Comfort

I haven't been posting as often lately because I decided I'm only going to write when I have true inspiration, and it's something I really want to write about. I feel like I give you a much better reading experience when I do this, and hopefully you agree.

This evening the word "comfort" popped into my head, and all of a sudden I wanted to write about the things that comfort me at the end of the day.

• Wearing my husband's pajama pants. They are blue and cozy and they are super baggy. But I pull them on every once in a while, and it feels so good when I do. 
• Taking long bubble baths with a good book. It feels like a mini vacation, and I love it!
• Cuddling with Noah before putting him to bed. No matter how many mishaps occur during the day, I can always count on this to be especially peaceful. It gives me a few moments to recenter myself and focus on making my baby feel as loved as possible.
• Sharing ice cream with my husband. This is a treat we normally enjoy on the weekends as we watch shows on Netflix. Our favorite standby is Dreyer's Mint Cookie Crunch, though we have been known to favor treats from Wendy's, Iceburg, and American Burger upon occasion.
• Family Home Evening. We try to have a special family night on Mondays, usually just before dinner. Because Noah is so little, we don't really do a lot. We sing a song out of the Primary Children's Songbook, say a short prayer, read a story to Noah, and sing another short Primary song to finish. Noah loves having both of us focused solely on him for those few minutes as we sing and read to him, and it comforts me to know that he can feel our love through our expressions and actions. I know that the way we do Family Home Evening will change and shape itself over the years, but right now, I love these simple, little things we do to bring the Spirit into our home and our hearts.
• Prayer. Some nights I am too tired to focus very hard, and I just go through the motions as I try to keep myself awake. But most nights I find much-needed peace from reviewing my day with the Lord before going to sleep. Knowing I can rely on my Heavenly Father and cast my burdens upon Him amazes me, humbles me, and comforts me no end. I love how Robert Browning puts it: "God's in his heaven--all's right with the world!"

Where do you find comfort when you need it most?

Snow in the mountains, blossoms on the trees...

Well, I'm back from my little break. It helped a lot, and I've made some new goals that I really want to stick with.

Typical March weather today. Clouds. Wind. Rain. There's a little bit of sunshine peeking through my window right now, wishing me a hurried "Good morning," before the clouds cover it up again. Beyond this sliver of sunshine, I can see the mountains, dusted with snow.

Many of the trees in my neighborhood are speckled with buds. Only a few of these trees have burst into bloom. The occasional sight is enough to remind me of the reality of spring.

Snow and blossoms. They really don't go together. But today it's ok; it won't last long.


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Yes, I wrote this as a metaphor for something in my life right now.

No, I'm not going to expound the personal symbolism.

But maybe, if you think about it a little, you'll find there are metaphorical snow-dusted mountains and springtime blossoms in your life, too.

Happy Monday!

(p.s.--I'm just a little bit proud of the title of this post. Doesn't it sound like it should be in a song or something? Unfortunately, the only song I'm coming up with is "Smoke on the water, Fire in the sky...." The words fit, but it's not exactly the feel I was going for...haha! Oh well!)

taking a break

Do you ever scroll down your Pinterest page at the end of a long day, expecting to be entertained and inspired to do something cool or crafty, and instead you just get overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings of inadequacy? This is what is going through my brain as I scroll through my Pinterest page tonight:

128 Simple Family Activities: Be a Rockstar Today!

My immediate reaction: I barely had enough energy to make sure my baby was fed and diapered today. The last thing I can think about right now is being a "Rockstar Parent." (Guilty feelings ensue as I realize what I'm thinking.)

Erase Arm Flab--Fast!

My immediate reaction: Man, my arms are flabby. I haven't exercised nearly as much as I should have this week. (Further feelings of guilt ensue.)

No stretch marks!

My immediate reaction: Ch, I'm pretty sure my stretch marks are beyond anything this stuff could cure. Wouldn't it be so nice if stuff like that actually worked? As it is, I'm stuck with these for life. (Slight feelings of sorrow/longing ensue.)

How I organized my entire life!

My immediate reaction: Oh dear. Save me. I would die if I attempted this right now. (Inward groan as I imagine the hugely messy "everything" room that I've been meaning to organize for the last four weeks.)

Obviously, my Pinterest addiction is not doing much for me right now. In fact, I don't think any of my usual internet stuff is doing much for me right now. I've gotten myself overwhelmed with all the "shoulds" and "wants", the good ideas and the delicious recipes.

That's no way to be happy.

So it's time for a break. Starting tomorrow, apart from essential things like finding recipes for dinner and answering important emails, I am unplugging for a week. I am looking forward to spending more time and energy trying to better use the gifts God has given me.

See you later.

Help!

Ok, expert moms. I need some advice. Thanks to all those wonderful 8-9 month developments Noah's made lately, he's much more able to keep himself awake during naps.

Standing up, crawling, rolling around, talking to himself, crying--this kid has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve to keep himself awake instead of napping.

At best, he'll sleep for 30-40 minutes and then cry.

