points of interest...

I made these yummy blueberry muffins last week.  Mmmmm...delicious and nutritious!


And a few other points of interest around here:

Our hens are laying again after a winter sabbatical.  Best eggs ever.

We watched this documentary last night and I cried.  A lot.  Watch it for a close look at two Mormon brothers and how their lives were influenced by their beliefs.  Their perspective on what is truly important in life is astounding for such young people.  And you'll get a good taste of why I spent 1 1/2 years of my life preaching the Gospel as an LDS missionary in Argentina.  And a glimpse of why I love what my Church teaches about families and the purpose of life.  Such a great film.

Have you seen this?  I loved it.  Three cheers for homeschooling!

Amazing information on vitamin K2 and why most of us aren't getting enough of it.  In recent research, our western diet's lack of this vitamin is being linked to infertility, heart disease, and much more.  So interesting!

I want my boys to be like him.  Inspirational!!

The girls and I watched this Masterpiece Theater version of Sense and Sensibility last week.  So beautifully done.  I want to live in the Dashwoods' cottage by the sea...

Hannah just finished Anne of Green Gables and she loved it as much as I did!  Hooray!  After being lost in the fantasy fog of Sanderson, Mull, Riordan, Horowitz, etc. (through which my boys have overtaken and surpassed me), I'm thrilled to have a girl reader in the house, who can enjoy the books I love!!  Next on Hannah's list?  Sense and Sensibility, of course!

The girls and I will finish reading aloud Pollyanna tonight.  How I love that sweet story!

I love Susanne's style.  I could stare at photos of her clean, white house all day long.  Especially when mine needs cleaning :).  Like it does now.

We had rain/sleet yesterday.  But still not a lot of cold or snow this winter.  Our fire is roaring anyway...


And now...
time to go make some Valentines with the kids.  And switch the laundry.

Happy Monday to you, friends!

dishwashers, snow, and happy things

Santa Claus here was supposed to be washing dishes.

Our dishwasher is busted.  Again.  Might be time to replace it...

In the mean time, I have 6 little dishwashers who are happy to wash by hand.  

And face...  

Other things making me happy during an April weekend full of slushy, dreary, muddy snow:

1) Hot chocolate and a fire in the woodstove.

2) Sewing in my new room.  Love!
Oh, and knowing you love it too!  Thanks for all the sweet comments and emails, everyone.
That cute and talented Liz at say yes! to hoboken included my studio in her weekend roundup...thanks, Liz!  (I've had a secret crush on her striped skirt ever since I laid eyes on it.  I want to make one.  Isn't it perfect?)  A warm hello! to all her readers.  So glad you stopped by!

3) These.

4) Hearing my three-year-old brush off and spout out the rusty old phrase: Mom, you're amazin'!--long shelved and likely forgotten by its previous owners, who have entered the realm of teenager.

5) Watching this excellent film again for history.  (On sale here.)  So well done...a must see.  And this too.  Both brought me to tears...multiple times.  I love America, and the people who have fought to make it great!  (we need a James Madison today...)

6) Watching this with my girls.  Twice.  Love the music.  And the scenery.  And the wardrobes.  And the story.  And the message.

7) This Russian novel.  Spent the entire morning Saturday with my nose in it, while waiting for piles of laundry to fold themselves...which, of course, never happened.  But the dear Mr. came to the rescue and folded a few loads.  Like Vronsky, he knows how to get the girl.  Love that man.  (My man, that is--not Vronsky.  Dashing fellow, but he should've stuck with Kitty.  She wasn't his first choice, but at least she wasn't already married!)

8) Re-reading two of my favorite speeches, and the way they inspired me while working on my presentation for BYU Women's Conference.  Which is coming along.  (biting fingernails...)  I've been digging through these three books as well.  Great information about real food.  And studying this, of course.

10) My two oldest rocking another Speech and Debate Tournament.  Romney placed second in Student Congress, and Taylor placed third in Spar.  After having watched two tournaments, I am in awe.  I would wet my pants having to speak impromptu and debate and opponent in front of judges.  And they seem to thrive under the pressure.  Seriously amazing.  Makes a mama proud.  (sniff, sniff)

11) Cafe Rio with great friends.  (Note: despite my numbering, this list is not in any particular order, friends.  I love you just as much as Anna Karenina.  And that handsome devil, Vronsky.  Promise.)

