Quirky

I have a quirk that I'm reluctant to share, but at my husband's urging I will disclose here on the interwebs. He thinks it's hilarious.

Here goes: Brent and I have different schedules, especially when school is in session for him. As we share a computer and are often not at home at the same time, I will frequently send him "subliminal messages" regarding anything of interest to me before I went to bed.

These "subliminal messages" come in the form of open tabs in the internet browser. And they frequently include items that I wouldn't mind if he happened to get them for me for my birthday. Or Christmas. Or just because he loves me. A little visual list of a few of my favorite things, if you will.

So far, he has yet to take the hint, but he at least knows the meaning behind the message. Love you, Brent!

Recovering and a Giveaway!!

Thankfully this little boy is no longer sick. This picture was taken Saturday night right before his little world turned upside down. I feel so bad because he acts scared of his bed now. It's getting better though. There's nothing so heart-wrenching as watching your little one be sick.

On a happy note, my husband has taken up a new hobby. A new hobby that he's discovered is actually becoming a talent. A talent that he loves. A talent that he's decided to share with the world.

Please visit his blog, Aaron Hill's Jewelry for more information on the giveaway!!

Sick

Brent and I decided to stay up and watch a movie last night. Not my wisest decision, but sometimes things like that need to be done. Then we tossed and turned and tried to get to sleep. I hate when I stay up too late and then can't sleep because my mind is racing about how I'm too tired and I have too much to do.

Then, I heard my little boy cry from the next room over. What was he doing up in the middle of the night? He's been a good sleeper, so I'm not accustomed to the midnight stirrings anymore. I surely wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon now!

Brent offered to get up and help the little guy while I continued to try to drift off. Thankfully, I agreed to this arrangement and proceeded to remain frustrated with myself for being unable to just drift off. Sleep remained elusive.

Moments later, Brent came in and told me he was going to need a little help. I smelled it before Brent told me that Bruce had thrown up. All over his entire bed - blankets, bumpers, everything. I quickly took Bruce and got him in the tub while Brent dismantled the bed.

I've never seen Bruce so sad and sedate. He just sat under the faucet and let the water course over his little body. He didn't have a fever, but he was shivering. I didn't want him to get dehydrated, so we tried a little pedialyte. He moaned and threw up more and looked at me with sad eyes. Sometimes mortality breaks a mother's heart.

When Brent was done cleaning and disinfecting Bruce's room, we got the little boy out and into new pajamas. He clung to me as I rocked him back to sleep. Thankfully he slept through the night, and he's managed to handle a little bit of applesauce and water. I just hope we have our happy boy back soon!

Tender Mercies

About two weeks ago, our family experienced an unexpected tender mercy from the Lord. My dear friend works for the opera in Germany, and therefore got the month of August off (it's a European thing - government officials get a month off). We have kept in close contact in the years that she's been there and I've been here, but we hadn't seen each other in about 2 years. We had a wonderful time together - singing, laughing, visiting tall trees, making the baby giggle, and talking for hours. She's always been one of those friends that brings out the best in me and makes me want to be better. I love her view of the world and the people in it.

On the last day of her visit, we decided to visit the beach. The baby hadn't seen the ocean yet, and I had been craving the salty fresh air. We'd hit the beach and from there take her to the airport before we headed home. It was the perfect plan.

We loaded the car with all we would need for our adventure, and hit the road. It was a beautiful day and we were reveling in the good weather and the good company. As our car began to climb the stretch of Highway 99 - more fondly referred to round these parts as "the Grapevine," - our car began to drag. Startled, I looked at my husband and then down at the temperature gauge. Sure enough, the needle was climbing with each mile we went, and it showed no sign of stopping.

Tender mercy #1: the first place we could pull off had a water spigot. I had packed extra water in the car several months ago as a result of a prompting, but it was nice to be able to use the water there and keep all our resevoirs intact.

Tender mercy #2: we were on the city side of the mountain, and thus we still had phone signal. I could call my Dad and have him walk us through the steps we needed to cool our car down.

Tender mercy #3: The car eventually cooled down and we could head back down the hill without seeing the temperature rise.

Tender mercy #4: There was a shop right off the highway as we headed back into town where we could pull off and have them look at the car.

Tender mercy #5: They had a car that we could rent so we could still get my friend to the airport on time.

Tender mercy #6: She made her flight with minutes to spare.

While I was dropping her off at the airport 100 miles from our house, Brent talked to the mechanics and they informed us that our car required $900 worth of repairs. We didn't have $900 to spare.

Tender mercy #7: The shop informed us that our car would be able to handle the "around town" errands that are part of daily life without requiring to have all the repairs made.

Tender mercy #8: Brent's mother's husband works on cars as a hobby and he agreed to look at the car for us. (Yay for a second opinion!)

Tender mercy #9: He told us that the repairs the shop suggested would cost us a mere $100 at the most to do ourselves and he'd help us fix it.

That whole experience reinforced my knowledge that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and is very aware of my needs. I am humbled by the fact that "the tender mercies of the Lord are overall those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance (1 Nephi 1:20). I'm so grateful that we are not left to our own devices to make it through this life.

Changes

Sorry I've been A.W.O.L. for a while. Things in our life suddenly got very busy. I'm now in the Primary Presidency. We've had visitors from near and far. We've had car failure. We have a new missionary to write. Bruce has new teeth. I have a new job. Wonderful changes, but a little stressful all the same.

So, yes, we're still here. Thanks for the well wishes. Love to you all!

Determined

This little boy has been learning to stand. I've been amazed at his persistence. The day he finally figured out that he could balance on his two little feet without falling, and that it wasn't scary, he practiced all day. Even when he'd inevitably topple over, he would get right back up and try again. And he never cried. He showed signs of frustration, but that didn't keep him from continuing to try.

I hope I'm that determined. To do my job well. To be a good mother. There are so many distractions that discourage us. Little foibles and faults. I don't know that my encouragement helped my little boy. I have a feeling he'd have been as determined regardless of whether or not I was even in the room. All the same, it made me want to cheer on others better rather than condemn them for their missteps. I don't want to hold that against anyone. Why is it so easy to be critical? We're all learning. I knew that parenting would change my nature, hopefully for the better, but I didn't fully grasp how being a mother would completely alter the way I view the world and the people in it.

"What the world needs now . . ." (this song always reminds me of Ms. Dalrymple's English class . . . )

How Time Flies

Yesterday, I had a moment of frustration and embarrassment. Sure, I can look at it now and laugh, but at the time, it was thoroughly exasperating.

I was already frustrated because we were running a bit late. I got the baby settled in his seat. I picked up my purse, the pump, my diaper bag, and my lunch while Brent started the car. Then I jumped in and we took off.

As we pulled up to work, I started unloading the car and double checking my saddle bags. Uh oh! Something was missing. In my haste to load everything in the car, I had put my planner on top of the car. Now that selfsame planner was lost, likely strewn across the thoroughfare to work.

My sweet husband offered to return and search for it. Desperately, I hoped it would just be in our parking lot. Alas, I was not so fortunate. The planner sat precariously balanced for a surprising distance, but it just couldn't maintain it's hold. Unfortunately for me, I had a bunch of loose papers in it that are now lost to the wind . . . and the canal. Luckily for me, however, the planner survived, largely unscathed. And that's how time flew.