A Final Personal Reflection on 2010

What a year this has been.  Sweetie and I joke with each other as we watch fireworks every New Years Eve that in two weeks, we'll be barbecuing and watching 4th of July fireworks from our balcony.  It doesn't seem like a joke anymore.  The speed of time increases with each year and for the life of me, I can't figure out why, or how to slow it down (let alone stop it).  My babies aren't babies, and they are reaching milestones I thought was centuries away.  My oldest is now working hard to obtain her Young Womanhood medallion so that she can obtain her learners permit in a year.  (A YEAR!!!!)  My oldest son is now a priesthood holder and we're looking at our final year of Cub Scouts with our youngest child.  (Personally, I won't be sad to see that one go.....).
All of these milestones have made me realize I need to figure out who I am beyond Mom, which is why I'm back in school.  I love the fact that I'm learning so much and that the things I'm learning will hopefully benefit many children besides my own.  I also love that when I work hard, put my priorities in the right order, I CAN do well in school.
One of my personal highlights this year was getting a 100% on a Geometry test.  (I didn't have to do any proofs, which is why I did so well.  I'm no help to my daughter in this field as she is taking Honors Geometry...poor girl.)  The other highlight is getting an A- in my Anatomy and Physiology class.  I worked sooooo hard and to have that hard work pay off is immensely satisfying.  I am most grateful to my Heavenly Father for His help in this class.  I had many priesthood blessings, and made sure that I read my scriptures and took care of my church responsibilities BEFORE I would study and I'm absolutely convinced that is what made all the difference.
One thing I've also learned this year is that my Heavenly Father loves me.  I have had to rely on Him more than ever with my calling and as I've turned to Him in prayer (sometimes in overwhelming tears), I know He heard me and that His hand is evident in all that I do.  I have seen that more keenly than ever and for that, I am grateful.
I am so grateful to be surrounded by a supportive husband and children, and good women who are such fabulous examples of grace, spirituality, motherhood and womanhood.
I look back and I know that I am not the person I was when 2010 started.  I'm more sure in my testimony of my Savior and more determined to serve Him because of all He has done for me.  I'm a better student of both secular and scriptural works.  The Spirit speaks to me and all I have to do is listen.  Just be still and listen.  (Unlike my husband and dog right now....they're playing and she's barking her heart out.  They're not being very still.)  Time with my family has become even more precious than ever and I do whatever I can to protect that time.
So here's to 2010...all the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful moments.  Hopefully the bad and the ugly moments will fade from my memory and the good and the beautiful moments will become even sweeter with time as I look back on them fondly.  2011 no doubt holds many adventures for me and my family and I hope to report that I'm not the same person at the end of 2011 as when I started the year.  That means that I'm progressing and becoming who my Heavenly Father sees I can be.
Happy New Year all!

Peterson Family 2010

Top Five Favorite News Stories of 2010

As a former journalism student, I used to think of myself as a news junkie.  Frankly, I don't have time for that anymore.  I do well to glance at an AP headline as I'm scanning the internet for homework or church information.  I watch the news when I can, but I have to filter it so that my children don't get a headful of doom, gloom and smut that makes the news these days.  There's always bad news, but I want to focus on the good things, the news items that made my heart smile and gives me hope in the future and my fellow man.  Here's what caught my attention this past year....

5.  New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl
This is something that this city desperately needed after the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.  It's taken so long for them to recover, and it will take years still until they're fully functioning.  But this was a fairy-tale story for a group of people who needed the boost.  Good on them, I say.

4.  The Winter Olympics in Vancouver
I always love watching the Olympics, beit Summer or Winter games; from curling and speed skating in the Winter Games, to the marathon and gymnastics of the Summer Games.  I'm a sucker for the backstories of the athletes and I root for underdogs and cheer for the USA (sometimes those are the same things!).  My favorite sport this past Olympics was watching the snowboarders fly through the air, twisting and turning and challenging gravity.  Simply awesome, dude.

