Gung hay fat choy!!!

We have had a lot of fun learning about Chinese culture! Eli and Ella made a great wall and it was fascinating to learn how long the actual Great Wall of China was. Over 100 million people died making it! I can't even fathom that.

The kids have been earning Yuan (pronounced you-en) to spend at an Asian Mart.

We added listening to your elders for 3 yuan.

I've loved reading the Chinese fables with morals at the end. They are so profound!!!

Especially the one where 2 monks are standing by a river. A very rich and proud lady gets to the river and can't cross. 1 monk carries her across to which she doesn't even say thank you. Later the monks get to their home and the one monk says, "Why did you carry her? She was ungrateful and proud!!! I can't believe you would do that." to which the other monk replied, "I carried her across the river, why have you carried her all the way home."

A good lesson for me to not burden myself with anger and resentment!!

Last Saturday we spent at the Sparks library. While Eli was making friends and playing so kindly with his little sister, I got to through the cases and find tons of literary treasure!! It was funny because the Chinese New Year display they had, had 5 books. We grabbed 3 (one of which was Japanese). However, I was able to find 20 more in the shelves with careful perusing.

This was the girls favorite because they got to cook!!!! And there were great stories to go along with the recipes!! (Sidenote.... $25 later and 1 recipe out of 5 turned out. Practice makes perfect!!!)

Eli's rooster singing Adele's hello in Chinese with a rainbow microphone.

Gotta love creativity.

They have been reading nonstop!! I love it!!!

And of course we had to have dinner, with which they used chopsticks the entire meal!! Even the waitress was impressed!!! 

We picked up Tobi and headed to GSR for a kung foo performance and lion dance.

It was pretty spectacular (even if they started 30 minutes late)!!!

One man broke a solid metal strip on his head. It was nuts!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!!!

Doing the Dishes

The other day I was doing the dishes and Eli came over to me and said, "Mommy, you are really beautiful." It kinda made my day.

It wasn't when I was doing my hair. It wasn't when I was in a fresh outfit. It wasn't when I was putting on a pair of heels.

It was at a moment when I was serving.

My days are made up of seemingly inconsequential service, but he saw me. He truly saw me.

I don't do things for thanks. At the same time, I'm so grateful for children who are willing to thank me. Who compliment me and are so kind. It makes my life so much easier knowing that the little experiment of "homes on earth" is progressing. That I'm raising a son who is thoughtful. Who is free with his affection and liberal with his generous words.

Women's March 2017

Every morning on the way to school, I sing our Articles of Faith songs with my kids. Every. Single. Morning.

I want my children to know what I believe. I believe many things. I hope that the knowledge I have can help them in life, but more than that, I hope they discover their own belief and knowledge. That they can have a knowledge of truth and goodness for themselves.

So in the meantime, I try to provide as many opportunities for them as I can. We cannot judge one another. We must love. We must try our best to put ourselves in other people's shoes. And when we cannot, we must listen. We must hear and mourn with those who mourn. Show compassion, understanding, and help where we can.

When I woke up, I felt really gross (pink eye whatnot) but I knew that I couldn't just sit at home while this happened. Because I can march for the following. These are truly things I believe too.

We believe that Women’s Rights are Human Rights and Human Rights are Women’s Rights. We must create a society in which women - including Black women, Native women, poor women, immigrant women, disabled women, Muslim women, lesbian queer and trans women - are free and able to care for and nurture their families, however they are formed, in safe and healthy environments free from structural impediments. 

Women deserve to live full and healthy lives, free of all forms of violence against our bodies. We believe in accountability and justice in cases of police brutality and ending racial profiling and targeting of communities of color. It is our moral imperative to dismantle the gender and racial inequities within the criminal justice system.

We believe in Reproductive Freedom. We do not accept any federal, state or local rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on our ability to access quality reproductive healthcare services, birth control, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, or medically accurate sexuality education. This means open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people, regardless of income, location or education.  

We believe in an economy powered by transparency, accountability, security and equity. All women should be paid equitably, with access to affordable childcare, sick days, healthcare, paid family leave, and healthy work environments. All workers – including domestic and farm workers, undocumented and migrant workers - must have the right to organize and fight for a living minimum wage.

We believe Civil Rights are our birthright, including voting rights, freedom to worship without fear of intimidation or harassment, freedom of speech, and protections for all citizens regardless of race, gender, age or disability. We believe it is time for an all-inclusive Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  

We believe that all women’s issues are issues faced by women with disabilities and Deaf women. As mothers, sisters, daughters, and contributing members of this great nation, we seek to break barriers to access, inclusion, independence, and the full enjoyment of citizenship at home and around the world. We strive to be fully included in and contribute to all aspects of American life, economy, and culture.

Rooted in the promise of America’s call for huddled masses yearning to breathe free, we believe in immigrant and refugee rights regardless of status or country of origin.  We believe migration is a human right and that no human being is illegal.

We believe that every person and every community in our nation has the right to clean water, clean air, and access to and enjoyment of public lands. We believe that our environment and our climate must be protected, and that our land and natural resources cannot be exploited for corporate gain or greed - especially at the risk of public safety and health.

It might be the pink eye talking, but....

I think there comes a point in your life where, to put it crudely but well, shit just hits the fan.

Sometimes people share too much and I don't want to be that person.

But I want to be real.

