Keeping Busy

I haven't been writing much as life has been a tad crazy. But here is what we have been up to:

- Marshall is keeping super busy taking a CES (Church Education System) training class Tuesday nights, teaching a law class at the local college Wednesday nights, and teaching an Institute class Thursday nights, along with his regular job and bishoping. Not to mention periodically teaching an early morning Seminary class at a local high school.
- I keep busy being Super Mom during it all and working my little job at the school. I really do enjoy recess duty. I get to see my kids and know the staff at school, not to mention see what goes on at the school during recess. I also keep busy with little projects and running/ biking. I ran a 5K last month and am doing the "Save A Sister" 5K in a few weeks. One day I'd still like to do a marathon.
- Anna loves 5th grade and her teacher. She is enjoying doing book reports and learning history. My kind of girl! She is continuing on with piano lessons as well.
-Rachel likes 3rd grade and math. Both girls are doing choir together this year and love it. Rachel started taking piano lessons and is liking it, but is very shy. We are not allowed to watch her practice, which is a total Rachel thing to demand. Hey, at least she is willing to play with his able to listen.
-Jimmy is amazing me with how well he is picking up Mandarin. The Dual Immersion program is wonderful. He is learning quickly and loves to show off how he can count to 100 in Mandarin and so forth. It gives him great confidence. I wish someone taught me a language when I was that age! Hopefully he can go on a mission to China because he will have the language down with this program.
-Jacob loves preschool and I love having some free time during the week. He is always so excited to go.  He enjoys learning about science, like dinosaurs and insects. I love how happy preschool makes him. He feels like one of the big kids. And he pretty much lives on his bike.

And that is what we have been doing. Hopefully I can put two thoughts together and write more often, but don't count on it.

Just a few things that make me smile

-My husband. He is always happy and positive and it is so contagious. He is adorable. I love him so much and the little things he does, like sing songs or put away clean dishes.

- My children. Jacob bounding out of preschool, eager to tell me the newest thing he has learned. Or his very profound and humorous three year-old statements. Jimmy sharing his newest Mandarin words with me or sharing his big plans for some awesome boy adventure, like a complete remodeling of the swing set. Rachel and her sweet nature, cuddling the cats or giving me a hug when she knows I have had a long day. Anna writing me cards or looking out for her younger siblings.

- My cats. They have such individual personalities. Penelope, who is the youngest and smallest of them all and yet still is the toughest. She is Queen Bee and makes sure everyone knows it. Bella, who is scared of her own shadow, but very sweet and loving. And Riley, who "talks" to us all the time and always likes to cuddle.

- The Godhead. What would I do without the sweet tender mercies I daily receive? They remind me that I am not alone, I am loved, and the events of my life are known above.

I am truly blessed.

Violence is not the answer

We could really use some more Ghandis and Martin Luther King Jr.s in the world. Pakistan declared this past Friday ":A Day of Love for the Prophet Mohammed" and encouraged Muslims to non-violently protest an anti-Muslim film that was produced in the United States. I completely understand their disgust towards a film that was an attack on their religion and beliefs. The idea for this "Day of Love" made sense. History has shown that non-violent protests have been very successful.

Sadly, non-violence is not what Pakistan got. Instead the action turned brutal, with 15 people killed, two theaters ransacked and burned, along with numerous other damage and injury done.

This is my problem with the protesters. They are upset that their religion was portrayed in a negative way. They do not like being deemed as evil or "bad" people. However, their actions showed that they were exactly that. If they could carry on a protest without killing their own people and causing destruction, maybe the Western world would start viewing them in a more positive light. If you want people's respect, stop proving that you are a violent religion and start doing some good in your own countries.

I have nothing wrong with someone who lives a different religion than I do. People have their freedom to do so. However, I disagree with violence and any religion that uses it to prove a point.

Something's afoot

I am pretty sure there is a magic force field around Anna's bed that makes it physically impossible for her to stay in bed. As soon as she gets into bed, it must just bounce her right back out. I know this because I can hear the creaking of the floor above my head almost every night when I try to relax after the kids are in bed. Somehow the other children have escaped this phenomenon.

The force field must also have magical powers that trigger the investigative part of her brain because Anna always comes out of her room with questions to ask. "What is for school lunch tomorrow?", "Where all the cats?", "Why were you so mean and got upset when I repeatedly disobeyed you at dinner?", "Why are you getting angry now?, and so forth. It is amazing the amount of questions that come out of her mouth.

Surely Anna isn't stalling going to bed. I mean, it is almost a nightly occurrence. There really must be some mystical powers at work. There just must.