Reality Bites

Getting more and more energy back, which is sad because that means I have to jump back into reality: chores, laundry, dishes, errands, etc. :) And playing catch up after letting things slide (while busy or sick) makes things that much harder. Didn't have to help with Otterpops sales today, another Mom took the shift, I just dropped off some frozen treats for the pile. I am amazed at how well the kids are doing raising money for their graduation. It is going to be a great party, one made even better by the fact they earned the party themselves! And selling Otterpops teaches them lots of life lessons. The most important, in my opinion, being things aren't always handed to you and Mom and Dad are not ATM's. :)

Getting better all the time

I am feeling much better today but I still planned on taking it easy. My stomach muscles are sore from all the work they did but at least I had the energy and ability to take care of Kent III. I just lounged around the house, minus going to the school for an hour to help Savannah's class sell Otterpops. I did overdo just a little though in trying to catch up on my chores. I didn't get a whole lot done, but I pushed myself harder than I should have. You would think I would have learned this lesson already in my life, but no, I have to be stubborn and do more than I know I should and then end up reaping the consequences. I keep striving to know my limitations though and think I am getting better, one baby step at a time. At least I am moving forward, right? Right!

Oh, what a night!

I spent most of last night in the bathroom. Let's just say my stomach didn't like something I ate and was willing to get it out by any means possible. My sweet husband was so kind and tried to do everything he could for me (which wasn't much, but he did what he could to help me and make me comfortable which meant a lot). It was not an enjoyable night. By the time Kent had to get up for work I still wasn't feeling all that swell so, kind hearted thoughtful husband that Kent is, he called Mom H. and asked if she could watch Kent III so I could rest and recoup all day. Sweet Mom said, "Of course! Bring him on over!" so Kent dropped Kent III off on his way to work. Luckily the girls are pretty much self sufficient and got themselves ready for school (making their own breakfast and even doing their own hair). I was able to rest and sleep almost all day (minus a quick trip to the school to drop off Otterpops). I watched a lot of tv, so much in fact that I was getting sick of watching tv (and those that know me know what that really means!).

I was feeling well enough by mid morning to eat something and was even able to keep it in my system. The rest of my meals and snacks during the day went the same way so I was able to regain some energy. Kent canceled Samantha's reading tutor appointment for me and I decided to take the help while I could and let Kent III stay with Grandma until Kent picked him up on the way home from work. I really think it helped my speed up my recovery process being able to just relax and rest and not have to worry about anything.

It wasn't a good night, but it was a wonderful opportunity to see the love and support that surrounds me. I sure have a lot of people that care about me!

Par-tee!

Went to church today, don't remember much about what was taught, but got a good dose of the spirit (and a little exercise running after Kent III :)).

After church we had the family party for my Mom's birthday (which was on the 11th, eep!). She wanted BBQed pork chops so Kent offered to be in charge of cooking them. He is a great chef and everyone loved the way he BBQed them. Sallie made a very tasty apple desert which was a nice change from cake and one of my favorites to boot!

A picture of the jovial birthday girl enjoying her apple dessert and ice cream:



We had to leave the party a little early to get home in time for our Home Teachers to come over. I really like the companionship team we have, they have a great spirit they bring into our home with their lessons and genuine concern for our family. They are great men and easy to get a long with, not to mention they are actually trying to meet with us. (In the 6+ years we have lived here we only had contact twice, a lesson one month and treats left on our door another. I do want to say this though, one of the guys we have now once took me to the school to pick up the girls when they were sick, I didn't have a car, so as far as I am concerned, he is a real Home Teacher and can mark us as seen each month because he was there when I needed him and I know I can turn to him if I ever need to again.)

I've had a pretty bad headache all day which is making me a little nauseous. I hate those kinds of headaches, it is bad enough to not be able to see straight but then to feel queasy on top of it just seems to be adding insult to injury.

Just give it a few minutes...

We started the day out with hail...

7:56 a.m.





Then went to wet snow...

9:09 a.m.



9:36 a.m.



Then it got sunny and all the snow melted...

12:28 p.m.



Then it started to snow again...

6:25 p.m.



Well, that's the weather in Utah for ya...if you don't like it, wait 15 minutes and it will change. :)

Over the weekend Kent finished up our new dresser so we were able to move it into our bedroom today. Isn't it beautiful?! I am very proud of Kent and the hard work he put into making this dresser! What a man of many talents he is! He had a little help with the drawers but did everything else by himself. It doubled our drawer space and made a bigger surface for the t.v. and vcr/dvd player to sit on. If you ask me, it is pretty darn good for his first piece of furniture!

