The World Through Gracie's Eyes....and 10's

10 things I am doing today:

Clean up

Plant Garden

Go for a bike ride

make something yummy

read a book

attend a party

make a menu for Gracie's Baptism brunch

Shop for some food

take oscar for a grooming

help Hayden with his last school project

9 things I did this past week

helped hayden with his History fair project on Dwight Eisenhousr

went to watch Gracie in her class program

bike rides

attended a wedding

watched the YW do a fabulous sewing project

went to lunch with Wes

went to the movie Angel and Demons with Wes

Tried a new recpie on the Grill

Went and got ice cream with our wonderful friends the durrants

8 words Sophie is trying to say

hello....lello

bottle.....boyo

there you go .....deyougo

hayden....haayyyen

mom...mamama

daddy....dayee

7 words or phrases I say on a regular basis:

Oh Crap!

Are you kiddin' me?

No Way...

OH No!

OSCAR!

HAYDEN!

GRACIE

6 things on the To Do list for next week

Find a personal trainer

stick to wieght watchers

go with Gracie to get a dress for her big day

enjoy some of my final days alone with Sophie for the summer

try to new recipies

weed my flower beds

ok let's pretend I did the rest of this...I gotta get going!

happy weekend~E

Snap Out Of It...self.

The week is winding down. We have surpassed the year mark. And, I really still don't have the words to express all of the things I am feeling. I am so grateful for my adversities. Please don't get me wrong. With all this Adversity, Heavenly Father, has entrusted me with Miracles, just thinking about them  gives me butterflies.

 When I say entrusted I really  feel like he has done such amazing things for my family and I, that I have a responsibility to share what has happened and what I've learned. I feel some pressure. 

Sunday I had the opportunity to address our church congregation. I stood up and I froze. All of the sudden the feelings and thoughts that I was experiencing were to overwhelming to share. My tongue was tied, I couldn't make out what my note cards said, I felt like if I were to speak I was going to be baring my most interpersonal soul....so strange being that I have already spoken 2 times prior to this. 

In High School I was on the Debate team, and amongst other things, I competed in extemporaneous speaking. If you don't know what that is, I will explain. You are given a random topic and expected to be able to go in front of judges within 10 or so minutes. Your goal is to give a speech on the topic... and,  if you have no idea what the topic is... you better make them believe you do! I always did very well, mostly because I read every Newsweek and Time Magazine I could get a hold of...and,  anything else.

 I relay this because, standing up on Sunday to tell everyone of the blessings and miracles I had witnessed and the lessons learned was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time. I don't no if I let my nerves get the best of me....not really my nature to be nervous. I don't know if satan got the best of me, or if maybe there were people who did not want to hear what I had to say.....or maybe it was some kind of lesson I am supposed to learn. What ever it is I don't regret standing up, I know there was a reason, what the reason is ...not sure. I imagine I will know sometime, I will keep reflecting on it and maybe it will come to me.

Wes gave a beautiful talk after me. He so very eloquent. My two beautiful children also spoke a few things. Hayden's was very tender. He expressed the fact that he was grateful that we had the tornado room.  Which is a huge deal. Everyone that came to see our house when we first bought it would laugh when they saw that shelter. They would all say "you will never need that" In Hayden's eyes and mine we can see that shelter was a gift from God...A Tender Mercy sent to us, our saving Grace.  Gracie got up and spoke. She mentioned that the tornado was the day before memorial day, and paused and said "We were almost apart of Memorial Day" very  a matter of fact-ly... it brought the house down, it was so cute. 

In honor of our anniversary we all went Saturday and each picked out a tree to plant. So many big beautiful trees were lost to the world that day... we wanted to give back. Hopefully we will plant them tomorrow and I can put up some pics. 

I am grateful for this world of blogging... it is so therapeutic. I may even sleep tonight, I am emotionally exhausted. Love to all ~E

Are you trying to "Butter me up"?

