Everyday Divinity

I know, I haven't posted in forever. I don't feel bad about it.

So, funny story, I forgot to ask someone to cover for one of my teachers today, so I ended up teaching the lesson on Individual Responsibility (of all things) in church. Anyway, long story short, it went well, and I got to teach.  Which I love. So things could have been worse.

Lately, I have been . . . FRUSTRATED with my chosen role as a stay at home mother. The sheer tedium of 2 year old conversations have slowly been driving me to the brink of insanity. As I studied for this lesson, I was reminded that this very work that I do that is the most important. And not for my kids. Consistent work that is motivated by love teaches me to be a better person -- hopefully more like my Father in Heaven. If our God loves us (and he does), then why is so much of our lives forcing ourselves to do things that we would rather not (thinking of dishes here)? In order to grow, we have to work. We must overcome obstacles and learn wisdom.

I still hate washing dishes, but at least for now, I remember that there is a greater purpose to it.

Good Book to Read: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle -- Seriously, I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Good Youtube: This is a video I showed to the ladies in church.

Our week, in photos:

Napping at Murray Park

Hanging with our main man Spencer in 'my' leaves.

Falling in love with a stuffed cat at Wiggle Worms at the library and consequently riding it for the duration of the program.

Napping at the library

Feigning (or maybe genuine) disinterest in penguins at the aquarium.

Napping at the aquarium

Garbage Cake

Today as I was cleaning the bathroom, I realized that the house was suspiciously quiet. For those of you who don't have kids, I want to say that when kids are quiet, it doesn't ALWAYS indicate that your child is doing something they know they aren't supposed to. But it usually ends up that way.

This was no exception. I had thrown away a cake that a friend had given us. It had sat on the counter a little too long and was super stale. Packer found it as he was riffling through the garbage (it was mostly on top) and thought he won the jack pot. By the time I found him, half the garbage cake was missing.

Jameson said Packer was gross. I said funny and determined.

After I took a picture, he realized he was caught, grabbed a giant handful and cake, and ran the opposite direction I was coming from.

Stuffing his face, and, seriously, the cake ended up everywhere in our house.

I am a pretty laid back mom, and honestly didn't care if he wanted to dig through the garbage for stale cake (I swear I feed my son). Cleaning up after Packer was pretty easy, and I am keeping my fingers crossed he didn't ingest some sort of nasty amoeba that gives him the runs.

However, I couldn't get too mad, because I have made far bigger messes that needed way more cleaning up when I was going after my own version of 'garbage cake'.

In the future, when I decide I just don't care, and must have _____________, I will try to ask myself, 'Is this garbage cake?' It might save me from some bad decisions . . .

Or not.

Good Book to Read: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. I am not quite through it, but such a grand idea that really carries surprisingly well.

Throwing Rocks in Water

Everyone has a happy place, and for most, it changes often depending on what we most want in a moment. However, I have found a new spot that is full of serenity. Not quite of the Hawaiian sunset viewed from a hammock strength, but it as close as I am ever likely to get at this stage of life.

So we go to Wheeler Farm like all the time. Seriously, at least once a week. It is free, there are farm animals and a park. Kind of a no-brainer since we live maybe 5 minutes away. They have this whole area behind the farm that is just  . . . cultivated wilderness? I don't know. It doesn't seem like the untouched wild to me, but I'm a little spoiled in that respect (Wyoming). Anyway, there is a dirt trail that people jog on. And trees. And a river/creek/brook.

We found the sweetest spot just this side of the little river/creek that runs through the farm where it slows down a feels a little bit safer to let a 2 year old near. Packer throws rocks in the water, and I sit and just enjoy the sound of a brook running by while I let all the sludge of days slide off my soul. It is a semi secluded area.

Please don't come and find me :)

Good Book to Read: The High Kind by Lloyd Alexander -- this is the final in the series and pretty fantastic.

My Crossing Guard Tan

I am a crossing guard, and proud of it. Most of the kids I cross NEVER get run over. However, I have a favorite pair of shoes that I love to wear to cross. However, a friend recently thought my feet were dirty.

They weren't. I bought a new pair of shoes.

Movie I Watched Recently: Mean Girls -- Lindsay Lohan at her best.

Learning to say No

Jameson and I recently went to visit Barnes and Noble. This is obviously a rather dangerous store for us. Even thought we go 'just to play with the toy trains for Packer' we always end up fighting for browsing time while the other vaguely watches our son (usually reading something). We ALWAYS end up with purchases. Our home library has gotten a little out of hand. Jameson had the audacity to suggest that we sell some books. It was a short conversation, and I sincerely hope he learned his lesson.

