Worn out in service

Yesterday my Mom called me from the hospital gift shop where she volunteers wanting to know if we wanted to get Summer a new bunny. Her bunny originally came from a hospital gift shop so we were pretty certain it was the same. At first I was tempted because the bunny started out so silky and soft. (Originally for Emily.)

And now it's all worn out and kind of nasty.

But we ultimately chose to NOT replace it. If we got a new bunny it would be pretty and soft, but it wouldn't be Summer's bunny. Summer's bunny has been loved to pieces-- and it shows. It's been worn out in service, and a new bunny just wouldn't be the same.

Thinking about Summer's bunny reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Marjorie Hinckley. She said:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

By the end of my life I want to be like Summer's bunny. (Just a little cleaner.)

Released

After 5 years of serving in the bishopric, David was released yesterday. And I've got to tell you, it was a happy day for our family. I keep imagining what it will be like to all ride in the same car to church, to sit by each other, and to have him a little more to ourselves. It's a pretty picture.

The stash

See that red pot? I thought it was the perfect hiding place. It used to contain my little candy stash. But my kids discovered it, so now it's empty.

Where do you keep your candy stash?

Cheering section

Ever since I got an Mp3 player I've listened to music when I ran. But for the past couple mornings I've left my Zune at home and opted for the sounds of nature to distract me. And I've loved it!!! I had forgotten how awesome little birds are at cheering you on. Some of their melodies even sound like "go, Jessi, go!" And when the birds are all singing in unison it's like a full blown symphony performed just for me.

I smell good :)

A couple of days ago David complimented me on my perfume. But I don't wear perfume, so the only thing I could figure was he liked my deoderant. So, since I'm not the kind of person to keep a good thing to myself, I thought I would pass along my sweet-smelling secret. Only, it's not Secret. It's Suave Tropical Paradise.

It smells like summer. (The Sweet Pea scent is good, too.)

What are your favorite toiletry products?

Spring in Georgia

In celebration of the first day of Spring, on Friday we took a long and leisurely walk through our neighborhood and down the "cow road." It was a gorgeous day with so many beautiful things to look at!!! Birds, flowers, blue sky, cows, donkeys, sheep, and green grass.

At the end of the road is an old cemetary. The oldest known grave there is from prior to 1843. It's so interesting to explore. The gravestone in the collage is for a man named Jason F. Stovall who died in 1878. And the gravestone in the picture above was carved by someone who had not received too much education, I'm guessing.

After our walk we threw out the picnic blanket and had a picnic in our front yard. (Peasant bread, pears, almonds, and granola bars.)

It felt almost criminal to go inside. It was such a beautiful day.

Tent City

Last night my living room was transformed into a little tent city. McKenna, Lydia and their friend, Kelsie, set up two tents by themselves for their slumber party. And now they are taking them down by themselves. I don't think I set up a tent by myself until I was graduated from high school. (Which is due to the fact that my family didn't ever really sleep in tents when I was growing up.) I've never been a real camper, but seeing how much fun my girls have had sleeping in tents in our living room makes me think that they would love camping. Since we don't have any real summer vacations planned we may have to take up camping in order to break up the monotony this summer. But since I know next to nothing about camping (I've never even lit a real match!), what suggestions do you have about making camping easier and more comfortable?

Jesus wept

In our Sunday School lesson this past week we discussed how to best respond to trials and adversity. There were some excellent points made about how we can find joy, even in the midst of trials, as we have an eternal perspective and exercise faith in our Savior. I believe this because I have experienced some of my happiest times in the midst of difficulty. I know that trials can draw us closer to the Lord and that the moments when we feel His sustaining power can be some of the sweetest, most tender experiences in life. But I also know that life can be hard-- sometimes really hard-- and that we are not expected to smile every minute of every day. I tried to make that point during our Sunday School lesson and feel like it was dismissed. The teacher went back to his point that we can choose beforehand how we will respond to adversity, and that if we have faith we will be happy. And ultimately he is right. But, there are moments in life that try the soul. And while those moments will be for our gain, I don't think it is unrighteous to feel sadness, pain, hurt, or sorrow.

I came to this realization after a long time of feeling guilty every time I felt sad. And that guilt would cycle into more feelings of sadness and eventual despair because I just wasn't able to exercise enough faith to be joyful all the time. But as I studied the scriptures I realized something that changed my point of view: "Jesus wept."

