The Currant Bush

After we had to quit law school and the hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and the wasted three years started to sink in, I was desperate for answers. Our Bishop promised us that if we would watch General Conference (April 2011) with a prayer in our heart that we would receive an answer to whatever our question may be. I prayed and listened intently to conference. Of course, I received an answer. It came in Elder Christofferson's talk wherein he quoted Elder Hugh B. Brown's story about the currant bush. The story describes how the gardener cut down the currant bush and the currant bush was sad because it had wanted to grow tall and beautiful. The gardener told the currant bush that he was the gardener and he knew what he wanted to bush to become. The gardener is the Lord, of course, and I was the little currant bush who cried and cried and lamented over being cut down.

I received this answer 9 months ago. Over the last 9 months, I have had trouble remembering it and that it was my answer from the Lord. I sometimes get discouraged and tempted to despair about it all again, so I asked Brooke to draw me a picture so I can see it on my mirror every day. 

It's precious to me. 

Dance Today

Brooke started dance last week. She was SOOO excited. In fact, I heard her singing in her room the morning of her first dance lesson. She was singing to the tune of the primary song "Fun To Do."

I am starting dance today

Dance today, today, today. 

I am starting dance today.

Today, today, today.

Decision Decisions. . .

Last night I sadly emailed Emma's piano teacher that Emma has decided she does not want to take lessons anymore. It has only been 2 months and I was hoping she would give it more of a chance, but I learned long ago that battling over something that is not a necessity can be very exhausting and pointless. 

But it's tough to know when your child needs to be pushed so they can grow and at what point something becomes an unnecessary a drain on your energy and time. For example, I was deathly afraid to play soccer and gave my parents a HORRIBLE time about singing me up. Then I ended up LOVING it and played for 4 years. Parenting decisions are hard sometimes. . .

She's a Photographer!

 

 Emma's school PTA had an art contest. The theme was "Diversity" and there were several categories you could enter-- Art, Music, Dance, Writing, and Photography. Emma LOVES photography like I do so naturally she chose to do that! Above is a photo of her project (taken with my phone so it's not the best quality.) 

She decided to take pictures of a bunch of stamps we had lying around because she said they were diverse since they were from all different countries and states. The title is "Stamps Around the World." She chose which ones should be in color and which ones should be in black and white. She even cropped some on her own in Light Room. Then she glued them onto a foam board in the way she liked. We found out a few weeks later that she WON in her grade level at her school and that she was chosen to go on to the district level. If she wins at that level, she will go on to the National PTA level! Yay Emma!

Over Christmas we took Flat Stanley to see the Muppet Movie! 

And I really like my pumped up kicks. 

My children left. . .

On Monday morning at 5:30am, the girls and I woke up and we drove to Cori's house where they left to go to Disneyland with my parents and Carli. 

I've received a couple calls and texts saying they're having a blast and I'm wishing I was there, but also LOVING being ALONE! :) Alan and I have gone to the movies, out to eat, and to the temple.