TAKS tradition, garden, and strength

It is a tradition that every time my girls (next year, C will too) take the big standardized testing tests (TAKS), I take them to Sonic after school for snack. They look forward to it so much. We have so much fun. For $10-ish dollars, what a great tradition!

Last night, we also worked on FINALLY getting in our garden. We didn't get it finished, but we worked hard and had a great time together doing it.

One thing that is so cool this year is that the kids asked if they can have their own garden plots (look carefully and you can see the red bricks delineating the gardens). They each got to choose three plants to plant in their garden. One had to be a fruit or vegetable. The amazing thing was that they worked and helped get all the dirt ready and the weeds pulled. Then, when we put the bricks down to delineate their spots, they all of a sudden were furiously pulling out weeds and working so hard to get their area ready. I hope they keep up the enthusiasm, at least some of it.

We also have various fruits that we have planted throughout the years in our backyard. Here are some grapes growing...yum yum:

Finally, I need to mention that I am doing okay....just taking it one day at a time. What has been so neat throughout all this has been my relationship with my scriptures. I have pretty much always read them. I have frequently studied them. Now, however, I love them and treasure them like never before. I have noticed a direct and undeniable correlation. When I am overwhelmed by sadness, if I turn to my scriptures or do something for my calling, I am okay. Amazing how the Lord blesses me! :) How grateful I am.

Easier Than I Imagined

Look at all the things you can do when you don't have children for a night! It is amazing. I am so grateful that last night was okay. Heavenly Father really always is there and, while it doesn't seem I should have been, I was okay.

Things I accomplished last night:

• I began by blogging (see previous post)...and as I typed the difficult words, an overwhelming feeling reminded me that I am never alone. This began the night just right, as I felt soooooooooo loved and strengthened.
• two loads of laundry
• put away/hung up clothes
• some medical transcription
• cleaned out and reorganized LD's clothes drawers
• went to the clinic to take care of the cash box and checks in the mail
• bought birthday cards for four family birthdays coming up, as well as Mother's Day cards...it is coming up you know!
• picked up some Chinese food for myself...although I couldn't eat much, I did eat a little
• dishes
• talked with a few dear friends on the phone (so many called to check up on me that I even missed another dear friend's call (Sorry, Nikko....it was late when I saw my phone) !)
• another dear friend dropped by. We just talked.
• watched a couple of General Conference talks
• prayed lots of prayers of gratitude for all the blessing that are mine
• only woke up 3-4 times at night and always went back to sleep!

What a lucky girl I am! I can't wait to see my children! I can't wait to go to church! I am blessed beyond measure.

Perhaps the Most Difficult Night of My Life

My kids are gone. Overnight. With their dad. I am home alone. Yep. He has moved out. Never. Never. Never. Never thought it would happen to me. Can't understand why. Can't believe it. But it has. And I am alone tonight.

Only, I am never alone. Through it all, Heavenly Father has not left me or abandoned me and I know he won't tonight. I have angels...as Elder Holland put it, "both seen and unseen," all around me. I see miracles daily. I will be okay. We will be okay. It is just in the getting from here to there.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, especially for DH and the kids.

Miracles in the Midst of Misery

Life has been nothing short of miserable lately. Life just doesn't go as planned....remember Holland? I am definitely headed there, not Italy.

But, I have to rejoice in the blessings of miracles. A couple of weeks ago, I decided that today was the day I would go to the temple. With all the craziness going on, this was the only day that I could free up and NOTHING was going to stop me from going. Be careful what you promise yourself, I guess.

Long story short....this week has been horrid, including our van breaking down yesterday and getting fixed yesterday. Until....this morning...I tried to take the kids to school and it was having all the same problems of yesterday. I didn't have transportation and the temple is about an hour away. Luckily, one friend came and got LD. Another came and stayed at my house so the tow truck could pick up the van. And a third came and picked me up and took me to the temple.

Amazing. Truly nothing short of amazing. I am so blessed. My blessings are overflowing. I have such good friends and for that, I will be forever grateful!

April is Family Time

Wow! I haven't even had a second to post pictures from my SIL and her family being in town and now, in a few hours, we are leaving for Houston....to be with family! Isn't all this family great? This time, we are going to DH's cousin's wedding. It will be a super fast trip, but should be fun! :) See you next week (maybe!).

Like a Sister

This morning I am so sad. My sister-in-law and her family have been here most of this last week. They just left and I already miss them so much! She is such a strength and support to me. Her family is just adorable. Her older girls took K under their wings and she just was one of them the entire time. CR and C (the only two boys..not including toddler LD) were almost as annoying together as they were inseparable: all normal boy stuff. And G and LD were so cute together as they are only a couple of months apart and so loved all the same toys. LD would say, "Where is my friend, G?" if they weren't with us...even if they were just in the van following us. Last night, as he was going to bed, we explained that the cousins were leaving and he kept repeating, "My friend, G, can't go home. Stay here!" over and over and over. I am glad they love each other.

I am so grateful for family. I am grateful for the gospel that assures that we can be united as a family forever...for I truly claim my sister-in-law as my sister.

Love you guys! Miss you already! Wish we lived closer!

LD and Shopping

LD is talking so much that it is just hilarious to be around him. I noticed on a good friend's blog that she documents all these silly things her little guy says. This one was super cute. We were grocery shopping this morning. LD loves for me to tear my list in half and give him part of the list. So, this morning he studiously looks at it, says (very authoritatively), "Pizza and Doughnuts. Thank-you." The thank-you was dismissing, like "I am done. Go do my bidding." It was super cute and I know what LD wants me to buy when I go shopping! :)

Count Down to General Conference!

Life has been excessively stressful lately. Okay...reality check....when is it not for little ol' me? I guess I make myself busy. There are just a lot of things on my plate.

But, in just 45 short hours, I will be watching General Conference, feeling the Spirit, and soaking up the words of the prophets! Yippee! What a great time to be alive! :) How lucky I am to be able to hear and watch in live in the comforts of my very own home. Lucky, Lucky me.

DH has a seminar this weekend and my Sister-in-law and her family (CAN'T wait to see you guys!) come in Sunday morning so we will be busy preparing...but I have a plan: clean, watch Conference, prepare, watch Conference, etc. All the kids and I will do Saturday is prepare and watch. It will be great! We have a tiny house and we have two adults and five kids to fit in here. It will be sardine-ish, but so wonderful! I can't wait to have them come!



P.S. To all that have prayed for me or called, emailed, or written me letters: THANK-YOU! Your support means so much to me.