Updates

There have been a lack of posts, but you know how life gets right?  We haven't been up to much except me working a bunch and Tommy doing odd jobs and looking for a real job, squeezing in some playing time in between.  Did I mention I'm in the Relief Society now which adds just a bit more to my plate than I feel I can sometimes handle, but the Lord knows what he is doing when he prompts a call, right?  If for no other reason than for me to realize that I need to be more grateful because there is someone who always has it worse than me.  Well, to update with my boys:

Ohh the Naughtiness!

Jack has become quite the handful these days.  He climbs on EVERYTHING and has quite an amazing ability to balance!  Our tall kitchen table is a favorite of his, as is the Handy Manny Tool Bench. He doesn't really enjoy toys, he just enjoys getting into trouble and always turns back right before he does it and squeals just to know you are watching.   You CANNOT turn your back on him for five seconds without him getting into trouble.  Case in point:  yesterday I was at my mom's house while Tommy went and did IFLY (present from his birthday).  The kids were getting stir crazy so I thought it would be fun to set up Jack's Sand and Water table on the deck.  I decided it best to fill it with warmer water from the sink so I was going back and forth a few times with a bucket.  Well, although Porter was really into the table, Jack was not and immediately bee-lined it for the stairs.  

Have you ever experienced that SLOW MOTION horror when something bad happens and there is nothing you can do about it?  I was a split second too late on grabbing him and down he tumbled.  Somersaulting first and landing on his neck and then down to the bottom not forgetting to smack his head upon arrival.  I saw it coming. . . I was trying to grab him. . . But it was too late and I was helpless.  I watched in HORROR as he fell and hurried down to gather him up.  But don't worry, it gets worse.  Guess what that child landed in?  Dog Poo!  Yes, you read right, POO!  He was covered, I was covered and then my mom coming to help was covered.  Well, it is an amazing thing how resilient children are.  He bawled and I washed him off in the tub, but a few seconds later he was fine.  I continued to be that CRAZY mom, continually checking his pupils and being sure he didn't manifest any signs of a concussion, but to be honest, I don't even see a bruise or bump on him today.  

Trent and Jack taking a Sunday Nap

Oh the joys of motherhood right?  You feel guilty for not giving them attention and then you try to play and end up covered in poop!  But I love my boys and I love being a mom, so I guess that is life right?

Porter is a whole different breed of child than Jack.  He is self entertaining, LOVES toys and is a tad bit more obedient.  He keeps me on my toes and has me laughing out loud a lot.  Sometimes I think Tom and I don't realize how much he hears and much he knows of what is going on.  My dad was on a business call and was upset with someone and my mom came in to the room trying to figure out what my dad was talking about and Porter, without even looking up from his Lego's, explained the entire conversation almost verbatim, not even missing a beat!  It seems we spend a lot of time at my parents house lately, and to be honest right now we do!  Tom's air conditioning in his car is shot so I need to drop him off at my mom's sometimes if he has a Mr. Sandless job to help Trent with so we try to save gas and I just stay there until he is finished.  Plus I guess for me it makes me feel a little less guilty that I have so much work right now if I have other people and other things to entertain them as well, like a yard even!  

Not much else has been going on lately, just trying to keep our heads above water.  Oh, and in case you are wondering?  Remember the New Year's Goal to get more sleep?  It isn't happening because someone still doesn't sleep.  We are even trying essential oils and massage.  He is pretty lucky he is so dang cute!  Keep Tommy in your prayers to find a job!  Maybe one day I'll find where I put Jack's 1 year old pictures and post them!

Simple Mom Solutions

I am posting this mainly for my friend Christina who was upset with me last week for just finding this out.  (okay, and it is also a shameless plug, but it's my blog right?) In case you didn't already know, I have a deal site that posts deals, coupons, amazon deals, diaper deals, Rite Aid shopping lists and coupon matchups, menu plans with recipes, shopping lists, and price estimates, and other money saving and frugal living tips.  I don't post every free sample and useless deal on my site, it is usually stuff that I need and want. Apparently none of my crafting friends didn't know I did this.  Well, here ya go girls, I do!  And I also teach coupon classes.  If you are interested I would be happy to teach you.  I like to keep groups small so you get all your questions answered.  Stop on over here, if you are interested.  And right now I'm having a giveaway for a $50 Mixbook Photobook Certificate. This just happens to be my favorite photobook site! Go here to enter, all you have to do is become a Follower!  I will be doing a Favorite Things Friday with giveaways every Friday of things I love!  So there is my shameless plug, I promise I won't self promote anymore! :)

"It Takes Faith. . ."

