A Mom on the Go

Break downs. Yes they happen to everyone but I seem to be having them a lot lately.  Baby B wants Mr. H more than me results in a breakdown. The kitchen isn't clean results in a breakdown.  I get a promotion at work results in a break down. Wait what? That last one would seem like a good thing.  And let me tell you it is.  It's exactly what I am looking to do next in the "career" side of my life.  It's a move to a great team, a chance to learn a LOT and it's a pay raise which is always lovely.

Our plan is for me to eventually be at home.  That's where I want to be; it's where I should be.  So, after accepting the offer I broke down being overwhelmed with guilt.  I felt guilty wanting the new job, guilty that I leave my son every morning to go to work, guilty that after work I sometimes go to the gym and by the time I get home Baby B (who will soon not be a baby) is asleep or cuddling with Mr. H.

Then enters what ever creature is on my other shoulder.  Right now Corey is finishing school (my job allows tuition to be waived), he is also working really hard to build his book of business as well as learn the business because one day he will probably be running said business.  (No pressure)  Since financially I must work I might as well make the best of it.  Make it something I want to do, make it something that will help me when I am home, and quite frankly be a little selfish. Gasp! As moms we hardly know what that is. Sometimes it's a 5 minute soak in the tub before little fingers appear under the door, sometimes it's a girls night, sometimes it's indulging in ice cream, and sometimes it's perusing a career. Like I said, for us it is right at the moment and there is no sense being in a position I am not enjoying when I can be in one I do enjoy.  No point in making myself miserable waiting.

So enter next phase of my life.  I am a working mommy, yes I understand I have been a working mommy for a while. But I need to embrace it. I need to find a balance of bettering myself and my family.  I need to find ways to make the time I have at home valuable.  I need to make memories with my family and not sweat the small stuff (Mr. H that does not mean I won't have break downs over the cleanliness of the house). I need to make sure we are having Family Home Evening's every week.  Reading scriptures and other books daily.  I need to remember to get out my camera and video camera. Oh and that thing called a date night...(hint hint).

Any suggestions? What works for your family?

Easter

I love Easter! It's a time to celebrate Resurrection, life, and Spring! Not only does it remind me of his sacrifice for us it reminds me of (spoiler alert, my inner nerd coming out) Persephone returning to her mother (Greek story of Spring).

Next year when Brodie is a little older I want to have Easter lessons leading up to Easter Sunday. I want to make Resurrection rolls with him and help him be excited for Easter too.  There is of course Easter baskets, stuffed animals and chocolate but I am most excited for teaching my son the gospel.

It's also a great time to continue the Humrich tradition of pictures in your Sunday best on Easter Sunday.  That's something I got to start this year with Brodie.

   

Christmas Advent

I have been searching the web for a Christmas Scripture Advent that I like.  Some of them had scriptures that I didn't feel fit or there was one verse on one day but 20 on another day. I think I will be changing it throughout the years but so far this is the best one yet.  I also want to come up with an activity for each day.  (making cookies, ecaroling, acts of service) Maybe I will get even more creative and make the activity coordinate with the scripture.  Maybe...

What are some activities you do leading up to Christmas day?

{via}
December 1: Isaiah 7: 14
December 2: 2 Nephi 26: 3
December 3: Matt. 15:30
December 4: 2 Nephi 2 : 9
December 5: 3 Nephi 11: 1-11
December 6: Mark 16: 5
December 7: Moroni 7: 28
December 8: Luke 23: 33, 34
December 9: 1 Nephi 19: 9
December 10: 2 Nephi 9: 21
December 11: Matt. 14: 17-21
December 12: 3 Nephi 11: 15
December 13: John 13: 34
December 14: Matt 20: 30-34
December 15: 2 Nephi 2: 26
December 16: Matt 4:23
December 17: Luke 2: 46-47
December 18: Matt. 3: 16
December 19: 2 Nephi 2: 6
December 20: Luke 2: 8-11
December 21: Matt. 1: 21-23
December 22: Helaman 14: 2-4
December 23: Helaman 14: 5-8
December 24: Luke 2 : 12-16

FHE: Work

Topic: Work

“Be Anxiously Engaged” by Elder M. Russell Ballard in General Conference October 2012

Lesson

For young children:

Honeybees work together to make honey.  They work very hard.  One bee produces a very little amount of honey but every bee is very important.

Why is each honey bee so important? When the honeybees work together they can make a lot of honey. 

Show a container of honey.  If one bee had to make all of this honey he would get very tired.  But if lots of honeybees worked together each one only has to work a little but to make all of this honey.

As a family we can get a lot done by working together.

In what ways do we work together as a family?

Have children color a picture of a honeybee. (example)

For teenagers and adults:

Have someone read the following quote:

“We read of the service Church members provide around the world and especially the humanitarian service given in times of crises – fires and floods and hurricanes and tornadoes.  These much-needed and much-appreciated emergency responses should certainly continue as a way of bearing one another’s burdens.  But what about our everyday lives? What would be the cumulative effect of millions of small, compassionate acts performed daily by us because of our heartfelt Christian love for others? Over time this would have a transformative effect upon all of our Heavenly Father’s children through the extension of his love to them through us.  Our troubled world needs this love of Christ today more than ever, and it will need it even more in the years ahead.”

Talk about service performed by family members.

·         Church service projects

·         Scouts

·         YM/YW

What are some things we can do daily to help others?

Elder Ballard says there is one simple thing we can do to make daily service a habit. 

“In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children.  Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.  Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen.  If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.  Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

Activity

Beehive jar:

What you will need:

·         Glass jar or vase

·         Yellow or cream strips of paper (larger squares for younger children)

Explain how we just learned that by small daily acts of service each member of the family can help improve the atmosphere in the home.

Take a strip of paper and write down an act of service a member of the family has performed in the home.  Ask other family members to do the same thing.  Younger children can draw a picture of service. Have older kids and parents help younger children think of acts of service. Keep doing this until the jar is filled.

If we all pitch in and do a few little things we can fill this jar and fill our home with love and happiness. 

Free Tip: Green Onions

I have learned a lot from Pinterest.  No, really I have! For example: Did you know that you can get regrowth from your green onions?

I pinned this a while back:

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Finally remembered to keep my green onions rather than throw them away.  I had my doubts that it would work but it was worth a try. 

I will have you know my thumb is far from green.  Ask Mr. H, I kill every plant that comes into our home/garden.  I have killed a number of basil plants, tomato plants, and flowers.  Currently I have a tree only needs water once a month and I am lucky if I remember to do that.  So far it lives but I am sure it is just a matter of time.  Miraculously we still have a blueberry bush but it has never had blueberries and only had leaves for a brief moment.  So I guess it's a bunch of blueberry bush branches (say that 10x's fast).  

But regrowing green onions I can do! I've regrown them at least 4 or 5 times.  I just grab my kitchen scissors and chop as much as I need.  My favorite thing to put them in is eggs. I spray a bowl with Pam, beat two eggs, and add salt/pepper/green onions. I shamelessly microwave them until they are almost done, add some cheese and cook them until done and melted. 

Microwaved eggs aren't for everyone.  Mr H really doesn't like them!