Pickle Cheeks

We were eating lunch today and Spencer and Lilly were having their own conversation at the table. I was in the kitchen and did not hear the entire dialogue but I did here Spencer lovingly say this to Lilly...
"Well, it's not funny Pickle Cheeks."

My Girls

I am thankful for my girls. Daryl is our oldest and she is a big help around the house. I see her motherly instincts budding. She enjoys cooking and is always ready and willing to help when and where help is needed. Lilly, is so sweet. She is a little Mama too. She mothers her dollies and nutures them throughout the day. I love both of their smiles and laugher. I love their hugs. I know that Heavenly Father loves these two girls more than I do. He wants them to grow up to be valiant as they choose the right and grow stronger in their faith. They will come to know better of who He is as their Father and who they are as His daughters. I have a great responsibility to lead by example and love them as He would have me do. What a blessing!

Breathe

Just within the last hour... maybe two hours, I have become real tense. I need to relax. I came to the computer as an outlet. Why so tense? Well, I made dinner. That should say it all. Throughout the process of making dinner (and it is SUCH a process) I had five individuals clamoring for my attention with varying requests. The most popular being, "I'm hungry! What can I eat?" "Mom, can I help?"

I felt overwhelmed in the moment as I was trying a new recipe... Pork Chops. I've never made them before (mild confession). I get nervous when I try new things in the kitchen. I don't have a lot of confidence in cooking and I pretty much expect perfection on the first try which never happens (I know, totally unrealistic). I happen to be talking to my mom while cooking (yes, I can still multi-task) and I made the comment, "the pan is smoking" to which she replies, "then the temperature is too high, turn it down." To which I respond, "OH!" completely clueless as to why the pan is smoking and even more clueless that turning the temperature down would resolve that issue (yes, you may laugh, I will at some future point too). Plus, on a good night, if a child or children exclaim, "Yuck! I don't like this! Do I have to eat it?" I want to throw up my hands and roll my eyes.

So, if I have labored over dinner (more than usual) because I am trying something new, and a child or children exclaim "Yuck... " (well, you know the rest) then I REALLY want to throw in the towel at that point. Luckily, no one said that tonight but I was still so tense after dinner. I need to relax (did I say that already?) Cooking stresses me out. I have figured that this is where the whole "weak things are mad strong" comes in. I am definitely weak in the kitchen and hopefully before my journey ends here on earth I can get it together and make this a strength. Oh, the trials of life.

For all of you chefs out there, know that I totally admire your talent and really respect your abilities to whip up such delicious and yummy dishes. My kids rejoice when I don't burn the pancakes.

Once again... Pic not related to post but it did make me smile.

"Que Sera Sera"

"Life is not fair or equal. Notwithstanding our best efforts, things rarely, if ever, turn out exactly the way we would expect, predict, or desire. Life is full of great surprises, both happy and sad. Nevertheless, I stand by my assertion that you are really and quite completely in control of those things of ultimate importance."

Great talk here. The above quote and following quotations come from President Cecil O. Samuelson's BYU devotional address dated 8 September 2009.

What are those things of ultimate importance?

Consider these three things that President Samuelson notes:
First, I mention your relationships. These include your relationship with your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ.Your family, although possibly imperfect in some ways, also encompasses a series of relationships of vital importance. Because we are all children of Heavenly Father, we must have high regard for and good relationships with others. The last relationship of importance I will mention to you is with yourself. Be honest with yourself, including your failings, mistakes, and deficiencies, but also remember who you are.
Second, your covenants are of utmost importance both now and forever. Keeping them is a fundamental component of your integrity and of your relationship with heaven.
Third, handling your commitments now and in the near future, including the rest of your mortal life, will have a great impact on who you are and what you will become.

"As I conclude, let me again reflect with you on the popular song of more than 50 years ago, “Que Sera, Sera.” With great apologies to Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, who wrote the words to this piece, and because I am certainly not a composer of either lyrics or music, I would like to suggest a final verse just for us here that might clarify my views on our futures:"

Now that I’ve grown older,
The future’s more clear to me.
Some things I can’t predict or control,
But I can become what I need to be.

Thanks, Tiff for sharing this BYU Devotional talk by David Paxman titled Zoram and I: Getting Our Stories Straight dated July 27, 2010. That talk led me to this talk by President Samuelson. Both full of truth and perspective that I needed to review and ponder over.

Listen/watch the song here by Doris Day.

The following pics are not related to my post :)
They are of one of our favorite places, "THE MAGICAL GARDEN" aka the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Steve... I mean Corey

When I saw this pic it reminded me of Steve Urkel from Family Matters.

Today... is a sunny Sunday morning. I woke up to quiet chatter around the house. I found Daryl and Nicolas having an engaging conversation in their Pj's while Corey and Spencer were happily playing cars together. Lilly was playing dollies and Lucas was by my side. It was a great way to start the day.

Smile More

Cheerfulness is a great gift.

My little sponge said, "Girls Talk Too Much"

On at least two occasions, Spencer has come to me and said, "Girls talk too much." Each time I thought he was referring to his older sister and this was simply his own personal observation. Well, he and Lilly are watching Peter Pan and I just heard Peter say the same thing in reference to Wendy.

More pics (not related to the post)

Enjoy!

Lucas enjoying some birthday cake

Happy Birthday Spencer #4

Happy Birthday Daryl #7