The Call...Finally!

On Friday, we finally received word that the kids were coming for Christmas!  YEAH!!  5 long months of prayer, paperwork, more prayer, lots of phone calls, and a few bureaucratic mountains and they are finally going to be in their own beds for the holidays!  I'm still pinching myself...EEK!  

That also means that things just got real.  Today (Tuesday), I was able to spend some time on the phone with one of the children's agency workers who knows the children well.  My excitement quickly turned in to anxiety as we were finally also able to identify what the kids have.  Or in this case, mostly what they don't have.  They have no Christmas presents for them, no winter coats, no hats, no gloves...pretty much nothing.  Most of their clothes are too small and made for the warm desert climate of Nevada.  Argg...it is definitely part of being in the system (which is another post for another day...  With the kids arriving on Friday, we have much to do.)  

So...We need your help!  We need you to go through your closets, your attic, or your garage and see if you have some of these things that you are no longer using -- I guarantee that there are 6 beautiful kiddos who would be so grateful.  Please take a look at the list below and if you have gently used items that you would like to part with, please let us know.  Again, THANK YOU...to the moon and back again!

Proud Mama...

Man, for a week that started on a Tuesday...it was sure LONG!  Anyone else feel that way??  :)  We literally had something to do every single evening last week, including hosting a party for nearly 60 people from our Ward (Friday), Cheer Competition which started at 5am (Saturday), and this was all on top of our normally crazy life the other days of the week.  It's a good thing I'm young-ish...

Boden had a basketball game on Tuesday and sank a three pointer....and I got it all on video!

And, of course, 5am on Saturday morning was bright and early for our cheerleader whose team kicked off cheer competition season at Bishop Kelly.  They did fantastic!  And I also got it all on video!

This week isn't starting off nearly as crazy busy, but I sure hope it will be filled with more fun like this.  Proud mama right here! 

If Nothing Ever Changed...

I have heard that the only thing you can count on is change.  I don't know why I have such a hard time accepting it when it comes...it's not like it has never happened to us.  Perhaps it is because life is so busy that when change comes, it's usually just about the time I am catching my breath.  Sometimes change is like being pushed back underwater and sometimes it comes as a refreshing morning in the Idaho mountains.  Whichever way it comes, I am working to not be resistant to change but to rather embrace it with my whole heart and enjoy it.  Easier said than done. 

2014 will be a year of change for the Barrus family.  I am excited and petrified all at the same time.  Some changes I can share with you and some we are waiting on the Lord to guide us through before we share them.  And no mom, I am not pregnant :)  Just getting that out of the way...

So what is in store for 2014??  

• Ben is preparing to take the CPA exam this year.  We will miss our daddy while he is studying but it will be an amazing blessing to our family once it is completed.  For those of you that are not familiar with the CPA exam, it has a low pass rate for first time takers and will require hours upon hours of preparation.  It is broken in to four sections and he must pass all four to become certified.  His company graciously agreed to cover a portion of the cost for the materials and testing (which is very expensive) and over the next 12 to 18 months, Ben's head will be floating in tax code, auditing, and Sarbanes-Oxley.  My head hurts just thinking about it...GO BEN!

• Very soon we will have two teenage drivers.  I feel like Mel Gibson in Braveheart -- "FREEEEEDDDDOOOOOOMMMM".  Well, not really.  I'm sure I'll be a mess when they are out and about on the road.  But, I can say that I will be happy to have an errand driver, a taxi to and from school, cheer, and practices.  Oh boy howdy, think of how much time I'll have on my hands?!!  When you multiply that by a crew of busy kids, you can imagine that I spend a lot of time in the car. 

• I start a new job today.  Since September, we have limped along waiting for the Lord to show us what He wanted me to do.  It was a hard time...I have never NOT had a job in our entire marriage.  But it was a good time, too.  I took time to focus, rest, breath, hug my babies, and just be a mom.  It was splendidly horrific.  I am so grateful that I waited for the right position and timing.  Oh GOD IS GOOD!!  And so smart...

There are more changes coming, but for now these three are keeping us very busy and grateful.  We are well, afloat, and embracing change wholeheartedly.  

