RATS!!!

Yesterday was a hard day. My husband was gone all day and all night long (whine, whine, whine). My children wanted me to be SuperMom, but I wanted to crawl under a rock and curl into a ball. I wasn’t that shining, radiant light that prophets say you are supposed to be when you are the mother of a home. Sigh.


C.S. Lewis is one of my very favorite writers of all time. I love the Chronicles of Narnia (really, who doesn’t love them) but my true love is his book “Mere Christianity.”

In this volume, he has a chapter about rats in the basement which doesn’t seem like it would have much to do with God, unless you were praying for him to zap them all to bits, but it does.

Lewis describes how if you pound your way into the basement making loads of noise and yelling that you are on the way, the rats will, surprisingly, run away and hide before you get there. Shocking, I know.

However, if you sneak quietly and place your feet in just the right silent spots on the stairs and oil the door so it doesn’t squeak and whisper instead of scream that you are coming, then the rats don’t hear you and they don’t run off.

What the heck are you talking about Melissa?

Simple, someone’s true character doesn’t shine through when struggles and trials come pounding into life announcing that they are on the way. True character shows when a hard day or horrible moment sneaks stealthily into the room and pounces on you unaware. How will you handle those really trying experiences that you didn’t plan on?

I am by no means perfect at this. I have so much to learn. However, I did make it to bed without yelling at anyone and without locking myself in the closet for hours and shutting the whole world out. Today, that seems like success. Maybe today I can even do it with a smile. We’ll see how it goes. Watch out rats!

P.S. Even C.S. Lewis had bad days.

Also, my dad calls me "Rat"....what do you think he is trying to say?

A Sad Story

Once upon a time...a long, long time ago in a faraway land...

Ok, not in a faraway land.

In a super close land that greatly resembles here, in fact, come to think of it, it is identical to here.

Anyway, once upon a time...a long long time ago

there used to be a magical and well loved season called

FALL!!!!!

And then, there wasn't. 

And Melissa was sad because it used to be her favorite season

when it used to exist.

And now it is nearly October and where the heck has it gone?

Who knows.

It abandoned her and she is sad and wants it to come home.

Boo hoo!

The End.

(This has nothing to do with fall, but it's my blog and I can post this if I want to.  I guess there are a couple of yellowing leaves in the background so maybe it does apply after all.)

In Quiet Awe

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the general relief society meeting for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It was held in downtown Salt Lake at the conference center.  My mom and I arrived and were seated a few minutes before the meeting was to start (that was an adventure thanks to closed roads and traffic and huge lines...still, we made it).  We were chatting quietly, as were the thousands of other women in the building so there was a subdued sort of rolling prattle in the room. 

Suddenly, a calming near silence blanketed the crowd, and almost without any forethought every daughter of God in the room came to her feet.  Our dear prophet, President Monson, had entered, and his presence could be felt by all of us.  What other than a prophet of God could hush a room full of women happily engaged in twittering back and forth.  The reverence felt just through his presence is something I can't really find words for.  It is a testimony to me that this man represents our Father in Heaven.

I have been in the presence of prophets on a few occasions in my life, but it never ceases to remind my spirit of the blessing we have in our lives to be lead by a prophet of God.  What a dear gift.

I'm looking forward to general conference this coming weekend. 

P.S. For all you moms out there, click here for fabulous conference activity packets for your kids from youth to nursery.

A Post to Publish

As long as you promise not to make a big deal of it, I will tell you a secret.  OK, it isn't really a secret so much anymore, but I have been a little embarrassed to say anything so here goes.  I have started a new adventure in my life.  I applied and was accepted as a contributing writer for Deseret Connect (under Deseret Media Company). 
I have been lucky enough to have a few articles published to this point, and it has been a lot of fun for me.  It is nice to be able to act like an adult from time to time, and this is something that I really enjoy.  I have always loved writing, although I have a lot to learn about news writing versus the short stories and term papers I have indulged in before. 

