Time Out For Women - 2012

I'm entering my second week of taking care of sick kids.  Last week Jonas and I both came down with a stomach bug.  I was a little concerned because I had tickets for Time Out For Women and did not want to miss it!  Luckily we were both recovered by Friday, and Charlotte was showing no symptoms.  Well, she tossed her cookies 15 minutes after getting to school this morning so I turned my car back around to go get her and here we go again!  I am however very grateful that all was well over the weekend and it truly was a "time out" from all the sickies!  :)  The timing couldn't have been any better.  Oh, and I'm not a bad mother neglecting my sick daughter.  She's sleeping quite soundly to her recovery on the couch right now.
So last year at the end of Time Out for Women they showed a schedule for the upcoming year.  One in Houston AND one in Atlanta.  I thought, "Wouldn't it be so nice if I had enough money to fly down to one of those places and go to TOFW with either my mom or my mother and sister-in-law?"  But, alas, I know that would never happen so I gave up the dream...
Little did I know that my world was going to turn upside down in the next year putting me in Houston right during TOFW!  So, this year I went with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  And can I just say that I hate writing the "in-law" part because I feel much more connected to them than just through law.

I was also fortunate to catch up with my dear friend, Shalon, from Cleveland.  Before I even moved to Houston she had planned a trip there with her mother.  It was so wonderful to see her again.  She brought a card with her made and signed by my wonderful friends from Ohio that just made my heart want to burst with joy and gratitude.

As I was sitting there with all these wonderful women beside me and thinking about all the wonderful women I know I felt a strength from and unity to all these amazing women who have touched my life.  They have all helped create who I am in different ways and are imprinted somewhere on my heart.  I also thought about my mother and all of her that is in me.  Then I wondered how much of that came from her mother, and her mother's mother.  What things do I do or stand for that come from generations of mothering?  What do I experience that those who passed on before have experienced as well and how much of their angelic legacy gives me strength to do the things I do each day?  I couldn't help but envision how a net is made from the connection of all these women flowing to and from me in different directions.  We are creating a net that "seeks the good" and catches the falling tears and broken hearts in the world.  It is a net of nurturing and mothering that I believe is one of Heavenly Father's greatest protections for mankind!  I am so greatful for this and more determined than ever to be a little better and do a little more for others.

It was an inspiring and fun weekend. The speakers were funny and encouraging.  I saw friends that I hadn't seen in years!  I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to go and for what I learned this year.  The theme was "Seek the Good," and it was such a blessing to remember all that is good in my life and to make a new committment to seek the good in all that I do!

The Boy's Birthday Bash

Jonas turned 2 last week.  We had a little birthday celebration here at home with the family.  I made him a dirt cake with some construction trucks on it.  He was so excited to play with his trucks that he didn't even finish eating his cake.

I don't know what it is about little boys and things that go, but this birthday celebration had a very specific theme without being planned.  All the gifts he recieved were cars,trains, tractors or trucks or had something of the kind on it...except the shoes that Aunt Lippy gave him.  When he opened that present he just replied, "No" and moved onto something else. 

I just love this little boy.  He is so full of life and energy.  He's beginning to talk like crazy, and it's been fun to hear him articulate the thoughts that are in his head.