50/50

8/31  Sunrise

This morning I was listening to a podcast about anxiety.

There were a couple points the woman made that I really appreciated.  First, if people are going to say things about you that you don't like, there's nothing wrong with that.  People can talk, but those who matter to you and really get you will know when things are true or false.

And second, she referred to that Book of Mormon scripture about opposition and said, knowing what we know about opposition and that it's a part of life, it's normal that about half of our human existence is going to be opposition and struggles and negative emotions that we have to deal with, and the other half is joy and happiness and treasured friendships and love.  It's our human existence, the total package.

50/50.  Like the beautiful sunrise I got to see as I was walking today, a little cloudy and gray, but also full of sunlight bursting through those clouds.

It was just some common sense that I really needed this morning, thinking about my own growing pains at school, the crazy flooding in Texas, friends in the hospital, and on and on.  These things aren't fun, they are difficult and trying.  And that's okay.

How grateful I am for the people and blessings in my life that make up that other 50%!

Musings on a Tuesday night

5 years from now, Rhiannon will be 21 and Wade will be 18.

It takes my breath away to think about the change that is ahead, but it also motivates me to enjoy all of my time with them while they're home, all of it, the slow times, the fast times, the busy-busy and the "Hey, Mom, come play table tennis with me" times.   Trying to be less "helicopter parent" and more "cutter of apron strings" is a work in progress, too.  No matter what, I hope Rhiannon and Wade feel our love for them!

We've been playing a lot of table tennis the past week, thanks to Wade.  He brought it down when Rhiannon was gone on her college tour last week, and the game has stayed set up unless we're eating at that table, ha-ha!  5 minutes here, 5 minutes there, he gets all of us to play with him at one time or another.  It's fun!  The dogs are getting used to our playing, too and know not to touch that ping pong ball.

Speaking of college tours, Rhiannon had the time of her life on that trip!  She visited 8 campuses in 3 days, got by on little sleep, had a blast with her roommates (friends from school that she got to pick), and came back super energized to get high school DONE and move on to the next chapter of her life.  She loved the University of San Diego, a private Catholic university--the only drawback is its v-e-r-y steep tuition cost.  In the next 3 months she will take the ACT and SAT and an AP exam and sign up for senior-year classes and figure out her top 4-6 college picks and visit a few more campuses over Spring Break on our family trip and and and and....  It's not hard to understand how she can feel a little stressed out sometimes!  We are excited for her and proud!  Oh, and that drivers license is finally just around the corner.  She has one more instructor lesson and then just needs to take the drivers test!

Jason is gone to a stake meeting tonight and has a day trip for work down to Northridge tomorrow.  Work is unbelievably stressful and 0% fun for him lately, but, man, I am so grateful for all that he does to provide for our family.  And he is so good about giving time to the kids and me, too, whether it's a Valentine's date and gorgeous flowers for me or going out of town with Wade to shop for golf clubs or letting his daughter go with him to Bishop two hours away for a Sunday church trip to spend time with her and let her practice her driving on the highway.  He's the best!

In the middle of all my crazy--church stuff and college stuff and work stuff and home stuff....and feeling a little out of control with all of that--I found an unexpected stress reliever--listening to podcasts!  So far I really like Power of Moms and This American Life.  Podcasts are kinda like radio shows, but more like you're sitting down listening to a conversation among friends, without the commercials and I get to pick what I like to listen to.  I download "episodes" to my phone (and then usually delete after), and listen while I'm walking the dogs or cleaning or folding laundry.  I knew I was on to something the other day when I kept trying to find tasks to do because my podcast wasn't over yet (WHAT???  HOW DID THAT HAPPEN! ;) )  I love it!

List of exclamation marks

Halloween feels like a lifetime ago!

Since then,

Wade performed in a fall elementary piano recital and did a phenomenal job!

Grandma Sue got checked into a hospital while visiting my parents down in Texas (she's doing much better now and staying with my parents until she goes back to Idaho!)

Jason traveled to St. Louis for work!

Rhiannon picked up a semi-regular babysitting gig!

New gate installation started...and stalled.  Gates were the wrong color and holes were dug in the wrong place.  (BUT when they're all finished it will be major exclamation marks!!!)

I made some cool crafts at a Super Saturday event!  I also got a jump-start on our family Christmas cards!

Wade played flag football and got a cool interception at his last game!

Jason completed ANOTHER Ragnar relay race! In Las Vegas!  They placed 34th out of 423 teams, which is crazy good, and even crazier when you hear the story about their team!  (post and pics to come!)

Rhiannon went to the dentist and had no cavities!

Rhiannon and I drove friends down to the Los Angeles temple and did some service there!

And I got the "precious cargo" there and back safely!

I worked on Battle of the Books and institute lessons, plus one sub job!

Rhiannon played the piano beautifully and did two value presentations at YW in Excellence last night!

Jason taught a fantastic lesson on eternal marriage for our Gospel Principles class last Sunday!

The kids are working on a Carol of the Bells duet and sound awesome!

We are getting new leadership for our stake, or group of wards here in Ridgecrest, this weekend!  Since our stake center hasn't even begun to be repaired, we'll be meeting at the local fairgrounds!

I love exclamation marks.  Can you tell?  I was pretty cranky yesterday (translation:  beat-down tired), so I'm happy to be back in tip-top exclamation mark form today.  !!!