Thank goodness for moms, that is all I can say. My Mom flew in and saved the day after I had been in strict survival mode for almost two weeks. Martin was still finishing up classes, and was preparing for finals. So for almost 10 days postpartum, I had to survive alone and do the best I could, night feedings were all on me, as were early mornings, and breakfast, lunch and dinner prep. Thankfully I had many new ward members who brought in food. When my kids woke up November 1st, however, they we excited to see one of their favorite people waiting for them on the couch!
She was a life saver! (Always has been really, she has always been there at the drop of a hat, if she can be. And when I say she, I mean my dad too because he provided the support for her to be able to serve in this capacity.) She took over and played with the kids and helped with school work, they prepared and performed a play about Ammon and King Lamoni, they built lean tos and read in the windy fall weather outside!! My Mom came and went in a flash. She was here for 2 weeks, it never seems long enough. She is a perfect example of a loving, selfless person and I am so thankful for her and her wisdom and insight. I believe she still receives revelation for her grown children and ways she can best serve them. While she was here she did more for me than entertain and be a helping hand. She helped sooth the soul!
There is just something that a grandma can do for a grandchild that the parents wish they could do. She gave life back to my homesick children. She became their best friend and confidant. She loved and supported them, encouraged them to grow where they are planted, even though it might not be ideal. Best of all she was that friend that was so needed.
She even supported me driving a few hours to go visit a dear dear friend who was visiting from Bountiful. I loaded up little miss Lemonlime (as Carlee and Cameron call her, because they honestly think that is her name...I think it might stick!)
I still can't believe I went! It was so worth it for my emotional well being! Friends are such an important aspect in life and I am so thankful I have such wonderful friends. Emmeline was only 10 days old, but my trip to Martinsville, VA was absolutely wonderful! Not only was my company divine but Emmeline got to meet her future friend and we ate at the most delicious place ever. The sweet potato fries and sauce were to DIE FOR! I know people say that a lot...but this is for real. If you ever happen to be in Martinsville, check out Hugo's Bar and Grill. YUM.
Traci is one of those friends who is always so thoughtful and caring. She is that momma bear. Protective of everything and everyone she loves. She is a great friend and example to me. She is a wonderful mother to her family, wife to her husband and friend to me. She is the one who jumped in and saved the day when I was hyperventilating about the lack of housing options as we pulled into Blacksburg with nowhere to live. She started searching and finding places for us to go look at, texting me numbers and addresses as we drove around town. She was a life saver that day. She has constant words of encouragement. I am so thankful for her! Since then She, and our neighborhood friends from back home have added excitement and happiness for us here as we are surprised with packages and notes in the mail. These connections are so valuable in this life. It is through the service of others and the ability to serve and allowing service to happen to you that you can feel the savior's love! I am reminded that often as I see the people in my life serve my family and myself, and I hope to be that for someone else everyday.
So my mom and dad have always loved the Civil War history. Here we are, right in the middle of such rich history, and I hadn't done much sightseeing since we got here. Because I started out this five kid thing with needing to be on full alert, I think It was hard for me to stop and slow down like I should have. I couldn't see myself napping and resting and feeling ok about it. Although I did do a lot of it with the "encouragement" of my mom, I started to get a bit of cabin fever. One day, we hopped in the car and drove to Appomattox Court House and toured the place where the Civil War ended. I love our Nations history and so thankful my mom was willing to join us on this excursion! She put the idea in my head and I just had to go do it! We were so impressed with the behavior of Grant and Lee. We watched a short film about this time period and I was blown away with the insight and thoughtfulness, and even the compassion Grant had. He just wanted to end it all. He granted all southern men the right to return home with their horses. That seems a little weird to us now, but at that time, technically all southerners had acted treasonously. The North had the right to strip them of everything they had left and hang them all! But the compassion he had and the vision he help fir our country was beautiful. It was the first time in a long time that history really spoke to me. It was a great day! Warm and sunny, and very humbling.
