What would you do if you didn't technically have a back yard and the little patch of grass behind your home was neglected and homely? Well I can tell you what we did today but I think the pictures will speak for themselves. On a sidenote: Ryanna made the most of her picnic time as she called it and it was adorable to watch Quinten "help" Brian prep, plant, and water the flowers. We all had a blast!!
I'm not at all happy about that last post although I was asking for it by posing for the picture. Also, I know the only reason I am ticked is I truly do have a disfunctional relationship with sugar............Good thing Bri is so darn cuddly and cute or I would have to teach him a lesson. -Kristin
Ryanna and her buddy Benson like to play just alike. I felt exhausted just watching them run around the park!! They sure were two cute little friends. FYI: Benson is also known as Harry Potter and more often than not has his "Perry Potter" glasses on. So I don't know what YOU do at the park but this is what these kids did today.
Here is my modern day hero. I heard about her blog a few months ago (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). Here is a WORTHY rolemodel for women of all ages. Her body is severly burned and scarred yet she is among the MOST beautiful women on earth. My favorite quote from this video is when she says, "I am not my body." She knows who she is and lives with a purpose. Women: if you don't believe she is anything special just watch the way her husband looks at her. The light of Christ radiates from her and there is no doubt that she is so much more than the scarred, aching body she resides in.
This week I read about a popular fitness guru who said she never plans on having children because of what it would do to her body. I pity this woman. She will never know the joy of giving your heart, hands, body, sleep, strength, and last ounce of energy to another human being; a precious baby sent from a Heavenly Father on loan to your arms. Yes, there are many important things we can do with our lives and not everyone is meant to be parents BUT a woman's body and all it is capable of is something to be celebrated not feared! No matter how much we exercise, moisterize, and otherwise cling to the fountain of youth it simply does not exist. The body will age, it will crumble, it will die, and it will decay. A life focused only on outward beauty will have nothing to take with them when they die.
I am forever grateful to have a mother who ALWAYS taught me in word and by example that my worth had everything to do with my heart and nothing to do with my body. I can only hope to accomplish a fraction of what my mother has. She did not have a career though she now has time to think about that. She did not spare her body (as only a woman with 6 children-one coming after age 40 can understand). She gave and gave and gave her heart, mind, and soul to my father and the six children they created and raised together. Now I understand it wasn't an easy road but they fought through the storms together. No career or bikini worthy body can compare to that. She is a woman who in the eternities will be surrounded by hundreds and thousands of people who love and cherish her and can never repay her for all she did.
From my mother I know that NOTHING makes me more beautiful than my privelage to be a mother. As Stephanie Nielson said, "Beauty and Motherhood are One."
(This is part of a letter I sent out to Brian's family and it is as close as I'll get to writing an update anytime soon. Enjoy!)
Ryanna turned three in February and seems to be growing up in different ways daily. Upon turning three she decided it was time to use the potty and hasn't had one problem. Considering the fight she had put up I was shocked but someone had told her when she turned 3 big girls use pottys and that was that. She loves to sing and lately "dance". She likes to make up songs and often cracks me up with her versions of "Good morning Merry Christmas(Sunshine)" and "Once there was a Bleed(snowman)". She loves musicals, just like her mom, and knows every word to every song on Mary Poppins. She enjoys nursery at church and I think is ready for Sunbeams but has to wait until 2011. In fact, Quinten will be in nursery with her for several months before she is in primary. She knows most of the primary songs already and will be a great help to the primary kids. I've subbed many times for the chorister this year in primary and it surprises me how many songs they don't know. Ryanna continues to love books and "reading". She tries to sound out words and has several she has memorized and can spell. She asks when she can go to school so I am working on getting a preschool group together that I would team teach. She is also into sports and is honestly more coordinated than I am. Her favorite part of day is when dad gets home and she can play baseball, catch, and soccer. So I guess she is a good blend of both Brian and I. :)
Quinten is a busy little boy and brings so much joy to our family. He turned 1 this month and is finally sleeping better at night which is a blessing. He started taking steps in January but is now finally a sufficient walker. Now he tries to run around and is back to getting bruises and owies. He is also a jabber box although doesn't use specific words much yet. He addresses each family member by name: Dada, Mama, Nana(Ryanna) and is good at pointing at what he wants or just getting it himself. His favorite thing to do is play with Ryanna which is a hazard he hasn't yet realized. She usually doesn't intentially hurt him but it does end up that way too often. The last few days I've noticed some progress and Ryanna has shown more concern about Quinten's safety and runs to Mom or Dad to get help rather than fix a situation herself. Quinten is a good climber and loves to empty cupboards, bang pans, and "help" when mom is loading or unloading the dishwasher. He's showing more personality and will growl when frustrated and smile/laugh/jabber/clap/wave at the smallest prompting. He waves now all the time and tries to get anyone and everyones attention in Walmart. He enjoys story time with Mom before bedtime and will even sit with Ryanna and let her point things out to him in their books. We are blessed to have this positive little boy in our family.
Life has been much busier the last few months. Brian started coaching girls softball and quickly learned it would be even more demanding than coaching football; three times as many games and road trips multiple times each week. He is a wonderful coach and has been a great role model for the team. The schedule has been difficult to keep up with though. We went with him to a tournament last month in Grand Junction and made it a fun little family getaway. Brian has also continued working on his Masters degree on top of everything else and will tentatively be finished in December which will be a great accomplishment and relief. A few months ago we looked into buying some real estate in Ohio and Brian even flew out to Cincinnati to see it. In the end we decided not to go ahead with it - too far for us to make worthwhile we decided. Brian still has such a love for Cincinnati so hopefully we'll find a way to connect with that area again. Brian is also enjoying the Jazz playing well in the playoffs and I pray they make it past the Lakers this next round. Brian loves his sport teams so much and it will be nice to see one go far in the playoffs.
My life has also become busier. As Quinten gets older and more mobile I find it even harder to get the little things done. I am on the county Literacy Commission and also continue to lead a library "tot n' mom" story time twice a month. The kids love the group time, songs, activities, and books. I've started taking the kids to a "Wiggles and Giggles" music group twice a month. Last week Ryanna led the singing time teaching the kids her favorite action songs: Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes, Happy-Frowny Face, If You're Happy and You Know It, etc. Quinten just enjoys running around while we sing. I try to take the kids to the park everyday though the weather has not been cooperating lately. I made some business contacts and have started working from home doing data entry and writing a newsletter. So far it has been good. We'll see with time.
Hope all is well with you!!!
