Brightly Living

It only takes 20 seconds of courage.

Then the next thing you know those 20 seconds of courage have spiraled you into some fun, wonderful, life-changing and challenging experiences.

First off, I am now teaching kids yoga classes out of my home. I started with two tween classes.

I discovered I love it so much. I feel like I can combine my loves of yoga and teaching into something beautiful and it feels like magic. I get to use my yoga certificate and my degree in early childhood education. It makes me so joyful!!

We rearranged a room in our house to turn it into a little yoga studio.










I start another session of yoga classes next week and it both thrills me and terrifies me.

AND

the girl who never wanted to be a business owner now has TWO businesses.

The second one is a non profit I have started. Our goal is to connect and empower women through support groups, retreats, and education.  I created a journal with the help of the founder of Impact One, an organization we are partnering with. We have gathered a board. We have started a support group for women with breast cancer. I have so much to say about it all, but for now suffice it to say that I feel the hand of God guiding me along one step at a time. It feels like a miracle and a blessing to be a part of this. I hope good things continue to flow from it.

January days

This post should probably be called “Brinna Days.” She’s at such a fun age and as my little buddy the majority of the day, my phone is dominated by pictures of her.

Like how she insisted she wore her sparkly red dress for a day. We negotiated that she could wear it to gymnastics but must take it off when she got there. When we arrived, she showed everyone we saw. She just knew everyone would tell her how beautiful she is.

I starting taking a 7 week tap dancing class. At home, practicing is fun! In a class, it kicks my butt and is too much for my brain. But I’m glad for the experience! Especially to tap with my little girl.

Some days she runs around in sparkly dresses, and some days she doesn’t change out of her pajamas. We love the gorgeous weather right now and the chance to walk through the neighborhood.


When you put Millie’s leash on and drop it, she freezes. When you hold the leash she moves around normally. But if you set it down she goes right back into this head down freeze position every time. 

Perry loves going to young men’s activities! There is one boy in particular that invited Perry to come over each week. Thy friendship means the world to Perry. And to me! I’m so grateful for good people.

Brinn had an eye exam. We are off to an ophthalmologist next. But quite certain glasses will be in her future.

Layla loves making cakes. This was a cool one she did with edible spray paint.

Brinn found some makeup. Gorgeous, darling!

Brinna’s school put on a little mom’s and muffins for m week.




Books and snuggles with my girl on Kaylee’s birthday. Her heart is so big, she talks about missing Grandma, Kaylee, and Kyler (who is on the other side of the world) all the time.

Brinn’s hospital stay

Brinn had another hospital stay. Her fourth stay, and it doesn’t get any easier.

This time it was “just” asthma. At least without RSV or influenza, treatment was less intense and she bounced back much faster.

But we started with hours of breathing treatments in the ER.

She loves the dragon mask because she can stick a straw through the hole and still drink.

After x-rays and tests, it was diagnosed as an asthma attack.


But she was admitted for two nights. Poor thing. Layla sent her with her pig. I loved when brinna gave the stuffie breathing treatments just like she was getting.






When she got her x-ray, they gave her a scooby door sticker. Which triggered an obsession with the need for Scooby doo snacks. It went as far as to tell me before we fell asleep she hoped we both had dreams of a giant bowl of Scooby doo snacks that we could jump into. And then she asked me if I dreamed about it as soon as we woke up in the morning. Dad delivered when he came the next day!!

The kids got to visit her in the evening on the second night. 

Sweet brother getting covered in stickers!

The biggest hugs for these best friends.

She was back home the next morning. And we were so relieved to have her home!!

peace within

The world

swirls

around us

pulling the pieces—

the people—

of our hearts

in and out

of hospitals

of rages

of depression,confusion,anxiety

It pulls, it spins—

WE spin.

Until 

we realize 

Peace

is in a place

the world’s pull

can

not

reach.

For Peace

is at our center,

Peace is within.

-Laura

Yesterday we took our kids to walk around Veterans Oasis park. 

I often feel like a thief who has to steal these precious moments. 