3.  Chilean Mine Rescue
When I first heard that these miners were trapped this past summer and that they would be stuck underground for months, I was convinced that they couldn't possibly survive that long down there.  Either the mine would collapse, or they would run out of supplies, or they would just drive each other crazy and kill one another.  Miraculously, none of those things occurred.  So, as each miner was brought to the surface, it was another evidence that God is in control and that our time to meet Him is appointed by Him and no one else.

2.  World Cup Soccer in Africa
Our house LOVES World Cup soccer, and now that we have a big screen TV to watch it on, it was even better.  I love the sportsmanship, and the goodwill that seems to flow at the matches.  We rooted on the US as they took on the manky Brits and although we lost, it was a fun match to watch.  I hate that it happens only once every four years....couldn't we do something like what they've done with the Olympics?  Every two years?  (And yes, I did download a vuvuzela app just to fit in with the crowd noise.  Absolutely irritating, but fun.)

1.  Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case
I realize that this is a case about something terrible and horrible that happened to a little girl, but to see her stand up with grace and dignity and determination that this will not define her is nothing short of amazing.  She is proof that you can survive unspeakable things and not turn out bitter and angry.  She chose to be better, and not bitter.  She is truly an example to me and I hope the Lord blesses her as she continues to deal with these issues in the future.

Top Five Favorite Gadget/Techie Things of 2010

I don't think of myself as a tech/gadget guru (as you'll see later), but there are some things that I used this year that I won't live without from now on.  They're just that cool!  So here goes.....

5.  Rival Crockpot
Yeah, this isn't a new one, but as my church responsibilities have increased, as well as the intensity of the classes I've been taking, I've found myself relying on Mr. Crockpot more and more.  My family loves him, too.  I get to make healthy meals ahead of time for my family, which helps our waistlines AND Mr. Checkbook, too.  (Mr. Checkbook and I are often at odds with one another, but that's a story for another day....)

4.  Mac AirPort
I'm an Apple girl.  I grew up Mac and for the years that we had a PC, I longed to be back where I belonged....with Mac.  We finally got our Mac Mini about four years ago and I've never been happier.  When I went back to school, it became apparent that we needed a second computer to share in order to have everyone get their homework done in a timely manner.  We were lucky enough to have one of Sweetie's tutoring families GIVE us another Mac Mini a year ago.  But we needed a way to link to the internet and to the other computer wirelessly.  So, we purchased some cheap router, thinking it would serve our purposes.  Wrong-o.  Within a few months, I was having to reset the dumb thing constantly.  I should have known better, but Mr. Checkbook hung over me.  I gave Mr. Checkbook the what-for and purchased a Mac AirPort.  It has worked flawlessly and I once again am in love with Mac.

3.  Roku
No, it's not a Chinese noodle dish.  It's how we stream movies and music to our TV (the one Sweetie got for his birthday....).  We love Netflix and I've wanted to be able to watch movies and TV shows on our television and not just the computer, so I asked for this for my birthday and my wish was granted.  I love it.  It was super easy to set up and we get all our Netflix shows and Pandora music streamed instantly.  I know that Netflix streams through many different gaming systems, but we have a PS2 and that's upstairs where the kids hang out and play.  I'm very happy with where it's at and what it does.

2.  Shutterfly
Since my free time is limited, I need to be able to preserve our family memories as fast as possible.  Scrapbooking takes time and paper and embellishments and glue and money...things that I just don't have a lot of anymore.  Shutterfly allows me to upload our pictures and turn them into books fast.  If you take into account the time and money it takes to purchase all those things for a scrapbook, it all evens out  (at least to me).  I highly recommend them.  It's awesome!

