Can We Build It? Yes We can!

I have come to the conclusion that if I have to wait for Darren to do everything for me, I will be waiting a long time (he is always willing, but my list his long and his time is short).
My dad had 3 sons and 1 daughter. He was always building something, and it was his daughter, not his sons that wanted to learn how to use his tools to create things. Since I got married, I passed the torch to Darren to build things for me. It is about time I started learning again and did some things myself. I had a couple of projects I wanted to do this week, so I got to work. He helped me figure out a few things and he showed me how to use some of his bigger tools, but I did it! I feel like a 4 year old! Darren was actually quite sweet - I think he felt proud and protective all at the same time. He even said at one point, "I like seeing you use the air nailer, it's kinda cool!"(this is a tool that I don't like to be within 10 feet of, normally).
I will show you what I built tomorrow. It is not the prettiest thing that will ever grace my blog, but it was needed, it is functional and I BUILT IT MYSELF!

Sweet Emma took these pictures of me (it was her V.I.P. tonight). She thought it was pretty funny that mom was using the tools and not dad!

$80 I Didn't Spend On Magazines

I love looking through home decor magazines - I don't always love paying 6 - 12 dollars for them, when I usually end up only liking a couple of the pictures and articles. If it is a really good one, then I will happily buy it. But remember you can borrow them from the library. They usually have a pretty good selection to choose from. 

Now there are those out there that will borrow a magazine and rip out a picture to keep. Don't do that. Borrow, get inspired and return the whole magazine, so that others can enjoy it too!

Sunday Evenings

Sunday evenings are one of my favorite times of the week. Before the children go to sleep for the night we all climb onto our bed and Darren reads to them from the Illustrated Scriptures - the children call them picture scriptures. They love it.

After we are finished putting them all to bed, Darren and I alternate weeks sharing something with the other. This week we read this article from the Ensign.

Even if we have both already read the article, it is so different to be able to read it together and then talk about it. We usually end up talking for hours about the most important area's of our lives. I love this time to just be quite and still with Darren. This is the time when we refocus on where we are headed as a couple and as a family. This is the time that we strengthen forces for another week. This is a time we once again become united - in goals, in thoughts, in parenting, in purpose. There is still laundry to fold and dishes to wash and a million other things that need to be done, but they will have to wait until Monday morning. For this is a day of rest.