Diaper Duty

Brynnlee is really loving being a mommy to her dolls, bears, and other stuffed animals. Now she likes to change stinky diapers. The only problem? She is stealing Pressley's to use. So, I went searching for a solution. And I discovered one.

I found an adorable and easy doll diaper pattern here: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/09/19/how-to-make-a-diaper-for-a-childs-doll/.

I am not much of a sewer, but I did my best, and Brynnlee is already having fun with them.

Communication....

"'Words do not convey meanings; they call them forth.' I speak out of the context of my experience, and you listen out of the context of yours, and that is why communication is difficult."

--David O. McKay

Communication is difficult isn't it? There are some people who talk too much; they over share and spill out information that may be too personal, not thought out, or mean. They speak their minds too often and offend people. (Yes, I usually fall into this category.) But there are others who do the opposite. They hold in a lot of what they think and feel. This form of communication is just as reckless as blurting every thought, feeling, and story we have on our minds.

When we don't share what is bothering us, many things can happen. The feelings can grow, and fester, and cause damage in our relationships. I've learned over the years that instead of sulking off and crying when Kevin hurts my feelings that I should tell him. It makes me feel better, and he learns what to avoid saying in the future. When we don't communicate that others have upset us, how do they know when to apologize or change their actions. It's so hard to have someone mad at me. It's even harder when I don't know why.

I bring up communication because Kevin and I had an interesting experience the other day. It was almost 4:00, and I overheard Kevin tell Brynnlee that he wanted to play a game on the Wii. Well, I wanted to watch Dr. Phil. There was an interesting show on the day before about an intervention, and I wanted to watch the follow-up so. I hurried in Brynnlee's room and told Kevin that he couldn't play the Wii because I wanted to watch this particular Dr. Phil show. He was nice enough to put off playing a video game for awhile. Well, 4:00 came, and I went to watch tv. But when the show started, I discovered it wasn't about the intervention, so I turned off the television and found something else to do. About a half an hour later, I hear, "Lindsay, could you come here." It was Kevin, and he sounded upset. He said, "Is this the Dr. Phil show you wanted to watch?" I look at the screen, and the title of the show is "My Mate's Not Hot Enough!" I almost started laughing when I saw it, but I realized that he thought I was really going to watch this. Maybe he was thinking I felt this way. I explained what happened, we got a good laugh out of it, and he changed the channel.

But I started thinking, what if Kevin hadn't said anything to me? What if he had thought that was the show I wanted to watch? What would his attitude toward me been? Would we started having problems because of this lack of communication? It could have happened. I hate to think of the damage that miscommunication and no communication can do to a marriage.

Bonds That Make Us Free

If you have talked to me or been a part of my life for the last 15 years, you may have noticed how unhappy I was....a lot. You probably felt my biting comments or saw my eye daggers. You may have been on the receiving end of my sarcastic jokes. I thought it was just me. I mean I come from a family of sarcasm. I thought I was funny. I thought it was just the way I was. It turns out I was wrong.

One afternoon , Kevin presented me with this book. He told me that he thought it would help me. I read the title, threw it aside, and cried. I was betrayed. How could my own husband think that I needed a book to help me with my relationships? I gave him the silent treatment for awhile, and I definitely did not read the book.

Years later, I picked it up and started reading it. I don't even remember why. But I am so glad that I did. I needed this book because I was miserable. I didn't even realize I was miserable. I was angry. I didn't even realize how angry I really was.

There are so many thoughts and tidbits that really made me think. Here is one that caught my attention right from the beginning: "Much of the time, the advice we give one another, like the advice of experts, is based on misguided diagnosis. Our advice trusts the experience of those who feel 'stuck' to identify the cause of the trouble. But when we are 'stuck,' we think, falsely, the problem lies with other people, when the truth is that the problem lies within ourselves" (pg 13). I was blaming everyone, especially Kevin, for my sadness or my misfortune, or my anger. It was really me who needed to change.

