The Little Things in Life

There has been a lot going on lately in our lives. Things that we are connected to but don't have to deal with continuously, but still affect us. Those things have made me stop and slow down for once and look around me. I have a habit of getting so wrapped up with my own life, my own little world that I forget the rest of the world for the most part, which is good...and bad.
Good because it helps me to block out all the bad in the world around me, with all the earthquakes, eruptions, murder and may-ham. I just can't watch the news anymore because it just makes me feel so depressed, scared and unsettled, but most of all out of control. I just can't fathom how people in government are so full of themselves that they can't even listen to each other. Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint and I have my moments but, come on people you are working for the good of others here.
The bad thing about getting caught up in my own little world is that I tend to focus too much on what I haven't done in my life. The person that I want to be and fail miserably at, the education I was going to get, etc.  I can't see what I truly have and find joy in the little things of life that I have all around me. But that has changed, at least for now, as I know I will start the cycle all over again no doubt but for now I will try to learn this lesson and be a little better than I was.
The first thing is that my father-in-law has been in Vancouver, BC for the Winter Olympics. With him there it has just brought into my mind how great it is to be a Canadian.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to live in the U.S. It is a wonderful country and I am so grateful for the freedoms that it provides. I just am getting so sick and tried of the politics. I hate politics. I don't talk politics because I always end up in a no win situation. It is not something I even talk to my husband about because we never can see things from each others point of view.  Please no comments about Canada, because I refuse to acknowledge them. As many things in life, it is not black and white, good or bad, better or best, just different.  
The second thing that has happened is that my sister-in-law Liz had her baby the first part of the month. She had some complications with her delivery and the baby has been in the NICU for three weeks now. I feel so bad for them and what they are going through. My heart goes out to them and I am just grateful that I have 3 health and happy children that have never had any big medical problems (knock on wood).
Finally, my husbands great uncle Dick just passed away not too long ago. Dick was and is a wonderful man. Every time I saw him he was smiling. You could tell he loved his family terribly and I always felt accepted by him as part of it. I am very blessed to have met and known a man such as he. My heart and prayers continue to go out to him and his family.
So I have looked around and seen how truly blessed I am. I have three wonderful children that drive me crazy because of how strong willed they are, but I am so happy that they are. With that hardheadedness comes the ability to stand up for what is right. They each have great personalities and they make me smile everyday.
I have a wonderful husband who I love more than life. He is a huge dork, but he makes me laugh continually. He is a big kid but that makes him the best kind of father to my children. He sells himself short all the time but I see the character and goodness that is within him. The lessons of "how to be" that he is passing down to our children by his example.  I am so blessed to call myself his wife. I have become a better person because of him.
So do yourself a favor take the time to turn on some music and dance with a child. It is so freeing and so worth the time. It will make your day so much better because I know it has made mine.

The "Pre" Season

It seems like we have been doing a lot of "pre" stuff lately, which make me come to the realization that things are going to be changing once again very soon.
Sunday, Ethan and I went to his "Great to be 8" presentation. For those who don't know, it is a presentation given to fill kids and parents in on what they need to do to prepare for baptism, cub scouts, etc. I think Ethan thought "Great to be 8" was going to be something different and was very disappointed that it was another meeting in his eyes, but was very excited for Cub Scouts once he heard he got to go on camp outs. We even got his baptism date and time: December 4, 2010 at 4pm. I know it is 10 mouths away but when each ward has a set time on the 1st Saturday of each month it is pretty easy. Ethan is the only one in the ward with that date so we get to put together the whole program. So mark your calendars and be prepared to participate.
We also just got the packet in the mail with all the paperwork for Holly to start Kindergarten this fall. The "Kindergarten Round Up" as they call it, is on March 12th. That is when we will register her for school, take the tour of the school and meet all the teachers. She has to have all of her shots before we can register her so we have an appointment with her doctor for tomorrow morning. She hates shots but she is willing to go so she can go to school.
Holly keeps asking me if "today is her last day of preschool? Am I going to Kindergarten tomorrow?" She is so excited and just doesn't understand why she can't start right now.
Mason will be old enough to start preschool in the fall (barely) but I think we might wait until January 2011 to start him. He is talking a lot but it is not always clear enough to understand and I didn't think that he was going to be ready to potty train this summer. I might be wrong about that. He keeps going into the bathroom, stripping down to nothing and sitting on the potty all by himself. Mind you, it is often after the fact but he is making the effort all on his own so I think we are on our way.
What is boils down to is my kids are growing up far to fast. That once you start getting used to something, it always changes. I'm getting old and my kids are starting a really fun time in their lives. I want them to slow down and enjoy their childhood but they are all too ready to be "big". That is the way life goes, eh? I'm just not sure if I'm ready for it yet.