I'm Baring my Soul! And it's not pretty!

WARNING: Bare with me here - I'm having a moment!

I WANT to clean!

I mean - I really really WANT to WANT to clean!

There is so much clutter and stuff that needs to be gone through. So much that needs to be tossed and gotten rid of.

How does one get the motivation to do so. . .

Does anyone have a secret? Something you do to push yourself through day in and day out. Something that helps you just keep at it until it actually gets done???

I feel like all I do is start over.

I have actually been thinking about literally taking everything out of my house like I am moving so I can clean really good and then put only back what I have to. But I'm afraid I'll never really get it done and I'll have 6 boxes (per room) of stuff sitting there that need to be gone through. Like so many boxes of *stuff* that I already have! (Very sad truth - I haven't moved for 24 years! These aren't boxes full of stuff because I've moved... but boxes full of stuff because I can't get it done!)

*My Dream* - Someday, every room will have minimal stuff. All the pictures will be organized, ready to be scrap booked. Everything will have a place and a place for everything. Dust and grime will be easily cleaned because there isn't stuff in the way! Things that aren't *needed* will be NO more! I will know how to keep my computer clean and organized. I will have figured out a system for all the pictures saved on my computer but not yet printed. I will be able to USE the scrapbook supplies I have purchased. I will be able to FIND important certificates and things I need. I will know what is important to keep and what can be thrown away like receipts and other pain in the neck papers! Hey, while I'm dreaming I may as well add my extra pounds of clutter on my body will be gone too!!

*Sounds of screeching tires!*

Ok - I'm no longer dreaming, but seriously, I really need to find a way to get through all this *stuff*! Motivation... Drive... Advise! I really need it!

Happy Birthday to Daughter number one!

Today is Hillary's 24th birthday! WOW! When did she get SO OLD! Somehow, I'm thinking that has to be a type-o! I'm much too young to have a 24 year old. But - it's true!

Hillary is spending her birthday at Disneyland with her husband James. We miss her terribly, but hope she is having the very best of time! She sprained her foot the day before she was suppose to leave, so it slowed them down a little and James is having to push her around in a wheelchair, but I have a feeling she is still enjoying herself!

Hillary has always been such a joy and pleasure! I can hardly think of a time when she made me mad! I do remember when she was very little she did something wrong (it wasn't a big deal...) but I remember thinking, "I never spank her, I better spank her 'cause that's what I'm suppose to do." How dumb was that! I'm sure I could have NEVER spanked her 'cause she just never did anything bad enough to warrant it, but in my ignorance and TRYING to be a *good* mom, that's what I did! Fortunately, I learned spanking really wasn't necessary to be a good mom!

Hillary was born with the desire to do what's right and make others happy! One of the things I LOVE about Hillary is how she *loves* everything! When she was living at home she would come home from work or school and say "What's for dinner?" No matter what my answer - she would say, "Mmmm, that's my favorite!" or "I LOVE that!." It was so fun to do things for her because she made you feel good serving her! I really miss that!

Another example, is a video we made of Christmas morning when she was 4 year old! After opening every gift she would exclaim, "Oh, just what I always wanted!" In a high pitched sweet little girl voice! This has become a "family phrase" at Christmas, birthdays or any other gift giving event! But, what a great example of gratitude!

Hillary is so talented - she has made her house a beautiful home. She does her church callings with care and great concern. She is dependable and reliable in every way! She plays the piano beautifully and is a wonderful caring teacher. She is a wonderful sister and amazing daughter.

She is our 2ND Mom! I feel bad sometimes for relying on her so much, but I don't know what I would do without her! I've certainly missed her this week! But I'm so glad she has had some rest and relaxation and that she was able to get away! I hope she knows how much we love her and are so grateful for her! She is the best example to me and I'm so grateful to have the privilege of calling her DAUGHTER! Happy Birthday, sweetie!

In Honor of Green Day...

I'm watching my niece this week while her parents are out of town.

Here is a cute conversation I heard:

Heidi: Hey, Brooke you should pinch Hope because she's not wearing green!

Brooke: NO! I don't want to pinch Hopie she's my friend!

I just love little kids and their sweet innocence! (Here's a picture of Brooke at the cabin last summer!)

A Beautiful Day!

Yesterday was just the most beautiful day! Not just because the weather was spectacular, but a dear friend was baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! What could be more special?

Sophia has been taking the missionary discussions in our home for a few weeks now and Saturday was her special day! It was wonderful. The spirit was so strong! Sophia has such a tender heart and I know she is going to be an awesome member of the church.

Thank you SO much - family and friends for coming and supporting Sophia on this wonderful day!

A very special thank you to my Mom, sister - Cindi and sisters in law - Tiffany and Missy and daughter - Hillary for helping me with the food and set up and clean up! The brunch turned out wonderful. It was just what I wanted for Sophia!
Today she will be confirmed in sacrament meeting! We are all excited to attend the singles ward! Heck, Vaughan and I have never attended a singles ward! This will be our first time! I'm sure it will be special for Sophia and I'm looking forward to it!

Sophia - Thanks for your never ending example to me and to my family! You are amazing and I love you so much!

Our Busy Life . . .

Last week was pretty busy and it seems like gravity is taking hold and gaining speed as we head into this week!