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

You call it chaos, we call it family :D

Okay...I have long slacked on the blog.  I'll admit it.  I got sucked in to a vortex called life and neglected this little piece of the world wide web for a bit.  But, the good news is that I am back.  I took time to breath, heal, clean, hug my kids, pray, meditate, exercise, re-focus, trust in Him, and find myself.  I'm better, wiser, and a whole lot stronger than when I started 2013.

And what do I have to show for all this time off...I'm mailing my Christmas cards and letters this week BEFORE Christmas.  I usually get them out the week AFTER Christmas or end up throwing them away because I couldn't get to them and find them in a drawer six months later.  I am a changed woman...watch out 2014!  (If you'd like a hard copy of the letter, email me your address -- bridgetbarrus@gmail.com)  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Birthday Bauer!

August is a BUSY birthday month in the Barrus house -- we celebrate 5 birthdays within a few weeks of each other.   And to top it off, you add the start of football season and school and life gets really interesting while trying to celebrate these special days.

Bauer Adrian was a "surprise" baby...and I cried for three days when I found out I was pregnant.  We were jobless and insurance-less and we already had a special needs baby that was just a few months old when I learned I was pregnant with another bundle of joy.  But God is good and He knew that despite all of that, Bauer would bring a light and joy to our family that we would desperately need.  :)

Bauer's curiosity is endless and his energy rarely has bounds.  He has an amazing imagination and gives the BEST hugs on the planet.  I love this boy to the moon and back and will forever be grateful that he is part of our family.  HAPPIEST of Happy Birthdays to my little "what-tee".

AND, in keeping with tradition here are the TOP 5 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT BAUER...

1. BIG things come in SMALL packages and you have the BIGGEST heart to love all of your siblings and your parents.  WE LOVE have you tell us many times throughout the day how much you love us.  
2. You have an amazing imagination -- from trucks and cars to an imaginary friend named Jack, you don't need much to keep you entertained. 
3. You should have been born with gills and flippers permanently attached -- swimming is your favorite thing.  When leaving the YMCA on his birthday Bauer said, "mom, I want to stay here forever."
4. The Energizer Bunny is your twin because you can go, go, go, GO all-day long and then some. 
5. Your nickname is Jack-Jack, like the little guy on the Incredibles.  And, you are just like him -- it fits you perfectly!

Brothers -- On our way to the YMCA for some swimming to celebrate our little fish's birthday!

This month is such a special one...It's BIRTHDAY time.

The Birthday LOOT!

Sweet sister made fish cupcakes for our little man -- he was in heaven.  

Seaside 2013 -- Barrus 2.0

Barrus 2.0...what a great little escape to Seaside, Oregon!!  Big Ben and Little Ben played in the Seaside 2013 Beach Volleyball Tournament last week and the rest of the herd decided to tag along.  While they played volleyball, we enjoyed the sun, sights, and sounds of the beach.   We even managed a little side trip to the Tillamook Ice Cream factory. 

Hundreds of miles and 4 days later we pulled back in the driveway.  We were happy to be home and extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to spend time as a family.  And what's even better -- the Ben's came home as CHAMPIONS of the tournament in the U-15 parent/child division.  Nothing better than a little sun, our family, and limited wi-fi/phone connections (we were unplugged from technology...it was GREAT!) Enjoy the pictures!

Easy Peasy -- Breakfast Burritos

Let's face it...I have NEVER been a morning person.  I try...I fail.  I'm a night owl crossed with the Energizer Bunny so I find myself still going at midnight or 1am or even 2am like it is right now.  So anything I can do to make life easier in the morning and still allows me to serve my peeps is a big bonus.  Plus, stuffing my kids full of sugared cereal in the morning is neither healthy nor helpful.   Breakfast burritos, pancake sausage sticks, and waffle-eggos are just a few of the fave breakfast dishes they can choose from.   With a little bit of prep ahead of time, I get a little bit of extra sleep and the kids get a hot breakfast.  It's a double win in my book...and did I mention it was MUCH cheaper than the sugared cereals and the pre-packaged meals.  Can you say EASY PEASY??!!

