I haven't forgotten to love things, I've just been a little busy. Too busy, perhaps, when Grandma, who has been trying to reach me for two days calls and finally gets me and says, "ok, do you have three minutes? I'll talk fast." I don't mean to ignore people. Well, very often. I was talking to Katelyn last night while I unloaded the dishwasher that had been run the previous night. I told her I better at least clean the kitchen so Denten doesn't wonder what on earth I had been doing all day. Some days are just one thing after another and sometimes that's fun and sometimes it makes me grateful not all days are like that.

Anyway, onto stuff I love. It's still love month, you know. For approximately three more days. Hurry, love something!

I love my new sports bra. It doesn't have a very big job and in fact takes away and protrusion that I might have, but it's comfortable and there's something to be said for that.

I loved Relief Society last night. It was a brilliant meeting that brought me home thinking and I like that. I love the sisters in my ward.

I love that it's Friday! and that D suggested we get a sitter and go out. ah, happy day. Our date will consist of furniture shopping, which I might also love. I'll let you know.

I love my new 'do. and beckham's. and seneca's. Emily snipped away at all of us this week. We can see Beckham's neck again which had gotten lost long ago, Senny is a little more even and I am sporting bangs again. Aren't they darling? What? You can't see them? well, they are darling, just trust me.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Essential Oils: 101

 

I was introduced to essential oils a while ago through one of my energy clients.  She knew I was interested in ways to keep my family healthy and knew that both myself and my other clients might be interested in essential oils.  She sent me a few universal oils to try in our home and I loved them. I loved the quality and smell of the oils. A while later one of my children came down with an ear ache and I called her to see what she recommended. She helped me order the appropriate oil and it worked like a charm... quickly, painlessly, without visiting a doctor or using medication.

I need to note that I did not grow up in an “alternative medicine” family.  I do not have anything against doctors or medication when it is necessary and believe fully that they have their place.  I immunize my children and they have regular check-ups with a pediatrician.  But if having tools in our home help us stay healthy, I’m all for using them.  

I began learning more about this essential oil company and have been nothing but impressed. The integrity of the people involved as well as the product is unmatched. Some have wondered why select oils cost more and the reason is the quality. Those selecting these oils are so meticulous and I'm grateful that I know when I am using them for my family that they are the best essential oils I could be using.

We have conquered headaches, nausea, fevers, ear aches and infections, skin irritations, scars, menstrual cramps, seasonal allergies, restless sleepers, sore muscles and much more with our oils at home. I believe we have also avoided many infections because we use them to prevent sickness from entering our home. Using essential oils is empowering to me as I have been able to take my family's health into my own hands. We have avoided trips to see the doctor as well as any medication that we most certainly would have needed before we started using oils.

They are very easy to use- my children know that they are a part of bedtime at our house and like to choose what they need each night.   I know how hard it is to have sickness floating around the house- it goes from one family member to another and is so hard to get rid of!  It amounts to too little sleep and too much laundry and having regular schedules disrupted.  I was thinking today that none of the kids or myself have needed to visit a doctor since we moved. We have gotten a few little bugs, but nothing that we couldn't handle at home. I have had intentions of transferring our pediatric records to someone closer to us, but haven't gotten around to it because it hasn't been necessary. Cooper hasn’t had to miss a day of school all year due to illness.  I know there have been some yucky colds and flu bugs going around and I feel very fortunate that we haven’t been attacked.

I have a few great friends who use essential oils as much as I do and we’re teaming up next week to answer questions we’ve all been getting about our oils.  We will be talking about why we use them, what we use and how we use them to keep our families healthy.  We’ll show you how easy it is to get what you need, use it in your home and significantly reduce the amount of time and money spent on combatting illness.  I’m hosting three different events:  Both Monday and Tuesday next week I will have classes in my home in Mesa for those of you locals.  It will be fun to try the oils and learn about them together.  On Tuesday afternoon I will be hosting a tele-class with a few other women to go over some of the same information and answer all of your questions about essential oils.  This is a great introduction and is super easy as you just need to dial the number and listen or join the conversation!  If you’re interested, I’d love to have have you participate next week- all events are free of charge and are open to anyone interested.  You’re welcome to pass our class information along to anyone you feel might benefit.

sacrifice.

Several years ago my dad was called to preside over a large group of LDS missionaries in London, England.  The call was to serve for three years and was also extended to my mom and brother, seeing as he was still living at home and would be moving with them.  My brother was in junior high school at the time.  My sister Lindsay was at college and Katelyn was trying to decide if she was going to marry Wade.  The call to serve implied sacrifice, which was obvious on the part of my parents, not as blatantly assumed on the part of my siblings.  This experience for my family ended up being the greatest lesson in sacrifice I have ever witnessed or been a part of.

