Loving our ever changing, crazy, fantastic life
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Pictures
Sunday
Amidst the hustle and bustle of choir practice, Sunday School teaching, baby blessing, and all the other various responsibilities I have on any given Sunday, I had this wondrous moment that made all the crazy, horrible, uncomfortable, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g moments of the past year worth it.
In pondering my busy day and accomplishments I said to my Self: "Self, what a good day you've had! Look at all you've done, look at how genuinely you have been yourself in the things you have done." And I felt a sense of satisfaction that I was truly needed today. At choir practice, in church, and just in general in my life. And while feeling all the feels, I felt a truly resounding happiness deep to my spirit that whispered "You were needed. You are needed. You are important. YOU matter."
And so do YOU.
In pondering my busy day and accomplishments I said to my Self: "Self, what a good day you've had! Look at all you've done, look at how genuinely you have been yourself in the things you have done." And I felt a sense of satisfaction that I was truly needed today. At choir practice, in church, and just in general in my life. And while feeling all the feels, I felt a truly resounding happiness deep to my spirit that whispered "You were needed. You are needed. You are important. YOU matter."
And so do YOU.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
ANGRY Eyes
Mirren had eye surgery this past week to fix her right eye. Here are some pictures of what it looked like:
1st Day
2nd Day
3rd Day
On Day 2, Mirren woke up with very watery eyes and a swollen lower lid. Reed was rightly worried, and so I put in a call to the doctor after putting her antibiotic eye ointment in her eye. After waiting a few hours for a return phone call, I began to notice that the swelling was gone and the wateriness was SO much better. Many hours later, the doctor called back but at that point we'd decided she was fine.
All in all, the surgery was worse than I expected because I didn't know WHAT to expect, but after the first day, she has done amazingly. Just expect your child's eye to look red, expect the time as they come out of anesthesia to be awful and expect some tylenol for the first few days, and you'll be good.
On Day 2, Mirren woke up with very watery eyes and a swollen lower lid. Reed was rightly worried, and so I put in a call to the doctor after putting her antibiotic eye ointment in her eye. After waiting a few hours for a return phone call, I began to notice that the swelling was gone and the wateriness was SO much better. Many hours later, the doctor called back but at that point we'd decided she was fine.
All in all, the surgery was worse than I expected because I didn't know WHAT to expect, but after the first day, she has done amazingly. Just expect your child's eye to look red, expect the time as they come out of anesthesia to be awful and expect some tylenol for the first few days, and you'll be good.
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Eyes Have It
Aftyn and Mirren recently saw an eye doctor who was determining if they both needed eye surgery.
Answer: Mirren does, Aftyn doesn't RIGHT NOW. But SHE WILL, later.
Mirren will be patching her eye before and after her surgery to strengthen her weak right eye.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Enough
I stayed up late last night, coming up with the song to present to my choir members for our choir practice this morning. After not a great nights sleep, I woke up too late to go to the church's library to make my photo copies (on their photocopier and at their expense) of the song we needed to practice, so instead had my husband make a few copies with our printer/copier while I shoved lukewarm oatmeal into my mouth while doing my hair/throwing on clothes/brushing my teeth so I could run to my 10 am choir practice.
I introduced the song (we have to perform next week) to my choir members and ALL of them questioned my choice. I tried telling them I had felt a strong impression we needed to sing this song. They were still less than impressed. After selling the song for 45 minutes and singing it through at least 10 times with them, we ended on a positive note with everyone feeling better, except for me.
I arrived home feeling the need to prove myself to my choir, and started organizing our performance binders and planning ways to make them look polished for next week's performance. My husband was giving me a look and said "Alysa, you should start getting ready for church."
I quickly brushed him aside, instead deciding to finish up my lesson for our Sunday School class of 15-16 year olds. 30 minutes later I had my material printed, stapled and in my Sunday bag.
3 little heads needed their hair done for church, one little man needed Sunday clothes picked out, a diaper bag needed to be packed, lunch needed to be made and devoured by all, and shoes needed to be found for at least 1 person.
40 minutes to go before church began and I finally decided it was time to get myself ready for church. I walked into my bedroom only to be reminded by the little baby sleeping on my bed that he needed to be fed quickly before I got myself dressed and ready. 15 minutes later and the baby was only half fed and wanting to take his feeding TOO slowly. I would have to finish nursing him at church. I started to get myself ready when the anxiety hit.
Were ALL my efforts just for not? What if my Sunday School class ended up being like choir, a fail? Why get dressed for church when no matter what I wear, I will still look fat? On and on the negative feelings piled themselves on, and I, feeling defeated, sat next to my husband on our bed and said, "What if I'm not enough?".
