First of all, my sincere apologies (especially to Amber) for not getting this up earlier today.  The day had a long to-do list and just slipped away from me.  Today you get to meet our second Amber on Find-A-Friend Friday.  Amber and I have known each other for a little while through blogging, and she has always been so nice to me.  She is the kind of person who really wants to do what’s right (and frankly doesn’t give herself enough credit for all the good she does.).  I hope you enjoy meeting her here today and leave her a little love in the form of comments or by visiting her blog.  Here she is:

Hey everybody!  My name is Amber Peck.  I’m so thrilled that Stephanie asked me to be on her blog this week, but I’m also super nervous.  Once upon a time I was a young and confident teenager who could stand up in front of anyone and own the room.  I was in theater in high school and I loved to perform.  I actually looked forward to giving talks in church.  Somewhere between then and now, though, I retreated into myself a little.  Being a stay at home mom has, at least in my case, toned down my love of the spotlight.  So I’m excited and yet tentative about all of you “looking” at me right now.

I’m still young, just 26 years old and I have four children. Taesya is six, Canon is four, Keller is two, and Jovie will be 3 months old tomorrow.  Grocery store checkers everywhere tell me, “You really have your hands full.”  And I do.  Luckily, though, I married an amazing man, who is a wonderful partner.  He helps me in so many ways, not the least of which is reminding me constantly “Everything’s going to be ok.”

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

We call them “Lovins” and they’re my absolute favorite.  I love it when my baby girl smiles at me, when Keller puckers up so tight for a kiss, the way Canon wants to sit right by me when there’s a whole couch worth of space available (k, sometimes I don’t like this), and how happy Taesya is to see me after school and tell me about her day.  Love and affection are my favorite part of this little family I have.

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

I watch the Brady Bunch and wish so hard that I had an Alice.  I could really use a backup of some sort, like a nanny or a babysitter, who could watch my kids at a moment’s notice.  Then I could run to the store for eggs without towing four kids with me.  Or I could let my younger two keep napping, instead of waking them up to get the older two from school.  And during the times when I just feel overwhelmed and depressed, what a relief it would be to know someone else is there to help with the kids.

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

(1) A vacation to New York City.  Preferably a trip that’s not super structured, with lots of time for Ben and I to just experience the city.  One night we’d dress up nice and get tickets to a Broadway Musical.  Sounds like a dream to me!

(2) A piano of my very own, so I can learn challenging pieces of music and feel proud of myself.

(3) Earn my Bachelor’s Degree.  Who knows if I’ll every have a career in the future, but I just really love learning, attending classes, doing homework.  I know it sounds crazy, but writing papers and preparing for tests sounds really wonderful to a mushy Curious George and Dinosaur Train brain like mine.

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

Mainly, I would say that I’m creative.  I come up with fun crafts for the kids to make, I can think up catchy taglines or funny titles, I have a good eye for composition—basically, I’m just creative in a lot of ways.  And, I really hope this doesn’t sound cocky, I think I’m funny, too.  I love making people laugh.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Sorry to be so boring, but I am so in love with sleep.  My baby’s only three months old, after all.  I fantasize about my pillow.

But also, I just did a post about my current favorites.  (Just the silly things that make life a little smily-er.)

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

Right now, I am really clinging to scriptures about prayer.  It’s important for me to remember that God hears me.  I have these two posted in my home:

2 Nephi 4:35 – “Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.  Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.  Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God.  Amen.”

D&C 112:10 – “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answers to thy prayers.”

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

Blogging is, of course, on the list, along with Novels, Movies, and Theater.  When it’s warmer, I’m really excited to spend time at the park with my kids, and to swim at my parents’ house.

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

My kids seem to do really well with consistency, doing things the same way over and over.  We have family prayer every morning at 7:00, we clear our dishes after we eat a meal, Keller takes a nap after we drop Canon off at preschool—little things that always stay the same.  It’s been tough for me to do things this way, because I’d rather just make things up as I go.  But if I can avoid one or two tantrums with a basic routine, that’s what I’ll do.

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

I’m kind of insecure, at least at this stage of my life, and I worry almost all the time.  So I’m going to be embarrassed about my messy house and my noisy kids, and I’ll wonder if I said something dumb.  That’s just the way I am.

