Cat's out of the bag!!

Did everyone notice the new countdown?? 

We are expecting!! Some of you already knew this but most don't and we are super excited! The good news, I haven't been as sick with this little peanut. The bad news, I've already encountered some bumps in the road. Last week I started bleeding and thought I was experiencing a miscarriage. We went to the doctor and I was diagnosed with a partial placental abruption (placenta peeled away from the wall) so I have been on partial bedrest and am trying to take it easy. The best news: I'm healing nicely and will be able to get back to normal life soon! 

Now, maybe I can be better about keeping this blog updated now that I am feeling a little better and entering the second trimester soon!

It's one of those days!

It's a PJ day! We've been so busy over the holidays and life just doesn't seems to slow down, so I am staging a BOYCOT in my house. Honestly, I am not leaving. I will stay in my sweats all day. The boys are still in the their PJs and I feel just fine about it. My house is a disaster! Laundry is piling up and I just need to tackle it. 2 people have already called to see if I want to do anything NO NO NO! 

Here's my list of things to clean (life y'all care, but hey!)

Loads of dishes...scary!

Kitchen floor

Clean up the clutter

Wipe basboards/walls (only if the handprints are visible :)

Clean the bathrooms YUCK!

Vacuum

Take the darn christmas tree down

Laundry, laundry and more laundry

Prohibiting Untested Products for Children

I heard of this a few hours ago and I was very skeptical, but after reading New safety rules for children's clothes have stores in a fit from the LA Times, I'm feeling a little angry.

Now don't get me wrong, my wife and I have three children and we wouldn't dare put them at danger, but this law is going to put my wallet in danger and a lot of small stores and manufacturers out of business. The law was signed by Congress last year and begins to take effect on February 10th, 2009.

Read more about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC and the actual act here.

From the act:

The new legislation imposes an additional third-party testing requirement for all consumer products primarily intended for children twelve years of age or younger. Every manufacturer (including an importer) or private labeler of a children’s product must have its product tested by an accredited independent testing lab and, based on the testing, must issue a certificate that the product meets all applicable CPSC requirements.

After having read some of this, it does appear that the restrictions don't fully take place until 90 days after the CPSC releases the third-party laboratory accreditation requirements for that category of product. In short, everything that is government approved will have a special tracking label to prove that it is safe and can be successfully placed in my child's mouth.

I found a partial schedule here, and it stretches into September of 2009, but I don't see clothing specifically mentioned. I'll need to learn more about this.

Sen. Robert Bennet (R-UT)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT 2)

Deep thoughts...

I'm not one to get involved in Political discussion and heated subjects because I really feel that everyone has a choice on this earth. Ben would say that I am such a passionate person when it comes to my decisions,. The decisions that I make that affect my family and my little bubble of influence. But I am completely tolerant of other people and their actions when they make theirs (most of the time...I'm not perfect at this.) It's easy for me to separate the person from the sin. I am in interested and weigh the impacts that some decisions make for my family but you won't find me at a rally or raising my voice one way or the other... UNTIL this last election. It feels like all the pieces of the puzzle have come together for me. I'm finally getting it so to speak. I still feel that we need to LOVE everyone. I need to take people for face value and just assume that their intentions are good. And if their intentions are not good then not take it personal. But some things are WORTH fighting for. I realize that I can't sit on the sidelines anymore.

This realization came this morning while I was thinking about the state of our world. A lot of the financial problems that our country is experiencing right now fundamentally stems from people being greedy, not caring about their neighbor, and putting monetary gain before doing what's right. My testimony was strengthened this morning because I realized that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has given us counsel since the beginning of it's existence to guide us spiritually, emotionally, mentally and temporally. All three of these things have to be balanced. I just always assumed that these things would just happen if I was being righteous and living consciously. But really that isn't enough. To be healthy this way, it means we need to TAKE ACTION. Actually being aware that every decision that we make actually changes the outcome of our lives. I guess I haven't ever been ready for this piece of knowledge from Heavenly Father but I'm listening now.

Now that I am feeling humbled I feel  more dependant upon my Heavenly Father. This is a good thing! I think we're all learning the lessons that we NEED, whether it's emotional, spiritual, or temporal. But going farther, it's what we do with these lessons 5 years, 10 years, or 50 years down the road. Will we learn from them? Will we make the same mistakes again? Will we remember these feelings of humility? That is what I will strive for. 

Out with the old, in with the NEW!

This story started last Sunday, November 30th. I was sick with the flu. The phone rings and Ben picked it up. "Hello, this is the Stake Executive secretary, Ben's thinking *oh crap!*. He then asks for me! Ben wakes me up because he likes to see me panic. It's better than him! Back to the story, he says that the Stake president is EXCITED to meet with me and can you bring your husband along. Um. Yes...but can I claim immunity?? 