I keep Body Butter on Sophie's Changing table because she has such dry skin. Every night after her bath I give her the lid to play with and I give her a rub down. So, the other day I walk in after her nap that has lasted unusually long. I think I gasped, screamed gasped some more then hysterically called Wes in....she is now tall enough to reach the body butter...and she was in heaven!

1 Year....

Stiil hurts like it was yesterday, most grateful to be happy, healthy and alive today :)

PRODUCTIVITY....and a bit more.

It's been a long time since I have felt like I have accomplished anything. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that last night I went to bed at 8 pm, and I was able to wake up and get going early this morning. Now, for those of you who don't know my usual bedtime is 12am. Guess I really need to go to bed earlier on a regular basis. ( I write this as the clock turns 11pm.) LOL

My acomplishments for today:

Treadmill

Grocery Shopping

Movie with Wes

Pedicure

Made Raspberry Jam...Now all my Jam is done for the Year!!!

dishes

blogging in a quiet house.

I know that list doesn't look huge...but the fact that I went to multiple places is a very good thing.

Tomorrow Gracie has early morning piano lessons. I am thinking I will wake up and run on the TM again. Wes and I are then going in to Logan to the dump, Sam's club for tramp, then to the garden store. We plan on getting a Tree to plant in honor of our 1 yr anniversary of the Tornado. Also we are getting seeds to plant Green Beans, Potatos and Tomatoes. Not sure if we will be able to plant tomorrow, but for sure by Monday night we will get it planted.

I am uploading a video of Sophie...it is so cute! Also a picture of my pretty toe nails...love the Flower!

PS
I can't get the cute video to upload, I will keep trying.
To my FB friends, it did upload to Facebook so you can watch it there.

I Struggle

It's true, doesn't everyone once in a while?

Do to stress and weakness, I have gained all the weight back that I lost in  6 weeks amount of time. A combination of diet, exercise and biology is to blame. I  have been eating way too much sugar. Note to self: Don't take Wes to Sam's club when he is starving , because you walk out with all kinds of crappy foods (yummy, with no nutritional value.) He is not all to blame though. He didn't have to force feed me. I also think that with all the stress of the last month it has been really hard for me to muster up the strength to do  rigorous excise. I am not the type of person who can get away with a leisurely walk and count it as exercise. I have to sweat and get my heart rate up for at least 40 min.  Props to me last night, I  had a great treadmill workout and strength workout while i watched American Idol. It was refreshing. And I have to thank Wes for his patience because my jogging was not quiet, and he refrained from complaining. The biology part of this is a peculiar thing. When I am stressed out I retain massive amounts of water...that is how my body reacts to stress. Some people lose hair, get zits, lose weight, I bloat. It's a huge menace to me. 

Regardless of how I feel.....I have a goal to meet by next March, and I plan on meeting it. So I am standing up and dusting off. I will not let myself lose this, I want it too bad. I am recommitting to WW and also exercise. I love my new bike, but it is for leisure not exercise. I also have been doing some night mediation and hypnotism Cd's (ipod) I think they are helping. I have said it before and strongly believe in mind over matter! Enough said.

So I am seriously thinking about getting certified to do foot zoning.  I am a firm believer in energy healing especially the reflexology/foot zoning modality. I have a great friend that practices reflexology among other things. She worked on me once or twice a week while I was in Iowa. My Pregnancies have always been so hard, but this last one was made easier because of the work she did. I have been lost without her. I have some leads on some people that can treat me, but, I think I want to learn it so I can treat my family. As everyone and their dogs know the tornado anniversary is quickly approaching. Although I feel we have all coped very well with the trauma, we are all manifesting issues from the post traumatic stress. Things are just barely starting to surface. I truly believe that there is healing that can be done through zoning. It will be an adventure I think. I  am excited, I love to help people so hopefully i can find a good teacher.

This weekend Wes, myself, Hayden and Gracie are all going to be speaking in church. I thought we were done speaking about the tornado, but it looks like it will be one last time. It is challenging because it is the 1 yr anniversary this weekend. It will be emotional. It is very hard to open up about, hopefully those who have already had to hear it will be patient and not upset that they have to hear it all again. Pray for us.

