Another Step

Last month we closed on our house in Lehi, which meant. . . signing all those papers with dozens of paragraphs, that you just hope are legitimate but don't really have the interest in reading, especially while sitting at a fancy glass table in the attorney's office while your kids watch Netflix on your phone and drip sucker juice on said fancy glass table.
This was truly a great thing, a miraculous thing for many reasons.  We know that financially it is going to affect us a bit, but I feel so grateful that we no longer need to pay attention to a vacant home that is many miles away.  We were truly blessed that we were able to sell it under all the various conditions.  Nonetheless, I still felt a bit of remorse over it all.  I was reminded of a beautiful post that my friend Sara had made months ago, who lived the same scene we had.  When I read it, it was like she was speaking from my mind, so I wanted to share my version of her post. .

Because that home was:

• the first place that was 100% Royal + Me
• where we brought home 2 beautiful babies
• where I had a kitchen window to watch my kids outside while I did dishes. . .I always wanted a kitchen window
• Where I learned how to be a mom
• where I could go outside and have dozens of friends to play with, and parks just out my door, and moms to chat with, and places for family walks
• Where we decided on what to invest into, and what not to. . since it was OUR home
• where I got to decorate, or at least attempt to
• That had the greatest little window seat that my kids were in at least 10 times a day
• where we would walk to church every week, no matter the weather  (except that one day it was SUPER icy)
• where we would sit on the porch and watch cars go by, or eat popsicles, or watch the rain race down the middle of the road
• where our home evolved from camp chairs and leftover seminary couches, to a (donated) matching couch set
• Where we had our little salsa garden, and got to share our "harvest" with our friends
• where we had 4 Christmases, Lucy and Grant's firsts
• where I had the world's best pantry. . I don't know if I will ever find a better pantry
• Where we served in church callings, and hosted dozens of meetings
• Where we grew and grew as a family. . and learned how to be a family

The day we closed, we had one last item to attend to, and I realized that every time we had been before I was always reminiscent.  But that day, I knew I was ready to leave because as we walked out, it was no longer "our" house.  At that time, it was just walls and rooms and carpet.  I had decided to take the memories with me.

Ch-ch-ch changes!

They say that change is a good thing. I know that is true, and I usually welcome change, but there must be some kind of quota on how much change is tolerable.  Here are the changes in our world:

Our old House:
So way back in January we felt impressed to put our house on the market with no defined plan.  It turned out the Lord was helping prepare us for our new adventure (see below.)  One of my biggest concerns, however,  with the "wing and a prayer" plan, was that I was concerned we would have to move, right when the baby was to be born (see below, below.)

Our New Job:
Royal and I accepted a job working for a girls school in Erda (where?), which is north of Tooele.  We have become house parents for 10 teenage girls in a beautiful home, and helping them make it in this world.  It was a long, prayerful decision, but we ultimately felt guided to it, as it has been the answer to many of our other prayers.  We moved in on June 16th, and started work 2 days later.


Our New Girl:

After working for a whole week, our sweet baby girl, Millie, was born 2 1/2 weeks early.  She came home to a house of sick family members and disorganized boxes.  Gratefully, she is practically the best baby in the whole world (did I mention she is already sleeping 6+ hours each night?) and has made the transition so much easier.  And in case no one has told you yet. . .3 is hard!  As a mom, I feel needed in 3 different ways by 3 different kiddos.

It has taken me a while to balance the job/kids/baby/mixed up schedule, but there are parts that are getting easier.   I will check in with ya'll as the months go by, but just wanted to share what's been happening in our world.  And I am hoping we don't get any more big changes for a while.

Three Cheers for #3!

Just wanted to post a quick update of our day. After yesterday's false alarm (which has never happened to me before . . :)  that involved a 1 hour to and from drive to the doctors, this morning I was awakened by a boom, gush with my water breaking.  4 and a half hours later in came this little beauty to the world. . .

Welcome Millie!

Born 6/27/12    8:25AM   5 lbs 13 oz and 18 in. long at 37 1/2 weeks

Oh, by the way, I will fill in all the details of our new house, our move, our new job, as well as the new baby sometime in the future.  I just need a moment to breathe.  This little girl in the meantime is taking our breath away and I am loving it.

Oh,. . . why hello sunny weather!

I hope I am not casting a curse upon this beautiful weather, after all this is Utah and we might get a dump of snow next week. . but we were more than happy to get out in an inaugural water day for the kiddos and moms.

" I won't do it again. . . "

DAY 1: Scissors



DAY 2: Expo Marker  (or as she and her friend call them. . "pretend makeup")

Perhaps I need to increase my supervision of this sweet child.

