Up's and Down's this week...

This week started out really good.

Monday I was so motivated and worked on piles and piles of laundry, and I was able to get the last two loads into the washer and dryer before the boys got home from work.

.

I started the project of moving out summer/spring clothes and bringing in fall/winter clothes.

Something I kind of dread, but LOVE it once I have it done.

It is kind of like Christmas finding things I had forgotten I owned. And a really good time to get rid of things when I realize I unpacked them last season and never ever put them on.

I have a few things I have just kept packed through the seasons, some smaller sizes I hope to get into one day again.

I tried on some and found they fit, but now I am not sure why ever thing I owned in this size is embellished at the ankle? I must have really been into it, or really wanted to distract the eye to my feet? Not sure if they are still in style, but they fit!

Some sentimental things, I would just never get rid of.

The teenager will probably die if he sees me in this one... but I might have to wear it anyway.

The Christmas sweater... not quite sure how to make this look stylish... the last time I wore it when long sweaters with tight legging's underneath were in style. Hmmm. Maybe that look will come back again one day :)

And I have had these jackets since the early 80's and I am sure acid wash denim and fringe is hitting Paris any season now... so I can't get rid of it yet, just in case.

And of course the big padded shoulders... they make a statement right?

After all the sorting was done... I felt so good about all I was accomplishing, and headed to the kitchen to bake up some special family night treats.

I have had a horrible time getting this stone pan seasoned so that the cakes will come out on their own. I have had to dig everything out of this pan since I owned it. Which of course ruins the shape which is the whole point. So one last attempt with it and then I am giving it away! Well what do you know... it worked this time!

Cute little raspberry pound cakes!

I was so excited to try a new recipe and I planned to indulge on a treat, and looked forward to it all day long. Of course the boys were not as impressed as I was... par for the course at my house.

Tuesday was a full day of work and meetings so the last two loads were still stranded in the washer and dryer. The sugar I was sooo looking forward to, ended up making me super sick because I hadn't had any for a really long time. I felt yucky all day, and so I turned to comfort food to help make it better grabbing it on the go... which ended up making me feel worse.

.

I did have a really good guitar lesson, but found out my guitar guru is working a two week notice at his job. He will still keep teaching me, but we were really mixed about hearing the news. Happy he has the faith to leap forward and do good things for himself, but so sad not to have him as our music consultant. My strong silent mysterious man walked away like he had been hit by a bus, but he totally gets the vision, he has had it so many times, but selfishly wants him to stay. We really wish him the BEST in all he pursues and in finding that valuable time with his family that is so priceless, and will probably secretly follow him and keep track of him (I may NEVER learn enough to quit taking lessons now, ha ha). Because we are kind of attached! He is a really super good guy!!

.

Then I ran over to the church not to miss a bread making class!

I am so NOT confident in my bread making... and was so hopeful to learn something that would help me be better. I didn't learn any new techniques, but I discovered something that might be the reason for all my bread to turn into big ol' bricks... old yeast! I am testing my yeast right away. I had considered it before, but my bread rises... it's just super dense and heavy. Not all light and fluffy. So either bad yeast or old flour... it's not my flour, so it must be my yeast. Now I know how to find out. It was a long day!
.

Today, I look at the big pile of fall/winter clothes that need to be hung up. Dirty dishes. Those last two loads, still screaming for me from the laundry room. And I still feel yucky, from the sugar and then add on all the bad food I ate yesterday. My back hurts, it's a nagging aching pain I can't get rid of. And it's super cold! My toes are cold. I was having such a hard time getting out from under the covers today! Where is all the energy and enthusiasm I had on Monday?

.

Don't give into it... fight it!

Drink your water, flush out the toxins!

Get moving!

Feel good about what you can accomplish today!

I have a terrible angel/devil thing going on inside my head.

The up's are good, so good. The down's are so hard sometimes.

Tender Hearts...

Yesterday at Church it was our monthly fasting Sunday and the message over the pulpit is time given to the congregation to come up and share their personal testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

.

There are two young men assigned to take microphones to those who would for any reason want to do this from the pew instead of walking to the pulpit. They remain vigilant and watch the crowd for anyone who would like to use the microphone and sit quietly during the testimonies as they are given and stand again to watch in between each one. They are on their toes and work the entire time during the meeting. Not much time for napping or day dreaming.

.

This Sunday I listened as a women shared, it was quite a long testimony and I wasn't able to keep eye contact with her during the entire time. When she was finished and leaving the pulpit, I looked up and saw one of these young men quietly and quickly by her side as she needed help balancing and navigating the stairs all the way back to her seat. It was not a prideful act looking for praise or attention. It was so apparent from his heart!

I LOVE seeing those random acts of kindness. I was particularly impressed by this. It is not out of his character at all, but just not something I see very often with the young men of today. Especially under their own power.

.

Later in the meeting, as a mother attending alone with her infant son walked up to the pulpit, he gathered her baby in his arms to hold him while she spoke. My heart was beating out of my chest!

.

This young man was in our handcart family on Trek. I worried about him, I wanted to learn and know so much more about him than I did. I wanted to bond so much more than we had time for. A week just wasn't long enough, but the time we had, he touched my heart. I learned that he would give up something that was important to him to help someone else. He would give and flex in the winds like a bendable willow tree and never break. He protected his heart by pulling it back and holding it deep inside.

But would then unexpectedly put it out with all the faith in the world to share it, or give it to someone who needed it (even if it might mean it would be hurt). He was willing to take the chance over and over again.

.

This young man has a kind tender heart, and I have loved getting to see it. I continue to see it in his actions and deeds. And I hope I have many more opportunities to bond with him. I was telling his mother some of my feelings last night in their home about what I had felt today and she said "when I saw him helping those women today, I thought it was exactly something that your son would have done".

.

I had never seen the connection before, but she was right. They are much alike that way. Quiet, gentle giving spirits and tender kind hearts!

They are really really good boys!

And if they continue to listen to their Momma's,

will grow up to be really good men!