Seriously So Cute

In-laws.

When I say that "word," what comes to your mind? Do you like/love to not like them? Do you live close/far away from them for a reason? Do you get along/fight with them? Would you prefer to/not see them all the time?

Well let me tell you a secret. (And I know they are reading this :).... but I never lie) I have the BEST in laws in the whole entire world. I seriously could not have handpicked them any better. Every last brother/sister in law (and I have 16) and my mother and father in law. Really. Don't be jealous.

Doug once said that getting together with family (any gathering really) is something that everybody looks forward to... except us. Because there is always food. And we have a child with Prader Willi. It is like throwing a crack addict in a crack house and telling them they can't have any, but they get to watch everybody else partake and be told not to. That is Savannah's life. At home, we do the best that we can.

But Doug's family has bent over backwards to make it easier. They all take their turn. They never complain that the food is all hidden in the laundry room instead of conveniently located on the counter. They don't complain when all the food has to be put away as soon as the meal is on their plates. And there are never ending offers to take the girls (Savannah) on tractor rides, or the snow machine, or on the sleigh with the horses. Or offering to do puzzles with Savannah or help her do a project or make part of the meal. They know the deal. They know how to barter with her. And I so appreciate that.

It is super fun to get all the cousins together and let them roam and play all day with NO parental instruction, except at meal and bed time. The girls love it. And I am not going to lie. The free babysitting of Isabella is awesome. And lets not forgot all the cute babies to hold. That's the great thing about having 16 in laws. There will always be babies :). Even after the kids are done having kids. Then the grandkids will be having kids and there will be a neverending cycle of babies. Now, I know that I work with babies all the time. But there is something different about holding a baby that is a part of you.

Particularly my nephew. He has an uncanny resemblance to my little Daxton at that age. And he lets me kiss on him. And he doesn't even complain. And his sweet mom lets me.

And that is what I love about being in Idaho.

PS I must say that I love being in Idaho.... But I must also leave a disclaimer. I DON'T love Idaho when it is -2 degrees outside. Sorry. I just don't. :)

Dear Fellow Passengers on Delta Airline,

Yes. That was me sitting in the middle of the aircraft with the cutest little toddler on the planet.

To the sweet woman who sat next to me on the way to Idaho. Yes. She is under 2. I brought her birth certificate to prove it. Just in case you were wondering.

To all the college students on the flight. Yes. I know she makes the cutest little faces as she talks to all the girls and boys.

I apologize to all the passengers as that sweet little face turned into mush and threw one of the biggest awesomest tantrums of her almost 2 year old life. Hitting me in the face, pulling my hair, throwing herself on the ground. Yes. That sweet little girl in the blue tutu is mine. You want her?

Oh and seriously... DON'T you think I KNOW that I "should stay in my seat during landing because it is dangerous" but sorry I had to get my 2 year old tantrum throwing child who ran 2 rows up from where I was sitting? Really? Did you really feel the need to announce that over the PAGING SYSTEM?????? Seriously.

Cordially yours,
Mother of the cute tantrum throwing toddler

PS I would like to publicly thank my brother and sister in law for coming to pick us up from the airport after our 6 hours of flight/layover time... only to listen to the said tantrum throwing toddler cry for 1/2 of our 1.5 hour drive at 11pm.

Sometimes you wake up in the morning to a fresh batch of snow on the ground and fog in the sky. You can't see through to the next house because it is so thick. And it feels like it will never go away.

But you know it does. Because it has come and gone before. You just have to wait it out. But sometimes the waiting seems like a long time. It seems like the fog is getting thicker and thicker.

And then the fog goes away. The snow begins to melt. And the sun comes out. Because it always does. You remember.

If the fog seems too thick this Christmas season, know that the sun will come out.

It's crazy how much I love Isabella. She seriously brings so much joy, peace, and love into my soul. She a ball of cuteness and a sure spitfire.

She is my right arm. She is my companion. We spend countless hours cleaning, running errands, shopping, going to out to lunch, going to the park, playing with her toys, cuddling, watching dora... and I love every minute of it. From the "hold choo" (hold you, meaning hold me :)) "Bella do it" to the full on tantrums head down-arms out-legs kicking, I. Love. Her.

Don't you?

Lesson #1
Don't start your day by looking at pictures of your son's funeral. It really is a downer.

