What a RELIEF…

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getting called as R.S. President… NOT so much a RELIEF …

but having an enthusiastic presidency … RELIEF…

and very supportive husband, ward members, friends, & fam … a RELIEF.

Seriously… my secretary is pretty much AWEsome and does everything before I even ask her…
she’s super organized & great on the computer. … a RELIEF.

This week I’ve been so amazed at the friends I’ve recently met or have known for years who have been so supportive and full of great advice for me with this new calling. I know Heavenly Father guided my path to meet each of them. They are a support and a strength. There are so many great people to learn from… a blessed RELIEF to associate with these gals.

Having a bishop who shares a similar vision for the sisters in our ward… a RELIEF.

Having the handbook – a fabulous resource – to rely on… a RELIEF.

My heart has been filled with LOVE for these sisters that I hardly know… a RELIEF.

Definition of RELIEF shared by Julie Beck:
I like that.

I feel lifted by so many.

I feel lightened through the Holy Spirit.

I hope that with Christ, I can be a means to help raise the sisters up and out of trouble.

So much to say… so little time.
Mostly – I’m grateful for the RELIEF that our Savior offers us.

NOW – let’s get to work Heather!

just minding my own business and “BAAAAM!!!”

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really – i was just minding my own business…
as a 35-year-old mama to 5 tots under age 8…
keeping my family alive…
trying to teach the littles not to scream & bite & pinch & such …
recovering from my c-section (right! – remember how I just had a baby, oh… like six weeks ago)…
hoping to sit in the back at church & snuggle my baby with a little down time…
and BAAAAM!!! …
I was called as Relief Society President.

True Story.

Sometimes I think things are hard in my life …
that I’m not strong enough to handle the chaos…
I cry a bit and whine it out to Jimmy…

& then I tell myself over and over that things will work out,
that every day will get a little easier,
that Christ will lift me up…
that I won’t be given more than WE (the Lord & I) can’t handle.

Then sometimes I get bogged down again wondering how I’ll happily endure as a tired & overwhelmed mama.

Today on the bookshelf I saw a book by Sheri Dew titled,

And I laughed and knew that I should read through it soon. Remember how life wasn’t meant to be easy?

So – my new theme for this era of my life:

When I told my friend about my new calling, she laughed (not the mean ha-ha laugh)… the “just when you thought your life would get easier… that you’re over the hard part… Heavenly Father throws something new at ya… helping you realize that all THAT was just prepping you for THIS.”… kindof laugh. And no, that wasn’t a run-on sentence or anything.  But it’s so true… we are prepped in ways we never realize. He doesn’t always give us what we think we need (a breather!!)… but He gives us what we really need to become the person we were meant to be.

Isn’t LIFE an adventure?! sigh…

hard things… like even type this entire post one-handed while feeding & burping Lizzy, after surviving FHE and an eternal initial Presidency meeting that went to all hours of the night… and now Lizzy sleeps, it’s midnight and this mama is going to bed.

more later on R.S stuff.

Go Forth Heather – you will survive (and a friend adds … and “THRIVE”)

it really was too funny

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Jimmy came home from work and commented that the soup line at the Church Office Building Cafeteria was unusually long today.

I said that maybe the Soup Nazi was working there now.

And what do ya know – Jimmy said that Mulligatawny Soup was on the menu.

Now – isn’t that funny?

1. It’s funny that I know anything about Seinfeld… because – well, it’s Seinfeld.
2. Can’t you just imagine Kramer in line there with all the cute Sr. Missionaries and General Authorities?

Oh – it makes me laugh.

3… and this was funny too, while we’re talking about Seinfeld. I was joking with the surgical staff during my c-section about how they better make sure they aren’t eating Jr. Mints. Certainly wouldn’t want one to end up in my belly! Isn’t Kramer such a spaz?!

yah – we need comic relief around here tonight.

ok – going to bed since lizzy is snoozing.

p.s. i think zu-zu’s mouth twitched tonight when she looked at me.
TRUE STORY.
she’s going to be a smiler soon.

Today …

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Outside my window… sprinklers watering late summer green grass. cool temperatures… lovin’ that.

I am thinking… about Abe’s home evening lesson on temples (from the friend). He did a super job. He asked questions… gave positive feedback such as, “Yes. Perfect answer.” “Very good.” “Anything else?” It was cute.

