Have you read this?

I LOVE to be engrossed in a good book. 

 I acquired this from my mother.  

Well it is not good for a bookworm to be  without a good book to read.  

And this has been my lot for the last month.  

So what do I do?  

Pull out my tried and true old favorite (let me clarify;  ALL TIME FAVORITE!)  

I have read the Red Tent by Anita Diamant at least 6 times (I don't know, I've lost count).

 I'm not a big re-reader or re-watcher of movies for that matter.  I don't buy books, or movies. I rent or borrow.  

But this book!  Thank heavens I own this book!

Not many share my sentiments for The Red Tent.  

Some are disturbed by the way Jacob is portrayed, or they have a hard time separating the historical fiction from the Biblical story.  Some are concerned about the way the female characters are treated by the male characters.  

But for me its not about that, and its definitely, 

NOT ABOUT THE MEN!  

I love this book for the women and their relationships between each other.  

Mother and daughter, sisters, friends.  

It reminds me of how I deeply value the female relationships in my life, and I rely on them greatly.   

I love this book because it pays homage to why, as a mother, I desire to have a daughter to share what is so wonderful about being a women.  

I love my 3 strapping sons, but lets be honest; they'll never be able to relate!  

I love this book because I have a strong desire to know incite about the prophets of old, to know the details of their lives, and fill in the blanks that the Bible leaves out.  

Now hold your criticism, 

I'm not delusional, I KNOW THIS IS FICTION! 

But I love the idea, that maybe this could have been what it was like for them.  

I also know that someday I can come face to face with prophets such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and there wives.  

I know that if I'm faithful to the covenants I've made here on earth I can have that dialogue I desire with the people whose faith has shaped my own in a place far more celestial.  

These are the thoughts that this book provokes for me.  

Bottom line, this book moves me!  

My only complaint; its over way too quick, and I'm left wanting more.  So I have to have something in waiting to pick up as soon as The Red Tent is put down.  

I think I'll go with Adam's favorite, 

"And There Was Light," by Jaques Lusseyran.  

A book that has moved him deeply.

After that who knows?  Which is a scary thought for me, I HAVE TO KNOW!

Any suggestions?

Where have I been you say?

Ok, another enormous gap of time has passed and I haven't taken the time to record it.

SORRY!

Sheesh!  I've been getting a lot of flack for that lately.

Do you not remember my day (and night) job is

SINGLE MARRIED MOTHER!

At this point we're in survival mode (and have been for the last 2 1/2 months) blogging hasn't been high priority.  Anyways enjoy the recap.

I've been a little project slave, trying to keep myself busy and make time pass fast.  Not to mention getting ready for a house full of Thanksgiving guests.  There's nothing like an anticipated house guest to kick you "project butt" in gear (always works for me!).  With the help of my mom, we recovered the hideous avocado chairs.  Not so hideous anymore, don't you think!?  We're both surprised how well we worked together; two stress cases don't always make a good pair, but it went GREAT and I couldn't have done it without her!

I made these pillows, along with the ones on the newly recovered chairs.  This fabric was such a fantastic find; only $3 a yard!  Makes me love them even more.

I saved our dining table from the fire that I almost threw  it in (I was so sick of it) and decided to paint it.  About ten coats later...it needs to be redone!  I already have chipping happening (even after 2 coats primer about 3 of oil based paint and 4-6 of poly).  The funny thing is the legs are shiny and the top is matte, because of the number of poly coats I did(less on the legs).  So now I need to decide:

SHINY OR MATTE?

What do you think?

Porter REALLY got in the spirit of Thanksgiving this year!

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year with the Lofgran family.  With a total of 17 people, we gave new meaning to full house!  We had a wonderful time, and made a fantastic meal together.  Here are the mastermind: Kim, Pat, Summer and me (for some reason I look pregnant, but I'm definitely not!!).

Cousins are king in our house!

Jackson and Sadie were completely inseparable. 

Adam and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.  He sent me these gorgeous roses, with a most tender note.  It really was so very sweet and thoughtful, but I would have traded it all to have him home.  This won't be remembered as one of my happier anniversaries.

The boys and I made the trip to Arizona for the annual Saguaro Lake Boat Parade that my parents have participated in for many years.  It is so great to be able to join them again for fun family traditions.  These pictures are from our picnic with my sister Devin at the Farm at South Mountain.

We couldn't stand being apart any longer.  So Adam flew home for just an overnight to be with us.  It truly was the most wonderful Saturday we've ever had as a family.  Sleeping in, breakfast together, playing at the park.  Holding hands, just so happy to be together.  

Both boys learned to ride without training wheels!  

It snowed in St. George!

How weird!

Christmas was fantastic!  Two solid weeks of being together and also enjoying our families in Arizona.  Our gift to the big boys was 2 days at Disneyland, while family cared for Asher.  We made great memories, but unfortunately Adam has all the pictures on his laptop to prove it.  

AHHHHHH!  All done!  Sweet relief!

OH JOY!

I don't know what happened.  I got the itch to change my blog background, and found an ok option, and then 

VOILA!, 

all my friend links are gone!!!  Like I said...

OH JOY!

I GOT IT!!!!

That is exactly what I screamed when I got this shot!  

With the help of Porter of course!

A breath of fresh air

Thanks to the help of a good friend.  

I have breathed new life to my bedroom!  

I'm still awaiting a chocolate brown velvet bed skirt, and a "date project" with my husband making an upholstered headboard.  Yet already, I'm loving the breath of fresh air, a furniture  rearrangement provides.  Thanks for your help Kristine!

Just had to add this picture.

Porter can get Asher to make the funniest faces!  I wish this was a better angle, maybe they'll do it again this week.  I love these little stinkers!

Adam has flown the coop.

Up in the air... its a bird!  its a plane!  No, just Adam getting  a last flight in on the ultralite before his big flight back to Portland for session 3 of rotations.  So my title of "single married mom"  has resumed.  Yippee!!!   

Not Really!

Our last few days before he left were so sweet.  We all seemed to want to savor each moment, knowing it would be the last for a while.  But now the band aid has be pulled and he is gone to the soggy weather, and weird people (no offense, but come on you know its true!).  I know I'll survive without him(I'm strong I know I can do it!).  But I will be incomplete without my rock.  Adam is the one that keeps me steady; my eternal companion.  But its good friends that get me through these hard time without him.  Thank you so much for your calls, and thoughts, and distractions you've provided me these last few days without him.  I'm so grateful for all the support I have here in St. George.  And it amazing that it been generated in such a short amount of time.  Thank you to the home teacher that has offered to mow our patch of grass for the next 3 months.  Thank you to the primary president who has offered her daughter to help me wrangle 3 wiggly boys during sacrament.  And thank you to the nursery leaders that are willing to take Asher a month early so I can teach the Sunbeams in peace ( is that an oxymoron?).  It all testifies to me of the love for the Savior.  Thank you.