The Wilmer McLean House, All the pictures you see of the signing of the surrender happened right inside this house, and it looks pretty accurate to all the paintings you see, However, it is a small room, those men must have been pretty cramped. Grant showed up with a muddy, dirty uniform, and sat at a small desk, while Lee was wearing a nice, crisp clean uniform and shiny boots. Grant gave Lee the Marble table and the large comfortable chair to sit in. I believe that everything about this speaks volumes. And the interpretation is left up to you! I loved how this illustrates Grants humility and compassion.
Fields where the soldiers camped.
She was such a small cute little participant in all this adventure.
Emmeline Bonnie's Blessing Day
We just had to bless Emmeline while my mom was here. Afterall Bonnie is the name of such wonderful people. My mom has always been such an example to me of service and working hard through difficulties. She always knew how serve when needed, to comfort and to support all of those around her. I love visiting with my mom and sharing ideas. She always listens to me when I am frustrated or confused. My mother is so devoted to her faith and testimony of the savior and his teachings. She lives a christlike life and is always doing her best. I wanted Emmeline to remember her grandma and long to be like her. My mother got her name because of the nickname her grandfather gave her mother. Even though my grandma was know as Yvonne Rae, she was called Bonnie by her father, he was from scotland and smoked a pipe, so I've been told. My Grandma then named my mother Bonnie Jill in remembrance...so I thought I had to keep the line of wonderful women alive. Lets hope I can do as good of a job as the women before me!
All her hard work earned her more snuggle time than she actually got. Before she came, I had been complaining about the "order of my house". It was hard to figure out how I wanted things, and my kids were wreaking havoc everywhere! I know kids will be kids, but I couldn't figure out how I needed to be better organized to help them learn! I was mainly so frustrated with their clothes everywhere. When my mom showed up, she "showed me up!" She brought me a book and made me sit in my room, feed my baby and read. Oh how glorious! While I was busy filling my cup, she was busy organizing my laundry room and training my kids on how to do the laundry! She implemented this routine that was heaven sent! NO CLOTHES WERE EVER TO LEAVE the laundry area. She moved a dresser into my laundry room. Took the clothes my kids wear, and assigned them each a drawer. I later went through and gave away or donated a bag of clothes. Just that act alone has eased my burdens so much! Simplify simplify simplify! It is so hard to let go, but OH so worth it!! Especially when the kid count keeps increasing. Less is more. My new motto. True inspiration. She heard me whining and complaining and was there for me. I just love her! (the book she had me read was "A Joyful Mother of Children" totally worth it! A great read!)
I think the two weeks went by faster than I anticipated. I was in denial that her time here would end. I was dreading it before it even came. My mom just gets it. I wish I "just got it" like she does. I stil look to her for understanding and insight. I am working on slowing down and taking time to be there and create memories for those I care for most. She was able to put my house in order and keep my kids happy. I am in awe by her. I mean, who else puts up and emergency tarp to read books on a cold fall day with her grand kids? They all loved it.
Audrie loves her Grandma so much.
Kiss and Fly...so sad to see the time end, but so thankful that it happened in the first place!!
After we dropped grandma off we took a trip into Roanoke to the Taubman Museum of Art! The kids learned about John James Audubon. And how he helped be the first to classify all living things. We even learned how the prints were made. This was right down Martin's alley.
They were all eyes and ears when he had something to show them. I love learning with my family!
Look at her perfect "art museum" stance. I just love it!
After the exhibits, we went into their "ARTventure" room, where they were able to draw, sculpt, build, sketch and BE the art. It helped ease the blow of Grandma leaving, that is for sure.
Just a happy Sunday. One of the best parts of a new baby is getting everyone ready for church and then cuddling the cute baby in silence for three hours!
Andrue Loves rocking his little sister.
And then there is Carlee....She has the best imagination...
She said, Mom, pretend that I am a cat and I got stuck in this tree.
And the only way I can get out is if I jump...
Into these leaves!!!!
