Sweet On...

Today I am totally sweet on my Swiffer mop. It empowers me. For the first time in my life (pretty much) I can kill spiders. The Swiffer is the best spider smasher. I can stand four feet away and get into the most awkward corners. My husband should be totally in love with the mop too because now he doesn't have to kill all the spiders!

This fabulous discovery happened because we were away for two months this summer. Apparently all the spiders in town thought that we had moved out and felt free to move on in. June and July were spent in Cache Valley, Utah. We were there cleaning out my husbands' parents' home. This was a difficult time for us. Not only was there the pain of going through all of their things and selling the family home, but we were away from home for so long. My husband was a hero and shouldered much of the burden, spending many twelve hour days at his parents house.

As difficult as this was I know that Heavenly Father had a purpose. Our relationships with some of our family came away much stronger. What a blessing for us and our children! And let's not forget the discovery of the best use for a swiffer mop!

Pictures of our summer in Cache Valley:

Isaac at the park~

 Lizzy painting @ Summerfest~

 Lizzy @ the Fourth of July parade~

 Isaac drumming @ Summerfest~

 The kids with Grandma and Grandpa~

Todays Simple Treasure

Pandora is on my TV. They have a Frank Sinatra station, a Count Basie Station, a Charlie Parker station...I am washed up in the blaring brass and the amazing chord changes and remember ME. Once upon a time I got to relish sitting on the front row of a Jazz orchestra; feeling the brass pushing against my back. The tightness of the rythms and harmonies giving an indescribable high. I loved watching dancers float across the floor as we played and the applause wasn't bad either!

My saxophone now sits in its case- taken out once a week to play duets with an improving, but out-of-tune fifth grader. When I try and play my sweet Isaac either cries because it's loud or because he wants to push the buttons. It's a funny feeling to spend so many years, hours a day, enveloped in something and then suddenly (it feels) not have it at all. As I enjoy the music on my TV, I also feel longing- to be there again on that noisy front row.

I have made choices. My sweet little choices wake me up in the middle of the night and give me sweet, slobby, open mouthed baby kisses. They spill the milk, unroll the toilet paper, and leave small toys, that hurt your feet, strewn down the hall. Yet, as I snuggle my children to sleep, feeling their soft breath and warmth I get an indescribable feeling...of love. I would make the same choices again- in a heartbeat. Holding those tiny hands is the best simple treasure of all.

That being said- who wants to watch my kids an hour a week so I can practice =)?