Family Updates - I love them all!!!

I have decided that it was time to take a moment to update on each member of our family. After all, this is my "journal" too and I need to have these things recorded down for me. With that as a pre-warning. It might end up a little lengthy, but I need that for my personal records.

Josh - He is as busy as ever right now. Work has been going through changes and updates and he has had to juggle a lot. He is trying to find the balance between what he duties actually are and what is constantly being asked of him to do. Still, I very rarely hear him complain about anything at work. He always looks at things in a constructive way to know how to accomplish all that he needs to while growing himself personally and professionally. He has been busy with the Bishopric as well. Our Bishop and 1st counselor have been out of town quite a bit since he was called to his new position - almost two months ago now, so there have been many weeks where he is the bishopric. Not an easy task. For me in supporting him, the most difficult thing becomes when calls come in during the day for assistance on something, and these things are not emergencies, and I tell people that I will get him the message and have him contact them to make arrangements, they often will call back an hour later upset that he has not contacted them and it hasn't been resolved. As many know, I am not naturally the most patient person and it takes all of my effort to be kind and patient to explain that he is at work and has responsibilities there as well. He will take care of it when he can. Still, he reminds me every day of the importance of the work and helps me be a better person as well. He truly shows our family what Christ-like love is and exemplifies it in his attitude and behavior!!

Alexis - I can't believe this girl is turning eight next week, then on to Baptism just a couple of short weeks later. She is "my baby girl". I remember the day we brought her home from the hospital. It doesn't seem like she can be at this age already. She seems to think that she is turning 18 rather than eight. She likes to be the mom around the house and often times I hear her telling a sibling that they need to do something and will start counting down if they don't jump on it. I have to quickly remind her who is the mom and help her to understand why she can't be doing that. Silly girl. She loves to be in control of her situations and struggles immensely when she is not, when changes disrupt things, or when she isn't "right" about something. She is excelling wonderfully in school. With the difficulty of her study habits at home I tend to think she might be behind, but then when I talk with her teacher she shows me how far ahead she is and I try to not worry. She doesn't really like to read. When I can find her a good book series and she will actually sit down to do it, she gets involved very quickly and loves to recount all that she has read to me. She is so tall for her age. I have to remind myself frequently that she is only seven - turning eight. We do expect a lot from her in terms of setting an example and responsibilities around the house. It is a bit more challenging now, but we feel it will help her so much more in the long run to be well rounded, responsible, and grounded in her foundation. She is reading the Book of Mormon on her own and is already into Jacob. I get frustrated that she chooses bed time to start reading, but I can't ask her to stop and not read because I know that is the most important thing she can be doing. She is so excited to be starting Activity Day after she turns eight. My little girl is turning into a beautiful young lady.

MacKenzie - She has the sweetest disposition, but let me tell you it can turn in an instant. She takes everything so personal and we have to watch how we phrase things for her. I have to remind her that the world isn't ending when she doesn't get her way. On the flip side, she is my biggest helper. Often times she will ask why Bailey or Lexi aren't having to do something, but that is only because she isn't aware of what they have already been doing. Almost every day she comes to the kitchen when I am working on lunch or dinner and wants to know what she can do to help. Sometimes I have to be creative in what I can give her to do because there just really isn't anything she can actually do to help. A lot of the time she can be found reading and content doing her own thing. She is also excelling in school. In fact, she is one of a very small number doing enrichment or higher learning education. She loves working with her enrichment group and teacher. I know that it has helped her to not be bored with her schooling. She has a vivid imagination and seems to be our most sensitive child. She has to have organization around her. I will ask her to put her laundry away and 15 minutes later she still hasn't emerged from her room. I will go in to find that she is resorting her entire shirt drawer, folding everything a specific way and sorting by colors. She gets frustrated when her sisters don't fold "the correct" way. She is very lovable and cuddly and likes to make sure people are taken care of - a natural nurturer.

Bailey - Still believes she needs to be the life of any party. She also thinks the entire world revolves around her and she is only five. She has hit the emotional five year old stage and seems to have it worse than the other two did. At times it drive me crazy!!! She also has to have "fun" in everything she does. When she is being disciplined for actions she chooses and I question why she chose to do it when she knows it is against the rules, the answer is always, "Because it is fun." I think she was our biggest wake up call in the terms of children being different and needing different discipline. The older two could just be put in time out anywhere. For her, she is still seen and finds a way to make it a party, but you put that girl in her room away from everyone else and heaven forbid - the world has just ended. She likes to help when it is convenient because she would obviously be off playing, making the mess, and of course having fun - work is NOT fun to her. She loves all of her friends and thinks she needs to have a friend over or be at a friend's house every single day. Needless to say, that can't happen. Her reading is really coming along. She can read verses from the scriptures now by herself. It takes a great deal of patience on our end as the parents because she gets distracted easily and tries to be fun and funny about it. However, the more she does it, the better she continues to get.

Brendon - He is finally getting potty trained. I don't know if it is a boy thing or what, but. he. is. a. challenge!!!! All of the girls were completely accident free within a few days and this boy still has no desire to initiate going potty on his own. At the same time - he has only had one poop accident in the last couple of weeks - YIPPEE!!!! I am very glad we decided to tackle this project now BEFORE the baby comes rather than after. He is another one that is all about the fun. You put Bailey and Brendon together and a mess is imminent. He is just now learning to clean up the toys. He does great with his cars and is finally catching on to the other things. He loves to smile and pose for the camera. He also has a nasty fit side to him. I can tell him to stop crying or throwing a fit and then he thinks he needs to tell me to tell him to stop crying or stop the fit. Another situation that requires creativity so that I don't give in to him and he isn't the one in control, but so he will stop whatever the behavior is. He loves going to the bus stop with me to get MacKenzie. He stomps on the ants and runs around in circles. He has so much energy. When the bus comes he HAS to run and say, "Hi" to the bus driver. The biggest smile always crosses her face as though it is the highlight of the day. He has the biggest smile with the biggest dimples. It is impossible to NOT love this kid!

