So...I'm ripping up my flooring.

Ever wake up and decide to grab a hammer?! And then about twenty minutes later you realize the magnitude of your new project, and pray the momentum doesn't wear off before you're finished? Me too...

Lamanate is gone in the kitchen and the entry way, and the carpet is about halfway done. 

My dream is to acid stain, but realistically speaking, I'm most likely going to paint the concrete. A light solid color with a high gloss finish...something like that.

Wish me luck!

Date night at the Temple...

Dan and I walked the grounds of the Temple on our date- made a promise to each other that we would walk the grounds at least once a month for the next year...

Our attempts at a kissing silhouette...

So grateful for the promises we receive from the temple, and the reminder we can feel of them just by standing near the temple. I'm grateful for the Spirit that is felt when we walk the grounds. 

Miss Emery...

There's never a dull moment with a three year old, and mine is not exception. Emery is full of energy, spirit, life, questions, and requests! 

Like needing to feed the ducks...

And visiting the car wash "so it doesn't miss us..."

Or going home "because I'm a bit tired..."

And playing with friends "cause she's my best friend!"

Making bear hats with GLUE!!

...and taking lots of selfies "because I like to say cheese!"

-insert a loving eye roll-

Time.

This boy is growing too much. He's eight and three quarters... I cannot believe this son of mine will be nine in just four months. Or that my eldest son will be ten in four WEEKS!! 

When I sit still I feel like time sits still beside me, instead of trudging on. I think "doesn't time know I'm waiting for it to pass?!"

But time is deceitful. It pretends to linger, but in actuality it's passing you by and laughing....

Time is flying past me and I feel like I can't catch my breath. 

This girl of mine. The baby that  impatiently stomped her feet in heaven until her time came to join us- who shouted at the top of her lungs until we couldn't ignore her anymore... I can't believe she's halfway to FOUR! 

Time! What are you doing to me?!

My sad, sick, sleeping beauty...

Dance in your storms...

Today was hard. Emery's been having one of her coughing fits that she gets, and actually they seem to be happening more frequently. (I've been dragging my feet but I'm finally going to take her in to be seen about them. I just hate being the "mumchausen mom" that makes an appointment with the pediatrician about something relatively small that's probably nothing, but COULD BE something terrible, but really just turns out to be a waste of everyone's time. But then when you don't make the appointment about the thing that's probably something small, it LEADS to something more troublesome that could have been irraticated if detected early on...know what I mean? Motherhood decisions: it's a lose/lose sitch sometimes, sister.)

Anyway, today- on top of her coughing fits- she's now throwing up. Silver lining, it rained today; I love the rain.

Today was rough. It was gross, physically demanding, frustrating... Today I was barfed on three times. My van was barfed on twice. My couch, the floor, her bed.... All marked with her lovely stomach matter.

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Around 6 o'clock it started to rain hard. Which I'm pretty sure was God reminding me that He's still here with me. A beautiful, tangible token of love, from both my Father(s) in Heaven... 

I knew the sudden burst of rain was for me, and I knew I needed to feel it. So I ditched the boys, left Emery laying on the couch, and sat outback in the middle of my newly paved concrete court, and let the rain do its thing. I let it heal my weary soul.

Tonight as I looked at the photos and  videos I took of the rain, the song "Raindrops Are Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas popped into my head. (Which is ironic because it's old, and there are about a hundred other songs about rain, and also that it's probably the most applicable one...)

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Oh, raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Keep a-fallin'

Cause I just done me some talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Oh, raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Keep a-fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness
Comes up to greet me
To greet greet greet greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
Cause I ain't gonna stop the rain by complaining

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
Cause I ain't gonna stop the rain by complaining

Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me
Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me"

--------

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

Moral of the story today: Complaining won't make Emery stop vomiting. Endure it well, and dance in your storms.