12) Going to a wedding reception.  Is it just me, or do you sometimes envy a new bride?  So young and fresh and in love...full of dreams and hope?  I get nostalgic for that phase of life, and almost want to go back in time (perhaps these romantic novels and movies are getting to me...), and then I think of birthing six kids all over again, and I snap right back into the present.  And feel so satisfied and content.  I am truly blessed.  And I didn't even know back then how great he'd be at folding laundry...


 How was your weekend?

with a little help

...from the weather, I should be finished with the majority of our spring home organization today.  Hooray!!

We'll have a quick devotional and chemistry lesson this morning, and then set to cleaning.  

The kids will pick up and then mop the wood floors (on hands and knees, of course...the best kind of hard work!), dust everything, wash windows, scrub the toilets, and clean their rooms.  I'll scrub down the kitchen and finish moving stuff into the new office and organizing it just right.

Then, individual study/reading while I take Sam to the doctor.  The boys have a Temple trip with friends this afternoon, and the Mr. and I will go on a Temple date tonight, with dessert at our house afterward.  The little girls will spend the afternoon outside, in the beautiful sunshine, while I finish up inside.  We have had such beautiful weather...

Tomorrow, the boys and I will spend the day in Salt Lake at the TJEd Forum.  We're so excited to learn and be inspired by so many great people!

And then I'll come home to a clean, organized house...lovely!

Happy weekend to you all!  Our thoughts and prayers are with the people struck by the tragedy in Japan.  And we're feeling so very grateful for the life we enjoy.  

 

I took these photos last week before the snow melted.

The cats are still napping on the back porch.

I'd like to join them. 

project mode

 (how I felt all day today.  Why do I try to do so much in one day?!)

I'm in project mode.  And it aint pretty.

Stayed up way too late last night, painting bookshelves while listening to Alas, Babylon on the iphone.  (Great book.  Lots to ponder.)

Didn't set my alarm.  Woke up to a quiet house.  Looked at the clock.  8:00 am!  We obviously haven't adjusted to daylight savings time yet.

Quick email check, then made strawberry smoothies and scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Wake up the big kids (except Romney, who is always up at the crack of dawn, wanting to get a jump start on his schoolwork).  Little girls scamper down the stairs and head right to the breakfast table, with wrinkly, tired faces.

While the kids eat and practice instruments, I paint one last coat of white onto the bookcases.  Church ladies come to the door for a surprise visit, always (of course) when I'm still in my pj's and have paint streaks in my wild morning hair.  They smile and compliment me anyway.  I don't even let them in...where would they stand?  The house is filled wall-to wall with office boxes and papers, displaced in the wake of my current project.  They shiver on the porch, but still smile anyway (bless their hearts). 

I finish the shelves, scrub paint off my hands, and then sit with the kids for a prayer and a 10 minute Old Testament/History lesson.  Does anyone remember who Jeraboam is?  Rehoboam?  Jehoshaphat?  I use my iphone to cheat because I can't remember either.  Even though we just studied them yesterday. 

I already slept through my 5:30 am spin class, and now I skip the treadmill to squeeze in a (much needed) shower (remember the painted hair?).  How many calories did I burn in two hours of painting?  My arms are sore...that counts for something, right?  I get ready (in 20 minutes flat) and load up the car, where I finish applying my make-up at the traffic light.  Eliza's hair has a very obtrusive bird's nest (that's what my mom always called it)...a colossal knot in the back center.  hmmmn...when was the last time I brushed it?  Surely she has brushed it, right?  Maybe she can't reach that part...

Dentist appointments with the girls, while the boys stay home to do schoolwork and piano lessons.  Home for 3 minutes to exchange passengers...3 hungry girls with shiny teeth for a handsome boy and a huge cello.  Return from the cello lesson at 4:45pm.  House is still a disaster, despite the boys having finished their chores.  But happy discovery...Taylor has put the IKEA desk pieces together.  Two drawer units with 5 drawers each.  Hooray!  I hand him $20.  Stud.  Time is money.  (and he had finished Alas Babylon, which he began yesterday.  double stud.  now if he'd just be nice to his brother...)

I give the girls that coconut ice cream they've been pestering me about (yes, an hour before dinner...I have things to do!), and head back into the office.  I quickly set the long white tabletop onto the drawer units, and move the rest of the furniture into place.  Light bulbs in the new lamps.  Bright white with warm woods and natural baskets.  Everything looks amazing! 

