Walking the halls

A quote I like from Elder Dallin H. Oak's talk at genernal conference two weeks ago:

The values of the world wrongly teach that “it’s all about me.” That corrupting attitude produces no change and no growth. It is contrary to eternal progress toward the destiny God has identified in His great plan for His children. The plan of the gospel of Jesus Christ lifts us above our selfish desires and teaches us that this life is all about what we can become.....

...Each of us should apply that principle to our attitudes in attending church. Some say “I didn’t learn anything today” or “No one was friendly to me” or “I was offended” or “The Church is not filling my needs.” All those answers are self-centered, and all retard spiritual growth.

In contrast, a wise friend wrote:

“Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, . . . to volunteer for an assignment. . . .


“In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.”

All of this illustrates the eternal principle that we are happier and more fulfilled when we act and serve for what we give, not for what we get.

Our Savior teaches us to follow Him by making the sacrifices necessary to lose ourselves in unselfish service to others. If we do, He promises us eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7), the glory and joy of living in the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I testify of Them and of Their great plan for the salvation of Their children, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Quick Responses to "Just Curious" comments

Lindsay - Every time I watch "Sisterhood" I ache to go to Greece!!!! Chad laughed when he saw your comment because he knows how I feel about this.

Dad - I want an albacore taco!

Christie - No NICU! No NICU!

Ashley - I have a couple of purple tulips blooming in my garden right now.

KJ - thanks for mentioning parenthacks.com - never been there before

em - glad your trip went well. Hooray for In-N-Out.

Lindsey - hope you are able to find little things to do close to home this summer for some fun.

Tiffany - when you were pregnant with Callie I secretly envied you because you were so darn cute. I like your summer plans.

Mom - it will be a great summer! Busy, but great!

Audra - Glad to hear you got to go to Williamsburg! And I also enjoy Voice of Reason.

Just curious....

1. What is your weather like today?

2. What did you have for lunch?

3. What are your vacation plans this summer?

4. What is your favorite website these days?

5. What are your favorite flowers to receive?


My answers:

1. Sunny and warm. Awwww.

2. Ham sandwich and cottage cheese.

3. Spokane, WA, visiting Chad's family, and hopefully a day or two at the beach somewhere closer to home.

4. Facebook

5. Probably tulips or wildflowers

And finally....

The traditional

First Easter, Baby-in-a-Basket picture

Oliver Charles Coleman

Easter 2009

And my other boys, just for fun....

Gabe, Easter 2006

Colin, Easter 2003

You know those outfits that Oliver and Colin wore this Easter?

Here are Gabe and Colin in them in 2006.

Yep, I am that cheap. They also wore them to Lindsey's wedding reception, where Colin had an accident in his.

Ahhh, memories.

My next post won't be just pictures, I promise.

Easter Pictures

Yes, more pictures. Deal with it.

Camping, Day 2

The day started out beautifully.....

In the afternoon we started to get some showers and took shelter in the tent, which was when we discovered (after owning it for almost four years) that it was not water-proof. There were little splatters of water here and there but we thought we could tough it out.

When it was dinner time, Sabina convinced the men that they should help her put a tarp up over our eating area.

Right as we were sitting down to eat, the campground host came running around, telling everyone that a storm was coming in about ten minutes and that we would want to take cover during it. About two minutes later we heard some thumps as hail hit the vans. We grabbed our food and ran to the vans. Chad has been teasing me because he says that amidst the chaos of running for cover, all he can remember is hearing me yell, "Grab the chips!!!"

But they kept the boys busy while we were stuck in the van!

You should click on this one to get the full effect.

After the storm let up we went back out to survey the damage...

We were all still happy and willing to stick around.

I am pretty sure that in this picture Sabina is saying, "See?! Wasn't my roof a great idea?"

We got the fire going again....

And then the campground host came by and said they expected another bad storm around midnight. He said if it was going to be bad, he would come around and honk his horn for everyone to take shelter.