178th Annual General Conference - Saturday

Today was the 178th Annual General Conference for the Church of Latter-Day Saints. It is a semi-annual opportunity for all of us Saints around the world to gather at the knees of the Prophet and other inspired members of our church to hear the words of our Heavenly Father.

The first Saturday session which was from 10 - 12 had many wonderful talks filled with the spirit but looking back, right now, the three things that stand out the most for me are; First, the apostle who gave the opening prayer specifically asked that mothers would be able to help their children more. As a mother in these turbulent times, I felt inspired and uplifted to renew my efforts to raise children strong in their beliefs while working on my own skills of patience and unconditional love. It just seemed to speak to me that if he was inspired to ask for blessings in our behalf I have a very important role given to me by a loving Heavenly Father and during those hard days being a Mom I need to remember what I am really doing and why.

Second, I was moved to get to raise my hand, even though it was just in my kitchen and in front my husband and son, to sustain President Thomas S. Monson as the Prophet, Seer and Revelator of our church. I have a testimony and know he is the man who should be leading God's church at this time and feel privileged to live in a time with a living Prophet that so lovingly leads us.

And third, in the second hour, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang hymn #270, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go". As always they sang beautifully but the words seemed to stand out and be especially poignant to me today. I pray I will keep the words of that song in my heart and always remember: Not my will, O Lord, but Thine.

In the second Saturday session between 2 - 4, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a talk on the definition of blind obedience and the difference between that and obedience. He also quoted D&C 46:13 and 14; 13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. 14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

This really got me thinking, which am I? I have a testimony of the Savior and his sacrifice on my behalf yet Fast and Testimony is my favorite Sunday and when the Ensign comes the very first thing I read is the section called 'Latter-day Saint Voices'. I will think more on this but right now, I think I am more '...given to believe on their words...'.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a very loving talk on the delicate subject of healing from abuse, specifically sexual abuse. And one of my new favorite quotes came from Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it is "Enduring to the end is not a do-it-yourself project." :)

Kent attended the Priesthood session with his father and brothers. He hadn't felt well all day but still desired to go to the meeting. I am always so proud of him when he goes. I think it is an opportunity for him to strengthen his bond with his father and brothers and well as feel rallied to continue to be worthy of the great gift of the priesthood he holds.

After the Priesthood session ended at 8:00 we were invited to Mom and Dad H.'s for dinner. Kent's cousins from California Jennifer and Heidi are staying with Mom and Dad this weekend while they attend the two morning sessions of Conference (Heidi is attending college here so she just had to get a ride down here). Jennifer's boyfriend Bill came up from California with her so it was fun to visit with all three of them while we ate. Mom had this very tasty apple dessert thing...so tasty in fact that I ate two! :)

Today was a wonderful and uplifting day. I look forward to hearing more inspirational talks tomorrow.

Lunch Date to Remember

Today Savannah's class went to a restaurant as part of a life lesson in math. They had previously picked the items they wished to eat off the menu and then had to figure out the tax and tip to know how much money they needed for lunch. Savannah was allowed to invite me to go with her so I did. I realized this is going to be one of the last field trips I will be able to participate in since she is going to junior high this fall so made sure I was able to attend. Mom H. was willing to watch Kent III while I went to lunch. That was especially nice since I got to focus all my attention on Savannah during lunch.

Lunch was at a Mexican restaurant I had never been to before. The food was good although the salsa was a bit hot. I am a wimp though, so I am sure it wouldn't be bad for those with normal taste buds. It was fun to get to talk to Savannah while we walked to the restaurant and ate as well as get to know her teacher a little better since he sat at our table. It was really a lot of fun. It was also a little sad. I know she is growing up so fast and all too soon she will not want to spend as much time with me, activities and friends will take over, and one day she will *eep!* move out and start a family of her own. I want to really cherish these little moments of getting to just eat lunch together and talk.



Savannah eating fried ice cream.



Just had to share a funny story with you...but first have to share this information...Kent's family has given me the nickname Cyn. For awhile it bothered me but then I got over myself and now it is a term of endearment I am happy to answer to. Anyway, I called my sweet mother in law yesterday to ask if she could baby-sit Kent III today while I went to lunch with Savannah and this is how part of the beginning of the phone call went:

Paul: Hinkson's.
Me: Hey! It's Cynthia. Is Mom available to talk?
Paul: Mom, do you have time?
Mom: For what?
Paul: For Cyn.

