To all the Mother’s out there who change the world with their kindness, example, and love.
Thank you.
You inspire me to be better.
To work harder.
To love more.
…and never take for granted the gift of Motherhood.
Several years ago; I wrote one of my favorite posts on Mother’s Day.
It always reminds me of living in the moment, and cherishing every single one of them.
I wish I was better at that everyday.
Read that post here
…and enjoy your day.
every. single. moment. of it.
I am sure many of you have heard of SMASH journals.
I think they are called SMASH because you “Smash” as much info and fun as you can into one book.
Many people use them as a scrapbook.
I decided to start one to fill with all my thoughts and everything I learned while I was going through the “trial of my health” this winter. (that’s what I call it; the trail of my health/winter 2014) (hee. hee.)
The truth is we all have times in our life that are harder then others. It’s these times when if we listen; God teaches us something.
I learned so much from friends who sent me thoughts, scriptures, quotes, talks, and books to read while I was flat on my back.
I read and read, and was so uplifted. I didn’t want to forget what I had learned and what I had been through.
A smash journal was the perfect place to stick it all.
…and now I have a place to stick all my favorite little thoughts and things life teaches me.
Life is one continual learning process, and if your brain is as forgetful as mine; its good to have somewhere to store what we learn.
I also love going back to read my SMASH. It helps me recognize all I have been given even when life seems hard.
The best part about the whole thing is a Smash journal is something your whole family can do.
This winter, we went to Park City to take the kids skiing. I was still so sick. The doctors were not sure what was wrong with me yet, so I spent my time in the hotel while they played.
I took the Smash journal stuff along; and grabbed a cheap book from the Michaels $ spot for each of the kids.
(Tessa’s front cover complete with Barbie Sticker)
I hoped they would want to start one to.
It was the perfect hotel activity.
Would you like to make one to?
What you need:
Smash journals for everyone. It can be the real deal like mine(found at Michael’s)
or the cheap version like my kids(also found at Michaels.)
The kids had fun decorating the front of their journal too.
I also picked up a handy carrying case to carry around all the fun trinkets we would use.
What we found makes it fun:
washi tape
colored pens
project life cards(these make it so easy to quickly write up what your thinking, and then all you have to do is washi tape it in your journal)
embellishments
and stickers
I also like to have a little extra bin with ribbon to add some sha-bang.
I am so thankful I got my kids involved.
It’s the little things like this that make me smile.
(Stella)
The words that they put in their journal.
(Jex)
The words that are important to them.
(Tess with Stella’s help)
Stella even helped Tess with her words.
(Tessa)
…and sometimes Tess writes her own words.
(Tessa)
…and sometimes Tess makes a nifty fold-down flap for her words.
(Isaac)
Everyone needs a place to put what fills up their head.
(Isaac)
Take the time to record life, and “SMASH” it somewhere important.
Every week, I think I am going to have time to blog a couple 2 or 3 times. Remember when I had time for that?
Then my week takes off and I don’t have the time.
Life is a changing… my kids are keeping my sooo busy.
I am actually speaking at a church event tonight about the importance of journaling.
This might be the push I need to get back here more often; I feel like I am saying this too often. I just need to make the time.
I am a true believer in the importance of keeping a journal.
Here is what my journal would say today:
May 7, 2014
Today is a rainy, rainy day. It is a gloomy yucky day.
I bought myself this hydrangea for Mother’s Day.
It helps on a rainy day.
I am looking forward to planting some flowers in my yard.
Jonathan spent all day Monday working in the yard.
I spent all day painting the house.
House projects never seem to end.
I’m not complaining. I am grateful to have a house and projects to fill my days.
My two oldest kids are sick today. I had a busy day planned but, when your kids get sick your day automatically changes.
I’m kind of grateful for the chance to slow down.
I can’t stop smiling about the cutest opera I attended last week.
Isaac shared the leading role of Mr. Duck with 3 other boys.
My favorite part about the opera was that it was written by these cute little Kindergartners.
