The phone rang this afternoon at my parents house. I answered and said "please tell me you have my children with you". Dad said that he did but hadn't known until right then that he did.
Huge sigh from me followed quickly by the "I'm going to kill him" when he gets home thought.
Zane and Rhett were out in the yard playing when Grandma and Grandpa left to walk up town to the pharmacy. They waved to the boys and carried on. I could hear them in the yard playing while I worked on some seminary stuff and Brock slept. 10 minutes later I realized it had been awhile since I had heard anything from outside. I went out and called but no children. I wasn't freaking out...yet. I headed back inside to try and call my parents when dad phoned to tell me they had them. APPARENTLY, my six year old decided that he was grown up enough to take his three year old brother and walk up town to find grandpa and grandma all by them selves....with no shoes on. Just socks. And this was their game plan: walk to the store, go in, take a look around, and if grandma and grandpa weren't in that store they were going to try another store. I'm not kidding. This is exactly what Zane told grandma when she asked him how they knew where they were. "We didn't. We were going to come in, take a look around, and if you weren't here go look in another store".
So, if you saw two cute little blond boys wandering around Raymond this afternoon they were probably mine. Especially if they were only wearing socks.
I think he's going to make me grey.
I'm glad he's independent and capable of doing this but at the same time I'm not ready for this many years to have gone by already.
Zane really didn't see what the problem was. But I made him promise to ask me before he left the yard again.
Life just got a lot more interesting.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Prayers Answered
If you are a reader of this blog you probably remember that I have been called as the home-study seminary teacher for Sylvan Lake. I've had a couple of weeks to think about it and pray about it and have really felt that I was supposed to focus on the Atonement and use color coding when teaching these girls. But I wasn't sure how to implement it. And then I went to a seminary training inservice meeting on Saturday. I had really prayed that the Lord would bless me to have the spirit and to know and understand how to best full fill this calling and do the things that would bless these girls. I was definitely the youngest one there...and that was a bit intimidating. But as I moved through the classes I found myself commenting and seeing things that I haven't before. It was a really awesome feeling to contribute to the class and realize and remember that I can learn from the scriptures and explain it to others.
I also had some specific things happen that were really an answer to prayer. We had three classes to go through but could choose which order we did them. I was going to just do them in order of class room and headed to room 101 but ended up turning around and going to 103. In that class it was confirmed to me that focusing on the Atonement was what I needed to do this year with the Book of Mormon. When it was time to change classes I again started toward 101 but went into 102 instead. The class was fun and informative and I really enjoyed it. At lunch I sat with some sisters from different areas and the one in the middle of our small group has taught for several years, and her husband taught for several years before her. The other sister is like me and hasn't taught before. She was asking a lot of questions and the experienced sister was giving her a lot of good suggestions. And as I listened to the conversation I would think "wow, that's a really good idea" And then the Spirit would whisper in my head "that's not for your class" And then another good idea would come up and again the Spirit would direct me that it wasn't for my class. After this happening three or four times I just listened to her suggestions but didn't try to think of how I could make them work for me because obviously what has worked for this sister is not what my class needs. After lunch we had a training session with everyone and then split off to the last class. I finally made it to 103. I was still feeling like I didn't have a solid answer on which way to take the teaching part of my calling and said a silent prayer as I went in that I would learn something in this class that would point me in the right direction. The teacher was Brother Cartier and he was not feeling well at all, but had come anyway. And he really just opened the class up to what we wanted to know. And after a few questions from others in the class he opened up his scriptures and showed us how he teaches : color coding. And then he explained it in depth. I felt so strongly that this was the answer on how to teach these home-study girls this year. That this was the method that would really help them to learn what they needed to. I was so grateful to Brother Cartier for coming that day. At the end of the class he told us that at the beginning of the class he had no intention of talking about the things we discussed, but had followed the spirit.
The day was really awesome. In every class we were reminded that the Lord has saved his most choice spirit sons and daughters for this time and that makes us, as their leaders the choicest as well. We were told that we have been called to be the leaders of these youth because we are the only ones who are capable of giving them what they need. Hearing that was a little overwhelming, but also very empowering because I realized that my Heavenly Father was going to be there with me every step of the way. We were promised that if we would pay the price in preparing for our lessons, and would testify of the things we teach, and be willing to follow the spirit, that we will be successful and our youth will be blessed.
And so my journey begins!
