Only for Jane...

Only for our dear and beloved friend, Jane...

could I talk my husband into basically abandoning our beloved boys for over half a day...

ignoring the freshly powder-laden mountain, softly beckoning...

braving the snowy roads...

and driving "all the way" up to Salt Lake for a Movie Marathon,

not to mention "strange" exotic food and entertainment.

Trust me...

My man had to be well-bribed!

(Sitting through TWO movies in a day

and the uncertainty of dinner at a new, somewhat questionable-sounding restaurant

is NOT his forte!

He'd much rather have chosen an afternoon of skiing!)

But alas, he let me win this one...

And off we went.

While everyone else in our group saw "The Tourist",

~

~

(which we saw and I LOVED a few weeks ago)

we opted to meet Danny and Angi for "Country Strong"

~

~

which I thought was great, and Matt thought was... well, grueling.

In my defense I make 4 points.

First, I do love Gwyneth.

I just do.

Second, she made me want to be a Kelly Canter fan.

~

~

Really.

She was darling.

How could you not love her rockin' those leather jeans in this scene

with that eat-him-up cute little Travis?

~

~

Third, I found myself, against my better judgement, really wanting

her to pull her mess-of-a-life together and get well...

(Which must mean she did a very believable job of being a mess in the first place, right?)

And lastly...

I am almost ashamed to admit how much I LOVED that gold dress from the Dallas Concert...

Wow.

~

~

A-MAZ-ing...

~

~

I could totally wear it at the kitchen sink doing dishes, right?

Or while I fold laundry?

{Sigh}

I guess it is best that my life holds no event worthy of me ever wearing such a gown.

Temptation gone.

~

But on to dinner...

To try something different, Dusty chose Cedars of Lebanon,

which turned out to be a cozy little place with great ambiance,

fun, not-your-ordinary-everyday entertainment

and

INCREDIBLE food!

~

~

Here are half of us...

Our party of 13 included the Blanchards, Us, Rhodes, Taylors, Birchalls,

Danny & Angi and Becky.

Who knew we'd be fans of Lebanese?

But yum!

It makes my mouth water and my tummy rumble just remembering it!

We will definitely make a return visit!

~

We also learned some very valuable life lessons...

Like...

Always wait to tip the belly-dancer until the music tempo slows...

~

~

And never accept an invitation to share a hookah

with the aging gentleman at the next table over.

~

~

(Seriously, Angi... what were you thinking?)

And lastly, that 35 can look amazing if you welcome it and accept it with grace.

~

~

~

So Happy Birthday, again, Janey!

We loved sharing it with you!

(And please forgive me for swiping these pics off your blog...)

~

Our evening concluded with full bellies,

grateful that only the birthday girl had to participate in the belly-dancing spectacle,

a darling birthday cake

(Way to go, Dusty!)

and then off to another movie.

The late show was this little number...

~

~

which I still can not ever remember the name of

and was surprised not to love.

I thought it was just... ok...

But interestingly enough, Matty actually liked it better than the first!

Ha!

I guess we're keeping things even, at least!

~

So chalk up another super fun evening, friends.

Great company!

My belly still hurts from laughing so hard!

Friday afternoon was simply smashing...

I had a fun afternoon out with some of my favorite ladies...

It was Janey's Birthday Lunch.

She is a gorgeous, graceful 35...

And she does it oh so well, already!

She's just smashing! Simply smashing!

Which is fitting since she chose SmashBurger...

(Yes, the pun is shamefully intended...)

I'd never been...

But my Harvest Chicken Salad was de-lish!

And the company was even better!

~

~

Here are a few of us,

(Left to Right: Jane, Daph, McKenna, Suz, Shan, Caryn, Me, Summer, Becky)

courtesy of Jane's i-phone and her super-fun, oh-so-retro Shake-It Polaroid Ap,

(...which if you ask me, makes Jane and Summer look like oompa-loompas and me look like Raggedy Ann!

Hee hee!

Ah, well...

That's what I get for not packing my own camera, eh?)

How $17.99 may just save our sanity...

So they say, "Drastic times call for drastic measures."

Well, this drastic measure may have just saved our sanity...

Certainly, a good night's sleep...

(And quite possibly also our marriage!)

~

So I did it today!

Took our drastic measure...

I've been thinking about it for a week, but couldn't quite bring myself to do it.

But today I finally broke down and bought it.

A nice, plush 42"round... Puppy Pillow.

Why, you ask?

Are we getting a puppy for our puppy-crazed boys?

Oh, no!

(We're not THAT desperate!

They are still just begging for now...)

~

Oh, no.

You see...

The puppy bed is for my son.

My baby.

The boy we all love...

It is for Bronson.

My sweet 2 year old who has decided he is done taking naps.

The very same child who I am convinced sleeps less than any other toddler on the planet.

Now, to be clear, this Puppy Bed is not meant as any sort of statement, for heaven's sake.

It actually represents a very diplomatic compromise.

One that has been months in the making.

Bronson, you see, has been battling with us for quite some time

over what he apparently feels are unacceptable sleeping accommodations.

