Sleeping Beauty was having a snack of toast with nutella when apparently her exhaustion got the best of her.  It will be a late bedtime tonight.

I survived!

"Are you surviving?"

"How are you holding up?"

I get asked one of these two questions almost every day.  Most days my answer is, "I am good."

And the truth is I really am.  I can understand why people are asking.  Fisher began his new job in Idaho two months ago.  I have been here with the kids finishing up school, which ended today!  I was the person responsible for keeping our house "perfect" while it was on the market.  Until last Sunday, I had a church assignment that could be very demanding.  I am the sole dishwasher, launderer, repairwoman, cook, sweeper, story reader, gardener, and driver...and I am very tired.

I should be a nervous wreck.

But I am not and this is why - Heavenly Father is taking care of me through tender mercies, small miracles, and other people as his angels.  There is no way I can list all of the blessings that have and continue to sustain me but here are just a few.

 - My mom, Shar, and friends helped me get my house painted, cleaned and ready to sell.  I only had to keep it "perfect" for three days before it sold. (MIRACLE)


- My mom took Spud home with her for a few of the weeks, which was incredibly helpful.

 - A friend/ward member and his son have mowed and trimmed my lawn (it's never looked better).

- Many friends have given the kids rides.

- Friends at church have helped with my sometimes irreverent children without being asked.

- Neighborhood girls have watched my children many times as a service to me.


- My brother Tim invited me over for the Mother's Day dinner he was making.

- A friend surprised me with a pedicure for Mother's Day.

- I can be very forgetful, but big and little things have been brought to my remembrance.

- A friend brought my family dinner.

- Neighbors and friends have invited us over to play and swim.

- There have been days when I know there is more to do than can possibly be done in the day and everything falls into place.

- Our air conditioner stopped working and two friends from the ward spent three hours fixing it.

- Tim and Shar let us crash at their house so we could sleep in a cool house when the a/c wasn't working.  Then Shar got up with me in the night to clean up after two of my children threw-up.

- I have never once felt scared in my house at night!  That is huge for me as I can be a big scaredy cat.

- Friends and family have called and texted to see how I am doing and provide a listening ear.

- We have had some major issues come up with the sale of our house, it has all worked out.

- So many people have helped me in so many ways, there is no way I can ever express all my gratitude to them.

- I have prayed each day for more patience, increased energy and IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.


- I have prayed for many things - some things would seem silly to others, some serious - IT ALL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.

Some might say all this is coincidence, but I know it's not.  I see the hand of my Heavenly Father in all this.

I have learned a lot the past weeks.  While, I know my situation is not the same, I have developed empathy for mother's who are raising their children on their own - it is really hard!  I have become better at letting the unimportant things slide a bit so I can spend more time playing with my children.  I have had to swallow my pride and let people help when it's offered.  I have had to swallow it even more and ask for help.  I appreciate Fisher more than I ever have and miss him more than I ever have.  I have had some really hard days, but have learned better how to bouey myself up on those days. 

Fisher comes home tomorrow to help us move.  We are ecstatic to see him!

We survived!

Happy Mothers Day

No better way to celebrate Mother's Day than by experiencing the joys of motherhood! Blue Jello is out this week. Blue bubble mint toothpaste tea is in.

Blue Breakfast

I was in the bathroom getting ready for church and asked Curly if she could check on Spud.  She said, "I just saw him.  He was playing."  When I came out a few minutes later, this is what I found.

Instead of making jigglers today we are taking a BIG one to church.

This is my sanity today.

 I have two sick kiddos dozing on the couch.  Spud and I have played with every toy in the house (half are already packed), we have taken a walk to the mailbox, read books, and colored.  It's not even lunch time yet, so he is out doing his one of his favorite things - playing with the hose.

 It kept him busy for about 30 minutes.