Late night ramblings...

After finishing the previous post, I was sitting here reflecting on today and was just overwhelmed with gratitude for my many blessings. I have found that if I am looking, there are so many tender mercies sent by the Lord just for me. It might be as simple as the beautiful sunset that I watched tonight as we were eating dinner. Or as big as the phone call I received from the photographer who took Graci’s pictures on her “Star Raising” night, telling me that she felt led to give us a discount (HALF PRICE) on the photos I ordered yesterday. This call was received after struggling all morning with feelings of “buyers remorse,” knowing that we didn’t have money for photos right now. Thank-you, Kathryn! These tender mercies also came in the way of getting to spend time with the beautiful young women in my ward and being uplifted by the friendship of the women I serve with. They came in two little girls knocking at our door asking for donations for Primary Children’s Hospital and me being reminded how grateful I am that none of my children are there right now. They came in Elli going potty at school three days in a row—YAY! They came in getting through an entire day without major pain from the shingles.

I’m just feeling very blessed! And very undeserving. I’m not just saying that to sound all humble either. I’m really feeling overwhelmed at how many people are blessing my life while I’m giving so little back. For example, I have my “adoption shower” coming up on Saturday. I am SOOO excited, and yet I feel almost guilty for having one. I can’t really figure out why—I just do! Maybe because they’re not babies? I don’t know… My friend asked me to register at Target. I’ve never registered for anything before—and really didn’t even know how to do it. When I got there, they gave me “the gun” that you scan your “wanted items” with. I felt so silly walking around going, “I want this! Give me this!” First of all, I almost always buy things on sale—usually clearance. When you try to scan those things, it tells you that there is a limited number and to choose something else. So I felt uncomfortable scanning things that were full-price. It was fun, but after I was done, I almost just wanted to erase it all. I want people to know that I would be grateful for anything—I love hand-me-downs! I don’t know… it’s just I realize that it’s a hard time for people right now and I don’t want them to think I feel entitled to nice things. Anyway… I’m just rambling at this point. I’m just so grateful for what is being done for me and I want others to know how much it means to me.

Thank you, everyone.

---Christianne

October 6, 2010 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm

I was going to do “a day in the life” post, but realized it would be much too long, so I opted for an hour instead. And here it is, a typical hour of my life:

Help Taylor type his newspaper article.
Judge horse races between cowgirl Jesi and cowboy Xander.
Give Jesi my condolences after she announces that her horse died. (This would be her stick horse.)
Try not to smile as she pretends to cry dramatically.
Help Graci with math problem.
Help Xander spell “sorry your horse died” on a picture he drew for Jessica.
Watch Jesi hug Xander tightly after she opens his note.
Think how glad I am that our kids usually get along like this.
Fold half of a huge load of laundry while quizzing Graci on spelling words.
Tell Jesi that, no, she can’t set up a lemonade stand because among other things, it’s raining outside.
Get Elli off the bus.
Remind kids to finish chores.
Cuddle Elli.
Give in to Elli’s pleas for candy corn.
Give in to Taylor’s plea to have a friend over.
Fold the other half of laundry.
Listen to Xander explain to me that Jesi is selling juice outside.
Tell Xander to fetch Jesi.
Listen to Jesi explain that she was obeying me, because she didn’t sell lemonade, she sold juice!
Put clean clothes away with Xander’s help.
Listen to the fun sounds of my boys playing with friends.
Listen to them groan as they come upstairs and ask what stinks.
Realize that Elli is VERY messy.
Change a diaper.
Shut my bedroom door so friends won’t see the mess that is my bedroom.
Listen to Elli’s screams.
Listen to Elli’s giggles.
Listen to Elli’s screams.
Get a hug from Parker.
Eat a granola bar.
Praise Graci for getting her chores done.
Walk in the kitchen to find an absolute MESS.
See that Jesi has dirtied eight cups and used up a full jug of apple juice.
Assess the mess on the counter and try to figure out how many kids made their own after-school snacks and whether or not I should embarrass them in front of their friends by asking them to come and clean it up.
Decide to let it go.
Eat another granola bar.
Try not to look aggravated as I see Jesi smile sweetly at me from the table, with cinnamon toast she has made for herself.
Kiss Jeremy as he walks in.
Explain to Jeremy that the kitchen had been clean before the kids came home.
Grimace as I realize I'm walking barefoot on a floor covered with sugar.
Yearn for the 5,000th time for a bigger kitchen.
Try to talk myself into feeling blessed with the one I have.
Smile as I see Jer take pictures of Jesi and her toast with his cell phone.

Giggle as I realize that’s the outfit she was “selling juice” in.
Ask Jer to take pics of the kitchen while he's at it.

Give in to Elli’s screams and pick her up and sing to her.
Look in the fridge and try to figure out what I can throw together for dinner.
Give up on the fridge and turn to the freezer.
Find some honey-glazed chicken I had bought on sale and some fruit to make smoothies.
Congratulate myself that it will be an easy dinner night.

And that about does it. Do you want to hear 5:00-6:00?

Just kidding. (:

--Christianne