Each person in my family, myself least of all, laid something on the alter for this experience.  My sisters sacrificed more than anyone anticipated would be necessary in ways that created heartache, stretching and often a deep sense of loneliness.   The greatest sacrifice, however, came on the part of my brother and my parents who were first-hand witnesses to his struggles.  As the darkness of the call seemed all-consuming, we wondered what good was to come out of this sacrifice.  Today in Relief Society we briefly revisited the story of Adam when he was offering a sacrifice at an alter after being cast out of the garden of Eden.  When he was approached and asked why he was doing that, he responded with, “I know not.”  I heard that answer several times as conversations with my parents turned to questions… why were we asked to do this?  Why must he suffer?  Isn’t it time to come home?  Always  the answer was the same.  My dad would respond saying that he didn’t know why, only that he was asked to be there and they were supposed to stay and finish this call.  The answer, while affirming my dad’s faith, was often frustrating to my sisters and I who were ready to see my brother removed from the hell he was living.  While sacrifice brings forth blessings, the question became, “is this worth sacrificing a son?  a brother?”

We were asked today what blessings come from sacrifice.  I can not share the personal blessings each of my family members received, but I know that Ben is who he is today because of the low, dark valleys he suffered through in London.  He is infinitely more compassionate and understanding of others than before he went.  He is wiser and more competent than any other adolescent I have ever met.  I believe he has a relationship with the Lord that for him couldn’t have been developed any other way than to come to the end of his light, be succumbed with darkness and feel what it is to need the Savior to survive.  He has a perspective that is unique and in large part exists because of his sacrifice.  He may claim different blessings than I see, but I am grateful that after crawling through the refiner’s fire, he came out exemplary. 

When this call was extended, blessings were promised to our entire family.  My parents left with the surety that their children would be watched over in their absence.  Again, I can not speak for my sisters, who had many more dark days than I during those three years, but I know without a doubt that our family was blessed.  I know that I received blessings directly from my Father in Heaven because of my parents’ obedience and willingness to serve.  During the time they were gone, I was blessed with amazing experiences in regard to my marriage, my education and my own spiritual growth.  Within those three years of sacrifice, I was also blessed with a son.  There is no denying the fact that sacrifice brings forth blessings.  I was fortunate to have sacrificed the least through this experience and be blessed with so much, but I know that my family is closer and stronger and has been blessed beyond measure in Ben’s character alone for the sacrifices made. 

Francis Webster was at a meeting regarding the Martin Handcart company disaster where many were criticizing the leaders of the company for decisions made.  Webster stood and said, “No.  You may not judge.  You weren’t there.  Every person came out of that experience knowing God in their extremities.  No one would take that back.” 

I believe that thus far in my life the greatest sacrifices I have been asked to make are of my time and my comfort.  I also believe that someday I will be asked to give much more.  I am grateful for the law of sacrifice and for the blessings obedience brings about.

a rainy saturday

I love Saturdays. I don't love that D has been feeling crummy, but I love that he's been home. I love a good morning at the gym without children. I love sore, tight muscles that feel like they are getting stronger. I love the rain. I love the way it smells and the coziness it imposes on our home and family. I love weekends without any plans. I love reading with my kids every night. I love when they know the books so well they read them to me. I love kissing their little faces as I tuck them in, fresh from the shower.

today’s simple loves.

Today I love the plans are made and done for spring break… McCall, here we come!  Even the littles will be skiing, it’s going to be a great week!

I love tortellini with pesto.  As do all of my children. 

I love the clean I feel after a late-afternoon shower when I get to climb right into lounge clothes for the night.

I love shopping online for furniture.  isn’t this darling??

I didn't ignore yesterday on purpose. I just didn't remember to blog my loves until after I had hit my pillow, and as much as I love being consistent, I loved my pillow more.

Yesterday was non-stop. gym, shower super fast, preschool, drive to phoenix, drive home, pick up preschool lady, drop them at emily's, race to tour yet another school (disappointment), home to ready the miss for dance class, pick up from dance, breathe for 30 minutes, off to soccer practice, home and straight to bed. In the midst I was working on arranging a few classes on essential oils that I have coming up. It was an exhausting day.

