April 24, 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010

declutter-ring

okay, i lucked out yesterday at a garage sale.
EVERYTHING was $1!
That's right, ONE DOLLAR!
Everything was in excellent condition, too.
I got:

several sets of Legos: $1 each
several pairs of Nike and addidas sports pants i have been wanting: $1 each
several beautiful blouses and various tops
several new DVDs: a buck each
ONE suit that fits Bill perfectly: Can you believe it? One dollar
18 recorders and several books to teach you how to play the recorder (do I have to tell you?)
I got several other things for the kitchen and other various items.

I was so happy to have found so many useful items. And once the guy saw that I was willing to take a whole bunch of stuff off his hands, he told me he would give all of it to me for twenty dollars.

WHAT A DEAL!

Then, I overheard him talking to another customer, who was bewildered by the cheapness of all these goods, as was I. The man's response floored me. My heart sunk when I heard him explain that his wife had died a month prior in a drowning accident. And now he had to move. I immediately thought of the devastation this must be to he and his three children. I thought of the fragility and brevity of life. I thought also of the things I was buying. The good deals no longer seemed extraordinary and took on a new significance to me. I saw them for what they were: things that would be used by our family for a time and then passed on. Then I thought about the cost to the man selling them. He clearly paid top dollar for the things he was selling, many of which seemed virtually unused. And to what end? To be sold for a fraction of their retail value to opportunistic, good deal vultures like myself? What if his family had lived slightly more frugally? Would they be able to weather this unexpected turn in life's road a little more comfortably? Would they have been able to stay in their home?

Now, don't get me wrong. I appreciated the fact that I had chanced upon this man's sale after taking a route I don't normally take to the school. I appreciated the opportunity to reflect upon the purpose of life. I appreciated the fact that I had been raised to be thrifty and not turn my nose up at second hand wares. But mostly, I thought of the wonderful counsel we have been given over the course of many years, to live within our means. I am also very grateful for a husband that is also thrifty and refuses to spend money that we don't have at our immediate disposal. The last thing that was impressed upon me was the reality that material things are for making our lives more comfortable and convenient, but there is NOTHING that we purchase that will help us get through the pearly gates. (except for really good books i.e. SCRIPTURES!!!) The most precious things are those that cannot be purchased.

Okay, I am sure you're really wondering what any of this has to do with my post title! I'm gettin' to it!

Such a simple thing, but I think I was about 7 or 8 when it really sunk in that we couldn't take any of our earthly treasures with us. At the time, it made me sad because I had some things that I truly valued. (dolls, dresses, doll house...you know! really important stuff!) It made me really sad that I wouldn't be able to keep these things FOREVER! After I got over the disappointment that all we could take with us was our families and whatever was in our brains, I attempted to always fill my mind with useful information. I honestly remember thinking I should learn all the hymns so I would be able to sing them after I die. I definitely think learning this principle early in life helped me be more frugal and not so caught up in worldly pursuits!

BUT don't let this lead you to believe I am a minimalist! I definitely think we have too much! My problems in this area are:

1~I have a hard time turning down anything free
2~I have trouble walking past a good deal
3~I have a hard time getting rid of stuff.

(It is most likely a genetic thing...thanks DAD!)

So, finally getting to the point...DRUM ROLL...I have come up with a little reminder ring that I call my "Declutter-ring". I wear it when I go shopping at one of my favorite thrift stores, helping me to not buy things I don't need. It helps me when I am cleaning to help me discern which things are being used, and which things are just cluttering our home. It comes in handy when I find freebies on the roadside, helping me leave most treasures in their place. It has helped me so much in the last month, I think I am going to eventually overcome my addiction to stuff! (yeah right! That is a long shot!)

But I do feel like my declutter-ring has helped me be more aware of what things are useful and enhance my life, and which things are frivolous and unnecesary! Because I truly feel that too much STUFF keeps me from being happy. How do I figure that? The more stuff you have, the less space you have to store it, the more the kids get it out and don't know how to put it away, because there isn't a set place for it, so the bigger piles of useless stuff clogging your entryway, hallways and rooms, the less room to walk, the more you trip and fall and nearly break your neck, the more you yell (lots more yelling), the higher your blood pressure, the bigger the head-ache, until you have it up to HERE, and realize something has to give...that is when you give it all away, and keep only that which is useful. Okay, I do keep some things because of sentiment:)



Some great quotes I really like...

“Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence.”
~Plato

“Grant that I may become beautiful in my soul within, and that all my external possessions may be in harmony with my inner self. May I consider the wise to be rich, and may I have such riches as only a person of self-restraint can bear or endure.” ~Plato

“A little House well fill'd, a little Field well till'd, and a little Wife well will'd, are great Riches” ~Benjamin Franklin

“I have not observed men's honesty to increase with their riches.”
~Thomas Jefferson

Seeking for Happiness
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Seeking for happiness we must go slowly;
The road leads not down avenues of haste;
But often gently winds through by ways lowly,
Whose hidden pleasures are serene and chaste
Seeking for happiness we must take heed
Of simple joys that are not found in speed.

Eager for noon-time’s large effulgent splendour,
Too oft we miss the beauty of the dawn,
Which tiptoes by us, evanescent, tender,
Its pure delights unrecognised till gone.
Seeking for happiness we needs must care
For all the little things that make life fair.

Dreaming of future pleasures and achievements
We must not let to-day starve at our door;
Nor wait till after losses and bereavements
Before we count the riches in our store.
Seeking for happiness we must prize this -
Not what will be, or was, but that which is.

In simple pathways hand in hand with duty
(With faith and love, too, ever at her side),
May happiness be met in all her beauty
The while we search for her both far and wide.
Seeking for happiness we find the way
Doing the things we ought to do each day.

May 6, 2010

Thursday, May 6, 2010

my mother's hands

a small, soft hand grabbed her mother's hand,
and found it rough;
little eyes studied each line and crack,
touched callouses very tough.
her little voice asked, "Why are your hands
so wrinkled and dry?"
"They are always working, washing, cooking,
and cleaning," was the reply.
the little one ran off to play, not thinking
of it a moment more,
until the day her own child asked,
"Why do your hands look so sore?"

I remember studying my mother's hands as a kid and wondering how they could get so worn out and cracked. It was such an interesting moment for me the other day when my little Sarah asked me about my hands. I looked at them and found that two nails were broken, there was dirt under my nails from gardening, there were three bloody knuckles from washing my hands so much, and they were wrinkled and weathered. I looked at my hands and saw my own mother's hands. I finally understood the work that goes into making your hands look as hers did. I thought about how her hands were never idle. Always busy gardening, cooking, sewing, cleaning, playing piano, doing crossword puzzles, driving us to practices of all sorts, conducting music, painting, etc.

I truly appreciate the many things my mother has done for me.
I appreciate the hard times she endured in raising my siblings and I.
I appreciate her strong faith and firm testimony of the gospel.
I appreciate her love for my father.

My mother has been on my mind a lot lately. In my daily trials as a mother, I often remember the hardships that my mother faced. As a child, I was aware of some of her trials, but only now do I truly understand what she went through. I feel that I can finally appreciate her unconditional love and devotion to her family. And now I know she was over-worked, over-stressed, and under-appreciated.

Early on in parenthood, I wanted to teach my children how hard it is to be a parent. I wanted them to appreciate the sacrifices a parent makes for their kids. But how do you convey this to a child? We have tried to teach them to be responsible for themselves, and I feel like they help out a lot here in the home. But I don't think they can grasp what a heavy weight sits upon the shoulders of a parent. The responsibility of seeing to it that every need is met spiritually, physically, mentally, socially and emotionally for five children is enormous. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this knowledge cannot be gained by being told, by reading a book, or simply observing. It must be acquired by becoming a parent and feeling this burden for yourself!

In realizing this, I am so humbled to know that I am getting a first-rate education in parenting. I feel that, thanks to very differing personalities in test subjects, I have had such a diverse training thus far. Some days I feel that I am passing with flying colors, others I am just average, and some days I feel I am flat-out failing. And can you believe that graduation is in approximately 14 years?! (Where does the time go?) Even though there aren't many breaks, I feel that I'm hanging in there. And the nicest part of it is that on the rare occasion that I get discouraged, my little people are there to pick me up again!

I love this time of my life!
I love my mother!
I love celebrating the role of Mothers! It is a job like no other!
I love the perspective I am gaining on eternal progression.
I love that Heavenly Father has layed such a wonderful plan for us to have the experiences that will mould us into the individuals that we set out to become prior to our Earthly lives.
I love all the little cards and trinkets my kids gave me for mother's day. What a wonderful life! I feel so blessed!

