This girl

I cannot even begin to describe how much we love Lily around here. She is pure joy.
She is at such a fun age. She just had a language burst and is saying so many things and starting to string words together. It's so much fun to see what things she will say and how creative and funny she is. I just love how her little mind works.
She is also my little helper all day long. She follows me around and tries to do whatever I am doing. She likes to help me clean. She loves to sing songs and read books. One of her favorite things to do is steal my phone and look at all the pictures and videos on there. She is so happy just seeing herself and interacting with the videos of herself. It's adorable.
My other kids have told me numerous times that it's okay with them if she is my favorite child because she's their favorite. It's so cute how much in love with her they are. It's hard not to be completely smitten by her, though. We're so blessed to have her in our family.

My man

Saturday evening as we were heading back from our cabin, it was raining. The snow packed roads were becoming slushy and the conditions were pretty treacherous.
With a fully packed Suburban, every seat taken, we said a prayer, and started down. After only a few minutes of driving, we saw an SUV stuck on the side of the road. I knew instantly that we would be stopping to see what we could do. The driver looked very relieved as Jason jumped out of the Suburban and said, "I have a tow rope, let's see if I can pull you out."
The road we were on was a dirt road covered in several feet of snow, slush, and ice. There is no cell reception and it was getting dark and still raining. The driver of the SUV couldn't make it up the hill, so he was trying to back down when he slid off the road. He was alone with his 2 year old daughter.
We tried, unsuccessfully, many times from many different angles to pull his vehicle out. We were there for over an hour when it was clear there wasn't a way to get him out that night. But, our tow rope was too tight and our car wouldn't budge to loosen it up, so we couldn't get it off. I was in the car with the kids and they were all restless, impatient, and hungry. Honestly, I was feeling a bit that way too. Jason jumped in to try backing up, yet again, and the kids started complaining. "When are we leaving?" "I'm hungry!" "What's going on?" " I need to get home, I have things to do!"
Jason just calmly looked at them and said, "We help people."
After quite a while longer, two severed tow ropes, and extra helpers from down the road, the man and daughter were taken to safety of a nearby home to call for a ride until a tow truck could get to their car.
We arrived home safely about three hours later than we anticipated. But, I hope the lesson will remain with my kids forever. "We help people". I know it will remain with me.

Cabin weekend getaway

We took the Anderson's up to our cabin for a little weekend getaway. It was so much fun. We played games, ate lots of yummy food, went sledding/snowboarding/snowmobiling, and stayed up way too late. We all had a blast.

2013

Shortly before Christmas, I read "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin.  I enjoyed reading about her experiences trying to increase her happiness.  So, this year, instead of setting resolutions, I decided that I would do my own version of a happiness project. 
I decided to think about some of the happiest times in my life and list characteristics of my life during those times.  Then I tried to find the common factors among those times.  It just so happens that there were 12 commonalities.  So, I decided to focus on one of these things each month.  Then, I broke down each one and set goals under them.  I'm excited for this project.
For the month of January, I am focusing on having a consistent exercise schedule of something I like doing.  I love to exercise for so many reasons.  It makes me feel better--happier, healthier, and more emotionally stable.  And my exercise of choice is jogging.  It has been a VERY long time since I have been able to fit regular running into my daily routine.  And I definitely miss it.  It has been so easy for me to make excuses.  When I was working nights, it was so hard to get any kind of regular exercise in.  It seemed too easy to choose sleep over exercise.  And then, I was pregnant.  Then, I had a small baby.  And now, Jason is gone a lot for work so it is hard to have any kind of schedule for "me time".  So, I have made a lot of excuses.  I decided that the best solution to all of these excuses was for me to get a gym pass where there is a day care so that I can go whether Jason is in town or not.  So, a couple of weeks ago, I got a membership to Gold's Gym.  It includes unlimited day care.  It has been really fun to be in the gym again.  I met with a personal trainer which is something completely out of my comfort zone.  But, it really helped to motivate me and set some goals and give me the confidence to work hard to achieve them.  I still haven't picked a consistent time to go, but I have been able to make it there 3-4 times a week.  And that is progress. 

I'm an artist

About 18 years ago, I made a list "25 things I want to do before I die". A couple years after that, I added to it, making it into a list of 100 things. This year, I'm trying to cross off at least one thing each month.
"Do a painting" was an item on my list and the one I chose to do for January. Well, today I completed it. It's very abstract and a lot different than my original vision, but I ended up with something I really like. It has a lot of texture to it that doesn't show up in the picture. I had a lot of fun creating and I hope to do many more paintings in the future.

Sundays

I love Sunday afternoons with my family. I love that we have 9:00 church now so we have the whole afternoon/evening to be together.
Last Sunday I watched Sound of Music (my favorite movie) with my girls while the guys watched football. Then, I had some coloring time with Britton and Haley. Such a fun, relaxing day.

The other day

I found a paper in Britton's backpack and this is what it said,

"Hi, my name is Britton Kemp and I am running for Class President.  The reason you should vote for me is...
Wait for it... Wait for it...
I'm awesome!"

I love that kid. 

Right now

I can't sleep tonight.

Things I want to remember about today:
Piano with Britton-how much he loves it and how easily it comes to him, he starts lessons in a couple of weeks and his teacher gave him a book to look over and get started with if he wants, he is just devouring it

Going to the park with the kids-it's the second time we've been this week, Monday we went and saw a duck sitting on her eggs so we just had to go back to check on her, she is still there waiting patiently, saw another duck with newly hatched ducklings, my kids all light up while watching them, found the best climbing tree and secret tree clubhouse, decided we need to go back at least every other day

Practicing piano with Haley-seeing how hard she works through her frustration, it doesn't always come easy for her, but she is maturing and growing so much and she is not giving up

Life is good, but I miss Jason like crazy. He has had to be gone for work most of this month. He'll have to stay in North Dakota longer than we planned. Boo!