I also had some specific things happen that were really an answer to prayer. We had three classes to go through but could choose which order we did them. I was going to just do them in order of class room and headed to room 101 but ended up turning around and going to 103. In that class it was confirmed to me that focusing on the Atonement was what I needed to do this year with the Book of Mormon. When it was time to change classes I again started toward 101 but went into 102 instead. The class was fun and informative and I really enjoyed it. At lunch I sat with some sisters from different areas and the one in the middle of our small group has taught for several years, and her husband taught for several years before her. The other sister is like me and hasn't taught before. She was asking a lot of questions and the experienced sister was giving her a lot of good suggestions. And as I listened to the conversation I would think "wow, that's a really good idea" And then the Spirit would whisper in my head "that's not for your class" And then another good idea would come up and again the Spirit would direct me that it wasn't for my class. After this happening three or four times I just listened to her suggestions but didn't try to think of how I could make them work for me because obviously what has worked for this sister is not what my class needs. After lunch we had a training session with everyone and then split off to the last class. I finally made it to 103. I was still feeling like I didn't have a solid answer on which way to take the teaching part of my calling and said a silent prayer as I went in that I would learn something in this class that would point me in the right direction. The teacher was Brother Cartier and he was not feeling well at all, but had come anyway. And he really just opened the class up to what we wanted to know. And after a few questions from others in the class he opened up his scriptures and showed us how he teaches : color coding. And then he explained it in depth. I felt so strongly that this was the answer on how to teach these home-study girls this year. That this was the method that would really help them to learn what they needed to. I was so grateful to Brother Cartier for coming that day. At the end of the class he told us that at the beginning of the class he had no intention of talking about the things we discussed, but had followed the spirit.
The day was really awesome. In every class we were reminded that the Lord has saved his most choice spirit sons and daughters for this time and that makes us, as their leaders the choicest as well. We were told that we have been called to be the leaders of these youth because we are the only ones who are capable of giving them what they need. Hearing that was a little overwhelming, but also very empowering because I realized that my Heavenly Father was going to be there with me every step of the way. We were promised that if we would pay the price in preparing for our lessons, and would testify of the things we teach, and be willing to follow the spirit, that we will be successful and our youth will be blessed.
And so my journey begins!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I have a million
other things to do today. But I've been putting off my blog and have lots of thoughts swirling through my mind. Some random. Some spiritual. Some just there.
I can't believe that I'm packing my kids up and heading to Raymond by myself tomorrow. And then driving back to Calgary on Saturday for seminary teacher training. (Cliff works on Saturday and I couldn't bear to leave my baby with someone who's never done anything with him for 9 hours.) So we're going home, staying the week, taking in the Knibb family reunion and heading home so Zane can start grade 1.
Seriously, where did the summer go? And how do I not have a single picture of my kids at the beach, or park? I promise we did all those things. The camera just never seemed to make it into the bag with the other million things that one with three children needs to take to such venues.
Piano lessons start too. Every year I'm not sure if I'm going to do it and every fall I start up again. I think I've got 12 kids this time around (Zane's one of them). I'm teaching 4 days a week. 2 are home schooled and will come in the morning and I'm going to have to add a 1/2 hour to one of my after school days but I think it should all work out pretty good.
I'm already mourning the loss of doing whatever we want. With me teaching seminary, piano and Zane in school it adds so much more structure to the day. Plus I want Rhett to do some things like the library program and stuff to get some confidence on his own without Zane.
Rhett still has ZERO interest in potty training. For the most part I'm OK with this. Some days it bugs me. Mostly because people assume he's so much older than he really is. And very willful. I'm trying to be patient....but I won't lie. I would love for him to wake up tomorrow and announce that he wants to wear underwear and just get this whole thing over!
I'm trying very hard to be the helpmate to my husband that I've covenanted to be. And I've thought a lot about what that means. And have learned recently that although there are trials that we go through as a couple and family we learn different things from those trials. And being the helpmate isn't always easy as you wait for your wonderful hubby to take the role that is his. But it is worth it.
I've re-learned to appreciate the wisdom and wonderfulness in Patriarchal Blessings. Cliff and I recently read ours together. If you haven't done that lately do it! It's been a long time since I've read Cliff's and it was really wonderful to have that experience again.
