This is what one of the rooms of our house looks like every Halloween night. The kids like to
pretend (at least now that they are old and wise) that a giant spider visited while they were out
trick or treating and left a messy web behind. I took the photo below before the festivities began.
Each of the kids has a rolled up piece of card stock with their name written on it somewhere in
the room. The card stock is taped to some string that wraps around the room, in every which
way possible. At the end of the string is a small reward for finishing this great Halloween feat.
Here are the cute kids making their way around our little yarn party. Apparently,
Halloween is also a night to find pajama bottoms and tops that clash greatly. In case
you didn't know and have been wearing matching pajamas every October 31st.
And here is another quick photo of Cam having to climb over the couch for the tenth time, Annie
ducking under several pieces of yarn, Matt getting his foot stuck in a stringy mess, Jacob helping out
our littlest and Ben sitting on the floor playing with glow rings. He went from completely excited
and laughing like a crazy person, to completely uninterested and oblivious to the rest of us.
Kind of like one of his parents. After eating approximately
47 Heath bars and suffering a chocolate-induced coma.
My cute, wonderful, darling, hilarious friend Julie came to visit this week. And it was the best!
I could go on and on with long explanations of what we did and how much fun we had and how
we talked constantly and laughed hysterically and how ridiculous it was that we had not seen
each other in fourteen years (I mean seriously, what were we thinking?). But really,
you just had to be here. So I will just simply say...
Thanks for coming Jules! Love you sweet friend.
PS. I picked two super cute photos to represent her visit. You should be sad you missed the
hundreds we took while laughing until we were sick. They were...what's the word? Awesome.
Oh boy, I loved all of your ideas for a caption for this photo. Thanks so much! If I had to pick,
I'd say Gryffindor was my favorite--because it made me laugh out loud and also because
I am reading the Harry Potterseries right now. Better late than never right? Thanks all!
Annie scored three goals today and was unstoppable on the soccer field. Then we headed home to
get her ready for a Halloween/birthday party. I am kind of regretting taking the last two photos.
I mean seriously, that is my little girl—looking all old and beautiful and grown up.
Six weeks ago, I woke up one morning to severe nausea--and it stuck around all day. And the next. And the next. I figured I had been exposed to some kind of flu bug. After four or five days, and not feeling any better, I started to realize this was more than just a flu bug. It seemed to be getting worse as the days went by. After a week, Jacob begged me to make an appointment with my doctor and off I went.
As I let her know my symptoms, she smiled, thinking what most doctors would think--I was expecting (I sure wish she had been right!). She ran a handful of tests, just to cover a few bases and told me to call her if it didn't go away in a few days. She called me the next morning to tell me that the pregnancy test, along with several others, had come back negative.
Without going into all of the details, six weeks later, I still feel nauseous every day. Some days are worse than others and it lasts the whole day, other days it only comes one or twice. Several tests have been run, all of them have come back negative. Most days, I can deal with it. But there are days that I get emotional and tired of it all.
Today I headed into a hospital in Boston have an endoscopy. They are quite common, but being someone who goes years and has no reason to go to the doctor (except pregnancy of course), it seemed pretty invasive. To make it even more fun, I don't handle anesthesia well. Three drops of that stuff and I am a goner. I was able to convince the doctor to give me the very minimum (half of what they usually start their patients with) and while I am still quite loopy tonight, it is so much better than it could have been, so I am grateful she listened to me.
Good news, no cancer, no ulcers. They did find several irritated spots that they biopsied and will let me know the results in a couple of weeks. The doctor seemed pretty confident they are not anything, but wanted to be on the safe side.
So six weeks later, we don't really know anything more than we did when it all started. But do you know what? That is okay. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude tonight. And I hope you don't mind if I tell you why.
My husband is so incredibly good to me. I believe with all my heart I married the kindest person alive. I am so grateful for him.
My children mean everything to me. They live life the way we all should--joyfully, happily, hopefully. And when are kneeling for family prayer at night, and one of them prays that their mom will feel better, my heart feels like it will explode into a million pieces.
A kind friend jumped at the chance to come and tend the two youngest boys while we were gone to the hospital today. She acted like it was her pleasure and made it such a fun day for the boys. I am so very thankful for what she did.
