Reenacting

If Lottie had her way, we'd be playing dress-up all day.

A few days ago, she climbed on a stool in my closet,

  ripped my wedding dress off its hanger, and

dragged it to my bedroom.  

Then she handed it to me along with a pair of heals, 

a crown, lipstick, and jewelry.  

We played dress-up for a solid three hours.

It was actually fun to slip my wedding dress back on.

Then Claire came home from school, laughed at me, took photos of us, 

and asked if she could try my dress on.

Then all night long, while Mr. Nielson and I were out, Claire and Jane 

made fun of me by reenacting my engagement photos.  

Then they texted them to me while we were in a 

meeting-- which made us laugh really, really hard.

Then suddenly felt super old and super uncool.

Kids are great at making you feel that way.

I should post all of the photos they took; they were amazing.

* * * * * 

Key codes

Lottie turned a new page in her little life when she 

discovered she could move the kitchen stool in front of the refrigerator. 

Then she learned she could open the fridge and

find the Tupperware of cooked steel-cut oats and the soy milk and cream. 

Then she realized she could get a bowl in the drawer with a spoon

and spoon herself out a nice helping of oatmeal,

then pour the soymilk into the bowl and add a little touch of cream.

Next, Lottie learned to pull the stool to another counter where we keep the 

honey to add a nice glob of the sticky "bee throw-up"

(as she calls it) to her little bowl of oatmeal.  

Then Lottie gets stuck.

She doesn't complete the finishing steps of her oatmeal discovery 

because she needs to learn how to use the microwave to warm it up.

Her big sister (and mentor), Claire, comes in here.

One day Claire watched this process and saw 

Lottie struggle at the microwave.

So Claire made a key code for Lottie to use and then 

taped the paper codes on the microwave buttons.

This showed Lottie exactly what button to push and in what order

for delicious oatmeal at the perfect temperature.

It's pretty incredible as a mother watching my youngest child work through

and figure out something challenging. 

But turns out that watching my oldest teach my youngest

how to figure out something challenging and valuable

is amazingly rewarding.

Now I find little bowls of oatmeal all over the house that Lottie 

has prepared- just because she can.

Mother Eve

 We must be cautious to not let the word "Mother" cause offense or divide us.

 In the scriptures, we learn that Eve the mother 

of all living, was a mother before she even bore children.  

We are all mothers because it is our divine nature and purpose.  

Even as a young girl, I always felt like a mother

 because I loved children and mothered my pets.

Motherhood is a woman's right and privilege and will be more sacred to 

us as we confront it earnestly in prayer 

and with a desire to understand and protect it.

 Remarks from my keynote last night at BYU's BE YOU campaign.

Happy Weekend!

Spiritual Enlightenment: Behold Thy Mother

The throw-ups

Around 4:00 am, I heard a strange noise.

Then I got a text.  It was from Jane.

"Mom, I threw up." 

I jumped up and went upstairs to find Jane doubled over the toilet.

I helped her back into bed and then snuck back into my bed next to Christian.

Ten minutes later, I got another text:

"Mom, I threw up again."

I climbed out of bed feeling so sorry for Jane.

We whispered together in the bathroom as she brushed her teeth. 

I left Jane as she crawled back into her bed.

Minutes later:

"Moooommmm" 

This time, the green sick face emoji accompanied her text.

I hiked up the stairs and found Jane changing her 

clothes and pulling her hair back.

I sympathetically shared with her my hate for barfing.

I helped Jane back in bed and pulled up her blinds.

Outside, the world was white, with thick white snowflakes falling softly above.

"Goodnight, Janie," I said.

I tiptoed back into my room to find Lottie sleeping peacefully in my spot.

I snuggled up close to her and fell asleep.

I woke up again to yet another text.

This time it was from Claire.

"Mom, Jane is throwing up again."

 I walked up the stairs to find Jane sitting on the floor.

Her face was bright red and flushed.  

This happened a few more times throughout the night.

When 6:45 came around, I went upstairs to wake up the other children for 

scriptures and school and found Jane asleep by the toilet.

