Annie's Slice

When I leave the fridge unlocked...

2009-03-23T10:10:00.002-04:00

We've had a lock on the fridge for quite a while now. And occasionally I forget to lock it after I'm through. Silly me! When this happens, I never know what I'll find. Today, the little ones decide to use their natural talents as chefs and invent a new dish. They combined pickles, Parmesan cheese, strawberry jam, and soy sauce to create a colorful, if not stinky mess. Hope they enjoy lunch, I'm ordering in.

More Stuff I wish were made up

2009-01-09T15:25:00.003-05:00

This is a sampling since last writing:

Friday proved to be entertaining. Friday I was with my Mom talking in the front room. The kids were being awful quiet so I went upstairs to find he two year old playing in the laundry detergent and the three year olds (yes that is plural) playing in the cereal they had dumped in the girls' room.
This morning while at the bust stop (again) I found a trail of oatmeal in the den, up the stairs, own the hall, and into the bathroom where they were obviously trying to make oatmeal in the sink. Silly me for not locking up the oatmeal before walking out the door.

Can't make this stuff up

2009-01-09T11:30:00.002-05:00

In an effort to find the humor in my current existence I am going to take to annotating the things in my life that would make me laugh if I wasn't in my life. (Ok, so they should make me laugh even now.)Check in occasionally for a good laugh.

Recently my facebook status read, "Annie can't be in two places at once." I had gone upstairs to change a stinky diaper, only to come downstairs to another little one feeding the fish (half of the container of fish food). I head back upstairs to move the laundry and find another little one (different from the first two) stuffing wet wipes down the drain of the bathroom sink so he could fill the sink (and flood the bathroom). You see, we had already removed the drain plug because after he flooded the bathroom three times in one day we decided we didn't want the upstairs falling through to the downstairs.
Just today I went to the playroom after filling the dishwasher and found a humongous spider web of twine. I went downstairs to get the scissors to clean it up and found they had beaten me to the scissors and had basically finished the cleanup job. And they cut it all up without cutting each others hair (which they have been known to do on occasion).

Don't worry there will be more.

Promised Slice

2008-10-23T12:36:00.003-04:00

I was reminded yesterday how Heavenly Father is aware of His children, and how He keeps his promises. Almost two weeks ago Greg took himself to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. I knew it was severe because my husband deals with pain quietly. For him to admit to it was telling. He accepted the wait estimate of 5 hours, while I put the kids to bed and fell asleep myself. He called at 3am. They had done a CT scan and found an infected gall bladder. No big deal. Easily corrected by surgery. However, because he had waited he needed to undergo a course of antibiotics before surgery. We were looking at almost two weeks before he could return to work. I quickly got dressed and headed to the hospital. Before leaving I called my brother-in-law to meet me there.
We believe in the gift of healing. A very special gift of the Lord, based on the faith of the receiver, that lends healing and comfort to those in need. A gift administered by one holding the priesthood of God. It was during this blessing that I was reminded of another important gift of our Father. He has promised the blessings of heaven to be upon those who do His will, with faith no matter the sacrifice. And through the blessing He assured us we need only ask for those blessings. They were ours to receive.
It was during the many drives back and forth to the hospital during the following week, I realized that in our current situation, any time off of work could be devastating. I opened my heart to heaven and begged for the blessings He had promised for my family. I begged for the quick recovery and the means to make it through this.
My prayer was answered. We will make it. A recovery that could have lasted a month, sees my husband back at work already. And the love of people around Greg at work settled other worries. The Lord does not forget His children. And He pours down the blessings of heaven daily to those faithful enough to receive. I know this. I have seen it. I continue to see it.

Happiness is. . . the love of a Heavenly Father.

