Day by Day and then we voted...

This week we have a missionary going out from our Ward, and I serve with his Mom in my calling. She called in a small panic to see if I could take some pictures, because she just realized the last family picture together was when her twins were very little. And with her son leaving the next morning on his mission, it was now or never, as she will have sons out on missions for the next 8 years and they all overlap by one month. So it really was now or never.

I was so happy to be able to do this with them. We got her family photos, and a few more fun ones as they played and goofed around in their backyard together.

Then later in the evening there was a dinner and little fireside with the boys that serve with this missionary in his priest quorum and his leaders. So since both of my boys were going. I kind of just tagged along since it fell on our family night.

The hosts didn't seem to mind, I felt a little awkward doing that, but it was just one of those things. I brought plenty of food with me in order to contribute. And they were very gracious and made me feel like I belonged there somehow. Afterall, it wasn't about me.

There were some really good words of advice given to this missionary, and I think it was really good the boys coming up behind him could hear them and know why and what they should be preparing for themselves.

The teenager got his haircut.

To make a really long story short, I called and got the first appointment (wrote it on the calendar, as I always do) and he forgot about it... somehow that ended up being my fault. So I called and got another appointment, since I was driving and wanted it to fit my schedule and not just his. And it was for right after school yesterday.

I had a horrible rotten day, I was struggling with sadness, and stress, and it was a really rough day. So I was just trying to pull it together just to go pick him up and get him to the appointment.

We got it done and I survived, and he looks much less scraggly! So it was all good.

Then we voted!

I know, I look like I have been through the ringer... it was a pretty bad day!

But we voted... looks like we felt much better about it at the time, than we did about it this morning (not many smiles at our house this morning). But it's okay.

We will survive these new changes too.

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And as unhappy and honestly "fearful" about the changes as I am, it was neat to recognize the historical significance of it and I did feel a little patriotism in my heart in a few moments during the night... even though they were very overshadowed with more fear and anxiety.

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I am so thankful for the power of prayer, but I know in doing so, it will always be the will of God when it's all said and done.

Sunday quiet time...

Sunday my strong silent mysterious man had to work. So the teenager and I were off to church on our own, I taught the Sunday School lesson in his class. It went okay, but I had to work at not being so annoyed at how the boys (including mine) were not very reverent, and had a reputation of giving the teachers a bad time (according to the girls). I knew this ahead of time and called a "Dad" to come and sit in the class with us. It seemed to help, but I was still very annoyed that my teenager hasn't learned good behavior yet at his age. I guess my job as his Mom to teach and guide him still isn't done! (still I thought I was a little farther than the 2nd grade issues... no offense to 2nd graders)

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After church we came home and my strong silent mysterious man had made it home from work, but he was tired, wiped out, and didn't want to participate in the family photos I had hoped to get done before my coupon for 50 free prints expired, or go to dinner, or even move off the bed where I found him. I really wanted to take advantage of this coupon for our family Christmas photos, but it just wasn't going to happen, and it would expire on Monday.

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So I decided to offer the coupon to my bff and go take her family photos... and she took me up and fed us dinner. I figured since my man was wanting some peace and quiet it would get us out of his hair and kill two birds with one stone.

We managed to get some good shots,

and I am really happy she will be able to use my coupon for her prints.

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When we came home, my man was still sleeping, so I got out a much overdo project I had on my list of things I wanted to get done this summer. And began working on it.

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My Halloween scrapbook...

I think the hardest part was actually getting started....

after that I was able to come up with a few ideas to knock out a couple of pages.

The teenagers 1st Halloween at 4 months...And I finished a couple more pages in...

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I still have a long way to go. My vision for it will be all the years of hunting for pumpkins, trick or treating, costumes etc. Then I can pull it out with my decorations each year and reflect and remember and have a keepsake and the journaling on the pages to remember those precious moments.

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I eventually would like to have a book for every season... Christmas, birthdays, Easter, 4th of July, 1st day of school etc. But I have to have allot of quiet time and space to drag out my supplies and stuff for scrap booking. So it will be a work in progress.

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It was very rewarding to see something coming together though!

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I enjoy quiet Sundays, but I have a hard time taking naps... so maybe my scrap booking and craftiness will find it's time on Sundays now... who knows?

Grateful for work....

My Strong Silent Mysterious Man has been super busy at work. We are so grateful his business, which is normally very seasonal, is still busy at this time of year.

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They got a couple of new contracts which are demanding many more motors turned out each week, above what they were already doing at Mach V production. So he has been working long hours (a few all nighters this week already) and it has kept him there Saturday AND Sunday.

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It is so hard to do things alone, when I am used to having him by my side to make decisions and keep the teenager in line and be my companion etc. But we are trying to be supportive and not complain at all, because we recognize what a blessing it is.

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But trying to think of ways to let him know we love and support him, and revitalize him and keep him uplifted. He really looked like half a zombie when he went out the door this morning. I am not sure if the extra hour helped him out much.

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I offered to bring him lunch or dinner, so he would take a good break and not just eat a sandwich on the run... but he says he doesn't have time to take big long breaks with me right now, he needs to just stay focused and keep working.

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So I try and give foot rubs and back scratches when he gets home, but he is asleep almost immediately, so I am not sure how much benefit they are either.

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We will keep keeping on, and hope things come to a manageable time schedule that will benefit everyone. We are grateful for the continued employment, but Family is too important to be away from for long periods of time without any renewal of spirit in-between.

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I have to be honest, secretly my biggest fear is that they will slow down enough for him to have some time at home, and he will go hunting and I will get impatient and snap!

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Lord, give me the serenity...