After about a half hour of deliberation, we decided to pack up and head home. It started raining as Chad finished up in the dark.

It was a very hasty retreat. What a mess! It stormed the whole way home though, so we were very happy with our decision. The boys were asleep within ten minutes of leaving and we were all in our own beds by 10:30.

Camping, Day 1

The next few posts I do are just going to be picture catch-ups.....

The kids and I picked Chad up from work on Thursday and took off. We got to the campground in time to set up and eat. Robert and his family went earlier than us and settled in, so they had dinner ready. The campground was beautiful, and we had two really nice spots right by the lake with a big grassy area for the kids to play on (and nice bathrooms close by).

Oliver and his cousin Liam are only three months apart, so really have no choice but to grow up as friends.

My nephew Evan and Colin had a good time posing with this boulder.

Beautiful end to a lovely day. We got a nice fire going after this and my kids got to stay up 'til 9 or so (which is very late for them). They slept quite well. I did not.

Thank You Dad

I bought Colin a fishing pole for his birthday. Chad doesn't know the first thing about fishing, so those duties fall in my lap. We are going camping tomorrow and I decided it was finally time to stock up on some gear and really get into fishing. There is just one problem though. I realized that I know how to bait a hook, cast it out, reel it in, and remove the hook....but the rest? I don't have a clue. No idea how to set up a pole, what kind of fishing line to use, what kind of knot to tie, what kind of bobber or hook to use or anything.

How many summer hours did I spend under a patchy sky, surrounded by aspens at Monticello Lake, catching trout after trout? Countless beautiful hours. I can close my eyes and smell the cheese bait, hear the leaves rustling in the wind, and picture the water snakes.

There were eight of us, and I am telling you, most of us were not independent fishermen.

How many hours did my dad spend setting up fishing poles for his group of ragamuffins?

For that matter, how many hours has he spent driving his kids to Yellowstone or stake dances? This man has been through multiple 15 passenger vans.

How many hours did he spend making breakfast for those kids every morning before school? My youngest sibling Bryce just left on his mission last week, and I would be willing to bet that my dad was sometimes still cooking some extra eggs for him in the morning right up until he left.

How many hours has he spent moving his kids away to college or to a new city with their spouse?

He is not the type to add up the score in his head. I am sure he has never counted.

Just as I am sure he has never counted all the hours he has worked at a relentless job (he has been a high school teacher, and then a principal for the last 30 some years) to support his children.

Thank you Dad, for the hours at Monticello Lake and everything else.

Happy Birthday.

I love you.

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

I cried last night.

Not out of happiness....

Or even sadness.....

Purely out of frustration and mortification.

It was haircut night. It started out with a three year old happily hopping up on the chair for his turn, watching Bolt to keep himself busy. It quickly turned to raspy commands coming from my lips like, "Just hold still, dangit!" which only brought on more wiggles and complaints about an itchy neck from my boy. This is the kid who freaks out when his nose runs or he has chocolate on his hands (he likes Skittles the most for this very reason) - hair all over his neck is a sensory nightmare.

Which means haircuts are a mommy nightmare.

We were almost done with his simple buzz cut. I brought out the shortest attachment to do some clean up work around the edges.

One wrong move, and then there it was - an almost bald spot covering about three inches on the side of his head.

What could I do? I really only had one option.....

Shave the rest of it, with shaking hands, to match the short spot, while crying and yelling, "What have I done?!!!!"

Which explains why, today, my son looks like he is going to either A) a work camp, or B) a skinhead rally.

Chad, who played the part of the calm and collected parent last night, convinced Gabe that his haircut is the best thing that has ever happened. One of the first things Gabe said to me this morning was "Mom, feel my hair! It's cool!"

I noticed some horribly patchy spots this morning, which means the clippers have to come out again tonight. Plus Colin never got his turn last night (I figured I would save his disfiguration for another night, thank you very much)so I have to do him as well. Heaven help us all.