Of course I say yes, hang up the phone and immediately start hyperventillating. Ok, it could be a calling. Or he could want to see my emergency preparedness binder from my Super Saturday back in October. By the way, why do they call like a year in advance from when they want to meet with you? This to me is emotional torture, plus anyone that knows me knows that I can't stand a secret that I don't know. I always find the Christmas presents and open them. I can't help it!

So, Monday goes by. Then Tuesday, then Wednesday. FINALLY Thursday gets here. The first thing the Stake President wonders is if he and I can "talk. Oh no. What did I do? He starts by asking me very pointed worthiness questions. How often do I pray and are my prayers thoughtful? How often do I go to the temple and other very pointed questions. I start sweating half way through the interview. I start feeling that I need to confess my sins. Finally he just sits there for like an eternity staring at me. Then he suddenly stood up and asked Ben to come into the room. Then he starts talking about sports and the weather! WHAT? Where's his deep questioning? I like equal treatment in our marriage. Where's his sweat rings? Then he asked me if I would accept a calling to be the Stake Relief Society 1st Counselor! At this point I say "REALLY? Are you serious?" DUh. I'm not too bright :) I've never had a Stake calling but I'll do my best! New is not new for me. My life is ever changing. I secretly like it that way, which contradicts my panic stricken OCD-planning self.

Out with the old, in with the NEW!!

Who are you and WHAT have you done with my husband!

Ok, ok. So I won't get brownie points for this post. Ben is the type of guy that fills a room and everyone expects to be tough. But in reality he is a big softy and sometimes does tihings to "indulge" me and keep the peace. 

This weekend we talked about doing black friday shopping. We had it all worked out. Babysitters at 6 am. and had it mapped out and everything. I'm thinking "WOW, my hubby really loves me". He would say, "Yes Dear I do love you" but he loves a good deal MORE. SO fast forward to 3 am Friday morning...2 loads of throw up towels and you've got a completely dfferent ball game. SO what does Ben do? He braves black friday shopping solo! Does anyone know my husband? He doesn't like shopping. period. He got some screamin' deals though!! And I think indimidated a shopper or two to boot! 

So. Fast forward to Monday morning. You guessed it. Ben has the flu. So he proceeds to miss work and gets to "lay" in bed all day and rest. After many times of me saying "dear, really you need to actually rest when you are sick". If you can't tell, he's not a good sick patient. So after a couple hours of not hearing pacing upstairs, I go up and peak in our room...he kind of hid something under the covers and he had a very guilty look on his face! I say "What are you hiding?" Sheepishly he pulls out my TWILIGHT book! WhAt!?! And he says, this is really intersting....I shake my head and secretly make my plans to take him to the movie.

 Honestly, are pigs flying?

The dream

I had a dream last night. It means a lot to me and not something I take lightly. I post it only because the people who read my blog are very special to me and I am not ashamed of my journey, rather I'm grateful. 

I was walking and as I walked I came to a path which was my life. As I made the choice,  I came upon those that made a significant impact in my life. 

It seemed I started at my earliest influence, which was my sweet mother Mary Ann. Her loving face and touch. In the dream  the embace was so comforting and soft. Then I came upon my father Carl. I remember him being the super man of my childhood. The look on his face was that of  acceptance and pure joy. I was always his little princess. They held my hands and guided me along the path.

I started walking faster, making choices to let go. Sometimes the path was dark. Sometimes I fell far from the path. I would walk backwards and then sideways. I knew it would feel better if I was going forward. People were there along the way. My brothers and my sister. I always knew they loved me. They all influenced me in different ways. There were friends who were good. Some faded quickly, others stayed longer.

I suddenly came to a place where the path ended. This was confusing to me. Where was the path? It was all white with no dents in the sand. Uncharted territory. I felt I needed to choose where to go. There wouldn't be a path. I wander for a while, learning lessons along the way. There is a lot of disappointment and heartache. I learn the lessons that I need to. 

Suddenly I know what I need to do. I can't look down, I need to put my eyes heavenward. That is where I see a light shining down. I look forward and there is a man glowing, standing right in front of me. Without the light I could not see him. The light is behind the man who will lead me to eternity. With the light behind him, I can see everthing.

From that point we make our own path. Sometimes he guides, sometimes I guide. But we go together. Along the way more people come and join us on the journey. We have their little hands in ours and we learn their hearts. We become the ones that show them their path.

I woke up and want to know more. Do their little feet make it to their own open canvas? Do I endure to the end? Do we make it to eternity? 

These are questions unanswered. But I hope with all my heart that my life journey, with it's windy and uncertain obstacles, is always laced with light, wholeness, and truth.