Logic vs. The Spirit

I just want to quickly say that The Spirit and logic can be complete opposites!!

Sometimes logic gets into the way and disrupts the Spirit's guidance BUT if we stop and listen to that still small voice, no matter how impossible the situation may appear, we'll know the truth.

How grateful for I am for this knowledge...especially now!

I am Thankful for...

So, I've skipped a few days but I still have lots to be thankful for. Here they are...

First, I'm thankful for the fact that my husband is off until next Monday!  He works so hard and deserves a long break...though this isn't long, he takes what he can get!

Second, I am thankful for disposable diapers. That may sound funny but when you have two toddlers on suppositories and Miralax to help get them unconstipated, it's 100% truth!!

Third, I'm so grateful that I have two adorable 16 month old twin girls today!!  I can't believe they are that old. I know all moms say that but it's just so true. It just seems like yesterday that my water broke...in fact, it just seems like yesterday that I gave myself my first shot toward getting pregnant.  How fast time flies!! How quickly the moments go by!! I'm so grateful that I'm desperately trying to "live in the moment & find joy in it"!!!  I want to be happy in my current season, instead of focusing on the past seasons (glory years) and the future seasons (when things will supposedly be better or whatever).   "FINDING JOY IN THE JOURNEY!!"  :)

Fourth, I'm so grateful that the night before last, my little Emma kept me up until 4am!! Again, this sounds weird but let me explain. Emma was crying and crying and crying!! I tried everything but nothing worked. Finally @ 3:30am, I got to the point where I just scooped her up out of her crib and brought her to bed with me.

Now, I'm not one who can sleep with a baby next to me (I'm fearful of smothering them or something) so I didn't even attempt it BUT I thought maybe I could get her to go to sleep. As I lay there with her snuggled into my body, my arms wrapped around her and her adorable head near my shoulder, I swear I felt like I was in heaven. I couldn't believe the feeling of comfort and deep love that filled my soul. I could tell she wasn't asleep because she kept rubbing her little hand on my arm. I think she was enjoying it as much as I was. I wanted to stay in that moment FOREVER!! 

But at about 4am, she started wanting to crawl around the bed so I had to put her back into her crib but as soon as I crawled back into the bed, without my precious baby, I instantly wanted to go back and pick her up again.

In fact, last night I almost went into her room, while she was sleeping, and scooped her up again. With her already asleep, I knew she would sleep for a while at my side. But since I was sleep deprived from the night before, I opted to just get some rest.

I wouldn't put it past me to do it tonight though  :)

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for the good friends that Hannah surrounds herself with. I'm so happy that she realizes, even at the age of 11yrs, that her friends will influence her for good... or for bad.

Hannah had a "friend" birthday party tonight and I was just amazed that the wonderful girls she invited. It's moments like this when I realize that the future is bright for our church & country (a few girls were not members of our church, but are amazing followers of Christ) and that Satan will never win!! 

Sometimes when I look around the world, especially if I'm watching the news, I become terribly sad at all the bad things going on BUT I have to keep in mind, that as the bad are getting more wicked...the good are getting more righteous!!  I'm go grateful for that knowledge!!  :)

I am Thankful for...

Just an FYI...this was suppose to be yesterday's post BUT with all of the celebrating, I never got to it....so now, it's my thankful for today!  :)


Today I am thankful for my daughter Hannah. She is such a wonderful light in my life!  Yesterday she turned 11yrs old, which I CANNOT believe.  How does that happen?!?

I'm so so thankful that my Father in Heaven entrusted me with such an amazing and special spirit. She teaches me how to be a better person...everyday!!  She's such a wonderful example to me and to her endearing siblings.  Speaking of siblings...can I just say how AMAZING Hannah is with her little (over-active) brother and her twinner baby sisters!?!?!  I can't wait to see the wonderful mother that she becomes....her children will be so blessed by her, as I am!!

