Category Archives: About Blogs

What kind of blog is this anyway?

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I get a fair amount of spam comments on this blog.  In fact, I probably get more spam than I get real comments.  Let me check. Yep, totally.   28,956 vs. 6,872.  Wow.  (WordPress has an awesome spam filter.) A couple have jumped out at me lately.  Besides the fact that most of them are ridiculously-translated, nonsensical comments trying to redirect me and my readers to their trashy website, sometimes I wonder how they ever expected anyone to click on their link anyway.  Check out a couple of my favorite recent spam comments:

Yeast infection for you! it the best thing that can happen to you

asinine hazy idea, grace! thanks. i look out for number one.

In the beginning just remember it was darked and then someone smiled! try this:You’re just jealous because the voices are talking to me and not you! :)

Um, wow.  What inviting comments.  Can’t wait to “meet” those folks. <—sarcasm

Then there are things that “regular” people are looking for.  These are things that actual people have typed into Google or other search engines that have somehow landed them on my blog.  While it’s sometimes hilarious to see what people are looking for, it’s slightly unnerving to realize that something about my blog and its content has selected it as an answer to their search.  And they clicked on it.  I can only wonder how helpful or disappointing their visit was.  I mean, seriously, look at this list.  What does this say about me?

angry mom

example of urology limerick poem

weird monkey transformation

boogers bedroom

baby terrorist

an angel measuring something

old lady diapers

kidney leisure ultrasound

what do ships, railways, mines, cars, and government exist

you lover her not me quotes

self help books internet addiction

my husband wears the worst jeans

Apparently, I’m not nearly as classy as I thought I was.

What are some of the funniest comments or searches you’ve seen come across your blog?

And p.s…. Any volunteers for Find-A-Friend Friday this week?  I haven’t heard back from my randomly selected guest, so I need a back up.  First come first, first serve.  Thanks!

Find-A-Friend Friday: Meet Monique

Posted in About Blogs, Find-A-Friend Friday, Uncategorized by

Today on  Find-A-Friend Friday we’re meeting a friend who’s even new to me, which is why I’m loving this feature. I also wanted to point you to a few of my favorite posts I’ve read this past month across the blogosphere, you know, just to spread the love.  🙂

week 1: word snapshots. from just so long and long enough by teachergirl

The Dangerous Book for Moms: Chapter 2 from We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice In Christ by Jocelyn Christensen

Bothered with Love from Mommy Snark by Jenny P.

Pray for me; heal my heart from Blog Segullah by Michelle L.

The Prayers and Tears of One Stepper R McCrery from stepper was here by Stepper the Mighty

Somebody or Nobody? from Away From It All by LisAway

I can’t answer the phone. I’m “busy” from Classy Chaos by OHmommy

And now, let’s meet Monique, shall we?  Isn’t she pretty?

Hi! I was so surprised to be asked to do this, but I’m super happy and excited to share a bit about my life with all of you! My name is Monique and I’m 24 years old. I’ve been married to my sweet husband since December 2007 and our handsome baby boy was born February 2010. We live in Provo right now, but we’re moving to Boston in June!
I grew up in southwest Missouri/northwest Arkansas — but from 4th grade through high school graduation I lived in Branson, MO. My parents divorced when I was just over a year old. My father remarried shortly after and had another daughter with his new wife, then they divorced when I was about 13. My mom has remarried twice, but I’m her only child. My sister and I didn’t get along well growing up, but she’s one of my best friends now. I joined the Church when I was 15 and I moved to Utah in 2004 to go to BYU. I graduated in 2008 with an English degree and worked as a paralegal for a while, first at a family law practice and then in a bankruptcy office, but now I stay home with our son full-time. My husband is double-majoring in math and economics at BYU and graduates this year, then we’re off to MIT for a Master’s in Finance in June!

What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

I love being overwhelmed by how much I can love. I love hearing my baby boy laugh. I love watching him experience new things. I love mornings when he crawls all over us and snuggles. I love when he wakes up from naps and just wants to be held. I love knowing that he’s mine forever.

Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.)

I want to travel EVERYWHERE. So far I’ve been to Canada, England, France, Germany, Ethiopia, and Zambia, and next on the list are another trip to Africa, South Korea, and Australia. And then wherever else I can manage to go! I want to run a marathon. I’ve recently started running more and while I’m currently only getting in about 2-3 miles 3 days per week, I’d love to be able to have a full 26.2 miles under my belt someday. And, while this is probably the most improbable of the three, I’d love to write a book. Something on nutrition, or motherhood, or a combination of the two: childhood nutrition! I don’t know … I have a lot of other ideas swirling around in my head, but we’ll see if anything ever comes of it. 🙂

Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at?

