A Good Reminder

(I'm not too proud to show you what my kitchen looks like RIGHT now! Yikes!)

Yesterday my Visiting Teachers showed up - amidst my crazy schedule and running from one thing to the next (last month I even told them it would help me more if they DIDN'T come, lol) They are always sensitive to my schedule and got right into the lesson yesterday.

Since it is the month they are to choose a lesson from the General Conference issue of the Ensign, they picked Julie Beck's talk, "And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit". I just wanted to share with you what they chose to share from that talk, (it must have been because they saw my kitchen;-).

Quote:

"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do."

I told them... I must not be THAT good of a woman then, cuz I still sometimes think I CAN do it all. LOL! But I have been thinking of this counsel ever since then, and trying to figure out how I'm going to find the right balance. I just thought I'd pass it along to you.

And then as if by reinforcing this message later in the day I read on Stacy Julian's blog this quote:

"I can do anything I want, I just can't do everything I want."

...Really? I just can't decide if this is comforting or aggravating.

It really gets stressful when other people have expectations of what I "should" be doing too. It truly is a balancing act.

While I was still mulling all this over, I woke up to a blog post by Heidi Swapp. She seems to be feeling some of the same emotions and feelings as me. Her life is WAY more intense than mine but, it's nice to know this feeling of "constantly treading water" even happens to those who NEVER seem to be down. She got some good advice from a friend (which I love) -- "You have to create the life you love. You have to envision how you want things to be; set goals; make changes and go to work with your priorities in the right places. Stop whining, start doing. And be grateful for EVERY LITTLE THING." Now she seems to be back on track... So, if she hits a wall every now and again and then works though it, and continues on, so can I - Right?

Now don't get me wrong... I feel like I am setting and reaching goals (things like giving more service, doing family history, diet and exercise and Project Life) some of these things are even part of my new years resolutions, humph, go figure! The demands are just high and the rewards are sometimes hard to notice. Now, this isn't supposed to be a depressing post, I hope it isn't. I want it to be the sharing of information. Something that helped me (and others). It's clear we all need a little help sometimes!

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Now on a lighter note. Here are some other things that have been happening around here:

1. The dogs have caught 2 squirrels in the last few days. I wish I could catch it on video sometime. I tell you, it is poetry in motion.

2. Brad and I have started P90X. Oww, can you say, "sore muscles"?

3. The kids did their spring piano recital. They all did fabulous. Afton played - Cruella Deville, Kelsi played - Go the Distance (from Hercules) and Brady played - The Pink Panther

4. The weather will just NOT shape up. Where is our flip flop weather?

5. Kelsi got her hair cut short (yes, even shorter than that)

6. I've been helping Annette make T-shirts for her family reunion. I tell ya, that Yudu machine is awesome!

7. The Biggest Loser, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars and Bones all ended this week - (ya, you're probably thinking, "If she would just stop watching tv she might not be so stressed, and she might get more done. Rest assured, I am ALWAYS multi-tasking)

8. Seminary ended - now if school just would. We are all hanging on with our fingernails to the bitter end

9. Brady loves street hockey, and is getting really good on roller blades

10. We swapped out our Apple TV for a new Mac Mini. We can now watch whatever is online or saved on the hard drive through our TV. Nice! Especially with Netflix "instant viewing" movies etc.

11. I have lots of names, from my dad's side of the family found, and ready for temple work (they aren't our straight line geneology - but they are aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews)

12. I got to go play with play-doh with my 4 year old neighbor the other day. He invited me over, so I went. And despite my long list of things to do, it was refreshing to roll snakes, make a pizzas and a cake and, at his request, a city with a volcano.

13. I am running a 5K 3 times a week - This week I even ran to the Windmill Market (lol, yes, on the highway and everything. I like to live on the edge)

14. I tried the Subway Breakfast this week - not surprising, I'm in love.

15. We had Stake Conference last Saturday and Sunday.

16. There was a baptism of a girl that was in the School Play with Kelsi and Afton. She became interested in the church because of the good examples of the cast members that are LDS

17. Afton perfected her back handspring (and hurt her elbow doing it)

18. We are ever working on ideas to keep our dogs out of the garden. I think it may actually work this time. Now we just need to figure out how to keep Troy from attacking the peach tree.

