June 2-8, 2025

Monday morning Katie woke up at 7 and we saw Paul off to work. We played together until Mary got up at 7:45. I got my room cleaned then put Katie down for a nap. I had breakfast then finished writing my paragraph while Mary watched a movie. I watered the grass then cleaned the living room and kitchen before Katie woke up. I cleaned Mary's room and started the laundry then cleaned the playroom and office while the girls played with toys. I played with the girls then put Katie down for her second nap. I put a show on for Mary and I exercised and showered then watched Bluey with Mary. We made dinner together (spaghetti). Paul came home early so he could set up the squat rack that was delivered today. I made up the bed and Mary helped me. Katie woke up then. I brushed Mary's teeth while Paul practiced guitar. He put Mary to bed and I played with Katie before putting her to bed. Mary wandered in and I cuddled with her while cuddling Katie on my other side. Paul came in from doing his night ec's and put Mary back in her bed. Katie got up at midnight and 5 to eat.
Tuesday Paul put Katie in the bed with me before he left for work. I got out of bed at 7:40 and Mary joined us soon after. We watered the grass then had breakfast together. We went on a walk then to the park. We got home to find Paul's cable machine was delivered. I put Katie down for a nap and exercise while Mary watched Miss Rachel. Katie gets up before I finish my workout. We go outside and the girls play while I mow the lawn. I put Katie back to sleep and clean then get the pool out for Mary. Katie wakes up and come out to play in the water. Paul gets home a little early to put together the cable machine. I quickly make him dinner (tuna sandwich with fruit (strawberries and grapes) and veggies (carrots and snap peas)). Mary thought it looked good so I made her the same thing, she just ate the strawberries. While the girls were eating I took a quick shower then bathed the girls. I put Katie to bed then Mary helped me put tags on the Father's Day gifts I got for the ward. Paul realized he didn't have the tool he needed to finish mounting the cable machine on the wall so he took Mary to Walmart to get the right tool and got Mary a little chocolate muffin. They got home right as I finished the Father's Day tags. Mary came outside with me to water then I put Mary to bed with Paul. Katie got up and Paul played the guitar for her then we all go to bed. Katie gets up at 1 to take a bottle.
Wednesday Katie got up at 5 am with a poopy diaper. She goes back to sleep with a bottle but I don't go back to bed. I had plans to exercise or get us walking before we go to the park for a play date but I was too tired. I did at least get the house a little cleaned up and got dinner in the crockpot (nacho chicken) before we left. Only Jessica and Addie came today but it was nice to meet up with friends. Mary is getting along better and better with Addie the more we hang out with them. We got home and I put Katie down for a nap. Mary and I had lunch together and watched tv. I finally got up to exercise then Katie got up. We played all together then I finished putting dinner together. We went outside and played in the shark pool. We got cleaned up and I put Katie down for another nap. Mary and I watched cake decorating videos on my phone. Paul got home and played with Mary while I finished exercising. Katie got up and we had family time and Mary ate her dinner! It took a lot to convince her to try it but when she did she ate all the chicken! We put the girls to bed and Katie was up at 1, 3, and 5.
Thursday Paul was off to work. I lazy out of bed when my google calendar reminds me that it is garbage day so I ran out and got the trash to the street. The girls woke up and I got them breakfast then we watered the grass, got ready, and went to the church for exercise class. April was out of town so Lindsay taught REFIT, even though it was her birthday. She picked her favorite songs as a birthday gift to herself, which was cute and fun. I took the girls to Walmart to get a couple things for the dessert I'm going to make for Sunday (banana bread muffins - turned cupcakes, caramel filling with caramel buttercream). We got home and I put Katie down for a nap and watched Spidey with Mary. I then cleaned and put on the pirate fairy movie for Mary while I exercised. Katie woke up and we played in the shark pool. Paul had a bad day at work, he came home early with burgers from All Points Grill. The girls were excited to have French fries. We watch Wall-E then put the girls to bed. Paul put Katie to bed and I put Mary to bed. While we were playing in the play room, Nana called and asked if I wanted to do a girls trip to Disneyland with her, Eliza, and Amelia. I told her I would have to talk to Paul but I would let her know. We Facetimed so Mary could show her her toys. After I put Mary to bed I showered. Mary came in but I couldn't put her back to bed right away since I was still in the shower. When I was ready to put her to bed she had fallen asleep next to Paul. I carried her into her room and put her to bed. I asked Paul about the Disney trip with my mom and sisters and he was tired so he said we would talk about it tomorrow. Katie got up to eat at 1 and 5. I think I see Katie's top front teeth through her gums but they haven't poked through yet.
