Saturday's Sampling

I took the kids out. Just needed to get out of the house. Child #1 was still in his jammies (at 10:00)!

Here is what we found:

This piece of sea glass fits the description of a "mermaid tear". It is a perfect sea foam color and the shape is similiar to a tear shape. Sea glass is occasionally referred to as "mermaid tears".

It was a soothing, Saturday morning stroll on the sand.
The kids were in the stroller and it was sunny.
With the diScovery of sea glass - satisfying!

Kirstin

The Start of Something Good

For the past two months, I have faithfully gone out running. Each time I am out, I make it a point to check the sand. Sometimes I even ran along the sand looking for sea glass. Nothing! (And sadly to say, my waistline doesn't show much change either! Pooh!)

Until today! I didn't expect much, although the surf has been huge. But, I was wrong...

I think it is the start of Sea Glass Season!

Can I hear a hooray?!

Isn't that like life? We have seen the good days and experience the not so good days, always looking, hopeful that they'll return. And then one day they come (maybe not all together, some good some bad), but like the return of the glass they do come!

Waiting is something that we all do. I am not that great at it although I have done a lot of waiting in my life. I have learned that with all my waiting- it makes me grateful for what I have waited for. Being a Christian, I do my best to "wait upon the Lord", meaning to trust in the timing that God has decided is best for me.

An Apostle of Jesus Christ stated:

What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it “with great diligence, and … patience.” - Elder Robert D. Hales

This statement came from these remarks: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng

Without further ado, I'll show you the "goods"!

This photo is the collection from my run this morning. It was just me and two fishermen on the beach, if they hadn't been there I would have hooray-ed outloud.

I also found this pair of gloves and shovel on the beach - I find unusual things on the beach! I love to bring them home and show them to the family.

This was from my afternoon excape to the beach to see if more had washed up! YES! Lots more and bigger glass!!

These beauties were gathered together in a rock wash right in front of my house. Have I expressed lately, how lucky I am to live where I live?

This was another unusual find that I had to bring home. On the bottom, stamped into the glass are the words CLARIOL. Outdated hair coloring bottle? Isn't the light from the setting sun lovely? It is my favorite time of day.

Piece of ceramic jar - perhaps a broken lid?

Now if I could just get such exciting and varied results from my exercise routine (such as a flat stomach, toned, arms, thin waist)!

Kirstin

PS I am going to try something new for this new year ... open up my comments. I haven't done that in the past because I don't want people to feel like that have to say anything. So I'll try it - if I find it isn't working, I'll turn them off. And speaking of new, did you notice I changed the photo at the top of the blog? Gems from today's outings.

It is something!

I don't think you can tell the rock looking piece is actually a nice thick piece of green sea glass. It was the first and the best find of the morning. (And it was a beautiful morning!!)

It isn't much - but the beaches have been so smooth. No rock washes. So when we went to a beach we don't usually go to - I was pleasantly surprised and the kids had fun finding the little pieces. They have such good eyes.

I suppose it is like life. You never know when the good, the happy or the blessings will come!

Halloween Memory

Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving but I just have to share this memory!

I sent this e-mail to my friend L.D. and wanted to post about the experience of child #1 winning a cake walk at our church Halloween party.

L-

We sat down for some Sunday dessert and your beautiful cake didn't disappoint. It was wonderful! On Saturday, when my son won the cake walk - we were so excited! We had been talking about it all week. Then when he chose your cake, I was secretly thrilled. It would have been the cake I would have chosen! Yours was a work of art.

When I was a little girl, I won a cake at our elementary school carnival cake walk. I still remember how special I felt and how delicious the cake was (our neighbors had brought the cake). It was so fun for me to share a similar experience with Abraham.

Thanks for sharing your talents .... and time, I am certain that cake took valuable time - it was a work of art!

Our family was over the moon with winning (and eating) your cake!

Love Kirstin and Family

Sorry... you get the "cut" view but you get the idea. My son still asks for this cake!

Happys and Sads

I read about a family that at the end of the day has their children share their happys and sads - things that went well and things that didn't. I thought that was a great idea and occasionally my son and I will share as he snuggles into his bed. The thing that makes me laugh is that he often will share things that happened days before.