Namely his C-R-I-B...

Yes, that's right.

It is definitely a four letter word.

And we have outlawed it in our home

to prevent the inevitable melt downs that even its' mere mention induces...

And so, as the kind, loving, accommodating parents that we are,

we naturally offered him the alternative of double-bunking

in his brother Daynen's full-size bed.

This worked for several nights

and these two little peas in a pod were as snug as bugs in a rug...

Until Bronson rolled off in the middle of the night.

He wasn't hurt, thank goodness...

In fact he landed on pillows

that had been carefully placed on the floor

in case of just such an occurrence.

But it bruised his pride

and his confidence just enough

that another alternate site had to be located.

~

This time to big brother Kaden's side he went.

...Until he wore out his welcome.

~

And so the real battle began.

A turf war.

Waged on a king-sized mattress between two sheets, beneath our comforter.

It's not a new battle.

It's as ageless as the family itself.

Mommy and Daddy separated by the toddler,

who insists on sleeping horizontally in the middle.

If you have kids, you know...

No matter how many times you try to turn the little tike upright,

he always makes an "H" of us by morning.

And while Matt gets the warm, steamy breathing, half an inch from his face,

I always get the feet.

And usually to my head.

Or face.

Or both.

All.

Night.

Long.

Now, let me stop here to say how very grateful I am for this arrangement.

It is certainly preferable to many, many other alternatives.

And believe me...

I am NOT complaining...

It's just that, well... it is a bit... tiring...

after many, many,

many...

months.

Let me also invite anyone out there who thinks they have a better idea,

or one that we haven't already tried...

consistently for several weeks...

to come right on over and sleep-train our toddler...

I assure you.

We are very aware that it has become a battle of will.

That we, quite obviously are losing.

I also assure you,

it is decisive, selective and adamantly expressed.

And there IS no other acceptable alternative location.

Trust us.

~

A couple of times we have joked that we should just change bedrooms.

Or go sleep in our spare bedroom after he falls asleep.

Ha!

But no.

~

Instead, we have decided to embrace the opportunity.

Knowing it will eventually run it's course.

And that someday we will miss those wiggly little feet.

And that atrocious morning breath.

And the little boy they belong to.

~

And so we have conceded...

To something we would never have allowed from his brothers.

And been a crowded party of 3 for quite some time.

~

Recently, we have taken to making a little bed of pillows on the floor at the foot of our bed.

We even brought in a Bean-Bag from our Theatre...

But then he'd end up all sticky and sweaty (it's "pleather")

and all slumped over...

It didn't look comfy, at all.

~

But it did give me the idea.

"A giant pillow", I thought.

That could be stored under the end of our bed.

Out of sight, beneath the bedskirt, by day.

And loved, by all, at night.

Just an extension of our bed, really.

An annex.

But safely at floor's level.

And with room enough to spare for all of us...

I smile, yawn and stretch just thinking about it!

.

.

Surely, I am not the first to think of this,

but still, I felt proud of this brilliant solution.

~

And further more, I would make one, the crafty side of me decided.

But alas, the busy-mom-at-Christmas side of me has not quite gotten to it yet.

~

And then...

Then, I saw the Puppy Pillows at Costco.

For the very low price 0f $17.99.

I could not buy the fabric, let alone the stuffing for that!

But it was a DOG BED!

And this was my SON!

I just could not quite wrap my mind around that...

Until,

Today.

And it has been pure Puppy-Pillow LOVE all afternoon!

In fact, I only narrowly escaped Costco , without a matching set!

(Dayne wanted one for himself and I nearly had to buy two!)

.

.

It might also be the new favorite movie spot!

.

.

~

And aaaah!

I can feel a good night's rest coming on, already!

"Humble Abundance"...

I am not making resolutions this year...

Not because I know I'll fail,

but because I want to succeed without their limitations.

Instead, I am adopting a theme for the year...

A guideline.

One adopted from the words of a new friend, spoken a few months ago.

She paid an unexpected compliment.

One that I hope to someday deserve.

She said, "When I come into your home I feel immediately "at home".

I feel embraced by the humble abundance you have created within it."

I'm not going to lie...

I was flattered.

And yet felt somewhat, if not completely, undeserving.

~

But her words have stuck with me.

I've thought so much about that phrase...

"Humble abundance."

And that is what I hope to acquire this year.

A feeling of cherishing and embracing that which is most dear...

And loving it like crazy.

Over the top.

All the way.

I am not going to pretend to try to simplify.

I'm no good at that.

I'm just not a simple girl, I guess.

I'm all or nothing.

I have big ideas.

And an excess of energy.

And unfortunately, I am tenacious (maybe even stubborn?) enough

to actually see them through.

I've come to realize I'll probably always be an overachiever.

Certainly a pleaser.

Always a giver.

It's my love language.

~

But I aspire to chose wisely where to spend myself...

Not to be stingy,

but to be thoughtful.

And balanced.

And to embrace and share the abundance all around me.

In every realm.

~

So cheers!

It's a New Year!

