Not Again

Yesterday, while doing some random house chore I had a random thought--I really should give an extra key to my neighbors just in case. And just like most random thoughts I have, it left as soon as it came. Then, as I was racing out of the house to get Mia to school on time I thought--I should take my other car keys since they have the house key attached. Again, I dismissed such things since I was driving in the car with the garage door opener programed into a button in my van so I wasn't worried about not getting back into the house.

I quickly discovered the wisdom of my random thoughts when the garage door didn't even think about budging upon arrival at our home. I said a half heart felt prayer since I realized this was all avoidable and a direct consequence of ignoring spiritual promptings. At least I felt confident that Heavenly Father still helps those who choose to ignore His warnings, it just often isn't as easy.

Most mornings I have the kids fed and ready to go with plenty of time to get to school. This morning I decided to work out on the elliptical sitting in my garage. I felt so on top of things working out before I took Mia to school. I figured that I could mow the lawn after I got home and still have time to shower before going back to Mia's school to volunteer. I was so confident that I didn't even change out of my nighttime attire that happened to be Fernando's basketball shorts and an over sized military PT shirt. I didn't even put on a bra. (sorry for the TMI but it makes the story that much better)

Luckily, my sweet neighbor was home and I immediately asked her for a ladder. I felt terrible bringing my stinky, sweaty self into her beautiful home even though my kids were ecstatic. She pulled out her ladder and it was a few feet too short. We contemplated the two story drop from the only unlocked window in my house and figured we should attempt a few other options. Calling Fernando didn't work because he was across town in a surgery. She called her friends who owned the home prior to us moving in to find the security code for the garage which we have never been able to figure out. All else failed. I found a tall enough ladder and propped it up to my home. Some how looking up seemed far more doable. Looking down at my tile below was more than daunting.

Fearing a broken anything, I pulled the ladder up to the roof and dropped it down into my home. That was scary enough. With that minor set back, life went on as usual. I volunteered, went to library storytime, and mowed the lawn. I cleaned up my downstairs for recipe exchange, and made a should have been delicious soup but I fobbed the recipe. Number one plan tomorrow--spare keys in hidden places.

Hungee Mommy? Food, Yes

I love when little kids start making sentences out of the words they know. More often then not, it takes a whole lot of listening on the mom's part and lots gesturing on the child's part to ascertain the meaning of said sentences. Talia, like the rest of my children, loves to eat. Sometimes, when food isn't fast enough for her standards, things start to get ugly. Or she simply takes matters in to her own hands.

I don't know much about this Baseball Thing

San Antonio winters are crazy. They have a bit of a schizophrenic feel. One day it's 64 degrees and everyone is outside soaking up the gorgeous weather and the very next day it will be 42 degrees. (please don't bock northerners. . .20 degrees in one day is hard to adjust to) A few weeks ago we were enjoying such fine weather with a neighborhood friend. I suggested that the kids grab some soccer balls and have races in the backyard. I came out to find one soccer ball and one basketball. The child was kicking her little heart away at the said basketball before I stopped her. I informed her that basketballs are bounced by hand and not our feet and decided that I should grab the real soccer ball for her.

As Tiago and our friend lined up, the girl cleared her blunder by stating "I just don't know that much about this baseball thing"!



The above photo was taken during one of Fernando's and Tiago's hang out sessions. (daddy son date sounded a little lame) Tiago is strangely very good at baseball. Fernando attributes it to his white genes in him since Fernando insists that white people are better at "stick" sports. Who knows. Fernando sadly picked baseball instead of soccer when he was younger since soccer hadn't become cool in the states back in the 80's. May be it came from Fernando's early childhood training.

Scripture Power

Though the LDS church isn't known for it's soulful music (especially the sounds that are heard from the children's song book cd--gag), I do love a lot of the songs. There are so many of the songs that are just plain fun and silly, but there are so many more songs that have such clarity in teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One song that has change our family's approach to the day is a song called Scripture Power. Here are the lyrics:

Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can
I'm reading His instructions, I'm following His plan
Because I want the power His word will give to me
I'm changing how I live, I'm changing what I'll be

I'll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I'll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I'll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward

CHORUS
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin
Scripture power is the power to win!
Scripture power, everyday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

Our family tries to read the Book of Mormon in the morning and the Bible at night. It always is a good experience, but somedays it becomes an answer to prayer.

The other day I realized I lost my military ID card. For those who are unfamiliar with what this magical card contains, let me fill you in. Aside from my picture (which was hideous some much so that the man who took it had to reassure me that it wasn't a very good representation of how I really looked), and Fernando's rank and affiliation to the Airforce, it is chalk full of all sorts of identity theft wonderments. For example, Fernando's and my FULL social security numbers as well as our home address and date of birth. HELLO! The problem is that you have to keep it with you to access anything on base. Not that anyone takes the time to look at all the info, but just that you have an id card.

So, you could imagine how nervous I feel about the whole problem. Luckily, Fernando was available last Friday to go with me to obtain a new ID card. When I told them the concerns I had, I was told to call the SS office and tell them it was lost. The Social Security office said "well, unless you can prove someone has taken you identity, there is nothing we can do." So after I am knee deep in creditor calls and a ruined credit history, they can take action which just means lots of legal mess and a brand new SSN and a clean slate for me. Although that might be happy news to some people, I actually am quite proud of my credit score.

Wait, this was supposed to be a positive post!

POSITIVE SCRIPTURE POWER POINT:

So we were reading I Nephi 7:15-18. After many back and forth adventures to and from Jerusalem to pick up "forgotten" items, Nephi's brothers decide that they had it. Too gutless to just return on their own volition and full of the strange anger that comes from disobedience, they decide to tie their brother up and leave him in the wilderness to perish. Nephi does the smart thing and prays "O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound." He does receive his answer , but not in the bursting glory he was hoping for. Instead the bands were loosed from his hands and feet.

I thought of the many prayers everyone in our family has offered to Heavenly Father in hopes to find the lost ID card. I thought of how I set the parameters for how the card would be safe and that it wouldn't be found in the hands of nefarious people. I then realized that Heavenly Father knows exactly where that card is and what will happen with it. So, although my prayers are still praying for a positive outcome, I have a peaceful feeling that was missing a few days earlier.

Tuppence a Cup

For a dollar, you can get overly fed lorikeets to be your friend at the San Antonio Zoo. Mia was brave enough to have the climb on her, but the other kids were more than willing to feed from a distance. Good thing the birds I held were finished with all their bathroom needs because Fernando wasn't so lucky.


Wondering what was so gross to me at the end of the movie? Talia was licking the residue nectar from some random discarded cup. Oh well, a little bird backwash never hurt anyone, right?

Expo Marker Magic

Who said art can't come from Expo Markers? Thank heavens they made a low odor variety. Even still, the smell can knock you out or make for fun imaginary lights in you line of vision.

Sporks, Grapefruits, and Smiles