1.  iPhone
I used to mock those who had the iPhone.  I thought they were costly to get and then you have to have a data package with it....costly to maintain, too!  Sweetie found one by the side of the road as he was running one morning earlier this year (that's the absolute truth!) and after trying to find it's owner, I claimed it.  I used it as an iPod touch for a while, loving it's convenience.  Then AT&T changed their data package pricing and I turned it into an iPhone.  I will never go back.  It's the original iPhone, so there's not a lot of storage, but it has me totally hooked.  I've warned Sweetie that when this one dies, I WILL be buying a new iPhone, Mr. Checkbook be darned.  I've got my music, internet, ward stuff, and phone all in one slick package.  I'll say it again.  I love Mac and I'm a Mac girl.

Top Five Favorite Girly Items of 2010

I freely admit that I'm a girly girl.  I love makeup, hair products, and bath and body stuff.  There are a few products that I discovered this past year that I just love.  Some are splurges and some are drugstore items.  But all of these won my heart this past year.

5.  LUSH Porridge Soap
This soap smells like oatmeal on a fall morning and it's all I can do not to eat it.  I love how it lathers, how it's scrubby (beware the seeds at the bottom of the shower...they get everywhere!), and how it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry.  Divine stuff!

4.  Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Facial Moisturizer
I have finally come across a moisturizer that does what it should without breaking my skin out.  I'm in my 30s for crying out loud....zits are for my teenagers, not me!  This stuff is natural and wonderful.  It can be a little heavy for daytime use, so I use it at night only.

3.  MAC eyeshadow in Grain
Rarely do I use the same eyeshadow two days in a row, but this is the perfect nude shade that I can use as a base or on it's own in a neutral look.  It has a slight sheen to it and I use this daily.  This is one that I've repurchased...which means it's a definite keeper!

2.  Bliss Body Butter in Blood Orange + White Pepper
This is a definite splurge, but it smells sooooooo good and is a great all over moisturizer.  Don't let the White Pepper part fool you, it smells like oranges and is heavenly!  Since it is a splurge, I use it once a week after I've used a sugar scrub (I make my own!) in the shower.  My skin is so soft and smooth....lovely!

1.  John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Illuminating Shine Shampoo and Conditioner
I've finally found a shampoo and conditioner that thoroughly cleans and conditions my hair without weighing it down.  Whenever I use this, I almost always have a good hair day, AND it's not too pricey! I do color my hair (those grays are NOT welcome on my head), and it does not strip away the color.  My hair feels absolutely silky with this stuff.

Top Five Favorite Family Moments of 2010

2010 was a year of struggle for our family.  Financially, it could have been disastrous.  I'm firmly convinced that our dedication to our callings, each other, and the Lord, as well as paying our tithing saved us.  We also struggled as I continued my education.  The balance between family and school is a fine one for all of us but we stayed committed to each other.  Needless to say, I'm glad to see the year go and look forward to more good to come in 2011.  But I'll give 2010 props.  There's plenty to look back on and smile at.  So, without further ado, here are my top five Peterson Family Moments of 2010.

5.  Watching Noodle continue to bloom, grow and develop.
He amazes me.  His personality emerges more with each passing year and to see where he is now as opposed to where he was a year ago, brings me such joy.

4.  Our family vacation this summer.
We kept it simple, just a five day trip to Utah/Idaho where we saw family and friends.  As much as I hate driving in the car, I love being with my husband and kids.  We went to Lagoon and Hogle Zoo.  Simple simple things can bring such great memories and joy.

3.  Mundo turning 12 and receiving the priesthood on his birthday.
I don't know how much more proud I could have been of my oldest son on that day.  Turning 12 is such a huge milestone and he is turning into a terrific young man (my parenting skills notwithstanding).  In the seven months since then, he has truly started to become a young adult and I figure that by the time he's 13.....he'll be taller than me.  *sigh*

2.  Anner making it into the All-District Middle School Wind Ensemble.
This was something that definitely challenged her, from the audition to the performance.  I was so proud to see her finally not back down from something that was hard.  She is such a bright girl and many things come easy to her and if it's not, she just walks away from it.  But I told her that she would have a lot of fun doing this and she'd look back and be proud of her accomplishment.  So she rose to the challenge, and did it.  Definitely a Proud Momma Moment for me.