Lesson #2
When shopping during the holiday season, make sure you know what you want BEFORE you go to the store. That way you can get in get it get out. Especially if you have a 2 year old.

Lesson #3
Make sure to go to Fry's NOT when all the snowbirds are there.

Lesson #4
Love a little more. Yell a little less. Appreciate the small things. Don't worry about the big things that you don't have.

Lesson #5
When you feel like giving up. Don't. Work harder.

Lesson #6
"Come what may and love it"

I hope that you all had a GREAT Turkey Day.

Our day started off with our First Annual Turkey Trot. We were going to do the "real" turkey trot but were swayed after we found out the 2 mile family fun run was going to run us $60. Thanks but we have Christmas to pay for and I have already put that to good use :)

The Turkey Trot was attended by all members of the Family.

They were such good sports.... we started at 7:30am. And not one person complained. They all showed up with their happy smiling faces. It was awesome. My family is awesome. Even my aunt with 3 chillens 2 and under showed up. Bless her soul. She is a good person.

We dedicated this run to Savannah. It was for her so that she could enjoy some turkey dinner without me having to stress over it all. Not to say there was no stress, but well it is what it is.

My pretties before the race. Isabella is wearing one of my coats from when I was 4. I am not sure what is more awesome.... that my mom still has this coat OR that she can fit into it!

And the 3 twins with their surrogate (sp?? don't judge) mother.

Overall it was a very good walk. We took about 1.5 hours for 2.25 miles. Impressive. Shaved off about 45 minutes from our walk in the dead of summer. Pretty good if you ask me. I think that everyone had fun. I sure did. My family is the best.

Then off to go on a bike ride with my cousin who convinced me to get a road bike. He was nice to me and led the tail wind and I just cruised behind him when I could keep up. He is pretty fast. One day. I guess I will just have to practice more. Our average wasn't too much too bad from his normal. Especially since we had a lot more lights than he usually does (at least that is what I am going to tell myself).

On to the rush of getting the final preparations for dinner at Auntie's house. I had to work that night so I needed to run outta there and take a nap... something my pretties missed out on. But they sure went to bed early with not too much complaining.

Then Friday I woke up terrible sick. Has lasted a few days. Going to see the doctor tomorrow to see what is going on.

Hopefully you all had a fun filled action packed weekend and are ready for the holidays to begin. We are just awaiting Cyber Monday to finish our Christmas shopping. Should be a party!

I am grateful for many things. I have not been too good about writing them every day here, but its true. I am grateful for a lot. I have been blessed so much in my life that I could never count all the blessings given to me. But I suppose I will try :)

I tried a little experiment this morning and I made a few mistakes....

#! Do NOT go riding when it is as or below 40 degrees. IT IS COLDNESS!!!
#2 When it is cold utside, don't freeze your entire waterbottle. It won't thaw. And then you will be thirsty.
#3 Bike Shorts.

I left home without putting on my biker shorts. I thought it would just be easier to not wear them. I also wanted to see if I could tell a difference. YEP. Sure can.

So today I am NOT thankful for the freezing cold hypothermia weather (41) because I am a wimp and totally ok with that.

BUT I am grateful that I own a pair of bike shorts. They are fantastic.

I am grateful for friends. I have lotsa different kinds of friends.

I am grateful for friends I call. Friends I call crying. Friends I call laughing. Friends I call to vent. Friends I don't call. Friends who understand. Friends who I hope never don't. Friends who text. Friends who don't. Friends whom I email.

I am grateful for friends who drink a coke for me. Friends who don't drink coke at all.

I am grateful for friends I run with. Friends who I used to run with. Friends who I bike with. Friends who I used to bike with. Friends with whom I wished would bike. Friends I wish lived close enough to bike. Friends who don't bike at all.

I am grateful for friends at church. Friends who don't do church. Friends who help me learn more about myself. Friends who surprise me for my birthday and forgive me when I forget theirs.

I am grateful for friends who are moms. Friends who are my mom. Friends who aren't moms. Friends who are siblings.

Ok that was an over use of the word "friends".... but you get the point :). I love all my friends. All of you.

Thanks for being great! Really. Thanks for being great. Because you all are great. Really. Really. Really great.

Sorry I'm not home right now. Leave a message and I'll call you back.

I think Savannah had heard that song one to many times!

Tonight I asked her to pick up her shoes. She says to me, "I am not available right now. Please leave a message." And she started cracking up.

And so did I.

I chopped off my girls hair.