I look at the gray skies and think, man, this is suffocating. This is so hard to be blanketed by cold. The sun neglects us, she turns her back on us and her rays are a distant memory. And then, divinely, the clouds part. And I can see her. She's there always, I just forget.

Is this life? Is this what life is all about? Sometimes I feel like I can't breath. Like all I do is swallow sorrow and eat abandonment.

I mourn a life I had. I wish desperately for a wish that may never come true.

I see in my mind the scene of a film, where people walk on a busy sidewalk, fast forwarded. You can't distinguish their faces, there are so many people. How do all these people live? So many different stories? How is it all possible that we are here together, all of the human race, at this time so unconnected? The nagging feeling of being alone when so many are around you.

Today my best friend called me. She comforted me. I cry even just thinking about it. And then I went about my day thinking how I wish I didn't have to burden her, even though I know she doesn't consider it a burden. One day I'll win the lotto for us Ram.

I'm not alone. And when I think of those so kind around me, I realize more than anything that there is a God. He loves me. There are so many of His angels here on earth doing His will. I just have to be better, try to be one of those angels, because happiness is when we're helping. I hope and pray I can be like those who lift me and carry me.

I read to Eli and Ella the story of the 10 virgins. Is my lamp full? Do I have backup oil? I do truly hope so.

I read to Christina and Maria a story about prayer. How God answers prayers, how he loves us. We felt so peaceful and full of love hearing those words. I told them to always remember God and that He would never leave them. If ever I could leave my children anything, I pray that it would be this knowledge. That they could know for themselves of a surety.

A good friend of mine left the church. His family too. His struggle breaks my heart. His sadness. The sadness of his wife. I wish I could help or do something.

What is the point of all this? I have pink eye and a head cold. It's bad weather and I just finished a super depressing book. So, never... really. NEVER read super depressing books (let alone about prostitutes who have no hope of a future when it was never their fault to begin with) when you feel bad enough as it is. And don't stay up late thinking that some late night writing session is going to make it all better. Also, don't break your camera. Because if you had a camera, then you could take pictures of all the happy things in your life. The things that go right and that consume your life with goodness. But with it broken, you have nothing but your words and bare soul.

And that is overshare.

But strangely. It's Ok.

A Prayer

Today I woke up and felt like a train had hit me. It was Sunday and Stake Conference.

The night before, I had gone with my dad and Joe to the adult session. My favorite part was hearing Joe pray. I had tears coming down my cheek. His words, his humble spirit.

Then in the morning, I just had no energy. But my sweet kids. Oh my goodness. My sweet kids decided to hold primary for their younger siblings so I could sleep. They set up a podium, had a stand for the music leader, set up chairs. Had individual classes. (And this was after bringing me morning tea in bed and something to eat and cleaning all the dishes.)

Very clearly I could hear them singing primary songs. My heart was very full to say the least.

Every single night I pray for my children that they will know God. That they will have a strong testimony of who Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are. That they will be kept safe from evil. That they will make good choices and be firm in their faith. That their faith will be strong and help them as they walk good paths.

I don't know what life will bring them, but I do know that if they find a love of God early on, that all will be well. That if they truly love God and put Father first in their lives, they will have comfort and peace.

In our Savior's sacred name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Flood of 2017

 

Too much snow and rain. The desert couldn't handle it. I don't think it was as bad as the flood of '97, but it is always humbling to see the power of nature.

It was pretty nasty, but we didn't lose power. La Posada was flooded and Pyramid south bound. That was crazy.

We were leaving church and had to go a completely different route because the roads were shut down. Very blessed we made it home OK. People are still dealing with the aftermath!! God watch over them.

 

Karma

 

Justin Timberlake wisely once sang, "What goes around comes around, comes around, comes around, goes back again."

 

In 5th grade I had a nervous problem and picked at my eyebrows.

 

Fast forward.

 

Eli was in the bathroom, found a razor and shaved his eyebrows. Because he's never seen us shave our eyebrows, but hey? Why not.

I really am grateful that he didn't accidentally cut himself. We are blessed.

But seriously.

Come on man.

 

Ladies Man indeed.

 

Wild Weather!!!

 

This winter has definitely been wet and cold!! We had a crazy week back to school with 2 snow days and 3 delayed start. Thank goodness we have proper snow gear!!!

The Annual Appetizer Party

 

Funny how my mom started us on the tradition of an appetizer party!

 

We had our time envelopes with fun things to do like:

bubble wrap run

fancy smoothies

save the bears (no hands in cool whip!)

bird feeders

blind contour drawings

 

The littles did great, but I put them down around 10 because we had church the next day. The girls and I stayed up reading Mockingjay and finished around 12:30.

 

We went outside for our neighbor's fireworks.

 

It was a good night!!

Fallon- Ringing in the 2017 New Year!!!

 

We cut it close, but were able to see most of the fireworks and of course... enjoy the burning!!!

 

This year we really loved "waterfall" fireworks. They were gorgeous.

There is just something so thrilling about fireworks.
We smiled the entire time!!

 

 

Fortunately, it wasn't quite as cold as last year!!!

 

The inner pyro in me wanted to dance around the bonfire and revel in the utter destruction. The fact that anything can be consumed and made into ash. How I longed to throw away the bad of 2016 and let it burn.

 

 

One of my favorite events of the year!!!!

Go figure.

Fallon.