That's about all for now, tonight is Bunco, YAY! Hope all is well in your world ~E

Coming Events

Life is getting a little bit more busy as school is winding down. It is all quite exciting! HOORAY for summer!

Weekend Update:

Friday, Wes and I left The kids (Hayden in charge) and went to the matinee! We were able to see Star Trek. Can I just say "WHAT A GREAT MOVIE"! I am not a trekky, in fact having to sit through an episode would make me want to vomit in my mouth, but the movie was fantastic!

Saturday was the day that would never end. Seriously. Wes volunteered at a fund raiser for ALS in the name of Sara Lee (Who he works for). He cooked Hot Dogs from 11-3. Then at 8, he had to go cook with the Lions club at the blue sox game (local baseball team). I went with my Mom in the morning to buy fabric for some quilts she is making, and took some leisurly bike rides and that is about it. One thing, it is finally heating up a bit and we went to turn our air conditioning on and it won't work....that made for a couple more than warm days in my house.

Sunday we attended church. We were privlaged to hear some great talks about family. We came home and relaxed. I made pork roast for dinner with garlic potatos and broccoli. We went for a family bike ride then we all settled in and watched survivor. It ended fine but I was disappointed that Taj didn't make it into the finals. That wraps up the weekend.

Today:
Dentist
LAUNDRY
Piano (Gracie)
AC repair guy
family bike ride

This week:
Kids dentist
YW
Bunco
I have some nieces and nephews birthdays.
1 yr anniversary weekend of Tornado
Memorial Day Weekend
Wes' bussiest week of the year for work.
Our Family is speaking in Church on Sunday.

Over the coming months:
Friend from Iowa coming to visit
Gracie gets baptized
Gracie piano recital
Ward Party
Sophie birthday
Haydens Birthday
Girls Camp
Wes Birthday
Swimming lessons
Tennis Camp
Golf Lessons
camping
Bear Lake

I am off to the Dentist, Yay. Hoping you all have a great day ~E
July 4th

Home

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in." 
— Robert Frost

"Imagine how our own families, let alone the world, would change if we vowed to keep faith with one another, strengthen one another, look for and accentuate the virtues in one another, and speak graciously concerning one another. Imagine the cumulative effect if we treated each other with respect and acceptance, if we willingly provided support. Such interactions practiced on a small scale would surely have a rippling effect throughout our homes and communities and, eventually, society at large." 
— Gordon B. Hinckley (Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes)

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." 
— Mother Teresa

"Home is the nicest word there is." 
— Laura Ingalls Wilder

""No success can compensate for failure in the home."" 
— David O. McKay

"If there is beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home. 
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. 
If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." 
— Chinese Proverb

"There's no place like home..." 
— L. Frank Baum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

My Agenda and Whatever Else I Feel Like;-)

9:41am and Sophie is down for her nap already. I want to go back to bed sooo bad, but I am for now, resisting the temptaion.

Last night I attended book group for the first time since being back. It was fun. I think I talked to much. I seriously think I have a problem with that. I sometimes, well more than that, avoid social gatherings because I feel like I can't ever say anything right. Besides that is was lovely. We discussed the book "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". It was a great read. Quick, full of Emotion, very witty and uplifting. It is set in the late 1940's and is completely written in Letter Form. very Interesting.

Tonight I am helping a friend throw a baby shower. It will be lots of fun. I am only a little stressed out because I can't find a recipie (it blew away of course) on the internet. I think I will be spending my day searching for one just like it. Oh well, I am the queen at research so the odds are in my favor.

Oh my heavens. My Dad is in Arkansas for business. You all know that I am an avid weather watcher, so of course last night when I found out that was where he was, I was to say the least, a little bit freaked. There were Tornados everywhere down there. Luckily he stayed safe. I hate the storms that come in during the middle of the night thay are the worst. I checked the weather 4 times during the night, just to make sure he was safe. I made him sleep with his phone on his pillow so that if he was in a tornado warning I could call and let him know. I wonder if I will ever get over my need to protect everyone I know from tornados....?

www.Plinky.com It's a new Website I found. I really like it because it promts you with questions, so that you have something to write about. I really need some sort of creative outlet these days. I am not in to crafting anymore so I think I will try writing. The blog helps with that, but, I get sick of just writing about all the little piddly things that happen everyday...cause everyday for me is a lot the same. I tell you all this because you will be seeing my off the wall enteries more often. I just wanted to explain. Maybe this way, when I go out to a social gathering I won't make and Ass outof myself...anyhoo....ramble ramble ramble...

