Empty Slats

Every night I go to bed looking at the bottom side of the top bunk. I have decided I need to do something about it. I mean, just look at those blank pieces of wood. Are they not just crying out for crayons, markers, or carvings with a pocketknife? Yes, yes, they are!

I can remember when I was a little girl, I would often take a crayon, or marker, and write on a piece of furniture, like a set of drawers. I also remember being so smart that I would not write my own name -- I would write my sister's name, so I would not get in trouble. Oh yeah, I am clever. Awesome little me.

After sleeping in the bunk bed, my desire to write on furniture has returned. And now that I am a grown-up, I can do it without guilt. No one is gonna stop me . . . wah, HA, ha!

So, I am trying to think what to do with these blank slats?? I do know I would like to draw on them. I would like to fill them with motivational quotes, pictures, and sayings. Maybe I will have the kids draw on them, too. I want it to be awesome -- cause I am a married woman sleeping in a bunk bed. I think I deserve for it to awesome. Don't you?

I want to lie in bed at night and have inspiration staring back at me. Motivation. And when I am done with the bunk bed I will save the slats forever and hand them down to my posterity, so they can know for certain that we were crazy, and awesome.

So, any ideas? Any favorite motivational quotes? (Spiritual, or otherwise.) Come on, think! I need good stuff.

Also, while we are talking about the bunk beds, I wanted to address a question that was posed to me a few days ago . . .

I had a mother tell me that her teenage son saw how Charles and I sleep in bunk beds, and he was concerned. His concern was how we could possibly live without being "close" to each other, and snuggling, and things of that sort. (Which I will not discuss here since this is a G-rated blog!) I want to reassure this young man -- and anyone else who is concerned -- that back in the olden days, couples used to sleep in separate beds, and somehow produced 13 children.

So, please, pretty please, do not worry your sweet little heads about such things. Charles and I love each other now, more than ever. And maybe even more because we have our separate sleeping spaces!

No really, I think separate beds might become a thing of the future.

Evening Time

 Some evenings are just amazing. There are times when the planets align, and everything seems just glorious, and perfect. Last night was one of those nights. The temperature was amazing, the sky was crisp and blue, with white puffy clouds. The lawn was freshly mowed, the air was intoxicating, and the kids were playing frisbee. It was just a good moment. A rose-colored moment. I loved every minute of it. I love seeing my kiddos happy together. 

Henry tried to join in. He REALLY wanted that frisbee. 

 Happy Henry. 

 Just kicking back, and loving the moment. 

Who wouldn't love not wearing pants and being free? 

 Love the smell of grass in the evening. Yum. 

Savor it. Soak in the moments. They are precious! 

SUMMERTIME HERE WE COME!!! WOO! 

Envy

I was doing a little gospel study when I came across this quote by Elder Holland: 

“There are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those. … So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.”

Personally, I never struggle with envy. (Ha, ha.) I am never jealous, and I never have a hard time being happy for the successes of others. Nope, not me. I am as non-envious as they come. That is why I was studying the topic this morning -- to reaffirm that fact that I have this thing licked. It is not something I struggle with ever, because I am happy when I feel lame compared to others. 

You see, envy is bad. It seeps in so easily. And it is so very damaging. It steals your happiness, and your peace. So cut it out. (I'm talking to me.) 

Elder Holland compared envy with: “downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment”. 

Nasty. 

Not sure why I felt compelled to share this today. But there it is. 

Maybe I am not alone in my struggle with envy? Maybe I am! 

I guess I just need to remember that choking down "spiritual pickle juice" every time I compare myself to others is completely repulsive. 

It is, it really is. 

So, I gotta go. I am off to brush the pickle juice out of my mouth (and soul) right now. I would rather be happy. 

Pickle juice is disgusting. 

Music

 It has been said that, "A child who sings is a happy child." We try to encourage singing around here -- a lot. It happens daily. Last night we had an impromptu karaoke night. We found a good YouTube channel that has all the Les Mis music, and we were busting it out. I am sure the neighbors enjoyed it. I know I did. 

 Henry started singing along, it was pretty darn cute. 

Sammi decided to say "goodbye" to her saxophone by playing loudly in the backyard, on Saturday morning. She will be retiring her sax and taking Choir next year in junior high. She is pretty darn good at that thing, it is sad to see it go. Though Daniel will be playing the trumpet next year, so we will still have plenty of horn noises going on here. 

I am glad the kids love music so much. It does make them happy children. 

