I learned something: an essay & I won something, too.

When I told my mom about my week, she said, "I'm too old to do that. I'm tired just listening to you." I don't think that's true. She is as busy as me most weeks.

I forgot to mention last week that our relief society was in charge of doing a meal for a funeral. This week we sponsored a fireside (or a motivational speech) given by Abby Stephens. She told the story of how she got found joy while learning to walk again after a spinal chord injury that left her a quadriplegic.

I learned something from those experiences, but maybe not what you would think. I wrote a little essay about it, so I'll share it here.

As the secretary in the Relief Society presidency in my ward, I got the opportunity one month to help organize a meal for a funeral and refreshments for a stake-wide fireside. For me, these tasks were not stressful or difficult, perhaps because others in the presidency did a great job of stressing over each event. We had several planning meetings, preparations and food to make, and the events themselves to attend. As a result, I spent hours away from home, leaving my house and often my children in a state of chaos.

I remember grumbling a little as I baked cookies for the funeral. I was almost out of butter and would need to go to the grocery store to get more. If I didn’t need to attend the funeral, I could go that day and get both the butter and other essential items we were out of, like bread and milk. Also, I thought, “Why should I go help at the funeral? I am the only one in the presidency that has small children. The others that have volunteered to help are older, too.” None of them would have to find babysitters like I would. And the funeral was at just the right time that I would have to find both a person to pick up my five-year-old from kindergarten in the middle of the day and another person to pick up my eight-year-old at the end of the school day. Plus my three-year-old would need a babysitter for the entire time. It was complicated and I wondered if it would be worth the effort. I didn’t even know the man whose funeral it was.

As I had these thoughts, scriptures admonishing us to mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort came to mind. I knew I needed to make the effort. So I finished my cookies and found the necessary babysitters and went to the funeral.

As we served that day, a family member came in to thank us for all of our hard work. There were many family members who'd stopped believing in God, they said, and they felt that seeing our service might influence those family members for good.

And after the funeral, there was cleaning to do, of course, but in the end there was mostly just a lot of leftover food. And, just to help me learn a lesson, Heavenly Father made sure I came home with most of the leftover butter. More than I had used to make the cookies. Along with treats for my children, and a happier attitude. I also came home with cookies after the fireside. Better ones than the ones I had brought! Along with a quart jar of homemade grape juice from one of the sisters in my ward who had more than her family could use.

Heavenly Father wants us to help each other. He can’t be here physically to lift boxes, cook food, or give a hug, so he’s commissioned us to do those kinds of things for him. The Holy Ghost can prompt us, but only we can listen and do them. The lesson I learned, though, was that when we do those things, Heavenly Father also gives us people to bless our lives when we need it. He prompts people to give us hugs when we’re down. Or butter when we’re running low. It will all equal out in the end because God is good and just and knows all our needs.

So Monday we had a planning meeting for that fireside and I baked six dozen cookies. Mira also started hip hop again and we were invited to have dinner with the Frohlichs.

Cecily started tumbling on Tuesday, I had the fireside and Steve was brave and took all the girls to the "Watch D.O.G.S" pizza night at the school.

Wednesday I went to a funeral. A friend of mine lost her husband to complications from MS. Also, Emilia had another soccer game (and another on Saturday, which--guess what--it was our turn to bring treats and Emilia asked me to make . . . cookies! Another three dozen. I baked a lot of cookies in the last two weeks).

Steve played LOTR again Thursday. I went to a 1/2 hour of a 2-hour-long workshop on outlining a book. I managed to win a book while I was there (which I feel a little guilty about).

We had a family movie night on Friday and Steve got sick on Saturday and we had to cancel our date. ;(

Oh! But I got an email late Friday night that made my entire week! I told you a while ago that Emilia and I entered an illustration contest. I didn't hear anything back about it, so I figured we didn't place, and just moved on. But the email I got said, "Congratulations!! You won first place in the illustration contest! Your picture will be published in the anthology! ALSO: Emilia took first in her category as well!! We have prizes for the two of you, and want to deliver them." How exciting is that? Emilia won a box of crayons and a map of the United States with major landmarks on it to color. She started immediately after receiving it. I won a leather sketchbook and a tin of sketching pencils. Now if only I could make room in my purse for those, I would be set. :)

I also find it a little ironic that my first published work is not words, it's pictures. It makes me think maybe I should pursue that a little more regularly.

Today Cecily has a cold so she couldn't go to nursery at church, so I'm home with her. We played some Super Mario 3 and now she's watching Finding Nemo. Here is a picture she took of her new "boots" which she adores. I kinda love that she adores them. She's so cool.

First day of kindergarten, Labor Day weekend, and produce. (With a little humor thrown in.)

Two Tuesdays ago, Mira started kindergarten. We were almost late. And I didn't have her puzzle piece to introduce herself because I accidentally watered it. (But they didn't need it the first week so it was okay.)

She was a little nervous the night before, but Steve gave her a father's blessing and I think she felt better after.

Emilia held her hand all the way into the school and to her classroom. It makes my mommy heart happy to see them be friends.

When I picked her up the other day, she looked smaller and younger than when I dropped her off. Perhaps she is part of the incredible shrinking classroom. Or maybe she was wearing an oversized school shirt that Emilia handed down to her. Either way, it was a little scary.