BREAKFAST BURRITOS (makes approximately 60 burritos)
3 pounds of sausage
8 pounds of potatoes, hashed
5 dozen eggs, scrambled
6 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
60 tortillas
1 onion diced
1 garlic minced

You'll prepare all of your main ingredients separately and then mix them together before you make your burritos.

1.  Brown 3 pounds of sausage.  Drain fat and set aside.
2.  Prepare your hashbrowns.  Cook over medium high heat using oil or butter and salt and pepper to taste in a skillet.  I typically brown mine for 3 minutes on each side and then set aside.  I'm not going to lie....8 pounds of potatoes is a lot of hashbrowns.  Set aside.
3.  Prepare your scrambled eggs.  Crack and put in large mixing bowl.  Season with salt and pepper and 2 cups of milk.  Whisk together and then pour in to skillet.  While eggs are hot, add cheese and stir to distribute. Once done, set aside.
4.  Prepare your onions and garlic.  Brown over medium high heat in skillet with a small amount of oil.  They are done when your onions begin to turn translucent.
5.  Mix all ingredients together and let the fun begin!  HINT:  Heat your tortillas slightly before you fill them - they crack if you don't.
6.  Place a 1/2 of mixture in tortilla shell, roll in ends and viola....a Breakfast Burrito is born.
7.  Place on a cookie sheet and freeze.  Once frozen, you can bag them together in freezer bags or individually wrap them in clear wrap.  The choice is yours -- my kids personally prefer the clear wrap because of the moisture when they are microwaved.

To enjoy, microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.  All you have to clean up is the clear wrap and a plate and your kids get a full tummy without the sugar.  And hopefully you got an extra 30 minutes of sleep...just sayin'.

Here are some pictures of our Breakfast Burrito adventures this weekend...we made 120.  :)  It didn't take too long -- I managed to make 100 bean and cheese burritos, get Bria ready for cheer camp, go to Church, and install a swamp cooler in the sauna we have going on upstairs.  The rest of the house looks like carnage struck, but atleast tummy's will be full while I attempt to clean it.  Besides, who says that breakfast burritos are only for breakfast??   Hello after school snackage!

Most handsome garbage guy EVER...20 pounds of potatoes baked, peeled, and ready to be hashed.

Hashed potatoes -- why buy them when you can make them for a fraction of the cost. 

Taters....after they were baked and peeled. 

Hashbrowns...check

TIP:  Make an assembly line...and hire this guy.  He rolls a mean burrito...

Tortilla Ninja #1 -- his job is to heat the tortillas for the "stuffer" standing next to him.  

Tortilla Ninja #2 -- She rolls the burritos in clear wrap and puts them in the box. 

These boxes go in the freezer and the kids can pull one or two out when they want.  Who said breakfast burritos were only for breakfast anyway.

It's Been a L.O.N.G Week

It's been a long week.  We are at the end of the school year and no one wants to study or do their chores.  Late nights getting last minute projects done and both football and cheer seasons have started. Baseball is still going hard and I have only one week left of teaching preschool.  You could say that things around the Barrus casa are a little rough.  We will survive.  I hope. 

As I was thinking about the "rough" parts this morning, semi-grousing about how much work we have to do today to get our house back to some sort of inhabitable, I was struck by all the awesome things my kids did this week  Here's a recap:

1.  We still managed to study our scriptures. And no one complained.  Or died.  Or complained.  :)

2.  Bria is working hard on her solo for Cantus' Finale concert this next week.  I am so excited to see her sing on stage.  She has such a beautiful voice!!

3.  Bronx and Boden are amazing baseball players -- between pitching, catching, homeruns, and grand slams, they are rockstars! Bronx is pitching so hard that even the coaches are afraid of it.  Looks to me like we are going to have a pitching/catching duo to take Borah all the way to the state championships in 2017 :)

4.  Boden's heart monitor was placed on Thursday and now we will spend the next 30 days getting monitored.  He hates it.  But he's wearing it and I'm grateful that we might actually get some answers.  

5.  BJ sang in his school's talent show.  He rocked it!  Proud mama right here.  Enjoy!

Seasons...part 2

I cannot WAIT for summer -- kids home, swimming, sunshine, camping....FUN!!  If we can just survive the last few weeks of school and the final push for homework, choir concerts, football, baseball, and the rest of this school season to end...I'll be a happy camper if we are all in one piece and I'm not curled up in the fetal position in my closet sucking my thumb.

