Life as Usual

Let it Simmer

Today I ran 6 miles. A first for me.

Supportive husband
Smiling children chanting, "Go Mom! Go!"
the sun
the pleasant breeze
thinking freely

Inspiration is intriguing.
On Sunday Ammon randomly "challenged" me to run 6 miles every day this week. I didn't take him seriously because I thought it impossible, but something inside me still wanted to do it. On Monday my brother told me he has been running 8 miles.

That clinches it. Today I wanted to see if I could do it.
I succeeded!
Ammon, pushing the stroller, ran the last lap with me. We sprinted the last 100 meters and he was winning, but he let off and let me finish first. I love that.

I've learned that people aren't immediately inspired; it starts with a seed and then it simmers and then it grows. I laugh because the immediate reaction people have to home school or diet change usually is, "That is crazy."

BUT then I discover that my family has been making green smoothies (they tried to hide it from me! ) and reading up on homeschooling. When my brother told me he runs 8 miles, before I even thought about it, something like "That is crazy!" was coming out of my mouth. You can't accept the first reaction. Give it time to simmer.

Speaking of inspiration, Angela Baker spoke at the Leadership Education conference I attended. She knocked me off my feet. I will not apologize for it's length. It's too amazing.
Greatness Inspires Greatness

Just one thing on my mind...

Sorry, I have been MIA in blogging lately. It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's that I have too much to say.

I'm trying to change my diet, completely. It's really hard for me, but I know I need to. (Hi. My name is Abby. I'm a Sugar Addict.) I've learned a lot. I can now talk the talk but I'm still working on walking the walk.

I've been experimenting in the world of sourdough bread for a couple months now. This week I made Kefir. I'm still not 100% postive what it is exactly, but I understand it is healthy for me (like yogurt, but from a goat).

Back to basics. It's awesome and liberating and fulfilling. AND I love wearing an apron, it instantly makes me happier. Funny.

The scriptures say that God will change our hearts, that we can become new creatures in Christ. I know He can teach me everything. I was being pretty hard on myself, I expected to just wake up one morning a new creature. I was reminded of a scripture story Hyrum and I have re-enacted repeatedly. When the Lord asks Nephi to build a boat, Nephi responds asking, Where shall I go to find tools? Tools. Start with obtaining some tools.
I've been receiving tools for sometime now.
One of the best being:
Green Smoothie Girl

The Laundry Thief

A worm craft and poem

I have a pet named Willy
Who lives at home with me.
I keep him in this special cup
So all my friends can see.

Where, oh, where is Willy?
Oh, where can Willy be?
Come out now, little Willy,
So all my friends can see.

He is a little timid.
I must be very firm.
Come out now, little Willy!
Come out, my Willy Worm!

Jean Warren

Brought to you by the letter "W"

Wiggly Worms. A good spring topic. On Tuesday, in-between rain showers, we went exploring. We found our first specimen on the driveway. It was a slug. Gross. We found our first worm nearby. We helped it back into the grass, so it wouldn't dry up like all it's friends. We took turns holding it, and then we observed it as it tunneled back into the earth. (We re-located the slug as well--but we used a stick. ) We walked around following Audrey's lead and ended up at the highschool. We joined a group of kids playing in the sandbox/long-jump pit. When the wind picked up we headed back home to dig up worms in our garden. We found lots. Hyrum was concerned I would hurt the worms with the shovel. He was really upset about Audrey handling the worms, with good reason. She wanted to see if the worm really could live after being split in two. I thought it best not to point out that phenomenon to Hyrum.
We even pulled out a worm that had tied itself into a knot. We collected a generous sample of soil and worms, which now sits on the kitchen mantle.

We have some library supplementation.

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

The City Worm and the Country Worm by Linda Hayward (Sesame Street)

Along with a selection of Junior Non-Fiction including:

Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser

Now I just have to think of some worm crafts.

Feel free to share any ideas!

Easter

Happy Easter!

I love the artwork in the Ensign this month.

My favorite is this one by Dan Burr: The emotion in Peter's face invokes feeling in me I just can't verbalize. I also like the urgency. The gospel of Jesus Christ is urgent.

HE LIVES!

There is one day or more in almost every nation that is set apart for the observance of the anniversary of some great event—an occasion for national pride, a day of remembrance, of thanksgiving, of celebration. It may be the birthday of a nation or of a patriot, the anniversary of a great victory or triumph of a great cause. It is fitting and proper that we should have such days. …
There are some days which have almost worldwide observance and are significant in every country. There are times of merrymaking, celebrated with parades, public gatherings, games and contests, oratory, feasts, and fireworks.
But at this season of the year, the whole Christian world unites in the quiet observance of the anniversary of the most significant, the most far-reaching, the most important fact in history. Easter is the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. …
The interest in this event is more universal than in any other: first, because it affects every soul, living and dead; and secondly, because it secures the priceless gift for which men naturally yearn—life everlasting. Each year multitudes come to appreciate anew its import when they stand sorrowing by the coffin of a dear one and remember the glorious promise contained in the words spoken on Easter morn—“He is risen!”
The first Easter was the springtime of all history, of new life, new hope, eternal growth, and immortality.
The world needs reminding of this great event. In the midst of error and superstition, … His plan, His system, His gospel, is the answer to the problem of how to save the world.
With Christians everywhere, we bow this day in humble gratitude for the priceless gift of God to men. The gift of eternal life is granted to us through His sacrifice and guaranteed to all by the only One who could pay the price. …
In spite of the unpromising outlook of the world today and the efforts of the enemies of righteousness, … Easter morn proclaims its joyful promise to all. …
Hugh B. Brown

We celebrated with lillies.