(Due to many of the complications of motherhood, this post wasn't finished until 11:34 PM Tues. May 18, 2010=)

October 24, 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Long time passing

It has been way too long since I have taken the opportunity to post here. Somehow, I forgot to blog about my fabulous summer vacation, the start of school, the coming of Fall, but I must take this opportunity to write about the two birthdays we have just finished celebrating. My oldest and youngest sons celebrated their birthdays this weekend. We had my father, my in-laws, and some cousins to help with the festivities. And today, my oldest son was ordained a deacon. I really am having a hard time coming to terms with having a child so old. He is so awesome! He is just a jewel of a kid...I mean friendly, loving, polite, funny, smart, happy, straight A student, good to his younger siblings, helpful at home...I could go on and on! I love him so much and I am so proud of the good choices he is making. We decided to give him his own digital camera because he is so interested in photography. He loved his gift and has already put it to good use.  

Now, for my youngest son, who turned seven this weekend. What a funny guy! He is really fun to watch at the park. He is constantly climbing poles, swinging from bar to bar, doing chin-ups, and all sorts of crazy tricks. I truly think he could become a world-class gymnast with his raw strength. He also loves to draw and is always drawing special pictures for me. He is able to reproduce pictures from a book as well as ones that pop into his head. He is also getting better at reading. He got a Lego set for his birthday and has had a fun time putting it together.

One last thing worth mentioning is I got a job at the middle school as the librarian. I start in one week from tomorrow and will be working every day for three hours a day. I have mixed feelings about this new opportunity. I am very excited to have such a great job in the school where all the kids will be at some point in the next ten years, but I am sad to have to leave my littlest one for that time. We are having such a great time just the two of us:( I am sure everything will be fine, but I still worry. I guess we shall see soon enough. 

December 10, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010 His Yoke is Easy I remember my first year of girls' camp when I was learning how to start fires with flint and steel wool. when they taught us how to make a latrine and do all sorts of knots and lashing. We learned how to dig a hole in the ground to collect drinking water from a piece of plastic with a bucket under it, how to cook something using a solar oven, how to make sumac tea. I loved learning that stuff. But there was something that stuck very profoundly in my twelve year old mind. Something a leader said to us while we were in the woods somewhere in Virginia. We were sitting around whittling with our cool red swiss army knives when one of the leaders said, "you young ladies may have to use these skills some day. You just wait, you may have to take your families in the wilderness and you will have to keep them clean, safe, and alive. Everything you are learning here will help you survive." I took these words to heart! My active imagination had me in all sorts of doomsday scenarios caring for a bunch of kids, singing songs, while hiking through the mountains. I decided at that point in my life that I was going to be prepared for anything! Fast forward twenty-two years... nearly two years ago I had a small personal revelation about the future. Just for my family. The words were very clear to me: There is a storm coming are you prepared? Physically, spiritually, temporally? Be prepared! I was taken back by these thoughts that I knew had to be inspired. I wrote them down and dated it. Then, I proceeded to analyze my current station in life and tried to make efforts to eliminate debt, store food and clothing, read scriptures and pray multiple times a day. Not too long after this personal revelation, my husband lost his job. It was made more clear to me that the words that came so clear to me that day in January were truly an admonition to take action. I felt very close to the Lord and waited for his guidance in all my daily comings and goings; He also guided me in how to spend money, how to save money, and of course I relied very heavily on Him for strength and courage to not lose sight of the goal: to make it through this difficult time intact! It was quite difficult, at times, to stay positive and not be discouraged with my husband home looking for work. It was tense at times. My husband has a very deep desire to provide for our family. We sent out resumes daily. In all, I believe we applied for over 500 jobs in a six month period. We were very blessed to find a job in August last year. He has been working extremely hard to keep his job. That means he is rarely home. But we still find tidbits of time to be together and sing in the evenings. We are currently working on some Christmas music that we plan to sing tomorrow at a rest home nearby. Getting back on track... tonight, I remembered my little personal revelation about a "storm". Anyway, some things clicked in my head tonight. I got it! I finally understood the storm thing. There are some very serious issues to ponder right now. A lot of terrible things going on in our country and abroad. I can feel and see negative forces working against those around me. The winds and the waves of this storm seem too much for some to bare. I see people sinking almost daily. They are the people that do not know the Master. They don't know to call to Him when they are up to their necks. I know that He is the answer! I know that "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." If we yoke ourselves to Him and follow Him, He will help bear the weights of our burdens and make the way easier and lighter.

