Streeeetch!

Just after we decided that Tyler would do three classes this semester, we had a talk about "circling the wagons" and keeping our little bit of family time sacred. We've never been busier and, while it's mostly gone smoothly, sometimes it is really draining. Ty gets pretty down when he doesn't see the kids for three days straight. I can get overwhelmed when I am the sole question-answerer, food-provider, put-to-bedder, entertainer for three days straight.

Tyler was saying the other day that we're lucky we had such a huge emotional bank account to start off with since we've only been able to make withdrawals for the past few months. But the account is depleting and we both feel it. And there just isn't time to make the kind of deposits we're used to. Thank goodness for his 9/80 schedule...those three day weekends are lifesavers...or emotional bank account savers.

*Side story: I love Tyler's analogies. I remember the first time I heard him teach. We met online, remember, and he came to Vegas to meet me on a (very magical) Wednesday. That Friday I drove to Provo to see him again and to meet his parents, brother, and sister. I went to Church with him and he was a Sunday School teacher. I LOVED his lesson. I loved how he taught things in a way that was easy to understand. He is a big user of parables and analogies. I was already smitten, but that Sunday School lesson took it to another level.*

Well, I think that the Lord takes opportunities like this to stretch and teach us. In many ways. One was in the form of a new calling for Ty this weekend. He's been called to be the Young Men's President. The Bishop was aware of our situation, so before he 'officially' extended the call, he came and talked to us about it. While it is going to be a stretch (he can't even attend the weekly activities until January because of classes and then a trip to Vegas we have planned) with good men serving with him, I know that he is going to be able to pull it off and do very well. In Tyler's setting apart he was told that he likely was given this calling at this particular time so that he would learn to delegate, as that will be important in future callings he will have. He was given some other wonderful promises as well.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) I have seen that in my life over and over again; God takes care of us and makes our load lighter when we put Him first. I think that we are going to be surprised at how well things fall into place and the time that we have together will not seem so depleted. I am so thankful for opportunities to grow and to serve - because we all know this isn't a calling just for my sweet husby; for him to serve well I've got to serve well here at home. I'm getting pretty good at it. :)

Baby Steps...

Everett D was a little early to the crawling game compared to my other kids; he was a full-fledged crawler just shy of 7 months. So it shouldn't have surprised me that he took some steps today...but it did! Ty steadied him a few feet away from me and he took 3 somewhat clumsy steps into my arms. I absolutely love those parenting moments!
Lately when we try to sit Everett on his bottom, he'll stiffen his legs because the boy wants to either stand or walk while holding our fingers. A few weeks ago I was reading stories before bed to the kids and Ev was playing by my legs. At one point I glanced over and he was standing there, unassisted. It was one of those double-take moments where it seemed normal at first until I realized that he'd never done that before and by the time I got excited about it and wanted to celebrate with him, he'd fallen down and was moving on to another equally important activity (i.e. shoving a toy into his mouth.)

I don't think this means that full-fledged walking is right around the corner - he's still pretty unstable - but what do I know?! I also didn't think when I woke up this morning that my boy would WALK into my arms. I just take things as they come around here. I'm totally smitten with this little man.

Oh! And he also successfully took his first bottle tonight! From ME, no less. Hooray for that. I might be able to go to the temple before long. (It's a 6-hour gig from where we live...not just the drive, but the whole sha-bang)

Bizzaro

So yesterday we went grocery shopping. Ty and I split up to get it done quicker - he had Max and Kelly and I had Everett. I was filling up our cart with yogurt (Tillamook yogurt to be precise because I'm a big Tillamook fan.) I had just grabbed a few and turned to put them in my cart when a young couple walks past. Both of them are looking at me funny and the girl is kind of snickering. I got a few more yogurts, glanced up and saw her snickering at me again. Ummm...do I have something on my booty? Chances of sitting in something the kids left on the seat of the car are pretty good, so maybe. (Please note that I didn't care enough about that thought to actually check, just had the thought and went about my business.)

I saw them a few more times in the store and got the same looks and snickers from the girl. Weird. Tyler and I ended up switching carts at one point and checking out separately...it was all about the speed.

Well, we got home, did Family Home Evening and put the kids to bed. We came down and started putting groceries away. Amongst the groceries was a lone Yoplait yogurt. I asked Ty if he'd picked it up and he said, "No. I was wondering about that when I was checking out." So odd. Everett was with me getting the yogurt, so I knew it wasn't the "help" of little hands. I stood there for a second, wondering how it had landed in my cart.

Suddenly it came together...the young couple snickering at me while I was getting yogurt...a single yogurt I hadn't even touched in the store making its way into my cart and home...they put a yogurt in my cart! I don't have any proof, but I'm totally convinced that's what happened. Bizzaro, right?! Who does that? Good thing it only put me back 59 cents. Bizzare. And kind of funny.