The rest of the month was a little more like normal... The kids all kept asking me what I wanted for Christmas, and when I said that I wanted a vacuum, (a canister vac so I could suck up all these bugs!) Cameron ran and pulled it out and started doing my job! Come on now! He is the new favorite.
rakin leaves is something we had better get use to around here! This kept us busy for a whole month! The kids loved it! We could build a pile so stinkin high we could jump off the roof if we wanted!
Martins swing was then discovered by our two year old and his big sister. When I saw what she was doing to him, I was scared to death...until I saw the look on his face.
Fall is just so beautiful in Virginia, and it lasts forever!!
Operation Child is an activity that our kids chose to participate in. We heard about it and discussed it with our children, that if we participated then our own personal christmas would be a little smaller. I had a big lump in my throat when they were all overy excited to give up some of their christmas morning gifts.
Christmas tree tradition!
Martin and I were married just before christmas. I believe Christmas time to be one of the most romantic times of the year!! In preparations for our reception we went and cut down live trees for our decorations. It turned into a family tradition and we have traveled far and wide in search for our perfect tree every year! We have been to Alamo, Nevada; Paris, Idaho; somewhere in Wyoming; the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and many places in between. This year though, we just could muster up the mental energy to drive 5 hours to the only forest who would offer permits, we we drove 30 minutes to a tree farm. We couldn't even cut our own tree down, the farmer insisted he had to do it. And instead of trampling around in the forest for hours, the kids played in rows and rows of trees for over an hour. Every tree was perfect, so there was no real "search" needed. We still wanted them to feel like they were on some big hunt for the perfect tree to adorn our christmas season.
Perfect timing...Just as we got home from this outing we checked our mailbox. In it was a package with a return label "Bountiful Friends" We decorated our tree with the minimal decorations that I had brought, I proceeded to put our first "gift" under the tree.
The kids always love putting on the ornaments. We get one ornament a year from the place we visited that year. We have a pine cone from Flaming Gorge when martin and I visited before we had kids, and a blown glass ornament that we bought one christmas in Central Park NY. We also have a Mickey Mouse that we bought from Disneyland. We always share our stories and memories ans we put up our tree. We love it. This year we were feeling this unspoken sadness as we were all a little homesick. Before making my kids get ready for bed, I felt like we shouldn't wait to open up our first present from our "Bountiful friends". We let the kids open the light package. And what joy we found!!! Families from our ward had all sent us homemade ornaments and decorations. Lots of pictures with memories to hang on our tree. A snowflake banner and lots and lots of love. We felt so loved, and blessed to have such wonderful friends. It was such a thoughtful thing for them to do for us, and the will never know how greatly it impacted our hearts for good. It lifted our spirits beyond measure! martin even verbalized how blessed we were to have such amazing people in our life. As we pulled each picture out and read the note on the back and hung it on the tree, we were reminded that Christmas was about family, friends and making memories. It was about joy, service and selflessness. It is a time to remember christ and to be like him, bringing joy to those we love. They all did that for us. It may not have been that big of a deal to them to put it together and put it in the mail, but it meant so, so much to us.
For days after, I would catch each one of them back at the tree looking at pictures and feeling the love from over 2000 miles away.
I love walking here! I had been extra homesick and took myself for a walk. I know these pictures seem lame, but the beauty here is breathtaking. These pictures don't even come close to the feelings of joy I have when I see the bright blue sky through the leafless trees and the bright colored leaves that paint the ground.
I use rhis time to thing and fill my cup. Often times that includes sitting on a bench and writing my thoughts, or calling my people I have loved throughout my life. Friends from Las Vegas, or Utah or my sisters, mom or grandma. I am thankful for this path I get to walk. Not just this exact path, this this path I get to walk in this life. It is hard sometimes. It is lonely sometimes, a lot of the time it is exhausting. It is also scary sometimes not knowing exactly what the future holds, or where we will end up. But all of the time, our life does have joy, and I can find it easily when I look for it. We are creating memories and we are together. And that is all that matters.