And even though my loving husband told me I WAS enough, I didn't believe it. We went to church, at least 15 minutes late, and I didn't want to be there. It was fast and testimony meeting and our bishop got up and said the words I needed to hear. How he knew I needed to hear that, I know was through the spirit. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who needed to hear them.
Sacrament meeting was crazier than normal in our seats. Mirren decided to try wandering today, which made for some frustration. She was tired because of our late church time with no nap under her belt. I was still not feeling like I wanted to be there. When sacrament meeting ended, I turned to my husband and said "Why don't you just take all the kids home." Bronwyn had been complaining for an hour before church about feeling sick but we made her come anyway, Aftyn had just turned to me and complained of feeling sick, and adding in Mirren and how my anxieties were getting to me, I was just ready to call the whole thing off. What was the point in continuing to try? I could just go and teach my class and then go home myself. It sounded heavenly.
I'm ending my story there, suffice it to say, after all 3 hours, all my family stayed and went to all of their meetings and I went home happy. Happy and feeling much calmer. And feeling like my efforts are enough, that I do make a difference and that I matter. And I guess for today, that is enough.
I introduced the song (we have to perform next week) to my choir members and ALL of them questioned my choice. I tried telling them I had felt a strong impression we needed to sing this song. They were still less than impressed. After selling the song for 45 minutes and singing it through at least 10 times with them, we ended on a positive note with everyone feeling better, except for me.
I arrived home feeling the need to prove myself to my choir, and started organizing our performance binders and planning ways to make them look polished for next week's performance. My husband was giving me a look and said "Alysa, you should start getting ready for church."
I quickly brushed him aside, instead deciding to finish up my lesson for our Sunday School class of 15-16 year olds. 30 minutes later I had my material printed, stapled and in my Sunday bag.
3 little heads needed their hair done for church, one little man needed Sunday clothes picked out, a diaper bag needed to be packed, lunch needed to be made and devoured by all, and shoes needed to be found for at least 1 person.
40 minutes to go before church began and I finally decided it was time to get myself ready for church. I walked into my bedroom only to be reminded by the little baby sleeping on my bed that he needed to be fed quickly before I got myself dressed and ready. 15 minutes later and the baby was only half fed and wanting to take his feeding TOO slowly. I would have to finish nursing him at church. I started to get myself ready when the anxiety hit.
Were ALL my efforts just for not? What if my Sunday School class ended up being like choir, a fail? Why get dressed for church when no matter what I wear, I will still look fat? On and on the negative feelings piled themselves on, and I, feeling defeated, sat next to my husband on our bed and said, "What if I'm not enough?".
And even though my loving husband told me I WAS enough, I didn't believe it. We went to church, at least 15 minutes late, and I didn't want to be there. It was fast and testimony meeting and our bishop got up and said the words I needed to hear. How he knew I needed to hear that, I know was through the spirit. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who needed to hear them.
Sacrament meeting was crazier than normal in our seats. Mirren decided to try wandering today, which made for some frustration. She was tired because of our late church time with no nap under her belt. I was still not feeling like I wanted to be there. When sacrament meeting ended, I turned to my husband and said "Why don't you just take all the kids home." Bronwyn had been complaining for an hour before church about feeling sick but we made her come anyway, Aftyn had just turned to me and complained of feeling sick, and adding in Mirren and how my anxieties were getting to me, I was just ready to call the whole thing off. What was the point in continuing to try? I could just go and teach my class and then go home myself. It sounded heavenly.
I'm ending my story there, suffice it to say, after all 3 hours, all my family stayed and went to all of their meetings and I went home happy. Happy and feeling much calmer. And feeling like my efforts are enough, that I do make a difference and that I matter. And I guess for today, that is enough.
Amazing Aftyn
Oh the many many Lego creations.
I think this one was a giraffe.
Looks good.
Oh look! Laundry day! ;)
Sisters.
Friends.
Enemies.
Frienemers.
Yup, I totally made that word up.
Lately they love to snuggle on the couch together.
True story.
Just eating cotton candy in the backyard.
There's nothing to see here.
Says Bronwyn's face.
Aftyn has a friend, shown here.
Her name is Kira.
She's totally a part of the family.
She and Aftyn go on all kinds of adventures,
but mostly while Aftyn is sleeping.
With her.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Blue-Eyed Bronwyn
She loves headbands!
She wears them frequently.
She wants to wear them all the time.
She loves to dress up!
This particular day she was invited to a friends princess themed birthday party.
She was in HEAVEN!
Mirren cried when we dropped her off.
This girl is a HARD worker.
She loves the feeling of a completed job.
She is my go to worker.
Her enthusiasm gets the other girls going, and she is a great cleaning example to Mirren.
She is just plain fun.
Most of the time, except when she's not.
Like when she tries to be the mom. Or the boss.
Or when she gets mad.
Pretty typical.
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