Ego

I've always wanted to change the world. To really really make a difference. Cure AIDS, save the children, find the secret to happiness, end hunger, and accomplish world peace.

That's what motherhood is. I had this same feeling with my first child but had forgotten about it until I had my second child. The feeling of accomplishment is overwhelming. I hold my baby in my arms and feel that this gift to the world is my "difference". If bringing him into the world is the only good thing I ever do, it is enough. I could die happy now, completely fulfilled.

Mormon take on the Nativity

Christmas has come and gone. I'd certainly say it was the most low key, non stressful, easy holiday season I've experienced in my life (okay, "adult life: since things don't get too stressful when you are seven and asking for a Beauty and the Beast sleeping bag). With the impending arrival of our second child, I had Christmas preparations done weeks in advance.

Eli was born a few days early and life has been all about babies, home, family, Christ, and service. My mind has explored some obscure trains of thought as I sit up with our night owl baby. The two of us gaze at the glowing Christmas tree in the silent hours before dawn. In my almost drunken state from lack of sleep, I've pondered life and what my purpose is, the strength and importance of family, and how lovely it is to hunker down at home and be separated from the craziness of life. Mostly I just look at the faces of my boys, checking on those that are sweetly sleeping, and adoring the bright eyed little boy in my arms.

On Christmas Eve I kept myself entertained for hours creating a parody of "if the Mormons were at the Nativity".


I don't mean to be disrespectful about my religion, but it's always entertaining to poke fun at our unique culture. The whole reason I started coming up with the parody in the first place is because my ward has been absolutely amazing to us. They brought us meals for a week. We had visitors, phone calls, and gifts from dozens of well-wishers. Our good news and the crazy story that accompanies it was already wide spread by they time Jason went to church three days later (so only a little clarification of the facts was needed).

I wish I remembered it all, but here's what my foggy brain retained:

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there wouldn't have been the "No room in he inn" situation. Their bishop from their Nazarene ward would have called ahead to let the ward know that they were coming. Indeed,  the Elders Quorum would have been ready and waiting to help them move into their new place. When it was found out they were staying in the stable, they would have received dozens of offers of homes they could stay in. When they refused, they would have been praised for their emergency preparedness and "pioneer spirit". The young men would have come together to clean the stable as a service project and one would have made the manger for his Eagle Scout. 

The Christ child wouldn't have been wrapped in swaddling clothes, but rather hand knitted outfits made by the compassionate service committee that they just happened to have on hand. The angel wouldn't have been needed to tell the shepherds about his birth for it would have been covered in ward counsel, the ward newsletter, and even the Relief Society blog. The three wise men would have been the Relief Society presidency, bringing gifts of lime jello casserole, a three month supply of food storage, and completed family history for both sides of the family.

When Joseph had his dream to flee to Egypt it wouldn't have been a scary-flee-in-the-night type of move. Some one's family would already be headed that way and would generously offer to take the little family with them in their 15 passenger van. They would sing Primary songs along the way, munch on homemade trail mix, and already have callings when they arrived.

reason #47 I love my family

What? What does your family do when they get together for the holidays?

Nesting

I've always thought that the "nesting instinct" was similar to pregnancy cravings, or colic; a term that is thrown at every similar characteristic. The words are used too generally and given too much vague significance. Pregnant women are totally crazy but I don't think that means we should go around labeling all our behaviors. I guess I've just always been annoyed when hormones are blamed for behavior. Ladies, let's take some accountability for how we act.

Anyway... I've been going on a cleaning/organized kick around the house and Jason is certainly enjoying teasing me about nesting. Whether nesting is legit or not, the fruits of my labor are satisfying. Too bad I haven't spent more of my energy on detailing the cars or knitting baby booties.

This is how I nest :)

The Gear

The Storage Room

To be fair I alphabetized my sauce and seasoning packets. Even I smirked at myself. I call it organization meets boredom. Call it what you want.

Words of the Week on a Liberty theme

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. -John Adams

You have never lived, 'til you have almost died. And for those who fight for it, life has a flavor that the protected will never know." -Anonymous

The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold that to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered. -Thomas Jefferson

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. -Samuel Adams

Once we roared like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security! The solution for America's problem is not in terms of big government, but it is in big men over whom nobody stands in control but God. -Norman Vincent Peale

 

Every time the government grows we lose more of who we are. -Glenn Beck

 

Parade

I am WAAAAAY behind on...well...everything.

So here's a look back on some of our fun from early in December. We went to the Storybook Cavalcade Christmas Parade, which is ridiculously amazing for our little town. The floats and costumes are pretty dang cool. I can't remember though, what does it have to do with Christmas?



Clockwise: Here are a bunch of the Heaton clan kiddos, Noah's Ark (with a unicorn? He obviously only got one on board), our little family (Jason's mouth full of sunflower seeds) , Buzz Lightyear, and a big whale float (kids were simultaneously yelling "Jonah" and "Pinocchio")