Control

I like to think I'm in control, that I can direct my life in the direction I want to. But lately, through a series of events that cannot be explained or labeled as coincidences, I have realized I am not in control. Heavenly Father has much bigger and better plans in mind.

I haven't been able to get Proverbs 3:6 out of my head, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

So true.

Sunshine

There hasn't been a lot of sunshine around here lately. We have random days and hours here and there, but for it already being a week into June, the sun is sadly lacking. I should mention that I am secretly grateful since I may possibly die of heat this summer with the pregnancy and all. And I actually really love the rain. I especially love that I have had to do very little watering of my yard and how green and beautiful everything is.

My cousin started a gratitude blog, and as I've been reading her posts, I can't help but think of the things I'm grateful for.

Today I'm grateful for new adventures. I can't wait to see where this summer takes us.

Freebies(or almost)

As the weather gets nice, I start dreaming about taking our family somewhere exciting for a vacation. It always sounds like fun but time/money restricts us. When we have free weekends or holidays we spend them around here or with our families. Sometimes I still think of all the things that would be "more fun" to do even around home like taking the kids to the movies, to dinner, to a carnival, and other things like that. Those things are fun, but as we've tried to stick to our budget, we've found ourselves still coming up with plenty of fun. Our kids don't know the difference and we still make some great memories. In the last month we have gone 4-wheeling, horse back riding, made homemade pizza together, swimming(we have a membership to our gym/pool through Jared's work), a city parade, to the temple grounds, to the Shoshone Falls, out for $.59 ice cream cones and playing at Artic Circle. I love my little family and that we had so much fun doing such simple things! Here are some pics of some of what we've been up to!

Someday

It seems like the last couple of years I have been playing the someday game. I have lots of good intentions and big plans, but then when it comes down to acting on them, I often play my "someday" card.

Someday when I don't have little kids. Someday when I have more time. Someday when the weather is nicer. Someday when I have more money. Someday when are callings require less of us.

I'm tired of hearing myself make this excuse. So I've been trying to change this, slowly, but it is changing. I've realized that there will always be things going on in our lives that make us busy, that allow us to make excuses.

Last year, I kept waiting for Maddie to get on a sleeping schedule. And once she did, Jared's calling became even more time intensive. Then the girls were sick. Then I became pregnant.

One of somedays that I have put an end to involves scripture reading. Several weeks ago, a speaker in church mentioned that if you read 7 pages a day for an entire year you will have read the entire standard works. I've always wanted to read all them all the way through consecutively like that, but it has always been just outside the reach of what I thought I was capable of.

This has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Jared and I have seen so many blessings come our way since making this decision. The other day I found Emma curled up on the couch with a pillow and blanket thumbing through my scriptures. She told me she was reading her scriptures and they make her happy. I love that little girl, and that she is seeing me read my scriptures on a daily basis.

One of my other biggest somedays lately is my health. It's not that I eat a bucket of ice cream every night(although right this moment that sounds pretty good:), but when I don't have the scale/waist size to help motivate me, I'm not as dedicated to a healthy lifestyle as I should be. I have hit the point in my pregnancy when I sometimes think it doesn't really matter because I'm just big anyway. Terrible logic, I know.

So remember the Fitness Challenge? We're bringing it back around our house! Jared and I are both ready for a fit and healthy summer. He lost 30 lbs with this simple little thing, by the way. I lost 13. We are big fans. So if anyone wants to jump onboard... http://danielsfitnesschallenge.blogspot.com/

I used to say that Jared and I just couldn't go to the temple together, that it is too hard to do with little kids. Just another excuse for me.

My other major someday is my house. It is so easy to put it on the back burner, and I just clean it when it needs it. But lately I have been more consistent with a morning and night routine, and checklists during the day. And wow, I am a checklist girl!! I LOVE it! Even when the house looks messy again at the end of the day, I can look at my checklist and have proof I really did do something. I like to make a game of it, accomplishing the 6 most important things list on my home list and my business list. The sooner I get the lists done, the sooner we can just enjoy the day!

No Pants

I get weekly e-mails from Baby Center about our little guy. Emma loves them. This week's was especially interesting to her. She pointed out each of the features and then indicated where they were on me, Maddie and herself.

The conversation went something like this.

Emma: "Ears... Eyes... Nose... Mouth... Hands... Toes... Head... Shoulders... Belly Button?"

Me: (Pointing at umbilical cord) "That's where his belly button will be."

Emma: (Concentrating) "Pants? Shirt?"

Me: "No, we will have to put pants and a shirt on him after he comes out."

Emma then took off to her room and picked out pants and a shirt and brought them to me. Don't worry, we are prepared now.

300 People

What do you get when you take 600 eggs, 4 gallons of milk and 1/2 lb. of salt? Scrambled eggs for 300 people, of course!

Or at least a lot of cartons, shells, and 12 gallons of pre-mixed eggs.

This was our date tonight, prepping for the fathers/sons campout breakfast tomorrow morning.

Drumroll please...

My little sister got her mission call yesterday. She had it mailed to my parents house, though, and she lives in Jackson, WY right now, so they met up last night at 10:30 so she could open it. My whole family was on speaker phone and got to hear her read it for the first time. That was so fun! She is going to San Bernardino, CA!! She will enter the MTC September 21st. I'm so excited for her! She will do such a great job!

Now I am kind of wondering when our baby will be making his appearance since he's due September 26th and I normally go at least a week early...