~

~

May your 2011 be as wonderful as the one we hope to create...

And may a "Humble Abundance" be yours.

"Hoo-hoo" has an opinion?

I LOVE that my boys are strong willed.

I LOVE that they are driven, assertive and know what they want.

I LOVE that they stand up for what they believe in, without backing down, I really do.

I even LOVE their over-stated, sometimes quite surprisingly, very strong opinions...

Especially the ones that make me chuckle...

~

Well, we've been meaning to see this movie for a while and just hadn't made it yet.

You know, other priorities first.

But somehow it finally snuck up to the top of our list.

.

.

So we took the boys out to the Buck-Flick...

We thought they would all LOVE it...

Ha!

Well, the big boys sat glued, as expected...

And Bronson, wild monkey,

took advantage of the nearly empty theatre

and ran up...

and down...

and back...

and forth...

and through...

the aisles...

just his little blonde head silently bobbing up and down,

glowing above the seat tops in front of us.

{Sigh}

Honestly...

Who ARE his parents to allow that sort of behavior?

So anyway, he and I missed half of it...

~

But it was our D who was the surprise!

...He is such a movie buff!

He'll watch anything!

And he has LOVED every other 3D movie that he's seen,

which is why this came as such a shock!

Halfway through,

upon my return from yet another run to the Lobby

with my crazy little maniac,

I found D slumped and scowling in his booster,

glaring at the big screen over the tops of his 3D glasses.

"D, what's wrong?", I whispered.

He gruffly and not-so-quietly whispered back,

"I want to go home!"

"What?", I asked, genuinely surprised.

"I hate this movie!", again, not-so-quiet.

"Why? What's the matter?", trying to soothe him.

Then this, increasingly louder and with pure and unmistakable spite,

"I HATE owls!"

Snickers from the handful of other theatre-goers within a few rows' vicinity*...

Well, there you have it...

Hooooo knew?

~

*My apologies to anyone who was there, trying to quietly enjoy their night out...

But hey!

Glad we could help entertain you for the evening!

Merry Christmas to All...

And to all...

A good night!

(In case yours hasn't arrived yet, here's a peek at our Christmas Card...)

~

~

~

We love you all and are so grateful for your love,

prayers, friendship and support, this year and always!

~

Here's hoping this finds you happy, healthy

and enjoying the best of this glorious season!

~

Much Love~

The Staker Family

(...All 6 of us!)

HERE is a good place to be...

I know it has been forever since I've posted...

More on that another day...

But it suffices to say that it has been out of necessity...

Partly because I needed a bit of a break...

But mostly because we have just plain been busy enjoying life!

And enjoying it to it's fullest!

(And when I say FULL-est, I do not believe it is an overstatement!)

Also, {sigh}...

As unreasonable as I know it is,

I can not seem to give up this crazy notion that I somehow need to "catch up".

At this point, I know that is not realistic, so I am going to try to just jump in.

Right here.

Right now.

Right. Where. We. Are.

Because where we ARE is a good place to be.

A very good place.

~

Today I am preparing for a Family Christmas Party, here at our home.

Tonight I will see Aunts, Uncles and Cousins I have dearly missed.

And as I tidy up and primp and polish our home to prepare for guests,

my gratitude for where we ARE overflows.

~

I have six beloved stockings hanging from my mantle.

Santa will fill ALL of them in just a few short days.

And we will ALL be here to enjoy watching one another

open the gifts we have so carefully selected for one another.

I could not be more grateful.

I feel as if I might burst.

~

A pile of Christmas Cards sits anxiously next to me on my desk,

waiting for me to find the time to finish addressing the envelopes.

I will get to them... I will.

Sometime.

For now, I am content to read "The Santa Claus Book"to 4 rowdy little sets of eager ears... Again.

Oh, yes.

The cards can wait.

~

They are darling, by the way.

The cards.

I can not wait to finish sending them.

The front is a surprise.

(If I told you here, it would spoil it.)

But I will say this...

A new, current family portrait adorns the back.

I adore it.

~

~

I gush with gratitude that we are ALL together to have it taken.

To preserve the memory of the year that changed us... FOREVER.

And that, in the end, despite what has crumbled behind us,

We are still standing... Together.

~

And this might just be my favorite image in all the world today.

~

~

No further explanation needed.

~

There are 4 very sweet faces smiling up at me from the bottom of the card.

ALL of them growing, learning, thriving. HERE.

~

~

Yes, HERE is a good place to be.

Home. Together.

Listening to Christmas tunes caroling out through our intercom.

Watching the snow fall through the fog outside.

In our jammies, making soup to serve to those we love.

Who will be here to see us and visit in just a few short hours.

I can't wait!

...Guess I better go shower!

~

A Tower of Cups and a Wheat Field...

