be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
~~~ Plato

Kindra's Reader Theatre...

Thank You...

i think that i jinxed myself on saturday by stating that i was sick because of losing the big rivalry football game because yesterday i really did wake up sick. :(
i woke up in a panic though because it was all too quiet not to mention that it was 10am!? that was when i heard the vacuum going downstairs. i got out of bed to find that trevor and kindra had gone to pick up some needed groceries. so where did that leave carter and who was running the vacuum? well surprise surprise. carter was downstairs cleaning! i have no idea what i did in the pre-life to have been so blessed with a son who helps me out so much and usually without me even asking. he is getting so big and i can't believe it.
i have some women, older ladies whose kids are all grown, that live in my neighborhood that i listen to and look to for advice. marcia smith, who i consider to be one of my "kindred spirits" once phoned me with some words of advice and comfort. this was when carter was a bit younger and was being quite the handful. marcia had listened to my murmuring and knew what i was feeling.
"katie", she said, "don't you worry. carter is with you for a reason. be patient and continue to teach him how to be a respectful man. he loves you and will grow to be a son that will respect you and one that will always be there to take care of his mother. don't worry. don't give up. but be patient and accentuate the positive attributes."
she was absolutely right.
this morning was bitter cold. the sickness and the snow storm kept us in yesterday so my car sat and was not started. trevor and carter had snow-blowed and scraped the walks but the temperatures still kept the left over scrapings from melting. we woke up late so carter missed the bus so a car ride to school was needed. something must have been left on because the car battery was dead. seriously? why today? the kids ran back in and i just sat there with my head on the steering wheel. i was too achy and sore to move but finally i did.
i am testing out a new wheelchair to see if i want to make a brand switch. it's tires are still the smooth summer tires. as i made my way up the ramp, all they did was skid above the snow. i was dead stuck. our ramp has a deck on the left and a railing on the right so i used those and my arms to inch my way up, cursing under my breath and fuming with frustration. when i was almost halfway up, out came carter.
"mom. i was beginning to worry. why have you been so long?" he asked.
"oh this chair's tires won't get traction so i've been stuck. can you push me please?
"yes mom. seriously it's freezing" he simply stated.
as i was on the phone with AAA, i contemplated how once again he had come to my rescue. would i have eventually made it up? yes. but did he help me out and lighten my load? yes.
it's the little things that count and it's the small things that usually make the biggest difference.


i love your gorgeous brown eyes. i love your smile. i love your freckles. i love your heart.
i love you carter james and i always will, no matter what.
thank you for choosing me.
xo

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

~~~Dr. Seuss

Dear Miss Horse Whisperer...

i love it! her imagination never ceases to amaze me and her innocence always keeps me grounded and on the right track. thanks kindra for the love, laughter, excitement, and curiosity that you bring to our family. you are with us for a reason and that i've never doubted. the older you get, the more apparent those reasons become. i need your love, acceptance, and trust. remember, i know everything...lol...so don't ever doubt what i say, question my intentions, or not believe in my reasons. it will always be for your good and because of my love and understanding of just how great you can and will continue to become. (and remember this even when you are pissed off, defiant, rebellious, and pulling your dominant attitude) i love you and always will accept who it is that you choose to become. but don't worry. i won't let you get off that easy! lol ;)

love mom
xo

yep...

ahhhhhhh...

well, thank goodness for a great phone camera and some patient kids that allow me to slam on the breaks for a quick car pullover, i've been able to get some awesome scenery pics. i'm also giving in to my dream of living in an alternate universe that would have me being a photographer...lol...so it's been fun!






