BeautyFul Place

Five Things I'm Thankful For

2011-03-25T14:13:00.005-06:00

Apparently, I fell off the "I'm Thankful" wagon. Here goes my attempt to get back on.

I am thankful for:

1) My hard-working, beaten down, criticized, abused and driven, amazing husband (caveat: I never said I wouldn't be grateful for the same thing more than once). All you nay-sayers, say what you want, but not here on MY blog. If you do, I am telling you right now that I will delete it.

While he, nor I, nor you are perfect, he tries so very hard to do what is right, especially in regards to the great stewardship of the thing called politics (Utah's 2011 Legislative session just convened). While I understand "the media" has a job to do, I have a severe dislike for the way they distort things and make mountains out of molehills (or absolutely nothing for that matter). My husband spends so much time defending the choices he makes, which I understand comes with politics, but the downright meanness kills me. If you have an issue with a decision he made, just talk to him. No need to name call, belittle, begrudge or even dislike. Just ask and find out why he made the choice he did. Don't assume he is corrupt. Don't assume he did it blindly or ignorantly. Don't assume he can't or won't do anything to improve a situation. Don't assume any politician is corrupt for that matter. I have met many good and amazing people/lifetime friends on both sides of the aisle in our journey with the Legislature. My view of politicians has done a complete turn-about. Most politicians are good and honorable men and women who have the desire to do what is best for the people, the state, the nation, etc. I am sickened (yep, that's right, literally sickened, if only you could see the lump in my throat and feel the pit in my stomach) by the assumptions people make about my husband, especially when 95% have NEVER BOTHERED TO SPEAK WITH HIM OR HAVE AN AMICABLE CONSERVATION WITH HIM.

I am married to my hero, and while I don't think it would help him any for me to try and defend him in the public arena, I will do it here, among friends and family who also know what a wonderful man he is.

So to all the nay-sayers: while he is taking higher ground and NOT pointing out the flaws in YOUR logic, or questioning YOUR sanity, or saying horrible, demeaning and untrue things about YOU, let ME take a stand to tell you all that YOU ARE WRONG in your assumptions and I, as one of his most ardent admirers, will continue to support and defend him regardless of your opinion. While I may not be able to do so with great words that move people to riot (as YOU do), I will do it nonetheless. Frankly, if you think you can do it better, go for it. I encourage anyone who believes they can make a real difference and have something to offer to their community, state, nation to run for office. I think everyone should be in political office (and wait tables) at some point in their lives. The world would be a lot more compassionate place to live. So there... (now I am stepping off my soapbox).

2) Princess dress-up clothes. My daughters and their friends are entertained for HOURS in Imagination Land while I get loads of other "stuff" done. I love to see my princesses twirl and flit and prance around my living room. In my heart, I wish I was as light and carefree and felt as beautiful and elegant as they do as they imagine. I remember that feeling and hope to find it in my own heart again one day.

3) The scriptures. I am currently reading "The Book of Mormon Made Easier" by David J. Ridges... and I love it. I keep pen, a scripture-reading journal and my marking pencil handy as I spend time studying, not just casually reading, The Book of Mormon. I know it's true and I love the power I feel in our home as I read and learn and apply.

4) Good books. I LOVE to read. I read when I shouldn't. I read when I need to be transcribing, or doing laundry, or making dinner or even sleeping (heaven forbid). I love to read (did I mention that). Even more, I love that I have to yell at my son to stop reading and get his shoes on because his ride for school will be here any minute!

5a) I LOVE DISNEYLAND! While I totally get that Main Street staying open a good 1/2 hour before the park does and remains open a full hour after the park closes is just to snag my money and make a profit (along with the astronomical price of admission), I would do it all again to see the looks on my kid's faces, to hear their spontaneous laughter and squeals of joy as as we played together! I hope they NEVER forget the fun we had there. I know I never will!

5b) Family vacations. It was so nice to take off the heavy coat of responsibility and just go play and make memories with my family (of course it made it that much harder to put the darn thing back on when we pulled into the driveway, sob, sob). This will definitely not be the last time we do that!

What five things are YOU thankful for?

October 24. 2010

2010-10-25T07:19:00.004-06:00

Five things I am thankful for today:

1) The quarterly Wilcox Family birthday party. While we all inevitably spend the first 30 minutes or so in the uncomfortable we-haven't-seen-or-talked-with-each-other-since-the-last-birthday-party kind of awkwardness, by the end of the night, we are hugging and chatting and sharing our lives once again. So many different personalities, so many walks of life, so many life experiences all in one room, in one family! How blessed I am to be a part of it!

2) The strength of Sarah, Stephanie, Rachel, Spencer, Amanda and Aaron. Oneal has been gone almost 2-1/2 years now... hard years for all of us, but especially for his wife and children. I can't imagine the sorrow and demons with which they've had to struggle. I anticipate the trials rippling from his death are not past, but I am thankful for their continued faith and stick-to-it-ness. I pray to never understand first hand or experience this variety of pain, but I hope to be as strong as they when faced with adversity. Oh, how I love you guys!

3) The unconditional love of Grandma Betty. She is and always has been one of the most loving people I know. When I grow up, I want to be like Gma Betty. It has been one year since Grandpa died... (another spiritual giant whom I greatly admire and respect). My insightful husband took opportunity to call her on the anniversary of his death and talked with her for hours, asking her questions about their lives together and then recording them for future generations. Oh how I love them. Even with Gpa gone, I still think of them as a duo. I always find safety in her embraces... and I love watching my children experience her love as well.

4) Chelsie's yummy pumpkin bars. I love Fall. I love pumpkin. I love homemade cream cheese frosting. Put all of them together and I am one happy gal! Chelsie is one of the best bakers I know and so when I found her pumpkin bar recipe on her blog, I snatched it up right away and made a batch for family party! Thank goodness there were so many desserts that I got to bring half the sheet of cake home! My cute sis-in-law Jenny used to make pumpkin bars. While making them I couldn't help but think of her. I hope she knows how much I love her. I hope she knows I deeply regret not taking opportunity to share more of our lives together before she left. I hope she know I miss her.

5) Time spent with my babies and their awesome daddy! We were finishing up construction of the desk and watched the show "BABIES" together as a family while we did it. While there was a some biology/anatomy I wasn't planning on having to explain to my children, it was a fun show to watch and my kids got a kick out it! I got to hold my J and cuddle with my M.R. and giggle with my R. They (kids and dad) all want another baby in the house, so they enjoyed seeing one first hand since Mommy still isn't on board with the idea.

Why is that? (I keep wondering to myself...and now you). Why am I not ready? My current baby is already three years old... the other kids only have 2 to 2-1/2 years between them... Even if i were to get pregnant now (oh boy), there would be four years between them. I keep feeling like something is wrong with me in that I have such little desire to have another baby. I have fairly easy pregnancies, relatively easy deliveries, so I feel like a big, whiny baby; BUT emotionally, I REALLY struggle all throughout pregnancy and even the 1-1/2 years ensuing. I take a long time to emotionally recover. I don't know if that's a chemical thing or a maturity thing... but whenever I think about having another child, I think about regression. I don't think I am spiritually mature enough to handle that right now... maybe I should exercise some faith and go for it anyway. Time will tell, I guess.

Wow.... Didn't expect the telling of that thankful point to lead to this... Hmmm... gonna go now.

What five things are YOU thankful for TODAY?

October 23, 2010

2010-10-25T06:30:00.002-06:00

Five things I am thankful for TODAY:

1) Beautiful Fall scenery at the trout farm. The colors were so vibrant and the rain completely enhanced that! It was a joy to be outdoors, even though it was pouring rain. We were protected from the wetness by a bowery, so we could thoroughly enjoy the hot cocoa and conversation.

Watching the intense colors and being thankful for their beauty got me thinking about the changing of seasons. There are so many lessons Heavenly Father teaches us in just the changes and contrasts. I can think of all sorts of analogies ranging from the pride cycle, to death, to spiritual progression and putting off the natural man. The most interesting thing about the Autumn season is how much intense beauty there is in the dying of the foliage. We usually don't associate the word "beauty" with death or dying yet many of us describe the changing leaves this time of year as beautiful... and isn't interesting that Halloween is this time of year, associating death with ugliness and scary things? YET, because we can all are drawn to the changing colors and joys of nature this time of year, don't you think He is trying to show us something, teach us something about death, in all it's forms? What is it teaching you?

2) Bella's Mexican Grill. Joe Cottam is one amazing person. He and his dad run the show and though I don't know many details, I am thoroughly impressed with the way they run their business. First, their food is DELICIOUS and second, they donate as much as they possibly can to the community. I see them everywhere! And it's not just a promoting their business kind of thing... they want to serve and you can truly sense that. I don't think I've ever thought of a food establishment as a service, but Bella's is. I encourage anyone who reads this (all two of you), to frequent Joe's place as often as you can.

3) All the candidates and elected officials who participated in our "Meet the Candidate" night. Lt. Governor Bell, Congressman Rob Bishop, Kerry Gibson (candidate for Weber County Commission), Terry Thompson (candidate for Weber County Sheriff), Ricky Hatch (candidate for Weber County Clerk/Auditor) braved the weather and had a great time. I, unfortunately, didn't get to hear anything they had to say in that my self-assigned station was at the entrance keeping track of the attendance, but I am thankful they came to support Ryan and to meet the good people of our district.

4) The good people of our district, friends and family who also braved the weather. We had over 125 people in attendance. Imagine what would have happened if the weather cooperated. I think we are going to make this an annual thing. It's just too much fun and just too beautiful to pass that up!

5) My amazing husband. There just aren't words to describe his dedication and talents. I am amazed daily by what he does. He is balancing 10-20 hard things every minute of every day. The only time he rests, is when he sleeps...and those hours seem to be less and less these days. It has been a joy to watch him blossom in his different roles. He is a smart man, a logical man, a compassionate man and it is fun to see those qualities enhanced and used in such a beautiful manner. As his wife, I get to see first-hand how he deliberates over things, how he worries and prays and ponders what it is he should do... not just with politics, but in all aspects of life. It is truly an honor to be his wife. Many times I stand back in awe...I feel like I am one of his groupies! He would be embarrassed by all this, so I will conclude. BUT let it be known to all of internet-land and the blogging world, that I think my intelligent, passionate, loving, witty, handsome, spiritual giant of a man is the best thing that ever could have happened to me!

What five things are YOU thankful for TODAY?

October 22, 2010.....

2010-10-23T07:56:00.011-06:00

Today I am thankful for:

1) R's friends who showed up to support him with his Reflections Entry. The theme this year is "Together we can..." R has filled in the blank with ..."make a better community." He knew as soon as he brought the entry form home that he wanted to make a movie about cleaning up trash around the neighborhood, specifically the empty lot just down the street from us. He made a sign-up sheet to show all his friends at school, I sent a parent note stating the details and POOF! We had a handful of volunteers show up to help us! Unfortunately, because I don't seem to think more than one day ahead, sometimes just a couple of hours, I failed to charge the battery of the video camera! Thank goodness for friends who are camera-ready and willing to drive it down to me, more specifically Heather (see previous blog entry). We spent an hour and felt really good about what we were doing! I am so thankful for R's supportive friends and their parents! Now if only we had given him a lesson in filmography before we got started...

2) Frozen pizza when dinner plans fall through and I have three hungry gremlins threatening to tear down the house if I don't feed them ASAP!

3) Plans for a fun 2nd grade Halloween party and fun mothers to work with to do it. I have made a brand new friend in the process.

4) Clean laundry (not folded or put away and currently piled on my kitchen cabinet so that I will do it sooner than later... but CLEAN nonetheless)!

5. Serving in the Primary! I LOVE my calling! I LOVE teaching these kids. I LOVE teaching the basic gospel truths where the Spirit can testify to their hearts and mine. I LOVE primary songs and the simple but poignant doctrine therein and the spirit they bring. And I LOVE that my babies get to hear and see my testimony in action in a more concentrated setting (away from all the whining and yelling and fighting from them and the "clean your rooms" and "turn off the tv" and "NOW" from me).