Actually. I didn't. Jaime Hair did. (that is what she is listed as in my phone :)) And didn't she do a CUTE job? I love it.

The morning after Mikenna asked me, "Mommy, can you glue hair back on?" I about died laughing but instead I told her, "No honey. It has to grow."

But that was the last of it. She hasn't mentioned it since then. So I think she likes it.

The other night Isabella was climbing out of her high chair (a very regular occurrence here in the Kunz household) and Doug told her, "Isabella. Sit. Down."

She scowled at him, sat down, and continued to "eye" him for the next 10 minutes. Or should I say scowl at him. She just had her head turned, tried really hard NOT to smile, and wouldn't talk to us.

It was hilarious. That girl.

I am grateful today for my eyes. I have had keratinitis (inflammation of my cornea) for the last 2 weeks. What that means is blurry vision, drops every 2 hours (ish), warm compress with scrub am and pm. It is quite annoying.

Oh and did I mention I have been out of my contacts for 3 weeks now. I have had to wear my glasses and NO MASCARA. Now if you know me well, you know that the last one hasn't been a problem for me. Ever. I am not a wearer of the makeup. It takes too much time and lets be honest. I am lazy.

So I mentioned I have been in my glasses and no makeup for 3 weeks.

Well tonight was a special night so I decided to make an exception. Mascara AND contacts. After getting all dolled up (or something) I walked out and Isabella kept looking at me funny and saying, "Mommy eyes, Mommy eyes, Mommy eyes." Like it was the first time she had seen my eyes. Oh I love that girl. She hasn't been used to seeing my "eyes" for the last little while and I guess glasses and eyes are two different things (well they are just that I either have glasses or eyes.... not both.... you know what I mean, or you don't and you are just as lost as I am at this point.) Anyhow, she was shocked to see my eyes. It was pretty cute.

I guess Isabella isn't the only one who doesn't recognize me with makeup and contacts. My running partner has to have his wife point me out every time he doesn't see me in the am with my running garb and glasses. LOL.

Anyhow, that's the long. The short of it, is that I am grateful for CONTACTS and eyes :).

Oh and I am thankful for my husband who set up the Christmas tree while I was at Evening of Excellence. Isn't he EXCELLENT? Ya. I think so :)

I am grateful for hot rolls. I tried my awesome foodie friend's recipe and they were some AWESOME rolls. Not going to lie.

I am grateful for Family Home Evening. This month we are studying the First Article of Faith: We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. The Articles of Faith are a summary of the LDS fundamental beliefs.

Today, a mother buried her first born child. At just 4 days old. My heart and soul ache for her. For the loss. For the grief.

I am going to try to get my 30 gratefuls in the next few weeks so that means I better get on it!

About 10 months ago, I was training for the Sedona marathon. I did the last run. 20 miles. 20 miles. Did you read that right? 20 miles. It was awesome. And horrible. And awesome. And hard. And Awesome.

Then I went home, took a nap, and couldn't walk. I had IT band syndrome and bursitis in my hip. I couldn't walk. Let alone run the marathon. Let alone run for 6 months. I took all that time off. I got steroid shots, physical therapy, and I even picked up biking....

Just about every morning that I don't work, I get to head out and go for a run. I am grateful for all the running partners, canals, and many runs that I have been able to participate in. There is something unreplaceable about all the time, conversations, sweat, tears, joys, not so much joys, and secrets that are shared on the canal. What happens on the canal, stays on the canal. Just ask anyone. It's true. It's better than Vegas :).

I am grateful for the health and strength that allows me to run.

I been working the last few nights. I am so glad that I got to work 3 in a row and the Sat Sun combo. I have been in the NICU for 3.5 years and never once worked 3 in a row OR the Sat Sun combo. And here I am. Working both. Ugh. But I am just happy to have a job. Let's be honest.

Well I was able to get off work early on Sat night so I could go to church. I was stoked. On the way home I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner, that I was going to be able to give my lesson in young womens, that I would be able to hang out with my family. I was just in another world if you will, excited that I could open up all these possibilities :).

It was busy out Sat night at 2am... just in case you were wondering. West bound I saw about 10 police officers and east bound I saw about 4 more. I was on my best behavior. Not going to lie, I have been known to do a little speeding.... shhhhh. Don't tell. But this night I was doing really good because seriously. I know I am due.... and well I would rather not be due.

