Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Post Where I Try to Catch Up

Long time, no post. Sorry 'bout that. We were doing all the stuff everyone else has already posted about like

Fall Leaves

UEA Trip

Voting

Football Playoffs

Visiting Bodyworlds

Halloween

By now you've read plenty about that on other blogs. Think of our experiences as similar. Only probably less organized and involving more loud laughter. Check out the links to photos if you're really dying to see my family do that stuff.

I may be the only woman in blogland without links to something Twilight related. Teenage vampire love story? I'll pass thank you very much.

We moved into a new house about 5 weeks ago. I'm a lot closer to feeling settled, made it through the 1600 pictures I had on my camera and I'm ready to rejoin the world. I felt overwhelmed at all those photos untouched and needing attention, but as I buckled down and went through them I remembered why I love to take pictures so much:


These people melt my heart. I love it all - the laughing, the occasional crying, the snuggling, the moments of joy and pride and love, the crazy busy schedule, the coveted lazy afternoon together, even the piles of ski stuff and bikes and books that appear out of nowhere and the army guys hung off the stairs - love it all!

As our sweet Elder Wirthlin said: "Come What May and Love It! The pictures are my way of remembering how much I really do love the journey part of this life. I never even really realized that is why I loved photographing my family so much until this summer when I was editing pictures from our Stake Trek and Girl's Camp and I was crying, yes crying - my heart was so full of love for those young women and I recognized that was how I felt about my family ALL the time.
I realize I may not always be the best mom - the one these kiddos deserve or the best wife. I'm not super sugary sweet like a lot of moms I admire. I make my kids do a lot of things other moms do - they have to make their own lunches and help with laundry and make their own beds and I'm very little help with those dumb projects for school. I'm often too quick to criticize and too slow to praise. I'm not sure I tell my husband how much I love and appreciate him enough. But I see love for them in every photo I take and I take a lot of photos. I catch all of them (even Geoffrey) looking at pictures and scrapbooks so I hope they see my love there too. And maybe I'll start saying I love you out loud every time I snap that shutter so they really do know how my heart is melting at that minute!

8 comments:

cabrera said...

Nice to see you back to blogland.
I love my family so much to, Thanks for reminding me to tell them more often.

Heidi Green said...

I didn't know you'd moved. Are you still in the same ward? No wonder you haven't blogged lately... that is big change.

I looked at some of your pictures, it looks like you've been having a great time. I love Nixon's "Dwight" costume.

And, you are an amazing mom, I've admired you for a long time - your family is so great. I have a sugary sweet side but more than make up for it with my salty, yelling side ;-)

It's good to read up on you guys a bit. Have a good Christmas season!

Gray Family said...

You are a great mom and just like the rest of us - only you are crazy enough to admit it. Your pictures are great. We love the one of Dwight! How ever did you manage that?! Have a wonderful holiday season! I can't wait to see those fun pictures filled with tons of love!

Lindsy said...

You moved? We will have to come up and see your new place after the baby comes, and no she still isn't here. I went to the Dr. today so hopefully soon ;)!

Mama F said...

I can't beleive you didn't mention you moved at Thanksgiving! That makes me feel like a bad sister-in-law, well more so then I already am. I hope the move went well for you. I loved your comment on my blog. Living in and loving the moment I'm in is something I need to work on. I am alway thinking of what isn't getting done, or how silly I feel playing LPS. Then I realize that I don't have memories of my mom sitting on the floor playing with me, and I pray that my kids remember how I tried to be a good mom. Even though I loose my temper, banish them to their rooms when they fight, or take off for an evening with my girlfriends. I feel like I am on a teeter-totter, and I have to run back and forth between the mom side and the Krista side trying to make it all work. I still haven't found a way to stand in the middle and be happy. Anyway, thanks for the uplifting comment, and your touching blog. It's nice to have a moment of reflection to put things in perspective.

PS - There are two of us without reference to "Twilight." We should start a club! J/K

pepper said...

I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing the love.

Heidi Green said...

I just got your voice message... awesome! I'd heard things got rearranged up there. Snyderville used to have a lot of wonderful people from the area you're living in now (LOVE the Nielsons). It should be fun to have them back in the ward although it's always hard to work through those changes. Anyway, you're right about His sense of humor - I wish I could find mine in times like that ;-)

It was good to hear your voice - we should get together sometime.

SoCalHirts said...

Why does Dwight have a microphone on?