Oh, Spring How I Love Thee

I have missed warm weather, the sun, the allergies... well maybe not those. I can't help it, Spring is truly one of my most favorite seasons. Yes, I have a sun allergy where I get hives from the UV rays of the sun and it is worse than ever in the Spring. If I cover myself every hour with SPF 50 sunscreen than the hives are lessened, but I still manage to itch a lot. And I have other allergies that plague me, along with my asthma. But I don't care! Robert and I talk about my love for Spring every year and he always insists that Spring is the worst season. It just teases you as you wait for Summer to be here. All of the things that I just mentioned he does his best to remind me that Spring is just not as good as Summer. I always disagree. I deal with all of the not so good things of the season, but I feel SO happy when I see the trees start to bud, the first flowers pop out of the ground and the wonderful warm breezy days. We go see the lights at Temple Square every year during Christmas time and just as important to me is going in the Spring to see the tulips and daffodils.

Today we were out in the beautiful weather. Lindsey insisted on wearing a very Spring yellow flowered skirt, had yellow flower clips in her hair and was just so cute in sandals. Maybe it seems early to be wearing them in 65 degree weather. But it was too beautiful not to dress her in. I wish I had taken some pictures now. I took some with my sister-in-law's camera at her house. I put sunscreen on my kids early in the day, but spaced it later on. Poor Lindsey burned her neck front and back, her cheeks and nose. Oh, it's so sad. Anyway, I just had to mention my happiness at the weather these days. I will be fine if all the rest of March, April and May is like this.

Easier?? When??

Okay, so I know life isn't easy and I know there is a lot that I need to learn, I guess the frustration is boiling a little- or a lot maybe. Our apartment (student housing) won't give us another extension. Two weeks tops and we are now out of the condo. There are a few prospects with housing, but we have 30 days to be out of here. Which means finding another rental somewhere and breaking the lease. Or if we need a couple of weeks we will figure it out then, but the frustration is high right now and time is limited. We are confident and hopeful that something will work out. Prayers are appreciated.

Druggies Ruin Condo

Okay.... so we are very happy that we decided on getting a meth test. And actually Robert's granddad before he got sick and passed away told us in his very gruff voice that is SO him "Make sure you test for meth". We did, especially after finding out from the neighbors that the previous owner is in JAIL for drugs and had druggie friends living there. Nice. In short, the test was positive. Which means we loose money on the inspections, appraisal and a few other things, but we are better off than the seller. I feel really bad for them. They are stuck with the property and have to pay to have it decontaminated. There were just too many issues apparently with the place. What a bomb they made of the place too. The toilet leaked and apparently they never had it fixed so it flooded out the apartment, but they were most likely all too high to notice.

I am very grateful we know this now. It also makes me very sad that there are people that get involved with things like this. It ruins them and it ruins other people too. They become so addicted and so selfish that they think what they do only hurts them. They sell and ruin those who buy and they hurt all who have to clean up after their mess. It is really unfortunate. And not to make light of this, but I have to be grateful for being able to back out of a potentially harmful situation. And I will lighten it up by adding a cartoon.


Now we have to see about extending our stay longer in our apartment so that we can continue the search and pray that we find where we need to move. Your prayers and kind words and thoughts on our behalf have been appreciated. We know something will work out in the end.

Screwtape and Discussions With Robert

For the last month or more Robert and I have been reading and discussing The Screwtape Letters. Okay, well I read them and Robert listens and we discuss. It has been really intriguing and very good. We have enjoyed it so much we are going to continue our plan to find good books and read and discuss them together. Our next find is on the Founding Fathers, their writings and speeches. We found so many great insights into ourselves while reading this book. We talked about how Robert read it in school, but his teacher told him how this book is like seeing people we know and the mistakes they make. Though one can see that, it is not the best part of this book. People don't want to have it be a window to their own mistakes and sins, but that is exactly what it is. And even more so as C.S. Lewis put it, it was a window into his own soul and therefore a window into the natural man. I sat with my highlighter going over my favorite parts of this book. So many that I can't possibly quote them all. But this was one of many favorites:

"The Enemy (meaning to the devil Screwtape, his enemy which is God) wants to bring the man to a state of mind in which he could design the best cathedral in the world, and know it to be the best, and rejoice in the fact, without being any more (or less) or otherwise glad at having done it than he would be if it had been done by another. The Enemy wants him, in the end, to be so free from any bias in he own favour that he can rejoice in his own talents as frankly and gratefully as in he neighbor's talents... He wants each man, in the long run, to be able to recognise all creatures (even himself) as glorious and excellent things. He wants to kill their animal self-love as soon as possible; but it is His longterm policy, I fear, to restore them a new kind of self-love- a charity and gratitude for all selves, including their own; when they have really learned to love their neighbors as themselves, they will be allowed to love themselves as their neighbors. For we must never forget what is the repellent and inexplicable trait in our Enemy; He really loves the (people) he has created, and always gives back to them His right hand what He has taken away with His left"-- The Screwtape Letters

If you haven't ever read it. I suggest doing it. And read it with your spouse. It is a great book to share together because of the discussions it leads to on how we can become better together. Robert and I really like reading things to each other and discussing deep topics. It was what drew us to each other in the first place. Now on to the next book. I will update you on the books I read myself and the ones we read together.

Constitution Freedom Blog

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Oh What Do You Do in the Winter Time...

... when all the world is cold, dead and grey? The cold weather has caused Emily to be as stir crazy as I am. We have played Barbies on and off. Sometimes I can't stand to play another day of Barbies and we find other things to do- like My Little Pony Memory. That is a LONG game! Or Uno or Candy Land. We have made lap books for homeschool. We read a LOT and we admit to watching more movies than normal. I mean hey we can only watch Wall-E, Night at the Museum and Curious George for a billion hours before we get sick of them right?

I have scrubbed a lot of dishes to keep myself busy and I have just about had it for that form of business. I have read books, painted and lets not forget the endless hours of house hunting during this cold depressing time. Actually the house stuff has taken a good chunk of our time and the kids would tell you the same. I can't even count the many houses we have walked through.

Emily and Lindsey play pretty well and fight just as well too. But there are definitely times when I just HAVE to play with them for the sanity of all. And other days where NOT playing helps my sanity. I had a friend help show me how to work my sewing machine I got for free from a friend and made two Barbie skirts for Emily. They are a little odd and you can tell they are my first pieces. I sewed on some snaps with them and for now, they are kind of fun.

Daddy Game Night

Robert was trying to show Emily how to play one of his favorite computer video games. Lindsey of course could not be left out. Aren't they cute!