The boys began piano lessons this last September at the school and they have made tremendous progress! What is amazing is to see talent vs. hard work and how they can compliment each other with the boys individually. Lucas has sheer love, interest, desire and talent for the piano. His lessons stemmed from an earnest desire to play and we are doing everything in our power for him to continue. Elijah is determined more than anything to not allow his kid brother to out do him at anything. It has turned into hard work on his part and in return, his progress is rewarding enough for him to continue. The love of music is something I want more than anything for my children to discover for themselves, because, then and only then, will they continue to strive for it. I hope it just helps to have a mother who has a talent, and has exposed them to the art.

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So, first piano recital approaches for the boys, they have worked so hard!!! The kids stay overnight at their grandparents house the night before and not having their recital clothes packed I left a bit early to get them to be sure they would be dressed and ready as we got into Midland... well, I forgot their shoes!!! So, after calling Eric, realizing he doesn't have a key to our house, for one reason or another, we decide they are still going to be on time to warm-up if dad meets me at the church to allow me to drop them off quick, I should have enough time to run home to retrieve the shoes as they are warming up... well, they played like 3rd and 4th... and I got there just as they FINISHED!!!!!! Thank goodness I gave Eric the camera to record, priorities huh? Winter boots and piano can work out just fine, now I know.

I am GREAT

Before I get started with my quarterly blogging... I have some thoughts to share... sometimes, us women and mothers get so caught up in the expectations we think exist for us and we create for ourselves. We all want to amount to something great and have our children, and husbands for that matter, amount to something great and noble! (I am now seeing spots because Eric just finished shining a VERY bright flashlight into my eyes...) We have a LOT of pressure on ourselves. Speaking for myself now that I am done stating the obvious for the greater whole of us women... I feel I have the weight of the world on me at all times, it is just constantly shifting. Once I complete and master one task, I immediately find a new one to replace it. Well, after thinking on this this afternoon and feeling very exhausted, I am here to tell you... I AM GREAT! I can, as most of us can, look upon others and see very clearly what they are great at... giving birth after reaching complete in 3 minutes flat women, super-dupper bloggers, way-cute home decorators, super-corporate career women, the best volunteers out there, beautiful, beautiful women, can-speak-to-their-children-in-totally-loving-voices...Always, women, great photographers, spiritual giants, excellent sunday lesson-givers, superb organizers, financial guru's, fitness fanatics... with rock-hard bod's, can't we all go on and on? Well, I am here to tell you...i am great too. i have given birth to 3 beautiful children, yes, i make beautiful children with the man by my side, they are good out of our presence, because that is when they really prove themselves, i love to workout, when i can, and that is good enough for me, i love the feeling i get when i do read my scriptures, causing me to try always to read more and more, i feel my savior by my side when i need him and when i even want him there, i am beautiful, i can cook and love good photos of my kids, even if i am not the one always taking them, i have great friends, i enjoy blogging, when i can, and that is good enough for me, i enjoy learning new things, love water, the beach and being outside when it's warm, i love to see new babies, then give them back, i love my house clean, but when it's not, it isn't because i am lazy, it is because i have higher priories at that moment, i do not have to be perfect. this life is to become, not to be perfect and i am not, but i am great right now.