I am wondering… if we’ll remember the disaster dinnertimes when kids were whining about what was served? … or the family home evening on “strengthening the family” that had to be postponed half-way through since everyone was fighting or crying?  will we remember how tired we were and how hard it was to be patient?  though I want to be realistic in my memories, I hope I remember more clearly the blessed times when we enjoyed each other as a family… had fun outings without fighting… enjoyed dinner with smiles… and worked together happily.  I hope that’s what I remember.

I am thankful for…
Jimmy.  He saves the day – like every day.
Zu-zu… because she fills our home with sweetness and calm.
Tru-Tru… because he loves spraying the hose… and he laughs so hard about it.
Max… because he has happy feet… and a happy heart.
Abe… because he announced at dinner once that he hadn’t had gas for a year. it made us laugh.
Hannah… because she keeps us all going by helping so happily.

I am lovin’: the color grey and this newly found fabulous font Sudestada

From the learning rooms…
Hannah: loving 3rd grade with cursive and multiplication.
Abraham: loves his teacher, recess, and p.e.

From the kitchen… I was hoping for apple crisp since I just got some fresh honeycrisp apples from the orchard. Maybe tomorrow I’ll find energy to make it.

I am wearing… comfy clothes… such as maternity pants. Yes… real pants are still tight and hurt my incision. Wah-wah.

I am remembering… when wide leg jeans were “in”… which means I could buy them at the GAP. It’s soooo 1998, but I wish I could still find them. Yah – can’t imagine myself in skinny jeans… not happenin’ people. I recently bought a pair of trouser jeans that turned out to be huge bell bottoms. I just need some comfy jeans that fit.

I am creating… a plan to shrink to a healthier weight once I recover from having this babe.

I am going… to bed early. My body aches… maybe a cold coming on. Bleh…

I am reading… bits and pieces of the New Testament. Uplifting.

I am hoping… zu-zu will sleep through the night soon.

I am hearing… zu-zu with the hiccups

Around the house… signs of little ones who live here.

One of my favorite things… fresh peaches. i bought 2 boxes of zee lady peaches at Burgess orchard in Alpine today. I’m excited to freeze some for winter.

A few plans for the weekend: General R.S. Meeting. New ward meets again just for sacrament meeting. Hopefully a little outing to the mountains with the fam. Freezing peaches. Oh – that sounds like a lot of things to go along with keeping the family alive. We might have to prioritize and cut back.

A quote I like:

A picture I love: 2003 Family Photo… Chandler, AZ.

Week in Review : August 29 – September 4

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First week flying solo as mother to five. Jimmy headed back to work… his mom and Christine gone as well. What to do with 3 under 3 home all day long? I went on a few walks to the park with the boys and Eliza. I realized that was overdoing it at 2 1/2 weeks post-partum after a c-section. Had to take it easy the rest of the week.

You see Tru eating a cookie in his Mr. Happy shirt? Well… he was anything but full of joy that day. He had 3 eye teeth breaking through at the same time this week. That made for a grumpy toddler. Perhaps he’s adjusting to having a new baby, but he’s been a handful. He pretty much screams, hits, pinches, scratches, and kicks anyone he can. It’s brutal. He’s learning about time out to calm down. He’s learning to say sorry and give loves. He’s learning to be gentle with Eliza and not touch her face (or lick her … really child?)

Good news for Tru… he got a big boy bed. He always would sneak into Max’s bed and pretend to sleep. Now he can sleep in his own bed. The problem is that he occasionally gets up at 5 a.m. and comes into our room. Sigh…

We did a room swap this week. Abe’s new room is the previous ‘computer room’. Eliza moved out of our spacious closet into her own room with the crib. It’s much better for us all for her to have her own space so that when she needs to cry it out at night, she won’t wake others.

Abe seems to like his new room. He built a lego dragon (see photo). We spent lots of evenings outside enjoying the last of summer. The kids played ninja and did tricks on the monkey bars. Abe got a blister that erupted. No bueno. He just plugs along enjoying things though.

Hannah was our super hero ‘Folder of Laundry’. She pretty much rocked that outfit.

See those awesome carrots. We’ve been harvesting and enjoying the carrots this week. These two grew a tad bit too close.

Today for Labor Day, Jimmy mowed the lawn. I loved watching Tru walking around behind him… following in dad’s footsteps.