I laughed at the story they came up with of animals wanting to use the Duck’s pond to play volleyball.
Kindergartners writing an opera; what a brilliant idea!
If we all looked at the world as innocently as children; how beautiful life would be.
I am thankful for good teachers who put so much love into teaching my children.
Baseball season is in full swing at our house.
Jex started a few months ago playing in an accelerated league; and now his games have begun.
These photos are from his first game.
Jex also started his city league this week and will have a practice or a game almost every night during the week.
Isaac is also playing city league; and this mister:
plays his first game with the big team in the valley; the Smithfield Blue Sox.
Jex’s accelerated team is also called the Blue Sox.
Thankfully, I can support Jex and Jonathan in the same t-shirt.
When it’s baseball season, we all enjoy going to the games as a family.
Well, Stella puts up with it.
I love baseball season.
There is no place I would rather be than at the ballpark.
…and that’s what I am thinking about today.
We had a great Easter Weekend.
It was a time of great satisfaction for me; I actually felt like a real mom again.
I am feeling great, and that allowed me to do what I love as a mom:
Uphold traditions.
So here are the photos of all the Easter traditions that I share every year here on JandA&Co.
Only, everyone is just one year older.
..and a little bit cuter. I think they get cuter and cuter every day.
…but that’s just my opinion.
Easter Traditions/Swenson Style:
Buying 5 dozen eggs
To color:
and dye:
A traditional hunt with Candy and a few surprises(like dates with mom and dad):
Our 3rd annual Glow in the Dark hunt:
…and at last but not least the Easter attire:
We hope your Easter was a wonderful time spent with family and loved ones.
It was for me. It was a wonderful reminder of why I love being a mom.
I came to understand compassion more fully as I was laying in my hospital bed.
One particular morning,
my to-do list was:
EAT JELLO
SIT IN A CHAIR FOR 30 MINUTES
TAKE A SHORT WALK DOWN THE HALL
and amazingly enough, I didn’t even know if I could do those 3 things.
At this point, I realized that I never truly understood how hard physical trials could be.
I asked myself, “Have I been compassionate enough when others are going through tough times?”
I didn’t ask myself this because I didn’t receive compassion. In fact, it was the complete opposite. It was others compassion that reminded me that I could be better in this capacity.
I also found myself laying in that hospital bed feeling so discouraged while watching an hour of television. In that one hour, there was more food commercials then I could name. I started to feel so sorry for myself because at the time all I could eat was ice chips, apple juice, and Jell-O.
Then wouldn’t you know a commercial for Disneyland showed up on the screen. I couldn’t even fathom being able to walk around Disneyland. I realized that even though I was sitting in a hospital bed unable to eat or walk well; others lives were still going on around me.
I asked myself again, “Have I been compassionate enough to those whose lives immediately change, while my life goes on around them?”
Once again, I have to tell you that I did not begin to think about compassion because it wasn’t shown to me. In fact, I was given so much love that I was taught by others example.
The Savior was the greatest example of compassion to others. With Easter weekend just past, I can’t help but think about how he was always showing so much love to others. Although He was almost never shown the same in return. Many did not show Him compassion at all, and yet; he never stopped loving. I know that it is because of Him and His great compassion; that He was willing to die for me. It’s because of Him that I get to live with Him again.
It’s because of Him and His great example that I know I have a lot of work to do in many capacities.
You might enjoy watching this film Because of Him.
One thing I will take away from all I have been through is to show more love and compassion to others.
The other day my kids had the movie soul surfer going. Just after this young surfer lost her arm by a shark, she took a trip to Thailand to help others affected by the Tsunami in 2004. She realized while on her trip that surfing didn’t matter as much as she thought it did. Yes, she had lost her arm, but she realized that the people of Thailand had lost much also. Her compassion for the people of Thailand changed her, and she said this about compassion:
“Compassion can move us to do amazing things.”
I hope that as I strive to have greater compassion for others, I find myself doing amazing things. Amazing things that aren’t about myself.
I am doing my best to think more of others; to become more like him.