So with that in mind I thought I would share a few things that have gone on around here.

Happys:
- Went to a sea glass show. It was mostly jewelry made with sea glass but there were two displays of some amazing sea glass! Huge pieces that were red and orange and black. The other display was glass art that has rolled around in the ocean and looks so cool - designs and patterns of all sorts. I wish I would have (or could have) taken a photo but I didn't think they would have allowed it.
- I dreamed about going sea glassing and there were incredible rock washes all over with huge pieces of sea glass everywhere. This dream happened right after getting some sad news.
-Had an opportunity to hold a friend's little girl at church. It was just a few minutes but I realized it has been a while since I held a little baby. She was tired and just rested her cheek on my shoulder. Those sweet feelings warmed my heart all week.
-Friends have filled my heart with love and concern. Our fridge is full of soups and food from dear friends. I have felt so uplifted by love.
-Package from my mom that was full of little things that she found around the house: jacks from when she was a little girl, a project I did when I was a little girl, books, old cell phone (the kids love it!), candy, workbook, cool wooden comb and compact mirror. Fun!!
-Went to Kindergarten Forum to learn about the various Kindergartens in the area (this also couples as my sad - can my little boy be ready for Kindergarten next year?)

Sads:
-Found out from some blood tests that our new baby had very high indicators that it could be a special needs baby.
-The following week went for a detailed ultrasound and at that appointment no heartbeat was found. I was at 17 weeks.
- Had to have a procedure to remove the tissues ( that was today). The prep procedure (yesterday) was the worst part. I threw up twice before I left the medical building and then once all over myself as drove home. I thought of this blog http://jennyreeder.blogspot.com where she threw up in her skirt. (I can't find the actual post but she had cancer and had every reason to throwing up!) I continued to throw up and feel cramping all afternoon.

BUT for now, my immediate sads are over (except for the hormones that will incite some tears) and I can move on.

AND because I don't want to leave on such a sad note are a few more happys:
-New babies for family members and friends are expected!
-When life is heavy on the crusts, Heavenly Father will send loaves and loaves of peace, comfort, and strength (thanks for that thought J-!)
-Friends that will come over at 4:30 AM and stay with sleepy kids
-Friends that will watch your kids all day and then bring you the exact dinner you had wanted to make but ran out of energy.

The list goes on but I must go "play toys" with the two that bring much happiness to our home.

My sad, lonely blog:)

Ha Ha! How is that for a title?

But really there hasn't been much to post about. I have not been to the beach for a while - I do check the conditions of the sand from our bluff but nothing has been of interest, so nothing new to report. I am being hopeful... I bought a new little container that I am *hoping* to fill with lovely sea glass (love our local thrift store!).

I do want to report that I am feeling better both physically and mentally. Less tears (actually none lately!), I am  back to feeling like a mama again: baking/cooking/cleaning/entertaining the kids. I am trying to enjoy this time as things never stay the same. Baby number 3 is on the way and we are thrilled! Who knows what the future will hold... I'll take what ever comes. My faith and trust in God and in His awareness of me and this little one have been strengthened and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and perhaps in the process some rough edges were smoothed off - and sorry to those that my rough edges may have hurt! I have lots to learn.

Gems

So I haven't been feeling well and have spent much of my time reading blogs, facebook and other internet activities, while in bed. Don't ask my how my children are doing - I'm hoping to make it up to them when I feel better.

And while these internet activities have helped to distract me, it hasn't helped me to feel better. (By the way, I should say, I am feeling better). Anyway, I have come across some gems/phrases that have helped me to feel better.

"Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless,
Blessings await you in doing what's right."
- Do What Is Right, hymn #237, from Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

"Jesus, Savior, Pilot me, over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee: Jesus Savior, Pilot me."
-Jesus, Savior Pilot Me, hymn #104, from Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Sorry I don't have links so you can hear the melody to these two hymns but I am sure you could find them somewhere. (I'm still taking things easy).

 I have thought about faith and how it can heal and strengthen us emotionally and spiritually. And it reminded me of a quote I read on a friend's adoption page, "Faith has a short shelf life". Very true! It has been good for me to be reminded that I need to work to keep my faith alive and burning bright.