What are five things YOU are thankful for TODAY?

p.s. No matter what I've done, I can't seem to fix the bold in some places and different fonts and sizes! How funny!

Gratitude

2010-10-21T19:27:00.004-06:00

Well, I've noticed that when the "trials" of life weigh me down, it is because I am forgetting to be grateful. Soooo, while all is good in Me-Land, I figured I'd gather some insurance, an arsenal per se, of happy thoughts for the days when pixie dust just can't be found and all I can hear is the tick-tock of the clock in that wiley gator's belly telling me how quickly my time for positive change is running out.

In line with President Monson's address regarding Living with Gratitude as well as President Eyring's talk a few (maybe one or two) sessions back about looking for and recording the hand of God in our lives daily, I want to check in here regularly (hopefully daily) to list at least five things I am grateful for and why. Please feel free to leave your own lists as well. Let's be thankful together!

1. Crockpots full of yummy dinner after longs days with preschool and piano lessons, and that after eight weeks of teaching this school year, I finally had the foresight to put something together BEFORE I left this morning!

2. Cilantro (yum). It makes everything tastes fresh and healthy and gourmet-ish (at least to my taste buds).

3. Brenda. She lets my independent princess just walk right into her home every other day, gives her a safe place to land and be loved and even feeds her yummy, nutritious lunches while I'm away!

4. My Gma & Gpa Beckstrom. Not only are they THE examples I look to in my family for their love of God, family, me and mine, but today they drove 35 min to attend a 15-min Kindergarten lunch with my princess. I was so honored they would do that for me/her. LOVE THEM!

5. Heather. She not only is my sweet friend that lifts me and inspires me and encourages me to be my best self with her awesome advice, listening ear, and powerhouse example, but we can laugh our guts out about all the "mom" things and all the life things and just find joy in living. We have a mutual appreciation for and love of music and even get to sing together regularly. Our kids are best friends and beg to go to each others houses regularly. They get that opportunity quite often in that we are also the type of friends that can count on each other to watch/take/babysit the kids if we need to go somewhere, even in a pinch. She is also the type of friend I can just "drop in on" and end up chatting with for hours about anything and everything. My husband knows if he can't find me, I'm probably at her place. He also knows that if I am going to her place, I probably won't be right back. She is the friend that is the emergency contact on any form I fill out because I know she is always ready and willing to take care of me/us. She is the friend I call in the middle of the night when there is an emergency. She is the friend I bounce ideas and concerns off. Not only does she love me, but she lets me love her too. I've told my husband on many occasions that she is probably the reason we moved into this neighborhood eight years ago.... the Lord knew I would need her.

What are five things YOU are thankful for TODAY?

Dealing with my Blessings...

2010-06-21T16:22:00.004-06:00

I am going to type my entry before I title it, especially since I don't have anything special or enlightening to share. I just have need to brain dump my day. Here goes...

Up this morning at 5:00 (supposed to be 3:00 to catch up on transcription from a fabulous weekend of much-needed camping with friends). Unfortunately, I didn't finish before my first piano lesson arrived at 8:00. I taught six students until 11:15 and felt like I'd already worked a full day. Side note: I love teaching these kids... Most of them teenagers that actually like to be at my house! I LOVE that I can be joking with them, exchanging jibes and teasings and then the next minute bearing testimony about the Plan of Salvation, the power of music and good friends, and what a joy is it to be associated with such great and noble kids...unique piano lessons at my house wouldn't ya say)!

By time I finished up my sweet, bored, unsupervised, unfed children had taken over the house and left the main living spaces (namely the kitchen and basement family room) a tornado of a mess, not having done any bed-making or chore-doing. As a result, I felt like I had to live the rest of my day in the negative, catching up. Don't like that feeling.

So, since most of what they'd eaten consisted of snacking, I fed them a slightly better lunch and read to them for 30 minutes. (Insert sigh here). Even if I eventually get to putting things back together in my house, that was the highlight. I love reading to my babies.

Unfortunately, a serious case of the sleepies and grumies suddenly set in (not for them, but for me) and I had to urgently get a nap or be in danger of yelling myself silly. Thankfully, the kidlets read books for a majority of mommy's and baby's (though she tells me constantly she's not a baby anymore) naptime. For those who might not know, I have a snack monster that lives at my house and if left unsupervised for one second, will tear the kitchen apart looking for and ravaging anything she can find. Such was the case during this much-needed and useful nap of mine and she left in her wake a hyped up version of what used to be a messy kitchen with bread crumbs and cheese pieces scattered through the place. Wow! She amazes me with her lack of constraint or discreetness.

Yet, here I am at the computer....fighting the thoughts of uselessness and wasted-day-itis typing my thoughts, hoping to get some courage to fight the daily and constant blessed onslaught of motherhood! :)

BUT I need to finish the 2hrs of transcription before I can even think about that, or dinner, or FHE and we are quickly approaching the 5:00 hour... Oh dear... wish me luck...Here's to hoping I start tomorrow with a more executable plan!

In that same vein, I have been talking with and reading blogs of strong women who have to deal with much, much harder daily fights than mine...so I think the title of this particular entry will have the word "blessings" somewhere in it...

Hmmmm....

2010-05-07T06:53:00.002-06:00

Already this morning, I have gotten up early to work before the kids are awake, read the blog of an amazing, inspiring woman, and taken the trash to the curb in my bare feet (pretty sure it's less than 40 degrees outside)... and feelin' good....even though the job I quit, keeps sending me more work... Hmmmm....

Choices

2010-05-05T12:48:00.007-06:00

So I made a choice today. It's probably one I should have made a long time ago, but it's a hard choice, full of uncertainty. But it was time.

You see, with Jenny's death, ironically a month ago today, I made a decision... to not take my family for granted anymore... to let those precious moments not slip by any longer... to take time to be a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter....not just a distracted, stressed, frustrated, overworked warm body merely trying to survive each day. I was spending so much time wearing multiple hats, trying to balance them all on my head, that I haven't been doing any of them very well for a very long time now. And frankly, that really starts to wear on a person... and the people/things she is responsible to.

So I made a choice today. Some may think it a silly thing that this is such an epiphany for me... it really is seemingly no big deal... but I was stuck in the madness of a quasi-routine that I just couldn't let go of for fear I might lose my white-knuckled grip on everything. Make sense?

Now for more of an explanation. I warn you it will seem very trite when I'm finished, but I choose to see this as pivotal. Now that's interesting... I used that exact word this morning when I ran upstairs about 10 minutes after 7:00 to cuddle with Ryan before the kids woke up... I was anxious and unsettled and I couldn't figure out why... The exact words I used this morning were these, "Can we pray...I'm feeling anxious and don't know why... as if something pivotal is happening today..." How interesting...

Ok, NOW the explanation... I have several part-time work-from-home jobs I try to pull off every week to make it possible for me to stay at home and be "mommy." The saddest part of all is that because my time is so tied up in "working from home," I have yet to be the kind of mommy I yearn to be. Because the income from all my jobs is so limited, I still have yet to earn enough to "make it" financially every month, so I've felt trapped in that there is no way, despite the quality of work I was giving them, my house, or my family that I could sacrifice the income, no matter how meager.

As I mentioned earlier, I've decided once and for all that life is too short. My time with my little family is going by so fast. I've spent the past couple of weeks putting my family first instead of the jobs... and have done better. My house is cleaner, I've spent more quality time with the kids, my temper has not been so trigger-happy, and the Spirit has visited our home more frequently. I've started to invite friends and family over to visit because I choose to cherish relationships now, not just when my house is the way I want it... but my jobs have suffered. My employers have not been happy with me as of late. Though I was completing the work, I was always late... something that particularly "infuriates" one of the people I am accountable to. While the others have been annoyed, they have been understanding for the most part.

But this past weekend, an error on their part combined with an error on my part, combined with my crazy schedule and lack of real time to fix the error in a manner pleasing to them in a time frame pleasing to them, and after hearing the frustration and disgust in her condescending voice yet again, I made the choice this morning to quit. I can't even begin to tell you what the instantaneous relief to my heart and soul felt like once I'd made that choice! While a limited amount of time weekly is really all that is freed as a result, I no longer have to choose them over my children. I no longer have to feel like a failure for not meeting their expectations. I can put that in my past and no longer confront it daily in the present! (insert massive sigh of relief here)!

And just to give an accounting, during the time I "should" have been completing her work, I chose to read to my children who were gathered around me completely engrossed in a new book and the rare quality time we were spending together all cuddled up. My son, in his sweet and sincere honesty, stated as he climbed into bed, "This was the best day ever." And for the first time, in a long time, I felt that I'd made a positive difference in the lives of my children. I chose wisely the way I spent that time... and do not regret it... not for one minute!

So, instead of being upset with her for making this choice an easier one today, I will thank her for her OCD and condescending ways that have caused me to be a disappointment in her eyes. I will thank her for pushing me to the edge of "ENOUGH ALREADY!" In that moment of uncertainty after quitting, that moment of "now what"... I turned to Heavenly Father. First, I sighed... knowing my heart would find solace and respite in the communication with my Father. Second, I apologized for not running it by Him first. Third, I sobbed in gratitude when He sent a beautiful confirmation that this was the right thing to do... my family, not this doctor, needed me... the best of me.

So I made a choice today. All be it, a small choice, a choice nonetheless, for my family. For my/our sanity. One that I would never have imagined would be so hard... but was.

Moving forward, I choose to have faith. Faith that the Lord will provide a way for us to either make it without that income or provide another/better option. Again, trite to some, but pivotal to me. I'm so grateful I am in His constant care... especially in the seemingly small events of the day-to-day.

Hmmmm....

2009-03-28T16:32:00.000-06:00

So, it's been a while... So long in fact that I have no idea what to post right now. To be continued....

Update

2009-01-27T14:48:00.006-07:00

Oh boy...

I wasn't too worried about things Tuesday afternoon right before Superman went into surgery. Because Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) via laparoscopy is such a routine procedure, we decided I would just stay home with the kids and then come back to pick him up after Rhiaman got out of school. I just couldn't take it though... while I couldn't find anyone last minute who could take all three kids at once, I scrambled to find three different friends (thank you, thank you, thank you) who could each watch one child each, reassuring all involved that it would only be a couple of hours. I happened to get to the surgical area right before he went in, and got to kiss him and wish him luck. They told me my wait would be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. So, 30 minutes in they called my name and I walked up to the volunteer excited to go meet him. She whispered sympathetically, "They've run into some problems, it will probably be at least another hour, possibly longer."

Wow... so I started to get worried. I called his parents to let them know, sat down to watch t.v. and thankfully fell asleep. I woke up an hour later to my father-in-law waking me. He had come to wait with me and see what was happening. As timed ticked slowly on, I really did try to calm my nerves but just couldn't. I was making nervous conversation, eating my candy-coated peanuts and Symphony bar like it was going out of style looking for some sort of comfort.

Another hour went by and I realized that I was now past the "couple of hours" mark for my babysitters and called my mom hoping she was in town. Thankfully, she wasn't flying and was able to come up and be with the kids. Finally, they called my name and I about jumped out of my seat and sprinted to the desk... my father-in-law even kind of chuckled at it. Trying to appear calm when you've played every possible scenario in your head (no matter how minor the surgery) is hard to do!

**SURGICAL CONTENT WARNING***The surgeon sat down with us and told us all the nitty gritty goodness of Superman's very sickly gall bladder. Apparently Superman had had that kryptonite in his pocket longer than we had thought. He was REALLY sick. They had attempted laparoscopy a couple of different ways, tried all sorts of things to get to the gall bladder, but it was SO enflamed there was nothing left to do but open him up. Apparently, the gall bladder was about four times the size it should be, the lining in some of the areas was close to half-inch thick, and there were so many large gall stones that even the large 8-in incision wasn't big enough to get the stupid thing out. They finally had to dissect the gall bladder and pull it out in pieces!!! After irrigating his gut out to clear out all the sludge, they then sewed in a drain to let the gunk find its way safely out. They finished the patch job with 23 stunning staples across his belly!