On Monday, I struck the doctor appointment lottery and was able to schedule an appointment with the BEST pediatric orthopedist in town...seriously.  I was screaming for joy in my car I was so happy.  He had been out of town for a week and was booked three weeks out already but somehow that magic computer and brilliant scheduler managed to find a spot just for us.  Even she remarked how she couldn't understand how that had happened.  I knew exactly -- GOD happened.  WOOT WOOT!!

Below is the image of little Ben's tibia.  If you look at the right hand side just below the joint you can see the large egg shaped growth.  The good news is that the doctor isn't jumping up and down out of concern and he doesn't think we need to do anything with it at the moment.  Instead, he wants to check it in a couple of months to see if it has grown.  If it has, then we will need to do something -- biopsy, more tests, etc..  If it hasn't, then we just continue to monitor it.  All in all, I definitely feel better.  Moving on to a different season...

This week, is Boden's cardiology exam.  He will see a pediatric heart specialist on Wednesday and have an echocardiogram.  He is still losing weight...still struggling with stamina.  We were out playing in the sprinklers yesterday and holy crumbs that kid is a toothpick.  Still wearing his trunks from last year and they are now baggy :/  This season scares me too.  We are down nearly 6 pounds in a year.  This shouldn't happen in an otherwise healthy 11 year old boy.  Praying for answers, wisdom, patience, and comfort for me and for sweet Boden.

In other news....
*  Mother's Day...not so hot.  But grateful I am a mom to my beautiful children - I am blessed beyond belief.
*  Little Ben tried to light the grill yesterday for dinner and ended up burning his hands, lips, and a few eyebrow hairs and eyelashes.  COULD have been so much worse and again...GOD IS GOOD!! (Enjoy the pic at the end)
*  I took my beautiful daughter cheer bow shopping...I get to do fun things like that now.  I've waited 15 years to be able to do it and oh.so.fun!
*  Little Ben and Bria had their final concert for Mustang Magic.  One more to go for Cantus and Bria was selected for a solo.  So proud...last night she said, "I realized now I have to actually sing...by myself....in front of people....lots of people."  I just had to wonder what she was thinking when she tried out for a SOLO!  Silly pickle.
*  We got a sweet new pet to add to our collection -- his name is Chip and he's a robo hamster.  CUTE CUTE CUTE.  One more thing to join the circus!
*  I'm headed to Utah this weekend for training at Let's Play Music and might need to stop at this wonderful placed called IKEA.  Just sayin'

Seasons

Our life seems to be ruled by "seasons" -- football season, volleyball season, FFA season.  April and May were more brutal than normal.  Felt like all of the forces of nature had turned to make life more complicated, more stressful, more abnormal.  People rallied, I prayed, and we all survived.  I took a deep breath for the first time in months last week.  It felt good -- I caught up on laundry, celebrated Bria's selection as a cheerleader, and was looking forward to our final volleyball tournament of the year.         The end of another "season".

And now, today has been met with mixed emotions.  Relaxation (it's Sunday after all), fear, some tears, deep love, and more prayer.  We are entering another "season".  It isn't the one that I expected and I have to admit, it's a bit scary.  And yet I find myself thinking about faith and small blessings.  I find myself hoping that this season is short and that whatever storms will be coming as part of it will be minimal.

Earlier this week, BJ finished volleyball and was regretting not playing Spring football.  He decided to call his coach and see if he could play for the remainder of the season and was disappointed when the coach told him that the season was actually coming to a close and he wouldn't be able to play.

The next morning, Coach Dan called back to say that after thinking about BJ's call and calling the league, he had found a team that was in need of some additional players to finish out the season.  We immediately answered yes.  A practice and a half later, BJ had his first game on Saturday.  Neither Ben nor I could attend because we were coaching our volleyball team at the AAU Super Regionals.  In between games, Ben picked him up and when he walked in to the gym, he was limping.  One look at his knee, and you could tell that there was something wrong.