I came to the light after I got off the freeway and noticed yet another police officer going west as I was headed north. I stopped at the light, noticed him, and kept pondering about what I was going to make for dinner. Actually I was thinking about why I was able to get off work. When I got home, would everything be ok? My imagination was going wild, so when I entered the middle of the intersection only to notice that half way through the light was still red...... ER. Seriously?

Yep. Whose the blonde in the sporty car running the red light in front of the police officer? Yep. That's me. He came up to my window, I immediately start in, "I can't believe I did that. I got off early (early at 2am on a Sunday morning is relative) and I am headed home. I get to go to church. Man, I even slept. I'm not even tired. Blast." All the while I am frantically searching for my registration and insurance.

I hand over my license, am told that it's not that early (early is relative....) and that I really shouldn't be running any red lights. I would indulge more information, but I suppose that may or may not be wise.

Needless to say, I didn't get a ticket. I fully expected one. I even said so.

I am grateful today that I was wearing my scrubs and badge and that he was in a good mood. :)

Savannah was born November 1, 2001. I was 20 years old. I had no clue what I was doing. She was 4 pounds 10 ounces. She went straight to the NICU and remained there for 3 weeks. Over the next 3 years, she had 5 surgeries, was fed only through a tube in her nose and then in her stomach, had physical, occupational, and speech therapy each week, and many doctor appts per month.

About 4 years ago, she was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome. This means that she is always hungry. You know when you are hungry and you want to eat food? Well this is how Savannah feels all the time, even after she has eaten. This causes her to have impulsive behavior. That means, that she is always on her "A" game. Always looking to do something and always trying to figure out how to get food. She doesn't have any control over her impulsiveness and sometimes it gets her into trouble. Her main focus is to get food and then eat it as fast as she can. And she also has no control over that desire.

Savannah is in the moderately delayed class at school. This means that she is in special ed with other kids like her and even some that are lower functioning. But don't let that fool you. Savannah is smart. Smarter than me sometimes. But she only has to fool me once before I am on to her.

She was diagnosed about 6 months ago with Hypomelanosis of Ito. That comes with developmental delay, her one leg smaller than the other, and some other issues. Her legs are different sizes as you know from the large shoe lift that she wears. It is about 9 centimeters or 3 inches different. She has worn braces her whole life and initially had a walker to help her walk. She is now running independently and riding a bike. Two things I thought she would never do 9 years ago.

Savannah is the sweetest little doll that you will ever meet and is about as friendly too. She has to say hi to everyone. In fact, I can hardly take her to the grocery store without her knowing who has a dog, a wife, kids, a house, and she asks their name and what they are buying at the grocery store. Sometimes she even asks what they are having for dinner and gives me great ideas :).

Many things in Savannah's life are hard. She can't do everything that "normal" kids can, physically, emotionally, spiritually. It is hard to work with her sometimes, but the only way to help her and to understand her is to get to know her. To love her. And show her that you love her. It is also to help keep her safe. She doesn't know boundaries. She doesn't know stranger danger.

It is important for Savannah to do hard things. It is hard for her to be good at school sometimes, or on the bus, or at church activities. But she tries really hard. It is important that Savannah has social interactions with her peers, kids that she goes to school with and kids that she goes to church with.

Things that might be helpful:

1. Prevention is key: you always need to be 3 steps ahead of her. She is ALWAYS on her "A" game, so you can't let her catch you off guard.

2. Talk to her: explain what you are doing and why. Sometimes people forget to talk to her. She is smart. She gets it. Just talk to her.

3. Be firm, but not stern: You must love Savannah. If she senses animosity or frustration she will feed on that and take advantage of the situation. But if you love her and she knows you love her, you will have a lifetime friend.

4. She loves having a job. Give her a responsibility and she will run with it.

5. Put a time limit on things. If you have an actual timer, even better.

6. Be willing to tell her no. Be firm but not stern.

7. She is very impulsive (and fast). As you get to know her better you will learn the tell-tale signs that things are deteriorating; unfortunately it’s not really any one thing I can describe. She usually just needs redirection of

8. Love her. If she knows you love her she’ll love you right back and be much more willing to cooperate.

Things I love about Savannah:

1. She is SO friendly

2. She is the biggest helper with babies and around the house

3. Savannah's smile: it lights up the room

4. She challenges me: she pushes me and helps me grow. Sometimes it is so frustrating to be her mom, but it is also very rewarding.

