I just finished reading a book that I found really interesting. It is The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. There is a movie made about it that I haven't seen. My sister-in-law was nice enough to edit her book with a lot of white out, so I could read it easier (I'm not afraid to admit that I don't like to read books or watch movies with a lot of swearing.)
A few things I really liked about the book:
-Tom Lemming, who is famous for gathering and compiling football stats to distribute to coaches, etc, began this dream without pay for 7 years! What sacrifice for something he really believed in and loved doing.
-this quote "what sets football apart from other sports is that what you don't see is often the most important thing." This is so true in many aspects of life. Motherhood is this way. Parenthood in general. I think many times in our lives as we give service, we do it quietly and unnoticed, as the Savior did.
-The Tuohy family was amazing. They LOVE sports, saw something unique in Michael Oher and helped give him the opportunities he needed to be successful in life They were mentors. They believed in him and helped in ways never could have happened without another mentor figure.
If you like sports, football especially, you'll love this. Even if you don't, the messages of the book were inspiring. (Remember there is a lot of swearing in the book. I'm not sure about the movie because I haven't seen it.)
6 of us!
1.17.2011
1.14.2011
The weather
We are almost half way through January and I always forget why I'm so frustrated this time of year. Winter didn't even come early this year but it never fails that January, February and sometimes March are horribly LONG months. It might just be because of my location on the planet. I can't change my circumstances but I sure am sick of being stuck inside, no sunshine, crazy kids, and overall tiredness. There is a TON of snow but it's way too cold to even think about playing in it. We tried the other day and poor Macy's feet took a long time to recover from the experience. How do you beat the winter blues?
1.08.2011
follow up
Last night Brynn slept all through the night! She feels so much better today and we are so happy that we all got to sleep for a good, normal chunk of time. We had a chat with her and let her know there would be consequences for the crazy behavior in the night, the same as if it were day time. Prayers and other things worked! Here's hoping we've crossed the hump and returning to "normal."
1.07.2011
Help
We are having a most unusual situation with one of our children. I'm at my wits end and not sure what to do.
This child as a toddler when put to bed would SCREAM until she fell asleep. She refused to be rocked, cuddled or soothed in any way. It just didn't work. It was awful for everyone involved in the bed time routine. By the time she was in a normal bed, this habit had ended. However, 3 nights ago, she threw-up and for some reason, her night time world has been thrown askew. She was afraid to return to sleep that night and was up until 1 or 2 in the morning, back and forth in our room and her bed. We don't allow the children to sleep in our room except as a privelege and what they call a "sleepover." I went and slept in the guest bedroom and let Stan deal with Brynn. He has more patience than I do at night. The next day she woke up, sweet as can be, as if she hadn't been freaking out for half of the night. We put her to bed the next night and she tried to become overanxious with us and say she couldn't go to sleep for whatever reason, begging to sleep in our room, stay up, be slept with, thousands of hugs and prayers. She was desparate. She finally drifted off to sleep when she realized we weren't playing games. However, at 1 in the morning, she woke up, demanding attention. She SCREAMED when she learned we still weren't playing the games. We had to take her to the basement because she was causing such a fuss. We had made a deal with her and in her completely overtired and overanxious state she didn't keep her end of the bargain. She was completely irrational and unable to be reasoned with, just like a toddler. It was FRUSTRATING, to say the least. Night 3, last night, started much the same. We did all the usual, this was after a day of praise of all kinds, for everything good she did, to make sure she knew that she is loved and appreciated, etc. She tried playing tricks again. We decided in order to keep our sanity, we would lock our bedroom door in the night time. If the kids need us, they'll knock. I wake easily. Well, she freaked out again last night, earlier this time. Screaming, beating on our door etc. We let her know we were here and we had prayed with her and for her. Several hugs were given, etc. Does anyone have any advice? Is this normal for an 8 year old to return to toddler-like behavior? She's too big to put in a crib she can't climb out of. We are all exhausted and by night time she is nearly delirious and then we start all over again. I have to say that we've been more patient than usual, thanks to the help of the Spirit, but we could use some ideas if anyone has any! I only post these details of crazy behavior because I want help.
This child as a toddler when put to bed would SCREAM until she fell asleep. She refused to be rocked, cuddled or soothed in any way. It just didn't work. It was awful for everyone involved in the bed time routine. By the time she was in a normal bed, this habit had ended. However, 3 nights ago, she threw-up and for some reason, her night time world has been thrown askew. She was afraid to return to sleep that night and was up until 1 or 2 in the morning, back and forth in our room and her bed. We don't allow the children to sleep in our room except as a privelege and what they call a "sleepover." I went and slept in the guest bedroom and let Stan deal with Brynn. He has more patience than I do at night. The next day she woke up, sweet as can be, as if she hadn't been freaking out for half of the night. We put her to bed the next night and she tried to become overanxious with us and say she couldn't go to sleep for whatever reason, begging to sleep in our room, stay up, be slept with, thousands of hugs and prayers. She was desparate. She finally drifted off to sleep when she realized we weren't playing games. However, at 1 in the morning, she woke up, demanding attention. She SCREAMED when she learned we still weren't playing the games. We had to take her to the basement because she was causing such a fuss. We had made a deal with her and in her completely overtired and overanxious state she didn't keep her end of the bargain. She was completely irrational and unable to be reasoned with, just like a toddler. It was FRUSTRATING, to say the least. Night 3, last night, started much the same. We did all the usual, this was after a day of praise of all kinds, for everything good she did, to make sure she knew that she is loved and appreciated, etc. She tried playing tricks again. We decided in order to keep our sanity, we would lock our bedroom door in the night time. If the kids need us, they'll knock. I wake easily. Well, she freaked out again last night, earlier this time. Screaming, beating on our door etc. We let her know we were here and we had prayed with her and for her. Several hugs were given, etc. Does anyone have any advice? Is this normal for an 8 year old to return to toddler-like behavior? She's too big to put in a crib she can't climb out of. We are all exhausted and by night time she is nearly delirious and then we start all over again. I have to say that we've been more patient than usual, thanks to the help of the Spirit, but we could use some ideas if anyone has any! I only post these details of crazy behavior because I want help.
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