1.  Scott's 40th birthday gift reaction.
I saved and saved and plotted and planned for a year to pull this one off.  You only turn 40 once, right?  So his gift was one that our whole family has loved and enjoyed (although he's LOVING watching sports on this): a 46" high definition flat screen television.  But his reaction was classic and one that is the highlight of my year.  The one thing I didn't catch on video was his questioning how much we owed on it and when I told him it was paid for, free and clear.....he was equally as shocked.  Yes, I CAN save money when I want to.

Christmas 2010

 'Twas the end of the year and all through the Peterson house 

Not a creature was stirring, just Scott on eBay and the computer mouse. 

The stockings were all hung on our staircase with care

In hopes that our cats will leave them there! 

The kids were all nestled, all snug in their beds, 

While visions of Christmas dreams come true danced in their heads.

Venessa had just climbed into bed and soon fell asleep

After studying and housekeeping and helping Relief Society peeps.

When off downstairs arose such a clatter 

It's surprising not everyone arose with a chatter! 

Scott came running, finding paper in flight 

As Venessa was trying to keep quiet in the night. 

The moon shone through the window telling us it was late 

"Keep it down!" called Venessa, "or the kids will awake!" 

When what did our wondering eyes doth behold? 

But a Christmas letter finally finished in bold! 

With so many paragraphs about a year of activities. 

Lots of wonderful stories about ourselves, the busy Petey’s. 

More words than a dictionary showed up on the papers. 

Venessa whistled and whispered as she read through the capers, 

"Scott started a business but sadly it went south,

But hopes of a revival still come from his mouth.

Venessa studied and worked hard in school

And now as Relief Society president, prayer is her tool! 

Bri started high school and seminary, too.

But getting up to leave at 5:30 a.m. Is really hard to do.

Zac got the priesthood on his 12th birthday

He also went to his first dance this year, hooray!

Now on Venessa read, about Devvin in fourth grade, 

While math may give him fits, when he reads to the class, he is unafraid!

Venessa read on about family trips in the summer

Seeing family and friends was not a bummer. 

Scott and Venessa realized how fast the year flew by

The kids are growing so fast, that we cannot deny. 

The printer finished its work and we looked at each other at last

2010 with it’s ups and downs was quite a blast!

2011 holds many exciting things to see and do

We’ll keep in touch and hope you will, too! 

 As we close this letter we want you to know

That we love you and miss you and our good wishes to you flow

We know He lives and His love for us has no end.

Our flaws and broken hearts one day He will mend.

So now the story ends with the words that are famous to write,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

A Great Helper

That's what my nine-year-old told me I was tonight as he hauled the upstairs bathroom laundry down the stairs and I followed behind him, bathroom towels in arms.  It's his week to bring down the Boys and Upstairs Bathroom laundry on Monday night and again tonight.
But his chore assignment this week is beside the point.
The point is that he is thankful for little things and recognizes when others do something nice for him, and is quick to give praise.
I didn't grow up that way.
That's not to say my parents were overbearing ogres that never expressed any emotion.  I knew my parents loved me and since I am the oldest of twelve, there were many household responsibilities that fell on me when my parents were not home.  (In hindsight, they were gone nearly every Saturday....no doubt to restore sanity to my poor mother.  I don't blame her one bit for that, do you?)  And I dutifully passed the buck on some of them to my younger siblings.  My sister Monique got stuck with the cooking.  But I digress.
However, my parents rarely said thank you for whatever I or my siblings had done, rarely praised us for a job well done.  It was just expected and that was that.  But I craved their praise, to know that they appreciated my efforts, to hear that I had done what they needed me to.  I think I still do in a way.  (I'm pretty sure I won't need therapy for it, though.)
But praise and gratitude is something that I am raising my children with.  I want them to hear that I appreciate when they help me the first time I ask, when they do something extra to help lighten my load.  They have picked up on that habit and regularly express thanks to each other when assistance is given.   I praise my children when they deserve it, but I also scold when they let me down, and I don't praise mediocrity.

