Love Letter

Remember these days?
Man, we were just kids!



I still remember how shocked everyone was when we got together.

No one thought it would last.

We sure proved them wrong, didn't we?

We've had our share of roller coaster rides through the years, but one thing has always remained constant.


After all these years, we're still absolutely crazy about each other.

I'll take the good and the bad, just as long as I can continue to hold your hand through it all.

I love you, Bryson.

Happy Valentine's Day.
♥

Just a Thought...

Inspiration can come in interesting ways.
Today it came from a random quote scribbled on a piece of paper found as I was continuing my office-cleaning odyssey.

"Now, this is the truth. We humble people, we who feel ourselves so worthless, so good-for-nothing, we are not so worthless as we think. There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are children of God and that He has actually given His angels... charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping."

- George Q. Cannon
Gospel Truths, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, 1:2.

June Cleaver I Am Not

Tonight, I was talking with a group of some friends and the topic of homemaking was raised. Specifically, how on earth do some people possess the amazing ability to keep such an immaculate house?

My friend Susan laughed as she described how she imagined life would be as a stay-at-home mom-- before she had children. The house would be pristine, her children would be perfect. And naturally, she would be in awesome shape-- because she'd have so much extra time to work out, of course!

Extra time.

What exactly is that, and how can I get my hands on some?

I, for one, struggle to keep the house in a state of order. When I mentioned this tonight, I was teased a little-- "What are you talking about? Your house is always clean!" To which I should have replied, "Yes, but have you been to my house when I didn't know you were coming?" Why is it that I always come up with a witty comeback half an hour too late? *sigh*

This year I am trying to develop better organizational skills. I have spent almost the entirety of this day cleaning out my home office. It, tragically, has become the black hole of our little abode. But today-- victory!!! I can actually type this post at my computer without fear of being buried alive by piles of bills, catalogs, and the like. I am hopeful this is the year that good habits will finally stick.

There are a lot of perks that come along with being a stay-at-home mom. Comfortable wardrobe, being able to work with people you typically enjoy being around, being able to create your own schedule--generally speaking. But when you add kids to the equation, suddenly those starry-eyed fantasies of how life should be are brought back down to earth. Life gets crazy. Life gets messy. But it's wonderful that way.

I wouldn't change my life for anything. There are days when the stars align and our house hums like a well-oiled machine. Everything is in its place. Most days are not those days, however. We just keep doing the best that we can, and somehow everything seems to work out alright.

Because at the end of it all, I would rather my kids looked back on their childhood and thought, "Boy, we sure had such a super fun Mom" rather than "Boy, we sure had such a super clean house."

Maybe, someday, they'll get both. :)

My Happy Place

Recently, a good friend of mine blogged about the new quilting store in the neighborhood-- quickly dubbing it the "happiest place on Earth." (No offense to the Disney conglomerate.) And I must admit, there is a certain aura about that little store.

It has its own gravitational pull.

Unfortunately, I am kind of a dunce when it comes to sewing. (Something I am trying to change this year... wish me luck!) So I haven't yet experienced the bliss that is Gracie Lou's Quilt Shoppe.

But, as fate would have it, I have found my own little slice of heaven this year.
It's name?
Sunflower Farmers Market.

It is my Happy Place.

Seriously.
The first time I walked in I swear I could hear angels singing.

Mountains of inexpensive, quality organic produce?
Check.


An unlimited supply of free-range meats-- including an array of chicken & pork sausages made in-house?
You bet.

More varieties of cheese, hummus, and olives than you even knew existed?
Of course.

All the unusual & hard-to-find Asian condiments & commodities you couldn't find anywhere else?
Look no further!

A complete array of bulk grains, nuts, legumes, and dried fruit just waiting for your arrival?
Voila!

Beautiful displays of fresh fish & incredible sushi-- again, made in-house?
You better believe it, sister.
(I wholeheartedly endorse their spicy tuna rolls!)

Would you like the ultimate in fresh peanut or almond butter?
Grind your own for only $2.99 a pound!

This place is heaven on Earth.

I took Bryson a couple weekends back, just because I thought he needed to see this place. Didn't even need to purchase groceries. I don't know if he understood my exhilaration completely, but looking around he nodded. "This is definitely your store," he agreed.

Ah, yes.
The mother ship has called me home.

Count Your Blessings... Instead of Sheep

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!"

This is not a noise you want to hear in the middle of the night.

No, it's not a cry for help, or even the exclamation of someone who has just spotted a particularly hairy spider.

This is Sheep's talking voice.
Yes, Sheep talks.
In a voice eerily reminiscent of Mickey Mouse... on helium.

The other night, around three in the morning, I woke up to Sheep's oh-so melodious voice coming in over the baby monitor.

Several minutes of monologue that I couldn't translate for you if I wanted to.

After glancing at the clock I rolled over and stared at the ceiling, praying that a certain little girl would go back to sleep with her furry little friend.
The seconds went by slowly.
Then minutes.

I was beginning to sit up when Sheep was suddenly interrupted by a very stern Reilly.

"Sheep," she exclaimed, "It is time to go to sleep. You need to be quiet and go Back. To. Sleep!"

Grinning in the dark, I put my head back on my pillow.

Some people count sheep in order to fall asleep.

My daughter talks to one.

Big Helper

This is what happens when one spends the majority of the afternoon in the kitchen, leaving a preschooler to his own devices.


Taylor: (proudly) Mom, I just cleaned the bathroom for you!

Me: (warily) Whaaaaaaaaat?


Taylor: I cleaned the bathroom all by myself! That's what big boys do, Mom. They clean the bathroom.

Me: (chuckling) Okaaay... But what did you clean the bathroom with?

Taylor: I don't know.

Me: (rewording the question) Um... well, how did you clean the bathroom?

Taylor: I don't know.

Me: Hmmm. Why don't you show me how you cleaned the bathroom.

Taylor: Okay!!!

He ran excitedly toward the bathroom, where I was greeted by a small lake of toilet water on the linoleum floor. Groaning inwardly, I tried to stay positive as Taylor happily showed me his cleaning tools-- the toilet brush & the lovely black plunger.

Taylor: See Mom? I'm a big helper!

Mom: Oh, well, Taylor, that's great. Thank you for wanting to help Mommy-- that's such a big boy. But next time, will you please ask Mommy before you clean the bathroom?

Taylor: Sure, Mom. I love you!


It's hard to be irritated when you have such a handy man around the house.

The Purple Beanie, Part Two

Dear Grandma Brandy,

My mom & dad are starting to wonder if I even have hair nowadays.
I wear my purple beanie every day, and every night.
I will not go to bed unless it is on my head.

Is there something wrong with this?
I certainly don't think so.

I firmly believe I should be allowed to wear it to church as well.
See?
It even matches the little purple flower on my long black dress.
But Mom says no.

*sigh*
She can be so mean sometimes.

Love,
Reilly