The Mom
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The Producer
Guys… I’m tired. I mean… more than usual. Ben and I decided to produce our own short film. We have been trying to get a film reel but have had not many chances at lead roles without a reel. So… Ben decided to write his own scripts so he can then film them and guarantee a piece for his reel that he’s happy with. We decided the first week of December that we had enough connections in Utah to cast and produce a low-budget short film. We were planning on going to Utah for Christmas so we figured that throwing in a short film would be hard work… but would…
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Alone in the Pumpkin Patch
One of my favorite things about fall is the fact that it’s harvest time. In Utah, autumn is the time to pray over your fields so they won’t be killed by an early frost. When the food is finally harvested it is truly a blessing to be thankful for. I miss Utah autumns. The leaves actually change colors and fall! The first time I jumped in a pile of leaves was as a college student at Utah State University. Meanwhile in California, it’s the time to start planting more veggies. No frost ruins the crops out here… honestly the only reprieve you have from your garden is running out of…
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Walking a Tightrope With You
I was sitting on the floor, wrestling my 18-month old as my older children were chasing each other around the room. I think they must get faster the sleepier they are (a scientific study should be done on this). Ben was shooting a commercial in L.A., and it was going late, as usual, so I was by myself getting the girls to bed. I was the only one singing our let’s-get-ready-for-prayer-by-singing-about-Jesus song. The girls were too busy tormenting each other, and they were oblivious to the fact that I was too tired to chase them. I was overworked, sweaty, sore, and just plain exhausted, with plenty of chores still to…
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Car trouble
So… this happened. Ben was on his way to work on a two-day commercial. The driver in the semi truck wasn’t watching. Sadly, Ben wasn’t able to make it to the commercial he had booked. In fact… they found someone else for the job and promised they’d bring him back for something else in the future. Ben didn’t get injured at all. Well… he did end up with a tight neck and shoulders and a migraine for a few days but we’ll take that considering the alternative. We have been blessed. As happy as we are that Ben wasn’t at fault and was safe, we’re now out a car. And……
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House Guests
Some people are gifted at entertaining guests. You’d think that as a performer that would come with the talent like a package deal. Entertaining, entertainer. Basically the same thing. I guess not. I struggle. There’s something about inviting people to my house that suddenly makes me very aware of anything that looks non-Pinterest worthy. Yes… it’s a problem. I know… Of my four girls, I have two children that are of the age where they can help with quite a few chores with very minimal direction (finally). I have one child that needs me to watch her and tell her exactly what to do step by step. And then… I…
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Making Plans
What are you up to Saturday night? Seems like a simple question… Just don’t ask it to me. Don’t ask if we’re coming to visit. Don’t ask if I’m planning on going to the park. Don’t ask if I’m coming for Christmas. I mean… you can ask all you want; it’s not like it offends me… I just won’t know what to tell you. The thing is, we genuinely don’t know. Ben’s work is, as we have already established in other posts, not a very traditional job. It’s not like he has a set schedule… ever. There’s no 9-6 job, with dinner and a bedtime routine. Ben loves singing the girls…
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The Preschool Teacher
At the end of the summer, I took my girls and mom to a carnival the local school district put on to celebrate the upcoming school year. There were many booths, giveaways, performances, free food, and free backpacks for all the children. We all were having a great time. I had just finished a singing competition (cause, why not), and had gone to find my children in the food line. I know you’re all wondering… but no, I didn’t win the competition; it was based on cheers. Never a great way to determine a winner. Not that I was bothered by it; it was just fun to get up and…
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A Commercial Reel
Have I told you that Ben, Jess and I are in a music video together? This past October, one of our dear friends was making a music video for a song that she had done the vocals for… and she asked us if we would be willing to be actors in it! Acting in a music video? Um, yeah! We all thought it would be super fun! How hard could it be? I thought we would be the background… you know, walk through the scene, or sit on a park bench as someone walked by. I didn’t realize that they would be zooming in on my face! I claim to…
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I survived potty training
Okay, so this is my third child that I’ve needed to potty train. You’d think by now that I’d be a pro. Haha. No. I have no idea. Potty training my oldest was so hard. We started training, then stopped, at least 3 times before finally finding a solution that worked for both of us. With my second child I was determined not to have that happen again. So… I gently allowed her to make her own choices about using the potty. Well… that too backfired. My brilliant little 23 month old Liz figured out how to use the potty and basically potty trained herself (with some help and encouragement…
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God loves things that grow
When we first moved into our new home, our backyard was a bit neglected. It hadn’t seen children for quite some time, and had forgotten its usefulness. So we decided to give it a facelift. First and foremost, we needed a garden. Part of the reason was that our little Liz had had a hard time with the move. There were days where I was sure that she was not okay, and that she would need a therapist to treat her for depression. Turns out that Ben is also a part-time therapist. Okay… well, not really. But he does have a talent for helping people process their emotions, and feel…