This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to have more compassion for those that deal with chronic illness. As far as illness goes, mine is pretty minor. But it has been difficult for me and difficult for our family and my heart goes out to those who deal with sicknesses that are much more serious and for much longer than six weeks.
There are some extraordinarily kind people in this wonderful world of ours. People who care and people who show their love on a regular basis. People who call just to say that they are thinking of you and wanted you to know. People who pray for you, send you emails, ask how you are doing, insist on serving you no matter what you say. You know who you are. Thank you.
And tonight I am incredibly grateful for what you see below. I will not take away from the message with my own words. Just know, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope and peace and joy it brings into my life fills me with gratitude every single day.
I've had a little more time to read the past few days and in the last little while, finished the books you see below. So because I should be tidying my house, but am instead wasting time on the computer, I thought I would share. You are welcome, always at your service.
So last night I finished the book you see to your left. It is called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Short title yes? I loved this book. As in went-to-bed-early-for-three-days-in-a-row-so-I-could-have-as-much-time-as-possible-reading-this-book kind of love. It is predictable and fun and just made me happy. It is a series of letters and I tell you, I loved reading every one--especially those written by the main character. Her style of writing and sarcasm just made me joyful. I laughed out loud many a time. Anyway there you have it, a recent favorite for anyone that might be interested. I feel all happy this morning thinking about how much I enjoyed this book. And with the large amount of cold, white stuff outside, it must be a good book if it is making me happy on this particular morning.
A little while back I finished reading the book, The Hunger Games. This book is just crazy. But you can't put it down. I don't want to share much about it, because you really just have to read it, but it is one of those where when you really think about it, it is ridiculous that you are reading it and yet, it is very well done. Be warned that the subject is not for everyone, but I was amazed at how the author handled such a crazy subject. I hear the next one will be/is out soon and I will definitely be reading that as soon as I can get it from the library. Once again, no blaming me if you don't like this book. It is not for everyone. But I happen to think it was not only very well written, but very thought provoking.
This was today after church. Not a fan at all. Did anyone let the weather know it is October 18th?
This was a couple of hours ago. And it is still coming down.
And yet, I have to admit, that the excitement of the kids wanting to go out in it
was sure fun to watch. Happy day for them. Bitter day for their mother.
Even Ben wanted to get in on this game he didn't understand,
but knew it involved hats, gloves and excited dancing.
Complete JOY!
Even for this little one.
(Okay, that was lovely and exciting. Now please go away snow. Please. For at least four more weeks. Eight would be better. Twelve would be heavenly. Okay, I'll stop while I'm behind. Did I mention it was snowing where I live? I want to cry. And not from joy.)
It has been a good running week. Since Monday, I have been able to get a record on my one, two and three-mile runs (all separate days). I am pretty excited to be getting a little faster here and there. My lungs seem to be a little less excited about my new records. I'm coughing like I have emphysema--which I don't for those of you rumor mills.
In other exercise news, as I mentioned in my last post, I started doing some weight training. Which is a fabulous idea. Until you want to get up from a chair, go up or down stairs, pick up a young child or really just move in general. Then you realize you need to slowly make your way to the computer and Google "Available nursing homes for the young at heart, but old of body." And when you find out they will not take you and your husband and your four young children, you resort to looking up these beauties on the internet. I know, I know. Dare to dream.
(Boy oh boy, please tell me that plastic plant in the background is included as a free gift. If that is the case, the deal is done. No more climbing stairs and foliage that stunning? Who cares about running records? The coolness of the decor in my house just went through the roof. Sweet.)
In Massachusetts they have these unusual signs everywhere. (Wait, does that make them usual?)
What in the world? Is that advertising for how I feel about ten minutes after overeating? Just so you know, it's not. Apparently it means don't drive above 30 miles per hour. Because if you do, the police will pull you over and make you eat until you are sick. And then make you do jumping jacks until you are thickly settled.
