I remember when I was a kid, when I said I wanted something or to do something and my parents told me no, I usually complained. My complaints often started with, "but I want . . ." My parents had some words of wisdom for me in those situations, words that I wish I would have taken more to heart -- "Fix your wanter."
I cannot tell you how much sorrow and trouble and heartache I could have saved myself over the past many years if I had fixed my wanter years ago. And I am thinking about it today as I sit here trying to remind myself that no, I cannot go to lunch with my friends. I need to eat my frozen meal, as unappealing as it sounds. Because I may want to go get a delicious hamburger and french fries and chat with friends, but it's not wise for many reasons. So I just try to remind myself to fix my wanter. Which means I'll be eating at my desk.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Things I've Read Lately
"When the individual or even a large business makes a wrong decision, its impact is limited and more easily absorbed by the free market. However, when the Statist makes a wrong decision, its impact is far-reaching, for he uses the power of the government to impose his decision on as many individuals and businesses as possible, which distorts the free market itself." -- Mark Levin, Liberty and Tyranny
"Property is the fruit of labor . . . property is desirable . . . is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own house shall be safe from violence when built." -- Abraham Lincoln
BTW, the more I read about FDR, the less I am a fan. And I was never a fan.
"Property is the fruit of labor . . . property is desirable . . . is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own house shall be safe from violence when built." -- Abraham Lincoln
BTW, the more I read about FDR, the less I am a fan. And I was never a fan.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Not the Best at Anything
There are many wonderful things about being raised with a whole bunch of amazing, strong, intelligent, funny, generous, kind, talented siblings. And there is one thing about it that just kinda bugs. I am not the best at anything.
I am not the smartest. I am not the best looking. I am not the healthiest (by a long shot!). I am not the best singer, not the best reader, not the best mom, not the best sister, not the funniest. I mean, you can name it and I am not the best at it. Even the things I think I am pretty good at, at least one or more of my siblings is better at those things than me.
One of my least attractive qualities is that I am quite prideful, so you can see how not being the best at anything might kinda rub me the wrong way. I also have a compulsive need to be praised, so again, being rubbed the wrong way by this whole not being the best thing.
Of course, I figured out a long time ago that I would never be the best at anything compared to the rest of the world, but until recently I held out hope that there was at least one area where I was the best among my siblings. I thought maybe I was the best writer -- not a great writer, but maybe better than my sisters and brother by just a little bit. Then my sisters started blogging and I actually had an opportunity for the first time in my life to read their writing. Turns out my hope of being the best was in vain. Sigh.
So I'm not the best at anything. I can live with that. Right?
Well, no, as it turns out, I can't. So I had to rack my brain and come up with something that I was the best at. And I found it.
I am the best at loving Josh. Not just in a romantic sense either, but loving him just as a person and appreciating who he is now. I'm the best at that. Not just the best at loving him out of anyone in my family, but I really think out of anyone in the world. I think even if we had never met and he had married some other girl, that girl never could have loved Josh as well as I do. I have convinced myself that I love Josh better than anyone ever, ever, ever could or has.
It's not something I'm likely to be praised for and it will bring me no earthly acclaim, but I'll take it. I'll take it because a) it makes me happy; b) it makes Josh happy; c) it's good for my kids; and d) it's all I've got.
Best Josh lover in the world. I should put it on a t-shirt.
I am not the smartest. I am not the best looking. I am not the healthiest (by a long shot!). I am not the best singer, not the best reader, not the best mom, not the best sister, not the funniest. I mean, you can name it and I am not the best at it. Even the things I think I am pretty good at, at least one or more of my siblings is better at those things than me.
One of my least attractive qualities is that I am quite prideful, so you can see how not being the best at anything might kinda rub me the wrong way. I also have a compulsive need to be praised, so again, being rubbed the wrong way by this whole not being the best thing.
Of course, I figured out a long time ago that I would never be the best at anything compared to the rest of the world, but until recently I held out hope that there was at least one area where I was the best among my siblings. I thought maybe I was the best writer -- not a great writer, but maybe better than my sisters and brother by just a little bit. Then my sisters started blogging and I actually had an opportunity for the first time in my life to read their writing. Turns out my hope of being the best was in vain. Sigh.
So I'm not the best at anything. I can live with that. Right?
Well, no, as it turns out, I can't. So I had to rack my brain and come up with something that I was the best at. And I found it.
I am the best at loving Josh. Not just in a romantic sense either, but loving him just as a person and appreciating who he is now. I'm the best at that. Not just the best at loving him out of anyone in my family, but I really think out of anyone in the world. I think even if we had never met and he had married some other girl, that girl never could have loved Josh as well as I do. I have convinced myself that I love Josh better than anyone ever, ever, ever could or has.
It's not something I'm likely to be praised for and it will bring me no earthly acclaim, but I'll take it. I'll take it because a) it makes me happy; b) it makes Josh happy; c) it's good for my kids; and d) it's all I've got.
Best Josh lover in the world. I should put it on a t-shirt.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
This Just In
Charlie starts music therapy next Wednesday, speech therapy on the 22nd and occupational therapy on the 29th. All weekly after that.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Fitz's Blessing
We did not get one single good picture of Fitz on his blessing day. I wanted to get a picture of the whole family -- we looked pretty good before church. But Josh said we should take a picture after Sacrament Meeting. That didn't happen. And things kinda got crazy the rest of the day after that. So I asked Josh to take pictures of Fitz in his blessing outfit before I changed him to go to his mom's house. All three are terrible and you can't even see his blessing outfit. Fitz started to fuss and cry (he was hungry) as soon as we started to take pictures.
But you know what? It really doesn't matter all that much. It was a great day.
