Run.

A quick rundown of last week:

We had the Elders for dinner last Saturday

I was spoiled by the girls and Bill on Mother's Day

 (we got a good laugh out of this zoomed in selfie)

 The snow lasted until about Wednesday... yuck!

We tied the final two YW quilts on Tuesday, in addition to a couple of charity baby quilts.

Phew! That quilt project became much bigger than I had initially planned. A few people have said, "What a great tradition!" Um, I'm not ready to call it a tradition. The girls all love their quilts, and the three I put together + the one I helped a YW put together, are bound and delivered. Hallelujah.
A big THANK YOU to Bailey and her mom for getting her cute denim quilt together... that's how it was supposed to happen in my original plan.

I had hair appointments Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, and in between it all I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get things together before we get the greatly anticipated call that Britt and Austin's baby is coming. Every night I express gratitude to my Heavenly Father that I had another day to prepare (I'm sure Britt doesn't share my sentiment, as she is ready to pop!) In my perfect world the baby would come on the evening of the 22nd, or on the 23rd. When I mention that to anyone, I get the babies-don't-come-on-schedule response every time. I know, people, but a girl can dream wish believe hope! Shilo has numerous senior year activities and events she is navigating, and this Thursday would give us the absolute most time to enjoy the new babe before heading back for graduation celebrations.

It's all so exciting... not knowing. (cough)

A few applicable scriptures for this fine Sunday morning:

"...The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us..." (Hebrews 12:1)

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

I don't anticipate time to post again until after I'm a grandma, or possibly even after graduation.

I'm sure I'll have a bazillion pictures to share. 

Wish me (and Britt) endurance!

Motherhood.

I have deep gratitude and love for all the mothers in my life...

...and these precious mothers-to-be.

Feeling truly blessed.
Happy Mother's Day!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Accomplishment.

I thought I would do a quick update in between all the productive stuff I've been doing around here.

(Actually, Bill just walked in. He wasn't supposed to be home between work and church meetings tonight, but he forgot his big ginormous man-bag full of church stuff that is required at all church meetings. I'm sure he's wondering what the heck I've been up to today, as the house is in the exact same order as when he departed this morning around 7:30. Um... I worked out with a friend -- I'm trying to trim down, you know --, spent a little time working on a video for the upcoming grad Open House, showered, talked on the phone with my mom, lunched with another friend -- I apparently have many friends today -- then came home to be productive, and was, somewhat, before Pinterest drew me in as I browsed for tips and tricks on my next unusually grand idea, which I cannot share because it will someday be a big surprise for somebody -- who actually would NOT be reading this because those somebodies aren't technically "here," but let's just say it's a big project for a grandma. So big and unusually grand that I don't want to jinx it by sharing, and have pinned all the good tips and tricks to my secret board. It will be at least a year in the making, but will hopefully be an unusually grand Grandma Syddall tradition. I have a lot on my mind, so productivity is somewhat limited. So, Bill -- who really NEVER asks me what I've done all day because the house is untidy -- my brain's been working overtime. I deserve time-and-a-half. Wink.)

Back to what I was going to quickly post.
(I sent Bill on his way with a water bottle and a packet of Ritz crackers. Remember - he wasn't supposed to be home tonight = no planned and well-timed dinner.)

The final presentation of Guys and Dolls came and went.
I arrived two hours early in hopes of acquiring a front row seat for Bill, Shi and myself, but instead ended up on the second row behind a row of large women. Bummer. After reserving our seats, I helped with slick-backs, curls, and updos. It's the least I could do since I WAS already there.

Here are a few shots from our almost great seats:

Mrs. A

Mr. Rivet


This past Sunday Shi received this:

Great accomplishments, girlies!
So proud of you.

I'd better go accomplish something.

Anticipation.

Yesterday was Opening Night of Mar's musical.

Shi had to work and Bill had meetings, so I attended by myself.

Mar had sweetly reserved me a front row seat. Nice.

I anticipated something fun, but was seriously blown away by the great job these middle school kids did.

I only have a few phone pictures because I grabbed a camera without a battery before heading out the door. Duh. Sometimes I wonder where my brain is, as I had just removed the battery from that particular camera within 30 minutes of leaving and plugged it into a charger. The two (2) other point-and-shoots in our collection had freshly charged and replaced batteries from earlier in the day in anticipation of such a time as this (Opening Night). I may not get that front row seat again.

The costumes were amazing. Adelaide and Nathan were superb. Mar was awesome in the ensemble.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tonight Bill and I are helping backstage so won't see much of the show, but all of us will go to the final performance on Saturday afternoon.

I have been trying to accomplish small tasks in anticipation of Shi's graduation,
like finally changing out this picture:

As I've probably mentioned before, I anticipate replacing Mar's picture BEFORE she's a senior.
I hope to have Austin, our resident family photographer, capture some shots sometime in the near future. It would be so nice if he and Britt lived closer, but I anticipate seeing them quite frequently this coming year.

Britt had a Dr. appointment and ultrasound yesterday (she's been measuring small, just like her mamita), and found that
1) the baby is finally head down and ready to move on out when the time comes
2) weight-wise the baby is right on target
3) she's 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced
("whatever that means" she texted... THAT MEANS YOU'RE CLOSE, GIRL! I always dilated early, but my cervix didn't get that thin until I was close to delivery.)

The anticipation is killing me.

I've been a bit edgey lately (of course I'll blame hormones + timing-that's-out-of-my-control + anticipation anxiety). I hope the stars will align and all these exciting upcoming events will be perfectly timed. However, should the timing be a bit off, I am working towards being so put together it will all flow smoothly regardless.
Which is causing a lot of little anxiety.

In anticipation, I have moved many of my YW responsibilities to the next week or so since I can't commit to anything beyond that for the rest of the month. That sounds nice and efficient, but it has caused a bit of a traffic jam of responsibilities:

* a quilt that needs to be pieced and ready to tie by next week *
* a lesson that needs to be prepared by this Sunday (found out late yesterday I was teaching it) *
* bindings for five (5) quilts *
* a camp cook meeting today (have I mentioned I was asked to be a cook for our Stake Girls Camp?) + possible assignments *

Then there's Graduation preparations:

* Announcements/Invites addressed and mailed *
(Shi will address, but I need to round up the addresses)
* House clean and organized for company + an Open House *
(both sets of grandparents are coming!)
* Banners and decorations *
* Yard beautified *
* Food planned and prepared *

And my first grandbaby could arrive at any time.
When I get notice that she's on her way, I will most likely drop everything and drive like a crazy woman to be there.
May 23rd would be ideal, giving me time to stay through that weekend.
Do you think you can swing that, Britt? (wink)

Breathing deep,