Lessons learned from sick kids

The other day my friend Cami spouted some words of wisdom.  She didn't want her kids to think back about how their mom always stuck to healthy guidelines, instead she wanted to be remembered for being cool because every once in a while, they got a Zinger before lunch.
When Grant got a bit of the sickies, it made me think about this and reflect on my life and children. So here is what I have learned from my sick kids:



*I'm glad that I DO monitor their TV viewing on regular days, so when you are stuck on the couch, you can blow that whole ratio out of the water


*Although it's tough to see a very active toddler come to a halt, I selfishly enjoy the snuggling when he melts into me, even while making dinner.


*I am so grateful that I don't have to call in to work and negotiate some accommodations when my kids need me.  Thank you, Royal.

*I learned that my whole detailed To-Do list is completely forgotten, and the Things that Matter Most come through.


*I learned that my 4 year old can stop the fighting and kicking and show compassion for her little brother.



Sometimes I think I learn the most in the times I least expect it.

I don't have a face. . . . . . . (book account)

A confession. . . .

I don't tweet

I don't pinterest

And I don't know how to social network. (on the computer).

For those of you who have pretty much ever had a conversation with me, the topic of Facebook has come up and my personal feelings about the huge entity that it has become.  For those of you who have not, please indulge me.

My opinions have not generated from the documentary we watched about Facebook's ploy to gain marketing and personal information from its members, nor so much from this study that discusses the emotional effects that logging on causes, though they do justify my decision.

My conclusion has come merely from my own introspective nature of myself.  I have certain technological guidelines that I have created for my way of living.  Technology is a WONDERFUL thing- it is pretty much a necessity in my life, but I don't think that just because things are available/accessible, you have to use them.

For example, I also love texting.  It is a fabulous way to communicate select types of information.  But if your text is more than 2 screens long, you should have called.  Heck, send an email, but really, do I have to sort through 4 screens to understand the "message" you are trying to convey?

And don't even get me started on the lack of appropriate content in a text.  If you are breaking up with someone, call them or at least go to their face.  If you have a "sensitive" issue, don't try to cram it into a limited screen that also allows you to use emoticons.  Which leads me to Facebook.

Facebook has devalued the word "Friend".  To me, I know my friends' birthdays because I have celebrated with them, not because it tells me on their page.  A friend is someone who I would, as Jimmy Kimmel stated, feel comfortable loaning $20 to.  I feel, that if you did not have the ability to "find" me before Facebook was invented, we probably weren't that good of friends in the first place.  Plus, let's be honest, there are times in my life that I don't want to "relive" with old acquaintances.

Now don't get me wrong, Facebook has good traits too: I love the public forum, the ability for those to communicate across the oceans, and provide single people a way to make their life more interesting.  The main reason why I don't start an account is because I know that I would spend unlimited amounts of useless time on it.  I feel that I would probably find myself sitting down and reading the ramblings of the day to day life of those around me, and neglect my home, children and self.  That may sound like a lack of self control, but I know that once the cyberworld sucks you in, I delay things, and  I just can't be accountable for that.

So for now, (since I have sucked 5 minutes out of your day), my blogging will count as my social networking, and for those of you who want to get ahold of me, you know how to find me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So I didn't get our annual Christmas blog posted for last year, but it was not because I didn't have time.  We finished Christmas shopping and wrapping a couple days early, but I just took a moment to enjoy my family and the days that followed.
It seemed to me, that out of the handful of Christmas cards we received from family and friends (thanks, guys) it was so inspiring to read that several families included in their list of achievements: the chance to relax in their PJ's more.  It's great to attend cool places, and do fun things, but I think the most meaningful accomplishment, is to make the moments matter.

So without further adieu, I did want to share what is has been like in our home the past year:

Royal
Still working with the kids at his youth school, started back with online school (and is rockin' it!), released as EQP and received his beloved calling in the "Man-Nursery", still my hunky hubby


Da'nelle
Loving staying at home with the kiddos, put in as Young Women president, lost all existing free time, did a 5K Foam Run (exhilarating!),  learning to live with a messy house (sorry, couldn't find a pic of me without kids)


Lucy
Loves to learn, loves books, loves her friends, and is taking on the older sister role.  Also learning who she is as a  little person, just started Primary and loves PB&J and making forts with her dad

Grant
Can you say boy? Throws everything, jumps off. . everything, kicks. . everything.  but he is still mommy's little boyfriend, so adorable and cute.  Mimics everything his sister says and does.







And come July, you will get to see this little person:

Hope all is well for your family-- let me know how it is going for you!

Love you and miss you!