Gotta Love Conference

I love General Conference. It is the ultimate challenge for a couple with ADD, but trying to be quiet and listen is always well-worth the effort. I've already been HUGELY rewarded. I can't wait to share my favorite parts when they come out in print. But for right now I'll share some of my favorite parts from an Ensign article this month called, "Taking Time to Talk and Listen" because BOY HOWDY did I need to hear it (I don't know where I picked up the 'boy howdy' but I'm sticking with it for right now).

"As we spend time together and talk with our children, we come to know them and they come to know us. Our priorities, the real feelings of our heart, will become a part of our conversation with each child. What is the number-one message from your heart you would choose to share with your child?"

"Much good comes from talking, and the adversary is aware of the power of the spoken word. He would love to diminish the spirit that comes into our homes as we talk, listen, encourage each other, and do things together...The adversary would love to bind our tongues-anything to prevent us from expressing verbally the feelings of our hearts face to face. He delights in distance and distraction; he delights in noise; he delights in impersonal communication- anything that would prevent us from the warmth of a voice and the personal feelings that come from conversing eye to eye"

"It takes time to focus on the things that matter most. Talking, listening, and encouraging do not happen quickly. They cannot be rushed or scheduled-they happen best along the way. They happen when we do things together: work together, create together, and play together. They happen when we turn off media, put down worldly distractions, and focus on each other."

I definitely needed this reminder. I felt like Elder Packer was also echoing some of these principles too when he spoke today. This is a challenge because although Luke is getting better and better at talking, he still has little interest in discussing his thoughts and feelings. In fact, usually when I start asking him questions about preschool or anything really, it quickly morphs into some make-believe dialogue having to do with a cartoon character or the ABC's or whatever he is playing with at the moment. It might be his age, but I also have a feeling that boys (some boys) might not be chatter boxes by nature. He would rather be rough-housing or running or building something or spinning around and around until we both want to throw up. That's okay too. I guess it's all about baby steps. Being there and listening to whatever he wants to talk about, whenever that happens to be.

Yesterday we asked Luke (completely out of the blue) who his best friend is. He first said, "Devor" (his cousin), and then he said a few seconds later, "uh...Will". I knew his answers were sincere because we haven't talked about Devor or Will for at least a few days and they surely would qualify as best friends (I'm sure he meant both of them because you can't really choose just one best friend). They actually both live in different states so I was a little surprised that he chose them. It was one of his first thought-out, genuine answers to a real question (not just a "how old are you" kind of a question that has a right/wrong answer). He is doing this more and more and I LOVE hearing what he has to say. He is actually really really funny too.

One thing I know for sure is that it can NEVER be the wrong choice to put down whatever I'm working on/being distracted by, and focusing more of my attention on my children. I've been working on it this week and everyone is so much happier...even if silly little things don't get done. One thing that has helped is that I made a goal to not get on the Internet when they are awake. This is hard because I constantly have a steady stream of things going through my head: ideas for projects I want to do, people I need to email, something I need/want to learn about or research, etc., etc. Not to mention I'm still looking at places to live in Ann Arbor (this one is a major time-sucker). I have a hard time not reacting as soon as a thought crosses my mind and going straight to my computer. There is just so much information at my fingertips...it is VERY distracting. So instead I've been keeping a list by my computer of things I need to do during my 'internet time'. I add to it when I need to and try to stay off it as much as possible. Wish me luck. This is going to be a hard habit to form.

Bragging Rights

I'm shamelessly bragging. Forgive me. I can't help it. But at least it is about family members and not myself so I don't feel that bad.

Two BIG things were accomplished by people I think are pretty fantastic and I am SO proud to know them and have their examples of hard work, resilience and dedication.

FIRST, my sister-in-law, Jessica submitted a completely self-designed and hand-sewn quilt to the LDS International Art Competition and GOT IN (p.s. it was her first time making a quilt...although she has a BA in  Industrial Design so she has the golden touch with things like this). It is an extremely competitive event with thousands of entries submitted and less than 20% accepted (many of the people who get in are professional artists...you can probably buy their work at Deseret Book). Her quilt will be displayed at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake until October so be sure to check it out if you are in the area. You can also see all the art pieces that made it in and vote for your favorite one here.

SECOND, my nephew Ryland is a competitive gymnast and he just competed in the California State Championship. He placed 1st in the vault, 3rd in the high bar, and 6th overall. In vault he has the highest score of any level 5 boy aged 7-12! Next he will compete in the Regional Championship in Reno, Nevada. I'm already hearing the Olympic Fanfare playing in my head. What a stud! He also is one of the funniest, most clever kids I've ever met. I have the coolest nieces and nephews!

Flubber!

We've been having a little too much fun around here making flubber. We made a batch for Family Home Evening last week (my gospel application/analogy for the flubber was really really pathetic). I think Andrew played with it more than anyone else (yes, fake sneezing with green flubber coming out his nose...we're real grown up around here). Don't let your kids eat it!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

-liquid laundry borax (powder works fine too)
-white glue
-water
-food coloring

Directions:

1. Mix 1 tbsp. of Borax in 1 cup of water, set aside.
2. Stir 1 cup of glue and 2 drops of food coloring into 1 cup of water.
3. Add 2 tsp. of the Borax solution to the glue mixture, stir.
4. Gather all the stretchy strands and squeeze into a ball.