Something inside me ached for her.  I hope she doesn't take after

me and get the super sick pregnancy genes because it's THE WORST!

Jane and Lottie watched movies while I spent most

 of my day in the kitchen typing.

I watched the snow pile up while I worked on my talk that 

I'm giving this evening at BYU.

I have been fine-tuning, rearranging words, 

while studying, reading, and pondering.

My topic is courage.  

I think it takes a lot of courage to be a mother-

especially on throw-up nights.

Courage

I am speaking at Brigham Young University tomorrow evening.

I am speaking on courage.

My problem isn't that I don't know what to say,

I have so much to say and need the courage to say it.

Did that make sense?? I feel heavy.

Yesterday early morning, I went on an extra long hike in the thick snow so

I could think and pray out loud to myself. 

I am honored to share my story and thoughts with others,

and realize it is a huge responsibility.

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid"

Joshua 1:9

Chatting tomorrow, come join me!

Hot Tub FHE

 Today it snowed almost all day.  Big huge flakes.  It was beautiful, but 

it halted all my plans.  That was OK because Lottie 

and I made bread and Rchisengrod  (Danish rice pudding).  

We also hung out most of the day on the couch and read Valentine's Day books.

The snowplow didn't make it to our street until around 3:00.

Around 6:00, when Mr. Nielson was home from work

 (and with it still snowing), we bundled up the 

Little Nies and I went to the grocery store together

just as the bakery put out fresh hot loaves of French bread.

We bought two.  One to nibble on while shopping

 and one for dinner later that evening.

I don't know how on earth we made it up our deathdrive because it was pretty bad.

We ate dinner and decided to have our weekly Monday night

 Family Home Evening in our Hot Tub.  

It was the best FHE we've ever had.

The Hot Tub has been one of the best things ever happening to our family.

I wish

Mr. Nielson made it home after a week-long trip to the ranch.

While there, he checked on the heifers and fixed fences, 

and we would spend hours talking on the phone at night.

Every night it ended pretty much like this:

"Ok, well, I love you.  Goodnight......you hang up first".

"No, you hang up."

"No, you hang up."

"No, you."

"No, you."

"No, you"....and so on.

Christian made it home from the ranch on Friday afternoon at 3:00, then at 3:30

 he and Oliver went on a Scout campout.  Hello.  Goodbye.

When he got home from the campout, we dressed up and attended a 

church meeting, and then to the grocery store.

I cook on the weekdays, we eat out 

once a week, and on Sunday, Christian cooks.

So Saturday evenings, we find ourselves at the grocery store where
 Mr. Nielson picks out the produce to cook on Sunday.

Then for some weird reason, we began documenting these
inspiring evenings while at the store together.

Last Saturday night, we posted a photo of us on isle 6 

which happened to be the baby isle

 (because I love and needed more baby lotion). 

We took a picture, and I posted it; minutes later, I got a text from a friend 

congratulating me on my pregnancy.

As much as I wish it were to be true, alas, it is not.  

Happy Monday.

Also:

I am speaking: details HERE

No Gigs (a sleeping journal)

I was on my feet probably 89% of the day.

It was a busy day.

I was shoveling snow off my driveway, doing laundry, doing school projects, 

doing homework, doctors visits, shopping, 

sweeping the floor, making beds, more laundry,

more shoveling snow off my driveway, meals, 

activities for the kids, sports, etc, etc.

Around 7:00, when I was just getting dinner on the table

 I called all the kids into the kitchen.  

One by one, they popped in, washed their hands, and sat down 

Nicholas was missing.  

Nicholas is often late to the dinner table, so it really wasn't a big deal.

Often times I can find him playing in a hidden corner of the house with 

his army guys or with his fantastic collection of Schleich dragons.

I asked Jane to run upstairs to the boy's room to retrieve Gigs.

She came back down and said:

"He isn't up in his room."  

"Did you check the toy nook?" I asked.

"Yep, he's not there." 

"Ok," I said in my well-too-bad-for-him voice.

We began eating.

After we all finished up, I yelled his name.  No response.

