Hurry, Hurry!

Hunter just went to sleep. Aidan went home with Andrea. Helena's out with Aunt Christina. Dan's putting his work stuff away in the basement.

Now's my chance to BLOG!

Okay, okay, don't get all worked up. It has to be short.

Today has been an exhausting day, right down to my weary bones. As a youngster, I used to think having a house full of kids would be bliss beyond compare. At this point I'm seriously reconsidering this! Do parents of many children have some kind of energy pill I can't access?

I was tagged, like, 3 weeks ago, and have I done anything about it? Absofruitly not. But I've been thinking about it. I am going to give 6 things about myself that aren't things I like, or things I do, or things I want. I'll describe things I AM, right now.

1. I am curious. There is NEVER enough knowledge in the world for me. I've been downloading random podcasts to learn more about everything, from "NOVA" to BYU's Kennedy Center Lectures. Being curious is good, but when I'm really entranced in a book or something I have to force myself to return to the reality at hand.

2. I am too self-aware. Or self-conscious. Don't know which is a better descriptive term. But what I mean is, I'm too concerned with how I look, or what I said, or whatever. I'm more cautious now in my relationships that I used to be. I'm not exactly sure why this is. Seems like I had confidence to spare in high school (maybe I was just a snotty and obnoxious teenager. Sorry to all of those reading this who put up with me then as now!).

3. I am more creative and capable than I let on. Now, I'm not tooting my own horn here (I'm a violinist and pianist, no horns for me!), but I've discovered since I had kids that I have these resources WAY on down inside of me that come out at the most fortunate times. I can remember the words to complete songs to entertain the kids. Or I make up a song. I can think of activities to do for our Friends Preschool that actually make sense. I can create my own recipes (not that I usually feel like it.). I really can cook, no matter how much I joke about my inadequacies in that department. But I wish I had more of a handle on the "homemaking arts" like sewing, knitting, canning, decorating, etc. Thanks to Holly's recent Halloween efforts I know it's not too late!

4. I have a cheerful nature. Of course, now I have more to bog me down (as Dan puts it) because I have more responsibility, but fundamentally, still there. I am also compassionate and really pretty soft-hearted behind the wall of humor and stoicism. I want to get rich someday but not to live in one of those disgustingly hugh McMansions and wear flip-flops with rhinestones...more money means I can help the people I love and the people who actually need it. (To someone reading this in Kenya I already live in a McMansion, and hey, at least I have shoes!).

5. I have learned how to take on and fulfill responsibilities. I think dependability is one of the greatest characteristics of God. I've also learned how to ask for help (at least occasionally) and decline with grace (once in a while.). I am not perfect in this area yet, clearly.

6. I have high expectations of myself. This is both good and bad, obviously. While it inspires me to be better it also creates guilt when I fall short. Also, it translates into having higher expectations for other people. On the other hand, I can understand and accept that, both for me and for others, we have the person we ARE and then person we want to BE and they're rarely one and the same.

Thanks to Caity for tagging me. This was a good chance to think about myself, my favorite thing in the whole world to do! (Just kidding.).

I have one other thing to say: There are a few principles in life that will lead to righteous living. But the great thing is, there are an infinite number of practices that support those principles. Here's a good example: Families. Some people have 4 kids in rapid succession. Some people have 4 kids spread over 20 years. Doesn't matter - each family did what worked best, and all of them "multiplied and replenished the earth." They all lived the principle but practiced the gospel in a different way. Neat, huh?

I noticed tonight that Helena knows a lot of songs. We were driving in the car, listening to a song (by Queen), and she said, "Will you turn it up?" A minute later I hear, "Oh how I want to break freeee" coming from the backseat. And Hunter, who gets more adorable by the second, has started to say "Maaamaaa" when he's upset and giggle whenever I put the phone up to his ear. In fact, he's giggling a lot. It's an awfully cute giggle.