My lovely lady duff, my duff

I guess I need to get up off it. We cast some grass seed out on the dirt when it was so rainy over the weekend, and if I ever want it to germinate and sprout I've gotta keep it wet.

Can I just mention how very much I'd rather rain falling from the sky kept it wet? I'd love to sit in here like a lump, seriously. *sigh*

Edit: Did it. The shed is seriously kind of scary, a habitat for creatures and I'm not big on creatures, but I went in. I found the spray nozzle. I hooked up two hoses. And I watered the dirt. Please grow, grass, please grow!

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Now playing: The Fray - Over My Head (Cable Car)
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Relieved of Society.

Four years ago right now, I was feeling overwhelmed, almost buried beneath the weight of too many things I needed to do. In my homeschool I had a sixth grader, a fourth grader, a third grader, and a kindergartener, all of whom needed instruction at their grade level and a patient, loving mom. Ethan was a mischievous preschooler—the kind of kid that, if he’s not somewhere making a ruckus, I’m worried because I know that silence means trouble. I had one-year old baby girl. And I was unexpectedly pregnant. It felt to me like I’d lost my precious balance, and that at any moment everything could come crashing down and flatten me.

Into this circumstance walked Brother Jim Eriksen, calling me to be a member of the new Relief Society presidency. I almost laughed about it, except that at the time it really didn’t seem all that funny. And yet, even it the midst of the overwhelm, the chaos and turmoil of emotions, I felt a tiny spark of calm in the center. It was a kernel of peace, a tiny assurance that I was in the palm of God’s hand, and that all would be well.

So I accepted the call. My heart was reluctant, but I accepted.

I have learned that God’s plan for me is so much better than my plan for me, if I can be patient enough to let it unfold. If I can be still, and know that He is God. Here I stand four years later, no longer overwhelmed, with a three-year old son I adore. The education counselor has been a fabulous calling, right in line with all my strengths. It made me get out of the house, get out of my wallow, and focus on others—just what I needed to do. It gave me friends, oh so many friends.

Yesterday I was released.

I know another terrifying calling I'll accept somewhat reluctantly is probably right around the corner.

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Now playing: Cary Brothers - True
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Adam Idol

I've never watched American Idol, not even one episode—everything I know about it I know by absorption, from blog posts and friends' talk. But I know the Tears For Fears original was my favorite song for years of my adolescence, and that this version by Adam Lambert is totally worth listening to. Purchasing from iTunes. Putting on repeat.


(link in case the vid doesn't embed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyyESHqT9a4)

And in fact the way he sings "hide my head I wanna drown my sorrows" does funny things to my insides.

This is a re-do of the Gary Jules version, in fact, which version I hated. Adam converted me. In a big way.

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Now playing: Adam Lambert - Mad World
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Ethan's prayers rawk

Ethan just started family prayer like this:
"Our wonderful, dear, kind, gracious Heavenly Father..."
It made me smile. Because we could add all the positive adjectives and it wouldn't be nearly enough.

Ha! Ha! Hahahaha! Haha!

For Twilight fans only: I think this is my favorite Twilight spoof yet!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUba0WtH-SY

It's springtime!

Kids are playing outside, barefoot and without jackets. It snowed eight inches on Saturday, but who cares when it thaws so nicely on Sunday and Monday?

And just for fun, this classic Sesame Street video. :)

As far as I'm concerned...

Ethan's been trying to figure out for nearly a half hour, half of WHAT equals nine. I've explained it three different ways, and he just has to come up with it on his own in some way that makes sense to his little brain. It's a waiting game.

Finally he thought he'd get out teddy bear counters and get a pile and make half of it nine. That's very valid, so I waited. Finally triumphant, he came and scrawled 17 in the little square. "It's 17! Half of 17 is nine!"

"Nope," I said, "I'm afraid not."

His response? "Well as far as I'm concerned, it is." And he closed his math book and tried to put it away.

I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't stop him.

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Now playing: U2 - Cedars of Lebanon
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