I got up, walked to the stairs, and yelled his name again.  

Then again, and again.

Then I made Oliver run to the basement; maybe he was playing there?

No Gigs.

I asked Jane to make another sweep upstairs.

No Gigs.

I walked outside, yelling his name.

No Gigs.

I checked the bathrooms, the hot tub, and the car.

No Gigs.

Now I was panicking a little, and Jane was crying.

I checked the shoe basket; his shoes were all accounted for, boots too.

By this time, we'd scoured the house and screamed and yelled his name.

I was feeling nervous.

I mean, where was Gigs?  

How could he have just mysteriously disappeared from the house-

and at dinnertime too???

I ran upstairs for one more faithful look.

No Gigs.

Mr. Nielson has been at the ranch since Monday, and I decided it was time

to say a prayer and call Christian for backup.

Just as I was walking down the stairs, Claire yelled:

"FOUND HIM!" 

We all ran to the living room to find Nicholas sleeping peacefully in the

 closet under the TV with the cupboard doors closed.

My kids are just really good at falling asleep in the oddest places.

Like:

Under a rug.

On top of a small pouf

All together in the same bed.

On the floor.

On the floor with stuffed animals.

On a swing.

On a stool.

On a sister.

On the stairs.

In the car.

I really could go on...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Happy Weekend!

Spiritual Enlightenment: Love and Marriage

Ollie Visits The Temple

Last week, Mr. Nielson and I took Oliver to the temple.

Any worthy 12-year-old member of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can go to the

 temple where they can be baptized for those who have died 

before they could have a chance to accept the gospel.

It was a wonderful day, and I couldn't help but feel emotional 

watching my boy serve,

I am so proud of him. So deeply proud.

Mr. Nielson and I decided long ago that we would 

take each of our children to the temple when they turn 12.  

It is a beautiful tradition.

In 2013, we took Claire.

In 2014, we took Jane.

In 2018, we will take Nicholas, 

and in 2024, we'll take Lottie.

Oliver is growing into a handsome, good, kind, and compassionate boy.
After the experience, we walked with Ollie to our car.
He was awfully quiet, and I asked him what he was thinking.
Tears fell from his eyes as he told me:
"It was just really cool, Mom."
I know exactly what he means.

'

It is

Beauty is not caused.  It is.

-Emily Dickinson

My thumb has a large cut right where it bends.

The skin that covers my fingers is thin and stiff, which means that cuts and sores

 are reoccurring and painfully normal for me.

Tonight typing hurts.

(Hey, Dr. J, I think I need you to stitch me up?).

So from me to you: Happy Wednesday!

I am chatting today...join me!

Sleeping Beauty

A few days ago, I was talking to Lottie about when I was in a coma.

She was very curious about why I was "asleep" for so long.

It was hard for her to understand that my body needed 

to sleep because I was so sick.

She looked at me and said:

"You're Sleeping Beauty, aren't you?" 

I smiled and was about to talk when she quickly added:

"Except Aurora doesn't have a burned ear and scars on her arms,

and also, she has yellow hair."

It made me laugh really loud.

Then I told her that her daddy's Sleeping Beauty had 

a burned ear, scars on her arms, and brown hair.

Then I told her one day, she would be someone's 

brown-eyed freckle-faced red-headed Sleeping Beauty.

Totally made sense to her.

I still have a dream

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties

 and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

A letter to my girls

Dear Claire, Jane, and Charlotte,
I love you each, and because I love you so much, I want to tell you some things.
First, you should know that you bring so much joy and happiness to my life,
and I thank you for that.
You are each different and unique but share something in common; you know who you are.
You are daughters of God, daughters of Eve, and my daughters.
Because you have this knowledge, you have a beautiful responsibility to love others, serve others, and share your light with everyone you know, even those you don't know.

Because you are a woman of God, I hope you will honor Him through your actions and thoughts.
Someday (soon), you will start hanging out with boys, and the way you act, how you fill your time, how you deal with uncertainty, and how you dress and honor your body will help them understand how to value and respect you and other women.
So, be strong-be a prude if you have to, but be real.