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

I think we all deserve a pedicure at Sego Lily Spa.  We’ll all sit in that big room and have a nice relaxing foot massage while we chat about movies and our kids.  To finish off the night, we’d eat some kind of magnificent dessert.  Comfort and sweets equals a good time to me.

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

Oh dear, how much time do you have?  There’s a lot.  I think the biggest right now would be how much my kids fight and pick on each other.  I just want them to be kind, but somehow someone always ends up crying.  It drives me crrrrraazzyy.  And really I have no idea how to make it better.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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

I am so sure of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  He lived his life in the most wonderful way, to show me what is important.  He loves me and he believes in me.  He sees so much more in me than I will ever understand.

Tell us about your blog:

At eight years old, I received my first journal, and I’ve been hooked ever since.  I love writing and I love having a place to pour the contents of my brain.  A couple years ago, my older brother recommended I start a blog.  I’m so glad he did.  My blog is called Peck of Pickled Peppers.  It’s like Journal 2.0 where I write about my life as a mom and as an individual.  I share goals, ideas, stories, recipes, photos, and whatever else I feel like posting on any give day.  My blog is a peck/peek into my lovely and chaotic world.  Stop by and say hello sometime.

I am a 34 year old stay at home mother to 3 amazing little men. I have been married to my best friend for a little over 13 years now. I love him more every passing year. We live in Alberta, Canada. It really is not snow covered all year long here…but it has been pretty snowy this year! (and no, I don’t have a dog sled or dog team…although that would ROCK!)

I am the oldest of 5 children. Three boys followed me out, and my sister came along 12 years after me. I was always more motherly than sisterly, and I still haven’t grown out of that. I went to “Ricks College” when it still was Ricks. I was teased and told that I would gain an “MRS” degree, but I told everyone I was actually going to learn…crazy I know! I obtained my associates degree in Landscape Horticultural Management and returned home single, but stayed that way for only a week! I met and married my dh 51/2 months after completing college! After we had our three little men we were inspired to start adoption proceedings. We are in the matching stages now and can hardly wait to meet the children the Lord has ready for us. We are also in the process of selling our house and moving to a farm. We would love to be totally self sustaining. This has been a dream of ours for many years, hopefully it comes to pass soon.

My favorite part of motherhood really is being a part of my amazing little men’s lives. We homeschool so I get to help in lots of areas of their development. I get to be a part of so much of their lives and really hope that I can be the mother they need. One Sunday I was sitting in church and our stake president stopped to say hi and shake our hands. He said, “Wow Mom, you have three future priesthood holders with you.” This really struck me and I have tried to always be worthy of raising these amazing little men.

Humm…folding laundry. I love to wash and dry it, but that folding thing, not a fan! I also hate dishes. I thank my dh everyday for my dishwasher. 🙂 My dh is also wonderful and does the yucky ones that don’t fit in the dishwasher.

I have always wanted to travel to the “old world”. It would be wonderful to just tour all the little countries there for a year at least.

Earning my red seal would be wonderful.

I would also love to be part of my boys gaining a testimony of our Savior.

Well, I love the kitchen and think I do a pretty good job in there. I particularly love dessert as my hips can attest. 🙂

I also love to play with my cameras. Growing up I always wanted to be artistic, and until I bought my own camera I didn’t know I had talent in that area. I love to see things a little different through the viewfinder.

Lists!

I am a big fan of lists. As we went through our adoption proceedings I found out that “structure” (as my lists were called) was a GOOD thing! Who knew?!

I have a passion for preparedness. This is one of the quotes that inspires me in all I do. There are so many ways to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord, and I look forward each day to doing a little bit more.

In our day, many children grow up with distorted values because we as parents overindulge them. Whether you are well-to-do or, like most of us, of more modest means, we as parents often attempt to provide children with almost everything they want thus taking away from them the blessing of anticipating, of longing for something they do not have. One of the most important things we can teach our children is to deny themselves. Instant gratification generally makes for weak people. How many truly great individuals do you know who never had to struggle? ~Joe J. Christensen, “Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence,” Ensign, May 1999

Unscheduled time? What’s that?! Just kidding.