Friday the girls got up early. Paul said he was okay with me going and we would have his mom come to help take care of the girls while I'm gone. We had to postpone the trip because they wanted to do it in two weeks but Disneyland will be too crazy so now we will be going mid-October. Paul went to work and we watered the grass. I watched Josie and Jack while Lindsay taught April's class at the gym. After she came to pick them up I took the girls to the library for toddler time. Jessica and Addie were there. We played with toys for an hour then played in the grass in front of the library for an hour. We went to Wendy's for lunch since Paul is taking his team out to dinner to say goodbye to Avery, one of his technician's that quit so he could go to grad school. Mary ate her whole kids meal! I put Katie down for a nap and watched tv with Mary then gave her a bath. Katie woke up and we got ready. I dropped Katie off at the Durocher's then took Mary over to the middle school for her dance dress rehearsal. Mary was distracted with me on stage with her but she was happy and not nervous like some of her friends. I snuck around with one of the other moms and we watched them practice the tap number and I filmed the practice. She did much better and did a great job with the dance. We got her dance pictures done then went to pick up Katie. Lindsay said she was very happy, which I totally believe. Lindsay has four kids and they all loved on Katie for the two hours she was there. We got home and I watered the grass then put Katie to bed and brushed Mary's teeth. We were playing in the playroom when Paul got home. I put Mary to bed while he did his ec's then went to bed. I was feeling embarrassed of myself during the dance rehearsal and was just sad. Paul wasn't catching on so I went into Mary's room and I cuddled with her even though she had already fallen asleep. Paul came in and we had a little argument but when I finally got to a place that I was ready to go back to my bed we hugged it out and it was okay. Paul has been discouraged with work and is ready for things to change.
Katie got up early on Saturday. Paul went on a walk and I took a shower then fed Katie and cleaned. Mary got up a little before 7 and Paul got back from his walk. I watered the grass then we made a fun breakfast. I put Katie down for a nap and Mary watched the Incredibles while Paul did his coding and I exercised. Paul went to the grocery store and filled up my tires while I cleaned up and made the cupcakes. Paul got back and we put away the groceries. Paul sprayed our yard for weeds, hung up Katie's cross stitch from Grandma Terry and vacuumed the couch. I played with the girls while he got those things off my list then I put Katie down for a nap and Mary and I played outside. We watched Spidey then got ready for the dance recital. We had to get there at 4 pm to get Mary checked in. I thought I would stay with her until after her first dance but they said I should go into the auditorium and come back two songs before it was Mary's turn. That made me a little anxious. Katie loved the drums. We sat by the Gochenour's and Katie loved being entertained by EverLee and KinsLey. I went back and Mary was walking to the bathroom, so it was good timing and I was able to help her go before we went to dance. It was kind of rushed and I ended up going up there in my sandals. Mary hid behind me at the beginning of the song but I was able to get her in front of me and she danced around and did some of the choreography. She looked very cute in her blue ballerina dress. I got her changed into her tap outfit then grabbed her flowers out of the car and went back to sit with Paul. I was getting a pretty bad headache by this point. Mary did a great job with her tap dance. The girl next to her bumped her in the head and Mary hit her arm and they had a little fight on stage but broke it up before anyone had to do anything. Paul was laughing his head off. After that we decided we were done. I was getting a full on migraine and Paul's back was really hurting from sitting in the bleachers. I went to get her and we took a few pictures of her with her flowers then went home. We got home around 7:30. Paul got Mary some ice cream and stayed up with her while I went to bed with Katie. I got up and brushed Mary's teeth. I woke up again at 11:30 and Paul told me about a work opportunity. A man he works with, Noah, is going to be taking over another lab since John Marsh is quitting. Noah wants Paul to take over his job. It might be the change that Paul is looking for but there are definitely going to be challenges with this new position. Paul is going to meet with Noah on Monday to talk about it. Mary came in around midnight and was pretty groggy and upset. She cuddled for a while until she was calm then I put her in her bed and cuddled with her until I fell asleep, I mean, until she fell asleep..