Me - I learned some new levels of compassion and Christ-like love over the last few weeks. Now I work to implement those things that I have learned. I am amazed at the unconditional love that the Savior has for each of us and as I see different situations I see how the experiences in life typifies the Savior and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I still have so far to go, but I am grateful for the life lessons that are constantly being taught to me. I just wish I could learn the lessons faster and not through trials. I am still very busy with things going on. There are seven more weeks of school and I can hardly wait for them to be done because that means my PTA responsibilities will be over. This was one thing that I said no to several times, but then had the strongest impression that I needed to do it. Not easy to give up my time for it, but something necessary. I feel that the Spell-A-Thon and a couple of other smaller things were the reasons for that. Things fell into my lap to take care of and because of my business background and feeling of obligation I did it with everything I had. It wasn't easy by any means, but things turned out very successful and helped the school in a much needed way. I have seen so much and been a part of so much as well. I have been able to see first hand how the budget crisis in our state is affecting the school districts. It is just plain sad. The HOA Board is proving to be "fun". Some months I come home after having several homeowners just yell at us, while other times I get a standing ovation for "stopping socialized yard care". All I can say is that I have a better sense of how the government works and I think the job they are doing just plain sucks!!!! They truly do not care about the people they serve and have their own agendas in mind. That will be all I say on that subject or I will really get going. It is a two year term so I have one more year. Of all of the outside responsibilities, this one has by far been the easiest. I work off of a list of things to do each day just to keep me on track. Sometimes it is things as simple a get the kids, or myself for that matter, through the bath/shower or take Bailey to preschool. And I admit, occasionally, I add things onto my list after I completed them (like dishes) just so I can cross them off and feel like I did something productive that day. As far as family goes, I love my family. They bring me so much joy and I love every minute of our family time. We have had to be more diligent at getting it scheduled and then not let other things "come up" or interfere with that time. It has been very rewarding. I am finding new levels of patience with the kids and our relationships continue to improve. The kids love the little surprises of where we are going and the things we do - from going to the zoo, to hours at the park, the air show or whatever it is. I don't rely on Josh to come home and "fix" something terrible that happened during the day. We have been working with the kids more and more on behavior and using words and those big terrible things are just not coming up very much any more. I have to say that home life is so enjoyed. It is pleasant and can feel the Spirit abiding here. I just love spending time with my family. I can't say that the kids necessarily agree. I am often times tired, worn out, cranky with the pregnancy. I feel bad when every prayer and blessing comes along and they are praying for mom to feel better. That means I don't mask the problems as well as I think I do. I really do try not to complain or whine about things - other than to Josh, who probably gets more than he ever wanted. There have been added complications with some severe pain and cramping. I have had to undergo a few extra tests and ultrasounds just to make sure everything is staying is safe levels. (We have had it reconfirmed a couple of times that we are indeed having a girl). I am now getting the most wonderful nights of rest - pretty much sleeping through the entire night with the aid of two Benadryl and Two Extra Strength Tylenol PM every night. It helps a little with the tiredness and complete lack of energy that I was having throughout the day time. I keep looking forward to a burst of energy and the nesting, but so far it hasn't hit me. Migraines and headaches are also starting to plague me, which is one of the first signs that my blood pressure might be starting to go up. Not a good thing at all if I am working to stay off of bed rest this time. It is at those moments that list of things to do flies out the door. I tend to hit the couch or my bed, letting the kids watch an extra movie or much more tv than I like, but it is survival at those times. I don't want to make it sound like I am struggling every day - that is definitely not the case. I do feel wonderful, we just have some set backs that we have to work through. And life continues to go in. Even when I feel great I work each day to keep things to a limit. My list of things to do each day certainly do not get all crossed off and honestly on most days I am ok with that. I do the important things so they don't become urgent later and then the things that need to be done for our family to survive (meals, dishes, laundry, and homework) and then anything else just has to wait. It always goes on the list for the next day, but sometimes it is on for a week before I can get it done. Oh, well. And for me - that speaks volumes. I am a task person by nature and need to cross things off the list. I have learned that life isn't about the lists, but the results of the relationships. I would rather go take dinner to a couple of families in need rather than sweep my floors. I would rather sit and visit with a neighbor that dropped by for an hour rather than fight, I mean work with the kids, to fold the seven baskets of laundry sitting upstairs in the family room. Life is crazy, but life is so good. Although there are so many terrible things going on, I see so much good and it all starts with the family and what each family I know is doing to raise their own great kids and make a difference in this world.

My family is so blessed. Life isn't easy, but I see the blessings coming each and every day. Many are not in the way I was expecting or hoping for, but they come. I know that it is possible because we work hard to follow the example of the Savior in our lives. I am so grateful for the testimony that I have of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that it is through Him that we overcome life struggles. I have learned that although the trial is the "same", it is also so very different for every one of us. But it is as we support each other with open and loving arms - free from judgment, with unconditional love, with a listening ear, and just to be there for support it makes life a little easier. The burden is a little lighter. I am constantly inspired and learn as I read my friends blogs, visit with them, listen to them. I am in awe at the things that are able to be accomplished. I say it again, I am so blessed with my family and the people that I have surrounding me!!!