Elijah Henry Gordon's Blessing

We were able to bless Elijah on Monday March 30th 2009.



IT was a whirlwind of a day, My parents had gotten to the airport on Saturday the 28th and were told because of weather in Kansas City all flights were canceled.

We were devastated, we had scheduled the baby blessing for Sunday the 29th.

We put the plans aside as I did not want to proceed without my parents.


Sunday the Bishop suggested we bless the baby at FHE, this would enable all the grandparents to be here, in addition to Wes since he is scheduled to leave immediately following the blessing.

We begin in the preparations for the day, we called in help, (THANKS SASHA!) and we got the bathroom grouted, (while Zeke proceeded to fill the hole int he floor for the toilet with tile spacers.)
Sasha and I were able to finish the grouting and we set out on the next project,
Wes's dad helped drywall/mud/tape the girls bedroom, and then took the older 2 girls on an outing, they spent the duration of the day shopping, while I had the younger ones at home (under foot) while trying to prepare my house for the blessing.

I had dinner planned, and figured we could all eat together before the blessing, The kids had not arrived back fro shopping by 6 and so we ate without them, then frantically tried to get cleaned up for the guests to arrive for the blessing.

This is when we discovered what Zeke had been up to. Along with the spaces in the upstairs toilet hole, he installed his own version of plumbing in the toilet (main and only functioning toilet) in the main bathroom, while Wes was getting ready to shower, he discovered the toilet was jam packed with stuff, toothbrush, doll shoes, who knows what else!!!

He spent the next 40 min attempting to unclog the toilet.

to no avail, so he quickly grabbed the upstairs toilet and installed it in the main bathroom.

The guests began arriving on time, as invited (7 p.m.) and we were still not dressed and ready, nor were the Girls home yet.

I was pretty stressed out, and Wes was just trying to get himself cleaned up from working all day.

Needless to say, our friends & family love us, and no one made any complaints about the state of the house (although my mom cleaned up after dinner THANKS MOM!) and we had our selves a wonderful evening.



Sasha made us Brigham Young's Whole Wheat & Honey Donuts. (YUMMY!) and we blessed Elijah.

Enjoy the photos, the lighting was off, and they all look orange, don't know why.
But at least we are all together. HUGS to everyone who helped out.

Mr. Mom Lesson 5! (Enjoy)

Chronicles of a Mr. Mom-Part 5-Back to the Office but Lessons Engrained-Retirement?
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Today at 11:54am
It's been 6-7 weeks now since my wife hit this morning sickness which is more like 2 months sickness. I completely understand how our moms, sisters, wives and ladies feel and have greater clarity about what it takes to stay home, clean, do laundry, cook meals, pay attention to kids, try to have a personal life, write a journal, stay in shape and exercise, magnify a church calling or two and be sane and happy.

I can honestly say that being a stay at home mom is the most challenging profession. (I did play in the NFL which is excruciatingly difficult and taxing mentally, physically and spiritually, I have been in high pressure sales, mortgages, real estate, public speaking etc.)

So today although my wife isn't fully feeling better is time for me to head back to the office to work, be productive and create as a breadwinner and provider. I've been home literally for 7 weeks now. Cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, shopping, cooking, paying quality attention to your little ones and staying healthy can be a vicious cycle if the bigger picture is not kept in perspective.

In my business profession I don't believe in the word retirement. Retirement means you stop doing what are you doing. Well, if you love what you are doing you stop already (retire) and do something you love to do. Or, you never retire because you absolutely love what you are doing. And even if at times you don't love it, being a parent is a 24/7 never ending responsibility.

So although I said i was retiring, I'm really not. I'm going to remember what I learned through being a stay at home Mr. Mom. I'm going to help my wife around the home a lot more. I'm going to watch a lot less TV, a lot less football, and do a lot more reading with my son, games with my son and walks with my wife. I'm going to sweep a lot more our magnetic kitchen floor which I swear attracts dirt. I'm going to be more mindful about expressing gratitude to my wife for all that she does.

Today is the day that I go back to the office but take with me lessons learned over a stretching and trying time for me as a dad and a husband.

Thank you to my mother and step-mother and wife and aunties and mother in law and all the ladies who raise children and do such a dang good job. Thank you for being patient with us guys who can oft times be ungrateful and lazy and so not mindful of what you do daily to keep our homes in 'order'.

This is Mr. Mom signing off-but not done.

I'd absolutely love to hear some comments and get some feedback on what YOU do to be a productive stay at home mom. Please write or comment so I can add to my Chronicles and put it together. It would be a huge help to me so i can remember and learn more from you mom's who are in the trenches every day!

Thank you.
Setema

Gratitude & Prayer

We had a real sacre yesterday, it has taken me allot of courgae to actually share this with you all. However it ended well, and we learned a lesson, I hope you all wont BBQ me for this mishap oin the family, and instead realize we ALL as parents should hugo ur kids a little tighter, every day.