and then came the blizzard :(
xo

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness"
~~~Oprah

just like old times...

oh ladies, i've SO MISSED our lunches though i understand how crazy life does and can get! but still. NEVER again will we go this long without them. ;) and i PROMISE that MY activity planning skills are once again on like donkey kong. hehehe...lol!

xoxo

xoxo

Day 10

day 10...my home which includes...
my own little family of 4...
i love this newly drawn "masterpiece" done by kindra (the eyes especially...lol)

how do i begin explaining just how important these 3 people are to me? there are not words that properly describe how their being "mine" makes me whole and complete. i finally realized that what i was searching for was actually right in front of me the whole time. i am thankful though for the lessons that i learned while being "in the dark" because now i know that this is where i am suppose to be. again, i can't describe in words how i feel! it's just a feeling....
i am thankful for the "fun" that we have on our random little trips. we took the kids up to logan for the football game (the worst one ever and the worst venue ever!!! WORST!!!) but we still ended up having such a great time, making some more hilarious memories...
swimming...
nerf gun war in the park...

the dinosaur museum in ogden...
this was back in october so they were decorated for halloween. the kids were dying with laughter at this creepy lady! i promised them that i would never look like that...lol!

this has been fun doing this...



though i have so many more things to be thankful for! it's always good to be reminded of just how lucky we each are and to never forget the blessings that we have!

Day 9

day 9...craft night and the joys of "personal personal" dirt and honesty. lol

one of the besties started this up last year. once a month we get together, "make a craft", and talk. i mean really talk. it's awesome plus i get to make a really cute craft that someone else has come up with! lol...copying is always the easiest when it comes to these things!


junes night...

xoxo

my hero...sue sylvester

"it's rough. people can be mean. i was bullied my whole life. i grew up with a handicapable sister. i know very well how horrible people can be. was it difficult? yes. did it make me stronger? you bet it did!"

love the word~~~handicapable!
love the concept~~~difficult circumstances will always make you stronger if you allow it to!

oh sue. i love the comedy, the laughter, and the knowledge that you bring to my tuesday evenings! :)
xo

ps...procrastination and poor planning :(

catching up on bills and "stuff"...
the chicken...
the sauce...
now where is the pan? it usually is right here. where is that dang thing? oh.
the crockpot pan

son of a. notice the HIGH empty cupboards? yeah, well there's a reason for that. dang that new cleaning lady. well i tried. hmmm? looks like we're going out for dinner. lol. awesome. and this is just one of the many random events in our life. again. lol.

welcome to our happy home :)

Day 8

day 8...family home evening aka family night

family nights are a must. they create unity, love, fun, communication, and memories that can never be replaced. "a family that plays together stays together". i always thought that this saying was so cheesy when i was younger but now that i am a parent and one of kids that are older, i see how this is so true. it does not guarantee anything but it does give you a greater chance to succeed.

"families are the compass that guide us. they are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter."
~~~brad henry

"I gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience

in which I must stop and look fear in the face.
I say to myself, I've lived through this

and can take the next thing that comes along...

We must do the things that we think we cannot do."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Day 7

day 7...our movie outings of greatness.

no really. my family has some of the BEST movie stories EVER. it all began with my parents and their introduction to waiting in long lines at exciting movie premiers. then came the midnight movies but it was not until the "lord of the rings" psychotic-ness that the ticket stalking and the camping out for days came into the picture. remember, that was before assigned seating so i will be the first to admit that i made phone calls 3 times a day, asking if the tickets had been released for sale to ensure that we would get into the "jordan commons big screen cricket" theatre. then came the goal to be THE FIRST in line to get in and get THE BEST seats. the first 2 movies, we always came short and were SECOND in line but then "the wheelchair event" (lol) "presented" itself right in time for the last movie. my brother still camped out and was still second in line but the minute i got there, a whole 12 hrs early, we became FIRST! so yes, we used and abused the system and took advantage of the perk but come on. who wouldn't?! lol. it was so fun! the game, the stress, the anxiety, the manipulation, the excitement, the whole experience, and i miss it. assigned seating has put a bit of a damper though the stress is definitely eliminated (unless i have to kick someone out of the handi seats and then i actually feel bad and weaselly) but don't worry. midnight movies are still very much in our systems and sneak previews have still been around when they are available which was the situation for "harry potter and the deathly hallows". (and i won a $2000 prize in the pre-movie raffle!!!) so for all of what i have just described, i love movies, movies, movies and especially when my family can be there to carry on the tradition!

don't forget why i keep posting "days..."

ENJOY hers and enjoy mine!!! :)

The Pen Pal...

kindra was dying with excitement for her night out to watch the "utah valley university" women volleyball game! 1. because it was going to be a "daddy-daughter date" and 2. because she was finally going to be meeting her pen-pal! yes, she has a pen-pal that plays on the team and she had sent kindra 2 tickets to the game/match. the plan was to meet up after the game and get some autographs which she did. too funny...
(my little kin is not so little anymore!!! boo hoo hoo)