Journals

I love writing--it comes with being an English Major. I especially love writing in my journal. I was really good for a very long time. I decided on my 12th birthday that I would write every single day--and I did for over 10 years. Once I got home from my mission, I don't know if I was just burnt out or what, but I slacked off. It was maybe once a week, which was fine, but then it got to be once a month or every other month.
Just after Eric was born, we moved to Carlsbad, NM for a little while. I had no calling and was in the Mother's room a lot. During sacrament it was fine because I could still listen--and I am pretty sure I got more out of the meeting when I was in there than when I was in the chapel--less distractions. However, during Relief Society, I had nothing to listen to. I started bringing my journal with me and writing while I nursed. I did much better. Then, I slacked off again.
I am back to not doing as well as I would like, so when a friend told me she uses ldsjournal.com to keep updated on her journal writing, I thought I would check it out. It is so neat! I started last night and wrote a lot! They have prompts to get you going, personal info to record and so much more--and it's free. It even sends you a reminder to write. It is all personal and private, so you can write exactly what you want. I am excited to see if this helps get me back on the bandwagon!

Getting ready for Easter

Amelie has been so excited for Easter. Every day for the past few weeks, she has asked me if it was Easter yet and how much longer we have until Easter. She and Eric got to take a picture with the Easter Bunny at WalMart today and they were both ecstatic. They know the Easter Bunny is coming and are just as excited about this as they were about Santa at Christmas. But at Christmas, I am very careful to always point out that Santa isn't why Christmas is important, but the celebration of the birth of our Savior. As we were driving home tonight and taling about all the activities we are going to be doing tomorrow to celebrate Easter, I stopped and asked them if they knew why we have Easter. No, I don't, Amelie replied. So, I took a minute and explained that we celebrate the atonement and resurrection of the Savior at Easter and these gifts are what help us so we can fully repent since Jesus paid the price for what we have done wrong when we repent and do all we can to be better. Amelie was so amazed that Jesus would pay for us. (She's into paying and understands what it means to give up money for something she wants.) I think she is starting to get it--it's like I saw a little light bulb start to flicker in her bright little mind. Eric didn't quite grasp what I was saying, but he will. What a blessing to be able to teach these little spirits and watch as they gain their own understanding of gospel principles.

Logic of a little boy

Eric & Amelie say the funniest and cutest things. I need to write them down as soon as they say them because as much as I think I could never forget their witty remarks, I am getting old and more and more forgetful. Here are the two I do remember:
Eric has a habit of sticking his fingers in other people's mouths. It started when he was a baby--while nursing, he would find my mouth. It probably didn't help that I would sit and kiss his fingers while he nursed. Anyway, the other day, he put his fingers in Tanner's mouth, and Tanner, being a typical teething 8 month old, bit him. Eric promptly stated, "We need a new baby!" I asked, "One who doesn't bite you?" "Yes!" he emphatically replied.

Amelie came down to the basement as I was organizing my Pampered Chef desk and said, "Mom, may I have my own Pampered Chef when I get big? I really want my own, just like you. Then we could both be Pampered Chefs!"

Billy's Wonderful Accomplishments

Billy is such a wonderful young man! He has done some tremendous things lately. First, he made honor roll again for the second trimester's report. He has been working hard this year to keep his grades up to all A's and B's and has done just that--in fact, they are mostly all A's. It is awesome! We just got the listing in the newspaper, too, so we cut it out and it is hanging on the refrigerator right now in his honor. Way to go, Bill-Bill!

Billy had his last wrestling competition today--State Wrestling Championships. He wrestled in 3 of 5 possible matches and got his first pin of the season!! He's won on points, but hadn't pinned anyone yet this year. That was awesome. I was sitting at the top of the second set of bleachers--very high up-and Jim was kneeling by the mats--I could hear Jim's cheering as clear as day. We are all so thrilled for Billy, for the time and effort he puts in to learning and practicing to achieve these wonderful accomplishments. We love you, kiddo!

It's not my fault--is it? :)

So on Tuesday while I taught Amelie's joy school about the joy of trying new things (we made kites, ate green eggs and ham and tried somersaults, and learned about diamonds and the letter V), Jim took Eric to an eye doctor appointment. He stands so close to the TV that despite the objections that it may just be a kid thing, we figured we were better safe than sorry. He had no signs like Amelie did (she would go cross-eyed when eating), except for standing too close to the ole boob tube. Jim returns 2 1/2 hours later with Eric porting some cool plastic sunglasses. Sure enough, he needs glasses. I guess he is as blind as Amelie--far sighted. I may have horrible eyes, but I am near-sighted. That is the entire opposite problem, so it couldn't be my faulty eyes that I am passing on to my children, could it?
Some time next week, we will get Eric's glasses in and see how he reacts. Jim picked out the frame all on his own and chose the same ones our friend's little four year old has :) He did a great job and we will post pics of our new four-eyes as soon as he gets them.

Mary is here!

Amelie has been so excited for Mary to get here for Spring Break. She cleaned up her room and made up her sleeping bag next to it so Mary could stay with her. When Mary got here last night, Amelie, after attacking her with hugs, told her, 'There is something I forgot to ask you on the phone--will you still in my room with me?' Mary, being the wonderful big sister that she is agreed to have a sisters sleepover with her. Amelie is ecstatic!
We got to watch Billy wrestle today--matches are not long but look like they drain every ounce of energy out of those boys! He came in second in his weight class. He is such a good boy! We love being able to travel around to watch him compete! Mary had never seen him wrestle before, so that was cool--we cheered louder than anyone when he was out on the mat. Go Billy!
Eric loves to cuddle with his big sister and has taken to sitting onher lap a lot. That's nice because he often doesn't get to sit on my lap anymore because I am holding Tanner.
Tanner has taken to Mary, too. He is such a happy baby and Mary got to hear his belly laugh today. She is so good with her little siblings and Tanner is no different. We are so thrilled to be able to have her with us, even if it's just for a week.

I'm a 9-12er, are you?

If you aren't sure what I am talking about, you have to start watching Glenn Beck on Fox News. This is not a political stand, but a united stand of American citizens who believe in the truths and values that build the foundation of our country. When I taught American Lit, I always thought it was interesting that one of the first pieces they had included in the textbook was the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and his 13 Virtues. I made sure I focused on these and often had students write about a virtue and why it was important to them. Well, Glenn Beck has asked America to stand together, no matter what our religious or political views are. I remember 9-11 vividly and he has asked us to remember who we were and how we felt and what we did the day after: 9-12. He has also put together 9 principles and 12 values that I believe wholeheartedly. I am taking the 6 month challenge to work on being that person and standing for what I believe in because I want to make a positive difference in this nation--in the world--and I am not alone.

"... I am here to tell you something important: You are not alone, and if you believe in a majority of these nine principles then keep watching because I am going to prove it to you to.
1. America is good place, not perfect, but good.
2. I believe in God and He is the center of my life.
3. I must try to be a better, more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and not a guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have. I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree or share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them. They answer to me.

I didn't pull these out of thin air. I borrowed from scripture. I got them from the Founding Fathers. And honestly, a lot of these principles are just common sense.
This is not a partisan thing. This is not about elephant or donkey, liberal or conservative. This is about Americans making their voices heard.
Now it is time for Step 2 and we add the 12 Values.
They are:
• Honesty• Reverence• Hope• Thrift• Humility• Charity• Sincerity• Moderation• Hard work• Courage• Personal responsibility• Friendship" (from Glenn Beck)