Memorial Day Weekend

We had some of the Barkers in town for Memorial Day Weekend. We hung out, went to the Rhodedendron Garden and the park. It was lots of fun.

Reading

Zack loves to read. He often looks at books on his own or brings us books to read to him. He also "reads" empty DVD cases as if they were books. He'll sit there and hold it open moving his head back and forth just like he's reading, while looking at shaped plastic.

Pondering

Sometimes when things go wrong I wonder if it is Heavenly Father telling me I'm really not supposed to do whatever I'm trying to do OR looking at it from a different angle, the same difficulties could just be the brick wall I have to get through to prove how committed I am to the task. (also known as Satan trying to distract me) And then there is always the third possibility that life is just getting in the way and it's not an outside power influencing the situation.

Most recent example: I was going to the food storage center (cannery) Saturday morning. I was in charge of the trip. I had enough people signed up, yeah! I was stoked and excited about going. My kids have been sick for weeks. The night before (while Keith was at work of course) the sick kids kept me up all night. I might have gotten 3 hours of sleep, but I think it was closer to 2 1/2. After not making it to the last trip, I was wondering that morning if Heavenly Father was trying to tell me I'm not really supposed to go. Silly in a way, but sleep deprivation can do that.

Seriously there was some validity to the thought. I would be driving across town alone and then theoretically operating machinery or working with heavy or sharp things with very little sleep. This is dangerous. My kids needed me. Sure my sister could watch them, but they were really sick and a kid should have their mom when they are sick.

More thinking ensued as I hunted for toothpicks for my eyelids.... I decided that going to the cannery is a good thing. Food storage is a divine commandment so most likely the difficulties I was facing were either option 2 or 3. Satan doesn't want me to be prepared, so of course he'd prevent me from doing my calling and getting food storage if possible. Also, being a mom I've learned that kids and life always get in the way, always.

I decided to go and I am very glad I did. I woke up (thanks Mt. Dew) and went to the cannery. We had a great time and I felt very good about going. Later I was so confident in going having been the right decision, I almost didn't write this. I had thought of writing it before I went but I was too tired. I decided the thought process was universally applicable and so now you know.

Don't let life get in the way.

Sick

Not much has happened here the last week or two. The kids have been really sick, so we've been in lock down. Nobody has been to school this week and the only people allowed in are family and Josh's in home therapists. They are doing better, I can finally see the end in sight. Zack has that end of the cold cough where it's just cleaning out the end of the muck. I'm glad my little guys are feeling better.

Rainy day

I love the rain. I am an Oregonian. I think rain is beautiful and soothing. I sleep much better when it is raining. However, with the kids home sick today and all of us in the house, it has been a long day. But I still love the rain. :)

New stroller

We got our new stroller today. Very exciting! We went for an hour and a half walk.