5. Her spunk. She has a love for life like I have never seen in any other person.

6. Her ability to love everyone.

7. Hugs and kisses.

8. The super funny things she says. Never a dull moment with Savannah.

9. She has no fear. I suppose this could get her in trouble occasionally but I think it actually serves her well most of the time.

Today I am thankful for those who haven't forgotten.

I tended the two twins a few days ago. They are 2. I can't even believe it how time flies. I also had Sir Thomas, their little brother. Yes. My aunt has 3 kids 2 and under. Isn't she amazing? I sure think so.

As I was feeding Sir Thomas, Layla came up to me and started saying, "lksjda;lfkj. lsadkfj;lk," while pointing to something. It took me a second to translate that she was saying, "Daxton, Daxton crying." And the picture she was pointing to was behind me on the end table. He is in the grass with his feet up and he has a very sad/ mad look on his face.

Bless my sweet little Layla. Who knows Daxton, even though in this life she has never met him. She knows him. Because her mom, my aunt, hasn't forgotten.

And for that. I am grateful.

Many moons ago, when I was a student as Ricks/ BYU-I, I had about 15 roomies between the two years that I spent there. One of my roomies was a blessing in my life and taught me many things.

One of the things we all did as a an apartment was say a prayer before we went to bed. It may seem cheesey, but we were away from our families and it was what we had been taught. To have family prayer. So we would all gather around about 11, which was a convenient time because our "curfew" via the honor code was 10:30pm, so we were all home :).

Before we said our little prayer, we would go around and say "gratefuls." Again this may sound cheesey, but when you are drowning in homework, being dumped by boys, and fighting with roommates, this turns out to be somewhat healing.... well at least you can find one thing you are grateful for. ;)

And so began the tradition for all 4 semesters of my time at Ricks. So this month, I am going to remember those times and try to blog things I am grateful for.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SAVANNAH (November 1)!!!! I can't believe that she is 9. Its Awesome. We are getting her a bike, helmet, some pants, shirts, and socks. No. My kids aren't rotten. Ok. They are. But they are SOOOO cute.

We have been a little bit busy lately. I guess. Who knows where the time goes. I sure don'teth.

For Halloween Mikenna was Hannah Montana, Savannah was an elf and a nurse (she wore her Thomas scrubs) and Isabella was Lola. Just in case you didn't know that is Hannah Montana's side kick and just in case you didn't know who Hannah Montana was she is Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter who is a pop star on TV and she has her own show and she pretends to be not famous as Miley Cyrus, but she lives a double life as a famous person Hannah Montana, and just in case you don't know who Billy Ray is, he is a washed up used to be a country singer, but only had one good song, Achey Brakey Heart and it wasn't even that good :). Hence the washed up part, but as least he was famous. I mean I'm not famous. But that's ok.

Lately we have been partying. We had a little Halloween neighborhood thing. Did I mention that Halloween is SO not my favorite holiday? In fact it is my least favorite holiday. If I had to pick a holiday to flush down the drain, it would be Halloween. Ok so we had a party. It was "fun" "fun" for who? I am guessing the kids. I ran the cupcake/ cookie walk and the pumpkin carving table. It was a blast. Especially when Mikenna took over. NICE, why didn't I think of that before? Der. Next time. There was also a ring toss, face painting, and fishing. Lots of prizes and some candy. I think that the kids had a good time.

Last night we went to my mom's ward Halloween party, which always rocks. Our ward had a campout at Lo Mia.... I wish for them there would have been a better turn out, but my girls had soccer, and I would have let them miss it, except that it was picture day and last year we missed picture day for Savannah, actually last year I saved $30 by not worrying about picture day, but I get to spend twice that on pictures that will just sit in the cupboard, but as least we will have them. Maybe we will put them in the special boxes I have for the girls. Anyway, my ward went to Lo Mia and so we skipped out for soccer and pictures. I only felt bad for a moment today when the bishop and a few members gave me grief, but no regrets. They don't know the stress it causes me to take Savannah into an uncontrolled environment. It makes me crazy and I am already crazy enough. And old.

