Living Full on Life

September 11th

by Leave a Comment

Lizzie wanted to see some footage of 9/11 this morning. I started to show her some and it made me cry. You think you have processed something; the fear of that day with Grant working in D.C., across the street to the FBI building and within three miles of the pentagon. Relief that he didn’t take the job in New York that would have been RIGHT THERE, uncertainty for the future…
I realized that processing takes a long, long time. The important thing is to process, not ignore. The thing I feel most of all is gratitude. We survived that day when so many others didn’t. Our nation is still strong and the freest place on earth. God bless America!

 

Some Notable Things

by Leave a Comment

This is a post I wrote more than a week ago but kept forgetting to publish:Sam asked for a longboard for his birthday. He picked it out a month ago and I hid it in the most amazing hiding place of all time! I will never tell…William and Lizzie have been pretending that they know where it is and are not telling either. Sam, the tortured one is doing everything he can to either find it himself or bribe the others to tell him. The other day I heard him say, “William, I will give you my birthright if you tell me where my longboard is.”

Last week I had a whole day of errands to run for school needs and to get ready for our backpacking trip to the Wind Rivers. Anna had been an absolute dream to have along, very sweet and patient but apparently I pushed her a little far. We were at REI getting long underwear for Lizzie (among a few other things)  when Anna discovered some pants she wanted.
I informed her that she didn’t need any and so we left that area and started looking for the next thing on our list (a footprint for our backpacking tent). She was pretty annoyed that she didn’t get the pants and for some reason she REALLY wanted them. (They were long underwear for goodness sake!) A few minutes later she told me that she wet her pants and that we needed to buy her some new ones since hers were wet. I had this sinking feeling and then felt her pants to see how wet she was. I was imagining urine running down her pant leg and puddling on the floor but was relieved to find that she had just barely leaked a little out.  I told her with great encouragement (thinking she was embarrassed that she had wet herself, never imagining that she had done it on purpose!), that it wasn’t that bad, that it would dry in a few minutes and asked if she needed to go potty. She said she didn’t. I kept shopping…Less than five minutes later she opened the floodgates and totally wet herself (just like I imagined at first). She said, “NOW can I get those pants?!?”
She most certainly DID NOT get those pants.
School started last week. This summer has been amazing. Truly amazing. But also very exhausting. I erroneously thought that life would be less exhausting when school started. We get up at 5:30 am M,Th, F, 4:55 on Tuesday, and 6:45 on Wednesday (our blessed sleep-in day!)

Growing and Growing…

by Leave a Comment

I took Sam to the doctor tonight with an injured thumb. Lizzie also came. While we were there I asked if we could measure them. Sam was 5’6″ and Lizzie was 5’4 1/2″. I sure love my bean sprouts!
William lost one of his big front teeth today. It has been hanging on for dear life! The one next to it is perilously close too. We are hoping he can get it loose enough for me to pull out before school starts on Monday.

Anna’s World

by Leave a Comment

On Saturday, Anna and I went to the mall together. She was very excited about something and was trying to tell me about how everyone in the universe liked it too. (For the life of me I can’t remember what that thing was.) Instead she replaced the word “universe” and said everyone in the “university” liked it too! I am glad she is already thinking of higher education.

A Little Introspection…and Some Mother Guilt

by 1 Comment

I just finished reading the blog of a very wise friend of mine who has two adorable children and lives four houses down from me. I read that a mother sets the tone in the home. Oh, how right she is! I am sorry to say that in my attempts at planning the perfect vacation I have been a little (very) short with my sweet children. Today I heard Lizzie snap at Sam over a very small thing and she sounded just like I have been sounding.  I said, “Lizzie, please change your tone. I don’t want my little girl to sound like her stressed out mom.” (I am hearing, “Do as I say, not as I do”, ringing in my ears!)

I should probably work on my patience, and my tone of voice.