So we blend a lot of smoothies here at our house...
Several per day, usually.
We put them in clear plastic cups so they are easy to take when we are on the go.
Which is often.
But in an effort to be conservative

(and since they melt in the dishwasher),
we wash and rinse the cups out,
then place them in the windowsill to dry
so that we can reuse them.
There are usually one... or two... in the corner of our windowsill.
But since we've had houseguests this week, we've made quite a few extra smoothies.
Even more than normal.
So we've had this little pyramid going...
.
.
Well, this morning, after breakfast,
I lifted Daynen up to the kitchen sink to wash his hands.
He looked at them and said, "Cool! Are doze Jesus cups?"
I wasn't sure I understood what he meant...
My mind was puzzling over whether he meant,

Mmm... like really big sacrament cups, er what?
So I said, "What kind of cups?"
He repeated, "Jesus cups! Let's do the trick!"
Still confused, I said, "What trick? Show me."
He reached for the center cup on the bottom row and pulled it out,
explaining, "Like when Jesus dies and dey awe come tumb-wing down
and da choo-wuch cah-w-ashes."
(Toddlerese to English Translation: ... and they all come tumbling down and the church crashes.")
.
OH!

Ha!
Right!
I couldn't help but smile as I caught on and realized what he was saying.
I guess he really WAS listening at Family Home Evening last week
when we had our lesson about The Great Apostasy...
We labeled some of those same plastic cups and then stacked them,
creating a tower to represent the Church as it was when Jesus Christ was here upon the earth.
Then we pulled out the bottom cup (representing Christ as the foundation of the Church)
and talked about how it all fell apart after his death and the martyrdom of the apostles.
We showed the boys how many of the same principles and ordinances of the gospel remained,
but explained that some were lost, distorted, misinterpreted or even forgotten.

We told them how these scattered pieces were used to build other doctrines

throughout the ages, but remained incomplete until The Restoration.
The big boys seemed to understand the object lesson,
but of course the little ones were way more interested in just building and crashing towers.
The rest went right past them.

Or so I thought...
So imagine my surprise when my sweet, barely-3 year old replays the message to me.
All on his own!
Almost a whole week later!
It was one of those far-too-few-and-far-between "Parent Pay-offs".

You know...
When you realize something you thought went right over their heads,
actually stuck.
Even just a little!
...Guess we'll keep at it!
.
It also reminded me of a particularly touching talk from last fall's General Conference...
Reaffirmed to me the total and absolute truth of it.
Like many other moms, I sometimes struggle with feeling like I just try SOOO hard...
And for what?
The job often feels overwhelming and fruitless.
Trying to get everyone to cooperate and do the right thing
seems like a lot of hard work
and often even ends up feeling counter-productive.

Sometimes I feel like I. Just. CAN'T. Do. It.

.
So Elder Bednar's talk pierced me to the core
and warmed my very soul with a rekindled commitment for consistency.
Despite the sometimes discouraging individual instances.

.
I remember sitting in my car in the Costco parking lot.

Too paralyzed to get out and go inside

as I listened to his words stream in over the radio.

I could not move.
Feeling so filled that my emotions were spilling over.
Streaming silently down my cheeks.
I heard... really HEARD... his words.
Spoken as if straight to me.
It felt as if the teardrops spotting the bosom of my t-shirt
were imbedding them indellibly upon my heart.
.
So as a reminder to myself,
and to share with anyone reading, who may also benefit,
here is the part that I just loved:
"As our sons were growing up, our family did what you have done and what you now do.
We had regular family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening.
Now, I am sure what I am about to describe has never occurred in your home, but it did in ours.
.
Sometimes Sister Bednar and I wondered
if our efforts to do these spiritually essential things were worthwhile.
Now and then verses of scripture were read amid outbursts
such as “He’s touching me!”
“Make him stop looking at me!”
“Mom, he’s breathing my air!”
Sincere prayers occasionally were interrupted with giggling and poking.
And with active, rambunctious boys,
family home evening lessons did not always produce high levels of edification.

.

{Uh... ya think? This sounds oddly familiar...}

.
At times Sister Bednar and I were exasperated
because the righteous habits we worked so hard to foster
did not seem to yield immediately the spiritual results we wanted and expected.
.
Today if you could ask our adult sons what they remember
about family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening,
I believe I know how they would answer.
They likely would not identify a particular prayer
or a specific instance of scripture study
or an especially meaningful family home evening lesson
as the defining moment in their spiritual development.
What they would say they remember is that as a family we were consistent.
.
Sister Bednar and I thought helping our sons understand the content
of a particular lesson or a specific scripture was the ultimate outcome.
But such a result does not occur each time we study or pray or learn together.
The consistency of our intent and work was perhaps the greatest lesson—
a lesson we did not fully appreciate at the time.
.
In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field.
The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—
none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive.
In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass
of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint.
However, as you gradually move away from the canvas,
all of the individual brushstrokes combine together
and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field.
Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together
to create a captivating and beautiful painting.
.

.
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study,
and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls.
No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable.
But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other
and produce an impressive masterpiece,
so our consistency in doing seemingly small things
can lead to significant spiritual results.
“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing,
for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.
And out of small things proceedeth that which is great”
.
Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."
.
That message and that image of the wheat field has stayed with me.
So, here, in this simple stack of plastic cups drying in my kitchen windowsill,
I realized...
Again.
I am painting.
Still painting.
Ever painting.
One. Stroke. At. A. Time.
Painting the portrait of my own ever-growing, testimony
and imprinting it upon the hearts of my children.