I love to read. I am currently loving YA books. I also enjoy taking “photography field trips”. Just me and my camera. (and sometimes my Dad and oldest little man) I love to create in the kitchen. When I have a break, playing with different ingredients to make something new is amazing.

Taking a break.

For a long time I honestly thought that I needed to always be on a schedule. Now I know that sometimes all we need is a break. Our favorite break time is to take school outside. When the weather is nicer, we love to hike in the coulee behind our home. Sometimes our break is just trying something new. Just because something worked for one child, it won’t necessarily work for all of them. (believe it or not, this was a hard lesson to learn)

I don’t do well in crowds. I grew up shy and have struggled with it for many years. As a result I often come across as mean or intimidating. I just like to sit back and watch. I take a while to “warm up” to people, but I really do want to get to know you. (Internet is wonderful for me in this way!)

I also am a very “active” listener. I interrupt when I am excited. I also tell long rambling stories. My dh is a wonderful story teller, but not I, I have way too much detail and I love to talk.

I love to just go out and visit. Eating good food is also a plus! If I can work Starbucks White Hot Chocolate in there somehow, it would be perfect! 🙂

Having patience. I need to learn that everything happens on the Lords time, but doing that is so tricky. There are a few things we are in the middle of, we have done all we can, the rest is up to the Lord, but waiting is really hard for me. When a decision is made, I like to move forward and do. Living in a state of uncertainty is frustrating for me. (it has to follow my list!)

I am a daughter of God. He knows and loves me. He cares about me and watches me. The church is true. We have a living prophet who receives revelation for our day, specific for us. The priesthood power is real. It can be used on our behalf and is a real blessing. Families can be together for all Eternity if we live worthy. The temple is the house of the Lord.

Tell us about your blog:

I blog at Welcome to the Madness (rovinroberts.blogspot.com). I blog about a little of everything. I started blogging as a way to journal about my life for my family and friends. It has evolved to be a bit more, but the roots are still there. I use the things we do in our life, as it says just under my title, “…a little crafting, a little photography, a little homeschooling, a little family, a little fun, a little bunch of boys, a little faith, a little bit of crazy…all mixed up to create this…” I am pretty random, so pretty much everything goes. I just hope that those who come to my little space in blogland will feel comfortable and feel like they have made a friend.

Thanks, Jaime.  It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.

Find-a-Friend Friday is fast becoming one of my favorite things about blogging.  I am so impressed with these women who see themselves as totally ordinary, but don’t they just shine in their interviews?  Today we are going to meet Allison, who emailed me back and asked me if I would answer all the questions too.  So I did, and she has posted *my* interview over at her blog today.  So stick around here to get to know Allison, and then hop over there to learn a little bit more about me.

It didn’t take me very many visits over at her blog to decide that Allison was a quality mother and woman.  She is the real deal.  She takes beautiful photos, and her posts are simple, yet like her blog title claims, inspirational.  Here’s a link to one of my favorites of her recent posts.  I think once you read a little bit more about her, you’ll see she really didn’t need much of an introduction from me.  Blog world, meet Allison.

One thing I love about Stephanie is that she can say the things I am feeling in my heart.  She can put to words what ends up as babbling when I try to express the same thing. Thanks Stephanie, I’m honored to be a friend.  [I just have to say that all these participants so far have said the nicest things about me, which is so sweet, but I swear that it is not a condition of being a Friday friend.  Please don’t think one of the question items is:  “Now talk about how cool I am.”  Thanks though, Allison.  You and the others have been beyond kind to me.]

My name is Allison Kimball and my introduction is much like my life: scattered, bouncing to and fro.  I’m a 37-year-old mother to 9 children and wife to one amazing and patient man (John).  I have 5 daughters and 4 sons.  My 4 oldest (daughters) are biological and my 5 youngest (4 sons and 1 daughter) are adopted.  I did not name my daughter Fred, my children all have lovely names but have chosen to have pseudonyms online {which you can see here: (the boys and the girls).}

I am left-handed as are all of my boys.  John is right-handed as are all the girls (well almost we don’t know about Loafie yet.)  I have yet to decide what I want to be when I grow up, so I have not graduated from a university yet.  I think I might have the most hours for a senior ever.  Before children 7, 8, and 9 I worked as a freelance artist in the scrapbooking industry both with manufacturers and magazines.  I am currently exploring and designing digitally.

