So I Learn

I like Miracle Whip. Yeah, I’ll take mayonnaise, but I like the Whip! Is that gross? Well, I use it so rarely so I don’t feel bad about it.

Do you think mission food tasted good because we were starving or because it really was good? Because my memory of it is yum, yum, mmmmmmm delish!

I don’t like doing the little things. Although I know they are SO important and the big things in life depend on my ability to accomplish the small tasks. Same in the gospel as in life. Small tasks that come to my mind when I write this: scheduling a dentist appointment, looking up the warranty for the Magic Bullet that just broke, putting a stamp on the two thank you cards that have been on my desk for 4 days (yes, pathetic, I know!), putting away the 3 kitchen towels that are folded and have been on my couch for 24 hours, writing my professor a 2-line email about some paperwork that is coming their way. It’s not so much that I don’t like them, it’s more that I just feel they are so insignificant that I’ll get to them later. And later... and then time goes by and my house is a shambles. Do I sound like I’m falling apart? Maybe. But the big things, like my peace of mind and my ability to play with my kids on a clean floor and enjoy the moment depend on these little things. Like kneeling to pray, instead of saying it aloud as I get breakfast out for Madeleine - I really believe my consistency in doing something like this will magnify and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. And that’s big. Doctrine and Covenants 98:12 and 2nd Nephi 28:30

I’ve been praying for patience... a LOT. But the other day I had an epiphany and realized that for me, right now I need to really aim for the big picture. Thirst and hunger after righteousness and that brings the Spirit (because I also frequently and fervently pray for the Spirit to be in our home and with me), and then patience and other valuable fruits of the Spirit will follow. (Galatians 5:22). It was a scripture studying epiphany moment. I like those. Thank heavens they still come to me every once in a while! 3 Nephi 12:6.

Potty training at night is kicking my derriere.

I could not, NOT do the Northwest. I’d be depressed and grumpy. Kind of like how I am now with all the rain and clouds. Have I been nasty to you lately? Blame the weather, not me.

We like friends. I am especially grateful for friends who don’t mind or at least tolerate our flaws. Like unswept floors, glasses straight out of the dishwasher that have soap residue on them, dinners without desserts, taking my kids at the last minute so that I can get work done, etc. And we are grateful for friends who inspire us by their joyful, seemingly put-together lives. Whether it’s real or not, it’s inspiring, and thankfully not stress-inducing to see you love your kids, play and work well together, and live the principles of the gospel with gusto.

Amazingly, a schedule has been quite the helpful tool in improving my productivity. I’m being more consistent with a T/Th “I will work on my dissertation and take M to daycare” schedule mingled with a M/W/F “These are my ‘play’ days devoted to my girls and the home” schedule. Here I was, thinking that the flexibility of being a student was the key to being able to be a good mother. An awesome playdate planned for a Tuesday? I’m in! Skip the daycare/studying! A professor gets back a draft to me on a Wednesday morning? Rush Madeleine to daycare and I frantically try to buckle down and write. Oh no. No more. A set schedule. I guess I’m growing up. Or becoming enlightened. Either way, it’s been a long road for me to embrace the structure, but I’m beginning to see why it’s so popular.

I cannot understand how someone who watches animated superhero cartoons can think that my love of chic flicks is shallow.