Let there be color!

If I could afford to, I'd buy like 6 more and fill that entire front flower bed with these lovely pops of colorful cotton candy. I still need to pick up a couple yards of mulch and fill everything in, but I doubt I will get around to it. Hopefully these addditions to the front yard will stay alive. They're so bright and beautiful, I sit stare at them every time I'm out on my front porch.  Happy birthday/mothers day to me. 

Mother's Day 2016

It was a real treat to spend Mother's Day weekend with my mom and Aaron's mom.  Flying home on Mother's Day was kind of a drag, but a necessary evil to be reunited with our boys!   

Aaron enjoyed a nice Mother's Day foot rub.

The boys picked out a wheelbarrow for my gift. I joked that Father's Day is going to be pretty great for me! Hahaha! 

I love and honor the role of mother and I'm thankful for the gift and responsibility. Mothers have the power to change the world. It's exhausting yet noble work and to all the mothers who are weary in the trenches, I salute you and your fine work, even if you feel like you're failing. If nothing else, your actions teach sacrifice, unconditional love, and selflessness in a  truly selfish world. 

Strawberry Fields Forever

My friend, Heidi, is rearranging her garden beds and offered her strawberry roots up to anyone who wanted to come dig them up. I just happened to have strawberry roots on my list of things to purchase, this year!  Get them for free? Fantastic! 

We went over after school and the big girls played, Corbin ran next door searching for boys at the Loden's, Soren sat by us and hunted for unharvested ripe strawberries to eat, and Sloane cried the whole time because I wasn't holding her. Heidi has doled out 100 roots already and still had over two hundred to clear out! It took 2 hours but we dug all of them up and chatted and tried to keep Sloane semi happy.  I enjoyed learning how to trim off the old runners and excess leaves and fruit for more successful transplanting. When I got home, I put the roots in water, then added a bag of sand and a bag of vermiculite to the new bed, wished I had top soil, but called it good enough. Aaron had church meetings, so I couldn't do anything else until after everyone went to bed. Once kids were settled, I spent almost 3 hours planting strawberry roots by the glow of a flashlight. Here is the result in the morning. Not bad for working in the dark. 

Aaron is not super happy that I'm "taking away all of the lawn." If it were up to me, The whole backyard would be raised beds and zero lawn! I dream of fruit trees and learning how to grow cut flowers, and rows of ranunculus and dahlias. Who needs a lawn?! ;) I told him he will sing a different song when he's (hopefully) not paying $5/week for strawberries next spring. 

I actually hadn't planned to put strawberries here, because the blueberries will need more acidic soil, but when they're free and you don't have any space prepared for them, you just plant them anywhere and everywhere and hope for the best! I will just add pine needles to the mulch around the base of the blueberries. 

On Thursday morning, we had a million doctor and school appointments, and when we got home, I was anxious to get the roots out of the bins and into the ground. I brought Sloane outside in a stroller and hauled several loads of compost around to the southeast side of the house and filled 50 square feet of unused beds. Soren and I planted the rest of the roots there when Sloane napped. 

Don't they look sad?! I thought for sure they would "perk up" after planting, but I have doubts about how successful these beds will be. I was only able to grow green beans successfully in them, last year, because they get afternoon shade once the trees fill out. I'm still holding on to hope that they'll be just right for strawberries. 

There are 2 more beds down below, not visible in the photo. One is also full of  strawberries, and I'm going to try asparagus in the other, since we will be almost done harvesting by late spring when the trees cover it in shade.  I tried transplanting raspberries there in the fall and they never took root. I should have been more diligent about watering, though. I will faithfully tend to these strawberries! 

Sometimes, when I think about the hours I've spent working our garden, and how sleep deprived I am, or how grossly bathrooms are, it doesn't feel worth it.  I know that's a whiny thing to post,but my hope is that they will be successful and bear loads of fruit. Years (and hopefully even months and weeks) from now, I will harvest something delicious, then remember the days spent building boxes, moving dirt and rocks until my arms couldn't move and back ached, and be grateful I stuck it out. 

And if it's not successful? At least I enjoyed the vitamin D therapy, exercise, and the kids got to play in the dirt! 