I’m really good at making homemade bread, Indian food, crepes, and salads. I love to cook! I’m not a big recipe person, though. If I want to make something, I’ll usually do a little research to see basically how it’s done, but then I like to just throw stuff in until it tastes right.

I’m a good teacher. I’ve held callings as gospel doctrine teacher and relief society instructor, and although I’m nervous at every lesson, I love how much I learn in the process and how uplifting it is when people participate. My patriarchal blessing talks about how I have the gift of being a “gifted teacher and speaker” and knowing that has made it easier for me to put effort into developing these talents.

I’m good at learning how to do things. When I wanted to design my own blog, BAM, figured out HTML. When I wanted to learn how to alter some of my clothes, BAM, figured it out. When I wanted to train for a triathlon, BAM, did it. And, when I’m not good at teaching myself, I’m good at asking lots of questions and getting help. 🙂

What are you loving lately?

Running! Our gym membership ended last month and I’ve had to give up my favorite exercise — spin class. I love yoga more, but it just doesn’t get my heart pumping like a hard cardio workout. But running? I can do it anywhere, no equipment or membership required. I love being able to get outside and enjoy 30-45 minutes of uninterrupted ‘me’ time. It’s hard, to be sure, but I love that feeling of accomplishment and the complete de-stressing that I feel after a good run. I’ve signed up for a 5k next month (my first since my son was born) and it’s a great motivator to keep me going on days when I’d rather curl up with a book.

Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why?

Proverbs 3:5, Matthew 11:28-29;  Alma 37:37
All three of these just remind me to have faith in the Lord and that he is there for me through everything. I have the Matthew scripture framed in my house and the Alma scripture taped to the fridge. The Proverbs I have memorized and repeat to myself often.
One of my favorite quotes right now is

“Each mother and father should lay aside selfish interests and avoid any thought of hypocrisy, physical force, or evil speaking. Parents soon learn that each child has an inborn yearning to be free. Each individual wants to make his or her own way. No one wants to be restrained, even by a well-intentioned parent. But all of us can cling to the Lord.” –Russell M. Nelson

I remind this to myself nearly every single day lately. My 14 1/2 month old son is SO independent, and I have to remember that he isn’t trying to overwhelm me, he’s just trying to figure out who he is, even at so young an age. That’s probably one of the biggest surprises to me as a mother, that children express their desires and independence so early. I love how much my son has taught me already. 🙂

What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time? 

Definitely reading. I love to read anything — children’s books, young adult lit, novels, nonfiction (about health, politics, history, biographies, on and on). I’m not really into romance novels or mysteries or anything like that, though. I like to read fashion & health blogs in my free time, too.  And I love to sit at Barnes & Noble and read magazines.

What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of?

I know that when I’m living the Gospel, I’m a more loving wife, a more patient mom, a kinder friend, and a happier woman. I feel confident that I am pursuing a course of life that is pleasing to God, although I know I’m not perfect and I need His help every step of the way. I know that Heavenly Father loves me, and I know that through the Atonement I can be made whole and achieve my divine potential. I am so grateful that I was given the blessing of receiving a testimony in high school and that my life has taken the course that it has. I am very, very blessed and I am thankful every day for all that I have been given.

Desert Island Question.  If you were stranded on a desert island (most moms would actually crave this) and could only take 3 items with you, what would they be?

I would want my Kindle (with Internet access, of course) so that I could read any book I wanted, peacefully, for hours on end; the most comfortable bed on earth so that I could sleep blissfully to my heart’s content; and a notebook, so that I could record my thoughts and ideas — I’m sure I’d be pure genius if I had extended amounts of time to meditate and ponder without interruption.

Let’s say you’re dying in your sleep tonight.  What would you eat for your last meal?

An enormous fruit salad — blueberries, pineapple, peaches, grapes, bananas, strawberries, mangoes, kiwis, and cherries. Then probably a vegan cheese quesadilla with avocado and salsa on top. And I’d chase it down with some coconut milk cookie dough ice cream.

What homemaking job/task gives you the most satisfaction?

I love baking homemade bread. It’s so rewarding. The feeling that I’m feeding my family pure love in the form of whole-wheat goodness just makes me so happy. I also love having a clean kitchen sink and counter, a freshly mopped floor, and all the laundry in its place. If all of these things happen in one day, you can be sure I’m experiencing total domestic bliss.