After a 15-minute discussion with the surgeon, they told us which room he would be assigned to. Dad and I walked there and waited another two hours for him to get out of recovery. We called the worried family members and waited some more. Starving, we both shared another of the chocolate bars I had stashed in my purse while we watched "Dirty Jobs" as a very good distraction.

When they finally brought him in (5-1/2 hours after he went in for surgery), he was beyond groggy. The first thing he says as he realizes he is hooked up to machines and laying flat on his back in a hospital bed and room feeling like crap is, "Well, I guess I won't be going home tonight, eh?" Ummm, no.

The very next day, they wanted him to be up and walking. I completely understand the mechanics of it and reasons for it, but I cringed every time he had to move, let alone stand and walk! After three days of constant antibiotics to get his infection taken care of, two more days of pain control coupled with painful walking up and down hospital halls, he was finally able to be miserable at home not just the hospital.

The next day, Sunday was truly a day of "rest" because Monday was the "Opening Ceremonies" per se of the 2009 Legislative Session. And Superman, being the super man he is, was going to be there, no matter what. So with a wheelchair packed in the back of the car, kids strapped in their seatbelts, pain medication in our pockets, a doctor's blessing (so long as Superman was pushed all day in the wheelchair for a couple of weeks) and prayers in our hearts and on our lips, we braved the ice-covered roads running late (big surprise) to get there just in time to wheel him to his seat on the House floor as the meeting began.

When they swore in the Legislators, they did it in two groups: the re-elected Represensatives and then the newly elected Representatives. They asked the new group to come up front to be sworn in. After the prolonged moving of chairs and people was finished, a fellow-Legislator wheeled Superman up front. Speaker of the House then thankfully excused my hubby from standing... and it became ceremonially official! He is a Utah State Legislator for real! The camera was one of the things that was forgotten as we ran out the door, so I am awaiting pictures from the other newby Legislator's wives that graciously took pictures for us! As soon as I have them, I'll post them.

My mother-in-law was a saint to take off work to be there for support, and then take my kids for the day so I could be there to help Superman. No matter what I said, he just wouldn't go home. I tried to give him all sorts of good and sound reasons that going home would be a really good idea, but he always had a reason to stay just a few minutes longer. I hope he doesn't pay for it later. Mom had dinner waiting for us when we finally got to her house to pick up the kidlets. By time we got him home in bed, exhausted, it was 10:00.

All so he could wake up and do it again the next day... this time without us... so far so good.

Well, there you have it. The update. THE END.

p.s. Oh yeah, and for those who might not know, wheelchairs are heavy and awkward things to heft in and out of a car all by my girly self! There is probably an easier way to do it, I just haven't found it yet. Wish me luck!

Surgery

2009-01-20T07:37:00.002-07:00

So here I sit in an empty house. My children have been graciously cared for my friends and family while I spent the better part of yesterday in doctor's appointments and the E.R. with Superman. (apparently he has had some cryptonite in his pocket)!

Finally at 10:30 last night it was concluded that he would be having his gall bladder removed today on an urgent basis.

Wow... nothing like a healthy (or rather unhealthy) slap in the face to bring it all into perspective!

There are several things I learned yesterday. I will only hit on the highlights:
1) I love my Superman and hate to see him so weak, pale, and in pain.

2) It empowers me to care for him. He is so strong and capable that many times I back away from doing that knowing he is amply able and more than willing to care for himself. Being in a position where I feel he needs me is invigorating!

3) While I am grateful for the care my husband is receiving, the healthcare system is messed up! Just ask the E.R. nurses who kept reminding Superman what he needs to change while in the Legislature!

4) Our friends and family are willing to drop everything to care for us! We interrupted two FHEs and a 55th birthday celebration with all this and yet these wonderful people were willing to rescue us with time and care! Even Gma K helped by running over and locking up the house after we ran out in all the madness forgetting to do so.

5) Not eating for 15 hours, juggling the kids, dropping off kids, farming out kids, caring for hubby, calling doctors, running all over the hospital, checking back and forth with doctors and radiologists and back again, sitting in an uncomfortable E.R. for three hours, etc. etc. etc. results in a mightly powerful headache by the end of the day. Boy am I grateful for Extra-Strength Tylenol and sleep!

6) I, once again, appreciate priesthood blessings and those worthy to give them.

7) I CAN DO HARD THINGS (that one's for you Heather)!

Thanks to everyone who has helped us! I know there are many, much harder health problems that other families have to deal with, and I am thankful this particular problem is easily resolved (now that we know what the problem really is)!

What a day we live in with this modern medicine and procedures. Though seemingly archaic and frustrating at times, we are truly blessed to live in this day and age! I'll keep you updated on his status...

Hope

2009-01-20T06:39:00.007-07:00

Those who do not know my heart may not know my progress, but I have watched it begin to change and it is truly liberating...

One of my tethers this year has been (and always is) music. Music has the power to move us, lead us, inspire us... and I have found one song in particular that does that recently for me (a so called recovering "despair-addict" per se).

The song is called, "C.S. Lewis Song" by Brooke Fraser, an amazing artist out of New Zealand(?). It was inspired by a quote by C.S. Lewis (go figure):

"If I find in myself a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

Here is the link to the youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHpuTGGRCbY

And here are the lyrics to the song (you will want to pull up both lyrics and video side-by-side in that her words may be difficult to understand on first hearing it):

"If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here.
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary
Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared.

Chorus:
Speak to me in the light of the dawn. Mercy comes with the morning.
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me.

Am I lost or just less found on the straight or on the round-about of the wrong way.
Is this a soul that stirs in me? Is it breaking free wanting to come alive?
'Cuz my comfort would prefer for me to be numb,
and avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become.

Chorus

For we, we are not long here.
Our time is but a breath,
So we'd better breathe it!

And I ... I was made to live!
I was made to love!
I was made to know You...

Hope is coming for me.
Hope is coming for me.
Hope is coming for me.
Hope, He's coming...

Chorus...

**************************

Dedicated to my friends and fellow-learners ... and especially Sayyadina who has taught me volumes about myself! Special thanks to Kelli for introducing me to Brooke's music!

Random

2009-01-12T12:45:00.006-07:00

Rhiaman and his cute-as-can-be red-headed female cousin (any guesses who that is for those who know the cousins) got to sing a duet with Gma in her ward on Sunday. Me, being the ball-baby I am, cried through the whole thing. I am so proud of him! They did such a beautiful job. And to top it all off, Rhiaman learned the song only 30 minutes before he performed it! He amazes me all the time!!!

Do you ever have those days where you feel like every talk, conversation, song, testimony, etc is God reaching out to your heart and saying, "I haven't forgotten you... I want you to be happy and I want to heal you."

(I know I'm not the only one or testimony meeting would consist ONLY of travel logs...)

Anyways, that's what yesterday was for me... but only after I had a meltdown and yelled at everything in site! What a temper I have! (I grew up with a red-head for a mother, and I swear that most of the time I am more of a hot-head than she ever was)! :)

It started out with a talk on Forgiveness and how we tend to punish people when they've hurt us... we want them to hurt just as deeply as they hurt us. Forgiveness is better. Then a talk on self-esteem and how important it is that we realize who we really are. Then Rhiaman's duet with Gma about showing our Love for the Savior by serving others and sharing the gospel. Then a missionary report focusing mainly on praying: praying in faith and focusing our prayers and thoughts on others (instead of ourselves). Yeah, my whole day was one long loving and effective sermon...Good thing He's so patient with me (especially when I'm not)!

On a side note, I mention the following because 1) I'm excited to see what happens, 2) I need ideas, and 3) I hope to track the progress of "our project" here. I introduced a new functional/interactive Enrichment poster yesterday. There are 10 categories of "smaller activities" that each have a pocket on the poster. Let's see if I can remember them all: Mom&Me, Exercise club, temple club, family history, service, scrapbooking, craft club, dinner club, book club, and preparedness. Periodically we will have small activities in those categories and will put the announcement in the pocket! I'm so excited!!! Now I just have to get to planning a "small" activity in each category to get it off the ground. I only had a minute to explain how it worked in R.S., but everyone seemed so excited. I almost felt bad for the sweet teacher because everyone was so chatty all through her lesson after I presented it.

So, if you have any ideas for any of these said categories for things we could do I would LOVE your input!

Some short term goals this year

2009-01-05T21:46:00.002-07:00

1) Inventory and update food storage, and 72-hour kits.
2) Planting and maintaining a garden...bottling and storing food (thank you Teisha in advance)!
3) New paint will touch every room
4) Order and functionality will reign in every room, drawer and cupboard
(even if I have to ask for help... thank you Heather in advance)!
5) Beauty will begin to show its face in every room (thank you Marilyn in advance)!
6) Precious time will be willingly spent in the service of others on a consistent basis...

My turn at 2008 in retrospect

2009-01-05T17:59:00.003-07:00

Wow... saw my friend do this and thought it was a good idea... Count Your Blessings kind of thing...

First of all, before I even begin, you must be warned that this will be sappy and dramatic... just like me... While I do like to think people come to this page to see updates of my family, I also consider this a journal of sorts... and I am VERY long-winded. Consider yourself warned.

Second, this has truly been one of the hardest years I've ever experienced... mostly due to my own decision to wallow in my sorrow/trials/pain instead of remembering my blessings... I've spent many wasted hours distracted, crying, venting, and being just plain angry at the hand life has dealt me instead of truly rejoicing in what the Lord has been trying to teach me. That, unfortunately, has been the theme for me this year and I need to profusely thank my dear friends and family for sticking with me as I am learning to "get over myself..." as well as my Heavenly Father and Savior for waiting oh so patiently. Acknowleding this fact is acknowledging to myself and all who read this that I am closing that chapter and moving on to the happy adventures of 2009.

Despite that sad introduction, 2008 really did hold some marvelous things which I hope to list here (leaving out most of the garbage):

"Superman" interned at the Utah Legislature (for FREE) while working full-time for Sprint and writing 10 different papers as well as pages and pages of journal entries for said internship, all the while still Elder's Quorum President and full-time Logan manager (what a commute)! To add to the stack of stress and after much fasting and prayer, deep introspection and many late nights/early mornings, we decide to run for the State Legislature all while Superman is trying to finish the last semester at Weber State. He really and truly does graduate (YAY!!!!!) while running a primary election campaign. "Rhiaman" also finished out his last year of preschool, and graduated within weeks of Dad. He can't wait for Kindergarten to begin!!! Princess Sunshine is beginning to realize her best friend is about to have life experiences that she won't be able to tag along for. "Beautiful Baby" is happy and content in every situation and is definitely a blessing and calming influence amid all the stress and motion.

Yours truly and Superman spend out ninth anniversary at Campaign School in Salt Lake City after Superman didn't sleep one wink the night before trying to finish up some project I can't remember right now. We do have an awesome dinner that evening at a restaurant I can't remember the name of and spend quality time reminicing about all the good times from the last nine years together.

Despite being an exhausting three months of intense door-to-door campaigning with three kids in tow, endless campaign strategy meetings, and hours and hours of typing letters & invitations, April, May and June finds Yours Truly and the kids actually spending more time with busy hubby than we have for years/months. My kids lived with their Grandma for the last two weeks of June during crunch time for primary election. (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa). We win the primary election! Superman just didn't win... WE ALL DID!!! YAY US!!!!

Mixed in with the sweet is the bitter as Ryan's family experiences family tragedy whose backlash will be felt for years among the old and young. In the space of three days, we mourn, we celebrate and then leave for a well-deserved vacation in Island Park with my siblings and mom where "Beautiful Baby" celebrates her first birthday and the kids see Yellowstone for the first time! Go Old Faithful (with my crazy brothers... good times...they always know how to make me laugh) and Dragon's Mouth! One week later we venture to Mantua for Superman's family vacation where we experience an eye-opening almost-loss of Superman and Rhiaman as the four-wheeler they are riding flips over on top of them... Can we say road rash?! Thankfully we don't even have to venture to the hospital... though we probably should have. Fireworks, emergency trip to Walmart for a usable air mattress and home to be in 4th of July parades for Uncle K.