Football can be rather brutal.  I've watched him get sacked by boys twice his size and bounce back up.  I've watched him hit others at a full run and knock them over.  He loves it & I tolerate it because he loves it.  Such is the plight of a mother of boys... :)

Turns out, he took a helmet to the side of his knee...in the 1st quarter of the game.  And, to his credit, he continued to play another 30 plus minutes on both sides of the ball on this knee.  I'm watching him sleep now -- leg up on pillows and an ice pack -- and I can't even imagine the adrenaline a person would need to keep playing on it.  The one thing he wanted me to tell Coach Dan last night..."I didn't quit".

We won't know the full extent of the injury until we see the orthopedist tomorrow.  There's a little spot on the film that looks wonky, but there's no fracture in the knee itself (which is good news). There is a possibility that his MCL (the tendon that runs from femur to tibia and keeps things together) tore and in that process broke off a little piece of bone.  But the season I am talking about is actually not the recovery time it will take for him to be back on the field.

Friends, we need your prayers.  Your positive energy.  Your good thoughts.

The X-ray revealed more than just the knee injury.  It also revealed a tumor in his right Tibia -- about the size of golf ball.

The word tumor has been turned over and over and over in our heads today and throughout the night.  This afternoon I held our beautiful 14 year old son as he cried, scared of what the possible outcomes might be and trying to take comfort in the hope for a positive one.  This season has the potential to be ugly, filled with rain and snow and hail and trying winds.  And yet, it could be a benign tumor.  It's not necessarily cancerous and I keep reminding myself of that.  We do know two things -- it's not a cyst and we need to have an orthopedist look at it.  As I explained to BJ today that we "shouldn't borrow trouble", I found myself wishing I was as wise as the words coming out of my mouth to reassure him.

As I sit in the sunlight of my bedroom thinking about God's goodness, I am going to beat back fear and anxiety.  I am going to pray for wise doctors, offer thanks for modern technology, and marvel in the beauty of this season, even if I find it hard to find.

How Does She...Laundry PART 1

Jealousy doesn't normally rear it's ugly head around here...I only covet a few things in life and they usually are in sets of two.  Two dishwashers, two ovens...are you feeling it yet?  TWO SETS OF WASHERS AND DRYERS.  Oh be still my heart!!  Forget Louboutin shoes, Prada handbags, or Louise Vuitton....my heart moves for washers and dryers in sets of two.  :D

But, that is a dream far down the line and may never happen.  For a family of 8 or more, laundry is one of those tasks that pretty much consumes.  I shop in bulk for laundry sheets, stock up on good detergent when it goes on sale with a coupon, and I have a variety of pet-peeves related to it that make my teenagers want to pull their hair out.  They'll need therapy for the rest of their lives over the laundry in this house.  But atleast they'll have clean clothes to go in...just sayin'.

I digress....today's "How Does She" post is devoted to all things laundry.  And, no, it doesn't include a fairy. But it does include a few easy steps for helping make laundry a skosh more enjoyable and functional.  And who doesn't need that in their life??  Be sure to check out all 6 posts for how I master the laundry in my very busy household. 

STEP 1: ORGANIZATION

You will HATE your laundry space if it is cluttered, disorganized, or chaotic.  I hyperventilate just thinking about my last laundry space.  It was teeny tiny, and I avoided it like the plague.  Which, truthfully just made it worse, because then it became the most loathed space in the house and the one I used the most purposefully.  Ugg.  So, when we moved, and I was lucky enough to have the most amazing laundry space ever, I took that as a sign that I needed to get my act together and make it functional.  It took some time to find just the right system for me but it really helped and I'm glad I worked through my issues  the kinks. 

Now, I have a system to my madness.  And that really helps with the other steps I'll be sharing throughout the week.   

This is my laundry room looking out from the washer and dryer and yes, I'm grateful for the space.   Everything has a place or a purpose.  If it doesn't, well...It goes.  This place is a like fine oiled military unity and if you ain't got a purpose, then you gotta go Jack.