This morning was much of the same, just different places to run. I was happy to have the afternoon at home, although I really wanted a nap and that just can't happen when service guys are in and out and needing me. We are the proud new owners of a functioning water softener and purification system and an RO system in the kitchen. Denten came home feeling crummy today so while it's a bummer he's under the weather, it's nice to have him around.

I must now go quiet the monkeys in the living room, have them pick up the family room, read and get them to bed and then eat something, I'm hungry! I am hopeful that tomorrow will be a slower day, my body needs it and my house needs it!

I love big, juicy strawberries slathered with nutella. oh. yum.

not a little boy.

Last night at soccer practice, Seneca and Beckham did a great job at staying nearby so I could conduct practice with Coop’s team and keep an eye on them.  In fact, Beckham wanted to be right there.  When we were doing drills, he got his ball and lined up right next to Cooper.  He wanted a turn every time and wanted a partner when the other players had one.  We did a good job at letting him feel a part of things without having it take away from the team and their time.  However, half-way through the practice, another parent stepped in to do a few things and I sat on the side with Beckham (Seneca was running around with a darling pack of little girls).  Bex was not happy about sitting.  The team was scrimmaging and moving too fast for Beckham to be out there but he did not agree.  He was pretty upset with me that he couldn’t be in with the big kids.  He and I passed the ball back and forth played some games to keep him distracted and we survived, but he really thought he was part of that team and was not happy to be treated differently.

This morning things were a little too quiet and I know that means Beckham is doing something he shouldn’t.  Yesterday he was in the toy closet trying to get through a sucker before anyone found him.  I knew he was in Cooper’s room which he knows is a big no-no.  When I walked in I found him pulling on Coop’s soccer cleats, finishing his ensemble.  He still had on his jammies but had layered them with not one, but two soccer shirts, a pair of soccer shorts, a pair of basketball shorts, soccer socks, shin guards and cleats. 

Apparently he needs some gear of his own. 

And it’s not just soccer.  These littles play the piano and sing the same songs Cooper is practicing every day and as you can see,

they also think they can play chess. 

I hope their older brother always makes choices that are worthy of exemplifying. 

Because he has two little shadows that are watching very closely.

LOVE day

On LOVE day, I LOVE...

sweet notes from my lover. valentine kisses from beckham all day long. a great aerobic workout. seneca's insistence that she is her daddy's valentine. cooper's face upon receiving "wipeout" for the wii. a nap. beckham hiding in the toy closet with a sucker. chess club. making valentine's. cooper wondering if he really has a secret admirer. soccer practice. valentine's FHE party with fun friends. kids who go to bed immediately. a lover who is due home any minute.

Senny Bug

Today I love Seneca. She is drama and flair and sweet all rolled into one gorgeous little girl. She is expressive and imaginative and has me cracking up regularly with the things that come out of her mouth. When she is upset it is over the top and takes a while to come back down, but her happy, excited moments are just as enormous and it doesn't take much to get those. She loves her brothers and is happy to play with them 99% of the time. They scheme and create together and I'm grateful she has built-in friends, especially Beckham. It is hard for me to remember what it was like with just Cooper because it seems that one of these two without the other would be so lonely. Seneca is all girl, twirling and singing and calling me, "your majesty." She is strong and opinionated and friendly. She is observant and has a great memory. She is tender-hearted and harsh words bring her bottom lip to quivering pretty quickly. She is still attached to her blanket, but it is a healthy attachment as she only needs it to sleep and she wouldn't die without it. She loves her friends and is anxious for any occasion that brings them together.

She is a blessing in our home and I love her to pieces. She had us laughing so hard at dinner tonight- and without a doubt she'll do it again tomorrow.

today’s loves:

a soccer game with coop… we’re not supposed to keep score, but my kids informed me that we won.  they had a great time.

my house is extremely clean.  denten mopped and cleaned the bathroom.  oh, I love that.

delicious shrimp with hilarious friends. 

my face hurts from laughing so hard.

my children played until they were exhausted.

I am happy.

I love my people.

Miss Senny came out of preschool today with her lip quivering, trying to hold it together.  She melted when she saw me.  She said, “my face hurts, mom.”  Miss Kerry said she was exhausted and that she had a headache.  I felt so bad for her seeing as today was their Valentine Party and Seneca had been looking forward to it all week.  She came home and had a good nap and is taking it easy.  I’m grateful for oils that have helped her fever go down and her little body relax. 

Beckham, on the other hand, bounded out of preschool in true Beckham fashion, exuberant and excited to tell me all about his treats.  “I’m not sick, mom!”  Good thing, buddy.  He also had a good nap and was glad to see Cooper home when he woke up.  Beckham is all about hanging out with his brother when he can.  They love playing the Wii together and get so loud and excited.  Beckham is just a bundle of sunshine all the time.