"Beautiful Baby" gets teeth, "Rhiaman" starts losing his. "Princess Sunshine" really learns to use her lungs as her screaming when upset escalates to an all-time ear-piercing decibel. We take the month of July off from just about everything, even helping in-laws with home renovations, as we recuperate. We all take turns getting strep throat and spend the 24th in bed! Summer brings more piano students and more transcription. We have a fun outside/backyard recital with ensuing water fight! Ryan's dear cousin Josh and his beautiful wife (another new friend) get married and Josh is ordained an Elder and takes out his temple endowments. We sincerely look forward to future sealing in 2009.

The kids learn to swim and Rhiaman excels at city league baseball. Princess Sunshine can't wait for her turn. She spends a lot of time her with new best friend, McKinley, whose mommy has incidentally become one of Mommy's best friends, home decorators and fashion consultants!

Fall time: Rhiaman begins KINDERGARTEN and can't wait to be a big kid. Begins to read and reads everything in site. Corrects Mommy when she skips sentences of long bedtime stories. Princess Sunshine officially begins preschool and life without big brother. Makes friends easily, loves to learn and is so happy to be an independent thinker and mover! Is truly a Princess!

Fall campaigning finds Yours Truly less than anxious to do anything campaign-oriented but ends up making friends-for-life with campaign opponent and his wife (it doesn't hurt that they also live in our ward and their daughter is a dear friend of mine and piano student)! Superman gets promotion to closer store and actually spends less time driving to and from all his responsibilities! I am released as choir director and called as the "Family, Home and Personal Enrichment" Leader... I trust that the Lord knows what He is doing!

I not only begin Twilight series but immerse myself in it. I am a friend of fantasy anyways and find a genre that speaks to me at this point in my life. I obsess over Twilight with another new dear friend, my sister Becky... We spend hours online searching for movie clips, book reviews, interviews, and the countdown to the movie emailing each other about our latest finds as well as spending hours reading FanFiction. I go the midnight movie premiere with her and love that I am also an independent thinker and mover! Beginnings of celebrating me... not just being what I do... (or don't do)...

Superman wins general election and the mailbox heist and time-with-family heist begins. So many pieces of mail for Representative "Superman" that it piles up on the kitchen table until we can get a system in place... Good luck finding anything there! So much time away with meetings, people and causes. Limited money in the State of Utah bank account due to the state of the economy equals "fun" future Leg sessions without money in upcoming 2009.

December brings new Leg. orientation (wow, eye-opening... I stand in awe of Superman), family tragedy and baggage with my family, but plans for a happy Memphis wedding with Superman's family that provide a much-needed distraction. Life stress reaches an all-time high, tears are shed, egos are severely bruised, and priorities are necessarily reshuffled. Superman leaves for wedding in Memphis with siblings and parents (nothing like dropping $700 for a plane ticket right before Christmas, thus reason why Superman went alone) and I paint a living wall room red, rearrange the basement, cut eight inches off my newly "blonde" hair, and begin the much-needed process of "digging-out" physically and emotionally (thank you Marilyn, Heather, Andrea and Denise, and of course, Superman)!

Christmas comes and goes in a flash while we revel in the magic of these fleeting Christmases with our young family. I also got to spend much-needed time with my siblings...and realize just how much more I need them in my life! Good times!

The renovation of Superman's parents house finds us spending many hours helping putting their home "back together" before wedding party arrives and scrambling to put an Open House together at the same time. Thank goodness for a friendly plumber willing to make house calls on New Year's Eve! We get things "functional" just in time to ring in the New Year sleeping on a chair in my in-laws house. A significant thought crosses my mind as I reflect on that position... not home in my comfortable bed and probably not appreciating it, but exhausted serving someone else resting in an easy-chair, completely happy that I've spent precious time doing something good for someone who needed me... just like my dear friends have done for me this year!

I had an interesting but enlightening conversation about hope this past year... knowing that is what I needed most. Hope is a state of mind... Hope is a choice. Despite all the garbage, we choose to hope, not in ignorant bliss, but in informed and knowing eyes-wide-open joy, acknowleding with every breath all that the Lord has truly given us.

Hope shows it's face around here again and upward and outward is where we are headed in 2009...

Milestone

2008-11-18T09:47:00.003-07:00

Riahman has reached a milestone today. While laughing hysterically at a funny joke (his own, I might add... He's so much like his mom!) hot chocolate *ouch* spilled from his nose which, of course, only made him laugh even harder! Though it wasn't the typical "milk spilling from the nose", it was significant nonetheless!

Congratulations son! You have now joined the ranks of the "we-laugh-so-hard-that-strange-things-happen-while-we-are-laughing" club! You make me proud! :)

A Moment in History!

2008-11-15T08:08:00.004-07:00

I have just been so relieved that all the campaigning is over that I have failed to report what happened. Most of you have heard by now via word of mouth or newspaper, but I should definitely report it here so there is at least a record...

RYAN IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE STATE OF UTAH!!!! GO WILCOX!!!

We got to go to the "results party" (which for future reference is far from what I would call a party) and see who won. Ryan's parents, grandparents, co-workers, friends, my dad & his wife, etc. were there to help cheer and celebrate... but that is not what kind of a party this was. Apparently, everyone just stares at the wall of results all night and then goes home. No cheering, no celebrating... just watching, snacking and going home. I, fortunately, had the added bonus of chasing my hyper children around to keep them contained and somewhat quiet... until 11:30 p.m. SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Ever since Nov. 4, Ryan has been involved every night with something with the Legislature. They say the time commitment is only one meeting per month and then the six-week session, but I would dare say it is an every-day event. Either someone from the district is calling, someone in the House or Senate is calling, some organization with a concern, etc. etc. is calling everyday!!!! I think the only time we are really going to see him for the next two years, will be when we have to start campaigning for his re-election in 2010!

Let the good times roll!!

Can We Say Drama?

2008-11-07T21:09:00.003-07:00

So my Superhero son, as tough as he is, has a 'soft' side as well. Tonight as we were power-cleaning the basement (it looked like a bomb went off) we were listening to the kids' favorite soundtrack "High School Musical."

Because these movers of mine can't help but groove whenever a beat comes on, they were dancing and singing their hearts out. Every now and again a slower ballad-type song came on and they would both stop and sway and sing as loudly and sweetly as they could.

After one of these slow-ballads finished (sang by a girl no less), my strong and mighty Superhero sighed, looked at me with that sweet face and said in all seriousness,

"Wow, I sang that song really good... Hmmm, I even cried a little bit in the middle..."

All I could do was shake my head in agreement and go straight for the computer to get this down!!

What can I say... Dramatic parents = dramatic kids!

(For all those worried about his possible loss of testosterone, please don't be alarmed. Rest assured that this small moment of "softness" only slightly evened the scales from his day of teasing and tormenting his sister).

Grandmas

2008-10-28T13:04:00.008-06:00

So Princess Sunshine and I were at the store today, and as she is waiting for me to get her sister out of the car she whispers very scandalously,"Mom, there are a couple of grandmas (pronounced grah-mahthz... "ah" as in octopus, and don't forget the lisp) over there."

I turn to look and sure enough, there are two sweet and curly-white-headed women (grandmas I assume) loading groceries into their car, completely unaware of the spying taking place. I whisper back, "Oh yeah?"

She proceeds to shake her head incredulously, folds her arms and says, "Grandmas, *tsk tsk* they are ALWAYS shopping." :)

Well there you go grandmas. No use hiding it now. You've been caught! *tsk tsk*

Riahman--the Ultimate Superhero (All Rights Reserved)

2008-10-24T07:56:00.005-06:00

So my son is WAY into the whole superhero thing...He has a Superman costume, two Spiderman costumes, etc. etc. not to mention all the shirts and underwear that bear a superhero emblem. Any time he sees anything that might look like a superhero, I am bombarded by all sorts of questions. He asks me about heroes I've never even heard of from the Marvel Comic days...

One day he came in the front room doing all sorts of stunts and asking his sister to refer to him as "Riahman." After stifling all sorts of giggles, I finally asked him who Riahman was. "He is a superhero I made up." When I asked him what he could do I was told of all sorts of amazing feats: flying, shooting fire or ice, rescuing all sorts of animals and things and people with his super-strength, night vision, xray vision, super-speed and ability to climb walls and buildings.

"He can shoot stuff out of his arm."
"When he runs sometimes lights come on his hands and he can start shooting out of his fingers."
"He can break boxes" (huh?)
"He has a computer that he can type on so fast that he is done in one-second" (my personal favorite...probably has something to do with the hours I spend on the computer doing transcription)!
"He has animal friends that can fly and catch whatever he throws up in the air."
"He has a sidekick named Pokey."
"He has a walkie-talkie phone."

In his awesome imagination he has even designed his costume which "is blue and red and then black on his legs and then blue & red on his shoes again."

For weeks and weeks we heard of nothing but Riahman... things have calmed down a bit, but whenever I need my son to do anything he doesn't want to do, I call on his alter-ego Riahman to "save the day" who usually gets the job done, though admittedly not as thoroughly as my son would have. After all, Riahman has more important things to do than scrub a toilet!

Kid's say the darndest things

2008-10-21T21:49:00.002-06:00

So Princess Sunshine (formerly Little Lady) is drawing pictures in her new notebook and she says to Riahman (pronouced Ree-uh-mahn... formerly Little Man) , "Do you want me to draw a picture of you?
R: Uh... okay....
PS: Would you like me to make you handsome.
R: Uh...okay...
PS: Don't worry, I won't make you handsome like the prince though.
R: (sigh of relief) Oh, thank you.
PS: Oops, I drew your head like a pineapple.
R: That's okay, I like pineapple.
PS: Should I put handsome hair on it?

Then later while I was making breakfast, Riahman asks, "What are we having for breakfast?"
Mom: Cowboy pancakes.
P.S. : But I don't like cowboy pancakes.
R: (laughing hysterically and pointing mockingly at his sister) There aren't cowboys in the pancakes... It's just what the cowboys eat!!!!

Maybe the whole funniness doesn't translate well to blog, but I was laughing inside all morning at their logic!

Love my babies!!!

THE NEW TWILIGHT TRAILER!!!

2008-10-10T06:00:00.006-06:00

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Breathe, breathe, breathe.....

www.twilightmoms.com
(just scroll down the page)

I am not obsessed, I am not obsessed... right? HAH!

Ironic it is the entry right after General Conference... I know, I know, I'm working on getting my priorities straight! :) *giggle*

General Conference

2008-10-06T05:49:00.002-06:00

So in the Saturday morning session of Conference they just should have come right out and said, "Oh and by the way, Kristina Wilcox, these next two days of Conference talks are meant completely for you."

Holy Moly, did every single talk have to apply to me? I can't wait to get the Conference Ensign and digest it!

Bring It On Home-Little Big Town

2008-09-25T11:24:00.004-06:00

DEDICATED TO MY BABIES AND THEIR DADDY:

You got someone here wants to make alright
Someone who loves you more than life right here
You got willing arms that'll hold you tight
A hand to lead you on through the night right here
I know your heart can get all tangled up inside
But don't you keep it to yourself

[Chorus:]
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me

You know i know you like the back of my hand
But did you know I'm gonna do all that I can right here
I'm gonna lie with you till you fall asleep
When the morning comes I'm still gonna be right here (yes I am)
So take your worries and just drop them at the door
Baby leave it all behind

[Chorus]

Baby let me be your safe harbor
Don't let the water come and carry you away

[Chorus]

You got someone here wants to make it alright
Someone who loves you more than life right here...

What are your THREE?