Give your best advice to a newlywed or expectant mom.

Expect that there will be ups and downs. One moment you’ll be totally in love, the next you’ll wonder why you ever married him. But no matter what is happening, it will pass and new happiness and challenges will come. Just remember that you love each other and that no matter what, you’re committed for eternity. For the new mom, I’d say that it’ll be amazingly better than you could ever imagine. Expect the worst and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. (I suppose these bits could be applied to newlyweds, too). Most of all, remember that you are not the first person ever to go through what you’re going through. If they could do it, you can too. Reach out for support and encouragement. And don’t forget to pray for strength and for the Spirit to be with you!

If you could make a pie chart (graph) of your thoughts during the last week or so, what would take up most of the space?

50% when-are-we-moving?!/when-am-i-having-our-yard-sale? (My husband is trying to sell our lease early to save on rent and things keep coming up, then falling through. It’s definitely been a bit stressful around here).
25% preparing for my talk on ‘the resurrection’ this Sunday
15% focusing on making sure I get my scheduled strength training & runs in, making sure my meals are healthy, and avoiding sugar
5% trying to help a friend get a slide show prepared for his wedding on Saturday
5% reading 🙂

Tell us about your blog.

I actually have two blogs. The first is a family blog that I started in 2008, simply titled “The Kamosi Family.” I mostly write about things that happen in our lives, but occasionally I use it as a way to share thoughts I have about motherhood, health, the gospel, or whatever else strikes me. My favorite part of this blog is something I do every week called “Friday Favorites,” where I write all the best things that happened during the previous week. It’s been a great way for me to keep track and remember all the things I have to be grateful for in my life.
My other blog — “Yoga and Pencil Skirts” — is silly, and I’ve hardly told anyone in my real life about it because it’s a little embarrassing. It’s a hybrid fitness/wanna-be fashion blog. I’ve lost a lot of weight in the last couple of years, and I decided I wanted to have an outlet to experiment with fashion and learning how to dress myself (since I’ve never been especially fashionable). I’ve only been writing on it for about four months, but I feel like it’s given me a new confidence that I’ve never had before, and I’m loving it.

Thanks Monique.  It’s been fun to get to know you.

Dear cool people, I like you. Love, Stephanie

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Sometimes when I do dumb things like read the news or people watch too much, I start to lose my faith in humanity.  I want to create this little vacuum for me and my children to live in so that they don’t grow up and become idiots.  However, then I get the chance to interact with wonderful people and it restores my hope in mankind.  Actually, it’s usually womankind, but we all know that’s what makes the world go around anyway.  (Note to suspicious readers:  there is no secret agenda in that previous comment.  I’m just feeling a tiny bit snarky.)  That is what happened this last weekend when I got to go on my long-awaited girls night out.  I loved it.  It made me happy.  And, of course, I will tell you why.

This was such a modge-podge of good people:  some I’ve known for years, some I’ve just met since I moved here, some I’ve met through blogging, and some I had never even met before in my life.  And guess what they all had in common?  Awesomeness.  They are just straight up good women.  See, look at them:

Oh, gee.  It looks like even though I took two cameras with me, I TOTALLY FORGOT to take a single picture.  I’m not sure I can forgive myself.  Just trust me.  They are all VERY lovely.  Here’s a list of the remarkable ladies that came and I tried to make a link to their blogs (if I know it) so that they can visit each other now too.  Because, of course, we all made new friends.  If I didn’t add your blog link and you want to share it, leave it in the comments and I’ll add the link.

Cheryl , Heidi, Maria, Lisa and Madison, Kim, Amber (and a friend), Cathy, Amy, Julie, Sidnie, Ashley (and her two sisters.), Karen (private blog, right?) , Chelley, and Gentrey.   There were others slated to come who didn’t make it, and we just want to let you know we REALLY missed you and hope you can come next time.  I’m pretty sure there will be a next time because it was some much-needed fun.

We met up for dinner and had some lovely chats about stuff down in our hearts like family, adoption, goals, challenges, etc., and you’d think we’d all known each other for decades.  Let it be noted that I ordered a piece of cake that was bigger than my head.  Even with the help of several generous volunteers, I was not able to finish it.  Then we went and saw the play Persuasion at BYU, which was really, really fun to watch, despite the awkward man seated behind us who laughed way too often and way too loud.

Overall, it was a very charming night.  There are some people who I didn’t get to talk to and visit with as much as I would have liked, so I hope we can get together again and “catch up.”

