Can you believe I went to Kohls...

at 3:30 AM in the morning?!?

I have never been ambitious [stupid] enough to brave the Black Friday crowds. But lately sleep has been elusive for me. Not in the usual way with overscheduling of days that turn to nights, but in the more insomniac type of way.

Weird.

I had a rough time sleeping Thursday night. And then I was up with yet another feverish child. After a couple of hours she was finally settled again. It was 3:10 AM. I was awake. So I quickly threw on some shoes and woke Dave enough to tell him I would be shopping.

I hit Kohls, Shoe Carnival (for weatherproofing spray), ToysRUs, and Target.

And by the end of my 6 hour adventure I had completed all but two purchase items on my list...including gifts to donate. The rest are handmade deals.

Determined to actually enjoy the Christmas season this year, I am scheduling time for our favorite traditions, as well as some new ones. We are calendaring these priorities.

Last year Mr. Bloomers parents put together a clever 12 days of Christmas with activities to help us focus on Christ and family.

But we were too busy to do most of them! Of course much of that centered on planning for our surprise trip to Boston to share Christmas with them. But still...

This year we will make gingerbread houses. We will visit the convelescent hospital. We will organize a neighborhood Christmas caroling event. We will write and SEND thank you cards. We will ponder over what the Savior means to us. And even if we don't get to everything on the list, we will at least savor the Christmas spirit all month long.

Everyday I'll post what we've done. Accountability is key, you know.

And since every post needs photos, enjoy these of warmer days on the Riverwalk:

A good morning, and our family advertises for the Gap

This morning I woke before my alarm. And rather than stretch out the last 20 minutes of my time in bed, I got up to run. So I could run a little longer and still have time with the kids.

It was the best run I've had in weeks. And the fact that I went out at all was pretty great as I've been skipping out on those morning runs far too often.

I went out slower. I took in the beauty of the fall leaves and the colors of the sunrise. I was more patient with the dog as he continued his quest to mark every pole, mailbox, and tree in his world. I allowed the music to lift my soul. I prayed for charity today.

When I got home most of the kids were up. One in particular seemed to be struggling. Rather than hurry her as I often do I was patient and just offered help without making her feel bad. And we avoided another morning of contention with this child who really just needs to feel loved and understood.

I had a few kissy moments with Mr. Bloomers in front of the elementary school when I drove him to meet the bus. I wondered if the teachers already inside would be saying to themselves, "That must be why they have five children."

After the elementary school drop-off (which was on time :), we came home to finish the preschoolers. Rather than argue or dismiss the one who had since turned grumpy I managed to dance her back to joy. (Maybe my dancing to one of the rocking songs of Camp Rock 2 was just too funny to resist.)

Really it wasn't that spectacular of a morning. I didn't win the lottery, or wake up to flowers or breakfast in bed. My kids weren't all perfectly well behaved. My house isn't as clean as I wish it were.

But in this ordinary morning I feel happiness in my heart. And that is the real treat.

Sisters

One a fashionista (notice the animal print tights).


One a chocolate-loving princess.

SuperKids!!!

Saving the world from being dull and clean and quiet.

Madsen Bikes ROCK!!!

And I would love to win one. Though I can haul the two littlest kids in the bike trailer, my bike is in sorry shape.

This would be SO much fun to own. I would ride the bigger kids to school everyday with a bike like this.

Crossing my fingers that the stars align and I can win the link contest.

There is beauty all around

In our home, I try to make the Sabbath a different kind of day. It doesn't always work as smoothly as I'd like, but the plan is that in our hours outside of church, we spend time as a family: playing together, holding Family Council, and maintaining some feeling of reverence and worship. There are the obvious no-no's for us, like attending birthday parties and going to amusement parks, or even running races or going out to dinner, but we don't have a long list of hard-fast rules. (Though I do work to steer us clear of TV and computer games.)


When I was growing up we didn't go outside on Sundays. I am less concerned about whether we are inside or outside and more concerned with what our activity is about and how it makes us feel.


This afternoon I enjoyed a rare nap whilst the children played pretty darn nicely. I'm pretty sure they involved Mr. Bloomers in some board games as well, but as I was in and out, I can't be sure.


This evening we took a drive to the Morton Arboretum. We skipped the playful Children's Garden and cruised slowly through the windy roads. On the lookout for the colors of fall, we munched an unconventional dinner of popcorn sprinkled with candy corns and M&M's with a side of raw carrots.

It was delightful.


After a full loop of the main route by car, we meandered around the main lake area on foot, checking out the imaginative scarecrows (Demi Leave-ato? and this lovely faceless one?) created by a number of Girl Scouts. (I'm not sure how our girls were left out of such fun. We may just have to create our own such work of art.)


The sunset was brilliant. I remarked to the children how much our Heavenly Father must love us to have blessed us with such a beautiful world and such gorgeous colors. I know there are hard things in our lives. Believe me, I know more than you might expect. But when I stop to see the beauty that is all around, I feel God's love. And that reminder is what the Sabbath day is all about.

Coming back, and more on why I run

This summer was tough on my running.

Here are my monthly totals (in miles) for the last year:

November 2009: 100
December 2009: 72
January 2010: 92
February 2010: 111
March 2010: 115
April 2010: 100
May 2010: 112
June 2010: 47
July 2010: 55
August 2010: 22
September 2010: 57
October 2010 (as of 10.9.10): 35

Not surprisingly, as my running numbers have fallen, my level of pressure, frustration, stress, anger, anxiety...all the bad stuff...has crept onward and upward. It hasn't been pretty, though as always, I work hard to hide it.

The truth is that running is my mental health and wellness. One of the reasons why I was in favor of adopting our dog is so I would have a running buddy helping me get out there on the days I was too tired or too unmotivated to do it for myself. I need running to even me out so I can have the physical and mental ability to live up to the many responsibilites I face every day.

I'm proud to report that I'm back in the game again. I'm feeling better and happier and stronger, though I have a ways to go.

Four weeks ago I determined that I would go out everyday for the next four weeks, with the exception of Sunday. And I have been successful.

I started running 2 miles on 9/11. That was a Saturday. The next week I ran a little over 2 miles everyday, with a plan to run 4 on Saturday. The Artist was up early that morning and I opted to walk with her instead. That is the only day I've missed on my current running plan.

The following week I did just over 2.5 miles everyday with 5 miles on Saturday.

And the next week I ran 3+ miles everyday, with 6 on Saturday.

And today I ran 7.03 miles, after having run 3.67 miles every other day this week.

On Sundays I still get up and walk the dog, since he needs an outing, but it is a day of rest.

The scriptures teach us that our bodies are temples. I know that when we take care of our bodies by getting adequate rest and exercise and by eating well, that we are in a much better position to understand and follow the will of God in our lives. We find greater peace and happiness.

It is really hard sometimes to do the things we ought to. I have used chocolate chips to help me cope rather than thinking to pray on many an occasion. I've stayed up late watching some dumb movie to give myself a treat alone from the kids, only to pay for it when I'm too tired the next day.

But I'm learning, and hopefully my kids will be able to learn along with me how to take care of themselves. Our physical health is interdependent on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Now if I could just figure out how to make that whole idea of a house of order work in my home...