Cooper came home and requested a game of chess before the little ones woke up.  We played cat and mouse and then he beat me at checkers.  I’m glad his little mind is learning to think strategically-  I know in the long run that kind of thinking will benefit him far more than me drilling flashcards or pushing worksheets, although sometimes I can’t help myself.  I love when Friday rolls around and we have him home with us all weekend.  We have our first soccer game in the morning, Coop and I.  I’ll need more help than he will, no doubt. 

Denten has been trying to duck office drama for the past few weeks, although he keeps getting cornered by a woman in the office because she feels comfortable venting to him.  It’s amusing to hear about, but I’m sure he’ll be glad when it all dies down.  It’s a small office with two- too many caddy, overly sensitive females.  He has been consistent with his swim training as the half-iron is coming up the first part of April.  Tomorrow he’s slated for a long bike ride then a half-marathon.  I’m grateful for his motivation to do his best in his events and to push himself to get stronger and for his desire and ability to balance work, training and time with us.  He has made it a point to be home early a couple of times this week and that is major for me.

I made it to the gym this morning without any nausea, thank heavens.  Friday morning is my favorite class- it is a combat class that combines muay thai, karate, kick-boxing and other martial arts.  I know, you picture me throwing down a guy and laugh out loud, but it’s such a great class and I was grateful to feel good enough to push it this morning.  I have been terrible at having dinner planned and prepared ahead of time this week, downright terrible.  Thankfully Denten is patient and is helpful creating something healthy and delicious when he gets home.  He is most certainly more creative in the kitchen than I am and puts great flavors together.  I, however, am excellent at grilled cheese sandwiches, breakfast burritos and anything from the freezer for last-minute meals.  We have people coming over tomorrow for dinner, so at least he’ll get a good meal once this week that he didn’t have to do all himself!

People on my mind this week: 

*Baby Syd and Emily.  Sydney was in emergency care this week with unexplained symptoms and no matter what kind of mother you happen to be, that is scary business.  I’m hopeful she’s on the up-and-up. 

*Kate, Bode and Tess… and Wade, I suppose.  No offense to Wade, but I’ve been thinking about the first three making adjustments to their new daily life and the balance that Katelyn is finding.  It’s a balance that I still struggle with today- making sure each child gets the time and attention they need. 

*Lindsay and Joete’s.  I’ve been working on confirming donation baskets for our Mother’s Day auction and I want it to be everything Lindsay hopes it will be.  I want her to feel it is a great success and that the money raised can fund the projects she intended when she created this organization. 

*Ashlee and her crew.  Being majorly pregnant and sick and still needing to run a household with two busy boys who are home all day long is not a fantastic combination.  She has her priorities in line and I’m sure that is what has kept her sane, but I’m grateful to hear that she’s feeling a little better and I hope she can get the things in order she desires before her little miss makes her debut… I’m so excited for her to be a part of the Miller family!

*Kim.  She has a darling little toddler and her husband is gone all week working then home on the weekends.  Kim is a wonderfully supportive and positive wife who makes it a point to use her time well to get through her week with her sanity in tact.  I have been thinking about her and hoping that her weekend with Glenn is wonderful.

today I love my sisters. they are amazing. accomplished. motivating. downright beautiful. hilarious. honest. generous. LOVE them to pieces.

sickie LOVE

Not feeling so hot today, in fact I have longed for my bed since the moment I had to get out of it.  I’ve had to do a little stretching to find a few things I love today:

- I love that S and B play together great and needed little attention this morning.

- I love that I have not actually had to throw up.

- I love watching the creativity that emerges when Valentine’s paraphernalia covers the table and Valentines are being created.

- I love how excited Seneca gets on ballet days.

- I loved the “hearts of the children” series and am bummed I’m done with it.  I need to get motivated to read “Follow the River,” our Feb. book club book.  It looks good to me, but for some reason I’m not drawn to read it right now.  **  post edit:  read the first three chapters.  intriguing but awfully graphic.  has anyone read this??  mom, I know it has been on your shelf since the dawn of time…

- I love that I was able to pull out of my funk long enough to handle music practice, homework, soccer, showers and bedtime.

- I love that this day is done.

is it Tuesday?

Today I love:

- the fact that all of my muscles got ripped to shreds today and that I was able to do it with more weight than last week.  what?  you didn’t know I had muscles?