Miracles still happen. Especially little ones. When mom and Kinsey were here mom and I went walking every morning. Kinsey came a couple of times but the last day we went was just mom and I. I wear my ipod and my cell phone on my arm band when I walk, but with mom to talk to had just been wearing my cell phone. When we got home I noticed I had an empty cell phone case. PANIC! We grabbed Cliff's phone, jumped in the van, said a short prayer and started driving our route. Mom was calling my phone to see if we could hear it. As we drove the thought came to me that I had stopped to tie my shoe. As soon as I thought that I knew what had happened - my phone fell out when I bent over to tie it. So we headed to where we thought I had stopped. Still calling the phone we walked up and down a couple of blocks with no luck. I was starting to get discouraged but thought we should go down a couple of more blocks. I tried calling the phone again and someone answered it! It turned out that an older lady was walking her dog and heard it ring, picked it up and answered it. She was a block and a half away from us and I could actually see her. When she gave me the phone it was on low battery so it wouldn't have rung for much longer. A simple miracle but one that we needed. I told Zane and Rhett what had happened and hope that they will learn from this experience as well.
Phew. Well my mind feels a little better now. Hope everyone is cramming in as much summer as they can in these last few days!
I can't believe that I'm packing my kids up and heading to Raymond by myself tomorrow. And then driving back to Calgary on Saturday for seminary teacher training. (Cliff works on Saturday and I couldn't bear to leave my baby with someone who's never done anything with him for 9 hours.) So we're going home, staying the week, taking in the Knibb family reunion and heading home so Zane can start grade 1.
Seriously, where did the summer go? And how do I not have a single picture of my kids at the beach, or park? I promise we did all those things. The camera just never seemed to make it into the bag with the other million things that one with three children needs to take to such venues.
Piano lessons start too. Every year I'm not sure if I'm going to do it and every fall I start up again. I think I've got 12 kids this time around (Zane's one of them). I'm teaching 4 days a week. 2 are home schooled and will come in the morning and I'm going to have to add a 1/2 hour to one of my after school days but I think it should all work out pretty good.
I'm already mourning the loss of doing whatever we want. With me teaching seminary, piano and Zane in school it adds so much more structure to the day. Plus I want Rhett to do some things like the library program and stuff to get some confidence on his own without Zane.
Rhett still has ZERO interest in potty training. For the most part I'm OK with this. Some days it bugs me. Mostly because people assume he's so much older than he really is. And very willful. I'm trying to be patient....but I won't lie. I would love for him to wake up tomorrow and announce that he wants to wear underwear and just get this whole thing over!
I'm trying very hard to be the helpmate to my husband that I've covenanted to be. And I've thought a lot about what that means. And have learned recently that although there are trials that we go through as a couple and family we learn different things from those trials. And being the helpmate isn't always easy as you wait for your wonderful hubby to take the role that is his. But it is worth it.
I've re-learned to appreciate the wisdom and wonderfulness in Patriarchal Blessings. Cliff and I recently read ours together. If you haven't done that lately do it! It's been a long time since I've read Cliff's and it was really wonderful to have that experience again.
Miracles still happen. Especially little ones. When mom and Kinsey were here mom and I went walking every morning. Kinsey came a couple of times but the last day we went was just mom and I. I wear my ipod and my cell phone on my arm band when I walk, but with mom to talk to had just been wearing my cell phone. When we got home I noticed I had an empty cell phone case. PANIC! We grabbed Cliff's phone, jumped in the van, said a short prayer and started driving our route. Mom was calling my phone to see if we could hear it. As we drove the thought came to me that I had stopped to tie my shoe. As soon as I thought that I knew what had happened - my phone fell out when I bent over to tie it. So we headed to where we thought I had stopped. Still calling the phone we walked up and down a couple of blocks with no luck. I was starting to get discouraged but thought we should go down a couple of more blocks. I tried calling the phone again and someone answered it! It turned out that an older lady was walking her dog and heard it ring, picked it up and answered it. She was a block and a half away from us and I could actually see her. When she gave me the phone it was on low battery so it wouldn't have rung for much longer. A simple miracle but one that we needed. I told Zane and Rhett what had happened and hope that they will learn from this experience as well.
Phew. Well my mind feels a little better now. Hope everyone is cramming in as much summer as they can in these last few days!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Corn Maze
We took Grammie S and Auntie Kizzy and went to the Lacombe corn maze....and had a wonderful time. The pictures are a bit random and not in order because blogger still hates me and won't let me move them. Grrrr. Anyways, the maze was a lot of fun. Poor Rhett fell in a puddle and lost the fight. He wasn't a happy camper but we cleaned him up as best we could and he was a trooper and moved on. He LOVED the gigantic slide there and would have spent all the time on it if we had let him. Other highlights were the recycled tire horse carousal, the pig races and of course the pumpkin cannon.
All in all a wonderful afternoon.
All in all a wonderful afternoon.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A first...
