About Time

(Power of Moms Board Meeting, April 2011)

So I realize, that though I have made some brief references to The Power of Moms in the past, I haven't really taken the time to really record how I feel about this wonderful organization.

Really, the way I found The Power of Moms is absolutely no coincidence.  My first few correspondences and interactions with the site were with one of the co-founders, April Perry (orange shirt in picture, next to me) who was a complete stranger to me.  After a little, I ended up realizing that the other co-founder, Saren Loosli (next to April), was none other than Saren Eyre who I knew for a little while when she and her family temporarily lived in my ward in England.

Isn't that funny?
I hadn't seen or heard from Saren in 23 years or so, and now I get more emails from her in my inbox than almost anyone else, as a result of my role within this fabulous organization!  April and Saren are two phenomenal women who have a passion for helping mothers be deliberate and focused.

The above photo was taken at an April Power of Moms Board Meeting.  Not all board members were able to attend (some live out of the country), but it was such a thrill to be able to meet in person some of these ladies I have emailed with for over a year.  Some I have met before, but some it was the first time meeting them in April, and oh what a treat.  It may be years before this group of fine ladies ever meets together again (there are so many different parts of the country represented within this group!), but oh what a powerful group of women.  All with one thing in mind; to help strengthen the mothers of the world.

The Power of Moms byline/motto is 'A gathering place for deliberate mothers.'  Deliberate mothering is something I have always felt was important for me.  Long before I became a mother, I knew there were certain things I absolutely would and wouldn't do.  I've always felt like I have so many thoughts and feelings about motherhood, and while I have lots of fabulous mother friends, I never quite felt I had an arena to really delve into some issues and discussions of motherhood beyond potty training and the odd discipline discussions.

I believe there are no coincidences in life.  And as a result of finding this website, I have been introduced to some fabulous women, programs, opportunities and experiences.  I've loved the retreats I have been a part of, I love the women who meet together with me once a month for our Learning Circle, I love the network of women I now have connections with to learn and grow from.

Just this last weekend, I met with some more great women intent on becoming a part of this fabulous organization.  I was touched by their enthusiasm and desire to make a difference in other women's lives.  So often it seems women want to run over the next woman in line, but how refreshing to find a group of women who just want to help strengthen each other.  Another great opportunity has presented itself for June 11th.  If you're interested in rubbing shoulders with some great women, and learning some wonderful things, check out the June 11th Retreat information here...

Women need women.
Mothers need other mothers.
I promise even you can find something you'll love at The Power of Moms.

Ghetto Neighbors

While we have a park with a play-toy in the back of our house, and a trampoline and swing set in our back yard, my children often gravitate to the front of the house. My children are avid bike riders, wagon pullers, and power wheels drivers, so mass amounts of concrete and asphalt often soothe their whines better than grass, slides, trampolines and swings.

Plus, they have a little of me and my Granny in them--out front, there is usually more going on, more to see, more to look at, more to observe and so on. Plus, Drew's favorite little friend, Luke's roping mentor, my chatting partner and friend, Ellie's favorite baby to hold, etc.(all of which belong to the same family) are often outside too. Naturally, between them outside and the asphalt and concrete, it is a win-win situation to be out front instead of out back.

I have no problem sitting outside on either mine or Kari's driveway chatting away while our kids play. Kari has no problem with it either. I've alluded to the fact before (here), that these dear friends of ours are so much more stylish, classy, clean, presentable, etc. etc. etc. than us.  And though I long ago decided it didn't really matter, I was thrilled when Kari's dad told her that sitting outside on a driveway (and sometimes in the open garage if it's raining) is kind of 'ghetto'!!

Ghetto!
But, it works for us.
We love it.
I love my neighbors, I love my neighborhood, I love living in a cul-de-sac, I love pleasant spring, summer and fall afternoons and evenings spent sitting on a driveway watching kids play, and leaving all the cooking, cleaning, scrubbing, folding and straightening inside to wait for a more convenient time to be done.

Isn't pleasant weather glorious?

Sleepy Type of Pride

In the past, I have generally prided myself on my children all being good sleepers.  Naptime and bedtime around here have never been too much of an issue.  (Well if you don't count Megan who from the time she could open her bedroom door at eighteen months, comes out an average of 4,391 times before finally falling asleep.)  And I know, I know priding myself on a parenting issue isn't exactly proper, but when there aren't too many things to actually pride myself on in the area of parenting, I have always run with the fact my children are good goer-to-bedders.

Well until a few weeks ago.

When Drew has decided he doesn't have to go to bed at the same time as Luke and Joshua.  Or maybe it is Luke that has declared Drew not allowed in the room when he is going to bed because Luke seems to have some kind of issue with his head getting stepped on.  Or perhaps it is Joshua who kicks Drew out because he fears his place next to Luke in bed is threatened by Drew wanting to join them in the same bed.

Three boys in the same bed trying to go to sleep at the same time?
It hasn't been going so well.

So, instead, I've swallowed my pride and our evenings go something like this:

When the children are finally settled in bed, Mike goes to the bedroom to lay down himself (combination of recovering from back surgery and the weather preventing any evening walks, yard work or sitting on the front porch!)  I join him and we either chat, read, he watches American Idol, I work on the computer, or any other plethora of things a person does at the end of the day.  All the while Drew wanders in and out of our room and attempts to open the locked bedrooms to tease and annoy join trying-to-sleep-siblings.

After an hour or so of playing, Drew while rubbing his eyes, will point to his room.  It's his way of communicating he is finally ready for bed.

Other times, he just settles right down next to Daddy.