Walking in the sunshine, spotting birds and rabbits, breathing the fresh air, and noticing the beauty of all the different plants and trees brings me all the joy. 

We took Millie and she did mostly good about not barking when we passed other dogs and families.

We took Perry and he was worried we were going to walk forever or still be walking in the dark. We helped him through that and ultimately the walk did come to an end and we did make it to the car before it got dark.

We took Layla and she loved using the binoculars and spotting the birds with her dad. 

We took Brinna and she skipped along happily until she reached her max and so I got to carry her alternating between my arms and my back.

We stopped at DQ for dinner because Kacin was working. He refused any pictures, but we loved having a few minutes together. He is such a hard worker!

After a hard night of settling Perry in at home, I sat in my chair to breathe. Grateful for the beauty of the world and the moments of peace I find throughout the day. And grateful I can keep finding those moments within myself and my breath, even amidst chaos and struggle.

sometimes you just get lucky

As I tucked Brinny in bed and gave her some snuggles, I asked out loud, “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?” Without hesitating, she replied “Well, sometimes you just get lucky.”

Today was a really long day. This week has been a long week. But it’s true, sometimes you just get lucky and plenty of beautiful things happen all mixed in with the negative. 

I try so hard to train my brain to see the positive but sometimes I think my brain’s natural setting is overwhelm and critical. I’d love to see into a mind whose natural setting is positive and easygoing. 

Let’s get candid. With a shot taken by one of the girls on New year’s day…

I’m not even sure what to tell you about that picture. But that seems like real life if ever there was one.

And now we go to a fun little play date in which the girls ”cooked” up quite a dish with water, flour, and a random assortment of expired spices. It smelled like curry every where I went that day.


We had a really challenging afternoon last week. One of the hardest we have experienced. Autism is hard. But I’m spite of the exhaustion and overwhelm I was feeling (or maybe because of), God blessed us with the most gorgeous sunset and a few glorious minutes playing basketball.

Or maybe sometimes you just get lucky.

New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are thrilling to me! I love fresh starts, new goals, making plans, establishing habits, and an opportunity to grow and become something new.

My 2023 personal resolution is to consistently do my daily 5:

1. Study scripture

2. Sincere, thoughtful prayer

3. 5-10 min of meditation 

4. Yoga practice

5. Work on this blog

I got into a great habit with the first four by the end of 2022 and I would love to continue that. And I really want to get back to writing consistently on here. It’s so good for me to focus on the good in my life and process experiences when I take time to write. I may not post every day, but the goal is to work on something—if even for a few minutes. And also to embrace short, more frequent posts.

It’s not my resolution this year, but if I were to expand into my daily 10, I would also include:

6. Reading

7. Clean something

8. Prepare food

9. Connect with family/friends

10. Serve 

Bonus would be:

11. Dance 

12. Get out in nature

13. Rest

But daily 13 doesn’t sound as good as daily 5, or even daily 10. 

So I am resolutely committing to my daily 5, and working on including the rest of my daily 13. :) I am also resolutely trying to be less critical of myself and others. Not a tangible goal, but one to keep in mind and hope I feel a difference. 

And I also plan to do 5 new things:

1. Take tap dancing classes

2. Speak on stage

3. Hike someplace new

4. And 5. See what the year brings!

Our family all set goals, too.

As a family:

Eat out less, cook more

Brinna:

Play soccer

Help mom cook

Learn to read

Read scriptures 

Layla:

Have “sib time” each week with one sibling

Read scriptures 5 min a day

Learn to cook

Get to level 2 in aerial

Perry:

Earn money

Listen to come follow me scriptures each day

Kacin:

Morning prayers

Go to gym 4x a week

Start his business

Have mom time each week

Go to the temple each week

Eric:

Scriptures every day along with come follow me

Weight lifting goals

Learn to code

Monthly lunches 

Here’s to a beautiful new year of growth and peace!!!

Be Still, family theme 2023

In the new year, we want to usher in more peace.

More calm.

More comfort.

Eric and I decided to choose Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”

In a world that values busyness and loudness, we want to put more trust in stillness.