Some thoughts on fasting

This happened a little while ago and I want to write it down so I don't forget.

Fasting is hard for me.  In fact, I don't usually do a typical, 24 hour, no food, no drink fast.  I have blood sugar issues and headaches and other problems that make it so I physically collapse if I don't eat for several hours.  So, I try to modify my fast to either skip one meal, or forgo something I like, like treats that day, etc.

Over the summer, I was visiting my family in Oregon, and while we were at church, a woman made a comment about how she hadn't been fasting for years because of migraines, but then she felt prompted to pray the night before Fast Sunday and ask Heavenly Father to bless her to be able to fast.  Since that time, every time she did that, she was able to fast the next day with no problem.

I was floored.  It had never occurred to me to pray to be physically able to fast.  But as the next Fast Sunday approached, I decided to test this idea out myself.  I expressed my desire in prayer to be able to have the strength to fast, and I went to bed.  I continued that prayer in my heart the next day, and miraculously, I was able to fast the whole day until dinner, even with wrangling my kids at church and doing everything I needed to do- and no fainting, throwing up, dizzy spells, or headaches.  Wow.  Not to mention the other blessings I was able to receive by fasting.  That tells me that Heavenly Father wants to help us obey and receive all the blessings He has in store for us.  (Not that we can't modify our fasting when medically necessary, but if we have the desire to do it, I think Heavenly Father will help us to make it work.)

Facebook statuses from the last few months

September 11th: 11 years ago I heard the news on the radio early in the morning as I was getting ready for school, and then more on the national news in my classes as the situation worsened. I felt both shocked and somewhat afraid. Now, over a decade later, I feel sorrow for the lives lost, and gratitude to those who have risked (and lost) their lives since then to preserve our safety. I think it's fitting that the day we honor them is called Patriot Day. I hope we haven't forgotten how blessed we are as a nation to live in a country that allows us freedoms that many only dream of. I love America... God Bless the USA.

July 28th: I told Gabe I was making baby shower invitations for Marissa, and a few minutes later when Luke walked in, Gabe told Luke to be careful and not step on the papers, because "Mommy is making a... um.... a bath for Marissa's baby." I tried to explain that a baby shower is like a party where people give presents for the baby, and Gabe said, "Yeah, presents, like a bathtub!"

June 20th: Today Gabriel informed me that I was a "little, tiny grownup"...er, thanks, I think! This is the same child that delights in telling me that BJ can reach high cupboards, but I can't (well, I can, but my methods seem to disqualify me from being considered a "big grownup").

June 11th: Yesterday morning BJ and I woke up to a little voice saying "Let's make a waterfall on the couch! Let's pour some in the wheelbarrow! Here's a cup, go get some more water!" I stayed in bed in denial for another minute, then slowly walked out to the front room to find about a gallon of water dispersed around the room, on couches, carpet, entertainment center, and toys. Boy howdy. I can't wait until it is darker in the mornings so the kids don't wake up and start their mishchief quite as early. 

A tender mercy

(I posted this on my facebook page on August 9th)
I left early for work this morning; the kids and BJ were still in bed. I thought about waking the kids to kiss them goodbye, but couldn't bring myself to disturb them. I felt anxious about leaving them though and I said a silent prayer that we would all be watched over and reunited safely this afternoon. On my way home from work, I stopped at a red light, and decided to put the car in "park" wh

ile waiting- I never do this. The light turned green, and I had to look down for several seconds to get the car in "drive". As I looked up, a car ran a red light and sped through the intersection- right where I would have been had I been driving my "usual" way. I know God hears my prayers and the thought struck me that this was an answer to the one I said this morning.

Easter 2012

Yikes... I am way behind.  I am ashamed that I have only posted 4 times in 10 months.  So I am doing my best to make up for it for posterity's sake... yadda yadda yadda.

Uh... this was Easter:

Christensen Family Pictures

BJ's parents took these family photos for us in April and I think they did a great job! 

Oh, Hi!

Oh yeah, I have this blog.  Sometimes I forget about it.

Anyway, I need to do better about remembering it, because everyday I think to myself, "I should write that down... I'll probably remember it though.  Hmm, what was that funny thing that happened yesterday?"

Nothing extremely funny happened today... just the usual types of stuff, but I had better write that down in case one day I can't remember what was normal when Gabe and Luke were 3 and almost 2.

Luke got very upset with me today as soon as he realized he was hungry, and started "bossing" me around: "Mommy, I want to eat!  I want wunch.  Wight now Mommy!  Stand up now!  Go!  I wanta eat wunch!"

When he needed a diaper change, I asked him if he was poopy, and he said, "No, I don't want a diaper change, I just clean, Mommy.  It's play time."

When I handed Luke a toy he was struggling to reach, he took it and said, with gusto, "Oh, tank you, Mommy!"

Gabe is also very good about saying thank you, and he will often add "Good job pouring the milk, Mommy, you did that so great!"

When I told Gabe it was almost naptime today, he at first said "No, I don't want a nap!"  But then started saying, "Mom, is it night time?"  I told him it wasn't night time, but it was sleep time, to which he responded, "Oh, ok Mom, but I a-better eat a snack first, and then take a nap.  Maybe playtime first."