PS:  If it is the night before your birthday, and you keep telling your big sister that you can't fall asleep because you are so excited, your sister will convince you that an eye mask will make slumber come more easily.  And when Mom comes to check on you a couple of hours later, she thinks you sleeping with a mask on is so endearing, but all she can get is this blurry photo because heaven help us all if you wake up and we have to start the falling asleep process all over again...

And that is how we slumber around here.

Little Things

I was touched the other day by a little story my good friend Lesley shared on her blog that she heard from a Women's Conference she attended recently.  I'm sure Lesley won't mind if I quote her here,

"I enjoy Hilary Weeks performance each year at BYU Women's Conference. This year she shared a story about her daughter that touched my heart.

A few years ago Hilary and her nine-year-old daughter went out to dinner together. Hilary enjoyed this one-on-one time with her daughter and was completely captivated as her daughter regaled her with the events of her day, through mouthfuls of mac-and-cheese. As Hilary listened intently to the details of a game of freeze tag, the thought occurred to her that she would have all eternity to enjoy the companionship of her daughter as an adult, but just this short time in mortality to enjoy her as a child."

Lesley followed the story with pictures of her now adult children when they were young.  She titled the pictures, "Here is something I miss."  Her pictures struck me, and even though I never knew her kids as children, I was touched by the childish grins and poses staring up a camera.  I know I probably sound like a broken record, but I realized for the umpteenth time how much I want to love and cherish now.

And so, here is my little photo essay of 'Something I will miss':

little cowboys riding bikes:

mischievous grins:

childish pride:

pre-teen sassiness:

redneck creations:

"enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."

In Heaven

Because she is SEVEN:

And if it isn't your birthday but you want the new baby doll, you do this:

Happy 7th Birthday

ELLIE!!!!!

A Couch Day

I haven't realized exactly how much I run from one task to the next lately, until today, when I spent most of the day on the couch holding a baby.  It was pouring with rain, so I had no one needing a push on the swing and no one I had to tell to stop throwing sand out of the sandbox.  Even the inside tasks were set aside, I forgot it's hard to do much with a baby around...

Today, we had my darling little niece, Lucy for the day. And what a great relaxing day it was, it was so nice to just sslllooww down for a day. Wouldn't you much rather sit and kiss these cheeks than cross things off of a to-do list?

Drew fell instantly in love with her.

A couple of hours into Lucy's stay, I noticed Drew had emptied Lucy's diaper bag of her wipes and diapers and put them away in our diaper basket.  It made me smile, and I thought it cute, but that was it.  Fast forward a few more hours when my brother Casey carried Lucy out the front door to go home, Drew cried.  And cried. And cried.  He cried for Lucy for about fifteen minutes.  Then I remembered the diapers and bless Drew's little heart, I think he thought she was here to stay.

I haven't broken the news to Drew yet that Lucy will soon be moving to California, he's had enough heartbreak for one day.

Real Life Miracle

(Jonah, Ellie and Joshua--I think it was overcast when this picture was taken, but you'd think the sun was shining directly in their eyes looking at this picture!!)

If you ever wonder if miracles really do still occur today, you need to attend next year's March of Dimes walk.  This was our second year attending, and like last year, I spent my time reading t-shirts and posters and wiping away tears.  When you read or look around at all of these posters and shirts telling of little babies born too soon, and then either see pictures of them now, or see them in person, you have proof that miracles really do happen.

Of course, not all of the t-shirts and posters represent happy miracles.  Some tell a sad story of babies born too soon, and gone too soon.

The reason for our March of Dimes attendance:  My BFF's little boy, Jonah.  Jonah was born in June 2007, at 28 weeks gestation.  He weighed 1lb  5oz and spent 82 days in the hospital before coming home two days before the original pregnancy due date.

(Why oh why didn't I take my camera and attempt to get some decent pictures?)

While I believe that pregnancy and birth in and of itself are miracles in the truest form, there is something about looking at Jonah and seeing every single odd he beat that reaffirms to me that there is a God, there is power in prayer, and sometimes He sees fit to answer those prayers with nothing short of a miracle.

Yesterday while Jonah was jumping around sticking out his tongue and smiling because we were at 'his party', I wiped away tears when I recalled the contrast from the first time I met him.

(I only visited him once in the hospital as I had a newborn myself that summer (Joshua) and with three other kids, I was filled with fear of the possibility I might transport bad germs to Jonah.)  

I vividly remember sitting next to the little incubator bed, and seeing teeny, tiny Jonah.  Tubes covered his little body, he had no firm prognosis.  No one yet knew exactly what complications Jonah could have. Alone with Jonah, I sat next to his bed and with the same kind, loving, persistence and expectation I recently used to tell (and show) him he can get off the trampoline himself, I told him that he had to live.  I told him he had to be healthy and grow up.  I told him his mother couldn't take anymore heartache.  And I also happened to mention that my three month old baby, Joshua would really like him to grow up and be his friend.

While I will take full credit for Jonah learning last week to get on and off his trampoline by himself, I do not give any credit to myself for the outcome of my first little pep talk with Jonah.  Because as much as I was talking to Jonah there in the NICU almost four years ago, I was praying to the Good Lord too...  And for reasons we can't understand fully in this life, God saw fit to answer the hundreds of prayers sent up for Baby Jonah.

Jonah is a miracle.  He is a normal, healthy almost-four-year-old little boy.  He has absolutely no complications or set-backs from being born far too early and far too small.

Okay, well maybe he has one.
He is pretty skinny, and when he jumps on the trampoline his shorts fall down to his ankles, and his mom's BFF laughs at him because she can see his underwear.

But if that is Jonah's biggest challenge from his 1lb 5oz start in life, his life is good.
And it is.