happy day

Happy Friday! Eric and I had an incredible experience last weekend and we have spent the rest of the week recovering and catching up. 

Today is a good day! I finally feel like things I have been struggling with and trying to figure out are falling into place. I was starting to lose hope. But one should never lose hope. And now all the struggling has made this day so much brighter.

"Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful."

-George Bernard Shaw

How true is that? It's ok when things aren't easy. It is not meant to be easy. Easy does not mean better. Even when something is not easy, it can be delightful and wonderful. 

This weekend we are hoping to enjoy some halloween traditions and preparations. And someone has his first homecoming dance to attend!

Here's to the weekend!!

cross country

Oh man, cross country runners have grit and strength unlike any others, don't they? especially here in arizona.

These two brothers have spent the last few months at 5am practices and then transitioned to 3pm in the heat of the day practices. I don't know if early mornings or intense heat was worse. But either way these two boys are so incredible to do it and to work so hard. I'm so proud of their commitment and dedication!

Brinna insisted that they each race her too on cross country meet day. She is definitely one feirce competitor for them.

There have been a few changes to races because of covid. They spread them out a little bit more to run in more heats. And they have to wear masks on the sidelines (oh I still think that's the silliest rule, but I'm so glad they can be out there running again!).

These guys finish three miles in the time it would take me to run two (if I could even make it that far...). So proud of them this season!

a morning hike, and a few random favorite things

Layla and I went on a sunrise hike on my mountain. It is finally cool enough that we could get out together. This little girl loves to hike just like her mama and it makes me so excited. She wanted to make plans for our next hike before this one was even through. I love it.

Also, I was just browsing amazon prime day deals and stocked up on my favorite yoga pants. These are the best! Pockets, comfy, not see through and best price. 

CRZ Yoga pants

And then I came across these paint by sticker books that Layla and I love to do together. 

Paint by Sticker

Some of my favorite building toys are in stock, too.

Kapla Blocks

Just wanted to share that because usually all the great things I find are through other people. :)

resuming

Oh, wow. It is a very rare thing for me to skip a week without posting something on here. I've kept this blog record of our family for 12 years now and I can honestly count on one hand the number of times I haven't met my personal goal I set all those years ago to post at least once a week. 

I wish I could say that I had a good reason for it, but I don't really. Like I mentioned in my last post, I just crave stillness these days. Probably it's aftershocks of my recent cancer scare or something. (And that itself is something that would probably serve me well to finish recording about.)

All of my kids will be in school tomorrow and I am a bit excited for them and for me. Routine, social interaction, and in person learning will be SO good for all of them. And that Stillness I need right now has been hard to find in a full house so it will be good for me, too.

The general conference talk I studied this week with my friend (we pick a talk and email our thoughts to each other) was "the blessing of continuing revelation to prophets and personal revelation to guide our lives." Elder Cook reminded me that "continuous revelation is indeed the very lifeblood of the gospel of the living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Life is difficult enough, but I can't imagine how much harder it would be if I didn't know I can receive revelation in my personal life. I can have truth testified and confirmed to me. I can get thoughts and ideas to help and guide me. I can get answers I am seeking. I can be prepared for decisions and experiences. Personal revelation has give me clarity, confidence, support, help, and ideas so many times in my life. I hope you know you can receive it, too.

I now hope to resume my regular blog posting schedule of no schedule except for aiming for once a week.

be still

 I continue to crave calm and peace these days. More specifically, I find myself just wanting to just sit and be still. And breathe.

"In a society that endorses activity, I think we would all do well to put more trust in stillness."

As I was thinking about that, I pulled out one of my favorite books, Mitten Strings for God. I've found this is a book that I just need to return to every now and then. When I reread it, I feel more centered. 

It reminds me of the simple joys of childhood and motherhood; well, and life, too. Sometimes we think we need so much to make our lives happy and fulfilled--more stuff, more activities, more grand experiences. But I do feel like the greatest things can be found in the simplest wonders.

The weather in the mornings has finally dropped below 100 degrees here so we have been opening up the back door in the mornings and Brinn will play outside in our big backyard. Bikes, bugs, rocks, mud--it is the childhood I want for her. 

"It is not enough then to teach our children about nature; we must allow our children to grow up in nature."

While the high heels were tons of fun, we traded them in for the more practical red rain boots.


A little dancing in the flooded backyard.

Rocks. "My children open my eyes to places and pleasures I might otherwise have missed altogether."

I have been trying to stop more often during the day and just take a deep breath in and out. Do you ever stop just to breathe?

I also opened up the Calm app and listened to the daily calm while laying down. I feel much better when I can take these moments to be still. 

Isn't it funny though that last year there was no way that I could calm down enough to be still like this? I needed movement then. It serves me well to notice and listen to myself and then trust that I know what I need. 

Right now I need stillness.