Exciting Times

by Leave a Comment

We have had an amazing summer so far and leave for our big trip on Monday! I must record a significant event before more time passes… two weeks ago Anna decided that she wanted to ride a two wheeler. She said, “Mom, I want to learn to ride a bike. Will you hold my seat for a few minutes?” I agreed and after about 35 seconds (really it was probably less than a minute) she said, “Ok! You can let go now!” And off she went! She had never tried to ride a pedal bike before, with or without training wheels! Typical Anna style she figured it out pretty much on her own, just charging right into a situation. She is the most competent, independent preschooler I have ever known! She is also officially the first Beckwith child to ride a bike before the age of five. See it here

Today I overheard Lizzie and Sam having a discussion on weather the new Subaru Outback looks more like a hot dog or a hamburger. I do so love this age.  I also love hearing them have conversations instead of just teasing or bickering. It gives me hope that they will be great friends one day.

I realized lately that being able to listen to my own music is a luxury. My children have their own tastes and preferences and actually change the music from my playlists to their own. They don’t really like jazz or the 90’s music that I like, which is crazy because I think I have pretty good taste in music! It is strange to move into this stage of adolescence where they like listening to the radio and have strong feelings about their own music. I don’t know why this surprises me, I’ve been forced to listen to “Frozen” music daily, (hourly) for the past six months because of Anna who should really be called “Ahna”

Looking Forward to Summer

by Leave a Comment

We have such a fun summer planned! Late last night I went to kiss the kids before I went to bed. They had all been asleep for a few hours yet when I kissed Sam he gave me this happy smile and said, “Mom! Mom! I can’t sleep!” I queried, “Why can’t you sleep?” Sam, “I’m too happy!” Me, “What are you happy about?” He replied, “There is just so much to look forward to this summer!!!”

15 Years

by 2 Comments

IMG_2637
We had the most wonderful trip to the Columbia River Gorge to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and Grant’s 40th Birthday! I was in love with the water, greenery, rocks, trails, perfect weather, food, rest, time to read, but best of all the time with my amazing, wonderful husband of my heart.
In the three-and-a-half days we went on four hikes, I read two books while Grant attended some meetings with the school heads, we slept in, we relaxed in a hot tub overlooking the Columbia river with the rain lightly falling on us. We had delicious food including a brunch that was THE BEST brunch I have ever had where we ate for two hours. I got a massage during another of Grant’s meetings. We got onion rings and a milkshake after a hike just because they sounded good and we felt like it. We had so much time to talk and relax and slow down. We felt ready to come back to our children, lessons, work, callings in the church, house, yard, end of school demands, recitals, exams, projects…
I am SO THANKFUL for the Saxey’s for taking our children for the time we were gone. What amazing friends we have. Really and truly. Not to mention a kind sister who takes care of our farm.
IMG_2627
IMG_2578
IMG_2635

Besides the trip I am feeling grateful for such an amazing 15 years with Grant. On our anniversary he said our nighttime prayer. It went like this:

“Dear Heavenly Father,
We are thankful for 15 wonderful years together. We ask thee to bless us with fifteen million more.”
To which I say, “AAAMENN!!”
We have known each other since 1995. In three more years I will have known Grant for the majority of my life. I was 20 when we met, he was 21. I feel like I have never not known him. I love that we can finish each others sentences and that we voice the same thought at the same time so often. I love being quiet with him and our long talks. I love that we compliment each other so well in so many ways. I love that we are growing more alike as we age. I love the deeper love and commitment that we feel as we sacrifice together. I love the bond we feel as parents of our four wonderful children even though we are such different kinds of parents.  I love that I can advise our daughters to marry a man like their father and encourage our sons to be like him. I am grateful that he is constantly trying to help me be kind to myself and forgiving of my own weakness. (Why is this so hard?!?) I love his unwavering faith in a loving Father in Heaven and his deep and personal understanding of what the atonement of Jesus Christ means for him and for each of us, how it has a daily, hourly, influence on our lives and that we are good enough because of it and nothing without it. I love that he is willing to fight for important things even if it means less money, opposition, even persecution.
I love him for his selfless service as the Bishop of our church congregation. He puts in so many long hours at church and at work yet somehow has time for our family and for me. I can feel the Lord’s hand in this as he touches our life each day with tender mercies and feelings of patience and love for one another and others.
BeckwithI love him for how handsome he is – shallow, I know, but he is aging so gracefully! Last weekend there was a Latter-day learning conference at the school for the community. There were many speakers on various education topics. Grant was one of the speakers. Each participant was given a booklet on the days’ events and class offerings. A friend of mine told me of a conversation she overheard at the end of the class prior to Grant’s. Two women were looking at the bio’s of the next class instructors and after seeing the picture of Grant said, “This guy looks just like Prince Charming! Let’s go to his class!” I would have to agree!
I could say so much more, like that he is a hard worker, a great parent, a great basketball player and ballroom dancer, a good house cleaner, a pretty good chess player (I’m better), a man of faith, he has a wonderful humor and ability to laugh at himself when appropriate, a wonderful perspective… oh my… I better end since it is nearly midnight. One last thing though regarding his 40th birthday. I was talking to William about how fast he is growing up and that he his now (unbelievably) SEVEN, but that I will always feel like he is my little baby. He was expressing his own incredulity at how fast his dad is growing up with this statement, “He is getting to the age where he is getting old, wrinkly skin and will soon be 50 and the age of a grandpa! Sam and I were talking about how we were sad when dad grew up (turned 40). I wish he was still 39. He is just so nice, wealthy and talented.” (The wealthy part is based on many conversations we have with the children when they ask us if we are rich. We say yes as we have a comfortable home, enough to eat, clothes on our back, the gospel of Jesus Christ and love for one another.)
So to Grant I say, “Here’s to 15 million more years together (a.k.a Eternity). Thank you for your 40 years of being great. I look forward to getting ‘old, wrinkly skin’ together.” I love you. I love you. I love you.

 

Dear Subaru Owner

by Leave a Comment

At the school, Grant parks in the same place every day. It is not in some special reserved spot as close to the school as possible, it is one of the farthest spots in the farthest parking lot on the school grounds. He has parked there for years. I have always been impressed that he parks there because his reasons are, he loves the walk and the few minutes of quiet time it provides, the view of the temple and he wants to leave the closer spots for those who need a shorter walk.
Today someone who has noticed his car there in that same spot day in and day out, even perhaps late at night and early in the morning, left a note on his window.
It would be fun to call the number. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was some student playing a joke on their favorite teacher, or a parent trying to show their approval and appreciation for their hard-working head of school. I’m tempted to take it one step further and have the Cash for Clunkers company contact Grant!

William Bespectacled!

by Leave a Comment

A little over a week ago William got glasses. His dear teacher Mrs. MacNamara called me and suggested that we get him into the eye doctor as he had been having a hard time reading the board. He was SO EXCITED to get his glasses and the kids have been really cute in encouraging him. Even his school friends want glasses! I think he looks rather dashing! Poor Lizzie, with a big brother getting braces and a little brother getting glasses how will she ever compete for attention? I remember wanting both braces and glasses as a child and feeling so jealous of Lex when she got braces. I remember being very excited about glasses when I finally got some (for about 10 minutes…then got very tired of having to wear them!)
Well yesterday the glasses went missing. The place where we got them guaranteed total replacement for everything but loss so I was a little nervous. All night I had dreams about missing glasses. I wondered if this was an opportunity to discuss how prayers were answered. William has had a lot of questions about how to know if an answer is an answer from God or if it is just his own head telling him something. Last night before he went to bed he decided to do the work to enable the spirit to speak to him. First he said a prayer and then he made a map of all the places he had been yesterday and all the possible locations of his glasses.
william-s-map
This morning I offered a $5 reward to anyone who found them. A short time later Lizzie was the lucky girl. William’s only regret was that he wasn’t the one to get the reward!