- Body Flow.  an hour combining tai chi, yoga and pilates.  awesome stretching for my tight muscles.  worth the extra hour at the gym.

- our new post-gym concoction:  two oranges ( S and B race to the tree to see who can bring them in first), one banana, spinach, frozen berries, ice, milk, chocolate flavored chia protein powder, straight chia seeds all thrown into the blender and made perfectly delicious.  makes enough for the three of us. look mom, I’m eating my fruit!

- Let’s Play Music.  Love the program, love our teacher, love the awesome things Cooper is learning and most of all I love that he thinks it’s fun!

- Beckham’s eyelashes.  especially when he sleeps. 

- the way Bex pats my back when he gives me a hug.

- the way Seneca whacks the tetherball like it’s a piñata. 

- D coming home early.  This one totally wins today.

- Listening to S and B play soccer in the family room, laughing and running and yelling, “no hands!  no hands!”

- Cooper and D playing chess at the kitchen table.

So many things to love!

I LOVE…

- chipotle mayo.  what?  you haven’t tried it yet?  oh, you should.  gives the turkey, swiss, spinach, avocado combo a little zing!

- fun new beauty products… new luminescent foundation and fun new eye colors to try!

- 70 degrees… oh, thank heavens.

- fresh, clean laundry.  I just want to climb right in the big warm pile.

- 6 & 7 year-old soccer players.

- quote of the night:  cooper and I were getting in the car after soccer practice.

me:  I don’t know about this whole coaching thing, coop.

Cooper:  I like you being the coach, mom.

me:  you think I’m a pretty good coach?

Cooper:  You will be! 

Actually, the practice went great.  We filled the time easily with productive drills and games and the hardest part was getting five kids to agree on a team name!

I also love Emily who came to the rescue again and kept the littles while we were at soccer. 

And tonight I will love pasta with D and the latest Bach drama. 

I LOVE...

an uplifting day at church.

delicious food.

an entire day with my family.

Saturday LOVE

- a mini pampering escape with a friend.

- denten stealing the kids so I could sleep and read this afternoon.

- wii dance. and kids who are hilarious.

- wood-burning fireplaces. the smell, the ambiance, the warmth.

- a day together.

- the makings of a great sunday tomorrow.

on friday, I love...

- two of my favorite gym classes in one day... love that!

- kids who listen the first time.

- a husband who is home for the weekend. well, "home" is relative, but at least he's back in town.

- extra long naps for the littles.

- no school tomorrow!

- valentine's package from gram.

- seat heaters in Dutch.

- watching my children play wipeout and laughing their heads off.

Today I love…

- new workout clothes.  and thursday morning’s class, which gives me a reason to get up and moving.

- mountain hardwear thick fuzzy jacket, ugg warm boots and layers.  lots and lots of layers.  it is 33 degrees here!!  that is not right.

- nice neighbors.  patient secretaries.

- the fact that my children have played great with each other all day

Things I’m trying to love:

- faxes, scanners and such… which are mostly a pain to me but helped out today.  Denten had his driver’s license in his bike jersey- then went to work, went to the airport and went to Boise.  Without his DL.  They let him on the plane… thank you Costco picture ID!  But that wasn’t enough to rent a car… they wanted the license.  Coordinating with his office, I think we got the job done.

- my power company.  call me crazy, but I should not be paying as much in January as I do in July, when I have three A/C units running all the time.  the heat is on, but not nearly enough… in my freezing cold opinion. 

LOVE month

Harrie is at it again. Declaring all sorts of lovey-dovey sentiments. It's LOVE month, you know... the month in which to post daily about all the things and/or people you love. Very important or quite trivial... doesn't matter.

So... Today I love Beckham. I should post a picture, but you all know what he looks like. On Wednesdays I get a few hours to spend just with him and he is the perfect little companion. He keeps track of my errands letting me know where we need to go next and what we are going to accomplish while there. He sings to me whenever we're driving. He is very specific in his snack and meal requests, which is blessing- I never have to wonder what we're having because he's got it all figured out. He loves to read with me and will share his trains. He's perfectly delightful to hang out with.

Who's in?? Come on, feel the love.

34

It’s the Mister’s birthday today. 

He got loved on with presents first thing this morning and then a surprise at work when we all showed up with birthday cake, candles and song.  The rest of his office appreciated the reprieve and joined us for a sporadic party.  Considering he wasn’t due to return home this evening until after everyone was asleep, we figured we had better celebrate during the daylight hours. 

There are lots of differences between this man and I, but we fit and we make it work and I love that I have him.  Hope he knows how much we love him… happy birthday, babe!