Anyway, this is a big thanks for being great people and reminding me how much good there is out there in the world.  And that’s true too for those of you who did not come, but still drop in occasionally on this little ol’ blog.  I’m amazed by the extraordinary power of a collection of ordinary people out there who just do good and live life the best they can.  We rock.  What can I say?

Famous by association.

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I’m feeling kind of glamorous lately.  Know why?  Because I know her:

Isn’t she lovely? And by “know her,” what I really mean is I’ve read her blog for a while and we’ve exchanged a few emails and stuff, so that totally makes us soul-sisters or something, right?  Right? . . . . Whatever, you’re just jealous.

Her name is Melanie Jacobson.  She is a wife, mom, shoe connoisseur, humorist, and AUTHOR.  And she’s a Mormon. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)  Her first novel was just published, and I was so lucky that Melanie sent me a copy of it.  Look how cute it is:

Seriously, it’s almost as cute as she is.  I know I said that I was going to take a break from blogging to work on a book of my own, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to be a part of Melanie’s blog tour for this new book.  I’ll tell you why.

Melanie writes what she likes to call “LDS chick lit.”  I dated for a full a decade before I met and married my husband, so I consider myself quite an expert in the LDS dating scene.  Frankly, I felt like my life during those years was LDS chick lit, and perhaps that’s why I don’t read much of it now.  Kind of like post-traumatic stress disorder.  Despite my normal aversion to the genre, I was really excited to read Melanie’s book because I really like her.  Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the read and the ride down memory lane.

During that delightful dating decade of mine, I made a list.  I really did.  I listed the things I was going to do with my life since I was probably never going to get married.  Somehow having a checklist of fun and fulfilling things to do made that possibility seem much less tragic.  It included things like travel, and getting a Ph.D., and foster parenting, and kissing one boy from every continent.  (I totally made that last one up right now, but why didn’t I think of that before?)  Anyway, Ashley, the main character in The List, did the same thing, only she wasn’t quite as pathetic as I was.  She wrote the list when she was 16 years old as a must-do collection of tasks to be completed before she got married.  And as a free-spirited young adult, she is still committed to that list.  I found myself quite attached to Ashley by the end of the book, and I decided that we could have totally been college roommates and friends.  It would have been one of those friendships where I rolled my eyes at her a lot, but still stayed up late talking and laughing.  I even would have shared my Pringles (a college dietary staple) with her.  I loved watching her learn the lessons that I painfully learned myself during those dating years, not the least of which is this:  Things don’t always go according to YOUR plan.

Melanie has a gift for writing fun dialogue full of clever, sarcastic banter that so genuinely embodies the nervous and flirtatious and awkward and exciting reality that I remember about that stage in my life.  The way she wrote about Huntington Beach and the ocean made me really want to be on a lawn chair on the warm, sunshiney sand.  As it was, I read the book from a lawn chair on the side of an indoor swimming pool while my children splashed and played.  I read for a couple of hours, went home and read for a few more hours, and finished the book.  In one day.  ONE day, people.  I read a whole chick lit book in one day, and I liked it.

Those of you who frequent my blog at all know that I am a bit of a self-proclaimed prude.  Having said that, if you’re looking for a fun, light read that takes you back to the days of an open-canvas future and blossoming romance, and you want it to be totally clean and enjoyable, you ought to give The List a shot.  I think it’s a perfect vacation book– either to take with you on vacation, or to sit down in the middle of your laundry pile at home and take a vacation of your own.

Since you’re almost as lucky as I am (though not nearly as famous since I “know” Melanie), here’s a chance for you to win your very own copy of The List:

Go here and just leave a comment.  That’s it.

Melanie’s also doing a giveaway of cool beach-related items on her own blog, so go leave a little comment over there, too.

I hope you win. I really do, because you’ll like the book.  If you don’t win it, go buy it (I think it’s on Amazon and even Kindle), then tuck your kids into bed, stay up late and read it until it’s done, roll over and kiss your hubby good night, thank your lucky stars that you survived your single years, and go to sleep.  That’s what I did, and it made me happy.  I like happy.  Thanks, Melanie.  🙂

Me, recycled.

Posted in About Blogs, Find-A-Friend Friday by

(image credit)

A couple people suggested that I re-post my own interview –about me– here on my own blog (Thanks, Allison, for making me answer the questions in the first place).  So I did.  Down there below.  In the meantime, are you enjoying Find-A-Friend Friday?  I think the questions are good questions to really get to know someone, but maybe it gets a little boring to read the exact same interview every week?  Anyway, if you have any suggestions for good interview questions, toss them into the comments below and I’ll try to rotate a few different things for variety’s sake.