2008-09-23T14:19:00.008-06:00

I was tagged by my sister-in-law Becky. I've never done this before so I'll probably do it wrong....here goes!

Three Joys:
1) the love of my life (Ryan, duh)
2) my babies
3) reaching the goals I set.

Three Fears:
1) constant failure
2) never getting out of debt
3) never getting out of my fat suit.

Three Goals:
1) organize my home
2) get out of debt
3) get skinny, I mean, healthy!

Three Obsessions:
1) TWILIGHT!!!
2) perfection and thus self-loathing (a bit dark, I know, I'm working on it)
3) Ryan *wink, wink* !!!

Three Facts:
1) I was just called to be the Homemaking leader!
2) I daydream... a lot... !
3) my house is never clean (sad but true, again, I'm working on it...ironic isn't it)!

Wow!! That says waaay too much about me!!! Now I get to tag five friends. Heather, Alisha, Juliann, Katie and Teisha.

Little Lady's First Day of Preschool

2008-09-23T13:04:00.003-06:00

She is growing so fast! She is just a couple of inches shorter than her big brother, and is smart, smart, smart! Fiercely independent and with an attitude to match, but equally full of love and compassion, especially for her lucky family!

I LOVE that I get to play such an integral role in my babies preschool experiences.

Little Man's First Day of Kindergarten

2008-09-23T12:39:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it's here! I was just as excited for his first day of school as he was... I didn't even think I was going to cry. That is until we were walking away from the classroom and Little Lady said, "I'm going to miss my brother," and proceeded to fall apart... So I soon followed and we both walked down the hall with all the other crying mommies...

It's not a crime to love your babies so bad it hurts!

Don't Mess with me!!!

2008-09-23T12:25:00.004-06:00

Ryan and I on the shooting range... Don't mess with me... I'm a pretty good shot!

Flowers

2008-09-23T11:57:00.003-06:00

So Ryan surprised me and brought these home for the Summer Piano recital in the backyard the end of July... they added so much to the setting...

Though they may have just seemed like a beautiful arrangement sitting atop the piano to all of those attending, to me they were an outright and obvious display of the love my best friend has for me.

It's just another endearing reason I love him so much... a seemingly small gesture that meant so much, gave me the confidence I needed in an intimidating situation, a reassurance of his belief in me...

Oh, how I love him....

BEE STING!!!

2008-09-23T11:51:00.002-06:00

So Little Man was outside playing on the bee hangout, oops I mean, swing set and was attacked by a bee. Ryan, with his amazing skills, concocted a healing potion (mud) to take away the "sting" and boy did it ever work. While they were waiting for the "potion" to dry, Ryan had a little art fun with Little Man's belly... Look closely and you'll see a smiley face and some writing! That's funny!!!

Daddy's Girl

2008-09-23T11:41:00.005-06:00

So Angel-baby can't get enough of her Daddy! Whenever he is around, Mommy hardly exists... Daddy always knows how to make her laugh, and she always knows how to make him feel like the best Daddy in the world when she just can't stop hugging him, cuddling him and patting his back, and giving him the occasional kiss!

Swim Lessons- July/August 2008

2008-09-23T11:35:00.006-06:00

I enrolled the kidlets in swim lessons this summer... and I found out that my kids are really fish, not kids, FISH! They loved it!

We also discovered something new about Little Lady (I need to change her online name... she sounds like a Disney movie dog...) Anyways... we found out she has something called "cold water petechia" which means that anytime she is exposed to cold water or her skin gets cold as a result of being wet, she breaks out into hives...ALL OVER HER BODY!!! She itches and scratches and fidgets and squirms until we can get her all warmed up again in a nice, hot bath!!!

What's even more interesting is that I had the same thing when I was in my teens. I don't get it too often anymore... but sometimes I think I can feel it coming on... It has something to do with histamine.. and I swear I can feel it coursing through my veins when I start to get it... Strange, but true!

So here are some photos of swim lessons, pirate graduation and all!!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Summer Sickness-July/Aug 2008

2008-09-23T11:33:00.003-06:00

Normally about this time of the summer there would be an entry about Pioneer Day parades, BBQs, and fun... But Ryan and I were unlucky enough to get strep throat at the same time! Two weeks later the kids both got it. Angel-Baby was the only one spared!!! I have to admit this is the first time (at least as far as I remember) that I had strep throat in the summer... TOTAL BUMMER!!!

Girls Night Out-July 2008

2008-09-23T10:36:00.005-06:00

So every year Ryan is in charge of the Fathers and Sons outing for our ward. Little Man had swimming lessons that night, so he couldn't go up the same time as his Dad, so we took him up later. Little Lady was definitely upset that she couldn't stay, but quickly got over it when I reminded her we were having our own Girls Night.

We first went out to dinner at Chili's!! We had a blast! Then we stopped by Zeppe's Italian Ice for our dessert, Little Lady got banana, I got green apple, Angel-baby shared. Then we watched Barbie's Nutcracker Movie in our p.j.s on my bed. The girls got to spend the night in my room and we didn't miss the boys one little bit! If I had pictures of their adventures, I would post them here, but I don't. They had a great time though!!!! They both came back with smiles and covered in dirt!

Wilcox Family Vacation-July 2008

2008-09-23T10:27:00.003-06:00

So I, sadly, did not get any pictures of this trip! We were camping up in Mantua (I know, the party capital of the world) but it is always fun when you have friends around.

There was four-wheeling (Ryan and Ryder rolled theirs, could have been killed, and are both permanently scarred for life), painting, bubbles, smores, parades (Uncle Kerry's), fireworks (Brigham city with Aunt Jackie), late-night trips to Walmart for air mattresses when ours wouldn't work, and overall a we-had-fun-but-we're-so-glad-to-be-home kind of trips!!

We went to church with Mom and Dad the next day and Dad gave the AWESOMEST lesson about the Plan of Salvation for our kids. Wow!!!

The next day we went to the Junction for minature golf, and to see "Wolly" at the Junction (don't waste your time) and had popcorn, went back to Mom's for lunch and naps, then back to the Junction bowling and dinner at Bajio (I think that is the one at the Junction, they are all alike just with different names). Ryan was working all day and had to miss out on all the fun (and not fun with three tired and crazy kids)!

Overall a great vacation!

Ryan Brigde Jumping

2008-09-23T10:25:00.003-06:00

So there is this river in Island Park, Henry's Fork River (?). There is a notorious bridge near the dock where you first enter the river for floating down in canoes, rafts, etc. When I lived there about 10 years ago, I jumped off this bridge (I was a lot braver then), and here are shots of Ryan doing the same thing 10 years later!!! He'd be absolutely embarrassed to know I posted these!!! Love you, honey!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More Yellowstone

2008-09-23T10:24:00.004-06:00

I am so learning how to do this movie thing... so here ya go... more movie!!!

Angel-baby had her 1-year old birthday party on this vacation, messy cake and all, but I can't seem to find the pictures!!! AAAHHH!!! (If I find them, I'll add them to the video)! Happy Birthday baby!!!

Oh yeah, the night we left, both Ryan and I were laughing so hard and enjoying each other's company so much we completely missed the road we were supposed to take and ended up two hours off course!!! We ended up having to stay the night in a motel and leave early the next morning. Good times, good times!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Beckstrom Family Vacation-June 2006

2008-09-23T09:54:00.007-06:00

So two days after the Primary Election, we took off for Yellowstone with the Beckstroms at Kurt and Becky's family cabin. WHAT A RIOT!!! I need to hang out with my family more often!!!
These shots are taken at Old Faithful. We hardly got any shots of the geyser, mainly just of us bein' crazy. HILARIOUS!!! Oh, and we did get shots of us eating icecream at the Lodge. Look out all you ice cream stealin' ground hogs, the Beckstrom's are back and we're not sharing!!! :) HAH!!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Four Generations-Wilcox June 2008

2008-09-23T09:37:00.003-06:00

Grandpa & Grandma Wilcox, Daddy & Angel-baby, Gma Betty and Gpa Bob

Dinosaur Park

2008-09-23T09:13:00.006-06:00

Granny and Granddad took us to Dinosaur Park!! Joel, Amanda and Leah were visiting this past May and so Granny wanted to take us someplace special! The kids had a riot with their cousin Leah and even Julia was excited by all the new places and faces. I love that my dad likes to play on the swings too!

T-BALL!!!!

2008-09-23T08:45:00.003-06:00

Ryder's first year of T-ball... We expected a little bit more excitement... but it was fun nonetheless. In Ryder's first game, he was the "pitcher". He went to chase a grounder, fell on top of the ball, and then got tackled by the rest of his team... Which sport are we playing again? :) All-in-all he had a great time and even got new "spiky" shoes out of the deal, not to mention his cute mug on a refrigerator magnet!!! Hilarious!

Ryan's Graduation-May 2008

2008-09-23T08:20:00.003-06:00

Ryan graduated from Weber State University with his Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Spanish and Political Science!!! Woo-Hoo!!! We are so proud of you, Daddy!

I Had a Dream!

2008-09-23T08:15:00.002-06:00

So I had a dream last night that I was updating my blog! Isn't that funny? What I can't accomplish during the day, I accomplish in my sleep. Man, I wish it really worked that way... I would get a lot more done!

So part of the problem with not posting is that my external harddrive that holds ALL of my pictures on it is malfunctioning and is preventing me from getting any of my pictures to post. I know I have a hard time reading blogs that don't have pictures accompanying the entry, so I have been refusing to post.

Wait, I just found a memory card with recent stuff on it... Are you ready for the back log of entries that is now going to be posted. Hold on to your hats! Here we go!

Don't Faint that I Finally posted. Beware: Cheesy Alert!

2008-08-11T10:32:00.008-06:00

So it's been way too long since I've blogged anything, and I have just a couple of minutes and I thought I'd check in!

Well, I am a bit embarrassed but too obsessed to care that I have found a new and probably fleeting addiction... I am now an official "Twilighter!" This is not a surprise for all my Facebook friends and my face-to-face friends who have heard Twilight-this and Twilight-that non-stop for the last two weeks. It's not that I necessarily condone what happens in the stories, but it is a love story... an impossible love story... Yet I completely love being pulled in and imaging it really could happen. I started on Wednesday, July 30 and was finished with all four books four days later! AAAHHHH!!!! I'm so glad I didn't wait a year in-between each book!!! It was so nice to start and finish and get it all resolved without all the anxiety of waiting!!!!

The absolute best part about reading it is that is I get to read about all of Edward's and Bella's good and bad qualities, about Edward and Bella's love story and instead of pine for what I want one day (like I would have if I were still a teenager), I get to set the book down and hold what is mine in my arms for real and be grateful that my soulmate is living and breathing and better than the "Edward" i am reading about, and that I don't get just immortality with mine, but ETERNITY along with the children that our true love has created. I read the books and find myself incredibly grateful for my life and thus appreciate it more.

I love a love story, a happily ever after... isn't that what we all want and aim for?

All the Hard Work...

2008-06-25T06:23:00.003-06:00

...Paid off!!! Last night we found out that Ryan won the primary election for Utah House of Representatives! He is now the official Republican nominee for House District 7. And boy are we tired!

I fully intended to take pictures of the entire process, the fun things we did, the hard work we did, etc. etc. reactions of friends and foes... but I tell you what, we barely had time to breathe... so pictures and blogging sat on the back burner, all the while I am thinking how I should be documenting all this. But in the thick of it all, my brain just couldn't handle one more thing!

I apologize to friends and family both who were hoping to see updates and the process on the blog. I really planned to do it, so I sincerely apologize!

Anyways, I hope I can fill in all the details in hindsight now.... but here's the kicker: Ryan's uncle Oneal passed away last week, and his funeral is today... devastating to say the least. After that we leave for vacation with my family to Island Park, ID. We get home from that and then recover long enough to go on vacation with Ryan's family. Then we are in the North Ogden parade, then two family reunions back to back, a wedding shower, etc. Not to mention I am now officially FIVE dictation tapes behind.

