Third of a Century

I've been thinking this month of another individual and what He accomplished in His third of a century on this earth. I haven't done anything near as impactful, but I wanted to somehow quantify. What have I done with my third of a century?

• got baptized
• earned a Young Woman Recognition Award
• graduated from Seminary
• graduated from Institute
• graduated from High School
• graduated from College
• worked as a nurse in pediatrics, postpartum, recovery room, surgical center, community clinic, emergent care clinic
  
• worked as a telemarketer, florist, pizza maker, phone operator
• made tons of friends
  
• went on a cruise
• went on mission
• received my endowment in the Ogden temple
  
• sealed in the Salt Lake temple
• returned to the temple often
  
• helped create three daughters
• bought two houses
• sold one house
• bought four cars
• sold three cars
• learned Spanish
• learned toddlerese
• returned to Ecuador
• survived business school (ie single motherhood)
• (one month shy of) survived law school (ie poverty, single motherhood, pseudo-widowhood, unemployment)
• traveled a little around the country
• shared my testimony a few times
• created a few things of beauty
• practiced being a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother
• lost some sleep
• shed some tears
• laughed a lot
• loved a lot
• missed some people
  

I still have so much to do. It may not be as significant a list as someone whose life ended during this year, but it's my list nonetheless. I still have a lot to do! But I feel so blessed for all that I've done and enjoyed and experienced. My Father in Heaven has shown me great love and honor by giving me the life I have. With this perspective, I hope to make the next part of my life significant in His service.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I think our favorite things fresh from the garden are sweet 100's cherry tomatoes, and peas. We're already excited. What are you planting this year?

March 8, 2011

Post Script---Updated peas on March 30, 2011

and April 21, 2011

stay tuned. . . .

Dad, I'm so tired!

Ellie is definitely my daughter. Waking up is so hard to do!

"Oh, Daddy! I'm still so tired! I was up all night :)"

Ellie's Blessing

What a wonderful day! Except for family living out of state, we had all of our family together today to celebrate our youngest daughter Noelle. We had three baby blessings in our ward today (and anticipate three more next month!) and then had all our family to our home for some food and great company. Everyone loved having the chocolate fountain (who doesn't love chocolate?), we had a pony birthday cake for the March birthdays (Charlotte and me), and lots of love for Ellie!

Our Eternal Family of FIVE!

She's so cute and sweet! I'm enjoying this girl more and more!

Cousins and chocolate.

I really enjoyed the day and I've decided that the best way for me to enjoy a party is not taking responsibility for cooking to order 25 hamburgers and taking care of a new baby! It was really a great day. Brett gave a beautiful blessing and I am more grateful each day to be a mother! Really, I enjoy it more each time (even though it's definitely harder the older I get!). This is the first time that our baby has cried through the blessing, but it didn't seem to bother Brett. Ellie calmed right down as soon as she could sit up a little more and the circle opened around her. She's a bit older than her sisters were when they got blessed, and definitely more of a momma's girl too. Thanks to all those sweet aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins for coming and sharing this day with us, and for helping out so much! Ellie is so loved!

Trafalga

We're getting the most out of our Seven Peaks season passes, now that it's become the "Pass of All Passes". We get to go to Trafalga (mini amusement park) with unlimited use. It's a work in progress as they fix/add rides. We went in mid-March and were disappointed that there weren't many little kid rides going. Last fall, the girls loved the little airplanes and the carousel. We rode the go-carts (two riders so Katie rode with me, Mandy rode with Grandma Nichols, and Brett got roadblocked by the women drivers!), played indoor mini-golf, black light style. Pretty fun for free and the girls love it! (Girls entertained=mommy happy!) This time, the new addition was a huge rock climbing wall. Katie begged to go on it, until after harnessing all up, she got 6 feet up and chickened out! Brett made it about 20 before he lost interest.







After playing at Trafalga, I got taken to "B-Donald's" (Mandy's title for McDonald's). Brett and Grandma Nichols had been plotting, but Trafalga doesn't allow for outside food. We had birthday cake, balloons, and a mini party! So fun!

Bathtime Baby

February

March
She's so cute! She's getting better about tolerating the bath's. I can't say that we quite enjoy them yet--not kicking and laughing yet, but at least not screaming through them.

Katie's FHE

Katie taught Family Home Evening on Families are Forever. All we have to do is "follow directions"! Classic! I love her stick people--their hands and feet are perpendicular lines.