It is funny how the patterns of writing/sharing and absence cycle around for everyone. It is no wonder that I have never gotten terribly far with writing books - can't keep the writing streak going too long. Even now, the forced thought of needing to post....something.....keeps drawing a blank. Thus, a bit of a photo catch-up and some words to say, 'we still exist.'

Faith was very excited to be helping Josh make our Sunday after church traditional quesidillas until the pan (as warned) jumped up and bit her a little on her hand. She resigned her desire to flip them and just was the official timer to tell daddy when to flip.

Sisters - No one ever had a better sister

It's Sunday. The day I get to work on family photo albums and stumble across some fabulous memories and great loving refreshers. I love comparing the past and looking at the present in a little captured moment.

Today, as I saw this photo, my eyes welled up with tears:

This is me and my three amazing sisters six years ago. Six years ago we were all starting to get to know each other all over again, as adults. My two older sisters were welcoming me into the world of marriage and my youngest bestest bud sister was embarking on world adventures. We were all great friends in this picture. Even more cool, we are all better friends now!

I so love my sisters. What an amazing blessing! Growing up in a small (by today's standards) house with six kids of completely different tastes and talents was a small miracle. I know we didn't get along all the time. I had made a general rule in my head at some point as a girl that it was impossible to like the person you shared a room with (we were all paired in twos in bedrooms). Jill and I may have been enemies for life had it not been for a mighty change of hearts on both our parts somewhere in the teen years.

My older sisters have always been great mentors. They are as different from each other as I am from either of them, but oh! how wonderful that makes the world perspective of a growing girl. I experienced first time dating, popularity, living on the outside, and your first love with those sisters. I shared their clothes and their music, and somewhere in the middle I figured out a bit of what I liked. I liked it all!

Recently, as Josh and I were projecting into the wishful future of the 'next life' after the desert, he asked me where I wanted to live. With adventures had, and life moving forward toward more 'steady' only one criteria came to mind - close to my sisters. They have been my best friends, those that stick through every move and every stage of life. Even now, I want to share in everything new with them, and be close, and be involved. Thank Heavens for all this wonderful technology that helps us talk - what would I do without free long distance calling?!

At some point I believe we all address the creeping question; why this family? There is that fundamental moment when we have to figure out where we fit in this world and why, oh why, did God put me together with this mash up of people. I asked it about the age of thirteen. I had a very clear answer from God at that point - because this is where you will reach your greatest potential. That was enough to get a reluctant compliance out of me for those more difficult years until it happened, I understood. My sisters are more than just people I grew up with, they have turned out to be the coolest friends EVER. Imagine, a sleepover any night you want without your mom disagreeing.

I shan't leave out my brothers - they are cool too. They are much older than me and have been the fierce protectorates for years and years. As I was playing the piano in primary today I looked up to see my older brother sitting with the class that he teaches of youth. He smiled at me. I smiled back. Then I thought, that's really cool. I wonder if he thinks it is just as cool to see a younger sister doing adult things; seeing really what we could have never imagined as we saw each other as kids. Yet, here we are, friends that are drawn to each other out of a much deeper and more wonderful love than just friends. I want to be with these people on all the special days of the year and the regular ones too.

My all time favorite musical movie is "White Christmas." All star loaded cast with fantastic songs. Best song? You can guess it by now I am sure - Sisters. It is great the first time that Rosemary Clooney sings it with her 'sister', then it is even better when sung lip-sung by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Yep, I have certainly preformed it with my sister. Best part - 'No one ever had a better sister.' And the brings me to the culmination of the 'bests' of this post; Best sisters, best friends.

Excellent Photo Post Script here:

My mom, with her three sisters at the same even six years ago. I believe they feel the same way.

Happiness Project #6 Becoming

I am so very very grateful for tender mercies of the Lord guiding thoughts, readings, and ideas. I have been thinking a great deal on this coming month, of course, because it is something I have tried to dedicate my life to; actually becoming what I ought to be. That is, living up to my divine potential. If I am not doing that, what on Earth am I doing?

Here's what I have boiled it down to for some pretty measurable goals for this month. Obviously, I have a lifetime of honing down this process but I am glad that I have had a bit of an understanding as to what is possible for me to do in the present to be better.

1 - I AM..... Each day pick an adjective for myself that I can aspire to become that will be a statement of affirmation if I am faltering and a good reminder of what I really am commited to doing that day specifically. Write it down and judge on a scale of 1-5

1=remembered

2=hit it a couple of times

3=was aware and working

4=changed some directions based on it

5=really lived up to that daily potential

2-Ponder Thoughts: This is to be both mindful of the thoughts that I am allowing to be in my head and also to direct certain thoughts in a mode that would be pondering the truths that will help me become a better person. Pondering is the process of watching all our thoughts (which then become actions) and choosing only good and ennobling thoughts. Consistent choice of good thoughts acheives true joy and happiness through self-discipline. Place treasures in my mind that will help me observe the commandments of God and His purposes for me.

