Therapy

It comes in many forms.

This week it came on Wednesday in the form of 3 great friends from my old ward who brought pizza and soda.
We sat in my room and ate pizza and talked and laughed.
They are the friends who were always my rescue team in my old ward.
We helped each other out of lots of tough situations.
We knew about the gunk in each others' microwaves and the dust under each others' beds.
We know each others' embarassing weaknesses and we love each other for having them.
We've had a lot of fun together.
I've missed them a lot lately.
I love my new ward, but haven't established such close friendships yet.
I am in a different season of life that doesn't lend itself to weekly playgroups where we chat for hours at a time while our children play together.
I know I need to make more of an effort here, but as it is a different season of life, it is slower work and I'm okay with that.
But I've really missed my old ward lately.
I've just wanted that feeling that people really KNOW me and are excited for me and my new baby.
These people were my family for 7 years.

I got my wish!

Last Friday the therapy came in the form of 3 great families from that ward that started out a Primay Presidency wanting to get together and play games with our husbands. Things just clicked, and we've had countless barbecues, game nights, camping trips and other adventures. When we're all together, there seems to be at least one friend for each kid. As the kids get bigger, it seems less crazy and we all have more fun. And it is rare and special for all of the husbands to get along so well. Now when we get together, there is usually a racquetball game involved besides the usual food, visiting, and games. As our families get older and busier, it is more and more difficult to find a night that works for everyone. I was so happy things came together so easily this time. We had a wonderful time. They bring with them that homey kind of feeling that I'm known and loved despite my imperfections. One of my favorite parts was the fact that we'd just had the biggest snow of our winter so the kids wanted to play outside. But they didn't start until 9pm. One of the benefits of having so many kids of my own is that we hoard snow clothes. I managed to outfit an impossible number of kids to go play in the snow well beyond 10:00pm. I love how goofy some of them looked. In the dark they weren't too worried about wearing the wrong gendered boots or hot orange snow bibs from the 80's that I picked up at a yard sale for free.

Thursday the 8th had more than one form of therapy.
The first was that I actually got a good night's sleep on Wed. night. Currently that translates into falling asleep before midnight, only waking 3 or 4 times to go to the bathroom and being able to fall back asleep. (Most nights I am up for several hours at some point and I wake about every hour in between to use the bathroom)
It is amazing how much better I feel when I get a little more sleep!
Then it was co-op day. The sleep made the teaching part easier, and the visiting after lunch part is always great.
Here is another group of friends that I love dearly. They are the friends that share the same weird interests like homeschooling and homebirth, alternative medicine and other lifestyle choices that get a raised eyebrow from the average American.
They are an essential team of support for the upstream swim that some of these choices create. It is just so good to be understood! I always find my cup filled after being with them.
Then it was time to celebrate Brandon's 12th birtday.
We had bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and crepes and fruit and whipped cream for dinner.
He opted for donuts instead of cake, and got lots of fun treats to open from his siblings.
Since he turned 12, he got new scriptures and we got him new shoes last Saturday. He REALLY needed them, and Dallin just happened to win a gift certificate for shoes last week! Dallin was home early from work to help celebrate, and we had a great time.
I was finishing off the crepes while the family sat down to eat. I saw my whole family sitting there around the table and I had 2 thoughts: "Wow, is that really everyone?" and "I sure love these people!"

Friday one of my bestest homeschool buddies came and spent the day with me. We've Enjoyed sharing most of our last 3 pregnancies together. Our kids match up well, and we all enjoy being together. A big part of my therapy that day was holding her tiny precious 3 week old baby girl. I'd had dreams about holding my baby all night long combined with contractions. It left me feeling pretty empty-handed and sad that morning. Holding that sweet baby was therapy indeed. As was her mother's company.

When Dallin got home, we took Brandon on a special date to shop for a new suit. We found such a good deal that we got him two! It was so great to be with him and enjoy his fun personality.
It was also fun to get to browse the Baby Depot at the back of the store.

The next day was a big therapy session as my Mommy came! She brought oodles of groceries and fun things for the kids.
We spent the day shopping for a new carseat as mine is 10 years old.
We spent the evening sewing together.
What could be better?

Possibly only being enveloped by the Spirit as I watched my 2nd son be ordained by his Daddy to the office of a Deacon. Both of my parents were able to be there, and Dallin's mom was there as well. His dad had planned to come, but stayed home sick.

Dallin's mom came early and filled both of my freezers with wonderful meals. She also saved the day by hemming Brandon's suit pants that had completely slipped my mind. Unfortunately we didn't get to sustain Brandon because we failed to remember it was Daylight Savings.

So I passed the hard and horrible week between 39 and 40 weeks in therapy.
It did me lots of good. It wasn't very hard or horrible after all.
I am so grateful for the people who love me and whom I have a privilege to love.