Time for that once a month post. I'm slowly losing motivation to blog. But it's the only way I journal.
So must. keep. going.
Last month we went on a vacation with friends. Friend vacations are my favorite. Trent and I spend a lot of time with the kids going to fun places. So we love going on larger vacations where other kids can entertain our kids and we can hang out with other adults. I think next time though I'll aim for a friend vacation with adults only. It felt a little crazy. And each family had a lot going on. Interviews and new opportunities kinda came all at once right before the trip and made things a little interesting. But Trent said that was his favorite family vacation {it even beat our cruise trip last year!} I personally thought he was crazy, but that's Trent for you. He doesn't let little things bother him. He worries about himself and his family and doesn't have crazy standards or expectations. He's the perfect reminder for me. Overall, the Thompsons really enjoyed themselves. Already have an entire Chatbook created about this trip, so I'm not going to upload any pics. Too much hassle.
The day after we got back from vacation I spoke in Stake Conference. I think that's my dream. I want to be a speaker. I want to bring people hope and motivation. So I've asked Heavenly Father for lots of opportunities to really develop that talent. Since I have asked him for that specific talent I have had two opportunities. And every time the opportunity to speak has come, I have been insanely busy. So I end up preparing the talk the morning of -- Stake Conference was no exception. I know, awful. I feel so ashamed about it, ya know? I have been asked for these opportunities and then I don't take full advantage of them. Obviously, there was some repentance that had to happen there...
But after conference we had the neat experience to have lunch with the Elder Gant, the seventy that came. Also with the entire stake presidency, their wives, and the San Diego temple president and his wife. Not our usual crowd, for sure. But it was so uplifting and the conversation was fun and natural. The church is truly filled with some amazing people.
Halloween came and left. I don't really care for Halloween so the boys dressed up like Thomas the Train (Porter), and Superman (Brooks). And chatbooks for the win again!
Some more rambling thoughts:
I recently finished the Magnolia Story and it was just about everything I needed. I came to Trent and told him a desire of mine. I have always wanted a husband who would read the same book with me. I feel like I grow as an individual when I read. And I feel like reading can strengthen a marriage (like scripture reading does!) So I asked him to read the Magnolia Story with me because there are so many lessons that I think we can learn from them. Things I want to incorporate. Not everything will work for us, but there are so many wonderful points made. Well, he hates reading. So he said, "Pick out a few of your favorite chapters or sections and I will read those." Hey. It's a start. He read the first section I picked tonight and he laughed the entire time. My wife heart could have exploded that moment. Then we had a good conversation about dreams and making the best out of tough situations. Those are the moments that are my favorite.
Also. Another plus is my house has been clean since I started reading that book. Ha! I feel the same way she does about cleaning - don't do it until the kids are in bed. I came to that resolution a few months ago and it works for me. Well, until I started up this business. That business is a whole other post itself. Talk about a heavy freaking learning curve. Anyways. I clean up the kitchen and table after dinner while Trent plays with the kids. Porter cleans his own playroom. And then I pick up the rest of the house and vacuum after the kids are in bed. Laundry is done on weekends when I am not working on business stuff and my bedroom is constant mess and I don't care. Life isn't perfect and our bedroom is pretty ugly (decoration wise) so I have no motivation to keep it clean.
I'm going to end on one last thought.
I always want to remember when I didn't care. There is something so freeing about living here. I look around and my house is so poorly decorated it's funny. There are no wall galleries (no family picture actually - that needs to change though), the furniture is sub par (because we have made most of it and making things for the first time is ALWAYS a learning experience), and everything is just very minimal. But I feel so perfectly blessed. I feel so incredibly lucky. And I love that we feel this way. I love that we spend our money on vacations and family outings instead of decorations. I love that we would rather build a sub par piece of furniture instead of buying it. We have so much fun building together. I love that Trent is so perfectly content with his life and that his priorities are so clear. Today he came in and said, "Chelsea, I live the manliest and best life. I wake up butt early (he was at work by 4:45 AM today), I work in construction - which is so manly, I come home to a smoking hott wife (insert my insecure laugh), two beautiful boys, we had pizza tonight, and then I worked in the garage and fixed my dirt bike (which is 13 years old by the way - Ha! So not very nice). I mean. This is the life. This is it!" No joke, folks. Trent really feels he is living the dream because he has a garage and ate some pizza. I just love that we are so far from everything. We are in these farm lands and we live by people and go to church with people who live simply, but fiercely.
One day I will put all my designer skill in action and create a beautifully decorated home with nice furniture. When the kids are older, we do want that. But for now, we are learning and growing in other areas and we are content with it.
I'm not trying to say, "Oh we go without so much, but are still content!" Because we honestly don't go without! And I'm not trying to say, "Oh my gosh we are so much more blessed than everyone else!" Because we're not. We are are just happy and content with the progress we're making as a family. Hopefully that makes sense. And most importantly, I want to teach our boys to learn to be grateful and thrive in all the situations life gives them.