Helping them to paint their own.

As artists of their own souls.
One prayer.
One scripture study.
One Family Home Evening.
One heart-to-heart chat.
One teaching moment.
One plastic cup tower. At. A. Time...

.

And THAT...

Well, THAT, I CAN do.

For today.

Alright, already...

Okay... This is it.

Tonight I feel really yucky.

Tired.

Grumpy.

Out of gas.

And sorta...

Blah.

No...

Strike that...

REALLY blah.

Blah... blah... BLAH!

.

I HATE this feeling!

Absolutely HATE it!

And even worse, I know why.

I know EXACTLY why...

.

You see, I usually eat really well.

By most people's standard, I eat VERY well.

I love fruits and veggies.

I eat them at nearly every meal.

I get a good balanced amount of protein and healthy, whole grain carbohydrates.
And I try to eat every 2-3 hours throughout the day.

(Yes... That's 5-6 times per day.)

I LOVE good food...

And I eat a lot!

.

I also drink like a fish.

I start drinking water first thing in the morning at 5:15.

All day long, I drink and drink.

And I'm not talking soda... I despise it.

Water only.

By bedtime, I've usually consumed over 100 ounces.

Sometimes more.

.

And I usually have plenty of energy.

Moreso than I sometimes know what to do with!

You know me!

Me and all my big ideas...

{If only I could buy more time at the health food store!}

.

But this past week, I have been very "off."

No particular reason...

I've just been a bit lazy, I guess.

Slipping up in my usually good habits.

If we are what we eat, then right now, I am the city dump!

.

With Matt gone, I immersed myself in a project and barely slept.

We had visitors staying with us

and I was not diligent with my planned meals and regular mealtimes.

I've hardly drunk any water.

I am thirsty.

My head aches.

Even my lips and skin feel dry.

I know I am dehydrated.

.

So this is MY fault!

I know better!

I know what my body needs.

I'm just not giving it!

.

SO...

As of this moment, I am recommitting to take better care of myself.

Because I can.

Because I should.

Because I am worth it.

.

...And they are worth it!

{Because I know that even when they don't complain,

my boys like me even more when I am feeling good.

And fun.

And like myself.

Instead of like this... yucky... blob.}

.

So no more being lazy and eating crappy for me!

For crying out loud...

I AM NOT A GARBAGE DISPOSAL!

.

.

I do NOT need to finish my children's meals for them!

I can not.

I will not.

It is an awful habit!

...One of my worst.

Just because they decide they are "done" eating while there is still food on their plates

(food I worked hard to prepare for them, mind you ),

does NOT mean I have to consume it to prevent it from going to waste!

I do not have to dispose of it!

At least not into my own mouth!

That's why we have a garbage can.

And a disposal in our sink!

.

I hereby remind myself that I am a big girl.

I have outgrown "kiddie food".

I can not thrive off of the leftover Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich crusts.

Or the last few bites of their Pigs in a Blanket.

I DO deserve to take the time to prepare my OWN real food...

Even if THEY want Mac & Cheese, Little Caesar's or McDonald's

(on the rare occasion that I actually cave in and indulge them).

They are boys.

Little boys.

Growing boys!

With the metabolism of a raging bonfire!

.

I, on the other hand,

am aging...

I can not eat anything and everything, like I once could, and still feel fine.

And I do not have the self-discipline to deprive myself.

Or the cardio-endurance of a Madman, like my sweet-tooth husband.

{I love you, Sweets...}

So instead, I must choose well.

I must choose better.

.

It's sort of like the oxygen mask thing...

As counter-intuitive as it seems, it is how we ensure that we all survive.

And how we all thrive...

In order to take care of others well, we must first take care of ourselves, as well.

.

So for now, that means cracking the proverbial whip a bit, on my eating habits...

I start in the morning!

{I can hardly wait!}

In-laws, er.. uh...OUT-laws...

.

Yep... Apparently it started young...

Someone really should have warned me what kind of family I was marrying into!

.

.

Hee hee! Just kidding!

(If anyone lucked out in the in-law department, it was certainly me!)

.

This is so cute, I just had to post it...

if not for your viewing enjoyment, then for their utter humiliation!

(It's an oldie, but a goodie that I just came across in Trevor's facebook pics.)

HA!

Don't think I've ever seen it, so it's giving me a good chuckle this evening...

.

These are the Lowry cousins, somewhere around the mid-80's, I'd guess.
Back row (Left to Right): Mike Staker (Matt's older and oh-so-much-wiser brother),

Megan Staker McMurdie (Matt's little sister) & Matt "Capone" Staker

Front Row: Ty Simcox (Matt's cousin), Trevor Simcox (also cousin),

Mindy Staker Johanson (Matt's littlest sister), & Rachelle Simcox Taysom (Matt's cousin)

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Love you guys!