Quick greek pasta for dinner...15 minute nutritious meal, and then boys clean up.  Love it!  I pretend Sam really washed all the dishes, and leave the kitchen to watch the beginning of Becoming Jane with the girls (as a reward for picking up the house, and so Mommy can sit for 15 minutes before the (exhausting) fanfare of bedtime without Daddy home).  Then (exhausting) bedtime fanfare begins...thank you daylight savings time.

Whew.  Silence!

I stare at the new room, too exhausted to work anymore, while I wait for the Mr. to return from Church meetings and neighbor visits.  Then Glenn Beck and a Netflix time period drama on the couch with the laptop.

Tomorrow, I'll bring up the craft supplies and sewing machines from my old basement studio.  I'll hang some wall shelving, on which I'll arrange my jars of crafting goodies.  I'll frame and hang some pictures, and finish painting the barstools white.  I'll begin emptying the house of its extra contents, to be properly restored to the new office space.  And, I'll chauffer Hannah to her sewing class in the morning, and then the boys to their Speech and Debate class.  I'll lead the youth book club discussion tomorrow night, and then take the kids to Brandon's regional basketball tournament to see him coach/play.  Bring it on.  Project mode.

Brandon hooked up the Mac when he got home tonight (I feel whole again!), which, in its new spot needs cord control, so I'll break out the spare extension cords and power strips and attempt to make the conspicuous inconspicuous.  I'll do a few errands (there's a St. Patty's Day sale at the fabric shop), then some more organizing.  Then I'll sit and stare some more. 

Even though project mode may entail some crazy, messy, busy days, along with many late nights, I love creating fresh new spaces and organizing everything just right...and then basking in the finished product!

Then
I'll take some photos to share with you...

**Meanwhile, go here for more white decor inspiration.
And here for amazing workspace inspiration.
Lovely!

It's Friday

Slept in a little today.

Still in my pj's.

Kids practiced instruments while I made raw milk hot chocolate and sprouted grain toast.

Sang Away in a Manger and had family devotional: Joshua of the Old Testament and scripture mastery.

Reviewed our song, The Atoms Family.

Learned about radioactivity of atoms.

Kids worked on math and wrote in journals.

A friend stopped by to bring us BYU Basketball tickets for tomorrow's game...go Cougs!! 

Another friend stopped by to check on Sam's health and measure an outside door that needs replacing.

Layed out clothes for family pictures (I'm shooting them in the backyard--kids only this year).

Now, I'll make lunch for the kiddos (guacamole with natural tortilla chips and a strawberry-kale smoothie).

Girls and Sam will go on errands with Mom.

Boys will stay home and finish reading their book of the week, Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and write an essay about it.

A couple of friends will come at 2:30 to practice and prepare for the big Speech and Debate competition at the U tomorrow.

I'll bring home snacks and pizza for the debaters.

Boys and Mom will watch The Great Debaters to get pumped up for tomorrow, while the girls watch The Grinch down in the basement.

Dad and Mom will meet for Sushi and a December planning date.

I love Fridays!

Happy weekend to you all!

Summer

Brandon spent the week in Luxembourg on business, while the kids and I spent a couple of days at Zion's National Park in Southern Utah.  We drove the 5 hours, dropped Taylor off at his Youth For Freedom camp, and then stayed in a little hotel at the foot of the beautiful red rock mountains.  We hiked, picnicked, swam, and visited tourist shops and museums.

It was a fun little adventure, although we all agreed it would've been better if Dad had been able to come along.  The kids did great, except for the "sleeping" part of sleeping at a hotel, making for a very tired chaperone and chauffer, who desperately fought off slumber at the wheel while driving through the dark mountains until well past midnight!  (Thank goodness for my iphone, downloaded with the Atlas Shrugged audiobook that could keep anyone awake.  Wow.  Read it if you haven't.)  

Taylor had a great time at YFF.  He comes home so inspired and has already asked if he can go again next year. This year, they read and discussed Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, and The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis.  They learn about education, freedom, virtue, and so many other principles of leadership.  A big thanks to those who work so hard to put this on every year.  You're wonderful!