Hello there, I’m Stephanie.  I’m (gasp) 38 years old and a mother of three.  That age may shock some of my readers because my children are young (8, 6, 4), but hey, what can I say?  I was a late bloomer.  I’m married to Matt, who is the best thing that ever happened to me. . . . except for the part where he went to law school for 4 years and made us move to Utah when he was done.  (That wasn’t totally his fault though, but I give him a hard time because it wouldn’t be right/wise to tease God about it.)  I’m a stay-at-home mom who spends my time hopping from one glamorous task to the next– you know, like laundry, grocery shopping, scraping boogers off the walls, packing school lunches etc. — and I go back-and-forth between the opinion that I never get anything done and the realization that I accomplish quite a lot.  I’m learning motherhood day by day and I’m surprised over and over by how much miracle is wrapped up in the dreary details.

I claim Atlanta, Georgia as my home, but I actually also grew up in Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana.  I graduated from high school in Georgia and my parents have been there ever since, so for all intents and purposes, it’s home.  I am the oldest of four children and my siblings are still my good friends.  In my pre-motherhood life, I got my masters degree in Spanish Teaching and taught Spanish classes at the high school and university levels.  I served a mission in Argentina, and I still have a deep love for the Hispanic language and culture.  In the summers, I teach at EFY (just a couple sessions a year), but that’s in English.  In my eleven years of married life, we’ve moved from Utah to North Carolina to Minnesota and back to Utah.  It’s been a little crazy, but I would not trade the good friends we’ve made along the way for anything . . . except maybe an all-expense paid trip to everywhere cool I want to go, especially if I could take my friends with me.

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

I love the quiet moments.  (I’m convinced that old people can’t hear because their children were so loud for so long.)  I love hand-holding, real conversation with questions and answers, and one-on-one time with my children.  I love to read them books.  I love to see something I’ve taught them come alive in the way they act or speak.  I love the anticipation of who they will become.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could?

Bedtime.  I would pay someone to get them all the way ready for bed and tucked in, so I could just step in and do the fun hug/kiss/scriptures/bedtime story part when they’re already tired and tucked in and snuggly and warm.  That’s not all, though. I would also subcontract out putting away laundry, unloading the dishwasher, getting all the right things into the right backpacks in time, and cleaning the floor around the toilet in my boys’ bathroom.

3.     Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.)

Oh, gosh.  My bucket list is huge.  I’m going to pretend that when I read that question, it asked for 23 items.  Visit all the Spanish-speaking countries in the world (5 or 6 down, about 25 to go),  write a book, publish a real article in the Ensign, serve missions (plural) with Matt, finally finish my Protecting Innocence Project website, take a one-on-one trip with each of my children, actually read all the books on my “to-read” list on Goodreads.com, paint and decorate and buy furniture and “finish” decorating my house, finally label all my digital photos and print books for my children of their childhood, get my Ph.D. and maybe someday be a professor, know the scriptures so well that they’re just “in” me . . . .  Mostly I want to discover what God wants me to do with my life, and then just do it the best that I can.

4.     Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at?

I’ve been told that I’m a good teacher/speaker and a good writer.  I think I’m just a good communicator.  I also think I’m a good and loyal friend.  I have lots of great ideas for projects, but I’m not always great at following through.  It’s kind of joke with people who know me well, but I make lots of signs to hang up around the house with reminders and quotes and goals and chores and stuff like that.  I have a good memory for some things, mostly people’s names and their stories, plus the scriptures or general conference talks.  It’s pretty easy for me to draw on those things in conversation or teaching.  I also think I have a knack for making people laugh, which has been really helpful in otherwise awkward or tense situations.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Reading, going out to lunch with old girlfriends and also meeting new people, wearing boots a lot so I don’t have to shave my legs, the view of the temple out my front window, the view of the mountains out my back window, my Kindle, MyJobChart.com and the new fire in my children’s bones about doing chores, scouring travel websites for great deals and planning fantasy vacations (that I never really take), this song, and the hope that I’ll get my husband back after the Bar exam next week.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why?

Favorite scripture:  Proverbs 3:5-6.  “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on thine own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all thy ways and he shall direct thy paths.”  Because it works.  And he does direct your paths.  My favorite hymn (that goes along with this scripture) is “Be Still, My Soul,” especially this part:  “Be still my soul, thy God doth undertake to guide thy future as He has the past…”

Favorite quote:  This is a tough one because I have a million.  Here are two that I find myself thinking of or falling back on a lot.

