Ramblings from a Slightly Deranged But Serene Mind

So, yesterday we went on a family bike ride. 

Notice how easily I mention that.  It was several years in the making, that ride.

The big O.co had a bike sale, so we all have them, now.  Mine is sleek and sassy.  I chose to remain unpregnant for one more day, thank you very much, to thus be fully capable of riding. 

We hooked the bike trailer up to Mr. Cool;
  Little K and the Caboose rode there.

HP and Little P rode with the bike tow bar.

How cool is that?

Then, all of us rode off into the sunset, because it took a couple of hours to get shoes on, tires pumped, hardware attached, helmets located, and the LYD secured.  (Little Yippy Dog--why hasn't she made an appearance here, yet?  Hmmm...)
 

It was surprisingly satisfying for me to watch the whole tribe riding along.  How much more time do we all have together like this before the little birds fly away?  (And how do we keep them from pecking me and each other to death before they go?) 

Later that night, as I rocked the Caboose, I reflected again about the magic of motherhood.  How well it's possible to know and love someone so small.  How just-right they feel in your arms--like a longing satisfied.  I though of parents who lose their little ones and the unimaginably intense pain they must feel.

Today I blissfully cooked dinner and watched half the children in the neighborhood slide down the stairs on the couch cusion. 

Caboose was getting more and more agitated that they wouldn't let her ride, too.  (I'm a mean mom, and I have to draw the line somewhere.  How would explain THAT on the 10:00 news?  "I thought she'd be OK.  The cushion is pretty soft, and she's a tough kid.  NO.) 

She needed a bottle and a nap, but I kept putting her off so that I could complete the task at hand.  Finally she stopped crying and found something to do downstairs.  A few minutes later Little K said, "Oh, the baby's asleep"  and I freaked out.  The thought came to my mind, what if she wasn't asleep, but had choked on something! 

Hey, I'm a mom, I worry needlessly a lot.  That and unnecessary guilt are my specialty.  Anyway, I ran down the stairs to find her, like Little K said, asleep.  (Whew.  Duh.)


I picked Caboose up and tried to put her to bed, but she awoke and reached into her mouth to present me with the MARBLE she had been sucking on.  (Insert Oh my "h" word under my breath here.)



I'm so thankful that she is still alive!  Angels surely watch over us.

Physician, Heal Thyself!

Oye!  I went with a sweet friend a while ago as moral support to help her check out a new psychiatrist.  Dr. Quack (not his real name) had a friendly office staff and a pleasant waiting room.  Friend and I had been having a great visit, laughing and talking when he called us in.

Dr. Loco seemed fine, if a little antsy as we began talking, but then he decided that it was too bright in the room, so he TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS to make us "more comfortable."   Uh, not so much.  (Insert Twilight Zone music here)

Then he proceeded to try to change my friend's diagnosis, meds, and accused her of having a traumatic experience as a four-year old.  Doc Bonkers then announced he would issue a "test".

"Doctor Daffy says, 'Count backwards from 100 by 7s.'"

Come again?

My friend gamely started to subtract--I couldn't make eye contact at this point.  "Uh, 100, 93, 8, uh eighty-uh..."  We both started to laugh our heads off.  (Which, if you think about it, is a healthy response to diffuse tension.)

"No!  I need you to be serious!" Shouts Dr. Distress.

Deep breath.  "Uh, OK.  100, 93, uh, 86, 89, wait, no!"

"Now.  How are you feeling?"  Doom.

"I guess I'm embarrassed because I can't do simple math."

"WRONG!!!  You're anxious!   WHY can't you express your true emotions!?!  We're going to need to work on this."

It went downhill from there.  If we didn't go into the visit neurotic, we were both surely psychotic when we left.

Turns out that Doctor Dweezle doesn't accept credit cards, so we had to drive to the gas station to get $200 in cash!  Friend declined to make a return appointment.  It wasn't really a "good fit."

No kiddin'!

A Peace that Passes Understanding

At the beginning of the summer, I was running on fumes.  The move had been difficult.  My body was in a state of atrophy.  I missed my friends.    I was hanging by a thread.



As I was giving the Lord my woes one night, He invited me to wean the caboose and join Him on a spiritual retreat.  (See posted poem about weaning from earlier this summer.)


I was finally able to go, and it was amazing.  I went from years of flying around from task to task, to just peace.

Yesterday I left home about 4:00 and went to the Mt. Timpanogos temple.

I prayed, pondered and studied for FOUR uninterrupted hours.  Felt such love and gratitude for our Savior.


After that, I enjoyed a quiet, hot meal that I didn't have to share. 

 I read the new Reader's Digest as I ate.  Did I mention I was alone?


My parents graciously allowed me to use their guest room as a hotel. 



 For the next hour I studied the scriptures, pondered and prayed.  Quiet.



I then SLEPT for TWELVE STRAIGHT HOURS!  Hallelujah!!! 

The next morning (almost noon!) as I showered, alone with my thoughts (oh, the bliss!), I realized that what I was feeling in that specific moment in time was PEACE.

I felt clean inside and out.

Because Jesus Christ was willing to pay the price for me, I am able to feel this peace that He promised; the peace that passeth all understanding.  The peace of knowing that my life is aligned with God's will, that I will be with Him again someday, that my Savior loves me, that His Spirit will always be with me.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philip. 4:7).





I then ate another meal flying solo--I could get used to this!  And I returned to the temple,                     

for two more hours of service and love.  I returned home refreshed, refueled and so very grateful for all that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with!

Here are some before/after picts:

BEFORE

AFTER

 

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

       

The Whole Fandamily

'Tis the season, I guess, for family reunions, so here are some picts. (Thanks, Brenda--I love having my own personal photographer!)
Rowan Reunion at Lagoon:

 Cousin A drove Little K around--not remarkable unless you know that when Cousin A was born, doctors pretty much proclaimed her a vegetable and declared that she would never...

 The Caboose drank her weight in slushies.

 Little K and Cousin A again.

Later that week, we went to the Zoo with the Cuthbert family.

Then Seven Peaks, and another reunion, followed by Sarah's baptism.  BIG week.