Celestial Slice

2008-10-09T19:47:00.004-04:00

There is a very special room in a very special place where the beauty is tranquil and serene, and the only sound heard is the quiet tinkling of crystal....
I own a pair of earrings. I bought them for their simplistic beauty. I almost took them back after wearing them that first time. The two hoops hit each other every time I moved my head causing a soft chime in my ears. It reminded me of the scriptures and the haughty daughters of Zion making the tinkling with their feet. I kept the earrings simply because I never found the time to return them and, quite frankly, I liked them. Inwardly I worried what it said about me. Not that anyone else noticed or cared.
Until I went to the temple yesterday. I wore my earrings. After all was done, I was sitting quietly listening to the crystal chiming in the gentle stirring of air. I turned my head to find which crystals where sounding. My earrings chimed. They chimed the same soft chime of the crystals. Not the haughty tinkling of feet, but that same soft chime.
Now, in the chaotic world of my life, amidst the noise and confusion, I can simply shake my head and remember - remember the peace, serenity, and love of a Father given through the simple chime of earrings.

Happiness is. . . that chime.

Rambling Slice

2008-09-16T11:28:00.005-04:00

I realize life flies by and sometimes you have to drop things, but with school back in session I have no excuse not to post an update (I can't use the "I'm raising nine kids" excuse forever). It's just I've really been wrestling within myself. I want to shout from rooftops and what I want to shout needs to be forgotten. I want to be better, I want to help others be better. I can't do this when I want to fight and play nasty. I am tired and it would be so easy. I can't. It wouldn't be the righteous anger that is justified. It would just be anger. So I am praying for a little more strength.
The kids are happy and adjusted to this life. Greg and I are mom and dad, because little ones just need that and when everyone else calls us Mom and Dad, it feels right to them. We bathe them, read to them, say prayers with them, kiss their booboo's and set limits that make them feel secure. We are responsible for them and don't ask for their love. I like to think that we are trying so very hard to earn it, especially from those we have to be hardest with (ie, the preteen). We don't want to be their best friends, we want to teach them, and love them, and be hard on them so they'll have the self discipline some day to say, "I'm a child of God. I'm better than what this world wants me to be."
Have I confused enough of you? Then you know how I feel. Greg and I strive to be the best people we can and then reach a little further. We study and grow daily. We learn new things and always put our children first, all of them. Seeing others who don't confuse us and frustrate us. But we pray for them, what more can we do?
Just some ramblings, don't mind me.

Happiness is. . . rambling to understanding.

First Day of School

2008-09-02T19:52:00.002-04:00

I look forward to the first day of school for many reasons. The much quieter house, lunch (actually eating), and time to catch up and reorganize the life that has gotten out of focus during the hectic summer. As part of the catching up phase I am letting you know I have uploaded pictures of our summer to picasa for your enjoyment (See Photo Album Slice link to right). Hopefully this is the first step of many toward feeling settled again.

Happiness is. . . a picture worth more than a thousand words.

The High Road

2008-08-16T20:01:00.003-04:00

Sometimes you just want to fight back - forget the other cheek thing and just throw a punch, yell and scream, call people names. And most times this feeling comes on when someone you love is the one being hurt. But. . . you don't. You've been taught better. You know better. You want to be better. I'm not used to having this feeling. There haven't been many times in my life when my loved ones and I have been offended and hurt. Today our property was defaced and our beliefs insulted. We suspect, we have no proof, so we do not accuse. It is so hard. So very hard. But in the end, I have nine little people more precious than a car. And I must set the exmaple for them - they are watching closely. I will try to be better, I will try to b strong, and I will walk the high road.

Happiness is. . . found even now.

Quick Slice

2008-08-13T15:24:00.002-04:00

I've learned something important this summer. If you lose sight of where your stength comes from, you lose that strength. With so much going on and people constantly coming and going, time has b sporadic to kneel down and say thank you. And I've missed the Spirit and the strength that comes from humility. And admitting the problem is half the battle...

Happiness is. . . realizing your only as strong as you are humble.

Choice of Slices

2008-06-13T18:45:00.002-04:00

For some it is all about choices and being allowed to make our own choices. Teaching young children that the choice to be happy or sad is made through all the other choices we make. And through the whisperings of the Spirit I think I may have just had a breakthrough in teaching this to a particular five-year-old who habitually blames me for making her angry, mad, or broken hearted. We had a talk about good and bad choices. I explained to her that happiness comes from good choices. She can't blame anyone, especially me, for her anger and unhappiness on time-out when she made the bad choice that put her there. I could see her thinking about it and taking it all in. Her little mind is sharp enough to understand and follow through the logical results of what I was telling her. I've just got to remind her which choice is the right choice and which choice is the bad choice. Hopefully she will soon understand that she, like all of us, is responsible for the joy or sorrow in her life. It is all about choices.

