How to control time!

So I think I may have figured out how to control time! Well at least slow it down a little! Have one of your children get so sick that they need you to sit around and hold them, watch movies, snuggle them, drug them, feed them, let the house fall apart around you, and remember that you have been wanting an excuse to not feel like Jo-jo this past week. 

Then just as your child has been diagnosed, medicated and is starting to feel better, get what she has and need to stay in bed for 2-3 days (at least as much as possible)! It will be the longest, slowest week of your life! Now in staying with my change of perspective I have tried very hard to enjoy motherhood, and not let the overwhelming amount of things I will have to do when I feel much better tomorrow get to me! I do well to remember that about 80% of the time! I have to say when I was feeling well myself it was nice to just snuggle on the couch, watch another Land Before Time and know that the house will get cleaned eventually (always does!) Being sick myself isn't nearly as much fun!

I've tried to appreciate the calm before the storm! And by storm I mean that the nesting need is kicking in! I have a query: why do we nest when we are in our third trimester and our energy is waning? I would really have like to nest in my second trimester when I still had some energy left! Such is life, and according to the little ticker I have 71 days to complete my tasks and projects before our little girl's arrival! So this is how you speed time up again! Working very hard and being very busy!

Then I will slow time again after the birth of this little girl, because that is what happens when caring for a newborn! I will enjoy just sitting and holding her, breast-feeding, napping and all the slower activities that come with a little one! The truth is I just know that time will take off with me again and fly ever faster! (Have you seen Taryn lately? She's huge and thinks she should do everything herself!) Yes time is a weird, strange little beast! I just hope all my little tricks keep working!

P.S. Now on to some posts I've been meaning to get to for awhile! Full of cute picture and funny stories! That is the only way I know to freeze time--take a picture and blog or journal about it! Then you can go back and enjoy that time, anytime!

The Perfect Pair

Do you remember the Bible Story of Mary and Martha? I've often thought about that story and wondered, who should I be? Christ says Mary chose the better part, but someone has to cook and clean at my house (and that is definitely the more time consuming part!)

Well at our Relief Society Birthday Dinner on Tuesday I had the opportunity to see this story through a different lens, a different light! Martha was doing a needful thing, and she was serving Christ. Someone did need to make a meal for Christ and those who were with him. Mary needed to visit with Christ, she needed to be fed with his word. Where Martha went wrong in this story was by judging Mary and assuming that she was doing the better thing and Mary should be doing it with her. When I heard this version I realized that Christ didn't say that Martha was choosing the worse part. She was still being of service to Christ!

Another story was told. There was an older woman who lived alone in a ward back east. She became house bound and was unable to care for herself independently. The ward decided to help her so she could continue to live on her own, with a little assistance. Two women were assigned to help her. They would take turns going into her home every other week to help with cooking and cleaning tasks and attend to this woman's social needs. One woman was a go-getter. Her week the house would be left spotless and 6-8 meals left in the fridge and freezer. The other woman was a social, heart person. Not much cleaning and cooking happened her weeks, but the older woman was filled emotionally and spiritually at the end of their visits. Unfortunately these two sisters didn't see the big picture and understand that they were the perfect pair to provide service to this older woman. They complemented each other beautifully and yet the judgement started that the other woman wasn't doing what I am, and of course I am doing the right thing. They ended up being pulled from the assignment because of their problems and progress halted on the Lord's errand they were on!

In essence isn't the first woman Martha and the second Mary? Doesn't this offer such a beautiful view of the story of Mary and Martha. They were each doing their perfect part! Which are you?

For me I know that a lot of my life I am Martha, I believe most mothers can relate to this. I also know that I have my days and moments when I am Mary. When I am Martha my house gets cleaned, laundry done, bills paid and dinner is on the table for my husband when he gets home. For some beautiful thoughts on how being Martha feeds the Savior read this. When I am Mary I feed my soul, I read, I visit with family and friends (in person and on the phone) and I strengthen my relationships with family, friends and my Savior. So you see I am the perfect pair! Especially when I see myself and my life that way!

So the moral of the story is: don't judge. Not even yourself! See what you're accomplishing for what it really is! Love others, love yourself! And that is how we will find Joy in the the Journey!

Come On Over. . .

