Give me some of your tots . . .

Look at that mountain of starchy goodness!

We recently took a trip to the A-Daddy's homeland. It was quick, but nice. We experienced our first, "Oh crap, we have a child in school now--we can't just stay on vacation until dad needs to get back to work."

picking out clods

We did opt to miss a day of academic training to teach our kids where REAL FOOD comes from. Although neither one of them really likes a baked spud or even mashed ones, they are definitely fans of the fried and chip varieties. Yes, I am a dietitian and yes, my children eat chips and fries!

They sure love you Jadems!

It was fun to have them learn all about the process of harvesting spuds.

The lovely tour guide

Thanks for the tour, the strong work, and of course the HUMONGOUS box of spuds fresh from the producer! We sure are lucky folks!

Worth its weight in GOLD!

Joe Jaszewski / Idaho Statesman

It's all been worth it! We've been away from family for YEARS (10 to be exact) and the last two days we have been able to CA$H in. Two football games, two brothers, backpacks full of snacks, cousins shaking gold pom-poms, loads of family, sweaty hugs . . .

Joe Jaszewski / Idaho Statesman

And then, because a sister can brag (right?), newspaper articles to read (here and here)--just to increase my JOY and lengthen my celebration!

Joe Jaszewski / Idaho Statesman

I am clearly delighted. Go JJ and McKay!

JJ-#8 and McKay-#21 (behind #62)

Here is the team serenading their fans with the school song following the game--cute tradition I thought.

p.s. Ultrasound yesterday--baby looks great.

What Good Luck--What Bad Luck

As a kid my mom had this story she'd tell. It was some stick person (a good one, she doodles quite well) who experienced all different things. The good (what good luck) mixed in with the bad (what bad luck).

Unfortunately I do not recall why she told this story then, but as an adult I have come to understand the What Good Luck--What Bad Luck experiences in life as opposition. We come to know the good because we've experienced the bad, less desirable, or uncomfortable. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 2:11), that states:

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, . . . righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.

My life has been filled with various moments of opposition, which have given me the ability to appreciate and enjoy the final outcome or at least the earthly one. Don't worry, I'm not going to go into detail about my life's struggles.

Instead, enjoy a few of our What Good Luck--What Bad Luck moments that have shaped our last few years, months or days:

What Good Luck--we FINALLY finished training!
What Bad Luck--we had to leave good friends, my favorite GYM ever, yummy food, fireflies, and the BEST schedule ever behind.

What Good Luck--we have a new house and lots more space!
What Bad Luck--I have more to clean (smile).

What Good Luck--we live close to good friends and family!
What Bad Luck--we're not sure how to juggle it all!

Grandkids the family reunion--missing a few

What Good Luck--S#1 finished preschool.
What Bad Luck--now she's really BIG and moves on to Kindergarten.

High-five for the five-year old graduate

What Good Luck--we have a fun local Farmer's Market.
What Bad Luck--the road we take into downtown has been CLOSED and the commute has become looooooooong!

Yummy donuts at the market

What Good Luck--S#2 has become more comfortable in the swimming pool.
What Bad Luck--he STILL doesn't want to immerse his head (Jackson help us!).

What Good Luck--We finally get to add another child to our family
What Bad Luck--we will have THREE children's birthdays in January!

I realize I started this on a more serious note--there was a purpose for that. Life changes, we have to stretch and hopefully we learn. The things we experience, BIG and small, good and bad, really do shape us. I feel so blessed and to be perfectly honest, I feel bad for even writing "What Bad Luck."

Yeah, I know, none of it is really bad!

Getting my ducks in a row

Photo from castillion.deviantart.com

I was recently sent an email of all sorts of funny and clever pictures of animals. Sydney loved looking at it and laughing. When I got to this picture, she wasn't super interested, but it totally hit home for me. I feel like my daily quest is to get my "ducks in a row." Sometimes that means my kids, sometimes that means my house, sometimes it's our finances, sometimes it's my cooking, sometimes my fitness, and sometimes it's my spirituality.

I've never been really good at prioritizing. I can do things that are important . . . I do them everyday. But I tend to be a very reactionary person. This system works to a certain degree, but it's not completely functional.

As one who struggles with confidence I have made a very conscious effort the last several months to focus on letting my confidence wax strong in the presence of God (D&C 121:45). In this scripture and the one following it we are encouraged and given promises.

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth . . .

Although my efforts have not been perfect, they have been good, and I have been incredibly blessed! The Holy Ghost has been my constant companion, my confidence has been strong, my testimony has grown and my desire to live, parent and love righteously has increased.

May you know, that I know, that getting your spiritual ducks in a row is worth the reward.