I can honestly say, I don't have a clue where I'd be without Hannah. When she came into my life, I needed her desperately!! She truly was my miracle!!  To state it simply, she saved me!!  Oh, how loving and gracious our Father in Heaven is, to send one of his choicest daughters down to a woman who in no way deserved her...to a woman who was lost and found herself in the beautiful face of a newborn miracle!!

I can never give Hannah as much as she's given me.  She is my everything!! <3

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for finally finding out the reason why my tiny little Ellie, is so tiny & little!  I'm so glad that its an easy fix and that we don't have to do any more testing.

I'm so grateful for something as simple as an Xray machine, which I'm sure most of us take for granted, because that's all it took to FINALLY diagnose what the problem is. 

You may ask..."Is it really possible for a baby to be extremely constipated for almost an entire year?!? For her to be extremely tiny because her body is not at all digesting the food she's eating because her body's just squishing it past the compacted stuff in liquid form?!?  Is it possible that a pediatrician can be so oblivious to the obvious signs, even when I'm constantly expressing concern?!?"

And to all of those questions, my answer is..."Yes!" 

In fact, when she was just a few months old, Ellie got really constipated and I took her in several times for it. Once the diarrhea started, they assumed she was all better....guess not!! :(  Poor little thing...I feel so bad for her!!

The only good thing about this situation, which consists of lots of suppositories, lots of Miralax & lots of very messy diapers, is that Ellie doesn't have to face it alone....Emma is also extremely constipated! 

Oh, the fun!!!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for having an evening with my family. I'm thankful that the Sabbath day is set aside for worshipping our Savior and for spending time with our loved ones. How grateful I am!!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for the knowledge that miracles still exist and that nothing is impossible with God!!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for this being Veteran's Day!  Not only did it give me another chance to share my feelings about our wonderful nation with my kids, but it also gave me a chance to tell them how much support and respect we should give those who serve in the Armed Forces. I took the kids to our local Veterans Memorial. It was raining (go figure) so we didn't get to linger as long as I would have liked but I told Gabe we could go back another day so he could climb on the real tank they have there. The kids and I all wore red shirts to celebrate such a special holiday!!

"Oh, thus be it ever, when Freemen shall stand, between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blessed with victory and peace, may this heaven rescued land, praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer me must, when our cause it is just and this be our motto: "In God is our trust". And the star spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!"

My endless thanks and gratitude to those who lost their lives keeping my family and I safe!!!

The Veterans Memorial in Auburn

The plaque reads..."In lasted memory of these dear departed souls, who gave their lives for peace throughout the entire world. These gleaming white arches are their highways to heaven, after they fell. We know they went to heaven because they spent their time in hell.

All gave some...some gave all!"

Hannah  :)

Gabe...notice he had to wear his "Army jacket"!  He's so cute!!  :)

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for my fun little book club. I've never been a part of a book club because I've never been much of a reader BUT since instituting A Thomas Jefferson Education in my home, I've come to understand how extremely important reading truly is!! I've found a love for reading that I NEVER would have imagined I'd have. I'm grateful that I mustered up enough courage to start a book club and that there were many ladies interested in joining it. I love finding joy & thankfulness in the simple things in life!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for my wonderful church. I'm so grateful for the complete gospel in my life and for the direction and guidance it gives me and my family.  Where would I be without my Savior as my guide?!?  I'm eternally grateful for His atonement!!

I am Thankful for...

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity that me and my kids have to serve those around us. Each Tuesday, we go to the church building to help prepare baby wipes or tie quilts. Hannah is getting to be quite the little quilter!  And today, Gabe even did some tying, which he really liked.

I'm so grateful that my kids are with me during the day and that I can guide their education...not just "facts" but how to live their lives and become the best person they can!!

My wonderful kiddoes  :)

My little Gabers learning how to serve others!

Beautiful Hannah who was born with a heart created to serve others. She was born with the kindest and tenderest heart I know!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am thankful for my wonderful Hannah. Sunday mornings can be so stressful but this morning, Hannah made sure to do all the things I hadn't gotten to yet and....we were on time to church!! I was so happy when I realized she was putting together the diaper bag and then again when she was getting the girls into their car seats! She helped Gabe with his shoes and gathered all of our scriptures!!

