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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Hello Summer.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

It feels like I should be grading a stack of papers right now, or typing my lesson plans, or my weekly newsletter/blog. Yet, I am not because school is out for summer.

The last few weeks push of school left me super tired almost to the point that I wondered if I had acquired mononucleosis or some other terrible disease. You think I am kidding. I am not.

My Dad asked me today if I was tired. He is used to me saying, "I'm tired," under my breath at their house as I flop on the couch or sit outside chewing the fat with my family. No, I said actually I am not. He asked if I relaxed this weekend and I said yes I did! (This is me relaxing....read on)

I cleaned out the pantry and chucked all of the expired cans of food...some dating to 2011. oh dear. I cleaned the kitchen with my children's help, I worried over my broken dryer and tried to fix it myself to no avail. I scheduled a repairman, my cousin Briggs to come take a look at it. I patched nail holes in the wall of my loft to prep it for painting. I took a load of pillows and a rug to Goodwill, I went swimming with my children and I organized the cereal/medicine cabinet in my kitchen. I planned the next weeks menu, I bought groceries, reviewed my bills, took my children to church and to the movie Tomorrowland. I gave my kids an art lesson and taught them how to cook chicken in the crock pot to make chicken tacos and we talked about all of the things they could make for dinner with shredded chicken from the crock pot. They helped me make dinner (chicken tacos) and cleaned their rooms. We hung up the white load to dry in the garage, you know since the dryer is broken.....and no I am not tired. It is amazing to me. Teaching is hard work.

Husky Drawing lesson..mine..not awesome

Ellie's...pretty awesome

Aydan's...unique and could maybe be a character on Adventure Time.

Tomorrow I will go into Mesa Public Schools to enroll in their insurance plan for next year. I have a new hire packet to fill out as well. So, a new job and adventure to look forward to. I will so miss the school I am at as I love the teachers, students, staff, admin...everybody really. I plan on buying the paint I need for the loft so I can get started on the painting. It is way too dark in there and the lighting isn't super great. I am so excited to re-do my loft. I have some art projects planned for my kids and I to do for decorations in there. I have this grand picture I have been forming in my head of how it will look and where the furniture will go. I hope it turns out as grand as the picture in my head.

Paint chips..for the loft

I have a lot of things that are in need of refresh/repair. Including me. I am tired and run-down and it is time to recharge! The cold sore that formed on my lip tonight is a sure sign of being run down. I will continue my exercise routine and plan on cooking A LOT more. I also get to just be a MOM. How fun is that? I have a perfectionist problem I make these lists that have SO many things on them there is no way they will ever get done. I put gobs of pressure on myself and then end up tired and emotional if I don't accomplish everything on the list. This is something I have learned about myself and I know that I need to be careful about making reasonable task lists. I also need to remember to just relax.

Summer Projects:

1. The Loft (To-Do List).... AKA...... THE PIT that collects everything- paint, curtains, desk assembled for homework etc, new to me couch coming next week, art projects to finish in there, hang art I already have, order family pictures taken in December and still do not have ONE hanging in the house.....reupholster chair for desk and paint it, find a rug for the room, more lighting, and accent pillows, call cable company to see about a cable jack in there...I am hoping to have all of this done in two weeks.

2. Figure some health issues out, do a cleanse, drink lots of water, exercise everyday and spend a little R&R at the pool reading. YES, you heard me, reading I actually have TIME to read a few books! So happy about that!

3. Organize kitchen cabinets, get rid of old junk like expired food, medicine, and stuff that hasn't been used in years.

4. Get family pictures for front room and possibly kitchen.

5. Enjoy the chaos of running kids to school and swim team for the next two weeks....... ALONG with dropping them off to school in my work out clothes! Do you know how envious I am of the Mom's who pull up and GET to DROP their kids off at school in their work out clothes and then have ALL morning and afternoon to just do STUFF?!? I GET TO DO THAT TOO NOW!! Yipee. The perks of being a teacher.

So. I will stop there because I don't want to get all stressed out when I am supposed to be on vacation. I am so happy and grateful for summers!

