Substitute Motherhood

I'm just feeling reeeeal sentimental right now, and I thought I needed to write.

Every time I'm mom for a day, I get so much perspective.  Sometimes too much perspective. (Lol, kidding. I still want to have kids. Promise.)

But, seriously. Momhood (and I'm not even a real mom yet, so I really can't talk.) is serious business.
It is the real deal.
It is hard.
And stressful.
And messy.
And tiring.
And embarrassing.
And loud.
BUT fun.
And joyful.
And smiley.
And giggly.
And so warm and fuzzy.

My favorite part of being a substitute mom for my siblings, is tucking them in.
Truly, nothing compares.
Bedtime for the five littles is no joke around here.
My parents call it "The Hard Push" which may or may not be related to childbirth sorry if that's tmi.
It's true, though.
Getting the kids "fed up, washed up, brushed up, and jammied up" takes effort, time and a hecka lot of patience.

But, once you do that, you get to read scriptures with them.
And say prayers.
And then (my favorite) sing to them.
And tickle their faces and their backs.
And they get really snuggly.
And tell you they love you.

And I really really like that.
That, is what makes the whole day worth it.
That, is the joy.

And so, I'll keep being substitute mom when my own mother needs a break.
I'll take them to a park, wipe their bums, feed them dinner, give them the pie that the adults don't want (only the three year old was okay with that), show them funny youtube videos, have them get mad at me when I ask them to clean, wipe their noses, and put on bandaids, and sing goodnight to them.

Because those little humans bring me joy, and some of the best kind, if you ask me.

Memories!!!

So many times, I get stuck in my head and I don't write!
I have so many parts of my day that are happy and joyful. I also have parts that are hard, but they help me grow and learn and give me perspective etc. etc.
But, I don't write them down.
And theeeeen, I forget.

Let me paint this picture for you. Today as I was listening to the Podcast, "Serial" from the producers of This American Life, they were interviewing a guy who was convicted of murder.  They were asking him for facts about where he was and what he was doing at the day and time of the murder but to him, it was just a normal day.  He couldn't remember what was happening one random Wednesday six weeks ago.  I mean, think about it, can you remember what you were doing at 3:30 PM on Wednesday six weeks ago? Even with our phones and social media, that's hard.

Now, with this in mind, I ask this question. If a memory six weeks ago, or even six days ago, is not written down or recorded somehow, did it even happen? I mean, yeah maybe it did.  But what is the point if we don't remember them? How often do we forget those happy, joyful and sometimes life changing moments? Yikes, I know I have forgotten way more than I'd like.

Sooooo, today's memories in a quick paragraph.  At work we took the K-2nd graders to the Provo Rec and this is always a bit stressful but so fun to see them so happy because they love swimming! I'm usually tense and always counting the kids to make sure we don't lose one. But today, we had 4 staff, so I relaxed a bit and played with the kids.  We swam and swam and swam. Played the color game. Practiced our floating skills.  Jessica was so cute in her life jacket, and Marilyn held onto me because she couldn't touch at four feet.  Jaczeri loved when I would hold onto the ball under water and then let it pop into the air.

As I write them down, they don't seem as significant.  BUT, it was such a good day at work.  And that, my friends, is a neat feeling.

In fact, having a good day at work, almost makes me feel like this.
Dancing in an art gallery of rugs while wearing thrifted hiking shoes.
Neat!!!

Eat More (Cold) Waffles

I forgot how good cold waffles taste.
This morning for breakfast/lunch I crammed 2 cold waffles into a baggie, grabbed a bag of wheat thins, an apple, and a banana and ate it as I drove to work.
Not one of my proudest moments, I know I know.
But it "did in a pinch." as my dad likes to say.
And it was delicious.
Thank you.

A Day With Bethany

To Bethany. A memory.
You are three and you call yourself Bobbies.
I spent all day with you, and it was an adventure.
You put your "tanties" (panties) in a line this morning to count them and decide which pair to wear today. You chose the yellow pair.
We went to the petting zoo with the other kids, and a guy referred to me as your mom. I didn't correct him.
At the petting zoo, you were terrified of the animals.  You enjoyed looking at them, but only at a distance. If we got too close to a horse or a goat, or a peacock, you would hold on really really tight to me,
Your favorite phrase right now is "no way" and no matter how hard I tried, you wouldn't finish your sandwhich at lunch, or your pizza at dinner. But you ate plenty of watermelon, carrots, and strawberries.
At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure that 50% of your food intake was probably toquitos.
You cried when Sammi tried to get you ready for bed, and ate my favorite dark chocolate EVEN when I told you not to.
We went to the petting zoo, and you loved the animals, but stayed a safe distance away from them because you were terrified of them at the same time.
When I sang "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" for bed, you looked at me with a wide, excited expression and said "Me love that song!"
And when I checked on you to make sure you were safe and sound and asleep, you had fallen asleep with your baby laying on your chest.
A long and a busy and a happy day for a little girl and her sister.