January 5, 2011

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 resolutely resolved happy new year! i have read a few blogs of some friends and come to the realization that: i have never really made concrete new year's resolutions. at best, i have some nice thoughts about what i'd like to accomplish throughout the year. every year, without fail, i come to the realization that i'm a wimp when it comes to accomplishing pre-set goals. it is mostly because i'm a spontaneous type of person. i have tried to make meal plans, daily routines, exercise routines, budgets, etc. but it just won't work for our family. there is too much uncertainty with our day-to-day lives to follow any specific routine. i could blame my husband's erratic work schedule; he has never been home at the same time two days in a row. but i know it is more than that. it is also due to my nature to let everything go with the flow. i don't like strict schedules and routines. i love for the kids to have ample time to play in the yard, color, or do projects as they please. i like to have whatever dinner i'm in the mood for on any given night, especially if the kids can make it. i hate feeling obligated to be places, even though i love going places. i don't like deadlines either! it all boils down to not liking stress of any sort! making new years resolutions stress me out. since we don't have a set time for anything, i am resolutely resolved to do what i can when i can. despite my loose routine, i still feel like i accomplish a lot. (all in my own time, with as little stress as possible) of course, i would like to go running every day, play tennis and volley ball weekly, write on my blog monthly, go to the grocery store every other week, compose piano and flute music, get better at playing the violin and clarinet, get to church on time, do service projects for friends and family, sing with the kids more, bake gluten-free bread and goodies, hold daily family devotionals, do more scrap booking, learn french, keep a cleaner house, sew, read more, grow all my vegetables from seed, learn how to draw/paint, remodel the garage...the list goes on.... i do what i can, when i can. i even learn and do things i wasn't planning to do or learn. i think that makes me flexible...maybe? anyway i am anxious to see where this year leads us. i know that we will learn many new things. i hope that i will look back on this year with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for all the opportunities i know we will have to grow and progress.

February 25, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011 life is good Despite having a sick or injured child every week of this year so far, Despite having spent this entire week off from school inside watching movies with sick kids, Despite not seeing my hubby before 10 pm each night this week(except Monday), Despite feeling like a frumpy, lumpy mommy, Despite feeling old and forgetful, Despite feeling completely unmotivated to do anything, ...I am very happy and grateful for all of my many blessings. I am grateful for adequate health insurance. I am grateful for the quiet time I have been able to spend with my children, loving on them while they are feeling icky! I am grateful that my husband has a job and he got a well deserved promotion and raise. I am grateful that I don't mind feeling frumpy and lumpy because it means I am comfortable! I am grateful that my kids remind me of their appointments and the things we need from the store. I am grateful that there isn't anything pressing to do and the things that need doing CAN wait 'til later when everyone feels better. I must say that last weekend was very relaxing and rejuvenating. It was like we went on vacation without going anywhere. All four older kids went with their grandparents to visit cousins in Granite Bay, leaving only the youngest home with mommy and daddy. We slept-in for three days, took multiple naps each day, cleaned the garage and put all 5000 + science journals on 14 book cases. (Our garage is a regular library now.) Plus, we went to Applebees for dinner one night and Chipotle for lunch on another day. It was very quiet at home and made the one left behind very lonely. She kept saying things like, "I really miss those kids. Do you think they miss us?" and "When can the kids come back home?" and "It's no fun here with no one to play with!" The grand finale of the long weekend was a solo trip to Whole Foods! I got a vitamin water and didn't have to share a sip with anybody! As much as we enjoyed it, it was weird to have only one child for a few days. It was so quiet and uneventful. There weren't any fights to break up or disputes to settle. Of course there were fewer dishes and more leftovers, but family prayer was down right boring with no one vying for attention. And even though the little one HATED being left home alone, I kept telling her how lucky she was to spend one-on-one time with us. No one else would ever get that much undivided attention from us E-V-E-R! It was truly a treat!

July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011 i don't blog as much as i would like to. many times, i have felt like writing, but i can never seem to find enough time to do it. since almost all the cousins are here, the kids are being sufficiently entertained so i have a few minutes to write. from behind my closed bedroom door, i can hear the kids out in the living room playing and talking. i can hear the clatter of wooden train tracks being constructed, the buzz of the fans running, and little voices singing "your a grand old flag..." they have also been singing "We Believe", a beautiful song the Ohio cousins have taught my kids. tomorrow, we will be participating in our neighborhood 4th of July parade. we are doing a little marching band with some of our neighbors. my oldest will be on clarinet, next eldest on trumpet, me on flute, husband on snare drum, everyone else on kazoos. time for dinner, so i will have to finish later!