How can these boys value women if you don't show them? Show them. Be honest; for heaven's sake, go ahead and be picky. Because not just anyone can have you.
Demand respect, but be nice.
One day you will meet your Mr. Nielson, except he won't be Mr. Nielson, he'll be
your-Mr.-somebody-else, and he will love you and treat you the way you deserve because you expected it early on.
So expect it now.

You can find so much joy by just looking at your future. It's bright, and the path is clear.  

It's up to you to learn with joy and not with sorrow.  
Lastly, girls, I wish to share my love for homemaking and being feminine, both of which I have watched the world distort and degrade. Because of this, I have seen virtues like tenderness, kindness, sweetness, and gentleness in women die.
Don't let them die!
These virtues are so needed in today's world and will one day bless your future families' lives. Don't let anyone tell you that being a mother and homemaker wastes time and knowledge; it's the greatest job you will ever do.
It is filled with triumph and influence. You are healers, comforters, teachers, and progress report keepers. You create and design lives and homes. You are needed!

"The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."
-William Wallace.

I love all three of you more than you will ever know.


Love, Mom

I swear!

I swear I was on my feet all day and spent about 78% of it in the kitchen.

I also swear there were only 5 hours of daylight--total.

But I don't really swear (unless I stub my toe).

Last night Mr. Nielson and I stayed up until 1:00 in the morning

watching cooking shows on TV.

I swear these are some of the best days of my life!

I Forget The Rest

I have a beautiful poster that I framed

and put it in my bathroom (so I'll see it daily).

WE WERE TOGETHER 

I FORGET THE REST.

-Walt Whitman

Last night I spoke to a room full of women, and right there in 

the front row in a suit was my Christian.

He's always front and center in my life, cheering me on

and supporting me.

A few nights ago, we went to dinner together, and I reminded

him of when he took care of me after I was released from the hospital.

He would bathe me and put medicines and ointments all over my burns and open sores.

Then he'd put my compression garments on while I'd scream and yell.

Sometimes we did this twice a day.

Every day, day after day after day.

He never complained---not even once.

And even though I cried my eyes out in pain,

frustration, and discouragement during those dressing changes,

we were together, and that helped me forget the rest.

Let's talk today on Mormon.org!

Pause now!

(Enjoying S'mores cookies after Family Home Evening.
Yes, that is a beard and uni-brow on Nicholas's face).

Monday's are my "P-day," aka Prep Day.  

I catch up on weekend laundry, change sheets, 

plan, shop for the week's food/meals, and run various errands.

After I dropped the older kids off at school(s) in the morning,

Lottie and I drove around in the rain, listening to her favorite music. 

She also buckled and unbuckled her car seat a thousand times.

Then I remembered that Lottie will be in starting Kindergarten

in August. IN AUGUST. KINDERGARTEN!!!

 I don't know what I'll do without her. 

I'll be lost.

Sometimes- most times- I cry when I think about two things; 

Lottie going to kindergarten, and my boys going on missions. 

I am sure that I will never be ready for both events.

After p-day errands, I came home just long enough to put the groceries 

on the counter, and then it was off to pick up the kids from school(s).  

And then, the day flashes before my eyes.

Before I know it, I am putting my apron on and making dinner; the Little Nies are 

doing homework, and the sun is sinking behind the mountains. 

 Can I push pause somewhere? Please?

Pause now so Claire won't grow that extra inch to pass me up in height!

Pause now so Jane will always want to decorate her fairy garden outside

and ask me to read picture books with her at night!

Pause now so Oliver will always have a high voice and hold my hand!

Pause now so Nicholas will always want his 

back rubbed and sit at the kitchen table sketching 

wild scenes of monsters and fantastic creatures!

And, pause now because of Lottie and the whole kindergarten thing.

Ordained

This weekend was a special one for our family.

Oliver turned 12 last weekend, and today he was ordained

 a deacon at church by Mr. Nielson.

If you are wondering, a deacon is a worthy Mormon boy, usually between 12-17. 

