Sanity

We are on the countdown! Friday is the day we depart Nevada for our annual summer trek to Idaho. We have kept very busy the past few months with spring sports and trying to wrap things up here while preparing for the summer.

Paige and Jake did an awesome job playing softball/coach pitch. Paige is learning how to pitch, and has worked very hard this year to learn new skills. As always, her attitude is outstanding, and she is having a great time. Jake is a natural athlete. (I still can't believe he is my offspring.) :) He is a lefty and usually plays first base. He hit several triples throughout the season, and got countless outs. He really is a joy to watch - I am one proud mama. (He even pointed to the outfield a few times when he was up to bat before his dad gave him the knock it off signal.) Steve helped coach Jake's team, and they got to spend lots of quality time together.

Jake has the mind of an engineer or maybe an architect. I have been remiss in taking pictures, but we have a section of a flowerbed in our backyard that has enough clear space that Jake has taken to building dams, islands, etc. I am so impressed with his ability to picture something in his mind and then bring it to reality with such ease. He will create something, and then add water for special effects. Most recently, he shaped an island into the shape of the United States, and it looked just like it! What a kid.

Nathan is so easygoing, and enjoys being wherever I am. His preschool graduation ceremony for his Cuddlebug 3 year old class is tomorrow. He is learning to ride a scooter, and can't wait to go to Idaho. He has been waiting for months for the weather to be warm enough to visit the water park in Boise. Over the weekend, we went for a family walk, and stopped by the park to play for a bit. There were several trees there full of birds, and I made a comment to the children that the birds were singing so beautifully. Nathan listened for a moment, and then said, "Mom, I think they forgot the words!"

Here's to a sane and exciting summer with lots of fun memories.

Connie and Fam

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

I really, really needed this today.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Higher Road

How can I sum up what life is like for me lately? I guess I need to report that my training wheels are still on, as I am still learning how to accept my life's circumstances with patience and grace instead of complaining and questioning. Nope, I still don't know how to take the higher road, and the Lord continues to guide me through gentle force. Painful? Yes. Worth it? Maybe someday I'll get the hang of it. Until then, it's like a "funniest home video" with lots of hiiiillllaarrioouss crashes (somehow it's not quite as funny without the music and sound effects). Steve has been asked to coach girls basketball this next year as a new coach has just been hired. He has decided to give it a shot (yes, I know we're crazy). He is such a talented man, and truly has a gift working with youth. I am looking forward to watching a football coach try and tone it down just a smidge for a bunch of hormonal girls. We just got back from Boise, where we had a booth at the annual Sportman's Outdoor Show. Can I share how much I do not enjoy this experience of trying to tell people about our business in 2 seconds or less, juggling the ever hyper children, and traveling back and forth? DO NOT BUY YOUR OWN BUSINESS! The kids had a great time fishing in the pond set up at the show, shooting BB guns, and throwing balls at the Les Shwabb booth for speed. Paige bounced her ball off of the perimeter a few times and had everyone waiting in line ducking for cover. Cabellas booth was right next to ours, and they had a wheel you could spin to win little prizes like postcards, lanyards, a hat, etc. Jake was bound and determined to win a hat, and went back to spin the wheel over and over again and did not have any luck. FINALLY, his mother went over with 10 different prizes he had collected, and struck a trade for the coveted hat! Here is a picture of Jake with his prize. While in Boise at the show, I also conducted interviews for staff in Boise this next summer, and met some great people! I also have been working on setting up internships for our Riggins location with USU, U of U, and U of I. Life marches on. Everyone pray for a hot summer! A few other pictures for you: Oh man - does this sum up their relationship? :) We recently had to find a new home for our dogs because Jake and I are allergic. Here is a last picture of Nathan with his buddy. This little darling really got me in the grocery store last week. Picture Nate and I in the makeup/feminine products aisle which was packed with people. I was browsing a little way away from him, when, much to my dismay, he shouted out to me, "Hey mommy - do you need any mommy diapers?" Nice. No, I did not teach him that, I swear. Well, at least he will be a well-rounded husband someday, right? Lastly, Paige wanted me to post a few videos of what she has been working on in dance class (hip-hop). She has been working on learning how to do "the worm", and is so proud that she has learned how to do it.
Here she is doing her entire dance.


This epistle is finally concluded!

Update

We just received notification that the Child Center has officially been approved for National Accreditation through NAEYC through 2015. This has been a long 2 year process with many, many hours of work by all 42 employees!

We were assessed on 10 content areas, and scored 100%+ in 3 areas, 100% in 6 areas, and 96% in the remaining category.

Man, am I glad that's over! Just thought I would share with you what I've been up to... :)

Connie

Successful morning?

Soooo....

I got up this morning at 5:30 to work out, put gas in the very empty gas tank of the truck, came home and did the dishes, switched the laundry, got dinner in the oven with timer set, fed two little boys breakfast and got them ready for school, showered and got ready for work, and headed out the door within 2 hours from start to finish.

I was feeling pretty great about a productive morning until I realized, somehow in my rush, I forgot to brush my teeth.

Successful morning? You be the judge. :)

Self Discipline

It seems as if all of the lessons and experiences I have had thus far in my life have been (sometimes) gentle prodding from the Lord to become self-disciplined. While each experience seemed different to me as I encountered them all individually, as I reflect, I recognize now that they were just self-discipline in sheep's clothing.

I have always known, recognized, and admired those in my life who were able to be internally strong, and to self-regulate in a way that created a life of discipline over time. What I didn't realize was that this quality is not peripheral... it is central. I don't know why I fight it, because I feel compelled to fight against it with all I have. Maybe sometimes it's because I feel exhausted, or imperfect. Maybe sometimes it is because discouragement looms over me, and I'm just not sure I have it within me to keep trying.

One thing I do know - all gospel principles seem to lead to being able to control and regulate oneself from within - in a way that brings true joy. Not happiness - joy. I marvel at the unique life "recipe" each person I meet must experience, and I stress experience. As a side note here, I have intentionally not used the word endure here, as endure to me means to brace yourself against whatever you must face, and I believe that you must embrace what life has presented in order to be moldable and to change for the good.

In the end, I believe the most important thing is that no matter what your challenges, and how severe and unbearable they may seem, do your best to show up to the battle each and every day and to fight the fight to the best of your ability. The gains that can be made gradually in the face of absolutely unbearable adversity are more than the brain can comprehend, and it never ceases to amaze me how, when I come through to the other side, I cannot seem to understand how I arrived, except to know that somehow, through the grace of God and some really amazing friends and family, I did not quit when quitting was all I could visualize.

Here is to all of those amazing family and friends who show up each day and fight their fight with grace and gratitude. I appreciate your example and fortitude more than you'll ever know.

New favorite recipe

Hey guys - I tried a new roast chicken and potato recipe a few days ago that was so easy, and so good, I thought I would share:

Olive oil
Italian Dressing
Ranch Dressing (I just combined some ranch dressing powder and mayo)
Onion
5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
5 potatos quartered
1/2 onion quartered/slivered

In a roast pan, drizzle some olive oil (2-3 tablespoons)
Toss chicken breasts in about 2-3 tablespoons of Italian dressing (I added a bit of olive oil too)
Lay chicken breasts in center of roasting pan
Toss quartered potatos in ranch dressing and place around outside of chicken breasts in a circle
Add onion over potatos
Crack some black pepper over the top of everything
Place lid on roasting pan and cook at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours

Enjoy! Let me know what you think if you give it a try.