Thankful for Sisters

I have to admit that I have such great sisters (Brothers too, but this blog is specifically about sisters). Here are just a few of the reasons my sisters are great!
Even though I am 6 years younger than my sister Betsy she always treated me as an equal and friend. Even in high school she would take me to do activities with her friends. (Which I am sure that her friends appreciated bringing a 12 year old along)
Now that we are on more of the same page in life, being moms and women in this world we are still close friends! I am always amazed at Betsy's never ending ability to serve others and even has her own "fan club" of kids that she babysits! Thanks Bets for meeting me at 5 am to run! Thanks for running at all! I know that it's not your thing, but you let me talk you into it--You Rock!! If I need a reality check Bets is the one to call. Thanks for your great example of perseverance, kindness and just plain fun!
Katie, "Kkkkk-Katie, beautiful Katie!" (ok I won't do the whole song, I know that you love it though!) Kate has also always been a best friend! 4 years my senior (but looks 10 years my younger-darn her!) She too has always included me in whatever she is involved in. Katie is my tender-hearted sis who always has a compassionate shoulder to cry on, and heck-she will cry too! Katie's charity and compassion for others is truly a Christ like example. Thanks Kate for all the phone chats that inspire us both to do the dishes, thanks for bringing me hot chocolate on my down days and thanks for all the late night sleep overs at Moms! Katie you are so Groovy!
I can only say that my Mom taught us how to love each other with the constant reminder that being sisters is very special. That we are "Sisters by Chance but Friends by Choice". Thanks Mom for helping us make that choice to be close. Everything is better with my sisters....hanging out (even with 11 children, including 10 boys! between us) simply hanging out is awesome and fun. I love the crafts, the errands and the kindness between us. Even though there are three of us, there is never an odd-women out.
What a blessing our siblings can be to us. It is truly my hope that I can teach that same family closeness to my boys, for their brothers will always be there-even when friends are not.
Wow I just realized that I should include my sister in laws as well....That will have to be a separate post! They are wonderful too!
Hug your sister or best friend today!

I realized as I went to paste a pic that I don't have a recent pic with my sisters...so here is one of my brother Brett's wedding day. Both Katie and Betsy are to my left I am in the white coat). Also Pictured my mom (in red) my sweet sister-in-law Edu (the bride) and my other wonderful sister-in-law Kathee on the right side of the photo.

What a Difference a Day Can Make!

I am always amazed at the replenishment of zeal for life! It always seems to be in a surprising way that we are thrown back on the horse, and even better willingly climb back on that proverbial horse!
I have been feeling disheartened by the lack of understanding for each other and our different points of view. Why must we turn everything into a fight, going after someone else with fists blazing and tempering none of our comments, out for blood. I am sure many of you can guess at what I am discussing....Yet there are always those friends, family or otherwise that can have a totally different opinion than you and yet you can rationally listen, discuss and even disagree with each other and still be friends after! I have many people in my life that I feel safe enough to disagree-respectfully of course, and our friendship will still remain intact. They too have on many occasions called me out on what they disagreed with and I respect them for doing it. It gives me the opportunity to gauge my feelings, opinions and see if they are reasonable or if they are simply driven by emotion.
I digress from my original point. I was feeling down because of this lack of mutual respect among so many factions in our country at this time. Jeff got to witness a freak out session with much ranting and raving....yet he still let me know that he does not consider me certifiable (yet). So I decided to put the weight of the world in the bath tub for a few days and take a day off! Yesterday I spent a few hours with Jeff on a day-date while kids were in school. We made a point not to discuss anything "heavy", and we simply enjoyed being together. When the kids came home I was ready to re-charge and get stuff done. My sister stopped by to tend for us while we attended a meeting. Laughing with her as only sisters can do, and watching her black teacup Chihuahua prance around(whose tiny toenails we painted pink--there is just a lack of little girls around here, so we improvise!) again helped to re-charge my batteries.
Today I put all my tasks for work to the side, went and played basketball with a group of women from the neighborhood and then spent a few hours with my other sister watching "Biggest Loser" (not only my fav tv show, but it was a recorded one so we could fast forward-EVEN BETTER!). So it is almost 4 in the afternoon and I haven't showered and am still in sweaty basketball clothes, my tasks are still waiting on my desk downstairs, the laundry still sits in piles and the kids are pretty much doing whatever they want at the moment and it FEELS GREAT!! I love being freshly prepared for tomorrow. With an "I can" attitude to face all that will come with a smile and a straight-a-way momentum. Tomorrow will be FANTASTIC!
So the moral of this posting? Take a day off from the cares of the world, and from your usual life, trust in God and oh Boy!! What a difference a day can make! :)

Pink

Hey does pink make anyone else just plain happy? Every time I click over to my page and see those girly hues I smile. I guess I have taken for granted how much I like to see such a feminine color...you know we learn to adapt, adjust and move on. So I have excepted a life of mostly blue, green, camo and even yellow (GO LANCE) but I am happy to say I have re-discovered my inner love of pink! And Ammon even gave his consent to my fun Easter egg colored back ground. Now that he is past the age of "stay as far away as you can from pink, or you will get cooties" to "Pink is the coolest color" I give him the pink cup at dinner and he uses it with pride. I think it is the whole "real men wear pink" thing that is cool now. Elijah is learning color songs at school (B-L-U-E, B-L-U-E spells blue to me). He came home from pre-school the other day and said "Mom I have just the song for you!" and he sang the following for me:
"Pink, Pink What do you think? Cotton Candy, Bubble gum..yum yum yum, I want some. Pink! What do you think!"
He sang it slow and smiley! I told him it is my new favorite song. Since this posting really doesn't have much of a continuous theme may I add another cute Eli moment? I took Ammon and Eli to the park the other day. There were a few girls in a circle playing what ever girls play, (don't ask me!) and Elijah walks up to the group and says "Hellllooo Ladies!" Ammon and I almost died laughing. The girls just stared at him. Eli being Eli simply was oblivious to their rebuff and kept playing. He's hot stuff in his mind.
So back to pink. Whether it's hot or powder, pink makes me happy. I am grateful for pink today! Go have a happy pink day! (or whichever color makes you happy!)

