9 Posts In One

Sometimes I think to myself that I should title all my posts from lyrics of songs, lines of poetry, or words of great literature. There is always a line to go with what I’m thinking. And I think it would be great trivia to see if anyone (all three of you) could guess where the title comes from. Perhaps I shall start that hither to . . .

Speaking of Names – Jason gave me the most amazing idea ever the other night. I was giddy and laughing, literally, for five minutes, as I thought of the possibilities.

We were talking about names, and how I don’t have a middle one. And Jason said “so you could just make up your own?”

And the light bulb went off. And I started laughing, and laughing, and laughing. Because, you know, I can give myself my own name. I even know how to go down to the Social Security office to make it official. And it’s not like I haven’t seen that episode of Friends before, I have. It’s just – this was the first time I realized it for myself.

 

And so here are the names I’m thinking of. I’m trying to narrow it down to five (plus my first name, plus my last – seven names. Still less than a Latin or a Catholic).

Sofronia
Matilda
Seraphina or Seraphim
Elijah
Charger
Begonia
Alexia
Aria
Atillina
Eve
Rose
Penelope
Charlotte
Tess
Finch
Raven
Pelican

As I am smitten with real hand written letters, I am currently taking bids for pen pals this summer (wink, and giggle). Of course, ee (who is no longer ee) has already accepted my plea and agreed to exchange correspondence. Others may or may not receive actual requests but rather random letters arriving in their mail boxes. If you would like to be one (and are willing to return letter for letter) then do let me know!

We returned to Wheeler Farm this week after a long and wintery absence. We spent three long hours playing, visiting the animals, climbing the tree and the tree house, exploring the new playground, and talking to the farmer about our own pending summer garden.

And I felt so good to be out and about with my little herd again. I will admit, baby number four has felt like the one where I can’t go anywhere. Up until this point it hasn’t seemed too hard to pack up my littles and take them on an adventure, but somehow with four I feel so intimidated by the task.

But the sunshine was calling my name, so I put forth the effort, great as it was (to buckle them all) (except Olivia, who can buckle herself) and took them to the farm. It was a great, great day. And I look forward to a summer FULL of great days.

We had Stake Conference today. It was lovely though I only heard about seven minutes of the whole two hours. But my ears did pick up this quote –

Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.

I liked it. I love the idea of my life being a secret garden that I tend to with tenderness.

Every evening we go on a bike ride. Once dinner is over out we go, the littlest strapped into the bike cart, the others with helmets and confidence, strike out to ride around the neighborhood to see who is out and about.

Once we rode about three miles! I was so proud of the little loves. They didn’t complain (until the very end, when I knew it was time to go home). The rode up and down and in and out of each street, down past the church, up by Target, back around, over to the park, up past the Ferg’s, the Flethers and the Engh’s. What good little bike riders I have! It makes me happy!

Summer is coming. We sat down at the calendar the other day to fill out our plans. We haven’t even started, and the summer is JAM-PACKED! Some things on the agenda?

 

Swiming lessons, every day for two weeks in June
T-Ball twice a week all summer long
Art in the Park once a week (which I’m in charge of this summer)
Camping in Oakley
Camping at Goblin Valley
Weekend trip to Jordanelle with the Christensen’s
The Rodeo (HEART HAPPINESS!)
10 Days at the Beach in southern California, maybe even a trip thru Big Sur on the way home.
Butlerville Days
Ice Cream Social
Backyard treat night
Calvin’s Birthday and all the parties associated therewith
A weekend at the cabin with the Brock’s
Andrew’s Birthday and all the parties associated therewith
A summer garden
Sound of Music at Hale Center Theater
Thomas’ missionary farewell
Squeezing in all barbeques and trips to the pool, farm, and mountains as we can!

Oooh! So excited!

I’ve had an itch for art projects lately. I’ve run from one project to another without the sanity or attention to finish any of them. And yet I think about them constantly. My list:

• Art room (oh how I want to decorate and design it to hold all my tools just so).
• Painting
• Summer sewing projects, ones on my mind right now: turning Olivia’s pants into cute shorts and making a really cute skirt for her.
• Gardens. I’ve been dreaming of beautiful gardens, but what’s new?
• Back yard magic – I have it in my mind to string up lights and decor all over my yard.

Back in March I instituted a new rule in our family – one to help us slow down, and help the kids accept boredom more readily. (Wink).

We now have what’s called “Brother/Sister play dates” where we don’t go anywhere or do anything or play with anyone. The hope is they will learn to play with each other and count each other as their truest friends. Those are relationships they will need the rest of their lives, so I’m trying to remember to keep “us” as the center, and put everyone else’s priorities second.