Glad you all gave up your "life of crime",

turned over a new leaf

and became productive, law-abiding citizens!

Wait... You did...Right?

Officer Simcox?

Footprints of Faith...

For those of you who have asked for information,

"Footprints of Faith"

will air at 1:30 pm MST,

just prior to the second session of LDS General Conference.

There will be 3 stories featured in the program.

We were told that Bronson's story will be the middle segment.

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Post Script-

In reply to some of the questions and comments left in response to this post,

I am not aware of a link to view the "Footprints of Faith" program online.

However, KSL has announced that it will re-air on Sunday, May 2.

I am not sure what time.

40 Years... and still counting!

Happy Anniversary to two of the dearest people in my world!

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Congratulations, Mom & Dad!

I am so proud of you!

In this day and age, it's an accomplishment only a few can claim.

And getting fewer and farther between all the time.

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Thank you for loving each other.

Through the good and the bad...

The challenges as well as the joys.

And often across so many miles.

It could not always have been easy.

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I could not have asked for better, more adoring parents...

Who waited and wanted for so very long before I finally came your way.

Thank you for being ready.

To love me unconditionally.

And to teach me.

By both your words and your example.

What a blessing you are to me!

I am so grateful I was sent to you.

Thanks for loving each other. For loving me. And for making us a family.

I am forever your devoted daughter!

B Strong... Be Fit... Be One... Be there!

I am posting this again as a friendly reminder...

Our wonderful, a-MAZ-ing and completely over-achieving sister, Mindy,
has put this great event together in our behalf.
{Sigh}
The blessings just seem to have no end.
We are absolutely thankful.
(Thanks, Mind!)
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We are also grateful
that this will provide us with a much-needed opportunity
to thank so many of you for your love and support,
and allow us to throw you a bit of a Thank-You Party!
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So whether you run, or not... please
Come celebrate the gift of life with us
in honor of Bronson's second chance!

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There will be a 5K and a Children's 1 Mile Fun Run.
Starting at 9 am
Food, Games, Prizes, Raffles, Bounce Houses!

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Register online @:
https://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1839825
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We look forward to seeing you there!

Interview on NBC's Today show...

For those who asked for the link to Bronson's story,

Click here...

Today is tomorrow...

Crazy...

Several weeks ago, just after we returned from the hospital,

we were contacted by NBC's morning show, Today.

They had been following Bronson's story and asked if they could interview us live on their show.

Of course, we declined.

We needed to be home with our boys, who had been well cared for by Alli

and spoiled by family and friends in our absence,

but WE worried about them, after all they had been through.

And knew we needed to reconnect and spend time as a family.

So NBC clarified that the offer was for all of us... the whole gang. Even Alli.

We were shocked...

They explained all the reasons that Bronson's strory appealed to them.

It was well-documented through my blog.

It had been well-photographed and we had taken video as it unfolded.

And most of all, it was miraculous.

And GOOD news to tell.

We were slightly more intrigued...

But they wanted us right away.

We said sorry, but we needed some down time.

They offered to wait until after the Olympics.

We considered...

But with everything going on, I wasn't sure that it wasn't just another distration from our focus.

Our family.

We declined again.

SO they sent us a piece they aired several years ago.

Another miracle.

About a boy from Texas who had been killed in and ATV accident.

His death announced in the local paper.

The family had bid their final farewells

and prepared to honor his wishes as an organ donor.

Helicopters were waiting on the roof.

Recipients standing by.

And yet his Grandma prayed on for a miracle.

Long story short, they interviewed him on NBC a few months later.

Amazing.

We were touched as we watched his parents.

Incredible and faithful people, telling the story of their miracle.

We were reminded of a scripture that has become particularly meaningful to us lately.

Mosiah 8:18-

We know that Bronson's miracle was not just given to him.

Not even just to us.

We believe it was given for the benefit of mankind.

To show forth the all-powerful hand of God.

To remind us that our loving Father in Heaven has a plan for us and for our families.

That He hears and answers our prayers.

That He intervenes with the course of nature, when necessary, to accomplish His will.

That we were blessed enough to witness one of these occurances.

First hand.

We could not be more grateful.

We are humbled to the core and still in shock of His grace and His mercy.

That this happened for us, and not for so many others with similar stories.

So many who prayed just as faithfully...

So many who were also hopeful for their own miracle.

Maybe even more worthy.

So many who accepted the will of God,

even when it was not what they would have chosen.

And yet, somehow, for some reason,

we recieved more than we could have possibly dreamed.

We recieved Bronson.

Here. Now. Complete. Whole. Himself. Seemingly unaffected.

And with that comes a responsibility.

One that feels too big, and yet we eagerly embrace.

Knowing we have room to grow.

We promise to do our best to give back.

To raise awareness.

To help others to learn vicariously through my mistake.

Help them to reevaluate and to prioritize.

And most importantly, we commit to bear testimony and stand as witnesses of God.

At all times, and in all things and in all places.

Even moreso than ever before.

Even if that means being on camera in front of a national audience.

Matt is excited for the missionary opportunity.

I just hope I don't trip...

