The Effects of Yoga and Ladybugs

I began my day with Yoga.  This is the second time in a long time that I have done this.  I think it here to stay.  


Reasons why -  A) I found a teacher that I LOVE.  Her class is challenging, relaxing, and not-as-Kumbaya as other Yoga classes I have gone to.  Sometimes those deep-thinking quotes from Confucious are the just about the last thing that I want spouted to me at 6 am.  Just let me enjoy my own thoughts for crying out loud!  But not this girl.  No weird chants, music, or poetry reading.  Just relaxation, great stretching and strengthening, and I love the tall Ikea lamp that provides the only light in the room.  It reminds me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book.  Very Zen right? :)
B) It starts my day off slow and controlled.  It slowly wakes up my body and mind.  I like that, as opposed to other exercises where you go and have to be ready to move within minutes!    
C) I get to soak in my favorite time of the day.  It is right about 7:10 am when I drive home.  My route usually takes me up the backside of our little mountain and all along the drive there are STUNNING views of the whole valley, the mountains lined with morning light, and the sky all different shades of pink.  It is just breathtaking!  I TRULY believe it is the most beautiful time of the day.  Is this getting a little Kumbaya?  Maybe, but I really, really love it.


And all this even before my day really gets started!  I come home in a very invigorated, very "Zen" mood.  Like I said, Yoga on Thursday mornings is probably here to stay. :)


Next up, pre-school rush, scripture-study over breakfast (we are currently reading about King Benjamin's General Conference.  Perfect timing for us to prepare for this weekend. :))
After family prayer, dropping off the kids at school because they have cupcakes for their teachers that I don't want squashed on the walk there, everyone's out the door but me and my little girls.  They watch Pink Dinky Doo and Max and Ruby, I get ready and ponder how blessed I am.  Reading Stephanie Neilson's blog (www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com) will do that to you.  Seriously, if you ever start thinking you have it bad...just go visit NieNie. :)


After cutting out leaves for a craft in Jake's classroom, we are out.  I get to spend some time in Jake's class and watch him beaming about the fact that I am there.  How I wish I could do this more. :(


When we got home we had lunch, played a bit in the backyard and went to investigate the "ladybug colony" I noticed earlier.  My kids LOVE ladybugs. :)  Can you tell? (Pictures taken on my phone, so excuse the fuzzy).

This is what Yoga does to you.  You are calm and focused enough to recognize the beauty around you, and specifically how many blessings you have.  Like the fact that I have healthy, happy kids who enjoy ladybugs.  Yoga does for me what ladybugs do for my kids.  Does that make any sense?

A Party Weekend at Grandma's

Last weekend, Trev went to Moab to try out his new mountain bike with the boys...and the kids and I went up to Logan to visit my family for my nephew's 4th birthday party!  


The night before the big fiesta, my little sister Jessica, her friend Hannah, and I went to see The HUNGER Games!!  Ahhhhh!!!  It was sooo good!  Here we are just before it started, bursting with excitement! :)  

Oh Katniss, bless your heart!  My personal favorite part was when Woody Harrelson walks out on screen as Haymitch!!  It was hilarious...but he actually did a REALLY good job. :)  Just quite unexpected for me.  LOL!


The next morning Jessica and I took the kids to the park nearby while everyone else got ready for the party.  No pictures of this, just have to comment how much I love to see my kids playing with their cousins.  Cousins have such a natural bond.  So sweet.

Next up, PARTY TIME!  The plan was to have a BBQ lunch and then do cake, ice cream, and presents.  But I don't think the party officially started until Caden's (birthday boy) uncle showed up with a bounce house for the kids!  They were in HEAVEN, as I am sure you can imagine.

(birthday boy - Caden Alexander Buchannan)

This was also a great toy for the adults because we could just hang out and watch the kids enjoy themselves.  There were lots of friends and family in attendance so it was fun to have the kids occupied so we could all chat too.

In the meantime, we had the BBQ group manning the grill.  

Once it was all ready, we rushed the kids in, fed them delicious food and then were onto cake.  Caden is a Power Rangers' fan so a Power Rangers' cake was a must! :)

Caden apparently didn't like our singing voices. ;)

Needless to say the cake was gobbled up within minutes.  And for the grand finale...PRESENTS!

I didn't get too many pictures of this, but let me just say that little boy scored for his birthday!  Lucky kid.

Here is the boy of the hour's nice mom (and my sister) who put this all together for him, along with her boyfriend, Phil.  