Happiness is. . . understanding the need to make the right choice.

The Fruit Slice

2008-06-03T11:51:00.002-04:00

The scriptures state you may know a person by the fruits of his labor. I was reassured today my labor is bearing good fruit and is therefore good labor. Remember the five year old I was trying to teach to love, today I saw progress. She kicked her brother. Your first thought may be, "Not exactly progress." I asked a witness if it was and accident or on purpose. The five year old, not the witness, spoke up. "It was on purpose." I was dumbfounded. What child, when asked, admits to kicking another on purpose and then follows it with a very sincere apology?
I punished her - it was a bad kick to the face - but I went a little easier on her. I explained that the first step is admitting you did something wrong. The next step is not doing it again. She took her punishment and then went on playing. Maybe, somewhere in her little mind, she realizes the old ways aren't the best ways or the happiest ways.

Happiness is. . . the sweet smell of blossoms on the fruit tree.

Fighting to Love

2008-05-22T13:37:00.002-04:00

I never realized it would be so hard to teach a five year old to love. In our house we never use the words, "I hate you." They are so powerful and permanent. Once spoken they can never be taken back. In our house we love each other. At times we may not like what the other is or does, but we always love one another. For a child that has had people in and out of her life and never knowing who they were to her, she loved and was hurt. It is much easier to hate and be safe, then to love and be hurt. I have to change that, and she fights. She fights so hard. It's wearying. But I endure, I have to because I do love her and her siblings, as I love my own.

Happiness is. . . teaching others it's okay to love.

Doing what’s right. . .

2008-05-14T15:01:00.001-04:00

One of the hardest parts of doing what's right is sometimes hurting those you love. Another is cleaning up the mess and then being told by those you are cleaning up for you are not doing it correctly. You are trying so hard to follow the Lord's wishes and in your heart you know what you are doing is true, but knowing your going to have to hurt someone because you are doing what's right. Lastly, just when the exhaustion from doing what is right is not enough, the stress from the lectures on how to do it just knock you flat and you wonder - WHY?!?

But watching the changes, however small, as the Spirit slowly changes the lives of those you are helping makes the stress, strain, and exhaustion of it all well worth it.

Divide & Conquer

2008-05-09T12:08:00.002-04:00

When dealing with large numbers of children, the best solution is to divide and conquer. There are six home today with rain coming down for the second day in a row. Lunch wrapped up and they quickly got rowdy. I put the youngest two down for their naps (division 1). I left the two boys in the playroom with their trucks and such (division 2). I brought the girls downstairs with their play-do (division 3). And I am now writing this during a much needed sane moment.

Happiness is . . . those few precious sane moments that make it all worth it.

Catching Up

2008-04-21T16:21:00.003-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly life can whirl out of control and time can soar right by. And important decisions must be made quickly before the opportunity to make them passes. I've had to make one of those decisions recently. I came up with every reason not to go with it. There still existed one reason to go with it I could not argue or refute. It was the right decision. So I made it. My life may change for ever or nothing may happen, but I made the right choice and I am content with it.

Happiness is. . . choosing right when everyone around you says choose you.

Relations & Relating

2008-03-29T21:25:00.004-04:00

One of the things most often taken advantage of in this life is family. While we are related to one another, we can't always relate to each other. Spending time with my sister this afternoon really helped with our relating. When we were younger we had very little to relate us. There were many years between us. Now, years don't matter and our lives are very similar. Though we are different in personalities, we can relate as mothers and sisters. Our relationship is growing and our bond is strengthening. Dad once said when all was done there would only be family. How much nicer to be left with someone you are relating to.

Happiness is. . . finding friends within your family.

Slowing Down

2008-03-25T12:34:00.005-04:00

With spring break here and all the kiddies out of school, my husband took three days off to spend time as a family. A family PLUS one. We always gladly have some friend or another along with us. Yesterday we took a quick excursion to the local state park. We all had fun exploring the swamp and seeing sights we don't normally see. One of the best sights was my three year old's shoe floating in that swamp. Yes, my dear little one lost a shoe to the swamp monster. She was heart broken, but like all young children she quickly went back to checking all the tree holes within her short height and picking up every stick to use while walking. It was a simple, special outing for a family that lives to fast.