Josh did a great job giving Fitz a blessing. It was special. I told Josh afterward that I appreciated the way he gave our kids their blessings because I could tell he didn't go up there with a script in mind, with preconceived ideas about what the "right" things to say would be. When Josh gives blessings, I can tell he is trying to be a vessel. That's just really awesome. But Josh is awesome.
Josh blessed Fitz that he would be a strong and mighty man, physically, mentally and spiritually. I felt a confirmation of that description of my Fitz as Josh blessed him, that he would be a strong and mighty man. Today I feel like I will never forget that, but knowing the frailties of the human mind as I do, I knew I had better write it down. He also said that Fitz had been sent to a darkened world to be tested, but that the gospel would be a light to him in dark times.
I remember Josh blessing Katie that she would live a long life. He says he remembers blessing her that she would listen to the wisdom of her parents. Here's hoping she does, when we're actually wise. When we're not being wise, I hope she catches on to that and knows to ignore it.
In Charlie's blessing, he was told that he would be happy and that he would bring happiness to those around him. That's certainly true. His nursery leaders want to kidnap him, they love him so much.
I don't remember anything about Alek's blessing. I know my Mom wrote stuff down afterwards and gave me the notes, but I have no idea what I did with them. That's sad. But Josh gave him a father's blessing this week which I felt was pretty powerful. And I think Alek really paid attention to it. He came downstairs a few minutes after his blessing and asked us what a word Josh had said meant. The gist of the blessing was that Heavenly Father knows the difficulties that Alek has, He knows the conflict he feels in his mind and the troubles he has with self-control and that if Alek will turn to the Lord and seek after Him, the Lord will bless him with the ability to overcome his weaknesses and he will find answers to His problems and questions. The older Alek gets, the more I worry about losing him. We talked about that tonight. And we talked about his dad. And we cried. I love Alek. There were so many days in those first few years of his life when my only sunshine was Alek. Not getting to have him with me forever is simply not an option.
I feel that way about all my children and my husband. And my mom and dad. And my sisters and brother. The distance in miles between us on earth is bearable only because I have faith that it is temporary. Some day, we're all going to be living in celestial mansions on the same block.
I have felt overwhelmed with gratitude today. And I know who I have to thank for all that I have -- my kind, wise, merciful, loving Father in Heaven. And I do thank Him. From the depths of my soul, I thank Him.
But you know what? It really doesn't matter all that much. It was a great day.
Josh did a great job giving Fitz a blessing. It was special. I told Josh afterward that I appreciated the way he gave our kids their blessings because I could tell he didn't go up there with a script in mind, with preconceived ideas about what the "right" things to say would be. When Josh gives blessings, I can tell he is trying to be a vessel. That's just really awesome. But Josh is awesome.
Josh blessed Fitz that he would be a strong and mighty man, physically, mentally and spiritually. I felt a confirmation of that description of my Fitz as Josh blessed him, that he would be a strong and mighty man. Today I feel like I will never forget that, but knowing the frailties of the human mind as I do, I knew I had better write it down. He also said that Fitz had been sent to a darkened world to be tested, but that the gospel would be a light to him in dark times.
I remember Josh blessing Katie that she would live a long life. He says he remembers blessing her that she would listen to the wisdom of her parents. Here's hoping she does, when we're actually wise. When we're not being wise, I hope she catches on to that and knows to ignore it.
In Charlie's blessing, he was told that he would be happy and that he would bring happiness to those around him. That's certainly true. His nursery leaders want to kidnap him, they love him so much.
I don't remember anything about Alek's blessing. I know my Mom wrote stuff down afterwards and gave me the notes, but I have no idea what I did with them. That's sad. But Josh gave him a father's blessing this week which I felt was pretty powerful. And I think Alek really paid attention to it. He came downstairs a few minutes after his blessing and asked us what a word Josh had said meant. The gist of the blessing was that Heavenly Father knows the difficulties that Alek has, He knows the conflict he feels in his mind and the troubles he has with self-control and that if Alek will turn to the Lord and seek after Him, the Lord will bless him with the ability to overcome his weaknesses and he will find answers to His problems and questions. The older Alek gets, the more I worry about losing him. We talked about that tonight. And we talked about his dad. And we cried. I love Alek. There were so many days in those first few years of his life when my only sunshine was Alek. Not getting to have him with me forever is simply not an option.
I feel that way about all my children and my husband. And my mom and dad. And my sisters and brother. The distance in miles between us on earth is bearable only because I have faith that it is temporary. Some day, we're all going to be living in celestial mansions on the same block.
I have felt overwhelmed with gratitude today. And I know who I have to thank for all that I have -- my kind, wise, merciful, loving Father in Heaven. And I do thank Him. From the depths of my soul, I thank Him.
My Daughter Loves Sharks
She is currently looking at Josh's big shark book and just correctly identified a basking shark, a goblin shark, a sand tiger shark, a megamouth shark, a Port Jackson shark, etc. Looking at this book is one of her favorite pastimes. She also loves to watch shark specials on Netflix Instant, which is what she is doing in the picture above. Between this and her Star Wars obsession, you can tell who she spends most of her time with.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Two Month Old Fitz
Josh took Fitz to his two month check up on Monday. He is 14 lbs. 10 0z. and 24.75 inches, which is about the 90th percentile for both. Doctor said he is doing just great -- strong, healthy and all that jazz.Fitz is a smiley baby, but unfortunately, this is as close as we've come to getting him smiling on camera. Oh, well, I still think he's pretty cute. In this picture, he definitely looks like Dad -- not like me at all. Except the forehead -- all my kids have been cursed with my forehead!
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