As for my serious case of blog neglect, I apologize.  May was super busy with dentist appointments (uggh!), book clubs, cooking class, reading, exercise, and kids' events.  The kids are finished with thier "school year," or their fall and winter formal learning, had with peers and outside mentors.  They miss their classroom book discussions and history lessons and time with mentors and friends, but they're ready for a change of pace with more time for "fun" reads and projects and kickball games outside with neighborhood kids.

We're now busy with yard and home, summer learning plans, summer sewing, and summer travel preparations.  Our summers have less structure and less places to be...a welcomed change for all.  We'll continue with our daily morning devotional, math and history lessons, and summer reading, but we'll have our afternoons free.  (per lots of recent requests, I'll be posting our summer homeschool schedule when it's all set, and lots more info. about how we homeschool at our house...)

As I type this, we have a neighbor boy out back fixing up the broken hinges and doors of the barn, while my big boys are reconstructing a tree swing with a friend.  Sam is heading out the door to shovel manure for pay (his new summer job) across the lane.  And the little girls are running around in the sun, in and out of bathing suits and hose water, sucking on cold popsicles.  The house is quiet, and I'm heading to the kitchen to bake and do this week's menu planning and grocery list.  (Maybe I'll finally shower too, since I'm still sitting here in sweaty running clothes!)  Then we're off to violin lessons and Monday errands.

Tonight, the kids will have mentor meetings with Mom and Dad to decide on what they will study during the summer.  They've been making lists of books they want to read and topics they want to research.  Dad will put it all into an Excel spreadsheet, printed out as their "goal sheets," which they will check off daily as they complete each task they have chosen to do.  Then we'll eat cookies while we talk about what we want to accomplish as a family this summer.

I'll be back tomorrow for more on how our summer is shaping up!

growing up on a farm

is good for the soul.  At least in my very biased opinion it is.

(photos of Eliza from Spring 2009)

As Sarah dozed off to sleep in the bottom bunk last night, I snuggled up with Liza above her (always with lots of creeks at my ascension on the ladder, and a tinge of worry that my weight could collapse the bunk entirely, as I witnessed occur in my little brothers' room as a girl...and then that thought being snuffed out by the longing to let this little girl know how very special she is to me...)

First, she instructed me on how to get warm under cold covers (last night was a chilly one), by straightening out and holding very still, until the covers heat up.  I told her that it was working, and how I felt warm already.

She said her sweet good-night prayer.  My heart melted.  Such a good little thing, this child of mine.  So pure.  So sweet.

She thanked Heavenly Father for winter because we could snuggle up together with blankets by the warm fire like Laura and Mary. (you know, the little prairie girls from the Little House series.)

and blessed that winter would get off our grass soon so that it could grow big and tall (this phrase with hand motions, eyes still closed).

and that it could be warm and sunny outside.

and that we could buy lots of white eggs from the store and decorate them pretty because it's Easter really soon.

and that we could be nice

and be good

and happy.

Oh, my heart.  I love that girl!

And I love that she so acutely feels the influence of her surroundings.  That the change of seasons and the beauty of nature mean something to her.  That as winter draws to a close, she feels spring coming on, bringing warmth and new life.  That the cozy atmosphere and togetherness of home life during the cold months has sunk into her little heart.  And that she's thrilled about purchasing white eggs, because the unique colored eggs our hens lay have become very ordinary!

And I especially love how this farm life has brought all of us, young and old, a bit closer to Him who created this beautiful earth and every living thing upon it.  As we work together outside, caring for God's creatures and tilling the very soil He made, we're surrounded with life, and daily partake of nature in all it's glory.  How blessed we are!

Easter weekend is upon us.  Around our parts, we'll be enjoying the weekend listening to the General Conference of the LDS Church...being inspired to become better people, by righteous men and women of God.  And we'll celebrate the marvelous blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.  How grateful I am for His goodness and mercy and love.  For His perfect example.  For His sacrifice and resurrection, which gives new life to all.

Sam shared his testimony of the Gospel with our congregation last Sunday.  He said, "I know that Jesus Christ is real."  And so do I.  Because I've felt of of His love for me.  And I've seen His influence change the lives of so many others.  He brings healing and hope.  And gives "new life" to those who seek Him.  May we worship Him this Easter Sunday, and during this beautiful Spring season, as the signs of new life surround us, and testify that he is, indeed, real.