And last of all… I made these flowers for hair clips. They are made out of satin. I really liked how the lavender one turned out. I made it for my neighbor’s little girlie who was going to a wedding. It’s fun to sneak in creative time.

because I love doodles … and more

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I am sooooo not talented in the drawing category. I took an art class for oh – like – one day at BYU. The first assignment was to sketch a self-portrait. Uhhh… not so much skilled with that. Now digital… I can do digital. Others can design and I’ll put it all together.

But I admire those with artistic skills… such as this gal I found today … Heidi Grace Kress… (plus, isn’t Heidi Grace such a cute name).

Well… I love all her header images and with her permission I used some for more 3×4 quote cards. Aren’t they cheerful designs?!

In other news: Top 5  for today:
1. Talking to Abe on the phone. He ended with, “now I’m going to blow you kisses.”  I like Abe.
2. Hannah trying so hard to help with the boys. That girl’s a keeper!
3. Building forts and reading the Diggingest Dog
4. Sweet Pork Salad
5. the Hinckleys

~gratitude~

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I decided 2 things today.

1. Blogging & recording our life daily helps me keep perspective. At least it reminds me of all that is good… all that is hard (but part of life’s lessons)… and helps me keep going. So carry on I must… even on this here bloggie.

2. I needed to take seriously the advice to keep a gratitude list to prepare my heart for motherhood to baby #5 (or kindle that little flame that’s burning deep down to show love to the 4 I have right now).
I saw this message earlier this week and it reminded me that Gratitude is a very good thing to keep perspective.

Top 5 for today:
1. A good read that reminds me that I am blessed to have gospel truths in my life.
2. Sincere, encouraging, and helpful friends.
3. Nice and speedy nurses at non-stress-tests
4. A patient husband
5. A comfortable bed… thank you tempurpedic

Minty Mentos that Melt in your Mouth… and such

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though this is super non-important… I’m trying to focus on the fun and the good this week. (keyword: trying… not necessarily succeeding). These happened to come to mind:

because pretty much i love how refreshingly minty these are in this pasty hot summer. …and because I got them for 42 cents a package at Costco. Go Mentos! They keep my Non-Stress-Tests… less stressful.

because dark chocolate is awesome. just don’t let these sit in your car in the summer.

remember my post about deciding to use old-fashioned bar soap. Well… i happily report that it has gone well. It hasn’t been as gooby or messy as I thought. The kids finally learned how to use it (ha-ha!). We haven’t replaced the bars of soap yet… and I know we would have gone through several refills of foam soap. So cheap – and good for this fam in this stage. Now… if you’re visiting our house… sorry about the dirt on the soap. I do try and wash the dirt layer off every day or so. At least it’s not on our hands anymore.

Orange Sherbet + Hershey’s chocolate sauce = my favorite treat ever this summer.

Heard this song “Keep Your Head UP” by Andy Grammer. It was a chipper message for today.

This is super silly for me because I rarely watch tv… and only watch movies with Jimmy for dates… but since I’ve had to rest more, I’ve taken advantage of Jimmy’s extra work MAC laptop + Netflix instant streaming + BBC movies. (yah – don’t exactly have an ipad or i-touch, but we can dream)

Because going through baby clothes and receiving cute girly gifts makes me excited to greet our wee little baby in 1 1/2 weeks. I love this dress and got it for her blessing. Isn’t it sweet for little Lizzy Lou!

I came across this article “Preparing My Heart for Motherhood” and it was a good read for today. This resounded with me… “Thoughts such as, “What am I doing? Am I ready for this? Number {5}? Ahh!” Can I honestly be the godly joy-filled mother that I desire to be? Can I embrace this child with a heart of love and gratitude? How can I turn my eyes from the reality of the work ahead of me and truly embrace the change?” She noted some good things to help keep perspective.

craftiness – my attempt

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I’ve been wanting to make some floral hair clips for our new girlie babe and for Hannah. Today was the day. During quiet time I sat in bed, watched a movie, and cut and glued and such. It was hard to get a decent photo of them (especially the white one), but such is life. The white one is made of t-shirt material. The giant aqua one turned out a little gynormous … it’s made of wired ribbon. And the mini baby lavender one I made from Satin … it fits on the tiny alligator clips. They are so NOT perfect, but it was fun to learn how to make them. I love online tutorials! I’m excited to make some more in different colors. Hurray for cute girly things!

***COLOR***

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Oh, how I love color… especially during the dreary winter months. I came across Design Seeds website via Pinterest. I love all the color combinations. One thing I noticed is that often I didn’t initially see some of the colors in the photo. Isn’t color fabulous!