NEXT QUESTION

Today's journal questions is: Are you the oldest, youngest, or middle child?



I am none of the above. I am 3rd from the youngest, 5th from the oldest of seven children. However, I am the middle girl.

How have I seen the Lord's hand in my life today? Somedays this is harder to do than others. I'm hopeful that the more I practice this exercise, the easier it will be to recognize His hand in all things. Gage caught a butterfly from its perch on our white flowers in front. He was so excited and felt sure it was the very same butterfly we had in our butterfly garden. Who knows? Maybe. It made me stop for a moment and feel grateful for Springtime and all the beauty that comes with it: flowers blooming, trees greening, butterflies flitting. Ahhhh, how I love Arizona in the Springtime.

OLD GIFT RENEWED

I am so behind in keeping this journal/blog and intend to do some updating, mostly for our family records. But as I am sitting here at my new little work desk (been working for Rob) in my bedroom, I glanced over to my dresser and saw a Christmas gift my parents had given all of us kids a looooong time ago - possibly before we were married. It is a jar filled with many, many colorful little strips of paper. On each paper is a question, and our answers were to be recorded in our journals. I decided that was a good place to start me up again on this blog. I reached into the jar and pulled out this question:

Did you go on a mission? If so, where and when? What do you most remember about it? Did you learn a foreign language?

Well, this will be a short post. I did not go on a mission and in the interest of complete honesty (it is a journal, after all), I have to say that I don't regret that. I am in total awe of women who go on missions. They are much stronger than I. I have never learned a foreign language (unless you count two years of French in high school, which has proven to be totally worthless). Learning a foreign language is #99 on my bucket list of 100. So, what does all that say about me?

Also, I was inspired by my dear and awesome friend, Spring, to ask myself this question everyday: "'Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?" from a talk by Elder Henry B. Eyring. While the kids were playing, I heard them singing together, "Follow the Prophet". It was so cute and it made me feel grateful for how innocent, yet strong they are. The church, through inspiration and revelation, has done a wonderful job organizing the Primary. These kids in Primary are so knowledgeable and valiant and I'm guessing it's because they really need to be. I'm so glad that my kids get to benefit from outstanding teachers and leaders.

I have also decided that because of my OCD-Perfectionist mind (I said in my mind, it doesn't always manifest), I was going to focus on improving/perfecting one thing each month. As trivial as it sounds, the month of March is LAUNDRY. I am going to keep up with it better, not leave loads in the washer and dryer only to have to re-wash or re-dry, and actually put the clothes away IMMEDIATELY after I fold them. So, there we have it. I'm back, baby.

SO FUNNY

GAGE: Hey, Mom. Can I ask you a question? How come when the coach is standing right next to me he puts his hands around his mouth and yells my name? (as he demonstrates cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling his own name)

ME: Well, that's because he has been calling your name from across the field and you didn't respond so he keeps walking closer and yelling your name. Evidently, you don't hear him until he is standing right next to you with his hands around his mouth yelling your name.



Note: This is so much more funny when you actually get to see this in action. Coach Jason Hammonds.....the most patient coach EVER!!