"God may not be there when you want him but he is always on time."- Terrell Owens

While waiting at the doctor's office one morning, I texted Elijah the above advice I found on a maternity magazine about  third trimester moms. He responded "Don't you already do that?" Of course it was said in jest, but just in case he really meant that, here are JUST a few of the things I've been busy with lately:

Gillian started Young Women two weeks ago. She is loving it. Her friends wrote a bunch of sweet little compliments on the board when she first got there. She felt so special.  She and I have had so many talks about what it means to grow up, what qualities she could develop better, what talents she is blessed with, and how she can achieve her potential.  I love these little tete-a-tete with her.  She really makes me happy, and I'm so excited we are homeschooling this year; I know our bond will be even stronger.  How blessed I feel to have her in my life!

The kids have allowed me to nap on occasion when we are home, especially on Mondays, after I have tired them out at the running club, and supplied them plenty of material to read from our weekly pilgrimage to the library.  They are also great helpers around the house, and I really appreciate that.

We've played with friends and have had numerous picnics, movie nights, and BBQ parties with a variety of families.  I've enjoyed seeing my children, especially James, have a love for babies.  This girl of mine inside me will be surrounded with such love when she enters this world that she won't feel the difference between heaven and earth.  Love my little heaven on earth that is my family!

 

As soon as the temple opened, I took Gillian to do baptisms for the dead.  It was her first time, and she really thought the experience was very peaceful and meaningful.  What made it even more special was the fact that Elijah was in the temple officiating the baptisms.  Seeing father and daughter dressed in white as pure as can be was truly a sweet memory for me, especially seeing Gillian give my own ancestors a chance of hearing the gospel.  I find myself touched by Gillian's growth in the gospel and love for Heavenly Father, and my faith has been strengthened as I see her grow in faith and have a desire for righteousness.  And I'm glad our temple nearby opened; in 15 days since it opened I've attended it three times already, in so much that I've given one of the presidency a scare seeing me with my huge belly.  He joked that he didn't want an emergency in his hands, but what better place to give birth than in the temple!!

 

We also celebrated Elijah's birthday last week.  Goodness, I get more stressed thinking of his birthday celebration than of all of my kids' parties altogether.  I made him a special breakfast, opened gifts, took him out to eat, attended the temple with him, and made a hummingbird cake that I hadn't made in probably a decade, but he loved for as much as it was delicious as it was a surprise.  I think he enjoyed his special day. At least I hope so; his style is so different from mine.

We have also attended the pool mostly everyday these past weeks, the weather being hot for a hot pregnant mama!   The great thing that has happened lately is the fact that Jefferson has taught Charlton to swim in the deep end without a life vest!  Hallelujah for older siblings! The kids also invited a lot of their friends to our usual pool, and we have been invited by other friends to their pools.  All in all, friends and pool is a great combination!

Charlton has been  working a bit more lately, with Elijah giving him special responsibilities that he takes very seriously. (Adorable!)  He's been watering the lawn, while his brothers water the garden full of natural grown cantaloupes.

Unfortunately, he gets tired very easily ;)  

And speaking of our garden cantaloupes, they sure are tasty!

We also met friends at the Contra Loma Lagoon last week, where the kids had so much fun for hours at a time, and I got stung by a bee!  Ironic isn't it, having had bees in my own backyard for four years and never having being stung, and then go somewhere and get stung.  This time it caused an allergic reaction with lots of numbness and swelling,and I didn't sleep well for nights at a time.  Oh well, I'm feeling better now and all I remember is the great time with my friends.

 

 Besides reading, working, and swimming, the kids have enjoyed this summer's last gorgeous days and nights by playing board games, rollerblading, skateboarding, playing basketball and baseball with dad, competing in soccer, and enjoying the parks with friends and siblings.

These past few nights have been cool enough for us to use our outdoor fire pit, roast marshmallows and make delicious s'mores.  Of course the kids were in heaven, and I had the epiphany of getting a movie projector soon.  Sweet memories!

 

This past Monday was our last running club meet.  The kids have had a great time running, playing, and making friends.  I really loved seeing myriads of minivans all parked one after another every Monday morning.  What a great tradition, and what loving mothers to bring their kiddos every Monday morning.  Gillian and Charlton each ran 22 miles in total, and Jefferson and James each ran 35 miles in total.  I was very proud of them all!  I just walked :)

I hope this post was a strong enough rebuttal to Elijah's assumption of my life being just naps and movies.  And speaking of movies or shows, I can't really remember the evening when I actually watched something from the beginning to the end.  To tell the truth, besides reading at times (three books per month is a shameful thing to admit for a smart lady like myself, but what can you do), my favorite past time that requires only a few minutes of my very exhausted brain per night has been crossword puzzles. And that's about it.  But enjoyed I have this life of mine, with family and friends all abound!

And that my friends is the confession of a tired, but happy prego mother of four!

Red, white, and blue! Happy 4th, America!

A Nation’s Strength

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1904)

What makes a nation’s pillars high And its foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng? It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock. Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay. And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet. Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor’s sake Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation’s pillars deep And lift them to the sky.

Sometimes I think we are the most boring family when it comes to celebrating holidays, except for Christmas of course.  It is so crowded anywhere you go, that we even forgo the beautiful display of fireworks, and have convinced our kids that the best place to see them is from your own window.  Fortunately, this year we had a legitimate excuse with mom being pregnant and out of breath all the time. 

That said, I feel, however low-key our 4th was, we still had a good time as a family.  I had prepared the children throughout the week to think of the greatness of this great country. The history books that they were supposed to read for the week were all about the wars that America had fought to bring freedom and justice to the world.  The kids drew and colored pictures of soldiers, air force men, and shipmen that made sure, most of them with their own lives, the goals of America were achieved.  And we of course discussed the God inspiring declaration of Independence that started it all.

We commenced our 4th by attending the annual 4th of July breakfast that both North Gate wards put up.  The kids played with each other, we adults talked, and then we all listened to the Primary kids sing patriotic songs. The program continued with a speaker evoking all of the benevolent ways that this country has contributed to the world, after which he introduced all of the soldiers, members of our wards, that have fought and continue to participate in defending those freedoms we so dearly cherish.  It was a good presentation.

Christina and I

Donna Steinbacker, one of my favorite ladies in the ward. She is a widow, but full of life and love.  I so enjoy visiting with her.

After the breakfast, I rested for a couple of hours, while Elijah made some dessert, and the kids played outside.  Around 4, we all headed to the swimming pool, where Christina and her family had prepared a delicious meal, forbidding me categorically to cook anything.  That was the best gift ever.  Good friends are rare to be found, but when you do, your life is so much better. We all had a fabulous time eating, swimming, talking, and just enjoying each other's company. 

I hope you all had a grand time celebrating our country's independence with family and friends.

I Hear America Singing

Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, first published in the 1867 edition)

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear; Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing— Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; The day what belongs to the day— At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.