And my parents who were nice enough to host and feed all of us. :)  Aren't they sweet?!

After all the hoopla of the party, and Morgan finding a friend to pal around with in Logan (named Megan...can you say meant to be??) the kids and I went to visit my Grandma Moores at her nursing home.  I sure love this lady!

We took her some of her favorite flowers, roses, and Abby tried to brush her teeth.  Isn't that nice?  Too bad she wears dentures. :)  Grandma was nice enough to pretend not to mind. :)

This is when Abby climbed up on her and said, "say AHHH."  

Claire had her own entertainment...doesn't everyone do this at health care facilities?

This lady is pretty special to me.  She and my late grandfather shouldered a lot of the job of raising myself and my siblings.  I think I got my strong-will and love for the gospel from her, among other things.  

My grandparents lived across the street from us ever since I can remember until they moved in with us when I was 16.  My dear grandpa is at his Heavenly home, but I look forward to seeing him again one day.  This precious gal, however, I can still visit with, so we try to see her every chance we get.

Love you grandma. XOXO

After a bit with grandma we headed back home.  It is always so nice to get extended family time.  I sure love my family!

Look Up.

Today started out rough.

For a couple of reasons...none of which really matter or are worth mentioning.  But it was rough just the same.  

But then I read the scriptures with my family over a breakfast of Cheerios, oranges, and yogurt.

I prayed inwardly, and outwardly for that matter, for the Spirit.

It came.  Thank heavens.

Then my family left every which way, school, work, Max and Ruby. :)  I was left with a few minutes to read a conference talk and pray some more.  This time for a better remainder of the day.

It is happening.  I can feel my soul calming.  My smile is inching it's way back.

My Heavenly Father and Savior are so aware of me.  They know me.  They love me.  They comfort me in these rough moments.

Who knows, maybe within the next few minutes I will be able to share that love with others again. :)  But for now, I just want to feel it.  To keep it all to myself.  To soak it in, until I feel it bursting outside of me forcing me to share it.  But that is ok.  I guess that may already be happening because I am now sharing it will the entire cyber-world!  I hope you can all feel it as I feel it now.

God loves us.  He is there for us always, and especially when things get rough.

This is just one of the quotes from the healing conference talk I read:

"We are Heavenly Father's children.  He wants to be a part of our lives, to bless us, and to help us.  He will heal our wounds, dry our tears, and help us along our path to return to His presence. As we look to Him, He will lead us...

The lord is my light; then why should I fear?

By day and by night his presence is near....

He is my joy and my song.

By day and by night he leads...me along.

I bear testimony that sins are forgiven and burdens are lightened as we look to Christ.  "Let us remember him...and not hang down our heads," for as President Monson said, "It is better to look up."

Elder Carl B. Cook

Member of the Seventy

Oct. 2011

This day may have started rough, but it is already "looking up."

Hope you all have a great day, and if it gets rough, might I suggest trying to LOOK UP.

Morgan gets Baptized

This last weekend, we had a very special moment in our family.  Our first child, Morgan, was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her father.

Here they are together just before the big event.  Can you sense the love between these two?  Just the way a father-daughter relationship should be. 

Here she is in her beautiful baptism dress:

I need to say first off that I have been to a lot of baptisms in my life, but being there as the mother is so special.  


You see your child making choices that you know will set them on the right path in their life, and you just beam with loving pride.  


Your heart swells with gratitude when you see each person - family, friend, neighbor, whatever - show up to be there to support your daughter.  You realize how blessed she is to have so many people that love and care for her and will be there whenever she needs them.  


Your mind soars at the possibilities ahead of this righteous child of God that you have been called to watch over and guide through this life.


Your skin tingles when you think about the fact that you actually married a man that worthily holds the Priesthood and uses it to bless your children.


Your eyes get misty when you see your daughter sitting on the front row, in white, with the sun beaming on her sweet face.  She looks like an angel, and you are reminded how pure she is.  


You smile as friends and family gather in your home from near and far, to eat and celebrate this big moment with you.


Finally, your body crashes as you lay in bed that night from all the preparation, while your mind races with memories and your heart melts with thanksgiving for the day.  You fall asleep with a smile on your face.  


Trev and I couldn't be prouder of our sweet ML and the righteous choice she made to follow her Savior. She is such a light to those around her and a great example to her younger siblings.  I am so excited for her and the blessings this choice will bring into her life, not to mention the path it has set her on.  The path to the blessings of the temple, and eventually eternal life.  We love this little girl so much and feel so blessed to be her parents.