Tonight, I went all out and made some pizza for dinner. I’ve been anxious to get more use from the baking stone we purchased and it seemed only suiting to make pizza! Boy was it good! The Andersons gave us a few packages of pepperoni (thanks!) which gave the pizza a kick like none other. Perfecto! After, Conor quickly claimed that I am the best wife ever, however we all know that the way to a Muirhead heart is food so I was none too surprised! Although on a side note, I did spill some mozzarella cheese on the stone whilst placing the first pizza causing the smoke detector to go off with the next opening of the oven door which in turn triggered a wake up call for Conor from his nap. So this further proves the point that food really is the way to a Muirhead heart.

Excuse my neglect. My RSS feeds for all the blogs I read has piled up and is rather overwhelming when really I only have like 17 things to check out. Still… breath. My house is a mess, my husband sick and I’m munching on cold restaurant french fries. I’ve been a working woman again for the past 3 days and I feel tired! It doesn’t help that we’ve had late nights and early mornings left, right and center! Phew! What have I been up to? I’ve been a nanny for two youngest Watterson children and I’ll just confess this upfront, there have been moments when I’ve told myself that children are not for me. But then again, “babysitting” is always different from Mothering. I’m sure the Mum of the Wattersons doesn’t play as much “Monopoly” (Anopoly according to my playmate) and “Candy Land” as I do. I must take all that into consideration. I also have to confess that I am a selfish, selfish woman. I’ve so missed just reading, especially since I am on quite an intriguing book, instead I’ve had to have snippets suffice. It’s nice to do what I want to do rather than do what needs to be done to entertain and do that within consideration of naps and specific lunchtimes and snacktimes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been fun too! We’ve made sugar cookies and gone to parks and the museum. However, I have to take my hat off to Mothers everywhere since I feel like I can barely fake it!

Itunes is always pumping something out while I’m home. It’s my companion although I’m not a music crazed teenager. About a couple weeks ago I bought the newest JimmyEatWorld album, “Chase This Light,” and I’m totally loving it! JEW is my favourite band to run to and I own all 4 of their albums although 2 of them are missing from our itunes library. I have it on an outdate back-up CD and haven’t been able to squeeze that into Conor’s schedule. But let me tell you there are a couple albums on that back-up CD that I’m itching for like DeathCab for Cutie’s album, Plans. Love that one. It’ll surely make me homesick when I listen to it again. If I ever get tired of JEW, I run to the beat of Maroon 5. I really like their sound and style. John Mayer is another artist that I love, not only because he’s Canadian, but also because his lyrics are relatable and the music is easy to relax to. Speaking of relaxing, Colbie Cailat’s album, “Coco” is quick to quiet me down! Kalai’s album, “Acoustacism”  and Damien Rice’s album, “O” are what I used to fall asleep to when I couldn’t sleep back in the day. Then there are bands like the Spill Canvas, Straylight Run, and Something Coorprate that remind me of so much. I never pass up the Phantom of the Opera because it reminds me of my Momma at Christmastime and it’s just so dang classic!

There’s a little taste of what is on my iPod. What’s on yours?

Last night, we wound up at the Blodgett’s home for a valentine cookie and cupcake competition. It was really fun and a great idea! My cupcake came in second place, which is just first loser, but I’m okay with it because if you look on, you’ll see the first place prize. Yikes!

The candy spread…

The applicants, mine is the top left corner.

Natalia is #1. Check out that timeless photo of Ryan, not to mention the frame…

Conor and I.

I’ve been pondering some things a little bit more lately and have found so much benefit to doing so. In my life thus far, I have never asked for a blessing and not received it, whether or not I received it in the precise way I requested is irrelevant. I’ve always considered myself bless-ed of the Lord and continue to think of myself that way as I am consistently receiving blessings! My mind has often turned to Malachi 3:10 when it says, “… there shall not be room enough to receive it,” meaning there will be so many blessings and gifts from God that there just won’t be room for all of them! I think of that scripture from two different perspectives, in the thought that I shall prove the Lord and see if he will fulfill his promise, and also in an attitude of gratitude when I think of all that He has given me.

I think of Nephi in First Nephi chapter seven, when he prays for the strength that he may burst the bands his brethren had bonded him with. In verse 18 it says that “… the bands were loosed …” which gives me the image of an angel unfastening the knots on Nephi’s hands and feet just enough that Nephi may wiggle free and then stand up. Here we see an example of a mighty man praying and asking to receive a blessing and receiving it but not in the form requested. Perhaps this had to happen this way to give the millions that have read the Book of Mormon an example of the Lord answering our prayers in an unexpected way, but answering them nonetheless. I do not know, however I do know that the Lord’s plan is a grand one, an all encompassing one and He is eternal and perfect and therefore, His plan and how He chooses to answer our prayers is perfect and is planned ahead so much better than we ever could!

Today, I had an experience when I totally felt that Yes! I am being watched over by my Heavenly Father and Yes! He is absolutely and completely aware of my needs as well as my family’s needs. It was a small blessing, but it was a direct answer to my prayers recently. I am grateful that I was in-tune enough to recognize the blessing for what it was! And further, I am grateful for the individual who was in-tune and I’m sure unknowingly assisted Heavenly Father! How wonderful it is to know that I am a child of God, a daughter of God. And it is even more gratifying to know that He knows me and that He is watching over me. He hears my prayers, and He answers them. For all this, and more, I am grateful.