Happiness is. . . Slowing down to enjoy the simple things in life through the eyes of a child.

Peace at the Park

2008-03-04T17:55:00.003-05:00

Going to the park with my crew always allows for time to sit back and watch. Okay, more like collapse on a bench and find a moment where you are not having to clean, straighten, or referee. But after sanity sinks back into my mind, I can watch. I can watch the children living their lives. I can watch their youthful enthusiasm and their unequivocal imagination. As i sat and watched, the girls congregated under the play apparatus and preceded to plan the best method for chasing each other around the playground - squealing at the top of their lungs. And then they huddled once more to plan it all over again.
Then I watched the young boys at the park. The quickly got together and started gathering the fallen logs and wood. They did not stop to plan as the girls had, but simply placed the wood and then went to find another piece. There was no telling each other where the wood went or how to place it. They each got their piece of lumber and placed it where they thought best. Then the next made do with what the others left and placed his piece. Soon they had a not so little lean to.

Happiness is. . . Watching girls making the experience what it is, and watching boys taking what it is and making do.

Hinckley Challenge

2008-03-01T10:57:00.003-05:00

With the passing of a beloved prophet of the Lord, my sister sent me a link to the "Hinckley Challenge." The challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 97 days, one day for each year he was on this earth. I have accepted this challenge and you can follow my progress on the chart. I found this short tribute to Pres. Hinckley, so that some may understand a little of our love for this man.

Family First

2008-03-01T10:37:00.005-05:00

Life gets crazy the older and more involved your children become. Fortunately, the older they are the more they can do for you. My oldest, a daughter, is almost twelve. She is learning that growing up is hard to do, especially when Mom needs you to watch your siblings and you want to go off with your friends. In our family, the needs of the family come first. So when I needed her to watch her younger siblings for a short time (it turned into a little longer than a short time) she pouted and said okay. All worked out for the best, and I told her I really appreciated her help. She understood and went off with her friends (better later than not at all).
In trying to teach the children family comes first, I am really just teaching them what I was taught. My siblings and I are closer today, and our children love their cousins because we are close. I want the same for my children. And in the end all that is left for us (all we really need) is family. The family is for eternity - might as well build it, strengthen it, and enjoy it.

Happiness is. . . putting family first above all else.

Little Slice

2008-02-26T07:53:00.003-05:00

Recognizing the little gifts Heavenly Father gives you everyday is a talent. A gift in and of itself. But as I try to open my eyes to them, these gifts become clearer. An old dear friend taking her time and playing with my little one so I can get my work done. Or just a husband's patience in working with an unfocused son. All these are the little gifts that touch me everyday.

Happiness is. . . appreciating those around you and how they make your life better, easier, and more wonderful.

Slice of Happiness

2008-02-17T20:13:00.005-05:00

I remember seeing little statues on Mom's dresser stating, "Love is..." I would like to add a twist of slices to my posts - "Happiness is..." - little things in life that make me smile and know everything is worth it.
Today I was sitting in stake conference when my son asks if we will see the prophet today. I told him it was unlikely. Pres. Monson wasn't supposed to speak.

Happiness is. . . turning to see my son with his fingers crossed hoping to hear from the new prophet and yet not disappointed when all he gets is an apostle.

The Usual Slice

2008-02-15T15:23:00.003-05:00

The problem with being in my slice is that it tends to get repetitious. I am a mom of five children and a part time computer tech. Right now I get up, shower, put four of the five on the bus, go to work, come home, laundry, dishes, dinner, bath, bed and collapse. The I wake up the next morning and do it all again. It is not much, but I try to find the sparkle in the slice.

My Slice

2008-02-07T20:19:00.001-05:00

We all have a slice in this life. We live in this slice and grow in this slice and sometimes venture outside of this slice. I see my slice as a gift from God. I am religious. I believe in God. I believe He has given me gifts that add to my slice. And I'll give you my take things as they happen in my little slice of here.