This time

When I was a teenager, my mom would pile a bunch of us in her van and drive us nine hours up to Provo, and we would spend a week at BYU attending Education Week. For four straight days we listened to amazing gospel classes and got to intermingle with other teenagers who shared our values. This trip was truly one of the highlights of the year. On the way back, we would all be utterly exhausted yet completely rejuvenated and full of kindness towards each other. The next week was always the first week of school, and I always went back with a determination to see my fellow students with love and compassion and to work hard to dedicate my life to my Savior.

The aura of Education Week never lasted more than a week in the hot desert sun, surrounded by the realities of high school. My determination to focus only on the most important things in life was soon dampened, and my perspective weakened. I remember always feeling so frustrated with myself, looking back at what I came home with, and seeing how those feelings had actually translated into my life. Sure, some changes were always made, some lasting, some not. But had I ever changed my life as dramatically as I had vowed to? Not even close. I longed to obtain a total conversion - forgoing all else to follow Christ with strict obedience.

I have that aura tonight. As an adult, I now get it from general conference. I sat listening today, with tears in my eyes and gratitude swelling in my heart for this marvelous gift I have been given - a chance to hear a prophet of God speak to me. I have been given a gospel that has brought me every bit of the pure happiness I have felt in my life. I know that even more happiness can come from more obedience.

And I say to myself, "This will be it. This will the time that sticks. This will be the time when I sacrifice even the somewhat good things in my life for those things that are better. I will be a servant of Christ from here on out, moment after moment, day after day."

It isn't like that though, is it? My habits and faults aren't overcome with a single weekend of total immersion in the Spirit. They are still there, locked up inside, to be sweated over and worked on. My pride is still intact and has to be sloughed off slowly and sometimes painfully.

So this is what I pray for - tomorrow please let me begin the day with a prayer. Please let me turn the day over to my Heavenly Father, so that I can learn the lessons that that day holds. Please let me keep some of that aura in the form of the presence of the Holy Ghost, and please let me be worthy of it. Please let the changes that I do make be lasting.

10 Bucks Says...

......"Roomba" will be Oliver's first word.

For those who don't know, Chad buys salvage Roombas, fixes them, and then re-sells them on ebay. Kind of a strange hobby I know, but it keeps him busy at night and brings in a little extra cash.

Candy, anyone?

Well, Chad did not fall for my other April Fool's joke, but he sure did fall for this one! I opened up a pack of Reese's (Chad's favorite candy), took the candy out, and put refried beans in their place. Then I froze them to make them solid, put them back in the pack, and resealed it with super glue. As soon as Chad opened them up I yelled "April Fool's!" and he told me that if I hadn't, he would have taken a bite, because he thought the chocolate had just melted and reformed in the freezer or something. Darnit! That would be have a lovely picture if he had taken a bite.

Just to let you know, I later gave him the real candy - just because I am avoiding sweets right now. Otherwise........

A drawing from the birthday boy

In school lately, Colin's teachers have had them writing short phrases in Chinese and then illustrating them. Tuesday's assignment, as he explained to me, was to write "one person" and "big mouth" and then draw pictures for them. So, he "just made it easy" and drew me.

Have your kids ever made a rather acute observation about your appearence that isn't necessarily flattering?

By the way, he is quite correct -my mouth is rather large, BUT I am not the least bit orange and I unfortunately do not have Angelina lips to go with my mouth.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Gulp.

No, I am not pregnant.

Please forgive me, sweet Shannon and Joanne, for taking advantage of a mom with a newborn and a foreigner ;), who don't know how mean I can be. Thank you for sincere congratulations anyway! I obviously don't deserve them, in more ways than one.

Six years ago today, I was 38 weeks pregnant and yelled from the shower to Chad that my water broke. He rushed off to call work and I had to yell "April Fool's!" before he picked up the phone. Funny thing is, the very next morning, I awoke at 5:30 to my water breaking. If he hadn't had the wet mattress as proof I am sure Chad wouldn't have believed me when I woke him up.

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

I guess the hamburger cravings and morning witchiness should have been clues, but it is still a bit of a shock.