Well that's all for now ~E

PS (ok, I was going to add a pic, but bloggeris having issues so maybe later)
The picture is of my Dad and My youngest Sister Natelli. I thought I would put a picture up just because I love my Dad and miss him and I was just so dang worried about him last night.

Sophie is in the Dog House!

And I think she likes it!!

I can't travel without My Stinky Pillow

What do you have to have with you when you travel?

My Stinky Pillow
Flat, Stained, Old, Stinky. This is how someone, other than myself would describe my pillow. Comfortable, Firm, Scented via Bath and Body works assorted lotions, shabby chic in color, this is how I know my pillow. It's like a binky is to a baby, my pillow. Without it, my sleep is non-existant due to my neck's inability to adjust to just any other pillow. My head rages, I panic, toss and turn and don't even think that when morning comes it gets better. You can imagine now how I nearly had a nervous break down at the thought of my beloved pillow being lost in the tornado that so carelessly claimed my home. My fearless husband recovered it for me, yes a little bit dirty and wet but still perfect. I simply sprayed it with a little lysol when no one was looking, it may be colored a little bit like oatmeal....but there aren't any germs I guarentee that! I love my pillow. When I travel it travels with me....

That wasn't so bad after all

FYI: I joined a Website that Prompts you with a Question and you answer it then it post your answer on your blog. It also makes up the post name. When these posts show up I will try to add the Question.

Question- Has something bad in your life happened that turned out to be a good thing?

In May '08, an EF tornado completely and uninvitedly barged right over my house. Leaving me (8 months pregnant), my husband, two children and dog homeless, carless and shoeless. Looking back on that day, in that moment I had no idea how I was going to make it through the night. Our family was 1100 miles away. Our clothes were wet, we didn't even have our wallets to buy dry underware. But, by the grace of God we were about to witness many miracles. We saw how strangers and loved ones were insturments in Gods hands as we were cared for and loved. Those miracles are worth far more to me and my family than anything that blew away that day.

Dad had a "Gracie Moment"

I know I have said it before, but , Gracie is our unpredictable child! She puts on a front that she is shy, meek and mild. And She is. She is also brutally honest, on the spot witty and almost more funny than her Dad. Well, I have another Moment to go down in the history of "Gracie Moments".
This morning Wes took her to school for the first time in a while. As they pulled up, they said their goodbyes.....and Wes waited.....and waited. Finally she told Wes she couldn't get out. He was surprised and asked why. Graice responded "Dad, see that boy on the bike right there?...THAT. IS. MY CRUSH.!" Wes was like OH. OK. Now what? She asked him to take her to the other door. So no arguments, he did.

He called me up laughing, I don't think he could believe what had just taken place. I totally can, she always has a "Moment" when your least expecting it.... I learned of course when she popped the "Birds and Bees" on me....That is a another post in itself! It's these little moments our kids give us that make it all worth it! ~E

A Pic And A Blurb...

Mother's Day!

Health Days 2009, come and gone.

Mamma's new ride!

Daddy's Joy!

Homemade Strawberry Jam!

Yes It's True.