Saturday was spent at Calvacade rehersal and then the performance in the evening! It was so fun and the girls did such a good job. If you are wondering what calvacade is, I'll explain! Picture 20+ pianos on a stage. Sitting at each piano are two pianists. One plays the lower keys and one plays the upper keys. It's pretty amazing and sounds wonderful! (As long as they are all together!) This is a program put on by Desert Valley Music Teachers Association. (DVMTA) We have been involved for 14 years! I think Saturday's event was especially good!

We took the girls and Grandma Moore to dinner at Chipolte before. We had coupons for free burritos! Free makes everything taste great! And after the concert Grandma treated us to frozen yogurt at Ocean Blue! It was yummy and such a fun evening.

Sunday we had Stake Conference! It was really good. Vaughan felt we needed to get there 1/2 hour early. The reward was we got soft seats in the chapel.

After church we came home and made dinner, worked on church *stuff* and then got ready for Moore FHE. We decided to serve waffles. So I cooked waffles from 4:00 to 6:00. Everyone starting arriving and we ate waffles with strawberries and whipped cream or syrup. There were also orange *smiles* from our tree! Yummy. We enjoyed visiting and Vaughan gave a short message. By all the laughing, running around (on behalf of the grandchildren), visiting and eating it seems that it was a success!

This week we have SO MUCH stuff! Choir concert, enrichment, work, school, activity day girls, dance, piano, blood work for insurance people and most importantly Sophia's baptism!

We have been blessed to have had Sophia take the missionary discussions in our home this past 5 weeks. Sophia is getting baptised on Saturday morning at 9:00am at the Mountain View Stake Center. We are having a celebration/brunch at our house afterwards! You are invited if you would like to attend! We are so excited for her! It has been such a neat experience and I have learned so much through this experience! I am so grateful for Sophia and her courage to go forward in faith even though I know she is getting some resistance. She is a strong girl and knows what she is doing is the right thing! We love her so much!

So we will have a busy week - full of good things! I hope your week is full of good things too!

Our Little Note Writer

We have a note writer in our house. It seems like every night before I go to bed there is a note left on either my pillow or Vaughan's. Sometimes this note leaver will write a note and leave it for Vaughan even though I am standing right there.

The other day I went in my room and found this note along with a $10 bill:

Mom & Dad This is for some of the times I wasted your time. (in shower). Always Yours, Hope :P (yes - it is either a smiley face with it's tongue sticking out or a heart drawn around the word Always, with her name!

Of course, I returned the $10. After all the kid doesn't have a job and that money is hard to come by. I told her I would rather she saved her money to go to the movies or buy things she need, but to just try harder to not take so LONG in the shower! And a thank you and a hug for being so thoughtful!

At least once a week Vaughan will get this note:

Dear Dad
Please don't make me a lunch.
Always,
Hope D. (I *heart* (love) you very much.)

She likes to make sure her unintelligent parents understand her notes and always puts explanations by them!

Hope has had a cough and so we have been turning on the humidifier (we call it a vaporizer) and putting essential oils on her throat and chest. Why she didn't ask me to help her - I don't know, but this is another note that Vaughan received on Saturday night.

Dear Dad,
After you get back from the store. please come put vaperizer (thing) on. And then wake me up and give me the oils, please.
Love,
Hope
(of course)

I found all of these notes today while I was cleaning my room. They are precious. I have been throwing them away. But I think I am going to start saving them. Someday we will read them and laugh and remember a precious little girl who in her own way was trying to communicate with her parents! She a pretty smart girl! Vaughan and I aren't known for staying on task with our kids! Too many distractions! With her notes we never forget! She once left the cutest note for the Tooth Fairy after not receiving her money for over a month! That sure did the trick!

I wrote a note to my Dad once that my mom saved. When I read it I remember all the feelings I felt when I was writing it. I wanted some attention from my Dad and he was kind of busy! (He was under a car trying to fix it!) We knew when my Dad was fixing a car you didn't bug him! No way - No how!

My note asked him to take us fishing. Complete with a picture of a boat and people sitting in it fishing! Funny! I don't like fishing at all now! But I do love spending time with my Dad!

Such fun memories! I sure love our little note writer. She makes me smile!

You Say It's Your Birthday? Number 17 That Is!

We have now entered the birthday season - In less than two months we celebrate FOUR birthdays! We are fast approaching number three!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HEIDI!

Tomorrow (Saturday) is Heidi's 17th birthday! In no time at all she will be all grown up and out in the world on her own! This is coming way too fast for me!

Heidi is SO much fun. Heidi is TALENT with a capital T! She is one of the most creative people I know. She can dance, play the piano, write music, sing, play the violin, choreograph, draw, create anything out of paper, crack jokes, act and do anything I can't figure out on the computer!

Lately, she has become one of my favorite people to be around. Our relationship has gotten much better and I love spending time with her. She has been so good to help me when I need her. She sets such a great example for me of how a daughter of God should be. She reads her scriptures every day and has so much faith! She is a great leader and friend.

I hope she knows how much I love her! I'm so grateful to be her Mom! I hope you have a great day Heidi! And don't forget to smile when we sing Happy Birthday to you! Especially the "Zippity aye and a Heidi ho!" It's our favorite part - because of you! Love you, sweetie!