D&C 6:20 “I have spoken unto thee because of they desires; therefore treasure up these words (answers to sincere prayers and scriptures, words of prophets, things to ponder) in thy heart. BE FAITHFUL and DILLIGENT in keeping commandments of God, andI will encircle thee in the arms of my love.”

3-Fix It: Knowing the helps and guidance that the Lord has given me in order to become what I really am I can make seemingly small adjustments to daily flaws in order to be better in the capacity and character of a person that I am in the circumstances I am given.

Specifically: Confident communication in positive ways. Share talents with others. Be willingly helpful and volunteer to reach out of my own sphere to be useful. [see notes ;)]

Halloweeny

Each of the kids made their face on their own face for Daddy to model their pumpkin face after. (from L to R) Danny, Faith, Vivy and Earl. Yep, Earl got a bit confused when Josh asked what face he wanted and pointed up and said "moomms."
Our trick-0r-treaters. The girls were running, really running for the first year, ahead while Danny pirate and Earl Fireman were lagging behind. Danny because of his boots and Earl because that is just his nature.
Really, if you could tell who this girl was on the streets after seeing her with this wig, I would be impressed. Viv's choice was Rapunzel. We did our best with what we had. I tried to keep my comments to myself but couldn't help but agree with Faith when she commented right after putting the wig on Viv, 'But Rapunzel doesn't have dark skin!?" I know, right? But the girl was satisfied and it was only a few hours of 'huh?'
Faith decided herself that she wanted to be Oddette the Swan Princess ballet girl. I had no complaints. She fit the part beautifully.
Josh's suggestion won out as both he and I were vying for our own costume idea for Danny. I was going for prince, but Josh got his little mind swayed to pirate. He turned out so dang cute, who cares!

Meditation - in a word

Last night, Josh was surprised to be jolted out of his study of the Old Testament by a torrent of excited explainations from me. From his perspective, I was just reading one of those 'girlie' books that a recent chick flick had been made of (he had been gracious enough to watch it with me) and was not expecting it to spark any bit of real interest.

I have been reading 'Eat. Pray. Love." by Elizabeth Gilbert. Yes, the same in which Julia Roberts starred on the big screen. My little sis had suggested reading the book and I had subsequently found it on a garage sale table. I began reading last week. I liked her foreward and was entertained by the first section 'Eat' regarding her lessons of self discover in Italy. I do appreciate her writing style which easily marries personal perspective with factual relevance. I had been looking forward to getting to the middle section of the book though. Saturday night I pushed through the end of the Italy episode and went headlong into India.

As she begins to ruminate on what brought her to India, the idea of finding a spiritual connection with God, I got hooked. I loved her description of the ancient form of religious Yoga - which is boiled down to learning how to meditate in order to find a connection with the divine. She points out how nearly every religious group has a relation to this very encounter with divinity. This is where I began to feel the urge to start highlighting.

I am so very intrigued by religious thought. By personal journeys to find a connection to the divine. The myriad of paths to do such are fascinating. All in the pursuit of truth, mankind has found out what helps them personally, and then done their best to replicate it, if it really works they teach others the same processes. Thus springs religion. Personally, I believe in one truth, which I willingly share with all if they want to share the path that God has set out for man to find Him. However, I enjoy reading what others have done with the best they have, which contains a great element of truth.

Gilbert's discussion of meditation got me thinking of what was the equivalent practice in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We absolutely believe in divine connections and often call that communication from God to man revelation. What then, was the process by which we receive revelation? What was the word that would best relate to the experience that others are creating in Ashrams around the world through meditation. AH-HAH - the word given to us in scriptural terms is Ponder.

I have been particularly driven in creating this connection in regards to the upcoming month challenge of my Happiness Project. October has been difficult, shamefully, to focus on positivity and gratitude. I blame that mostly on poor measurable daily goals. Now moving into November my goals are centered around "Becoming," that is, becoming the best version of myself and what the Lord would have me be. For that to come about, I recognize I need a much better connection with the Lord.

Now having identified my version of the word, I seek more to ponder on the great things and am excited to study according to the spirit what the Lord would have me become. I know that I have a divine potential that is immeasurable, but I will try to measure up a bit better now.

Backyard Baseball

Danny just started having 'his baseball class' on Saturdays. Boy is he excited about being a baseball boy. Thus, we have been playing more baseball in the backyard. It is standard that if you want to play baseball you must wear a hat. The rest of the game turns out to be a bunch of Danny and Josh yelling and everyone else to get to the right place and a mele of running around to scattered shoes on the lawn.


As long as you look cute for the camera's the game is in the bag. She reminds me of the character on 'A League of Their Own' who was a former beauty queen. And yes, Josh emphasized many many times "There's no crying in baseball!!"

Never Too Old...

Being the most excellent daddy that he is, Josh sat down with the kiddos Sunday evening and tutored them on how to create the ultimate lego castle. He showed them how to bridge arches and make corners while building walls. The objective, use all the legos in one great cabin. The kids were ecstatic! They have been building intricate buildings ever since and calling them their 'fabulous creations.' I love it!

The best part was how very 'in' to the building process Josh was. I got a tiny glimpse of my husband as a little boy, playing with his own legos and making his most 'fabulous creation.'