1.  Because I am not patient:

“Throughout scripture we encounter the need for us to remember that the Lord has His own timetable for unfolding things; it will not always accord with our schedules or our wants. When, in our extremities, we urgently call for a divine response, there may be, instead, a divine delay. This is not because God, at the moment, is inattentive or loves us less than perfectly. Rather, it is because we are being asked, at the moment, to endure more for the welfare of our souls. The blessed meek understand that God loves them even when they may not be able to explain the meaning of what is happening to them or around them.” Neal A. Maxwell”

2. Because this guides my philosophy about teaching children and youth:

“President (J. Reuben) Clark described youth as “hungry for things of the Spirit [and] eager to learn the gospel.” He said: “They want it straight, undiluted. They want to know … about our beliefs; they want to gain testimonies of their truth. They are not now doubters but inquirers, seekers after truth.”  President Clark continued: “You do not have to sneak up behind this spiritually experienced youth and whisper religion in [their] ears; you can come right out, face to face, and talk with [them]. … You can bring these truths to [them] openly. … There is no need for gradual approaches.”   Since then I have taught young people in the same way that I teach adults.” — President Boyd K. Packer, April 2009

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time?

A lot of times it’s the Internet–blogging, emailing friends, working on projects.  I struggle a little to find a good balance for that because I want to have other healthy outlets too.  I just started the process of writing a book and I’m trying to make more time for that.  After the kids are in bed asleep, I like to read books or watch shows on my DVR while I fold laundry.  I like to make phone calls and check up on friends.

8.     Tell us some of your best mom-tricks  (things you’ve figured out that work well for you).

Once I give my child an answer, I don’t back down, no matter how much they complain or try to make a scene (unless I realize that I’m wrong.) I don’t make threats without following through; If I tell them we’ll leave a place if they don’t improve their behavior, I actually leave.  I apologize to my children when I make a mistake.  The very best mom-trick I can think of is teaching them the scriptures because you can draw on them often in conversation, both to correct and to praise behavior.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend?

I love to talk to people, and I have to admit that when I’m in an excited conversation, I have some habits I’m not proud of, namely:  interrupting, talking too loud, and sometimes even talking with my mouth full.  (Good grief, Stephanie, can’t you just wait long enough to chew?) I cannot multi-task well when children are involved– I either have to ignore them completely to accomplish the task at hand, or do it haphazardly with a large measure of distraction.  When I talk on the phone, I literally pace back and forth and back and forth in and out of rooms in my house.  I have no idea why.  I also complain a little bit too much about silly things, and I admit sometimes it’s just for dramatic, comedic effect.  (I’m a teensy bit sarcastic.)  And if you’re going to be my friend, you need to know that I have a low tolerance for casual, blatant disobedience, especially when it’s laughed off or shrugged away.  I guess that makes me judgmental.  I’m working on that.

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan?

Well, that’s easy.  See here.

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately?

(Deep breath.) My oldest boy has started to be sassy with me and I do. not. like. it.  I’ve been frustrated with the schools since our move, and I’m still trying to figure out the right thing to do about that.  I never feel like I get enough sleep, which is ironically hampered by also feeling like I don’t get enough “free time.”  My daughter (age 4) has had several medical issues, including a recent surgery, and I was just made aware that she has another (unrelated) potential health concern.  I’m feeling a little anxious about that.  I’ve been frustrated in a tired way while Matt’s been studying for the Bar and I’ve been kind of single-parenting.  (This is the part where you real single moms are allowed to roll your eyes.)  I’m still trying to figure out why I had to move to Utah and what that means for me.  It’s been a hard adjustment, and it hasn’t been easy to form new friendships.  And, the hours from 4:30 – 8 p.m. every day are basically a non-stop exercise in frustration.  How’s that for a long answer?  See?  I told you I complain too much.

12. What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of?

I am absolutely certain that Jesus Christ lives, that He is my Savior, and that he knows me and loves me.  I know that God blesses us far beyond what we deserve, especially when we’re trying.  I know that the teachings of living prophets are scripture; they guide me, strengthen me, and protect me.  I know my Heavenly Father can do more with my life than I can.  And I know that obedience brings power.

 

My blog is Diapers and Divinity.  (Duh.  You’re here.) Like the title hints, I write to explore the miracles and the mundane that are juxtaposed in the journey of motherhood.  I try to look for the divine in all the dreary details, and when I can’t see it, I try to laugh about it.