Happy Easter, my friends!

catching the spring sun

(my darling wind-blown, sun-struck, dirt-covered adventurer, soaking up some outdoor goodness.) 

We've had a lovely early spring...and we're catching all the sunshine we can get.

Every day at about 5pm, when our studies and work are finished, our little lane fills with neighborhood folk of all ages.  They huddle together to settle on the game and make up rules, and then run, jump, chase, and play until dusk.  Capture the flag is the recent favorite.  There's also mud-pie making, tree-rope swinging, trampoline-bouncing, goat-petting, chicken-chasing, sword-fighting, and more.  The late afternoon sun streams through my kitchen windows, where I have an excellent view of the fun while I make dinner.

I love to see the kids outside, running through the grass, climbing up trees, hurdling over chickens and cats, and having the time of their lives.  It's just as it should be.

Can't wait for the long, warm, outdoor days of spring and summer!!!


**For some real spring love, check out Small Magazine's brand new spring issue here.
And if you love handmade and design and kids' clothing and everything spring like I do,
prepare to wipe the drool...  

weekending

Home spaces makeover almost complete...almost.  The little girls rooms are just about how I want them. The master (with new bed...hooray!) needs some attention.  The rest?  Coming along...slowly...

We hosted a Liberty Girls mom and daughter luncheon to kick off a great new semester.  We'll be studying Kirsten, the Scandinavian immigrant pioneer girl.  And oh, my...there was lots of chatter about pioneer crafting and games, baking, a family hoedown, and all kinds of prairie fun.  The girls each received a darling metal pail for carrying their things to meetings and elsewhere.  What fun we'll have!

Uncle Todd took us to a new Pirate restaurant/arcade for the afternoon.  Pizza, video games, tokens, tickets, prizes...the kids had a blast!  It was fun to see Grandma and Todd...thanks guys!

Brandon had a work dinner, so I sat home with a movie, a knitting project, a pot of peppermint tea, and the new January issue of Marie Claire (so generously given me by my sweet neighbor, who has a subscription, and knows I love everything about french design).  Simply lovely.  And even more lovely were the goodies the hub brought home from the dinner w/ the Polaroid folks...did you know they're putting out new digital instant print cameras?  Well, they are.  And I have one now!  And a few other new cameras and accessories...more on those once I try them out.  I think Polaroid is making a comeback...

Sunday brought choir practice, Church worship services, Greek pasta for dinner, a family meeting, and some calendaring.  A busy and wonderful weekend, with just the right amount of work, play, friends, family, worship, and rest.  Rare indeed.

Now here's to a great week!  Happy Monday, everyone!

New Year's Principle #3: seek and follow the will of God

Sunsets have always reminded me of God's power and majesty...this one was taken from the back porch in the fall.

Isn't it breathtaking?

For the Ward Choir number on Sunday, we sang the moving hymn "Lead, Kindly Light."  As we gathered together in front of the congregation, I stood wondering for a moment why my little Sarah, carried up and peeking out of the tenor section in Brandon's arms, was holding two mismatched kinds of 'sparkle shoes,' several sizes larger than her tiny toddler feet.  Apparently, she didn't want the morning of sisterly Cinderella make-believe to end with the onset of Sunday worship...you know, the magic wears off when we drop our glass slipper...silly princess.  Despite that small moment of distraction for the mommy choir director, and that extra little member and her shoes, the choir sang beautifully.

I've always loved the humility of these powerful lyrics:

Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet;  I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou shouldst lead me on.
I love to choose and see my path; but now, lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will.  Remember not past years.

So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while!

--John Henry Newman, 1801-1890
(LDS Hymn #97)

Thinking and praying for those in Haiti.
Remembering that God is in charge.
Gearing up for a new year (I  know, it's already upon us and in full swing...but still setting goals and making plans over here).

This week, these words remind me that it is never too late to repent...to change my life and myself.  That's what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is all about.  Becoming better with His help.  And I'm feeling needful of that help as I lay out who I want to become and examine who I am today...and see such blatant discrepancies.  This hymn cheers me and gives me faith.

My 3rd New Year's Principle to live by is this:

Seek and follow the will of God.  

I want to worship Him better.  I want to pray to Him more fervently.  I want to really find out what He wants me to do this year.  I want to study His word in the scriptures daily.  I want to love Him more and give more gratitude for the abundant blessings He has given me.  I'm determined to spend more time in His Holy House (that magnificent Temple on the mountain...seen out my front windows).  I want to fill my home and heart with His Spirit...to feel His peace and love and comfort.  To repent.  To be a better disciple.