When I'm gone from this existence, I want my children to hear my praises and thanks in their hearts.  And I hope they pass it down to their children as a legacy of love.

Count Your Many Blessings

Since there are 25 days in November until Thanksgiving (including the Big Turkey Day), my post will consist of 25 things that I'm thankful for.  Some are great big huge, some are small.  Some are serious, and some are superficial.  But they are just a sampling of what I've been blessed with.  It's a good exercise for me to remember how truly charmed my life has turned out to be.  These are in no particular order, just so I don't offend some blessings more than others.  All blessings are important, each in their own way.

1.  My husband.  He's my best friend, my co-chair, my partner, my support, my cheerleader, my worthy priesthood holder, my everything.  So many of my other blessings are the direct result of my marriage to him.

2.  My children.  They are my refiner's fire.  I just hope that I'm teaching them as much as I'm learning from them.

3.  My parents.  They instilled so many good things in me and I hope that I live up to their expectations.
4.  My brothers and sisters.  It was a crazy household to grow up in with so many of us, but I love them all.  They keep me grounded.
5.  My friends.  There are many good people in my life that help and love and support me.  I love learning new things about parenting and being a good person from them.
6.  The gospel and the knowledge that I have that families are forever, that Jesus is the Christ, and that my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.
7.  The internet.  It keeps me in touch with so many people so quickly.  I don't know how people before this age could keep up via snail mail.  That takes up so much time!
8.  My iPhone.  I know.  This one is superficial.  But now that I've tasted Cell Phone Heaven, I'll never go back.

9.  Golden Spoon frozen yogurt.  It gives me a reason to get through the week and starts my weekend on a very sweet, yummy note.

10.  My husband's employment.  We're so lucky to have him teaching where he is and that he is able to provide enough for our family so that I can be a stay at home mom and student.
11.  Education.  I love going to school.  I don't love the tests or the stress that comes with that, but I love learning.

12.  My car.  I'm not fond of the fact that I drive the Mommy-mobile, but it is a very reliable vehicle, and it accommodates our family when we go on vacations.  Plus it's paid for.

13.  Water.  It's my drink of choice.  There's nothing else that will completely quench my thirst, plus it's good for me.
14.  Fruit.  Raw fruit.  Total yumminess.

15.  Yoga.  I've practiced yoga for five years now and I love that it makes me strong and healthy without being completely exhausted.
16.  My health.  This is becoming more important as I get older.  I'm glad to be healthy with relatively few health concerns.
17.  Modern medicine.  This is what helps me stay healthy and deal with the conditions that I have.

18.  My blankie.  I love climbing into bed with my heavy blankie on me.  The weight of it is so comforting to me and I fall asleep quickly with it.  (Yes, I realize I'm a grown woman.  Get over it.  I love my blankie.)
19.  Music.  I love many kinds of music and there are many songs that I have marked the milestones in my life by.  I wish I had my Life Soundtrack playing all the time.  I also have my parents to thank for the music in my life.

Vertical Horizon

20.  Heating and air conditioning.  As a typical human, the temperature is rarely perfect for me and so I'm thankful for the modern conveniences that help me stay comfortable.  (As long as I get to use my blankie to sleep.)
21.  Peanut butter and chocolate.  'Nuff said.
22.  Date night with my husband.  Our lives are so busy that we don't get to connect and get on the same page as often as I'd like.  It's Date Night that keeps us sane and keeps us together.
23.  Make up.  Another superficial blessing, but it helps me feel beautiful and it hides my many imperfections.

24.  Food.  I love it more than I should, but I'm grateful for all of it.  Except okra.  I don't like okra.
25.  My home.  It's cozy, it fits our family perfectly and I would rather be at home than anywhere else.