Everyone in the family has a CLEAN basket with their name on it.  I fold and put it in the basket.  They put it away.  That's how it works around here.  I do teach my children how to also DO their own laundry (their spouse will thank me some day), but if I can at least get it washed and folded in this crazy world, they can put it away. Later in the week I'll tell you more about how I enlist my family and even taught my boys to iron.  I have seven of them and I better get a very large hug from their wives someday. Again, I digress. Sorry.  The tag is a simple laminated piece of cardstock printed with their name which is then attached to the basket with a binder ring.  

The kidlets are responsible for bringing their dirty clothes to the laundry room if they want them washed (or when I nag appropriately with some Love and Logic tools I've learned along the way).  They then sort their dirty laundry in to the baskets.  This is where my OCD kicks in to overtime.  Zippers banging on t-shirts create little holes.  Whites should not be dingy because they were washed with the darks.  Towels cannot stink.  You know...little things.  I don't have a zillion dollars to clothe my darling family, so I choose to be OCD in the laundry room to make our clothes last longer and look better.  

So my baskets are tagged the way I want them.  Even my little 3 year old has mastered how to sort his dirties in to the baskets.  This will hopefully make my life easier when he's 14 (or not) and gives him a sense of accomplishment when I praise him for it.  Double whammy...LOVE IT!  There are 5 baskets:  Darks (with Zippers), Darks (Without Zippers), Whites, Towels, and Delicate/Miscellaneous.  I have a 6th smaller basket that sits on my dryer and that is where all of the kitchen rags/towels go.  Those get washed in their own load -- I don't want them growing mold somewhere in the clothes basket until I get to them later in the week.  That's gross.  :) 

My laundry room also flows a certain way.  I did this on purpose.  I can literally take clothes from the dirty baskets to the wash.  From the wash to the dryer.  From the dryer to the folding table.  From the folding table to the baskets.  It's all about efficiency in that room...I'm not even kidding here.  I used to have this terrible habit of taking the laundry to my  bed to fold.  Then it would hit the floor....then it would have to be re-washed or would get all wrinkly and it might wait for days. It was a nightmare and I break out in hives just thinking about the mountains I would leave on the floor.  Ugg...I made a promise to myself  when I got my big laundry room that clean clothes could no longer be placed on the floor or on my bed.  

I had a friend who once commented that spouses need a "retreat" from the rest of the house.  I don't know why I didn't appreciate that comment much sooner in my blissful marriage.  Mountains of laundry on the bed and floor are certainly not conducive to a retreat.  I've since tried to create a place for the hubs to be able to kick of his shoes and relax and it has worked WONDERS for him (and as a result, me).  And why shouldn't he be pampered just a bit after a long day at the office.  :D  For those of you who don't have the luxury of a folding table in your laundry room, please think twice before you put it on the bed.  Unless you are an overachiever who immediately folds the pile as soon as it hits the bed.  In that case, I want to be you when I grow up.  

In the corner of the laundry room is a garment rack.  This is where I hang clothes that don't get dried and clothes that I don't want wrinkled in basket or will get hung later.  In our house, we hang all of the big people shirts (including t-shirts).  Top wrack is for mom and dad.  Bottom wrack is for younger folk with better backs.   They are responsible for clearing out their hang-ables when they snag their baskets.  It's win, win.  Not perfect, but certainly better than the pile on the floor I was going for in my early marriage and mommyhood days.

Be sure to check in tomorrow for Part 2 of my laundry adventures.  

• Part 2:  LEARNING THE RULES OF THE {LAUNDRY} ROAD
• Part 3:  ENLISTING THE FAMILY
• Part 4:  BE PICKY...IT'S OKAY
• Part 5:  DO IT...DAILY  
• Part 6:  SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS (I loathe you)

I'd love to hear what works for you and your family in the laundry department.  Do you have a secret organization trick to share?  Sound off below.  

Stay Happy, 

~ B

Funny Things Happen at Church

Today was Fast Sunday at Church -- and today I felt especially grateful for my herd of children, wonderful husband, and journey that God has us on.  So, I decided to bear my testimony.  I made my way up to the front and sat quietly waiting for a very nice gentleman to finish.  That was probably a bad idea.  From a few rows back, I could see my toddler's eyes lock on my position and start to squirm in his dad's lap.  Worse idea.  I wiggled my finger at him and up he came to sit on my lap.  Worst idea.

