The Calm Before The Storm

Today was a good day!  I have been reading 2 talks a day from President Nelson and it has really been a wonderful experience so far.  Grandma Duncan (Nana) called me this morning and it was so wonderful to talk to her.  She had a stroke a few months ago and is struggling.  She has no use of her left hand.  She has difficulties dressing herself.  She can't do the things that she used to do.  I feel so bad for her.  But to hear her voice on the phone was the best thing in the world.  I know that she won't be around forever.  The thought makes me so sad.  She has always been there for me.  My whole life.  Even though she lived in a different country, her and Grandpa were always there.  My baptism, my wedding, countless visits, they took me to Canada for weeks at a time to visit them in the summers, they visited us 2 times in Canada, and on and on.  I email her weekly, sometimes more.  I love her dearly.  She is so very wise and loving and the kind of person that I would like to be like one day.  Jon and I both tell ourselves that we would like to be like Grandma and Grandpa Duncan one day.  I'm so sad that they are getting older.

I emailed Nana last night and told her that I was getting apprehensive about my future.  Homeschooling the kids, having Jon work from home, and having Jon's parents and Grandma move in with us.  I was feeling overwhelmed.  I want to be able to handle it all, I just wasn't sure that I could.  Nana made me feel so good and gave me the confidence boost that I needed.

In addition, in both listening to a BYU Devotional today as well as reading President Nelson's talks, I realized something that I already knew to begin with.  Life isn't meant to be smooth sailing.  There are supposed to be bumps along the way.  Life has been very smooth for us recently.  It's about time for something to come and shake it up a bit.  It's about time for me to go through a growing experience.  What will I learn from this experience?  How will I grow?  I don't just want to "go" through it...I want to "grow" through it.  So...bring it on!  I'm ready.

What did we do today?

I read the kids a Goosebumps book again (what a surprise, ha ha).  It is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day today.  Naturally, the kids made cookies in an effort to properly celebrate the occasion.  I made creamy chicken floutas for diner.  They were good!  We played outside, played some games, did some coloring...not much else!  I had better appreciate days like today...next week things are about to get real.

Caitlyn and I enjoyed a little Mint Mask this evening!  It felt so good!

Caitlyn lost another tooth (her second tooth) on Sunday.  She wanted to keep her tooth, so she wrote this cute note to the Tooth Fairy.  The Tooth Fairy completely forgot to visit her on Sunday Night...she is a very forgetful Tooth Fairy...But Monday morning she saved the day.  When Caitlyn was in the other room she put $2 worth of quarters by her bed.  Great job, forgetful Tooth Fairy, ha ha.

These are the Cookies that the kids made!

The kids watching Avatar with Daddy!

Relaxing under the blanket that my friend, Kathie Smith, made for me for my birthday.  She is such a sweet friend.  We have been texting each other for nearly a year almost every single day with a spiritual quote/scripture/thought.  It has been so wonderful.

Suave Mr. William with his sunglasses on.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning!  I'm going to miss these early morning runs/walks.  Once school starts it's back to the early, early exercising for me so that I can be ready and on top of things for our homeschooling day. I will treasure my Saturday mornings, that's for sure.

For Come Follow Me this evening, we started talking about the war chapters in Alma 43 - 52.  We talked about how we are not necessarily in the middle of a physical war, like these chapters are depicting, but we are battling a spiritual war with Satan on a daily basis.  These chapters can serve as a blueprint as to how we can prepare ourselves spiritually to fight the battle for our souls.

The kids came up with a list of things that they can do to fortify themselves, spiritually.  We listed them on this cardboard shield.  Then they wrote down various ways that Satan will try to tempt them.  They crumpled up the papers and threw them at the shield (that I was holding) and the shield protected me from getting hit.  When we do the things written on the shield, they will serve as a protection for our spirits.  I was proud of the comprehensive list that the kids came up with !