He(art)

I treasure the way their eyes light up when they do art. You can just see, and feel, their creativity flowing.

This is why I love doing art with other people.

Especially with the boys and girls.

After an exceptionally hard week, it was so nice to go into work today, and find ways to engage the kids. Instead of depending on a movie to entertain them, we painted for thirty minutes. Then played soccer in the gym for an hour. We had so much fun, We kept playing even after the club closed.

And this, people, THIS is my major. 

Sometimes I get so frustrated with accounting, and finance, and time value of money, and percent of sales method, etc. etc. 

I forget what I am aiming for.

But, this is exactly what I am studying to do.

Recreation has such a real way of connecting people with others.

And such a therapeutic way of connecting with you with YOURSELF.

Cool.

We're not supposed to post pictures of the kids on social media, and I reeeeally respect their privacy, but I have to get some pictures of the joyful happenings. So, I figure the top of their heads are private enough.

The kids made the brown color all by themselves, and I was very proud of them.

 This is art.

avocado sandwhiches

It was a good day of human development tests and avocado sandwhiches.

I went on a date on this Tuesday at 10:00 PM. 

We rolled up to the Roll-Up Cafe and listened to cool music and ate a yummy crepe and drank yummy hot chocolate.

I worked today. I work everyday. And almost every day (good weather permitting) I walk five of the kids home from school. It's about a fifteen minute walk, and I have really come to enjoy this time outside, and the funny conversations we have. Today, Elliot the fourth grader had his little nintendo ds out and he wanted to play on it while we were on our walk. At first I was like "yeah, cool" And I then I was like, wait, yeah right. This is such a good opportunity to teach kids about the importance of nature and to practice not letting my future children spend their time outside on their electronics, etc. etc. So, I told him to put it away. And at first he wasn't happy. He told me he only had three hobbies: eating, swimming (not expecting that one), and video games.

Uh-oh. 

We (I) spent the rest of the walk talking about how cool nature is, and by the end, his face was lighting up and I think he was really starting to appreciate everything I was saying and guess what? There, in the side pocket of his jacket, sat his green little nintendo ds, abandoned and forgotten.

Video games got nothing on this. Take that, Nintendo

Change and Cool Light

These are my feet.

Those are my mismatched socks.

Today I changed the name, the address, and the layout of my blog.

I did this partly because I am procrastinating my psychology homework, but mostly because I was ready for a change. I'm not sure how much better this one is, but I like it. So that's something, right? I feel this little spark in me that wants to write. I have so many thoughts in my head each day, and many of those are worthy of putting into words.

So I'm going to try to express my funny, random, and unusual little thoughts that go through my head each day. I want to remember who I was at this time in my life, etc. etc.

Now I'm going to go eat an avocado sandwich, and other vegetarian foods such like that.

My Space

No no, not Myspace, the social media hit of the mid-2000's.

I mean, my space.

Where I live.

My half of the room.

I have really grown to love this little corner of mine.

Love, Bekah

Sometimes, We Wonder

We're human beings.

Obviously we're going to wonder.

What are we going to wonder about?

Oh, all sorts of things.

Maybe a little bit of everything.

But, that is why we have a Heavenly Father.

He helps us, guides us, and He leads us.

Don't get me wrong, we'll still wonder.

But because of Him,

we can wonder a little less.

Okay?

Okay.

Love, Bekah

9/15/14

"God's light is real, it is available to all.  It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound."

-President Uchtdorf

Welcome Home

8/22/14

There's something about traveling, especially in airports. You find all sorts of people, all kinds, from all places. And there's something about making a connection with them. Talking about religion, hobbies, careers, or education for an entire flight, taking off & coming back down with stomach dropping bumps along the way, whispered conversations about going home for a father's funeral or a fascinating book or the best things to do in Pittsburgh, hugs in the airport saying goodbye, simple glances or smiles with an unspoken understanding. I love these human beings, people I have never met, and probably never will. People who are living their lives, raising their families, pursuing their careers, overcoming trials, finding happiness, doing the best their little hearts can.

And it's times like these when I realize there is so much more to life than science, or equations. I mean, look at us. There is no possible way that we were just accidentally formed by evolution, or an explosion, or thousands of years of change.  There is no way that there wasn't something before this life, and there won't be anything after.  We are all children of a LOVING Heavenly Father.