Anyway, he put a book in my hands that was really a joke, but we ended up buying it. How to say NO without Feeling Guilty by Connie Hatch and Patti Breitman. Jameson often jokes that I have no clue how to say no. Anyway, this got me thinking about when I overload myself and why and if I feel badly about any of it.

It kind of came to a point when on a recent trip to Bicknell, Utah (yeah, I know -- could we get weirder or more beautiful Southern Utah?) and we visited a restaurant called Slackers. First, I want to say, it was AWESOME. Anyway, they had these fried green beans. They were all I wanted and I seriously had this weird battle in myself that went something like this:

Normal Katie: I really want those fried green beans.
Crazy Katie: But no one else is getting them, and that is weird. Get something else. Chicken.
Normal Katie: Well, I guess I could get that, but it is way more expensive.
Crazy Katie: WEIRDO! Who cares, look more normal.
Normal Katie: But I am not that hungry.
Crazy Katie: RED RUM!!

Remember this whole conversation happened in my head (yeah, I know, I'm nuts). I ended up getting the green beans, and guess what? No one cared, and everyone tried one. They were delicious. So I am trying to assert my actual wants and needs at least known. That way if I am a people pleaser (I am), I can be a little more aware of reining in the crazy and making sure that I say yes to what I want and no to what I don't.

I will keep you posted. (get it? because it is a blog post?)

Sountrack I Listened to While Writing this: Wicked, Original Broadway Cast

The New(ish) Aquarium

 Something I strongly recommend for any family anywhere is a season pass to an attraction nearby if possible. We have a relatively small family, so we just pick one a year to get a pass to, and we generally request this for a Christmas present. Usually it offers some sort of education opportunities for kids and a chance to get out of the house for adults. There are usually special perks for members and exclusive deals for them as well.

There is a really cool shark tube and giant auditorium/viewing area. We always end here, and he loves running between me and the sharks.

This year, we are members at the new Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Salt Lake City. And we LOVE it! I had been to the aquarium before they got their new digs, and it was pretty fun. We went to their members preview when it opened and we were left a little, well, less impressed. Most of the exhibits were still under construction so it was a bit of a let down. However, we have been back a few times since, and it just gets better and better.

Packer LOVES these little turtles that are in a small exhibit in the South America section. Once, when his Aunt Alycia asked him what a turtle says, he said 'ribbit'. I was pleased that he kept it in the amphibian family.

The penguins are a big crowd pleaser, and we are no exception, although, Packer really likes the Emperor Penguin cut out more because he loves Happy Feet 2.

Pirahanas? I want to say? I can't believe he gets to see this stuff.

This is just at the 'make a souvenire penny thing' -- nothing special. But he is just. so. cute!

Trying to see the flat turtles. So cute.

Book I recommend: Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander -- this is the 4th book in the Prydain series, and it is an excellent series for young boys to read. I would say between the ages of 10-11.

The Right Words at the Right Time

I think I was about 10 years old the first time I stayed up reading a book all night. It was a glorious experience that has repeated itself many times (all Harry Potter books, opening night).

That said, I probably haven't read a sizable book in a day in ages. I am a mom and my reading time, while cherished, is limited. I shocked myself yesterday, threw caution to the wind, and let a book carry me away until midnight. It was Forbidden Sea by Shiela A Nielson.

It was looking at me from a shelf in the library and I picked it up on a whim. I am a bit of a lover of fantasy books from the 1970s. The cover art was reminiscent of these fantasies, so that might have been what drew me to it, however it was published in 2010. The description does not do it justice, and led me to believe that it would be Twilight all over again but with Mermaids.

I have never been more wrong. The plot centers around a young girl who is in a very difficult situation, and works really hard not just physically to help provide for her recently impoverished family, but also emotionally. She is often demeaned by those around her, and her incredible determined spirit is taken for granted. She is falsely accused of many things, but continues to show love to those around her (a little gruffly, at times).

This struck a cord with me because I have never felt so spiritually and emotionally rewarded at this point in my life, but I also feel keenly the sacrifices I have made. I gave up a career to stay home with my son, and my efforts as a mother are often more of the hugs and kisses variety, and less of the golden star on my report card for everyone to see.

This book helped me remember that what I want is to be a strong person for my family because I love them regardless of what others seem to think or say. I want to be kind in the face of skepticism and hold my head high that I had the courage to make a difficult choice.