note to self.

Note to self: if you have a child who can read, watch what you write on your bathroom mirror with dry erase marker.

Yeah, note to self. :)

what helps?

So the other day I had accomplished "things". I know I did.

Then afternoon hit. Me and the kids ate early because they were "starving".

The house was a disaster. -dishes everywhere, clutter everywhere. the kids were driving me and each other nuts.

Zach was late.

I gave each child their designated area and activity and I found a couch and parked it.

Then I got a text.

"great day at the office. see you in 27 minutes.....and i CANNOT wait either. you are my whole world becca nielson-I LOVE YOU!!!"

Wanta know what I did? cleaned the house.

I think I was still sitting on the couch when he got home, but i was reading a book to the kids. He told me I was a "total hottie" when he walked in too. :) ( I had done my hair-rare. )

Interesting what a nicely written text did. He didn't know he was going to come home to an exhausted wife and a messy house. It was like his text gave me the benefit of the doubt...like he knew life was good at home, with me. It motivated me to get off my rear. And he came home to a much better situation.

It just goes to show that kindness does make a difference and a lot of times the person who issued the kindness does benefit too.

The Devils throat.

I listened to THIS talk by President Faust on my iPod and have listened to it several times since. It was given in the Priesthood session of Conference in 2003 and I never heard it and never read it. I love it! This is is just one quote that I love.

"My dear young friends, there is another great truth that you young men must learn. It is that everything has a price. There is a price to pay for success, fulfillment, accomplishment, and joy. There are no freebies. If you don’t pay the price that is needed for success, you will pay the price of failure. Preparation, work, study, and service are required to achieve and find happiness. Disobedience and lack of preparation carry a terrible price tag. As priesthood holders of this Church, part of the price we need to pay is by living differently from the world. We are the possessors and custodians of these commanding powers which can and do roll back the power of Satan on the earth. With all my heart I urge you to please help us push back the world. We must stand against the wind. Sometimes we must be unpopular and simply say, “This is not right.”"

I think this can directly be applied to marriage. There is a price tag for a great marriage and there is a price tag for a severed one. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE!!!

Are you going to pay now or later?

of all the apples...

I am out of my habit of posting...well, that was obvious!

As I sit down ready to type a million "apples" are going through my head and I can't decide on one.

Zach comes home from scout camp today! This girl vacuumed, washed our sheets, made our bed and even scrubbed the kitchen sink! I've spent the last few days at my parents house and so we will all come home to a clean house...which I pretty much love. :)

It has been quite the week without him but I'm glad I wasn't home for most of it because that seems to make it worse for me.

Before he left I cried. I simply said, "don't mind me and my hormones" and cried some more. :) As I look at me from an outside perspective, it is quite comical to see the things that make me cry and what I say when I'm crying. Bless my patient man!

Once upon a time on Thursday's I would post a date idea...

What are you going to do this weekend?

What's important..

Being sick, lacking energy and the like, have made things interesting to say the least. And because I feel lousy and can't do everything I want to or even intend to it has made me think a lot about what is important and what isn't.

It's important:

*to not blame circumstances for my being grouchy.

*to do the things that help me to stay happy.

*to remember prayer and scriptures can't wait til' I feel better...I need all the help I can get!

*to still give adequate attention to Zach and the kids.

*to be grateful.

*to use the energy I do have doing the best thing.

*to not have too high of expectations. ;)

What would you add to this list?

What to expect...:)

...when Becca's expecting? A whole month with not a single post!...laundry that stays in the baskets, kids wearing mismatched clothes, dishes left in the sink, and floors that might not have been scrubbed recently. (I'm sparing you the whole list. aren't I nice?)

Yep, we are expecting baby number 4 on Christmas day! Merry Christmas! :) Hopefully I hold true to previous experience and don't have this child on the due date. :) (I'm 17 weeks)

I plan to still post though...just not as often. Most days I'm doing good to keep me and the kids fed and the computer is never even turned on...

All is well though. We are way excited and at this point I am feeling lots better- thank goodness!