I greatly dislike (I would have used the word hate, but I hate using that word) buying poster board at the store. I mean really don't like it. What are you supposed to do with it while you are finishing your shopping? It hangs out of the cart no matter how you put it in and if you happen to know someone with a small dose of OCD, you spend the whole time worried it will get a bend in it somewhere. Yes, I have attempted to buy it last, but then you can't put it in at all because your cart is full and it is exactly not the size of the cart. I have four children. And three are currently in school. I might need to get over this issue.
This morning I got a personal best on a two-mile run. I was really happy about it. Especially because I've started working out with weights (started meaning for like two days so I'm about 24 hours away from being an expert) and I have found muscles in my back I didn't know existed. Try backing out a car when you do not have the ability to turn around. It is awesome.
The watch I've been timing my runs with is a little old. Like I-think-I-bought-it-in-high-school old. Jacob has been telling me I need a new one and I have insisted I don't. He tried forcing me to buy one last week when we were at Target and I vehemently refused. (Good word eh? I'm a genius. Just so you know.) I told him I had a watch that was great. He reminded me that it had been losing my times. I told him it was probably my fault and I probably hit the wrong button and to leave my poor watch alone. Anyway, we went home watch-free.
Monday morning I ran and when I got to the end of my run, I hit the button to stop the timer. It cleared my time. Not happy, not happy at all. When I got home and told Jacob, he gloated the whole day. You know how he can be. (Okay, maybe not the whole day, but he did smirk for like seventeen seconds after I told him.) Anyway, today I ran a little to warm up and got ready to start my run. But when I pressed the button on my watch, it wouldn't start. Not only that, not a single button on my watch would work. I was a little bit from home and had to jog back, because there was no way I was going to waste running two miles and not know how fast (read slow) I ran it in. As I walked in the door holding my watch like it was the black plague, I requested of the darling man I married, "I would appreciate you not saying a word. Thank you." This time his smirk lasted nineteen seconds. He let me borrow his fancy-I-accompanied-my-owner-on-a-ten-mile-run-in-the-rain-on-Saturday-and-I-still-work watch. I could hear it mocking me with every step.
I am now the proud owner of a new watch. You know, I just thought it was time. (Pun intended.)
While we were shopping today, Matt tried to convince me that Annie wanted footie pajamas for her upcoming birthday. But he had a little smirk (similar to his mocking father) that he was trying to hide while he said it. I told him that I'm sure she would love them and we should grab a pair. He looked both completely disgusted that such a thing existed for those over the age of two and excited out of his mind that he was going to get away with teasing Annie on such a grand scale. At the last second, I gave him a look that told him he was busted and said, "Matt, if I brought these home for Annie, she would cry." With all the seriousness he could muster, he replied, "Cry from joy!"
I tell riveting stories that entertain the masses. You're welcome.
Oh and anyone who feels sorry for a Mr. Jacob Allen, please raise your hand. He lives with this every...single...day.
Tonight I fed a thousand pounds of missionaries. (No I didn't ask their combined weight, they volunteered it.) In addition to our whole family and my cute friend who lives with us. And we even had food left over. Not much, but enough to be counted as leftovers. Not bad since their request to come to our house tonight happened yesterday during a baptism at the church.
They are mighty good young men. And I have to admit that even with the rush and craziness this afternoon to get it all together, this is one of my favorite sights to see. Five pairs of black shoes. Five missionaries sitting around our table. Five young men serving their God. Five incredible examples blessing our little family.
I do not even have the words to express how much I love General Conference. So I won't try.
Instead I will just say how much I am loving this current conference and how overwhelmed
I feel with the Spirit that has over and over and over again testified of the truthfulness of what
is being said. I came across some photos that I loved looking through because of how they
represent some of my feelings of this time of year and I wanted to share a few.
I once knew a little boy who was obsessed with Curious George. But this little boy I know didn't call the much-loved monkey by his name, but instead called him 'Ahh Ahh.' (You know as in what the monkey says, 'Ooh, ooh, ahh, ahh.') Whenever Curious George came on the TV, this little boy got super excited. So his mom, in a moment of weakness, ordered a Curious George stuffed animal to surprise her little guy.
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Each of the kids has a rolled up piece of card stock with their name written on it somewhere in
Here are the cute kids making their way around our little yarn party. Apparently,
And here is another quick photo of Cam having to climb over the couch for the tenth time, Annie