I really have been a recluse lately. I had 2 really challenging weeks right in a row. And this week my mind has just been in recovery. I didn't realize how reclusive I have been until Gracie asked yesterday "Are we poor?" I was taken back by that and quickly said  "No!" Then I asked why she asked that. She said well we don't have any food! I laughed, and thought yes we do. And we really do we have tons, just not tons of snack foods. But, it's true I need to go grocery shopping. Then last night Wes and I were talking and he made a comment about how to get me out of the house. At that time it all hit, It's true. When I am dealing with stress I close myself up. I don't think doing that helps me. I am going to force myself out to go grocery shopping today and I will bet that when I get home I will be so much happier. Isn't it funny how we all deal with stress in different ways. I have other coping mechanisms to that I really don't notice unless I sit down and think about it. I won't name all of mine, but I am glad I can recognize them and maybe by just being aware of them I can eliminate the stress. I didn't even know I was stressed until I noticed all these little things that I was doing. I don't know if any of this makes any sence to anyone reading this, but in m mind it does. STRESS=STRESS.

 In a quick 10 I will try to decompress:

1. It's a beautiful day. 
2. Spring is here and I love Spring. 
3. Wes is home
4. I have friends who care and know me, who support me.
5. I am safe, my family is safe.
6. I have goals, that I am achieving. There are always bumps in the road but I am keeping myself focused on the end result.
7. My house is lived in and that's how it is supposed to be, what else are houses for?
8. I can do everything I need to do and still live in a simple way. (I sometimes make a production out of nothing--like going grocery shopping , hehe.)
9. I need to get up and move when I feel tired or overwhelmed. ( Thanks Avry for the inspiration)
10. If all else fails I will get on my knee's and ask for help, that is all it takes. 

~E

There Is A Reason...

......that I can not get a thing done, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her.

 

Starting Fresh!

I am SOOOO grateful for a new week!!! Wes is home safe and sound and flu-less I might add! We had a very lazy weekend, which was wonderful. The only downer is that I spent most of Saturday evening with Sophie in the ER. She had a fever of 103.6. It would not really budge even with the ibuprofen and Tylenol. After being checked out and having tests run, I was told it was a virus and sent on our way. She is still running the fever today. She is such a trooper. No matter how bad she feels she will still give you the biggest smile on demand! 

Weight Watchers pretty much went to the wayside when I made cookies. I don't bake often. Mostly because of my diabetes. But on Friday I remembered how my Grandma Joan would ALWAYS have cookies made for us when we got home from school. I felt sad for my kids cause I have never done that for them. So, OF COURSE I make the best batch of cookies ever. Oh. My. Heck. I am really hoping my kids appreciated them because I will not be doing that again for a while!

Today is so beautiful out, I am so thankful for all that I enjoy. I am blessed with a wonderful Husband who provides for us. He is blessed with a really good job. Wes has always been so responsible about providing for us. When I was pregnant with Hayden  he worked 3 jobs to keep me home. How lucky am I to have him. I know last weeks trip to Chicago was not fun for him. They worked from 5 am - 11 pm , he was exhausted when he got home, but he never complained. What a good guy he is. And did I mention he is my best friend? I dvr'ed all of our favorite shows last week and we have spent the last couple nights watching them. There is nothing more fun to me than staying up late with Wes and laughing my guts out at the TV. I am a pretty lucky girl. ~E

Sheep

Yesterday was a very rainy day! 

I actually really enjoy rainy days sometimes. It was about 7:30 AM and Gracie and I were the only ones awake. I was a excited to look outside at the rain. There is just something cozy about being inside a quiet clean warm house and looking at the rain. I asked Gracie to open the blinds so we could look out. Immediatly we noticed one of the little lambs from the pasture was in our yard and couldn't figure out how to get back in the pasture. I was sad for it, but, just thought it would figure out how to get back through the fence since it figured how to get through to our yard in the first place. Gracie on the other hand was so worried about it. She wanted to rush right out and help it. At first I said no, it was pouring rain! But she just wouldn't stop worrying so I told her to go ahead. I got the camera out and took some pix. She was able to guide it back through the fence and she was so happy! All day yesterday I thought a

bout the little experience. It touched me, and brought some scriptures to mind and I thought I would share. Leave it to my baby girl to again remind me of the purpose to life. I am grateful for the privilege to be a Mother. ~E

luke 15:4-7

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

  5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

  6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with m

e; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

  7 I 

say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

D&C 18:15-16

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and 

bring, save it be one Soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

  16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the Kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!