It's the little things that sometimes are huge

I was helping Noodle do his homework the other day when he did something amazing.  He wanted to clarify a word, so he looked in his science book, found it, and made sure it was the right answer.  No big deal for a typical fourth-grader, right?  No big deal.  My Noodle, however, is no typical boy and what he did was a HUGE deal.  Noodle has autism.  He is high functioning, which means that he is slightly behind his peers and is mainstreamed into his class and does not need to be in a separate learning environment.  He excels in reading aloud.  You should hear him read a story.  He does it with feeling and gives the different characters in the text different voices.  It's a pleasure to listen to.  But he struggles with math (like most kids) and reading comprehension.  The issue he deals with the most is trying to think 'outside the box.'  He can tell you what a character did, but not how the person may have felt, or how different choices made in the story could have changed the ending.  He doesn't quite have the ability to solve a problem if the steps aren't laid out in front of him.  If he can't figure it out, he'll just sit there, quietly and not do anything.  Worse yet, he'll just give up and wait for someone (usually me) to give him the answer.  I try not to do that, but there are times when it's just faster to give him the answer so he can move on in homework.  So when he went and looked up the word in his science book ON HIS OWN, it was nothing short of a miracle.  I'm grateful that Noodle's autism isn't worse.  I've seen parents and couples with severely autistic children struggle to cope with their child's disability.  It's hard knowing that your child will most likely depend on you for the rest of their life.  I don't think that Noodle will be that way.  He's making big strides in his progress and I hope that one day, he'll be able to go to college, serve a mission, and find a special girl who will see the good soul that he is, and marry her in the temple.  Those times are still far away, so for now, I'll find joy in these little moments that show he's going to be o.k.

Oh, yeah....he's going to be a 'Thinker' someday!

Musings on Conference

This past weekend was a great one for me personally, and for my family.  It was General Conference.  This is the first Conference weekend that our family has not been together, but it was for a fabulous reason.

Mundo turned 12 years old this past spring and is now able to attend the Priesthood session of Conference. Sweetie has promised for years that when our boys turn 12, he will take them up to Salt Lake City to attend the Priesthood session live.  Well, they did just that.  Their weekend began with a trip up to Logan to see Utah State stomp BYU (being Aggie alum....we were thrilled with the victory!), and then to my parents house in Idaho to spend the night.  They then traveled to Salt Lake, ran a few errands, and then went to the stand by window of the Conference Center to see if they could luck into some tickets.  A wonderful, kind gentleman had two extra and gave them to my guys.  The seats were fabulous!  They were off to one side, but a mere 50 from the podium!  It was a great experience for them spiritually, and also as father and son.  They're already planning for next years trip....

(Picture of the two of them will be forthcoming.......)

As for me, I've been struggling mightily with all of the responsibilities that I have.  Some of them I have by choice.  Others have been placed on me.  But the past two weeks have been stressful, and I have found that inside, I'm not truly happy.  Sure, life is crazy and I feel often overwhelmed, but deep down, I have always had a satisfaction in what I'm doing.  But now it's missing.  I prayed that during Conference, I would find an answer, a way that I could find happiness and fulfillment in all that I do, despite the pressures that come with a busy schedule.  I know that happiness is a choice.  I can't buy it, eat it, wash it, or clean it.  I have to choose it.
I listened to Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk (actually several times), and discovered what I'm missing out on.  He listed four important relationships that we have to pay attention to.  The one I've been lacking is my relationship with ME.  I've been careful to maintain my relationship with my Heavenly Father, to read His word and listen to His promptings.  I've also tried to fulfill my calling to the best of my ability.  I've continued to do all I can to support my husband and to raise and nuture my sweet children.  But the one person I've not paid any attention to is me.  I've been so wrapped up in church, family, home, and school, that I honestly don't have time to take time for me.  That was my 'ah-ha!' moment.
I still am not sure how to squeeze in time for me.  I certainly know I can't have hours to do that, but it's always the little things that make the biggest difference.  Like blogging here right now.  The house is quiet (a rare moment indeed!), and I could be doing homework.  But I choose to do something that I WANT to do.  Not something I NEED to do.  Maybe - just maybe - I'll find my way back into my own good graces again.  20 minutes at a time.