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Honestly, I don't like to be in the spotlight really at all in life, so it has taken a lot of gumption (and lots of pushing from Josh) for me to even post this.  I know that is pathetic, but that's the way I roll.  Hopefully there will be many more articles to come (and more flavorful topics as well).  

Thanks everyone for your support and friendship.  Love you all. 

Chuckle

The other night the kids were wrestling with their dad.  This is one of their favorite pass times.  Josh had Aubrey pinned down and she started yelling "Get off, get off, get off!" through her hysterical laughter.  Josh told her that he couldn't because his "get off" was broken.  Aubrey thought fast and retorted, "Well, your 'let me go' seems to be just fine, so use that instead."  Josh was laughing so hard he had to let her up.  I guess his 'let me go' was just fine after all. 

A Black and White Weekend -- Which is Better Than a Black and Blue One

This past weekend, we got to take a short trip to East Canyon Resort.  It is always so much fun to get away for a few days, and we love this place.  My parents have a timeshare there, so we get to go a couple of times a year and we always look forward to it.  The leaves in the canyon were changing and it was a gorgous drive, and a very peaceful weekend.

Here are some snippets of the fun we had...

(Our oldest boys looking all Zen)

(Our middle boys enjoying nature...and the park)

(Our girls...aren't they gorgeous!!!) (That was a rhetorical question)

(My man...what a looker, and he's a great dad too.  He wasn't even phased when some strange kid that was playing with our children in the pool threw up while climbing on him...go ahead and be jealous ladies)

It was a great weekend.  We were all refreshed and rejuvenated when it was time to come home.  We're already looking forward to next year.

Happy Last Few Days of Summer to All!!

I Remember...

Last Saturday was September 11.

(Like you didn't already know that).

I don't think any of us will ever forget that day.

I know I won't.

...

This September 11 found me at home with all six kids while Josh worked all day at his part-time job at the races (no worries, he isn't a bookie).  I was pouty.

We don't really see much of Josh at the moment.  He leaves early in the morning to get to school on time, and because of soccer practice and games he is gone until all hours of the night on weekdays.  This week we had the added bonus of having him gone for 12+ hours Saturday and Sunday earning extra money for our family.  He is a very dedicated husband and father.

And it makes me grumpy when he is gone so much.

So I was pouting.

...

And then I started thinking about September 11, and all the families who are without their father because of that tragedy.  Whether he is now missing his family while he waits for them in Heaven or whether he is missing them while he protects my freedoms here on Earth, there are a lot of families who don't just miss their Dad for a few months during soccer season. 

...

Memory Field in 2006

I am extremely grateful for those who give their lives, in many ways, to help protect the way of life that is so dear to me.  I feel a little bit ashamed that I spent part of the day whining about my lot in life, which I wouldn't trade for anything, when there are others giving so much more.  Thanks to all those out there who sacrifice for me and my family.  We love you.  We pray for you.  And we can't thank you enough.

Oh Poo!

Today I had to clean up dog poo.

That is one of the benefits of soccer season (ha ha ha). 

Some of those things that Josh usually does have to be done by someone else, so I am elected.

That means I got to spend some time this morning scooping puppy poop.

Gross.

Then I come inside to quickly do Aubrey's hair before school (after scrubbing my hands).  Logan comes into the bathroom, plopps down and says, "Look, Mom, I have chwokwate on my foot."  He holds up the foot.  It isn't "chwokwate."  I check his little naked bum.  That isn't "chwokwate" either.  Mental note, refresher course on wiping.

Welcome to poo central.

Peaches are Stupid

Yesterday afternoon, you may have heard screaming coming from my home.

You may have wondered what cruel tortures were being forced upon the young inhabitants in this house of horror.  You will never have been able to guess the harsh and terrifying malice that was inflicted on one small son in particular.

In a word.

Peaches!

MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

(Insert evil laughter here).
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Round two this afternoon...pears!