And hearing my kids sing/create music makes me happy too! 

Damage Control

This last year we rented our home out to an extremely lame tenant. (I am being nice by not calling him nasty names.) He was often late with rent, and he caused a bunch of damage to our once pristine home. We had it spotless, updated, and beautiful -- and he ruined it in almost every way. He had cats and dogs, though we had a no pet policy. They peed on the floors, and ruined them -- we had to replace them. He damaged our brand new shower. He took a chunk out of the travertine tile in the kitchen. He broke built-in shelves, and ripped our projector from the ceiling, he ruined our yard . . . I could go on and on. This was just one guy? We have 6 people -- including little kids -- in the house and we have not done that much damage! Crazy??! 

Since we moved back into our home over a month ago, we had to do a lot of repair work so we would be comfortable at home again. We took care of the inside before moving back in, and it looks fabulous. (We just need to paint the kitchen and put the trim back on.) And now we are on to restoring the yard. Since he did not water/weed the front garden area it all was over grown with grass, and most of it was dead. We have spent the last month ripping everything out (which was a PAIN!!) and now we are going for a more clean and simple plan -- grass. The image above is what we have done. We put in the retaining wall, and we just planted the seed a few days ago. (Just in time for some nice rain the last few days!) It is time to watch grass grow again. I am getting good at this grass-growing thing. I was sad to rip all the garden out from the picture below, but it was dead and nasty. It had to be done. Sad, sad, sad. Though the grass will be SO much easier to take care of, which is nice for me. We will find a way to make it attractive and beautiful again, with some yard accessories, etc. 

The renter also left a huge crop circle in the backyard since he had an above ground pool in the yard. (I had a picture of it, but I can't find it?) Anyway, the whole yard was mostly dead (he did not water) and you can see the outline of the circle, but just barley now. It was just dirt a month ago. And the lawn was all choppy and brown and weed-infested. Now, after some tender love and care (I love my precious yard), I am very close to having my glorious lawn again. Those grass blades are my babies . . . I planted them ALL. I am so grateful to see it restored and revived to almost its former glory. We are getting there. We will get there. 

The yard right now. (Needs to be mowed, but it is growing nicely!) 

You can kind of see the crop circle and weeds better in this one . . . and an incoming storm. (Thank you weed and feed for making my lawn lovely!) 

Perhaps you recall what our yard looked like when we very first moved in almost 5 years ago . . . it was a jungle-like mess. That ground was a foot deep of dead leaves and tree debris. It was an untamed wilderness, full of bugs, spiders, rocks, and gunk. 

It took a LONG time but we ripped everything out ourselves and hauled away tons and tons of garbage and debris. 

We even dug out all the rocks in the whole yard, so the grass would be happy. 

 We hauled in a bunch of fresh dirt. 

 The grass started to grow . . . 

Do you know how happy grass-growing makes me?? 

 A few years ago we ripped out the huge trees (I was super sad, but they were so dangerous over the house. Every time the wind blew a branch would fall), and we put up a new fence. 

I am close to getting our yard back to its happy place . . . we are almost there again!  We will get there! 

Remind me to never rent out a house again! 

Family Collage

I made a little family history collage. It hangs right above my computer, to remind me of who I am. (And what I need to do!) It is nothing fancy, and could be done in a more elegant way, but I was doing it on the cheap, and it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment idea. I can totally image it in a much more beautiful formant, but for now, this is what I got, and I love it. 

Tasty

Henry likes to find daddy's stash of business cards and then eat them. 

Yum. Yum. 

Invisible

Do you ever have days where you feel like Violet from The Incredibles -- days where you just want to be invisible? Maybe you don't, but I do. And last Sunday was one of those days. After a long week of worry about Henry, and struggling with lower back pain, and lots on my mind, I was ready to just kick-back and relax at church, with no worries. I am still calling-less, and carefree!

But my mental invisibility cloak failed me. I was methodically twirling my hair while sitting in Sunday school, daydreaming during the lesson (as I normally do), when I heard my name called, "Sister van Ormer, would you come up here for a moment?" Ripped from my daydream, I obediently stood up and walked to the front of the chapel, which was full of our charming congregation starring right at me. "Sister van Ormer, do you mind if I ask you a few questions? Here, have a seat, and use the microphone," requested our Sunday School teacher, with a very soothing voice, that I could not resist. "Fantastic." I believe was my sarcastic response. I took my uncomfortable seat smack dab in front of everyone who had just ripped away my security cloak.

