Out to Lunch!

Last Saturday I got to get together with three of my girlfriends from High School. I love those girls so much and it was so great to see each other and talk about getting old! Ha ha! No, seriously, we mostly talked about health problems and getting old!

We had such a fun time and it reminded me of how true friendship never dies. When I think of my experience in High School I count myself SO lucky that I had the best friends ever! And when I see these girls now, I still consider how lucky I am that, though we don't see each other all the time, when we do we don't skip a beat!

So, a funny thing happened when we were all together. (Actually, lots of funny things happened like when Anna said "Stoffing stuckers.") Anyway, Anna, Michele and I took an extra minute after lunch to walk through a couple shops and we continued talking about our lives and Anna and I started asking Michele all sorts of questions about what it was like to have a professional life. Question after question came and  Michele's answers of "working late into the night", "always being available for work" and "80 hours a week" seemed to just floor us. We stood there mouths ajar as she explained her job. And then Michele said something truly poignant she looked at us and said, "Yeah, but you guys are mothers, you never stop working either. It's not much different."

I've reflected at that moment a couple of times since and I chuckle to myself.  Here we were, looking at Michele as though she were some fabulously rare thing "a working woman," and I've wondered if we could turn our gaze back to ourselves would we see something equally amazing and wonderful?

We (stay at home moms) really are so quick to think less of our "work" as mothers and to not highly regard it as we should. And I confess and know that if I would just take to my job as seriously and with as much importance as Michele does hers, I'd be a much, much, much better homemaker, mother, cook, cleaner...everything.

And that leads me to think about a comment a woman made to me once long ago. She said, "Debra, you will never work a day in your life. You will find joy in whatever job you do and you will be happy." I loved the comment at the time. It led me to think that I had the power to successfully achieve a great life. And I'm sad to realize that I've forgotten about that inner ability and power I have. I've always thought of myself as a positive and happy person and I've always enjoyed life. So, why is it harder to summon up my whistle while I work, just because it lacks "glamor" or is not "professional" When in reality it can be the most glamorous and professional thing if I make it so! Right? Right!
It's like this: I'm the CEO. I get to decide just how great of a job this will be! Wonderful!

Counting Blessings

This morning something truly scary happened. Scary like, Henry came and happily informed me that he put a jelly bean in Rose's mouth, scary. (He was so pleased with himself for feeding her and for giving her a jelly bean.)

I ran and grabbed her, swiped my finger and found nothing. Then I calmly sat and just watched her. Black spit oozed out and I knew it was still in there. So I swiped again and found it in her cheek.

I am so grateful for each of my children. I couldn't bear the thought of losing one. I'm counting my blessings today for Rose's beautiful cheeks which securely held that jelly bean away from her throat, and I am also counting my blessings that Henry would come and tell me what he did. 

Meet Roger

 Meet roger. 

Roger was a friendly spider who came to visit earlier today. 

It seemed all too soon and sudden that he had to leave this earthly life when our neighbor-grandpa Rod sprayed him with insect killer. Funeral services were held. I was the pallbearer, and before I deposited roger into his large black casket I asked the children to say something nice about roger. Sophie said, "Roger was a spider." I agreed and added that he was indeed a spider, a very large one and friendly to boot. I then asked the children to say goodbye. Sophie's goodbye was simple even a trite: goodbye. Cheerfully said. Then Henry came to pay his respects. He looked at the dead thing sitting on the edge of the sandbox shovel. Roger's poor mangled body did not look at all stately or regal as it once had. And Henry's lip started to quiver. His eyes turned a weepy red. And no words could escape his embittered tongue. He ran, as little boys do, and hid his sensitive self, shielding his deepest feelings, and hiding his tears. Roger was gone. Roger. This ugly spider that we came to know and name just minutes before was gone. 

There's the story of Roger.

Got me down...

Had the Flu last week. The actual flu. Tested positive and all. The Dr. was skeptical, "Everyone is coming in because of this virus, it's not the flu, but we'll test you since you have little ones at home..." Then the phone call, "Ummmm...well, you tested positive for influenza A, so..."

So that's had me down and OUT for a bit.

And, little Henry is Potty TRAINED!!! He's a champ at it too. It clicked and once it clicked it was GREAT! What a relief (for him and for me).

This is a pretty good description of how I felt all last week, and still feel though I am MUCH much better I just don't know how much I want to interact with the world just yet!

And, on the other hand, I'm SUPER excited because I'm driving to Idaho tomorrow to send my Step-mom off on her mission to Nauvoo! What a great place to be on a mission. I'm so jealous of her, and then I think about wearing the pioneer garb in the middle of a Nauvoo summer and I rethink my jealousy! I love you Margie and I am so happy for you!