Hahaha!
I'm quite sure we all have time for sin but hopefully we each choose to use our time in wiser endeavors. :) :) :)

Tonight we got together with friends to eat dinner and play games. Too much fun! The night was filled with witty comments and lots of laughter. Kent and I even got to try the game Rock Band. I must say I have a new found respect for people, like Mark and Robin, who are good at this game (note: it would be more accurate to say Mark and Robin are exceptional at this game). It is very difficult and takes a lot of talent and skill. It was fun, even though Kent was much better at drums than I was on guitar. :)

Kent III had fun at Mark and Robin's house as well. Beyond having a ball getting into all their stuff he got to see their cute, soft bunnies!





Robin was also nice enough to let Kent III play with some of her stuffed frogs. One of his games for the evening was picking up a certain frog, babbling to it while he held it then screaming and throwing it to the ground. He would then pick it up and start the game all over again. He did that several times, much to our amusement. :) It was also fun to watch him learn new things. We don't usually have conversations about frogs at our house but I would ask him to bring specific frogs to me and then he would. :) He may not be very verbal right now but he certainly knows what is going on!

Just chillin' at his (lily)pad.



We got home pretty late, so late in fact it was actually Saturday but we had a lot of fun so it will be worth the lack of sleep. :)

It's Here!!

In March of 2005 Kent and I went to California for his cousin's wedding. While there we took a day and went to Disneyland to celebrate Kent's birthday. During this time Disneyland was celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Among the many 50th Anniversary memorabilia items was a beautiful picture of the Princess Castle. Disneyland had added huge crowns around the real Princess Castle and the picture had those crowns depicted by pins attached to the picture. I fell in love with the picture while we were at Disneyland but felt it was too much money (if I remember correctly it was around $150, if Kent remembers correctly it was around $300). I have to think long and hard before spending that kind of cash but having only one day at Disneyland during that trip I never made up my mind to buy it. And the next time we visited Disneyland was over a year later so, of course, the picture wasn't available any more. We have seen the picture on eBay but it was always for much, much more than the price tag we had seen in the park. Well, we saw it on eBay again recently for just a little more than what I remember seeing it at the park for, so as a reward for all the time I spent taking care of the puppies, we got the picture. I figured after almost 3 years of wanting it I was pretty sure I did, indeed, actually want it. :) I plan on decorating Kent and I's bedroom with all our Disney items and I think this picture will be its 'crowning' glory. ;) I know I will love it ('cause I already do!) and I am so excited to finally have it. :)

The photograph doesn't do it justice, it really is just gorgeous!

A close-up of the banner and crown pins.

April's Fool

Happy April Fool's Day!

This morning Savannah thought she had left her homework in the van so I went outside to check for her and proceeded to fall flat on my...bottom. Apparently the sprinkler system had been left in the 'on' position when we watered the lawn for aeration on Saturday. It turned on like it should have, however, the cold temperature turned all the water to ice and covered the sidewalk to an almost glass like surface. I fell pretty hard on my bottom, hurting my lower back and I hit my head pretty hard on the concrete. Guess this was the Universe's idea of a good April Fool's Day joke. :) I do feel fortunate that is was me though who discovered the ice and not the girls as they ran out to catch the bus.

The sidewalk, after I had put salt on it.



The grassicles.



Just a fun picture where you can see the sprinkler water spray in the snow.



Anyway, most of the day was spent resting and not doing much as I received a HUGE headache from my fall, not to mention I was sore and couldn't pick up things or bend over very well. I hate getting old. :)

Savannah desperately needed new pants and shoes (her old shoes had holes in them already) so tonight while Kent was at Scouts we went shopping. This is the third time we have gone shopping for such items for her since the school year started. Growth spurts, what a pain! :) We were able to find some pants and some very cute shoes (so cute in fact I grabbed a pair for myself, one of the only advantages of having the same size foot as your daughter!). Savannah excitedly thought she was into a size 7 already as the shoes she tried on in 6 were too small, but we measured her feet and she was still a 6 (I have discovered, like most clothes, some shoes just fit differently than others the same size). As far as needing new shoes even though she hasn't technically outgrown the old, I guess she is just hard on her shoes, running and such at school and home.

I don't enjoy shopping, especially for clothes (and with a headache on top) but tonight went smoothly and we were home within an hour so it wasn't too bad. Samantha was a great help entertaining Kent III while Savannah and I looked for pants and shoes.

For scouts, Kent, the other leader and part of his troop went to a play to support the boys from their troop who were helping out with the play. Kent said the play had a lot of adult humor (as in sophisticated not dirty) and was surprised a junior high even performed the production.

Not a particularly exciting day today, but a somewhat eventful one. I hope your April Fool's Day was a little more fun (and a lot less painful) than mine! :)