While visiting the Buff Stuff Store, John Inca decided that he needed to try Prairie Oysters. Holden, Hazel and Fiona sang a song about it on their drive home "We Don't Talk About Testicles" to the tune of "We Don't Talk About Bruno".
They were frozen solid, so they needed to defrost over night.
Prompting #1
I can't remember exactly when this took place. At some point last year I took a pair of pants of Ken's to launder and although I usually always check the pockets carefully, I wasn't careful. I felt distinctly impressed that I should remove the pants from the washing machine and carefully check the pockets. I didn't. I was holding something that I didn't want to put down, and I sort of checked the pockets. I think I checked the same pocket twice.
When it was time to put the laundry in the dryer I realized that Ken's fairly new and quite expensive ear buds had been washed. I felt so so dumb. So frustrated that I had ignored the prompting.
Everyone has learned from this story - my family and my ward family lol. Alice quoted the story in her talk during the primary presentation.
Prompting #2
Today when I was doing laundry, I was putting Kate's clothes in the washing machine. There was a lot of space left and I thought oh maybe I should add Alice's, but I don't like to wash their clothing together because I end up mixing up their things. But I felt prompted that I should add Alice's clothing. I started to say no to the prompting, but then I changed my mind.
As I added Alice's clothing to the washing machine I realized that almost half of her laundry basket was filled with clean folded clothing from last week. If I hadn't followed the prompting I wouldn't have finished the laundry tonight, and Alice's load of clothing would have been tiny and a huge waste of resources.
It felt like such a dumb prompting in the moment, but when I stopped to think about it, I felt deeply of my Heavenly Father's love for me. He cares about what I care about. There are so many tender mercies around us, we are so loved. Our Savior is ready to carry our burdens - like doing one less load of laundry, if we listen.
I still miss promptings - like this past week. I had put my shoes beside my boots on Tuesday night, but the voice said "put them in your car", however I said no because I didn't want to go into the cold garage. On Wednesday morning I forgot the shoes and had to wear my boots all day long! I should have listened to the voice! When I got home on Wednesday, I put the shoes in the car straight away!
It's silly/funny when I miss the little warnings and promptings - well, not so much when it costs a few hundred dollars, but I just hope that I keep learning how to listen, so that I don't miss things that really matter! I'm so grateful for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
One last thought on this. Years ago when Ken and I were in Don Valley Ward I was in a Relief Society lesson and the subject of listening to promptings came up. Melissa Wilson said something to the effect of "sometimes we worry about where the idea comes from, if it's a good idea, who cares where the idea comes from, just do it". I've thought about that a lot, and it's helped me to just listen and do instead of question. If it's good, just do it! The Book of Mormon says over and over again, all good things come from God. Whether we recognize God's hand or not, is up to us.
KEN!
In person dining hasn't reopened. Museums, movie theatres and other fun indoor things are all still closed. The celebration of Ken's 43rd year was quiet and unexciting. The girls had a P.A. Day from school on Friday, so they made cards and cleaned the basement - their birthday surprise for their Dad. I bought Ken a floor mat and a gravy boat - epic right?! We had our Saturday morning walk. We breakfasted, lunched, watched some tv, made a grocery list, did some shopping, had take-out for dinner (McDonald's for Kate and Fiona, and Pita Land for Ken, Wendy and Alice) and then we watched Raya and the Last Dragon as a family. It was quiet but good. My only regret is not taking a pic of Ken and the girls!
Happy Birthday my love! You are so cherished!
I think a Saturday birthday is perfect! It's like a gift in itself! We're in another kind of partial lockdown, (pandemic birthday #2) but the temple is open! We had an early start to the day, presents, breakfast, get ready and go!
1. What is your favourite color?
Yellow
2.
What is your favourite toy?
Crystal Palace (Playmobil castle)
3.
What is your favourite fruit?
Apple
4.
What is your favourite tv show?
Steven Universe
5.
What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?
Naan Pizza
6. What is your favourite outfit?
Hoodies
7.
What is your favourite game?
Cards against humanity (family
edition)
8.
What is your favourite snack?
Churros Cereal
9.
What is your favourite animal?
Bear
10.
What is your favourite song?
Baby Shark
11.
What is your favourite book?
Lord of the Rings
12.
Who is your best friend?
Mason, Noah and Hannah
13.
What is your favourite cereal?
Churros
14.
What is your favourite thing to do outside?
Go back inside
15.
What is your favourite drink?
Root Beer
16.
What is your favourite holiday?
Christmas
17.
What do you like to take to bed with you at night?
Milo
18.
What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?
Pancakes
19.
What do you want for dinner on your birthday?
Boston Pizza
20.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doorknob
The first picture of the year... It's a magical fairy door - or at least a rock that's been painted to look like a magical fairy door. I took the picture on our walk this morning.
Picture number two... Me and my Ken. Coincidentally (or probably not) this was also the second pic of last year - me and Ken. I like my Ken! So much!
The first day of the year... a walk, we took down lights, got our covid boosters, had a lunch date, and now I'm blogging, Ken's doing a puzzle and the kids are doing various screen things, with non-screen things between. Is this a quiet start to another quiet-ish year? Is this the start to who knows what? I'm going with who knows what! I have no idea what 2022 will bring, but I'm grateful for my life and I'm hopeful that there will be more good than bad, more hope than pessimism, more love and joy than sorrow and pain!
Goodness I LOVE taking pictures. My girls know this. Ken knows this. I love the memories. I love looking at my pictures. I just love them.
This is the last picture of took of this year, it's my people. My little family is my everything.
This is the first picture I took in 2021, a candy bonus. I'm going to read into that!! To me it sums up 2021. What do you see when you look at this? A mistake or a bonus? What do I see when I look back at 2021? I see so many silver linings, so many blessings, so many happy memories with my family. I know that we have been blessed and this year for us, was not the same year that it was for others, and that makes me grateful and it humbles me. Life is fragile and beautiful and wonderful.
I really don't know how to sum up the last year. (Clearly I didn't think about what I was going to say before opening this post!) Year two of the pandemic. We did online school in January and part of February, we were online again from the middle of April to the end of June. Which means that we were in school face to face for part of February, all of March, half of April and from September to December. Online was hard for everyone. Our family had a fairly quiet summer. I tried to plan things for the girls, but it felt quiet. I needed that. We went another entire year without seeing any family from the states. I last saw my sister during the summer of 2019. This is the longest I've ever gone without seeing her. When I stop and think about it, it makes me cry.
This year we've been healthy. We've had a few minor colds/coughs but we've been healthy. We've had each other. Milo joined our family this year. Ken and I have been employed. We've been outside more and walked more. The girls have had good teachers. We've struggled through some things, but with our faith and access to counselors and great teachers and doctors, we're making good progress!
Mostly thinking about this year I just feel grateful, so entirely and completely grateful. I love my life. I love my Ken, my kids, my faith, my job. I'm just so grateful for the life I'm living.
This past year we tried to write down a weekly gratitude. We missed August and September - oops! (Not sure how we missed all of August and September, but we did pretty well otherwise!) Last night we went around the table taking turns reading the slips of paper. It was fun. I want to do it again next year, and not miss any weeks!
