Count Your Blessings

Last night Mike had the brilliant idea that we should make a long list of our blessings, as a family. Would you believe we got to 152? (before it started getting just plain silly)

Sydney's contributions included such things as "clean water" and "trees that give us oxygen."
Amen, sister! Berkeley is thankful for such things as all the systems of the body, listed individually of course, and books. Maia is thankful for her family and her buddy Hannah. Sam is thankful for prayer, his body, his bike and his ripstick.

Among other things, I am thankful for our church leader, President Dalton, for helping us think about what we are thankful for. We had such a wonderful stake conference on Sunday. The main theme being that it is hard to be angry or discouraged when we look at the many blessings that grace our lives. Even our trials are sent to strengthen and refine us. Life is good. God is great.

Feliz Cumpleanos, that's how they say it in Spain

Happy, Happy Birthday, Berkeley Dear. Oh, sorry... Burquellii dear. Happy days will come to you all year. If I had one wish then it would be, a happy, happy birthday to you from me.

I love this kid. This teenage kid. Who will get a drivers permit a short 2 years from now. And then date girls a year later. Then graduate and move away. Forever. (Insert "cats and the cradle" chorus.)

Okay, back to me. Do you all ever feel like you don't even look at your kids properly? Like they are an extension of yourself and not their own person? But then there are these moments when they are so original or interesting or deep and you realize, this is a person, and I am privileged to know him, let alone parent him.

It's great knowing you, Berk. (And I hope you don't take the whole "extension" thing the wrong way, you know, like a whiny teenager might do.)

"It's a Brendacentric Universe"

Once when I was at the doctor's office, the nurse mentioned her teenage son. I responded with genuine amazement: "no way are you old enough to have a teenager." Long pause. "I had him when I was fifteen." Long pause. "Soooo.....you're NOT old enough to have a teenager." Nervous laughter.

So on Saturday I am going to become the mother of a teenager. A teenager I had when I was 23. I have contemplated, just for fun, telling people I had him when I was fifteen. Because I really enjoy nervous laughter (when it's not my own).

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When we were in college, Mike and my roommates coined the popular phrase "It's a Brendacentric universe." I'm sure they meant it in the best possible way--being the devoted fans they were and are. Of me. Brenda. Center of the universe. The type of mom who will post about herself instead of writing a tribute to this amazing kid turning thirteen on Saturday...

More to come...

Tulip Fest

Sydney wrote in her journal today about the Tulip Farm:
"I went to the tulip farm. It was fun. I liked the cow ride. I loved it."
So perhaps I should leave it at that.
And refrain from editorializing on the crazy long drive, the heat, the cost of carnival rides, the lines (even for the portapotty), the exhaustion, and the sunburn.
It was fun. I loved it.