In John 11 we read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Also included in that chapter is an account of the incidents prior to the miracle. When Lazarus was ill, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus. But Jesus didn't come to them immediately. He waited two days, and by the time he got there Lazarus had died. I believe Lazarus' death was part of the Lord's design because in verse 4, Jesus says, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. But still, when he met Mary and Martha and saw their grief and pain, the scriptures say that he "groaned in the spirit, and was troubled" (v. 33), and then in verse 35 it says "Jesus wept." Jesus felt sorrow. He felt pain. And he wept.

This account has helped me realized that sadness is not a sin. It is a product of living in a mortal world. And sometimes it's okay to feel sad. In our moments of sorrow we can turn to the Lord and He will walk with us. He will feel our pain and help carry our burden. He will teach us valuable lessons and help us to find joy. And eventually the trial will pass and we will be able to look back and realize how blessed we truly have been. But in the moment it may not be fun. And if we weep we don't need to feel guilty for it because even Jesus wept.

Hair news

Guess who has a pony tail? (or, as my girls call it: a whale tail)

And guess who is turning blonde?

Guess who thinks she is pretty hot stuff?

My Feel Good Plan

I do not believe in diets. The message, "You can't eat that because you're fat" is not something that motivates me to want to be healthy or to treat my body well. After a day or two of hearing that message in my head I end up angry and depressed. So, I've never dieted and lost weight. And in the past it hasn't been a problem because I've never really had that much weight to lose. But, since having Chloe I'm realizing that I may need to do a little work in order for all my clothes to fit comfortably again. Which puts me in a big dilemma. How do you NOT diet and still lose weight? Here is my plan:

*gospel study at least 15 minutes/day.
*pray morning and night
I figure that I am going to need some extra spiritual help to not get down on mysef. I know the Lord wants me to treat my body well, so I'm going to be asking for His help.

*run 3 times/week-- train for a 10K in May
*weight train 3 times/week
*stretch daily
Exercise affects the way I feel about my body more than anything. The ability to run, lift, and stretch is something that I do not take for granted. Sometimes it's hard to get going, but there is always a natural high after working out. (Especially when I'm able to run on a beautiful day!)

*drink 6-8 glasses of water daily
*focus on eating healthy, nutrition-rich foods
*avoid late-night eating
My "problem" is that I am an emotional eater. And with the stresses we face I know it's not realistic for me to stop comforting myself with food. But, I can make good food choices. Cereal, lite popcorn, fruit, veggies, and nuts can all be very satisfying but without the empty calories of ice cream or candy. (Of course I'll still have ice cream in moderation. Life without ice cream would be too hard!)

To be honest, I have no idea if I'll lose weight doing this or not. But, it fits into my life paradigm. My hope is that as I treat my body well that it'll go to a naturally healthy state. And if, after a while of following my plan, my clothes still don't fit? Then I'll have a good excuse to go and get some new ones!

Frog Eggs

Every once in a while I feel pressure to enroll my kids in a lot of extra-curricular activities. McKenna and Lydia take piano lessons and Summer and Emily are in dance class, but the rest of the time they PLAY. And I think that's the way childhood should be. Lately McKenna and Lydia's main hobby has been "exploring" the woods near a creek by our house. They have spent hours and hours down there in their own little fairy-land. They build bridges and dams, jump across the creek, find walking sticks, and PRETEND they are explorers, castaways, or magic creatures. They also hunt for frog eggs.

While I was gone they collected a bunch of frog eggs and put them in our backyard in a baby pool. I'm not sure what damage they have done to the eco-system. But, for the sake of childhood memories I haven't had the heart to ruin the fun.

Because when they are 30 and looking back at their childhood, I'm pretty sure collecting frog eggs will be one of the experiences they remember.

Coming home

I am so thankful I was able to go to Utah for my Grandpa's funeral. I knew it before, but being there with my family reminded me again how blessed I am to be connected to such wonderful people. I feel like I am part of a royal legacy.

Of course I also missed my little family in Georgia. David was awesome and assumed responsibility for all 5 girls while I gone. It was quite the juggling act, but everything was in perfect order when I got home. And Emily left me this message on my bed:
I think the six exclamation points speak for themselves. It's good to be "mist."