Onward and upward!

A little while back, we took our first fall family hike up the in Orem Foothills. The boys were especially excited and looking forward to the adventure!
It was a fun hike for me because it brought back a lot of great memories!
When Pete and I were dating, one of our favorite things to do, was take his jeep up in these same foothills and we'd listen to "Ground Zero" (a syndicated talk show about the paranormal), look at the stars and talk about our future together. This mountain is also where Peter proposed to me!

I hadn't thought much about those fun, meaningful talks and experiences until we were back up there on the hill, in the same spot, and I looked around at what where we are in our lives...What they have become...at our boys, and couldn't help thinking that it was so different from what we had planned. It is better!!

I never thought-as I know most mother's feel the same-that my role as a wife and mother would be so hard. So discouraging at times, and even disappointing. But, it's through all the chaos, the hard times and the disappointments that we have become stronger...and much closer!

As we continued up the face of the mountain, I had the thought that our family life IS a hike. While constantly trying to move upward and progress, we need to stay together, on the same path. We may run into spots where the path is narrow, and maybe we don't all fit through together. We have to stop and wait for each other and help each other along. And maybe sometimes the path is wide and we are all walking at the same pace and speed. This makes it nice and easy.

Sometimes, my boys want to take a different path. One that I don't feel is safe. I try to keep them with me, on the safe path so we can get to our destination unharmed and TOGETHER! I don't want to be alone when I get to top of the hill and enjoy the blessings and beauty of Heavenly Father's earth alone. I want us all there!!

No matter the difficulty of life's path, I am looking forward to the learning and growing that can only take place through our struggles. I know that as a family, will enjoy the destination so much more when it's reached as we stick close together, hold on to each other and stay on the correct path through those struggles!

Onward and upward!!!

Marchus goes to PRE-SCHOOL!

Marchus started his first day of pre-school today! He was SO excited and didn't even want me to walk him to the classroom.
His pre-school is located just kiddie-corner across the street from our home. I love how close it is! But, if it were up to Marchus, he'd enroll out of state somewhere. He's so anxious to be a big boy!!
I came home from dropping him off, and I sat down and ate my lunch. It was eerily quiet and I started thinking back to the last time I had sat down to have lunch on my own...by myself. It's been well over 10 years! No wonder it felt so foreign!
It's such an interesting place to be in after so many years. He'll only gone for six hours a week, but it feels weird to me. He's been almost a constant companion to me since he was born 4.5 years ago. He's my little buddy and partner in crime!

When he got home I asked him how it went and he said, "I didn't trip once!"

It was funny since he never voiced any concern that he might "trip" at school. What a silly boy!

The thing that strikes me the most, is remembering how fast the time seemed to fly by once Christian and Zach started pre-school. It went CRAZY fast once they started to go...even just a couple days a week.
So, Marchus has hit a mile stone in his cute little life, and I have hit one in mine! Soon, I will be home alone most the day...and that's a whole other blog post!

Horntail Wasp NIGHTMARE!

While at the local Maverick gas station here in Orem, I had a HORRIFYING experience with an insect. Not just ANY insect, a HORNTAIL WASP (pictured at the left). As if that wasn't bad enough, I completely humiliated myself in front of total strangers.
Here's what happened:
I was helping Marchus out of the car so we could go in and buy a slushy. As I turned around to walk toward the front of the building a small bird flew straight at me, and with a loud, angry sounding buzz, landed on the front of my t-shirt! Then, much to my surprise, I realized it wasn't a bird...its was a BEE! THE BIGGEST BEE I'VE EVER SEEN.
While trying not to hyperventilate, I gently and slowly pulled the shirt away from the front of my body. Mosty because I was SO scared it would sting my....chest area!
As I pulled the shirt away, it started to CRAWL UP MY SHIRT, towards my neck. Now it's positioned directly on top of my left breast! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?
Marchus, at this point is watching all of this unfold and is horrified at the size of the insect on my body. He starts to shout "mom...mom...get it off, get it off!!!"
The enemy now starts to flap it's wings at me as I try to gently shake my shirt. It's getting mad now...and I'm ready to wet myself!!
Oh yeah...this is happening...
Just as I'm ready to pass out or start screaming my head off, a very nice gentleman (probably the same age as me) starts walking toward the front of the building and can see that there is a small comotion going on at my car. He yells over the car in between us, "Are we havin' some trouble?" He couldn't see the evil, giant crazed insect living on the front of me.
I was so scared, I couldn't even say anything. I just mumble something like.." huuhhh...I just...can you...I don't....huhhh."
He walks over closer to me and I see his eyes getting wider and wider underneath his sunglasses. He was as intimidated by the stupid thing as I was!
"What IS THAT?" he asks in awe.
"I don't...ahh...can you get it off of me...please....uuhhhh...." At this point, he can finally understand that I'm needin his help, and he can see the beads of sweat on my face!
There's just one small problem: The location of the bug. It's still perched on top of my left breast. And he's looking at me like I'm crazy!
Now he stutters, "uhh...do you...uhh...are you sure?"
No sir, I'd rather you leave me here to DIE!!
Yes I'm sure!!
I just nod my head and walk closer to him. He instinctively backs up a little bit, then politely asks my permission again.
"Are you sure you want me to....get it?"
"Yes...hurry!"
He walks over to me, and hesitates for a minute, before he reaches out to brush it off of me.
Surprisingly, the insect was stubborn, and didn't want to move, so he is picking at it now and I'm ready to DIE! I'm going to die! Either from embarrassment, or a sting!!
But, just as I'm about to lose it, my hero, the stranger, finally picks it up off me and throws it!!
I was shaking so bad, it was beyond embarrassing!! I think I said thank you more than 10 times.
He kinda chuckled and said "I've never seen a bug like that before. It didn't want to move."
I gave a weak chuckle and tried to ignore the fact that my face was red hot from my humiliation.
He walked away and I nearly ran into the store with Marchus, for fear it would return for revenge!
When I got home, I immediately googled wasps until I found a picture that looked like the one that attacked me. I found this picture that I posted and nearly fell over after reading up on it.
Apparently, it lives in bark and the adult Horntail Wasps are quite "intimidating, due to their enormous size." And...surprisingly, they DON'T STING! Yeah....I'm sorta wishing I knew that before I asked a total stranger to do the unthinkable! Gaaagghh!
If I ever see that wasp again.....