So....what I'm saying is it may be a little while before I can post everything!

Great Expectations and Growing up Too Fast

2008-05-28T13:04:00.000-06:00

During Sunday dinner, Ryan was reading me the titles of books he wants to read this summer. As soon as Ryan read the title "The Road to the Extra Mile is Never Crowded" Little Man slumps his shoulders and says with a defeated tone "I was afraid you were going to say that."

Memorial Day morning, Sunshine comes into our room dressed (that in itself is a surprise) with her purse slung over her shoulder and announces, "I'm going on a date, Bye" and spins around walking out of our room. So I call her back and say, "But you aren't 16 yet. You shouldn't go on a date until you are 16!" To which she replies with all the sass and eye roll of a teenager, "But I am only pretending, Mom!" and struts away! Five minutes later she returns happy as a clam and says, "I'm back!" "Did you have a good time?" "Yeah. He took me to a princess movie." To which I say, "Wow, sweetie! He must be a really great guy!"

An "Eating Movie"

2008-05-28T10:43:00.000-06:00

On Saturday afternoon during a break from canvassing, we were relaxing in the cool basement wanting to watch a movie. Ryan, teasing the kids, said we should watch Jurassic Park as a family. Imagine his surprise when the kids yelled "YAY!! We've been wanting to watch that for our whole lives!" So Ryan, again teasingly said, "Okay." Now this must have surprised the kids because they both looked at me like, "What? Has he lost his mind?" Ryan proceeded to put the movie in and Little Man started getting nervous... "Dad, dinosaurs eat people... Is there eating in this movie?"

When I shook my head yes and herealized this wasn't going to be a 'safe' movie he then started protesting. Ryan figured we'd just watch the first couple of minutes totally forgetting that there is "eating" in the very first scene. By time that scene was over, both kids' eyes were wide with terror and Little Man was literally running to the DVD player almost in tears. Absolutely horrified he turned to his dad and yelled, "You are not supposed to let me watch PG-13 movies, Dad!" So there you have it, lesson learned. I don't think the kids will be asking to watch PG-13 movies from now on, nor will their dad be volunteering to traumatize them anytime soon!

Little Man's Preschool Graduation

2008-05-17T17:16:00.001-06:00

Again, another bookmark. By the way, how do I post video on here?

I am Cereal! So true, so true!

2008-05-04T20:42:00.001-06:00

You Are Cereal

Playful and lighthearted, breakfast is likely your favorite meal of the day.

(In fact, you're probably the type who sneaks cereal as a midnight snack.)

Your culinary skills are probably a bit lacking... and you are a sucker for junk food.

Some people accuse you of eating like a kid, but you prefer to think of yourself as low maintenance.

What Kind of Breakfast Are You?

Daddy's Graduation, Little Man T-Ball, Baby Girl's First Tooth

2008-05-04T20:15:00.000-06:00

Time is just too short to put everything in right away. I saw a friend of mine blog a "bookmark" to go back to and fill in details later, and I think it's a great idea...

So this is a bookmark per se to fill in the details later about graduation, t-ball, and teeth!

You Tell Me

2008-05-02T20:40:00.001-06:00

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Yellow

You're yellow, the color of joy and energy — two things you definitely bring to everyone around you. It's hard for anyone to be sad or lonely in your presence; your sunny disposition and cheery outlook just won't allow it. The warmth of your personality shines through in the kindness you show friends and family (and strangers, too). Always ready with a lighthearted joke or heartfelt compliment, you know how to make people feel good about themselves, so they can't get enough of you. Yellow is a warm and inviting color for a warm and inviting person — you!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

I don't know that my family would agree with this (they see me when I'm grumpy and overwhelmed), but my friends might! What do you think?!!

My Sick Kidlets

2008-04-29T14:36:00.000-06:00

My kids (especially Sunshine) have been teasing me with their runny noses these past couple of weeks, so I thought that with the peek-a-boo Spring weather we were getting that they were sprouting allergies right along with the sprouting flowers. Well, the family pediatrician proved me wrong last Monday with xrays of my Little Sunshine. I got to see what pneumonia looks like on a chest xray. Pretty cool, but pretty darn gunky for my sweet girl. The doctor and her staff were amazed by her energy and pinkness, since according to clinical exam she should be miserable.

Well this past Monday we went in for a check-up and Sunshine's chest was clearer but her lung capacity still isn't up to snuff, so we are now the official owners of a nebulizer! Every 4-6 hours we strap her up to the machine and she puffs away! So far it's pretty cool. We'll see how she feels about it by Thursday. I guess she wanted to share the joy in that both Little Man and Baby Girl both sported the latest design in fevers right after we left the doctor and are both now hacking their lungs out and miserable.

The best part of the whole day was the look on the medical equipment deliverer's face when she brought the nebulizer. I hadn't swept the kitchen or done the dishes (I had finally exercised for the first time in a year instead of my morning routine, plus spent the rest of the morning catching up on transcription and cleaning out the carport), so when she needed to wash her hands we led her to the bathroom only to discover I hadn't yet refilled the soap dispenser or put that load of towels in the dryer (I had been gone visiting teaching earlier that afternoon when I usually switch the loads). Because we had Julia in the tub trying to reduce her fever, Ryan was running all over trying to find soap and towels. He finally delivered the lady dish soap and paper towels, and ended up wrapping the freshly-bathed baby in a blanket. Way to improvise honey! By time she left my house, I'll bet she was shaking her head and feeling sorry for my poor little family. Even if she wasn't, boy was I embarrassed!

In celebration of my awesomeness as Mother of the Year, Ryan ordered pizza so I wouldn't have to cook or feel bad about holding my sick babies (even though I was cleaning the kitchen in-between doses of Acetaminophen and Albuterol in spite of myself), while he posted the latest and greatest "Vote Wilcox" billboards and yard signs around North Ogden with his campaign manager!

Such is life... bless my poor mother-in-law who called in the middle of it all and got an earful! Sure love ya mom!

Changes

2008-04-29T11:16:00.001-06:00

I decided to break up the monotony of my blog and change color, font, etc. etc. Hope you like it! By the way, I took that picture at the top of the blog while we were driving down the freeway next to the Pacific Ocean. Pretty impressive wouldn't you say!

The quote under the title is Ryan's adaptation of the frequently heard quote, "All because two people fell in love. " Though we understand the idea behind the popular phrase, it almost denotes an accident. Ryan and I feel like we didn't just "fall" in love, it wasn't an accident. We were in love then and are in love now because we choose to be... everyday. We have decided that our love, our relationship, the covenants we've made to each other and with the Lord, and the children that come to our home because of that love are more important than anything else. Thus, we choose to love and cherish one another on purpose!

FYI

2008-04-27T09:06:00.000-06:00

Just in case anyone wondered... We are so going to win this election!

Our Ninth Anniversary!

2008-04-26T22:01:00.000-06:00

Well, we made it to nine years! I can't believe how fast it has gone! We had one of our most interesting anniversaries this year by far! The National Farm Bureau puts on a campaign school for candidates running for public office and the one scheduled in Utah happened to land, you guessed it, on my anniversary! So Wednesday we dropped off the kids at Ryan's sister's house (thank you Katy, you're awesome), and traveled to school. We learned about campaign strategy, organization, etc. etc. etc. from 9:00 am to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and then 8:00 am to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday (thank you Andrea)!

In celebration of our anniversary Ryan booked a night at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Salt Lake. Now, keep in mind that my over-stressed husband had not slept since Monday because he had spent all day and all night at work to get his store ready for a "surprise" audit that the Regional Manager would doing the day of our anniversary. So, after not sleeping for 40 hours, he was practically a zombie! We did enjoy a nice dinner at the in-hotel restaurant called Olio. It had great atmosphere and great food! It was so fun being together and talking about all our fun memories of our first nine years! Oh, how I love him!

Thursday night after school, we had a campaign strategy dinner and then a campaign advisory meeting, so we didn't end up home until 10:30 that night! Boy was I excited to see my babies! ...but so grateful to spend some quality time with just Ryan. It seems I hardly have that time with him anymore, so I really enjoyed even going to school with him!

Well, I thought we had a great anniversary! I really didn't feel there was anything lacking, but my sweet, sweet husband, wanting to tell me how grateful he was that I would spend our anniversary with him in campaign school made special arrangements tonight... Now I know it might seem a bit cheezy, but I am so impressed at his creativity and talent and spontaneity that I can't help but just gush over him!

Okay, so here is what happened. Tonight was a ward party and for entertainment, the ward talent show. I had no idea he had made prior arrangements and made sure that those in charge kept him off the written program, so that he could surprise me and sing "Everything" by Michael Bublé to me! They announced that he would be next and my head pops up in total surprise. Then he comes out on stage and asks me to sit down up in front so he can sing to me! You should have heard all the old ladies! They were just ooo-ing and aah-ing! He had just learned the song 10 mintues before the party, so it wasn't his best work, but it didn't matter to me! I was so impressed, so grateful, so glad that my husband loved me so much that he would put himself out there like that to publicly thank me and proclaim to the world (or just the ward) how much he loves me! Now how can you not smile thinking about that! Ain't he great!?!

Happy Anniversary Baby! I am so blessed to be your wife and best friend! You are absolutely amazing to me... How did I get so lucky to get you... and keep you... and be with you forever and ever... ! I can't wait to share another year with you! And this one is turning out to be so exciting too! Love you...

Trauma

2008-04-22T18:37:00.000-06:00

So I love this whole Red Box idea! Smart, smart, smart! And convenient too! Anyways, so we rented "Legend" because Ryan wanted to see it. We decided to watch it during the day because frankly, I do not do well with scary! My imagination is a little bit too active. So, I don't think I breathed the entire show... If you like scary, end of all civilization, doomsday-type movies then you will like this. I on the other hand could not even speak when it was over... Too much for me. Though things "resolved" somewhat by the end, it was only in the last minute of the show... and then it ended... AAAAHHH!H!!!!! Where is my "okay, all is right with the world feeling"?

Thank goodness I, in my wisdom, also rented "August Rush". Ryan seeing how he had traumatized his poor wife by having her watch the other show, instantly put in this sweet, wonderful, feel-good movie. Finally, after the first 30 minutes of the show I was able to start breathing again! ...Until I had to go run an errand after dark that is....

I HATE SCARY MOVIES!!!!

Which Superhero Are You

2008-04-17T10:46:00.001-06:00

Little man had to play too... but didn't want to be a princess, can you blame him! Needless to say, he was very pleased with these results! Just don't tell him he's more of a girl hero before he is Batman...

(I'm not sure why there are so many spaces in-between)!

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man		80%
Superman		80%
Green Lantern		75%
Robin		70%
The Flash		70%
Iron Man		55%
Hulk		50%
Supergirl		40%
Wonder Woman		30%
Catwoman		30%
Batman		20%

You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Which Disney Princess Are You

2008-04-17T10:15:00.000-06:00

When my little sunshine saw I was Snow White, she wanted to take the quiz too. Despite being three years old, I think she nailed it on the head. Anyone who knows her, knows that this describes her... Too Funny!

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Which Disney Princess Am I

2008-04-17T10:04:00.000-06:00

I am Snow White? Didn't see that one coming...

You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Sigh...

2008-04-17T09:21:00.000-06:00

Seemingly corrupt powers that are currently in office have their minds set against squashing quiet anyone who wants to bring about any positive change...even someone who would forward their same ideas, just more effectively than the guy currently in office. There was a meeting yesterday in which a powerful official (who is only powerful because he controls the money) raised about $10,000 for the other candidate. He has made it clear to any that would support Ryan, that they would lose all support, money and backing they get from him or his colleagues should they do so. Ryan's uncle, who is currently a legislator, who nominated him at convention has basically been all but shunned for doing so. Because he stuck out his neck for us, he is now on the chopping block. He will win in his district this term, but he will no longer be able to pass any bills because, again, the corrupt people in power will do all they can to squash him too... even though he has been VERY effective his last two terms.