So the Halloween shin dig at mom's ward was fun. We ate too much chili, too much corn bread, too much treats, and too much candy. Isabella was in heaven with her little gift bag full of candy. She kept carrying it around and digging in it periodically carefully selecting the most delectable (yummy) piece of sugar that she could find. She called it Can-nee. SO adorable. She even wanted to take it to bed with her. Silly baby. You can't take candy to bed. She really complained about it. But I won.... not that I usually win, because I never do. She always wins. Because she is a baby. And she is cute. And Totally adorable. And I am easily swayed. In fact so easily swayed that Savannah has started to send Isabella to do her dirty work. Like if Savannah wants a snack she will say "mom isabella wants.... and she names what she wants :)" But I am on to her. Really on to her. Cuz I smart.

I can't even begin to tell you about the rush that I had this morning on my bike ride. We rode about 35 miles. Up hills and down hills (which by the way is AWESOME) and I don't actually mind the up hills. They bring some measure of accomplishment. Kind of like life (oh here we go).....

As I sit here holding my almost 2 year old Kisserbella, I watch her sweet little red painted fingernails picking apart her melted cheese, tater tot, and egg burrito. Carefully she removes each layer of the tortilla to reveal the cheese. Because that is the good part. I snuck in some tater tot (because that is much healthier than just cheese) and egg (because everyone could use a little bit of protein) and thankfully she ate at least some of it. I love her. She is the sweetest, naughtiest, loving, full of personality, little almost two year old ever. But then I just may be biased.

Oh the adventures that we have had the past week while the kids are out of school. This may take a few posts :) so keep checking back!

There is a new baby in the house.

Jaxon McKay Morris.

And he is adorable.

He got to come over and play today. I watched him while his mommy took a nap. And the Kisserbella was very bothered. A new baby in the house she said? (kind of). Well I am a baby. And I want my BaBa (yes that means bottle.... yes she is still on the bottle.... and no I don't care.... She is my baby and she is spoiled and well my other baby died.... so here we are. Its a good excuse to be a bad mother.) And she also wanted her binki (she doesn't have a binki, but she stole the baby's) and her baby (her blankie) and to sit on my lap while holding Jaxon.

I love her. Today was a "relax" day. I haven't had a day where I just took time to do nothing. Just Isabella. And we watched a little TV. She sat next to me and ate pretzels and cheese for breakfast (cereal is so over rated). She went to the store with me and the baby and ate an ice cream cone from McDonalds for lunch. I rocked today. I know.

We also took a nap together. Love. Her.

Isabella crawled up into his lap and he gave her his Ipod, because what the Kisserbella wants, the Kisserbella gets. That is just what happens when you are the baby after the baby dies. It is what it is.


I just looked at him like he was a dork. Because he is. Ipod in one hand. Cell phone in the other. And he is telling me that he isn't going to let his kids play with them. Right. Monkey see. Monkey do.

On Sunday there was a request from my husband to make some cookies for his families that he vists each month. It was his first time to visit them so he wanted to make a good impression on them.


I baked 2 batches and put them in bags up on the shelf (so that little hands would stay out of them). Doug left to go visit the families, and he forgot his cookies to take. He came back about 2 hours later to retrieve the forgotten cookies.

I had a bunch of family over and somehow one of the bags of cookies disappeared. We had no idea where they went. I didn't remember anybody taking them and I was baffled.

The next morning we were sitting on the couch in the living room reading scriptures and I lifted up the pillow, only to find a cookie laying there. HMMMMMM. I was a little suspicious until a Savannah covered her face with her hands, started to cry, and run off to her room. I had officially located the culprit.

Apparently the bag of cookies ended up behind the wheat grinder....... Nice :)

I love my new bike. If I wasn't already married, I may consider marrying my bike. It has taken me on new adventures, branched me out to meet new people, and increased my speed and distance. It's awesome.

Have you missed me?

Lately I have been studying the Book of Mormon (BOM). This may come as a shock, don't fall out of your chairs :). I wish I had some cool thought or linky to send you to a www.lds.org for more information if you want it, but for now all I can do is give you the link for you to copy and paste in your browser. It is only one more step and in typing all this I likely could have figured it out but alas I have to jump in the shower to get ready for work and get the kids off.... I digress

Here is how I see it. I had a very interesting conversation this morning with my BOM institute teacher who also doubles as my riding partner :). She is pretty amazing. Ok. Really amazing.

We were talking about 1 Nephi 12-18 this morning. A few points I would like to make that she pointed out to me, because she is far better versed than I.

