Service with Legos

For Christmas my 7 year old son, Benjamin, got the submarine docking Lego kit of his dreams.  It is recommended for children ages 7-14 and as his birthday is on the 19th of December he was certain he would qualify for the kit.  His excitement was palpable when he opened the gift.  He later got out the needed containers to keep his parts all separated and began working diligently on following the building map at the kitchen table.  His older brother, Samuel, was doing the same thing on the other side of the table but with his Lego starship.  After about 45 minutes of diligent building it became clear that the build was just a bit more complicated than Benjamin was up for, so Samuel offered to work on it for a bit if Benjamin wanted to go do something else for awhile.  Samuel worked on Ben’s ship until it was dinner time and Ben was bouncing with gratitude that his brother would help him on his submarine.  After the boys were in bed I found my husband sitting at the table trying to get the submarine finished so that Ben could play with it in the morning.  He stayed up way past his own bedtime working until it was finished.  The joy and unbelief on Benjamin’s face and in his voice was overwhelming as he thanked his papa and his brother again for finishing building his kit.  It made me think of the parable of the bicycle.  Ben did all he could and his dad and brother stepped in to make up the difference.  I feel so blessed that my guys love and serve one another and that as family members we can emulate the Savior’s love for each other in our day to day lives.

The Super Pants are White

Ever since Saturday, November 27th the Tyrant has been singing a song that he composed himself.  It goes like this:



The Super pants, the super pants, the super pants are WHITE!!!!!!
(repeat 1st line)

Now you may think that this has something to do with Superman but you would be mighty wrong.  On that last Saturday in November my Engineer chose to enter the waters of baptism.  It was a very special day and meant even more to me after all of the heartache and hurt of the past year.  We had some very close friends present and my husband's brother and his family here.  Just a small gathering.  Nothing too overwhelming for the boy who has been terrified of being touched or losing control.  I was so proud of my boy.  He really felt the spirit that day and it was evident in his bright and shining demeanor.

Clearly it meant something to the smallest member of our household as well.  Because he is now aspiring to wear his own pair of Super White Pants.  Although he has already begun negotiations to see if we can get a special dispensation so that he can be baptized at 7 instead of 8.  Somehow I don't think the Prophet is going to be swayed by his reasoning.

Thanks for your prayers and for sticking by our family through the difficult times and for celebrating with us during the times of joy.

A Month of Gratitude....day 1

I want to start off this month by focusing on the blessings in my life.  It has been a super difficult 6 months and there has been much strife, chaos, pain, and sheer brokenness.  While we have all healed some there is still a long road to walk and day by day we are working at putting together what our new normal is going to look like.  One amazing lady who has laughed, cried, played and lifted me up is someone that I had never met until all this trauma was discovered.  So today I am grateful for Diana and all the other crazy moms out there who know how hard this walk is and who strive to lighten each other's loads by sharing our burdens.

This picture is of her being a SUPERMOM.  Don't you love her cape?


 She has been a friend who has listened with her heart as well as her ears.  And this weekend I think she literally saved my life.  I hope I can be as good a friend to her as she has been to me.

A Dragon Against Manticore Army

Another story by the Comedian

Two-thousand manticores have been attacking the city.


A boy on a dragon have been attacking them but a sea monster and the manticores were too much for him on 2000 Main Street.  The dragon landed on the sea monsters head and the sea monster ate his own head trying to get him.  Now there are only 2000 manticores left to be beat.  One maticore have charged at the dragon.  The dragon and the human made it crazy.  The human grabbed onto the manticore's head and the dragon ate its horn.  When that one had been defeated all the other manticores attacked at the same time.  As easy as last time one big giant chicken flew and sat on all the manticores heads.  Then the dragon ate all the horns from the manticores while the big giant chicken was distracting them.  The city was safe once again....

Stay tuned for next time. . .
The Sea Monster WAS ATTACKING!!!!!  The dragon put fire on all the scales, then the dragon bite-ed off it’s tail.  The Sea Monster was furious!  So the Sea Monster was chasing the dragon around in circles.  It got tired off.  Then the dragon ate one spine off the Sea Monster above his eyes.

Stay tuned for the next adventure of the dragoN




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No Hope. . .

Another blogger whom I follow had the title "No Hope"  of course Hope is her dog and she was talking about something else entirely.  But I read it and thought that's how I feel right now.  I feel like there is no hope.  No hope of me not bursting into tears every time someone asks me how I'm doing, no hope of the boys being okay again, no hope of anyone understanding how much I hurt and how deep my grief goes.

I often wonder lately why I even try to keep going forward because there really doesn't seem like any hope of ever getting better.  No hope of being able to pull our family out of this trial stronger on the other side knowing that we will be okay.

I'm just so tired and sadly I really just want to give up...tried the test...did my best...and I'd rather not pass on to the next grade.

I wonder how one might "clep" out of all the rest?

So what's lower than low gear?

Today was okay...but harder...or something

Today's Accomplishments
*  Finally returned dish to Sis. L hopefully the tomatoes were compensation for the tardy return
*  Walked to Sis. L's with the boys and stopped to play at the park for awhile on the way home
*  Dishes finally got done
*  uhm.....

Daily Gratitude
*  Sis. Cabrera's kind offer to share dinner with our family
*  Roxies love and playfullness....the boys really enjoyed playing catch with her
*  Tyrant boy willingly took a nap

Memorable Moments
*  Tyrant boy asked for more sleeps when I checked on him after an hour and a half
*  The Engineer giving Sister Cabrera the third degree about how Mexican food differed from "real" food (someday I need to figure out how to teach that boy tact....)
*  Kar listening and really caring not just offering empty words and being willing to help out even though she's got a full plate of her own

**and I can't forget miss Corey's creativi-TEA and thoughtful card....

Okay....any prayers are welcome tomorrow is going to be rough.  Mr. Music Man is off to the Zombie Prom all day/night and I need to make it through it all with the boys.....single parenthood is so not my forte'

Functioning on Low lately....

So lately (as evidenced by the lack of posting here) we've been (okay I've been) functioning on low.  Not coping well with the stresses of life and becoming a bit of a turtle stuck in my shell.  So today....I'm going to go back to what I know works for me and notice

Today's Accomplishments
*  Made french toast for breakfast for all three boys 
*  woke up and got dressed (yep lately that is a huge accomplishment)
*took Mr. Music Man lunch, kids to the park for a few hours, finally bought toothbrushes (don't ask how long that has been on the list), did a bit of grocery shopping, shook money out of the piggy bank, and bribed paid the children to do cleaning jobs....

50 cents--bathroom fully cleaned
                sweep and mop kitchen
                vacuum and dust living room


5 cents--put silverware away from dishwasher
              sort laundry
              fold one load of laundry




Gratitude

* True friends who show they care; not just say they care and move on.  Those who help me to carry the heavy burdens and not just tell me they know I can do and that I am strong.

* Prayer....

* So grateful my Tiny Tyrant is okay after his fall last weekend....although I wince everytime I look at the mottled bruising all over his face.......



Memorable Moments
*  My sweet Comedian who is encouraging me to orchestrate a family adventure

*Goose the visiting cat asking when the house will be clean...or barring the house just his litter box.

*The Engineer and the Comedian both figured out how to pump on the swings by themselves today.  Later the Engineer told me that he was sure glad he "trusted" me and kept going even when he didn't seem to be moving much.  The Comedian wants to build swings at out own house.....hmmm...something to think about...





Hopefully I'll add to this throughout the day but if not. . . .All is Well!

With What Shall We Fix It?