Weekend Wrap Up

I absolutely adore a 3 day weekend.  We started our weekend with a slumber party.  It was Lucy's first.  I had three of her friends come over and we made homemade pizza, had a Perler Bead creation fest, made popcorn and cookies and watched movies.  It was Friday so of course Lucy was tired.  She was the first to go to sleep but the other girls weren't too far behind.  I was so proud of the way they all got along and they seemed to have a blast.  I have always opened my home to my children's friends.  I've said it before but I am happiest when my home is full of children.  (Ella stayed with a friend so the younger girls had my full attention.)

Saturday morning we went to Ella's basketball game.  She is playing Upwards again this year and we have been so pleased with the progress she has made since last year.  Erik and I have noticed that when Lucy got sick Ella became very cautious.  She stopped being aggressive in sports and she always wanted to stick pretty close to mom and dad.  Its taken a while but I think she is finally starting to come out of her shell.  This week was her third game and its like watching a whole new child.  I am so proud of her.  She is aggressive and really works the ball on the court.  I am really, really proud of her.  

Quick story.  The first week of basketball we were getting ready to leave the house when I couldn't find Lucy.  I went upstairs and she was in her room packing her purse.  When I realized she was putting money in her purse I assured her that I would buy her a snack at the game.  She proceeded to tell me that she wasn't taking her money to buy herself something, but rather to buy Jack a Ring Pop.  And so it has been every single week.  Lucy carries her purse with her quarters so that she can take care of her baby brother.  Oh, how I love that child!

                                

And here is Jack with his Ring Pop stained mouth.

Saturday night we went bowling with some of our very best friends.  I had thought about having Lucy's birthday at this cool, new bowling alley and we decided it would be a good idea to check it out first.  You know, we took one for the team (wink, wink, nod, nod.)  While the adults had a wonderful time, I think it might be a little loud for Lucy.  I would hate for her to be in a state of sensory overload at her own party.  Oh well.  Back to the drawing board.  

Today we spent the morning in church and the early afternoon at my parent's eating lunch and visiting with family.  I absolutely love Sundays, especially when there is nothing on the calendar and we can relax and be lazy.  I very seldom have the chance to actually rest on the day of rest.  But today, we all did just that.  I piddled around the house and made dinner, Erik read a book, Lucy played Wii, Jack, well, he's Jack and Ella made 8,001 loom bracelets.  

Momma in on the bracelet making action. 

Jack's Hot Wheel's Wall Race Course

Today in Sunday School my Dad taught a lesson on suffering.  It was a hard lesson for him to teach, but an even harder lesson for Erik and I to sit through.  Dad did a great job teaching, as he always does, but today's topic was just a really though lesson to grasp.  Several families in our class have been through major life events that have shaped them into different people.  I won't pretend to be able to explain suffering or even go into depths about the lesson's perspective but I will say that the one thing we all took from the lesson is that life is what you make of it.  

You have the opportunity...the gift....of being able to take your suffering and turn it into good for someone else.  Mentor, teach, coach.  All of these things help you share with other what you have learned through your own suffering.  There are lessons to be learned and blessings to be had.  You only need to allow yourself to receive them.