I will seek for that 'kindly light' that surely leads those who will ask and follow.

New Year's Principle #2: prioritize and simplify

We awoke today to a quiet house with no electricity.  Sometime in the early morning hours, our neighborhood had lost power.  It had been a long night for us...Brandon sick, little girls with nightmares, and one big boy with a stomach bug (yep, apparently we still have it...).  We snuggled in bed for a while in the dark early dawn (a few little girls stuffed between us), dreading the chilly furnace-less air outside of our warm blankets, and the thought of moving through a new day on a few hours of interrupted sleep.  We finally ventured downstairs and ate breakfast to candlelight.  I lit a hot fire in the stove.  We watched quietly as the sun rose and light filled the house.  It was peaceful and quiet.  Taylor commented, as he bundled up to go snowboarding with a friend, "this is what it must've been like for the pioneers."  I chuckled, and said that they had it much worse.  We talked about what they suffered and how blessed we are.  (we have our electricity back...you knew that, right?  because I'm typing this.)  But I want more quiet mornings like today's.  No media, electronics, computer...lots of Clue and Monopoly, drawing and reading.  And conversation.

It really shouldn't take a power outage to help me realize how lovely a simple life can be.  Or how blessed I am.  So we come to my second New Year's Principle (although these really aren't in order of importance or rank...).

Prioritize and simplify.

I have a hard time with this.  Why?  Because

1) I am (by nature) not a very organized person.  I have to work really, really hard to keep my tasks, space, and thoughts in order.

And 2) I tend to take on way too much.  In other words, I have a hard time saying no.  To others, AND myself.  Sounds weird, I know.  What gives me energy and motivation is creating things.  Thus, ideas swirl around in my crazy brain all day long (and often into the night...), and I can't help myself but turn them into reality.  Even at the peril of my housework and other more important to-do's that end up going by the wayside.

So, prioritizing is a must.  And I'm going to do better at it this year.  (do I sound confident?)  "Big rocks first" is what Brandon always tells me.  You know...put the big rocks (most important priorities) into the jar first so they all fit, and then fill the extra space with the small rocks and gravel.  Genius.  Stephen Covey genius.  His book First Things First is on my January reading list to help me with this principle.

People often ask me how I get so much done...because they know that I homeschool my kids and they see the crafty projects I put out.  They think that I must have some magical secret to getting all the important things done, and then still having spare time used to create and teach and bake, etc...  And my answer?  Usually this:  "I'm sure your house is much cleaner than mine."  Or, in Covey lingo, you gingerly place those shiny big rocks into the jar, while I toss them aside (not throw them, mind you...that could be dangerous now, couldn't it?) and choose to wallow in gravel...or quicksand.

The truth is that we accomplish what we want to accomplish.  Right?  We do what we choose to do with our time.  Sure, there are circumstances thrown at us that change everything...and compel us to make sacrifices in order to accomplish that which is most important to us.  But we still have agency.  We still get to choose how to react to those circumstances.  It all comes down to prioritizing...choosing what to do with that which we have been given.

So this year, I want to choose better.  I want to distinguish between the big rocks and the gravel.  And I want to accomplish the very most important things first (I know, that isn't always housework...although it's an area that certainly needs to be bumped up on the priority ranking for me).  And then move on to the rest.  I want to plan and schedule my life better, putting the most important Rock, the Savior of the world, at the center of it.  I know that if I can do this, everything else will fit in just right.

I'm busy (in waaaay over my head) organizing my home this week, which I seem to love to do in January (see this post from last year).  And I'm reworking our family schedule, with some new educational endeavors this semester...some super exciting adventures floating around our house right now...just need to capture and tame them!

Stay tuned for a look at our attempts at organizing our crazy lives, plus more New Year's principles to live by...


**Oh, and
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

My favorite of his words, so pertinent in so very many ways today, as the battle for every American's freedom is still being waged:

"I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."     

New Year's Principle #1: new eyes

My dear cousin gave me a Mary Engelbreit greeting card at my wedding thirteen years ago.  And I loved it.  I kept it, and framed it, and it has hung on my wall for many, many years now.

It reads:

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.  