XOXO- It's my season folks......The Sunny D

Labels: projects, Single Mom, summer, teacher

Monday, May 25, 2015

Ellie's Baptism

My beautiful girl. My sister took her baptism photos and did such a great job. I am so grateful for Morgan's many talents!

Ellie was baptized Saturday, May 23 at 9am. It was attended by family and friends. She was baptized by her Father and the baptism was witnessed by both of her Grandfathers. Talks were given by Mema Rosanne about baptism and Mema Rosemary about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. A special musical number was performed by her and her Tidwell cousins. We had Bosa donuts and milk right afterwards. I was so proud of Ellie for her choice to be baptized. She turned 8 in February and we were patiently waiting on a few things so her Dad could baptize her. It was a special day for both of them. She was anxious to be baptized!

In our church when we are baptized we make covenants with Heavenly Father. A covenant is a sacred promise we make with Heavenly Father. Here is what we promise and what Heavenly Father promises us through baptism.

When I was baptized I made a covenant to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ and to serve Him and be obedient.

Heavenly Father has given me the Holy Ghost. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can be forgiven of my sins when I repent. If I keep my baptismal covenant, I can return to live with Him.

When I take the sacrament, I renew my covenant to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Him, and to obey His commandments. When I do this, I can feel the Holy Ghost guiding me.

It is a wonderful blessing to be baptized and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. There are many times in my life that I have recognized the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost and many times he has rushed to my aid to give me comfort and peace. As Ellie's Mom I am so glad she can have this blessing too.

This is a font dress that was sewn by her Aunt Betsy Tidwell. All of the little girls have been baptized in this dress.

Tidwell cousins practicing for the special musical number with Grandma Tidwell

Waiting to be baptized

Going with her Dad to the font

After her baptism

I am so grateful for baptism. I am grateful my children have mad the choice themselves to be baptized. Ellie's baptism was lovely.

XOXO- The Sunny D

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Mourning Morning

True.

Sigh.

It has been a week.

A few thoughts. I think IKEA is the best place to shop ever because when you bring your stuff home it smells like cinnamon rolls. I mean is that a great ploy or what?

I wonder if divorce will ever stop being a part of me. Like when can I move on from that? Will I ever? Or as long as I have children and am working in a co-parenting team will I always have a slice of me that is divorce, like having blond hair, blue eyes, and freckles? I don't know. Does that end when the children are 18 and out of the house? When there is no more co-parenting to do?

Long story short, Ellie had to be baptized Saturday morning so that her Dad and his new lovely wife could be sealed and she could attend. In my church people are sealed in a temple for time and all eternity.

Really and truly on a normal week this would have been no big deal, however the week before the last week of school with two days notice really made my head spin. I also wasn't prepared for all of the feelings that came with it. It pushed me into grieving mode, full on mourning. I have to say I think feelings are terrible things, except for the happy ones. I like those. The sad feelings I can do without thank you very much. The truth of the matter is I was deeply sad. I was happy that my children's father is moving forward. I am so glad about that. It gave me a few days to stop and think about the past, mourn it, see things I could change and have changed and move forward. It was hard not to feel stuck somehow though and a little bit let down. Did I miss the actual marriage? No. I didn't. Was I sad that I wasn't married, yes. I like being married and I miss having a companion.

As I reflected on the past I realized that it was time to focus on what was ahead of me. It was time to be in the present and just like a gift I realized that tomorrow there would be a new day. A new morning, fresh and clean. I could get up and it would be better than the ones I had behind me. That was a good feeling. I was also supported by my family. They came and helped me organize my classroom after Ellie's baptism. That was another thing I realized my family sticks by me and loves me. I am so very grateful for them.

So I have learned that it is OK to be sad. It is OK to feel. I have also learned it is even better to wake up to a new day. Do the work you love and do it well. I am grateful for every single bright morning.

Things aren't always so hard. Mostly, things are happy and sunshiny. I have a good life. I enjoy it. Here are some really good things. Ellie's baptism deserves its own post. I will add that later.