Did That Warm Your Heart?

So often it feels like I am going through the motions and the idea of slowing down to enjoy the journey is pushed back to do later when I have the time....or is it just me? I keep piling the tasks on, keep saying yes to help with whatever until Jeff reminds me "You know Sarah you can say No sometimes". It's not that I don't love volunteering or quick cards or visits to others it's just that life gets soooo crazy. I go through a lot of my days with my mental planner (and real one too) in my head ticking away at the "to-do's" and the "already dids" and the "remember that for tomorrow"s. It's then that a moment will catch you off guard and you remember to re-prioritize. I have re organized my Franklin Planner so that family needs- not tasks are written first. It's amazing how writing them down at the top of the page completely changes your outlook. This happened today. Mondays are crazy! The last few have been chaotic to say the least...preschool, phone calls, bills, laundry, house cleaning, early dinner to make T ball at 5:30, Fencing at 6:30- and then around 30 minutes after the kids are in bed (which is 30 minutes after they SHOULD have been in bed!) as I finish cleaning up the kitchen I realize that I am dead on my feet and that I actually did not sit down once through the whole day (car seat doesn't count). Even my meals were eaten on my feet as I filed paperwork or did my make-up. (That is so not the French way...) Still trying to figure out how to multi-task in the shower..will it really zap me if I keep texting in the shower?
Well tonight we cleared the schedule! AJ decided he is not that crazy about Fencing and Eli has T ball on Tuesday instead. We actually held Family Home Evening on Monday night instead of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or on the drive to church....
Please don't think I am complaining..it's just life, but it made the enclosed experience quite sweet.
Our Family Home Evening Lesson was on "Family First". Loving our Brothers because they can be our best friends for the rest of their lives. (if you have daughters, insert "sisters" here.) We discussed kind things that they do for each other that "warm our hearts" as moms and dads. Elijah spent the majority of the time climbing all over me as I talked and I was pretty sure he didn't hear more than 3 words. The treat (after a rip-roaring game of Hide-and-go-seek) was ice cream. As we sat there eating our Caramel Tracks Delight, Elijah turned to Patrick and said "I love you Patrick". I sighed an "ohhhh". Then Elijah turned to me and said "Did that warm your heart?". I was struck by the question and I realized "Yes it did!" The words coming out of my mouth may be hanging in space somewhere, but along the way there they did pass through my busy boys heads! And it totally helps that they are so cute too.
So I have recommitted to stop concentrating on the check marks of another task well done, but instead on doing the most important things well. This week I shall seek out actions that can "warm my heart" and be sure to serve others so that I might create warm hearts where ever I go...(too cheesy? It must be all the sugar in my brain left over from the Caramel Delight:)
Did that warm your heart?

Tears of Joy....

Ok is it not crazy how our kids bring tears to our eyes at the weirdest times? Last Sunday our two older boys participated in the Primary program at church. Eli's first this year! As I watched Elijah sing with the rest of the kids, looking quite reminiscent of the Grinch (Jim Carrey) trying to sing with the Who's--(you know mouth moving but not in synch with the crowd, head swaying and nodding dramatically) tears sprung to my eyes! It is so like Elijah to be oblivious to the crowd of 250 people staring up at him. Both Eli and Ammon did a great job with their parts! Eli took his time, maximizing microphone usage. Ammon spoke quickly and to the point. Jeff being a primary teacher got to join in the fun and sing "Called to Serve" with Ammmon and the other 7-12 year old boys. I love Primary programs! It is soooo entertaining to watch kids doing funny things, thinking that no one is looking at them, that they are blending into the crowd. Ultimately it was a Great Program, the kids were quiet at the right times and the songs were sung with a quality of reverence about them.
Patrick turned two on Sunday as well. He said to himself "well I am two now, what terrible thing can I do" so he decided to climb out of his crib. Naptimes will never be the same! However after a drive with Dad he fell asleep and was able to be well rested and happy for his Birthday Party. His little "wow" after gifts he liked, and after seeing his Car cake again brought tears to my eyes. He is so beautiful! He is such a fun kid! (Kid now, no longer a baby! "sigh" of time passing)
It's always amazing to me how you see your children every day, watch them grow. But there are always those sliver of moments when you REALLY see them. You see the love of Christ in their eyes and you get a glimpse of what Heavenly Father feels for each of us as we are His children. I think that must be what brings those tears of joy (and pride, happiness, sweetness...) to our parental eyes!

Sounding Off

I enjoy putting together our family blog. I do it mainly for family and friends to keep up with what we are up to. But I often find myself wanting to add personal musings, that many may find boring...so here is my place to sound off (and maybe add a little pink here and there). I kept a studious journal for years, however with three busy boys and a hectic schedule I find that I am not as consistent as I once was. It seems that typing a few lines here and there is so much quicker, and involves less writer's cramp (in my hand I mean:). I plan to "sound off" with whatever is on my mind at the time, and encourage all those who care to read it to add your two cents. I love a good, well rounded, all sides seen discussion so feel free to contradict me! But hopefully I will be an uplifting source to anyone who may need a kind word or a soothing thought. Much love to all!