Angels round about…

Yesterday, I was sitting in the kitchen at about 7 pm trying to get some work done when I heard the blinds in the girls room bang against the window.  This is not an unusual sound as they are constantly lifting the blinds to look out the window for Ethan or Baylee.  Then I heard Ellie crying…HARD, but it was muffled like she was outside or downstairs.  I yelled Ellie, “Where are you?” To my surprise, my neighbor yelled back, “She’s out here.”  My first thought was what is she doing outside without me.

I ran outside to the front yard.  Ellie was laying on the grass below her bedroom window trying to get away from my neighbor. Seeing her mouth a bit bloody and hearing her obvious “hurt” cry, I ran to her.  The neighbor lady, Patty, said that she saw Ellie fall out the window.  I screamed, “What?!”

Between talking to the lady and Ellie, I have deducted that Ellie was standing on the window sill in an attempt to show Izzy how she can balance.  She got on the window sill and called Izzy’s name and then fell through the screen of the open window right onto the coiled hose and flower bed landing on her back.

I immediately inspected her for injury.  She bit her tongue in two spots, she has a quarter size goose egg on the side of her head, her left thigh is deeply bruised, her lower back hurts “a widdle bit,” and she lost a lock of her hair {not sure what it got caught on but it came right out}.

Oh my heck, this could have been so much worse!

I called Corey. No answer.  I called my mom. No answer.  I called Kari. I was so grateful to hear her voice.  I started to cry and explained what happened and that I couldn’t get a hold of anyone.  She calmed me down and took action to get my mom or Corey to answer their phones while I kept staring at my baby hoping everything was okay with her internally.

My instincts told me everything would be okay. 

My mom finally called back and rushed over to do her own inspection of Ellie and offer her shaken daughter some support.  While she was taking us for ice cream, Corey called.  I had texted him saying that Ellie fell from her window, but that everything seemed fine.  He was naturally concerned and rushed home from his meeting in Kaysville.  {I am sure more than a few traffic laws were broken.}

I am grateful that my little story has a happy, miraculous ending!  Ellie is safe, healthy and happy with no major injury.  My mind keeps going back to the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants: “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up.” D&C 84:88

After a sleepless night watching Ellie, I was sitting on the floor in the front room reading a text on my phone when Ellie said, “Mom, you should have catched me.”  Oh, my heart broke!  I know accidents happen, but my heart hurt for a moment.  I sat thinking about her comment and I put my hand on her  leg and said, “I wish I could have caught you, but I am glad I was there to pick you up.”

I have been thoughtfully considering that conversation all day in a more heavenly light. 

Miracles happen and angels are real!

I am a Photographer!

 

I have found another new hobby.  Yes, I have many!  I consider it developing my talents.  I think you can learn how to do ALMOST anything.  Ya know that movie Ratatouille when the fat French Chef says, “Anyone can cook.”  I believe that is true with almost any subject. 

So I took the mantra “Anyone can be a photographer” and went with it.  I constantly study photos.  Photos of people, landscaping, art projects, tutorials, etc.  I analyze and over-analyze photography.  So, I think I have somewhat of a grasp on how to pose people and the best lighting and such.  So here is a sample of some of my recent endeavors.  No judging…at least not where I can hear you.

Lessons Learned this Month: September

Yeah, I know the month is only half way over, but I have learned so much these last couple of weeks!  I have been having some seriously painful back pain.  It has been so hard to take care of the most menial day-to-day things, but I have learned…err, relearned how extremely blessed I am.

People genuinely care!

I am not the most optimistic person {shocker, I know}.  It’s not that I am pessimistic, but I guess the best word is cynical.  When someone says, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help” I think they are just saying that in order to relieve themselves of some duty.  I know how bad that sounds!  When I tell people to let me know if I can help, I really mean it, but somehow think others don’t.  Pretty messed up, right?

Anyway, my mom’s boyfriend, JayDee has called everyday to check on me.  Sometimes two or three times a day and he GENUINELY wants to know how I am doing.  He doesn’t talk about anything else or have any other motive for calling.  I have learned I want make sure I am like this.  When I call to check on someone (which I need to do more often), I want that person to feel the real concern I have. Lesson Learned!

Do not ask permission to serve!

My Visiting Teacher didn’t ask if she could bring dinner over…she just did it!  We, as women, tend to be too prideful to say, “would you please bring dinner over. That would help.” But when this kind sister just did it, I was so grateful I cried!  I have learned to heed the NIKE slogan of JUST DO IT!  No more asking permission to serve! Lesson Learned!

Another example to me about not asking permission to serve is when I came home from the Dr. office and my mother-in-law was cleaning my floors and picking up around my house.  At that same time my sister came and got my girls so I could sleep and get some much needed rest.  Again: JUST DO IT!

Ask for help!

My mom is so busy and has a pretty packed schedule, but sometimes you just need your mommy…especially when you are in pain…and the hubby is out of town.  So I called her in uncontrollable sobs and asked her to help.  I didn’t even tell her how to help, I just knew if she knew I needed help she would answer the call.  She came and got my kids at the Dr. office, fed them, did my laundry and got the kids ready for bed.  It was a HUGE burden lifted!  I have learned to ASK for help and others will answer the call.  Don’t beat around the bush dropping hints, just ask!  Lesson Learned!

