vicissitudes: successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs
I love this word. I'm not sure why really. I remember learning it back when I was in high school. I think I like the way it rolls off the tongue. When I was on my mission, I came across a quote by Brigham Young (former Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints):
"Every vicissitude we pass through is necessary for experience and
example, and for preparation to enjoy that reward which is for the faithful."
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems to me that I feel inspired and excited about life and my responsibilities one day and then the next day I feel completely discouraged. Many days I feel like my bread has been turning out lately:
Isn't that sad?! Today has been a good day, which is perhaps why I am blogging. I don't like to blog on my down days- I just want to go to sleep so that I can forget about the day and get a new day in the morning to try over.
When I was really down and discouraged I kept thinking, "What am I doing wrong?!" Of course, there are MANY things I am doing wrong and that I need to improve upon, but overall, I think I am mostly doing okay. I am pretty sure that these vicissitudes I am experiencing are perfectly normal. I am right about this aren't I? Someone please tell me I am right.
There was a point last week that I wanted to just quit homeschooling and say forget it. (Interesting isn't it in light of my last post wherein I felt so inspired?) It can be so hard for me to get everything done in a day. I sometimes feel like I will never be able to do enough in terms of education for my children. So why am I trying to do it myself?!? But, then we have good days; days that their eyes light up when they learn something and days when we have fun doing things together and I think, "I CAN do this!" So mostly I come to a point in my mind where I think, I may not do this whole homeschooling thing perfectly, but it is worth it. My children are learning and growing and doing great.
Well, those are some of my thoughts on life lately. Oh and just this one more that keeps popping into my head. I am so thankful for this scripture from the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon:
" by small and simple things are great things brought to pass"
That thought always makes me feel better. I may not be able to do big things, but I can do small and simple things.
Here are some of our recent joys, events, and pictures of daily life around here:
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| Arianna and Kate. Kate adores Arianna- she gives her the biggest smiles! |
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| Isn't that adorable! |
Kate has been sleeping through the night most every night for the last week and a half. She is such a pleasant baby. I can't believe she will be 3 months old on Friday! She has learned to laugh and really gets cooing and babbling sometimes. It is so much fun to have her in our family.
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| I love sleeping children! |
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| Grant wants to read books every night before he goes to sleep. This night he told me he was going to read all the 'Cat in the Hat' books. |
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| It wore him right out! |
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| It seems he chooses a different place to fall alseep each night- usually with a book in hand. |
I love this boy- but I especially love him when he is asleep. He has been quite a handfull lately. Probably because he needs more attention from me. I am simply having a hard time doing everything I need to do. I don't even think I get around to doing a quarter of the things I'd like to in a day!
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| Okay, I really do like him when he's awake, too. Who can resist that smile! |
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| Kate's first time in the Bumbo seat. Isn't she a cutie?! |
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| Her hair has really lightened from what it was when she was born. I hope she keeps her beautiful blue eyes! |
Emma had her first Piano Recital. She was really nervous, but when she realized she knew most everyone who was there and it wasn't a huge crowd, she felt much better. She did so well! The recital really inspired her to want to continue to learn more. She came home that evening after it was over and wanted to play more. She played Zip-a-dee-do-dah and Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
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| Emma's first Piano Recital |
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| Emma played a duet with her Piano Teacher |
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| Here is a view of our backyard from our master bedroom |
I am not sure what the kids are doing by the garden, but there they are. Speaking of the master bedroom, I moved Kate into the crib in the girls' room a week and a half ago. She has been doing great! It is definitely nice to have our room back, too. The weather has been so nice (until today) that we have been sleeping with the windows open and we wake up to this gorgeous view of the trees. So lovely.
The garden is starting to grow a little, but it seems for every couple days of nice weather we get, we get a day of cold, freezing weather again. We hear this is kind-of normal for Kansas.
Kenneth finally finished his work for Lockheed and as of last Friday is no longer emplyed by them. We are thankful for all the opportunities that Lockheed afforded us. It was, truthfully, very hard for Kenneth to move on. He likes his new job, but moving from California and leaving Lockheed has been harder than he thought it would be.
Now that he is no longer working a second job, his spare time is spent building the chicken coop for our growing flock of chickens. We currently have 8 rapidly growing chicks and 2 more will join us in the next couple of days. Let me tell you, these birds need that coop! They are getting too big for their current home!
Arianna is really doing well with her reading (if only I could spend more time with her!) Also, today she almost insisted that I start to teach her how to play the piano (I think the recital inspired her, too!)
Well, stay tuned, folks. I'll be posting again (barring any catastrophies) in couple of days. My first child turns seven on Friday! How in the world did that happen?!