When my turn came, I quietly stood and picked the toddler up.  I took him to the microphone and encouraged him to repeat after me.  He however, thought it was more funny to practice his heavy breathing over the sound system. I gently pulled him back and started to bear my testimony.  He squirmed some more and after thirty seconds or so, my husband came up to grab him which caused more squirming and I'm pretty sure some screaming about "mommy".  I continued to bear my testimony and apologized for the interruption only to look down and see that my other preschooler was at my feet, who starts to engage with the other in pushing and gentle fighting about who could hug my right leg. 

This is comical by this point and I begin to notice a lot of broad grins and chuckles spreading across the chapel in front of me.  I start to cry -- not because I am totally crazy and overwhelmed by these two now fighting preschoolers at my feet -- but because I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father loves me so much to send these beautiful creatures to me and that I get to be their mommy forever.  And even in the midst of their little squabble, I am grateful for the gift of patience, love, and grace to manage the many moments of motherhood that could turn south quickly if I didn't have these gifts.

Atleast a dozen people thanked me today for my testimony, which is funny, because I was sure they only saw the circus at Church today.   :)

Post Holiday Crunch

I've been dreading this moment...sitting here at my computer trying to find any motivation whatsoever.  Ugg...my heated blanket and the TV are calling my name.  Seriously.  Well, maybe that's just my inner-self needing a much needed down time.  The last 8 weeks have been grueling and physically and mentally I'm exhausted. I kept thinking if I survive X, then I can rest....well when I hit Z I think the alphabet started over and I'm still trying to survive.

First, the big move.  Second, bringing our kiddos home.  Third, my papa passed away.  Fourth...Christmas! It really feels like the last few weeks have just been a blur and now I have to put my feet on the ground and get back in to reality.  Before I know it, school will be in full swing, FFA Convention is just around the corner, and then of course, everything else.  I must get myself organized and ready to tackle the 2013.

And...I don't want to.  My heated blanket is really tempting at the moment and the basement feels like it's getting colder.  Should I call it a night (at 7:30pm), and tuck myself in??  Oh.so.tempting.

"Life by the Yard is Hard"

The last 60 days have been grueling.  Well, to be honest the stress for me started on New Year's Eve of last year when we received the first "notice" on the front door of our rental home.  Inside...I freaked out.  How could this happen to us when we were paying on time?  Where was our family going to go?  Would we have to go?  When would we have to go?  And, every time another letter was hung on the door or someone stopped to take photos or do a check to see if someone was living in the house, I freaked.  It was hard not to.  I had no control over what was happening, even though our family lived there.  My husband, who is my rock, was steady.  He was patient.  He listened and reassured.  I still freaked.

This morning, this quote by President Monson struck me:

“Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it’s a cinch. Decisions Determine Destiny.” 

In the last 60 days, we have moved, traveled, and adopted.  Phew.  I am exhausted just writing that sentence.  Change has been hard.  It has felt like a marathon that just wouldn't end.  It wasn't a completely unexpected move because we had sensed that there was trouble with the bank for almost a year.  But unexpected to move in them middle of November.  But through it all, when we let the Lord handle things by the yards and we focused on the inches, things have worked out beautifully -- a new home for a great deal and two beautiful new children.

That doesn't mean that change is easy.  Leaving our church family is HARD.  Moving is HARD.  Unpacking is HARD.  Making new friends is HARD.  Did I mention that moving is HARD??   Keeping a preschool open while moving is HARD.  Making friends with new neighbors who have been traumatized by large Mormon families (lol) as their neighbors is HARD.  Working with Health and Welfare through our adoption is HARD.  Knowing that BK is struggling and not wanting help from his family is HARD.  And yet through it all, I've been at peace knowing that the Lord is handling all of the big stuff.  He's cool like that :)

Why do we insist on living by the yard?  Why do we insist in knowing what is better for us even though we can't see the full road ahead?  I can only speak for myself, but I am fiercely independent and want to be self-sufficient.  The last 6 years have required us to put all of our trust in Heavenly Father for providence.  We had to humble ourselves through lost jobs, failed businesses, loans that needed repaid, medical bills, more medical bills, the passing of mark, more medical bills, job changes, 4 moves...and yet through it all He could see the road ahead while we trudged along.  He could see the cliffs, pitfalls, 90 degree turns, and the end.  But I still insisted in driving the car!