What would I do without her?!?  She's my miracle!!!

I am Thankful for...

Today I am so excited and grateful for the "Lakeshore Learning" store that's only about 25mins away!!  Since there's only one store in the entire state of Washington, I'm so thrilled to have it so close. I LOVE that store!!!  I found the website while I back vacationing in Houston and I thought I was in heaven BUT when I found out the store was nearby...I knew I was in heaven!! ;) 

Anyway, it's a wonderful store for educational toys/items. Check it out if you're interested!!

www.lakeshorelearning.com

I am Thankful for....

Today I am thankful for modern medicine. I love the fact that we have the ability to see issues within our bodies that not too many years ago would have gone unnoticed and ended up badly. Ellie's kidneys are still not 100% but the fact that we can watch them and fix them if needed, is a complete miracle!!!

"I Was Only Eating Two a Day!!!"

Yes, I am now one of them!

I am now one of the MEAN parents that told their kids that they had eaten all of their Halloween candy!

Jimmy Kimmel had asked parents to do this and showed the results on his show. He said he was surprised at all the crying.

I have to admit, I didn't think my kids would cry BUT I was curious how they would react so....I just had to find out!

Here's Jimmy Kimmel's clip...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQpbzQ6gzs

Here's my clip...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbY_JIzWDuQ&feature=youtu.be


I'm so grateful that my kids are so forgiving!! They were such good sports about it all :)

I do want to say that I was as a doctor's appointment with Ellie all morning so I am not personally responsible for the appearance of my house or the fact that my kids were still in their pjs at 11am....not that I'm throwing Greg under the bus or anything!!  ;)

I love you Greg!!  <3

Lovin' the Groove!

It's been almost exactly a year since I began homeschooling my kids. I year-and-a-half ago, I never would have assumed I'd be where I am today. Not for the lack of "wanting" to homeschool (because I've thought about it MANY MANY times) but for the amount of "stuff" going on in my life.

When I began homeschooling, our family had just moved to the Seattle area, where we had no friends nor family. I had just given birth to our twinners, who were 4 months old. Our lives were far from "the normal" because everything was new!! But I had a relentless pull, tugging on my heart (the Spirit) to make the change...and I'm so very grateful I did!

Right now, I am finding our little family in a wonderful groove. Things seem to be just coasting along. The kids really enjoy "learning time" and I really enjoy mentoring them on different subjects.

At first, I was really stressed about doing things "right" and now I realize that "right" is different for every home....especially in a TJEd home.  I had to simply relax, stop listening to ignorant people, and start believing that, as a mom, I'm inherently the best person to educate my children...do I not know them better and anyone else?!?

I'm finding so much joy in turning our home into a place of constant learning and I'm absolutely addicted to buying good books and adding educational items to our "Learners Closet"!!  This Christmas may be the best one ever because of all the fun items I've purchased that I can't wait to use with the children!!

It's completely AMAZING how fun it is to learn when you're not being forced to... and when you're in an environment that is individualized and filled with the Spirit of God!

I'm so blessed to not only call myself the "Mother" of my four amazing children, but also their "Mentor"!!

I Am Thankful For...

Today...I am thankful for my wonderful husband who works hard for our family...and for his work ethic that continues to amaze me!!  I love you Gregory Lee  <3

I am Thankful for...

My wonderful kids that give me purpose and meaning in this life!

Here Comes the Gray!!

It's that time of year where I begin preparing for the nasty, gray weather that the Seattle has to offer. I wish there was some way to capture the sun we do get (for about 2 months of the year) and save it for the oncoming glume.  But, as we all know, that's not possible....so I suppose I'll stock up on Vitamin D and hope for the best!

Last year I made it until about March before I thought I was going to go insane but I have a feeling this year is going to be different because....I'm already going insane!

I think I have a VERY LOOOOOONG fall/winter/spring ahead of me!!!  :(