The story of the broken bow: Nephi is trying to provide for his family. This is a very basic human act. Feed, cloth, shelter, that kind of stuff. So now his bow is broke and what is he to do? Everyone is hungry, tired of being in the desert, and very UNHAPPY. This is the tip of the ice berg for Lehi and he starts murmuring. We will define murmur at a later date.

Nephi then proceeds to make the best of a bad situation. He takes it to the Lord, "what shall I do?" Build another bow.... He finds the tools to make another bow. Then he goes to his father Lehi, where shall I go to find food? Lehi prays, then they find out.

Nephi has a problem. His bow is broke, they are in the wilderness, everyone is hungry. What does he do? Will murmuring help? No. Will crying about it help? No. He gets to suck it up and try to fix the problem. He prays. He gets an answer.

We all have problems. Life problems. Nephi's broken bow is a parallel to our life problems. Loss of Job, special needs children, falling outs, broken car, broken garage door, (not that these are mine or anything.....) etc. What are we going to do about it? Whine and cry and jump up and down saying "It's not fair." Sure we would LOVE to do that, and maybe we do for 30 seconds, but then we have to suck it up, pray for strength (receive enabling power of the atonement) and be done with it. ON to the next.

Then there is Nephi building the ship. He is given a task. A VERY big task. A task not many are asked to do, because seriously how many men do you know who have built a ship solo. Not many. Likely he was overwhelmed at some point. He went to his brothers to ask for help. Some said yes. Some said no. Some helped willingly. Some he had to pull their teeth (or strike them with his finger). He went to the Lord. "How do I do it?" "Where do I find the tools?" "How about an instruction manual?"

All very important questions to ask. He asked for help. He could not do it alone. He needed his brothers and other family members to help him. This is not a work for just one man to do alone. He needed help. Plain as that.

Nephi building a ship is an almost near impossible task. Not NEAR. It can be done. With some serious help and some serious instruction and some serious patience, time, talents, and tools. Not everyone was asked to build a ship and not everyone will be asked to build a ship.

We can compare Nephi building the ship to the BIG trials in our lives. Those that we hopefully only have to do once. Ever. You know which ones I am talking about. The ones that make you want to stay in bed all day. The ones that make you sick to your stomach. The ones that hurt you so deeply you never in a million years believe or think that you will ever recover. Here is how you might endure these trials:

1. Pray: Nephi prayed to the Lord. He went to the Lord for help.
2. Tools: Nephi had tools. We all have the tools. We just have to dig them out of our closets... Words of the prophets, scriptures, conference talks, Faith, Accountability, Enabling power of the Atonement.
3. Help: Nephi couldn't do it alone. He needed help. He called on his brothers and sisters and sons and daughters and parents to help him. We have friends and family and neighbors who help us with those big trials. We are not alone. We can't do it alone. It would be impossible. It is simply impossible.

Well there are my thoughts. It might even cost two pennies. LOVE YOU!!!!

Good Grief. Where in the world did this week go?

Somewhere between 445am bike rides, 6am runs, 615am yoga,

blogging on my new blog www.superfitandfab.blogspot.com, keeping track of said members via email, points, comments, etc,

canning 2 boxes of peaches into canned peaches and peach pie filling,

shopping for Mikenna's birthday present,

cleaning, cooking, cleaning, laundry, cooking, homework, cleaning, laundry, homework,

studying my Book of Mormon class

orienting and getting blood drawn at MY NEW JOB!!!!

Helping in the girls classrooms, and juggling PT, ST, Music Therapy, and all the other running of extracurricular activities.....

Well after all that I am happy to report that for my BIRTHDAY, my 30th BIRTHDAY, I got a bike. A very sweet bike. A road bike. It's blue. With white handle bars and matchy matchy pedals, because that is VERY important. My shoes even match, but alas, my "hat" as Isabella calls my helmet :) does not. It is a blue, but a darker blue
I special ordered it and it came today. AWESOMENESS!!!!! I tried it out for size because I have never "clipped in" before. Well let's say that it could have gone worse????

I fell. Off my bike. Well actually I was still on my bike because I never actually clipped out of my pedals, so there I was, strapped to my bike, fallen over, oh and did I mention that the neighbors were sitting in their car with the headlights on, right at me??? AWESOMENESS. Owell. I have a ginormous bruise on my thigh. The first of many I am so sure.

THANKS BABE FOR AN AWESOME BIRTHDAY.

10 years , 1 day, 11 hours, 30 minutes, and 51.5 seconds ago, I became Brittany Kunz.

Been over to