She seems to be enjoying her teacher and her classmates and her learning. Though one day last week when I picked her up, she leaned into me and closed her eyes. "I'm tired, Mom," she said. I asked her why, thinking they'd had a long recess or something. But she said, "All that thinking really wears me out." (Or something to that effect.)

After we dropped Mira off that first day, Cecily and I came home and played with playdoh. I made this guy:

Then Cecily made this guy:

And we worked on a few more together. I may have to add them into a story one day. Wouldn't they be cute picture book characters?

The weather's been beautiful. It finally dropped from the 90s into the low 80s that week. So the kids have wanted to play outside with their friends instead of doing homework. I don't blame them. (And sometimes I let them.) Emilia is so diligent though. She really wants to do well, so she works hard most of the time.

Steve played LOTR with my brother that week and we did a bunch of errands on Saturday. On one errand I saw this cool spider web that somebody had spray painted bright orange. It looked almost like the sun was making it shine from within at first glance. That may have to go into a story, too.

Sunday we invited the Nelsons to come down and share the day with us, so the girls got to play with their cousins and we got to play games. Lots of barbies and stuffed animals were coerced into being movie stars along with our girls. Unfortunately some Barbies also lost their heads over it.

Monday was Labor day and we decided to go to the Onion Days parade to celebrate. It was a fun parade! Short (only an hour), we left Ben's house five minutes before it started and still got curbside seats (they set up chairs and people left them there), the kids got oodles of candy (which I commandeered to put in a homework assignment for Mira -- she had to have 24 or more of the same, individually wrapped candy by Tuesday and I only got the darn thing on Friday -- so Mira's class got a bunch of taffy from the Onion Days parade), and it wasn't even hot. I'll say now that we're going again next year. I kind of love parades and Steve didn't hate this one, so that's two thumbs up if you ask me.

My parents came down and went with us, and Ben and Haylee live in Payson (where the Onion Days are held), and Haylee's family is from there, so they were too.

We played some games in the afternoon. Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star with the kids and Splendor with the adults. Then my parents went home and us and the Frohlichs drove up to Cascade Springs. On the way, we saw a moose!

Then we had a picnic 50 feet away from a sign that said picnics weren't allowed at the Springs. I think we were okay, because we were on the paved road that led to the Springs and not at the Springs. But just in case, don't tell any park rangers about it, okay?

Cascade Springs is a pretty place with lots of little waterfalls and wildflowers and mountainous backdrops. There's a boardwalk that goes over and around much of the watery area, so nobody gets wet. (Nobody even fell in! Which considering the clumsiness of Cecily, is kind of a feat.)

She is super cute, though.

Oh, okay. They're all cute. (Ford was stuck in the stroller for this picture, but he's cute, too.)

Emilia had soccer games Wed and Saturday. I think they try to get fewer people to play by making the parents go to two games a week for two and a half months. Steve also got his game night this week, and all us girls got haircuts. Mira was the bravest.

Before:

After:

The other two don't look too much different, but I like their poses.

I got my first ripe tomatoes this week! I was ecstatic. I made fresh tomato soup to celebrate (and I'm the only one who ate it). I have the recipe on my public blog (here) if you want it. It's a great way to use up tomatoes.

Friday night we were invited to the home of a widow in our ward to roast marshmallows. She invited another family with little kids and they had a BLAST. Not only were there smores (made with keebler cookies instead of graham crackers and chocolate), but there was a mountain to explore and an airplane teeter totter and a swing set and other kids to play with. And they got to stay up late. Pretty much heaven right there.

The widow is a funny little lady who keeps herself active and busy. We're going to can pickles together this week or next. She promised to show me how to make them using a steamer instead of water bath. I'd never even heard of that! And she knew where I could buy a bunch of pickling cucumbers since I only planted one plant and two cucumbers a week is just a good way to throw away tiny cucumbers.

Last night we watched the BYU vs Utah football game with our friends the Childresses. The girls were up late again and BYU lost, but at least there was good food and friends to share it with. :)

anniversary, school, soccer

I just read a news article that says screen time for children is like digital heroin. It's just as addicting to them as cocaine and heroin and stimulates the same part of the brain. This is bothering me. I already feel guilty over so many things as a mom. And I'm pretty sure Cecily is on her way to being a screen addict. *hangs head and cries*

In more regular news, Steve and I had our 10-year anniversary this week. We went out to dinner and played at Nickle Mania to celebrate.

Emilia enjoyed her first week of school. Her teacher seems really willing to help challenge her and in my one interaction with her seemed very nice. Mira will start on Tuesday of this week. I'm excited for that. She and Cecily are NOT friends lately. They're kinda driving me crazy.

Emilia also started soccer recently. This week? Last week? Things are kind of blending together. She doesn't like running, so I'm not sure why she wanted to play soccer. But other than that whole running thing, she seems to have fun. :)

This super-flattering picture was captured by Cecily at Emilia's last game.

Other pictures from this week:

Us at my podiatrist appointment. My arches have fallen. Getting older is kind of poopy. But I have cute girls to hobble after, so that's something, right?

Mira built this castle and wanted a picture to commemorate.