was born on Nov. 29 and is so dang cute.  I could have stayed at the hospital and held him all night (It's really nice to be the one feeling good visiting a little baby that you don't have to stay up with all night:)  Of course, we couldn't stay too long visiting because we had the kids, and they don't just sit there.  In fact, one of our darling children- we're assuming the 2 yr old since no one else will fess up to it, pushed a blue button.  Just so you know- don't push the blue button.  That means code blue- blue as in not breathing.  We had nurses running into the room panicking and about 10 other nurses outside the door.  They didn't seem too happy with us.  Yep- it was time to go.  It was so good to see the baby though- what a sweet innocent little thing, hard to believe that he will soon be a two year old too :)

That's our month in a nutshell- and as usual, I recognize the hand of the Lord in my life by him blessing me with wonderful family and friends.