I am the oldest of 5 children and according to my siblings I’m still bossy. I can’t wait to serve a mission again, this time with my darling John.  In fact I have asked every bishop we’ve ever had if he will accept our family as missionaries.  We have been rejected every time.  I love God more than I love my family, which is saying a great deal. I’ve told my children that if they are ever in a situation where they are commanded to deny God to save my life they better choose God.

1. What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

Hugs, kisses, “I love you”, reading together, snuggling, more kisses, working together, smiles and thank you’s, hugs from children who don’t like to give hugs, kisses on each cheek, talking and late nights, singing in the car (50’s songs are our favorites… we sing a mean “Wild Thing”), more hugs, more kisses, watching my children play and hearing their laughter.

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

All the cleaning.

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

1. Seeing all my children remain faithful in their testimonies of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2. I would love to travel.  Meet new people and see the beauty of the world.

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

I’m very good at procrastination.  I’m great at avoidance (check out my laundry room for proof). I’m amazing at self-deprecation (who needs enemies) and I excel in the art of guilt.

I’ve also been blessed with artistic talents, which I thoroughly enjoy and to quote Mrs. Elton (Emma), “I don’t say so, my friends say I certainly know how to make a sandwich.”

5. What are you loving lately?

1. wacom tablet
2. black and gray clothing
3. sushi (learning to make my own)
4. hearing my children practice the piano
5. my mop (lovely lime green microfiber beauty)
6. lists
7. cars with brakes that work
8. fresh chicken eggs (they are pretty)
9. black and white photography
10. fabric

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

Favorites are hard to choose because, depending on my life, a new verse will have meaning. That being said I’m very certain D&C section 6 was written for me. It’s my go to section and far to wonderful to quote, but I often hear verse 23 in my mind:

“Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?  What greater witness can you have than from God?”  D&C 6:23

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

Reading, quilting, cooking, photography, more quilting, learning something new.

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

I have none.  Really, just when I think I’ve figured something out with one child it suddenly stops working and it rarely works for another child.  Wait, I just remembered something. If we don’t have scripture study as a family we fall apart.  I’m not joking about this, especially if I make significant time in my personal study everything goes so smoothly.  I think that the children were learning subconsciously because most are not awake during scripture study, but it still makes a difference.

“Our reading the scriptures, even one verse at a time, does penetrate into their hearts the words of our Heavenly Father. The faith it takes as a parent to simply do it will invite the Spirit of the Holy Ghost to permeate their hearts and our homes. Reading the scriptures with children is like learning a foreign language. In time the natural rhythm of the words and the interpretation become clear. Alma compared the word unto a seed. Even among children the word “beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma 32:28).”  General Primary Presidency

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 don’t think there is anything. I’m an open book. I will open the front door and invite you in even if I’m still in my pajamas.

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

Girls night includes my four favorite girls: Munch, Arnold, Gus, and Fred (Loafie can start coming when she gets bigger).  We love to get sushi (some of us more than others) or great Italian (never Mexican, we know authentic and it’s hard to duplicate).  We often go to a movie or play.  When I asked Arnold what we do (because I couldn’t remember) she said, “We mostly talk. That’s the most important part.”

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

Anything that comes out of the body that doesn’t land where it should (ie. vomit). Toilets, don’t like cleaning toilets.  I also have a thing about emptying the dishwasher, not sure why.

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

God lives. Jesus is the Christ. Faith, not fear. I am nothing with out a merciful Father in Heaven.

Tell us about your blog:

I blog at allisonkimball.com, (“simple inspirations”). I blog:
*to remember the silly moments in our lives.
*so my children will have a visual record of who they are and what we believe no matter where they are in the world.
*to express myself artistically.
*to share the talents the Lord has given.
*for our birth mothers
*for parents who faithfully serve missions.
*because it challenges me to be a better writer (still working on this one).
*to have another excuse to take more photographs
*to stay connected to friends and family.
*to remember how much I love my children on the difficult days.
*because I love hearing my children talk about what I have posted.
*to help me see the Lord’s hand in our lives.

I love it.  Thank you, Allison.