Zane got to go golfing with Cliff tonight. He and a couple other dads and boys went and did 9 holes here in Sylvan. Zane came home bouncing because he hit a ball over a lake all by himself (actually a small river) and it was soooo much fun! Daddy said it was an adventure to have 3 little boys along who had never been on a golf course before. Cliff said they hit their own balls about 6-10 yards each time. But by the 6th hole golf wasn't holding the same appeal anymore and they just had fun goofing off.
Poor Rhett was very distraught and upset that he didn't get to join in the golf trip and kept asking to go golfing with Zane. We tried to distract him with a wiener roast at Allred's but he was pretty tired from the day's activities and was more concerned about when Zane would get home. We all had a great time with Jennie and her niece Megan. We roasted hot dogs, ate too much and laughed ourselves silly at stories and funny things we've done. Good times by all!
Poor Rhett was very distraught and upset that he didn't get to join in the golf trip and kept asking to go golfing with Zane. We tried to distract him with a wiener roast at Allred's but he was pretty tired from the day's activities and was more concerned about when Zane would get home. We all had a great time with Jennie and her niece Megan. We roasted hot dogs, ate too much and laughed ourselves silly at stories and funny things we've done. Good times by all!
I found this....
on my camera the other day. Apparently Zane is into taking funny self-pictures while I'm in the shower! Gave me a good laugh!Monday, August 10, 2009
6 months!
Happy 6 month birthday to Brock...as of 2 days ago. We've been having so much fun with Grammie S and Auntie Kizzy here that I haven't posted until now. But here's the facts:
- he's 17 lbs and 26 inches long
- sleeps thru most nights
- usually wakes up happy
- is liking solid food but if he eats at supper time doesn't sleep good
- still thinks Zane is the funniest person in the family
- goes down for naps in his crib with his suckie instead of cuddling with me
- still likes to have his head pressed right up against something when he sleeps
- is happy happy happy
- is no longer a vampire - his eye teeth have gone back up
- has one tooth on the bottom broken thru
- likes to come for walks in the morning but doesn't like not being able to see if it's raining or too windy
- babbles a lot
- jumps like a crazy baby in his jumper
- has reverse figured out really well in his walker
- shifts his weight from foot to foot and looks like he's dancing. Grammie calls him Rockin' Brock!
- loves books
- still likes cuddles
- thinks that anything his hands touch should automatically go into his mouth
- is an absolute joy in our family!
And on a side note I still can't move my pictures around in my post. Any thoughts or tips from anyone?
Sunday, August 02, 2009
New Happenings
I got a phone call Wednesday night from a member of our high council. He asked to meet with me and Cliff today before church. I agreed and hung up with huge butterflies. I quickly started thinking of which presidencies had recently been re-done and which had been together for awhile. I knew I was safe from Young Women's as they just did that one about 6 months or so ago. So that left Primary and Relief Society. I don't know anything about either one so as you can imagine I was very nervous. What else goes through your mind when you get that kind of phone call?
So I decided to pray that I would know that this new calling was what I was meant to do and that I would be able to work well with the people I was called to work with. I felt a lot better after and have tried not to speculate through the week.
We met this morning at the appointed time and I was called to be a seminary teacher. It is a stake calling that you serve in your ward. And because we only have 2 kids here in Sylvan who are seminary age I am actually a home-study seminary teacher. So that means no early morning classes (which I'm very happy about....my walks are safe!) and I meet with the kids only once a week. It's still going to be challenging and require a lot of studying and prep from me but when I was set apart I was promised that I would be blessed to find the time to study and prepare and that I would have the inspiration needed to teach and enlighten the young women I would be working with. (Both students are young women). I won't know much more until the training/info session that's going to be in Calgary in a couple of weeks.
And I was supposed to be released as the choir pianist today....but they forgot to write it down and it didn't happen....next week. We'll see.
So I decided to pray that I would know that this new calling was what I was meant to do and that I would be able to work well with the people I was called to work with. I felt a lot better after and have tried not to speculate through the week.
We met this morning at the appointed time and I was called to be a seminary teacher. It is a stake calling that you serve in your ward. And because we only have 2 kids here in Sylvan who are seminary age I am actually a home-study seminary teacher. So that means no early morning classes (which I'm very happy about....my walks are safe!) and I meet with the kids only once a week. It's still going to be challenging and require a lot of studying and prep from me but when I was set apart I was promised that I would be blessed to find the time to study and prepare and that I would have the inspiration needed to teach and enlighten the young women I would be working with. (Both students are young women). I won't know much more until the training/info session that's going to be in Calgary in a couple of weeks.
And I was supposed to be released as the choir pianist today....but they forgot to write it down and it didn't happen....next week. We'll see.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