If you could see what I see....

I had a wonderful, tender moment with my oldest son, Mundo, the other night.  It had been a very long Sabbath day of church meetings and responsibilities for me.  As I got home from everything that night, my husband informed me that Mundo had decided to not try out for the trumpet section leader position in his middle school band.  Sweetie told me that he had a very stern talk with our son and that he was very disappointed in his decision.  I wearily trudged up the stairs, and firmly called to Mundo to get out of bed and meet me in my room.  As he came in, words came into my mouth that were not there 90 seconds earlier.  I told him that he is my son, and he is very capable of being section leader.  Mundo began to cry, and with tears in my own eyes, I shared with him a part of his baby blessing.  In that blessing, Sweetie blessed him to be a leader in his community.  I told him that NOW is the time for him to step up and be a leader.  He needs to do this now, and not to quit.  Mundo continued to cry and gave me a hug.  He said, "Thanks for believing in me."

Mundo - Fall 2009

Sometimes, our children just can't see who they really are.  It's up to us as parents to help them see what we see in them, and more importantly, what Heavenly Father sees in them.  He can see even more than we can.  It's also nice sometimes to just hear that your mom thinks that you're good enough.
 And I know that he is.

I am.....

I've been on a kick the past few days watching small vignettes on the Mormon Messages YouTube channel.  Watching them has left me feeling inspired, proud, and more confident in who I am.  So, Kind Reader, here's my own "I'm a Mormon" ad....

I'm a full time mother, and wife and have been so for the past 14 years.  But life doesn't always go the way you expect it to and after having an 'ah-ha!' moment two years ago, I decided that it was time to go back to school.  I love my children and I adore my husband and I relished (most of the time) the opportunity I have had to care for my family and home.  But I realized that my time to take care of them is waning and I needed to find what my other purpose in life is.  So, after having majored in Journalism before having children, I decided that being a writer wasn't quite what I needed to do.  I want to continue caring for children, and so, I'm a Nursing major.  It's been hard to juggle my studies and my responsibilities to my family.  There have been times when at the end of a long day, I just crumple on the floor of my closet and have a good cry.  But when I've let it all out, I get up, and I know that God is right there with me, urging me on....and the next day is always better.  I love going to school, learning about the amazing creation that the human body is.  I also love that I'm setting an example for my children that education is soooo important.  We get to commiserate about upcoming tests and assignments.  It's a great way to bond with my kids.

My name is Venessa.  I'm a mother.  I'm a wife.  I'm super organized.  I'm a student.  And I'm a Mormon.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.....

Sometimes life just keeps throwing curveballs at me, just to see if I've learned to expect anything and depend on nothing.  Obviously not.  I get my heart set to go in one direction, knowing that's the way I'm supposed to head, and a bump gets me all tripped up, discouraged and frustrated.  All of this over an additional class that I discovered I HAVE to take before I take any Chemistry classes next year.  Just one class.  A math class that is the most basic of classes offered at my university.  But this news comes at a time when life in general is very complicated.  I feel like I'm dancing a very delicate dance, walking a tightrope, and juggling china all at the same time.  One misstep, one momentary lapse in concentration, and everything, including me, comes crashing to the ground.  Can I do all of this?  Of course I can.  In a few  years, this will all be a brief memory and the day-to-day chaos will all be (mostly) forgotten.  But for now....on this day....it's just hard.

I need a treat.

This is who I need to be.....

How to learn a new language in 7 days....