After church yesterday, around 1 p.m. our dear neighbors 2 sons Arron & Ryan, came to see our house, and the kids all went about playing. They were running between our two houses (they have 30 acres, we have 10... so they were running a ways)
They were playing so nice, and including everyone. Zeke ws in 7th heaven, he had on his John Deere boots, and his hoody jacket, and was LOVING the boys!

I had made a lovely dinner, and was snuggling with Elijah while waiting for the kids to get hungry and join me. One at a time they kids were coming back, asking if there was food, and we ate together, then they went right back out to play.
Madison brought Zeke in, and I sat at the table while they ate, and then they too went back out to play,Zeke brought me his boots & jacket, and I helped him get them on and sent him out the door.

Fast forward to 5 p.m. Madi and the rest of the girls came inside, the first thing Madi said was "Where is Zeke?" I replied that Zeke had left with them, 2 hours ago. She said he never made it.

We all ran out, and I checked the water around the house, then returned, gathered up Elijah, and went back out. We searched for 20 min and then asked the George boys to get their parents help, we looked in their water/pond, I looked all along the creek, and into the ditch, I searched along the neighboring property, that has no house on it. I saw Abigel kneel in prayer in the street, and then immediately run to search some more. I kneeled in prayer in the field, and prayed for guidance to find Zeke safely. I prayed he would be OK, and we could continue our journey with this sweet little boy with us.

I then started walking towards the opposite property line, I followed yet another creek, and then heard Madi scream out. (Not the sound I was anticipating, but a scream of horror)
I ran towards her, and she said "I found him!" I honestly thought he was dead.
I thought I was going to have to perform CPR on my baby boy.

He was asleep.

He (apparently as much as we can gather from his tale)
Followed the grils,and they were too fast, they did not know he was behind them, and the weeds were too tall for him to see over. He fell down, and cried himself to sleep.

Blessings in this escapade:
Our neighbors immediately came to our aid, they called the rest of the neighbors, and in a short period of time we had 15 people looking for him.
Our girls each took the time to kneel in prayer, and have gained a testimony of prayer.
The weather was very pleasant 56. Had it been cold, he would have fallen asleep, to never wake up.
He had his coat & boots on, so he was covered and not injured.
We found him before dark.
He was safe, and not injured.
Our prayers were answered.

Like I said at the beginning of the post, please do not grill me,and cook me alive, I know that we should have been better, we should have had a better wtch on him, and I should not have enjoyed the 2 hours without noisy kids, instead I should have had a Motherly instinct that something was wrong, and go check on the kids.

Lesson learned.

Co-op major outing (updated)

This will be our first major outing since Eli's birth...

Wish us luck, we have packed, lunch, water, 3 changes of clothes....burp cloths, 15 diapers, binky, blankey.....

what am I forgetting?

The kids love this co-op, and so /i trudge out, and persevere the assignments....

here we go!
I survived the outing, and as i was NAC for the post, It was a bit brief and sloppy.(NAC= Nursing at Computer)

We made it out the door,and to Co-op on time, I survived 4 hours in the nursery, and really enjoyed myself, this co-op is a bunch of us home schooling mom's and we are the minority in our faith. I was able to relate how, even though it is tough, and tiring and never ending, how much I enjoy each of my children, I LOVE being a mom! It is (as I said) exhuasting, however it is so rewarding,
Elijah is a sweet sweet boy, and Zeke is SO FUN! Energy for at least a dozen of us. He just loves to be helping, and exploring. He had a rough minute when he first arrived at his co-op preschool class, I teared up, and covered his face, and was so sad to be left there, I reminded him of how much fun it was, and promised him I would be back quickly, and he bravely wiped away the tears, and turned to the craft table and started playing. I was so PROUD of him, such a brave boy! And... yes he DID have fun, and when I picked him up he shouted "YOU CAME BACK!" Poor kid, I can not imagine what he was thinking in his little 2 year old mind, did He really think I may not return?

Then There is Abigel, she wanted to trade classes, and we got her into scrap booking, she was elated. A happy child. She takes 4 classes at co-op, Scrap booking, Repeat art, Ooey Gooey Science & (one more I can not think of right now)

Gracie is SO in her element! She is social and LOVES to learn, Her classes are: Flying Creatures, Spanish, Baton twirling, and Ooey Gooey Science.

Rubi is in the "Blue Whale" Group for preschoolers, she attends with her bestest friends Sarah & Emily. They all love their class, they do art, singing, outside time, and beginning reading/phonics. WHAT FUN!

Madison is slow to admit that she loves her classes as well, but I see her glowing when we arrive for class, she has met new friends, and is thriving on the French class she is in, she even suggested we buy a Book of Mormon in French so she can translate and learn more words in french. She is also in, Volleyball, Spanish, and a Yoga (AKA Praise Moves)

8 days old.

Elijah is 8 days old, and is such a darling baby. I just want to post about how much i appreciate this sweet baby!

There have been several times that I have snuggled in bed with this wee one, and tears have come to my eyes, in appreciation for his sweet spirit.

I thank the Lord for allowing me to raise this young spirit on this earth, what an honor! (I may need to be reminded of Zeke being a sweetie too, as he is testing his 2 year old limits!)