Click on picture to enlarge

For a great way to save $$$

Stephanie Davis (from my ward) and I

Are hosting a Coupon Class 

At my house!

Thursday March 19th

6:30pm

It has revolutionized the way that I grocery shop,

and I'm well on my way to having my 3 month food supply!

I took this class just 5 weeks ago!

I love grocery shopping, and better yet saving at least half on my bill!

So come on over and bring a friend, or two, or three!

Email me at jandsgratteau@yahoo.com for my address

or call me at 302-8509 for more info.

Hope to see you there!

Dear Blog,

Oh how I miss you! But I am too busy having fun, catching up with family and being a super hero blogger for RobDob and Ashpants to pay you enough attention! I hope you will keep waiting for me as lovingly and patiently as ever while I eat Texas barbecue and ice cream cake.
Maybe I'll get back to you again tomorrow after the baptism and bbq with homemade potato salad, coleslaw and rootbeer. Or after taking a dip in the heated pool and soaking my tired legs in the hot tub.
I just wanted to thank you for keeping tabs on my pregnancy. I'm sure you noticed the second that little ticker dropped below 100 days!!! I sure did. I planned on dedicating a blog just to that subject, but like I said too busy having too much fun! Did you catch that? I have less than 100 days till I get to meet my beautiful baby girl!!! Ok, it still might be a little more than that, but who cares--the counter says its getting closer and I'm excited.
I love you little blog! Take care and I'll be back soon, I promise!

Love,
Janelle

Auction, Adventures & Airplanes!

First and foremost let me announce an online auction to benefit Robert Ashworth here. If you haven't been there yet, check out RobDob and Ashpant's story here. Karalee Garber, our dear sister is hosting the auction on her blog and I would like to acknowledge all her work putting it together! We are fundraising for Robert's ongoing medical care as he fights leukemia for the second time! Check it out, there are some cute hand made items available! We were planning to close the auction tomorrow night. We may keep it open a little longer to allow for more bids!

About those adventures we've been having in the Gratteau Family! Well this past week we have had the exciting opportunity to hang with these awesome people . . .

Eric, Alison and Lynne Crabb.

Lynne is Steve's sister and they flew out to visit us from Pulaski, Tennessee (which is about 45 min. south of Nashville). We had a lot of fun just hanging out with them and going to the park on Monday and Tuesday!

With the help of Taryn's sunglasses Byron turned Alison into a Rock Star! Both my children loved having Alison around. She was so cute, and so much fun!

Taryn would hug and kiss Alison until she cried or yelled. Then we knew she had been loved enough!

I thought this picture of Byron and Alison was so cute. He had so much fun showing her everything. He wanted to offer her every kind of food we ate too, but pretty soon he would say, "she can't eat this because she only has one tooth!" I can tell already that Byron and Taryn will really loving having a baby around in June.

On Wednesday we hung out at the zoo. The amazing 3 acre Las Vegas Zoo, definitely picking up on a little sarcasm here. There are two lions, a cougar, an alligator a chimpanzee, goats and lots and lots of chickens, pigeons and a few peacocks. I had heard Las Vegas had a zoo, but we had never been. It is not an amazing zoo, but it was a fun, cheap activity and all the kiddos had a blast feeding the birds.

Uncle Eric and Byron feeding the goats in the petting zoo.

Taryn and Byron feeding the peacock, chickens and pigeons!

While Alison eagerly looked on. I'm sure she was wishing she could join in the fun!

Thursday we went to the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay! It is a great aquarium. I think Byron enjoyed it the most!

He listened about every species on my wand and would then turn to me and give me the recap. Here I think he is telling me that, "starfish can grow to a trem-trem-tremendous size mom!" He was so excited and enthusiastic about everything.

And when your down on the strip you have to go to see the fountains at the Bellagio!

Our family in front of the Bellagio, waiting of the next water show to start!

Friday we took the Red Rocks loop for a fun drive and stopped to hike the Lost Springs trail. At this time of year they have a great little waterfall. It was really fun! A trip to Luv-It Custard that night rounded out our fun!

As for the airplanes! Well on Tuesday this week Byron, Taryn and I flew out to Houston, TX (where we are now)! We came out to visit the Bakers and celebrate Shayla's 8th birthday and baptism on Saturday. We are loving catching up with all our family!