Provo City Half Marathon

When in Utah, you do things you can only do in Utah. Like sit on grass with no bugs in it, enjoy being outside without sweating, attend the temple, stock up on cute shirts with sleeves on them and long shorts, eat cafe rio, shop for essentials at Deseret Book, order fry sauce with everything, visit friends and family who have returned to reside in the motherland, and run a race on a Saturday. Even if the last two mean waking up at 3am to get down to Provo in time for a 4am bus pickup. I checked the weather and dressed appropriately for the actual race, but I severely underdressed for the hours we'd be standing outside beforehand! Brrrr! At least the new Provo City Center temple is breathtakingly beautiful all lit up at night. (Errr...I mean morning...) Kasey and I saw Carly and had a crazy group hug that induced the first set of tears for the day and I knew it would be a good day. 

We were bussed up the canyon and the long drive made me nervous...we were on the road for a long time! Why did I sign up to run this?! Am I really ready for this? 

It was freezing up in the canyon and I was so cold I ached. 

I've never been so happy to see a campfire. People saw my poor bare arms and legs and compassionately moved me right up next to the fire, where I joined another woman with Raynauds in crouching down next to the coals and massaging the color back into our fingers. We all had ash on our hair and shoulders by the time the race began, and I could not have cared less. That fire saved me! With every mind huddled around in little groups in the woods around tiny bonfires in the dark, it felt a bit like we'd shown up for the "Barkley Marathons"! 

Being up in that canyon for a couple hours before the race began was a special experience. There was good comradery, and watching the sunrise up behind those massive magestic snow capped mountains was glorious. 

The race was amazing. Fast fast fast and downhill. I hit 5 miles in 50 minutes, and 6.2 miles in 62 minutes...a 10k PR for me for sure. Then at mile 7 I started to have some tummy trouble. Bad. I thought I might have to stop in the bushes. And not in the kind of way that anyone wants to stop in the bushes. Ever. TMI? Whatever.  I just kept running and debating what to do and by some miracle, turned a corner and found an unoccupied port a potty (labeled "honey bucket", could there BE a worse name for a portable toilet? Hahahaha). It was perfect timing, but unfortunately the stop I made ate up a serious chunk of time. I think I could have PR'd at this race if I hadn't stopped. BUT I also might have had a serious disaster if I hadn't stopped, so even though I didn't break a record, I saved myself from public humiliation. That's a win! 

Even with a bathroom stop, I still managed to finish in 2hrs 21 minutes...almost 9 minutes faster than the bentonville half! Talk about a fast course! Almost all of our training the past 6 weeks has been up and down Tiger Blvd and the Crystal Bridges Hill at Compton Gardens. To run downhill was such a treat! Killer on the quads but so worth it for how fun it was to feel like a fast runner. 

These women. I love them. They are "sole sisters!" (Ha! See what I did there?) I love that when I got in Kaseys car at 0dark30am, we could have sat in complete silence the whole drive and still felt like we'd conversed when we got out. Instead we laughed and asked ourselves "what are we doing? Why did we sign up for this? No one should be awake at 3am! That's still yesterday!" And pepped each other up with pre race talk that only a training partner knows how to do.  When I saw Carly I hugged her for like 2 minutes straight. Miss her already. Thank goodness for technology that keeps us emotionally connected to people we are physically far away from. I refuse to lose this girl!  Being in this with friends I love made me all nostalgic and lovey feeling. Running through Provo canyon as the sun came up was a spiritual experience. I loved looking up at the snow capped mountains and bridal veil falls, and turned off my music as I passing under blooming tree canopies so I could hear the rushing Provo River next to me. It was a feast for the senses and I really made an effort to take it all in. That high lasted all day long. 

I am actually kind of glad I didn't or at this race, because it will now remind me that I don't have to be at my personal best to have a wonderful experience. It was an unforgettable day. Thank you to my people for being there! 

Pretty Much

Meg turns 34

I had a nice birthday. 

Aaron was out of town most of last week. He returned, and on that same day my brother in law came to stay with us for a few days following a job interview he was flown out to NWA for. On Friday night, the father son campout was canceled due to severe weather, and the boys were crushed, so Aaron and Josh took them to see Zootopia at the movie theater. I was exhausted from a week of sick baby and fell asleep on the sofa while the girls got ready to settle in for a girls night When Calls the Heart marathon. 

Imagine my surprise when Kasey woke me up to say we were going out! Aaron had arranged for her to pick up our sitter so we could go out for a girls night! I was groggy and tired but that didn't stop me from putting on some real pants and getting in the car. :) 

Kasey drove us to Copelands, where Surprise! Chris M, Mardee C, Jill S, Katie G, Julie S, Michelle Z, and Tia G were there to join us for dessert! 