Little miss Lily

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks

President's day cabin trip

We took a short day trip to the cabin on President's Day. It was Lily's first time up there in the snow. She was a real champ being carried by Jason in the Baby Bjorn while snowmobiling up there. Britton and Haley had tons of fun sledding with the neighbor kids. Definitely a great day off. I hope we can spend more time there before the snow melts.

Sewing days

At the beginning of the school year, Biz, my mom, and I started having a weekly sewing day on Thursday's. First of all, let me just say that I am NOT a sewer, but this is one of my favorite things and I always look forward to it. We mostly just make things up as we go, making simple things using materials we already have. Lots of skirts and blankets. It's so much fun having a creative outlet every week. My last big project was making little stuffed monsters for all the kids on my side of the family for Christmas. They were so much fun to make. I wish I would have taken a picture of all of them. Here's Haley's and Lily's.
Here is a picture of the skirt I made yesterday for Haley. It's from an old t- shirt of mine. I also made 2 pairs of leggings for Lily out of my old shirts. Look at me be frugal, green, and crafty all at the same time!

Lily is growing up so fast! I wish I could freeze time.

My Two Little Princesses

I haven't been very good at keeping up this blog. Here are a few pictures of Lily all ready for a walk. So glad I get to hang out with her all day everyday!

Halloween 2011

This is the first year we've ever dressed up as a family.  We were a rock band and had so much fun!  Britton doesn't like Halloween at all and usually doesn't want to dress up, but he was totally excited about this.   This isn't the best picture (taken with an iphone), but it's the only one we have.  Lily is dressed up as my electric guitar.  Britton is wearing Haley's skinny jeans.  :)  We had so much fun! 

Britton Again

Practically right after I wrote that last post, this happened...


Britton was holding Lily and staring at her and said, "Who knew the love of my life would be short and bald?" 

I know he heard that on a commercial or something, but it was still so cute hearing him say it to her.  He really is smitten by her. 

We all are.

Overheard

The other day Britton was holding Lily and talking to her.  He said, "The day you were born was the best day of my life!"

It was the sweetest thing.  I love seeing them together and how happy they make each other.

Consider the Lilies

One of my all time favorite passages of scripture is found at the end of Matthew 6.

"...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I love these words, I love the concept of the Lord taking care of us, of seeking the kingdom of God and not worrying about anything else, but it's not an easy thing for me to do.

I am a planner.  I like to make lists.  I like to budget.  I like to save.  I like to know what tomorrow (or the next 10 years) will bring. I like to be in control.  And, I'm proud and stubborn and I think I know everything.  So, when things don't turn out as planned, it's hard for me.  I get scared.  I panic.  I don't deal with it very well. 

I feel like that's been the story of my life for the past 3 years or so--the fear, the panic, the "not dealing so well".


We had been wanting another child ever since Haley was 1 1/2.  After a pregnancy ended in miscarriage, we felt prompted that we needed to go to China for a year.  What a remarkable experience it was for our family, something we would have never even considered with a young baby or one on the way.  I was sure, though, that as soon as we arrived home and got settled, I would be able to get pregnant and it would be the perfect time for another child to come into our family.

Over the next few years, our family had many trials.  Things that I could never have predicated and definitely couldn't control.  Things that were really hard for me.  Through it all, I kept wishing, hoping for another child.  I began wondering if it wasn't supposed to happen.  If I should just forget about it.  I was given a blessing that said everything was fine and it would happen when it was supposed to happen.  So, I stopped trying to plan and started trying to trust.

When I found out I was pregnant, it was at a time when the stress and trials were so overwhelming.  I was working long hours, both day and night.  We didn't have enough money.  We didn't have adequate insurance.  The kids were struggling.  We had just lost a loved one.  My marriage was weak.  My whole family was worn thin.  And we were just so busy trying to stay afloat.  I didn't even realize I was pregnant (the thing I had been longing and yearning for) because I was so preoccupied in just getting through daily life.  It didn't possibly feel like the ideal time.   And while I was sincerely excited and grateful, it was overshadowed by more fear and panic.  I couldn't see how everything was going to work out.


As I look back over the last 3 years of my life, they have been, without a doubt, the most difficult.  I feel like I have been tried and tested in every facet of my life.  I feel like my family has been under constant attack.  While we haven't always dealt with it perfectly and are still dealing with a lot of things, we have learned so much, we have grown so much.  We still aren't free from trials, but we are strong.


Recently, we received the ultimate blessing for our family--our beautiful little girl, Lily Emily Kemp.  I can see now that the Lord's timing may not be our timing, but it is the perfect timing.  When we can't figure out how everything is going to work out, He can.  He will take care of us.  He will bless us.  And He will do so abundantly.

In the future, when I am afraid and feel out of control, I will "consider my Lily" and remember to trust in everything Heavenly Father has in store for me.

Things making me happy right now:

• I made a dress for Haley yesterday
• I've been jogging the last 3 days in a row
• I got to shower today :)  
• It's Friday
• The free Kindle app on my iTouch and all the free books at amazon.com
• Excited for the Walk-a-thon tomorrow--go Team Emily!
• My cute little baby girl

Picture of the Day

Love that little face!