Gabriel is especially fascinated with my sewing machine and serger, which are off limits, but he gets into anyway.  If (when) I catch him opening little doors and turning little dials, I give him a little reminder by saying "What are the rules?"  and he will say "Don't play with Mommy's 'chines!  But I just want to close this door, Mom.  Can you close it for me?"


We just got back in town from Tayler and Heather's wedding.  We were so glad we could make it.  It was a crazy trip, but we all had a good time.  We didn't actually get to see much of Tayler or Heather, but I guess there will be time enough for that.  Heather is "Hedder" to Gabe and "Heddow" to Luke, and a princess to both of them since they saw her in her wedding dress.

While we were in Washington for the wedding, we were able to stop by and visit BJ's grandparents.  We only had about 2 hours with them (plus 4 hours of driving) but we made the most of it, the kids were pretty good, and I am so glad we were able to have that time with them.

Speaking of that trip, I wrote about the crazy part of the journey and the tender mercies we experienced as a result on my other blog.  Read about it here.

Conversations...

Gabe: "Mom, I just spelled my name!"
    Me: "You did?"
"Yeah, at Grandma C's house.  I did it on Anna's computer. Anna helped me,  Anna is so nice, huh Mom?"
    "Yes, she is."
"Anna loves me.  I love Anna.  Anna loves Mommy."
    "I love Anna too."
"Anna is so, so pretty.  I love Anna.  Anna is a nice... aunt.  I just want to give her a hug, and fives."

Gabe: "Mom, is that picture of you and Daddy?"
    Me: "Yes Gabriel, that is a picture from the day we got married."
"Mommy, are you a princess?"
    "Why yes, I mean, ahem..."

Gabe: "Mommy, I want to do prafts with you.  Can we do a train praft?  And a boat and airplane praft?  Please?" (praft= craft, FYI)



Luke: "Mommy, I all done now.  Want to get down, right now Mommy! I can't do it, it's too hawd (hard).  Help Mommy!  Help!  What doing?  Wheah ah you (Where are you?- even if I'm standing right there!)?

After time out for hitting.... Luke runs out of the room and says "Sorry Mommy.  Sorry hitting.  Sorry mommy.  I kiss it better.  Hug!"

Luke: "Coat on!  Shoes on! Go a walk!  Go a bye-bye car!  I wanna go home (meaning I want to go out- yes, really.)!"

December 2011

Early(ish) December:


Ward Christmas Party Decorations:


Taylor Family Christmas Party


There were hundreds more pictures from the Arave Family Sing-Along and from Christmas morning, but I have shared those elsewhere.  If you are interested in those pix and you didn't get them from the Christensen family blog or email, let me know and I can share them with you.

December Rundown:
We had lots of fun this Christmas!  I was a busy bee making Christmas gifts, which was something that really helped me get into the spirit of Christmas.  Our ward Christmas party was at the beginning of the month, and my friend and I were put in charge of the decorations.  We had a very small budget and very big ideas, and we were able to pull it off pretty well I thought by using things we already had, borrowing where necessary, and in general spending very little.  Another friend and I planned a Christmas playgroup for our neighborhood and we did some fun ornament crafts, which turned out to be a big hit with the kids.  BJ and I went to a free dance at the senior center featuring a live big band.  That was fun.  We had a fun Christmas party at the Taylor's house, complete with nativity and musical program, and of course, the present exchange at the end.  A couple of days before Christmas, we flew to Oregon, and arrived just in time for the Arave Sing-Along, a 20 year tradition!  BJ and I sang a spoof on Baby, It's Cold Outside, which we sang as newlyweds 7 years ago, but this was the "7-year sequel".  It was funny.  Gabe sang "Silent Night" and did an awesome job enunciating and singing with a big voice.  Not shy at all, even in front of dozens of people he didn't know.  It was so cute.  We celebrated Marissa's birthday the next day by eating at Macaroni Grill and seeing "We Bought a Zoo" in the theater.  It was fun, but the kids didn't like the movie much.  On Christmas, we went to church in the morning, then came home and took pictures all dressed up, then we got back in our jammies and opened presents.  We like to drag it out for hours by only letting one person at a time open a present, and rotating who's turn it is by age.  Haha!  Tradition... The rest of Christmas break was spent visiting family, shopping, getting to know the significant others of Tayler and Cara (Heather and Dan), watching movies, doing a few crafts, and being sick.  Bleh.  Also, BJ and I took a vacation from our vacation (thanks Mom and everyone who helped watch the boys while we were gone!)- a one night stay at a bed and breakfast nearby.  It was a restored 100 year old mansion- and it was lovely!  We would definitely recommend it.  We were the only ones there that night, and the lady let us wander around and check out the other rooms.  We had dinner at a place called Dundee Bistro and I had the best pulled pork sandwich of my life.  I usually don't get that excited about food, but it was amazing and journal-worthy.  I need to go back next time we are in Oregon just so I can have that sandwich again.  Haha.  We made delicious fondue on New Year's Eve and stuffed ourselves silly.  We flew back home on New Year's Day, and were surprised with a washed and vacuumed out car (thanks, Mom and Dad T., for that surprise and for picking us up)!  We got in so late and were so hungry, that we ate and then went to bed at their house.  Fortunately the next day was still a holiday so we had some time to unpack and rest etc.  It was also about 55 degrees outside- can you believe it?!, so we had some fun with the kids at the park before going home.