I am surrounded by worthy men and encircled about by the love of God.

I am not one to ask for a blessing.  Not sure why, but I just have never been in the habit of doing that.  Corey and I walked out of the Dr. office (one of the many appointments last week) and I cried.  I grabbed his hand and said, “I need a blessing.”  He agreed and that night Corey called our good friend, Mike who happened to not be available.  So I grabbed the phone and called my baby brother, Danny.  Luckily he only lives about 10 minutes away…although he would come if he lived an hour away.  He agreed to help give me a blessing and drove right over.  When Danny got to my house I asked that he administer the blessing and Corey anoint with oil.

Danny gave me the most wonderful blessing.  I am ever amazed when I am receiving and I can tell it is the Spirit speaking.  This time Danny’s voice and speech patterns actually changed.  It was an amazing experience. There are other great experiences that accompanied this special blessing that should not be divulged here…as a great man once told me, God does not reveal himself to blabber mouths (thank you President Clark).  From this blessing I learned to seek out the Lord always and he will answer!  Not just when pain is strong or the heart is weak, but always!  I am surrounded by worthy willing men and a Heavenly Father who loves me!  Lesson Learned!

So you can see it has been a very eventful, thoughtful couple of weeks.  I am glad they are over, however.  Hopefully, I won’t have to relearn this most wonderful lessons anytime soon.  Or maybe it is better to say, hopefully I remember these lessons on my own without needing to be retaught them.

I have a passion…

I absolutely love to create, but my serious passion lies in sewing.  I love to take some fabric and see it come together to make something amazing…that I created!

Here are a few things I have created this past year…except the last two.  {Those are just to fill space in the collage.}

I cringe every time I even think about using a pattern though.  Please just let me create as I go.  I know it is the hard way though.  I have learned a lot of techniques through trial and error. Like ruffling, elastics, zippers.  I still can’t do sleeves or baby bloomers, but that will change soon.  I actually bought a pattern…GASP.  My mom is going to help me through it this week and then I will know how to create something with sleeves. :)

Despite not knowing all the ins and outs of sewing, I have been able to make some money with my love of sewing.  I have the best job in the world working for my sister at Ucreate Crafts and I am a member of the Riley Blake Project Design Team this year.  I am telling you, it doesn’t get much better than making your passion a money maker. 

Great-Grandma Rond would be so proud!

I said, “Yes!”

 

Ethan came up to me tonight (past his bedtime) and said, “Hey, Mom, will you play foosball with me?”  I could tell he was expecting me to say no or not right now...like I have been doing a lot lately. So I closed the book I was reading and said, “Yes!”  I didn’t even take my time.  I instantly put on my flip flops and we went downstairs {with the girls under foot} and played foosball.  He won!  I didn’t even let him win; I cannot believe how big he is getting.

Ethan the Foosball Champ!

I am so proud of myself for saying yes.  I have been so busy with things that don’t matter that I have seriously put off just having fun with my kids.  The turning point that opened my eyes?  I have been reading Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielsen from Nie Nie Dialogues and I have been reminded about things that matter most.

Stephanie finds such joy in being a mom and having been injured so badly in an airplane accident she didn’t get to enjoy motherhood to its fullest for a long time.  Reading her story, I begin to realize I wasn’t putting first things first in recent months.  Yesterday, I resolved to fix that on the spot.  No more putting off playing.  I am grateful that I am able to say yes and have the capacity to walk down the stairs and play a rousing game of foosball. Thank you, Stephanie, for helping me to remember my most important of roles.

I will say YES!

4th of July

 

Let’s try this again, shall we.

 

So for about a year now I have actually been journaling in a journal {gasp} instead of a blog.  I have seriously enjoyed the creativity that flows when I hold a pen to paper.  But I am noticing that lately I only journal and draw on Sundays…at church.  Although I enjoy the artsy part of it, I can type faster than I write so I started this blog up again…for journaling purposes.

*****

That being said, let’s get on with it.

E (9), Iz (5), Elle (3)

Look at these cute munchkins!  When I look at this picture I see three amazing little miracles…with mustaches.  I am so blessed to be able to be their mother.  Mothering is so much easier as the kids get older.  I know it’s crucial to be a fabulous mother from day one, but MAN, those babies are so hard.  Or maybe it was just my babies that were so hard.  COLIC. ALLERGIES. ECZEMA. FORMULA.  They are so much more enjoyable now and I say that with  no shame.  I have made a great effort to enjoy every stage of childhood with my children and I think just have that mind set has made me a better mother.  I really enjoy playing with my kids now.

I love that I can have a sarcastic conversation with E and he gets it.  I love that he can watch his sisters if I have to run to a neighbors house.  I love that Iz and Elle can play with each other and entertain each other without needing constant help from me.  Although, half the time I am saying, “Don’t fight!” or “Please get along.”  {Add referee to my many hats.}  They are amazingly fabulous children who teach me everyday how to be a better person.

Ethan recently reminded me of a talk at the last LDS General Conference: “Mom, do you remember that talk that said there should be no yelling in the home…just a family?”  That little comment brought me back to reality.  That these little humans listen and watch everything I do.  I impact them more than I know…and I want that impact to always be for good.