WE ALL ARE, OKAY.

Every single person in that airport.
And in the cars on the freeway.
And in the stadium of a Steelers game.
And in the cute houses,
or huge apartment buildings.
And in Africa and Russia and Australia.
We are all part of a Plan of Happiness.

Look at us, we are Divine.
We are created in God's image.
And we are beautiful.
We are going to live,
with our families,
forever.
It's all going to work out.
This life is.
Heavenly Father knows us,
loves us,
is looking out for us,
and is proud of us.

I like that.
I like that a whole lot.

I hope some, if any, of this made sense.
Hold your head up, have hope, life is good.

Love, Bekah

Stranded in Chicago

8/21/2014

Dancing in Point State Park

8/21/14

Let's Make a Rap for Mel's Birthday

8/18/14

Faith & Beks at Joy's Farewell

xoxo

8/17/2014

Joy's Farewell

8/17/14

Hi, Pittsburgh

Hola, 

ni hao,

hello from the state of Pennsylvania. 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

I'm out here visiting my beautiful bestie, Joy Purnell (who was my roommate Freshman year), for her birthday and her mission farewell talk. On Saturday we rode the incline (picture a very slow, very cute, uphill train with one boxcar) to get an incredible view of the city, ate at Primanti Brothers (they put the whole meal - meat, fries, and cole slaw - on the sandwich), and walked around the city for a bit. It's a very unique city because it's very old (and old fashioned) and has lots and lots of bridges.  The city with the most bridges in the world, actually. BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO that's been cool! Then Joy gave a very beautiful and inspired talk today. It was cool because here in Pittsburgh, since there aren't very many missionaries from the wards, they encourage traditional farewells where the parents speak as well. So we got to hear from Joy AND her parents, YAY. It was a "Power Hour" of Sacrament Meeting if you ask me. The spirit was very sweet and strong, and I felt the truth in their words and their testimonies. 

Joy & her sister Holly also sang a song called "In Christ Alone." 

The lyrics rang truth to me, and the spirit brought me to tears.

Here are the beautiful, beautiful lyrics:

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand​

It's been a really amazing Sunday. I know that Jesus Christ is our Brother and Friend. HE LOVES US. HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US. What a blessing it is that we a have a chance to feel the joy that comes from the gospel. Real, obtainable, eternal joy.  And that's really, really cool.

Love, Bekah Ellen Boyd

P I T T S B U R G H

8/16/14

1:15 AM

Omnicscience: The state of having infinite intelligence.

Some weeks are longer than other weeks.
And this week. Well, this week was one of the long ones.

I got a new job. One that I was so blessed to find, and even more blessed to be accepted to.  I now work at the Boys and Girls Club of Utah County. I am a teacher for thirteen of the most beautiful, precious, (crazy), and wise 5-8 year old souls.

It has been one of the most amazing experiences. But also one of the hardest.
I got home from work last night, after working a total of 35 hours for the week, and I was exhausted. My head hurt,
my body hurt,
my spirit hurt.
I was done.
I honestly did not know how I could possibly get up the next day and spend another 5 and a half hours doing the same thing.

But then I went to my Grandparents house. The ones who live out in the country. I spent the night with family. I watched the sunset, and heard the bugs, and felt the cool air. I relaxed, I pondered, I laughed, and I talked to the ones I loved. I left their house feeling renewed. I went to work happy. I went to work excited to work with the kids. It was a blessing that has not gone unrecognized.

I have learned so much this week about myself, about children, about humanity, and about life. More than I ever thought I would when I first took on this job.

I love my jobs. I love where I live. I love the life I am living, and the joy I am constantly finding in simple moments.  Tonight, my friend Mike and I, invited the elders who live at the MTC to come to dinner with us. They are serving there for two years, teaching through social media, specifically skype, so they are allowed to have dinner appointments.

It was a much needed night with missionaries, friendship, laughter, and the spirit.  I felt so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing human beings. In fact, I feel so blessed every single day to be around the people I am, because I truly believe they are some of the best people I have ever met.

Cheers to a good week full of responsibility, growing up, learning, crying, and laughing. Yay.

My Faves, Elder Kitchens and Elder Eberle:

Bye,

♥ Bekah

Staring at the Blank Page Before Me

Sometimes my mom sends me emails with youtube links and notes that say, "my thought for you today!!! love you." (Isn't she cool?

I know it's a classic, but the truth is, if you listen to the lyrics, they really are very true. And it'll change the perspective that you have on your life.

Go ahead and listen to it. 

You'll cry.

It's fine.

♥ Bekah