One of these things is not like the other...

WARNING!!! This blog entry may contain offensive material.

Prom was last weekend, and K looked beautiful. Thanks to ______ for lending a dress to us. However, she would have looked beautiful in a sack. I realize I am a little biased in my opinion, but her beauty went deeper than the dress. So... if I may, I would like to get up on my soap box for a minute...

One of these things is not like the other. Not too difficult to figure out is it? Modesty has been on my mind for awhile now. And I just don't get it. I was so sad when K came home and said so few LDS young women were dressed appropriately. And quite frankly, I was very disappointed. They know better, have been taught better, but somehow when it comes to prom and swimsuits, all previous knowledge goes out the window. Why is that? Feel free to enlighten me so I may better know as a Young women leader how I can teach this important concept. I realize it is all about agency. Don't get me wrong, I am so far away from perfect. And while I admit I have so many issues of my own, that I have to work on, this is one of those things that I just don't understand. We all have our own struggles and maybe mine are just struggles that others don't see, such as reading scriptures everyday. I believe it was Sister Dalton who said something to the effect of ..."When we truly realize who we are, and what we can become we will make better choices. " Are young women missing that they are a Daughter of God, and as a princess they need to act like a princess and dress like a princess. Do we no longer know how REAL princesses act. (and dress) I don't have the answers here, only pose questions. As tradition goes, K wore her dress to church on Sunday. A dad told G later what his daughter said, "She looks like a real princess." I know it is not all about the dress that makes young women feel so pretty. It is about so much more. It is about what is really inside the dress. The confidence to know they are pure and divine, to know they are loved, to know where true happiness can be found, to know there is more to life than themselves. So... Thank You to those young women who will not let "fashion" tell them what to wear, who stand strong for what you believe, and who look so beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. Your light will shine no matter how dark it gets!

Good Things:

1. knowledge

2. doing whats right

3. beauty, the real kind

Can you help me down now?!

I also must add, that their are some amazing young women out there, and that there better be some great young men preparing for them.

Yeah Soccer!

Is over! Soccer is officially over for the season. I do love to watch the kids play, but it is time for the next thing. K and B played their last game yesterday with two more loses...So, we will pretend the season ended on Saturday with 2 wins. K was recognized as a senior at the last home game. Her high school soccer career has ended! B was one of the captains for the JV team. D and G (coach) had a winning season for the most part, but ended in third place. I just had to take pictures, so I have tried to narrow it down to something you could watch, but I took so many more. You may notice, that we love the #2. I think it started, because that was always the smallest jersey. I am not sure that will continue to work for D, but we will see. Go Team!

Good Things:
1. soccer season is over
2. beautiful weather for soccer
3. whatever is next
4. getting to enjoy it as a family

Good Things

1. A beautiful fall day
2. Checking off a few things on the to do list
3. Listening to K practice a song for Sunday

When was the last time YOU went to the temple?

A few weeks ago I had a complete meltdown. You know, the kind you stomp your feet, yell, and holler, and can't talk to anyone kind. And yes, it was all about the same stuff it always is...kids not picking up after themselves, and all of their stuff oozing into my living space. You would think that after having children for 17 years I would finally be over it. I AM NOT! I can only take so much, and then I have one of those tantrums. It always happens the same way...I go upstairs. (that is a forbidden area for me at my house) I am not talking about a little clutter. This is the kind of clutter that if my whole house looked this way, my children would be taken away. Funny that it is the children that cause the problem. Anyway, I was not at all happy about it, and was not easy to live with for several days. Finally after having calmed down, (days later) and taken the vow to never go up again, I was discussing my ranting and raving episode with D. He very calmly said, "When was the last time you went to the temple?" I will be the first to admit, that I am a much better mom and wife when I am going to the temple regularly. So that only leads to the question, "What would have happened if I hadn't gone to the temple?" That is frightening to think about. I guess I just better keep going.

Good Things:
1. going to the temple
2. kids who can see the difference
3. my living space

Instead of the gym...

I really should have gone to the gym this morning, but really didn't want to. I was still debating with myself when my visiting teachers called to see if they could come by! And so sad...they wanted to come before I would be back from the gym. Just what I needed, a reason to stay home. So instead of going to the gym this morning, I did something much better. I baked?! French bread, cinnamon rolls, and then made some raspberry jam. Oh, the cinnamon rolls are in the oven now, and they smell so yummy! Maybe I should at least make a little time for wii fit!

Good Things:
1. visiting teachers
2. the smell of cinnamon rolls
3. fresh baked bread

Bad things...tight jeans!

Going ons at our house

The kids are back in school, and I think we have figured out a somewhat regular schedule. B leaves at 5:45 for seminary and the rest of her day. Unfortunately she can't drive herself yet, but we do take turns with a friend, so at least it is only every other week. K leaves at 6:45 for seminary and her day. D and G leave at 7:45, and I leave then sometimes to take D to school, or 8:15 to go the gym, which, by the way hasn't been too regular lately. D gets home around 3:30, the girls not til 5:45. K does have an easy schedule every other day with class done before 11. She should have plenty of time to apply for college, fill out scholarships, work, etc. I am working on that! We are still trying to figure out when to read scriptures. Any suggestions...we are trying the dinner option but know it won't always work.
Soccer has started full force. G is D's coach, yeah. K is varsity and B is JV. So from here until the end of Oct you will find us at one field or another every Saturday and Tuesday. But the kids love it, and it keeps them out of trouble.
I have been busy putting together a school calendar for D's school, going to meetings, back to school nights, and various other things. As you all know, stay at home moms never get to stay home! But if I did, I would probably just waste time. For now, there is no time for that!
We had a great visit over the weekend with my parents. It was nice to just visit and relax with them. I am not the best host, so we didn't do anything. Okay, we did celebrate B's birthday. She turned 15! She requested some really good food for dinner. Salmon, caprese salad, baked potatoes, caesar salad, brazilian lemonade, and truffle torte. YUM
We also had fun with friends in the pool on Monday. I love a day by the pool with friends and food.
Good Things:
1. a visit from mom and dad
2. B
3. Figuring out a schedule