Another part that caught my brain: "...those times when we feel most miserable, offended, or angry are invariably the occasions when we're also most absorbed in ourselves and most anxious or suspicious or fearful, or in some other way concerned about ourselves" (pg 19). It could be that many of you are thinking, "Um no kidding, Lindsay!" But when you are caught up in your own misery, it is so hard to see it.

Bonds That Make Us Free is filled with information and ideas that explain why we may not be getting along with others or why we are so unhappy at times. The author, C. Terry Warner, brought me face-to-face with myself. I was so surprised with how much the people with unhappiness in this book were like me.

I still pick up Bonds That Makes Us Free when I need a reminder. I have highlighted important parts: sentences and ideas that I like to read over again. I read these concepts that make me know that I can do better and that I am better.

Why am I sharing this? Well, I want those of you who have been caught in the tornado of my anger to know that I am sorry. I realize how sad and angry I really was. And I have changed. I also want to share with others, if you feel like you just need a little help to understand why you're not as happy as you could or should be, you should take a look at this book.

Book Description from Amazon.com:

Life can be sweet. Our relationships with friends, spouses, colleagues, and family members can be wonderfully rewarding. They can also bring heartache, frustration, anxiety, and anger. We all know the difference between times when we feel open, generous, and at ease with people versus times when we are guarded, defensive, and on edge.

Why do we get trapped in negative emotions when it's clear that life is so much fuller and richer when we are free of them?

Bonds That Make Us Free is a ground-breaking book that suggests

the remedy for our troubling emotions by addressing their root causes. You'll learn how, in ways we scarcely suspect, we are responsible for feelings like anger, envy, and insecurity that we have blamed on others. (How many times have you said, "You're making me mad!")

Even though we fear to admit this, it is good news. If we produce these emotions, it falls within our power to stop them. But we have to understand our part in them far better than we do, and that is what this remarkable book teaches.

Because the key is seeing truthfully, the book itself is therapeutic. As you read and identify with the many true stories of people who have seen a transformation in their lives, you will find yourself reflecting with fresh honesty upon your relationships. This will bond you to others in love and respect and lift you out of the negative thoughts and feelings that have held you captive. You will feel your heart changing even as you read.

"It would not be accurate to describe this book as supplying the truths upon which we must build our lives," writes author C. Terry Warner. "Instead it shows how we can put ourselves in that receptive, honest, and discerning condition that will enable us, any of us, to find these truths on our own."

Finding these truths is the key to healing our relationships and coming to ourselves, and Bonds That Make Us Free starts us on that great journey.

Brynnlee and Her Imagination

One of my favorite things to do is watch Brynnlee play. All of the toys we have given her are suddenly worth it. The girl has such a great imagination and uses it every day. From the bath tub to her bedroom, she is pretending that she has a dog and a cat or that her grandparents are here visiting. Yesterday, I had to go to our front door and "hug" Grandma and Grandpa. She also loves to play Mommy. She takes her babies and feeds them, changes their diapers, rocks them, and put them down for a nap. She is a great mom. Brynnlee is also into cooking us dinner with her play kitchen, dishes, and food. She is always bringing us something to eat--usually ice cream. We are really full around her! Like I said, it's fun to watch her play. It's even fun to play with her.

Three Months

Three sweet months have gone by, and we have a little Pressley who is chubby and tall, smiles and giggles, and loves to listen to her {BIG} sister talk and read stories.

Daddy's Little Girls

Here are Kevin's girls wearing his favorite Jordan outfit. They are both almost three months in these pictures. So adorable!

Brynnlee

Pressley

We've Got Cute Kids

Playground Monkey

Brynnlee loves climbing, running, and sliding on playgrounds.

Okuma Fun

We spent some time at Okuma, a fun recreational facility here in Okinawa. It's full of family activities. We played on the beach, went through a garden maze, and played miniature golf. We now have more fun family memories.

Photo Shoot

When Brynnlee was born, we didn't take newborn pictures with a professional photographer. I regret it. So when Pressley came along, I decided not to make the same mistake. We had a photographer in our branch take the pictures. They turned out really great, and I spent too much money ordering pictures. You should check some of them out!

http://melfeldtphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/mini-sneak-peek.html

http://melfeldtphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/more.html