I've been MIA for a while lately (or so my friends say) but life has been a bit crazy and I feel like I have been a bit of a spectator to my own life.  We've been in a scramble since Tommy is now out of work. I've taken more hours at work to help with money which means late nights and early mornings so I don't have to work when I'm spending time with my kids (so far we have had not luck in qualifying for government health care, so glad I pay into a system that rarely benefits me and seems to help those it shouldn't, don't worry, I won't go into a political discourse right now I promise) I've been helping my dad clear out his business and files, and I'm now in the Relief Society Presidency which seems to have way more obligations than scouts :) 

 To be honest, I have felt a little picked on lately, as nothing seems to be going right.  I took Jack to the doctor who seems to be a bit concerned with the size of Jack's head.  While others tell me not to worry, it is hard not to when your doctor keeps re-measuring it and begins talking of a possible shunt due to excess fluid in his skull.  By the end of the week I was emotionally exhausted with everything and felt quite bitter that we had to clean the church on Saturday.  Luckily I have a child who tries to keep things in perspective for me when he starts lecturing me on how important it is to clean Jesus' church and reminds me that it is ok that daddy lost his job because he has money in his bank.  

At my Relief Society Presidency Meeting, my President shared this quote which I absolutely love and has brought a lot of comfort to me.  The Lord manages to teach and comfort us in so many ways and I can't help but think that this sister was prompted to share this with me:

 “It takes faith—unseeing faith—for young people to proceed immediately with their family responsibilities in the face of financial uncertainties. It takes faith for the young woman to bear her family instead of accepting employment, especially when schooling for the young husband is to be finished. It takes faith to observe the Sabbath when ‘time and a half’ can be had working, when sales can be made, when merchandise can be sold. It takes a great faith to pay tithes when funds are scarce and demands are great. It takes faith to fast and have family prayers and to observe the Word of Wisdom. It takes faith to do ward teaching, stake missionary work, and other service, when sacrifice is required. It takes faith to fill foreign missions. But know this—that all these are of the planting, while faithful devout families, spiritual security, peace, and eternal life are the harvests.
“Remember that Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and others could not see clearly the end from the beginning. They also walked by faith and without sight. Remember again that no gates were open; Laban was not drunk; and no earthly hope was justified at the moment Nephi exercised his faith and set out finally to get the plates. No asbestos clothes or other ordinary protective devices were in the fiery furnace to protect the three Hebrews from death; there were no leather nor metal muzzles for the mouths of the lions when Daniel was locked in the den.

“Remember that there were no clouds in the sky nor any hydrometer in his hand when Elijah promised an immediate break in the long extended drouth; though Joshua may have witnessed the miracle of the Red Sea, yet how could he by mortal means perceive that the flooding Jordan would back up for the exact time needed for the crossing, and then flow on its way to the Dead Sea.

“Remember that there were no clouds in the sky, no evidence of rain, and no precedent for the deluge when Noah builded the ark according to commandment. There was no ram in the thicket when Isaac and his father left for Moriah for the sacrifice. Remember there were no towns and cities, no farms and gardens, no homes and storehouses, no blossoming desert in Utah when the persecuted pioneers crossed the plains. And remember that there were no heavenly beings in Palmyra, on the Susquehanna or on Cumorah when the soul-hungry Joseph slipped quietly into the Grove, knelt in prayer on the river bank, and climbed the slopes of the sacred hill.

“But know this: that undaunted faith can stop the mouths of lions, make ineffective the fiery flames, make dry corridors through beds of rivers and seas. Unwavering faith can protect against deluge, terminate drouths, heal the sick, and bring heavenly manifestations. Indomitable faith can help us live the commandments and thereby bring blessings unnumbered with peace, perfection, and exaltation in the kingdom of God” (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1952, 50–51).