Or ramble. Oh, how I hope I don't ramble...

And please pray that little B behaves himself!

He is such a wild man!

I just have one word about this...

Live.

Natonal TV will get him in whatever mood he is in!

Let's hope he sleeps well tonight!

Here are a few shots from the in home interview they shot a few days ago.

A few minutes of it will air on NBC's morning show, Today, tomorrow morning, March 12.

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Aye aye aye...

How on earth did we get here?

New York City... NBC... Here we are...

Be gentle with us.

NYC or bust...

Off we go!
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Alli and the boys, curbside,with our stash of bags, etc.
Not bad... for a traveling party of 7!

A few of my favorite things...

Just came across this little diddy,

which {insert huge sigh of relief} still makes me smile...

..

.

Quite possibly my favorite picture that I've ever taken!

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Sometimes,

when I least expect it...

amid all the underwear wrestling...

the bumps and dents in our walls...

the disturbingly unexplainable "mystery" bruises...

the constant coat of caked mud on their shoes...

the stained sleeves they borrow and use as napkins...

the wall murals painted in sharpie and/or white-out correction tape (Umm... yeah)...

the glitter glue I'll never get out from between the floor boards in the Craft Room...

the incessant arsenal of whirling plastic weaponry...

the indian burns and purple nurples...

the super-hero dress ups...

the little growling dinosaurs...

the blanket forts and bubble baths...

the entire cast of miniature 'CARS' cars which magically drive themselves all around our house...

the Legos... {insert exasperated sigh}... oh, all those darn LEGOS...

the skateboards and scooters and bikes and rollerblades and ripsticks...

the crayons, paintbrushes, colored pencils and markers...

the dog-eared UNO cards...

and otterpops...

Amid Diego and Sponge Bob...

Zack & Cody, Drake & Josh...

Mario Kart and Lego Star Wars on the Wii...

Piano lessons and Pine Wood Derbys...

the grubby smears and fingerprints...

Basketball Courts...

Soccer Fields...

Football Turf...

Batting Cages and Baseball Diamonds...

Bouldering Gear and rock climbing harnesses...

various scattered ski paraphernalia...

the beloved Webkinz and super-powered Sock Monkeys...

the mountainous piles of homework...

the pirate eye-patches and the nerf dart guns...

the CTR rings and zip-up neckties...

the holes in... well... what DOESN'T have them these days?

Yes, amid merciless pillow fights until someone cries... (and that would usually be Trevan)...

the never-ending grass-stained jeans...

Amid "I Love you Stinky Face" and "Where the Wild Things Are"...

the bubblegum tape and the pixie sticks...

and pants that are too short... too quickly...

Somewhere...

Sometimes...

Every once in a while...

I get a glimpse of the amazing, incredible men these boys are growing to be.

And I find myself in the presence of greatness.

Hoot-whoo...

I absolutely adore this little sketch I found on our Mud Room Counter...

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"Wow! Who drew this?", I asked my boys.

Trevan timidly but teasingly replied, "Don't you mean 'Hoot-whoo' drew it, Mom?"

{Hee hee!}

Handsome, artistic and clever ...

I like that in a guy!

(Watch out First Grade ladies! This guy is a triple threat!)

Oh, my dear friends~

I just got this e-mail and it caught my breath...

"Dear Sara...

Please help me by getting the word out about my sweet niece.

She was found not breathing and without a heartbeat this afternoon

and is fighting for her life at Primary Children's right now.

The outlook is grim but I know how your story ended

and I am looking for that same miracle...

so please add us to your prayer list for tonight!

Thank you...
Amy"

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I do not know Auntie Amy.

I do not know little Sage.

But I DO know something of the heartache her poor parents must be facing.

The anguish of not knowing.

The fear of possibilities you can not yet allow yourself to consider.

The helplessness. Heaviness. Dread.

The audacity of daring to hope and to pray for a miracle...

.

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Please, oh please pray for sweet little Sage.

And pray for her family to be strengthened and sustained.

The details are still a bit unclear,

but you can read about it here, on her Auntie Amy's blog.

Leftovers...

I realized something when I opened my fridge this afternoon.

This is going to sound strange, so just hang tight and go with me for a sec...

First off, let's make something clear...

I am not much of a cook.

Although substantially improved by earnest effort in recent years,

I am still definitely not much to write home about.

When I do bother, I typically make things that require little or no technical effort.

We eat a lot of fresh stuff that requires no actual cooking.

Salads, veggie trays, fruit plates, etc.

And I usually, purposely, make huge amounts so that we can share

or even just eat it for several days in a row ourselves.

(Lazy... I know.)

So today's revelation came as a bit of a surprise.

As I rummaged the shelves for something to throw together, it hit me...

Profoundly.

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As it turns out,

I do not like Leftovers.

In fact, I think I might even hate them.

Aside from being a pain to store,

nothing ever tastes quite as good as when it is freshly prepared.

It's always a little too soggy.

A little wilted or a tad brown around the edges.

A bit crusty on top.

Or just a little thicker than it should be.

You know how they are.

