Dailies

I have been asked many times to share our families "chores system" and have been reluctant because the verdict on our family is way out. I hesitate for fear of being perceived as proud or overly confident because that is the furthest thing from the truth. We are all (including me) just trying to figure it all out for our families. "Dailies" is ONE little strategy we have created in our family that has worked AND has yielded big dividends. If you have a big family (or small) and find yourself frustrated with getting all the "technical information" conveyed, then check this out, a little piece I wrote for MW. I have more to share on chores but will another time. Just remember ...

“True greatness…always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time.”  -Howard W. Hunter

THANKFUL THURDAY - The Journey

As I watch people close to me hurt for all varieties of reasons, even my own heart at times, I can not help myself from looking to the pioneers and for a split moment am embarrassed for thinking life is hard... then...I am overcome with emotion as I ponder what price they had to pay to rejoice. Our lives are so easy and we have so many reasons to rejoice. Are we rejoicing? Are we as strong as they were? Could I be as strong IF I had to? I am thankful for the vigorous commitment of those round about me and those that came before me, to endure with courage and fortitude very hard things. It creates an illusion within myself even if temporarily hopeful, that I might be one day as they were, fervid and fixed with purpose and power. SO many around me have faith that is prolific and undaunted,  their example is stimulating. 

I am SO very thankful for this journey we are all on. We all have SOMETHING... There is not one person I know that is free from trials and hardship, it would impossible from the beginning of time, for in and of itself is the purpose of our presence and continuation here on earth. I am grateful that we can break down and weep, then get up and journey again AND rejoice. Though our trials may not be burying our young or fighting off the mobs, the trails of this day are and will require the same type of conviction and mastery as the pioneers so beautifully exampled. 

This poem I found a few years ago in an Ensign. It made me weep and provided me an abrupt shift in perspective that sometimes I need.

Written by Lisa South, artwork by Clay Wagstaff.

I am grateful for this journey we are ALL on. For the purpose in which I am here, to progress, cultivate and improve. I am so grateful for the colorful experiences life provides and for the knowledge I have and for the rejoicing I feel daily. I am grateful for this JOURNEY!

"When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21

Houston Getaway

A couple of weeks ago we took a little family weekend getaway trip to Houston. We went to the Houston Aquarium (over rated and over priced), the Houston Galleria (overly huge and overly crouded) and NASA 30 min south of Houston (over the moon). We had good intentions of getting to some random Houston ward for Sacrament and to the Houston Temple but our Burger baby was quite sick (on set of pneumonia) so we did not make that part of our trip but surely will in the future.

Family getaways are really the best.  A break from daily regimens and structure. Free of distractions and responsibilities. We had a super duper time!

Science Fair Projects

Well another year has come and gone with science fair projects. It was a small improvement creatively speaking from last years projects so I suppose these were a satisfying success . They did well and were relatively independent which was the goal. It was amazing at how creative and original some of the kids (or their parents) ideas were. We got 10 more months to be thinking of 2 more really good ones. If you have any please share :)

Lady Bird Bike Ride

I am playing a little catch up..... A few weeks ago we decided to packed it all up and went for a bike ride around Lady Bird Lake. It was splendid! SO fun and people watching at it's best. No better place to watch all different kinds of people from all over the world in all different places, shapes and sizes. We saw all variety's of people, you name it we saw it even hard core unicyclist riding our same trail. So fun!

Snowy Texas Day

It was a rather unexpected surprise. When they say snow in Texas you kind of shrug your shoulders and say "yea, we'll see about that!" BUT it snowed and just about all day and at time very heavy. Nothing measurable but the rooftops were all white and there are skiffs here and there. Coming home from school pickup we passed our favorite cardboard sledding hill that was packed with cars and people trying to get the "real sledding experience" with real snow and real sled (where'd they get those!) It looked a little disappointing but I thought it was so cute. We had homemade soup, warm bread, cozy fireplace, hot chocolate, snowball fights and the missionaries over for dinner. What a fun Tuesday that was!

This Day...

Today is like any other day I suppose except today is my birthday. A sweet friend of mine brought over these beautiful flowers (below) and this sweet card (above). What a beautiful genuine person she is! The card really spoke to me, the thoughts and feelings of ones heart is truly the best gift. The long list of emails, texts, and facebook birthday wishes has really been unexpected. Thank you all!

I woke up this morning to breakfast being made by my favorite people and slow danced (half asleep) in the kitchen to this song. This day, I am glad to be alive, to breath and caress with devotion the joy that life so abundantly supplies me. Thank you life!

Baby Jenni Bean once upon a time

Our perfect little romantic getaway to San Antonio for my birthday. Dinner at Benihana, stayed on the Riverwalk and spent some time Saturday at the Temple = Perfect! We loved every minute of it.

A few of my closest friends took me to dinner last week at my favorite place, Chuys! Thanks sweet ladies. I love you all!

Burgers 1st BofM

Last time I went to the temple, we wandered into the distribution center (which I love to do) and found these tiny little Book of Mormons, they were 4$ and I thought the little ones might would like them. SO this morning we gave Burger his 1st very own Book of Mormon and he squealed with delight,  jumped up and down said "oh, thank you" and has had it in his sweet sweaty little hands all day. Every time I see him he says to me "I love my Bouk of Mooman!" and squeezes it tight to his chest. Even after his nap he wandered round until he could find it again and was devastated when he saw that a few pages were gently bent. Golly, if we would all cherish our BofM this way. Once again, I found myself genuinely inspired by my little people.

"I love our scriptures. I love these wonderful volumes, which set forth the word of the Lord—given personally or through prophets—for the guidance of our Father’s sons and daughters. I love to read the scriptures, and I try to do so consistently and repeatedly. I love to quote from them, for they give the voice of authority to that which I say. I do not claim distinction as a scholar of the scriptures. For me, the reading of the scriptures is not the pursuit of scholarship. Rather, it is a love affair with the word of the Lord and that of his prophets.....May the Lord bless each of us to feast upon his holy word and to draw from it that strength, that peace, that knowledge “which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7), as he has promised." President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Feasting upon the Scriptures,”

Birthdays are the Best

Here is some more birthday fun. We make BIG deals about birthdays at our house. It is one day a year where everything is about them! I special order meals morning noon and night, we decorate big, picture walls, balloons, streamers etc, so when they wake up in the morning it really is a party all day celebrating their wonderful life! As much as I love it I have to say by the end of February, I am feeling a little birthday burn out, it is a lot of work. We have 3 birthdays in less than a month and then there is mine (on 2/22) but I don't do anything there, that is up to the family. Anyway, here is some more pic of our Sweet Doueys fun day!

Daidy and Ava share the same birthday, it is always so fun to celebrate with the Andertons too.
I had to throw this one in here. This was from Bens birthday on the 27th of Jan.

Happy Birthday Daidy Doo

When this little girl was born the stars aligned! She has rocked our world. Happy Birthday Little Daidy Dooey! (Some of these pics you've seen before but they are our favorites!) It would seem trite to attempt to describe all the ways in which she has captivated us. There are impossibilities beyond number to articulate the jubilation she has brought to our lives. We love you oh so much!