lessons

Yesterday in Relief society, they were giving a lesson on, actually, I'm not sure what it was on? Simplifying your life or relationships? anyway, it was wonderful. Lots of reminders to slow down and not do so much, which is sort of what I have been trying to make myself do this past year. I find myself making huge to do lists and having ridiculous expectations for myself each day. When I had my panic attacks, I was freaking out that I wasn't getting anything done & everyone kept saying "you don't HAVE to do anything!" And I found that it was true. all these projects and errands and cleaning are not have to things, and most of them can wait! I can give myself time to read and to play with the kids and to go for a walk and to do the project I want to do rather than the one I think needs doing the most. I keep saying, "dude I've lost my give a damn!" and I love it! You would think that now I am super lazy, but not at all! I find that I have time to do the things I want to do instead, also a huge part of that is Tina the cleaning lady :) Yeah I know, you hate me. he he. also, i make my kids clean a lot more than i used to.
Also in the lesson, relationships were discussed. To strengthen the 4 most important relationships in your life (1) with God (2) with your family (3) with your neighbor and (4) with yourself. I made this comment about the relationship with yourself and all the ladies made a sound! an "I love that sound." I didn't realize it was so profound! but, actually it is, so I will write it here.
Several years ago, I had been teaching primary. I was having a horrible, emotional day and the lesson went terribly. I left my class and went outside to go home. This wonderful lady, who's daughter was in my class, stopped me and asked me what was wrong. I poured my heart out and basically just beat myself up. This wonderful lady,Trishia Farr, told me to "stop that right now! There is a little girl still inside of you that you need to be nice to!" She had me put in my mind a picture of myself as a little girl and she said, " Who's going to protect her but you? Heavenly Father loves that little girl!" And I often think of that when I beat myself up. I need to protect that sweet little girl from me. Now, sit and picture your own little girl self and do something nice for her today!

getting peed on after being vomited on

last week, I awoke in the middle of the night to my darling Sam vomiting on my forehead. He's 5 and I love him more than the world. He is so soft and so cute and so quirky and grouchy and he has the best laugh and sense of humor of any 5 year old ever.
So this week, we drove down to cocoa beach to watch the discovery shuttle launch! It was about 3 hours from our house and just a perfect beach day. it was about 75* and sunny and gorgeous and I had my Paul and Danielle and April there and all the kids! It was a wonderful day that will never be forgotten. for a couple of reasons ; The shuttle launch was awesome! And what happened on the drive down...
Fisher was riding in April's car so me and Paul just had Sam and Lucy. I was driving and we had just got off the freeway in Orlando and into the launch traffic. Paul was going to be late for his surfing lesson, we were out of gas and figuring out that there wasn't a gas station for twenty miles when Sam tells us he has to pee RIGHT NOW. We are in stop and go traffic so I said he should just pee in a water bottle (we do this sometimes). But Paul was looking for a gas station on his phone and so he handed him a big gulp cup. So Sam was very nervous and he tried to put the cup on the seat and stand up to pee in it, but Lucy kept grabbing the cup! Paul was yelling at him to just get away from Lucy, so I just reached back and said I'd hold the cup. Paul is still messing with his phone and I am driving and holding the cup behind me. Then my arm is very warm. then we hear the cup filling, and then we hear nothing and then we hear filling and then splash Paul in the front seat. He starts freaking out and yelling as my arm and seats are hosed again and then we hear the cup filling once more. Paul is furious and flabbergasted. But he has only been splashed. I am dripping in urine and so is MY car! I started laughing so hard I couldn't stop. apparently, you need that bottle shape to tame wayward streams. bless his cute little heart.