How are good people expected to run, to stand up for what is right, to fight and defend and serve when there are people (who are supposed to be the good guys) standing vehemently in the way. This one particular individual has never even spoken with Ryan. He has no idea what Ryan can offer or what he has to say. He is just assuming that Ryan is the bad guy and is doing everything he can to prevent his progress.

I am so angry, so hurt, so disenfranchised. We innocently and apparently naively jumped in with both feet hoping to make some positive changes... and now I find myself cynical and angry. We believe the majority of our district wants change. Everyone we talk to is ready to see the incumbent gone, so we are counting on "the people" not "the power" or "the money" to speak loudly and clearly. We haven't given up and we will fight hard until the nominee has been voted on.

We know the Democratic-nominee. He is in our ward... his daughter takes piano lessons from me... Should the incumbent end up as the Republican nominee, I'm afraid I will definitely be thinking long and hard about who I am going to vote for come November...

Grrrrr.....

Success

2008-04-14T22:11:00.000-06:00

So we made it! We finally made it to and through Convention weekend with our sanity still intact! For those who do not get the Standard Examiner, may I quote,

"Challenger Ryan D. Wilcox clawed his way into a primary runoff with incumbent state Rep. Glenn Donnelson at Saturday's Weber County Republican Party Convention. Wilcox, a former legislative assistant, captured 45 votes or 50.6% of the delegate ballots cast in House District 7....

"Wilcox and Donnelson will square off in a June 24 primary to determine the Republican Party's nominee for November's general election....Wilcox said he expected a runoff, but is pleased to have received one more delegate vote than Donnelson at the convention. 'I feel better one vote up than down,' he said.

And there you have it! All the hard work, time, blood, sweat and tears all paid off! We are going to a primary!!!

Thank you to everyone who devoted so much time on Saturday to help us make cotton candy, pop popcorn, place signs all over the place, hang banners, pass out water and stickers, etc. etc. and take time out of your lives to show us not only that you love us, but that you cherish the freedoms we enjoy! God Bless America!!

Ray of Sunshine

2008-04-14T22:02:00.001-06:00

So my little sunshine has this habit of filling her Barbie kitchen with real water so she can wash dishes and have tea parties. Though we've discussed this several times that it's much better for clean-up sake if we use pretend water, it still doesn't make any sense to her.

Well the other day, I came downstairs to not only find water in the Barbie kitchen, but a HUGE bowl full of water. Inside this bowl of water was about $4 in pennies. I had about reached my limit for the day and was about to lose it. "Reagan, why is there a bowl full of water and pennies?"!!!!

With the sweetest, most princessy voice this girl could muster, she sincerely and innocently shrugged her shoulders and stated, "Mommy, I was only trying to make all my wishes come true!"

Now how could I be mad after that? I saved that bowl full of pennies all weekend on the kitchen cabinet upstairs, just so I could giggle everytime I looked at it! OH, I LOVE HER!!!

It's About Time!

2008-04-09T22:21:00.000-06:00

Today I finally caught up! I have consistently been behind on my transcription for almost three months now! I decided enough was enough and I have spent the last three weeks getting up at 3:00 in the morning and going to bed at midnight so I could get caught up! I finally did it! Boy am I exhausted!

Ryan had a HUGE victory today too in that he finally finished his last paper for the internship. Now he is all caught up too! Graduation here we come!!!

Growing Pains

2008-04-09T21:40:00.000-06:00

Ryder absolutely loved Kindergarten roundup. What surprised me is how hard Reagan took it. I had hoped I could get one of my neighbors to watch her, but we couldn't find anyone home last minute (imagine that), so she came with us. When they asked all the new kids in Kindergarten to go look at the classrooms, she jumped off my lap to join them. I should have just let her go but I picked her up and whispered in her ear that it wasn't her turn yet. Her heart broke into a million pieces as she saw her best friend, the big brother she has done everything in her life with, go away and experience something wonderful without her. As far as she has known, Ryder and her were always going to be in the same class as they have done with preschool...(merely because she comes with me to help in Ryder's class)! She spent the entire time with big crocodile tears spilling down her cheeks. She is a tough, independent and loudly dramatic soul so to watch her bury her face in my chest and silently wept was almost more than I could bear. "But I want to go with Ryder, Mommy. I wish I could go to Kindergarten too."

To cheer her up when we got home, she and I had a talk about we will be able to spend a lot more time together doing fun stuff while Ryder is at school. She instantly perks up and says, "Yeah, we'll get to paint our nails everyday, huh!" Speaking of that, she found a black permanent (or so I thought) marker today and "painted" her fingernails with it. I was so relieved when it washed off! I'm not quite into the whole "goth" look!

Back to my Facebook ranting... I hope I didn't offend anyone with my comments. I really do love the networking I have been able to do. There are friends I have lost contact with that I have found there... even mere acquaintances from the past have now become dear friends. It all goes back to balance...

Just Because

2008-04-02T07:42:00.000-06:00

So tonight I am going to my sister-in-law's sister's Mary Kay party (did you follow that?). I haven't seen Jen for way too long, so I am excited to hang out with her. Jason, her husband/my brother will be there to watch the kids (bonus)! I just love that guy and his cute little family. I just don't see them enough, that's for sure.

Tomorrow is Kindergarten Round-up, and I am just ecstatic! I haven't even told Ryder yet because if I am this excited, imagine how "through the roof" he will be!

I have now joined the Facebook world. Though it is a lot of fun networking with old friends, I can't quite decide how I feel about it. It is one of those "good, better, and best" things I think. I just haven't decided which category it fits in yet. Right now I think it's just in the "good" category because I am spending too much precious time taking their stupid (but funny) quizzes that don't make any real difference in the end... they make me laugh, but spending time with my kids accomplishes the same thing and has deeper rewards.... BUT, if I would limit my time there and only catch up with friends every now and again (instead of every day), it might be elevated to the "better" category! I'll step off my soap box now! :)

Well, gotta run... two tapes to transcribe, four loads of laundry, my morning routine (go FlyLady), family scripture study, vacuuming upstairs, etc. etc. plus piano lessons this afternoon are on the agenda and there is no time to waste.

Easter Continued

2008-03-31T14:13:00.000-06:00

My adorable baby and her adorable Daddy!

Our five-year old teenager..."Mom I want a cool picture..."

Our three-year old Sunshine

Our nine-month old Princess!

It doesn't get much better than this! Happy Easter!
Enjoy Conference!

Update

2008-03-31T13:52:00.000-06:00

Okay, so here's the update. So the day before the caucus meetings certain people came up with a new rule that prevents possible candidates from attending any caucus meeting other than their own. Needless to say, in spite of all of our efforts, we were unable to "legally" visit the other precincts. We dropped off cookies and milk to every precinct, along with all sorts of Ryan's campaign materials.

We found out the next day who all 91 delegates are, so now the goal is to visit each one he can. This week we are having signs, banners, flyers, letterhead, t-shirts, etc. etc. made. We are reserving our booth for convention and getting volunteers to come help all day April 12. So, anyone who reads this and wants to come volunteer... PLEASE feel free to do so. PLEASE!

Our first financial report to the Lt. Governor's office is due next Wednesday. I've have been put in charge of that, and boy is it daunting. I am so scared I'm going to do it wrong!

Ryan is a bit discouraged after visiting with people this past weekend. Because he is virtually unknown, most people have either preconceived notions or have gotten bad information. So instead of talking to these people about what is important to them and what they would like to see in new representation, he is dispelling rumors. He spends hours at each place ... much wasted time. Hopefully, it pays off in the end.

Today, I am hanging out at home typing two different tapes. Jaycee and Cannon are here and my kids are having a riot. Their imaginations are off the charts when they are playing together. Today, Petey the Leprechaun was leaving messages and leading them on a treasure hunt all through the house. (I think Ryder initiated it to entertain his cousins)! Too much fun!

Right now, they are watching "The Princess Bride" and loving it. I remember watching it for the first time and I think it will always be one of my favorites. "My name is Iñigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!"

Go to your local caucus meeting!

2008-03-24T05:45:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow night is the night for caucus meetings and we are up to our eyeballs in this State Legislator race. A lot rests on that meeting for us, so we are nervous and excited all at the same time. For those who might not know how it works, I will try to briefly explain:

So each state is divided into counties. Those counties are divided into Legislative Districts. One representative comes from each district. Ryan is running to represent our district. The districts are then divided into precincts. Caucus meetings are held in each precinct once every two years to decide on individual precinct leadership as well as, and most importantly, nominate and vote for delegates to represent the precinct on the county and state levels. The number of delegates that go for each precinct is determined by the number of people that attended the last caucus meeting held two years prior. The decided delegates then go either to the state convention or to the county convention. In our case, we are needing delegates sympathetic to us to be voted in to go to the county convention from the 21 precincts in our district. Once at the convention these delegates then vote to decide who will represent their district. So, it is crucial that we get delegates voted in who are planning to vote for Ryan at convention held on April 12.

Thus, we have spent many hours on the phone calling as many people as possible we know who live in the area as well as many we don't know giving them information and getting his name out there. Tomorrow we will be taking milk and cookies as well as flyers, stickers, and other relevant information to each of the 21 precincts. Then that night during the meetings, I will be at our precinct meeting campaigning for myself to be nominated and voted in as a delegate, as well as campaigning for, nominating and voting Ryan in as a delegate, as well as a couple of our neighbors sympathetic to Ryan. While Ryan, on the other hand, will be driving to and meeting with as many of the other 20 precincts he can to introduce himself and get his face out there. Keep in mind he has roughly 1-1/2 hours to do this in, so only 3-4 minutes each location, not including drive time.

After caucus night, Ryan then spends time visiting with each and every delegate going to convention, roughly 90 people, before April 12. Meanwhile we are ordering T-shirts, stickers, flyers, information and recruiting people to help the day of convention (if any of you are willing, please let me know, we could use the help)! If Ryan gets 60% of the vote, we don't have to go to a primary, but we are pretty sure because we are running against an incumbent that this won't happen, so we are shooting for the primary in hopes that we get more than 40% of the votes. So, should that happen, we go to a Primary election in which Ryan is contacting as many people in our district as possible! That election is held June 24.

Now, after that, his only opponent is the Democrat who happens to be in our ward and on the stake High Counsel. His daughter even takes piano lessons from me and is one of our date-night babysitters! So that ought to be interesting, eh? Our summer will be filled with parades, fund-raisers, booths, etc.! Considering I didn't have much of a political background, this has proved to be a very interesting ride! You can see his website at www.votewilcox.com btw.

Again, another long blog, but full of very valuable information, wouldn't you say! Thanks for all the help that has been provided already! Thanks for love, prayers, time, ideas and even money! Love ya'll!

Easter

2008-03-24T05:02:00.000-06:00

Well, the Easter Bunny visited our house Saturday morning leaving new church clothes in his wake (yeah)! I love new Spring dresses for my girls and Big brother got a new white shirt and a tie to match Daddy's. Daddy got new suits for his new political undertaking and mommy even got some new jewelry (new phase for mommy).

Our little Passover activity turned out pretty good. If nothing else it was completely interesting to learn about the traditions and reasons behind them. It made Easter a lot more meaningful for me. The kids were absolutely enthralled as we explained (in simple terms) the reasons for the different foods eaten at Passover. We ate on the floor on pillows around short tables and ate with our hands. We ate lamb ($8 per pound!), bitter herbs, grape juice, and even unleavened bread! It was awesome!! Hopefully, we can add to our new tradition a little bit more next year!

Sacrament meeting on Easter Day was wonderful! A young couple who lives up the street, good friends of ours, spoke and it was beautiful. I got to participate in the music provided for the meeting as well, and that was really a treat for me... made it very meaningful, too. I even got to play a piano solo (first time in over 15 years)! Then we took a much-needed nap which, unfortunately, made us late for dinner at the in-laws! Good thing they love us!

Hope everyone had a wonderful, family-filled, spiritual, Christ-centered Easter. Love you!