And cry.

I know he needs more sleep than this, because he's usually grouchy when I get him up. Grouchy, touchy, and whiny.

I really miss the days of 1-2 hour long naps. Will they ever come back?

You moms have been there before. What did you do to help your baby learn to nap again?

For the record, I love this little guy so much! I mean, how could you resist this face?

Thank heaven for little boys.

This Little Piggy...

Confession:

Sometimes, Noah's sock falls off. Not both socks. Just one. Don't ask me why the other one doesn't come off, because I don't know.

When this happens, I usually know exactly where the other sock is.

But something in me can't stand to put it back on. There is something indescribably precious about baby feet.

As long as his toes aren't cold, I leave the sock off. And a little part of me is happy to see his mismatched feet whenever I look at him. 

Miscellany Monday: Family Night, Frasier, Jogging

It's been a while since I've gotten my random on. Let's indulge, shall we?

1. I am looking forward to tonight so very much! It's Tyler's spring break, which means Noah and I get to have some great family time together this week. First, we are going to ride in the swings at the park for family night. Then, after a yummy dinner, I'm going to a yoga class, which I haven't been able to attend for a long time.

2. Tyler and I have discovered Frasier. Oh. My. Cow. Hilarious! My favorite episode so far is "Flour Child," where Niles says: "Last night, I actually had a dream my flour sack was abducted and the kidnapper started sending me muffins in the mail." And the dad has the cutest smile ever!!!



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3. I got bored of the ellipitcal machine at Gold's Gym, so I decided to try jogging on a whim two weeks ago. I must say, it's rather addicting. I tried jogging/walking a few years ago, but it didn't really work for me--I got shin splints pretty easily. Plus, I felt like a total wuss because I could only jog for 1 minute, tops. (I wasn't really into exercise then. Which is not to say that I'm, like, really into exercise now. But I like it.) Now, thanks to my (very imperfect) efforts to keep a regular workout routine for the last little while, I can jog for long enough to make it enjoyable. It's still not very long, but I have hopes of improving! May I point out how true the photo below is?



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4. Speaking of the gym, does it drive anyone else nuts if you can see yourself in the mirror when you use the treadmill or elliptical? I don't like the treadmills with the tv screens in front (unless I know for sure there's a show on I'll like), so usually I just listen to music. The treadmills sans tv screens are in front of mirrors that are about 50-ish feet away, which means I can see my silly little face, huffing and puffing and bouncing up and down. I guess the solution is to go jogging outside. But then I feel like I'm not getting my money's worth out of my monthly gym payments...*sigh*

Ta da! There's my randoms for today! :)

 

My perfect challenges

Most days, I am perfectly happy to make dinner and wash dishes and keep Noah from ripping apart all our books and exploring our bathroom trash cans. I love waking up with my baby in the mornings, and I love the things I get to do and explore with him each and every day. I love my peaceful life, and I am grateful for it.

But sometimes.

Especially around that time of month.

Not so much.

Last night was one of those nights. After bathing Noah and putting him to sleep, I sat down in the living room and buried myself in a book. Tyler sat across from me, studying The Brothers Karamazov for his Russian literature class. I still needed to wash dishes, so I told myself I would only read up to a certain page before getting up.

I reached the page. And I stalled. I tucked myself in the corner of the couch and relished the warmth of my blanket. My cold, sockless feet were finally getting warm. I told myself to get up over and over. I stayed put for about ten minutes. And then, with a knot of bitterness in my chest, I got up and cleaned the kitchen.

Tyler looked up from his book and said, "I would give anything to just be done with reading. I've done so much for school that it just feels like sheer drudgery." I knew he had every right to say it--he has done a lot of reading lately. I think he is amazing for sticking through full-time school while holding down a stressful, high-paced, full-time job. I couldn't handle that kind of constant demand nearly as well as Tyler does.

But in that moment, as I pushed cups and bowls into the dishwasher and stood on a crumb-covered floor, I would have given anything to have a responsibilty to read instead of a responsibility to take care of my home. I felt guilty for feeling this way, but there it was.

This morning I opened up Created for Greater Things (a collection of thoughts by Elder Jeffery R. Holland), to a random page. The message was too perfect to be coincidental:

"On this upward and sometimes hazardous journey, each of us meets our share of daily challenges. If we are not careful, as we peer through the narrow lens of self-interest, we may feel that life is bringing us more than our fair share of trials--that somehow others seem to be getting off more lightly.

"But the tests of life are tailored for our own best interests, and all will face the burdens best suited to their own mortal experience. In the end we will realize that God is merciful as well as just and that all the rules are fair. We can be reassured that our challenges will be the ones we needed, and conquering them will bring blessings we could have received in no other way."

(Created for Greater Things, pg. 66)

 I am so glad that the Lord gives me the challenges that are perfect for me. And when I get discouraged, I'm so glad that He doesn't just leave me to sort it out on my own.

And now, I'm going to go eat a pear. Or maybe some pineapple. Or yogurt. Thanks for reading!