Happy Birthday to me!  

We stuffed ourselves with Big Al's chocolate cake and bananas foster and had some laughs. We only remembered to take a pic after Tia and Chris had left. Thanks Kasey and Aaron for putting together such a fun surprise!! 

On Saturday I was still in just-needs-sleep mode. I barely made it through our muggy rainy early morning run. Like barely. I even cut it short and headed back sooner than planned. I was lucky to come home to cute children covering every surface with balloons and love notes and birthday surprises, like a donut "breakfast in bed" And my fave: fresh tulips on my table. :) 

We took Uncle Josh to Crystal Bridges and checked out the new exhibit. Wildly fantastic stuff. Wow. 

 

One of the children had a tough time begins out and about and a tantrum resulted in us needing to head home earlier than planned. I was honestly a bit grateful though because I was so tired! Little ones napped, big ones played basketball and mouse trap with dad and Josh and I put myself to bed for a glorious 2 hour birthday nap. There is nothing finer, folks. It was wonderful and exactly what this exhausted mama needed! I could have slept for 10 hours but woke up after two feeling refreshed and able to function again.

How cute is this scene I discovered? Uncles of the world take note, we have a new favorite! 

Dinner was another night out! Aaron planned it before the other surprise took shape so I was spoiled with two nights of celebrating. Josh offered to go catch a movie alone so we could have a date night but I think that's just ridiculous. How often do we get company? Rarely. We insisted he come along and third wheel it with us. 

 I started with dessert because that's how I do things and the chocolate toffee creme brûlée at Tavola is incredible. We ate, wandered the square for a bit, enjoyed Josh's company, and came home to the sight and smell of the babysitter baking fresh cookies.  

Between Friday's smorgasbord, date night, treats from Kasey and Elizabeth, donuts, sheet cake that Aaron bought to share with the neighborhood, and the snicker doodles Mariah made, I have eaten an obscene amout of desserts this weekend. Obscene. Worth it! You only have one birthday a year, man. 

At 34 I feel: 

Content and prepared. I'm very happy with my life. It is busy and loud and chaotic and I'm always tired. I also feel loved, valued, respected, and challenged. I have purpose and I get to use my talents daily. I plead for help daily. I yearn for summer break, a day at the temple, more time to work in the yard, read a book, and for a night away with my husband. 

But other than time, I want for nothing. My life is richly blessed, and I know that with this gift, there is an expectation of reciprocity. 

I've spent the past 5-6 months pondering my special mission. I have been pouring over some paragraphs in my Patriarchal Blessing and considering how to fill the measure of my potential and Heavenly Father's will for me...and how to recognize what that will is. I have work to do, and this terrifies me because I often already feel like my life is maxed out on responsibility. I like being comfortable, and now that I finally am getting comfortable with the management of life, it's time to reach and do more. Through prayer and guidance of the Spirit, my mission is unfolding and I think it's time to stop shying away from the call. I have a history of asking Heavenly Father to lighten my burdens when things get rough. One example is how I spent the first 3-4 months that I had postpartum depression and anxiety trying to just "wait it out", because that's what has worked in the past. Ha! I know that my faith, without works, is dead. It took action (and time, and grace) to get better.  I understand now that I cannot rely on grace alone to get through trials. I must act. This thought has led me to a realization that I cannot just wait around for an easier season of life or put off doing the Lord's work until it is more convenient time.  This is the year I accept trials and challenges as gifts and blessings, and make more of an effort to learn from them, rather than escape them. It's exciting and daunting and difficult to understand that the Lord's knowledge of my capability is so much greater than my own perspective. I feel maxed out many days, but at the same time, I am learning that the trials I faced in the past year, the ones that stretched me so very thin, were for my good. What I thought was a phase of testing (and failing) were months of stretching, molding, and conditioning. Through the tough year of juggling more than I wish to handle, I feel that my capacity has increased   I have somehow learned to just carry more, and to be ok with the plates that do drop and shatter. I'm harvesting gratitude for what I've learned and feel ready to work. 

Hello, 34. My sleeves are up. Gimme what you've got. 

Cabbage Patch Baby

Hydrangeas coming soon to a front yard near you.