--Marcel Proust

Framed in red, it now sits on a shelf in my basement craft studio.  I found another identical piece at a thrift store, on a black wooden plaque, which hangs on my kitchen wall.  The charming sketch and beautiful phrase remind me to look around myself and find beauty in my everyday surroundings.  And I've realized over the years that it is one of the things that makes me happy.

Finding beauty in the ordinary.

Yet in this adventure that is motherhood, I stop to breathe and often find my head hanging low, nose to the grindstone, with eyes relentlessly focused both on the workload before me and the seemingly distant finish-line (aka bedtime).  And every now and then, in one of these burdensome moments, I'll catch a glimpse of the card, lovingly staring back at me from the wall like an old friend eager to give me comfort and advice.  And my perception of that moment changes.  And I'm cheered and empowered.

I remember going to the eye-doctor a few years ago.  All my life, I thought I could see just fine.  But when I put on the new lenses prescribed to me, I was in complete disbelief.  I could hardly take in the beauty of the tall trees with sharp, crisp green leaves touching the clear blue sky.  The definition and clarity of the objects around me were incredible.  And all along, I hadn't even realized that I had been 'blind' to much of what was right before my eyes.  I didn't know there was a better way to see.  Having figurative 'new eyes' is much the same.  It changes how we view the world around us, and in turn, changes us inside.

This year, I'm determined to have new eyes.  I want to find beauty and excitement and joy in the daily routines and rhythms of my life as mother, wife, and homemaker.  I have often felt the exhilaration of discovery within my home.  To observe carefully the ordinary scenes of family life and find something wonderful is truly inspiring.  It's a way to catch glimpses of the divine in that which surrounds us every day, and to recognize God's hand in our daily lives.  I'm going to keep these rosy lenses handy and find more joy in the everyday, the common, and the mundane.

Now, I'm not implying that the beauty is always easy to spot.  Because that's just not true.  Especially living with young children who are home (and making messes) all day.  Sometimes the stress from aesthetic chaos overpowers the beauty or goodness of the moment.  So it takes some discipline and real paradigm shifting to see through the mess.

Nor am I saying forget the mess and just do what's fun and beautiful and good...trust me, I've tried this, and unfortunately it's not so good over long periods of time.  Nobody likes a stinky fridge or sticky counters every day.  The mess won't go away (like I often wish it would...darn!).  But it will wait.  It can be there all around you and you can still feel those peaceful, happy feelings when you are catching the beauty of home life.  Homes are meant to be lived in...with lots of activity, dirt, and messes.  I have to consciously try, every day, to remember that relationships and the self-worth and independence of my little ones are more important than constant worry and nagging over the inevitable (and even healthy) filth in the house.  I've retired from being the shiny-floor-shoe-nazi, and welcomed trails of muddy little footprints through the house, reminding myself all the while that they can easily be wiped up.  With family chore systems in place and good home organization (ahem...another of my New Year's goals...), the mess won't get out of control (usually), so enjoy the moment, and then tidy up together, right?!

I was in the middle of cleaning up a messy kitchen and picking up the house the other day, when I saw these little piggies peeping out from the back of the dining chair, while their owner was munching on a snack at the table.  I stopped to capture this moment with my camera, and thought all day about how these little feet are growing up, and will soon fill big-girl shoes (sniff-sniff).  I appreciated this sweet girl so much more that day and found joy in cleaning up after her cute (disaster-prone) little self.

I want to take time to stare into this darling little face, and remember it's mouth over-stuffed with food, those twinkling brown eyes, a boo-boo and crumbs on the chin, and that cute turned-up nose (booger and all).  Oh, and don't forget that neck-chub (what's left of it, anyway...it's almost lost to big-girlhood).

And these legs belong to my cute Eliza...check out her footwear this morning!  So fashionable.  Definitely worth taking a minute to notice (and photograph)!

**Now, off to go and tackle the mess in my house.  We're up to some re-arranging of bedrooms and organizing and lots of other projects around here.  I think I'll need those new eyes...wish me luck!

weekend on the farm

I took my camera along while helping Hannah with animal chores on Saturday.

For all the whining and complaining that goes along with feeding and cleaning up after these guys

(especially on cold winter mornings),

we sure love our sweet farm friends.