Sunday Katie got up to eat at 5:45 then Mary got up at 6:15. We stayed in bed as long as possible but eventually got up, I still had a headache and could have really used more sleep. Paul went on a walk at 8 and I put Katie down for a nap. Mary came outside with me while I watered the grass. I put dinner in the crockpot and cut up the watermelon with Mary as my buddy. Paul got home then and played with Mary while I cleaned the kitchen and got ready for church. Mary had been sniffly and sneezy before church but was still energetic. Paul helped Mary get dressed and Katie got up so I changed her diaper before Mary and I left. I conducted the Relief Society and did the pre-lesson discussion.
I feel like a lot of people have recently brought up to me that the church claims to be family focused but serving in the church feels to take up precious time with family so I posed this question to the sisters: how do we balance our service in the church with putting our family first? We read D&C 59:12-16. I was led to the scripture this week from an email I got from the church this week. Verse 12 reads, "But remember that on this, the Lord’s day⁠, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord." The email expounded, "the Lord says we should offer “oblations” on the Sabbath. When we look at footnote b in verse 12, we learn that oblations means "sacrifices" or offering ourselves in service to God and others. As we give our time, efforts, and hearts to the Lord on the Sabbath, He promises us joy and both physical and spiritual blessings (see verses 13–‍16)."
So we are promised blessings for sacrificing and serving on the sabbath. The blessings we can anticipate are found in the following scriptures:
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving⁠, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter⁠, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—
16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
The sisters commented that the blessings they found in these scriptures were cheerfulness, peace, and happiness. They testified that they have felt that wholeness and joy while serving in the church. Janie Chapman specifically shared that her calling as the seminary teacher has been very challenging, especially with her recent health struggles and finding time to teach her four year old to read and ride a bike. When she listened to conference with the idea that she would tell the stake that she would be done teaching at the end of this year she received the impression that she should keep teaching because her children are the ones receiving spiritual blessings and protection because of her sacrifices. Erin Saul's said she came home from serving as a RS president one night and her boys were singing primary songs and her home felt very spiritual, like angels were there. Their shared sentiment was that the Lord blessed their families and made up for any losses when they trusted Him and served, even when their lives were already so busy.
The family proclamation reads, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."
A couple more comments talked about lowering expectations so that the little time they had together as a family could be happy and worthwhile and not caught up in fighting and negative feelings over unmet expectations. The sisters also encouraged each other to not complain about callings at home - a comment I think I really needed to hear. When I was getting ready for the discussion I read that these discussions should lead to action and I don't know if the other sisters had this experience but I know I need to pray for more love and patience with Debbie and also communicate when I feel overwhelmed instead of complaining to Paul.
To close the discussion I ended with a quote from Elder Holland to focus on loving and supporting our spouses. He said, "Of all the things in the world that are worth your whole soul and devotion, it should be your spouse and your children. Short of being in the very presence of God, literally, you will never be more proximate to divinity than you are in the presence of your spouse and children. They deserve godly loyalty. They deserve divine attention. Husbands, when your wife asks you to do better, she's not talking about perfection, she's not criticizing you. She's saying, 'I need you. I need you to be here. I need you to listen. I need you to be nearby.' Wives, when your husbands are troubled or worried, and they will be because they would like to be perfect too, what they need you to say is, 'You are OK now. You are alright now. We will work on perfection later. I love you like crazy right now, just the way you are.'"
Overall it was a good discussion and I felt the Spirit. Jessica Allen taught the class and it went well. I got Mary from nursery. She was running around with the other kids and having a great time, I was sad to take her away from that. We didn't stay to talk because my headache was getting worse. We got home and had lunch/dinner. I slow cooked roast meat in some Mexican inspired flavors then we made loaded quesadillas and had the caramel banana cupcakes. I put Katie down for a nap and got a little nap in myself. Paul watched movies with Mary then he turned the tv off and Mary got very angry. She went to her room and fell asleep after 5 minutes of crying. She was really feeling sick then. Paul picked her up off the floor and put her on the couch and turned on Cinderella, even though she was sleeping. Katie got up at 5. My head still hurt but I brought her out and we had some family time. It rained so I didn't have to water and I loved listening to the rain and thunder. Mary was cuddly since she's feeling sick. Paul put Katie to bed and I stayed with Mary a little later to finish my journal and also since she napped a bit. Mary loves to play by tickling us. She says, "you be funny, I tickle you," meaning: I'm going to tickle you and I want you to laugh.