"Did Jesus really live again? Oh Yes! and so shall I."

Grocery Store Conversation

"Mom, we can get some treats?"
Sorry, not today.

"Look, yogurt just my size! (Gogurt) We can get some?....Not today,mom?"
No, not today.

"Mom! My want these cookies."
No, Hyrum.

Then an exasperated, "YOU ARE KIDDING ME?!"
(Said with the same intonation as Are you kidding me, but with the first two words swapped. It's the cutest thing.)

I had to stop and laugh and say, "Am I kidding you?!"

Pleasure vs. Happiness

"The present is an age of pleasure seeking, and men are losing their sanity in the mad rush for sensations that do but excite and disappoint. In this day of counterfeits, adulterations, and base imitations, the devil is busier than he has ever been in the course of human history, in the manufacture of pleasures, both old and new; and these he offers for sale in most attractive fashion, falsely labeled, Happiness. In this soul-destroying craft he is without peer; he has had centuries of experience and practice, and by his skill he controls the market. He has learned the tricks of the trade, and knows well how to catch the eye and arouse the desire of his customers. He puts up the stuff in bright-colored packages, tied with tinsel string and tassel; and crowds flock to his bargain counters, hustling and crushing one another in their frenzy to buy."

"Follow one of the purchasers as he goes off gloatingly with his gaudy packet, and watch him as he opens it. What finds he inside the gilded wrapping? He has expected fragrant happiness, but uncovers only an inferior brand of pleasure, the stench of which is nauseating."

"Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much besides. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure is but gilded brass, which corrodes in the hand, and is soon converted into poisonous verdigris. Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own inimitable luster; pleasure is as the paste imitation that glows only when artificially embellished. Happiness is as the ruby, red as the heart's blood, hard and enduring; pleasure, is as stained glass, soft, brittle, and of but transitory beauty."

"Happiness is true food, wholesome, nutritious, sweet; it builds up the body and generates energy for action, physical, mental, and spiritual; pleasure is but a deceiving stimulant which, like spiritous drink, makes one think he is strong when in reality enfeebled; makes him fancy he is well when in fact stricken with deadly malady."

"Happiness leaves no bad aftertaste, it is followed by no depressing reaction; it calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and, if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction."

"True happiness is lived over and over again in memory, always with a renewal of the original good; a moment of unholy pleasure may leave a barbed sting, which, like a thorn in the flesh, is an ever present source of anguish."

Happiness is not akin with levity, nor is it one with light-minded mirth. It springs from the deeper fountains of the soul, and is not infrequently accompanied by tears. Have you ever been so happy that you have had to weep? I have."

The Worm by Ralph Bergengren

When the earth is turned in spring The worms are fat as anything

And birds come flying all around To eat the worms right off the ground

They like worms just as much as I Like bread and milk and apple pie.

And once, when I was very young, I put a worm right on my tongue.

I didn't like the taste a bit, And so I didn't swallow it.

But oh, it makes my mother squirm Because she thinks I ate that worm!

To The Stricklan Family With Love

Separation

by W. S. Merwin

Your absence has gone through me

Like thread through a needle

Everything I do is stitched with its color.

Back to the simple life

We got to visit my grandparents and feed their new baby lamb. Audrey was a little confused, saying, "Doggie! Doggie! Moo! Moo!" Hyrum was thrilled and loved riding the tractor with Grandpa Nick.

Brought to you by the letter B!

THE BLUE AND BLACK BANQUET.

Balloons. Berry Freeze. Bundt cake.

(Brown chicken, a green Bean side dish, and Bread. Yes, that 's a stretch. You work with what you got.)

We do a letter of the....until whenever I decide to change the letter. We've done "B" since Hyrum's Birthday, and we wanted to go out with a BANG! Don't be fooled, now. It may seem like I did this for my kids, but I concede; it was purely selfish. It just so happened that Thursday morning I felt that in order to survive the day, I needed something to look forward to. Food. Cake. Fun. Balloons. Cake. Thus the Big Blue and Black Banquet was Born. I looted my mom's closets for materials and she indulged my OTT (Over The Top) behavior by funding the balloon and craft paper run. I think we made some fun memories, despite my egotistical motives.

The Cheese

We had a good day.

It's All In Your Head

A friend of mine recently read Kids Are Worth It by Barbara Coloroso. The book is on my ever expanding TO READ list.
She shared with me a quote from it that had changed her parenting, that has since changed my perspective as well.
It's good for all relationships, but especially for parents of toddlers.
Drum roll please.....

"The purpose of a task is to strengthen the relationship."

I usually think of this quote when I am trying not to be frustrated that Hyrum is taking 20 minutes to put his pants on, and wanting me to watch. Or when he refuses to brush his teeth.

This quote reminds me that the purpose of playing CandyLand together is to strengthen our relationship, that way I can rest easy when he chooses to take his turn for 15 minutes, or not follow the rules, or choose to stop playing altogether.

I vote this quote as a keeper.

The BIG THREE!

Somebody had a birthday!
Hyrum followed several clues to find his missing birthday present. We followed a clue to the kitchen where Ammon had set out the NEW BIKE in the middle of the floor.

Hyrum didn't even see it. He spent a few minutes looking for the next clue, until we finally said, "Hyrum, what's that?" A BIKE! He's loved it!