Note: I always end up adding a lot more borax solution. Maybe it's because I use the powder?? Instead of 2 tsp. I end up adding about 1/4 cup but just add a little at a time until you get the consistency you want. I can't remember where I ended up finding Borax but I remember that I had to go to a few different stores before finding it.

Have fun!

-

The Box

I was in the midst of heavy-duty spring cleaning a few weeks ago. And then, almost as quickly as it came on, all desire to clean and go through boxes completely left me. Lets hope the wave starts up again or else I'm going to find myself very busy when moving time comes.

When I was in the midst of my cleaning frenzy, I dragged out some old boxes to re-determine what I should keep or throw away. That's when I came across one of my favorite boxes to open on an annual basis (at least annually). Nothing gets thrown away from here.

This is where I keep all of Andrew's letters that he sent me while on his mission (and a tape or two...remember making tapes for people!). It also has just about every random note he ever wrote me during our 7-year courtship...

...yes, even the ones written on napkins. It doesn't all fit in the little wood box, it sort of overflows to fill up a bigger box. 7 years of dating equals a WHOLE lot of love notes people. (Andrew will absolutely hate that I called them 'love notes'. he he he). I guess it is fair to say we've never really been the sappy type.

 Here is a postcard he sent from Italy and if you look REALLY close you will see a group of missionaries in the photo. One of them is Andrew. He was pretty excited to send me this postcard.

This is the note he sent me right after he sent me a letter telling me that I should marry someone else (not that we were planning on getting married or anything but I guess he wanted to make sure there was no pressure on our relationship). Andrew had a funny habit of always making the first move after a "break-up". Usually it was some strange peace-offering like this. He sent me a bunch of Swiss chocolate but made sure to mention that he was sending some to 'a lot of people'. I highly doubt anyone else got a package of swiss chocolate. Anyone? Anyone? Oh Stace, it is so good that I could read through your disguised gestures.

Have I told you how after deciding that we wouldn't date anymore (one of the many times we decided not to date anymore) he showed up at my house with goldfish as a 'Christmas present'!?

Another time (post break-up) he called me up and begged me to go to an ice cream shop that had just opened up. Because I just had to try the ice cream with him. It seriously drove me crazy. 

Here are all the letters I sent Andrew while he was on his mission. Note, I do not read these. I will never ever read them. Within the pages are written some of the dorkiest things that have ever been put on paper. When I try to read them my face turns bright RED and I realize how dumb I was back in my 19s and 20s. Luckily, Andrew doesn't remember them at all. If I read them now, I am sure that I would burn them. Which would make Andrew sad. So for his sake I just let them be and hope that my grandchildren NEVER find them.

And here are all the letters I sent Andrew while I was on my mission. I don't mind reading these because I had matured a lot by this point. Thank goodness for missionary work.

This isn't even everything. All the letters that Andrew wrote to me while I was on my mission are in a different box.



This is the ticket from our first date. Because of this little momento I have been able to remember when our first date was even after all these years. One time he found this in my wallet and scribbled a note on it but I blurred that out because he would be really embarrassed if I didn't. That boy is sweet I tell you!

There are other momentos in this box too like Andrew's claim to fame in the Deseret News. I LOVE the first line, "Who is Andrew Stacey?". If you're wondering you can click here and find out. It will be so fun to show this to our grandkids someday. My favorite part of this article was that it quotes Andrew's brother, Ricky. Please note, Andrew DOES NOT have a brother named Ricky. I'm still not totally sure how the reporter got that little fact mixed-up but it has become a favorite Stacey family joke to blame things on brother 'Ricky'.

Looking through all these letters reminds me of all our little quirks throughout the years. Some we've outgrown, others we haven't. This was from Andrew's shadow-writing stage...he always wrote my name like this for some reason. 

By the way, as I was going through the box I found this Christmas ornament someone gave me years ago. I can't remember who. Janay? Carol? Mom? How has it spent all these Christmases not on my tree! I'm so glad I found it. It will be front and center this Christmas :)

I LOVE going through this box. It makes me happy. I know that not everyone has the tolerance, patience or maybe some would call it 'stupidity' to date someone for such a long time (we have still dated longer than we've been married...it will be two more years before it's 7 and 7). Timing was a fickle thing with us. But I'm glad we have a box full of memories. And I'm glad Andrew's been in my life for almost 12 years. Seriously, no guy ever really stood a chance after I met him.

The Week

 We had a pretty big storm last week with tornado sirens blaring and hail the size of a quarter, but afterwards we got that beautiful post-storm weather.

We spent the last few days up in Cleveland so Andrew could take some board exams. Luke and Cam LOVE Grandpa and Grandma's house.

 Cam STILL is refusing to walk but he can get in and out of this car without any trouble. He might ride a bike before he walks.

Poor Cam...being the younger brother is rough sometimes...

 But don't worry, he can fend for himself.

Ready for some classic Luke faces?

 (this one is going in his wedding video someday for sure)

 Luke made up for the whole "car incident" with Cam by pushing him on the swing when the rest of us forgot to. Sometimes having an older brother is pretty cool.

Victory is Sweet

We love March Madness around here and Andrew won't stop talking about the BYU comeback he witnessed LIVE last night in Dayton. Totally worth the 2 hours of sleep he got last night.

Just as a side note, I have to brag that I taught Zylstra in the MTC. He was an awesome missionary too.