Leftovers...

Not quite the same, but good enough, we say.

And so much easier!

Convenient.

I serve them to my family all the time!

In fact, sadly, maybe more often than not.

And I don't mean just for dinner, either!

Which brings me to my point...

How often in life am I giving those that matter most, my Leftovers?

These boys, who are my heart and soul,

often get whatever is '"Left-over" of me

whenever I think I am done with the rest of my commitments.

They get the little blob of energy that's left of me, after running around all day.

A cold slab of minimal effort, because I just want to be done already.

The crumbs that are left of my patience.

(Well, any that haven't already crumbled from dealing with other people's children.)

And if they are really lucky,

I might even top it off with the tiny little dollup of fun that I might actually have left.

But more often than they deserve,

they get the frantic, task-oriented Drill-Sargent Mom who is running short on time.

Or the exhausted, Do-It-Yourself Mom who is ready to collapse.

Even, occasionally, the grumpy, short-tempered, ornery Mom who is at my wits' end.

They get a signature on their homework slip for reading a story to me

while I made a mental grocery shopping list.

They get a "Woo-hoo" from me in the kitchen, amid the dinner preparations

when they play perfectly through their piano piece, all the way over in the Music Room.

They get a smile and an "Mmm, hmmm" when they show me their latest cool Wii maneuver,

Or tell me about the awesome play they ran in the football game at recess that day.

Neither of which, if quizzed, I could describe 30 seconds later.

They get a half-hearted high-five when they tell me their chores are done.

A two minute back tickle at bedtime, so I can rush to a set of photos that need editing.

Or a quick kiss goodnight as I run out the door for a Ladies' Night Out.

How often am I half-listening?

Looking past them?

Talking at them?

Or even in the same room, but far, far away in my thoughts?

All Leftovers...

I am serving them Leftovers.

Spending the majority of myself elsewhere

and then giving the little bit that's left, to them, as if it is enough.

I'm there, always, but am I really there?

I'm going through motherhood's motions, making mental lists.

Always the lists.

Planning ahead to the next thing.

The To Do's that can never be all the way done.

You know them...

The cyclical routines that fill our days.

Well, Matt told me of an incident that was his.

It occurred when I called him from the hospital that wondrous day.

Sobbed into the receiver that I needed him to come.

That Bronson was awake.

He ran to his truck and sped the 45 minute drive, as fast as he could safely get there.

But when he started his engine, there was a CD playing.

It was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing.

"Glory to God on High."

Fitting...

He sobbed.

The next song that came on was a Men's Chorus

"Rise up, oh men of God,

Be done with lesser things..."

He sobbed harder.

Said it struck him through the core.

He arrived at the hospital, still shaking.

As I think of that now, I realize that this is the time.

The time for me, as well, to be done with lesser things.

The time to focus on what is most important.

Most lasting. Most eternal.

More than ever before.

Not the good things.

Or even the better things.

But the best things.

The very best things.

As you approach the center of a bullseye,

the margin for possible error becomes more and more narrow.

The degree of accuracy necessary becomes more and more pointed.

We are approaching that bullseye, my friends.

At an ever-increasing rate.

I, for one, am consciously re-committing to be done with lesser things.

To stop serving the Leftovers of myself to my family.

But instead to be fresh, ready and more present in the present.

Ready for them with a Feast.

Birthday Party Meltdown...

We had a little melt-down here at our home this morning...

The Mommy, who is admittedly still functioning on only half power,

completely FORGOT to take Trevan to a Birthday Party.

And not just any Birthday Party.

A very important Birthday Party.

A Best-Buddy's Birthday Party...

It had been over for an hour by the time he remembered

and asked me how much longer until it started.

Aye Carumba.

He melted...

Poor kid.

.

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When you are six and you miss your Best Pal's Party...

the one you spent all week looking forward to...

the one we talked about just last night as we wrapped his gift...

Yeah, well when you miss THAT party

it is heartbreaking.

I felt awful.

As he shook with silent sobs,

I held him on my lap and noticed that his big, huge feet

now hang down almost to my ankles.

I took his face in my hands and asked him to forgive me.

He looked at me with those big green eyes and mumbled,

"It's okay Mom. I can go next year."

Ugh.

I wanted to crawl in a hole.

I called Hudson's Mom.

She saved the day.

"Yeah! We wondered where he was!", she said.

I apologized for being such a flake.

"Send him down for a cupcake and they can hang out for the afternoon," she invited.

Bless her heart.

I scraped my tender little boy up and glued him back together with this news.

He was thrilled and had totally recovered by the time he ran out the door, present in hand.

Thank goodness he is resilient.

Thank you, Gina!

And we owe you one, Hudsy!

We'll make it up to you!

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Yeah, so just in case there was any question,

I am definitely NOT in the running for Mother of the Year!

I'm going to hang this photo up where I will be sure to see it... as a reminder... every day...

I have really GOT to pull it back together, uh?

Sheesh!

I added a few pictures from the Radiothon to the 2.26.2010 post...
If you are interested, see them inserted in the text below.