My Hero

2008-03-19T21:25:00.000-06:00

So my brave little man faced the Shots monster with all the courage a five year old can muster. He asked me just before we left if the shots would hurt. I said they would, but that he could be brave. Then I told him that it was okay to cry, and that I would be right there with him to hold his hand and hug him. He seemed fine with that.

As I stood there checking him in at the front desk, my heart started pounding, and tears even started to well up in my eyes! He was so excited, so ready, so anxious to take on the next adventure. We were just a couple of giddy kids on the ride down to the doctor. I am so glad he wants to take life with all its facets head on, yet at the same time, my mommy heart is saddened that my little baby is growing up so fast. With him being my first baby, and my only son, I have such a special connection with him. I can barely believe I am a mother, let alone a mother to a five-year old soon-to-be Kindergartener.

He answered all the questions like my brilliant boy does. They were so impressed with him... and he loves it! He was so nervous and so grateful I was there with him that he just kept kissing me. He would smile at me, wink and then kiss me. Funny thing is, I kept doing the same thing. We were sharing this new milestone together and we were having fun, despite our nervousness.

They had us get the lab work done before the shots. He had his first experience peeing in a cup today and he laughed the whole time. We were both a couple of giggle boxes! After they pricked his finger for the blood screen, he says to me with a successful look on his face, "Wow Mom. My friends got shots in their arms and in their legs, and all I got was one in my thumb!" You could see all the worry and angst wash from his face when he thought he was all done and had made it through without a tear. It was a hard thing to tell him that he wasn't quite done yet.

Because the flu (strain B) is still in full swing, my doctor recommended he get a flu shot today as well. So, here I am, the mommy, looking at FIVE syringes thinking about what I can do to make my baby feel better by time they are all done. I understand why they have the mommy hold their kids arms, but I think that is absolute torture...having to be the one that holds him down! AAAHH!! I just wanted to cry myself. He was so brave though. He looked up at the ceiling and concentrated really hard. He did great after the first simultaneous two, but by time shots three, four and five came, he was breathing hard and turning red in the face trying not to cry. He let out a wimper and tears started pouring down his face, but as soon as he could get a big breath in, he wiped his tears away and was done.

I held him in my lap and told him he could cry, the nurse even told him he could, but he just wiped his eyes and gave me a kiss. My little hero... Just before we left, the nurse told him to make sure to run a lot so his legs wouldn't be so sore in the morning, and so he did. He ran all the rest of today as much as he could. It was a nice day out, so he spent the majority of it outside... running!

About 6:00 tonight he came inside with a pained look on his face. I recommended a bath to help soothe his legs and he wholeheartedly agreed. When I went to check on him a few minutes later he was almost asleep!!! AAAHH!! So we pulled him out and got him dressed for bed. After prayers Daddy gave him a father's blessing, and my sweet son softly cried all the way through it. He held his dad tightly afterward, thanked him and gave him kisses. The Spirit enveloped the room. My son has such faith...

When I went to tuck him in, I asked him if I could get him any medicine and he said, "No, Jesus made my legs feel better, just like He said he would. I am just fine." He was still crying, but I don't think it's because he was in pain.

I love you, my sweet son. Thank you for teaching me everyday about what love really is!

Time Is Ticking

2008-03-18T20:36:00.000-06:00

Ryan filed to run for State Legislature, Monday afternoon... and we are off and running. He was listed in the paper this morning as a candidate. It was truly an awesome experience to see his name there listed amongst the others knowing that information was sent all over the valley. They didn't mention anything specifically about him, but we anticipate that will come soon as we are running against an incumbent who himself has been in the paper lately for issues a lot of people aren't trilled about... you know, the reasons Ryan feels he can run against him and win type-of-things. Not only that, but Ryan made friends with the political reporter while he was interning with the Legislature.

Sleep is a rare commodity at our house these days. I spent last week averaging three hours of sleep a night... and last week wasn't even crunch time. I have found that 3:00 in the morning is the only time I am able to get any transcription done, and 11:30 at night is the only time I have with Ryan. It is starting to really catch up with me tonight in the form of a migraine... I can feel it coming and I keep hoping it will wait at least three weeks (after Republican convention) to knock me down. I can't afford to take a whole day off from life to nurse a migraine... But truthfully, if I have to choose between seizures and migraines, I will take the migraine. Of course, the best thing to do would be to find a way to manage it all and still get sleep besides! Wouldn't that be a novel idea!?!

The best thing, in my opinion, that has come out of this busy-ness is that Ryan and I are making more of a point to spend time together in the early morning hours reading the scriptures and planning our day. By far, this is my favorite part of the day, even in our extreme delirium!

With Easter this week, we have decided that we are definitely going to make it a point to ask the infamous bunny not to visit our house on Sunday anymore... I, personally, think we should associate the bunny with the first day of Spring, and leave Easter a time of worship. Perhaps that sounds a bit prudish, but I feel pretty strongly about it. We have found a great resource called "A Christ-Centered Easter..." by Janet Hales (and her husband) and plan to use it every year teaching our children about the Real Meaning of Easter. I like the idea of sharing with them the events that occurred in the last week of Christ's life on a yearly basis so it is more than just a special Sunday, but a special week. My friend, Heather and I, are even having a "Passover" dinner of sorts this Saturday. Neither one of us have cooked lamb before... so I hope we are able to make something palatable!

Our big five-year old has his Kindergarten doctor's appointment tomorrow. He is incredibly excited to get his "shots"! He has several friends that have already passed this milestone and he is more than ready to go through the ritual per se. I have tried to let him down easy and explain that the "shots" might hurt a little but that I know he can be brave. I don't want him going into it thinking that "shots" are something other than what they are. He is confident he will come through it with flying colors. It's funny though, our doctor is absolutely adamant that none of the other children come to the appointment... I've never heard of this before and I can't help but wonder if it is because of the "scare" factor! I guess we will soon find out!

Our little sunshine wrote her name today (with coaching from her teacher) and was absolutely ecstatic! She is a genius (in my humble opinion)! I went through the alphabet this morning and she could tell me what sounds every single letter makes! Big brother plays a phonics game with her that goes something like this, "Say bat" "Bat" "Say bat" "Bat" "What's the first letter in bat?" And she is able to tell him "B"! No matter what word he substitutes in there, she is usually right! It's amazing to me that Big brother gets it let alone three-year old little sister! They amaze me more and more everyday!

By the way, if you know anyone willing to donate to the "Committee To Elect Ryan Wilcox" refer them to his website www.votewilcox.com. There is a Donations option where they can contribute right on his website. Even the small contributions help...

Changes

2008-03-11T21:36:00.000-06:00

After reading my blog, a good friend who sees me just about every day, wondered what in the world had been going in my life right under her nose to bring about such major changes in my life. I told her "You know, just life stuff, life crap" (real poetic, eh)! Talk about vague and even negative merely because I struggle with sharing such a personal experience in detail for fear of making it sound trite. I feel a bit more comfortable in this type of forum... so here goes.

From past experience, when you pray for a certain spiritual gift, or pray for greater understanding regarding any gospel topic, or when you pray for further light and knowledge, more than likely one of the ways you will be taught what you seek is through experience. Now, because of the spiritual/sacred nature of what I have been experiencing, I will not go in to detail. Just suffice it to say, there is a certain thing I have been inspired to pray for... for years... but have been putting off afraid of what trial/test of faith/experience might follow. Call it a lack of faith if you will... frankly, that's what it was. Finally, recently, I got the courage and wherewithall to do it... I finally prayed for it...I finally asked sincerely for it... and all at once, within days of my prayer, things started happening in rapid succession. Good things, bad things, crazy things, amazing things... all together, all related and all-encompassing.

I have never seen (or probably just never noticed) such a dramatic answer to my sincere prayer. It has happened much like a domino effect. It is as though He has been setting up this dramatic scene for me that would enhance every single aspect of my existence now and forever... He has just been waiting for me to ask for the one thing that would start everything in motion. It is absolutely amazing!

Anyways, along with teaching me at a more personal level about this gift and about myself, He has also given me a completely unexpected gift, I believe, as a result of my stepping out in faith: My relationship with my husband has quadrupled in intensity, love, insight, unity, togetherness, intimacy, perspective, etc. etc. etc. and I thought we were doing great, that we were in a good place, when all of the sudden it has just been magnified and taken to a level we have never before been. Though I know we are not yet close to what "Celestial Love" truly is, we have taken large steps in that direction and I am in awe of what the Lord is doing in my life!

So there you go, Andrea. Have an even more vague answer to go along with the first! At least this one used more words! Thanks for your concern... Love ya.

Coming Soon

2008-03-11T10:38:00.000-06:00

As a result of watching a sweet movie called 99 Balloons, http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons I feel it appropriate to Celebrate the lives of my dear children (coming soon)!

For safety reasons, real names will not be used!

Why My Motto

2008-03-11T07:22:00.000-06:00

I remember when I was little trying to understand the concept of perfection. The people who explained it to me must not have understood it themselves, or just not known how to explain it correctly to ME. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Wow... being young and not really understanding what that meant, I have taken it upon myself to try to make every day perfect... all by myself. I was always told that as long as I did my best, the Lord would make up for the rest. In my mind, anything short of a perfect day/perfect life by my own efforts was not "my best." So whenever anyone said that, I could never wrap my head around it... If I'm doing my best, my perfect best, then and only then will the Lord accept my life, my offering.

This warped way of understanding that scripture has caused me to hate myself daily for years... to expect too much of myself, to expect too much of my husband, to expect too much of my children. I have really believed, for many years, that my husband couldn't really love me until I was perfect, I would never be a decent mother until I was perfect, my house could never be a home until I was perfect (mind you I am referring to perfection by my own merits). My impatience with myself and others has become what defines me in my home... My faults and shortcomings were who I believed I was.

Anyways, the point...

Even though as an adult I had learned that I would never be perfect by my own merits, it still hadn't sunk in. My poor husband, for years, has been trying to send me the message very clearly, but I still never "heard" it. Through a series of events in the past few weeks/months, the Lord has been changing my heart. For me, I have to understand that my contribution to the perfection process comes in daily progress, even if it is just a little progress. We've all heard the analogy about how you can't eat an elephant all at once and that you have to do it one bite at a time... well I was truly beating up myself (and even my family) for not eating a whole new elephant every single day in one huge gulp!!!

Thus my motto (borrowed from FlyLady), Progress not perfection! It's not that I am not still shooting for perfection, or rejecting the fact that He can make me perfect everyday... This is just the phrase I need to use to help my overkill way of doing things relax and do it the right way, the loving way, the forgiving way... for myself and my family.

And it begins...

2008-03-10T19:55:00.000-06:00

Well, it's unofficially official... Mr. Wonderful is running for the State Legislature! I always knew he would be in politics in that he has such a love for defending the truth and such an eloquent way with words. I didn't expect it this soon, but apparently the Lord knew... He's been setting things up and putting things in motion and then laying them right in our laps. We are certainly embarking on an exciting journey! He has always wanted to serve and give back to the community and now he feels this is a step in that direction.

He just finished his internship with his Uncle at the State Legislature for his last semester at school. All that is left is to write eight papers in the next four weeks... Oh yeah, and run a campaign in the meantime not to mention all the other projects he has his hands in, most importantly Dad and Husband which he does so well. I am so proud of him, so amazed by him and still so in love! Good Luck, Daddy! We are with you all the way!

New Beginnings

2008-03-10T19:54:00.000-06:00

I find it appropriate that today would be the day I begin "to blog"... There have been so many major changes in my life lately... none that could truly be measured by words, but by experience, character and change of heart. A Metamorphosis physically, spiritually, emotionally.

Though I am still young in many respects, and though I understand there are many more changes that life will bring, I feel I have grown leaps and bounds in just the past few weeks, more than I have in years... I pray the upward journey continues.

Today is my new beginning, our new beginning. Today I share with the world, our family and our friends, this new life, this new chapter... the ever after...