 He receives the Aaronic Priesthood, which means that he can now

 participate in many special and sacred duties

 like passing the sacrament to the congregation, and 

collecting money donations for the needy. 

I was so proud of him today, and my mother heart burst.

At the ordination, the Bishop had me say a few words about Oliver,

and I told them this story.

Oliver has the sweetest heart of anyone I know.

  He makes me proud every day.  Really, he does.

(it looks gross, but it was actually really good).

After dinner, I made him his favorite cake- angel food cake 

and we celebrated HIM!

(I love you, sweet boy!)

Other Oliver links:

Oliver's 12th birthday

Oliver's baptism

Nielson Snow Day

Today we woke up to more snow.

Somewhere between 5 and 6 am, I got a phone call from our school district 

letting us know that a "late start" was set in place for all students.  

Buses couldn't drive on the benches (where I live) because the roads were too icy.  

And the snow continued to fall 

all morning, and no sign of the snow plow! 

Another phone call came from the school district to advise us that

 bus routes wouldn't be going to the benches to pick up kids, 

BUT STILL, SCHOOL WAS A GO!

(Bahhhh, come on, what will it take?).

Well, not for us.

With no snow plow still and our deathway impossible; 

 I declared the day a Nielson Snow Day.

I made granola and a batch of cookies while the Little Nies went sledding

 with neighbors (who also stayed home, too...yay!). 

Jane and Oliver had "hot chocolate wars," where they both made a different

type of hot chocolate and had the rest of the family taste-tested

their concoctions. Both beverages were delicious, but as fate would have it

Oliver's hot delight won the contest.

It was a peaceful day, perfect and cozy.

After work, Mr. Nielson made a delightful fire, 

and we watched the snow

fall from the pink sky outside.

I didn't go anywhere all day, and it was perfect. 

Here's to hoping that my weekend will be more of the same!

Happy Weekend to you and yours!

Spiritual Enlightenment: First Focus on Love 

New Years Day 2016

This will be my last holiday review post of last year.

New Year's Day was much like Christmas Day, 

which was spent at home.

Since New Year's Day was on a Sunday, 

we spent our morning at church, then

spent the rest of the day at home, Hygge-ing!

Mr. Nielson and I prepared a New Years feast, and I made Risalamande

(Danish rice pudding) again.

It was such a hit on Christmas I promised the Little Nies, Mr. Nielson, 

and my mom, I'd make it again for our dessert.

We lit a few more fireworks and stayed up one 

last night watching movies in the living room

 I love celebrating with my family.  I love dressing up the house, 

the table, and our food to show my children they are important. 

 I hope the Little Nies know how much I love them 

and how much they mean to me. 

 They are everything in my world (and Mr. Nielson and Jesus, of course).

Happy New Year to you!

.

New Years Eve 2016

This New Year's Eve was different; for one thing, Provo was fogged in. 

 There was so much fog we could barely see in front of us, 

which meant we didn't see any fireworks across town from Fox Hill.

That was a bummer.  

Usually, right at midnight, fireworks light up the whole sky from several

towns north, south, and west of us.  It's my favorite.

Also, we didn't have any guests as we usually do, 

which made for a quiet New Year's evening.

But you know, that is how my family rolls.  

We are so low-key and total homebodies!

We did make it out for dinner, and I did wear a crown.

We drove around in the fog and to the lake, where we did some exploring and

 took some cool photos, and I let Lottie take a nice nap in 

the car so she could stay up late with all of us.

I have some wonderful 2017 goals that I hope come to pass. 

 I wrote goals for 2016 and only completed about half of them, so

My goal this year is to achieve my goals.

We did it!  We all made it past midnight!  

We watched the ball drop, screamed really loud out our front door, 

We lit off some fireworks, drank bubblie, and then called it a night.

The Little Nies slept on the mattresses under the Christmas tree with a dying fire. 

Mr. Nielson and I prayed to God to thank Him for a healthy 2016, 

and hoping for another healthy and prosperous 2017!  

And you know, 

I know God hears and answers my prayers. 

Chatting live tomorrow...join me on Mormon.org!

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