The new semester has started for me and the only class I'm taking is Anatomy and Physiology. I knew from the start that this class would be difficult and that many hours would be spent memorizing and remembering (that's the tricky part) all of the information. I had my first lab class today in conjuction with the lecture and discovered (much to my horror) that I have to memorize all the surface parts of the body (using correct anatomical terms, like nasal instead of nose), all of the different regions and planes, as well as being able to correctly identify various structures within a fetal pig and the organ systems associated with it. Oh, and that's not all! I also get to remember what all the organelles of a cell look like, what they do; and all the stages of mitosis, and recognize each stage. Fun times! Looks like my A&P book will be my only reading book for the next nine months. So, how am I going to acquire my new language? Fortunately, I DO have seven days, and you can bet I'm going to utilize every single one of them as best as I can (with the exception of Sunday, of course!) and know that my best will be good enough, as long as I include the Lord in my efforts. Luck to me!

All because two people fell in love.....

My dad and mom

I just got back from my family's bi-annual reunion.  This is the third such reunion for my family, and it just gets bigger (population wise) and better every year.  This is also the first year that EVERYONE was present for the big picture and family dinner.  

The Original Family

I am the oldest of 12 children.  I can't tell you what it was like to be part of such a large family, because I know no other experience.  I have five sisters and six brothers.  I love them all in different ways because they are each so different!  It's great to get together with everyone now because we laugh and create new memories to laugh at in future reunions.  The funniest one from this reunion???  My sister Alicia brought a fart machine and used it at every opportunity.  I know, it's crass, but it was hilarious to watch people's reactions (including mine!) as she set it off.   The thing that makes me sad is that the next reunion will be missing one brother and the reunion after that will be missing another brother, due to missions.  The next time we will get a picture with everyone present will be in SIX years!

All the grandbabies!

Right now, there are 26 (going on 27) grandchildren.  Who knows how many more grandchildren there will be in six years time?  I'm grateful to have such a fun big family and I'm glad that my children have so many cousins to play with when we all get together.  Hurrah for family!

The Entire Family - August 2010

In the beginning.....

Our cute family!

Apparently, I don't have enough to do with my time.  Either that, or my sense of time is truly warped.  Be that as it may, I'm starting this blog most likely for my own benefit.  I don't know who will really have a desire to read it, much less comment on it.  But this is my attempt at keeping a journal for me and my family.  I'll post things as life moves along (sometimes it moves at the speed of light!), and I guarantee that there will be times when I post often, and times when I don't.  For future reference, I will not tell you the actual names of my family, but their nicknames are Sweetie (my adoring husband), Anner (my oldest daughter), Mundo (my oldest son, but our middle child), and Noodle (our youngest son).
So, for a quick family rundown for you, Kind Reader, Sweetie and I have been married for 17 years.  We are active LDS members (Mormons for those who don't know what LDS is), and are both busy with responsibilities in our church.  Sweetie is the secretary for the High Priest Group (a men's group), and I am the Relief Society president (the women's organization).  Sweetie is a middle school teacher for a private school, and I am a part-time student majoring in Nursing.  Anner is in high school, Mundo is in middle school, and Noodle is in elementary school.  Both Anner and Mundo play musical instruments and we do not give our children the choice of whether or not they want to play in the band at school.  We ask them what instrument they want to play, and pray that it's not drums!  Watching our children grow is an amazing experience.  Time seems to fly by faster as they've gotten older.  Therein lies the challenge:  teaching them all they need to know before they leave for college/missions as times slips away.

Noodle will pick his instrument in just a few years....

As for me personally, I enjoy reading (not textbooks!) watching movies at home with my family, going on dates with Sweetie, sleeping (which I never get enough of!), ice cream, chocolate, and Double Stuf Oreos.  I exercise six days a week and try to eat healthy, however, Saturdays are my 'free' days, so I live for Saturdays.  My favorite color is green and right now I have a love affair with brown.  I love rearranging my house and decorating, but I'm no pro.  Sweetie hates when I 'futz' (my term of rearranging).  He can't ever figure out where things go and it's a source of frustration to him.
Enough blathering for now.  As time goes on, you'll get to know me much better and I hope to avoid the TMI syndrome.
So, until next time, Kind Reader.....have a daisy day!