Invisibility? Not this Sunday.

I sat at the front of the chapel, with all eyes on me. Eyes that were searching, curious what words of wisdom I might bestow upon them after having been plucked from the audience, unaware. I shifted in my seat, trying to understand how I had physically moved from my comfortable bench, to the hard plastic chair I was spotlighted in. Then the teacher very calmly asked me some questions about paying tithing. (Thank goodness it was something I knew a little about!) I was asked questions like, "How does paying tithing show your love for the Lord?" and "Why do some people choose not to pay their tithing?" and "Would you be afraid not to pay your tithing?"

Knock, knock, anybody there?

I just felt so weird being in front of everyone unexpectedly that I have no idea what I even said as a blabbered away, while twisting the microphone cord in my hand to soothe my nerves. (Though I honestly felt strangely at peace. I did not have time to be really nervous, I guess!) I do know I tried to share my testimony of tithing, and why I feel so strongly about paying it, faithfully. I used a few personal examples from my own life, that I luckily had experienced to pull from. But I still felt silly sitting there in the hot-seat in front of the chapel. Sheepish, that is a good word to describe it. Don't get me wrong . . . I love teaching, speaking, and sharing my testimony -- if I am prepared. But put me on the spot, rip me from my wandering thoughts, and La-La Land, and I can be in trouble!

I just hope I said something that made even a smidgen of sense. I tried, boy golly, I tried.

After I was grilled, Charles was called up to answer some questions. I much preferred to listen to him.

So much for kicking-back and relaxing at church. I think I need to fortify that invisibility cloak of mine!

Henry's Kidney Appointment

 On Friday we went to the appointment we had been waiting for this whole last year. Henry had another renal ultrasound, and a VCUG, which was to determine if his kidneys were still refluxing, and if he will need surgery. After spending the entire day at 2 different hospitals, the Urologist told me he is still refluxing, and that one of his kidneys is smaller than the other, and the larger one is compensating for it. (His 2 kidneys have 4 compartments, and 4 tubes.) 

Because he is still so small the doctor wants to wait another 9 months and have him grow some more, and then do another VCUG to determine what to do next. I think she (the doc) is just biding her time, she wants him to have more life behind him and she wants him to be more sturdy (older) before doing anything, which is OK by me. There is a chance he could grow out of it, so they say, though he has not improved at all, so far. But she keeps assuring me he will be fine with how things are for now, but in the future we will determine what will be best for him. So, we wait some more. But that is ok . . . I can't even think about it for 9 more months. Though he still needs to take his medicine (antibiotics to prevent infection) everyday. 

The VCUG table - YIKES! 

Henry fell asleep right after the ultrasound and right before being rudely awakened on the VCUG table

I opted to watch from a distance so Henry did not associate me with torture. I can handle screaming babies, but I thought it would be best for him in this instance. 

I tried to sneak a picture of him but he saw me, and it broke my/his heart. Look at that face. They are pumping dye into his system through a catheter. Poor thing! It was awful. 

The doctor is taking video of his insides that I could see from my little glass box. Henry was freaking out. Poor baby. 

Henry's bladder full of dye. Fascinating to see the insides. 

We now just have to be patient for another while. But Henry is happy and healthy besides the crud going on with his insides. I would never know anything was wrong if my baby doctor did not tell me so at 20 weeks pregnancy ultrasound. Amazing stuff. I am so grateful for doctors and medical staff, for all that they do! Henry is in good hands. All will be well. 

Family Pictures

 I read somewhere that wearing bright, obnoxious, colors, is the best option for family pictures. (No, not really.) Actually, instead of dressing-up and pretending our family is picture-perfect, I told the kids to wear what they would normally wear (like school clothes, not pajamas, though I considered that, too). As a result we ended up with a rainbow-colored family. 

Our next photos in the Fall will be more "fancy" and well thought out months ahead of time. But for now, we are what we are. Take it, or leave it. 

*Thanks again to Rachelle for taking the time to take the beautiful pictures! Love them! 

My sweet babies. 

Beautiful Sammi pondering life 

Love it. So pretty. 

So lucky they are mine! 

Daddy and his boys

Love this! 

Look at that face! 

Weeeeeeeeeee!!!! 

Family Pyramid
(Thanks, Tyson, for keeping Henry from falling) 

So precious 

Dan the man

Blowin in the wind 

Dan

The End
(And my favorite picture of Henry, ever.)