New Year's reflections

(Sarah making faces at her reflection friend)

When a fresh new year rolls around (or rather rushes in at the speed of light itself), I tend to ponder.  I search inside myself in hopes of pinpointing that which seems to be in most need of refinement and repair.  I simultaneously try to step outside myself, searching for a grand vision of what this upcoming year should look like for me and my family.

As a result, I'm knee deep in lists and goals and schedules (and, of course laundry, as usual).  And as I pen thoughts into words and try to make an overarching plan to turn words into actions and results, I keep coming back to a few key principles.  Simple things I can do to make my life more meaningful.  To live more purposefully and joyfully.

I'll be posting about some of these principles (interspersed with doses of the wonder and chaos that is my daily life), and I'd love to hear about what you've resolved to work on in 2010 as well...don't be shy, leave a comment below!

We read Rudyard Kipling's timeless poem "IF" in our family meeting this week, as we talked about how to make this year a special one.  It is my favorite poem of all time, and each time I read it, I feel a deep and solemn desire to become a better person.  It encompasses the principles I want to focus on this year.  Tell me this doesn't send chills right down your spine...

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!  

To me, this describes greatness.  Not just goodness or success.  Greatness.

It's something to think about.  And to live for.

2010 is upon us, my friends.  Pull up those bootstraps, and let's get to work!

oh, the weather outside is frightful...

but the fire is so delightful.

(seriously delightful...this stove heated our entire home today as the snow began to pour down outside.)  ahhhh...toasty bliss.

While Mama Santa's basement workshop is bustling with production, there's a whole lot of making happening all over the house.  Lots of lego creations in the works, Christmas card making, sewing, coloring book masterpieces, and of course, lots of knitting...it's contagious, I tell you.  Try it!

(just don't tell these handsome, athletic boys you were inspired by their knitting...ooooh I'm in big trouble for posting this photo!)

The holiday dresses

(inspired by the lovely "robe alma marceau" from this darling french shop)...almost finished.  Really, they hardly resemble the dress that inspired their creation, but I do love the french lines, long pleats, and cropped sleeves.  And I think the rounded collar adds a touch of charm and sweetness.

Won't these look lovely on three little rosy-cheeked girls, eyes alit with Christmas cheer?

Oh my, I can hardly wait.

(Does anyone else blindfold their kids for fitting when you're sewing up a surprise?...maybe it's just me.  My poor daughters.)

These gnome slippers (still in need of polka-dots) are made of felted wool, to keep girly toesies warm all winter long.  The second pair (bright blue) is almost put together, and then on to pair number three, pink ballet slippers with a mary jane strap and flower button for Hannah.  (see Maya Made's tutorial for the gnome slippers here, and one of the patterns I looked at to design the ballet flats here. )

Tonight, I'll work on the pajamas to be opened on Christmas Eve.  The girls' pj's will be made of a print from Anna Maria Horner's (my absolute favorite designer, by the way) new folksy flannels collection.  Can't wait to sew them up!  Boys get a nice traditional flannel with a raglan tee (not as exciting, I know, but hopefully they'll love them anyway, simply because their totally awesome mom made them).

Six hats finished, and one more in the works!  (My favorite hat patterns are in this book by Susan Anderson, sized for babies and toddlers, but they also turn out great with an adjusted gauge for big kids.)

I feel like our Christmas week is shaping up nicely.  Calling off school for a couple of weeks helped us get ready.  Doing lots of handmade gifting has helped us stay home and spend lots of time working and playing together.  The majority of our few store-bought gifts were found mid-November at a new local boutique (spotlighted here ) which had a fantastic sale going, and free gift-wrapping (b-o-n-u-s).  The rest of the shopping and the package-mailing was finished last Saturday.

I survived the annual Christmas Ward Choir Program at Church, as the choir's director, even though two of the kids came down with a stomach virus early, early (yawn) that morning.  Whew!  The choir sounded beautiful, and I feel grateful for the wonderful support of it's members.  There's nothing like great Christmas music.  It's one of the highlights of my holiday, for sure.

Oh, and Christmas cards are in the mail as of yesterday.  Hooray!

Do I have your address??

Now, back to my workshop!

With a little Pandora, lots of hot cocoa and toffee, Christmas movies playing for my busy little elves, big strapping boys out shoveling neighbors' walks and driveways and then going to a dad & son BYU bowl game party, it should be a great afternoon...
for gift-making.

Hope your afternoon is wonderful as well!