Friday, January 30, 2009

Politics

Best family quote:
Mom was talking about democrats
Carmel (who was pretty young at the time, maybe 5): Mom you shouldn't say swear words.
Mom: Carmel, I wasn't swearing.
Carmel: Yes, you did. You said (whispering) "democrat."

So I realized I never say anything about politics, mostly because I am never quite sure how I feel about it. But I did watch the Inaguration and I was very impressed by Obama's speaking ability. Like Shannon Hale might say, "he has the gift of people speaking." But I'm not quite sure what to think of him as the man to lead my country. I hope and pray he will do his best, trying to listen to what the Lord would have him do. I hope he cuts government spending on all the stupid stuff it does and that he helps people not be so dependent on the government for supporting everything they do. But I don't know, I hope he doesn't make it mandatory for 3-5 year olds to go to school. I hope he lives up to the hope he has given America. I didn't stand on a street corner holding "vote for Obama" signs, but I did do that for Bush. :) I still can't believe I did that. But I'm glad I did. My extremely Republican family was proud.

News from the Homefront


So Tyson said that I need to post more. He won't read my journals, so I guess he likes to read these because they are like a journal, but public so he doesn't feel bad reading them. So a lot, well, kind of, has happened since I last wrote. I feel so much more at ease and calm about everything, about losing my job, about lots of different things. When really, I think I should be crazy scared.
Grandma and Grandpa Cooper came to visit a few weeks ago and it was a lot of fun. We stayed up until 2 every night with Grandma so she could take her pills and we had a lot of good talks and of course they loved being with little Josh. The only bad part about it was it made me miss my own mom a lot. I was tempted to tell Tyson that we needed to move back to the west coast because I just can't handle being far away from her anymore. But I love it here, it has become my home. I have spent the past almost 6 years of my life here, grown more independent than I thought was possible. I have fallen in love here, had my first baby here, I have so many memories here in this beautiful valley. The sunrise this morning was amazing, it wasn't gold or yellow or pink, it was perfectly blue. Bluer than I have ever seen the sky. And I know I would miss it terribly if we ever left this place.
So I have been babysitting a lot for people on the side, keeping busy with writing, laundry and trying to help the people around me. I decided that the Lord must have a reason for me losing my job and I decided that reason was to take care of His children more. So I have been trying to find ways I can help others. I haven't been very good at it, but I feel a lot better at least doing little somethings.
Plus, I have been able to spend a lot of time with little Joshua. He loves to draw on whatever I am writing, read when I am reading, play hide-and-seek and visit our neighbors with me. Tyson and I spend most of our time watching Psych and Lost. I totally love both shows! I just wish Lost played 2 times a week because the suspense is killing me. :) And we have been reading a book called 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and it is really good. I have learned a lot from it already.
Then there is the big news that has changed me completely, and will continue to change me. On Wednesday evening, Josh and I went over to Kenni and Chris's house to hang out while Tyson was teaching the Dave Ramsey class. Kenni had an EPT that she isn't going to use any time soon, so she let me use it and yup, we are expecting another little one! I am really excited and really nervous too, mostly because I don't want another c-section and because it is still really early. I used to think that I shouldn't tell anyone if I got pregnant for awhile because the baby might not stick, but I think every child should be celebrated, even if they are here for only a little while. But we are hoping this one, despite all the craziness that goes on in our home, will want to stay. We want a little girl and to name her Isilee, yes like the character in 'Goose Girl.' But Tyson and I fell in love with the name, so I guess we will see what the munchkin looks like. I am just excited for life, and excited (kind of) to get round again. Anyways, that is the news from the mini-Cooper's. Being a mom for me now will be as K.J. and Tyson put it "a lifestyle now, not just a hobby." :)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Okay...so stuff did happen

Okay, so I didn't realize so much did happen over the past couple of weeks. I just downloaded the pics from our camera and I kept saying "Oh, oh, yeah, I forgot about that." Hehe So this is a sweet puzzle that Tyson got for me for Christmas and it took us two weeks to build. Our table was completely covered that whole time so everytime we wanted to eat, we had to eat atop our puzzle. It was really fun though, intense, but fun. It is a scene from Italy, so it was like we were there for two weeks. :)

We also went out of town for a few days. Tyson had this computer Access training for a couple of days and Josh and I got to go with him. It was really fun because we got to see a few friends we haven't seen in awhile and it was just a blast getting away together for a few days.


This one is hilarious. Our friend's Emilie and Logan and their little boy Tommy came over. Well, it turns out Josh and Tommy have the same p.j.'s Hilarious huh? They are both so cute!


Josh making one of his fabulous faces.


Can you see his slippers? They are elephants and soooo cute!


Josh's first hair cut. I gave it to him. He doesn't have much hair except in the back and it was all curly, but it was getting a little unruley, so I had to chop it off. He didn't like it one bit, but I think it looks better now.


Money and Happiness don't always go hand in hand





Some photos that make me happy.

Let's see...it has been a little while since I last posted, but really not much has happened. It has been cold, really cold and windy. But it is still beautiful in its own way. I don't go outside a lot so I don't have much to complain about. Since I don't have a job anymore, I am kind of afraid to find out what it feels like to be home, all day, with nothing to do, ever but mom stuff. But I do love being a mom, so maybe it won't be that bad. The Lord has blessed us so much because I do kind of have a job. One of Tyson's friends that he used to work with needs someone to watch his little son once a week for a few hours. So I get to do that which I am so thankful for because at least now I will be contributing again. And there have been lots of people that need babysitting jobs on random days and they are so merciful to pay so much, so that is wonderful.

It is actually really neat and a wonderful testimony building experience for me because last month when I found out the people I babysat for didn't need me anymore, I was crushed and really worried. "How are we going to pay for food?" I kept asking myself. Of course, I know Tyson is wonderful and he will make sure we have enough money for everything and he works so hard everyday. But that is the thing, he works so hard and still the world keeps getting more expensive. It really hurts to see that look on his face when he is worried about money or wishing we had enough to splurge and get pizza. And I really want to help and I feel like such a loser sometimes because all I do is stay at home and have babies that cost even more money. I just have to keep reminding myself that the Lord wants us to have kids and He is thankful that I spend so much time with Josh, loving him and making sure he gets everything he needs. But I was really struggling, so then on fast Sunday this month Tyson asked me what we should fast for and I said "that everything will be okay and we will have enough money for everything." So Tyson in his wonderfully sweet and patient voice says "I know we will be okay Cami. How about we fast for faith that we will know the Lord will help us." I am so thankful for Tyson, he so kindly brings me back to my senses everyday and helps me realize where I should be standing and the faith I should be having. So that is what we fasted for, and ever since then, slowly but surely my fear is being replaced by faith. And we are getting all these little odds and ends to do to help people, which in turn helps us. No money has fallen in our laps, but oppurtunities to earn it has and thus, I see more than ever just how much the Lord loves us, how much He loves me.

So really, although not much has really happened in the past couple of weeks, a lot has happened inside of me. I feel happier and closer to my wonderful little family and to the Lord. Today, I was listening to different music on people's blogs and I pulled Josh onto my back and we spun in circles and he just laughed and laughed. And even though I have the first cold sore of my life and I look in the mirror and think I should feel ugly, I don't because this morning when Tyson was praying he said "thank you Father for all the beautiful things that you have given us, especially for the one I married." Money can't buy that. Like those mastercard commercials, a lot of things cost money, but moments like those are "priceless." So the moral of this story is 'don't worry so much about money, it can't buy happiness.' :)