19. I'm an aunt again. My sister Suzie had her baby. Her name is Meghan, and I can't wait to meet her!

20. We did spring cleaning here (well it's still sort of going on). We got rid of a TON of stuff! Things are so much cleaner and more organized, whew! The kids loved every bit of it! (ya right)

21. The Sharks lost in Round 2 of the Playoffs. It was a sad day!

22. My new favorite breakfast (besides the Subway thing) is Oatmeal with frozen berries! YUM! I'm not even kidding, try it! (Caroline is my inspiration)

23. I want one of these

Chosen

For Kelsi's 17th birthday she received 5 tickets to see Wicked in San Francisco's Orpheum Theater. The original idea was that the family would all go. After I ordered the tickets Brad said, "You know, it's not really a gift for her if we dictate who gets to go with her. I think she should get to choose." So this is exactly what she did. She chose Afton, I think because she knew she would probably never hear the end of it if she didn't. (Or, maybe it was because they're sisters and they really do like each other) She picked me, probably because I have a car. (Or maybe because she really does find my company enjoyable) Then came the hard part. She did want her Dad and Brady to go but she also wanted to take all of her friends, she stressed for weeks about it, claiming it was the hardest decision of her life. (She is just super sensitive about people feeling left out) She finally settled on Alyssa and Angela, both of whom had never seen Wicked before. As it turns out Grandma Lindsey had never seen it either. We were able to get her 1 more ticket (sitting fairly close to us - she actually had a better seat). In the end, Brad and Brady didn't feel TOO left out because it was the same night that the San Jose Sharks played the Detroit Redwings in Round 2 of the playoffs for the Stanley Cup, and they had tickets! (side note: the Sharks won! GO SHARKS!)

The girls were cute! They were all so excited!

Here they are in a moment of reverie. I think this one is so awesome!

I like the way this turned out - me and my mommy!

********** BEWARE**********

Here are the contraband photos. No photography in the Theater, right?

Glinda and Madam Morrible and the Citizens of Oz

Glinda and Elphaba at Curtain Call

The Cast

Mother's Day and Early Church

Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite Mothers out there. I had a big post scheduled for this day. Maybe a little something about my own mom, her attributes, her talents and how I am daily striving to be like her. Or, maybe something about my kids, and how I feel a deep and protective love for them. Or possibly, a little sprinkling about the guy who helped me become a mother, and how I couldn't imagine a life without him. Or maybe a little bit about my hectic week, putting together gifts for all the mom's at church. And how it was a lot of work, but how it was all worth it in the end, after such a positive response from everyone. (One mom even commented it was the best thing she ever received at church on Mother's Day.)

But, after being at church for 5 minutes I saw these 2 boys and my whole outlook on Mother's Day changed. Meet Bryce and Carter Eggers, in my opinion they are the epitome of Mother's Day. (Carter, the little one, had a yellow tie hooked into "V" in his shirt a few minutes before this picture was taken. Classic Mother's Day fashion. Oh, and on Father's Day, their hair usually lays down flat.)

Mother's Day is the day when the family decides to let mom sleep in while the children make breakfast for her (to be eaten in bed, of course) This breakfast usually consists of soggy raisin bran and kool-ade, or runny eggs and burnt toast. After this nutritious feast, the father of said children, effortlessly, gets everyone ready for church while mom takes a leisurely shower (she may even squeeze in time to shave her legs. Yes, even her knees.) After a thorough inspection by dad, they all arrive at church, on time... even for the 9:00 meeting schedule. From their crooked, ketchup smeared smiles, it's clear their life couldn't be better. And, if you look carefully you can just make out the thought bubble over the dad's head that says, "Wow! That was a breeze. Apparently I am a natural. I thought it would be a lot harder considering how stressed and frazzled my wife seems to be every week. I'm glad I could help out." His satisfied look shows he's really quite proud of himself and his efforts. Next, glance over at the mom and you will see the thought bubble over her head that says, "I have the sweetest husband and the most beautiful kids. I love them so much." (Moms become experts in ignoring the obvious, wrinkled, mis-matched clothes, bed head and hours of recovery time that will be required come Monday morning.) And with a little more scrutiny, you'll be able to see the thought bubble over the rest of the congregation that says, "From the looks of it, Sister Eggers had a very "relaxing" morning while the rest of the family took care of EVERYTHING. How sweet."

So Moms, enjoy your day of Macaroni and Cheese dinner, brightly colored beaded necklaces, pom-pom ball covered, handmade cards and slobbery, snot-caked kisses. Cry your tears of joy and then go to bed early because there is a lot of recovery time ahead of you tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day!

In Honor of Iron Man

Iron Man II is opening today... I'm excited to see it.

Here's my very own Iron Man. He doesn't have a spray tan or make-up and hair artists surrounding him; but he's hot, and he's mine, and he's just as awesome as Tony Stark (though not quite as rich).

Love you!