Sunday, July 25, 2010

Home Alone

Ben wanted to visit his family. Azure is not fond of her car seat. A trip to Utah is 12 hours. Add a fussy, sad baby, and a just potty trained 3 year old. Equals more stress then was worth the trip. So Ben bravely decided he was going, and taking the 3 big kids himself. I immediately thought what a great idea that was.

  • One I get some peace and quiet.
  • Second Ben will be so much more grateful for me after having to deal with his kids by himself (which isn't accurate because 3 grandparents and countless Cousins, aunts and Uncles that love to play and do craft with them in Utah).
  • Thirdly, it put a deadline on much needed repairs to my car.


     

So here I am in my clean, quiet home blogging. I think Azure misses all the noise; she is always looking around and has not been sleeping very well. She is use to quit a ruckus going on around her. She does like that when I feed her now I am not walking around the house, or yelling orders to big kids. She looks up and smiles!


I have been crafting, which is a very important aspect to me in my life. Crafting and making things is very cathartic and pleasing to me. However, minus drawing transformers and coloring between the lines I never get crafting time. I'll attach links to some things I have done.


Every day of my 'Alone Time' (which really isn't alone time because I have a 2 month with me, but I'll take what I can get). I have a goal to do the following: Prayers, scripture/ensign reading, work out (cardio and toning for at least an hour), do something little for every member of my family, and do something creative!!!!! I have done so good about adhering to my goal. I made everyone's beds. They left me with a filthy house!!!!. I Vacuumed, sorted toy boxes, ironed clothes (I NEVER iron). It's been fun and peaceful. Minus my 5 am wake up calls from service repair guys in Virginia that don't realize the landlord lives in California, and Azure's crying fits at 3 am.

My floor is mopped, my table and chairs polished. . .and they have stayed that way. Hooray!

At church I was able to concentrate and listen to every speaker. This afternoon I listened to some conference talks. I'd like to comment a bit on Patience. Elder Uchtdorf gave an excellent talk on it. "There is an important concept here: Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can working, hoping and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our heart are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"

I now feel I have the mental knowledge to know why and how. Not just ignore Jeddy's craziness and hold my breath until bedtime. I need to love him and properly redirect and encourage better behavior. Instead of sending MAdisen to her room when she argues I need to lovingly show her by example how not to. I fear she gets some bad habits from me. I need to engage Benson and be teaching him, not focusing on how I could be doing something more productive..

When life gets back to normal we need a shift from our status quo. I need more crafting Kim time, and the kids need a happier more patient mom!. I think the two will go hand in hand. Mine is crafting, weather its making my own yummy wheat bread, and packaging it with a cute label, or making flowers, scrapbooking, may you get 'your time' in as I am getting mine. Enjoy your Sabbath.

Give your loved ones a big hug. Wish I could hug all mine right now, even if it came with a messy floor.

3 comments:

The Ellis Fam said...

You are awesome. Mark and I have to give talks in church on the 8th about patience. Thank you for the help. ;) We are sad you couldn't come right away but look forward to seeing you in a few days. I'm so excited to meet Azure and o introduce you to our Scott Jay Bird. Love you both.

Harris Family said...

I love it love it!!! Good for you. Everyone needs alone time. Isn't balance hard. It was good to see you a few weeks ago. You look better than ever.

Patience is one of the greatest virtues. Being graceful is a big part of it. The greates women have that attribute. Being in Phoenix will require great patience for me and I need to smile through it. We are renting dirt cheap in order to save and my yucky space is suppossed to be my lovely spirit filled home?!

Anyway - enjoy!!

Ben and Kimberly McEvoy said...

April, LOL you just visited my yucky pace . .oh I mean "my spirit filled home" Let me know what helps you to feel happiness in your dirt cheap place. I need any and all advice on that topic.
I wish you were in utah for this next week. I am flying out. But AZ road trips are only a few hours.

Caroline, My Ob was so impressed with my matching blanket and diaper bag! good luck on your talks. Uchtdorf talks is soooo good. defiantly read it and use it. Its one that needs to be put in your patriarchal blessing and re-read often.

Just finished cleaning out my desk and paying all bills! It really is amazing what you can do with a focused clear mind! who knew.