Family History, I Am Doing It!

I need to be keeping a family history, and I think this blog is going to be the vehicle.  It's fun to see how much my kids love to read through archived blog posts and reminisce.  I need to include them in creating a family history - even if it is a minimal one! I'm hoping to record bits of our lives at least every Sunday. It may not be interesting to anyone but us, and that's ok!  I'm doing it anyway!

Darin had his Valentine Birthday yesterday.  Unfortunately, it wasn't a very festive birthday as he had a lot of work to do and I spent much of the day in bed not feeling well.  We're hoping to do some fun things as a family tomorrow to make up for the downer day. We're so thankful for him!  He's such a hard worker and always makes time for our family. Love you, Darin!

Megan had a wonderful Valentine's weekend.  It was her girl's pref sweethearts dance and she asked her cute friend, Garrett.  (I don't know if I'm allowed to call him her boyfriend, but ... you know.)  She had a wonderful time and hasn't quit beaming since she came home.  "He is such a gentleman!" , "He is just amazing!", "It was so. much. fun!" These kinds of comments have been frequently heard. I'm glad she had such a great time and that Garrett is such a good guy! Doesn't she look beautiful?

Getting ready to pick up Garrett

Darin, the boys and I took advantage of the unseasonably gorgeous weather this afternoon and went for a walk along the Jordan River. Nature therapy is always a spirit lifter!  Darin and the boys found a path through the dried reeds and brush to the river and even discovered a little "island" to jump to.  Cooper and I stuck to the paved trail, but loved hearing the boys talking and laughing, listening to the breeze in the reeds and the gently flowing river. 

Sarah spent the weekend with friends at Bear Lake.  She is in denial that she has to return to the real world tomorrow.  I'm glad she has had such a great time.  A break from the real world is always a gift - especially when it's spent with good friends in a beautiful place!

Last, but not least, while talking on the phone with my mom, I was delighted to spend over half an hour today looking through my front window at my two boys talking up a storm.  I love that they are such good friends and hope they always will be.

Best Buds

Here's to another great week!

Hello Friends!

Hi! My mom keeps on saying she is going to start blogging again but doesn't know what to blog about. so here is her new post in a new era. I'm doing the same, so be sure to look out for my blog too! Thank you all! :)
-Megan

Empty

As I was setting the table for dinner tonight it struck me that our table is looking like this more and more often.  No, we aren't eating tacos more frequently.  Count the plates.  Five.  Not six.  There is an empty spot more and more often as Sarah becomes busier and busier with school, work, lacrosse, and socializing.  Really this has been increasing in frequency since high school began. Some nights it has annoyed me.  Some nights it hasn't phased me.  But tonight, it really hit me.  An empty place.  That will be empty more and more frequently.  That may be empty semi-permanently after this Senior year of high school is complete.  And only to be followed by more empty places.  I felt a little empty inside.  And I might have cried a little.  I might still be crying a bit.  As fun and exciting as it is to see your kids grow up, and learn, and become more independent, it is hard, too.  And the hard is coming.  All too soon.

Thoughts

A month and a half ago our dishwasher quit working.  Normally, I would have rushed out and purchased a new one, but for whatever crazy reason, I decided I want my kids to learn how to do dishes the old-fashioned way.  After all, I didn't have the luxury of a dishwasher until I was a Senior in high school and not only did I survive, but I feel that washing dishes with my siblings helped me grow closer to them.  Lots of laugher and talking took place at the kitchen sink in our home. I'm sure some fights occurred, too, but those memories have faded, and the happy ones remain.  Doing dishes by hand is not done quickly.  Dishwashers truly are very convenient and free up some time, however, we are still washing by hand . .

There is a silver lining in all of this.  I am often cold in the winter.  Very cold.  And putting my hands in hot soapy water has warmed me up every day.  Small perk, but a perk nevertheless!

Way above and beyond being warm, though, is the time that it has given me for pondering and reflection.  Many things are always happening in life and I don't often take the time to really sit and reflect on their meaning.

As I was recently given a new calling at church that has required me to rely on the Lord much more fully, more than a few realizations and inspirations have come while washing dishes and praying.  

As disease and dementia has progressed in several family members' lives, I have pondered on memories with those sweet people and am so grateful for their lives and influence on me and have prayed for their comfort as they face pain, difficulty, and decline in quality of life.

As people I know have lost loved ones - many of them suddenly, my heart has ached and my tears have mingled with the dishwater for the loss they are feeling and will continue to feel for some time. I have wondered how I can help ease that hurt.  I have thought more about how much those I love mean to me and how I can show them that love more often while we are all here on this earth together.

I have loved looking out my window above the sink to see my kids playing in the snow with each other and friends, having photo shoots, and chasing the dog with laughter and squeals of delight ringing out.  I've laughed out loud watching them, and also felt a twinge knowing that in only a few short years I will be looking out at an empty yard.  How much I love them!

I have washed and dried dishes with Darin by my side, and have appreciated his willingness to be an equal partner (and really he is so much more than equal - he does more than his fair share) in our home, to be a loving, supportive husband and father, to be someone I enjoy working with and spending time with.  I think we make a pretty good team.

These moments at the sink full of dirty dishes are treasured and a reminder to me that I need to take more time to sit and reflect on my blessings and thank the Lord for them.  My kids may not be learning how to wash dishes very well. In fact, they are very good at avoiding that task! But in doing the dishes, I am learning so much more than how to clean dishes.

And I am grateful.

New Kid on the Block

Meet Cooper.  He is our new puppy.  He is a Cockapoo.  He is cute.   He is soft.  He is playful.  He is fun.  He likes to go on walks.  He is learning to go potty outside.  He likes to meet new friends. He likes to chew on his toys, but he prefers to chew on socks or shoes. He likes to sleep on my lap while I am computing.  He is there right now.  We like him.

Love

For seventeen years, this man has been my main squeeze.  (A little longer than that if you count the dating days.)  It has been seventeen years full of ups and downs and sideways, and definitely full of love. 

Thank you, Darin, for being patient with me when I talk on and on and on.  Thank you for rubbing my back and playing with my hair.  Thank you for letting me warm up my icicle toes on your toasty warm legs.  Thank you for holding my hand when we go on walks together.  Thank you for being a voice of reason and pragmatism when my emotion laden soul needs grounding.  Thank you for being a wonderful father to our kids - for rough housing with the boys, for talking tenderly with the girls, and for generally spending a lot of quality time with all of them.  Thank you for being a spiritual leader in our home.  Thank you for working in the garden with me.  Thank you for taking me to the symphony.  Thank you for hiking with me. Thank you for giving me encouragement when I'm feeling down.   Thank you for being my best friend.  I am so blessed to be married to you!

 

I love you, Darin! 

Quote of the Day . . . Or Maybe of the Year

Sarah threw out this bit of wisdom last night in the car: 

"You can't just quit life!  Sometimes you just have to work through things!"

How true, how true.  I immediately informed her that I would be reminding her of this sage advice frequently.  :)

The hilarious sidenote to this is the context in which she came to this conclusion.  We were talking about our hot tub.  It has been exhibiting sub-par performance since we inherited it.  I mortified the kids when I said, "I'd be fine to just get rid of it."  A chorus of "NO's" sounded from the backseat.  And then Sarah's insightful comment was made.  In regards to  hot tub.  A leaky hot tub.  Oh, yes, you can't just quit life, and apparently you can't quit hot tubs either.  I think I'll have this quote made in to one of the darling printables with a clip art picture of a hot tub on it and frame it in our home.  Truly, words to live by!