It's something I'm learning to change -- I need to be more like my husband -- steady, patient, and not freaking out when things are out of my control.  (Note...I don't literally freak out....but I do freak out on the inside and lose sleep, hair, and a whole lot of years off of my life just to be clear :) )

These experiences, even with how HARD they have been, have strengthened my faith in the Lord.  That I need to let Him lead my life and quit trying to drive.  That I need to focus on the inches instead of the yards.  And that I need to continue trusting in my awesome, spectacular and fabulous husband.

Big Changes are Coming....

There are so many things happening in our life right now that I don't even know where to begin.  Are we adopting?  When is that process going to speed up or slow down?  Are we moving?  Are we staying?  So many decisions to juggle, to pray about, and in some cases, jump off the cliff with a LEAP of faith!

So, to keep it short...here are the TOP 5 areas where BIG CHANGES ARE COMING....

1. Our LOCALE....

Turning my Brain Off....

What is the process for adoption?

Working through the adoption process often feels like this....Hurry up, wait, need more information, more paperwork, hurry up, wait.....It's a long process and it can be frustrating.  BUT IT IS WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF FRUSTRATION!!!  I can't wait to have the kids come home for a weekend visit.  

I believe in forever families and it makes me so very sad that I can't help every single child in foster care find the forever family of their dreams -- a family that won't change next week, next month, next year;  a family that comes to sports games;  a family that stands by them even when things get yucky;  a family that

The Hitchin'

From Romeo and Juliet to the story of Adam and Eve, love stories are everywhere.  I love them -- several of my favorite movies are about two people who love each other so deeply that they withstand trials, tribulations, and time to end of together.  It has taken me a while to process that my parents fell in love at the wrong time in the wrong place.  But this weekend, I watched their love story have a truly happy ending -- at the right time and the right place.  

Who's up for a challenge?

Do you ever look on Pinterest at the photos of these beautifully organized homes filled with projects the owner has completed....not a sock to be seen, no "junk" piles, and not a flaw to be found (well, atleast that's what I see but I digress...)  I hate having OCD....It is this tiny inner voice that obsesses over small details.  It makes me great at my job, but not so much as a wife and mother.  (It tends to lead to nagging....mhmmm)

Oooohhh...I love it! I've been a bit crafty this weekend :)

I have what some would call a Pinterest-problem.  But, I have good boundary skills and don't go there every day.  If I did, my husband would be in a lot of trouble because there are so many wonderfully talented people who post wonderfully creative and helpful things on Pinterest.  The real genius is if I could find away to blog about all of my Pinterest projects and make money doing it....now that would be genius.  Just sayin'

This weekend I did manage to get a few things done that I have been wanting to do for a very, very long time.  Think years....Yeah for me!!   

Big Daddy is very excited for this project....you can just see it in his face!

Even with a BROKEN finger, he still helps out.  LOVE

Uggg...can you just see that ugly blank space. 

Ah....LOVE these beautiful boys :)

The finished product

Vinyl letters

Showing Big Daddy how much I appreciate him

AND, there's more.  One of my goals as a mom is to be more proactive in telling my children what I appreciate and love about them.  I tend to get sucked in to nag, nag, nag mode and I hate it.  So this week, I did something about it and made some very cute and fun ways to tell them how much I love them more often.  Here they are...

Each boy has their own hanging outside of their bedroom.  

These hang underneath the bulletin board I hung for each boy for their art, special recognitions and such.  

The hallway

SUPER simple to make -- I printed the template off on white paper.  Framed it in a cheap $3 frame from Wal-mart, and wrote on them with a dry erase marker so that I can change it daily.  (that's my goal atleast).  It also helps improve literacy skills for the two little people in the house.  

OOOOO.....ahhhhhh......Ohhhhh...is what I heard from the boys when they saw them.  Now, to remember to write on them often -- I'm filling their love buckets and helping them see all of the great things I see every day but forget to tell them about.